Emagno4links by ACCMag

#4 2016

EMAG

quarterly publication for acc leaders

F I N D

W O N D E R CULTURE

HEALTHY

DIVERSITY CHURCH LIFE

STRUCTURE vs FLEXIBILITY HERITAGE

Make sure you tell your CHILDREN

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SIDE

FIND WONDER. FIND JESUS. ‘OH LORD MY GOD WHEN I IN AWESOME WONDER...’ THIS SUMMER EDITION OF THE ACC EMAG REMINDS US TO STEP INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH THE SENSE OF WONDER AND AWE, TO FIND JESUS IN ALL WE DO.

LOVE IN ACTION... Stephen White has captured powerful images of a local church’s misison heart in action, both global and local.

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK...AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE. Interview with Kirsty Emery, ACC National Conference Co-ordinator, on what’s in store on the Gold Coast in May 2017.

HEALTHY DIVERSITY... James Macpherson looks at how the Church can model healthy diversity from a biblical perspective.

STRUCTURE VS FLEXIBLITY... Joel A’Bell shares how small groups can be transformed by a flexible structure.

MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN... Denise Austin on why preserving Australian Pentecostal oral history is so important for future generations.

CHAMPION FOR CHRIST... Margaret Court’s inspiring autobiography describes her journey to the top of the international tennis circuit, and her discovery that a life committed to serving Christ is the ultimate prize..

CLASS OF 2016... Three Alphacrucis students share their inspiration to study to fulfil their vision and purpose for the future.

NEWS @ACCSNAPSHOT

ACCI

NEW RELEASES

COMMUNITY FOCUS by Paul Bartlett

CHAPLAINCY IN YOUR DNA by Ralph Estherby

CHRISTIAN SUPER

2017 DIARY

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W O N D E R FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

love this time of year because it is so uplifting and positive. We say things that we really should say every day, and for those special people in our lives, we go one step further and give them gifts. This is a reflection of what the Christmas season is all about – a celebration of an extravagant gift, that came at great cost to the Giver. The scripture declares, ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) Some gifts received may last a long time. Sadly, other material items may break or wear out, or even go out of style. Yet long after we take down the Christmas tree, and the New year resolutions are forgotten, Jesus remains – for He is the gift that keeps on giving: Life to all who believe. We embraced the theme ‘Find Wonder’ this Christmas season; trusting that people would discover hope through Jesus Christ despite the drama, chaos and heartache we currently see across the globe. As we embark on a new year with fresh hope and vision, I pray that the wonder of our Saviour Jesus lives on in our hearts.

WAYNE ALCORN ACC NATIONAL PRESIDENT

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Follow Wayne Alcorn on Twitter: @wayne_alcorn 3

NEWS w KIDS

very day, ACC pastors are actively ministering to people from all walks of life and across a wide spectrum of communities. So many stories that we may never know the full extent of our impact, as the Holy Spirit works through our 1,000 churches and over 3,000 pastors to connect people to Jesus. CHECK OUT WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEEN

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HAPPENING ACROSS THE ACC WITH THE RECENT INSTAGRAM POSTS

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POST YOUR ACC PICS JOIN THE MANY ACC MINISTRIES WHO POST THEIR ACTIVITIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA @ACCSNAPSHOT #ACCSNAPSHOT

ACCI

CCI is a movement of Australian Christians working to transform communities and nations, one life at a time. The vision is for a world where all people have the opportunity to hear the gospel, and choose, believe and express their faith, where the principles of justice and equality are actualised, and where individuals, families and communities are empowered to be the change in their world, with equal voice and equal value.

Over the past 18 months, through ACCI there have been: • 58 churches planted • 6,127 salvations • 10,949 leaders trained • 1,148 water baptisms • 40,525 children assisted • 1,326 baptisms in the Holy Spirit

PANASIA MISSIONS CONFERENCE 31st July - 3rd August 2017 Novotel Phuket Resort, Thailand

Registration for the PanAsia Conference 2017 is now open. Book TODAY to get the early bird price! www.accimissions.org.au/panasia2017

LOVE IN ACTION

NEPAL Earthquake victims receiving aid relief.

picture paints a thousand words. Through the lens of the Missions Director of Life City Church in Perth, Stephen White has captured some powerful images of love in action through their local church missions, both local and overseas Follow Stephen White on Instagram: @stephenwhitephotography

KENYA Aunty and her disabled niece. INDIA Early morning feeding station, Kolkota.

PERTH WA Walking Perth streets, giving food vouchers and water to the homeless.

Distributing swags to the homeless.

Giving dignity and aid to the homeless.

TA K E A N O T H E R L O O K A C C N AT I O N A L C O N F E R E N C E 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 M AY 2 0 1 7 GOLD COAST CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK… AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Interview with ACC National Conference Co-ordinator, Kirsty Emery

KIRSTY EMERY and her husband Nick are the campus pastors at Hope Centre’s Brisbane West campus. Over the last decade, Kirsty has co-ordinated local church, state and national ACC events. Her experience in event management includes coordinating the first ACC National Conference on the Gold Coast in 2007, as well as the 2009 and 2011 events. Kirsty and Nick have two young sons, Levi and Jackson.

Q: As an ACC pastor yourself, what would you say are some of the reasons why ACC pastors value coming together at National Conference? Kirsty: I genuinely think people love gathering as ACC family. We have a great sense of unity and connection as a movement. I love observing the ACC family moments at conference – pastors spilling out of cafes along Broadbeach, seeing clusters of families and young adults on the beach enjoying the Gold Coast weather, people lingering long after sessions are finished, catching up with old friends. It’s great. Another valuable part of this conference is that it’s an opportunity for our pastors and teams to be ministered to. If you think about it, it’s such a powerful moment that thousands of ministers are gathered with the one purpose of receiving from and being refreshed by the Holy Spirit. What a strength for the greater Body of Christ! Q: One of the drawcards of conference is that it is family friendly. You yourself are a parent of two boys. Can you share some of the plans for the 2017 Kids and Youth program? Kirsty: Every child entering conference serves in ministry alongside their parents. So it’s our opportunity to honour these children, to value add and say thank you for serving in ministry with your parents. This year we’ve shaken things up a bit. We’re moving from a ‘kids program’ approach to a more intentional ‘Conference for Kids’. The team have taken the theme Take Another Look and created age appropriate curriculum.

www.acc.org.au/conference

Some ages will have a safari themed week, others an adventurer theme. They’re going to take another look at the Good News of Jesus. It will be jam packed with fun – plenty of memories to be made. Q: The conference will be the 41st biennial conference of the movement. What are some of the new, fresh aspects to conference that a delegate can expect? Kirsty: Some of the most valuable parts of conference actually happen off-site, it’s the time people get to spend in cafés catching up with mates. We’ve moved the night session forward to 6pm to give space for both ministry time and connection. It also means young families can get their children to bed at a decent time, so it sets them up for a better conference experience for the week. We’ve changed up how we use the venue... watch this space. Q: So far no guest speakers have been announced. Can you tell us a bit more about the speakers and sessions? Kirsty: The way the whole theme, Take Another Look, came about is very prophetic and very timely for our movement in a world that has a shifting landscape. We need to Take Another Look at the way we minister to our world, take another look at Jesus, at the Holy Spirit. I think the Executive have taken bold steps to broach topics that need to be discussed and in doing so, they have chosen the best voices in our nation and beyond to speak into particular topics.

DIV ERS ITY 10

DIVERSITY BY JAMES MACPHERSON

“And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy because you were slain, and with Your blood You purchased for God person’s from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom to serve our God.’” Revelation 5:9

IVERSITY is a God idea, not a political idea, and the Church is best placed to model it. When the Apostle John peered through the portal into heaven, he saw one people comprised of every tribe, language, people and nation. It begs the question, how is unity created from such extreme diversity? This is a question troubling the entire planet. Diversity, as a political idea, can never work since it fosters disunity rather than oneness, strife instead of blessing. Identity politics encourages people to make what is different about them essential to who they are. People are encouraged to see themselves primarily as female or as black or as disabled or as a particular ethnicity, and then to view all of life from their point of difference. In this way individuals can be herded into groups where grievances can be stoked. The point of this, of course, is to enable politicians and lobby groups to create brand new constituencies who will grant them power in return for representation. But when you encourage people to view all of life from their point of difference, you turn all of life into a battlefield of conflicting rights. If being white is essential to my identity and being black is essential to your identity then we are always going to be conflicted. If being male is essential to who I am and being female is essential to you, then we will view every issue as a battle of the sexes. And so our differences become a continual point of contention. Paul, anticipating the scourge of identity politics, writes to the Galatian church that “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Paul doesn’t mean that differences have ceased to exist. Rather, he means that in the church, our differences have become incidental rather than essential to who we are. Paul used to describe himself as a Jew. Now he describes himself as a follower of Christ, who happens to be Jewish. Whereas he used to define himself as a man, he now defines himself as a follower of Christ, who happens to be male. We are to make Christ essential to our identity and, in so doing, what’s different about us becomes incidental to who we are. 11

When we do this, our differences cease to be a point of view from which we argue and instead become a gift that we contribute. Imagine that I identity as a tenor whilst you identify as a soprano. You and I will view everything that happens in the choir through the prism of our differences. We will only deem the choir a success if we believe the latest score gives due weight to our respective differences. If we view everything that happens in the choir from our point of difference, then the choir will be a place of never ending contention. Whatever harmony we have, it will need to be negotiated, perhaps even forced. For instance, at our next choir meeting, I will be insisting that a certain percentage of songs we perform must feature tenors. But what if I saw myself as a member of a great choir, who just happened to sing tenor? Suddenly what’s essential to me is that I’m in the choir. That I happen to sing tenor has not changed, but it has become incidental. Now singing tenor is a gift I contribute rather than a difference I insist must be recogniSed and rewarded. Tenor is good but when you make tenor god you destroy the gift, and the choir. What is different or unique about you and I is good but neither race nor gender nor social status nor any other difference can ever become ultimate or it is ruined. And this is where the Church is well placed to model healthy diversity. In heaven John noted that people from every tribe, language, people and nation were singing a “new song”. This “new song” was that Jesus had become essential to who they were, usurping all other differences so that color and race and gender had all become incidental. Only Jesus is big enough to trump all differences. When our identity is in Him, our differences are no longer essential and, for the first time, can be as they were intended by God to be – a gift we offer the Body of Christ rather than a right we demand the Body recognise. James Macpherson is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Christian Church and a member of the ACC National Executive. Follow James Macpherson on Twitter: @jamesmacpherson

Photo by Stephen White

SMALL GROUPS STRUCTURE VS FLEXIBILITY BY JOEL A’BELL

3. Have a defined start and end time, focused on the Word. (This is to respect people’s available time and allow more people to attend in their busy schedules.) These changes have since addressed the many challenges that people had for starting and joining a Connect Group. We created flexibility in the times and locations, and only placed three simple restrictions on them: 1. Biblical (be in the Word) 2. Small (only have 5-8 people, so everyone is involved and feels included) 3. Short (one hour only, to respect people’s time) A few simple changes in structure meant that our Connect Groups did not just grow, but grow rapidly across our church. Sometimes all it takes is breaking out of a mould to keep your church moving forward and people finding their place. Structures are created to take us to an end point but often we lose sight of the fact that the end point is our goal, not to maintain the structure itself. The goal of the Law given to the Israelites was to give them structure for a life well-lived, but it proved unable to do what it was meant to do: make people holy. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfil it, and he did so by changing up the structure. • No more dietary restrictions; instead changing what comes out of the mouth. • No more temple veils; instead being filled with the Holy Spirit. • No more purifying sacrifices, instead just the one final sacrifice. If we are unwilling to change the structure when we’re not meeting our end goal, that end goal will only move further and further away. If instead we focus on our end objective, we must be willing to adapt. Jesus changed up structures and restrictions because He had an end goal of holiness and heart transformation. That much, has never changed.

tructures, much like the laws that govern a nation, are needed in our organisations in order to keep things both in order and moving forward. We can sometimes get caught up in structure and forget about our freedom to be flexible, our ability to change the laws. Pastor Brian Houston recently shared at one of our staff meetings, “The structure serves you, you don’t serve it.” Sometimes we can treat structures like first born children. After years of being with them, raising them up and teaching them, we can be reluctant to let them go. Changing structure can be similar in that, although we need them, we may need to treat them differently and allow the seasons of life to adapt them to still move forward. At Hillsong Church, we took Connect Groups on this journey. When we first started growing as a church we needed small groups to keep church personal. Pastor Brian always reminds us, “We are a small church with a lot of people”. We created order around Connect Groups to ensure everybody was on the same page. Over time however, what was once providing standardisation and a means of organisation started to prohibit growth in our church. Not everyone could give up one night a week. Not everyone could have people over their home, especially if they lived in a smaller or shared home. These seemingly small factors started to limit people from joining or starting new connect groups. Looking at this structure, my wife Julia decided to look at Connect Groups through a new lens. Who said Connect Groups had to meet one night a week? Who made the rule that Connect Groups need to run in someone’s home? Who said that Connect Groups had to go on all night? Originally, WE DID! But unlike legalistic laws, we chose to be flexible with structure and be adaptable to the culture of today. This year, at Hillsong Church, we pioneered the new concept: One Hour Connect Groups. Now Connect Groups could: 1. Meet anywhere – homes, workplaces, cafés or even schools. 2. Meet at any time – at night, in the morning before work or school, or even over lunch break.

Joel A’Bell is the lead pastor of Hillsong Australia and a member of the ACC National Executive. Follow Joel Abell on Twitter: @joelabell 13

MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN

MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN PRESERVING AUSTRALIAN PENTECOSTAL ORAL HISTORY BY DENISE AUSTIN

ral history is the systematic collection of living peoples’ experiences and contributions in order to preserve history for generations to come. Joel 1:3 states: “Make sure you tell your children, and your children tell their children, and their children their children. Don’t let this message die out”. This is what oral history is all about! The Australasian Pentecostal Studies Centre (APSC), based at AC Central in Parramatta, is the largest collection of Pentecostal archives in Australia, including an extensive living repository of oral sources and collections of early literary materials. As such, the APSC collection is the only one of its kind in the world and is a vital component of preserving Australia’s spiritual heritage. There is an old saying that each time a person dies, a whole library burns to the ground. There is an urgent need to collect the oral histories of our Australian Pentecostal pioneers before these stories are lost forever. As an historian, in this article I have outlined the need for preserving our oral history and ways in which all of us can be participants in this important process. Why? Sociologist Peter Berger, argues that Pentecostalism is the most important popular movement serving as a vehicle of cultural globalisation (Many globalizations. Oxford University Press, 2002, 8). Further, theologian Wolfgang Vondey, believes Pentecostalism is in a “process” of going beyond its cultural heritage and morphing into a new global culture (Beyond Pentecostalism. William B. Eerdmans, 2010, 7). Pentecostalism is an oral culture and, owing to the nature of its ecclesiological tendencies, there are few requirements regarding preserving local church historical records.

Therefore, many original documents have been misplaced or thrown away. This makes it even more vital that we preserve the memories of those who have made important contributions to the origins, development and growth of this movement. The APSC oral history collection has been built up by researchers over the past 20 years and continues to grow. Many of the original pioneers of what is now the second largest practicing religious constituency in Australia have now passed on, leaving this as the most significant collection of remaining materials from which to tell their stories. How? There are many ways and reasons to collect oral history. Through trial and error, I have settled on a methodology which I find to be helpful. Using the snowball technique to choose interviewees, I usually focus on four major areas: (1) conversion as the most transformational experience in a person’s life (2) baptism in the Holy Spirit which shapes Pentecostal identity (3) vocational calling which Max Weber says brings organisation to the believer’s private and public life and (4) contributions that the person as made over their life time. The questioning format is unstructured and open-ended to allow opportunities for interviewees to volunteer novel materials not anticipated in the interview protocols. If the research goals are more specifically defined, then a more structured and systematic approach may be used. Challenges Humility is a wonderful virtue in the Christian life, although it does make gathering data a challenge at times. People often think they have nothing worth sharing and it is only when you 15

ease them into conversation that you find a gold mine of information. I recall one beautiful Australian Indigenous woman told me at first: “Oh, I don’t know why you want to interview me. I haven’t done anything.” It was only after chatting with her for an hour that I discovered that she was integral in pioneering Pentecostal assemblies all over Queensland, including in rural Australian Indigenous communities. The reliability of memory can also be questioned. One man I interviewed quipped: “You do realise you’re asking me about things that happened 76 years ago?” Although, I can assure you, his memory was as sharp as a tack! Nevertheless, many academic historians have looked down on oral history because the accuracy of memories and sense of what is important is not always dependable. Information is coloured by perceptions, choice of questions, time limits, and people available. However, most of these problems are also found in printed archives and written source material. Where possible, limitations are overcome by cross-referencing, triangulation and researcher judgement. Therefore, oral history is starting to be acknowledged as one of the most important ways history can be preserved. Protocols It is extremely important to recognise that interviewees’ own the copyright to the interview, unless otherwise stated. Therefore, recorded or transcribed interviews should not be distributed either privately or publicly, unless signed consent forms are obtained. In order to publish oral history research, it may be necessary to obtain official ethical clearance from a research or educational institution, particularly if interviewing minority groups or children. If possible, >

it is preferable to video record the interview but only if the interviewee gives written permission. Ensure that the environment is quiet and comfortable which helps the person relax. However, sometimes this is not possible and I have successfully interviewed key people in a wide variety of places, including in cars, hotel foyers and airports. The volume of oral history also varies. As a general rule, interviews go for no more than two hours at a time, as they can be quite demanding and often emotional. In some cases, when writing a biography, I have collected over 30 hours of oral history from one person. At other times, just a ten minute interview with a key leader can be useful. Next Steps With increasing reliance on digital communication and a reduced emphasis on written correspondence, oral history is going to continue to increase in importance. It is a unique way to capture the vibrant witness of Australian Pentecostalism and is a vital source of non-renewable historical knowledge. I encourage you to consider collecting recorded oral history, with signed consent forms, and contribute toward building up the APSC collection. With careful preservation of our past, this great cloud of witnesses will continue to speak to us through stories previously untold or forgotten. http://crucis.ac.edu.au/2016/10/make-sure-you-tell-your-childrenPublished with permission. First published at Crucis preserving-australian-pentecostal-oral-history/

- read more articles at http://crucis.ac.edu.au

Denise A. Austin is the Director of the Australasian Pentecostal Studies Centre and an Associate Professor of History at Alphacrucis College.

AUSTRALASIAN PENTECOSTAL STUDIES CENTRE WINS TWO COMMUNITY HERITAGE GRANTS The Australasian Pentecostal Studies Centre (APSC) has been awarded two federal Community Heritage Grants, totalling $7,700 to fund a Preservation Needs Assessment and Caring for Collections Workshop.

The Australasian Pentecostal Studies Centre (APSC) has been awarded two federal Community Heritage Grants, totalling $7,700 to fund a Preservation Needs Assessment and Caring for Collections Workshop. The grants were announced at the National Library of Australia in Canberra on 25 October, 2016. This year, grants worth $415,075 have been distributed to 77 community groups and organisations from around Australia to assist in the identification and preservation of community owned but nationally significant heritage collections. In addition, first time recipients attended a three-day intensive preservation and collection management workshop held at the National Library, the National Museum of Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra. Rev Assoc Prof Denise Austin, Director of the APSC, said the grants were important in supporting the effort to preserve Australia’s Pentecostal history at the grassroots level. The APSC, based at Alphacrucis College in Parramatta, is the largest collection of Pentecostal archives in Australasia, including an extensive living repository of oral sources and collections of early literary materials. As such, the APSC collection is the only one of its kind in the word and is a vital component of preserving Australia’s spiritual heritage. The APSC, located at Alphacrucis Central, Parramatta was officially launched, on 6th July 2015, by Rev Dr Andrew Evans, former General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Australia and former Member of the Legislative Council in South Australia. Besides preservation, the goal of the APS Centre is also to encourage interinstitutional research projects in Pentecostal scholarship which will benefit the wider community locally, nationally and internationally. Director-General of the National Library of Australia, Ms Anne-Marie Schwirtlich, said the CHG program showed the commitment by the National Library, along with its partner institutions and the Federal Government, in encouraging communities to care for the nation’s heritage, be it in small country towns or capital cities. CHG is managed by the National Library. It is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Communications and the Arts; the National Archives of Australia; the National Film and Sound Archive; the National Museum of Australia and the National Library.

NEW RELEASES READ

LISTEN

WATCH

RELEASED OCTOBER 2016

NO GOD BUT ONE Allah or Jesus? By Nabeel Querashi

Readers of Qureshi’s first book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, will appreciate his careful and respectful comparison of Islam and Christianity. Both religions teach that there is No God But One, but who deserves to be worshiped, Allah or Jesus? In No God But One, New York Times bestselling author Nabeel Qureshi takes readers on a global, historical, yet deeply personal journey to the heart of the world’s two largest religions. He explores the claims that each faith makes upon believers’ intellects and lives, critically examining the evidence in support of their distinctive beliefs. Many don’t see how tremendously deep the divides between them really are, and fewer still have considered the evidence for each faith. How is Jihad different from the Crusades? Can we know the life of Jesus as well as the life of Muhammad? What reason is there to believe in one faith over the other, and what difference can the Gospel really make? Fleshed out with stories from the annals of both religions, No God But One unveils the fundamental, enduring conflict between Islam and Christianitydirectly addressing controversial topics. www.koorong.com.au

LET THERE BE LIGHT Hillsong Let There be Light is the 25th live worship album by Hillsong, recorded live at this year’s Hillsong Conference in Sydney. It’s core message is to shine light into darkness and declares an unshakeable belief in the power of Jesus Christ. Despite the pain, sorrow and tension of this world, Jesus is not threatened by the darkness. He has no rival. He has no equal. He is the light of the world and the hope of humanity. So many of the songs on Let There Be Light speak to the truth of who Jesus is. His Name is above every other name. Deliberatively written to translate across the global local Church, the songs on this project include anthems such as “What a Beautiful Name”, “Behold (Then Sings My Soul)”, “Grace to Grace” and the title track “Let There Be Light”. Intimate and personal, yet congregationally friendly, the songs from this project help to facilitate the heart of the Hillsong worship team, to resource individuals, worship teams and churches alike with songs that are as diverse as the greater Church herself. www.hillsong.com/store

DEC 2016 DVD RELEASE

BEN HUR 2016 release Based on the timeless novel, ‘Ben-Hur:A Tale of Christ’ by Lew Wallace, this is the remake of the biblical epic movie starring Charlton Heston which won 11 Academy Awards in 1959. Fate and adventure collide in the epic and awe-inspiring story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince who is enslaved by the Romans after being betrayed by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell). Separated from his family and the woman he loves, Ben-Hur is rescued from near death by the mysterious Ilderim (Academy Award® Winner Morgan Freeman). He returns to his homeland seeking revenge against his brother and an empire, but instead he finds a chance for redemption. Ben-Hur brings to life the transformative power of the gospel, the life altering power of forgiveness, and the unimaginable change love over hatred can bring in a person’s heart. It is a powerful reminder to viewers of all ages that although forgiveness can be painful, it is life changing, it is redeeming. Ben-Hur is an epic story of revenge versus redemption that will challenge the faith of viewers young and old alike. This powerful, action-packed film is an exhilarating must see. www.koorong.com.au

C H A M P I O N

FOR CHRIST

NEW AUSTRALIAN RELEASE

MARGARET COURT THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

With three Grand Slams, 64 major titles and seven years as World number 1, Margaret Court stands alone as the greatest tennis player of all time. Born in a country town to a hard-living father and a very protective mother, Margaret’s first racquet was a timber paling and her first step on a tennis court was via a hole in the fence. Against all odds, she built an indomitable game based on speed, power and a fighting spirit. After a stellar 17-year career of 24 singles, 19 doubles and 21 mixed doubles titles, three Grand Slams (one in singles, two in mixed doubles) and seven individual years as world No.1, Margaret retired to be with her husband and children. Following a period of depression and seclusion, in 1991 she became an ordained minister, and founded Victory Life Centre churches and charities in Perth.. Today, ‘Pastor Marg’ preaches to thousands around the world and her charities feed, clothe and house many lost, homeless and hungry souls. Margaret Court–The Autobiography explains what lit a fi re in the poor girl from Albury to make her the most extraordinary champion tennis has ever seen and the proud woman she is today. Released: November 2016

‘FOR SHEER STRENGTH OF PERFORMANCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TENNIS PLAYER TO MATCH MARGARET COURT’ – International Tennis Hall of Fame

ALSO BY MARGARET COURT WINNING LIFE

This Special Edition book includes both of Margaret Court’s most popular books ‘Winning Faith’ and ‘Winning Words’.

TRAIN YOUR BRAIN The way you think shapes your present and creates your future. It makes your destiny. www.victorylifecentre.com.au

EQUIPPING LEADERS FOR THEIR PURPOSE A common question for all of us is, ‘What is my purpose?’ Since 1948, Alphacrucis College (AC) has been equipping thousands of influential ACC leaders for their purpose – in the areas of ministry, theology, missions, and chaplaincy. Three AC students give their insight to what inspired them to study at AC and how their study has aligned with the call and purpose for their lives.

DOUG VALERIO

SOPHIA HOBBS

Masters in Christian Studies (Graduate of Class of 2016)

Bachelor of Ministry

Q: What was your inspiration to study at AC? This is a hard question because for a long time I was against being in ministry and studying at Bible College because my parents are ministers and I wanted to go my own way. But after getting involved in various teams at church, I found myself falling in love with the potential that the church holds to see a changed world. I would say this increasing interest and love for God’s house was what inspired me to study. Q: What has the past year been like studying at AC? The last year has been great! I’ve formed many friendships, been able to read the bible differently, explored my faith, understood ministry and grew spiritually. Q: How have you grown studying at AC? From studying at AC this year, I would say that I’ve not just grown but been stretched, especially in the area of my personal capacity. I’ve also grown in understanding about practical ministry and personal theology as my worldview. My beliefs and perspective have been stretched. Q: What are you most excited about for the future? I’m most excited about what God is going to do with what I’ve learnt and the friendships I’ve made. I cannot wait to see the unfolding of his plans for both my friends’ lives and my own life. I look forward to the day I can look back

Q: What was your inspiration to study at AC? About six years ago, I felt that God was leading me to get equipped for the ministry call on my life. I chose AC for its commitment to a Pentecostal worldview and because it is the ACC’s college. Q: How have you grown studying at AC? I’ve grown immensely in more ways than I was expecting. The greatest growth area has been in understanding leadership principles as they pertain to the life of the contemporary Church in Australia. Q: What are you most excited about for the future? Looking forward to having studied now and become much more equip in doing work in ministry and fulfil God’s call on my life. Q: How does your study align with God’s call and purpose for your life? The Masters of Christian Studies with a leadership major has given me a deeper theological understanding of my call to teach and serve the Body of Christ from a Pentecostal perspective and; the organisational skills to effectively lead, equip and release others in the local church. I now have a greater confidence in my role as a Pastor and the research skills to apply to the new challenges that arise in church life. 20

and see what God has done with the College and my time there. Q: How does your study align with God’s call and purpose for your life? My study aligns with God’s purpose for my life as what I’m learning is not just knowledge but God-given wisdom from lecturers who have experienced ministry and know how to face the challenges that can arise. I also believe that what is being imparted to me as a student is a God- centred, faith building, attitude and outlook where I know that even though all my questions may not be answered, that it’s okay and God still has a divine plan for us all. And that plan is not based on who we are or what we do, but who he is and what he chooses to do through us.

and due to my friends recommendations. Q: How have you grown studying at AC? This has been the best year of my life so far. You can come to class and study, but the great thing about this college is studying about God. One of the best things about this college is the friends you develop, not only students but lecturers and teachers. You get to meet new people who are open and sincere. Everyone is real, loves God and is one big family. Q: How have you grown studying at AC? I believe the challenge is not what you study, the challenge is dependent on God and where he wants to take you. This year has definitely made me more mature. I have learnt to wait on the lord to reveal my plan. Isaiah Chapter 40 verse 31 “Those who wait in the Lord will renew their strength”. I have learned that the waiting is more important than the promise. Q: What are you most excited about for the future? I am excited for Gods plan for me. I am thankful for what God has done for me so far. I am excited to see how God will work through me, my family, friends and my church. Q: How does your study align with God’s call and purpose for your life? I have always wanted to become an engineer and a pastor, as I grew up people spoke into my life and I thought going to college will be one step to lead me closer to my purpose. I plan on studying engineering next year but will hopefully continue my Christian studies with a Master of Leadership.

PETER AKIKI

Certificate IV in Leadership

Whatever you are designed to do, Alphacrucis College can help you achieve your purpose. Apply now for a 2017 start. www.ac.edu.au

Q: What was your inspiration to study at AC? I’ve always wanted to go to Bible College and study. I have chosen AC since it relates to my Pentecostal worldviews

COMMUNITY FOCUS BY PAUL BARTLETT

ationally ACC churches do an incredible job engaging their communities. There are so many stories of churches supporting, empowering and building strong relationships in their local communities. My heart and vision is to see every church in our great movement equipped and passionate to see their community full of opportunity and assets. We want to be able to engage every member of our communities – and see our cities thrive and built stronger together. This requires shifts! Moving from doing outreach to city-wide transformation. Outreach is often event based, largely dependent on timing and will always be restricted by budget. Transformation is the business of consistently finding your church in spaces where others are not. City-wide transformation allows you to shape conversations, policies and even architecture, because your city trusts you. Moving from Sunday to Monday. Moving from Sunday to Monday asks the question ‘who is it that we exist for?’ Are we a church that only tries to get people to come on a Sunday or is Monday an opportunity to be the church? Moving from Sunday to Monday is a movement, not just for the church corporately to see their facilities and pastors as great assets to the community, but also for each person a part of the church to see themselves as incredibly valuable wherever they find themselves Monday to Saturday. Moving from finding a need and meeting it to find what your city loves and join them.

Community engagement gives you an opportunity to partner with many things going on in your community; we don’t need to think of an idea to be a part of it. What is it that our community loves to do and that we can join them in it? We want to walk alongside you in this journey. We recognise that each community is different, so we want to offer one on one coaching. We will help you research your community, find its unique strengths and discover how you can engage by finding what your city loves. We’ll walk you through the journey of becoming known, valued, included and then invited to be part of your community. If this is something you’re interested in, let us know and we’ll send you through more specific information. Email community.engagement@acc.org.au Why don’t you journey with us and share your ideas and your stories. Let’s help each other think differently and act selflessly in this time God has given us. Gather with others doing the journey.

Photo by Stephen White

Paul Bartlett is the National Director of ACC Community Engagement.

NEWS

ommunity engagement stories from around the nation from local ACC churches are doing in their local area.

SA | ADELAIDE Big Sunday is ordinary, everyday people combining together to contribute back to those in the community who are struggling to survive, are marginalised through isolation, poverty, disability or sickness. Big Sunday acts to provide hope to hopeless situations through practical service. On Big Sunday Weekend there are opportunities for every passion, talent, skill and age. Projects are scheduled throughout the weekend, and can last anywhere from one hour to a full day. These projects range from handyman jobs at local not-for-profits, yard clean ups, visiting the elderly in nursing homes, assisting local animal shelters to providing social inclusion opportunities for various people groups.

VIC | GLENROY HOPE CENTRE A new playground has opened at Glenroy Hope Centre church, and everyone is invited to slide on in. Senior pastor David Nair said the church received $32,000 from Moreland Council for the ‘Caterpillars’ playground, which it hoped would become a community asset. “We are trying to build a culture that there’s no catch in this — we are just trying to make our community a better place to live in,” Mr Nair said. “I have been here four years as the pastor of the church and I am trying to turn this place into a community hub, rather than just on a Sunday morning.”

NSW | PORT MACQUARIE WOMEN’S SHED For 20 years, NSW ACC State Conference has been held in Port Macquarie. This year, NSW ACC decided they wanted to give something back to a supportive, innovative project in the local area – in a small way thanking the community that has welcomed them every year. They had the opportunity to present Port Macquarie Women’s Shed with $3000 donated from a special offering. The Women’s Shed are a local community initiative where women learn together as friends, enabling women to learn traditional men’s based skills. The conference delegates gave these women a standing ovation and the utmost respect in the way they were thanked and treated. It was fantastic to show support for what they are doing. The Women’s Shed were so grateful to receive this donation. MORE STORIES: www.acccommunityengagement. org.au

C H In your A DNA P L A I N C Y BY RALPH ESTHERBY

CC Churches come in lots of different shapes and sizes – diversity is one aspect of our strength. Whilst the size of the congregation may be different, whether we own buildings or rent them, as you step inside an ACC church, you know that you are ‘at home’. Certain things are the same no matter where you go… a passion for the lost, a focus on worship, a desire to meet the needs of whole families and a determination to make a difference to the community that we are part of. One of the ways that ACC Churches are growing their impact and making a difference is through Chaplaincy. In the same way that evangelism, worship, kids ministry and youth are a part of who we are, Chaplaincy is rapidly becoming part of the ACC’s DNA. More and more ACC churches are reporting that they have a Chaplaincy expression attached to their church, and more and more are reporting that it is having an impact – they may have a trained Chaplain who is working in the local aged care facility or a school Chaplain who is a member of their church or maybe one of the Pastors or even the Senior Pastor is also a Chaplain connected to the community in some formal or informal way. The fact is that Chaplaincy is expanding into every sector of Australian life – it is not limited to disaster zones or hospitals, it now finds expression wherever there are groups of people – wherever there is need for support – a chaplain can make a difference. My observation is that the community is beginning to understand what a Chaplain is and what they represent – for the most part Chaplains are welcomed and embraced by the organisations they serve and where the Chaplain is effective, they rapidly become an integral part of the organisation’s capacity to care for their clients. Chaplaincy takes us into places that our normal church cannot go; it opens doors which have been shut for many years, and explores possibilities for individuals on a different level. It builds our effectiveness and strengthens our Churches. Chaplaincy Australia is committed to the task of Discovering, Developing and Deploying Chaplains. We are all about helping churches engage their communities and resourcing the church to help it fulfil its task. Chaplaincy Australia brings all ACC people working in the various sectors of Chaplaincy together in a cohesive, connected network that builds strength, effectiveness and accountability at the highest level… However, there are many ACC people currently working in Chaplaincy ministry are not yet members of the CA network and so we would encourage every Pastor to encourage their Chaplains to accredit with CA so that they can help us build and support Chaplaincy to even higher levels. Our Goal is to get to the point where every ACC in the Nation has a chaplaincy ministry attached…. We are looking forward to when Chaplaincy is an intrinsic part of our DNA. So if you are interested in exploring Chaplaincy or if you have Chaplains in your church who are not yet part of Chaplaincy Australia, head to our website www.chaplaincyaustralia.com and connect with us.

Ralph Estherby is the National Director. of Chaplaincy Australia 24

www.chaplaincyaustralia.com

DEVELOPING A FAMILY SPENDING PLAN

BY TIM MACREADY

Planning is not always fun, but it does help us to achieve goals in the areas of saving and freedom from debt, while meeting basic needs. A successful spending plan should be a team effort. It’s a good opportunity to communicate and make joint decisions about managing your finances, not being managed by them. Bringing children into the process of planning and praying about financial decisions can help them to better understand money and develop good habits for life. To set up a spending plan, there are three simple steps: 1. Begin with your current situation. Determine how much money is earned and spent. If your wages are not consistent, make a conservative estimate of your annual income and divide by 12 for a monthly income. Keep a record of every dollar spent for one month to get an accurate picture. You can then use your monthly income and expenses to develop a good idea of what things will look like over a year, but don’t forget to include big one-off expenses as well.

in a consumer-driven world is to see everything as a necessity, but usually they aren’t really when we stop and think about them. Being intentional in the small decisions (taking lunch from home or foregoing a morning coffee) can result in savings that can really add up. And of course, there are big decisions (downsizing your house or opting for a second hand car) that can make a significant difference as well. Sometimes, forcing ourselves to use cash rather than a debit or credit card can make us rethink spending decisions and help to save money too!

2. If your expenses are more than you earn, there is a solution. By writing your income and expenses 3. Don’t stop! down you now have a picture of your Being intentional about our finances is financial situation. Well done! But difficult to begin and even more difficult often, this first attempt doesn’t result in a positive number at the bottom. There are two solutions – either www.christiansuper.com.au increase income or decrease expenses. Increasing income may not be an option. Even if it’s possible to earn more, sometimes the sacrifices to do so (time, family, relationships) aren’t worth it. So for most of us, we need to learn how to manage our expenses effectively. This means learning to ask what is absolutely necessary, and working out our priorities. Balancing these is difficult, and our temptation 26

to maintain. Think of it like a lifestyle, rather than a crash-diet. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but each step towards intentionality in your decisions will help you to be financially healthier. “Through godly wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. By knowledge shall its chambers be filled with precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4 Tim Macready is the Chief Investment Officer at Christian Super. www.christiansuper.com.au

CHRISTIAN SUPER IS A PARTNER OF THE 2017 ACC NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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2017 DIARY MARCH COLOUR WOMENS CONFERENCE Conf 1: 16 – 18 March 2017 Conf 2: 20 – 22 March 2017 Theatre at ICC, Sydney www.colourconference.com

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MAY ACC NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2 – 4 May 2017 Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre Broadbeach www.acc.org.au/conference

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JUNE ACC KIDSHAPER NATIONAL TOUR 2 – 10 June 2017 Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth www.acckids.org.au/nationaltour/ http://acckids.org.au/nationaltour/

JULY PANASIA MISSIONS CONFERENCE 31st July - 3rd August 2017 Novotel Phuket Resort, Thailand www.accimissions.org.au/panasia2017

www.accimissions.org.au/panasia2017

AUGUST KIDSHAPER CONFERENCE 15 – 17 August 2017 Gold Coast www.acckids.org.au/kidshaper17

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