Paul BartlettACC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community engagement is embedded into our culture. The strength of our gospel is not simple to be the mouthpiece of our great message but the hands and feet of Jesus to the many lonely, disconnected, and struggling people. When we get this combination right, people are transformed.

Leadership Like most National ministry departments, we aim to have a representative Community Engagement Leader in each state: National Leader – Paul Bartlett NSW/ACT – Andrew Harper WA – Josh Fernandez VIC – Daniel Sanders TAS – Dermot Cottuli Tara Conradt and John Rewald have stepped down from their role as WA and QLD/NT leaders, we thank them for their hard work and amazing loyalty to Community Engagement. We are currently looking to fill the positions in SA and QLD/NT. Stats

During 2019 and 2020 we continued to train ACC pastors and leaders. Diploma of Community Services: This course is designed to equip people to think and act differently regarding community transformation. In partnership with Alphacrucis and ACC Community Engagement we were able to offer this course in person and online during 2020. In 2019 10 Students were enrolled and in 2020 , there were 14 students. Events

Because of our inability to host large gatherings during 2020, we were unable to host our ACC Community Engagement Conference. However, as many organisations did, we moved online. The Community Engagement team hosted over 130 participants for the first online Summit on September 10, 2020. As part of the Summit Paul Bartlett shared from Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of our tent” and focused on finding new ways to do this, not just hanging on till we can go back to doing what we used to do. State Leaders were also given opportunity to provide practical suggestions on how to engage with your community and Nic Mackay, National Director for Cinnamon Network Australia, was able to update the participants on the relationship between ACC and Cinnamon.

Because of the success of this format the Community Engagement team intend to host three more Summits during 2021. Training and Equipping We are almost at the end of our five year strategy to turn the inspiration of Community Engagement into training and qualifications available to every Pastor and Church. Our ‘Building Strong Communities’ one day workshop was on hold in 2020 but the team is looking to reshape this to be an online course during 2021. The course to date has been run in every state in Australia.

Highlights Covid -19 Response During 2020 many churches responded with kindness towards their community, giving out hampers, checking in on neighbours. Below right, is one story from Link Church on how they engaged with their community during a challenging time. New Initiatives

Cinnamon Network Australia

During 2019 a partnership was formed between ACC Community Engagement and Cinnamon Network Australia. This partnership involves: 1. Our relationship now and in the future is one of mutual relationship to achieve community outcomes through ACC churches. 2. ACC endeavours to have a representative at each of the Cinnamon Advisory councils in each state, all other denominations have a representative. 3. Cinnamon Faith Action Audit (CFAA) The CFAA enables the faith community in a local region to measure their collective social impact. More specifically, the CFAA puts a monetary value on the time given by churches and other faith organisations to serve those experiencing vulnerability, isolation or injustice. The desire for every CFAA is that it might help increase collaboration within and between faith traditions, open doors to government and other sectors, and demonstrate that faith really can be a force for good. The first CFAA completed in Australia was in 2020 in the region of the Illawarra. The following data was presented to local government leaders in a report: Together for the Illawarra – a collaboration of local Ministers focused on community transformation, led by Ps Paul Bartlett and Captain Phil Inglis from the Salvation Army joined with Cinnamon Network Australia to conduct a Faith Action Audit of the Illawarra. This audit enables the faith community in a local region to measure their collective social impact. The audit puts a monetary value on the time given by churches and other faith organisations to serve their community. 101 Surveyed responses (over half of all faith based organisations in the Illawarra) 143 Community service activities addressing 15 of the greatest social needs 141,676 interactions with people in need (equivalent to half the population of Wollongong & Shellharbour combined) $9,710,210 worth of social impact value to the Illawarra region every year (doesn’t include material assistance) Goals and vision

Over the next two years we will continue to make available our training courses to all churches and leaders in the ACC, with the goal of having one person in each church qualified in the Diploma of Community Services. We would also like to see more local areas partner with Cinnamon Network Australia to conduct a Faith Action Audit.

Crisis is the great accelerator and while Covid was terrible, it highlighted to us as leaders that we simply can’t rely on people to walk through our doors. The strong churches of the future will be those that have a DNA of community engagement that has them connected to their community seven days a week physically and online. Don’t forget no matter what your size of church every church needs the credibility of at least one qualified community leaders. We offer the Diploma of Community Services in partnership with AC College in every state. Thank you for all you do in loving and serving your community!

LINK CHURCH RECEIVES NSW COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Link Church pastors Glen & Clare Wysman, were announced as the recipients of the NSW Government’s 2020 Pittwater Community Service Award.

The award was presented by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes during a visit to the church’s food distribution headquarters at Warriewood.

Link Church’s team of volunteers provide a range of support programs aimed at assisting local families during COVID-19, particularly the provision of low cost meals and essential food items.

Rob Stokes, Member for Pittwater, said, “Glen and Clare are great examples of the extraordinary efforts people have made to support our community during COVID-19. Along with their fantastic team of volunteers – they sprang into action at the start of the pandemic, gathered resources and quickly adapted support programs. “COVID-19 has been devastating in so many ways, but it’s also exposed how much goodwill and kindness exists within our community. “This award has never been more relevant than in 2020 – and it’s a fitting recognition of Glenn and Clare’s leadership and the immeasurable benefits their initiatives have provided. “The work Link Church is doing is also an important reminder of how widespread and deep the impacts of COVID-19 have been within our community – and why we must remain vigilant, follow the health advice and continue to look out for those who may need help. “I’m delighted the Premier was able to join me in presenting such an important award to Glen and Clare.”