Vision to 'Go'

Leadership

Our State Leadership team continues to grow and change. At last year's state conference, we said farewell and thank you to Tracy Shand for her years of service on the State Executive, and we welcomed Katrina Yassi to the team.

Ian Kruithoff retired after 15 years of faithful service as our Church Health Director, during which he saw over 200 church plants and invested into the health of many more churches. We thank Ian for his faithful service, and we welcome Phil Shand as he steps into this role.

We have had some other department changes: Todd Werner is leading ACC Vic Kids, Mark Penny for Chaplaincy Victoria, Franca Heins leading ACC Women and Lois Spinella looking after our regions.

Stats

God continues to raise up new leaders in Victoria. In the last two years we have processed 238 credential applications. We have endorsed 31 new churches, bringing us to a total of 300 active churches in our state.

Resources & Training

Out state is well equipped with faithful, godly people who invest their time into our churches and pastors. Some of the highlights over the last two years are:

• Youth Alive Equip Days: Led by Dave Edgar and YA Vic, these events invest in the youth pastors and leaders of our state.

• Indigenous Initiative ‘My Story’: This workshop, developed by John & Robyn Murray, equips local churches to engage and communicate effectively with the aboriginal people in their local communities.

We receive excellent feedback on how valuable this workshop is every time it is run.

• Pastors Intensive: Over the last two years we have had 133 Pastors complete our Pastors Intensive course and gain their Ministry Essentials certificate.

• Mentoring Matters: Graham Shand continues to resource our state with the Mentoring Matters program, which in March this year had 60 pastors attend.

Events

Our 2022 State conference was the first in-person conference we have held in Victoria since I was elected State President. It was our largest conference, with over 1400 attendees. We had fantastic teaching and ministry, and there was an overwhelming sense of family, connection and vision in the room, as we all came together after 2 years of some of the harshest isolation rules in Australia.

Last year we held three Super Regional Events across our state with our National President Wayne Alcorn. These events were fantastic and brought great value to our local churches.

Vision

The vision for Victoria is to ‘Go’. After a period of great restriction, it is time to ‘go' and disciple, church plant, evangelise, and stir and increase the Church. We are focusing on the health of our pastors and the local church, believing that they will go from strength to strength, be equipped, encouraged, and supported as they sow their hearts and talents into their people.

It is truly a privilege to serve the state of Victoria!

Matt Heins, VIC State President