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IN CONVERSATION Journey Church’s Artists and Young Adults Pastor, Brett Mabury, talks about his Christian faith and life in Tennessee. PAGE 12 >>
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
“God’s way of preparing us for what’s ahead is almost never what we would expect … but it’s only God who knows exactly what we need for a future only he can see.” BONNIE DOWIE PAGE 13>>
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7 Christmas events
Photo: Phil Gabrielson
A collection of upcoming Christmas events across Western Australia >>
Pastor Rex Gabrielson and his wife Faye recently celebrated more than 40 years of ministry with Girrawheen Baptist Church.
40 years of service For more than 40 years, members of Girrawheen Baptist Church have prayed, laboured, given, persevered and made sacrifices that the life and witness of Jesus Christ may be evident and effective in their community. Central to the Girrawheen Baptist Church story and its celebrations, is its long serving Pastor, Rex Gabrielson, and his wife Faye, who after 40 years continue to faithfully serve and provide stability, care and compassion to the Girrawheen community. “From a small beginning, under God’s providence, we have come to this point of time when we reflect with thankfulness and we can say with confidence ‘This far has the Lord helped us’ [1 Sam 7:12],” Girrawheen Baptist Church Secretary Pedro Cruz said. Rex was appointed as Worker Pastor at Girrawheen Baptist
Church on 28 April 1972. Prior to that he had received Theological training and pastored a Methodist Church in the Eastern States before returning to Western Australia. After completing a year of studies at the Baptist Theological College, Rex and Faye threw themselves wholeheartedly into the Yokine Outreach Work. “It soon became apparent to us through the increasing preaching assignments that here was a man within our own ranks, called of God, gifted and able to lead us,” Pedro said. On 14 October 1973, a full-time program of services commenced
with 14 members from Yokine Baptist Church, plus other supporters and inquirers. The group changed its name from the Balga Fellowship to the Girrawheen Fellowship, and was officially recognised by the Baptist Churches Western Australia in 1974. An initial three-year, fulltime term as pastor began on 1 August 1977, and became the forerunner of many renewal calls to Rex, showing the appreciation of his leadership from the Church’s members. The unbroken continuity of the leadership, together with other key personnel remaining in Office from the outset has reportedly provided the church with great stability and impetus. When asked about his longevity in ministry at Girrawheen, Rex said, “There
11 Celebrating Luther Reformation Day drew unexpected crowds in Germany >> was a very certain call that we were sure about in our coming to minister in Girrawheen. We weren’t planning on being here – ministry in Queensland was a very real possibility – but the Lord had other plans for us here in Girrawheen.” “A highlight for me was the small core of people who committed to the journey and held to the vision in the early days – this was wonderful. This vision has stayed over the years even as people have moved on. Our church has a passion to reach out to the people of Girrawheen,” Rex said. “The passion and vision was evident in the starting of Emmanuel Christian Community School and the impact of this vision has seen marvellous results.”
Building healthy churches. BAPTIST CHURCHES WESTERN AUSTRALIA