theadvocate.tv
“Faith still comforts in times of turmoil.” SIMON SMART PAGE 8
JULY 2011
in conversation Aaron Gillespie explains why his life has been turned upside down PAGE 10 >>
6 Reconciliation Week remembered
Photo: Paul White
Australian Baptist leaders recommitted their churches to work together with Indigenous people >>
The Jabiru Jets on the Gibb River Road Challenge.
Charity in the outback The Jabiru Jets, a team of bike riders from Derby Baptist Church completed the Gibb River Road Challenge riding from Derby to El Questro Station in May.
Susannah Warwick (team leader), Pastor Paul White (coach), Jonno Morling (rider), Raymond Te-amo (rider) Laurel White (roadie) and Robin Maher (roadie) all come from Derby. Sam White (rider) from Bendigo in Victoria was also part of the team. The gruelling 700 kilometre ride attracted 72 teams, made up of several riders and at least one support vehicle, from all over Australia. The event is a fundraising opportunity as well as an endurance event through some of the most scenic country in Australia. This year’s extended wet season saw the ride re-routed to include the sealed Great Northern Highway instead of the gravelled Gibb River Road. The Durack River was still flowing at 1.1 metres making it a dubious crossing for vehicles and bicycles. Half of the funds raised through the event went to WA Police Legacy, which helps families of police officers who are killed in the line of duty. The balance of funds raised by the Jabiru Jets went to Kingdom
Aviation Ministries, which provides pastoral care and education for communities, remote and public schools and stations in the Kimberley area. More than 300 riders departed from outside the King Sound Resort in Derby on Sunday 8 May heading for Ellendale, 190 km from town. Day two, the competitors and 140 support vehicles headed to Mary’s Pool, battling easterly head winds most of the way. Cattle trucks with three triple decker trailers loaded with cattle were another challenge. Cars and caravans were put to the test as they encountered the entourage chugging along at 15 to 35 kilometres an hour. Day three, the Gibb River Road Challenge brigade descended on Halls Creek by car and on to the next leg of the ride, the entrance to the Bungle Bungles. Vehicles transported the riders to the Victoria Highway intersection with the Gibb River Road. “It was different to what we had been experiencing to this
point,” Paul White said. “Dust, rolling stone, wash outs, water across the road.” One team member had a bad spill and suffered concussion, a broken helmet and needed sutures in her arm. The 80 km journey ended at Hope Valley Station where the group queued for toilets and showers. The final leg of the Challenge brought the teams to
El Questro Station. A highlight of the Challenge for Paul White was when a Brahman bull joined him for a road race. Crossing the Pentecost River was inspirational, but the threat of salt water crocodiles was challenging. The Jabiru Jets are planning to compete in the Challenge again next year.
Proposed prostitution bill A draft prostitution bill was tabled in State Parliament on 14 June for public comment. State Liberal Parliamentary MPs are permitted to vote with their conscience on this matter. “The announcement that Liberal Members of Parliament will be granted a free vote on this issue is a reflection of the high calibre of our government,” Member for the South Metropolitan Region, Hon. Nick Goiran MLC said. “Given the global failure of legalised models, such a move ensures that each MP can truly engage with this issue and consider the concerns of their constituents.” Nick Goiran encourages as many people as possible to write
to or visit their State MPs opposing the proposed tolerated zones. Linda Watson, former madam, supports the government’s stated intention to fund exit programs, but worries that a huge step backwards would be taken if tolerated zones were established. “Prostitution harms prostitutes — it damages their mental health, physical health and relationships — abuse that no woman should ever have to suffer.” MP Nick Goiran agrees, “Since no law reform model has ever, or will ever eradicate prostitution — the very least Parliament can do is send the right message to our community — women are not for sale in Western Australia.”
11 Drugs in Bangladesh Youth First Concerns Bangladesh recently held seminars for 23,000 Bangladesh police >>
16 Rally chaplain makes a difference Racing legend Peter Brock’s death changed Kim van Keule’s life as a Sports Chaplain >>
We are stronger when we work together. BAPTIST CHURCHES WESTERN AUSTRALIA
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my view JULY 2011
On air with Graham Mabury Over the time I’ve had the privilege of serving as President of our family of churches, we’ve adopted a new constitution, a completely new vision statement and ten new strategic goals. As I ‘mused’ on what has been a great journey, I rediscovered ‘musing’ from this column, back in 2005.
Graham Mabury Graham Mabury is a broadcaster and pastor at Mt Pleasant Baptist Church. You can hear Graham on Radio 6PR (882AM) every weeknight from 8:00 pm to midnight.
One thing on which I ‘muse’ and from which I draw great encouragement, is the number of healthy, growing churches in our city that are finding an increasing number of ways to work together. We’re not only following Jesus and obeying His call to mission — we’re doing it together. With the Lordship of Jesus as the central criterion, this is unity built around the highest common
factor, rather than the lowest common denominator. In 2006, three Victorian denominations commissioned research into the emerging missional church. It’s following Jesus in quite different ways, yet the DNA described resonates strongly with what is happening here. For instance, they’re realising God is not obligated to our mission statements, but
always backs up His! Their vision is ‘An empowering movement helping pastors, ministries, churches and their communities say ‘Yes’ to Jesus’. They discovered that true spiritual leadership operates through honour rather than control, relationship rather than membership. The spiritual performance is mentality being replaced by sensitivity to God’s presence and power. They are committed to providing multiple ways to develop relationships and deepen trust. They value living lives that are fully dependent on God, and generous hearts that are committed to building the kingdom of God.
The research found that in the emerging church, individuals in ministry are taking the kingdom out to change the world rather than bringing the people in to sustain programs. In our family of churches, with God’s help, we aim to break down walls of gender, age, race and culture by utilising the diversity of people gifts and abilities. Jesus is building His church. He’s using us, His followers, rich in our diversity to, “display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” [Eph 3:10 NLT]
Yet I still dare to hope ... In a moment of madness, our preaching team decided that we’d tackle Jeremiah. No, we’re not brave enough to cover all of its 52 chapters, nor the five chapters of its sequel, Lamentations, but we have agreed to a seven week airing.
Dr Brian Harris Dr Brian Harris is the Principal of Vose Seminary and Senior Pastor of Carey Community Baptist Church.
We reasoned that the gloomy tone of this ancient prophecy would reflect the icy winter weather, and that if our congregation was ever going to be in a mood to think through sombre topics, it would be whilst it was bucketing down with rain. For those who don’t understand the challenge of sermonizing through Jeremiah, try these snippets as starters ...
“You are stained with guilt that cannot be washed away.” [2:21] “Waves of destruction roll over the land until it lies in complete desolation.” [4:20] “Run for your lives.” [6:1] “Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don’t beg me to help them, for I will not listen to you.” [7:16] “Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow
and shame.” [20:18] And from Lamentations, “My tears flow down endlessly. They will not stop.” [Lam 3:49]. Now I have often struggled to decide which my favourite Bible verse is, but I can honestly say that none of these have ever been contenders! For all that, prepare yourself for some surprises. If in a tense contest of trivial pursuit you are asked, “Which prophet is cited most often by Jesus?” Reply that it was none other than the prophet from Anathoth — Jeremiah by name. He teaches us some tough lessons — perhaps none more difficult than that we
sometimes need the courage to accept God’s silence. And even though Jeremiah proclaims doom, he hints at the dawn of a new day and a new covenant. And in what is actually one of my favourite Bible verses, (in Lamentations of all places!), he bursts out: “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the Lord never ends.” [Lam 3:21-22] Yet I still dare to hope ...
letters to the editor Dear Editor There are at least 20 million bonded child labourers in India right now. Tiny fingers are being pricked by needles as they sew sequins onto silk saris. Little toes are being crushed as they carry rocks in the quarry. A million pairs of lungs are inhaling harsh chemicals as they glue soles onto shoes in leather factories. And I am thinking about lunch, and what to wear to dinner tonight. I get angry when people show their ignorance of matters like child slavery, but my own indifference is the worst. Bek, Forrestfield
Dear Editor A revolution is upon us, but it may have passed unnoticed. As a child growing up at North Beach Baptist I remember the bulletin being prepared on an old tumbler
style printing machine. These days many churches are moving away from communicating through paper altogether. At Inglewood Community Church we now produce a monthly bulletin only, and focus more on electronic communication within our congregation. Just about everyone who has started attending our Church in the past two years has ‘visited’ us on our website before walking through the front doors. From my Facebook list of friends I estimate that about half of our Church people are on Facebook. It has become a great way for people to send me prayer requests, thoughts and encouragement. Thankfully no one has used it to critique my sermon yet! For myself, Twitter has became a vital way to connect with the totally non-churched. In fact most of the people I connect with and discuss the issues of
send us your letters The Advocate welcomes your letters to the editor on topics of concern to you and the community. Send your letters of no more than 100 words to editor@theadvocate.tv by the 10th of each month.
the day with may never come to church. But I have found a real sense of community there, and surprising acceptance of a pastor. I have had questions, discussions and have now met some of them IRL (in real life). I imagine if Jesus was ministering in today’s time He would be connected electronically, and sharing the good news in whatever way was relevant to the time. Pastor Mark Edwards, Inglewood Community Church
disclaimer The Advocate reserves the right to edit or withhold from publication any letter for any reason whatsoever. Once received, all letters become the possession of The Advocate. The views written in ‘letters to the editor’ do not necessarily reflect the views of The Advocate or Baptist Churches Western Australia, nor does The Advocate take any responsibility of the views stated by those who write to the editor.
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JULY 2011
Dr Brian Harris prays for newly accredited Pastors S’Win Shwe and Tony
Pastor Tony Spencer and Pastor S’Win Shwe were acknowledged as fully accredited pastors following their completion of theological studies and a rigorous interview process. Matthew Malcom, Associate Pastor at North Beach Baptist Church and Viktor Zander, Pastor of the Slavic Baptist Church were accepted as accredited Baptist pastors after transferring their accreditation from other groups. S’Win Shwe came to WA from Myanmar in 1994 to work with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), specifically for the Aboriginal Cross Cultural Mission. He completed theological studies at Morling Baptist Theological
Spencer (right) at the Assembly meeting at North Beach Baptist Church.
College in Sydney. In 1999, S’Win Shwe accepted a call to pastor the newly formed Karen Baptist Fellowship. He moved away from the church in 2002, but was called again to pastor the congregation in 2005. S’Win Shwe and his wife Sandi have a seven year old daughter, Camellia. He works fulltime with the Australian Air Force Association as well as teaching and guiding the Karen Baptist Fellowship. Tony Spencer moved to Perth from the farming community of Ongerup when he was seven years old. He became a
Christian at age 17 through the influence of his boss. Through early discipleship at South Perth Church of Christ, God started to call Tony toward full-time Christian ministry. His life experience in secular work includes involvement in the ‘Sobering Up Shelter’ in Halls Creek. He has been involved in ministry with Melville Baptist Church and the Halls Creek People’s Church. After 11 years as Senior Pastor at North Beach Baptist Church he recently accepted the call to be Senior Pastor at Gosnells Baptist Church. Tony studied theology
at Trinity College. Tony and his wife Michelle have four children, Matthew, Rachel, Brayden and Caleb. Born in Russia, Viktor Zander migrated to Australia from West Germany in 1991. He has degrees in Theology, Electromechanical Engineering and Social Sciences. He moved from Melbourne to pastor the Slavic Baptist Church. Viktor is married to Irene and has adult children. Matthew Malcom was born in Perth and studied at Churchlands Senior High School. He grew up with strong connections to the church, but turned his back on God during his high school years. During his first year of studying Anthropology at the University of Western Australia, Matthew met Jesus and started serving on the staff of St Matthew’s Church in Shenton Park, finally pastoring Unichurch at UWA. He graduated from Trinity Theological College and spent three years pastoring a small fellowship at Dongara. Matthew and his wife Corinne are strong team players and enjoy ministering at North Beach Baptist Church.
Photo: Global Interaction
The accreditation of two pastors and welcoming two other pastors who transferred their accreditation to Baptist Churches Western Australia were highlights of the May Assembly meetings of the family of Baptist Churches throughout WA.
Photo: BCWA
New pastors welcomed Global Interaction’s Director, Keith Jobberns will be in Perth in early August.
GI Director in Perth Engaging local communities and culture is challenging for some churches. The lifetransforming story of Jesus has answers. The ways and means of communicating that truth are constantly changing variables. Keith Jobberns has many years of experience as a leader and practitioner in pastoral ministry in Australia and cross-culturally. “There are lessons we can learn from cross-cultural mission that help us think about how we can genuinely engage in incarnational ministry in our backyard,” Keith said. As General Director of Global Interaction, Keith Jobberns will meet with WA pastors in Perth on Thursday 4 August. For more information call 6313 6300.
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Men’s Sheds across the state offer a safe place for men to be together, to talk about men’s issues and just do ‘blokey’ things together. That’s how Pastor Paul McKeich of Mt Barker Baptist Church describes the burgeoning community program. The Shed is a place where men will talk more openly while they are involved in doing some practical work. Several Baptist Churches are involved with the community program that focuses specifically on men’s needs. For Christian men the shed is an opportunity to meet men from their local community and build friendships to a point where any man can openly and naturally talk about his spiritual journey. “We also decided from the
beginning that these Shed nights would be advertised as smokefree and alcohol free. We didn’t want the Shed night to become just another booze-up.” Paul said. “Our shed has a clear objective in our constitution to promote the health and wellbeing of men. We also have an objective to ‘improve the spiritual health of men’. “Its early days for the Plantagenet-Mt Barker Men’s Shed. We don’t have our own premises, so the group is very keen to refurbish the disused historical apple-draying sheds at the Mt Barker Railway Station,” Paul said. “We’re planning to run a daytime drop-in centre and workshop for retired and elderly men as well as run evening and weekend events for working men,” he said. With households down-sizing and house blocks shrinking, access to a shed in metropolitan regions is becoming more difficult. The Men’s Sheds program offers an opportunity for men to work in sheds and is booming across the state.
Photo: Colin Meadows
Community Men’s Sheds
Neil Porteous, Stephen Mitchell and Don Buchanan working together on a project at the Riverton Men’s Shed.
Men’s Sheds meet regularly to work on practical projects, including woodwork. For most men a conversation in a coffee shop isn’t going to promote personal engagement, but as Colin Meadows from Riverton Baptist Church who often drops in at the local Men’s Shed said, “you get further in conversation
by working side by side, rather than face to face.” Working with the City of Canning, Riverton Baptist Church provides the venue for the local Men’s Shed. Ray Brown, Pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church is the Chairman of the Midland Men’s Shed. “We decided that we could
work with the Men’s Shed by offering them space to use, with the possibility that a shed could be built on church land.” “We have 20 members who come every week,” Ray said. “There is always lots of cake and coffee, and lots of conversation.” Men love their sheds.
Lakeside pastor retires
Photo: SJ Creative
After serving Baptist Churches around Australia for 45 years, Arthur Payne retired in early May. The last seven years he was the Senior Pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church.
Arthur and Jane Payne at their retirement celebration.
“I have loved enabling churches to grow, to become healthy, joy filled, spirit filled places with a strong family atmosphere,” Arthur said. Arthur studied at the Baptist
digital church 15/06/2011
Jared Wilson
14/06/2011
Shaun King twitter.com/ShaunKing “If it is true that God is in us, think, just for a moment, on what that means.”
13/06/2011
twitter.com/mike_friesen “We are to love people and use things, not use people and love things.”
www.bibledude.net “...by redefining what failure means we can realise that failure only happens when you do not give yourself a chance to succeed. Success comes when we share share our faith and let God take care of the rest.”
of evangelism, but I love to lead people to actually meet Jesus,” Arthur said. “While we were at Lesmurdie [Baptist Church] we saw a number of people in our home group, people from 45 to 70 years of age become Christians. That was exciting!” “Two things have helped me stay in ministry for so long: God’s call means I’ve served the Lord, and that is more important than serving the church; and Jane is the other. She is such an incredible support to me.” Arthur and Jane travel to Darwin in July for ten weeks while Arthur is the interim Pastor at Casuarina Baptist Church.
briefs
www.gospeldrivenchurch. blogspot.com “The first step to real gospel joy is real gospel brokenness. We cannot get to real happiness in God until we get to real despair of our sin.”
Joe McGarry
Theological College (now Vose Seminary) under the leadership of Dr Noel Vose from 1966 to 1969. As he studied, he worked as the Pastor at Dalkeith Baptist Church and Mt Pleasant Baptist Church. After he graduated, Arthur and Jane ministered at Geraldton and Port Hedland before moving to South Australia to serve the Mt Gambia Baptist Church. Since returning to Western Australia the Paynes ministered at Lesmurdie Baptist Church for eight years, more than a decade at Karratha Baptist Church and most recently at Lakeside Baptist Church. “I wouldn’t say I have the gift
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Mike Friesen
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Ron Edmondson twitter.com/RonEdmondson “Your leadership lid may be your degree of willingness to allow others to lead.”
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Dave Burchett www.daveburchett.com “That God sees my sin and looks on me with love is mind boggling. How can I accept that love and not at least attempt to offer it to others? Because there is not a … thing that I have done to deserve mercy like that.”
05/06/2011
Mark D Roberts www.patheos.com/community/ markdroberts “The mere fact that we are free to pour out our hearts to God is stunning.”
Marriages Philip Rumble, son of Kevin and Esther Rumble (Cranbrook Baptist Church), married Lara Ford (Mt Hawthorn Baptist Church) daughter of Garry and Kerry Ford, in Denmark on 26 March. Jack Packard (formerly of Cranbrook Baptist Church) son of Butch and Debra Packard, married Nicole Coulson, daughter of Geoff and Sandra Coulson (Riverton Baptist Church) at Riverton Baptist Church on 4 June.
from their Osborne Road buildings with their final service at 10:00 am on 31 July. Future church services will be held at the Mt Barker Community Resource Centre, for more information call 9851 1445.
Pastoral changes Tony Spencer is the new Senior Pastor at Gosnells Baptist Church. Anthony Palmieri was recently appointed Senior Pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church.
Churches celebrate
Children’s worker appointed
Maida Vale Baptist Church celebrates its 50th Anniversary on the weekend of 17 to 18 September. Mt Barker Baptist Church is moving
Alison Cross is the new BCWA Children’s Consultant. Initially the role is voluntary for several hours a week.
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JULY 2011
Serving the north Spirituality
and medicine
Photo: BCWA
Perth doctor, Lachlan Dunjey, spoke at the World Christian Doctors Network (WCDN) conference held on 11 to 12 June at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The theme of the conference was ‘Spirituality and Medicine’. More than 220 medical practitioners from 30 countries around the world attended the conference. The WCDN is an interdenominational organisation of Christian medical professionals from around the world who believe in divine healing. In 2006, Dr Dunjey established ‘Medicine with Morality’, an organisation uniting doctors across Australia to lobby members of parliament on life issues, including cloning and euthanasia, and the right to
Mark Wilson welcomes Steve and Jo Jarlett as Pastors of Karratha Baptist Church.
Baptist Churches Western Australia (BCWA) representatives, Mark Wilson, Director of Ministries and Steve Ingram, Church Liaison Consultant, visited Karratha, Tom Price, Newman and Port Hedland Baptist Churches on their six day trip to the North West at the beginning of June. “We wanted to go and see the people we serve,” Mark said. “I talk with our North West Pastors regularly, but it was pretty special to be there in person.” At Karratha Baptist Church Mark inducted Senior Pastor Steve Jarlett and Associate Pastor Jo Jarlett to the Church. “It really was a great celebration as Steve and Jo were formally appointed to serve the church,” Mark said. “Steve is
full-time and Jo is going to be working three days a week.” The Jarletts have been involved in ministry for many years in Victoria. Jo will continue her role as Australian Baptist Women’s Ministry National Leader. She was the leader of Victoria’s women’s ministry before moving to Karratha. The Jarletts have adult children in Victoria and a young son with them in Karratha. Later in the day, 25 people, including pastors, elders, deacons, youth leaders, children’s workers, worship team members and ministry leaders, from the church spent five hours with Steve completing the Safe Church seminar. Karratha is the last of a long line of churches to complete the Safe Church Awareness workshop. One participant commented they, “had no idea how important this stuff was,” another said, “I can now relate better to these issues and feel more aware.” “There was good interaction and questions,” Steve said. “Good discussion as to what was appropriate in that particular setting.”
While in Newman, Mark attended a Martu meeting with Angela and John Wilmot, the newly appointed part-time Pastor at Newman Baptist Church. Mark was recognised by two Martu women he had taught when they were in primary school at Jigalong 26 years ago. “How incredible is that? They knew my Martu name and skin group,” Mark said. Mark and Steve were interviewed on community radio in Newman. “While we were in Tom Price, we gathered with church leaders before dawn on the peak of Mt Nameless and prayed for the town and region as the sun rose, revealing the town below,” Mark said. In Port Hedland, Mark and Steve met with church leaders and were able to support and pray with Pastor John and Rosemary Harris, who are facing very difficult family circumstances. Steve expects to visit the region again as all the churches want to run the Safe Church Seminar.
Perth doctor, Lachlan Dunjey, promotes liberty of conscience.
Photo: Rocky
Storm batters Busso campsite A winter storm battered the Busselton Baptist Camping Centre on 13 June eroding about six metres of beach, destroying the beach access staircase and toppling a peppermint tree, home to a local ring tail possum. During the night, huge waves dumped seaweed along the footings of chalets closest to the beach. Director of Camp Ministries, Ross Daniels said that although the damage was extensive, it would not stop people enjoying the camping experience at Busselton. “We have to do some
The June storm caused extensive damage to the Busselton Baptist Camp.
temporary repairs to make things safe, then, we’ll look at what needs to happen for permanent solutions,” Ross Daniels said.
Immediate repairs include installing a temporary septic system after the storm surge exposed a large septic tank.
practice medicine according to conscience. In the same year, he started a conscience in medicine declaration for Australian doctors. “Liberty of conscience is critical for individual doctors as it lies at the very heart of our integrity,” he said. “It is conscience that must compel doctors to refuse to participate in treatments they believe to be unethical. “ Dr Dunjey is a member of Morley Baptist Church and a former President of Baptist Churches Western Australia (1989-90). As well as working in general practice, Dr Dunjey writes and lectures on depression, suicide prevention, counselling of the dying and bereaved. He has also written extensively on child sexual abuse, prevention of infidelity, and coping and growing through stress. His holistic approach to medicine and deep commitment to the intrinsic value of human life and freedom of speech supports his position and work on abortion, euthanasia and the defence of marriage and family.
Insurance will cover the cost of the clean-up, including removing toppled trees and repairs to structures. The camping centre, which has been a focal point for families and churches enjoying time away from home for more than 40 years, can accommodate 300 people. The Baptist Churches Western Australia’s lease on the property expires in December 2011. Negotiations for the renewal of the lease continue with the Shire of Busselton. The Shire continues to assess ways of preserving the vulnerable section of coastline.
Share Your Will Power Thinking about your Will? Call 1300 789 991 or visit baptistworldaid.org.au/ bequests for a copy of Baptist World Aid Australia’s ‘Guide to Wills and Bequests’
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news JULY 2011
Reconciliation Week remembered
The statement acknowledges Aboriginal and Islander people as the custodians of the land and its resources. It expresses deep sadness and regret at the injustice and mistreatment suffered by Indigenous people as a result of European colonisation, and seeks forgiveness for the wrongs done to Indigenous people by Baptists. “We call on all Baptists in Australia to work together with Indigenous people to heal the wounds of the past and to establish Australian society on a more just and harmonious foundation. We call on every Baptist church, Baptist union and Baptist agency to consider ways in which practical reconciliation might be modelled as an
expression of our commitment to Christian mission,” Australian Baptist Ministries spokesperson, Rev. Rod Benson, said. “We urge Federal, State and Local Governments to enact just laws and policies to enhance the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, with particular attention to health, housing, education and employment,” Rev. Benson said. In Western Australia, the Indigenous congregation at Mt Zion Baptist Church participated in Reconciliation Week activities. On Sunday 5 June, at the end of Reconciliation week, Pastor Keith Truscott taught the children of the congregation in Sunday
Photo: Jill Birt
Australian Baptist leaders recommitted their churches to work together with Indigenous people to create a more just society and model reconciliation as an expression of Christian mission when they released a new statement on reconciliation ahead of National Reconciliation Week, which began on 27 May.
Pastor Keith Truscott and members of the Mt Zion Baptist Church celebrate National Reconciliation Week.
School while his wife, Stephanie, preached to the adults, helping the group explore God’s vision for strong families. “We attended the Reconciliation events in Wellington Square. There was a strong focus on the importance of family,” Pastor Truscott said. “You know our people have never recovered from the Stolen Generation. We still need help.” Pastor Trustcott believes Indigenous people will be encouraged by the Baptist response.
“Many of our people feel like they’re orphans and they need support and encouragement,” he said. “You know I still have people say to me, ‘how can I talk with Aboriginal people I meet?’ Let me say, just gently ask questions. Talk about family. Ask about food, and fishing. Talk about football. White people don’t need to be afraid.” Pastor Truscott is very interested to hear from metropolitan churches who want to partner with the Mt Zion Church. People from the Martu, Nyoongar and Wongai groups
meet weekly to worship at the Church. “Our church has been struggling along for 18 years. There are many things people could help us with,” he said. “Things like kids ministry, or helping our kids and young people get to basketball games, help after school with homework or encouraging our people to grow vegetables even.” Pastor Truscott affirmed Baptist people for their long history of helping Indigenous Australians.
Year 12 students in West Australian high schools are counting the weeks until their final exams are over and Leavers commences in the last week of November. The Leavers Green Team, coordinated by Baptist Churches Western Australia and supported by Churches of Christ Sport and Recreation Association and Curtin Ambassadors, runs The Zone in Dunsborough providing
a safer, alcohol free environment where students completing their high school studies can celebrate. Gates open at 7:00 pm each night The Zone operates and close at 1:00 am. This year, on four consecutive nights, the venue offers music, rides, games, a pamper tent and more. “We’re there to make sure the Leavers have a safe and enjoyable time,” Volunteer Coordinator Michelle Smoker said. “We need 220 volunteers to run the event,” she said. “People who have a heart to serve; people who can cope with hard work and late nights.”
Volunteers (18 to 35 years) can register their interest in joining the team at www.greenteamwa. org.au. All approved volunteers attend four training sessions in the months leading up to Leavers. Since the Green Team and other groups started running events in the area police report that the number of assaults and arrests has decreased by 91 percent. Costs of repairs and clean-up in the region are down by 58 percent. In 2010 the Green Team helped support more than 7,000 school leavers at The Zone.
display their art works. The 2011 event will run at Warwick Leisure Centre on Saturday 30 July and Sunday 31 July. “We hope to see local people of different backgrounds get involved in the event this year,” Festival Coordinator Marie Goodchild said. For more information visit www. sportandleisureministry.com.au.
author, pro-life activist and former abortion clinic employee of the year is the keynote speaker. Ms Johnson’s recent book, Unplanned, will challenge the abortion industry as the ugly underbelly is exposed by this courageous young woman. Her unique perspective from both sides of the lifeline shines light and compassion into the political and personal controversy that surrounds this issue.
Photo: David Kingston
Green Team returns
The Green Team at Leavers 2010.
briefs Personnel ready to go Harvey and Nah Taw Jones were farewelled at Esperance Baptist on 26 June. They are moving to the Silk Road in Central Asia. Alan McGrechan’s farewell will be at Parkerville Baptist Church on 11 July. He is heading to Mozambique for two years with Global Interaction.
Arts Festival The Expressions Creative Arts Festival has been running since 2008 as a joint venture between Churches of Christ Sport and Recreation Association and Baptist Churches Western Australia. It aims to encourage people of all abilities to publicly
Pregnancy Problem House Pregnancy Problem House is celebrating 25 years of lifeaffirming, free and confidential services to WA women and babies. Part of the celebration is a fundraising dinner on 11 July. Abby Johnson, best-selling
Nigerian violence Muslim extremists from the Boko Haram sect killed the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) Pastor David Usman and the church secretary, Hamman Andrew, in
Maiduguri on Tuesday 7 June. The Rev. Titus Dama Pona, Pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All in Maiduguri, said Christians in Maiduguri have become full of dread over the violence of Boko Haram, which seeks to impose ‘sharia’ (Islamic law) on northern Nigeria. “Christians have become the targets of these Muslim militants – most churches no longer carry out worship services for fear of becoming targets of these unprovoked attacks,” he said.
Sudan Up to 40,000 people have fled recent fighting between Sudanese government troops
and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in Kadugli, the capital of Sudan’s oil-producing state of South Kordofan. “The violence and displacement of people now taking place is a potential threat to the peaceful transition and independence of South Sudan,” World Council of Churches General Secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit said. In the 9 January referendum nearly 99 percent of voters in predominantly Christian and animist southern Sudan chose to secede from Sudan and so create the world’s newest nation, which on 9 July, will formally celebrate their independence.
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JULY 2011
Escaping the sex trade Understanding
Photo: Karen Wilson
insurance
Mena with Kerry and Annie Hilton at Freeset in Kolkata, India.
Sonagacchi is the largest, most infamous sex district in Kolkata, India. Within a few square miles more than 10,000 women stand in line selling their bodies to thousands of men who visit daily. New Zealanders Kerry and Annie Hilton moved into the area in 1999 and the vision of helping women choose freedom was born. Their company Freeset, now provides employment for 160 women who are choosing freedom each day as they make bags and teeshirts. WA President for Baptist Women, Karen Wilson and her husband, Mark Wilson, Director of Ministries for Baptist Churches Western Australia, spent four days with the Freeset team earlier this year. “I was humbled and deeply
Papua prisoner Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) recently asked the Government of Indonesia to release the West Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma, and respond to the proposal made by Papuan people for a dialogue process, with international mediation, to resolve the serious human rights, humanitarian, political, social and economic problems in West Papua. A CSW delegation visiting Papua recently was refused permission to see Filep Karma in Abepura prison. Mr Karma, 51, has been in jail since 2004, after he raised the West Papuan flag known as the ‘Morning Star’, a
challenged by what we saw,” Karen said. “For many of these women who have been born into the world of prostitution or have been sex slaves since they were very young, this is the first time in their lives they have been given the opportunity to make a choice about their own life.” “The women have to walk away from what they know and take a risk. They join a community of other workers and have Christ modelled to them daily. About 75 percent of the women have become Christians through the business.” West Australian women gave generously in September 2010 to support the work of Freeset after hearing about the ministry from Kerry Hilton. At the Fresh2011 conference on 17 September, Annie Hilton will be sharing more of the confronting story of how women from Sonagacchi are choosing freedom with dignity. “I count it such a privilege to come and share stories about the amazing women of my neighbourhood, Sonagacchi,”
Annie said. “May the stories of their lives encourage and inspire us on our own journeys of faith.” In India, prostitution is big business and thrives on exploitation and slavery, robbing the poor of dignity and innocence. “Many are trafficked from Bangladesh, Nepal and rural India. For others poverty has left them without options. The cries of their hungry children drive them to sell their bodies. Their stories are horrendous: A thirteen year old was stolen from her village, dragged to the back streets of Sonagacchi and sold into prostitution. Her first customer drugged and raped her unconscious body. Another young woman, a daughter of poverty-stricken parents, was sold into the sex trade by her mother, sacrificed so the rest of the family could eat.” Annie said. Mena, one of the first women to leave the line and choose freedom, now works with the Hiltons, talking with women and running the ministry.
symbol of independence. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Malaria vaccine
NZ jolted Christchurch, New Zealand, woke to more big jolts from aftershocks on 15 June. Bishop Victoria Matthews says she fears her clergy are facing ‘exhaustion of spirit’. “People are tired. They have been more than magnificent. I am hearing of a deep weariness of the soul, and I’m having to ask people to reach deep into their resources to meet yet another crisis.” She asked Christians to pray as church leaders need to keep looking after the people of God.
The United Nations reports the malaria vaccine that has eluded medical science for decades is now within reach, with the final phase of clinical trials underway in seven African countries, including Malawi, home of the Yao people and a Global Interaction team from Australia. Malaria claims 6,500 lives a year in Malawi, mostly children under the age of five. Current methods of controlling the incidence of malaria have limited success.
Over the past three months the insurance team at Baptist Churches Western Australia has assisted churches and Baptist schools with insurance claims for storm damage, burglary, malicious damage, fused motors, theft, motor vehicle accidents, public liability, accidental death and a raft of workers compensation claims. To help churches and schools understand more about the insurance cover provided through the Australian Baptist Insurance Scheme, the National Director, Kym Bennetts is coming to Western Australia to meet with church and school leaders, outlining coverage provided by the Scheme. Seminars are planned for the South West and Great Southern as well as the metropolitan area during the week of 25 to 29 July.
“This is going to be a great opportunity for pastors, treasurers, secretaries and administrators to hear from a guy who really understands insurance today and the implications for our churches and schools,” Terry Hicks, Business Manager for BCWA said. “We hope many churches and our schools will send key people to the seminars,” Mr Hicks said. “Insurance continues to change, and we need to keep up with what’s happening.” Many simple claims made through the Perth office are resolved within days. Others including major storm damage events take longer. “We’re hearing it is quite challenging at the moment to find tradespeople to make repairs,” Jill Birt, Insurance Officer at BCWA said. For more information visit www.baptistwa.asn.au.
Insurance continues to change, and we need to keep up with what’s happening.
8
feature JULY 2011
Photo: AFP
Faith still comforts in times of turmoil Last year Christopher Hitchens, the most vocal opponent of all things religious, announced he was suffering cancer of the oesophagus. This news was met with sadness both among his friends and opponents, and 20 September was declared, ‘Everybody pray for Hitchens day’. Apart from some crazies who said they’d pray that he’d rot in hell, the blogosphere was flooded with believers saying they’d pray for the famous contrarian’s body as well as his soul. The pugnacious Hitchens said that while he was under no illusion that it would do any good, he was touched by the sentiment. Very few people, when facing a crisis, will object to being prayed for.
By Simon Smart Australians have been doing it tough lately and might well be looking to the heavens for answers or even to voice their objections. The sunburnt country eulogised by Dorothea Mackellar can be a cruel place and plenty of Australian families subject to the fury of flood, fire and cyclone know it all too well. It’s fascinating to watch news footage of Prime Ministers and other leaders visiting disaster sites in Australia. Despite the cynicism and distrust of pollies in this country, they do appear to be genuinely welcomed in times of great loss and need. In tragedy people look for a leader who is strong, reassuring,
compassionate — even pastoral. But the self-conscious avoidance by politicians of any mention of faith when addressing these situations is testimony to the extent that religion has disappeared from public discourse. Anna Bligh, who has been rightly praised for her performance and poise in handling the floods and then cyclone in Queensland, assured those in the firing line of Yasi that “the thoughts of all Australians are with you.” Similarly, the Prime Minister, eager to send a message to those waiting to learn of their fate at the hands of the cyclone declared, “In the hours of destruction that are coming, all of Australia is going to be thinking of you.” It’s hard to gauge how much comfort that provides.
It’s no surprise that prayer wasn’t mentioned here. Both of these leaders have been very open about their non-belief, and it would be distasteful for them to pretend otherwise. But it’s interesting that none of their advisers see fit to include even a nod to those for whom their greatest hope lies in something more transcendent than the possible arrival of the SES. According to a large HeraldNielson poll conducted in late 2009, 60 percent of people believe in God and a similar number in miracles. Whatever you make of these figures, they suggest that a fair slab of the Australian population would be seeking comfort from above when faced with their mortality or the loss of material possessions. When Barack Obama
delivered a speech on religion and politics in 2006 he said, “if we scrub the language of all religious content, we forfeit the imagery and terminology through which millions of Americans understand both their personal morality and social justice.” He could easily have added, where many locate their calling, hope and motivation to
don’t believe are understandable. What’s the point of praying in the face of weather systems we can’t control? Why are some spared and others not? What possible difference can it make? But that’s a misunderstanding of prayer. For those who hold a worldview that includes an all-powerful, good God, it makes sense to both be thankful for the good things in
60 percent of people believe in God number in miracles. HERALD-NIELSON PO keep going despite the challenges and tragedies that life throws up at us. The religious landscape is different in Australia, but the broad point is true here as well. Objections by people who
life, and to cry out to Him when in turmoil. It’s not a formula for a trouble-free existence and never has been. But countless people who have gone through terrible
feature
9
JULY 2011
BCWA inducts new members
Karen Baptist Church and the WA Chin Christian Church became members of BCWA at the May Assembly.
Two ethnic congregations became member churches of the Baptist Churches Western Australia (BCWA) at the May Assembly meeting.
suffering and loss can attest to feeling sustained by a faith that sometimes feels most real in a crisis. And there is something comforting in knowing that you are being prayed for. Even in the action of crying out to God, there lies the defiant human belief that perhaps we are not alone in the universe — that all hope will not be lost.
belief and moved on. But when clinging to life on the roof of a house surrounded by rising floodwater, not sure if the building is going to hold, there are still those for whom the offer of a prayer, as well as a helping hand, will mean a great deal. Used with permission from the Centre for Public Christianity. Simon Smart is a Director of the Centre for Public Christianity. This article first
and a similar
OLL, 2009
There are plenty of people who will feel glad that religious talk has disappeared from our public language, and that such a movement reflects a culture that has shrugged off superstitious
appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald on 9 February 2011.
The Karen Baptist Church WA meets regularly on Sunday afternoons at Ross Memorial Uniting Church in West Perth. Currently the weekly attendance averages 70 people. Most of the group are first generation migrants from Myanmar (Burma). The Karen people are indigenous people living in Burma and Thailand. About 30 percent are Christians with the remainder practising Animism and Buddhism. Due to persecution within Burma many Karen people leave as refugees and spend years waiting in camps inside Thailand for visas to come to Australia. About ten families settle in Perth each month. With stable leadership, the church in Perth has grown significantly over the past two years and has held several baptisms and weddings. The youth group is helping young people find their place in their new country. An ethnic congregation of recent migrants faces specific issues for its members. Pastor S’Win Shwe and his wife Sandi focus on helping the new migrants explore how life has changed for them from the refugee camps, helping them adjust to cultural differences, including using English language, understanding
government processes, and how family life needs to continue to embrace and explore Australian culture. “The group has the potential to grow further as we [BCWA] continue to support them in the areas of leadership training and church governance,” Cross Cultural and Indigenous Ministries Consultant Marc Chan said. The other new member church is the WA Chin Christian Church that meets at Girrawheen Baptist Church on Sunday afternoons. This church of 500 people comprises of mostly first generation migrants from the Chin State of Myanmar, Burma where almost 75 percent of the people group are Christians attending Baptist Churches. Recent activities of the Burmese army in the region have forced many Chin people to leave Myanmar as refugees to India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Of the 500 refugees coming to Australia each year, about 100 come to Western Australia. There are no other churches in Western Australia ministering to Chin refugees. Pastor James Tin Kung and the leaders of the church are constantly helping the congregation explore worship styles to meet the wide experience of ‘church’ the people have. The majority of the congregation come from Baptist churches in Burma, but others have diverse experiences ranging from Catholicism to Pentecostalism. The church’s ministry to new arrivals is compassionate and astute, providing food, friendship, opportunities for
language learning, assistance with government red tape and even helping new mothers understand the medical process when they give birth. As first generation migrants, many of the newcomers cling tightly to their native language and ways of worship for comfort and courage as they adjust to the myriad of issues where change is not negotiable — language, education of their children, civil rules and regulations. “Change will come as they become more comfortable living in Australia,” Marc said. “Right now these ethnic churches are very important to helping these groups of people adjust and adapt to life in Australia.” Director of Ministries, Mark Wilson, asked the churches within the BCWA to pray for the leaders and people of these two new churches as they do the crucial work of bringing the gospel to new Australians.
Right now these ethnic churches are very important to helping these groups of people adjust and adapt to life in Australia.
10 in conversation JULY 2011
Can you share with me how you started out in music? My mum always said I loved music from an early age and I wanted to play drums all the time. I was doing the proverbial beating on pots and pans. Then when I was 14, I was sitting in a church service and a guest speaker called me up to the front. He said, “Son I want to pray for you. I have got a prophecy for you. God has committed that you are going to travel the world and play music.” The next day a kid who was starting a band called Underoath called my house after getting my phone number from his parents who had been at my church. The rest is history. I was in that band for 11 years. In the past two years I have felt God calling me
me accountable. But I think at times you do fall away from that accountability. The latter part of the prophecy given to me when I was 14 was to always do it for Jesus. There have been times in my career when I haven’t always done it for Jesus even though I thought I was. That is being honest. But now I have a beautiful wife of five years; my life is very different. Even now I travel at all times with a tour pastor or my wife. I have somebody on the road that is spiritually responsible for the tour and I don’t go anywhere alone. It is not good to get into a hotel room as a male by yourself. It is not good to be put into any precarious situations. If you are in a position of ministry you have to do those things.
Photo: Aaorn Gillespie
US Christian artist, Aaron Gillespie is the former drummer and vocalist in the heavy metal Christian band, Underoath. He currently is the front man of the Christian alternative rock band, The Almost. However, when journalist Kerryn Bricknell caught up with him recently, she discovered a trip to Africa has turned Aaron’s life upside down, inspiring him to write his debut worship album, Anthem Song.
So going to Africa I really saw the purpose for our life as humans is to worship God. down, rock and roll songs and Underoath was a stylised band so I wasn’t really able to do that there. Which is why — I mean I really love the music of Underoath — I am still doing double duty right now.
her, I contacted a friend’s friend who is a director at Compassion International. The trip initially was for my wife, however, we both got the bug of mission. It has become a large part of what we do.
put this on paper. One of my favourite worship writers prayed, ‘Lord help us in our vocabulary so we can help people worship you’. I love that. We were made universally to worship Him — let’s do it together.
“... find out who you are in Jesus ...” away from Underoath. Half way through playing with Underoath I started the band called The Almost to do some rock songs. I wanted to do a different style of music. Playing in a heavy metal Christian rock band at the age of 14, did you find it difficult being on the road away from your family at such an impressionable age? In retrospect I think it would be difficult for anybody. I had to grow up really fast. I was pretty much living on my own at the age of 17. I had wonderful loving parents who were always there when I needed anything. I think there were challenges, but there are challenges for all age groups when travelling on the road. Did you have some sort of accountability when you were on the road? I had a fantastic family who were behind me a 100 percent of the way. They always kept
Not because being a Christian means you have a bunch of rules attached to it, but because we are called to live above reproach. My advice is to find out who you are in Jesus before you go out and do something like this. I think I would have saved myself a lot of grief if I would have done so. But here I am now at 28 and we are starting a family. I am still carrying around accountability and I will until I’m done. I always look at Billy Graham, one of the greatest evangelists of all times. He had a person with him at all times who would go into the hotel room to make sure there wasn’t anything there that would be a stumbling block to Billy. That is the model we take on the road. As you mentioned you had two gigs happening at the same time Underoath and The Almosts. What motivated you to be a part of two bands at the one time? That was purely a musical thing. I wanted to write straight up, in your face, rendered
So here you are with a debut solo worship album. Tell us about that journey. I went to Africa last February where my life was turned upside down and rearranged by the people there. I went to a church service and saw people worshipping God and it was so puzzling for me. I really didn’t understand why these people worshipped God when their lives were so bleak and things so bad. They were worshipping God just because He is; because He exists; because He loves and created us. Growing up I led worship in church and played drums for worship. I always wanted to make a worship album and that really gave me the courage and the calling to go and leave Underoath and do what I’m doing now. What was the purpose of you going over to Africa? It is such a God thing. My wife has a heart for mission and I’ve never really had that tug towards mission. As a gift for
Describe what changed for you when you experienced worship in Africa? Like I said, I’ve always wanted to make a worship record, but I’ve never really had the guts or the time to do it. So going to Africa I really saw the purpose for our life as humans is to worship God. I saw these Ugandans worshipping God regardless of their situations. I’m so circumstantial in my worship. ‘God I worship you for the haves or have nots.’ ‘Never because you are just God and that is the only reason I need to worship you.’ I saw these people doing that and it really gave me a conviction and calling to go and do this now; not wait any longer. In terms of the album what process did you go through to write the songs? We did a lot of co-writes on this record, which is something I had never done. You get into the room with other guys and go okay we were created to worship God that is why we exist so let’s
So you wrote with other high profile worship writers like Paul Baloche, Sarah Hart and Philip Le Rue. What was the highlight of working with these people? It was simply their heart for Jesus. It was really amazing to get into a room and pray to God ‘what is your will for this song; what is your will for this project’. ‘Let’s see that happen.’ It was really inspiring. Especially working with Paul Baloche, who is a guy who has led worship for 25 years. It was so inspiring getting in a room with him and seeing his heart. Aaron when are you heading to Australia? I will be out with the band The Almost for Exo Day 2011 at the Sydney Showgrounds in September.
news 11 JULY 2011
Drugs in Bangladesh Youth First Concerns (YFC) Bangladesh recently held seminars for 23,000 Bangladesh police personnel, outlining strategies to educate young people about drug addiction and to reduce the supply of drugs in the community.
Broadcaster HCJB Australia Chief Executive Officer Dale Stagg visited Programming Directors Christopher and Dolly Kirubakaran in Dehli, India, recently to see the impact of radio broadcasts in people’s ‘language of their heart’. Dr Peter Halder is Regional Director of Youth First Concerns in Bangladesh.
now running as a result of the HIV/Aids and drug awareness training. The Clubs help young people learn more about citizenship. Corruption is very high in Bangladesh. We are top of the list of countries in the world where corruption is a problem. We believe training young people in the skills of good governance and moral issues is very important.” The High Clubs run with a committee of a school teacher, two parents and six students. Usually 30 to 50 students attend regular meetings where they work through ten lessons based
on biblical teachings each year. “Leaders are elected for a year. They must follow the rules of the group and submit plans and records. We’re modelling what it means to be good citizens,” Dr Halder said. “We make musical instruments available to the groups, mostly drums, and sporting equipment. These are things that are not available to so many people in Bangladesh, so it is good to be part of the High Club.” YFC also runs four children’s homes, offering education and vocational training in horticulture, agriculture and
fishing to orphans or destitute children. Dr Halder is convinced the model they are using which aims to have each home (30 to 35 children) self-sufficient in food and electricity is the best option for Bangladesh. “I am convinced God wants me to teach others that Christ wants to see every young person living in fullness of life,” Dr Halder said. For more information visit www.byfc.info.
Pastor visits library team Parkerville Baptist Church Pastor Peter Birt recently visited the Cinta Baca (Love Reading) team in Bengkulu, Indonesia.
The team is working in rural villages of the Rejang people group. Team members liaise with village leaders to open a mobile library in a village. There are four libraries currently operating, with plans to open a further six.
Peter Birt and the Cinta Baca (Love Reading) team based in Bengkulu, Sumatra.
Library workers visit the rural libraries weekly to rotate up to 20 percent of the 200 to 250 books in the reading cabinet. Reading material is scarce so the libraries are well used. Peter sat on the floor of the central library in Bengkulu with the team, listening to stories of the friendships they are developing with Rejang farmers in the mountain areas east of Bengkulu city. “These guys are really dedicated to helping Rejang people,” Peter said. “It’s physically challenging as the roads aren’t too good in places.” “The team is running after school homework groups in a couple of the villages too and in one place there is a family meeting each week.” Several Baptist churches across Australia are supporting the library program in Bengkulu Province on the island of Sumatra. Cinta Baca is a national program that encourages reading as a way of supporting government literacy goals.
Fifty million Bhojpuri language speakers in Jharkand state are hearing the good news about Jesus in their own language. Programs are transmitted in 14 other languages generating 1,200 response letters and hundreds of SMS comments. Every response is followed up. At a program producers retreat for 35 people from all over India, Dale Stagg was humbled and inspired by the workers’ deep commitment to broadcast shortwave programs across the land. One worker stressed that, “radio is the only way to reach every corner of India with the gospel”. A Dehli church which partners with the Kirubakarans and HCJB’s Indian partner Genesis Media Training Association (GMTA) uses shortwave programs to plant churches in northern India. They plan to start 16 more churches this year to add to the 84 already established. Christopher and Dolly are visiting Western Australia in July. Their first stop will be the HCJB transmitter station at Kununurra. They will also visit Baptist Churches at Mt Pleasant, Girrawheen and Kelmscott.
Photo: GMTA
Dr Peter Halder, Regional Director of YFC in Bangladesh, recently visited Perth as part of an Australia-wide tour, talking with community and church groups about the work of YFC. “We’re currently running government approved educational seminars on drug and HIV/Aids prevention in 700 schools, including 57 Muslim madrasas,” Dr Halder said. “There is a lot to do among our young people. We surveyed 1,500 university students and 86 percent of them did not understand anything about HIV/ Aids.” “We run these trainings in senior high schools, colleges and universities. We go onto the campus for a total of four days and use music, drama and debate to connect with students.” “We have many High Clubs
Christian radio in India
Dale Stagg and Benjamin sift through the 1,200 letters received by the Christian radio station GMTA in India.
12 leadership JULY 2011
Overcoming barriers to communication
By John Maxwell On 10 May, Microsoft announced its whopping $8.5 billiondollar purchase of Skype. Why would the software giant pay such a princely sum for a company that had suffered $689 million dollars worth of losses in the previous year? Put simply, because Skype has lived up to its stated purpose: ‘to break down barriers in communication’. For eight years, the VOIP provider has been on the leading edge of harnessing Internet technology to allow people to connect with one another across the globe. Let’s look at three communication barriers Skype’s innovations have helped to break down and how leaders must learn to overcome similar communication challenges. Distance When phone customers dial to a destination outside of their network, rates skyrocket due to the connection fees required to route to the originating call to its intended recipient. Also, as anyone who has ever been billed roaming charges can attest, making calls when travelling across international borders incurs substantial costs. By translating voice waves into data packets and transferring them across the World Wide Web, Skype circumvented pricey dimensions of international calling. Distance acts as a barrier to
communication for leaders who face the challenge of casting vision to a network of middle managers, front line workers, customers and partners. The farther the vision must travel, the weaker it becomes. When the leader at the top is the only one who can express the vision, he or she has little to no chance of seeing it spread throughout the organisation. However, by equipping and empowering leaders at all levels to articulate the vision in a compelling way, the best communicators overcome the distance separating them from their audience. Cost Not only does Skype reduce surcharges associated with longdistance calls across international boundaries, it allows any customers to get in touch with anyone, anywhere for no cost whatsoever. Skype decided to keep its basic communication service and software free for users. As a result, people can chat with one another, for free, from any place on the globe as long as they are connected to the Internet. By making its basic product free, Skype attracted millions of users. Then, Skype marketed extra services like ringtones, voicemail and group video calling to earn its revenues. Obviously, a product has far greater appeal when its manufacturers have figured out how to remove costs so that customers can access the product with little to no expense. Communication works much the same way. An audience will only invest a certain amount of energy to understand a message. The more time and attention people must pay to absorb what you say, the fewer people will connect with your message. As a communicator, you must
eliminate the costs upfront by investing your time and energy to make the message simple, to put it in context, and to share it in a creative and entertaining way. Diverse Audiences People use a variety of electronic devices to communicate with one another, thus any application designed for widespread usage must function across a variety of platforms. Skype has been engineered to work well on a wide range of gadgets. Thanks to its flexibility, Microsoft can employ Skype to help its customers connect
across several platforms: personal computers, smartphones, email clients, gaming consoles, etc. With Skype, people no longer are limited to calling one another on a phone, but they can talk together while playing video games or surfing the Internet, too. Just as Skype has learned to tailor its product to appeal to customers using a variety of communication channels so leaders must broadcast their messages in several different ways to connect with diverse audiences. Not everyone loves to read books; some people obtain
and retain information better by watching videos or participating in learning exercises. Leaders who communicate the most effectively deliver their messages in numerous formats and share those messages across a wide assortment of platforms. By communicating through outlets familiar to their audience, leaders ‘speak their language’, and influence the greatest possible number of people. Used with kind permission from The John Maxwell Company, www.johnmaxwell.com.
Plodders By Monica O’Neil Plodding is a much maligned leadership practice. So much in leadership lore is about being the best we can, about using the gifts that we have within our teams, celebrating diversity and the contributions each make. I have noticed over the years that people who make exceptional contributions do something exceptional. They plod. They plod through hours of preparation for every presentation or project. They sit in their studies (or gardens, studios or planes) and perfect their craft. Occasionally they get caught and have to do something that looks spontaneous, and they seem to pull it off. How do they do it? They have been plodding,
and when they need to, they have a rich deposit to draw on. They may look like they have easy leadership capacity, but behind closed doors, they are working hard. Plodding is a very special pace, moving heftily along, persevering at each step, putting one foot in front of another as we move towards the destination. Daniel Levitin in This is Your Brain on Music puts forward an amazing theory. What is the difference between someone who is good and someone who is a world class performer? Ten thousand hours of practice apparently. Most of us can be good. If we want to become outstanding, we will have to plod through 10,000 gruelling hours of our craft. That is three hours a day for ten years. He says it simply takes the brain that long to get that good. Howard Gardner (Five Minds for the Future and Leading Minds) agrees. He says
it takes a good ten years to master any discipline. So what is your craft, your gift? Is it speaking, teaching, music, singing, writing, painting, counselling, gardening or surgery? If you want to become excellent, you will have to plod. Plod through 10,000 hours of practice and intentional development. So many of us want to contribute something of value into our community and we have gifts and abilities to get us started. Contributing what we have is definitely a brilliant start. Increasing what we have as faithful and clever stewards of the gifts deposited in us by God is the next step. How about taking the time to grow our skills as we offer them? Why simply be in the choir when we could take voice lessons? What about taking a skills course to be a better preacher or manager or a better marriage partner or parent?
the facts 13 JULY 2011
contribute news
events calendar July 7 July
11 July
30 to 31 July NAIDOC Family Fun Day 2011, The Town of Bassendean and Derbarl Yerrigan Health Services, 9377 8000 Fundraising Gala Dinner Monday, Pregnancy Problem House, 9344 8337
11 to 15 July
Juniors Camp at Serpentine, BCWA, 6313 6200
16 to 20 July
Inters Camp at Serpentine, BCWA, 6313 6200
25 July
Leadership Development Clusters for Women: Option 1, Vose Leadership, 6313 6200
25 to 29 July
Insurance tour, BCWA, 6313 6300
26 July
Leadership Development Clusters for Women: Option 2, Vose Leadership, 6313 6200
27 to 29 July
Diploma of Management Intensive 3: Team Leadership, Vose Leadership, 6313 6200
Expressions Creative Arts Festival, Churches of Christ Sport and Recreation Association and BCWA, www. sportandleisureministry. com.au
Do you have news that you would like to share with the rest of the West Australian church family? Email your name, phone number and brief description to editor@theadvocate.tv by the 5th of each month. We would like to know about: • Baptisms • Birth • Deaths • Events • Marriages • News about your church • Pastoral changes • Your views (letters to the editor)
August 3 to 4 August
Leadership Intensive training, Vose Leadership, 6313 6200
12 to 14 August
Youth/Children’s Pastors Gathering, BCWA, 6313 6200
13 August
A Foot in Two Worlds, Perth Women’s Convention, www.ccowa.org
14 to 15 August
Girls’ Retreat, Lakeside Youth Camps, Lakeside Baptist Church, 9310 7111
15 to 16 August
Vose Conference, Vose Seminary, 6313 6200
To find your local Baptist church visit www.baptistwa.asn.au
September 2 September
An Evening with author Philip Yancey, Christ Church Grammar School, 9442 1555
Introduction to New Testament Unit with new lecturer, peter christofides
Enrolments for Semester 2 now open! Want to begin or continue your learning journey? Want to gain more insight and depth into your studies in the New Testament? Then come join us this semester at Vose and dive into the New Testament like never before. Weekly lectures begin Tuesday morning 26 July. You can attend this unit for credit, or simply to expand your knowledge. Call the office or visit the website to obtain an enrolment form. Visit the website and check out our faculty bios for more information on Peter Christofides. T: 6313 6200 F: 6313 6299 E: office@vose.edu.wa.au
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14 kids only JULY 2011
from Ed
games
Hi kids School holidays are nearly here, and I bet you are getting excited! I would love to hear what you are up to, so send me an email at editor@theadvocate.tv or post me a picture of what you got up to in the school holidays to go into the draw to win our picture of the month competition, along with your name and phone number by 15 July. You could win a fantastic prize from Word Bookstore! Congratulations to our picture of the month winner Sienna Dujmovic who has drawn a picture of her favourite sports team, the Olympic swim team. Well done Sienna! Send your drawing to: Kids Drawing Competition 11 East Parade, East Perth WA 6004 Have a fun and safe school holiday! Until next month Ed
picture of the month winner
SIENNA DU JMOVIC
6 year s ol d
Answers for both games will be published in the next edition of The Advocate.
Answers to June games
picture of the month Name: Phone number:
Age: Category: School Holidays
Please complete this form and send it with your drawing to: Kids Drawing Competition, 11 East Parade, East Perth WA 6004.
Entries close: 15 July 2011
Bible Birds Puzzle
4. Raven
9. Hawk
Answers:
5. Owl
10. Stork
1. Ostrich
6. Pigeons
2. Dove
7. Quail
About 2000 years ago ‌
3. Eagle
8. Swallow
Answer: Patmos
Games supplied by www.ChristArt.com
intermission 15 JULY 2011
browse
Poll-Mate.com Everyone has questions they want answered and PollMate is an answer to getting the answers you need. PollMate offers an online solution for people wanting to conduct research and polls, from simple to complex, easily and effectively. They also offer mobile phone apps so you can manage your poll or survey from wherever you are. With reasonable pricing models, PollMate can assist your church as they seek opinions on any issue, and 10 percent of PollMate’s revenue is donated to charitable causes which reflects their desire to reinvest in the community. Have some questions you need answered? Check out Poll-Mate.com.
listen
Beyond Life
Listen To The Sound
Nothing Is Impossible
Heidi Popp The release of the Queensland singer’s third album has been pretty low key so far, which is too bad considering its outstanding quality. This is definitely not the dance pop stuff that was her trademark in the early days, rather a collection of well crafted adult friendly, easy listening songs penned by Andy Sorenson, Kathy Johnston and Geoff Bullock. Her voice is grittier than her first two projects thanks to meticulous production from Sorenson.
Building 429 Right from the opening song, this album sizzles and screams! Does it rock? Yes! Does it have incredible hooks? Absolutely! Will it hit under 30s square in the heart? Without a doubt! Best known for its 2004 hit ‘Glory Defined’, Building 429 knows how to write anthemic sing-along rock and worship songs. I can already picture their songs being cranked up in car stereos while the windows are rolled down so everyone can hear!
Planetshakers Okay! Now you’ve got my attention! This sixth studio project from the Aussie praise and worship band Planetshakers really connects. With hook filled songs like ‘Power’, ‘Bring It On’ and ‘Give It Up’, this grabs you by the ears, and before long you’re singing along, worshipping God. I’m still singing the songs, days after first hearing it. A DVD recorded live at the 2010 Planetshakers Conference accompanies the album.
Kindly supplied by Wanno from Woodlands Media Website: www.woodlandsmedia.com
win VeggieTales Big Ideas Board Books
learn
This wonderfully illustrated two book pack of our favourite VeggieTales characters helps children to learn about God from the earliest age. God Made You Special Bob, Larry and all your favorite VeggieTales friends would like tell us how much God loves us. Because God made each of us special, different and unique, this message can be a powerful reminder to little ones that they are special too. God Loves You Very Much On each page of this fun, rhyming board book, favourite VeggieTales characters encourage little ones to remember that God loves them very much. The Advocate, in conjunction with Word Bookstore is giving you an opportunity to win VeggieTales Big Ideas Board Books. To be in the draw, simply answer the following question:
Question: Name your two favourite VeggieTales characters. Entries close 15 July and all winners will be announced in the August edition of The Advocate. Amish Grace winners: M & R Wishaw, M Bailey, L Morris.
competition Answer: Name:
The Tallest of Smalls Max Lucado If your little ones have ever wondered if they’re pretty enough, clever enough or funny enough to matter then introduce them to Ollie. Like all the Too Smalls of Stiltsville, he desperately wants to fit in. Much to his delight, Ollie is chosen for something special, but it all goes wrong. In the moment he feels the lowest; Ollie discovers the unconditional love of Jesus and understands that he mattered all along. Ages 3-8.
Natalie Really Very Much Wants to Be a Star Dandi Daley Mackall When Nat’s Sunday School class puts on a Christmas play, Nat wants the lead role of Mary. So when her archrival Sasha gets the good part and Nat gets the role of a tree, our heroine has to struggle with disappointment, jealousy and selfish ambition, until she experiences the true meaning of God sending His Son to us. Ages 8-12.
Phone number: Please complete this form with your details and post it to: Amish Grace Competition 11 East Parade East Perth WA 6004
Reviews and competition kindly supplied by Word Bookstore. Website: www.word.com.au Locations: Morley - 4 Wellington Road, phone 08 9375 3722 Victoria Park - 359 Albany Highway, phone 08 9361 7899
Bible Heroes and Bad Guys Rick Osbourne Action-packed, comic book appeal is what boys will experience when they read Bible Heroes and Bad Guys. These high-energy, fast-moving stories will encourage boys in their quest to be smarter, stronger, deeper and cooler as they develop into young men of God. Now boys can learn about true heroes and bad guys in action, pulled straight from the pages of the Bible. Ages 8-12.
16 sport & youth
Photo: Sports Chaplaincy Australia
JULY 2011
Kim van Keule with his Chaplain’s Check Point caravan that he uses at rallys.
Rally chaplain makes a difference Racing legend Peter Brock’s death during the Targa West rally in the hills east of Perth in September 2006 changed Kim van Keule’s life as a Sports Chaplain. “Looking back it’s incredible. I’d been a Sports Chaplain for a couple of years, but after Peter’s death people just started coming to talk with me — at rally events, in the street. It’s like God used that terrible accident to open the
door for me,” Kim said. As Director of Sports Chaplaincy Western Australia, Kim spends 10 to 12 weekends each year at one to four day rally events, engaging officials, drivers and crew and their families in conversations. “When there are accidents I get to liaise with officials and families, then have on-going contact by phone or a visit with people in hospital.” “It’s not about attending flashy events. The sport is second — although I really do love rallying. It’s about people,” he said. “We care for people.” “I started as a chaplain back in 2003, helping out Terry
Dorrington. It was a call from God — that is clear. ‘This is what I want you to do’,” Kim said. “So I did some training and I’m still learning.” Kim works as a chef at Miss Maud, running the catering section at the Pier Street hotel, restaurant and shop operation. “I love it and they’re very supportive of my rally work.” Married to Kellie and the father of three teenage sons,
Kim is also the State President of the Boys’ Brigade and an active member of Morley Baptist Church. Sports Chaplaincy Australia has chaplains in sports as diverse as horse racing, surf life saving, cycling, tennis and rugby. “There are 200 sports chaplains Australia wide. Between 20 and 25 of them are here in WA.” “For people who are interested
in becoming a sports chaplain, we’re running our annual Sports Chaplaincy Training event in late July,” Kim said. “The five-day intensive course is taught by some of Australia’s finest sports chaplains and sports industry personnel. It’s a really great to get a sense of what sports chaplaincy is all about.” For more information visit www.sportschaplaincy.com.au.
It’s not about attending flashy events. The sport is second — although I really do love rallying. It’s about people.
GRow
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