The qb, August 2015

The voice of Queensland Baptists August 2015

QB Prayer Focus 2015 QB celebrates 160 years Just breathe

Print post approved ISSN: 100003837 The Queensland Baptist - first published in 1890.

This series Vol 13 Issue 4.

www.qb.org.au

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Comment: David Loder Speaking out: John Sweetman Baptisms Around the regions QB prayer focus 2015 Knowing God series Milestones Called home Persecution brief Reviews Fun zone Classifieds

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QB ministries Help your church be loan free faster (Baplink) Kids matter!

(QB kids & their families) Joyful hospitality (QCCC) She is... around Queenslandand beyond (QB Women) myYouthLeader (QB Youth) Digitising our photo collection (QB archives) One calling, many stories (Malyon) Inspire 2015 (MTQ) Choice and flexibility (Carinity)

In this issue 32

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QB partners

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Strings attached!

(Global Interaction) One day to change their world (BWAA)

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Articles Let me tell you...

Grace and peace Just breathe Balancing work and rest

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Our cover: Many of our QB churches held special prayer events as part of QB Prayer Focus 2015. Don’t miss some of their stories in this issue.

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News, views and issues

The qb is a member of the Australasian Religious Press Association, published bi-monthly by Queensland Baptist Services Group in February, April, June, August, October and December.

Editor: Robynne Milne Design: Shell Graphix Print: Printcraft This magazine is printed with soy based inks and paper from sustainable forest plantations.

From the Editor Welcome to another issue of The qb.

While this marks a personal milestone for me (I’ve now edited the magazine for six years), that’s nothing compared to the anniversary being celebrated by Queensland Baptists this month: our 160th. From time to time it’s good to reflect on the past and where we came from, and David Parker has put together some interesting information for us (Milestones).

Back to the present, it’s been a blessing to see how many churches were involved in QB Prayer Focus 2015, and to hear some of the stories that are beginning to flow from this important annual event (Growing Prayer Movement amongst Queensland Baptists). Colin Stoodley, who is now well into his role as MTQ Leader and Church Planting Coordinator reports on the recent INSPIRE 2015 conference for church planters, and QB Regional Consultant, Pieter Henning, sent information about the

We welcome reader feedback and opinions about our articles. Remember to include your full name, email and postal addresses.

QB Rural and Remote Pastors’ Retreat at Aramac (Around the regions).

BWA Australia is excited to report that ‘in the midst of aid budget cuts, and with Australian Aid under threat’, their Baptist partner in PNG has been granted additional funding. As John Hickey, Baptist World Aid CEO says, ‘This was not only an answer to our prayers for the region but also a testament to the impact Australian Baptists are having in the aid and development sector and a huge endorsement of our work with our partner, the Baptist Union of PNG’.

Finally, don’t miss Gemma Roux’s article (Just breathe). Save it till last— you’ll find it’s a refreshing way to end your reading of The qb.

Robynne Milne Editor, The qb qb@qb.org.au

Articles and advertising in The qb express the opinions of the authors, not necessarily the editor or publishers. Every effort is made to ensure the correctness of facts and information however we cannot accept responsibility for errors. The publishers reserve the right to accept or decline any advertising.

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Comment

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Knowing God—discipleship ‘His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness’ (2 Peter 1:3).

If a disciple is a learner, then what are we learning and for what purpose? The Great Commission says we are to learn to be obedient to the commands of Jesus.

This answers the ‘what’ question … but why?

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God has a clear outcome in mind for all people. We were created in the image of God and that image has been severely damaged by sin. It is clear that God’s intent is that this image may be recaptured in our lives. Hence the Bible frequently talks about the change that needs to take place in the way we live. Romans 6:16-18 (and elsewhere) talks about the transferring of ownership that needs to take place.

Jesus is our rightful owner and we need to submit to him as Lord.

Romans 12:1-2 urges us to continue in the transformation process and the remainder of the chapter lists some practical areas for implementation.

One might ask, ‘Doesn’t this reduce Christianity to a list of do’s and don’ts?’ Well, no—and yes! Obedience to a set list will not get us into a relationship with Jesus. However, every relationship has some ‘rules’ that go with it. There are general rules but also some specific ones too.

I generally know how to treat anyone I know well. It is no different with our relationship with God. Ephesians 5:10 encourages us to ‘find out what pleases the Lord’ and implicit in the statement is to then do it! Isn’t that too hard? You’d better believe it!

That is, until we read the verse at the heading of this article. Nothing is too hard for God—even implementing change in your life, and mine.

Important happenings We recently had a Special Assembly to appoint two new Regional Consultants. There was a good sense of the presence of the Lord at the meeting. I am pleased to advise that both Rev Stewart Pieper and Rev Warren Crank were affirmed by the meeting for this role. Stewart will commence early in October and Warren commences in the New Year.

Congratulations to both appointees!

Ministers have been advised of the initial changes to the regions.

These positions have come about for two reasons. First is the implementation of the Training Review undertaken by the QB Board. This review recommended that all new ministers undergo a period of supervision. This increased responsibility will most likely be undertaken by the Regional

Consultants. Rev Stephen Ball will be taken off general Regional Consultant responsibilities for a period of time to work on exactly how this will be put into action.

The final outcome of the new appointments will lift our tally of Regional Consultants to 4.6. The workload continues to grow for Emil Rahimov, who has primary responsibility for our ethnic churches.

We now have 39 ethnic churches and fellowships! This continues to be an exciting developing area for QB! Finally…

Sometimes Christianity can be seen as being too negative—a list of don’ts.

We have tried to change that by asserting what we do rather that what we don’t. Like all of life, it is both. If I choose one thing, it normally means I reject others. Likewise, in rejecting some things I am choosing others. So what have you discovered about living to please God? God has given you all that is necessary to live that life.

I urge you to be intentional about enriching your relationship with Jesus Christ.

David Loder General Superintendent Queensland Baptists gs@qb.org.au

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Speaking out

The end is God The means is Jesus Should we focus on God (Trinity) or Jesus in our worship and preaching?

There are some advantages of working at Malyon College. One of them is the easy access I get to excellent biblical/theological/ministry thinkers. I often pop into a faculty member’s office to ask about a biblical issue that is plaguing me.

Of course I use other resources as well, but there is nothing like being able to chat personally with someone and to keep asking questions.

At the moment, I am on study leave, so it’s more difficult to pop into offices. So when I was wrestling with a significant question recently, I emailed the faculty, and a very interesting discussion ensued. So I thought it

might be informative to share with you a few snippets of our lengthy and involved email conversation.

I hope that the significance and thoughtfulness of the debate is not lost in my inadequate extracts.

John: Is the biblical revelation foundationally Trinitarian or Christological? This has come up in both my worship class (should worship mostly focus on Jesus or the Trinity?) and preaching class (should we look for Jesus or the Trinity in every biblical passage?).

Peter Francis (VicePrincipal/Lecturer): For my part I have been a strong advocate for ‘biblical

theology,’ seeing in the person of the Lord Jesus the fulfilment of all of God’s eternal plans. Verses such as Colossians 1:15-18 have tended to help shape this perspective.

Dave Benson (Lecturer): My hermeneutic is Christocentric, but I think we miss a lot by not understanding Jesus’ earthly ministry as framed within the overriding missio Dei (mission of God) which is Trinitarian. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:28 says: ‘And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.’

AJ Culp (Lecturer): For me, a Christocentric lens must be part of a Trinitarian one if we are to avoid collapsing God’s voice in Scripture into a single octave. We Old Testament guys are faced with this time after time. It would be strange, for example, to speak of Ezekiel’s central theology— that of God’s Spirit—as the work of Christ (Christological view) rather than simply the work of the Spirit (Trinitarian view).

D Morcom (Lecturer): I’m inclined to think that the questions you are asking here are wrongly framed, and that we should be looking at a ‘both-and’ rather than an ‘either-or’ scenario.

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Anne Klose (Lecturer): Sorry I’m coming late to this, but I’ll chip in my 2c worth! It’s not an either/ or question—but about an appropriate balance which is responsive to context. This is a key question in terms of our ecclesiology. I think Volf hits the nail on the head when it comes to our individualism being related to an overemphasis on Christology.

Peter (again): I find myself warming very much to a preference for the both/and approach and appreciate the distinction between the temporary functional distinctions within the Trinity and the ontological reality of the Godhead. I agree that the totality of the gospel embraces more than just the saving work of Christ, yet, by all means is predicated upon the same.

Don McLellan (Lecturer): I’d only add that Jesus came to show us the Father, and did so by showing us himself (John 14:9-11). If the mission of Christ is the mission of God, and it is, then the ultimate objective of the whole mission is the subjection of all things, the Son included, to God. Charles de Jongh (Lecturer): Unbelievably, I have stayed out of this conversation up to now. For me, the prior and ultimate affirmation is that we worship GOD, first revealed in Scripture as the Creator God of Genesis 1-2. Only when we have affirmed and understood that, do we

Speaking out

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begin to address the fact that GOD revealed and reveals himself as Father – Son – Spirit.

D (again): If God the Son is the climax of revelation because he is the agent by means of which we are reconciled to the Trinity, then how are we justified in ‘focussing’ either on Jesus as the agent of reconciliation or on the Trinity to whom we are reconciled? It seems like debating which is the more important wing of an aeroplane—the left wing or the right.

In true Reformation style (he is an historian) D then wrote 22 theses on the issue. At least he didn’t nail them to the door of my office. Here are the last five: 18. We do not read or preach the Old Testament sufficiently well if we fail to recognise its orientation to Christ as the climax of the missio Dei. 19. We do not read or preach the New Testament sufficiently well if we fail to recognise that ‘God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself ’ 2 Corinthians 5:19).

20. We do not do justice to the scope and goal of our salvation if we fail to recognise either that through Christ we are reconciled to God, or that through Christ we are reconciled to God. 21. It is misleading, therefore, to suggest that

Jesus should be our primary focus (to whom then does he reconcile us?); or that the Trinity should be our primary focus (by whom then are we then reconciled?)

22. In the final analysis, is the missio Dei about the Trinity or the Son? Should preaching focus on the Trinity or the Son? My answer is: Yes! John (again): I would like to have a go at summarising in a very simple, practical form where I have come to in the light of our discussion. Here it is: The end is God. The means is Jesus.

These two doctrines cannot be separated. It is impossible to say which one is the most important because they are two sides of the same coin.

You can’t have one without the other. It is essential for evangelicals to fully emphasise both aspects of God’s mission.

If we highlight the means (Jesus) without a strong focus on the end (God/ Trinity), we end up with ‘cheap grace.’ Yes, the means is vital. We do need to preach constantly about

Jesus and the gospel. We do need to praise and thank Jesus in our worship. Jesus lies at the heart of God’s revelation. But if we neglect to also strongly emphasise that we are saved to be part of God’s mission which involves loving, serving and honouring our holy, sovereign God and enjoying him forever (as John Piper stresses), then the gospel becomes an end in itself and that ultimately leads us nowhere near God’s holiness and life.

If we highlight the end (God/Trinity) without a strong focus on the means (Jesus), we end up relying on human effort to please God. Yes, the end is vital.

We do need to preach constantly about God and his supremacy and his character and his mission.

God is the end behind all revelation and we will live with him and serve him forever. Our worship begins and ends with God. But if we neglect to also strongly emphasise that the only way we can possibly enjoy and obey God is through Jesus, we end up in legalism and human works that generate guilt, self-righteousness and hypocrisy.

John Sweetman Principal, Malyon john.sweetman@malyon.edu.au

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Baptisms

Baptisms Please pray for those baptised recently in all our churches around Queensland, including: Brisbane Slavic Evangelical Baptist Church Juliana Levshin Svetlana Petkova Gladstone Baptist Church Edward Brazier Matthew Davis Sam Kemp Laura-Jane MacNamara Ruth Sutherland

Around the

Regions Aramac sunset

Outback pastors meet at Aramac In early June, Queensland Baptist pastors and their families travelled to Aramac (just north of Barcaldine) from Ingham, Mt Isa, Atherton, Townsville, Charters Towers, Longreach, Blackwater (and more), for the opportunity to be together, worship and pray, and make some memories at the QB Rural and Remote Pastors’ Retreat. In all, about 19 adults and a number of

young people and children attended.

There was great interaction and sharing on Saturday including separate sessions for the wives, and then the pastors sharing together in a group about their unique contexts, joys, and challenges.

That night, each one got to share around the campfire.

QB Regional Consultant, Pieter Henning, and his wife, Barbara, were asked to share about their faith journey and call. Pieter spoke from the Word about Elijah’s

On the move

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Pastor Michael Trafford has concluded at Gladstone Baptist.

Pastor Bethany Puffett concluded at Salisbury Baptist at the end of June 2015.

journey with God. On Sunday morning, the group meditated on ‘Encouragement for God’s children in times of drought’ and joined together in praying for rain for the whole region.

A big ‘thankyou’ goes to Ashley and Julie Zischke who hosted this relaxed and informal time at their Aramac property. It was an initial get-together arranged mostly by Ps Steve Ballin in order to gauge the need and regularity for such an event to promote mutual support and involvement. Ps Adrian Pratap has volunteered for Mt. Isa to host the event in 2016. In future, additional guest speakers will be invited to share with the group. Steve Grace made an unexpected appearance on Saturday evening and ministered to the group through song and sharing around the campfire—it was a wonderful encouragement.

Rev Keith Stevenson will conclude at Hervey Bay, effective December 2015.

Rev Greg and Pastor Ruth Peckman have concluded at Toowoomba Community and Greg has commenced as Senior Pastor at New Hope Community Baptist.

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A new era in Charters Towers Steve Grace writes: ‘There’s been a Baptist Church in Charters Towers since the late 1800s. It’s changed locations a few times but its missional values for the Gospel and for people have never changed.

‘The recent purchase of the Salvation Army Citadel property begins a new era for the church. The large property has a good hall and storage shed and a five bedroom house that can be used for multiple functions.

On Sunday morning the entire property was commissioned to the work of God’s kingdom.

Nearly 100 people filled the sanctuary with songs of worship and celebration.

Pastor Pieter Henning (QB Regional Consultant) shared a powerful message and we led the worship singing. The mayor, Frank Beveridge, also shared, along with representatives of the Salvation Army. A great morning!’

Around the regions

the town and an alternative service (Kinooji – Place of Contentment) has recently been established, led by Laurie Masso. More recently a Sunday School caters for many of the indigenous children and all rejoice that this people group now has a place to meet together to worship God. With the offering of a variety of services and activities, the church hopes to meet the needs of different groups in the community and to see all grow in their knowledge and understanding of who God is, and what he can do in their lives. This is a small but committed church seeking to grow in both personal and corporate faith. The church aims to be a movement and not a monument!

A movement, not a monument!

About Doug and Anne Reid…

Doug and Anne arrived from New Zealand in 1997. On arriving, Doug developed a sugar cane farm out of bushland just outside Mareeba on the Atherton Tableland while attending the Mareeba Baptist church, where both were actively involved.

In the past the church has been regularly involved with the indigenous people of

In 2007 Doug commenced studying with CALAM Training (now The Training

Collaborative) at Northreach Baptist Church in Townsville.

He studied full time for two years to prepare himself for ministry in a country church, and now has his Advanced Diploma in Christian Ministry and Theology and is a registered Baptist pastor, while Anne has her Diploma in Christian Ministry and Theology. Doug commenced pastoring at the Charters Towers Baptist church in 2009 after ministering two days a week for the final six months of 2008. Anne and Doug work as a team in many areas of their ministry, with Anne currently Music Coordinator for the Church and a regular pianist for services.

At the conclusion of Steve Grace’s recent ministry, Anne and Doug hooked up their caravan and joined the team for a further week of ministry in our remote state.

Steve said that the Reids served as ‘roadies’, prayer partners and counsellors at concerts in Tully, Cardwell and Ravenshoe, the town recently devastated by the destruction of a local café where lives were lost and many were injured. The concert there brought hope and healing to a depressed community. Doug and Anne

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also served at Steve’s concert in the Indigenous community of Yarrabah, one of the highlights of the mission trip.

Believing For More Rain Steve Grace continues: ‘For some families in the Channel Country and in western Queensland the sound of rain on the roof is but a memory. The sound is such a refreshing noise and yet, over the past three years, unheard of.

It reminds me to pray without ceasing for the friends and families living in such desperate conditions. We are believing for more rain.

‘On Monday some passing showers reminded us that God is at work. I truly believe we, as a nation, must humble ourselves and turn from any unrighteousness; we must seek the Lord and ask Him to move in a mighty way across our land—revival to the land and revival to the hearts of people.

We urge you to keep praying for this country, and keep believing for miracles.’

If you would like more information about the ministries of Steve and his team, and their vision to ‘reach every town in Australia with the Good News through music, media and missions’, please visit stevegrace.com.

Steve Grace with Doug and Anne Reid and the Church (top left).

Rain showers passing over Charters Towers (late June).

Photo credit: Steve Grace

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Around the regions

Sweet treats help others What a great way to raise some money for a great cause! Recently, a Decorated Cake Display proved to be a highlight for the girls and leaders at Wynnum Baptist Church Girls’ Brigade.

Everyone brought along their decorated cakes on the night and then the voting began as people gave coins for their favourites. The cake raising the most money won the ‘Best Cake’ title. The money raised was for the Brigade’s

share of the Baptist World Aid Share an Opportunity. $276 was needed and the girls raised $282 with their efforts.

Well done everyone!

Girls’ birthday bash Rose Neumann (Leichhardt Baptist Church) writes: In late June, 25 ladies gathered in the church hall to celebrate their birthdays for 2015. All came in a party mood and brought a small gift to be distributed to another lady.

Our Director of Women’s Ministries, Jenny Howells, welcomed everyone to the party and then handed over to Sylvia West to run the games. We enjoyed these, including Musical Parcel, and a Memory Test when we had a short time to study a number of objects on a tray, the tray was removed and we had to write down all we could remember. Some of us found our memories were not as good as they should be!

Jenny then brought a devotional based on objects usually used at a child’s birthday party, such as a party

hat, balloon, noisemaker, gift bag etc. She related each item to our Christian life.

Following this, Judy Vogel (whose birthday was the closest to the day) cut the beautifully iced birthday cake.

We then enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea of sandwiches, sausage rolls, party pies, Chinese savouries, scones and beautiful little cakes provided

by Judy and Rose.

The whole afternoon went very well and all ladies present went home feeling it was good to have shared in the ‘Big Birthday Bash’ together.

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Holiday fun Betty Windolf and Steve Beasley report from Tent Hill Baptist Church: Approximately 45 enthusiastic children attended our Annual Kids Holiday Club at Tent Hill recently.

Leaders and helpers guided the children through each day’s programme on the Power of Prayer. We were taught to worship God, to not worry but to pray about all our needs, seek his forgiveness and to yield to God’s way.

Our theme featured trains, so the auditorium was decorated with a train theme.

Teaching time was presented

by DVD, praise time included bright lively songs to remind the children that God loves them, quiz time was highly contested, and memory verses learned by actions and group study time

Around the regions

were all part of the teaching time.

Craft is always enjoyed by all, and the older boys were able to assemble a wooden train, the girls made a wall hanging and the younger children had a special craft each day. There was plenty of noise and fun during game time and delicious morning teas and lunches were served throughout. On Thursday night, parents and children met for the final event, a sausage sizzle followed by the children performing songs and memory verses that were learned over the three days.

A short DVD presentation completed the evening.

We had an amazing team of helpers from within the fellowship, including some of our high school students, and we were blessed to have three of the local school chaplains helping out as well.

The crowds came Christine Leota (Mount Warren Park Community Church) writes: Earlier in the year, our church held a mini-fair that was sponsored by a Baplink grant. A large crowd attended and we give all praise and glory to God for the day.

Using the grant funding, we were able to pay for all the big expenses like jumping castles, printing of the church brochure, baby animal ‘zoo’ and pony rides, fairy floss, snow cone, etc.

Everything for the community was absolutely free and people were touched by this, many saying it’s hard to find anything free these days.

There were lots of enquiries about the church and it was a great time of interaction

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with so many, and to hear about their stories. They now know that our church exists and where we meet, as every family that walked through the gates received our church brochure.

Businesses in the area donated gifts which we gave away as free draws for the families.

The police, ambulance and fire services all came and they were so impressed with the organisation and also to witness a community event and the smiles on kids’ faces.

People from other churches helped out as volunteers. It was a magnificent event.

Thanks Baplink and Queensland Baptists!

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QB Prayer Focus 2015

Over the last couple of years, more and more QB churches have committed to pray for a movement of God in our state and stirring of our churches to be part of God’s plan in Queensland. The date for the prayer focus is chosen to be the week that includes Queensland Day on 6 June.

RECORD LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT

Growing Prayer Movement amongst Queensland Baptists This year’s Queensland Baptists’ Prayer Focus underlines the increasing prayerfulness of Queensland Baptists at an individual, local church, and as churches coming together to pray.

The greatest encouragement is seeing a growing commitment to pray all year round, not just for a particular week.

At a personal level many people have told of their growing commitment to prayer, and yet prayer is such an important part of our movement.

For the last couple of years we have sought to get a measure of church involvement. Over the last two years there has been significant increase of involvement. This year 126 churches indicated that they were committed to the prayer focus. From these churches there were 65 prayer meetings listed on our webpage. Whilst we have not heard from every prayer meeting, we have been notified of a combined participation of 1860 people who participated in the prayer meetings.

PARTNERING IN THE GOSPEL A special part of the prayer focus has been churches in various areas working together to hold a combined prayer meeting. The response of those who attend is that it is so encouraging to see our churches and people coming together in partnership for the gospel.

It is symbolic of what God is doing in our movement as we work with God’s leading to extend his kingdom in Queensland.

NEXT YEAR’S PRAYER FOCUS The story is told of a man who dug a well and was told it wasn’t deep enough so he dug two more. So often we do something for a while and then change. I believe God is saying we need to keep digging the well that we have commenced in the area of prayer. QB Prayer Focus 2016 will be from 5-12 June. It is not too soon to plan to be involved individually and as churches and to plan a special emphasis upon prayer during that period.

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QB Prayer Focus 2015

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‘I am convinced that the measure of an individual, group, church or movement can be largely gauged by their attitude and commitment to the Word of God and prayer. I was delighted to attend one of the sessions and was truly impressed both by the attention to prayer for each other and also for the wider community. I was also moved by the tone and quality of the prayers themselves. Our prayer focus time is over but our commitment needs to remain! In Acts 6:4, the disciples gave themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. We would do well to do likewise!’ (David Loder, QB General Superintendent).

AROUND THE CHURCHES Fraser Coast Baptist Church (Hervey Bay): As an important part of our church ministry and outreach, we have a group of about 15 people who meet each Thursday morning to pray for our church, mission outreach and the community, and to share a time of fellowship together.

We continue to pray for each other during the happy times and the notso-happy times in our lives and are enriched as we open the scriptures to find God’s truths and inspiration for our daily walk with him.

The meetings have been varied in program and it is pleasing to see active participation by the members. Our prayer for next year is that we will be faithful to God’s call on us individually, and as a group, to witness to others the

love of God that he has shown us in his son—our Lord Jesus.

Beaudesert Baptist Church: Josh Cocks reports that the group that met at the Boonah/Kalbar/Beaudesert gathering experienced a great time of prayer together, and Leona Niebling adds an amusing story: Meg and I had no idea how many to expect and how many would bring supper. When we saw 18 people (including four little boys), we knew we had a ‘loaves and fishes’ situation on our hands. What to do?

We raided the church fridge and found a chocolate cake in the freezer. What it was doing there was irrelevant—it needed thawing … quickly. By then we’d been joined by the mother of the little boys, so there were three women trying to work an unfamiliar microwave. If we put the frozen cake in, would it explode all over the microwave? Decisions, decisions! Finally we had supper on the

table. Come washing-up time there was hardly a crumb left on the chocolate cake plate. The next day I was overcome with guilt about using the cake—I think I phoned every lady in the church trying to find the owner. Result? I still don’t know who owned the cake or how it came to be in our freezer. But we sure enjoyed it!

The Church on the Rock (Toowoomba): We joined with the Outlook Christian Church (Toowoomba) to hold a Combined Prayer Gathering in Rockville State School, Toowoomba. Six prayer stations, each with a group leader, were set up and groups rotated around the auditorium.

Each person participated in prayer and scripture reading at each station using different prayer themes. Prayer was incorporated into prepared group games, activities and rewards at each station.

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QB Prayer Focus 2015

It was pleasing to have 59 people in attendance, including adults, young adults, youth and children. It was a special time of fellowship in the Holy Spirit.

Tent Hill Baptist Church: We had a small group of 15 gather outdoors to pray over sporting grounds and farmland. We had one person from another Baptist church and one from our neighbouring Church of Christ join with us.

Taringa Baptist Church: Twelve people attended our prayer time. Our small groups all gave extra time to pray for mission that week. In addition, we asked everyone to be involved in praying for holistic mission for the week and we sent them out specific prayer points every day.

Stanley River Valley Baptist Church: On Saturday 30 May at 6 am, Stanley River Valley Community Church began its inaugural 24 Hours of Prayer.

While the concept was new to many, it was very well embraced with over 30

people involved (a significant portion of our congregation). Following some teaching in our services in the preceding weeks, our prayer time was guided using the decades-old ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication). For some this was a great aid that enabled them to pray in a way that was broader and more comprehensive than they had experienced before.

As we prayed for the churches and leaders throughout our state, we felt very drawn by God to see the bigger context in which we live and minister. Primarily, we felt God calling us to see that more difficult days lie ahead for the church generally, which requires us to stand firmly and with courage through the strength of Jesus.

Overall, the sense of those who participated was that God had been very present, offering people encouragement, consolation and wisdom. This time together highlighted for us, as a church in Woodford, the power and necessity of prayer, and our need to embrace prayer in a more significant way.

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Finally, we pray, too, with our brothers and sisters across the state that God will hear our collective prayers during this week and respond in a powerful way that brings glory to his name.

Kruger Parade Baptist Church: Twenty-five people from four churches (Silkstone, Springfield Central, Voice of the Lord Assembly and Kruger Parade) came together as one to petition God for the people in our communities.

From a time of confession, through healing, strengthening the church, then prayers for the lost, it was an inspiring time and foundational for the growth of our churches. We also prayed for the unity of our churches, that together we can do far more and support each other towards seeing God’s kingdom fulfilled on earth, as it is in heaven.

Lifepointe Baptist Church (Maroochydore): As a pastor (Phil Greenbury) I have always placed a great importance on both individual and corporate prayer over many years in ministry. Usually the prayer meetings in our church are the least-attended meetings, as lives become busier. If prayer is truly the engine room for

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our Christian lives, then the lack of prayer has become a major blockage to allowing God to work through us as he did in the early church.

God has been calling Lifepointe Baptist Church back to the basics as we set aside the whole of June for a prayer focus. That meant preaching and teaching on the importance of prayer, in all our services and at our campuses, throughout the whole month. As we set out with a total focus on prayer, we had no idea how God was going to impact his people during this time.

We started by calling for a special night of prayer—the first Tuesday evening in June. This was open to all the churches on the Coast if they wished to attend.

On that night there was a real sense of God’s presence as we prayed together.

People were really touched with the presence of God as they prayed for our denomination and leaders, churches and pastors and for the gospel to go forth in power across our state and nation.

Our church people and leaders were so inspired by our time with God, truly immersed in his presence that we

QB Prayer Focus 2015

decided to come together on the next Tuesday night to continue praying for God to do a great work in our nation.

A call was made to everyone to clear schedules and appointments and place God back in his rightful place as the most important part of our lives, and God has been pouring out his Spirit across each Prayer and Worship Night as lives were reconnected to him.

We were so encouraged at this meeting that we have kept praying each Tuesday night throughout June and now have decided to continue it throughout July.

Many people shared testimony in church about the prayer meetings and more people have started to come along as God is moving to stir up a new season of prayer.

Last week we held our vision retreat weekend and God touched our hearts in repentance, with the younger generation and the older generation apologising to one another and being reconciled. It was God leading the way with a realisation that if he is going to be effective through our church, then we need to come to him with total surrender and allow him

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to start a work in us, individually, before he will bless us corporately.

Last Tuesday over 100 people came together to pray. God is certainly doing a refining work in our hearts and we can’t wait until the next Tuesday night of prayer and worship to hear what he has to say to us.

Dalby Baptist Church: Our Prayer Group meets at the church every Monday evening. When the opportunity arose to meet with another group for prayer, we approached our nearest neighbour, Chinchilla Baptist Church, about 90 kms (or one hour) west of us.

The evening of the prayer get-together was very cold indeed, and we weren’t sure how many would show up for the car-pool trip to Chinchilla. In the end, about 20-25 of our folk from Dalby drove to Chinchilla in convoy. On arrival, we not only received a very warm welcome, but also a very welcomed bowl of hot soup (with the choice of three different home-made varieties). They were truly delicious!

Due to the size of the combined group from both churches, we separated

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QB Prayer Focus 2015

into two mixed groups and moved to different buildings—one stayed in the hall, the other moved into the neighbouring chapel. It was such a blessing to pray for Chinchilla and for Dalby with our Baptist brothers and sisters from Chinchilla, as well as for the Baptist movement across our state and nation. Together we asked God for revival—first in our own hearts and churches—and then in the hearts of our political representatives and leaders ... and, of course, for revival to spread throughout Australia. Since that time, God has been at work in Dalby Baptist Church and in the wider church community here, with a well-attended Billy Graham Association ‘Christian Life & Witness Course’ run here in the lead-up to an exciting combined churches’ youth outreach event planned for early September. Watch this space!

God is at work!

Brisbane North Combined event: The Brisbane North combined churches prayer meeting was packed full of the presence of God. All the churches represented shared stories of God at work in amazing ways in their own communities. These stories stirred much faith as we joined our hearts together in prayer for our city, state and nation.

The worship time together was very special and we had opportunity to pray over each of the churches in our

area. One pastor wrote the following after the event: ‘The moment I will remember for a long time is the sound of people praying for us as a church. To be surrounded by so many people raising our church and its ministries to God at one time was awesome! It sounded like water over rocks in a stream—360 degree prayers surrounded us. I have never heard anything like it before—very special.’

Everyone left that night in awe of our great God, knowing that our unified prayer as churches was powerful, as together we keep sharing the life transforming love of Christ with our world.

Ethnic Baptist Churches: These churches made a significant impact during the week of prayer in June.

There were three gatherings where Korean, African and Burmese churches were interceding and praying earnestly for revival. The Slavic Church held a revival prayer chain on 6 June, when 24 people divided the day into 24hour slots so that during the whole day someone prayed for revival. As a regional consultant (Emil Rahimov) I have been significantly encouraged to see our Korean brothers and sisters with families and children coming to a 6 am prayer gathering. The African worship team of All-Nations Revival Church led us into the presence of God. African pastors prayed for revival

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in our schools, churches, for revival among our politicians, youth, people of different faiths and for the revival among inmates. Burmese choirs from across the churches were impressive.

Brothers and sisters from the Burmese churches are prayer warriors, and the Burmese youth were particularly involved in worship and prayers for our families and churches. Whilst praying for revival in Queensland, there was also strong movement to pray for their home countries too.

Overall there was very positive feedback for this initiative. It is great to see Queensland Baptist churches uniting in prayer. These prayer gatherings highlighted that ethnic churches care for their new home. They do pray, and will continue in prayer, for their home countries, but revival in Queensland is high on the agenda. There was also wide recognition that no revival will take place unless it is accompanied by prayer and unless it takes place in our homes and churches. Though the next revival prayer meetings will be next year, this spirit of prayer for revival will carry on through the year and I believe that we will see great things happening in our churches. We will see Christ exalted, God glorified and lives changed through this initiative.

HELP BUILD GOD’S KINGDOM

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through your local church and other Baptist ministries

Bethel Funerals A not-for-profit Christian Funeral Company Offering Compassion, Peace and Hope to grieving families Prepaid funeral planning

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www.qb.org.au/giftfoundation or phone 0400 795 302

Brisbane

07 3219 9333

We encourage you to consider a gift in addition to your tithes and offerings, after you have made provision for family and friends.

PARTNER WITH CHRIST

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Knowing God

QUEENSLAND BAPTISTS 2015 THEME

KNOWING GOD DISCIPLESHIP PART FOUR

‘For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart’ (Hebrews 4:12).

‘Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16).

So far in this series on discipleship, we have observed the following. First, entering into a relationship with Jesus is entering into a discipleship realm: we both become disciples and are to be involved in making other disciples. The Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 speaks to this. Second, there are key relationships in the discipleship process. Ted Engstrom wrote in his book, The Fine Art of Mentoring, that ‘Every Christian needs a Barnabas to receive encouragement, a Timothy to guide as a protégé, and an Epaphroditus to enjoy on a peer level’. We need to ensure we have these networks in place. Part three in this series focussed on discipleship outcomes, that is, discipleship involves life transformation. We are to grow towards maturity in Christ, to become grown-up Christians.

Foundational to all this is our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are not just to know about him but we are actually called into a relationship to know him experientially, and to grow in our familiarity with him. An indispensable component to all relationships is communication and this is no different in our relationship with Jesus.

Communication comes naturally in its most basic form, but there are skills to learn to ensure that communication is enhanced so as to be as effective as possible. These are life-long lessons to be learnt, whether within the family, community or work environments. Some do it far better than others. This also applies in our relationship with Christ.

In the beginning of Hebrews, the writer reminds us that God has spoken in many and varied ways, through the prophets and more recently (at that time) through his Son. The primary way that God speaks to us today is through his Word, the Bible. We can read it and God will speak. We can develop in our method of approaching the

Bible so as to allow God to speak more clearly to us—and for us to hear his voice with greater clarity. At times we might go for breadth, for example, aiming to read the whole Bible through in a year. At other times we will go for depth, reading and re-reading and researching the same passage for days, weeks or perhaps even months, allowing God to revel new truths to us each time. In approaching the Bible, we need to read, study, memorise, meditate and apply it to our lives. We need to invite God to speak to us through it. There are skills to learn and to be taught. This is a part of the discipleship process.

We all speak to God. We call this prayer.

Once again, prayer is easy. We talk to God. He hears and answers. But there is so much more to learn: what to pray about, when to pray, posture, using the Bible in prayer. We continue to learn and it is important to teach others how to pray. Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus to teach them to prayer (not ‘how’ to). There was period of time in my life when I asked just about everyone I knew the most important lesson they had learned in prayer. I learnt so much! Often it is easier to talk about prayer, read about prayer, and preach about prayer than it is to pray! But communicating with God is essential.

The two verses that head this article are important on this topic. As a part of your discipleship, why not commit to memorising them—and putting them into practice!

David Loder gs@qb.org.au

qb.org.au

Training opportunity

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Pastor?

Church planting?

Cross-cultural ministry?

Exploring Vocational Ministry Seminar 2015 This seminar is for those already studying at Bible college and other interested people wondering what the next step of the journey will be.

Have you ever wondered about any of the following?

How do I know if God is calling me into full time ministry?

Would God have me to be a pastor, missionary, Church planter or something else?

What should I be doing to prepare myself for future ministry?

What opportunities are there for vocational ministry through Queensland Baptists?

Well, the exploring vocational ministry seminar is a wonderful opportunity to explore these and other questions around the area of ministry as a vocation.

Exploring Vocational Ministry Seminar 2015 Thursday 1 October 2015 | 6.30pm − 8.30pm Queensland Baptists’ Centre (Level 2, Malyon College), 53 Prospect Rd Gaythorne Go to www.trybooking.com/IKYU to secure your place All Christians are called to serve and minister in Jesus’ name, yet God calls some to do ministry as their vocation.

That is, to serve God full time or have their ministry as their primary calling in life, maybe working in another job to help support their ministry focus.

Meet with representatives from Ministerial Services, Mission to Queensland and Global Interaction who will share the pathways and opportunities to serve God through Queensland Baptists. Find out more about the training opportunities

available through our network of churches and colleges.

As well as presentations, there will be opportunities for informal discussion, personal interviews, and discussions with leaders and practitioners in the various areas of ministry.

Mark this informative seminar in your diaries now.

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Baplink

Help your church be loan free faster Baplink has a wonderful opportunity for you to invest in your local church—you can help your church to pay off their church loan by opening a Kingdom Offset Account (KOA). You can deposit your funds interest free with Baplink as an offset against church loans, thereby reducing the amount of interest payable on the church loan. Plus, you can access your funds invested in a KOA with Baplink at any time.

Your KOA will reduce the interest payable on the church loan, meaning that more of the church loan repayment goes against the principal, which reduces the term of the loan. The more people who invest in a KOA, the greater the interest savings for the church, the further loan repayments go against the principal and the faster the loan is repaid. Your deposit makes a big difference to your church.

The really great thing about KOAs is that even if you can’t give large sums as an offering to help your church, you can deposit your funds knowing that every cent you have invested is an interest saving for your church.

We at Baplink believe that KOAs are a very practical and effective way for you to support your church whilst still retaining access to your funds.

Your church doesn’t have a loan with Baplink? No worries, invest in a KOA and Baplink will offset a church nominated by QB’s General Superintendent—thereby spreading your influence across our wonderful state.

Here are a few testimonies from current investors: Barbara, a Baplink Supporter As pensioners, we can’t help the church by giving as much as we would like to,

but the KOA was attractive—supporting the church without losing access to our funds. We’ve had an association with Baplink for a few decades through other investments, and so we were confident they could help. The process of setting up a new KOA was painless and the Baplink team made it easy. We are very excited to be part of reducing our church loan balance—we want our church to pay off the loan as soon as possible so the funds used for loan repayments can be used for other ministry. I would highly recommend the KOA to anyone looking for a way to support their church.

Mrs L, a Baplink Supporter We feel that God gave us a vision to use our funds to invest in the KOA while we can; that this is what we should do for the Lord. There is a real need to support the churches, regardless of which church. When our church paid out its loan, we chose to keep our KOA and have the money offset against another Queensland Baptist Church, knowing that God would use those funds for his purpose. We are aware that our church will need the funds in the near future, but in the meantime, we are very happy to be supporting another church. As pensioners we were so pleased to find a way to invest without losing our funds or our pension. It’s such a great benefit to the church and we are happy to be a part of it.

From current church beneficiaries of KOAs: Coolum Beach Baptist Church The KOAs have been a real blessing to our church. They really help to bring down the loan and allow us to look at doing more around the church, like the new toilets we’ll soon be installing.

KOAs have just been so wonderful for us.

QCCC

qb.org.au

QUEENSLAND CONFERENCE AND CAMPING CENTRES

Beenleigh Baptist Church We have been considering ways to lower our debt on the church building loan. We used Baplink’s Kingdom Offset Accounts as one of our options for our people to choose from. We have had a great response from the congregation as the money still belongs to them, but the interest from the Kingdom Offsets will help us reduce our debt and pay off the loan faster. Highly recommended! (Steve Twible)

Situated in the beautiful Gold Coast Hinterland, we have 4 venues that would be perfect for hosting your next family camp, youth retreat or men’s and women’s getaways.

Are you interested in investing in ministry? Set up a Baplink Kingdom Offset Account and help your church be loan free faster.

From delicious meals to comfortable accommodation, we have everything to provide your guests with a memorable experience.

DISCOVER QCCC TAMBORINE

Download your Kingdom Offset Account Application Form at baplink.org.au/forms

Contact us now!

Robert Chapman, Baplink Manager robert.chapman@qb.org.au

Phone: 07 3354 5611 (Callers outside of Brisbane) Phone: 1800 650 062 (Toll free) Fax: 07 3354 5605 baplink@qb.com.au

OPEN DAY 22 August 10am - 2pm chc.edu.au

www.qccc.com.au bookings@tamborine.qccc.com.au 07 5545 1417

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Milestones

g n i t a r Celeb 160 YEARS of Baptist witness in Queensland

This month, August, marks 160 years since a handful of brave Baptists living in ‘Moreton Bay’ formed themselves into the first Baptist church in this part of the colony of New South Wales. For the previous few years, some of them had been active members of the United Evangelical Church which was led by a Baptist minister, Charles Stewart, but now they were able to meet together as the pioneer Baptist congregation.

They were led for a few months by the flamboyant Rev. Charles Smith but then were on their own until Rev. B G Wilson arrived in 1858 to take over with a zealous vision for evangelising the whole colony.

There were many ups and downs before they became strong enough to spread to different parts of Brisbane and out into towns along the coast and in the

hinterland. There were many converts as well as newcomers to the colony joining the churches. After some time, they were able to form the Baptist Association (now Union) of Queensland comprising seven churches, soon increasing to nine.

Perhaps the most remarkable growth took place in a parallel world amongst the German Baptist immigrants. They

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Milestones

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organisation, including short-lived church plants, older churches closing, changes of name, mergers, absorptions and multi-campus arrangements.

Consequently, many new church names have appeared in this ten-year period.

Of the 13 new churches listed by MTQ, 30% are part of an existing church.

There are now nearly 400 recognised ministers, about 4% female, and about 25% retired.

Over the 160 years there has been a steady growth of total membership, which now stands at about 16,000, although it was slower during the 1930s and 1940s. There is more emphasis these days on attendance and participation than membership, with about 29,000 attending each weekend. Of course to show the effectiveness of Baptist outreach, any growth figures must be correlated with population growth in the state, which has been considerable in recent years. were arriving in great numbers, happy to find a new home and assisted greatly by incentives provided by the new colonial government. They, too, had their own thriving German Baptist Conference.

By the time of the Queensland Baptist Jubilee in 1905, there were 24 English churches and five German, with 2,500 members, 23 pastors and 4,000 Sunday school scholars. The early 1900s was not a period of rapid growth in the number of churches, but the Queensland Baptist Home Mission, which had been created to evangelise and start new churches, was gearing up for the task.

The First World War created a deep sense of spiritual need to which there was a great response in the 1920s, with effective and creative outreaches in many different parts of the state.

However, it was not until after the 2nd World War that significant growth occurred. The Home Mission Superintendent, Rev. AH Brooks, called for one hundred new preaching places by the centenary in 1955, a goal which was easily achieved. The impetus

continued with many new churches being formed in the 1960s, which are just now celebrating their jubilees. The 100th recognised church, Carina, was formed in 1965 but it has not survived.

An interesting side effect of that period of growth was the lowering of the average size of churches from the highs of the early 1900s. But that was to change again when the ‘Church Growth Movement’ developed which, along with the charismatic movement, saw a vision for larger churches with team ministries, extensive properties and ramped up organisation. In recent years, larger churches have been growing more strongly than smaller ones, with middlesized churches declining in number.

So by the time of the 150th anniversary, which was celebrated widely across the state in 2005, there were 178 churches affiliated with the Baptist Union. In the ten years since then, the net number of separate churches affiliated with Queensland Baptists has only increased by about 4%. However, there have been many changes and a heavy trend towards greater variety and fluidity in church

So the 160th anniversary can be celebrated with thankfulness, yet with full awareness of the challenges that lie ahead.

David Parker archives@qb.org.au

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QB kids and their families

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Kids matter!

Dear Kids Ministry Leaders and Parents, or anyone who will influence a kid or teen this week, We at the QB Kids and their Families team want to help equip you as leaders of children. We know that in order to raise a generation, it takes a whole lot of investment and influence—time after time—week after week.

We want to help you impact families and influence kids for the gospel.

We know that we have, on average, 936 weeks from birth until a kid graduates, and we want to leverage all of the opportunities we get, and help grow them into authentic disciples of Jesus.

We have an opportunity to show up, to impact and to influence not just an entire generation, but individual kids.

Kids that are made in God’s image. Kids that matter to God. We know that you’re busy—but kids aren’t kids forever, and we can’t afford to miss these opportunities. So don’t miss this.

We are hosting an event. Michael Chanley, from South East Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and Director of CMConnect Global is here in Australia during August, and we would LOVE you to come along and hear him speak on family discipleship; how to leverage those opportunities to impact kids for their futures.

It’s a free event—we want as many people as possible to come. Come along, bring your team if you want, and be

blessed and equipped to influence lives for the sake of the gospel—while we’ve got time.

Sally Contessi Team Leader, QB Kids & their families qbkids@qb.org.au http://kids.qb.org.au/ sally.contessi@qb.org.au

developing Christians of influence Degrees in theology and ministry Bachelor | Masters | Doctoral

‘Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding’ (Jeremiah 3.15).

www.malyon.edu.au

The Open Door

Retreat

Queensland Baptists’ Retreat Lodge

Relax

Refresh

The Open Door is situated 30km north of Gympie on Mt Kanigan in a rural setting with spectacular 360

degree views. The complex sleeps 27-30 people in seven bedrooms and one dormitory and there are two kitchens, two lounge rooms, four bathrooms, a dining room and fireplace. Other amenities include a children’s play area and games room (pool and ping-pong tables) and a small meeting room/chapel.

The Open Door is a relaxed, refreshing environment that provides a unique uninterrupted setting for leadership seminars, prayer retreats, team weekends and missionary holidays.

For further information contact: Queensland Baptists Phone: (07) 3354 5600 Email: enquiries@qb.org.au

www.qb.org.au

26

QCCC

Joyful hospitality L-R, Andrew, Elena with friends, Nathan and Annaleise Williams

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For the last nine months, my family has had the honour and privilege of hosting a sixteen-year-old exchange student from Switzerland. When you live in Mapleton, you get used to people expressing envy about where you live and after five years I still don’t take it for granted. However, our exchange student comes from a place probably even more idyllic than Mapleton. Her village is Monstein, a hamlet of 200 people, high in the Eastern Swiss Alps and just a stone’s throw from the fresh powder of Davos-Klosters, where the British Royal family chooses to ski.

qb.org.au

Elena is the same age as our oldest son, and we invited her into our home of three boys on the recommendation of friends of ours who also lived in Monstein. It took some convincing for me to come around to this particular arrangement, as it seemed far from a perfect fit. How could we invite a teenage girl to come halfway around the world into a house crammed with rambunctious boys (and one toilet)? It helped that she comes from a family with three brothers, but I still wondered if she knew what she might be coming to.

Those who have followed the journey of my articles in The qb will know how integral Romans 12 has become in the culture and teaching of QCCC’s ministry. Romans 12:13 (Phillips) exhorts us to ‘give freely to fellow Christians in want, never grudging a meal or a bed to those who need them’.

Hebrews 13:1-2 takes it a bit further, ‘Never let your brotherly love fail, nor refuse to extend your hospitality to strangers—sometimes men have entertained angels unawares’.

As it turned out, our step of faith to open our home to a stranger did end up in us entertaining an ‘angel’. It wasn’t always easy for Elena, particularly when she broke her leg severely at a theme park on the second day of the summer holidays, and that immobilised her for most of her Australian summer. (A series of McLeod’s Daughters really helped her English though.) However, she became like a daughter to us, and my wife, Anne, particularly enjoyed having another convivial female presence around the house.

There is risk involved in inviting a stranger into your home. However, it’s

QCCC

worth remembering it’s an immense risk for the stranger too. If they’re around, they’re going to see you at your worst.

The experience has reminded me that the church is at its best when it is serious about the joyful discipline of hospitality.

Our western unilateral suburbia throws up a lot of barriers to hospitality but this shouldn’t diminish its power when it’s practised intentionally. In What’s Wrong with the World, GK Chesterton suggests, ‘All true friendliness begins with fire and food and drink and the recognition of rain or frost. ...Each human soul has in a sense to enact for itself the gigantic humility of the Incarnation. Every man must descend into the flesh to meet mankind.’

What we have done in our home, on a micro level, over the past nine months is what the ministry of QCCC does on a macro level, nearly every day of the year.

That is to invite multiple strangers into the life of our community, look after them, tend to their needs and hope that our interaction with them will leave a positive and lasting impression of the infectious goodness of the Christ life.

‘Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.

It is not to lead our neighbor into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment. It is not an

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educated intimidation with good books, good stories, and good works, but the liberation of fearful hearts so that words can find roots and bear ample fruit….The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free….not a subtle invitation to adopt the life style of the host, but the gift of a chance for the guest to find his own’ (Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out).

Elena has changed our lives and hers will also be irrevocably different because of the nine months she spent with us. QCCC’s ministry is about creating hundreds of daily life-changing experiences. Please pray for us as we go about it.

Andrew Grant Director of Queensland Conference and Camping Centres andrew.grant@qccc.com.au www.qccc.com.au

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QB women

She is … Brave—Zimbabwe style

She is… around Queensland—and beyond By the end of this month, She is…

Brave events around Queensland for 2015 will have concluded. We’re looking forward to a full report in the October issue!

And this year, She is… has gone much further afield. The 32nd She is... conference took place in early July— in Zimbabwe! The conference, for girls who have been victims of sexual abuse, was run by Anne and Andrew Grant from QCCC, ably assisted by Andrew’s sister, Morag Roy, and Debbie Brennocks. Debbie is a graduate of the Baptist North Queensland College of Ministries (as it was named then) who has spent the last 25 years in Zimbabwe, establishing the Sandra Jones Centre— the nation’s only refuge for underage victims of sexual abuse. Her efforts were recently acknowledged with a Medal of the Order of Australia.

Partially sponsored by QCCC and the sale of Sunshine Coast mangoes, the camp was a no-expense-spared weekend for the girls themed around She is…

Brave. Forty girls between the ages of eight and 16 attended, along with six babies belonging to some of the girls.

The weekend followed the normal She Is… format with lots of talks (in this case focusing on four brave women from the Bible) and some ‘Extreme Girlfriend’ fun in the form of abseiling and an African zipline through the Acacias.

The girls were left with a message of hope—they might have experienced terrible hardship already in their young lives, and they live in the poorest nation on earth, but they’re loved by God and, made in his image, now have every opportunity to be God’s agent on his good earth.

Looking ahead, in September a She is… team of eleven women, all paying

their own way, heads to Papua New Guinea to hold a She is... Brave camp at Ukarumpa, the SIL base. An invitation to attend has also been extended to the women of MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) and other mission groups outside of Ukarumpa.

It’s not too late to help bring some of these women from outlying and remote mission stations to Ukarumpa to attend.

These women rarely get a chance to sit and soak in God’s Word and recharge their spiritual batteries.

Travel within PNG is very expensive and risky, so if you can help, please donate at http://www.gofundme.com/ sheisbravepng.

For more information about She is… visit http://sheis.net.au/ or https://www.facebook.com/ SheisConference

qb.org.au

Alex Holmans presents this address

We remember

Late Flight Sergeant Sidney Merrin (Alex Holmans’ Great Uncle)

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Private Thomas Merrin (above) Seaman Robert Williams (below)

Let me tell you …

My name is Alex Holmans and I want to share with you why we should continue to uphold the ANZAC traditions.

Let me tell you ...

It was 1916, and gunfire could be heard at The Battle of the Somme as Private Tom Merrin and his best friend climbed out of the trenches and ran across the field of battle, amongst the random explosions. Tom looked left as the terrifying sound was suddenly very close.

There, right next to him was his best mate lying lifeless on the ground, cut down by enemy fire. There was no time to mourn ... he ran on to fight for his country, to fight with his mates.

Tom made it back to Australia, where he married and had children, who had children, who had children—me! My mum tells me he lived the rest of his life suffering the painful physical effects of being gassed while fighting in the trenches, as well as emotional trauma resulting in many a night waking up screaming from yet another nightmare.

He also grieved the loss of his oldest son who lost his life while a flight crew navigator at the Battle of Normandy.

This he suffered that I might know freedom.

1939 saw the start of yet another war.

Today I proudly wear the ribbons awarded to Seaman Robert Williams, my grandfather, who joined the Merchant Navy as a 15-year-old and served in Murmansk, Russia. He faced high seas, manning the guns, waiting for the next barrage of gunfire which would whistle across the deck or put a hole in the side of the ship, never knowing if he would ever see the shore again. He put his life on the line that his children’s children (me!) would know freedom.

Sadly, war continues today. I have a school friend whose father has actively served overseas over the last few years.

She has had to live for months at a time with her Dad away, knowing he is serving our country by putting himself in a dangerous situation, striving to live in a world ‘that is free from the fear of

terrorisms’. The cost of war continues today not only for our serving defence officers but also their families. For me, ANZAC Day should not only commemorate those from days gone past, but also recognise those service men and women who still uphold the ANZAC spirit.

Today we specifically take time to remember the sacrifices made on that day of the Gallipoli landing, even though it happened 100 years ago. All of the men who took part in that battle have since passed on from this life, but the spirit of the ANZAC lives on.

Sacrifices in fields of battle are very real and have been made by my own family and friends. These are people we know and love. Whether it be giving one’s life, or suffering ill-effects of physical or emotional scars, these sacrifices were made 100 years ago and are still being made today. We must remember them.

We will remember them. Lest we forget!

Alex Holmans worships with Forest Lake Baptist Church

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QB youth

myYouthLeader myYouthLeader is an active community of people in Australia involved in Christian youth ministry … in churches, schools and the community. We connect like-minded Youth Leaders from all denominations across Australia, both online and faceto-face. As experienced and passionate Christian leaders in youth ministry, we facilitate discussions that inspire, envision and support Youth Leaders in the development of better strategies and resources for their Youth Ministry.

Given its interdenominational and interstate presence, myYouthLeader is accessible to all Youth Leaders looking for a place to connect, discover new thinking and strategies in Youth Ministry, tell their stories, discuss questions and issues, and support each other.

We want to see every Youth Leader in Australia, whether they live in the city or in the bush, being trained through a professional learning network, having a clear vision and strategy for their youth ministry, and developing teams and resources that will create opportunities to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of young people in their community. We want every Youth Leader working with

young people right now to remain planted in their roles for longer. We want them to feel supported in their role—delivering a Youth Ministry with impact that changes the lives of young people as they come to know Jesus and learn what it means to follow him.

One of the ongoing challenges in youth work is the need to develop young people into leaders and contribute to the community. We want to see hundreds of student leaders across Australia trained and passionate about serving their friends and other young people in their own communities.

What do we do?

We engage the best Youth Ministry thought leaders and practitioners from across Australia and the world, so that together we see and experience iron sharpening iron. Through podcasts, leadership articles and resources, these renowned experts impart their knowledge and passion to the next generation of youth leaders.

The myYouthLeader community provides: • An online community hub that is updated with new content weekly: myYouthLeader.com.au • Weekly emails with fresh content,

• • • •

•

articles ideas, resources, and competitions Monthly podcasts and interviews with the very best Youth Ministry thinkers and practitioners Monthly online training webinars Daily social media discussions and updates through Facebook, Twitter and more …

An active community of youth leaders, sharing ideas, resources, support, and questions and answers A consulting and coaching/ mentoring service that can help Youth Leaders and their youth ministry move to the next level.

In the future we want to provide and/ or facilitate: • Professional development opportunities online—short courses and webinars • Training events for youth ministries in local areas • Building organic youth leader networks in geographical areas to facilitate face- to-face support and peer learning • Directory of services of youth networks and services, e.g. speakers, seminar presenters, key mental health services, and campsites.

Support myYouthLeader is coordinated by Liveyourown which is an organisation actively involved in developing innovative projects, leadership programs and social justice campaigns.

For more information, visit http:// myyouthleader.com.au/supportmyyouthleader The myYouthLeader Team

qb.org.au

QB archives

31

Milton, looking across to burial ground, ref: Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 517

Rev James Voller

Digitising our photo collection The Queensland Baptist Archives has a growing photograph collection, which is currently being transferred into digital format. David Parker and Bill Hughes recently attended a seminar presented by the Australian Society of Archives (ASA) on the subject. The speakers included experts from the State Library of Queensland and with the advice of the ASA developed a plan for a database of digitised photos which contains comprehensive details about each of the photos.

The job of digitising our photos is a long and tedious one and is expected to take some months. All of the photos are being saved in TIF (Tagged Image Format), which is a high resolution format which does not deteriorate over time. Images saved in JPG lose clarity over extended use (editing/resaving), but this does not occur with TIF. Our collection includes some historically valuable photographs. It includes a two volume album of all of the presidents of the Baptist Union of Queensland from the first, Rev James Voller 1877-78, to the last President, Rev Alan Grieve.

It also includes photographs of church buildings over the years, individual

pastors and church members, ceremonial events such as church openings, items of historical interest, Assembly delegates and distinguished visitors to Queensland from other states and countries.

Baptist churches around Queensland have forwarded photographs to QB Archives for preservation and we appreciate the opportunity to provide that service.

The old Paddington Cemetery The former North Brisbane burial grounds were located on 50 acres (more than 20 hectares) of a low-lying drainage basin between Milton and Red Hill. It was usually known as the Paddington Cemetery from the time it opened in the early 1840s. The cemetery was closed in 1875 due to public pressure after a larger area was opened as a cemetery at Toowong.

The old cemetery became an eyesore due to neglect, vandalism and flooding. At the time of its closure there were over 10,000 graves in the cemetery.

One of those agitating for change was Pastor William Moore, the founder and pastor of the Petrie Terrace church, which looked across Hale Street (then called Cemetery Road) at the northern part of the cemetery. Moore was the original trustee of the Baptist portion of the cemetery.

Relatives were given the opportunity to have their family graves moved to Toowong or other cemeteries and about 100 graves and 150 memorials were moved. A further 500 headstones were moved into the yard of the nearby Christ Church, Milton and the area was redeveloped as a recreation area named Lang Park after the Presbyterian Minister, Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang, who played a significant part in the development of Queensland as a separate colony in 1859.

Lang Park was initially a public park, but in the 1950s the Queensland Rugby League took over and developed a large part of the park as a football ground through the 1950s and 1960s. Lang Park was further developed throughout the 1990s into the present Suncorp Stadium.

Baptist Church Archives archives@qb.org.au, Ph 07 3878 3178, 07 3354 5642 or 07 3256 8897 The Baptist Archives PO Box 6166, Mitchelton Q 4053

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08/15

Malyon

Dave Benson (Malyon Transforming Work Conference speaker) and crew

One calling, many stories My call to minister, expressed through work For me, the call came loud and clear. I was attending an ordinary Sunday morning service when the extraordinary voice of the Lord suddenly, and very clearly, said to me: Minister. I hadn’t been praying at that moment to receive a word or guidance, nor was I expecting in that moment to hear from the Lord on a topic which I had been seeking him on for years. But boom! In an ordinary moment, and in that mighty voice that whispers, God suddenly called me to participate in the very thing for which I had been created.

Wow. You see, after (successfully) practising law for a handful of years, I still had that sense that I wasn’t doing the exact job that God had created me for. I had the privilege of a Christian upbringing and had been taught that God had a plan for my life. But somewhere along the line I had interpreted that truth through my own particular cultural lens and had morphed it into ‘God has a vocational plan for your life’. That is, vocation was the main part—the most important part—of his

plan for my life. I would find personal and spiritual fulfilment primarily by performing the exact employment God had [probably] pre-determined for me to do. All I had to do was find it.

Right.

Thanks to good teaching, wise advice, and a few stops and starts, I now understand his plan in terms of his kingdom. Let’s be clear: his ‘plan for my life’ does include the work I perform. But it also equally includes every single other part of my life.

That call to Minister was really an invitation to experience all of life as an opportunity to know him better, to live according to his values, and to live as if I am already a citizen of his kingdom.

You see, I had unknowingly fallen into an ancient view of the world which divides the sacred activities of life from the secular. And if all of life falls into either the sacred or the secular, so too then, do jobs.

qb.org.au

Malyon

33

said they would recommend the conference to a friend next year.

Since I received the call that ordinary Sunday morning, I now have a Minister mindset about everything I do. Well, I try to. In my work, in my relationships, in the mundane daily repetitive activities, I try to make choices according to kingdom values.

This means I am free from the tyranny of finding ‘the one’, whether that be a job, a person, or an experience. And I am free to relate to God in a much more authentic way.

1998 John D. Beckett, Loving Monday: 70- 75

So I [unknowingly] searched for a job that would bring me closer to God. Well, I searched for a job that would lead me to the kind of peace and personal fulfilment that only God, himself, can deliver.

But of course, this is not biblical thinking. A biblical holistic worldview means that every aspect of life, whether it is church, school, art, home, marriage, music, drama, eating, sports, business, law, labour, sleeping, agriculture, sex, medicine, or whatever, should be brought into harmony with God’s design and intended purpose.

At the recent Malyon Transforming Work Conference, we heard many stories of people who were figuring out what it means to be both a disciple of Jesus and a worker in an earthly workplace. Together we workshopped what this might look like: What attitudes might we bring to the job? How do we understand the value of our role?

What does God think about our work?

Over 140 people attended, and the vast majority indicated that they would come again. Even more (83%)

I still see so many people fighting a desperate battle to experience fulfilment by finding the ‘right job’.

I know how hard it can be to shake this mentality, because—like all good deceptions—there is just enough truth in it to make it seem real. In truth, work is good, God does direct our paths, God does sometimes direct us to perform certain jobs, and God does bless us with gifts and abilities that make some work more preferable to us.

Murray Wright (Director Malyon Workplace) Anne and Geoff Mitchell (conference workshop leaders)

All this probably seems obvious to many of you who have been walking with the Lord for a while. But for me, it was a real ‘A-ha’ moment; a true liberation. And I’m grateful.

Eustacia Yates Communications Manager @ Malyon

But our identity as Christians should shape the work we do, and not the other way round.

GOT QUESTIONS? You are invited to come along and check out what Malyon offers and stands for.

13 October @ 6pm Go to www.malyon.edu.au for all the details

Malyon’s Open Night 2015

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MTQ

08/15

Inspire 2015 Each year a conference is held to support and encourage church planters around Queensland. It’s held at Tamborine in the Gold Coast hinterland, and for about two days, MTQ staff, guest speakers and coaches come to meet with some amazing leaders to talk and dream about church planting.

It’s called INSPIRE. This year’s guest speaker was Andrew Turner, who is the Church Development Facilitator at the Baptist Union of South Australia. He gave some great keynote sessions to guide the discussions. To provide some specific coaching, Andrew was joined by Ron and Paula Turner, and these extra sessions provided the leaders time to really drill down into the issues related to this important work.

So we listened, talked, shared in prayer and encouragement, and had some great meals just to make it a wonderful experience.

INSPIRE will continue to be offered by MTQ each year because I am aware of the great demands on church planters, and I know the value of time invested with peers as an encouragement to stay the course.

Please pray for this church planting work. Pray that the Lord of the Harvest would indeed call workers into the field (Luke 10:2). Pray that we will have the eyes to see and the hearts to appreciate those who have been called. Pray that men and women from all over the state will begin to see the opportunities that exist in the harvest field and respond to the Lord’s urgent call to action.

Colin Stoodley MTQ Leader and Church Planting Coordinator Colin.stoodley @qb.org.au

qb.org.au

Called Home

Persecution brief

35

Wilfred Jacob Lanham 3 December 1922 – 12 April 2015

An extract from Wilf ’s testimony to God’s grace: Even before I could walk or talk, my parents had presented me to the Lord and dedicated themselves to bring me up ‘in the fear and admonition of the Lord’ … After my mother’s death (I was three years old) Grandma took over much of that responsibility. My brothers and I were introduced to Christian Endeavour, Sunday school and church.

At the age of 14, in the Nambour Methodist Church, I was asked to teach a Sunday school class. I was not a Christian (the blind leading the blind!) but I often wonder if God used those years to plant some seeds in young lives. I continued teaching till I was 19 when war intervened. During the years of Army service, there was very little opportunity for Christian worship and company for which I yearned. I remember one incident in Moora, WA. The Major sent word that transport would be available for any who would like to go into town for a church service: I was the only one interested, so I had to drive myself!

I was warmly welcomed by a young fellow who said, ‘I guess you are a Christian’. I fumbled my way through an answer and sat down. After all these years, I still remember those challenging words and knew then I had to do something about it. I yielded my life to Christ, confessed that I was a sinner, and accepted his free gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. Right throughout our married life, Jess and I endeavoured to live for Christ and claim him as Head of our home. In the closing years of our lives, we eagerly look for his coming again and for him to meet us in the clouds. ‘And so shall we ever be with the Lord’ (I Thessalonians 4:17 KJV).

Dorothy Fay Reid

24 November 1936 – 31 May 2015 Fay was born in Toowoomba, the eldest child of parents Rev Alec and Mrs Dorothy Law. The family moved to Brisbane, where Fay’s dad attended Baptist College. Fay married John Reid and they lived in the Kenmore area, where they raised their three daughters. Six grandchildren were born and added a very special joy to the family and great delight to Fay’s heart. Fay was baptised at Wynnum Baptist Church. After she and John married, they first attended Toowong Baptist Church and later, Moore Park. A group of Christians then started Kenmore Baptist Church. They had their first meeting in Fay and John’s home. When there were too many people to meet in a home, they moved into Brookfield Hall and eventually built the Kenmore church. In 1976, John was called to be the music director at the City Tabernacle Baptist Church. The Tab became the family’s home church, where Fay continued to serve over many years—always involved behind the scenes and in ladies work throughout the churches, at Brookfield Gardens and in various choirs. Fay was deeply loved and her life of Christian commitment and service stands as a testimony to God’s grace and faithfulness.

Please pray!

NIGERIA Recently Isaac*, an Open Doors worker in Nigeria, travelled to meet some of the women freed from Boko Haram.

Taking a local pastor from the area with him, Isaac was initially denied access to the camp as security was on high alert. Returning on the second day however, the Lord used a prominent government official to gain access, enabling Isaac and the pastor to step into the world of the escapees.

All of the women had difficulty expressing the intensity of their ordeal. One woman, who did not want us to publish her name, told Isaac, ‘I really don’t want to recall the gory incidents I witnessed in my seven months with the insurgents’.

The general atmosphere in the camp was very tense. A total of 276 women have been brought to this camp in Yola, Western Nigeria. At the time of Isaac’s visit, four of the women were pregnant, 30 were critically sick. Some had been injured in the rescue attempt. Many of the victims were aggressive —angry over the ordeal they had been through; the pain, hunger, trauma, fear, and aggression they had faced on a daily basis.

However many are relieved that the situation is now over, if at least for themselves. Twenty-five year old Waliya Samiyu shared, ‘God never disowns his people. He never let me down. My friends lost their lives in my presence. I went through hardship. I was raped. I saw hell. But I clung to God who knows me. I cried to him day and night. At night, when everyone was dealing with their trauma, I gazed at the stars in heaven and constantly reminded God of his promises in times like these. He kept his promises. I survived it. Now I am free. To God be the glory.’

Source: Open Doors

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08/15

Global interaction

Duncan Moody (Senior Pastor at North Pine) welcomes Ros on her return

Ros and Daniel

It sounds like you enjoyed your stay.

Strings Attached!

It sounds like you might have been scared if you hadn’t been prepared?

How did you get prepared? I asked Ros on her return from Thailand.

‘Well, at a fellowship group, the Thai believers talked about how they used a traditional practice now given a fresh meaning as they celebrate God’s blessing on them. I’d not witnessed it before,’ Ros responded.

‘The next day was my last in Thailand before I returned home to North Pine.

I’d been staying in a house owned by a lady we called Ba Beeyn and she lived right next door, only a few meters away . She couldn’t speak English and I couldn’t speak Thai. Lots of fun. But we were able to communicate with signs and gestures.

‘She took my hands and started to tie them with string—just like I’d heard about the night before. So she wasn’t being violent towards me but rather I knew she was expressing a blessing on me. She does not yet love Jesus, but

with each of these connections we are able to show and share God’s love with her. God had prepared me so I wouldn’t be frightened. It was a wonderful experience!’

Ros, why were you in Thailand?

‘Dema and Carolyn, Global Interaction cross-cultural workers, needed someone to assist their children Grace and Daniel in their distance education. I’d been a teacher a long time ago and I believed God prompted me to offer to help. I filled a gap of nine weeks. A young lady from New South Wales came to help too. We worked well together. With her helping, I was able to have the children complete all their work three weeks early!

‘Dema and Carolyn have made such sacrifice to go and live where they are.

We need to do all we can to support and partner with them. This impacted me so strongly.’

‘I loved it. One thing though—a couple are willing and ready to be there for a longer period but they can’t leave Australia until their support levels reach 100%. The long-term workers, who are being wonderfully used of God, could be hindered in their return from leave.

‘We have so much in Australia. We seem slow to give. We are slow to put our hands up too and say to the Lord, “Here am I, send me”.’

I reckon God might use you and your commitment to challenge others. Was anything difficult for you?

‘Well, I kept healthy the whole time and I am grateful to God for that. It was hot, very hot! I knew the weather would be like that, but I got through. I think it is a great thing to do. I encourage others to talk with Global Interaction about opportunities. I think my Senior Pastor, Duncan, might have been a bit worried that I might not return to my job in the church office. But I know that here is where God wants me to continue.’

Geoff Cramb Queensland State Director Global Interaction gcramb@globalinteraction.org.au Office ph: 07 3354 5603 Globalinteraction.org.au

qb.org.au

Carinity

37

Carinity Home Care client Margaret Capkin with Lifestyle carer Linda Rothstein.

Choice and flexibility The aged care revolution in Australia began last month with the changeover to Consumer Directed Care. Carinity Home Care Manager Robyn Jones said many providers had seen the power of Consumer Directed Care from trials and similar models in places like the UK and Europe.

‘Carinity’s reputation for high-quality care and client solutions ensured we were part of a national trial more than 12 months ago,’ she said. ‘The trial allowed Carinity to create a Home Care program that understands and empowers both the consumer and the lifestyle carer.’

Consumer Directed Care (CDC) transforms the way aged care in the home is funded and operated by giving seniors freedom to choose the services they want, when they want them, and from whom.

‘Great living starts with understanding each person’s lifestyle goals and working with them to achieve their

aspirations,’ Robyn said. ‘We had a Russian gentleman request a Russianspeaking carer, and we found someone for him. It is all about understanding the needs and long-term goals of seniors, as opposed to what tasks they need help with. Our lifestyle carers are focused on relationships, rather than transactional tasks. They are more like companions or extended family members and our clients just love the approach.’

Previously, seniors would receive an Aged Care Assessment to determine how many hours and what types of care they would receive. Now they are allocated funding and they choose what they want to do with that funding.

‘The focus is now on the consumer having someone supporting them and guiding them to maintain their independence and working together to achieve their lifestyle aspirations through a range of flexible activities,’ Robyn added.

Home Care consumer Margaret Capkin said she found the flexibility of what the lifestyle carers could do allowed her more freedom to do the things she enjoys. ‘I love music and I sing in a choir, however due to my balance issues I can’t leave the house alone. The lifestyle carer assists me with cooking and shopping as well as taking me out for social activities,’ she said.

Aged Education • L ‘My lifestyle carer Care Linda is•a fantastic cook and she helps me with baking, www.c which I really enjoy. My package also included houseofcleaning services and I An outreach Queensland Baptists decided to go with the cleaners I had previously been using instead of getting Linda to do cleaning for me as it was more cost effective.

‘It is great to have the option to split my package between multiple providers to get the highest level of care possible.’

For more information about Consumer Directed Care or Home Care options please phone 1300 722 890 or visit http://www.carinity.org.au/In-home-care

38

08/15

BWAA

One day to change their world It’s hard to watch the news these days and not feel a sense of despair. We have disasters happening with increasing regularity, countries at war, alcoholfuelled violence on our own streets and a world in a precarious financial situation. Sadly, it is the children who are suffering the most.

In the beautiful Psalm 139, David describes God’s unimaginable love for his children: ‘For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made … Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days formed for me, when as yet there were none.’

As people of God we should not despair! The problems of this age are not too big as the hand of the Lord guides us.

On Sunday 9 August, Baptist churches around the country came together to support children living in poverty.

Be Love Sponsorship Sunday is our national day to pray (as a church) and learn more about how we can be God’s love for children who are suffering in our broken world.

David’s words in the Psalm are a wonderful expression of God’s love for each and every individual. Every person matters to God; even—especially—one small child.

qb.org.au

The voice

Be Love Sponsorship Sunday is all about child sponsorship. Sponsoring just one child will help to share God’s love, life and hope. As you walk with that child you will change their world— not just for that one child but for all the children and their families in that community who will benefit from life-changing programs funded by child sponsorship giving!

Pray that God will continue to inspire in us his love for each and every child.

Pray that, as a church, we will respond with generosity and prayers for those most vulnerable—the children.

If you would like to sponsor a child, please call Baptist World Aid Australia on 1300 789 991 or visit www. baptistworldaid.org.au.

Rev Andy Coller

More government funding for Baptists!

The Australian Government has granted additional support for our Baptist partner in PNG, thanks to support from Australian Baptists. In the midst of aid budget cuts, and with Australian Aid under threat, churches from around the nation have rallied to support the work of Baptist World Aid Australia.

‘The response to our annual Matching Grant Appeal was a real answer to prayer,’ John Hickey, Baptist World Aid CEO, says. ‘We are so blessed to have such generous and faithful supporters!

The outpouring of generosity is a real witness to our Government, which continues to invest in our work. The response from our supporters shows that our faith community has a heart

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for people living in poverty all around the world—a message which is being heard in Canberra!

‘In fact, we recently received news that despite recent cuts elsewhere, we are being entrusted with an additional $850,000 in government funding to deliver health, education and genderbased violence prevention programs in Papua New Guinea. This was not only an answer to our prayers for the region but also a testament to the impact Australian Baptists are having in the aid and development sector and a huge endorsement of our work with our partner, the Baptist Union of PNG. ‘We believe God is calling us to do more to end extreme poverty. Gifts given to our Matching Grant Appeal will be added to funds raised throughout the past year to mean that Baptist World Aid can now commit over $12 million in funding for Community Development, Child Sponsorship and Disaster Management projects in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, as well as further Advocacy initiatives such as the ethical shopping guides.

‘On behalf of all our overseas partners, our board, staff and volunteers here at Baptist World Aid, I would like to thank you for your generosity and prayers which enable us to continue to be love and end poverty for children and families in the developing world,’ John Hickey concludes.

If you would like more information on the work Baptist World Aid is doing overseas, please call 1300 789 991 or visit www.baptistworldaid.org.au.

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Spread the word!

Do you pass on your copy of The qb after you’ve read it?

Why not extend its reach and pass it on to a friend, take it when you visit someone, or leave it where it might be picked up and read.

Or order extra copies to add to your welcome packs for visitors to your church.

It’s a great resource for demonstrating what being a part of Queensland Baptists is all about.

And if you have friends or acquaintances overseas, don’t forget they can read The qb online at qb.org.au/news-media/

40

08/15

Thinkspot

Grace and peace ‘Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Amen.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all.

Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ’ (Galatians 1:1-10).

Unlike other books, Paul doesn’t greet and then share his prayers and thoughtfulness for the church ... in this case he shares a pointed greeting, which outlines the truth of the Gospel and admonishes them for turning away from that Gospel.

We’re faced once again with the stark and definitive reality that there is only one Gospel. Only one way to be saved, and (very really) only one way to live.

Paul’s greeting of ‘grace and peace’ brings us to the point of having to accept this good news he presents, because the meaning of these words in a Gospel context is immense!

Grace was shown to us in the ultimate way on the cross. Receiving grace is when you are given something you do not deserve. On the cross Jesus stood in the way for us, and all the anger that we rightly deserved for all the things we’ve done against God fell against Jesus instead of us. Jesus standing in our place means we don’t cop what we deserve (that anger) and that is God’s mercy … but because Jesus stood in our place our faith in Jesus grants us everlasting life and a right relationship with God (something we don’t deserve … and that is God’s grace)!

Peace sums up our relationship with God perfectly. When our sins were still marked against us we were at odds with God. He rightfully had to hand out his punishment for sin, and being under the punishment of God is the opposite of being at peace with him. But because of God’s amazing grace, that punishment instead fell on Jesus so we have peace now with him.

So those two words ‘grace and peace’ portray the full extent of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been shown grace, and because of that we gain peace.

How do you respond to this idea of grace? Do you still feel guilty? Alone?

Angry? Ashamed? Independent? Selfsufficient? Those things can be blown away by grace ... because they have no place in the peace we gain and the unlimited access we now have to God. Ps Dean Sandham worships with Deception Bay Baptist Church Reprinted with kind permission: Visit http://working-on-the-mission. blogspot.com.au

qb.org.au

Reviews: Books, DVDs, Music

41

Welcome

CD: Pocketful of Faith Tim Hughes Price: $19.99 at Koorong Tim Hughes is regarded as one of the most significant and prolific modern worship songwriters in recent decades, with songs that are being sung weekly by millions around the world.

Tim has written countless worship anthems such as ‘Here I Am To Worship,’ ‘Beautiful One,’ ‘Consuming Fire,’ ‘Love Shine Through’ and ‘Happy Day’. This is Tim’s fifth studio album and it captures a theme of explosive celebration and wild adventure with honest emotion and vulnerability.

It is produced by Nathan Nockels (Holding Nothing Back/10,000 Reasons/Passion Live albums) and features co-writes with Phil Wickham, Matt Redman, Reuben Morgan, Martin Smith, Jason Ingram, Jonas Myrin and Nick Herbert. Tim’s desire is to see a fresh breakthrough in our churches where we find a sense of joy, passion, connection and engagement in our worship – Koorong.

DVD: Love Covers All $19.99 at Koorong What do you do when your faith is tested? When his routine business trip takes him 400 miles away on the eve of his wife’s due date, Michael decides to leave early.

However, fatigue and car trouble strand him at night in the middle of nowhere.

How could the night get any worse?

A distant relationship with his father and his parents’ separation years ago makes starting over sound good to Michael, and his hopes for his new family couldn’t be higher.

But Michael’s greatest fear becomes reality when he finds out that Sarah is in labour! In a panic, he seeks help from a mysterious gas station owner named Bob, whose curious questions about Michael’s faith cause tension. Even more tension brews back home, where Sarah deals with her labour in the company of Judy, her mother-in-law.

As the birth gets closer, Michael’s options shrink, and his interaction with Bob builds to a conclusion neither of them expected! It’s never too late for a fresh start! – Koorong.

BOOK: Champion Blokes ‘Shed’ Their Shame Ian Watson (Queensland author) $17.99 at Koorong There’s no shame in shame. It has a go at every man, woman and child at some time in our lives. This book is a gutsy, hands-on way to freedom and victory. Ian ‘Watto’ Watson tackles the topic that nobody wants to talk about, but everybody battles with: shame.

Painful events in Watto’s own childhood created a shame that hung on deep inside and held him back. It took him 50 years to recognise it, and deal with it. Now he wants to help other men kick pain, shame and sadness, and be free in a new way.

‘Watto ... goes for the guts of his passion—seeing men free from the rubbish and lies that have held them back from becoming the real deal blokes they were created to be’ (Paul ‘Morro’ Morrison, Chaplain, West Coast Eagles). Ian ‘Watto’ Watson is an ‘almostretired’ truck-driver trainer who played and coached AFL. The founder of Shed Happens travels Australia speaking to blokes about winning the battles of life. − Publisher

COMPETITION FREEDOM is a tale of two men, separated by time and circumstance, but united in their search for freedom and redemption.

The movie FREEDOM, a journey of the heart and a voyage of the soul, is now available on DVD and Digital at all major retailers. Thanks to Heritage Films, QB has several DVDs to give away.

Visit http://www.themoviefreedom.com/ and email qb@qb.org.au with the film director’s name in the subject line.

We welcome Koorong who have provided these reviews. Visit them at www.koorong.com

BOOK: The mother and child project $19.99 at Koorong Dozens of influential leaders have heard the pleas of mothers and children in developing countries. Raising their voices to inspire a movement to increase healthy pregnancies and lower death rates, Melinda Gates, Kay Warren, Bill Frist, Kimberly Williams Paisley, Michael W. Smith and more speak out about why people of faith must get involved in The Mother and Child Project: Raising Our Voices for Health and Hope. Almost 287,000 women die each year because of pregnancy and birth complications. Many orphans are left behind in the wake of this tragedy, and without a mother, many of those children die as well. If only enough people knew. We have the resources to prevent this crisis, but we must take action – Publisher.

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08/15

Soul food

Just Breathe

‘You can’t calm the storm. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass’ (Timber Hawkeye).

For the last few years, without fail, I have started the year with a single word on my mind. The word usually represents a value I have chosen to cultivate in my life over the next twelve months, sometimes evolving as a natural consequence of my experiences the previous year, or seemingly coming to me as a quiet bidding from outside of myself.

Often, I bring my attention to this word when I feel overwhelmed, or need encouragement or direction. As circumstances required, last year the

word that guided my thoughts and actions was hope. This year, it is peace.

It came as no surprise that against the backdrop of mounting unrest in our world, and after a year of relentless demands and personal challenges overcome, that my mind, body and spirit, would be craving a sense of calm. As it transpired, this desire was echoed by many of my clients, who expressed a desire for calmness in the midst of chaos in their lives.

But uttering or meditating upon a single word is rarely enough to counter the challenges we face each day. We need both a true understanding of that word and its

application in our circumstances, and the strategies to back it up.

The concept of peace carries great personal meaning, and has many facets, but how does it translate in psychological theory and practice? At a basic psychological level, peace is ‘a state of mental and emotional calm’.

It is not an absence of hardship, nor is it apathy about the state of things around us. Rather it is an inner sense of calm and rest that allows us to survive, respond proactively, and move forward with purpose in a world that is constantly twisting and turning and in circumstances that stretch us. Its antithesis is a state of internal stress or unrest; of racing from one task

qb.org.au to another, of reacting to one crisis after the next, resulting in feelings of agitation and anxiety. While the attainment of enduring peace is a deep and personal process, we can all learn to foster a state of calm in our demanding lives, by putting in place a few simple, daily strategies.

Firstly, we can slow down. Simple, perhaps, but busy-ness is a modern day epidemic. The habit of rushing is often encouraged, and even glorified, in our society, but it is destructive, and runs counter to feeling calm.

Think of a car that is designed to operate at its optimum when it drives at 80km/hr. If we are continually pushing that speed up to 120km/ hr, we burn unnecessary amounts of fuel, and place constant stress on all parts of the car, wearing it out and compromising its longevity. Similarly, when we rush, whether through our morning routine, when moving from one place to another, or in completing a task, we trigger the production of chemicals involved in the ‘flight or fight’ response, arousing our nervous system in a harmful way and invoking feelings of stress. Unchecked, over time, this behaviour often results in illness, anxiety or even ‘burn out’.

Moving slowly through habitual routines and activities protects our body, helps us stay calm and in control, increases awareness of our body and our needs and even prevents us from over-reacting to stressful situations at other times during the day.

Secondly, try to do one thing at a time. Dividing our attention across several tasks creates unnecessary stress and encourages what we often refer to as the ‘monkey mind’, relentlessly chattering and leaping from branch to branch. Even in the absence of time restraints, many of us can be found eating lunch in front of the television, with our laptop open, while flicking between Twitter, Facebook and our email. Research from Stanford University resoundingly demonstrates

Soul food that while we may feel more efficient, multitasking creates something akin to a hectic neurological game of ping-pong, significantly diminishing our productivity and learning and increasing agitation. Conversely, when we give our full attention to one task at a time, whether it be writing an email, eating, or making a phone

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along; in a moment of anxiety, when we breathe deeply and slowly, we stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, effectively counteracting our anxiety response and encouraging a feeling of relaxation and peace.

In addition, breathing slowly and deeply relieves pain and assists in the enhancement of mood by stimulating the production of feel good chemicals. It also improves our cardiovascular capacity, creates energy and encourages clarity and focus in our thinking—all of which allow space for peace. However, the long term benefits of breathing are greatest when we set aside time each day to practise; emptying our lungs of air and then simply breathing in slowly and deeply though our nose and out again. In doing so, feeling relaxed becomes more of a habit, and we master a powerful skill that can instantly restore a sense of calm in the midst of stress.

Slow down …

Do one thing at a time …

Breathe … call, we decrease stress and sharpen our focus, enhance performance and pleasure, strengthen our connections with other people, improve memory and derive greater meaning from our experiences. I often encourage clients to challenge themselves in this area by engaging all their senses while completing a routine task, such as cleaning the house, (sometimes referred to in psychology as being ‘mindful’) with the intention of helping them to cultivate contentedness and awareness in the moment, rather than always looking on to the next task.

And finally, through all of this, remember to breathe. When we are distracted, stressed or moving too fast, we breathe rapidly and shallowly, increasing tension. I remember telling an elderly client of mine that I was going to teach him the skill of slow, deep breathing. He looked at me suspiciously, and said ‘you’re not going all hippie on me are you?’

I assured him that while many have discovered the benefits of breathing through yoga and meditation, the idea of the life-giving power of the breath can be found as early as our creation story. The significance of breathing is echoed in the number of times we’ve been told through our lives in moments of stress, ‘just breathe’.

It seems our parents were right all

I have always loved the powerful moment in C.S. Lewis’s classic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, where the mighty lion, Aslan, is in danger and, sensing the distress of his friend the beaver, simply utters the words, ‘Peace, Beaver.’ While a single, reassuring word in a moment of distress may not be sufficient to entirely quell the storm of our emotions, it can certainly serve as a gentle reminder to slow down, give your full attention to the moment, and breathe.

Gemma Roux worships with Goodlife Community Church gemma.roux@ flourishpsychology.com.au First appeared in The GOOD LIFE magazine http://www.goodlife.org. au/wordpress/community/magazine/ (produced by the Goodlife Community Centre, Buderim). Reprinted with kind permission

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08/15

Unofficial chaplain

Balancing work and rest Warren Crank (Unofficial Chaplain) has worked through the Ten Commandments, applying them to the marketplace. Here is his take on Commandment number four.

‘Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy’ (Exodus 20:8).

The Jews were peculiar in that they practised a rhythm of life that included a rest day each week. There was a time to create (or work) and a time for recreation. This rhythm reflected the Creator’s pattern established in the beginning (Genesis 2:2).

There are a number of reasons for, and benefits to, this pattern of work and rest.

Among them are the following: 1. Our work is not our defining priority. Worship is. After asking someone’s name, the next question is often, ‘What [work] do you do?’ That’s fine. Nevertheless, our allegiance to God ought to be the defining characteristic of our life.

2. It’s a recognition of our trust in God’s provision. We are to rest in his ability to provide for our needs.

Working 24/7 is often an expression of our desperation to make it on our own.

Reprinted with kind permission. If you would like to subscribe to Unofficial Chaplain, email warrenbcrank@gmail. com or visit https://www.facebook.com/unofficialchaplain

3. There’s time to enjoy, and be grateful for, what God has already provided. It’s a time to appreciate people; to rest and have fun; to worship with others; to have a quiet moment with God. The Sabbath meant many things to the people of Israel. When we re-apply it to our marketplace experience, there’s a lot we can learn and put into practice.

As an Unofficial Chaplain, you can be an example of a person who doesn’t worship work, who ultimately trusts God to provide and who can appreciate what God has already so graciously given.

qb.org.au

Fun zone

45

Subscription Form 2015

Order by phone: 07 3354 5633 Payment via credit card.

OR Complete this form and post back:

Sudoku Challenge Sudoku rules: Each row, column and block must contain one of the numbers from 1 to 9. No number may appear more than once in any row, column or block. When you’ve filled the entire grid, the puzzle is solved.

Sukodu solutions to: QB Magazine, PO Box 6166 Mitchelton Qld 4053 Your entry could win a Koorong gift voucher.

Don’t forget to include your full name and contact details.

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46

08/15

Classifieds POSITIONS VACANT CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR

Expressions of interest are requested for the position of Church Administrator. We are looking for a strong team player who will fit into our existing happy team. The candidate must be able to demonstrate a high computer literacy in all Microsoft programmes, Adobe suite, MYOB / financial management and Web management.

The right person will be a facilitator of ministry not just an Administrator. That person must be a member of our church and demonstrate God’s leading to this position because it is not just an employment vacancy but a ministry call. The position is currently for 32 hours a week but could develop to a full time position in the future.

FISHERS OF MEN Fishers of Men(FoM) is a registered, nondenominational charity, operating in Brisbane and Logan for over 10 years. Bobby Mearns, founding Pastor was a heroin addict for 20+ years and was saved through the ministry of Jackie Pullinger in Hong Kong.

FoM provides: food/ food parcels/ clothes and blankets at meetings for homeless held twice a week (free) and furniture for people setting up house (free).

• •

A mobile street van service for Logan twice a week, Fri and Sat nights Residential Christ focussed rehab, turning men from addiction to Christ For further info please visit www.fishersofmen.org.au or call (07) 3341 0160.

A will to end poverty Do more than you ever thought possible by leaving a bequest in your will.

Call us on 1300 789 991 or visit baptistworldaid.org.au

Applicants should address the Position Description which may be obtained from the Church office in person or by emailing churchadmin@rockybaptist.org.au. A nominating committee will interview a short list of suitable candidates and the person whose call to the position is recognised, will be forwarded to a Church Member’s meeting.

Applications close Friday 21st August 2015. Commencement date will be negotiated once the process has been completed.

GLADSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH SENIOR PASTOR Gladstone Baptist Church is seeking a Senior Pastor to facilitate, direct and develop the ministries of the church. The successful applicant will lead a ministry team including an Associate Pastor, Pastoral Assistants, office staff and a team of ministry volunteers.

GBC is a vibrant, growing and contemporary congregation of 400+ people. Our vision is to “Be the family of God and Bring Others into the Family of God” in our local community, nation and world through the ministries we operate or support. Trinity College is a growing and thriving Christian school and is a major ministry of the church. Trinity College provides a quality education for kindergarten to Year 12 students and presently has 330 students.

Gladstone is a major Central Queensland export hub creating unique opportunities to witness and share the power of God to a wide variety of people.

If you: • are a proven leader, able to motivate and develop teams to meet the vision and mission of a large regional church • are eligible for pastoral registration by Qld Baptists • believe God is calling you to this ministry opportunity Please contact the Pastoral Search Team, Louise or Karen on phone (07) 4979 2260 or email louise@gladbap.org.au for an information pack.

qb.org.au POSITIONS VACANT CHURCHILL BAPTIST CHURCH PART-TIME PASTOR Churchill Baptist Church is a bible-based church in the growing, family-friendly community of Ipswich. The Church is seeking a part-time pastor. The person we are seeking would be a Godly leader with a strong focus on Spiritual growth, pastoral care and a willingness to reach our local community.

The role would include; • • •

Visitation and pastoral care Regular preaching and teaching Encouraging and supporting the Church community in ministries and outreach

Expressions of interest are invited from persons who feel that God is calling them to this role.

Please call 0438 889 504 or email mkleinhans@yahoo.com to obtain further information.

WONDAI BAPTIST CHURCH PASTOR NEEDED Only a hop, skip and jump from Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Toowoomba. Wondai is the place to enjoy God’s creation.

At night be amazed at the incredible display when viewing the night sky. We are not the other side to the black stump There is medical facilities, schools, grocery shops. Two dams are within a pleasant drive so one is able to enjoy a variety of water activities. Wondai is located 240 km northwest of Brisbane on the Bunya Highway and is 160 km from the Sunshine Coast, while Kingaroy is only 30kms away.

The Wondai lies at the geographic and business heart of the South Burnett, a substantial industrial and agricultural region in South East Queensland. The Shire’s economy is dominated by agriculture and timber, though it now has a growing tourism sector. Wondai is well serviced by sporting facilities including golf courses, tennis courts, rifle range, squash courts, lawn bowling rinks, sporting ovals for cricket, soccer, rugby league and swimming pool.

What we don’t have is a resident pastor.

The church: Baptist Church Wondai; is a country church with an outstation at Proston and occasional ministry at Boondoma homestead.

For further information contact Ivan Sinclair 07 4169 0020.

Classifieds

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ACCOMMODATION BRISBANE: House available from October 2015 for missionaries or church workers on the move. Three bedroom, single garage, everything provided. Transport at the door.

Minimal rent. Email: gtho4536@bigpond.net.au.

CALOUNDRA - GOLDEN BEACH: Highset three bedroom holiday home. Weekends or weekly. Pets OK. Close to beach.

Phone 0402 077 822 or lizottaway15@gmail.com.

CALOUNDRA: Sunshine Coast, Qld, beachside units from $300/wk, phone 0427 990 161.

NORTH BRISBANE: ‘Riverviews at Griffin’ Self contained unit style waterfront accommodation, $130/night. Phone Helen Gynther 0400 832 614 or email helen@moretonmusic.com www.facebook.com/riverviewsbnb.

HOUSE-SITTING: Rod and Kay Bullpitt seek house sitting opportunities in Brisbane and Gold Coast area before departing to teach English in China in 2016. Dates available: early Oct to 22 Nov, mid-Jan to mid-Feb. See www.housesittersuk.co.uk/s/active-experienced-house-sitters.

Contact: rod.bullpitt@outlook.com.

FOR SALE WANTED: Hertford Street Baptist Church seeks 1000 watt powered fold back speakers (10 inch) and 1500 watt powered house speakers. Willing to pay for speakers in good condition.

Contact Bob Fraser on 0433 727 744 or Ken Mihill on 0421 985 060.

FOR HIRE LARGE AUDITORIUM: Seats 290. Qld Baptists’ Centre at Gaythorne. Phone Sharon on 3354 5600 for more information or visit www.qb.org.au – venue hire.

INTEGRITY TRAVEL

Book all of your holidays and travel with Integrity Travel and help missions. Tours & specials at www.integritytravel.com.au Ph 07 3863 1007 for more information and bookings.

LIVE the life you

LOVE

Ageing doesn’t mean it’s time to stop doing the things you love. We’re here to support you to live the life you love. Carinity In-Home Care supports you in setting and achieving your goals for a great lifestyle.

Carinity In-Home Care is so much more than just personal care or help around home.

With Carinity, you set the agenda. If you want to get out and be active, participate in exercise classes, work in the garden or enjoy social events, we’ll make it happen. If you want to cook your favourite foods, see a movie or spend an afternoon shopping or at the markets, we’ll be there for you. Whatever you want to get out of your life, we’ll support you to achieve it.

Of course, along with an enriched lifestyle, we provide basic support and care to keep you happy, healthy and safe at home. Our carers can assist with personal care, arrange nursing and allied health services, prepare meals, provide transport and do basic cleaning – we can help however you need us.

Talk to us about how we can help. For more information, call 1300 722 890 or visit www.carinity.org.au