QB Magazine December 2018/January 2019

QB MAGAZINE THE VOICE OF QUEENSLAND BAPTISTS | DEC 18/JAN 19

Health Check for our Churches - Part 6

What’s the 25th of December all about?

If I were a Magi

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Print post approved ISSN: 100003837 | The Queensland Baptist - first published in 1890. This series Vol 16 Issue 6. | qb.org.au

FROM THE TEAM AT

QB MAGAZINE

QB MINISTRIES 20

QCCC Reclaiming “Missional”

23

Mission To Queensland Never too old

24

QB Women ‘Tis a new season

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QB Youth & Young Adults Reflecting on 2018 and launching into 2019!

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QB Archives Allora Baptist Church 1950-1970 - the little church that could

CONTENTS

32 Carinity

Carinity Christmas Appeal

36

ARTICLES 23

What’s the 25th of December all about?

30

Sensing God - Smell

38

Thank you, Queensland Baptists, for standing up for life!

39

If I were a Magi

40

Suffering What’s in it for me?

43

Legacies that last

REGULARS 4 From the Acting General Superintendent 7

God moments

8

Knowing God Series

10

Speaking out: Peter Francis

12

Baptisms

13

Around the regions

18 Milestones

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28

35

Persecution brief

42

Reviews

44

Fun zone

46

Classifieds

QB PARTNERS 32

34 BWAA

Help hope break through 36

Global Interaction Growing communities of faith

Front Cover: After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, wise men arrived in Jerusalem from the east.

Matthew 2:1

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FROM THE ACTING GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT

UNITY Following in the steps of Jesus is often awkward, unbalancing and requires both our attention and deliberate action! As I wrote in previous editions of the QB Magazine, I believe that we as a movement will see the good news about Jesus have a greater impact in our communities when we, as the body of Christ, follow in the steps of Jesus in three key ways: Stepping up – walking in love; Stepping in – walking in unity; Stepping out – walking in good works.

Walking in Unity Unity has been defined as; “The state of being united or joined as a whole.” (Oxford dictionary), or “the state of being joined together or in agreement” (Cambridge dictionary).

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Unity is a reality to be maintained

Unity is a key aspect of our identity as the people of God, and who we are meant to be as followers of Jesus. There is a special and unique kind of unity that we enjoy that only comes through faith in Jesus. Without losing our unique individuality as people created in the image of God, the atonement (atone-ment) of Christ allows us to be at one with God, each other and with ourselves. This kind of unity cannot be bought, cannot be manufactured, cannot be legislated, cannot be demanded, cannot be faked, and cannot be coerced! The Lord Jesus indicated that our special unity in Him would encourage the world to believe in Him.

…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:21 Given its significance, it is not surprising that unity is a key theme that features prominently in New Testament epistles. In Ephesians 4:3-5, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to; Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Eph 4:3-5

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.�

and goals‌. These can all be good and right, but they are not what ultimately unites us! These things should all flow out of the unity that we already have as followers of Jesus!

1 Peter 2:21

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph 4:11-13

Unity is not something established though our own efforts. Or by reason of our agreement on everything. Unity is not uniformity! It comes about because of our shared relationship with Jesus by the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus is our organising principle and focal point when it comes to unity. He is our peace, and we share a common bond of peace.

Unity is also a goal to be attained!

The maintaining of unity is not a passive process. Our unity might be based in an objective reality, but it also has to be worked out in demonstrative and physical ways. Paul goes on to say in chapter 4 of Ephesians;

The Apostle Paul is saying that we are to grow into the fullness of what it means to be one unified people! He holds two aspects of unity in tension.

On the one hand he exhorts us to maintain the unity that we already enjoy in Christ, and on the other hand, he is saying that our unity needs to be worked out by building up of the body of Christ, to attain the fullness of our unified potential.

To this end I think we are a bit like an orchestra. Just as in a church there are all kinds of people, with all kinds of gifts, personalities and perspectives, so in an orchestra there are all sorts of instruments. There are brass, woodwind, strings, and percussion instruments-all with their own tones, roles, frequencies and functions. They are not all playing the same notes. Some are loud, some are soft. Some are high, some are low. Some are steady, others are variable.

It is important to note that unity is not something we have to create.

We do not make unity but are to maintain the unity we already have in Christ!

Unity is a reality to embrace; it is not something we can manufacture, it is a state of being that we must maintain (keep). The unity we enjoy has its origin in what God has done in Christ, and not what we can do.

In one sense, unity is something we walk in as we follow Jesus, it is an objective reality based in the work of the Holy Spirit.

Unity does not come about because we are in the same organisation, or have a common vision, a shared vocation, or agreed values, aims

What brings unity to this diversity is that the instruments are all meant to be in tune with each other. They are all meant to be playing in the same key. They are supposed to be following the conductor and submitting to his direction.

They might not all play the same notes, but they harmonise when they are in tune with each other, submitting to the musical score and following the conductor. Even a really ordinary orchestra will have a level of inherent unity, but their unity will only reach its true potential as the orchestra physically meet and practice together!

We as followers of Jesus in Queensland Baptists are like an orchestra.

Although we have diverse giftings, we are one in Christ and need to be in tune with Him, to submit to the word of God, and to each other to maintain the unity we have. But we also need to do the challenging work of cooperatively practicing together to attain the fullness of our unity and potential as a movement. As we grow in unity so does the effectiveness of our witness to the reality of the gospel.

Stewart Pieper Acting General Superintendent stewart.pieper@qb.org.au

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QB MAGAZINE

FROM THE EDITOR

THE VOICE OF QUEENSLAND BAPTISTS

We also have double passes to giveaway for the film “New Life” (Reviews Section) opening in cinemas in early December.

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.

Thank you to all our wonderful readers, and contributors. May you experience the love and peace of the Lord this Christmas season and throughout the coming year.

Editor: Linda Nevell Design: Shell Graphix Print: Printcraft

God Bless,

Another year has flown past, and Christmas is here. It is a time of reflection, taking stock, and being humbled by the true meaning of the season. As Corrie Ten Boom says “Who can add to Christmas?

The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” What a gift!

This last issue for 2018 concludes the inspiring “Sensing God” series

by Allan Quak. The series explores our relationship to God using our five senses, and the full set of articles will be available on the QB Magazine blog (www.qbmagazine. org.au). Thank you, Allan! We hope to run a new series in 2019, so keep a look out in the next edition.

We have a few Christmas themed articles throughout the magazine, including “If I were a Magi” by a new contributor, Christine Wood.

For the holiday puzzlers, there are Christmas themed games and a competition (Fun Zone) with a chance to win a Koorong voucher.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Linda Nevell Editor, the qb qb@qb.org.au I’ve found the Secret Where is that little Piggy (Fun Zone)? It seems like years that I have been searching for that Little Piggy. When the Qld Baptist Magazine put out a questionnaire recently and asked if there were any disappointments I had with the Magazine, I replied, “My biggest disappointment was never being able to find that Little Piggy”.

What reading the Magazine did, with all its wonderful information, made me anxiously look forward to the next issue so that I could find where that Little Piggy was hiding.

How wonderful, to my surprise the latest Issue “Oct/Nov 18” and there I found it. I am thrilled. After years of searching I will no longer suffer from PSTD. It is on page Six and I found that Little Piggy in the first thirty minutes of reading.

The answer to my secret is that I paid a visit to Spec Savers!

This magazine is printed with soy based inks and paper from sustainable forest plantations.

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

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.

Deadline for advertisement and copy: 10th of the month prior to the month of publication.

PO Box 6166 Mitchelton Qld 4053 P 07 3354 5633 F 07 3354 5646 Advertising rates are listed in The qb Media Kit available at www.qb.org.au/newsmedia. Prices are also available on enquiry and advertising packages can be tailored to suit your budget. Reduced contract rates apply to three bookings within a 12 month period. Please contact us for details. A limited number of inserts are also accepted.

Copyright © 2003 by Queensland Baptist Services Group. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without written permission from the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses appearing in The qb are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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PETER J HALLORAN Nobody wants me Nobody cares It seems they have No love to share.

It seems I’m only Getting in the way And they’re going to Abort me today.

Oh where’s the love The world once knew When mothers Cared for their new Oh whatever happened To those days Now they just want To throw me away.

So goodbye world I never knew I’m sure life’s much better Beyond the blue.

In God’s care There’ll be better days Where I’ll be loved Not just thrown away.

PETER J HALLORAN Sometimes it may seem The road ahead is just a dream The mountains you see Are just too much for thee At times you may fall Have your back against the wall But in times like these In Him you can stand tall

Yes stand tall In spite of all Stand tall And answer the call

Stand tall In the strength of Him Stand tall And the victory won

So don’t let your dreams Fall by the way Stand up strong And overcome today Lift up your eyes To the Lord over all And In Him Forever stand tall Repeat 3-4

Repeat 3-4 (In response to the abortion laws passed in the Queensland parliament)

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR OWN “GOD MOMENT”?

It can be a poem, short story, testimony or quote. Please email your entries to qb@ qb.org.au or post to PO Box 6166 Mitchelton Q 4053. Every published entry will win a $30 Koorong gift voucher.

Your World ANON Peach trees Clear streams Fluffy birds singing their little hearts out, after spending a night in the storm, to mark the start of a glorious new day Glistening webs Ducks playing and quacking ever so faintly Fields covered with little wild flowers Water droplets, which are bursts of nourishment for the life that is all around them As I look to my Creator in order to make sense of all that I experience… I perceive such goodness, even, or especially among brokenness Help me to give a second thought to the pricelessness of my surroundings, O Lord Help me to more faithfully take care of Your world!

god moments

Stand Tall

Where’s the Love?

KNOWING GOD

HEALTH CHECK FOR OUR CHURCHES PART 6

BY LISA WEST-NEWMAN YOUNG ADULT CONSULTANT (QUEENSLAND) – GLOBAL INTERACTION

The 2016 National Church Life Survey included an Operations Survey, a one-per-church survey used as an audit of objective information such as activities each church runs and support.

overseas workers of any Protestant denomination. (Support for missions within Catholic churches is primarily organised at an institutional level, therefore was excluded from this data on local church support.)

From this survey, it was confirmed that mission involvement is part of the DNA of Baptist churches Australia-wide.

There is also a significant level of confidence in mission agencies by Baptist churches, who give 82 per cent of their support through an agency, and only 18 per cent directly to an overseas worker.

WE ARE THE LARGEST SENDER OF LONG-TERM WORKERS While Baptist Churches account for only 7 per cent of regular church attendees across Australia, we are sending the highest number of people on long-term (ie over two years) mission trips of all denominations (see Infographic).

Our commitment to the Great Commission means that Australian Baptists are sending over one third of all long-term workers from Australia overseas.

AND WE’RE PROVIDING HIGH LEVELS OF SUPPORT FOR OVERSEAS WORKERS According to the NCLS data, the average Baptist church contributes support to 3.71 overseas workers, which is the highest number of

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This strong relationship between churches and mission agencies means that workers gain the best possible support. They also benefit greatly by learning from those who have gone before, particularly when entering unreached areas. This enables workers to stay longer and invest the time needed to see fruit that lasts.

BUT WE ARE ALSO KEEN ON SHORT-TERM TRIPS

The NCLS 2016 report suggests that church-organised mission trips are on the increase, particularly among Pentecostal and Baptist churches.

Approximately 39 per cent of Baptist churches have been involved in organising a mission trip over the 2015-2016 period. This is second only to the Pentecostal churches.

The data shows the average number of people within a Baptist church who have participated in a short-term trip (up to six weeks) overseas is around 4.3. This is less than Pentecostal churches who average 5.6 people per church, but significantly higher than all other denominations.

The report attributes this increase in church-organised mission trips are “perhaps partly because of the growth in disposable income in an increasingly affluent Australia, as well as greater ease (including a lower cost) of overseas travel and communication.”

Our church goers are less content to merely give to the work, but want to be involved, and have the resources to do so.

AND ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Around two-thirds of Baptist churches in Australia are providing prayer and financial support to people in developing nations.

While one in three Baptist churches are involved in advocacy campaigns addressing poverty and injustice. Only 7 per cent of Baptist churches across Australia report providing no support to people in developing countries.

Over half of all Baptist churches also report providing direct personal support for people in developing countries. The NCLS report does not detail what this involves, but shows the missional heart of Baptist churches, and their deep sense of responsibility to use of wealth to help the world’s poor.

Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, authors of When Helping Hurts, explain how a biblical understanding of poverty that extends beyond just a lack of material resources is the key to addressing the multi-layered needs of people in developing nations.

“If we treat only the symptoms or if we misdiagnose the underlying problem, we will not improve their situation, and we might actually make their lives worse.”

BUT CHURCH LEADERS ARE NOT FEELING FULLY EQUIPPED The 2016 NCLS Leaders Report highlights that of all areas of ministry, Queensland Baptist Church leaders are feeling least equipped for cross-cultural ministry with 26 per cent feeling ‘not at all’ or ‘poorly equipped’.

The NCLS Report highlights this as an opportunity for denominational leaders to consider extra training to help local leaders meet the challenges of ministry more effectively.

As such, Global Interaction will kick off a new series looking at effective cross-cultural ministry for church leaders and individuals in the next edition of the QB Magazine.

The missional heart of Baptist churches is clear and we praise God that He continues to send out more workers into the harvest.

Let’s do it together and well for the glory of God.

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SPEAKING OUT

a n i at’s

Wh In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet utters a phrase which, in the minds of many, constitutes the most famous line written by the sixteenth century playwright. That phrase comes in Act 2, Scene 2 and is simply this, “What’s in a name?”

The phrase on its own has been used countless times, not only in the performance of the play, but in the quest to develop clarity about who and what we really are. It is a phrase which has resounded in my own mind over this past year as we have sought to further clarify our calling as a College. Earlier this year the

Malyon Council and faculty worked through a reframing of our Vision Statement which became “to form faithful image-bearers of Christ who love God, listen to His Word, serve the church, engage their culture, and are committed to the mission of God in this world”.

Following on from the new vision statement, it was timely for us to also give our name careful consideration.

Why? Because a name has a way of saying much about who we are and what we are aiming for. One of the challenges we have faced over the years is that, outside of Queensland

Baptists, the name Malyon College does not really mean a lot to people.

So, the Council has decided, subject to the ratification of the QB Board, to change our name to Malyon Theological College. This change clearly identifies who we are, what we believe, and brings us into line with many of our sister theological colleges around the country whose names clearly identify something of their mission and purpose.

So, why the word “theological”?

Past iterations of the Malyon College name have included, Queensland Baptist College, the Baptist

Packer, J. I., Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993), xi.

2 Ibid., xii.

1

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? e m na

Theological College of Queensland and Queensland Baptist College of Ministries. In 2004 the name was changed to Malyon College in honour of the founding Principal, Rev T J Malyon. The reinsertion of the term “theological” is not in any way to downplay the high value that we continue to place upon personal spiritual formation and practical ministry formation. However, we believe that good theology forms the basis of sound spiritual formation and effective ministry practice.

As J I Packer puts it, “theology is first the activity of thinking and speaking about God (theologizing), and second the product of that activity.”1 The first activity informs, inspires and transforms the second. Packer goes on to suggest that good theology that echoes the divine Word leads us naturally into a range of activities that include “elucidating [biblical] texts (exegesis), synthesizing what they say on the things they deal with (biblical theology), seeing how the faith was stated in the past (historical theology), formulating it for today (systematic theology), finding its implications for conduct (ethics), commending and defending it as truth and wisdom (apologetics), defending the Christian task in the world (missiology), stockpiling resources for life in Christ (spirituality) and corporate worship (liturgy), and exploring ministry (practical theology).”2 This catalogue of activities represents the range of study units that are available through our various courses, all of which are designed to press our theological understandings of the nature and character of God into the task of personal spiritual

formation and effective ministry practice. When I teach my Old Testament survey units, one of the things I am constantly doing is encouraging students to be looking for the theological themes that emerge from the text. The questions which are repeatedly asked are, “What does this book, this passage teach me about God; about the person, character and mission of God?” “What does this book teach me about humankind, about me?”

“What does it teach me about the ways in which God has chosen to engage with His fallen creation?”

“What does it teach me about God’s great salvation plan?”

As we read both the Old and New Testaments, we find that the God of the Bible is the One who has taken the initiative to not only reveal himself to His broken, fallen creation, but to actively go in search of us. Right from the beginning we are given an incredible insight into the missional heart of God as he goes in search of a wayward “Adam” who has sought to hide himself from the God who made him. Following Adam and Eve’s rejection of God’s authority over their lives, we read in Genesis 3:9 that “the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” This is the call of the God who, even before the very foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), had devised a salvation plan. This is the God who, again and again, takes the initiative to go in search of His fallen creatures who were originally created in His image, and for His glory.

As another Christmas season approaches, we’re reminded again of the grand means by which God makes it possible for people like us to be restored into right relationship with Him. This restoration would

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ultimately be made possible as God Himself stepped into our broken, fallen world in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The prophets of old foretold His birth. In that wonderful messianic passage in Isaiah 9:6, God declared who He was and what He was about by ascribing to Him a name, in fact a series of names: “and his name shall be called, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

“What’s in a name?” A name can be a powerful thing! When the angel visited Joseph in Matthew 1:20-23 to reveal God’s plan of salvation for the world he said, “’Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ – which means, ‘God with us.’”

Each of the names which are ascribed to Jesus in both the Old and New Testaments are designed to increase our understanding of the gospel, and God’s glorious plan of salvation. But ultimately it is only in and through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that salvation can be found. In Acts 4:12, as Peter gave his defence before the Sanhedrin, he declared, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

“What’s in a name?” An awful lot, especially when it comes to that name which is above every name, the name of Jesus! May we gladly own and declare that name boldly before a needy world as we approach this Christmas season.

over 36 years experience

&

Peter Francis Principal, Malyon peter.francis@malyon.edu.au

Corney Lind l a w y e r s

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Baptisms

Michael Castle from Deception Bay Baptist Church

Birkdale Baptist Church • Zacary Bull • Bailey Keating • Bob Rackemann Boonah Baptist Church • Barb Hamilton Bundaberg Baptist Church • Euan Duxbury City North Baptist Church • Zachary Lean • Jonah Lightbody Jonah Lightbody (top left) and Zachary Lean (bottom left) from City North Baptist Church

PRAYER IS POWERFUL Please set aside some time to pray for the people recently baptised. They have taken a courageous and life changing step in their walk with Christ.

Baptism is an important event in the believer’s walk with Jesus Christ. The Bible talks about water immersion baptism, in which a believer makes a public confession of their faith. Jesus led the way in example of water baptism!

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!

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City Tabernacle Baptist Church • Trinity Spence • Joan Hackles • Janine Gunton • Amy Phillips Deception Bay Baptist Church • Michael Castle (pictured) • Jan Edwards • Fiona Storeywood • Deanna Tomlinson Moore Park Baptist Church • Noah Walker Rivers Baptist Church • Sam Uru Stafford Heights Baptist Church • Kaitlyn McGoldrick.

• Patricia Quirke Sunnybank District Baptist Church • Min Li Gu • Ka Shun Benjamin Leung • Jack Yuen • Lou Xiong

Around the regions and Shine” motor show also attracted many participants with 60 vehicles vying for the donated awards. The public turned out to browse the stalls, attend the Judo demonstration and tour the garden facility.

The Community Day raised $3,400 and was deemed a success by Garden Supervisor Joe Garnham. “The overall feedback is that it was a wonderful day and a good initiative with regard to community outreach”, he said. Joe says the date has already been set for next years’ event. Of the Community Garden tours, Joe said, “the general feedback was that it is an amazing facility and people just didn’t know it was here”.

The day was made possible thanks to a mammoth volunteer effort by members of the congregation. “It was a joy to see the church family working together to make the day a success and we could not have done it without them”, Joe said.

Community Day Dalby Baptist Church Dalby Baptist Church recently ran their inaugural ‘Community Day’. Three years after the creation of the church’s ‘Community Garden’, the Steering Committee brainstormed the event to raise funds to cover ongoing costs of the garden’s operation.

Despite predictions of rain on the day, the carpark was filled with 63 stalls including car boot sales, retail vendors and community agencies. The event’s “Show

The Community Garden concept has provided a valuable experience for job seekers as a simulated workplace. The workplace experience has taught real-world skills and fostered self-esteem. A number have transitioned into paid employment as a result of their experiences at the Garden. Volunteers gain the satisfaction of helping the community and take home valuable gardening skills to utilise in their own homes.

Joe has a passion for this type of outreach and is available to discuss the formation of similar programs in your church.

Contact him at joe.garnham@gmail.com or through the Dalby Baptist Church on 4662 3717.

City Prayer Gathering 6 January 2019 [5pm] King George Square Brisbane Join the 3rd annual City Prayer Gathering organised

by Riverlife Baptist Church on January 6th 2019 at King George Square, Brisbane City at 5pm. The event welcomes Christians from all denominations and traditions – all those with a heart for Jesus. Last year’s attendance grew to around 275 people, with many significant conversations from the general public passing by. This is a chance to worship as a community, share an outreach message and pray in groups for our city, so put the date in your diary and spread the word!

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my strength and refuge. I learned to trust Him and rely on Him. I couldn’t have made without Him, and His love shown to me by His church. Mackay Baptist church became my new family, and as time went by, I learned to appreciate my new situation, and love Australia and its people.

I believe that in order to help someone, you need to understand what the person is going through. God put in my heart the strong desire to help migrants in the settlement process, particularly in the area of improving their English skills, so they can better themselves socially, professionally and emotionally. I have been teaching languages for the past 12 years (Spanish and English), however, it took a leap of faith to step outside my comfort zone and trust God’s guidance.

Supporting Our Immigrant Community Mackay Baptist Church Conchi Rowlands, a deacon at Mackay Baptist Church, shares her story.

Around 18 months ago God reminded me of a situation that I had long forgotten. By pure chance, I got involved with a community organisation that helps migrants settle in Mackay. Getting to know the people made me realise the struggle some new migrants go through, especially women. It broke my heart to hear some of the life stories the women shared with me, and a desire to help them began to grow. I became aware of the lack of support to prepare for the IELTS (international English Language Testing System) in Mackay. Passing the test is a legal requirement for foreigners who wish to remain in Australia, or to study at university.

Being a migrant myself, I didn’t think there was anything I could do to help. However, that nagging feeling continued, and the desire to do something to help grew stronger.

I have always wondered why God brought me to Australia, because I never intended to leave my homeland of Spain. However, in 1998 I met my husband while he was traveling around Europe. I decided to listen to my heart and follow him to his hometown of Mackay, where I started my new life.

At the time, I didn’t know I had to grieve the loss of my homeland, and that the settlement process would take months or even years. Confusion, frustration and low self-esteem are some of the common emotions’ new migrants experience, and I was no exception. God was 14 DEC 18/JAN 19 QB.ORG.AU

After a lot of thought and prayer, we started to advertise IELTS tuition at the church one day per week. There has been around 20 people coming to the lessons at different points. Attendance varies, but there has always been an average of 5 to 7 people every lesson. We learn grammar, vocabulary and practise specific skills such as reading, listening, speaking and writing.

If I had to describe this ministry in one word it would be PRIVILEGE. It is a real privilege to love these vulnerable people in a practical way. We will keep on doing our best to help these precious people improve their English skills through the IELTS ministry, but more importantly we will keep praying for their salvation, and to be able to show Jesus’ love and compassion through our words and actions.

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:8-10, ESV)

Rural and Remote Pastor’s Retreat Phillip McCallum, the Director of Administrative Services at Queensland Baptists reported on the annual Rural and Remote Pastor’s Retreat held at Tieri, which is a small town located 90 kilometres north-east of Emerald in Central Queensland. The town was built by the mines to support the mines. There is a pleasant little church building with a good manse on the same block of land right in the middle of the town, although there is currently no congregation meeting there on a regular basis. Earlier this year, up to 40 people were meeting, but such is the fickle nature of work in the mining industry that most of those people have moved on from their jobs, and the town. Interestingly – according to the census data – there is no-one in the town over 75 years of age… once you stop work you move on.

The building and the grounds made an excellent location for the annual Rural and Remote Pastors’ Retreat, where people could camp out, sit around the fire to share

stories from their ministry, learn and pray for each other.

People had travelled to the retreat from as far away as Innisfail and Longreach, and we were tremendously impressed with the sense of camaraderie and mutual support among the pastors.

Well done to Steve Ballin from Ingham as the chief organizer of the event, plus Steve Gellatly from Emerald who did a lot of the site preparation ready for us to arrive.

Thank you for the generous welcoming to the retreat, which we found invaluable.

Please be praying for our pastors and their families who lead churches meeting in the north and west of our state.

Some of these pastors are located several hundred kilometres from the next nearest Baptist church, and can therefore be very alone in their ministries. Our time with some of them over the weekend showed how important, but how tough, being in these ministries can be.

Caloundra City Pastors Network The Caloundra City Pastors Network organised a recent celebration inviting all the local churches.

There were over 14 different churches represented, including Anglican, Uniting, Salvation Army, Church of Christ, History Maker, Global Connections and three Baptist Churches. There were 20 pastors and over 250 people in attendance.

The goal was to bring the local Caloundra churches together to celebrate and Praise God. Pastor Dony Johnson from KawanaLife Baptist church said, “We hope to build the network to a point that we can host a gathering at the Stockland Football Stadium, and we are already looking forward to our next event”.

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Celebrating Growth

Mainly Music

Mount Warren Park Community Church

Highfields Baptist Church

This year the Mount Warren Park Community Church has been blessed with significant growth in membership and Church attendance.

Somewhere between 8am and 8:30am, a team of special volunteers transform the church and hall at Highfields into an arena for the arrival of between 10-20 toddlers and their mums or carers for our mainly music program.

Our part-time Pastor was working overtime to keep up with the demands of the ministry, and God challenged us to work towards extending our Pastor’s hours to full-time.

As we prayed, people were moved by the Holy Spirit to increase their giving. God’s timing is always perfect so, when our Pastor was unexpectedly made redundant by Telstra we obeyed His leading and stepped out in faith and invited Pastor Keneti Leota to become our full-time Pastor.

On Sunday, 28th October, over 100 thankful hearts celebrated Pastor Keneti’s full-time appointment in style.

A group of Samoans from our Church presented a gift, and one of our elders, Rev. Bob Bickerton delivered a challenging message. We were encouraged to continue the work God had commenced, and to remain united in Him. The service concluded with everyone holding hands and singing “We are One in the Bond of Love.” We pray God’s richest blessings upon our Pastor and his family.

L to R: Elder Gavin Drogemuller, Pastor Norman Bartlett, Audrey Bartlett, Christine Leota, Petra Leota, Keneti Leota, Jared Leota and elder Rev. Bob Bickerton.

A few years ago, Baplink favoured us with a grant to make our churchyard safe with a fence. We are very thankful and praise the Lord for this provision.

Each Wednesday during school term, the kids and their carers can participate in songs and poems with actions, which both parties enjoy. After a half hour program, everyone moves to the hall, and the kids play with generously donated toys while the parents’ network over morning tea.

Recently we got a phone call from a Christian community person thanking us for the wonderful ministry of Mainly Music—a non-Christian friend was finding the team so helpful and friendly, and she felt so blessed to be there with her child.

It has not been all plain sailing, but we now have a cutting-edge ministry for our church.

Satan has certainly made his presence known in personal relationships and technical difficulties. Are we surprised?

No way! But we are on the winning side with Jesus as our Captain.

A number of people have joined our church or church related ministries for which we praise God. So, thank you Jesus.

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After the service, a group photograph of 63 descendants of the servicemen and women and Hope Colegrove and David Driver, the authors of the book, was taken in the auditorium.

Light refreshments were available following the service, and many family groups spent time catching up with distant relatives and had the opportunity to mingle with the regular worshippers.

Additional copies of the book are available, if any readers would like to request one, by contacting the City Tabernacle church office on (07) 3831 1613 or by email to office@citytabernacle.com.au.

Armistice Day City Tabernacle On Armistice Day, November 11, 2018, a memorable service was held at the City Tabernacle, to recognise the centenary of the cessation of fighting in World War I. Worshippers were greeted by members of the Christian Endeavour, who presented them each with a poppy.

During the service, the book For God, King and Country, which outlines the lives, service and ministry of the 60 or so servicemen and women who had varying associations with The Tabernacle when they enlisted, was launched and dedicated. Due to a grant from the Commonwealth Government, copies of the book were given, free of charge, to anyone who wanted a copy.

In addition to the traditional playing of the Last Post and Rouse by David Appleton, a floral wreath was laid by Marion Mathie, a long-standing member of the church, whose great uncle, George Bremner, was killed in action during World War I. Approximately 80 relatives of the servicemen and women who are named on the church’s Roll of Honour were in attendance. These included several descendants of the first minister at The Tabernacle, Rev BG Wilson, and one of the ministers during World War I – Rev WG Pope.

The preacher was Brigadier Jim Wallace AM (retired) who delivered a very appropriate sermon, entitled The Debt, but on the theme of commitment – both of servicemen and women during times of war and of Christians throughout their lives - which had relevance for both the regular worshippers and visitors, many of whom may not be regular church goers.

The church was decorated with the blue and red ensign, red and white floral arrangements, and the Bible dedicated in memory of Rev Robert Lauchlan, who was associated with The Tabernacle during his theological training and became the first minister of the WynnumManly Baptist Church, but regrettably was killed in action.

The choir sang God is a Spirit, from the cantata The Woman of Samaria, by WS Bennett. The full cantata was sung by an augmented Tabernacle choir in 1917 at a memorial service for Rev Lauchlan.

Holiday Bible Club Chinchilla Baptist Church Chinchilla Baptist Church applied for and received a ministry grant from Baplink to hold a Holiday Bible Club for kids during the first week of the September school holidays. There was a total of 71 individual children attending over the five days of the event. We also held a Friday night family BBQ, which was well attended. The programme consisted of Games, Craft, afternoon tea and a great presentation by Quizworx which included puppets, bible stories, songs, memory verses and games. We also had a running skit with church members as actors!

Over the five days, the kids heard about how to be on God’s team, how Jesus is God and he loves and cares for us. He is the captain and coach of God’s team. He is powerful, and even has power over death. He took the punishment for our sin (which is ignoring God and going our own way). The captain and coach want us to love Him and love our neighbour (and we explained who our neighbour is) AND that we do all this for a prize that lasts forever.

All thanks and praise to the Lord Jesus for His wonderful blessing – The gospel has been shared with children and their families in Chinchilla, and our church has been blessed with a shared joy and closeness. Everyone hopped in and gave their best – thanks everyone!

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MILESTONES

GIRLS’ BRIGADE 125 YEARS AND GOING STRONG!

This year has been an amazing year for Girls’ Brigade Queensland.

125 year ago, Mrs Margaret Lyttle, in Ireland, commenced a Christian group for girls, which was called The Girls’ Brigade, an exciting and relevant programme which now spreads across the world.

Girls’ Brigade Queensland companies have celebrated this milestone in a variety of ways, from 125th birthday parties to Special Church Parades.

All Queensland companies were encouraged to join other Girls’ Brigade groups in their local area to hold a Fundraising Wheel-a-thon, with companies keeping half the proceeds, and contributing the other half to a special Project. This project enabled us to send $3063.00 to the Girl’s Brigade in Papua New Guinea, where they are setting up a headquarters incorporating a women’s hostel.

Girls’ Brigade week was a special time for Leaders past and present to fondly remember earlier times, and we were challenged by the possibilities of our ministry moving forward. We celebrated with a beautifully prepared High Tea held at Riverlife church complex.

A Thanksgiving and Celebration time was also held at the City Tabernacle Baptist church where both Boys’ and Girls’ Brigaders came together in a spirit of “Praise and Thanksgiving,” with Pastor Billy Deem as our guest speaker. It was great to share with girls across the State, especially Mt Isa girls who shared via video link.

One of the highlights of Girls’ Brigade Week 125-year celebrations, was a cake decorating competition, and the entries were amazing.

Girls’ Brigade Australia organised a commemorative bible for each girl and leader. These have been presented to Girls’ Brigaders across the state at a variety of company events.

Girls’ Brigade has an amazing number of opportunities to inspire young girls and young women. We are so blessed to have reached this amazing milestone and pray for each girl and family as we have contact with them on a weekly basis. What an amazing mission field, right here in our own churches!

To find out more about Girls Brigade visit www.girlsbrigade.org.au

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KRUGER PARADE BAPTIST CHURCH – REDBANK 31ST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Kruger Parade recently celebrated its 31st anniversary by holding a joint service in the open air. Although it was a windy and cool day out of the sun, the service was well attended with around 300 people present. The coffee van was well used (thanks Riverlife!) and there was plenty of food after the service, as well as time to catch up with old and new friends. We also held a series of games for those feeling more energetic. The key speaker for the day was John Armstrong. He shared a great illustration in his sermon by giving the children various jigsaws and

legos to put together—but didn’t provide the instructions!

After they had struggled for a while, he then passed out the instructions, and they suddenly could get on and complete their puzzles. So too we should not try to function without considering our maker’s instructions on how to live.

We thank God for all the good things He has done through us over the years.

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QCCC

RECLAIMING “MISSIONAL” At the start of the Twentieth Century the so-called “missional conversation” went mainstream, mainly off the back of a book titled The Shaping of Things to Come which was equal part savage critique of congregational church and idealistic description of “innovative church models”. What has followed is nearly twenty years of polarising debate, often on generational lines, between advocates of established church and devotees of a so-called “emerging church”.

The stone throwing has had a negative impact on our ability to celebrate church as a body with many complementary parts. The use of “emerging church” to describe models of church seen throughout church history, and particularly during times where church is persecuted, suggests the movement is a new thing - when in fact it’s just a modern re-visioning of the traditional and foundational virtues which sustain the church when it’s on the margins of society.

The term “missional church” is a tautology. The church exists to fulfil its God-given mandates, to sustain and reconcile all things (including Creation) and people to full and vital relationship with its Creator. If it’s not missional it’s not a church. Emerging church people use the term to suggest established and traditional churches have lost their way, whilst it is often said the emerging church has failed to establish sustainable models.

Generations X and Y have left Christendom in Australia in droves.

For the first time at census, people aged under 40 identifying as Christians are a minority. However, this generation, which would score very low on any standard piety scale, remains almost obsessed with saints, visions, and icons in all shapes and sizes. They may have

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left church, or had little interaction with it, but still embrace popular culture songs about God and Jesus.

This excites me because it suggests the fields are still gleaming ripe and ready for harvest. We must continue to galvanise and empower the workers.

The subtlety the organised/emerging church debate seems to lack is it should not be the bricks and mortar which dictates the mission.

Every successful shepherd and/ or manager knows their most valuable resource is of the human variety, and the best strategy is to inspire, equip and empower them to unleash their God-given gifts and abilities. It doesn’t matter whether this galvanisation of people occurs in a mega-church, a country parish, a home church, soup kitchen or campsite. Where people identify their spiritual gifts and exercise them in pursuit of a mission and objective much bigger than themselves, mission can become easy, like breathing.

A missional movement of equipped and inspired people is a nationchanger because it releases passionate Christians in our congregations, whatever form they take, to be preserving salt and shining light directly into the fabric and woodwork of society. Church history shows we are at our best when we are outward focussed and committed to be a transformational and preserving influence in the darkness around us.

QCCC has an important mission to pursue on behalf of Queensland Baptists in our own right, engaging with the unchurched daily. The happy upside of this endeavour is it allows us to advocate mission approaches from the perspective of being practitioners ourselves.

QCCC has a dream for our sites to also become places of training, resourcing and inspiration for the powerhouse of our church people.

God’s instruction for His followers in a hostile culture is instructional.

One of the most quoted bible verses (on coffee cups at least) is Jeremiah 29:11, about God’s plans to prosper us, to give a hope and future. But it was also to follow a seventy-year exile. What fascinates me, particularly as an economist, is the instruction beforehand of how to survive and integrate with a godless society. Pray for and actively seek the peace and prosperity of the city you’re exiled in because if it prospers, so too will you prosper.

Build houses, settle down, plant gardens and eat what they produce.

Invest in the family unit and continue to multiply (referencing back to the Creation mandate).

No surprise then that Jesus’ mission strategy was surprisingly similar, and equally simple. Go out into all the world. Love your neighbour.

Compel them to be a learner and seal them into the community of followers with a memorable act

of experiential outdoor education.

Journey with them as they become a lifetime follower of Jesus.

The QB Guideline on Belief and Practices refers to Acts 2:42 to (rightfully) suggest teaching and the sacraments are foundational in our congregational relationships.

However, mission extends beyond our weekly gatherings and preaching. My hope is Acts 2:4347 leading to 1 Peter 3:15 will be the description of shape of things to come for the missional practice of future generations of Christians, not separate from congregational expressions, but continually rising out of it. Here we see a people who enjoy the respect of all because they live compelling, attractive lives with simple joy. And as always, when hospitality is at the foundation of mission practice the church is at its best. When you have respect, it provides the opportunity to describe the hope we have in Christ Jesus, with gentleness and respect.

Anyone and everyone can do this.

Let’s get to it.

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

Triballink Centre Funding The last edition of QB magazine contained an article about QCCC’s Triballink Centre and its importance to both national and spiritual reconciliation. In a major boost to Triballink, Hon Nigel Scullion, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, announced $454,000 in Federal funding to assist the program in November.

Announcing the funding the Minister said “I am delighted to be supporting such an important programme. Anyone who visits the centre as I have will get a chance to learn more about the history, customs, artefacts and language of the Jinibara people and this additional investment we’re announcing will give Triballink even more capacity to deliver.”

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Never too old

Two school chaplains in the Queensland Outback have taken on a new project in their spare time.

Peter and Christine Coates, who are in their sixties, work for Scripture Union Qld and travel between the four schools of Boulia, Bedourie, Dajarra, and Urandangi.

the galvanised plumbing and repair several broken windows themselves, but Peter says he is not getting on the roof to replace the lead nails and install rotating ventilators. Some of the stumps need replacing, and the building levelled, but this work is less urgent.

They recently purchased the old Anglican Church in Boulia, which is three hundred kilometres south of Mount Isa.

Special thanks go to four friends from Caloundra and Tasmania who visited for a few days and didn’t stop working - unsticking stubborn windows, unpacking furniture, some urgent plumbing and other odd jobs.

Peter and Christine are widening their horizons with the new purchase, which is to be known as the Boulia Outback Chapel.

“We wanted to spread out, and to keep “the light on” in the community,” said Peter.

The couple are in the process of renovating, which is a challenge in the Outback. Tradies are in short supply but Peter and Chris are undaunted.

The Chapel must be completely rewired and painted. A Mt Isa builder is coming to replace the back porch, and to resurface the front porch.

Peter and Christine hope to replace

Peter and Christine see the chapel as a place to spread out, as well as a place for ministry, as one of the more recent additions to Mission to Queensland.

“We have a coffee machine, lounge suite for “Coffee Church” as well as stackable chairs for more formal services,” says Peter.

They hope to continue their Mobile Outback Chaplaincy Service and to use the Chapel as a base. They are also involved in local ministry when in town (which is twenty nights out of thirty each month). They conduct

ministry with kids, and serve the community through hospitality, weddings and funerals.

This adventurous couple seek your prayers for this new venture. They assure locals and travelers alike of a real welcome and a great cup of coffee, as well as a time of spiritual refreshment and encouragement.

Enquiries Peter & Christine Coates peteracoates@yahoo.com.au Ph 0429 473706

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QB WOMEN

‘Tis a new season As the new year approaches, I reflect on a changing season as my youngest child starts school. I’d like to think it will mean I will get more done during the day. However, after speaking to some wise mothers who have been there before me, I have heard that perhaps there will just be different demands on my time. I am also struck by the reality that I will be spending less time with my kids. We know that the first five years of a child’s life are critical for their development, due to their brain developing faster than at any other time in their life. I wonder if I have done enough in the time I have had with them. Have I made the most of my time with them in this crucial developmental stage, or was I too busy with other things?

With each new season of our lives comes a mix of emotions— excitement, joy, sadness, regret.

For some, children are leaving home as they go off to university or get married. This can be a joyous, but also scary time, as children’s independence increases. Others parents are looking forward with joy to the arrival of new babies or grandbabies. For yet others, the pain of loss means they are facing the new year without someone dear—a mother, a father, a spouse.

There will also be those who begin the new year with uncertainty, as they face health challenges and undergo medical treatment.

Whatever season or circumstances we are facing in the new year, God’s word offers some wisdom and comfort for us.

Psalm 102:11-12 states: - “My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering like grass. But you, O Lord will rule forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.” Further down in verses 25-27 “In ages past you

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laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. Even they will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and they will fade away. But you are always the same; your years never end”.

Even though life seems to pass us by and the seasons change, we can have confidence that God does not change; He is steadfast and faithful.

We can put our trust in Him to bring us through. The Psalm concludes with verse 28 – “The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence”. God promises that He will hold us secure.

Ecclesiastes 3 also speaks of the seasons of life. It tells how “there is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven”. After comparing the different times in life (v3-10), Solomon offers wisdom about how we should respond. In verse 11-12, he expresses that “God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can”. Solomon urges us to find joy in each season. We do not know how God is working and we cannot see the end from the beginning. Therefore we must trust that He knows what He is doing, and that He will cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

It’s easy to see how we can find joy in the exciting times: the arrival of a new baby, the love of a newly married couple, the success of graduation or a work promotion. But

what is there to be joyful about in the difficult times—the loss of a loved one, the struggle of sickness?

In the book of James (1:2-4), we read that we should let times of trouble be an opportunity for joy, because, through these times, our faith in Christ grows and our character is made strong. Despite pain, we can take comfort in the fact that God is with us. He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). You do not face any of these circumstances alone.

So, as this new season of all-mychildren-at-school fast approaches.

I hand over my regrets to the Lord, and trust that His grace will cover any mistakes and lost opportunities.

I trust that He will work all things out for good. I am also encouraged to make the most of the time with my kids outside of school hours and to really enjoy this time. I realise that even though time seems to be flying by and they are growing up too fast, God is in control, and he remains the same. In the times when my house feels empty and lonely, I will take comfort that He is always with me and endeavour to use those times to draw nearer to Him. ‘Tis a new season, and while I am not entirely sure what lies before me, I know that God is with me and will bring me through. And I am confident that whatever season you face, He will do the same for you.

By Natalie Stanley from Biloela Baptist Church and the Anew Conference team.

What’s the 25th of December all about?

BY ANDY COLLER

Yes, I know you all have the correct church-goer answer but what is it really all about? If I were to pretend I came from another planet and travelled around and looked at the evidence, what would I decide the 25th December was all about? If I videotaped your place what would that tell me? Well mostly it’s…

Stuff-mas Retailers love the 25th December.

It’s about celebrating consumerism.

It’s about getting people to buy things they don’t need with money they don’t have. If you receive junk mail you notice the volume increases as we get closer to the end of December.

And boy, do we spend money! Last year every person (man, woman, and child) spent an average of $593 on gifts* when you add extra food, entertainment, decorations and other spending it pushes the average spend well over $1,000.

Now I know you will say, “Someone is spending some of mine to raise the average.” But if you were to track every cent you spent you may be shocked.

Consumerism is the religion celebrated in Stuff-mas.

For some people it is Christmas For a small number of people it truly is about Christ. The meal is a celebration feast with Jesus as the object. Gifts are still exchanged as a celebration of the gift of Christ Jesus. The 25th December is a Holy-Day – not just a holiday.

For another group it is Stuff-Chi-Mas (Stuff Xmas) (When originally written the X was not an ex but the Greek letter Chi. The first letter of Christos, Christ in Greek.)

Typically, these people go to church in the morning, and when the service is over Jesus doesn’t get another look in.

There are probably more in this group than most people realise. And not just the twice per year attendees!

I’m sure you all want to be in the Christmas group.

How do we do that when we are bombarded with Stuff-mas? There is a group called Advent Conspiracy that suggests four ways to do this. (adventconspiracy.org) 1. Worship Fully Make it a true holy-day and feastday. Keep the focus on Jesus for the entire day. As you sit for the meal explain why the family is celebrating at the table.

Have a small nativity scene on the table. Ask the children to explain the story of Jesus birth. Maybe have an empty chair to signify the presence of Christ. Find a way to include Christ at his own birthday party that suits your situation.

2. Spend Less We don’t need to go into debt to celebrate properly. It’s not about consumerism. Retailers should just have to get used to a ‘spend less/ save more’ society. The world won’t end. Give gifts by all means and

even eat too much. Old Testament feasts were very full-on. We just don’t need to be paying off the credit card for months after Christmas.

3. Give More Part of celebrating the incarnation is to follow the example of Jesus and give and be generous. Giving to those who cannot reciprocate is a great way to honour Christ. He gave himself freely and showed us grace and mercy that we cannot repay. We should do the same. Baptist World Aid Australia will have a story in this magazine. Give generously to the Be Hope Christmas appeal. If those attending a QLD Baptist church averaged just $40 each we would have over $1 million. So basically just add one more family member.

And support local groups who are helping the vulnerable in Australia.

This year the drought appeals would be good.

4. Love All They will know you are Christians by your love, so the old chorus goes.

It isn’t just at Christmas that we should love all, but we should love especially at Christmas. Love the obnoxious, the smelly, the enemy, the refugee, and everyone else. Find ways to bless someone unlikely this Christmas.

Two questions to finish…

What WAS Christmas going to be like at your place?

What is it going to be like now? *(https://www.ratecity.com.au/bankaccounts/articles/much-peoplespend-christmas)

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QB YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS

REFLECTING ON 2018 AND LAUNCHING INTO 2019!

2018 was huge for QB Youth and Young Adults! We saw the pilot of State Youth Camp, great events for leaders, a new website created with vision and opportunities for blogs and much more, and the emerging leaders’ missional leaders phase one coming to an end and the launch of phase two.

Camp was so good that we are having it again! SYC2019: Reunite is all about reconciliation. This event is focused at creating a discipleship culture. This is done by creating a space where the Pastor and/or leaders can focus on investing into their teams and students, while

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not worrying about the other things like food, activities, and all the administration. The camp’s purpose is to help QB youth ministries come together and see that the Church is bigger than their context instilling in them a sense of the broader Kingdom. This was done this year with the slogan “Brighter Together”, and achieved next year with the slogan, “Reunite”. The teams have been working hard to take SYC2019:Reunite to the next level.

Please be praying for this event, the students, the leaders, Pastors, and Andrew Grant and the QCCC team (who make this event SO GOOD!!)

Oh, and if you want to come speak

to your Youth Pastor (*Students need to come with their youth group).

Retreat 2018 was amazing! We had great input from Mike Stevens Senior Pastor Clovercrest Baptist church in Adelaide and author of “The Glue”. The attenders had a great time encouraging each other, sharing stories, learning from each other, and having a well-earned rest.

Next year’s Youth and Young Adults pastor/leaders and their teams retreat (we need a better name… please help) will be held, again, at Mooloolaba, 18-20 March. We have Patricia Weerakoon (Christian Sexologist and Author), Steve Dixon

(Morling College), Ken Conwell (QB Professional Standards Officer), Mark Westyhuzen (Pastor and former QB Youth and Young Adults MTL), and Tim Fawsset (SU QLD and former CEO of The Feast, UK) bringing the input sessions one of their focus areas. This is going to be a great opportunity to get some training, refreshing and refocusing for your next generation leaders. Oh, and CHILD SAFE TRAINING!!

The website team have done an incredible job! A team of busy pastors and leaders volunteered their time so that Queensland Baptist Youth and Young Adults may have a platform that is for them by them. It is still in infancy, but WOW!!! Head on over to www.youth. qb.org.au and maybe register for camp or get some great bible study tools like DIG. If you would like to, or know anyone who would like to blog or add content to this Youth and Young Adult focused platform we want to hear from you, email aaron. fozzard@qb.org.au.

Missional Discipleship initiative has come to an end. Although it has ended, the leadership team is on board and focused as we move into phase 2. Phase 2 was landmarked by our first taster and vision day in October. It was great to see the “cogs turning” in leaders across the state around how to pursue discipleship best in their contexts. Phase one had brought the “huddle” (a term we use to describe a group of accountable to one another in their pursuit of missional

discipleship) to a place of focus on discipleship, an understanding of the need for it and a set of tools to help it happen. The initial huddle participants have a heart to see what has begun continue, as the huddle has seen God do some amazing things as we have committed ourselves to what Jesus has said to do (and actually doing it!). We have seen a church plant team commissioned and sent to start a missional discipleship focused congregation. We have seen another church leadership team journeying in the same direction with some of the missional discipleship language and tools being taken up by the congregations. We have also seen a quirky sauna ministry begin that is seeing evangelism happen in the strangest of places! My favourite of all though, is that families (even extended church families) are getting it, and journeying on mission together. QBY&YA Oversight Team would love to answer any questions you may have about what we are doing, and invite you to be a part of it.

By Aaron Fozzard – QB Youth and Young Adults Team Leader

It is always good having closure or finishing one huge task so that the next task can happen well.

Phase one of the Australian Baptist Youth Ministries Emerging Leaders

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Allora Baptist Church

ALLORA BAPTIST CHURCH 1950-1970 THE LITTLE CHURCH THAT COULD The best little town on the Downs Allora, known as ‘the best little town on the Darling Downs’, is 26 kilometres by road north of Warwick on the New England Highway. With a population under 1000, it contains many historic buildings and is the centre of a rich agricultural district.

It was first settled by Europeans in 1840 and had good prospects, but when it was by-passed by the railway in 1867, hopes of further significant growth diminished.

Several churches were established in the 1860s, but it would be nearly a century before Baptists would have a spiritual home.

The nearest church, Warwick (established in 1911), conducted some home meetings during the mid-1930s and the war period, but it was not until the 1940s that positive steps were taken by Rev R G (Dick) Walker (1946-53). He was an enthusiastic supporter of the ministry of the Baptist Gospel Waggon which conducted the first regular services early in 1947, first in homes and then in the Protestant Hall.

building on the nearby historic East Talgai homestead would be used.

But the soil on the church block in Herbert Street was not suitable, so the timber frame of that church was used instead.

The building, erected by voluntary labour, was opened on 19 August 1950 by Baptist Union President, Mr C G Sweetman. The Warwick Daily News described the 14.6 metre x 7.3 metre church as ‘one of the most attractive of the new buildings’ in Allora. It featured a large leadlight window in the porch facing the street with the words, ‘Allora Baptist Church’, which it was said, ‘gives a most picturesque touch’ when the building was lit at night. There was also a prominent sign on the porch announcing, ‘Jesus saves!’. The church was constituted on August 20 with eleven members. Soon regular activities were commenced, including a Sunday school and ladies work.

The Warwick church provided pastoral leadership initially, but the Queensland Baptist Home Mission worked with the British Baptist Commonwealth and Colonial Society to recruit a pastor from the United Kingdom. A Scot, John Walker, was appointed, who was in his late 30s, and married to Sarah, with two children, George, 7 and Ruth, 3. They had met while studying at Glasgow Bible Training Institute. After war service, they became wardens at a Bible college in England, but soon took up duty with the London City Mission in London’s inner north. They arrived in November 1952.

It was a testing assignment for the new pastor, working with a small church in a country town without any form of transport. The Home Mission salary was low, and John had to cope with college studies as well. The family lived in makeshift accommodation until the manse

A short time later the Warwick Church decided to construct a church building. At first it was intended that stone from a church Gospel Waggon and Protestant Hall

28 DEC 18/JAN 19 QB.ORG.AU

next door was finally ready in 1955.

But the family were supported strongly by the generosity and hospitality of the local people, making their pastorate a happy one.

Now with a settled pastor, the church developed its activities. In August 1953 a Sunday School Hall was erected by volunteer labour.

The Australian Baptist reported that ‘Pastor J Walker is maintaining a splendid ministry and the work is in excellent heart.’ He was known for his thoughtful preaching, dedicated pastoral work and careful organising ability, and served the church until the end of 1956. He was ordained in 1958. After service with the Home Mission at Petrie Terrace and Gympie, he transferred to South Australia in 1962 where he pastored two churches. He died in 1968. His second son, (Rev Dr) John, born at Allora, also became a Baptist minister and missionary, and is active in Baptist historical work.

The Home Mission was hard pressed to find someone for Allora, but finally an experienced pastor, Rev H L McIntyre, was transferred from Lanefield/Marburg.

Commencing in early 1957, he immediately began looking for ways to develop the church, especially in other nearby rural areas.

However, he was moved to Lakes Creek in mid-1958 to the great disappointment of the Allora church.

Ian Richardson, another student pastor, replaced him in 1959, but he remained only two years before being moved to Stanthorpe.

By 1970, there was only one remaining member and no prospects for improvement, so the church was closed. The church building was sold to the Rosewood Baptist Church for $900 where it was re-opened on 5 June 1971 as the main worship centre.

The church was now struggling, with a steady decline in membership from its highest point - in the mid20s. There were several removals from the district as Allora suffered the same loss of population that many other rural districts had done.

The Warwick church took back responsibility for Allora in 1961, with services and other activities continuing for a time but gradually diminishing.

For much of its twenty-year life, Allora was a vibrant church.

However, the sacrifice and dedicated work of its pastors and members was not enough to overcome the difficulties presented by a low population, and proximity to the larger centre of Warwick. The building which had seen only one wedding and one funeral, however, continued to serve a useful purpose at its new home.

One bright spot during this period was the baptism of local resident, Tom Hoey, who soon trained for missionary service and spent a long period of distinguished pioneer work in Papua New Guinea.

This is a further episode in the BHQ project on Baptists on the Darling Downs. For more details, please contact the Archives.

ESSAY COMPETITION Baptist Heritage Queensland is pleased to announce that the winner of its 7th essay competition conducted in association with Malyon College Baptist History course is Greg Beaumont. Greg has been serving as an intern at City North Baptist Church and is a keen history buff. He was presented with his prize at the November BHQ meeting by the President, Mr Eric Kopittke (pictured above). Printed copies of the essay are available from BHQ with a stamped selfaddressed business size envelope sent to BHQ, c/- PO Box 6166 Mitchelton Q 4053.

Baptist Church Archives archives@qb.org.au Phone 07 3354 5642, 07 3878 3178

QB.ORG.AU DEC 18/JAN 19 29

Sensing God - Smell

BY ALLAN QUAK

I find the smell of a coffee especially in the morning, to be a reviving smell. You can be asleep and then, if someone loves you enough to make a coffee in bed for you, the smell is able to wake you up thinking, “This is fantastic way to wake up.”

What a great memory … for me.

Maybe I enjoy coffee more than you!

Yet, even if your memory smell is a different smell, be sure to notice the connection—smell and memory go together. Which is the reason why the sense of smell is also a significant aspect of our relationship with God. Have a look at Genesis 8. The flood has now receded and Noah and his family stand on dry ground. In thankfulness Noah built an alter and offered a sacrifice.

The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. (Genesis 8:21) 30 DEC 18/JAN 19 QB.ORG.AU

The smell has created a memory in God. Every time God smells the aroma of sacrifice, He is reminded of His promise. Indeed, on thirtynine occasions in the Old Testament you will read that the offering of a sacrifice results in a “pleasing aroma”: God smelt, and a pleasant memory is created.

Such a response is not just an Old Testament action. In Ephesians 5:1-2 Paul says: Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Christ brings the offering which is a fragrant pleasing aroma. When we walk in the footsteps of Christ our lives are a pleasing aroma to God. Some actions which produce a “pleasing aroma” include; how we speak; what our character is like; and the nature of our relationships with our spouse, children and work colleagues (cf. Ephesians 4:17-6:20).

God smells this pleasing aroma and it creates a pleasant memory.

Think about that for a moment.

The aroma of your sacrificial actions … a life which is full of shortcomings, weaknesses, failings and sins … this life when lived under the grace of Christ produces in God a pleasant memory.

We should really allow this truth to be a great encouragement which strengthens our relationship with God. We should also remember that our capacity to be a pleasing aroma to God will directly have an impact on the people around us.

In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 Paul reflects specifically on this impact: Thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the

other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

Basically, Paul is saying that when we are in a relationship with God, we end up smelling like God to the people around us. As that smell goes out, people are going to respond one way or another.

Some people are going to say, “I don’t like that smell and I am offended by that smell.” Effectively that are saying, “I don’t like what God is all about.” The consequence of this response is described by Paul as the aroma of death. For other people the smell of God in us is pleasant. They want to hear and know more. They want to understand who God is. It is the aroma that brings life.

This is our calling: - To be the aroma of Christ as we go out into the world. No wonder Paul asks, “Who is equal to this task?”, because we know it’s not easy to be a pleasing aroma in this world.

Babies can smell wonderful. You pick them up and they smell so nice and you just want to hold them. Yet, in an instant, that wonderful smell can be transformed into a terrible smell. The smell babies can make is so bad that no amount of lotion, and no amount of covering up is going to get rid of the vileness that is the smell of a baby.

We can be like that. There are days when we are a pleasing aroma to the Lord, and there are also days when we feel like we are a stench to the Lord.

We know our failings.

We know our weaknesses.

We know we have let God down.

We know we have let down the people who are closest to us – and even more so those who are further from us.

We know all this. We are sure of this.

We get to the end of the day and we say to God, “God I really stank today. I really messed it up”.

But here is the wonderful truth.

Never does the Scripture say that an “unpleasant aroma” was offered to the Lord. Every time we read in the Scripture about a smell it says, “this was a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” Such an observation does not mean that we can’t make God sad and upset and be in a place where we are deserving of God’s wrath.

But what we see in Scripture is that when the aroma is a stench, and when we seek forgiveness for our stench, then the stench of the smell doesn’t last.

The pleasant aroma memories are long term.

The stench aroma actions are forgiven and forgotten.

When we are in Christ, we should not doubt that we are a pleasing aroma and we should know that, because the stench is covered, God chooses to ignore that which was “unpleasantly” offered.

So, go out and let people smell the aroma of God on you.

CARINITY

Carinity Christmas Appeal: Help give young people a brighter future Each year, Carinity helps thousands of young Queenslanders in need or who are facing disadvantage – by delivering mental, physical, emotional and financial support.

Our mission, in the name of Christ, is to provide high-quality care and services to make a real difference to struggling teenagers.

Manager of Carinity Chaplaincy and Mission Services, Rev. Don McPherson, is inviting community members to support the expansion of Carinity’s youth services by donating to the 2018 Carinity Christmas Appeal.

“These youth services include providing crisis accommodation

32 DEC 18/JAN 19 QB.ORG.AU

and emergency housing for homeless youth, assisting young people with a disability, special assistance education for those who struggle in mainstream schooling, and counselling services for at-risk teenagers living with mental illness,” Don says.

“By supporting the 2018 Carinity Christmas Appeal, your kindness and generosity will go a long way brightening the future of a young person like Makhala, Jake or Ebony.”

Before she sought help from counsellors at Carinity, Makhala was reclusive and battled suicidal thoughts.

“A traumatic event in my life had caused me to become withdrawn and suicidal. I wasn’t eating properly and I was self-harming,” Makhala says.

Carinity’s counsellors gave Makhala ways to talk to her parents about her problems and allowed the thenteenager to turn her life around by teaching her how to cope with challenges.

“For me, a big turning point in my life was when I was introduced to a timid horse with one eye, named Karma. I learned to ride and together we got better,” Makhala says.

Now 26, Makhala is a therapeutic care worker who helps young people

with mental illness. She hopes to start her own equine therapy program, using horses she rescues to assist people facing difficulty.

Jake was just 16 when he was homeless and alone. His life started to turn around when he discovered Carinity Orana, which provides emergency housing and crisis accommodation for homeless young people and those at risk of becoming homeless.

“My life was quite depressing before I came to Orana. I had been living with an abusive carer in a house which I could rarely leave. I felt isolated and alone. I eventually ended up living on the beach for a week,” Jake says.

“During those first few weeks at Orana I was really nervous, and I kept to myself as I had trust issues.

Slowly things started to change for me as I felt that I could discover who I actually was.”

With the help of Carinity Orana’s youth workers, Jake resumed his schooling and has just completed Year 12 and graduated from high school.

“The future for me is looking good.

I have a wider support network of friends I can call on than ever before but most importantly I feel like I can finally be myself,” Jake says.

Ebony dropped out of primary school and moved from town to town after being thrown out of home.

Without an education and lacking stability in her life, she enrolled at Carinity Education Southside when she was 15.

“I had a number of issues holding me back from enjoying life, having a poor self-image and living an unstable lifestyle. It didn’t take much time to realise I wanted to improve my life,” Ebony says.

“The teachers at Southside continuously and whole-heartedly remind each and every girl in the school that they not only can, but will, change their lives for the better.

I am still constantly thinking up ways to better my life and myself.”

Donate to the 2018 Carinity Christmas Appeal at carinity.org.au/donations.

Makhala is one of the thousands of young Queenslanders who faced major challenges before their lives were transformed with assistance from Carinity youth services.

kmsmith.com.au

Phone 3252 2031 QB.ORG.AU DEC 18/JAN 19 33

HELP HOPE BREAK THROUGH

BY SAMARA LINEHAN

“THE PEOPLE WALKING IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT; ON THOSE LIVING IN THE LAND OF DEEP DARKNESS A LIGHT HAS DAWNED.” – ISAIAH 9:2.

Imagine growing up without love of any kind. Imagine how hopeless you would feel… how dark your world would be.

When Yan was just a little girl, this was the reality of her life in rural Cambodia.

“I did not have my own parents, I did not know where I am from,” says Yan. “I lived with some people, they beat me. They did not love me like their own children.”

For many years Yan lived in misery, searching for the beginnings of hope. Then, one day, the other children she lived with threw her in the middle of a nearby lake to see if she could swim.

“After I swallowed some water, they picked me back out. They tortured me,” Yan remembers.

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It was a horrible day. It is horrible memory… but in the midst of all that darkness, Yan caught her first glimpse of hope.

It was later on and near the lake that a kind woman found her.

“When she saw me, she talked to me,” says Yan. “She found out that I had been taken from somewhere and that no one wanted to feed me.”

Like Yan, this woman was Cambodian… and, also like Yan, she was searching for a family to love.

“She did not have a child, so, she adopted me and raised me,” Yan explains.

Yan’s new mother loved her very much, but she was also poor… and growing up in rural Cambodia is not easy when you are surrounded by poverty.

Many years later, now a mother herself, Yan is desperate for her three children to have childhoods that are full of the hope she struggled to find herself… and

thanks to your generosity, her children are brimming with hope for the future!

With your support, our Christian partner in the field began work in Yan’s community. With their help, she and her husband learned to raise chickens and pigs to sell… they even started a small business basket weaving!

“Life has become much better. We are not very upset like we were before,” Yan says happily. “We have money to buy food, to eat, and to support the children.”

This Christmas, you have the opportunity to help hope break into the lives of families living in poverty… right across Cambodia.

Your generous gift to the Be Hope Christmas Appeal means new livelihoods for mums like Yan and food and education for their precious children.

Jesus calls us to be the light in this dark world. Help the light of hope break through. Be generous and give to Be Hope Christmas Appeal today. Go to: baptistworldaid. org.au/be-hope

PERSECUTION BRIEF

egypt church calls us to pray with them, not for them In Egypt, Christians are seeking your prayers. But what they’re asking you to pray may not be what you expect.

In this country, which ranks 17 on the World Watch List, the church is praying a bold prayer.

An Open Doors worker attended a large prayer meeting in Cairo, where more than 800 Christians, mostly young, prayed for their nation to come to Christ.

The Open Doors worker asked the pastor how Western Christians could pray for their brothers and sisters in Egypt. The pastor responded by saying: “Please don’t pray for us. Please pray with us.”

“If you pray for us, you will pray for the wrong things,” the pastor said. “You will pray that the church will be safe. You will pray for persecution to cease. We are not praying for these things. We ask God for the salvation of Egypt. We ask that he draw millions of Muslims to Christ.

We ask that we will be bold and clear in sharing our faith with Muslims.”

“And we pray that when the inevitable persecution comes… that we will not run away, that we will be faithful

Image: Beleivers in a church service in the south of Egypt Source: Open Doors - www.opendoors.org.au

in that persecution even if it costs us our lives. Will you tell your friends to pray these prayers with us?”

The persecuted church is calling the Western church to pray ‘with’ them, not ‘for’ them.

please pray: • • •

Pray with the persecuted church, for their nations to come to know Christ.

Pray with believers in Egypt, that they will be bold in sharing the gospel.

Pray that the Western church will continue to pray ‘with’ the persecuted church.

Did you know that Open Doors are offering Gifts of Hope for Christmas?

Each gift is linked directly to a project in the field. By choosing a Gift Of Hope you are building up the global body of Christ and letting persecuted believers know that they are not alone. You can also use these gifts for giftgiving by choosing a Printed Card or PDF Card option.

See the website for more details www.opendoors.org.au

QB.ORG.AU DEC 18/JAN 19 35

GLOBAL INTERACTION

Growing Communities of Faith

BY BOB ROGERS – GLOBAL INTERACTION, QUEENSLAND STATE DIRECTOR Today we live in an age of “instant”.

Rather than realising that many things take time to develop we often expect them to happen immediately.

We have become accustomed to instant coffee, take-away meals, ATM banking, and credit cards that enable us to “take it home now”! In such an age, it is easy to think that’s how everything has always operated.

It may take you an hour or two to read the book of Acts. Have you ever considered that the events covered

by Luke occurred over a period of 32 years? We can fall into the trap of thinking the Apostle Paul moved from city to city every few months, when in fact, he often remained in a city for up to three years, training young converts and leaving a leader to care for the church members.

And remember, Paul had grown up within the culture and languages of those he visited. Often, he would commence his ministry in a new area by visiting the local Jewish synagogue to find people open to hear and discuss the Good News about Jesus.

Luke and Bell Harland and sons Salem and Judah

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Today’s missionary activities, while sharing the same message Paul shared, occurs in places where the local culture and language must first be learned, so meaningful relationships can be built. The Global Interaction team has been serving the ethnic Thai in rural areas since the early 2000s. Until recently, some small “successes” have occurred where one or two ethnic Thai have made a decision to leave their Buddhist religion and trust Jesus Christ. In today’s “instant” thinking some may consider this a very slow process. But, praise God,

A typical Thai community of faith

the faithfulness of cross-cultural workers to remain in their locations, learn culture and language and build relationships, has seen the “seed” of the Good News beginning to take root and become “small shoots” of growth. We are witnessing an increasing number of ethnic Thai being empowered to develop their own distinctive way of following Jesus, developing into small but strong communities of faith.

The Queensland team at Global Interaction are looking forward to 2019, with several cross-cultural families returning to Australia for Home Assignment. Luke and Belle Harland and their boys, Salem and Judah call Bracken Ridge Baptist their home. They will return to Queensland in December and will undertake their visitation program late in January through to mid-June.

Luke and Belle serve in the Nan Province of Thailand. There are four faith communities who are exploring what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in a way that reflects their culture and heritage. Praise God, they are seeing these small local communities of faith grow despite strong pressures from family members who do not want them to follow Jesus. Pressure is also applied from the local community where life revolves around the Buddhist temple. Each believer must choose a way of navigating their

faith within their communities. Do they cut themselves off from their old life and customs or try to integrate their new faith in Jesus within their culture?

Recently Belle shared her struggles and joy in learning the Thai culture and language. It has not been easy as a young Mum to integrate all she would like to do to build better relationships with local Thai people.

However, God has encouraged her with the following story…

Mrs R, is the only believer in her family. She was baptized in February 2017 along with a small group of believers. Mrs R’s husband did not agree with her decision, but has seen and liked changes in her life.

Not long ago Mrs R developed an area of blindness, in her eye. She sought help through medicines but little change occurred. The drugs were not effective and made her increasingly sleepy. They also caused a rash and swelling on her skin.

The local community of faith began praying for healing. But Mrs R’s family encouraged her to go to the witch doctor for healing. Mrs R felt obliged to comply and visited the “doctor”. But the rash only got worse. Mrs R told her family she would never again visit the witch doctor. One day Belle was hanging the washing when the Holy Spirit

said to her, “Mrs R needs to forgive her mother”. Belle felt convicted to share with Mrs R, but did not have a strong relationship with her. Instead, she took the situation to the Global Interaction team. Team-member, Carolyn, had been the person who had led Mrs R to Jesus. She volunteered to speak to Mrs R. Upon hearing this message from God, Mrs R acknowledged the situation and prayed about it overnight. Years before, Mrs R’s mother had hurt her daughter very badly. Mrs R had never forgiven her mother. However, at the Holy Spirit’s prompting, Mrs R apologised to her Mum, who, in turn, immediately forgave Mrs R for the years of bitterness between them. Within a very short time, the blind spot on Mrs R’s eye disappeared and the rashes went away. Everyone in the faith community celebrated what God had done.

This is one of a growing number of stories of God’s faithfulness among these growing communities of faith. Would you like to hear more?

Would you like a visit from Luke and Belle? They are available to visit your church or fellowship group between mid-January and mid-June 2019. Please contact Lynda at our Queensland office, lmcmahon@ globalinteraction.org.au, or call 3354 5603.

QB.ORG.AU DEC 18/JAN 19 37

Thank you, Queensland Baptists, for standing up for life!

BY WENDY FRANCIS, QLD DIRECTOR OF AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LOBBY

Over the past three consecutive years the Queensland Parliament has considered three separate Termination of Pregnancy bills.

The first two were unsuccessful.

But sadly, late in the evening on Wednesday 17 October, our Parliament passed a bill into law allowing for the abortion of unborn children until full term. Fifty votes to forty-one voted in favour of the radical bill. The Chamber erupted in applause and celebration and it was heralded as an “historic moment”, and a “momentous occasion for women’s rights.” The headlines read “Archaic 19th-century laws repealed” and “Finally, Queensland women can control their own bodies.” A Brisbane city bridge was even lit up in purple lights to mark the achievement.

“A momentous occasion for women’s rights?” What about the unborn baby girls? How do women’s rights help her? She is one of the most vulnerable women in the world yet not one thought was given to her wellbeing. Instead “women’s rights” allow for her never to become a woman herself.

“Archaic 19th-century laws repealed?” – How are 19thcentury unborn children any more important or human than unborn children today? What makes the acknowledgement that unborn children are human beings archaic?

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“Finally, Queensland women can control their own bodies?” Not only their own bodies but the body of the individual unborn child as well.

This is not just a women’s health issue – it affects the health, safety and very lives of unborn babies who, while vulnerable and dependent on their mother, do not have the same control over their own bodies.

For these reasons, I did not applaud.

I did not celebrate. Instead, I wept. My thoughts were with the innocent children who will never enter this world because of this new legislation. As well as with the vulnerable women who are being given no counselling or support at the very time when they need it the most. Very few women will undergo a termination of pregnancy procedure lightly. And none of us can judge. God is a God of redemption for each one of us – how eternally grateful we are for that fact.

And whilst I wept, at the same time, I gave thanks to God for the support of Stewart Pieper and the entire Queensland Baptist family as we stood for life together. With your help over 40,000 signatures were presented in the largest petition this parliament has seen. In fact, it is the largest petition in over 8 years in our State Parliament. Many of you also wrote submissions and contacted your Members of Parliament.

This made a significant impact. It supported and strengthened the

Members of Parliament who stand for life and it has kept the issue in the minds of parliamentarians.

My thoughts remain even now with the women who carry the loss and bear the painful emotional consequences of going through with an abortion for the rest of their lives.

The unknown potential. The unlived lives. The children who will never be born.

Truth has fallen in the public square, and we are living in a world wrought with the consequences of postmodern thought and the cultural Marxist creep. And so, the little ones suffer.

I am comforted by the hope we have in Christ. Romans 15:13 says: “May the God of hope fill you with all peace in believing so that by the power of the holy spirit you may abound in hope.”

Yes, this was a truly heartbreaking loss for unborn children and for women in Queensland, but it is not the end. We serve a God who has ordered the very heavens and the earth (Job 37), who feeds the birds and clothes the lilies of the fields (Matthew 6:26-7). It is in Him we have our hope, knowing that He will have His way and that it is our role to trust and hope in Him. Thank you, Queensland Baptist family.

If I were a Magi

BY CHRISTINE WOOD – GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH If you were a wise man, would you have handed over the gold? I’m not sure I would have.

The wise men, or Magi, have always intrigued me. Who were these guys and what were they thinking? What took them on their journey, following a star in the sky with expensive gifts for a baby in a faraway land?

I imagine how it went down.

“Hi honey, sorry I’m late. The guys and I were checking out Gaspar’s new telescope, and we noticed a star announcing a baby king has been born in a faraway country.

I’m just going to grab the gold we have saved for our superannuation to give him as a gift. The boys and I are heading on a road trip to find the king. See ya!”

We don’t know a lot about these guys, but we do know enough to realise that my scenario is wrong.

These were wealthy, educated, devoted philosophers. But, what an incredible adventure they went on—all because they saw a star that represented a promise, and it called them into action.

Their journey took them to Jerusalem, where the King of the Jews should be born, but Jesus wasn’t there. The king should be in the palace, in a prominent, luxurious, secure place, but Jesus wasn’t there.

They searched the skies again, and overjoyed, followed the star to the house where Jesus was. A small, poor, insignificant house in the village of Bethlehem. This is not what they expected. This was no place for a king. Jesus didn’t look like a king, and his family didn’t resemble a royal family at all.

This is where the story gets interesting for me.

If it was me, I think I would have called the boys outside for a quiet word.

“Guys, I think we might have got this one wrong. Something doesn’t feel right. This is not what we expected.

I’m not sure I’m going to part with my gold. I think we’ve made a mistake and we should just cut our losses and head home.”

But no. These guys had faith in what God had called them to do, and they went through with their plan.

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

— Matthew 2:11 Nothing made sense. Nothing was what they expected. But in faith, in obedience, trusting the prophecy and the star, they bowed down, worshiped, and handed over expensive gifts.

Sometimes God calls us, puts a dream in our hearts and a purpose for our work, and then when we get

there, it’s not what we expected. The palace we were headed to turns out to be a lowly home in a village. There are no trumpets, no fanfare, no red carpet and no gold banners. It’s not what we expected, and it shakes up our faith.

Our journey can take unexpected turns to unwanted places; having a child with disabilities, a divorce, chronic illness, long-term unemployment, conflict, grief. Is there a place like this in your story?

We find ourselves holding the riches of our hearts, ready to lay them down at the foot of a majestic king, only to arrive in an unexpected place. Do we still lay our treasure down?

Jesus is an unexpected King, and we will find him in unexpected places. I pray that like the Wise Men, you will have the courage and faith to lay your treasure down and worship him. Trust the call of God on your life, the passion he has placed in your heart, the purpose he has called you to. Follow the star.

Don’t let the unexpected challenges deter you from the fullness of his blessing in your life. Jesus is there, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, in unexpected places.

Visit Christine’s Blog www.livingwithmargins.com

QB.ORG.AU DEC 18/JAN 19 39

SUFFERING WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

BY CHRISTINE PILT

For the past 13 years my family and I have driven north, past South East Queensland’s iconic ‘Glasshouse Mountains’. The annual summer beach holiday is our destination.

During winter, we collected one son from a camping expedition beside Somerset Dam. This time, we were driving home from the west. How amazingly different those prominent mountains looked from another side!

This observation made me think about one of the main objections individuals have against Christianity, and some of the most popular questions believers ask. If God is allloving and God is all-powerful, how can He cause painfully agonizing situations? Or, why does God permit conflict, hurts, accidents, and disease? And, why does God allow so many innocent people to die in wars or earthquakes, from famine or abuse or neglect…?

by tragedies. Almost daily we hear of planes crashing, multiple family murders, ships sinking, or townships being bombed.

Conceivably it is suffering at an individual level which disturbs all of us to some extent. Sickness, bereavement, business collapse, broken promises, youth suicide, financial bankruptcy, cyber-bullying and the list goes on.

Of course, theologians and philosophers have wrestled for centuries over this theme. Notably, the Bible never addresses the issue of pain and suffering systematically.

From Genesis to Revelation we may read of various approaches. The Psalms are poignantly revealing.

From the perspective of mankind we seem full of questions blaming God for the evils of sorrow and pain. But looking at this problem from ‘another side’, what does an all-powerful, all-loving God desire Christians to learn about this topic?

What might painful circumstances teach me?

Whilst many will reject God during times of intense affliction and suffering, many people actually find God through hardship. And not only that, adversity often pulls believers into a deeper experience of God’s reality, mercy, compassion and love.

“I know the suffering and pain which sickness involves. I admit the misery and wretchedness which it often brings. But I cannot regard it as completely evil.” So states J.C. Ryle, the English Evangelical Anglican bishop1.

We certainly see plentiful evidence of suffering on a global scale. It is pervasive and often arbitrary.

Sorrow is no respecter of age, status, gender, culture or continent.

Local communities are affected

If, as Christ-followers, we are meant to echo Paul’s words, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28), instead of

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1 2

probing “How?” or “Why?” perhaps we could consider the “What?” inquiries.

Consequently, “Suffering-What’s in it for ME?” What are the benefits? What can I learn through phases of deep sorrow and despair?

As a Christian I need to remember that: •

Difficulties are part of life. They should not catch me unawares.

“People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.” (Job 5:7) “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:1213) Following Christ’s example is admirable. (1 Peter 2:20-21)

•

God is in Sovereign control.

“Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.” (2 Chronicles 20:6). “Who gave human beings their mouths?

Who makes them deaf or mute?

Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? ( Exodus 4:11) Trusting

J.C. Ryle Sickness (Sydney: Matthias Media 2005) H. Hurnard Mountains of Spices (USA: Tyndale 1977)

God is restorative. Fresh measures of His love and grace come as I surrender to God in complete humility throughout the trial God has purposed for me.

•

•

•

•

•

Waiting while enduring tribulations teaches me patience. “In acceptance lieth peace”2. “We count as blessed those who have persevered.

You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:11) God often uses our deepest pain as the launching pad for significant ministry. Developing empathy for others going through similar circumstances is valuable. God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) Bringing my problems to God is Scripture’s open invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. (Matthew 11:28) “Cast all your anxiety & cares upon Me, because you are my personal concern”. (1Peter 5:7) Questioning God is permissible. During times of calamity I can wrestle honestly with my doubts, while also embracing genuine faith in God (e.g. Job, Habakkuk, & Jesus).

God does not condemn me for asking tough questions.

•

•

God is involved in my suffering; God grieves too. God has suffered, and continues to hurt over the pain that arises from this fallen creation. Regarding the time of Noah, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of humanity was great on the earth… only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry … and it grieved him to his heart.” (Genesis 6:5-6) God experiences anguish today from being rejected by mankind, and heartache from seeing our terrible fate. He does not sit detached from our afflictions but shares them (Hebrews 4:15). “No one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.”

(Lamentations 3:31-33) Lamenting over misery and sinfulness is both acceptable and therapeutic. Many of the Psalms give permission to expose our souls (Psalm 5, 39, 44, 88, 89, 142) Jesus Himself wept. Jesus was indignant about the ravages of sin and death.

(John 11:36).

Incredible healing power comes into my life when I forgive those who have hurt me. “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10) Am I willing to intercede in prayer for ‘friends’ who have treated me unwisely and unjustly?

•

The Holy Spirit is always there beside me. Release from fear and anxiety is reassuring. “He will never leave me or forsake me” (Hebrews 13:5). “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Recalling God’s promises and past faithfulness is crucial.

•

Life is transitory. I’m not to get comfortable here on earth because I’m only passing through. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)

•

The power of bodily resurrection guarantees that everything will be all right in the end. God redeems our souls and resurrects our physical bodies; a reversal of death’s irreversibility! (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

•

God more than compensates for my suffering. Anguish is not part of God’s original created order. God’s justice means He has a passion to rescue the world from human evil and violence in order to create a world where everyone can flourish in safety and peace.

(Zephaniah 3) One day there will be a new heaven and earth where God will dwell with us and “He will wipe every tear ...

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelations 21:14)

The Almighty, Just, Suffering, Sovereign Lord loves with deep compassion, grace and mercy.

His wisdom allows, and even sends pain and suffering, not to cause us distress, but to benefit our heart, attitudes, mind, body, and soul for all eternity.

Suffering has valuable meaning and purpose.

QB.ORG.AU DEC 18/JAN 19 41

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Whether you are an employee, a boss, a parent, or a neighbour, you are a person of influence in your part of the world. Throughout the pages of Scripture, John Maxwell has assembled the time-tested and irrefutable biblical principles of leadership to equip and encourage leaders with his signature approach, including the 21 Laws of Leadership, the 21 Qualities of a Leader, biographical profiles, and hundreds of notes.

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A documentary by the Centre for Public Christianity, confronts the worst of what Christians have done - and also traces the origins of Western values like human rights, charity, humility, and non-violence back to the influence of Jesus. This is not the history we think we know.

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MOVIE REVIEW: NEW LIFE HERITAGE FILMS -

42 DEC 18/JAN 19 QB.ORG.AU

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From the innocence of a childhood friendship, through adolescent attraction, their love strengthens and grows. When life takes a turn neither of them expected, their entire future is called into question. NEW LIFE explores the ups and downs of life and love, showing us that in good times and bad, life can be approached with hope and the opportunity for something new.

LEGACIES THAT LAST

BY ANDREW MCCAFFERTY - THE TRAINING COLLABORATIVE

When we start a venture, following God’s leading, we often don’t know where it may go. I recently attended the funeral of a lady by the name of Dorothy Gibson. She lived a long life, 106 years in fact.

Dorothy never married and spent most of her working life alongside my Grandfather, Norman Nelson, as his assistant. My Grandfather, from Geelong in Victoria, came to Queensland in the 1930s to take on the position of Director of Christian Education for the Presbyterian Church. Attending the celebration of Dorothy’s life promoted me to re-read the book my Grandfather wrote about his time in service of the Church, “To help them find their feet.”

My Grandfather had a conviction that education and formation was more than just an academic process, or “book learning”. To that end he had a vision for young people to learn what he called “Christian citizenship”, in a community setting, where they could be active, engaging with the environment around them, learn how to form and build relationships, and be mentored by Christian leaders.

This lead him on a campaign to convince the Church to purchase a beachside property for a campsite

at Alexandra Headlands. In 1945 he successfully negotiated the purchase on behalf of the Church of 173 acres of land that became Alexandra Park campsite.

He would have been the first to say that he was just an ordinary man following God’s leading and vision. Thousands of people over the subsequent decades passed through the campsite where their lives were influenced positively as they encountered God and grew in their faith and ministry capacity.

I was struck as I read his account of ministry to young people of how he was always seeking to train leaders, and to find creative ways of engaging them with the gospel. He knew that while the message was constant the methods always needed to be reviewed and refreshed.

It is important for us to learn and be inspired from the past, and to see beyond their successes (lest we get stuck in believing that the answer is in the method) to WHY they were successful. At its peak, Dorothy Gibson was running a distance “Sunday school” for kids in regional Queensland with 1200 young people on their rolls. It was an innovative

and creative strategy in its day, with brilliant results. But it wouldn’t work the same way today.

So, what does ministering effectively look like for you in your context, as we come to end of the second decade of the 21st century? Our mission in the equipping and training agencies at QB is to journey alongside you to train you and pass on tools to help in your ministry endeavours. We want to help you think biblically and missionally and give you opportunities to learn the skills which you can employ in creative and innovative ways. Check out our programs!

When I look back on the leadership of my Grandfather, I can focus on the externals of what was achieved, but I think his most lasting legacy for me was not in the “what” but in the why and the how. He understood discipleship, what was needed to see people grow. He understood leadership and he understood people. And he implemented a strategy around these areas with lasting results. I can imagine him saying to me, and to us, go and do likewise.

QB.ORG.AU DEC 18/JAN 19 43

FUN ZONE WHERE IS THAT LITTLE PIGGY? Sir-Save-a-Lot the Baplink piggy bank is hiding somewhere in the magazine.

Can you find him? Congratulations! Congratulations! To all those who found Sir-Save-a-Lot hiding on page 6 (October/November 2018 Issue of The Qb Magazine).

REBUS PUZZLE

WORD SEARCH

Can you find the hidden Christmas Carol in the picture puzzles?

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

A:

A:

A:

For solutions, visit Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GaythorneOffice/

44 DEC 18/JAN 19 QB.ORG.AU

Advent Angel Baby Bethlehem Camel Donkey Family Flock Gift Gold Holiday

Immanuel Inn Jerusalem Jesus Joseph Joy Lights Magi Manger Mary Miracle

Myrrh Nativity Proclamation Prophecy Shepherds Stable Star Tinsel Worship Wreath

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.

WORD UNJUMBLE Christmas Unjumble the words relating to Christmas.

Then unjumble the red letters to answer the clue.

Clue: Who appeared to the shepherds?

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CHRISTMAS COMPETITION – WIN A $30 KOORONG VOUCHER We will randomly draw 3 (three) winners, who have correctly answered the clue to the Word Unjumble in this issue. Please either post (PO BOX 6166, Mitchelton QLD 4053) or email (marketing@qb.org.au) your full name, address and Clue Answer for your chance to win. Entries close at midnight (12pm) on the 15th January. The winners will receive a $30 Koorong Gift Voucher.

Name: Address:

Answer to the Word Unjumble: (Who appeared to the shepherds?)

QB.ORG.AU DEC 18/JAN 19 45

POSITIONS VACANT

IS SEEKING APPLICATIONS FOR A LEAD PASTOR Chancellor Park Community Church (cpcc. org.au) is seeking a Lead Pastor (starting at 4 days per week, looking to become full-time asap). Chancellor Park was planted in 1998 and meets in a school hall adjacent to the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. We are a community-based church with a multi-age congregation and are part of the Queensland Baptists. The position will start in 2019, working with the support of the associate team. We are looking for someone who has a passion for, and giftedness in leadership and teaching. The position will include sharing the teaching, pastoral care, and other general responsibilities involved in leading a church.

For further questions, please contact us at info@cpcc.org.au, or 0412 508 777 (Graham Kell)

CLEVELAND BAPTIST CHURCH (CBC) IS SEEKING APPLICATIONS FOR A SENIOR PASTOR We are looking for a Senior Lead Pastor who will work with us to implement our mission “To Be Followers of Jesus – Equipped, Empowered, and Sent to The Community” Where is CBC? CBC is a mid-sized Church located in Cleveland (QLD) 40 minutes east of Brisbane All expressions of interest can be directed to The Pastoral Search Committee Contact: Derek Millar Ph: 0437 345 898 Email: millarmtb@gmail.com

IS SEEKING A SENIOR PASTOR Vacancy from January 2019 Pastor (senior) Perth Baptist Church, WA For further details, contact: Dr Keith Bender chairperson, Pastoral Search Committee paagal@iinet.net.au

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Email details to qb@qb.org.au Or post to PO Box QB.ORG.AU DEC 18/JAN 19 6166 46 post Mitchelton Q 4051

POSITIONS VACANT

ACCOMMODATION BRISBANE: House available as a ministry for

ASSOCIATE PASTOR (YOUTH) AND COLLEGE PASTOR Glasshouse Country Baptist Church [GCBC] is looking for an Associate Pastor (Youth) and College Pastor (Glasshouse Christian College [GCC]).

The candidate will be employed three days per week as Associate Pastor (preaching and youth responsibilities) and two days per week (during term time) as part of the College Pastoral team of Glasshouse Christian College.

The Associate youth Pastor will be charged with the responsibility of encouraging the Christian faith in the young people of GCBC from Year 8 to Year 12.

If you are interested in this unique position, please ring Chris Johnson on 0400175601 or email for a pack at revchrisj@gmail.com.

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POSITION VACANT FULL-TIME SENIOR PASTOR Mount Isa Baptist Church is a bible-based church that aims to share Jesus’ message of hope with our local community and beyond.

As our Pastor embarks on his retirement in early 2019, our church is seeking a Godly leader who is committed to sound biblical teaching and pastoral care.

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