The voice of Queensland Baptists February 2012
The making of Moved Birthing new faith communities Don’t settle for less! Print post approved ISSN: 11323-7829 The Queensland Baptist - first published in 1890. This series Vol 10 Issue 1.
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Contents
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10
18
40
In this issue Comment: David Loder Speaking out: John Sweetman Baptisms Around the regions Milestones Intentional ministry series QB Convention 2012 Called home Salt Persecution brief Quotable quotes Reviews Fun zone Classifieds
05 06 08 09 14 16 23 35 35 36 41 44 45 46
QB partners The making of Moved (Global Interaction)
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QB ministries The case of the missing church (QB Archives) Camping with Australian Curriculum (QCCC) A brand new page (QB kids & their families) When I was a boy (QB Youth) Just one, brand new resolution (QB Women) Mission being accomplished (QBC) Birthing new faith communities (MTQ)
13 18 20 22 27 28 30
Articles Which wolf wins? Let’s lead by example A buried treasure All about Easter Don’t settle for less
34 38 39 40 42
Our cover: Marc Rader (Gymea Baptist & Morling College) was filmed on location in SE Asia for Global Interaction’s Moved, a multi-media package designed to highlight the centrality of mission to our faith. Full story appears on page 32.
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www.qb.com.au February 2012
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News, views & issues
From the Editor Isaiah 43:18-21 came to mind a couple of weeks ago as I was reflecting on last year’s events and the heartache that unfolded for so many Queenslanders: ‘Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert ... The people whom I formed for myself, will declare my praise.’ Captive in Babylon at the time, the Jews were dwelling on the good things that God had done in the past, and perhaps our view of last year isn’t quite so rosy. However, a core truth remains. Whatever our past year or so was like, God is ready to do a new thing in each of us; he just requires us to embrace it. So, I encourage you: tune in, and be aware about what God is doing in your life. I trust that you will enjoy this issue of The qb. Sue Peters (Just one, brand new resolution) is done with making lots of New Year’s resolutions and we are prompted to think about the way we handle our personal finances (Let’s lead by example). We look at the Person and work of the Holy Spirit (A buried treasure) and inner transformation (Don’t settle for less). And there’s more. Isn’t it comforting to know that we, as believers, are those people ‘whom God formed for himself’. What a blessing! Robynne Milne Editor
The qb is a member of the Australasian Religious Press Association, published bimonthly by Queensland Baptist Services Group in February, April, June, August, October and December. Editor: Robynne Milne Advertising: Emily Twible Design: Shell Graphix Print: Printcraft 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 and postal address. 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 Ph (07) 3354 5633 Fax (07) 3354 5646 Advertising rates are listed at www.qb.com.au - follow the links to qb magazine. 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.
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Comment
Loving God... BETTER Intentional Ministry
‘He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel’ (Psalm 103:7). We are often obsessed with the pursuit of new and better ways. At times, we become products of the last book we read or seminar we attended or speaker we heard. We ache for success – whatever that success means – fearing that to do less means settling for mediocrity. Mediocrity is neither satisfying nor fulfilling, and is not acceptable. Renewal is biblical. It is Jesus’ way of continually breathing new life into the church. So seminars, books, and speakers are not at all bad. We have much to learn from our brothers and sisters and their walk with God. The danger is, of course, in looking for a quick fix, a technique, or some sure-fire methodology that will bring significance to our endeavours and ensure that one day we, too, may be sought after as some knowledgeable person dispensing oodles of wisdom. A couple of our churches have, in sight of the preacher, a sign that reads, ‘Sir, we would see Jesus!’ That’s it, of course! We are followers of Jesus: we search for him and walk in his ways for us, not his ways for others. The great thing is knowing that God has chosen to reveal himself and his ways to his people. He always has. Moses and the people of Israel knew it. The early Church revelled in it. And so must we. Individually, we must always be ready for marching orders from the Lord. Where should I serve, how should I? We are no longer free agents. Churches too, are followers of Jesus. It is no more your church than mine and you have no right to dictate the terms and conditions for the church and neither do I. The Church belongs to the Lord and together we discern his ways and deeds for us to follow by grace, in faith. That’s our plan, to intentionally follow Jesus. Join us on the journey!
Ministry Matters: Convention 2012 We are so grateful to the Rockhampton Tabernacle for hosting our Convention this year! Geographically more central than Brisbane (though still a long way from Cooktown!) Convention is a great opportunity to celebrate together what the Lord is doing through Queensland Baptists. I am sure you won’t want to miss this exciting few days together. Finally… It has been a quieter start to the New Year compared to twelve months ago. We continue to pray for those who are still suffering the consequences of the floods and cyclones of a year ago. Thank you to the people and churches who have assisted those who needed, or still need, help. I wonder what this year will hold for us. The diary already looks busy and planning is well under way. We lay all of our plans at the feet of Jesus, knowing there is no better place to leave them, and we determine to focus on him. Have a fantastic 2012! David Loder General Superintendent, Queensland Baptists gs@qb.com.au
www.qb.com.au February 2012
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Speaking out
On Facebook Last year I was persuaded by some younger Christian leaders to enter the Facebook world. They thought it would be an opportunity for me to have further influence. Well I did it and I am still there, so it can’t be too bad. Here are a few of my posts over the last couple of months. You should be able to skim through them quickly. You can see that space is limited, which is probably a good thing for a verbose theological college lecturer!
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16 November 2011
30 November 2011
Jesus seemed to target the Sabbath for healing (John 5:16). I’m not sure whether he did it because this was specially God’s day or because he wanted to show the Jewish leaders that he was not bound by their finicky laws. God healed my blocked hearing on the Sunday before last. I wonder whether Jesus still chooses Sunday as a special day for healing.
I’m reading through John’s gospel at the moment. I’ve reached the point where a lot of Jesus’ followers find his confrontational approach too much and are leaving. On top of that, the religious leaders are trying to kill him and his family is telling him to ‘put up or shut up’ (John 6:61 onwards). Somehow that rejection I felt yesterday doesn’t seem quite as bad.
17 November 2011
3 December 2011
My friends are divided on retirement. Some are looking forward to retirement as an opportunity to lessen the pace (a little) and re-prioritise their lives towards their gifts and calling and interests and God-given passions. Others are sceptical of retirement, wanting to maximise their contribution for as long as possible. I’m in the latter camp at the moment.
I’m really not into cute sayings. I’m far too left-brained. But I saw one on a sign this week and smiled: ‘If God has a fridge, you’re on it.’ Don’t know why I liked it. Maybe it’s because our fridge is covered with magnets. Maybe it’s that, in the middle of the seriousness and stress of life, I do have a God who deeply loves me no matter what I do and who thinks I’m pretty special.
29 November 2011
8 December 2011
I went to two church services on Sunday night and I was preaching at neither (pretty spiritual hey!). One was our own Life Point service at St Lucia - 40 people in a lecture theatre. The other was the second evening service at Bridgeman with 400+ people where my niece was being baptised. Both had passionate young adults. Both had good worship and strong preachers. Both have a heart for God and mission. But they were very different. We need both types of churches.
I was reading an article in Christianity Today this week about intimacy with God. The thrust of the article was that we tend to overestimate the intimacy we can have with God while on earth. If this is true, it leaves us feeling guilty and somewhat frustrated. I wonder whether most of us actually feel the intimacy with God that our songs suggest that we feel. If not, it could be our secularism and slackness but it could also just be our humanity.
February 2012 www.qb.com.au
Speaking out
John Sweetman Principal, Malyon College John.sweetman@malyon.edu.au Please pray for John as he and the Malyon team are involved in influencing and developing a new generation of leaders. You are welcome to become a friend of John on Facebook. He accepts everyone.
10 December 2011
31 December 2011
I think we need to be careful about Christian heroes. It’s great to have people and stories that inspire us. We need that. But I don’t think they’re meant to be models. For example, George Muller was a man of incredible faith and prayer. What an inspiration! What a God! But I’m not supposed to pray like Muller. He was a one-off. God has made me very different. If I don’t get this, I will end up feeling very inadequate and guilty.
Reading my new Complete History of the World book (a Christmas present), I’ve found out that world history is basically a history of fighting. If you wanted to build a better culture and live a better lifestyle, you needed more resources and the only way you got more resources (at least until recently) was by pinching them from others. Most people don’t readily give up their resources, hence the fighting. Have I got this right? Surely this is not what God intended.
12 December 2011
2 January 2012
Tom Wright: ‘Christmas is not a reminder that the world is really quite a nice place. It reminds us that the world is a shockingly bad old place... Christmas is God lighting a candle; and you don’t light a candle in a room that’s already full of sunlight. You light a candle in a room that’s murky.’
2012 is now a day old. I’m working on a sermon on Jesus’ raising of Lazarus after being dead for four days (John 11). Lazarus’ sisters were full of faith in Jesus, but they had no idea he could do this. After 58 years, it’s easy for me to think that 2012 will be just another ‘same-as’ year. Maybe. But God is not a ‘same-as’ God. It’s time to listen to God and believe again.
John 12:46: ‘I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.’
14 December 2011
4 January 2012
It’s easy to put Christian leaders on a pedestal. If God has used them to achieve so much, they must be pretty special. It’s just not true. The lives of leaders in the Bible tell us that. The Christian leaders you know are probably just as broken and fallible as you. Yes, we respect them. Yes, we follow them. Yes, we pray for them. But we mustn’t put them on a pedestal. They’re too human.
I was listening to a few old songs by Keith Green yesterday and felt a wave of nostalgia sweep over me. It reminded me of the youthful days of passion, faith, and serving the Lord without distractions (including Uni study, much to my parents chagrin). ‘What can be done for an old heart like mine? Soften it up with oil and wine. The oil is you, your Spirit of love. Please wash me anew with the wine of your blood’ (Keith Green).
24 December 2011
BACK TO BROOKFIELD Well here we go, it’s Christmas Eve. More Australians will hear about Jesus in the next few days than at any other time of the year. May the one who came to open eyes, quench thirst, and bring hope, do so in his world again.
In October, Malyon College will be hosting the first ever BACK TO BROOKFIELD event. Did YOU or anyone you know attend Queensland Baptist College of Ministries at any time from 1904 – 2003? We’d love to hear from you. Do you have some stories or recollections? Photos? Old records or assignments? Please let us know – contact Peter Francis at peter.francis@malyon. edu.au and WATCH THIS SPACE!
Baptisms Prayer Ministry Training Course Provides valuable keys of understanding which enable people to:
Image: Kelly Bolt is baptised by Gracemere Baptist Church elder, Peter Barton
Please pray for those baptised in all of our churches around Queensland, including:
+ identify the reasons behind life’s difficulties + understand the actions and reactions of themselves and others + make choices to ensure lasting change + become equipped through the power of the Holy Spirit to help others
Equipping through the power of the Cross the Spirit and the Word to heal and restore.
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Bribie Island Cheryl Henderson Craig Kilo Jill Kirk Sarah Knight Leon Van Lieshout Joungae Yoo
Gladstone Amy Eborn Casey Flynn Matthew Gregory Bryony Loveday Brooke Osmonde Mandy Ruge
City Tabernacle Alireza Haddadi Marjan Jahangiri
Gracemere Kelly Bolt
Cleveland Terell Coleman Aaron Forbes Taylah Hunn Gateway Elliot Plumpton Amanda Stanton
info@elijahhouse.com.au
TESOL Training Centre, Windsor Road Baptist Church, Red Hill, Brisbane e:admin@interculturaltraining.com.au
TESOL Training Centre, Windsor Road Baptist Church, Red Hill, Brisbane e:admin@interculturaltraining.com.au
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February 2012 www.qb.com.au
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2012 Semester 1 Dates & Modes: • Intensive Course - (4 wks F/T): • 27 Jan - 24 Feb + Assessment • Day Course - Semi Intensive: • 19 March - 4 May + Assessment • Night Course - Part time: • 2 March – 29 May + Assessment For residential options, other training locations and dates for TEAM (Teaching English as Ministry) days visit our website.
ITA Qld training rooms - Windsor Road Baptist Church RED HILL BRISBANE For more information or enrolment packages please contact Juanita Anderson P 07 3369 1296 M 0438 273 954 admin@itateach.com www.itateach.com
Around the regions
It’s all happening! Just before Christmas, Pastor Adrian Iles (Agnes Water Baptist Church) wrote: ‘It’s all happening here today. There’s a slasher out the back getting (the grounds) ready for our Christmas SU Camp, 21 young mums with 26 children will be exercising on our church grounds from 9:30 to 10:30 and there are eight men building the Men’s Shed! I am so pleased to see the community on-site for all sorts of reasons!’ Adrian continued: ‘Our on-site “Agnes Water/1770 Dinky Di Community Men’s Shed” is making brilliant progress! Praise God! ‘The local Agnes Water community is hurting. Many locals settle here to escape the past but, over time, they discover that you can only fish and surf so many times before the days seem awfully long. Substance abuse and alcoholism add to the mix, increasing the incidence of depression particularly among our male population. Sadly, sometimes suicide ensues. ‘The whole concept began as we prayed for some direction about which outreach ministries we should expand. The local Gladstone Regional Council Community Support Worker approached the church with a suggestion to establish a Community Men’s Shed. A committee was formed and possible sites were explored. After some discussion, the church agreed to host the venture. A Memorandum of Agreement was mutually designed and the site selected. Various grant applications were submitted without success; fundraising and much prayer from the church followed and we had a wonderful outcome — the local RSL sub-branch agreed to donate the cost of the 15 m x 8 m shed kit! ‘The earthworks began less than 12 months from the formation of the committee. Local businesses have been consistently generous in their support. The Shed construction is well under way. Local men who would normally refuse to come onto the church grounds are here working shoulder to shoulder. There are great opportunities for ministry when my wife and I provide lunches and morning tea and chat with them. Only God knows where this will lead —we expect an increasing impact on our local community for good and for God. ‘Please pray for us, and with us ... there is huge potential when God opens doors!’
Image: Agnes Water/1770 Dinky Di Community Men’s Shed - construction in progress
Sharing God’s love with elderly people The Leichhardt Baptist Entertainers spend most Tuesday mornings visiting aged care facilities in the Ipswich area to present programs for the residents. The original group started in 2001 visiting three homes to present one program a month including: a singalong, poems, amusing stories, vocal items, piano solos and duets. It was not long before the group (now eight ladies and two men) was being asked to visit other homes and Day Respite Centres. As a result, they now visit seventeen facilities two or three times each year. They have not advertised their availability; their ‘fame’ has been spread by diversional therapists at their regional meetings. The group always receives good feedback from their audiences who look forward to the next program. The group prays that they are sharing God’s love with the elderly who are sometimes lonely. They count it a joy to be able to bring some pleasure into the lives of the aged care residents and clients.
www.qb.com.au February 2012
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Around the regions
Challenges on the road ahead David Leth (Kenmore Baptist Church) writes: ‘In April ‘09 I met Shaun Matheson (Matho). He was trying to start a chapter of the Black Sheep ministry in Australia. Soon after, we went for a ride and later, over coffee, Matho described what he was trying to achieve and it dovetailed with where I believed God was taking me. God’s timing is impeccable. At our meeting, Matho asked me to come on board as chaplain and help set up Black Sheep. ‘Some background information will be helpful. There was no intent or plan to start a ministry, let alone a national or international one. A few friends from a church known as The Lamb’s Fellowship (in Murrieta, California USA) began riding together. They spoke of designing a patch and coming up with a name. Because they were members of The Lamb’s Fellowship, this small group of Harley riders was often teased for being the “black sheep” of the congregation. The name not only stuck, but seemed to make perfect sense in light of Biblical passages which described Christians as outcasts, aliens and foreigners. Black Sheep Motorcycle Ministries was born out of a burden and vision to take the Gospel where it was not well known. ‘Now twelve years later, Black Sheep Motorcycle Ministries is powering along and has expanded across the USA and into five other countries. Black Sheep is not a club; it is a ministry focusing on HOG (Harley Owners’ Group). HOG has over one million members worldwide including many here in Australia. There are also many other Harley riders not in a HOG club. Black Sheep is very much a friendship based ministry — simply being there when help is needed. This can include: caring for sick and injured riders; raising funds for worthy causes; serving alongside HOG members and chapters;
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February 2012 www.qb.com.au
and conducting weddings, bike blessings and funerals. ‘While some groups are ministering to ‘outlaw bikers’, ministering in prisons and serving the greater motorcycle community, currently there is no other organised group in Australia ministering to this specific area of the bike community, so it has been largely unreached by the wider Christian community. We officially launched the ministry here in Australia in 2009 with the help of Black Sheep ministry leaders from the USA including the founder, Marty Edwards. We went on a 12 day ride from Brisbane to Sydney and back, doing various ministry activities along the way. ‘When Matho asked me to get involved, I remember thinking, “God is taking me way, way outside of my comfort zone here and it will only work if I let him have control”. Then, last November, during one of Kenmore Baptist’s morning services, the leadership baton was passed from Matho to me. So, now I am heading up the Black Sheep ministry here in Australia. For someone like me who is content to be ministering in the background, this is a huge challenge, but I’m excited to see where God will lead me and this ministry.’ More information is available from David (Lethy) at lethy@blacksheephdfc.org or visit www.blacksheephdfc.org.
Images: David (Lethy) (top) Leadership baton passes to Lethy (right)
Around the regions
Carols in the City Carols in the City provides a fantastic opportunity for God’s people to demonstrate their sense of community while communicating the gospel message. Christmas 2011 marked the 6th annual mobilisation by the City Tabernacle Baptist Church for this Christian witness with, and to, the Brisbane community. It’s very much an expression of faith and perseverance that begins early in the year with a pivotal core group that expands to be an army of fellow workers who step out, beyond themselves, to show a capacity not for words only, but for actions in response to God’s grace. True to the image in Scripture, all parts of the body of Christ working together (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) are seen in the event and in the crucial preparation, set up and follow up.
EPIC lends a hand
Sustained prayer precedes all preparations, matched by a desire to honour God in offering the very best efforts. Whether it is obtaining sponsorships, negotiating programming, coordinating volunteers, bringing together donations of goods and trades skills, plus a myriad of other activities - every task is an opportunity to demonstrate the reality of lives transformed by relationship with a present God. Praise God for setting aside people with the willingness and skills to be at the forefront of this team effort by the City Tabernacle Baptist Church, together with many others. Some comments … ‘I don’t have any trouble getting anyone for this job; they are all lining up to come’ (TV Production Manager). ‘I love coming because we are not looked after at any other performance like we are here at Carols’ (A regular carols performer). ‘It’s a joy to serve our Lord in this way ... to be able to allow the Gospel to be presented to the city of Brisbane through Carols in the City’ (Glenys Ivett, expressing the motivations of the church family). ‘God has given us an opportunity that only he could have orchestrated. We pray that he alone will receive the praise’ (Carols ‘driving force’, Wendy Francis). Rain has often been an added dynamic at Carols in the City. While the showers held off during the presentation, the night of 10 December 2011 was no exception. Perhaps the rain brings home to people the awesomeness of God and his power to touch each one with his blessings from above.
Recently a team of 30 from the Keperra Baptist Youth Group known as EPIC (Everyone Perfect In Christ) headed out to Chinchilla for a weekend of mission. Almost a year ago, flooding had affected the town and destroyed homes and community buildings. The EPIC crew went out there to lend a hand; to fix up some of the damage and also to bring Christ’s light to the community. On the Saturday, the crew was split into three teams. The first team was sent to the local Scout Hall and the other two teams went out to two houses that needed repair. The day was spent getting hands dirty - painting, sanding, sorting, fixing and eating lots of Chinchilla watermelon! It was great to be able to spend the day in the community and share it with the locals who were surprised that a bunch of kids would spend their weekend helping others. EPIC also led the service at the Chinchilla Christian Outreach Centre by leading worship and communion. A week before the team headed out, Keperra church gave a love offering at their Sunday services which the EPIC crew was able to pass on to those in Chinchilla who had done it tough.
Please pray that the gospel message will continue to shine long after the event. Our desire is that however people celebrate Christmas, they might start with Christ. Hamish Pietersz, City Tabernacle Baptist Church Image: Plenty to do before the big event - The crowds arrive.
www.qb.com.au February 2012
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Around the regions
Inspiring Women Ann Beu, Maryborough Baptist Church writes: ‘Approximately 70 women gathered in the church hall in November for an afternoon of activities aimed at ‘Inspiring Women – to cope with Christmas’. ‘There were refreshing tropical cocktails available on arrival, cooking demonstrations to take the stress out of deciding what to serve during the festive season, and a singing and trumpet-playing entertainer. Guest speaker, Gwen Lewis, former missionary, pastor and now prison chaplain, inspired those present to ask God to help take the stress out of the busy season and find Christmas in the heart; not just under the Christmas tree. ‘The local gospel bookshop’s stall was packed with great gifts and two young mums displayed their hand-made jewellery and children’s clothes for sale. The beautiful afternoon tea featured ribbon sandwiches, smoked salmon tarts, cheese balls, pecan caramel tarts and a quick, easy-to-make Christmas cake – all of which were featured on the recipe sheet included in a ‘Survival Kit’. Each lady received a kit which also contained: a pen to help her list her blessings, a rubber band to remind her to be flexible, and a tea bag to help her to relax and enjoy all God’s gifts. The cocktails and afternoon tea were served by two handsome men who continued to smile throughout! The very enjoyable afternoon was the work of an energetic committee of three — Sharon Berry, Janet Thornthwaite and Gwen Lewis, together with several hardworking cooks.’
Images (top to bottom): L to R Janet Thornthwaite and Gwen Lewis (speaker), Yummy pecan tartlets, the survival kits in their bags, L to R Neville Quarmby and Mark Thornthwaite.
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February 2012 www.qb.com.au
Loving like Jesus The song says, ‘All we need is love, love, love’. If all we need is love, then why do we see so much hate, jealousy, bullying, violence, greed, isolation and shame in our world? On 17 March, ‘Women of Purpose’ will address this question by presenting a series on Shameless Love. Gillian Davis returns as our keynote speaker, teaching from the book of Romans on Courageous Love in a Hostile World. The afternoon sessions will introduce Ellie Scott who will guide us through the confronting book of Hosea, speaking about Shameless Faithfulness and Shameless Intimacy. ‘Women of Purpose’ is a day of Bible teaching for women, by women, hosted by City North Baptist Church. Registration includes all sessions, morning tea and lunch. Delegates can browse at the bookstall (credit card facilities available), and there will be a cry room for nursing mothers. Unfortunately, babysitting is not available. Early bird rates are $30 ($25 student/ concession) for registrations received by 26 February. Fees then increase by $5 and registrations close on 12 March. Register now at www. citynorthbaptist.com.au or phone 3256 4822, or email wop@ citynorthbaptist.com to receive promotional materials. The church is located at 52 Yiada Street, Kedron. For those who cannot attend, the sessions will be available to download, free of charge, from the City North Baptist Church website.
QB archives
ARCHIVES The case of the missing church In 1866, there was another discovery of gold in the Rockhampton district – this time about 20 kms south-west of the city— at Crocodile Creek (now Bouldercombe). It attracted a huge rush – the population quickly jumped to at least 2000, including many Chinese and Germans. The Baptist church in Rockhampton, then only four years old, had been planning an outstation on the north side of the Fitzroy River but decided that the throngs of people at the new gold field were more important. So, in September 1866, they erected a church right in the middle of the diggings and conducted regular services. Other denominations used it as well. But it was a rollercoaster ride for the church’s ministry – the wet season and ethnic riots soon brought on an exodus of European miners, so services were suspended. They revived again later, but within three years it was all over - the rush ended. Not only had the people moved on, but, as the Minutes of the Rockhampton church reported, ‘Not a vestige of the church building at Crocodile Creek Diggings is now to be seen’. Apparently, when the diggings were abandoned, someone had included the church in the buildings which were removed for re-use at some unknown location. This was not the only building in the region that was recycled – in the 1920s, an outstation of Mount Morgan was moved 40 kms away where it is still in use as a Catholic church! Some are used by other denominations and others for secular purposes. These are some of the interesting stories about church planting in the 150 year history of Baptist witness in Central Queensland to be launched at the QB Convention in Rockhampton on 18 May. The book, produced by Baptist Heritage Qld (BHQ) is called, Something more than Gold. It will be more than 200 pages in length with many illustrations and maps. Advance orders can be placed at archives@qb.com.au or by phoning 3376 4339. In addition to the book, BHQ has prepared a guide to more than 30 baptist heritage sites in Rockhamptom and nearby which is available on request.
Honour Board stars in exhibition The Honour Board from the Jireh Baptist Church has previously featured in these pages (QB December 2009, page 41). The board has had an interesting history since the closure of the Jireh church in 1978. At one stage, the ‘Queensland Remembers’ volunteers of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee were located at the Voyager Centre in the historical precinct of the Kedron-Wavell RSL Club. One of the volunteers noticed a large World War I Honour Board, stored in a cupboard. Apparently, following the fire at the Jireh Baptist Church after its closure, this Honour Board had been taken to a dump. It was discovered there in pieces, rescued and given to the Kedron-Wavell RSL. The RSL then gave it to the Woodworkers’ Group which was also located at the Voyager Centre. The woodworkers offered the Honour Board to the ‘Queensland Remembers’ Project as they were reluctant to use the wood for other purposes. As a couple of the woodworkers were Returned Servicemen, this perhaps explains their reluctance. When the ‘Queensland Remembers’ Project moved to the National Storage Sheds at Aspley, there was a shortage of space and it was suggested that the Baptist Church be contacted so see if they would like to have it. The offer was accepted and the Honour Board was passed on to the Baptist Church Archives. In November 2011 the Honour Board was returned to the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee, on loan, to become an important part of the 2011 Remembrance Day Display in the foyer of the Executive Building in George Street. Before it was displayed the board was restored to its original condition. It was an impressive part of the Remembrance Day exhibition. The Baptist Archives archives@qb.com.au Phone 07 3878 3178, 07 3354 5642, 07 3256 8897 Mail The Baptist Archives, QB Centre, PO Box 6166, Mitchelton Q 4053
Image: (top left) Former Baree Baptist Church - an outstation of Mount Morgan Baptist Church - erected 1912 - sold 1925 and removed to Wowan – now St Anne’s Roman Catholic Church.
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Milestones
The church of the
Living God
Recently, Daryl Rossow, the Senior Pastor of Silkstone Baptist Church preached a seven week series, The Church of the Living God, based on God’s word to the church at Ephesus. The series title was derived from 1 Timothy 3:15 and its aim was to help position the church to celebrate its centenary this year, and be ready to move into the future. The centenary will be an opportunity for the congregation to reflect on the past (both the highs and the lows), to give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, to celebrate God’s work among them, and to seek God for his future plans for them. Over the past 100 years, people, pastors, and ministries have come and gone. Generations have worshipped and served in the church and have been impacted by the Gospel. Do the Scriptures have anything to say to a church that has been around for a good while? Is there a church in the New Testament that had input from Christ over an extended period of time? Yes there is! The church at Ephesus had its beginnings in Acts 18-19 (about 52-55AD). The Apostle Paul had a word for its elders in Acts 20 (about 57 AD) and then wrote to the church in Ephesus (about 61 AD). Later he wrote to Timothy on two occasions, providing instruction to help his ministry at Ephesus (about 64 AD and 67 AD). Lastly, Christ addressed a short letter to the church in Revelation 2 (about 95 AD). So we can follow the life and times of the church at Ephesus over a period of about 43 years. The church in Ephesus really commenced with Paul’s ministry in Acts 19, although there had been some preliminary seed sown in Acts 18:19-21. As usual, Paul preached to the Jewish community first, in the synagogue, until they had heard enough. Then, for the next two years, he discipled the people using a hired lecture hall. The foundation he laid during this time bore fruit, and before long all in the region heard the Gospel (Acts 19:10). The Acts account includes miracles through Paul and instances of people set free from demonic influences. The whole city was impacted as a number of the businesses in the city lost trade after converted Christians no longer bought their products. Lives were changed. The Church was powering on. And at this point, Paul, their dynamic leader, left to be involved in ministry elsewhere. There is not enough space in this article to ‘flesh out’ God’s words to the church at Ephesus subsequent to Paul’s departure, or discuss how they should be applied in the local church situation. However, the following
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Milestones
‘words of instruction’ were considered in the series and perhaps they are relevant to any church, at any stage: 1. 2. 3. 4.
The church is always God’s church – not ours (Acts 20) The word of God’s grace is to be central (Acts 20) God’s people are to be set apart for him (Acts 20) God always has more – never think you have arrived (Ephesians) 5. Expect a spiritual battle and fight it with spiritual weapons (Ephesians) 6. Unity is not optional (Ephesians) 7. Become ‘the house of prayer ...’ (1 Timothy) 8. Pursue godliness (1 Timothy) 9. Endure to the completion of your calling (2 Timothy) 10. The Scriptures are there to equip us – apply them (2 Timothy) 11. Remember, you too have been saved by grace – you are no better than anyone else (Revelation 2) 12. Be the ones who overcome (Revelation 2) 13. With God, there is always a way back (Revelation 2 & Joel 2). ‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen’ (Ephesians 3:20-21).
The Gin Gin Baptist Fellowship is celebrating 30 years of service at 6 English Street and 51 years of service in the Gin Gin area on 1 April 2012 at 10:30 am. Items by the Bundaberg Festival of Male Voice Praise. Speaker is Pastor Al Loder of the Bundaberg Baptist Church. All welcome. There will be a fellowship lunch after the service.
Copies of this sermon series are available on CD or DVD. Please contact Pastor Daryl Rossow at the Church Office, ph: 3812 3033 or mob: 0417355283 or email pastordjr@yahoo.com.au.
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Intentional ministry series
Intentional ministry series
God’s way of doing things David Loder, QB General Superintendent, introduces this series, ‘Loving others – better: Intentional ministry’, which is the theme for Queensland Baptists in 2012. More articles will appear in future issues. ‘Higher, deeper, better, wider’ Four key words that outline Queensland Baptists’ pattern for functioning as God’s people: higher – encountering God; deeper – imitating Jesus; better – intentional ministry, and wider – extending God’s Kingdom. All are necessary, all the time, for churches and individuals. Each year we focus on one aspect and this year our emphasis is on Intentional Ministry; doing things with purpose, focus and planning. Planning involves careful preparation and equipping for what we are about to embark upon. The QB Board defined this year’s activity in the following terms: ‘Building on our encounter with God and aligning ourselves with Christ, we will minister better by reflecting on our purpose, evaluating our ministry and actively responding to our context and aligning all three.’ Another approach is to consider the following inspirational statements. Queensland Baptists will • equip every person for effective ministry • continue to evaluate our ministries for effectiveness and efficiency • structure so as to be more releasing of ministry through the local church. It’s neither dramatic nor innovative. It is getting back to basics. It is what the Bible instructs us to do. It’s God’s way of doing things. 16
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Church history and our history continually make reference to men and women who made a difference for God in the world in which they lived. These were men and women who knew what it was to walk closely with God. The closer they walked with him, the greater they realised he was, and the greater the recognition, the greater the worship that resulted. Living in the presence of a Holy God demands we become more like our Saviour. And in fact we are – not through human effort, but by the grace of our Lord Jesus. Jesus deserves the best, not only of my person but of my ministry as well. People who know God, by their very presence, make a difference to their world. Churches are the same. Movements of the Spirit of God have resulted from people refusing to accept the status quo. They have submitted to God, in an intense way, through prayer and ministry, and the result has always been a great impact on others around them. Queensland Baptists, it’s time we were more deliberate in our faith! It will mean moving out of our comfort zone. It will mean taking God seriously. It will mean change. It will mean shifting our focus from ourselves to the Lord Jesus and a needy world. Throughout the year, we want to assist pastors and churches in this direction. We will be offering workshops around the State and at Convention. Also, keep an eye out for QB articles and other resources to assist you in this aspect of your discipleship. I understand that it was Daniel Iverson, a Presbyterian minister, who penned the words in 1935 that we have sung from time to time: ‘Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me, Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me ...’ The process is clear: higher, deeper, better, wider, melt, mould, fill, and use. I urge you to join us on this journey towards being better and doing things better for Jesus!
Intentional ministry series
“
The best explanation of the Gospel is a community of men and women who believe it and live by it
”
Lesslie Newbigin
Intentional community Andrew Grant, Director of Camping, Queensland Conference & Camping Centres (QCCC) shares his thoughts on QCCC’s vision for excellence through intentional community. Just over two years ago my family and I drove through drought stricken plains, leaving western NSW to begin a new life in lush, green Mapleton. In our rear view mirror were fifteen years living and working in missional community in several rural towns. Ahead was a new life as Director of Camping with QCCC – a role with a clear mandate to further the ministry of Queensland Baptists through camping to 50,000 guests annually. So what does intentionality look like in QCCC? QCCC exists to create life-changing experiences through excellence in hospitality, service and teaching – and each of these points of excellence needs to be pursued through intentional community. The foundation of everything we do is our various and interlocking communities of staff: the vital close-knit community of our management team, the community of the staff body at each of our three venues and, within each site, communities that are formed from departments (e.g. activity instructors or hospitality staff). Finally, there is the community of staff living on-site at our venues. Our staff communities are essential to excellence in hospitality because we are inviting people to join in the ongoing life of our community. We are working towards intentional missional community that has a culture and relationships that make the following quote self-evident: ‘The best explanation of the Gospel is a community of men and women who believe it and live by it’ (Lesslie Newbigin). The second community informing our ministry is one of proximity, particularly through service. One of the strengths of camping is that it’s not an orthodox setting. It’s precisely because people come away from ‘normality’ that camping is able to do its best work. Going on camp breaks down boundaries and the normal dynamics of groups. When a group comes away on camp they ‘do life’ together for a concentrated period of time – learning, laughing, playing, eating and sleeping. Activities and programs are also key components of the experience. Each year QCCC hosts more than 700 different groups and this brings huge diversity to our sites. Be it a prayer retreat, such as The Walk to Emmaus, a school camp seeing the sights and
attractions of Brisbane, a craft weekend or a church camp, we have to be intuitive to the differing needs of each guest group. Our aim is to create a partnership with each so that we enhance their time away and bless each participant, practically. Good service is like good refereeing. If we’ve done our job, people will remember the game (or, in our case, the high points of the camp) rather than the errors. Finally we’re a teaching community. Michael Frost’s most recent book, ‘The Road to Missional’, provides food for thought about the methodology of teaching and evangelism. He quotes Brian McLaren’s description of the difference between modernist and post-modern approaches to evangelical method: ‘Out: Evangelism as sales pitch, as conquest, as warfare, as ultimatum, as threat, as proof, as argument, as entertainment, as show, as monologue, as something you have to do. In: Disciple-making as conversation, as friendship, as influence, as invitation, as companionship, as challenge, as opportunity, as dance, as something you get to do.’ A great deal of the program and activity provision in camping fits the description of ‘conversation, friendship, influence, companionship, challenge and opportunity’. Elsewhere in this issue, I have outlined how the introduction of a Australian Curriculum is opening up huge opportunities for us to pursue all of these things within our camping programs. Intentionality for QCCC is about being sure of our role as agents of the Kingdom of Heaven. Our goal is to see God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven. Elsewhere in ‘The Road to Missional’ Frost observes: ‘It is impossible to separate the announcement of God’s reign from its demonstration. They are so intertwined it should be considered foolish even to try to unravel them.’ Our culture will need to be one that takes seriously God’s reign in our lives and world and models it to our guests. Our journey towards being an intentional and incarnational community means that our witness will only resonate with others when our actions speak as loudly as our words. www.qccc.com.au www.qb.com.au February 2012
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QCCC Bunya Tree
Some schools have been coming to QCCC’s facilities for more than twenty-five years, and over that time we’ve built up great relationships with their teachers. During 2011 it became noticeable that teachers were feeling the pinch as the introduction of a national Australian Curriculum loomed in 2012. From Term One, Australia will start to come under a standardised school curriculum, beginning with English, Maths, and Science, with additional subjects rolled out until all Australian schools and students are on the same page. The Australian Curriculum sets out the core knowledge and skills that are important for all students and identifies what young people should learn as they progress through school. Schools will need to demonstrate that they are meeting the core outcomes of the Australian Curriculum. There are particular emphases on the cross-curriculum priorities of indigenous culture and heritage, Australia’s connection with Asia and environmental sustainability. As we watched teachers grappling with this new curriculum and talked to them, it became increasingly obvious that a massive opportunity exists for QCCC’s camping ministry to schools. QCCC is already one of the leading providers of quality school programs in Queensland, and we must continually improve so that we remain at the forefront of the industry. Our future lies in providing camps and programs that help schools achieve the outcomes expected of them in the Australian Curriculum. Internet and social media has profoundly impacted expectations and teaching methods. American educator Tim Elmore in his book Generation iY sums it up well: ‘If we want to be heard, we must engage Generation iYs’ interest with an experience that captures their imagination. They want to do or see something. They want action and interaction. So instead of asking, “What do I want to say?” we should ask ourselves, “How can I say it creatively and experientially?”’
Camping with the Australian Curriculum 18
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QCCC Camping and Outdoor Education programs are ideally placed to convey information memorably, creatively and experientially. Our goal is to establish a facility at each of our three sites that is unique, memorable and remarkable. One of the best current examples of this is the excellent Emu Gully facility near Helidon that specialises in leadership camps around an ANZAC theme. Our strategy is not to copy their approach, but to find our own niche. Here are our long-term plans to build camping programs and facilities at each of our sites to transform the camping experience for school groups, and others:
QCCC
Leadership Studio at Muskoka Woods
Mapleton – Team Initiatives Island (we are liaising with the local indigenous community about an appropriate name for the facility): Mapleton primarily caters to school camps at the upper Primary level and has a particular focus on outdoor education. We will develop a team initiatives and teamwork facility built around the Australian Curriculum. It will teach Australian history (including the motivations for the many Christians who have influenced the national story), geography, and will also have strong emphases on the cross-curriculum priorities of Aboriginal Australia, our connections with Asia, and environmental sustainability. One of the first Acts of the Queensland Parliament in 1860 was to overturn the Bunya Proclamation - legislation passed in 1842 that made the Sunshine Coast area the world’s first national park and a reserve for the indigenous population. Nearly 150 years later, a Prime Minister, who grew up in nearby Nambour, made a landmark speech of apology for the injustices meted out to Australia’s indigenous population in general. Before colonisation, the Mapleton/Montville area hosted one of the largest festivals on the continent – the tri-annual Bunya Nut Festival. It was a place of enrichment and celebration; a place to exchange songs, stories, tools and ornaments, for marriages to be arranged, and conflicts resolved. We want our island to have a similar intent - a beacon of reconciliation and the restoration mandate of God’s Kingdom. Mapleton is a very appropriate and strategic location for this to take place. Brookfield – Leadership Studio: Brookfield’s up-market accommodation and proximity to Brisbane means it is sought after for schools visiting Brisbane for cultural and historical trips, leadership camps, and music and spiritual retreats. Our plan for Brookfield is to establish a Leadership Studio in the area that hosted the McConaghy Library when the property was the Baptist Theological College. The Leadership Studio idea is inspired by a similar concept at Muskoka Woods in Canada. They have an impressive facility that enjoys a fruitful ministry to high school students with amazing results and outcomes. Our own Leadership Studio will share the same DNA as Mapleton’s island, with a focus
on the Australian narrative and on character-driven leadership leveraged toward high school groups. Tamborine – Hospitality Studio: The glorious grounds at Tamborine are a favourite for retreat groups. A Hospitality Studio would cater perfectly to a range of camps at Tamborine. This would be a residential hospitality training studio. The success of programs like MasterChef shows adults and youth hold a passion for cooking and catering. Consisting of 20-24 workstations for cooking instruction and several eating areas, the aim of the Hospitality Studio would be to train participants in holistic health through healthy eating, basic cooking skills and artful hospitality. This facility will provide MasterChef themed camps for schools in upper primary and lower secondary, as well as camps and events focussed on missional hospitality for church groups on weekends.
Concept drawings of hospitality studio
Each of these projects is bold in scope with the potential to make a profound and memorable impact on many people. Some of the projects require significant resourcing. We are addressing that need by applying for government, philanthropic and corporate grants and donations from people and organisations who believe in the potential of the projects. In the short term, we aim to develop the programs and content first; bricks and mortar can come later as financial resources are obtained. If you are interested in finding out more about these projects, or want to be kept up to date via a regular prayer communiqué, please email me. Andrew Grant andrew.grant@qccc.com.au Director of Camping - Queensland Conference and Camping Centres
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QB kids & their families
A brand new page We can all imagine the look and feel of the first page of a new exercise book. Free from sums and sentences, it signals so many things: new ideas, new projects, new solutions, and new journeys. The first line is empty; without mistake or blemish. It is an open invitation to begin, however you choose. But how do you take that first step?
We intend to partner with Kids Ministry Qld – supporting training events (Ignite), joining local networks (QCMN) and promoting programs which can assist churches to minister to children (KidsGames). We pray that we can encourage and inspire those who work at the coalface of children’s ministry. We intend to pray for you and walk with you as you meet the challenges of reaching today’s child.
We all love the idea of new beginnings, but if we were to be completely honest, most of us find them a little daunting. Whether it is the start of a new page, a new year or a new ministry, there’s something about getting started that is hard. In fact, for many of us, the fear of ‘misspelt’ decisions and poorly calculated turns often holds us hostage to the first page. We miss the joy of filling the lines by being frightened about what we can’t erase. What are the first pages of 2012 looking like for you? Are you taking up the challenge or fearing the start? The QB Kids and their Families Team exists to support and resource you as you begin your ministry to children this year. We believe children matter to Jesus. We believe the faith journey of a child can be a valid life transforming experience. We believe the local church must partner with families to nurture the faith of the next generation. We believe children are a vital part of the QB family. We are aware that the needs of churches are diverse because of differences in size, isolation, staffing, types of programs, and financial resources, and we aim to resource churches in their local communities. We believe one of our core roles is to be that of an advocate – raising awareness of the needs of children and their families both within the QB Ministry Team and in QB churches. 20
February 2012 www.qb.com.au
Unit 29, 37 Mortimer Road ACACIA RIDGE QLD 4110 1300 138 076 or 07 3274 2530
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Here are first page starters to support you and your ministry teams as you head into 2012: Here are first page starters to support you and your ministry teams as you head into 2012: Events to diarise Brisbane, 3 March - IGNITE 2012 www.igniteexpo.org.au If you are only going to attend one training event this year, choose IGNITE. Information about IGNITE NQ 2012 also available. Brisbane, Week 1, Winter School Holidays – KidsGames www.brisbanekidsgames.org.au/ Visit the website and register your kids’ program. Toowoomba, Dalby, Gladstone, www.kidsgamesqld.com.au Check the website for more details and a contact person for the KidsGames program nearest to you. Children’s Advocacy Forum http://kmq.com.au/ Sponsored by Kids Ministry QLD it helped participants to consider what God is saying to us individually, corporately and denominationally. Books to read Messy Church, Lucy Moore (2007) www.messychurch.org.uk Messy Church grew out of one church’s desire to reach out to those on the fringes of the church community and experience the love of Christ through creativity, fellowship and worship together. The book explains the concept and the theology behind it. The book overflows with creative ideas to draw the community together for fun, food, fellowship and worship. Each outline has ideas for creative art and craft activities, meal plans and recipes for eating together and family-friendly worship. Too small to ignore: Why children are the next big thing, Wess Stafford (2007) This book asserts that children are not the church of the future but the church now. If we are to honour the heart of Jesus we will give children time, attention, resources and respect. Stafford shares from his childhood as a missionary kid.
Website to visit QB kids and their families www.qb.com.au/our-ministries/qb-kids Children’s Ministry Network www.cmn.org.au The Children’s Ministry Network (a broad spectrum of Christian denominations and parachurch organisations in each state) is working hard to maximise our limited resources and raise the profile of children’s ministry in this country. MAX7 www.max7.org The Max7 website features Bible resources including curriculum, videos, music, and training materials for use through children’s ministry, sports or creative ministry. This worldwide partnership freely serves the work of evangelism, helping young people live life to the MAX, 7 days a week with Jesus. Need more help to get started? Contact the QB Kids Team qbkids@qb.com.au Contact the person who may have experience in the area you want to explore: Jo Stotschek (Team Leader) (via QB 3354 5600) Gateway Baptist Sunday programs, Kids Games, RE, QCMN local networks, Prayer groups in schools Ruth Peckman (4633 3713) Toowoomba Community Baptist Kids Games, Kids Hope AUS, SUPA Club, Intergenerational church Julie Terry (w 4124 7200) Hervey Bay Baptist Community outreach, RE, QCMN, Kids Club, Playgroup, Children and mission, Kids with Courage (Careforce), Operation Christmas Child, child advocacy Faith Giovas (4059 0943) Cairns Northern Beaches Baptist Church RE, mainly music, Kids Hope, Child Safe
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QB youth
When I was a boy ... A new generation out to change the world…or just go shopping? It seems that the longer I’m in youth ministry the more conversations I am having with parents regarding their concerns for the various things that are influencing their teenage sons and daughters. The talking point is generally centred around the abundance of media exposing young people to sexualised content, but more and more these days, ‘gaming’ is becoming the focus. Specifically, the level of violence and aggression in computer games has got parents wondering ... ‘Are these games ok? Should we be intervening? What can we do?’
When I consider some of these questions my mind jumps to this passage in Philippians 4:8, ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.’ This is a passage I discussed recently with a group of high schoolers as we talked about the things in our lives that we are letting influence who we are. Some things we talked about were clearly ‘not good for us’, others like ‘gaming’ seemed much harder to tackle. So what do we do?
Now, when I was a boy, computer games consisted of gorillas collecting bananas, hedgehogs that could run really fast and bandicoots that could drive go-karts. Today the aim generally seems to be to get the biggest gun you can and ‘take out’ as many opponents as possible with bonus points given for a clean headshot. The concern parents raise is not only the exposure to violence, but also the amount of time that is spent playing these games, and the ease with which addiction takes a hold. Recently, I noticed a facebook post from a young man claiming he had racked up 20 hours playing a new game in a couple of days.
Young people need mentors who will help guide them through the minefield of life and this is one area that parents cannot be afraid to tread. Get involved, get active and get informed on what games your child is playing. Don’t be afraid to tackle this topic with them and encourage them to consider the bigger picture. Not all games are bad; there are plenty of great games out there. Grab your son or daughter and have some fun playing simulated tennis or bowling. Go surfing in Hawaii together from the comfort of the lounge room. But most of all, let’s talk about who God wants us to be, and what we are letting influence who we are.
So, should we be worried about our teens spending huge amounts of time sitting in front of a screen inflicting violence on computer characters? Should we be concerned about the effect these games can have on young minds? Where do we draw the line? If shooting people in a game isn’t ok, is it ok to shoot monsters? What can we do when it seems to be everywhere? What does God think about all this?
www.youngmedia.org.au is a helpful source of information. Dan Perkins Pastor, Bridgeman Baptist Community Church dan@bridgeman.org.au
Arrive between 4 - 6pm on Monday & depart from 9am Thursday Held at Gemini Court Holiday Apartments on 45 Hayle Street Burleigh Heads
Take some time out to connect with other Youth Pastors and prepare for the year ahead! Speaker Jason Hoet Director of Youth Ministries South Australia. For more details contact Emily, ymf@qb.com.au or ph 3354 5607 Register via the QB Youth page www.qb.com.au/youth
QB women
Just one, brand new resolution Every year I seem to make the same three New Year’s resolutions: exercise more, save more money and be better organised. Yet, without fail, each year by … well … to be honest, around the 12th of January, I’ve managed to break every one of those resolutions, become disgruntled and have given up on the idea of achieving any of my goals. The resolutions then remain tucked away until the 31st of December when I pull them back out again! I don’t think I’m alone in making (and breaking) New Year’s resolutions. I think most of us, at some point, have found ourselves falling short of our New Year’s goals and feeling disappointed with our lack of stick-ability. Why do we find committing to these pledges so hard? What is it each year that makes failure so inevitable? Is it because of a lack of discipline or planning? Or is it because we have the willpower of a kid in a lolly shop? It’s easy to become disgruntled when faced with this lack of change year after year. My apparent inability to see these resolutions through makes me want to give up trying to change any part of my life. When faced with this yearly failure, it’s almost easier to give up thinking that true change or growth is even possible. But often the changes I’m trying to measure my life by, my New Year’s resolutions, are simply me trying to change my exterior; not my heart. Instead of putting my life under a twelve month microscope and feeling that my growth continually falls short, maybe I should pull back the microscope and look at my life as a 14 year old, when it changed forever. The intervening
20 years have resulted in changes God has wrought on my life that, while slow and painful at times, have been tangible, measureable and dramatic. By stepping back I can see how he is shaping and moulding me over time. God’s Spirit has been successful in changing me to be more and more like Jesus. ‘Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives’ (Galatians 5:25). So I have declared, pledged and resolved that 2012 will be a year for just one, brand new, two part resolution. I want: to allow myself to be loved by him, and to ask his Spirit to change me as he sees fit. Letting go of my ideas about what I think should change in my life, I want, instead, to allow Jesus through his Spirit to lead me into those places where he can mould my heart to be more like him. For information on the She is... conferences and camps in 2012 please visit www.sheis.net.au or join the She is group on facebook. Sue Peters State Director, Qld Baptist Women To subscribe to the monthly QBW enews (emailed newsletter) please email Sue at sue@sheis.net.au
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QBC current locations to offer enhanced facilities and prepare for the state-wide transfer of year seven to high school by 2015.
Mission being accomplished In 2011, the Executive team of Queensland Baptist Care recognised and acknowledged the need to expand its mission of offering compassion, care and hope to more Queenslanders in response to Christ’s command to love God and love others. While the organisation has been serving the community for over 60 years by caring for older people, mentoring disadvantaged teenagers and performing several other forms of social work, most of its services have been concentrated in South East Queensland. That is, until now. Fast forward to January 2012 - just six months after the five year strategy was approved by the Board - and there is a new wave of excitement and enthusiasm at the Queensland Baptist Care office in Brisbane. Recent acquisitions have enabled Queensland Baptist Care to grow its state footprint to 27 locations. Additionally, the existing alternative education centres for disengaged youth are positioned to expand at their
There is a new wave of excitement and enthusiasm at the Queensland Baptist Care office in Brisbane...
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At the end of last year, Queensland Baptist Care acquired licences from ChaiCare Agency, a South East Queensland provider of an ethnic-specific community aged care service. The acquired community service brings the total number of people who can be cared for in their own homes to 71, enabling the organisation to achieve its vision of growing the aged care service to allow people to move seamlessly from one level of care to the next. ChaiCare Agency saw a gap in the market 13 years ago for the provision of a home care service to the Jewish community of South East Queensland, and according to Jon Campbell, CEO of Queensland Baptist Care, the acquisition will provide more opportunities to serve the community in both a broader geographical and community outreach sense. ‘The newly acquired packages promote our ability to cater for people of all backgrounds and beliefs, and offer the compassion, care and hope that our mission and philosophy of care demands,’ Jon said. Immediately following the acquisition of the community aged care service, the Federal Government announced it had approved Queensland Baptist Care’s application to construct a 96 bed aged care facility at Fairfield Waters, Townsville. A community aged care service and a retirement village are also planned to operate from the six hectare site to meet the needs of the ageing population in Queensland’s third largest city. The project is expected to cost $21 million and will be assisted by a low interest loan of $14 million from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. ‘We received 60% of the funds available from the low interest loan so we are very pleased with this outcome,’ said Jon Campbell. ‘These are just the first steps in our long term aim to offer services to every major regional centre in Queensland and branch out from the South East corner. It demonstrates that we are committed to dynamically expanding our services whilst remaining missions focussed.’ Mandy Plumb PR & Marketing Manager Queensland Baptist Care
City Tabernacle Baptist Church
National Day of
Prayer and Fasting Sunday 19 February 2012 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have eternal life.”
presents
Black & White Movie Night n ley o i a B d Davi wn Pipe g n i r o Featu ernacle’s ab n the T Orga
John 3:16
When: Saturday 17th March 2012 @ 7.30 pm Intermission: Gold Coin Donation Supper
Entertainment for all ages. These Silent Movies are from the very beginning of Moving Pictures set to musical scores. Join Christian leaders and churches from all denominations as together we pray for a release of souls into the kingdom of God and revival and transformation for Australia. (2 Chronicles 7:14) We encourage you to pray in your own church and send a representative from your own church to the special 10AM – 4PM Prayer Service in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra. We invite you to continue with us in prayer and fasting over the 40 days of Lent from 22 February 1 April 2012. For more information about this 40 day period of prayer: www.40daysofprayer.com.au
Register Now: www.nationaldayprayer.com.au
For further information contact:
City Tabernacle Baptist Church 163 Wickham Terrace Brisbane Q 4000 Telephone: 3831 1613 Email: office@citytabernacle.com.au Website: www.citytabernacle.com.au
An offering will be received for funding the restoration of the Pipe Organ. (Donations of more than $2 are Tax Deductible.)
Free Parking
is available in the multi-storey car park at 41 Astor Terrace
(off Upper Edward Street)
MTQ
giving budget, we could easily overcome the financial barriers that prevent us from recruiting effective church planters for the many opportunities that already exist.
Birthing new faith communities Mission to Queensland (MTQ) exists to assist Queensland Baptist churches start new communities of faith that are effective in sharing Jesus with unreached people groups in Queensland. We do this by helping churches plant churches, linking potential planters with churches considering a plant. Our aim is to see that every new church plant has a sponsoring church that takes responsibility for the pastoral support of the planter and the planting team, as well as offering some administrative and financial support in the early stages. We seek to encourage mutuality in this relationship, with lots of prayer and sharing of stories (both ways) to encourage the growth of both. It is unusual for the sponsoring church to be able to totally resource the needs of a new plant, especially those that are starting up as a new entity. MTQ is seeking a number of churches that will commit to partner with a church plant for the first few years, especially to pray for, and financially support, the planting pastor. If every Queensland Baptist church included some support for a QB church plant in their missions
Church planting is broadening Traditionally, church planting has been viewed as starting up an independent church in a new suburb or town. While this remains one of our main objectives, the nature of church planting has been evolving. So it is important to include, as a form of church planting, the start of any new group of people who worship and serve together for the purpose of more effectively reaching a specific demographic. In many cases, these groups will not be independent but will remain part of an existing church, as either a new on-site congregation or a satellite congregation that meets elsewhere. This is becoming a much more efficient way to reach suburban areas because of the high cost of setting up independent churches with their own infrastructures, property and people. Vision 100 Last year, a group of QB senior pastors initiated a movement to challenge pastors and churches to become more committed to extending God’s Kingdom through all forms of church planting. To cast ‘Vision 100’, they held a one day event titled, QNET: ‘A network of gospel centred churches seeking to reach every person in Queensland through planting over 100 new congregations and churches by 2012.’ This was an exciting ‘grass roots’ initiative and MTQ worked with the pastors to help promote and encourage participation from our Baptist churches. Over 80 people attended, representing more than 40 churches including those from other denominations. This year, it will again be held in August and MTQ will be linking with the senior pastors to add a second day to the program, specifically for church planters. Crossover national church planting consultations Crossover Australia has always had an interest in supporting church planting and helping develop resources for new churches, because planting new churches is one of the
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most effective evangelism strategies. Last year, Crossover Australia sponsored a consultation where a number of church planters from each state came together to share stories, to learn through networking and to discuss how Crossover may be able to help in resourcing Australian church planters. In March, Crossover is sponsoring a similar consultation, inviting a number of pastors from each state from churches who have church plants, or, are about to plant churches. This will be an opportunity to: see if we can learn from each other; find ways to encourage more churches to take up the challenge; and, be better able to resource the churches and advise on the best approach to take. How you can be involved Church planting isn’t for everyone, but if you sense that you would like to be involved as a planter, a team member, a sponsoring church or a partner church, then start praying and take some positive steps. Talk to your pastor and contact MTQ to find out what is involved, and where, or how, you can participate in birthing a new faith community. James Baker Leader of MTQ Cooordinator Church Planting James.baker@qb.com.au Mob: 0418 124 862
And I confer on you a kingdom... Luke 22:29a
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info@elijahhouse.com.au
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RESOURCE GOD’S WORK USING
THE GIFT FOUNDATION All profits support the work of missions
- A gift in a will - A letter to beneficiaries - A gift from a Family Trust www.qb.com.au/giftfoundation Telephone: 0400 795 302 Hope through Christ
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Global Interaction
Marc Rader on location
The making of Moved Moved, the new resource from Global Interaction, launches this month. This three-session multimedia package highlights the centrality of mission to our faith, develops awareness of global mission issues and encourages a personal and community response. In the making for a year, Moved has been a collaborative project of Baptist leaders around the country. Some of the contributors share their thoughts about Moved: ‘I am the presenter for the session of the DVD that’s called “Moved by the Need”,’ said Michael Frost (Morling College). ‘We begin talking about the massive spread of Christianity around the world, then highlight the stark reality that one third of the world is still yet to hear about Jesus. We reflect on the injustice of the provision of Christian workers and resources among the reached and d friends least-reached. Michael Frost an
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‘This session was filmed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was an experience delivering lines while riding on the back of a motorbike negotiating my way through narrow crowded streets, walking across rickety bridges in a slum, and sitting among monks and tourists at a Buddhist temple. I am pleased to be part of this project as I’m passionate about keeping mission front and centre in the minds of our students, pastors and churches,’ Michael said. Marc Rader (Gymea Baptist and Morling College) commented, ‘I presented the session called “Moved by God”; an overview of God’s redemptive purposes as revealed in Scripture. The greatest challenge wasn’t the locations – and we filmed at a volcano and in several backstreets of a large city in South East Asia – it was trying to condense the biblical story of God’s mission into a few minutes of
Global Interaction
script! During the trip I gained greater insight into the nature of missionary endeavour; it certainly gave me plenty to think about. ‘Preparing to film Moved was an opportunity to reconsider my own understanding of mission and I hope that viewing the film will do the same for people in our churches. It is always appropriate to return to the Word of God and reflect again on the implications of the familiar story.’ ‘I am part of a team that prepared the sermon outlines for Moved,’ Geoff Cramb (State Director Global Interaction Queensland) said. ‘I found this a bit different from preparing for a message that was for just one preacher – me! My jottings could be used by hundreds of pastors and others around Australia as they prepare to present God’s message in their own style.
‘Young people care about the world around them, no question!’ said Karen Haynes (Young Adult Consultant, Global Interaction Queensland). ‘In so many areas of life we do not wait until they are older to involve them in what is happening in our world. Our young people are more than ready to learn about where the gospel has gone and where there remains great need. They are ready to understand that, as they embrace faith and participation in our churches, they are part of a legacy of people who have faithfully served and sacrificed to bring the gospel to a world that needs Jesus. ‘I hope that in whatever way churches utilise Moved, young people will have every opportunity to learn about God’s mission to the least-reached people on this earth.’ (Karen prepared some notes for young adults.) Finally, Keith Jobberns (outgoing Global Interaction General Director, incoming National Ministries Director, Australian Baptist Ministries) commented:
‘That’s it of course. Each person will be well practised at taking the ideas of others and flavouring them with their own stories and ‘Moved is unlike anything experiences – we can do that Global Interaction has well! Like all elements of the produced before. We Moved resource, churches are serious about our can use different elements commitment to resource the to cater to the needs of their Australian Baptist church GLOBAL INTERACTION’S NEW RESOURCE FOR THE MOVED RESOURCE community. The sermon outlines include texts,TALKING. stories We’re proud to produce Moved as one aspect CHURCHESbiblical HAS EVERYONE IT’S THOUGHT in mission. • Short DVD clips for church services PROVOKING, ENGAGING AND POWERFUL. IT WILL and small groups and ideas that follow the same theme as the DVD and the of our partnership. It’s not made to promote cross-cultural INSPIRE YOUR PEOPLE, ENERGISE YOUR CHURCH AND • Resource guide for church leaders FUEL YOUR PASSION FOR MISSION. with sermon outlines, creative ideas for discussion questions in the small group guide. Extra stories team members. It’s not made to raise funds. It’s not made to children, youth and prayer of Baptist churches around Australia will be using the Moved • Small group guides for individuals to and resources are available on theHundreds website. recruit workers. Yet it is made to educate, equip, inform and resource for three weeks during May Mission Month, or another time discuss questions, take notes and of the year, to engage in a whole-church mission focus. inspire participate our community in prayer activities of churches to have a more mission• Extra resources available at Moved by God presented my by Marc decisionRader ‘As I thought about how the Lord impacted focused faith. We hope, of course, that it is successful to this www.globalinteraction.org.au/moved Moved by Others presented by Haylee Freudigmann MovedI by the Need presented by Michael Frost making as I was “Moved by Others”, responded by thanking end and some of the thousands that are involved in Moved God for those people. More than that, I committed myself will pray, give and join our cross-cultural teams. Greater than For more information and to order your church’s resources: anew to the core focus of mission.’www.globalinteraction.org.au/moved this, we hope that everybody who watches the DVDs, hears the sermons and is part of the small groups will see mission Haylee Freudigmann (Global Interaction National Young Adult as a greater part of their everyday life, at home and crossConsultant - from Queensland) said: ‘I had the privilege of culturally. Our communities, local and global, deserve the right presenting the second session, “Moved by Others”. Resisting to hear, in a way that makes sense in their context, that Jesus the urge to travel abroad, this session was filmed here in is “the way, the truth and the life”. an initiative of Australia, exploring the rich missional history of the Baptist community and how the lives and stories of others can ‘Global Interaction is very pleased to have the financial support motivate each and every one of usMadeinto mission. our partners in Baptist ministry - Baptist Financial Services possible by Global Interaction, Baptist Financial Services and Crossoverof Australia www.globalinteraction.org.au and Crossover Australia. Without them, the project could not ‘Filming was an experience in itself, as we traipsed around the have happened and we thank them for it. The Moved team has bush and then the city in the middle of the night to get that one done a great job and we encourage you to participate. perfect take. My prayer is that this DVD resource will move individuals and communities alike to truly explore what God is For more information, visit www.globalinteraction.org.au/ calling each of us to do in sharing his message of grace with moved or contact the State Office team on 3354 5603. all peoples of the earth.’
www.qb.com.au February 2012
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Relevance Over the years I’ve seen mainstream Christianity struggle with being relevant in a post-modern world that has tired of religion and tradition. In sermons and conversations with friends we use references to current movies, TV shows, pop songs and celebrity news. But we’ve taken a big risk immersing ourselves in the waves of the world’s culture – all for the noble cause of reaching the lost – in that we have become swallowed up, instead of being a life-raft. Jesus said, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?’ (Matthew 5:13). It’s a huge mistake to think that by becoming more like our worldly friends, we will be of benefit to them. A plain dish of rice doesn’t need more rice to make it tasty; it needs a dose of salt. I don’t want to be bland and flavourless in my community – I want to provide hope and a different perspective. But somehow we get caught up in being so in-tune with the world that we find ourselves watching TV shows depicting immorality and violence, listening to music with sexladen lyrics and a negative outlook, and knowing more about the latest celebrity scandal rather than becoming familiar with the people of God in the Bible.
Which wolf wins?
Some of us might think, ‘Well, so what? This is the society we live in’. There are many justifications for being aware of the world around us but, at the same time, we are urged to leave our old ways and be a new person. ‘Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2). Eugene Peterson expands this in The Message: ‘Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.’ I don’t want to worship and follow a God who doesn’t expect more from me. I am tired of making the same old mistakes from my past and using the excuse that ‘it’s just the way I am’ or, ‘I have experiences that make me weak in certain areas – that’s how it is’ or, ‘My mother was like this and her mother and this is the genetic pattern for our family’. I want to break free and be a new creation; one who is not a slave to sin. There’s a Cherokee Indian parable that talks about the positive or negative traits we
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February 2012
cultivate in our lives – one is the good wolf and one is the bad wolf. When asked which wolf wins, the Cherokee elder says, ‘The one you feed’. When driving and tempted to exceed the speed limit, there should be no doubt as to what is the right course of action. When flipping through the TV channels and seeing an explicit sex scene, there should be no doubt as to what to do with the remote control. When fed up with the mess and the noise from the kids, there should be no doubt as to how to react. However, in these cases and more, sometimes - without even a struggle - we take the easy route, the wide road, instead of entering through the narrow gate. We do what our flesh desires because ‘everyone else does it’. How can we leave our old ways behind when we cling to the environment that feeds these bad habits? CS Lewis stated that ‘the greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable’. Jesus’ desire for us is that we represent him as his disciples, that we glorify him and spread the good news about him to the world. Being relevant is not about having hundreds of facebook friends, or knowing all the characters in ‘Sex in the City’. It’s also not about wielding Christian ‘bling’ around our necks or following the mega-church trends. It’s not about hiding behind trendy Christian clichés, or jumping on the social justice bandwagon. I don’t want to be one of those ineffective Christians who have a ‘form of godliness but deny its power’ (2 Timothy 3:5). My idea of relevance is to show that a relationship with God gives real answers to the real problems people face, such as loneliness, destructive habits, bad relationships, despair, and the search for truth and identity. I want that true, inner transformation that comes from a decision to leave the old ways behind while feeding myself on the Word of God and abiding in his presence. Then I can be an asset to my community – a strong ingredient to enhance and flavour my interactions with those around me. Susan Johnstone
Called home
Harvey Brian Bernoth 2 February 1947 – 23 December 2011 Harvey Bernoth was called home suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving behind family and friends shattered by the shock of their loss, but whose strong and firm assurance is that Harvey is now in the presence of his Lord. Harvey was husband to Ann, dearly loved father of Katie and Amanda, father-in-law and grandfather to their respective families and brother to Carol, Barry, Claire (dec’d) and Russell. In his eulogy, Barry Bernoth said: ‘Harvey was loved and trusted, certainly by his own children, but also by the other “littlies” of the family and it was not uncommon to see a little one on Harvey’s lap and he’d be talking to them or reading to them. Harvey ticked all the boxes – a good son, a good brother and uncle, a loving and supporting husband, a wonderful father and a doting grandfather to his beautiful grandchildren.’ After growing up on the family farm in Toowoomba, Harvey started his working life as an officer with the Qld Police Force. Later, he pursued a career with Custom Credit Finance Company, progressing to become a Qld Manager. Following this, Harvey became Manager of Brisbane City Mission and, after leaving the mission, purchased a child care centre. But it’s the difference we make ‘in Kingdom terms’ that matters and Harvey’s contribution, over many years, was significant. In Brisbane, he served as deacon, secretary and treasurer at the Centenary Baptist Church. Harvey also had a broader vision through Mission to Queensland, assisting fellowships to the west of Brisbane as they developed and grew. This led to his involvement in the establishment of the Westside Multi-cultural Baptist Church at Inala. Most of all, Harvey could be relied upon to give wise and balanced counsel. Barry concluded: ‘… for the things of life that were significant and worthwhile, Harvey would always be sought after for his wisdom and opinion. Often these questions asked of him related to life-direction or were of a spiritual nature and I know my children would seek the counsel of their Uncle Harvey on perplexing issues.’
Salt
No vote is a wasted vote Both Local and State election campaigns are well and truly underway in Queensland. Are you praying about who you will be voting for, and for the outcome? Queensland Baptists do not endorse or recommend any party, rather we support individuals from all parties who align themselves with Christian principles and ethics. It is imperative that every Christian voting in the upcoming elections uses his or her vote to the most effect for Christian and family values. No vote is a wasted vote. I urge you to honour God with your vote by supporting Christian values. Australia’s preferential system of voting allows us to clearly state our choice for who we believe should be in Government. To use this system effectively, place your No 1 against the candidate who will best support Christian values if elected, then continue numbering each box, placing the candidate with the least Christian values last. IF the candidate that you put a Number 1 against is unsuccessful and is eliminated from the race, your ENTIRE vote is then shifted to your second preference, and so on. Your vote still counts – remember NO vote cast correctly is ever wasted. With the most fundamental of our values under threat it is imperative that we vote carefully and prayerfully, praying for God’s will to be done through the result of the upcoming election. Please visit www.qldvotes.org.au. If you have any questions regarding your local candidates in the upcoming election, I will welcome your enquiry. Wendy Francis State Director Australian Christian Lobby wendy.francis@acl.org.au
His family sought his guidance; many others did likewise and benefitted from his integrity and clear, balanced thinking. Harvey Bernoth was my friend. (Robynne Milne, Ed)
www.qb.com.au February 2012
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Persecution brief
Please pray NIGERIA – ANTI-CHRISTIAN KILLINGS SUGGEST ‘RELIGIOUS CLEANSING’ – NIGERIAN CHURCH LEADERS Intensifying anti-Christian killings in Nigeria suggest ‘systematic ethnic and religious cleansing’, according to the country’s church leaders, as the violence claims around 30 more lives. In January, Ayo Oritsejafor, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said that church leaders had held an emergency meeting about the escalating attacks, which, they concluded, are reminiscent of the run-up to the civil war of 1967-70. More than a million people were killed during that conflict. Concerns of a repeat are growing following two further antiChristian attacks, which come after militant Islamist group Boko Haram issued a three day ultimatum for Christians to leave the north. At least eight Christians were killed when gunmen stormed a church in Gombe, capital of Gombe State, during a prayer meeting. The following day, around 20 Christians were gunned down in Mubi, Adamawa state, as they gathered to mourn the death of another Christian who had been killed the night before. Also, three people believed to be Christians were shot dead in the north-eastern town of Biu. A Boko Haram spokesman claimed responsibility for attacks. The group was behind a series of attacks on churches and other targets in five states over Christmas that left more than 40 people dead and prompted President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in the most troubled areas. Boko Haram is fighting to create an Islamic state and impose sharia law. The group has been responsible for more than 500 deaths over the last year.
SOURCE: BARNABAS FUND
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Nigeria is descending into further chaos, with widespread protests over the government’s removal of a fuel subsidy that has resulted in petrol prices more than doubling. PAKISTAN – FEARS FOR SAFETY OF CHRISTIAN MAN ACCUSED OF BLASPHEMY There are fears for the safety of a young Christian man falsely accused of blasphemy in Pakistan who says he has been tortured and beaten in prison. Khurram Masih (25) from Lahore was detained in December after being accused of burning pages from the Quran. An angry mob of around 1,000 Muslims had blocked a road in Shahdara for three hours demanding his arrest; they damaged several vehicles and ransacked the local police station. Khurram said that he was badly beaten by the police after his arrest and compelled to confess to the act of which he was falsely accused. He added that he was not given anything to eat for three days. A First Information Report (FIR), which launches criminal proceedings in Pakistan, was registered against Khurram under section 295b of the Pakistan Penal Code, which punishes desecration of the Quran with life imprisonment. At a court hearing on 3 January, he was denied bail, apparently because of intense pressure by the complainant. Khurram, who has been married for just three months, is being held in prison in Lahore where he says he has been tortured and beaten. HUNGARY – MAJOR CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS DECERTIFIED UNDER NEW HUNGARIAN CONSTITUTION Over 300 religious groups – including several Christian denominations – have lost official recognition in Hungary under the country’s controversial new constitution. The code,
which came into effect on 1 January, introduces a new law on religion that was deemed unconstitutional by the country’s Constitutional Court last month. It grants state recognition to 14 religious groups and decertifies the rest, meaning that over 300 denominations lose their official status, including their tax exemptions and freedom to run state-funded schools. These include a number of major Protestant denominations, including Episcopalians, Methodists and all but one of the evangelical churches, as well as many small Catholic orders. No version of Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism can operate with state approval any longer. The new constitution, which in combination with other recent laws curtails the independence of the country’s central bank and courts, has been widely opposed. The day after it came into force, tens of thousands of Hungarians took to the streets of Budapest in protest. The European Union and United States have also asked for the law to be withdrawn. Opponents say that it threatens democracy by removing the checks and balances that were set up in 1989 when Communism fell. These changes have been aimed at eliminating constitutional guarantees such as press freedoms, and solidifying the governing party (Fidesz’s) hold on power. AZERBAIJAN – PASTOR FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES FOLLOWING CHURCH RAID A pastor has been threatened with criminal proceedings following a raid on his church as further measures to restrict religious freedom in the country come into force. Pastor Telman Aliev’s church in Neftechala was raided during a Sunday service in December. Those present were questioned and then told that the church, which has been unable to reregister with the state for over a decade, was closed; the officials took the keys and sealed the building, though it was later re-opened. They seized around 200 items of literature, including Bibles and magazines, as well as audio and video recordings, for vetting by the state committee that carries out Azerbaijan’s compulsory censorship of all religious literature. Amendments to the country’s Criminal and Administrative Codes came into force in December. They create new penalties or increase the severity of existing punishments for a range of religious activities including the introduction of a prison term of up to five years for those who produce or distribute religious literature that has not been vetted by the state. The measures are the latest in a long series of laws that have increasingly restricted religious freedom in Azerbaijan. Religious groups have been forced to re-register five times since 1992. Many of their applications, including Pastor Aliev’s church, which lost its registration in 1999, have been met with no response.
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The GFC
Let’s lead by example! A church leader recently made the observation that there were many more Christian books on leadership than on servanthood, despite the Bible having more to say on the latter. The same can be said about the lack of books and teaching on how to handle money, God’s way. In this case, the omission is even more glaring in the light of the fact that the Bible has more to say about money and possessions than any other subject.
‘Now let’s remove some zeros and pretend it’s your budget:
Across the world, governments and so-called experts are currently struggling to find solutions to the deep hole of national debt that is causing so much anger and anguish for the majority of humankind with savings, investments and living standards being seriously eroded. The national debt problem, when coupled with excessive consumer/household debt, has resulted in a rise in unemployment, crime, mental health problems, fractured relationships, broken marriages and demoralising bankruptcies. Experience has shown that Australia is not exempt from the ravages of the global economy. No wonder God warned that the love of money is the root of all evil!
‘In a household budget, whenever unsecured debt approaches a 1to1 ratio with annual income, the borrower is in serious trouble. When this ratio reaches a 2to1 level, the problem intensifies to out-of-control trouble. If you are somehow able to borrow to a 7to1 ratio, the problem becomes a runaway crisis. It screams for immediate action to reverse the trend.
Chuck Bentley, the CEO of Crown Financial Ministries in America, recently wrote: ‘As Christians, we need to take an ardent stand for our economic freedom that was granted to us by God’s grace and kindness. A primary area where America’s policies are deviating from biblical truth is in the management of national debt. Let’s take a look at a simplified analysis of the financial problems we currently face in the US: US tax revenue: Federal budget: New debt: National debt: Recent budget cut:
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$2.15 trillion $3.8 trillion $1.65 trillion $15 trillion $38 billion
February 2012 www.qb.com.au
Your annual income: Your household spending: New debt this year: Your current consumer debt: Recent budget cut:
$21,500 $38,000 $16,500 $150,000 $380
‘The US Government has become the caretaker of first and last resort. This philosophy is simply unsustainable. Our deviation from God’s principles is rapidly becoming our downfall. So our elected officials have now recognised that a 7to1 ratio is unsustainable. Thus we have a special deficit reduction ‘Super Committee’, charged with cutting at least $1.2 trillion in government red ink over the coming decade. Note: This is not to reduce the $15 trillion in existing debt, but only an attempt to reduce deficit spending each year. Even with these hoped-for cuts, we’ll still be trillions of dollars in the hole by 2021. ‘When our national budget reflected our obedience to God’s ways, we were the largest lending nation in the world. Tragically, we have given up our once high position as the “head” to become the “tail”- the largest debtor nation in the history of the world,’ Chuck Bentley concluded. In Australia, consumer debt is at an all-time high and national debt is too high for our population demographics. Given the general tendency to accumulate possessions by using excessive credit, living beyond one’s means, an ageing
Easterfest
All about Easter population and the prospect of the global economic backlash mentioned earlier, Australian Christians can lead by example in reversing this unbiblical trend. ‘Christians thinking and living as disciples of Jesus in every part of their lives’ is an extract from the Vision Statement of the Australian Evangelical Alliance which very much mirrors the goal of Crown Financial Ministries Australia through the use of its ‘Foundations for Life’ Resources. These resources, while majoring on the importance of aligning the handling of all aspects of personal finances with God’s Word and especially the teachings of Jesus, also include other vital life issues such as work, salvation and eternity. When we, as Christians, purposefully build our ‘financial house’ on timeless biblical foundations and become authentic about being Christ’s ambassadors in this world, we can truly be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in a largely Godless, self-centred, debt-ridden society. This creates the environment for the Spirit of God to move with mighty power in accordance with his promise in 2 Chronicles 14:7, ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’ Christian revival can come to this ‘Great Southland of the Holy Spirit’ where God the Father and his Son, Jesus, are acknowledged and honoured by the people and at all levels of government, and can spread across the globe as it has with former revivals. This is the ultimate solution to solving the debt crisis! Trevor Owens Voluntary Director, Crown Australia t.m.owens@bigpond.com www.crown.org.au
Nigel Kruger from Biloela Baptist has taken his youth group to Easterfest for the past two years. That’s almost a 1000 km round trip! ‘Easterfest offers an experience where our young people see many different people worshipping God,’ Nigel said. ‘The event really opened the eyes of the non-Christian young people who came with us as they got to see real people share the love of a real God. I had young people nearly in shock as they witnessed around 15,000 people joining them in worshipping God at Mainstage. ‘Easterfest has been an awesome tool for bringing our young people closer to Christ and bringing our group together,’ he added. ‘The long bus trip home is where many stories and heartfelt moments are shared.’ Easterfest was especially memorable in 2011. In January, Toowoomba made international headlines when floodwaters ripped through Toowoomba’s CBD. That event was followed a few weeks later by Easterfest’s own flood when 100 mm of rain was dumped in 40 minutes, forcing the festival to close its Queen’s Park Precinct for the first time in its 13 year history. Now, with Easterfest 2012 (April 6-8) just around the corner there is an incredible sense of excitement brewing. Triple Grammy Award winning artist Michael W Smith has been confirmed to perform. It will be only his second visit to Australia in two decades. Joining him will be Grammy nominated MercyMe. The event includes music for everyone but it’s not all about music. It is a celebration at Easter, all about Easter, and the message of hope it brings to our world. Each year, organisers are overwhelmed by the response from committed youth leaders like Nigel who drive thousands of kilometres just to bring their young people to an event where they can be exposed to the Gospel. easterfest.com Michael W Smith; Easterfest main stage 2011
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Thinkspot
A.W. Tozer made the point that, while evangelicalism has been careful to maintain a biblical view of the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, it has neglected to a significant degree the practical aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit. The consequence of this is that the work of the Spirit lies like a buried treasure waiting to be discovered. Is the Person of the Holy Spirit or simply his influence given to us? There has been some debate as to whether believers receive the Holy Spirit himself or simply the gifts and graces that he confers. Consider some of the statements the Scriptures make about this issue. Speaking of the Comforter who was about to enter the disciples’ lives, the Lord promised: ‘He will teach you all things and will show you things to come’ (John 16:13). The grace or gifts imparted by the Spirit cannot teach us or show us what is to happen; only a Person can do this. And again the Lord says, ‘Whatever he hears he will speak’ (John 16:13). Only a Person can hear and speak. The apostle Paul also differentiates between the Spirit and his graces. In Romans 5:5, he makes the statement: ‘The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.’ Here the outworking of the Holy Spirit (love) is distinguished from the Person of the Spirit, and both are said to be given to us. Elsewhere the apostle writes, ‘God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying Abba, Father’ (Galatians 4:6). Again, the Holy Spirit’s inhabitation is contrasted with his operation within us. Writing to Timothy, the apostle says: ‘That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who lives in us (2 Timothy 1:14). The phrase ‘who lives in us’ cannot be viewed as a figurative reference to the influence of a being who is absent.
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In these and other verses, the Spirit is said to live within Christians, not inactively, but as One who animates the powers and affections of the mind. So then, we must give full force to the Scriptural statements: the Spirit is not an absent regulator distributing gifts, but a real inhabitant of the inner beings of believers. As Augustine points out, God does not give ‘a gift less than himself’. In what sense does Christ indwell us? In various places, particularly in John 14-16, Christ promised to return to his people after his ascension and live in them. In Colossians 1:27, Paul emphasises that the great mystery of the gospel is just this: Christ living in believers. Elsewhere, Paul asks, ‘Don’t you realise that Jesus Christ is in you?’ (2 Corinthians 13:5).
What a singular honour is conferred on Christians! They are united with Christ in a way that no other created being in existence is, whether in heaven or earth. Angels are holy, but not united to Christ in this way. However, some find a problem here. Our Lord is in heaven and will remain there until his glorious return to the earth, so how can he live in us now? In Romans 8:9-11, the apostle Paul answers this question when he writes: ‘You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.’ In these verses Paul successively identifies the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and Christ in us. The different expressions are used interchangeably. In 2 Corinthians 3:17, Paul again makes this explicit: ‘Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.’ Here are some statements made by our Lord about this important subject in John 14-16: ‘I will ask the Father to give you another Helper to be with you always’ (14:16) … ‘He lives with you and will be in you’ (14:17) … ‘I will not leave you as orphans, I will come back to you’ (14:18) … ‘At that time you will know that I am in my Father, but you are in me, and that I am in you’ (14:20) ... ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home with him’ (14:23) … ‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have told you’ (14:26) … ‘I’m giving you my own peace’ (14:27) … ‘I’m going away, but I’m coming back to you’ (14:28). From these statements, who would deny that the Lord is saying that, though he will leave his disciples, he would reenter their lives in the Person of the Spirit? This truth is founded in the mysterious and wondrous doctrine of the Trinity. Christ lives within us in the sense that his Holy Spirit indwells us. This is how he keeps his promise: ‘I will be with you always’ (Matthew 28:20). In this world we are desperately weak, sinful, and oppressed by enemies that are vastly superior to us – the world, the flesh and the devil. We should be crushed and fall away at every moment. Yet we are kept by a supernatural Protector ‘the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world’ (1John 4:4). How encouraging and comforting! Jim Greenbury jimncath@tpg.com.au
Quotable Quotes Sincere thanks to Joan Neuendorf who wrote recently to urge us to pray for our Nation as we face ongoing and increasing pressures to change laws that reflect our Christian values and heritage. Joan included the following quotes: ‘History will record with the greatest astonishment that those who had the most to lose did the least to prevent its happening’ (Ronald Reagan). ‘In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends’ (Martin Luther King). ‘It’s not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what is required’ (Winston Churchill). ‘Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act’ (Dietrich Bonhoeffer). ‘The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men’ (Plato). ‘Making an open stand against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness which overspreads our land as a flood is one of the noblest ways of confessing Christ in the face of his enemies’ (John Wesley). ‘The world is too dangerous to live in – not because of people who do evil, but because of people who sit and let it happen’ (Albert Einstein). ‘Our culture, society, government, and law are in the condition they are in, not because of a conspiracy, but because the church has forsaken its duty to be the salt of the culture’ (Francis Schaeffer). ‘In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up’ (Martin Niemoller, German pastor and Holocaust survivor).
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Transformation
Don’t settle
for less From the crest of the Mount of Olives the sun rose over Jerusalem. Slowly it made its appearance, displacing the darkness. At first its light was pale and timid. Then gradually the scene changed. Light penetrated the crevices and cavities and flooded the valley below. Then ancient Jerusalem began to glow as the sun’s rays struck the golden domes and ancient walls. The cold stones were warmed. The grey olive trees began to sparkle. The austere city was bathed in reflected glory. Night had gone. Day had come. Morning glory had transformed the city and made it beautiful. As I reflected on this scene I thought of what happens when people encounter the Spirit. Life’s drabness is displaced. Light replaces darkness. Gloom is exchanged for glory. And, like the sunrise, the work of the Spirit is, at first, almost imperceptible. Slowly his warmth and light begin to penetrate the soul’s crevices. The darkness of the hidden places fades. The heart of stone is touched and changed. Those whom the Spirit touches begin to reflect the splendour of the Lord. In Romans 12:1, the apostle Paul speaks of an initial transformation in the Christian’s life. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul talks of a continual transformation. In Romans 12:1, ‘transformed’ is, in the Greek text, in the aorist tense, which can convey the idea of a specific action. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, it is in the present tense, suggesting an ongoing action. Reflected radiance Ancient Jerusalem was made beautiful by a reflected glory. So are we if the Spirit is working in our lives. And it’s not ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ beauty. It’s not ‘skin deep’. It’s not like that seen on the face of Moses. He came back from meeting with God and his face shone. But it was temporary. By contrast, in Christ we receive a ‘glory which lasts’ (2 Corinthians 3:7-18). That’s because Moses met only briefly with God. But today, by the Spirit, we live in his presence. And in his presence something happens. We are not
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aware of it, but we are in process of becoming like the company we keep. We reflect the Lord’s glory. Older versions of the Bible had ‘behold’, rather than ‘reflect’. One of them says ‘beholding as in a glass’. That makes sense too. But which is correct? Actually, both. The Greek word ‘katoptrezesthai’, from ‘katoptrizō’, means either to behold or to reflect. One ancient writer used it to describe priests who polished the vessels in the temple until they could see their faces reflected in them. Christians who live in the presence of Christ reflect his character. Not that they are aware of it, mind you. As retired Salvation Army General John Gowans says of such people, ‘... when I comment on their beauty as I spot it, they seem surprised, they didn’t know they’d got it’. So there’s no taking a peek in the mirror to see if we look more spiritual today than yesterday. If it’s God’s work it will take our attention off ourselves and on to Christ. Beholding and the reflecting occur in prayer. Alone with God and our Bible, we position ourselves for the Spirit to do the work. In worship there’s a reflexive action. We direct our attention to God and he reveals himself to us and in us. Collectively – together with God’s people, and privately – alone with God, we behold God’s glory. And we leave worship to engage in daily activities, unmindful of the fact that the splendour of God’s reflected radiance is on our lives. People can look at our lives and say ‘and we beheld his glory’. That’s because we’ve taken time to behold the glory of the Lord. Inner transformation Radiance is evident on the outside because the Spirit is at work on the inside. Paul says ‘we are being transformed into his likeness’. We experience ‘metamorphosis’, the original Greek being ‘metamorphoō’. That’s the word he uses. It’s one of those foreign terms that has become an English one. Scientists adopted it to describe regular happenings within nature. Metamorphosis takes place each spring. The chrysalis becomes a butterfly. Tadpoles become frogs. Creatures become what previously
Transformation
The glory did not shine down from heaven upon Jesus. It came from within him. So when Paul tells the Corinthians that ‘we are transformed into the same likeness’ it’s as if he’s saying, ‘God has implanted his glory in your lives. And he wants to reveal it through your lives’. Scholars tell us that the basic meaning of ‘glory’ in the Old Testament is ‘presence’. Spirit-filled Christians live in the presence of God. More than that, the presence of God is in them. And when this is the case, other people know about it. They can see the change in their lives. And this change is continuous. It’s a process. It’s ‘from glory to glory’ says Paul. Or as some versions have it, ‘from one degree of glory to another’, ‘ever-increasing glory’. Making people like Christ is a work in progress. The Christian’s life is like a canvas on which the artist is continually putting his finishing touches.
they were not. In Canada at winter’s end we’d see the crocuses appearing through the snow, a rich yellow in a blanket of white. Against the odds they made their bid for life, and won. Because it was spring the snow would melt and the flowers would thrive. In springtime all nature sings as it announces the passing of winter and beginnings of new life. So it is with those in whom the Spirit is living and working. These enjoy a perennial springtime. For them there’s no looking back to good old days. For the child of God there are many happy memories of spiritual blessing. But better times? No. The experience of being ‘renewed day by day’ keeps their experience up to date and fresh as spring. The metamorphosis is not only a change of heart, but a change of mind. Paul says, ‘you will be transformed by the renewing of your minds’. The changed mind produces a new set of ideals, standards and life-goals. Life remains the same but is somehow different. It’s like ancient Jerusalem. In one sense nothing changes at sunrise. It’s the same old city. Yet, at the same time, everything changes when bathed in morning glory. The transformed mind, the mind ‘in step with the Spirit’, responds in a different way to life’s events. Not only actions, but also reactions and attitudes are affected. We not only think differently, we behave differently. A transformed mind is God’s answer to irritability, bad moods, grumpiness and all those other unpleasant qualities which we know we shouldn’t have. A changed mind makes us easier to live with. In place of those ugly qualities, the Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, gentleness and patience. Glory to glory The word ‘metamorphosis’ is used sparingly in the Bible. The only other use of it is when the Gospel writers tell of Jesus being ‘transfigured’ (same word). In Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:21 we read about three disciples – Peter, James and John – who had an experience they would never forget. Something happened to Jesus up there on the mountain which utterly changed his appearance. He shone with such glory that even his clothes were aglow.
God’s miracle Early last century the movie producer, Cecil B. de Mille, was relaxing in his canoe. The canoe was close to the shore and de Mille was reading a book. His reading was distracted by the appearance of a large black beetle which crawled up on the gunwale. The ugly creature sat there, seemingly staring at the great man. De Mille looked for a moment into the water below and saw the rest of the beetle family poking around in the murky gloom. He later recorded his sympathy for the submarine beetles which would never enjoy any other form of existence. Then something quite unexpected happened. The beetle died. And almost immediately following its death, the ugly shell cracked open in response to the heat of the sun. From it emerged something described as ‘a shapeless mass whose hideousness was transformed into beautiful, brilliantly coloured life. Then out of the mass gradually unfolded four iridescent wings from which the sunlight flashed a thousand colours. The wings spread as if to worship.’ The dead shell remained clinging to the boat. But the magnificent dragonfly skirted and danced over the water’s surface. In its old form such speed and such feats would have been impossible. De Mille had witnessed metamorphosis. Reflecting on the scene, it occurred to him that ‘if the Creator worked such wonders into the lowliest of creatures, what may be in store for the human spirit?’ For Christians, the answer is not in doubt. One beetle left the crowd below and climbed to the sunlight. In so doing he experienced a miracle. So it is with us. We can stay below with the crowd. Or we can climb toward the light. If we do, we experience a miracle. We are ‘transformed into his likeness by the Spirit’. This is God’s plan for every Christian. Don’t settle for less than God’s best. Major Alan Harley is a lecturer on the Territorial Spiritual Life Development Team and a member of the International Doctrine Council for The Salvation Army. His reflection on the Spirit’s transforming presence which he likens to the metamorphosis process in nature is reprinted with kind permission, Pipeline magazine (January 2012).
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B O O K S . DV D S . M U S I C DVD: Courageous (rated M) DVD: Nefarious: Merchant of Souls One only screening in Queensland With over 27 million enslaved people in the world today, human trafficking is once again a battlefront of global proportions. Trafficking in persons involves the transfer of human beings by means such as force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of exploitation. Virtually every country in the world, including Australia, faces the challenge of targeting those who exploit desperate people while protecting and assisting victims of trafficking, many of whom endure severe hardships. To help raise awareness, the Australian Christian Lobby is sponsoring the Brisbane screening of the Internationally Award-winning documentary Nefarious: Merchant of Souls. This is a hard-hitting documentary that exposes the disturbing trends in modern sex slavery. From the very first scene, Nefarious ushers you into the nightmare of sex slavery that hundreds of thousands experience daily. You will see where slaves are sold (often in developed, affluent countries), where they work, and where they are confined. You will also hear first-hand interviews with real victims and traffickers, along with expert analysis from international humanitarian leaders. Date and Time - Thursday 16 February at 7pm Venue - The QB Centre Large Auditorium, 53 Prospect Road, Gaythorne Cost - $5 per person - funds will be directed to Exodus Cry For tickets or more information contact wendy.francis@acl.org.au 0411 431 141
Alex Kendrick plays the main character, Adam, in Courageous. Adam delivers a rousing call in church for dads to serve God by serving their kids: ‘Walk with (your children) through their young lives,’ he preaches, ‘and be a visual representation of the character of God, their Father in heaven.’ Following the huge success of the movie Fireproof, film makers Stephen and Alex Kendrick have hit the mark again with their new movie release, Courageous. Stephen, you’ve had such amazing success with Fireproof, how did you regroup so that you could start the process for your next project, Courageous? Movies for us are a stewardship. We know our movies shouldn’t be based on just a good idea; it needs to be a God idea. After every movie we enter a season of prayer, and we spent months asking God to show us what was on his heart and what this generation needs to hear now. After Fireproof, God clearly led us to focus on the issue of fatherhood. What do you want the audience to walk away with after watching Courageous? We want them to be courageous for the sake of their faith and their families. We want them to deal with their own fatherhood issues. In the movie, the four central characters discuss how their own fathers influenced them. We want people to forgive their dads if their dads have wounded them or been a bad example. We hope that people can break the chain in their families and begin to leave a new legacy of faithfulness in their homes. Is the storyline from your personal experience, from people who are close to you, or a combination? It is definitely a combination. Our own father was so pivotal in our lives. He was a chain breaker.His father was seven feet tall, an alcoholic and was unfaithful to his wife. Our dad grew up in poverty, very insecure, afraid, and didn’t know how to do things because his father didn’t train him. Our father came to know Jesus Christ, forgave his dad and then he began to leave a new legacy for the family. He began to model faithfulness to our mother, to the Lord, and to us. Do you feel that this experience has strengthened your relationship with your children? I do. The movie and then working on the book Resolution for Men — that’s the follow up to the movie — both caused us to spend time praying and soul searching. It’s convicting anytime you lift up a biblical standard, because you realise how much you fall short. So Alex and I have been challenged to ‘step it up’ in our leadership of our families. One result from focussing on this issue is that we have family devotions and bible study with our kids. It is making a huge difference in their lives, in our lives, in our marriages and in our leadership.
Courageous will be released on DVD on 7 March. www.courageousthemovie.com
Competition: Be first to email qb@qb.com.au to receive your free copy of Courageous, the movie.
Fun zone
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Hey Kids, Look for Lucy!
Little Lucy is hiding somewhere in this issue. Tell us where she is hiding and snail mail your answer, or email qb@qb.com.au Congratulations! To all those who found Little Lucy hiding on page 11 (December issue).
Creative Captions Win a Word Bookstores Gift Voucher Emily Twible and Claire Markotanyos were snapped recently in the QB Main Auditorium. Send your creative caption for their image to admin@ qb.com.au or mail to PO Box 6166 Mitchelton Q 4053. Don’t forget, if you have a great photo that needs a clever caption, send it to admin@qb.com.au or snail mail.
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Subscribe to POSITIONS VACANT Order by phone: 07 3354 5633 Payment via credit card.
YOUTH WORKER PART TIME (2 DAYS/WK) Tent Hill Baptist Church (situated in the Lockyer Valley – 10mins from Gatton / 25mins from Toowoomba)
OR Complete this form and post back: The qb Editor, PO Box 6166 Mitchelton QLD 4053 Australia
Tent Hill Baptist Church is seeking an appropriate Christian person to develop and expand the congregation’s existing youth ministry. The suitable applicant will need to:
Price: 1 Year $19.50 (GST inclusive) Personal Details Rev / Dr / Mr / Mrs / Ms / Miss (circle)
• Relate well with teenagers both in the church and those in the local community. • Work well with a team of leaders towards agreed vision and goals. • Understand the needs and values of a rural ministry setting. For further information please contact Pastor Iain Russell on 54627253 or iain. russell@bigpond.com
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Is God prompting you to write? If you’re serious about developing your talent to build God’s Kingdom, then you may need advice from Christian professionals in the writing and publishing fields. We’re here to help! Omega Writers is a support group for Australasian Christian writers.
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Classifieds POSITIONS VACANT
Accommodation
Youth Pastor Part time (2 days/wk)**
CALOUNDRA: Seafarer Chase luxury 2 b/r holiday apartments on the Sunshine Coast. Ocean views, heated pool, BBQ, security parking, close to beaches, shops, cinema and bowling club. Contact Marianne/Martin Burton, phone/fax 5491 7155.
Murgon District Baptist Church is seeking an appropriately mature youth pastor who is passionate and gifted in getting alongside teenagers and leading them into a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.
CALOUNDRA - GOLDEN BEACH: Highset three bedroom holiday home. Weekends or weekly. Pets OK. Close to beach. Phone 0402 077 822 or lizottaway15@gmail.com
**The position is part time but an opportunity for a further 2-3 days is possible in a SU chaplaincy role in the local High School. Murgon is three hours N/W Brisbane with many opportunities for spouse employment in health, social work, education etc. Murgon is 6 km from the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg.
CALOUNDRA - KINGS BEACH: Holiday unit, modern, pool, 100m from Kings Beach. From $390 pw. Phone Ray 0427 990 161. COOLUM: 3 brm beach unit, new facilities, ocean views $270 w/e, $490 week *excludes holiday periods. Phone 0411 222 787, email rickn@activeforkliftservice.com.au .
CELEBRATION
The person: • You will have a vibrant relationship with Jesus • You will be committed to prayer and the Word • You will be comfortable working within a multicultural environment (ie indigenous youth) • Will be eligible for registration with Queensland Baptists
Gwen Moore celebrated her 100th birthday on 28 November 2011 in a packed church hall with her family and friends. Gwen is a member of the Bribie Island Baptist Church and is a regular Sunday attendee. She lives alone and is still very active and healthy. Gwen’s sister lives in London and is 103 years old and wrote a telegram to Gwen that said, ‘What’s all the fuss about?’
The role:
FOR HIRE
• Oversee and grow the existing youth group (currently ages 12-15) • Pursue outreach opportunities in the community • Be available as the “town youth pastor” • Involvement in Baptist church services 1-2 Sundays a month (average) • The Youth Pastor role would serve youth from other churches as well as reach out to the non-churched. (The youth group has young people from several other churches.) For further information, please contact: Pastor Stephen Gellatly on 41681403; 0413006746 Email: murgonbaptist@bigpond.com
Large Auditorium: Seats 290. Qld Baptists’ Centre at Gaythorne. Phone Claire or Emily 07 3354 5600 for more information or visit www.qb.com.au – venue hire.
GIVE AWAY Hervey Bay Baptist Church has a few older bibles they’d like to give away. Contact Chris Morrell on 4124 7200.
GENERAL BOOKKEEPING: Brisbane based MYOB Approved Bookkeeper and registered BAS agent, member of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. Servicing greater Brisbane area. Andrew Richardson 0407 614 547.
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INTEGRITY TRAVEL Make your travel and holiday bookings with Integrity Travel and assist missions.
Set of pulpit commentary at a reasonable price. Phone 4194 1131.
Interested in travelling to Israel during 2012... contact Integrity Travel to join one of their groups. Also a 26 day African train tour for Sept/October 2012 Phone Norman 07 3863 1007 visit www.integritytravel.com.au Join Integrity Travel’s Christian Cruising Program today!
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RELAX
knowing your money is safe and working hard for you, and at the same time, helping to support much needed local projects.
Simply deposit your savings and investments in BAPLink, the investment fund of the Baptist Union of Queensland. BAPLink was set up to give people like you the opportunity to enjoy healthy interest returns, while creating a pool of funds from which Baptist churches and ministries can borrow to grow and serve their local communities. BAPLink provides: • Competitive interest rates • Security of a guaranteed return on your investment • Friendly service • No account keeping fees on savings and investment accounts
Facilities available: • Internet banking (for churches only) • Savings accounts at call and term • Partnership accounts - a new way of giving • Electronic transfers for both deposits and withdrawals • Deposit facilities through the Westpac Bank • Cheque accounts for churches • Loans to churches and ministers Join the growing number of ‘Baptists making a difference’ by depositing with BAPLink.
For more information or an application form contact BAPLink: Building 1, Level 2, 53 Prospect Road, Gaythorne PO Box 6166, Mitchelton 4053 Phone: 3354 5611 or 1800 650 062 (outside Brisbane) Fax: 3354 5605 baplink@qb.com.au www.qb.com.au/baplink