The qb, the voice of Queensland Baptists

The voice of Queensland Baptists October 2014

Strong enough for a brighter future Chicken warming soup Journey to a wild, raw country Print post approved ISSN: 100003837 The Queensland Baptist - first published in 1890.

This series Vol 12 Issue 5.

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Issue

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

5 6 8 9 14 17 26 40 41 43 45 46

QB ministries Generation Z: The movers and shakers (QB kids & their families) Reflections (QB Youth) She is... Hope (QB Women) Brookfield retained (QCCC) History in the palm of your hand (QB archives) Malyon in 2015 (Malyon) Strong enough for a brighter future (Carinity)

In this issue 22

18 20 22 24 27 28 30

QB partners

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What can I do?

(Global Interaction) Chicken-warming soup (BWAA) Every day counts - it’s a race against time (BWAA)

32 35 36

Articles Marriage—a lifelong calling Under the scalpel of grace Crossover in action The most important step of all

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34 38 39 42

Our cover: Tamara has her life back on track, thanks to help from friends and staff at Carinity Education—Southside in Brisbane.

Read about Tamara’s journey in Carinity’s article, Strong enough for a brighter future.

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News, views and issues

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

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

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

From the Editor In this issue of The qb, Baptist World Aid’s article (Chicken warming soup) especially warmed my heart—and I’m sure it will warm yours. Cambodian farmer, Chen, can now provide for his family after years of poverty. He has always worked very hard, but now he has been given priceless knowledge that has allowed him to radically improve his farming practices.

By contrast, BWA’s second article (Every day counts—it’s a race against time) reports on the unfolding human tragedy in the Middle East, where it’s estimated that ‘over 11 million people have been displaced from their homes and are fleeing from violence’. This number is appalling, and difficult to comprehend—please pray for these people, and help as you are able.

Sally Foord (QB kids & their families) writes about Generation Z, born 19952009, and their potential for being the ‘movers and shakers’ in our world—a world experiencing prolonged recession, ongoing terrorism, wars,

and the threat of climate change. Sally reminds us about the importance of listening to them and teaching them the truths of the gospel, so that we ‘equip them for what lies ahead’ in their lives.

And for adults, John Sweetman (Speaking out) suggests that it may be time for a new discipleship movement, saying, ‘As our society moves further away from Christian values, effectively discipling Christians becomes crucial if the church is not to be swept away by the tide of our culture’. I’m pleased to add that discipleship will be the main theme during 2015, as we continue our QB Board’s focus on ‘Knowing God’.

It has been my privilege, again, to compile this issue of The qb. I trust God will bless you richly as you read it.

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

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Comment

Following Jesus: Knowing God Human relationships are necessary and important. There are some people with whom we immediately connect, others are somewhat more difficult. We form different relationships for different purposes. Some are far more intimate than others. What is it about you that makes you a good friend? In what order would you rank the following four criteria?

Education What about your education level? This might impact on your ability to connect on an intellectual level with others.

Career Perhaps your career is significant. Often our jobs are seen as an indicator of our status in life.

Wealth Maybe it is your material possessions. Wealth often attracts a lot of people!

Connection What about your ability to hit it off with others? You may have a real ability to connect with others through empathy, understanding and shared experiences.

God has something to say about these criteria in Jeremiah. His command is not to boast about wisdom, strength

or riches, but to boast that we have the understanding to really know him. Of course, nothing is wrong with the first three—as long as they are subordinate to the key condition: knowing God! Important happenings The Special Assembly (in Townsville on 21 July) to consider a new Regional Consultant for the north of the State resulted in the appointment of Rev Pieter Henning to that role.

Pieter is currently the pastor at the Whitsunday Baptist Church and will begin in this role in January.

He commences part-time but will transition to full-time through the year. Congratulations Pieter!

The annual QB Board Retreat held over the weekend 25-27 July was followed by the QB Focus 2015 Dinner on 27 August. At the dinner, a presentation was made on where the board believes our focus should lie in the coming year: discipleship. The exact outworking of this is still being established. Our Convention next year (7-10 April) will centre on this theme.

Our guest speakers will be Edmund and Ann Chan from Singapore.

Edmund’s major ministry is in the area of discipleship. I encourage you to attend this event.

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‘This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord’ ’ (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Queensland Baptists continues in a healthy state. Our recent statistical gathering has shown that on any Sunday we have nearly 29,000 people in our church services (growth of nearly 3% on the previous year), and if everyone who normally attended came to church on the same Sunday, there would be nearly 50,000 people present. A total of 866 baptisms were reported to us. Of course, healthy churches involve more than numbers, but these are one indicator. l this very important role.

Finally…

The end of the year is fast approaching. What has been achieved in your life over this time? What is different about you now compared to the beginning of the year? What is different about the key relationships in your life? What is different about the primary relationship in your life—knowing God, the one who is characterised by kindness, justice and righteousness?

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

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Speaking out

Recent movements that have shaped us (Part 3) In the last two editions of The qb, I have written articles on eight significant movements that have shaped Queensland Baptists in the last 50 years.

I promised that I would complete the series this month, commenting on the place of movements and what might be happening at the moment.

The swinging pendulum Because Christians live in a relationship with God and not by a set of rules, we have

freedom to pursue God in different ways. This is healthy and right. Some of us have a heart for mission and others for equipping. Some of us are drawn to emotional expressions of faith and others to more thoughtful expressions. Some of us love spending time in prayer and others love spending time serving. Often these preferences change as we learn more from God’s Word or experience fresh touches of God.

Similarly, churches, and even denominations, have changing preferences. While the Christian basics remain constant, expressions and emphases of our faith do change. Sometimes this is driven by culture, sometimes by the Holy Spirit, and often by both. New movements are evidence of changing priorities.

New movements usually address flaws in the church.

For example, the social action movement helped us see that we have focused too much

on our own needs and not adequately cared for and served our local communities.

But as we focus heavily on social action as a new passion, other emphases like evangelism or discipleship may be neglected, and, therefore new movements will be needed to correct this.

It’s like an oscillating pendulum that continues to swing from side to side. A recognised weakness becomes a focus, resulting in a new movement that swings the pendulum so that the issue

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becomes a strength. But in pouring resources into this new movement, energy gets drained from other areas, and the pendulum often swings back to those areas.

It would be great if every area could be strong at the same time, but we’re human and have limited resources.

We can’t make every area a priority. So the pendulum will continue to swing.

Present movements So where is the pendulum swinging forward at the moment? In what areas are we seeing change and growth?

I will comment on a few areas of movement that are presently gaining momentum.

These movements will not be present in every Queensland Baptist church, but their influence is wide enough to rate a mention. I will not repeat the movements I have already discussed in previous articles, many of which still have considerable influence.

Probably the most obvious one is the corporate prayer movement. Churches have always held prayer meetings, but many churches have recently increased their emphasis on praying corporately. They are either holding more prayer meetings or working to get more people to attend special times of prayer. Queensland Baptists’ promotion of prayer between churches has added extra fuel to this movement.

Speaking out

The missional movement has had a somewhat chequered path in Queensland Baptist churches, but it certainly is a worldwide movement and is making us more aware of the scattered church (during the week) as well as the gathered church (on Sunday). My colleague, Ian Hussey, has written a helpful article on the missional movement, which you will read in the December issue of The qb, so I won’t discuss it further here.

The neoReformed movement is having a greater influence, especially on young adults.

This has mainly come through the podcasting of excellent teachers like John Piper, Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, and Matt Chandler.

Their teaching has brought some of the more Reformed emphases to the fore for all evangelical churches.

There are two particular areas that have always been acknowledged by Baptist churches but have not always been prioritised: one is the authority of Scripture with the consequent need to let Scripture direct all that we do; the second is the centrality of the gospel in all our ministry.

A movement that is gathering momentum in the Western church and has begun to infiltrate some Queensland Baptist churches is the workplace movement. It argues that churches have tended to see ministry as being what a Christian does in the church or through the church. Up until now, church members

have been equipped for church ministry but not for their equally important kingdom ministry in their workplaces. This movement is seeking to provide encouragement, and to equip and support Christians in their ‘frontline’ ministries.

(This is the focus of Malyon Workplace; see http:// transformingwork.org.au) I’m sure there are other significant movements, but I hope this has given you some feel for what is happening.

Possible future movements So what areas are being neglected at the moment?

Where has the pendulum moved backwards? What movements may be required in the future to address present weaknesses? Here are a few areas that I am concerned about.

According to the 2011 NCLS survey, Queensland Baptists have a growing involvement in serving their communities but are less willing to invite someone to church. We appear to have gained ground in practical service but lost ground in evangelism. While most churches emphasise reaching the lost, few are seeing a flow of converts into the church. This may

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be a product of our resistant culture, but I hope that there will be a new, fruitful, evangelistic movement in the future that will see many won for Jesus.

Another area that may need a new movement is discipleship.

In the last 10 years, we have seen some discipleship programs used effectively by churches (e.g. Rick Warren’s 40 Days of Purpose, Kyle Idleman’s Not a Fan), but these programs tend to just provide a short-term boost to discipleship. Some churches have experimented with mentoring programs, others are relying on small groups, and a few have Bible teaching programs alongside their services. But nothing clear has emerged. As our society moves further away from Christian values, effectively discipling Christians becomes crucial if the church is not to be swept away by the tide of our culture. I would love to see a movement that provides effective on-going ways to disciple both new and older Christians.

Well that’s enough from me. I praise God for what he has done through new movements of his Spirit in my lifetime and I look forward to seeing what the future will bring. Come Holy Spirit.

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

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Baptisms

Kai, deacon and Chinese Bible study leader at Mackay Baptist Church writes: ‘Ruby Au, Mark Mak and Joanne Wong from Hong Kong and Malaysia were baptised on 14 September at Bucasia Beach, Mackay.

‘Mackay Baptist Church has been hosting Chinese Bible Studies for the local Chinese community in the last couple years. Through our network, we reached out to Chinese people living and working in the local area including Ruby, a female bus driver from Hong Kong, and Mark and Joanne, a couple who once ran the most successful highend Chinese restaurant in Mackay.

‘The Lord has been working in the lives of these three since the moment they started coming to our gatherings and fellowship. Week after week they grew their faith in the Lord and amazed us at how people can be turned around in such a wonderful way, in just a few months’ time.

‘We would like to share with our brothers and sisters the joy we have in taking the gospel to the lost in Mackay Queensland.’

Tricia

Pictured: Elders Joseph, Ps Pete, Kamal, Kai, and Jeff; (front): Joanne, Mark and Ruby.

Baptisms Birkdale Baptist Sonya Denooyer Caboolture Baptist Daniel Meeks Laura Meeks Bev Townsend City North Baptist Sam Lemm Mojgan Pashaei

Please pray for those baptised recently in all our churches around Queensland, including:

Greenslopes Baptist Jess Smith Hannah Strawson Mackay Baptist Ruby Au Mark Mak Joanne Wong

New Heart Baptist (Rochedale) Naw BaLa Daniel Jacobs Josh Lowe Paw Meh Nga Meh Annalise Oosthuizen Johan Oosthuizen Gabriella Say

The Gap Baptist Eloise Byrnes Joshua Colledge Josiah Goode Elise May Erin May Robert McGuiness James Vanderaa

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Around the regions

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Around the

Regions

Blessings received and shared Graham Lane (Stafford Heights Baptist Church) writes: As a church we continue to experience God’s blessing upon our various ministries as we build on relationships in a multi-cultural environment.

Recently, 100 chaplains attended a school chaplains’

training day. Our catering for morning tea and lunch helped to make the day complete. Also, at our Mother’s Day evening event, 100 ladies were entertained by a bright program and Tricia Lane from Bridgeman Downs Church presented a challenging address. Our ladies, with the help of our Karen fellowship chef, provided a ‘top meal’.

In our Men’s Shed, a grandfather clock case was

manufactured, with Ken Millward taking the lead role in putting it all together.

The case is solid hoop pine and the clock movement is a German Hermle Bim Bam striking mechanism. When the clock sells, part of the proceeds will go towards men’s ministry in Sudan through our Pastor Benjamin.

We thank God for his faithfulness.

Ps Graham Wiseman adds: An initiative by the RSL’s Inverpine Retirement Community inspired the staff at Stafford Heights Thrift Shop to request a donation be made to struggling farmers in Queensland’s drought affected areas (Roma–Dalby).

With the church’s approval, $5,000 was sent to ‘Aussie Helpers’ www.aussiehelpers.

com.au through RSL Inverpine, who themselves had collected over $3,500 in cash and a large supply of tinned and packet food.

RSL Care Queensland agreed to meet these donations dollar-for-dollar, which meant that $17,000 was contributed to aid the plight of our struggling farming communities out west!

Through the goodness of people’s hearts, God supplies the increase. ‘He will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you’ (2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT).

Pictured above: Ps Graham presents cheque to RSL staff at Inverpine

Join us for an evening of carol singing and praise under a warm Queensland starry night

Clayfield Baptist is hosting its annual Carols under the stars Christmas celebration

Saturday 6 December at 7:00 pm Sausage sizzle from 6:30 pm 110 Alexandra Rd, Clayfield There will be a jumping castle, soccer ground, glow sticks, performances by local school choirs and much more Come along and sing your heart out as we celebrate Christmas together

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Around the regions

Support for ministry in rural, regional and remote communities Graeme Dunkley (Northreach Bible College) writes: Just as Jesus’ early disciples obeyed his command to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), Northreach Baptist Church and Northreach Bible College are reaching out to people in Townsville, North Queensland (NQ), Australia and overseas. One way in which they are fulfilling this mission is by supporting and equipping those who minister in rural, regional and remote areas.

During the second week of July, Northreach Bible College hosted the Rural, Regional and Remote Conference for college students, pastors and their families. People travelled to Townsville from as far north as Nhulunbuy in the

Northern Territory and as far west as Longreach to be taught and encouraged in their ministries in what can be challenging and isolated communities.

The conference featured guest speakers Stephen and Janet Gaukroger. Stephen is a pastor and author who lives in England and is dedicated full-time to equipping Christian leaders in forgotten places around the world.

Janet is also involved in this ministry and has a particular interest in families in difficult contexts. They delivered a great series of talks on the Epistle of Philippians, as well as practical matters to do with pastoral ministry.

Conference attendees were greatly encouraged by the Gaukrogers’ in-depth teaching and found it very helpful to meet with others who work in similar circumstances. One attendee said the conference ‘was a great blessing to our family, and has replenished [us] for another phase of ministry; perfect timing, perfect conference, perfect provision from our Great God’.

After the conference, an introduction to NQ culture in the form of pig hunting was arranged. Stephen described it as ‘being much enjoyed by all, with the possible exception of the pig’.

The college is very thankful to a number of Northreach members and to Baplink, whose financial contributions assisted with conference expenses.

Churches in rural, regional and remote areas can lack the material and human resources that are available to urban churches, so at times their ministry can feel isolated and discouraging. Please pray that Christians in these areas will know God’s wisdom and strength as they serve him and those around them.

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Around the regions

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UP ON THE MOUNTAIN Dawn Vickers (Dalby Baptist Church) writes: Seventeen ladies from Dalby Baptist Church headed for the Bunya Mountains at the end of August to enjoy a great weekend of fellowship and relaxation at a ‘Garden Getaway Retreat’. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 was the starting point for pondering the ‘Seasons of our Lives’. In small groups we took time to discuss how the seasons of life are constantly changing and that God is making something beautiful of our lives.

On the move • •

Rev Ken O’Rourke has concluded at Crosslife – a baptist church, Southport Campus, and retired.

Pastor Kane Turner has concluded at Keperra.

A prayer walk provided a good time for quiet reflection as we stopped at various points along the way to talk with God. In one of the sessions, we were encouraged to care for those in a season of need, and each woman planted a pot plant to give to the person God had placed on her heart, as a way of expressing

love and support for them.

We also discussed some of the ‘pests’ that can spoil the garden of our lives, e.g. anger, discontent, envy, bitterness, greed and pride, and the havoc they can cause if we don’t deal with them. Finally, we looked at the things in our lives that we could be grateful for, giving God our praise and thanks.

All in all, it was a lovely time spent in the corner of God’s garden called the Bunya Mountains, where we were fed spiritually as well as physically, provoking the thought that if this tiny corner of his creation is still so beautiful despite man’s plunder of the world, how magnificent the Garden of Eden must have been.

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Mandy Colledge (The Gap Baptist Church) writes: Readers of The qb might remember that, two years ago, the small church with big ideas, The Gap Baptist Church (TGBC), went on a two-week mission trip to China. Well, they did it again, except that this time, instead of the high, dry Tibetan Plateau, their destination was the hot and humid Philippines.

For over 12 years, Kaloi and Edna Ranario have been working with the poorest of the poor in Dasmarinas City, south of Manila. The Home for the Hundredth Sheep provides preschool education, food, clothing and health care to over 120 underprivileged children.

Heartbreaking and heart-warming

So what can a group of 28 ordinary Australians do to make a difference?

A lot it seems. Pastor Stephen Goode managed to lead a motley crew of enthusiastic amateurs in renovating the termite-ridden Bunk House preschool and building a new kitchen and toilet facility.

A few artistically inclined people outlined a new outside mural, which others could then paint over, eagerly helped by the locals, young and old.

One animal in the scene became known as the pig of many colours; it was painted five times—that we know of!

At different stages, nearly all of the crew were ‘down for the count’ due to illness, but others simply rotated into their places. It was teamwork at its best. Small groups visited people in their homes, bringing gifts of food, other essentials, prayer and medical assistance. A team ministered with the school and local communities in singing and stories.

Fun was had by all and the musical instruments used were left behind for the use of the schools.

As with our trip to China, our young people shone at their best. Making friends, playing soccer and basketball, crawling in the building spaces too small for adults—our boys doing a man-sized day’s work each day.

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Around the regions

We were able to fulfill a special request for first aid training. Using one of the teenagers as a guinea pig, we taught the teachers and mother helpers everything from basic hygiene to wound care.

We were able to leave three first aid boxes, packed to the brim. There were some tears when all participants were presented with their Basic First Aid certificates.

A visit to the Tagaytay Zoo was a logistical triumph. Nearly 80 children, teachers and our team crammed into six Jeepneys and headed off for the day for an experience filled with excitement— going so far from home, seeing wild animals and enjoying a special lunch. It is hard to express our emotions when we realised that the children were thrilled with the leftovers from lunch; not for themselves, but because they would be able to give the food to their brothers and sisters.

We had a short break at the beach to reflect and recover from all we had seen and done. There were some bittersweet emotions. Meeting each day was a time of warm fellowship, balanced with knowing Stephen and Lois would soon begin their new ministry at Bowen Baptist Church. An unexpected highlight was two baptisms of our team in the hotel pool.

It was a time filled with hard work and unforeseen challenges, balanced by a lot of laughter and a whole lot of love: a time that was both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

It wasn’t just the crew who went to the Philippines who were involved. TGBC as a whole had fundraised and planned for over a year. Practical gifts such as a portable PA system, ladders and a generator were answers to prayer—in some instances, prayers that had been prayed for years.

During their 13 years of ministry at TGBC, Stephen and Lois Goode have focused on building up and equipping the congregation. As they move north to Bowen, they leave a church with a reputation within the community for ‘punching well above its weight’. Involvement in school Religious Education, prayer breakfasts, Christmas carols, Pink Ribbon breakfasts all happened because Stephen said ‘give it a shot’; and with a new team in place, Coffee Undercover continues as a way of connecting with the community.

We endeavoured to follow the example of Kaloi and Edna, who not only minister in this area but also raise their family there. As a group we embraced and embedded ourselves in the community. We were humbled by so many things—the unconditional welcome and acceptance we received; the faithfulness and resilience of the people; and gratitude for what we take for granted.

A Goode goodbye

Never being a church afraid of doing something different, we were pretty sure that during the farewell service we were probably the only church that morning to be coming down a running track and crossing the finish line in church to receive communion—accompanied by Vangelis’ ‘Chariots of Fire’!

A period of holidays whilst still living in The Gap enabled Stephen and Lois to share an extended good-bye with many people they have befriended and impacted. As a church, and as friends, we will miss them immensely but we are heartened by the fact that it is God’s timing, for both TGBC and the Goode’s, and we are excited that another church will be blessed by their very special ministry.

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Milestones

91 years of kingdom grace

God’s work in this vital, growing Tugun area is now ‘under new management!’

How exciting! Tugun-Tweed’s ‘old, rich, mature wine being blended with Living Temple’s young, fresh, zesty wine’ in a creative, modern, growing, 21st Century ‘wineskin’. It’s hoped that an exciting, God-honouring vintage will result, and an encouraging harvest of new believers will soon be added to his kingdom!!

Some Tugun-Tweed ministries will continue, like the successful and well attended Tweenies playgroup, both home groups and the men’s group. The new venture was launched on Sunday 14 September, and there are now two Sunday Services—at 9.30 am and 4.00 pm.

On 31 August 2014, the Tugun-Tweed Community Baptist Church (TugunTweed) held its final worship service; a Service of Thanksgiving to our mighty, faithful, and gracious God, celebrating a history of gospel witness over 91 years in the lower Gold Coast and Tweed areas.

Tugun-Tweed was the result of the amalgamation in 1999 of two churches, Tugun and Coolangatta Tweed. They each sold their buildings, and used some of the proceeds to buy the (then) Tugun Anglican Church building on Toolona Street.

Over the past few years, God has led Tugun-Tweed to the point where their needs and those of the Living Temple Christian Church (Living Temple) intersected. He kept ‘opening doors’ to go through—in faith. Recently, the members voted to close Tugun-Tweed as it had become non-viable, due to an ageing congregation, few leaders and volunteers for ministry, dwindling finances, and most of all, concern that there were only a handful of young families attending. The Transition Team, coached by Tugun-Tweed’s Intentional Interim Pastor, Allan Jones, presented an interim Transition Report to the leaders, who then took it to the church for discussion and prayer. Eventually, at the AGM in July, the members voted unanimously to dissolve on 5 September, and hand over all buildings, land and other assets to Living Temple, led by pastors Dave and Jess Quak.

encouraged the congregation as they shared testimonies of God’s great grace, mercy and love. Pastor Allan completed his series on Mark’s Gospel, referring to Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection as being like Tugun-Tweed’s journey.

The church has had to ‘die’, and be closed … but through ‘resurrection’, God’s kingdom will continue to grow, in the form of the new church, in the power of the Holy Spirit, continuing to bring life and hope to this needy area of the coast. The morning ended with a beautiful ‘Tugun-Tweed’ morning tea, after all had shared in the ‘family’ meal (Communion) for one final time.

Everyone left—in hope—looking forward to the launch!

God will build his church and extend his kingdom … to his honour and glory!

Kingdom decisions Living Temple Christian Church was launched, with great celebration and thanks to God, on 14 September 2014.

Eleanor Jones wrote up the history of the four churches involved in the development of this Baptist work on the southern Gold Coast (from 1923), and Tweed (initially from 1927, for a few years, then again from 1950). This was presented on the final celebration weekend at a lovely catered dinner attended by 75 people.

Our QB Regional Consultant, Emil Rahimov, who has been a valuable link to the wider Baptist family through this transition time, attended and spoke encouragingly of God’s leading in this interesting journey, and prayed for God’s rich blessing to be on the Living Temple community. Numbers of people shared their memories.

On Sunday morning, 31 August, a good number came to give thanks to God for his generous, gracious hand of blessing on Tugun-Tweed over many years. Elder Peter Cottrell led the worship and people

Ps Dave Quak writes: We have recently witnessed the power and grace of God in an extremely rare fashion. Our team planted Living Temple Christian Church three years ago. A few weeks ago, the team from Tugun-Tweed Community Baptist church voted unanimously to hand over their facilities and resources to our church and allow us stewardship of all God has blessed them with. It has been the most amazing, humbling, God inspired act of Kingdom Mission we have ever witnessed.

The Tugun-Tweed people are some of the most beautiful people we have ever met. They are the family we have been longing for, even though we did not realise it. In the discussions preceding this decision, some of the amazing phrases we continually heard from them were…

‘It’s all God’s anyway, so it’s not ours to give.’

‘We have been the custodians, now it’s your turn.’

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Milestones

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New beginning for Dalby Baptists

LTCC launch

‘We will do anything to see the Kingdom grow.’

lives. We thank God for your courageous decisions, and obedience to Jesus.

When it comes to the Kingdom of God, theoretical theology is not enough; this is Kingdom theology becoming practical mission. The Kingdom of God advances when Kingdom decisions are made, no matter what the cost. There is far more going on here than a simple transfer of property. This is a statement that the church is one body. The body at Living Temple is strong in some areas, and weak in others. The body at Tugun-Tweed also has strengths and weaknesses. Together, we complete each other and set a platform to get about the business of building God’s Kingdom more effectively.

The people of Living Temple Christian Church You are the best people on the planet!

Thank you for coming on this journey.

Your enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to be led by God are inspirational. Your love and care for our family is astounding and we thank God daily that he chose us to serve and lead you all. We love you!

We would like to pay tribute to: God Nothing like this happens apart from submission to Jesus Christ, who is truly the one that authored this development.

We feel the weight of God’s grace on this process and understand completely that we have done nothing to deserve this. He set it up, he is overseeing the process, and he will continue to be the Senior Pastor of this church as long as the church exists.

The people of Tugun-Tweed Community Baptist Church You are incredible! Your commitment to Jesus and his Kingdom advancing has blown us away completely. You are humble, generous, Godly and lovely. We look forward to many years of ministry together as one family. We love that our children will grow up with you in their

Queensland Baptists Queensland Baptists (The Baptist Union) has been overwhelmingly helpful during this whole process. Pastor Allan Jones (with his stunning wife Elanore) has been the transition pastor leading the process and working on the ground.

Emil Rahimov has been our Baptist consultant overseeing the process and advising wisely. These men have gone the extra mile to administrate God’s plan.

The denomination, as a whole, has been supportive and prayerful. It has been an enjoyable process.

May Kingdom decisions like this become commonplace in our movement!

Thank you Jesus Dave and Jess Quak Pastors, Living Temple Christian Church

Dalby Baptist Church celebrated a very special event on Sunday 27 July when they commissioned new Senior Pastor, Rob Rodgers, and his wife, Michelle.

During the service, Pastor Greg Peckman from Toowoomba Community Church presided over the commissioning, posing lots of questions to Rob and Shelley about their lives and interests. Their responses gave the congregation a little insight into what makes them tick. He then followed up with a message to the church from Revelation 2 around the church at Ephesus titled ‘Motives matter’.

Shelley & Rob

During this service it was also Pastor Rob’s privilege to commission Daniel Roberts, as well as Andrew and Meagan Roy, who will train at Bible college for future ministry.

Last year Dalby Baptist Church farewelled their senior pastor and associate pastor as they followed God’s call on their lives to ministry in other Queensland churches. This was followed by the tragic death of their youth pastor.

Pastor Frank Hall and his wife Pat very ably steered the church through these deep waters and this day was indeed a time to herald a new beginning for Dalby Baptist Church.

After the service of commissioning there was a great time of fellowship as the church family sat around the lunch tables sharing a ‘Bring and share pot luck lunch’.

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Milestones

BAPLinK investing in ministry

BapLink celebrates 20 years—investing in ministry The BapLink vision To be Queensland Baptists’ provider of choice for corporate services that churches and affiliates trust for financing and securing their visions for the kingdom of God—in a way that individually they could not.

Looking back ‘The seed that became BapLink, planted in 1985/6, was known as Baptist Inter Church Aid (BICA). It was an interest free fund, which grew to a $2 million deposit base. In the early 1990s, the Baptist Union of Queensland (known as Queensland Baptists) realised that BICA wasn’t going to grow beyond that.

Proposals for change were suggested, and the model that became BapLink was approved at a Queensland Baptists’ Assembly business meeting in March 1994. BapLink commenced operation in July of that year’ (10-Year Annual Report).

‘BapLink was set up to pool the financial resources of the Baptist family of churches. These resources will provide for the continued growth of the denomination ... Surplus funds of

BapLink will go back into the work and ministry of the family of churches’ (The qb, June 1994).

‘BapLink, the Baptist Churches Development Fund (Qld), has reached its first million dollars in private and church investments after only five months in operation’ (The qb, December 1994).

‘2013 was a year of consolidation for BapLink. Investments and lending have both grown: the total lending book 2014 is $56.36m while funds invested with BapLink stand at $110.64m. It is pleasing to see that the retail deposits portion of our book stands at $51.4m.

Praise God for this sustained investment in the ministry of Queensland Baptists.

QB Convention 2015

PASTORS’ & SPOUSES’ RETREAT 7-9 APRIL LEADERSHIP DAY 10 APRIL Guest speaker: Rev Edmund Chan

Edmund Chan is a seasoned disciple-making pastor. The Leadership Mentor of Covenant Evangelical Free Church, Edmund is widely regarded as an insightful Bible expositor and a mentor of Christian leaders. In 1995, he launched the annual Intentional Disciple-making Church (IDMC) Conferences and serves on the advisory councils of several Christian organisations.

Greeting from special guest speaker, Rev Edmund Chan: ‘My wife, Ann, and I are really looking forward to being with you at the Queensland Baptists’ Convention next year. The theme is ‘Knowing God’. You see, life without God is a contradiction of terms, for without God, life is spiritually barren, philosophically sterile, existentially meaningless and therefore, ultimately futile. God is the God of revelation and he calls us to know him.

Jeremiah 33:3: ‘Call unto me. I will answer you and will show you great and hidden things which you do not

Several presentations by Rev Chan are available on youtube, e.g. www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Kaw5bDYdB1I

know.’ God reveals himself to us and he longs for us to know him. 2 Peter 1:3-4, ‘Seeing that his divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence. For by these he has granted to us his precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.’

If you would like to hear Edmund and Ann Chan, You are welcome to join us at QB LEADERSHIP DAY Queensland Conference & Camping Centre, Mapleton (Obi Obi Road) FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2015 12.30 pm 1.30 pm 3.30 pm 4.00 pm

5.30 pm

Lunch Electives (Edmund & Ann Chan) Afternoon Tea QB Thanksgiving & Recognition Service (Speaker: Edmund Chan) QB Celebration Dinner

Please RSVP for catering purposes: contact admin@qb.com.au, ph 3354 5600, or visit www.qb.com.au

God calls us to know him and so I welcome you to this grand privilege and pilgrimage of walking with God, and knowing him. See you there!

Edmund and Ann Chan will speak at the Pastors’ & Spouses’ Retreat 7-9 April and also at QB Leadership Day.

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QB kids and their families

10/14

Generation Z: The movers and shakers My absolute favourite thing to do with kids is to ask them to tell me the biggest thing that happened to them over the last week. Sometimes the answers are tough, like, ‘We had to throw dirt on Poppy’s “coffum” and Daddy cried’, or ‘I got left at school because mummy forgot me’, and sometimes it’s something great like, ‘I got to ride in Nana’s car and eat fish and chips’.

I love hearing these stories because it reminds me that children’s worlds are made up of entirely different moments to mine. Kids see things in an incredibly different way—things that we adults often don’t even notice can be amazing learning moments in children’s lives.

If we don’t stop to ask them, we miss a chance to discuss their biggest hopes, fears, dreams and thoughts. My favourite thing to do with kids is just listen to them, because they simply tell you what’s on their minds; and it’s beautiful.

The current generation (aged 4–18) is known as ‘Generation Z’. According to research, there are two billion of them, and they are known as: ‘... the most connected, educated and sophisticated generation ever … They are the up-agers, with influence beyond their years. They are the tweens, the teens, the youth and young adults of our global society. They are the early adopters, the brand influencers, the social media drivers, the pop-culture leaders. They comprise nearly two billion people globally, and they don’t just represent the future, they’re creating it’ (generationz.com.au).

This generation is consistently being told by society, media, their families and each other that they can take on the world; that it is just waiting for them to step up and change it, and that they have the power to do so. And they believe it.

Young people of today don’t just watch things happen, they make things happen.

Say what you want about the ‘bubble

wrapped’ generation—the kids of today are now the ‘movers and the shakers’ of culture.

Consider the impact of this. A lot of people write Generation Z off as reckless young people (YOLO: you only live once) who have no regard for authority, feel entitled, and spend all their time looking at screens. But they are so much more! These kids, on average, do use technology up to 10 hours a day. They average over five billion google searches and four billion on YouTube daily. They are connected, aware, and involved. It’s estimated that one in two Generation Z kids will have a university education in their life time, work 17 jobs and live in 15 homes. They are a generation of ‘try and see for ourselves’ and have an emphasis on the ‘why and how’ of processes in their world, rather than the ‘what’. They are a generation ready to take on any cause they are passionate about, and WE are the ones called to help them see what is worthy of that passion.

God calls those who lead to train up and instruct the children in our lives. If Generation Z is truly going to rise up and change the world—if they really are the most connected, educated and sophisticated of all generations—then we need to equip them for what lies ahead. And the best way to do that is with the Gospel. These children are showing us that they are ready to stand for what they believe in—so what are we teaching them to believe?

We need to be intentional about equipping them with the Gospel: its power, God’s grace, Jesus’ radical ways and his passionate love. These are the things that Generation Z can hold on to and use their connections to share. Imagine the impact they could have on the world if they knew that this world is not about them, but about Jesus, and that their cause is to spread his Gospel, and his grace.

Unit 29, 37 Mortimer Road ACACIA RIDGE QLD 4110

We need to show children that the only cause truly worth ‘liking’ and ‘sharing’ is Jesus Christ. Jesus taught radical changes when he came to earth, and equipping today’s generation of children with these lessons will have an incredible impact on our world.

The next time you have the chance to ask a child about the biggest thing in their week, take time to invest in them by listening to them. When we show our interest in their lives and in their big moments, they will begin to trust us enough to listen to what we have to teach them. And when we teach them the Gospel and equip them with its gripping truth, we will really see the ‘movers and the shakers’ make their mark on this world; for the better.

Sally Foord Team Leader, QB kids & their families sally.foord@qb.com.au

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QB youth

Reflections Looking back over five years of youth ministry On 7 December 2014, I will ride my motorbike from Townsville to Melbourne, creating space for reflection between ministry settings. It will be good to enjoy some quiet time alone.

As I look back over five years of youth ministry at Northreach Baptist Church, I remember fun times with teens and young adults, and a very supportive church. We have done so many things together: leading teens to faith, supporting them as they leave Grade 12, caring for them as they start university, encouraging some of them as they start dating, and even preparing leaders for marriage. We have seen God

do a lot of great things with our youth, many of whom are now young adults at Northreach.

If I did it all again, there are three things that I would not change, and three things that I would.

I would not change: Inform and train leaders This is about equipping young people to work and serve as youth leaders, as found in Ephesians 4:11-12. It required me to think ahead, including planning and writing training material for youth leader boot camps, until I was able to train existing leaders to assist me in training new leaders. I quickly learnt that keeping leaders well-informed

helped them fit and find their place in a fast-growing youth ministry. So team meetings became the norm and they needed to be functional and fun.

Care for leaders I have always said that the most important people who arrive at the church property on Friday nights are not the teens but the youth leaders, because of the impact they have in the lives of the teens; so proper care of leaders needs to be thoughtfully planned.

At Northreach we believe this is so important that we have trained one leader to be the Leader Care Leader.

This leader plans meals every Friday to feed our team before we start serving,

qb.com.au and they catch up with each of our leaders throughout the year to see how they are going. However, leaders who are going through hard times are my responsibility, so I set time aside to journey with them.

Strive to be a conceptual leader When they start, most youth pastors inherit a small youth group, so it is okay for them to do most of the work: set up the auditorium, run the games, present the talk, welcome the teens, have some deep and meaningful conversations, and more. However, as the youth group grows, the youth pastor will need to train leaders to take on the technical tasks. This frees the youth pastor to be an interpersonal leader, with time to understand the needs of the team, and opportunity to select, develop, resource

and release key leaders into ministry.

It also gives the youth pastor time to think, which some people call ‘leading as a conceptual leader’.

Conceptual leaders always think productivity. They ask themselves, ‘Will my decision as a team leader bring about progress or be a set back for the whole ministry?’ So then, rather than carrying out the technical tasks, the youth pastor is able to move around to do the interpersonal leadership development and focus on big questions

QB youth like, ‘What should I keep my eye on that won’t change in the next five to ten years?’ By this I mean, what do teens need today that teens will need in 10 years time? What is unchanging and essential that must remain central and constant (e.g. the gospel, disciplemaking)? Youth pastors need to prioritise these things.

I would change: Spend more time with high capacity leaders As I look back over five years of ministry, I would give some leaders a lot more of my time to help them clarify their spiritual gifts, and place them in ministries where they could fan their gifts into life.

Don’t focus on numbers It is very easy to measure success by the attendance numbers each Friday night.

This is not good, because it might not reflect that a quality faith is present in the lives of the teens. Rather, we should focus on the turnaround of lives as they move into adulthood. Are they remaining in the church and serving faithfully? That’s the real question.

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Live further away from work and take longer holidays I’ve realised I need to take more time out to rejuvenate my own spirit so that I’m better equipped to serve others.

At Northreach, I live on the church property. This makes it easy for me to go into work mode just by stepping outside my door. I have found that I often do this even on my days off. So at my next placement, I will live further away so it is an extra effort to get to work. Taking longer holidays really means not mixing holidays with ministry friends, and distancing myself (with my family) from ministry related matters.

I would like to thank Queensland Baptists for their great support as a rural, remote youth pastor. I have valued Dave Morrow, Mark Westhuyzen,

Karen Haynes and many others who have become lifelong friends but have also invested their wisdom in me, and our leaders.

As I leave Townsville, what legacy do I leave? I have encouraged teens—now young adults—to understand, and learn to use, simple tools to reproduce their faith in others.

Christian Aguilera

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QB women

She is…HOPE Women arrived with bags of clothes under their arms for the first ever Giant Clothes Swap Party that kicked off each She is...HOPE conference in Queensland this year. Elissa Macpherson spoke about God’s beauty and his desire for his daughters to see themselves through his eyes: that they are precious, loved and gorgeous. Clothes were swapped amid much laughter and a great spirit of love and generosity.

At She is...HOPE, women of all ages came together to hear about a HOPE that never fails—hope that comes from an eternal Father in heaven, who loves us with a depth and ferocity that will always see us through. Speakers Jade Lewis, Vanessa Hoyes, Mel Crothers and I shared about this unfailing hope that is our ultimate assurance.

Stories were shared over cupcakes and tea as we all celebrated a super-sized Morning Tea Together with hundreds of our closest friends. We laughed almost too hard during our aerobics session with Elissa and shared tears and love during the testimonies to God’s goodness.

If there was one important takeaway thought from this year’s She is... conference, it is that our God never fails us; he is our ultimate HOPE and he will get us through.

L-R: Amelia Gavadi (Co-President, Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific), Lorraine Walker, and Patsy Davis (Executive Director, Women’s Dept, Baptist World Alliance)

In October and November, women across the world will gather in groups, small and large, to celebrate the World Day of Prayer. I would like to encourage all women in Queensland to attend or consider hosting a Morning Tea Together in celebration of World Day of Prayer. This will be a great opportunity to CONNECT, SUPPORT and PRAY for our fellow South West Pacific sisters in PNG, Fiji, New Zealand, Western Papua and beyond.

Visit www.bwuswp.com to download a MTT Supporters Pack and register your church’s Morning Tea together.

qb.com.au

QB women

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to understand me and likewise I would understand them. And God did. I spoke, they understood. They spoke and I understood. Afterwards, I couldn’t quite believe what had happened, and yet, I was witness to the simple faith of a man who trusted his God to do amazing things. He asked, and God answered.

The more time I spend in Papua New Guinea, the more I grow to love this wild, raw country. It isn’t the landscape or the coastline that invites me in, but rather the humble, gentle spirit of the people who call it home.

Journey to a wild, raw country The flight from Brisbane to Port Moresby is not a particularly long one.

Three hours and you’re there. Up the blue coastline of Queensland, across a short expanse of deep blue water, island hopping from one perfect tropical paradise to another. And then you fly over a country of rugged beauty. Port Moresby itself is brown, smoky and surprisingly dry; not quite the tropical island paradise of my dreams.

I went in my role as President of the Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific (BWUSWP) and travelled with Lorraine Walker, a former president, and Patsy Davis, the Executive Director of the Women’s Department of the Baptist World Alliance. We went specifically to celebrate the 25th anniversary of women’s ministry amongst Baptist women.

And wow, do the PNG women know how to celebrate!

‘I worship Jesus from my feet to my fingertips!’ said one gorgeous sister as

she danced and worshipped at an allday celebration (9 am–4 pm without break) of dancing, singing and speeches, finishing with a pig cooked in a traditional mumu.

A highlight of my trip was hearing women share their memories of when the white missionaries first came to their tribe, and how their tribes were transformed by the light of Jesus Christ coming into their world. Jessie Bong stood out to me. Confined to a wheelchair, she was an elder amongst the women; treated with reverence and respect. She spoke with tears running down her cheeks, grasping my hand and pleading with me not to hold back from doing God’s work, because more, and more, and more women in PNG need to know the transforming love of Jesus.

I was privileged to preach at 9 Mile Baptist Church, a church without walls, that welcomed everyone in. Many sat on the floor, some gathered around the doorway and others squeezed in, two to a seat. It was an honour to share with them. I thought I would be speaking with an interpreter, but Ps Jeffrey had a different idea: before I spoke he simply prayed that God would open their ears

Sue Peters Director, Qld Baptist Women Director, Australian Baptist Women President, Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific www.sheis.net.au www.sheisleading.com admin@sheis.net.au

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QCCC

Brookfield retained

A swimming pool and entertainment deck now covers the previous college cricket pitch. Onsite outdoor education activities are available at Brookfield.

qb.com.au

QCCC

These days, leafy Brookfield in Brisbane’s west is one of Brisbane’s most sought after addresses. Large and generous houses on acreage just 20 minutes from the CBD make it an idyllic and impressive suburb. In the 1960s, the Baptist Union of Queensland was given 34 acres of Brookfield land—a generous donation from Dr L J Dart. It’s this land which contains Carinity’s Brookfield Village and QCCC Brookfield, our ‘Urban Campus’.

bunk beds. The centre also features a swimming pool, beach volleyball court, tennis court and TV/games room. And just quietly, it even has a dance-room!

With high quality catering, inner-city convenience and excellent meeting spaces, QCCC Brookfield is ideally suited to schools, church groups and retreats. It’s also highly sought after for music camps, including hosting the prestigious program for Musically Outstanding Students (MOST).

QCCC Brookfield emerged as a renovation of the Baptist Theological College of Queensland, which operated on the property for 30 years.

A generation of Queensland Baptist pastors lived at, and was trained at, Brookfield, creating a legacy of profound Christian discipleship and witness.

The focus of QCCC Brookfield is on its home city. Brisbane city offers a range of fascinating and educational destinations for visiting schools; QCCC Brookfield’s website page lists more than 40 of them.

QCCC also offers Encounter Brisbane packages incorporating historical and reflective tours of the city CBD based on Mark’s gospel and the Two-BridgeChallenge, a GPS-driven clue hunt in the city and across South Bank using QCCC’s ‘Hand’ developed from the Beatitudes and Romans 12:02. As QCCC’s Urban campus, it complements Mapleton—Adventure Campus and Tamborine—Mountain Retreat Campus and is a vital touchdown in QCCC’s sequential pathway for school camping.

QCCC Brookfield opened as a campsite under the management of Murray and Carolyn Wickens in 2005. It was embraced by the staff of the two other QCCC sites, who could see its potential as an urban campsite— something unique for QCCC to offer, particularly to country schools looking for a Brisbane-based camp. QCCC Brookfield is the closest non-backpacker accommodation for schools visiting the Brisbane CBD. QCCC Brookfield has been the quickest site to achieve close to full occupancy levels—within five years of opening it was in a position to start creating a waiting list of groups desiring access.

However, the purchase of the site and the renovations also created a significant liability, and for several years Brookfield operated on the knife-edge of viability.

In 2011, the Board of Queensland Baptists provided QCCC with three years to prove the viability of the site and define its ministry potential.

Three years are up and a review has just been conducted, concluding that QCCC Brookfield has now reached a state of viability, and recognising the current ministry of the site and the potential for significantly more. Unlike the old college days, all of QCCC Brookfield’s accommodation is ensuited and air-conditioned and there are no

Brookfield also has the strongest level of weekend bookings of all sites and provides a vital partnership to a plethora of spiritual retreat groups, church camps, ministry craft groups and para-church organisations. It’s also the destination of choice for much of Scripture Union’s chaplaincy induction and training.

However, now that it has been decided to retain Brookfield, potential exists to examine and launch several other important ministry initiatives.

Brookfield’s proximity to the stunning D’Aguilar National Park will allow the development of bush to urban expedition programs. This will see the site operating in the realm of another of the three mandates of Christian witness, that of the Creation mandate from Genesis 1:27-28. QCCC’s outdoor education programs are a way for Queensland Baptists to fulfill this mandate by speaking of our obligations to be good stewards of God’s created order and a part of its restoration to him.

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The other profound potential for QCCC Brookfield lies in its concept plan for a Leadership Studio. Using the old library space of the college, the Leadership Studio is a bold vision to create a space for character-based leadership development, referencing the Beatitudes and Australian History.

Dr Dart asked legendary City Tabernacle pastor, Rev FT Smith, to espouse a vision for the property at Brookfield back in the 1960s and one of the things at the forefront of his dreams was to see the property used to ‘give younger folk an outreach for necessary social service’.

Brookfield is already a venue where school students are accessing programs about their civic and social responsibility.

However, by also focusing on a future teaching about the Christian mandate of environmental restoration, and with a leadership space teaching the leadership style of our Christ, Rev Smith’s dream of younger folk being introduced, immersed and released into Christ-focused service looks like it has a bright and exciting future.

Summer Family Program – Mapleton: There are few more relaxing and restoring places than the mountains of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in summer.

Once again Mapleton will be running its Family Holiday program. Morning worship and devotions from respected Baptist pastors, activity programs for the kids through the day, outdoor movies at night, four swimming pools, canoes and all meals taken care of! There are two sessions of the holiday program: 1. 29 December to 7 January 2. 12–18 January Enquires and bookings can be made via: bookings@mapleton.qccc.com.au Andrew Grant Director of Queensland Conference and Camping Centres andrew.grant@ qccc.com.au www.qccc.com.au

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THE THEME FOR QUEENSLAND BAPTISTS DURING 2014 IS

‘KNOWING GOD’ PART FIVE In previous articles, I have established that the primary expression of our relationship with God is communication. Foundational to this communication is the Word of God (Bible) and prayer. There are a number of practices (spiritual disciplines) that will assist us in making the most out of these. Spiritual disciplines are not ends in themselves, but rather habits we learn and develop that assist us in our relationship with God. A lot has been written about spiritual disciplines. I commend Richard Foster’s classic, Celebration of Discipline, as worthwhile reading. Gary Thomas (2000) has written a helpful book called Sacred Pathways.1 In it he outlines nine pathways that assist in our relating to God. Do some experimenting with them: find out what is helpful and what is not. His pathways are listed this way with some biblical examples.

1. Naturalists: loving God out-of-doors. Learn to seek God by surrounding themselves with all that he has made. Believe that nature proclaims ‘God is’ (Hagar in the desert, Abraham on a mountain, Jacob at a river crossing, some of the disciples by the Sea of Galilee) 2. Sensates: loving God with the senses. Lost in the awe, beauty and splendour of God. Drawn to the liturgical, the majestic, and the grand. Incense, architecture, classical music and formal language send their hearts soaring. (Ezekiel, feels wind, sees lightning, hears sound of wings, eats a scroll; John) 3. Traditionalists: loving God through ritual and symbol. Fed by ritual, symbols, sacrament and sacrifice. Disciplined in their life of faith. Need structure. (Abraham, Solomon, Ezra, Peter and John observed set times of prayer.)

4. Ascetics: loving God in solitude and simplicity. No distractions.

Pray in silence and solitude; fast. Internal world. (Daniel, Joel, John the Baptist)

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Knowing God

Thomas, G, 2000, Sacred Pathways, Zondervan, Grand Rapids.

5. Activists: loving God through confrontation. Define worship as standing against evil and calling sinners to repentance. Serve a God of justice. Adopt social or evangelistic causes. Live their beliefs even if it means confrontation.

(Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Habakkuk, Paul) 6. Caregivers: loving God by loving others.

See Christ in the poor and needy. Faith is built by interacting with others. Love in action. (Mordecai, John, James) 7. Enthusiasts: loving God with mystery and celebration. Experience excitement and mystery in worship. Inspired by joyful celebration. Cheerleaders for God and the Christian life. They don’t just want to know concepts but to experience them, feel them and be moved by them. Clap, shout and dance. (Joseph, David) 8. Contemplatives: loving God through adoration. ‘Divine romance’. Images of a loving Father and Bridegroom. They seek to love God with the purest, deepest and brightest love imaginable. (David, the Shulamite woman, Mary) 9. Intellectuals: loving God with the mind.

Academic study. Live in the world of concepts. ‘Faith’ is something to be understood as much as experienced. Enjoy theological discussion. (Levites, Solomon, Jude) Of course, Jesus is an example of all of them!

This list takes away the ‘one size fits all’ approach to spirituality and recognises that God has us all on a different journey. This releases us (and encourages us) to be who God intended us to be, growing into the person he wants us to become.

David Loder gs@qb.com.au

qb.com.au

QB archives

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History in the palm of your hand

Imagine 50,000+ pages of newsprint filled with interesting information about people, churches, places and events, along with photographs and inspirational articles, produced over a period of nearly 80 years and covering developments across the whole of Australia and beyond! That is the size and nature of the newspaper which reported on Baptist life in our country from 1913 to 1991, informing and inspiring people and churches.

How much space would it take up on your shelves? How long would it take to find a piece of information that you needed? How would you share this collection with people wanting to access it in different parts of the country?

How could you preserve it so it didn’t deteriorate?

The AB is being digitised, thanks to the cooperation of Baptist Historical Societies and Archives, Baptist Unions and some generous individuals from all states. The process is well underway, with the first round of material up to 1960 already on hand. It is due to be completed soon and will be available in the Baptist Archives Queensland and Malyon College library. Although there is a large amount of material, it will fit easily on a small external hard drive or a few memory sticks, and information can be found quickly.

Published weekly for many years, The Australian Baptist (AB) was packed with valuable data about our churches, evangelism, missionaries, people’s lives and all the rest. However, the only set available in Queensland covers about one third only of the period, and there are only three or four complete sets elsewhere, resulting in much of the information locked up and hidden away.

The project has been underway for the last year or so with scanning taking place mainly in Adelaide, and much of the process being finalised in Brisbane. It is expected to be launched at the next gathering of Australian Baptist Archivists in Melbourne in November this year.

It will be particularly valuable for Queensland because our local paper, The qb (The Queensland Baptist), was not published for the first decade of the AB, and it is missing for a further 20 years later on. With interest in the First World War now to the fore, it is extremely helpful to have the AB with its coverage of Queensland news available for that period.

That was the case up to now—but no longer! Imagine now that all this information could fit in the palm of your hand, can be searched in a few minutes, and shared with whoever needs it electronically or as a print-out?

This is just one of a series of digitisation projects making valuable data readily available. Most of The qb has already been digitised, along with many of the Baptist Union of Queensland Year and Report books. This availability has

revolutionised searching for information about families, churches, ministers and church activities.

Some local church material in digital form is already held by our Archives.

This includes printed histories as well as projects that have been published as books over the last few years.

The biggest scanned collection is one church’s entire documentation dating back to the late 1800s. Now another project is underway—the City Tabernacle Baptist Church is digitising its ‘Year Books’, which date from 1891.

They consist of booklets of 50 pages or more, with detailed reports of the church’s activities and names of many people—all of which is an invaluable resource about the state’s first church.

Digital records are a now vital part of the any church’s documentation and require careful handling. The overall aims and principles are the same as for paper records, but the practical aspects are much more complex. The Baptist Archives Queensland has step by step Guide Sheets available to help churches and their leaders in managing their digital archives. These are available at www.qb.com.au or by request.

Baptist Church Archives archives@qb.com.au, Ph 07 3878 3178, 07 3354 5642 or 07 3256 8897 The Baptist Archives PO Box 6166, Mitchelton Q 5053

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Malyon

Malyon in 2015 Some of the units on offer in Semester 1, 2015.

Old Testament Foundations OT301/501/D Jesus and the Gospels NT301/501/D Missional Leadership MCP31/51/D Foundations for Youth Ministry DM310/510/D I know it’s only October, but here at college we already have our sights firmly set on 2015. (I saw Christmas trees on display in the shops back in September, so I guess we’re not too far behind!)

New units on offer If you are thinking of study in 2015, we are excited to offer you several new units as part of our Master of Arts: Introduction to Christian Ethics An Intensive with Rev Dr D Morcom 2–6 February What we believe and how we behave are like the two wings of an aeroplane— both are crucially important! This unit focuses on Christian ethical decisionmaking and behaviour by examining the different approaches that have been taken to ethics, the ways in which the Bible is used in Christian ethics, and the application of Biblical principles to specific ethical issues such as sexuality, divorce and remarriage, sexism, racism, and wealth and poverty.

Missional Church An intensive with Dr Alan Hirsch 2–6 March This unit explores the ‘Missional Church Revolution’ and the new kind of

leadership it requires. This revolution is characterised by the shifts from internal to outside-of-church focus, programs to people development, and church-based leadership to apostolic-era leadership.

Malyon welcomes guest lecturer Dr Alan Hirsch, an international thought-leader and strategist in missional ministry for churches across the western world.

Interpreting Deuteronomy An Intensive with Rev Dr A J Culp 16–20 March Students in this unit will develop their exegetical skills, gain knowledge and understanding of the relevant critical and interpretive issues, develop their ability to form reasoned views in critical and debated matters, and discover how to apply this ancient text to current day pastoral ministry.

Social Ethics An intensive—details to be finalised This unit equips students to draw discerningly upon Christian social ethical traditions and apply them to their ministries and work. Students will have access to an array of Christian resources to facilitate their cultural understanding and then to facilitate social change in situations where the

Guided Spiritual Formation PC449/649/D New Testament Greek A LA004 Genesis Exegesis (English) OT429/629/D John Exegesis (Greek) NT634/D The Reformation CH424/624/D The Doctrines of Grace and Eschatology TH403/603/D Introduction to Christian Ethics PE301/501 Intensive Christian Worldview PE310/510/D Chaplaincy in Educational Settings DM414D/614/D Introduction to Church-Based Children’s Ministry DM320D/520/D Mission Perspectives EM301/501/D

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church has effectively been privatised and/or become passive in response to its cultural context.

The same high standard of units Of course, we also offer the same great range of units which are always well received by students. Grab a copy of our new College Guide or head to www. malyon.edu.au for a full list of what you can study in 2015.

Lay a solid foundation We also offer a one year (gap year) program for 17–25 year olds who want to lay a solid Biblical foundation for their lives. We call it Malyon Launch.

Launch offers young students the opportunity to engage in a range of learning experiences to foster their spiritual growth and ministry capacity.

Students will be personally mentored, gain a theological qualification, gain ministry experience, go on short-term mission, build a network and get to know the Bible more deeply.

For more information go to www.malyon.edu.au/launch

Malyon

NeoLeader Retreat, 12–15 Jan 2015 Loved neoLeader’s 2014 conference?

Imagine if you could do it all again for four days straight....

Whether your leadership is exercised in church, your community or your workplace, neoLeader is here to support you as you steward your influence for the sake of the gospel. In 2015, Malyon is hosting the neoLeader retreat to help you develop and steward your personal influence.

Want the details? Go to www.Malyon. edu.au/events for all the details on who, what, when and where.

‘Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding’ (Jeremiah 3:15).

Of course, we always have fun!

Malyon’s faculty of internationally respected lecturers has a reputation for intellectual vigour and empathetic student contact. That’s a given. But did

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you know that they also love to embrace life and make time for creative pursuits?

Some of them are gifted photographers, some love fitness and others love music, while some of them don’t mind poking fun at the trends doing the rounds on social media.

We’re excited about 2015! There’s a lot going on. But we know that, in and through it all, we are here because God has called us, and provided for us, to develop Christians of influence.

Eustacia Yates Communications Manager, Malyon eustacia.yates@ malyon.edu.au www.malyon.edu.au

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Carinity

Strong enough for a brighter future

Tamara Nagle has overcome significant obstacles to achieve her goal of completing Year 12. Her story is inspiring others to do the same. A determined young woman, Tamara is a shining example of the good work being done by Carinity Education—Southside at Sunnybank, Brisbane.

At a school camp on Fraser Island, Tamara spoke enthusiastically about how much she has learned since she started school at Carinity Educatio— Southside. Carinity is an outreach of Queensland Baptists and has been transforming the lives of disadvantaged girls for more than 16 years.

Tamara’s life was on the wrong track when she was expelled from school at age 14. She was, by her own description, ‘naughty’ and on the way to juvenile detention. That’s when she heard about the benefits of Carinity. Some friends attended the school and recommended it to her.

The individual attention Tamara received and the flexible approach to schooling suited her. The youth workers and teachers taught more than just their subjects: Tamara learned life lessons and other necessities most girls would learn from a family member. She learned how to behave and was exposed to a new set of values—‘compassion, patience, respect for me and for others’.

But the journey to a brighter future took a detour. Repeated changes to her living arrangements disrupted her schooling and she was forced to leave before finishing her Junior Certificate.

Yet the brief exposure to Carinity’s teachings made a profound impact on Tamara.

‘For the first time I was able to make good decisions,’ Tamara says. ‘I enrolled in TAFE to finish my studies, but it didn’t offer the same level of support as Carinity Southside.’

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Carinity

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With the help of a job network provider, she enrolled in a Certificate II in Retail and was soon employed at a discount variety store. She enjoyed her independence and the income, but the dream to complete Year 12 remained.

Last year, at the age of 19, Tamara returned to Carinity Education— Southside. Now living with her sister and with the financial support of Centrelink, she has completed her Certificate II in Arts, as well as studies in Maths, English, Science and Recreation Studies. In September Tamara joined 21 of her Year 12 classmates to sit the Queensland Core Skills tests. This represents almost 90% of the Year 12 cohort and set a record for the school—doubling the number who completed the tests at the school last year. Now Tamara is on track to graduate at the end of this year.

‘I have always wanted to finish Year 12 because not many people in my family have done that. School is difficult ... but now I have the determination and now I am strong enough and brave enough for the future,’ Tamara says.

She says the best part of Carinity Education—Southside is the people.

Her teachers have instilled important life skills that will help her gain employment. But, most importantly, she has learnt skills to help others who find themselves disengaged from mainstream schooling.

‘Now when I see the new girls at school, I see the “old me” in them. I can tell they are hurting on the inside like I was. I can’t just sit there. I have to help them,’ Tamara says.

For Tamara, it’s almost time to leave the security of Carinity behind. She intends to pursue future study that will help her get a job she enjoys. Her heart was set on being a paramedic, but a recent back injury ruled that option out.

‘I’m not disheartened, my teachers are helping me look at other options,’ she says. Her passion for the arts, including photography, may lead her to explore

studies in the creative arts or interior design.

Tamara’s path to success has not been straight forward. It’s an inspiring story of a young woman’s persistence and determination to achieve her goals, overcoming obstacles along the way.

It shows the power of the Carinity Education—Southside model to help vulnerable people who have become disengaged with mainstream schooling and need guidance and support to find their way in life.

If you know someone who would benefit from Carinity Education—Southside, or would like to support the school, please visit www.carinity.org.au or phone (07) 3423 7499.

‘Now when I see the new girls at school, I see the “old me” in them. I can tell they are hurting on the inside like I was. I can’t just sit there. I have to help them.’

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Global interaction

What can I do?

She was 47.6 kg and 150 cm tall, and in September 1885 the 1400 Baptists in Queensland commissioned her as our first missionary. For 33 years she worked in a difficult environment in what was then East Bengal. She visited Queensland just twice in that time. In 1910, ‘The City Tabernacle church was filled to capacity with an enthusiastic crowd of about 800 people who greeted her with “hearty and sustained applause”’ (as recorded in David Parker’s booklet, The Martha Plested Story).

Over two-thirds of the global population of seven billion people have not heard the Good News of Jesus and had the opportunity of a life-changing relationship with him.

Today, through Global Interaction, Queensland Baptists have 23 adults engaged in, or preparing for, crosscultural service. Will you pray for more?

Opportunities abound.

‘I wasn’t even aware we were involved in PNG’, say some. But we were part of a movement that did go, to bring the message of salvation to those who had not heard.

Martha Plested— second from left

I pass on to you the gratitude of a group of students at Bible College in Papua New Guinea (PNG): ‘Geoff, when you are speaking with Australian Baptists, please thank them for bringing the Good News of Jesus to us. We are the fruit of what you have done!’

Martha Plested was commissioned a few months after the first contingent of Australian troops entered an armed combat in North Africa. Today, in a world that is impacted by armed conflict, we are challenged to respond by ‘sending forth another contingent, but the weapons of their warfare [are] not carnal’, to borrow words from Rev William Poole, who spoke at that first missionary’s farewell.

I am impressed by the response of the early followers of Jesus when the authorities of the day made moves to silence Peter and John. Their cry to God: ‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your message with great courage while you

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Global interaction

• • •

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Mobilise—become informed about people groups where Global Interaction workers are located Give—become partners with a cross-cultural worker Go—as a first step, contact me for a coffee and a chat.

Did you know that the Baptists of PNG are linking with Global Interaction— their ‘Papa and Mama’—in taking the gospel to those least reached?

For further information www.globalinteraction.org.au Geoff Cramb Qld State Director, Global Interaction gcramb@globalinteraction.org.au globalinteraction.org.au

Luke and Belle with Salem

extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously’ (Acts 4:29-31).

How will we respond to the challenges of our day and age? By praying a similar prayer?

Here are some suggestions: •

Pray—be part of Just Prayer, a prayer campaign taking place 7-10 November. Baptist congregations around Australia are encouraged to pray for those least reached with the Good News of Jesus

Ben and Petra, Bryce and Lachlan

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Marriage

MARRIAGE

a lifelong calling

Recently, two Hervey Bay couples celebrated milestone wedding anniversaries: Cyril and Pat Yeomans of Nikenbah celebrated their 60th anniversary with a morning tea at the Hervey Bay Baptist Church, while Keith and Lindy Stevenson remembered 40 years of marriage with an afternoon tea at their Urangan home. During the afternoon, Lindy surveyed the 80 guests and found that they had totted up 1270 years of marriage among them.

Cyril and Pat met at the Warragul Hospital, Victoria, where Pat was a nurse and Cyril, a patient. They were married at St John’s Anglican Church, Yallourn on 4 September 1954. Cyril and Pat were not Christians when they married, but through the witness of one of Cyril’s work colleagues, they gave their lives to Christ at a time when their marriage desperately needed reviving. Their home was established at Yallourn and four children, Susan, Wayne, Chris and Colin, were born. Cyril started work as a rigger with the State Electricity Commission of Victoria and over the course of his working life, he studied to improve his job prospects and finished his career as a Charge Engineer at the Yallourn Power

Station. Over the years, Cyril and Pat have seen 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren added to the family.

The Stevensons met at the Currumbin Youth Camp in 1973. They were both Christians—Keith from Fairfield Baptist Church and Lindy from the Grange Baptist Church. On one of their early dates, they went to Festival Hall in Brisbane to watch the Harlem Globetrotters play an exhibition basketball game. Little did they realise that by morning the hall would be under water—it was the night Brisbane succumbed to the ’74 flood. Before they married, Keith worked as a loans officer for the Commonwealth Bank and Lindy as a primary teacher. They were married at the Grange Baptist Church on 7 September 1974. In 1988, Keith left the bank and became the pastor at Hervey Bay Baptist Church, where he and Lindy have served the community for the past 26 years. Keith and Lindy

have three children: Cathy, Grant and Justin, and two grandsons.

During his ministry, Keith has established strong links with churches in Vanuatu and Fiji, the church having supported the Fiji Bible College of Evangelism for over 20 years. In recent years, Lindy has supported Bible translation in Papua New Guinea by teaching English at the Wycliffe Training Centre at Ukarumpa, PNG.

Both the Yeomans and the Stevensons believe that marriage is a lifelong calling and that as problems come your way, you need to work through them and give more than you take.

The cord of three strands as mentioned in the Book of Ecclesiastes is often quoted at weddings. When Christ is the binding factor in a marriage it makes for a strong, stable partnership.

It’s often said that marriage is a 50/50 arrangement, but actually it’s 100% effort from each person. Perseverance and forgiveness are essential qualities which help to nurture love, as together you build family traditions and values.

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BWAA

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Chicken-warming soup One of the main things that I realised when I met Chen was the amazing impact that gifts from supporters can have. It was really inspiring to meet someone who had benefited from the generosity of Australians and who was so thankful for the chance he had received to improve his life.

On a small farm in a rural village in Cambodia, one entrepreneur has taken permaculture to a whole new level.

‘In winter, my chickens were dying from the cold,’ Chen told us through his interpreter. ‘After attending training about composting, natural pesticides and organic fertiliser, I started to think about my chicken problem. I experimented and made a soup from lemongrass and other herbs, which warmed their stomachs from inside. Now fewer chickens die and they are all much healthier.’

Permaculture is more than just learning how to grow sustainable and healthy crops. It is a way of life and a new way of thinking about growing food— and it’s a concept which is having an amazing impact for families around the developing world.

‘When our Christian partner in Cambodia first met Chen he was determined to make a go of his small plot of land,’ Caitlin Ramrakha from Baptist World Aid said. ‘Every morning he would carry buckets of water on a rod across his back, from his home to the plot where his vegetables were growing. This was some distance— and he made the trip 100 times every morning and 100 trips again in the evening. He did this until he had saved enough money to install a water pump in his field.

‘Our partner spent time with Chen talking about ways he could use the cycle of the seasons, nature’s own natural defence mechanisms as well as

the light and drainage resources of his plot to maximise his food harvest. He also learnt how to make a water filter so he and his family could always access clean water. Chen put in the hard work and now he has a successful market garden, which provides his family with a steady income all year. Our partner has walked with him every step of the way.

‘Cambodians have suffered so much in recent years. Whole communities are relearning trust, forgiveness, and skills they lost under the Khmer Rouge, so the programs funded by Baptist World Aid need to include as much peacebuilding, mentoring and encouragement as they do livelihood training and health education.

‘One of the main things that I realised when I met Chen was the amazing impact that gifts from supporters can

have. It was really inspiring to meet someone who had benefited from the generosity of Australians and who was so thankful for the chance he had received to improve his life.

‘Making an impact can be as simple as purchasing a gift card, e.g. a gift of Seeds supports projects in gardening and permaculture, or a gift of Chickens provides training in rearing and caring for chickens—just like the ones Chen warmed with his herbal soup!

‘Please visit our website www.baptistworldaid.org.au and look through the Little Book of Big Gift Ideas. These beautiful cards make great gifts for all occasions—and they bring amazing, life-transforming change for people across the developing world,’ Caitlin concludes.

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BWAA

Image courtesy of Medair

Every day counts— it’s a race against time Today in the Middle East, over 11 million people have been displaced from their homes and are fleeing from violence. The UN reports that many of these are young children*. It is a staggering and unimaginable number!

The war in Syria has been raging for almost four years; however, ISIL militants have now brought the conflict into neighbouring Iraq. Refugees who had found temporary sanctuary in Iraq find themselves forced again to flee to nearby countries such as Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan.

While initially slow to mobilise, reports and footage of recent atrocities, and even genocide of minority groups such as Christians and Yezidis, have

forced the world to sit up and take action. Added to this violence, the sheer number of people escaping ISIL military and political violence has created a humanitarian nightmare— and with winter approaching, there are predictions that many thousands might die without an adequate international response.

‘Our partners and agencies are reporting that thousands of families and children are sleeping out in the open

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‘Without an urgent humanitarian response, many families will be vulnerable to severe weather conditions, hunger and disease and it is likely lives will be lost.

Every day counts—it’s a race against time.’ developing Christians of influence

without basic needs including food, or sanitation,’ Anthony Sell, Programs Director for Baptist World Aid says.

‘Our greatest concern right now is shelter, and there is a huge amount of work needed to ensure that families have protection from the cold.’

‘Without an urgent humanitarian response, many families will be vulnerable to severe weather conditions, hunger and disease and it is likely lives will be lost. Every day counts—it’s a race against time.’

‘Could I encourage you to pray for God’s intervention in these crises? Pray for peace and for mercy from political leaders. Pray also that governments around the world will generously give aid where needed and will be moved to accept additional intakes of refugees.

Please also keep our Christian partners and other NGOs who are working on the front line in your prayers.

‘And pray for the children. They are the most innocent and vulnerable in this scenario. Their lives have been uprooted and many have lost loved ones. The sheer scale of the disaster means that most have no access to psychosocial support or even the stabling environment of a school to attend.

‘The other thing we can do (as churches and individuals) is to give financially.

Baptist World Aid has launched a Middle East Crises Appeal, which will have a two-fold impact, initially joining with our Christian partner Medair to deliver emergency food supplies, shelter and sanitation to the worst affected

refugee communities; then, supporting education facilities in neighbouring countries to give traumatised refugee children places to meet together to learn and have the chance of a childhood amidst the fighting and upheaval.

‘Please join with us as we seek to serve the most vulnerable caught up in these serious crises across the Middle East,’ Anthony concludes.

To give to the Middle East Crises Appeal please call 1300 789 991 or visit www.baptistworldaid.org.au.

Detailed regional fact sheets, specific prayer requests and resources for your church are also available on the website. *Source www.unhcr.org/539809f70.html Pictured: Over 5,000 people are staying in these unfinished buildings in Zakho. The sites have no sanitation and are dangerous for children. The city of 350,000 is hosting 100,000 displaced Yazidi people fleeing attacks by ISIL militants.

Degrees in theology and ministry Bachelor | Masters | Doctoral

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

www.malyon.edu.au

‘Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God ... began to wash the disciples’ feet’ (John 13:3-5 NKJV).

When we know where we’ve come from, when we know who sustains us and when we know who is going to reward us, we’re liberated from the fear of people, the fear of failure and the fear of rejection.

‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name’ (Matthew 6:9 NIV).

‘Hallowed’ in Greek indicates he’s unlike others: different, special, the only One. In an age where respect for authority is disappearing because it challenges our self-importance, Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘Heavenly Father, enable us to give you the place your holy name and character deserve.

Reprinted with permission: Imelda Gilmore [gilmore.imelda@gmail.com]

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Thinkspot

Under the scalpel of grace Trail running, for some, would seem like an unusual way to enjoy free time, but for me it’s when I feel so alive. So, recently, when a very tiny piece of glass became lodged in my foot, it quickly cramped my running style! I then went through several emasculating phases of coping.

Phase 1: Ignoring Toughen up, be the man! I can’t remember stepping on any glass, so just hobble around for a few days and let it work out. No crying—at least not publically.

Phase 2: Personal quick-fix Take a pin, dig it out. All the cowboy heroes in my western movies dug out bullets and arrows—why can’t I? Answer: I can’t do it because I am missing a stylish cowboy suit and matching hat. Also, it really hurts when I try!

Phase 3: Acceptance Walk around gingerly. Yes, it hurts, but let’s never, ever go back to phase 2 or talk about what happened publically.

Hobble around; live with it.

Phase 4: Showdown It’s sundown ... a time of many famous western gun battles. My wife, Bec, has just returned home from her work as

a hospital nurse. With a wide grin she says, ‘Ryan, there’s good news and bad news’. I curiously raise an eyebrow. ‘The good news is you’ll soon be running again!’

I feel trapped—it’s a showdown.

Bec slowly extracts a giant monstrosity of a needle from her purse. ‘Lay down!

No flinching!’ I try to run, but for the reasons stated above, it’s useless.

I surrender.

A lonesome cowboy song whistles in the background as I walk the dusty trail to the couch and submit my foot into Bec’s hands. My time has come. As I begin my last speech, as every respectable cowboy does, Bec pokes mid-sentence: ‘I would just like to say ... Arrggh!’

The good news is that Bec was right. A few days later I was back to running, feeling free and alive once more as I pounded along the dusty trail. It struck me how similar our lives can be under the scalpel of God’s grace.

Each person I know, including myself, has accumulated everyday ‘limps’ in life—real issues. Perhaps we ignore the problem, try a few self-help strategies, or maybe we’ve just accepted things as they are. The scalpel of God’s grace begs one

question: ‘Will we trust God with each of these tender, painful, areas of our lives?’ We may become fearful, resist, but the ‘limp’ remains.

I’ve found that entrusting our ‘limps’ to God may initially be painful or scary, yet it is the only remedy. In summation, the scalpel is an instrument of healing, of grace. Only when we allow our loving God to enter into these spaces will we experience a freedom that allows us to run—fully alive again.

I reckon this cowboy will ride down that trail!

Jesus said: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’ (Luke 4:18-19).

Ryan Vallee Pastor of Community Development, Kenmore Baptist Church Reprinted with the author’s permission.

First published http://wonderingfair.com/ author/ryanpaulvallee/

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Crossover

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Crossover in action

Rooftop conversations As I entered the rooftop above the sixth floor of Collins Street Baptist Church (Melbourne), I braced myself against the cold weather and found Phil Greenbury from Lifepointe Church (Maroochydore) being pressed in on by two inquisitors from Adelaide.

I approached and listened to the questions being fired at Phil and his answers. These are the golden moments I love experiencing in my role with Crossover: being a broker of great ideas, innovation, experience and ‘know how’.

The event was our annual Church Planting Consultation, which promotes church planting and revitalisation.

As an extension of this event, this month I will be hosting a party of pastors from Newcastle who will be undertaking a study tour of South East Queensland churches that are models of multi-site planting and/or church revitalisation. The group is looking for ideas, inspiration, and guidance as they consider opportunities to plant and revitalise in Newcastle.

A new generation of evangelists Scott’s wake-up call came unexpectedly, due to a surprise invitation. Looking back on his ministry, he realised that a key cutting edge had become blunted

and unused: evangelism. As an invitee to our Emerging Evangelists Conference, Scott realised how the potentially sometimes-insular world of pastoring had led him to neglect a clear gifting for evangelism that was present in his earlier days in ministry. Scott returned home committed to rediscovering his gifting. In October, we will hold our third evangelists’ conference with representatives attending from each state Baptist Union, including four from Queensland.

The trawlerman and the banker If you are lonely, marginalised, and on the streets of Hobart, there’s a good chance that you will come into contact with an ex-trawlerman with a big heart. Frank Cole spent his working life on the sea as a cray fisherman in the Hobart trawler fleet. He now walks the streets reaching out to the marginalised, offering hope through the gospel in a church without walls. Frank was delighted when Crossover brought evangelist Dennis Pethers (previously an investment banker) to Hobart, as part of a national tour. ‘I found it so refreshing to learn how I could turn an ordinary conversation into a means of reaching those people with the good news of Jesus Christ’, Frank said.

Dennis Pethers will be joining us again in October to conduct a range of training events with church leaders and churches in Queensland and other states. He returns as the guest speaker at the Emerging Evangelists Conference in Melbourne.

Investing in leaders When you are a young leader just starting out in ministry, it means the world to you to have someone recognise your gifting and provide opportunities for you to grow. Sam Jordan, an intern at Lifeway Baptist in Devonport, Tasmania, was one such young leader.

The thing Sam appreciated most was that church leaders identified the gift of evangelism in him. Previous recipients of the award include Billy Williams.

Thank you Thanks to the generosity of churches right across Australia at Easter this year, through our annual offering, Crossover is able to continue creating stories like this so that the Gospel can be shared with a needy world.

Stan Fetting Operations Manager for Crossover Australia For videos, articles and resources go to www.crossoveronline.com.au

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Persecution brief

HELP BUILD GOD’S KINGDOM through your local church and other Baptist ministries

Please pray!

IRAQ – DISPLACED CHRISTIANS DIE IN MISERABLE CONDITIONS Hundreds of thousands of Christians were forced to flee their homes, many with nothing, as militants from ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) violently seized towns and villages in the Nineveh region. The militants overran Qaraqosh, Iraq’s largest Christian town, on the night of 6-7 August.

Many Christians have taken refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan. Some are sheltering in churches and schools, though others have no choice but to sleep in unfinished buildings, in parks and in the streets. The most vulnerable amongst the displaced are reportedly dying because of shortages of food, water, medicines and shelter from the elements.

Harrowing reports have been emerging of the plight of those who were unable to escape the militants’ violent advance.

The United Nations has highlighted abductions and sexual violence, saying that some 1,500 Yazidis and Christians may have been forced into sexual slavery.

Some of those displaced from the Nineveh region had already fled just weeks earlier from the city of Mosul, which was captured by ISIS (which now wishes to be known as the Islamic State). Christians in Mosul were given three options: convert to Islam, pay the jizya tax of subjugation and accept a humiliating second-class status, or face death.

Although many Iraqi Christians have been turned on by their neighbours since the ISIS onslaught began, Barnabas has heard of at least two cases in which local Iraqi Muslims have spoken out on behalf of their Christian compatriots. Both were killed instantly by ISIS or its supporters. Give thanks for their bravery and for that of all who speak out against ISIS. Source: Barnabas Fund

Explore giving options at

www.qb.com.au/giftfoundation or phone 0400 795 302 We encourage you to consider a gift in addition to your tithes and offerings, after you have made provision for family and friends.

PARTNER WITH CHRIST

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Called home

preached at Tannymorel, Cunningham and Allora, and was an Intermediate Christian Endeavour leader for several years.

Jens, Charles and Peter served for long periods as deacons. Peter served for 30 years, and although offered a Life Deaconship, would not accept the role but was happy to serve as a steward while he could.

Peter Josiah Jens Petersen 20 July, 1915 – 16 July 2014 The life of Peter Petersen, a member of the Warwick Baptist Church for over 90 years, was celebrated at the church on 23 September 2014. Peter passed away in Melbourne where he had lived near family since leaving Warwick.

In 1949, Peter married Doris Wood, a Brisbane girl he met on a church camp in Warwick, two years earlier. Doris predeceased Peter in 1998, however his ashes will be returned to Warwick and placed on her grave.

‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’

(Matthew 25:23).

The Petersen family has been associated with the Baptist church in the Warwick district since 1885 when, after emigrating from Denmark in the 1870s, Jens Petersen (Peter’s grandfather) started the Danish Baptist Church at Freestone, 25km from Warwick.

In 1896, when Glengallan Station was broken up, Jens Petersen purchased 208 acres of quality soil only 10km from Warwick, and built the house where Peter lived for over 90 years. Jens Petersen became a foundation member of the Warwick ministry in 1911 and was soon joined by his son, Charles, in the work there.

Peter was baptised in 1928 by Rev Kyewski. He taught Sunday School for around 25 years, led cottage meetings,

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a Salvation Army Sunday School, and when she was 12, gave her life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pauline married Paul on 17 May 1986 and they began a life of moving around—14 moves in 20 years—from Melbourne to Townsville and places in between. In 1990, the couple’s first child, Zackary Paul, was born; their second child, Megan May, followed in 1993.

Pauline faithfully supported Paul throughout his chosen careers in the army, aviation and a greater service to faith and the church. She did this with a ‘no fuss’ attitude—she was a quiet achiever.

She studied to become a librarian and completed her degree in 2005. She worked in the Caboolture Library then Grace Lutheran College library while Paul undertook theological studies at Malyon. After graduating, Paul accepted a call to Mundubbera Baptist Church.

In 2013, Pauline’s life journey took a dramatic turn, but even then, she was full of grace and love and had time to share with others. At her funeral, Paul said: ‘The final thing Pauline wanted was to encourage you all to get know and love Jesus so that she may see you all again one day.’

Pauline May Dare 31 August 1965 – 4 July 2014 Pauline was born in Franklin, Tasmania to Allan and Valmae Quinn. She grew up in Huonville, south of Hobart, where she went to school and later started work at Westpac. She attended

Paul and the family wish to thank the wider church family for their prayers and thoughts during the past 18 months. It has been of great comfort to them.

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Steps

The most important step of all Mark Elvery awoke in the wee hours of the night late last year with the content of this article in his mind. Mark is severely disabled and cannot roll over or get out of bed unassisted. He spent the rest of that night repeating in his mind what had come to him, until he could record it later that day. It was a ‘God moment’ for Mark and he feels that there is someone, somewhere, who needs to hear what was put upon his heart.

3. received training as they watched what Christ did 4. went out, two by two, putting into practice what they had learnt 5. saw the impossible made possible when Christ rose from the dead 6. were restored, where needed 7. were commissioned 8. received the Holy Spirit 9. obeyed their commission and went into ‘all the world’.

You need to take steps if you want to get somewhere, achieve a goal, or reach a destination.

It took eight steps for God to create the nation known as Israel (Genesis 12–35).

There are also many ‘steps’ in the Bible. Here are just a few examples.

In nine steps the disciples were ready to change the world (The Gospels, Acts).

They: 1. were called 2. answered the call

1. He called Abraham out of Ur 2. Abraham separated from Lot and set himself apart 3. Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah in old age 4. Abraham, in obedience to God, was prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice 5. Isaac married Rebekah and they had two sons—Jacob and Esau 6. Jacob fled after stealing Esau’s inheritance 7. Jacob worked for Laban for seven years only to marry Leah, before

The Open Door

Retreat

Queensland Baptists’ Retreat Lodge

Relax

Refresh

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

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

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

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

www.qb.com.au

qb.com.au

Reviews: Books, DVDs, Music

43

5. One day he’s coming, Oh Glorious Day! (One day when heaven was filled with His praises, Charles Howard Marsh, 18861956) In four steps, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt (Nehemiah 2 - 13): 1. Nehemiah sought permission to rebuild from King Artaxerxes 2. Nehemiah surveyed the damage by night 3. The work was divided among the people 4. The book of Moses was read aloud before the people

working a further seven years to marry Rachel 8. The 12 children of Jacob became the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel.

In seven steps God brought Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3 - 14).

1. Moses was found in the bull rushes 2. He was raised in the palatial courts of Egypt 3. He worked as a shepherd after he fled to the wilderness 4. God called him from the burning bush 5. He obeyed and delivered God’s message to Pharaoh 6. The 10 plagues were sent because of Pharaohs’ hard heart 7. The children of Israel crossed the Red Sea. In six days (steps) everything was created. And then God rested (Genesis 1).

There are five steps in the redemptive work of Christ 1.

2.

3.

4.

Living He loved me Dying He saved me Buried, He carried my sins far away Rising He justified freely forever

There will be three steps at the Rapture when the dead in Christ shall rise and we will meet him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17): 1. The Lord will come down with a loud command 2. A shout from the archangel will be heard 3. The trumpet call of God will sound forth And there are two steps in the service of remembrance we celebrate called ‘communion’ (Matthew 26:26 - 29). We partake of: 1. The bread—symbolising Christ’s broken body 2. The wine—symbolising Christ’s shed blood.

But there is only one step needed to be reconciled to God, and saved by grace (Romans 10:13): ‘For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ One step at a time is all it takes but THIS is the most important step of all!

‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord’ (Psalm 37:23).

Mark Elvery worships with Wynnum Baptist Church

BOOK: Touch & Go (Peter O’Sullivan) Price: $19.99 plus postage Ask at your Christian bookstore or visit http:// posullivantouchandgo. wordpress.com/ An original legal thriller from debut author and lawyer, Peter O’Sullivan; packed with twists, turns, moral choices and an ending you just won’t see coming. Life is great for Dan Grover, a sports loving, confident young lawyer who inherits a small Brisbane legal practice.

His world is turned upside down when he plunges headfirst into a murder investigation and trial that fractures the very core of his identity, relationships and belief systems. As Dan’s self-assurance shatters, he turns to someone he hasn’t had contact with in a while. And where is God when you really want to hear from him?

‘An elaborate plot that grips the imagination from the explosive start to a dramatic end! In between, the storyline remains tense, unpredictable and gripping.

A first-rate read!’

(David Loder, QB General Superintendent)

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Reviews: Books, DVDs, Music

BOOK: Growing Up Social (Gary D Chapman) Price: $17.99 at WORD

how he makes me laugh, and how he challenges me to grow. You will too. Men, read this book and improve your marriage!’ (Lee Strobel, New York Times best-selling author).

Having a pulse is all it really takes to fall in love. Staying in love is another matter; staying in love requires a plan and some learned skills.

BOOK: 7 Ways to Be Her Hero (Doug Fields) Price: $13.99 at WORD

‘My primary audience for this book is guys (sorry, sneaky ladies),’ says author Doug Fields. ‘I am writing in a way that most men seem to talk and learn.’

A book that talks to guys in the way guys talk!

In 7 Ways to Be Her Hero Fields gives, quite candidly, seven very doable actions to transform any marital relationship—guaranteed.

The book also includes a bonus chapter for guys to read with their wives. So if you want to understand some simple ways to invest in your marriage and be your wife’s hero (again), this is the plan!

‘This book should storm into your living room, demand an audience, and become every husband’s best friend!’ (Rick Warren, pastor and New York Times best-selling author of The Purpose Driven Life).

‘I love Doug Fields! I love how he lives, how he writes,

These reviews provided by WORD.com.au

BOOK: The River (Beverly Lewis) Price: $16.99 at WORD She looked once more at the dreaded river. Since Anna’s death, it had been such a barrier … a place and a moment she could not seem to move past. Tilly and Ruth, two formerly Amish sisters, are plagued by unresolved relationships when they reluctantly return to Lancaster County for their parents’ landmark wedding anniversary. Since departing their Plain upbringing, Tilly has married an Englisher, but Ruth remains single and hasn’t entirely forgotten her failed courtship with her Amish beau. Past meets present as Tilly and Ruth yearn for acceptance and redemption. Can they face the future in the light of a past they can’t undo?

In this digital age, children are spending more and more time interacting with a screen rather than a parent.

Technology has the potential to add value to our families, but it can also erode a sense of togetherness and hinder a child’s emotional growth.

In this book you’ll learn how to take back your home from an over-dependence on screens. Discover the five A+ skills needed to give your child the relational edge in a screen-driven world: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology, and attention. Today’s screens aren’t just in our living rooms; they are in our pockets. Now is the time to equip your child to live with screen time, not for screen time. Constant entertainment is not the goal of childhood. No phone, tablet, or gaming device can teach your child how to have healthy relationships; only you can. Growing Up Social will help you: • Equip your child to be relational rich in a digital world • Replace mindless screen time with meaningful family time • Establish simple boundaries that make a huge difference • Read what’s working for the screen-savvy family down the street • Prepare your child to succeed in relationships and life • Learn healthy ways to occupy your child while you get things done.

qb.com.au

Fun zone

45

Creative Captions

Sudoku Challenge

Win a Word Bookstores Gift Voucher

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

Malyon faculty send up the ‘selfie’ trend. Submit your creative captions for this photo of the QB leadership team via email: admin@qb.com.au or post to PO Box 6166 Mitchelton Q 4053.

And, if you have a great photo that needs a clever caption, send it to admin@qb.com.au or snail mail.

Sukodu solutions to: QB Magazine, PO Box 6166 Mitchelton Qld 4053 Two correct entries will be chosen to receive a $30 Word bookstore voucher. Don’t forget to include your full name and contact details.

Last issue:

No prize awarded

Name System Drive:Users:michellegustavson:Downloads:8_Fun Zone_October 2014.docx

Address Email

Hey Kids, Look for Lucy!

Solution: 08/14

Hey kids! Look for Lucy in this issue! Little Lucy is hiding somewhere. Tell us where she is hiding and snail mail your answer, or email qb@qb.com.au.

Congratulations to Dorothy Wheatley and Allan Quak a $30 Word Bookstore voucher is coming your way!

Congratulations!

To all those who found Little Lucy hiding on page 34 (August issue).

System Drive:Users:michellegustavson:Downloads:8_Fun Zone_October 2014.docx

Sudoku puzzle provided by www.sudokuoftheday.com visit them and get a new Sudoku every day!

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Classifieds CLASSIFIEDS

Subscription Form 2014 Order by phone: 07 3354 5633 - Payment via credit card.

OR

URGENT: Pianist needed from February 2015 for concert party. Rehearsals at North-East Baptist (Nundah) Thursday nights. Approximately 40 bookings per year, each of about 75 minutes. More information Laurelle 3359 7298

Complete this form and post back: The qb Editor, PO Box 6166 Mitchelton QLD 4053 Australia Price: 1 Year $19.50 (GST inclusive) Personal Details Rev / Dr / Mr / Mrs / Ms / Miss (circle) Full Name

Address

State Postcode Phone (

)

Email

Payment Details I have enclosed a cheque/money order for $19.50 payable to Queensland Baptist Services Group.

OR Please charge my credit card Mastercard / Visa (circle one) Number

A will to end poverty Expiry Date Cardholder’s Signature

/

Do more than you ever thought possible by leaving a bequest in your will.

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

qb.com.au

Classifieds

POSITIONS VACANT FAMILIES PASTOR (TOOWOOMBA COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH) TCBC is seeking a person to join the pastoral team in the role of Families Pastor (Part time – 30hrs per week), working with our church community, especially parents, in supporting the discipleship of children and youth. Further information is available by emailing office@tcb.org.au, or by calling our church office on 07 4633 3173.

47

ACCOMMODATION AGNES WATER: Clean highset 3 bedroom house available for school holiday rental for $400/wk. Walk to the beach, rural setting, basic furnishings. Call (07) 4974 9018.

BRISBANE: House available as a ministry to missionaries and church workers on the move. Three bedroom, single garage, everything provided. Transport at the door. Minimal rent.

Email: gtho4536@bigpond.net.au CALOUNDRA - GOLDEN BEACH: Highset three bedroom holiday home. Weekends or weekly. Pets OK. Close to beach.

Phone 0402 077 822 or lizottaway15@gmail.com.

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

YOUTH/CHILDREN’S PASTOR

COOLUM: 3brm beach unit, new facilities, ocean views $270 w/e, $490 week *excludes holiday periods. Phone 0411 222 787, email rickn@activeforkliftservice.com.au.

_______________________________________________________ HEADING TO BRISBANE? Idyllic motel style accom Minden Baptist Church is seeking a dynamic husband and wife team with views, perfect for sabbaticals, couples’ retreat, conferences.

Queen size room, ensuite, kitchenette (breakfast basket daily). who are passionate about working together to minister to young Great Value $135/night (reduced rate for pastors). Phone Helen people.

Gynther 0400 832614 or email helen@moretonmusic.com.

MB Church is a growing church in the Somerset region about 20 minutes down the Warrego Highway from Ipswich. The successful WANTED: Granny flat or small s/c studio on Brisbane applicant must be willing to work in a team with the Senior Pastor northside for commuters. Casual week nights only. Phone 0433 747 318. and the leadership team of the church and to see the overall goals of the church reached.

FOR SALE The position of youth/children’s pastor is being offered on a part time basis. _______________________________________________________ If you would like more information or you think God might be calling you to serve at MB Church please phone Ps. Steve Henley on 07 5426 8206 or email at steve@mindenbaptist.org

PEWS: Quantity of pews - varnished pine on steel frame each 3.1metres - Price negotiable. Also 1 x bain marie and 1 x deep fryer available at no cost. Pick up ex Mundubbera.

Please phone Mundubbera Baptist on 07 4165 4388 or email mundubberabaptist@gmail.com.

FOR HIRE CHURCH HALL: Hall available for hire at 134 Hertford Street Upper Mt Gravatt 4122 and has good kitchen facilities attached.

Cost for use is by donation. Bookings can be made by mail at P.O. Box 6028 Upper Mt Gravatt 4122 or by phoning Robert Fraser on 0433 727 744.

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

WHO ELSE WENT TO KATOOMBA BAPTIST CHURCH

INTEGRITY TRAVEL

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

in last 100 years? You did? Come again; celebrate KBC’s Centenary. Do you know others who attended? Please tell them about this special event: 10:00am Sunday 9th November 2014 Luncheon. [RSVP by 9th October if wanting lunch] Call now: 02 4782 7371. Email: aero@exemail.com.au for more details.

Maybe meet some old friends. “Sorry, I can remember your name but I can’t place your face!” A warm welcome awaits you.

Relax

knowing your investment is safe and working hard for you, and at the same time, helping to support much needed local projects.

Partner with BAPLink to support ministry initiatives through Queensland Baptists.

BAPLink, a ministry of the Baptist Union of Queensland, supports churches who serve their local communities.

BAPLink provides: • • •

Competitive interest rates Friendly service No administration fees

Facilities available: • • • • • •

Internet access (for churches only) Term investments Partnership investments - a new way of giving Electronic transfers for churches Cheque facilities for churches Loans to churches and ministers

Join the growing number of ‘Baptists making a difference’ by partnering 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