Bible Studies Bring Hope and Change in Blacktown

Every Saturday afternoon, a diverse group of individuals meets at the ADRA Community Care Centre, Blacktown to study the Bible and fellowship with each other. Made up of people with a variety of backgrounds, nationalities, faiths, and needs, they find common ground in seeking the truth.

The Saturday meetings were first organised more than 10 years ago to provide a safe place to address spiritual realities. Since its founding, there have been around 10 to 15 attendees each week. “The participants are free to come and go as they wish, but there has been a core group of 10 that have been attending over the years with new ones coming off and on,” shares Pr Eddy Johnson, who leads the group and is also the former manager and current honorary chaplain of the Community Care Centre.

The meeting starts at 5 p.m. with a Bible study based on requests from attendees about specific issues they’re facing. “Lately,” says Pr Eddy, “the studies have been more biblically focused, as there was an interest in studying in a more structured way.” Then, the meetings close with a potluck dinner, which allows interactive connections and socialising.

Jim Kaponikolos is one of the regular attendees, and he’s benefitted greatly from the Bible studies, time with fellow seekers, and mentorship of Pr Eddy. “When you’re in the midst of the most challenging periods, God will send you signs and messages, and you have to be open to that,” Jim shares. “God sent me Eddy at the right time. I learned to trust him, and then, afterward, when everything was falling apart, I was able to open up and listen to him. He guided me through the most difficult period of my life, and I ended up becoming better for it. There will be people in your life that God puts in front of you. You have to see those signs and let yourself be guided; don’t be afraid of change.”

At first, Jim wasn’t too keen on attending the Saturday meetings.

He went because Pr Eddy invited him, and he wanted to make his mentor happy. But just one meeting in, he realized he belonged there. “Eddy is that person who we all need,” he says. “I’ve read the Bible, but a lot of it was a mystery to me. Eddy puts it in today’s language and gets us thinking about what it really means. All of a sudden, it’s like this Book is opened up and I’ve been given the codes. I will not miss a Saturday Bible study. It’s a must-have for me.”

Jim was raised Greek Orthodox, and he still attends his childhood church along with attending Pr Eddy’s Bible studies every week. “I go to church to meditate and get in touch with my God,” he says. “But Pr Eddy is my spiritual guide. He doesn’t put pressure on me to change. The idea is to be in touch with God. Whether we’re Greek Orthodox or Adventist, I look at it like this: We might be on different teams, but we’re all playing the same game.”

He says that the group has been a lifeline for him in trying times, and he’s found strength and hope in the messages and the people there. “It’s a beautiful fellowship that’s been cultivated,” he says. “It’s a beautiful way to start the weekend and meet some likeminded people.”

The Bible study is held at the centre, but not officially part of its services. Because they must follow certain rules in order to qualify for grants, Pr Eddy explains, “most ADRA centres cannot openly talk about religion.” Even though individual volunteers are allowed to discreetly talk with clients about religious issues, ADRA Blacktown pledged from the start to go a step above community centres that only meet material needs. “As

a Christian counsellor, I always find some way to talk about trust in God to the client,” shares Pr Eddy. “Most politely mention non-interest, but some want to know more.”

Helping others know more about God has always been the goal of the centre. “ADRA Blacktown is a redemptive ministry that tries to introduce Christ to the clients who show some interest,” says Pr Eddy.

“We tell our counsellors to inform their respective clients that the centre has a chaplain that they can choose to have a chat with if they wish. A number of them do, and I always invite those that see me to the Saturday meetings. Most of the clients know nothing about the loving God that we serve, and yet their greatest need is to know the Saviour.”

For more information or to join the Saturday study group, contact the centre at 02 9622 7188 and talk with Eddy or Grace. Individuals can also drop in at ADRA Community Care Centre, Blacktown, Suite 3, Level 2, 24 Main St, Blacktown, NSW, at 5 pm on Saturdays.