Accemag 3 2016final

#3 2016

EMAG

SPIRIT FILLED LIFE

FULL OR RUNNING OVER?

quarterly publication for acc leaders

LOCAL CHURCHES

MOTIVATING

VOLUNTEERS

ONLINE IMAGES

DIGITAL DANGER ZONE

DIGITAL FOCUS

Social Media Guidelines for Church Workers SAFER CHURCHES

Why good Christian kids are watching PORNOGRAPHY CULTURE

LEARN A NEW

LANGUAGE 1

SIDE

IN

DIGITAL FOCUS THIS EDITION OF THE ACC EMAG TAKES A LOOK AT OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY AND HOW IT IS IMPACTING THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS.

EDITORIAL...God wants to show us things – from His perspective. Wayne Alcorn shares his heart and vision to take another look what God is saying to us.

3

FULL OR RUNNING OVER?... Russell Evans of Planetshakers shares on being filled with the Holy Spirit to the point of overflow

7

PORNOGRAPHY - DIGITAL DANGER ZONE... With the ready availability of internet pornography at the push of a button, it is believed to have a far greater reach into homes and schools than ever before.

16

WHY GOOD CHRISTIAN KIDS ARE WATCHING PORONGRAPHY.. David & Katie Kobler share on battling the porn probalems in youth groups.

18

LIGHT A FIRE... Stephen Fogarty shares insights on how to effectively motivate volunteers in your church..

24

TIME TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE... Lily ArasaratnumSmith discusses what makes some people really good at communicating with people from other cultures..

SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES... Some helpful, practical guideliens for church workers when it comes to personal online communication.

+

@ACCSNAPSHOT NEW RELEASES PAN ASIA REPORT UWS - YOUTH ALIVE KIDSHAPER REPORT INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT KNOWN,VALUED & INCLUDED ...by Paul Bartlett FUNDING YOUR VISION DEALING WITH DEBT...by Tim Macready

2

29

31

4 6 10 12 14 28 32 34 35

Photo by Stephen White

G

od wants to show us things – from His perspective. We’re going to ‘take another look’ at our National Conference on the Gold Coast next year. There’s an invitation to look again with wide-eyed wonder at the Church, missions, leadership, lost people and our place in society.

What can you see?

Problems or possibilities? Opposition or opportunity? Hassles or the Harvest?

Take another look.

This is or moment to present Jesus through the unchanging message of God’s extravagant love in an ever changing culture.

I have a sense of great anticipation for our National Conference 2017.

I believe our Heavenly Father wants us to take another look - to see life, leadership and ministry through His eyes. Across the nation and beyond, I see the evidence of the Holy Spirit doing a unified work amongst our churches.

Together, let’s keep watch and see what He says to us.

We’d love you to join the ACC family on the Gold Coast in May 2017.

Wayne Alcorn ACC National President

Follow Wayne Alcorn on Twitter: @wayne_alcorn

A C C N A T I O N A L C O N F E R E N C E 2 – 4 M AY 2 0 1 7

W W W. A CwC.. a OcR c G .. A ww oUr/ gC .OaNuF/E R E N C E

3

TAKE A LOOK... w EMERGING LEADERS

@ACCSNAPSHOT CHECK OUT WHAT’S BEEN

w MISSIONS

HAPPENING ACROSS THE ACC WITH THE RECENT INSTAGRAM POSTS

w NATIONAL

w MILESTONES

w SAFER CHURCHES

w CHAPLAINS

w CONNECT GROUPS

w WOMEN

w BAPTISMS

POST YOUR ACC PICS JOIN THE MANY ACC MINISTRIES WHO POST THEIR ACTIVITIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA @ACCSNAPSHOT #ACCSNAPSHOT

4

TRIBUTE IAN WOODS 1947–2016 It is with great sadness that we received the news that our much loved friend and pastor, Ian Woods, passed on into eternity on 8 September.

Ian was first was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 49 and doctors gave him two years to live. With faith-filled prayer and support from across the nation, Ian fought back in faith and defied the ‘death sentence’ by stepping up in leadership and ministry for almost two more decades. He was elected as the NSW State President and also served as a National Executive member for many years.

Ian and his wife Joan have been loyal and loved members of the ACC family, building a thriving church in Hawkesbury in NSW before retiring after 26 years as senior pastors. In recent years, they took on the role of pastoring on staff at Hillsong, particularly speaking into lives on marriage and family.

Ian is honoured as a great leader and mentor to many in our movement, with many tributes puring in from those who he has impacted over the years.

Please let’s keep Joan and sons, Michael, Matthew and Benjamin, and their extended family in our prayers at this time.

Thank God for the hope of eternity.

www.accimissions.org.au/oneday

5

NEW RELEASES READ

LISTEN

WATCH

IN AUSTRALIAN CINEMAS 6 OCTOBER 2016

http://light-a-fire.ac/

OVERFLOW Planetshakers

LIGHT A FIRE

By Stephen Fogarty

In every church– no mater the size–volunteers matter. They are the heart that cares, the engine that empowers growth, the arms that reach God’s goals, and the eyes that see a vision of a better future for people in the community.

Building a team of dedicated, skilled, compassionate volunteers doesn’t happen automatically.

Stephen Fogarty’s new release provides church leaders with a valuable resource to select, equip, and direct volunteers to deepen and expand God’s Kingdom.

His extensive research is a springboard for his clear principles, vivid stories, rich biblical insights, and specific application to help pastors and team leaders. https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01K18AQY0 www.amazon.com EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT

BY STEPHEN FOGARTY PAGE 24

Planetshakers’ latest live praise and worship album, Overflow, reflects the promise in Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think, according to His power that is at work within us”.

We serve a God of the Overflow and He wants to demonstrate His nature by blessing your life with abundant joy, peace and favour.

Our prayer is that as you join with us in adoration of Jesus, you too will personally experience the God of overflow and super abundance.

Ephesians 3:21 reveals the reason God wants to overflow: “…To Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.” God wants to show you that He is a good, good Father. Join Planetshakers and live in the Overflow. Album launching 30 September: www.planetshakers. com/music/overflow/ RUSSELL EVANS SHARES THE HEART OF ‘OVERFLOW’ PAGE 7

LET HOPE RISE MOVIE The Hillsong movie Let Hope Rise was released in the USA on 16 September and scheduled for Australian release on 6 October. The film, directed by Michael John Warren, brings the story of Hillsong United to the silver screen, capturing the on-stage energy and off-stage hearts of United in a new motion-picture genre— the theatrical worship experience.

The film explores Hillsong’s humble beginnings and astonishing rise to prominence as an international church whose songs are sung every Sunday by more than 50 million people worldwide.

The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of Let Hope Rise gives a fresh take on songs sung and loved around the world. Including such favorites as ‘The Stand’, ‘With Everything’, ‘Hosanna’ and ‘Relentless’ among others. www.hillsong. com/store

W W W. A C w Cw . OwR. aGc .cA. oUr/ gC. O a uN/ F E R E N C E www.acc.org.au/conference

6

FULL OR RUNNING OVER?

BY RUSSELL EVANS

EPHESIANS 3:19-21 (AMP) ‘...AND [THAT YOU MAY

19

COME] TO KNOW [PRACTICALLY, THROUGH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE] THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH FAR SURPASSES [MERE] KNOWLEDGE [WITHOUT EXPERIENCE], THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED UP [THROUGHOUT YOUR BEING] TO ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD [SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE THE RICHEST EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIVES, COMPLETELY FILLED AND FLOODED WITH GOD HIMSELF].

20

NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO

[CARRY OUT HIS PURPOSE AND] DO SUPERABUNDANTLY MORE THAN ALL THAT WE DARE ASK OR THINK [INFINITELY BEYOND OUR GREATEST PRAYERS, HOPES, OR DREAMS], ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US, 21

TO HIM BE THE GLORY IN THE

CHURCH AND IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

FULL OR RUNNING OVER? For many years we have cried out to God to ‘fill’ us, both personally and in relation to our churches: heartfelt prayers to ”fill us with the Holy Spirit”, “fill our altars with the lost”, “fill our accounts with resource”, “fill our churches with people”, “fill us with peace”, “fill us with joy”... the list goes on and on. Though such prayers are legitimate and Kingdom-minded, have you ever stopped to think that God longs to do more than just ‘fill up’ those areas of our lives?

I believe it is not only God’s will to ‘fill’ us with every good thing, but to fill us to the point of overflowuntil we are no longer able to contain what is pouring into our lives and now splashing onto everyone and everything we come into contact with every day!

A RIVER OR A DAM? Jesus promised that “rivers of living water” would flow from the hearts of all who believed in Him (John 7:38).

By using the analogy of a river, He paints a picture of a significant, moving body of water with the capability of flooding its banks should the incoming flow be impossible to contain. It is not a picture of a trickling creek, a dripping tap or a contained reservoir of still water!

So many Christians, even leaders and pastors, walk through life with a ‘measure’ of the things of God, but not enough to truly spill over into the lives of others. Their ‘reservoir’ may sustain them, but their ability to invest in and sustain others is limited. Why wouldn’t God desire to so fill us beyond the point of our need or the needs of our churches, that we literally splash over into our communities, cities and nations of the world? Imagine being so full of joy that it spills out of you when you are confronted with a person struggling with depression! Imagine being so filled with the healing power of God that it literally >

7

flows out of you as you lay hands on the sick! Imagine being so blessed financially that you are able to pour out blessing on every person you meet and still have enough to meet the needs of your family!

We were never created to build dams to contain resource for ourselves, but to open up the floodgates and allow it to flood into and out of our lives with equal ease. God wants to fill you to the point of “overflow” in every area of your life! He is a generous God who seeks out people who will distribute and deposit His goodness wherever they go.

WHEN HEAVEN FLOWS OVERWhen we ‘overflow’ in the supernatural, the Name of Jesus is lifted high and attracts attention. This is why the devil works tirelessly to try to keep us contained, forgetting our identity in Christ. When we listen to his lies, we approach God sheepishly, asking for our needs to be met and rarely venturing into the place of asking for an overflow or abundance. He convinces us to approach God with an orphan mindset that will not dare ask for more than enough, in case He sees us as greedy or ungrateful. But is God really put off by his children asking big, audacious prayers?

Didn’t He urge us to ask Him for entire nations in Psalm 2:8?

The devil is intent to keep the Church quiet and contained, constantly accusing us of being ‘irrelevant’ and having nothing worthwhile to contribute to society.

But God is turning up the volume of His church in this hour so that she releases the overflowing sound of Heaven on Earth.

We should never mistake quietness for “reverence”: Heaven is the most reverent place there is and yet day and night, the angels shout, “Holy, Holy, Holy!” – a deafening praise that reverberates throughout eternity! Heaven is noisy and when we and our churches praise and worship Him with passion and joy, we “overflow” the sound of Heaven onto the Earth. But if our sound

WE WERE NEVER CREATED TO BUILD DAMS TO CONTAIN RESOURCE FOR OURSELVES, BUT TO OPEN UP THE FLOODGATES AND ALLOW IT TO FLOOD INTO AND OUT OF OUR LIVES WITH EQUAL EASE. is small and contained, how will it ever be heard?

IS IT HIS WILL? The other reason we fail to ask God for more than enough is because we have a warped perception of His love and His desire to bless us with every good thing.

Ephesians 3:19-21 urges us to discover through personal experience, the love of Jesus which “far surpasses mere knowledge”. So many of us can sing about His love and quote scripture about His love but never personally experience that love on a daily basis. God did not create us for an ‘academic’ relationship based on knowledge of who He is and how He feels about us. Such knowledge is useful in changing our mindsets but will never truly change our hearts until it is experienced first-hand.

With that in mind, when was the last time you had an encounter with the love of God that truly transformed you, healed you and set you free?

Ephesians 3:19 describes the possibility of being completely filled with God Himself to the point of flooding over. Why would we settle for being filled when we can be flooded by God and His goodness anytime we believe? I believe we are coming into a season where God desires to flood His Church with Holy Spirit, not just fill His Church. The world is not looking for more knowledge of God, but for the experience of Him and He is more than happy to provide that encounter if we would just lead people to Him. YOU GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR Ephesians 3:20 declares that our God is able to do ‘more than all that we dare ask or think’ [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams]. So the question needs to be asked: “What are we asking for right now?” The simple truth is that we will receive whatever we ask for. The only difference between one leader and 8

another is how much they are prepared to ask God for!

Perhaps our thinking is to small to embrace the sheer magnitude of what God desires to pour into our lives! The only way to expand our thinking is to hang around with ‘bigger thinkers’ – not the least of which is God Himself. You simply cannot encounter God and not think differently afterwards. His thinking is so big that it exceeds even our greatest capacity to think and dream (see Isaiah 54:8-9).

But if instead, we choose to hang around with, nurture and elevate our own limited thinking, we will always think within the boundaries of our own mind.

Spend time with God and His Word and allow it to do its job in transforming your mind and opening you up to the possibilities that exist beyond your habitual range of thinking. Take a moment to reflect on the wildest most audacious thing you have ever asked your Heavenly Father for? He has so much more!

BEYOND OUR HOPES AND DREAMS God’s promises go beyond our hopes.

‘Hope’ is not a wishy-washy word. It speaks of expectation. God wants to pour into us a measure that goes beyond our greatest expectations. So what are you expecting of God right now? Is it too small?

God also wants to exceed our highest dreams – those secret things we find ourselves daydreaming about but dare not even speak about out loud! Its time to dream again! As soon as people stop dreaming, they stop living, but when you live in the overflow, it’s easy to believe that God can bring your dreams to pass.

ACCORDING TO YOUR MEASURE ‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’ (Luke 6:38 (NIV).

If you are seeking to receive a greater measure from God, you must first increase the measure you are using yourself. It is >

madness to believe for overflow if you are using the same old limited measure you have been using for years!

Increase your measure of praise and receive a greater measure of breakthrough.

Increase your measure of forgiveness and receive a greater measure of freedom.

Increase your measure of love and receive a greater measure of love. Increase your measure of generosity and receive a greater measure of generosity poured out into your life. Keep using the same measure and you will keep receiving the same measure!

So many people wonder why they are not receiving the overflow of God in their life, yet never increase the measure that they use themselves. Even if your measure is good, stretch even further and watch the flow of Heaven increase into your life as a direct result!

Years ago, when Planetshakers was just emerging in my heart, I felt God stir me to ask my youth group to give a seed offering that would be sown into the first Planetshakers conference and into a church plant in the Philippines. Led by the Holy Spirit, I asked them to each give a first fruits offering. Faithfully they gave beyond their normal measure and raised an incredible $60,000. It is no coincidence then that the Planetshakers ministry has touched millions of lives and that our greatest support base lies in the Philippines! Why? Because God responded to the greater measure of a faithful group of young people, with a greater measure of His own!

WHY DOES GOD WANT TO OVERFLOW? Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

(Ephesians 3:20, 21) God wants to overflow you with His

IT IS ONLY WHEN WE ARE IMMERSED TO THE POINT OF OVERFLOW THAT WE BEGIN TO AFFECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND RELEASE THE GREATNESS OF GOD INTO THE LIVES OF HUNGRY, THIRSTY AND LOST PEOPLE. goodness because His children and bride represent Him. The Church is a reflection of the bridegroom. Every bridegroom desires to demonstrate His affection for His bride by blessing her in every way. Likewise, scruffy, malnourished children poorly reflect on their parents. God wants to bless us because He wants to demonstrate His love and draw His lost children home where they too can enjoy His goodness and mercy.

AMBASSADORS The Bible calls us ‘ambassadors’ in reference to the fact that we though we live on earth, our citizenship is in Heaven. Though ambassador lives in a foreign nation, they can draw on the military might and financial resources of their own nation at any time. They also live in an embassy which is sovereign soil, despite being situated in foreign nation. The embassy is a safe haven to the residents of its home nation.

The Church is the embassy of Heaven and the primary place when Heaven may be experienced on Earth through God’s children. Consequently, God wants to bless His Church so that they reflect the Kingdom from which they come and are empowered – not the kingdom in which they are situated!

In Heaven there are no bondages, no bitterness, no sickness, no unbelief, no fear.

Heaven is full of love, grace, mercy, joy, peace and resource. God wants to release an overflow of these wonderful things through His embassy! The reputation of an overflowing embassy will draw the lost in to find out where the flow is coming from and of course, all roads lead back to the Father.

DIVE IN! John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will 9

baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 3:16 (NIV) God wants you to not only believe for a river to flow through your life, but for you to jump in and be saturated in God. When you place a cloth in water, it becomes immersed in that water, taking on the water’s nature. You will take on the nature of whatever you are dipped in! But don’t just settle for being dipped in God! Dive in until you are fully immersed and begin to take on the very characteristics of God, dripping Him over everyone and everything you come into contact with. Get immersed in His Presence and Word. Your image and skills will never help you move in the supernatural. What matters is what you are immersed in!

It is only when we are immersed to the point of overflow that we begin to affect our environment and release the greatness of God into the lives of hungry, thirsty and lost people desperately looking for ‘home’.

I cannot encourage you enough to ASK BIG, AUDACIOUS prayers so that God can begin to pour out into your life more than you can possible contain! Together we will flood this earth with the goodness of God. www.planetshakers.com

RUSSELL EVANS is the foudner and senior pastor of Planetshakers.

Photos by Warren Charles

PANASIA I

t’s branded the missions conference on the mission field, and this is exactly what makes the annual Pan Asia Conference held in Phuket, Thailand such a unique event.

The Conference starts with the traditional welcome dinner at sunset on the rooftop hosted by Alun Davies and the ACCI team.

It’s a great opportunity for everyone to connect and reunite with old friends, or make new ones.

The sessions begin the following morning after breakfast, with anointed praise and worship, followed by anointed messages from the speakers. This year included Wayne Alcorn, Donna Crouch and John McMartin, among the many Holy Spirit moments of prayer and ministry. The afternoon sessions are either free or you can attend a number of interesting electives.

Yet everyone would agree that hearing the stories first hand from the incredible field workers, who have responded to the call of God to ‘Go’, is like listening to accounts from the book of Acts.

This is one of the most inspirational conferences on the ACC calendar. It’s not just for those on the mission field but many senior pastors from local churches are bringing their teams. The passion of those who are prepared to go and give all for Jesus is one you want to catch. Why don’t you plan to attend in 2017...

PAN ASIA 2017 Dates: 31st July - 3rd August 2017 Venue: Novotel Phuket Resort, Thailand Register: Great registrations deals available now www.accmissions.org.au/panasia2017 www.accimissions.org.au/panasia2017

10

‘Remember your starting point. Don’t get so taken up with where you are but remember what you had so you don’t forget what He did!’ – alun davies

‘Don’t lose your confident trust in the Lord.

Your confidence will be discouraged or challenged but we are called to take a lot more ground.’ –donna crouch

‘Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and favour with God and man. He grew into the person He needed to be for the mission ahead. How is your capacity? We keep praying for bigger things but do we have the capacity for the challenges ahead? ’ – wayne alcorn

WHY WE LOVED PANASIA 2016 ACC EMAG ASKED PAUL & DEB HILTON (LONG TERM ACCI FIELD WORKERS) AND RACHEL MCCASKILL (FIRST TIME DELEGATE FROM ADELAIDE) ABOUT PANASIA 2016.

call. As ones who already serve God in missions for many years, we still come away having a greater passion to pursue all that God has called us to in our own field of ministry. If you haven’t been to a Pan Asia Conference, make it a priority next year, you will be glad you did.

YOU CANNOT HELP BUT HAVE YOUR HEART EXPANDED AS YOU LISTEN TO TESTIMONY AFTER TESTIMONY OF THE AMAZING THINGS THE LORD IS DOING THROUGH THOSE WHO HAVE SAID, ‘YES’ TO A CROSS-CULTURAL CALL.

Paul and Deb Hilton

Q: WHY DID YOU GO TO THE 2016 PANASIA CONFERENCE? Paul & Deb: We would not miss it. There is no conference like it. PanAsia is a platform which showcases the incredible variety of ministry that is happening around the globe through ACCI field workers and their partners. It is a gathering of people with the same heart and passion to reach the nations, using many diverse and ‘out of the box’, yet strategic methods. PanAsia gives us the opportunity to connect with and be inspired by our fellow field workers, encouraged by the ministry of visiting pastors and loved on by the ACCI Operations Centre team.

Q: WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU? Paul & Deb: This year’s conference was the best yet. There are three things that stood out to us in particular this year. Firstly, the incredible momentum that this conference has gained as it continues to grow in reputation and numbers. The secret is out! More and more people are wanting to save the date for Pan Asia Conference.

Secondly, the synergy that has developed between us field workers, to be a support and encouragement for each other. Finally, the ministry sessions. We were impacted by the pastors who shared so transparently about personal challenges they faced and how they needed to dig deep in God. Their rawness and openness was so encouraging.

through world missions is active in my movement. I just knew I had to be a part of it!

Rachel McCaskill (left) with Christine Mesiti who runs House of Hope in Zambia

Q: WHAT MADE YOU GO TO THE 2016 PANASIA CONFERENCE? Rachel: Pastor Alun Davies spoke at our church conference (Lifepoint Church Holy Spirit Conference) in April and shared about all the great work ACCI are doing.

I work in Community Development in local government here in Adelaide and I was so excited and inspired to hear that a commitment to holistic development

Q: HOW DOES THE PAN ASIA CONFERENCE EXPAND YOUR HEART FOR MISSIONS? Paul & Deb: The heartbeat of PanAsia is missions, and you cannot help but have your heart expanded as you listen to testimony after testimony of the amazing things the Lord is doing through those who have said, ‘Yes’ to a cross-cultural

Q: WHAT WERE SOME HIGHLIGHTS THAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU? Rachel: Hearing the testimonies from the field workers was incredible and inspiring - both the spreading of the gospel and implementation of community-based projects such as providing fresh water and establishing schools.

Q: HOW DID THE PAN ASIA CONFERENCE EXPAND YOUR HEART FOR MISSIONS? Rachel: The PanAsia conference expanded my heart for missions by realising the incredible impact we can have upon the nations when link community development principles with the power of the Gospel.

Combined, great things can be achieved for the expansion of the Kingdom and transformation of communities.

www.accimissions.org.au/panasia2017 11

1

Friday night in August

In over 75 locations, tens of thousands of young people gathered. Thanks to the Youth Alive leaders in each state and an army of youth pastors, leaders and volunteers, thousands of young people heard and responded to Jesus Christ.

The week leading up to United We Stand saw hundreds of young people themselves mobilised in their schools, making a stand for Jesus in their own unique ways. From touring bands, to speakers, to the students giving out thousands of lollipops or making pancakes for their friends, we encouraged young people to make a difference in their community.

Each United We Stand event was ran locally, but we connected with one another on a National level, using the UWS16 hashtag (#UWS16). Go and check out the thousands of pictures and comments yourself on instagram. Those pictures say a thousand words.

The overwhelming feedback is that people were absolutely astounded at the unity displayed by the youth of this nation.

Each location was represented by multiple youth ministries, denominations, chaplains, schools and community leaders. You could see their excitement as we all joined forces for one common purpose.

UNITED

W

hat happened in Australia on the night of August 19 was incredible! The vision of United We Stand, was to meet in many locations, on one night, to lift up One Name. It was about doing unity, not just talking about it.

And that is exactly what happened.

One senior pastor summed it up beautifully when he told us he walked into his church building and saw over 900 young people standing on the seats, worshipping God. His first thought was what are you doing, get off my nice new seats. But he quickly forgot about his seats when he realised that what was happening in front of his own eyes was quite unbelievable.

Thank you to every senior pastor who allowed their seats to be stood on and their buildings to be over run with young people, because together we made history on August 19, 2016 and we can’t wait to do it again next year.

Cameron & Renee Bennett Youth Alive National Directors www.youthalive.com.au

12

WE

75

locations across Australia

E STAND 13

KIDS

‘WITH COMPARISON YOU WILL NEVER WIN AS WE COMPARE OUR WORST TO OTHER’S BEST.’ – Steve Adams

‘IF YOU ARE SURE OF WHAT GOD HAS PUT IN YOUR HEART THEN YOU WON’T CARE ABOUT WHAT IS AHEAD OF YOU.’–James Macpherson

Lauren & Adam

‘BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY DESTRUCTIVE PATTERNS HELPS US RE-WRITE NEW PATTERNS.’ –Andy Kirk

‘OUR MINDSETS MATTER. THE BEST THING YOU CAN GIVE TO YOUR CHURCH IS A HEALTHY YOU!’ –Nathan McLean

14

Malachi

O

specific ministry and also in our personal journey, to be understood, to laugh and be vulnerable, to have awesome praise and worship time and gather with others who get it and still love it like we do - makes this conference one we will get to every year!

Malachi: Highlights for me were meeting, hanging out with and gleaning from the ACC Kids National Team, especially the Connect times after each night session and on the final day. Inspiring teaching from the speakers.

Rachel: Getting away and spending quality time with my key team and catching up with friends in ministry. The conference lends itself beautifully to create networks and friendships with likeminded people. Some of my closest friends have been made at Kidshaper. These friends are constantly giving me fresh ideas and perspective as well as being some of my biggest cheer leaders!

Worship was also a huge highlight for me as it can be rare on a Sunday that I’m in worship without having to duck out and solve a problem. I cherished this time in the service.

Caleb: Kidshaper is one the greatest environments to be positioned in. One of the first things you will notice is the incomparable level of family and connection between Kids pastors and leaders from all across our nation. Having Pastor James Macpherson with us was a highlight. It is always important for us as Kids pastors to see fresh perspective from the eyes of a senior pastor.

ver 500 Kids pastors and leaders flocked to the Gold Coast in August to connect with God and each other. The theme was FREEDOM, the ministry was extraordinary and your church can access the full media pack from conference at www.acckids.org.au

SHAPER In 2016 ACCkids were also incredibly purposeful in making sure the whole Kids Ministry community connected at Kidshaper. We had State by State dinners on the first night and also connect groups during the second day that saw hundreds connect over coffee, mopeds, timezone, shopping and beach football. All the action can be viewed on the @acckids intsagram posts with the #kidshaper

WHAT KIDSHAPER DELEGATES SAY:

Rachel

Q: WHAT IS ONE THING THAT INSPIRED YOU THAT YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY TAKING BACK TO YOUR LOCAL CHURCH KIDS MINISTRY? Lauren & Adam: Steve Adams message, ‘Don’t give up!’ as we’re on the forefront of ministry. James Macpherson spoke on how the three Wise Men brought their best to Jesus, a child. We are responsible for our calling, and are making a difference to individuals, their families and our community.

Malachi: Hanging out with the other church kids ministries and seeing how they acted and did life together continually highlighted to me the importance of TEAM. I specifically want to take that heart for TEAM back to our kids ministry and continue to build, uplift, encourage and do life together.

Rachel: One huge takeaway for me from the conference was having the freedom to be me. I know God has gifted me with a unique skill set, unique ideas and unique leadership, although sometimes it can feel intimidating to be that. I walked away with a number of unique fresh ideas that I felt God drop into my heart across conference.

Caleb: On the last day of the Conference, Pastor James spoke out of Hebrew 11:8 about calling. In ministry we need to be certain about our calling and have faith to do what God has called us to do even when we are uncertain.

Caleb

Q: WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM KIDSHAPER 2016?

Lauren & Adam Kevu (first time at a Kidshaper): We were excited for the opportunity to hang out with a few of our key team and have time together to dream over upcoming years.

Malachi Dutschke (first time at a Kidshaper): I was expecting to be inspired and challenged to keep championing the kids ministry cause, which did happen, but I didn’t expect how connected and a part of the ACCkids family I would feel.

Rachel Tyler (fourth time at Kidshaper): Kidshaper is by far one of my favourite conferences. I wasn’t sure what I was most looking forward to–spending quality time with my team and having them invested into, meeting and catching up with kids ministry friends or sitting under incredible inspiring, yet so practical and relevant teaching.

Caleb Hearne (fourth time at Kidshaper): I was expecting to go not just to talk Kids ministry, or to connect with other great Kids pastors, but to come and position myself to grow and be stretched in my calling.

Q: WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR HIGHLIGHTS?

SAVE THE DATE | 15–17 AUGUST, 2017 Next year is the 20th Anniversary of Kidshaper so we welcome all past and present Children’s Pastors and Leaders to come and join us for the celebration again on the Gold Coast.

Lauren & Adam: We had not realised the importance of gathering with other ‘workers’ in the ministry. The opportunity that Kidshaper gives us to be inspired in our 15

Y H P A R G NO

POR

WHEN IT COMES TO DEFINING PORNOGRAPHY, AN OFTEN QUOTED ADAGE IS, “WE KNOW IT WHEN WE SEE IT”.

HOW DO WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE ‘UNSEE’ THE IMAGES AND SCENES THEY MAY UNWITTINGLY

16

SAFER CHURCHES

E N O Z R E G N A D L A IGIT

D

A

ustralians spend an estimated two billion dollars per year on pornography.1 With the ready availability of internet pornography at the push of a button, it is believed to have a far greater reach into homes and schools than ever before, especially since according to researchers, children as young as eight are being exposed to online pornography.

There is a growing body of evidence that premature exposure to sexualised images and adult sexual content has a negative impact on the psychological development of children - particularly on self-esteem, body image and understanding of sexuality and relationships.

Pornography is known to be addictive causing serious problems in the personal life of those addicted to it. This includes serious detrimental effects on marriages and relationships, and can also cause them to have false expectations in their sexual life that produces an unnecessary dissatisfaction in the relationship. It is also a major cause of improper sexual behaviour, such as sending sexually explicit photographs and messages to others, and the person becoming more aggressive and violent in their sexual practices. There are also some suggestions that the addiction can cause some individuals to crave more stimulus by seeking out more aggressive, more degrading or illegal forms of pornography.

Scripture clearly teaches that sexual immorality has an effect on an individual. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (NLT) says, “Don’t you realise that your bodies are actually parts if Christ? Should a man take his body... and join it to a prostitue? Never!... Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does.”

There is no such thing as harmless pornography. It is a dehumanising, demeaning and destructive activity that erodes an individual’s self-worth. It takes humanity which is created in the image of God and presents it primarily as an object for sexual gratification.

17

The prevalence and availability of online pornography is having a severe social impact on our young boys and girls and how they see themselves. It is socialising them to believe that violence, servitude, and immorality is the norm.

The ACC Safer Churches program includes 17 Guidelines to assist church leaders who work with children and young people.

Guideline 7 addresses Cyber-Bullying, Social Networking and Grooming on the Internet: “The explosion of electronic communication has seen a sharp increase in the number of internet-based and telecommunicationsbased allegations of abuse and bullying.

This involves the perpetrator using any form of telecommunication or electronic communication to: sexually groom, bully, suggest an inappropriate relationship be formed, or engage a child in sexual language or behaviours.

“It is recommended that those working with children, young people and other vulnerable persons follow a set of protocols, as well as a statement in the Volunteer Church Workers Code of Conduct as to how leaders will communicate electronically with program participants, to ensure the safe use of electronic and telecommunication devices.”

1.http://familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html#anchor1

ACC EMAG CONTACTED THREE WELL-KNOWN AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATORS WHO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF SEXUALISATION AMONG CHILDREN TO SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS INTO HOW DIGITAL PORNOGRAPHY IS AFFECTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY.

>

D O O WHY G S D I K N A I T S I R G CH N I H C T A W E AR

Y H P A R G NO

POR

BATTLING THE PORN PROBLEM IN YOUTH GROUPS BY DAVID AND KATIE KOBLER |

I

n our work with young people we have had many teenagers confide in us their personal struggle with pornography. Many are good Christian kids, from good Christian homes, who have a strong relationship with Jesus. They pray regularly, they read their Bible, yet they confess that night after night, they struggle with the temptation of online pornography.

So why are good Christian kids, who attend our youth groups every week, having such a personal struggle with pornography?

The Christian young person is not exempt from pressure in this area.

Christianity does not exempt any of us from temptation to sin. The pornography industry is targeting young people and while it would be nice to think that Christians were protected from this, it is simply not the case.

The average age that a young person is first exposed to pornography is 11.

We often speak to young people who share that they were exposed even younger than this.

Young people are very often not seeking pornography out but are instead being exposed without intention.

The 3 most common ways that we see young people exposed: 1. Someone else shows them an image or a video.

2. An image or video pops up on their screen while online (that they weren’t searching for).

3. They hear a sexual term that they don’t know the meaning of, so they go home and Google it.

Our kids have become victims of an industry that knows that the earlier people are exposed to pornography, the greater chance they have of becoming a lifetime consumer.

The research gives some insight into young people’s struggle. More and more research is showing the dangers of exposure to pornography.

18

>

11

THE AVERAGE AGE THAT A YOUNG PERSON IS FIRST EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHY

3 COMMON WAYS YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHY: 1. Someone shows them an image or a video.

2. An image or video pops up on their screen while they’re online .

3. They hear a sexual term that they don’t understand, so they go home and Google it.

19

Particularly for young people, the impact that pornography can have on the developing brain is concerning. Research has shown that pornography can affect people’s ability to connect in relationships, their beliefs about male and female roles in sex, and their understanding of sex and intimacy.

Watching pornography has been found to produce huge amounts of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a reward neurotransmitter that is produced to encourage whatever behaviour produced it. Because viewing pornography can cause such high amounts of dopamine it can lead to young people becoming addicted. The teenage brain is much more sensitive to dopamine than an adult brain and this may be why research proved in a 2014 study, that young users are more susceptible to brain changes caused by pornography.

What this means is that the more young people are exposed to pornography, the more their brain strengthens to being turned on by pixels rather than a person.

Over years of viewing pornography their brains are being programmed to

WHAT YOUTH LEADERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND We need to understand teens are interested in sex. They want to know what’s involved. They want to know what it feels like. They want to know what it’s all about. This is normal and it is good. It is part of them growing up and maturing into adults. But in the same way that parents teach their children to look before crossing the road, we need to help guide them in their sexual decision-making.

Many students we speak to share that they have been given great guidance in study, work, sport, their Christian faith, and in friendships, but in this area they have been left alone to figure things out on their own. If young people don’t receive healthy consistent communication about sex and relationships of course they will go to the Internet to seek out answers to their questions. As a youth leader, you desire the very best for the young people that you work with. If you can support them through these years, the chances of them navigating through to a healthy sexual maturity is much greater.

IF YOUNG PEOPLE DON’T RECEIVE HEALTHY CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION ABOUT SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS OF COURSE THEY WILL GO TO THE INTERNET TO SEEK OUT ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS. –DAVID KOBLER be aroused by images as opposed to the relationship that God has planned for them in marriage.

We hear it too often. “I thought that once I was married I would just be able to stop viewing porn! But now – every night I’m lying here in bed beside my husband/ wife thinking that I want to get out of bed and have just one more look.”

We hear from young Christians who struggle to be intimate with their spouse without imagining or viewing pornography first.

Despite faith, we are finding many young Christians struggling to generate intimate relationships due to their pornography use.

4 TIPS FOR YOUTH LEADERS: 1. Be accountable for your own life and seek support if you need it.

2. Be gracious in every circumstance.

3. Don’t assume young people in your youth group don’t struggle with pornography 4. Encourage young people to talk to their parents

20

HEALING IS POSSIBLE In Romans 12:2, Paul talks about renewing your mind. We love this verse and its truth. Science, as it very often does, is now backing up the truth of this scripture revealing how the brain can be re-wired.

Time and time again we have seen people set free from their struggle with pornography. Healing is indeed possible!

TIPS FOR OVERCOMING THE BATTLE WITH PORNOGRAPHY • Find someone you can talk to.

• Consider helpful software. We have partnered with a great service to help young people on their devices.

Check out www.familyzone.com/ protectourkids • Recognise the triggers. What times, places, emotions or events prompt your struggle with pornography.

Recognising these triggers can be key to experiencing freedom from this area.

• Don’t separate your sexuality from your spirituality. Ensure that you discuss this area of your life with God. God is concerned with every area of our lives and our sexuality is no exception.

DAVID & KATIE KOBLER of Your Choicez speak to students across Australia on the topics of sex, dating and relationships and the impact on pornography. They recently started ‘Protect Our Kids’ to help parents support their children navigate the online world in safe and healthy way. www.yourchoicez.com.au

YOUTH

I wasn’t dating or anything, and I was curious as to how other people see my body... so I took some pictures and sent them to my friend, Fred.

EVE

This guy, Fred, had four pictures of a naked girl and was showing them to everyone in our classroom.

JIM

DANGEROUS LIAISONS: SEXTING

W

e are sexual beings and teenage years are a time when your sexuality and desire levels increase dramatically.

So what’s the big deal about using the latest technology to communicate about sex and sexual activity? The difference is in the characteristics of communication in the cyberworld of instant messaging, texting, chat rooms, social networking media or any of the other rapidly evolving tools.

Read the scenarios of Dawn, Eve and Jim. These illustrate some of the reasons you need to stop and think before using the cyberworld for sexual communication.

Cyber communication is accessible anywhere and anytime. It is instantly available and so it meets your need for instant stimulation and immediate rewards. This applies to everyone.

But for teenage brains, bubbling with sexual desire, a sexual message pushes all the right buttons and demands an instant response. Sexting and cybersex are two examples of this sexual cyber communication.

WHY IS SEXTING DANGEROUS? Sexting means sending sexual messages and sometimes sexual texts via a smartphone or another form of online communication.

Reports in Australia suggest that almost every school has had reports of sexting

BY DR PATRICIA WEERAKOON among their students. Is this a symptom of a hyper-sexualised teen culture? Or is it just natural that the availability of cyber communications is impacting teen sexual intimacy as well? Are adults just overreacting and trying to stop young people doing something they don’t understand because they didn’t do it when they were young? If television media and magazines glorify sexting and even give instructions to its use, what’s the big deal?

Eve and Jim’s stories are repeated all over the teenage world. Pictures are sent in trust to a friend or lover who is not trustworthy or, for that matter, loving. The actions that follow are manipulative, cruel and downright destructive. Eve now has a reputation; boys will see her as ‘easy’ or even a ‘slut’.

What about Fred? He might now be considered ‘the class stud’ but he is building up his self-esteem through another person’s pain.

While we may think of sexting as between two people – the sender and the receiver – it is almost never limited to that. Unlike physical one-on-one intimacy, pictures and statements in cyberspace are there forever. They can be shared, and often are. This can happen at the time they are sent, or much later when a couple break off a relationship– often as an act of revenge or jealousy. Further, messages and pictures online leave a digital signature that can be traced. Unlike physically 21

intimacy, which is of the moment, sexual messages and picture can turn up much later in the sender’s and receiver’s life.

If you have seen some explicit photos being passed around, you are probably feeling uncomfortable right now and rightly so. As a Christian, you know that all people should be treated with kindness and love. IN Matthew 22:37–40, Jesus says: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’

This is what you test your actions against: Is this the way you would like to be treated? Think about it.

Extract from Teen Sex By The Book published with permission from Fervr Publishing. © Patricia Weerakoon.

PATRICIA WEERAKOON is a medical doctor turned sexologist and writer.

She is an evangelical Christian who has a recognised media presence and is a highly regarded public speaker and social commentator in sexuality and sexual health. www.patriciaweerakoon.com

KIDS

WHEN 5 YEAR OLDS CREATE PORN THEMED IMAGES BY MELINDA TANKARD REIST |

T

he school principal was perplexed.

I had just delivered a keynote on the impact of sexualisation and pornography exposure on children and young people at a conference of school leaders in New South Wales.

During the break she approached me, opened her phone and revealed an image created by a group of 5 year old boys, at the Catholic primary school she headed in Sydney. It showed two women, scantily dressed, in provocative poses.

The boys, along with fellow pupils, had been asked to prepare an in-class assignment using the pic collage app to make pictures. This is what the boys stood up and presented to the class.

One was so pleased with the work he inserted his face in between the woman’s bodies at breast height. These little boys didn’t think they’d done anything wrong.

This incident is just yet another outworking of the impact of a pornified world on our children.

CHILDREN BEING HURT. CHILDREN HURTING OTHERS. Everywhere I go I hear stories. Of children using sexual language. Children touching other children inappropriately. Children playing ‘sex games’ in the school yard.

Children requesting sexual favours.

Children showing other children porn on their devices. Children distressed by explicit images they came across while googling an innocent term. Children exposed to porn ‘pop ups’ on sites

featuring their favourite cartoon characters or while playing online games.

Educators, child welfare groups, childcare workers, mental health bodies medicos and parents are reeling. All are struggling to deal with the proliferation of hypersexualised imagery and its impacts on the most vulnerable – children whose sexuality is still under construction, children for whom pornography becomes a template for sexual activity, a ‘how to’ manual for future use.

PORN BEFORE FIRST KISS Pornography exposure – for young men at least – is at saturation point. Research has shown some worrying trends related to earlier onset exposure.

According to some sources, the average first age of exposure to pornography is 11 years, with 100% of 15-year-old males and 80% of 15-year-old females reporting that they have been exposed to violent, degrading online pornography.

Children are seeing violent depictions of sex, torture, rape and incest porn. Boys are having their sexual arousal conditioned by depictions of extreme cruelty, seeing women being assaulted in every orifice by groups of men. And all this before their first sexual experience – even their first kiss.

The late Emeritus Professor Freda Briggs, AO, warned that online pornography was turning children into copycat sexual predators. In her submission to the 2016 Senate inquiry into the harm being done

WE ARE ENGAGING ON AN UNPRECEDENTED ASSAULT ON THE HEALTHY SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN...YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT LEARNING ABOUT INTIMACY, FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE, BUT ABOUT CRUELTY AND HUMILIATION. – MELINDA TANKARD REIST

22

to Australian children through access to pornography on the internet’, she drew links between pornography and child sex abuse, paedophilia and child-on-child sexual abuse.

Professor Briggs cited a distressing litany of attacks on children by classmates, including a four-year-old boy requiring a chaperone to stop him assaulting other children in ‘sex games’ at a South Australian kindergarten, and a six-year-old boy who forced oral sex on kindergarten boys in the school cubbyhouse. http://melindatankardreist.com/2016/07/when-5-

year-olds-creat-porn-themed-images-in-class/ Click here to read the complete article >

Published with permission. Melinda Tankard Reist. http://melindatankardreist.com/ category/media/

‘GROWING UP IN PORNLAND’ http://www.abc.net.au/religion/ Click here to read another article articles/2016/03/07/4420147.htm

by Mellinda Tankard Reist on the impact on sexting.

MELINDA TANKARD REIST is the co-founder of Collective Shout and well known for her work addressing sexualisation, objectification, harms of pornography, sexual exploitation, trafficking and violence against women. www.melindatankardreist.com

BOOK A SPEAKER

DAVID & KATIE KOBLER are gifted communicators who reach over 20,000 young people annually across Australia through their speaking engagements. Topics include sex, dating and relationships and the impact of pornography.

Protect Our Kids is their new initiative to help Parents support their children with the struggles young people are having in navigating the online world in a safe, healthy, and mature way.

David and Katie are passionate about family, adventure and their faith in Jesus Christ. www.yourchoicez.com.au

MELINDA TANKARD REIST is best known for her work addressing sexualisation, objectification, harms of pornography, sexual exploitation, trafficking and violence against women.

Co-founder of Collective Shout: for a world free of sexploitation, Melinda is also an ambassador for World Vision Australia, Compassion Australia and the Raise Foundation.

She is in demand as a speaker in Australia and overseas, addressing thousands of young people a year in schools and youth events, as well as professional development days for educators and women’s organisations. www.melindatankardreist.com or www.collectiveshout.org

PATRICIA WEERAKOON is a medical doctor turned sexologist and writer.

She is an evangelical Christian and has translated her passion to bring good holistic sexual health to all people. Patricia has a recognised media presence and is a highly regarded public speaker and social commentator in sexuality and sexual health.

Her writing and speaking brings together her enthusiasm for sex and her love for the glory of God. The Christian framework of sex therapy she offers has enriched and empowered the sex life of couples and singles. www.patriciaweerakoon.com

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES WEBSITES:

RESOURCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

For more articles and information: www.yourchoicez.com.au www.collectiveshout.org www.pornharmskids.org.au www. youthwellbeingproject.com www.familyzone.com/protectourkids

‘Teen Sex by the Book’ by Patricia Weerakoon is rated M and recommended for 15 years and over as it contains adult themes and sexual references. It is written to teenagers to answer their questions about sexuality and the effects it can have on our lives.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: A list of useful resources for parents is available on: www.collectiveshout.org/parents

‘Growing Up by the Book’ by Patricia Weerakoon is rated PG and looks at the common questions 10 to 14 year olds have regarding puberty, sex and relationships.

Parental guidance is recommended.

Order online from www.cepstore.com.au

ACC NATIONAL HELPLINE If you have concerns about abuse or misconduct affecting children at your local church, please call:

23

LIGHT A FIRE

BY STEPHEN FOGARTY

24

M

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MOTIVATE VOLUNTEERS IN YOUR CHURCH

y wife Sandra and I have pastored three churches. While we have experienced the joy of partnering with highly motivated and talented volunteers, we have also suffered frustration when we didn’t have enough volunteers . . . or we had the wrong people . . . or we had the right people in the wrong roles. We frequently heard about fantastic volunteers in other churches, and we wished God would pour out similar blessings on us.

Quite often, we learn the most important lessons during times of failure, frustration, and desperation. In one of our churches, Sandra and I did virtually everything. We set up the room early in the morning, and we were the music team: Sandra played the keyboard while I played the guitar and led the singing. Sandra plays well,

About the time we approached the breaking point, Sandra and I attended a national leadership conference. One morning while Sandra was praying, God reminded her of the moment when Moses was afraid he couldn’t fulfil God’s calling to free the Hebrew slaves in Egypt: “Moses answered, ‘What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, “The Lord did not appear to you”?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’” (Ex. 4:1–2) The Lord was applying this message to Sandra and our church. He was saying to both of us, “Look what—and more particularly, who—I’ve put in your hand.

I’ve given you gifted, competent, willing people to work with you. Notice them.

Motivate them, and place them where they can grow in their faith and advance the kingdom.”

WE WERE GIVING IT OUR ALL, BUT WE WERE SLOWLY BURNING OUT FROM EXHAUSTION but I’m a terrible song leader. (There’s no need to sugarcoat it. I was awful.) After we sang a few songs, I welcomed visitors, made announcements, and preached the message. The people who came sat passively. They smiled, and occasionally they laughed at appropriate times during the sermon, but their level of involvement was no more than going to the cinema.

Sandra and I were giving it our all, but we were slowly burning out from exhaustion— we had some helpers, but we were starting to resent the fact that we lacked capable leaders to support us.

One Sunday morning a new lady came to church. In my discouragement, I thought, this service is so mediocre, she’ll never come back. During the service, someone gave a prophetic word: “The Lord is saying, ‘You don’t know why you came here, but I called you to me.’” I was so disillusioned that I assumed this was God’s word to me.

I was the pastor, but I no longer knew why I even came to church each week. At the end of the service, however, the visiting lady came to Christ, and I realised the word was really for her. Still, it was an important moment in my life: I saw that I needed my vision and hope refreshed by the Spirit of God. 25

That moment was revolutionary for us.

We no longer felt the crushing weight of doing everything ourselves, and we no longer waited for people to appear on our doorstep to volunteer to serve in the church. We deliberately looked for men and women in our church (people God had put “in our hands”) we could enlist, train, and place where they could thrive. In a relatively short time, we had a wonderful leadership team, and each of them recruited a terrific team of enthusiastic, trained, effective volunteers. The church began to thrive because our volunteers thrived.

The importance of motivating volunteers became such an important issue to me that I devoted my doctoral research to explore leadership theory. A leader—in the church or in any field or endeavour—is one who exerts influence to motivate others to achieve agreed upon and desirable outcomes. Many pastors, I realised, are wonderful teachers and counsellors who know how to plan and organise programs, but too few of us are skilled at the one task that can propel exponential growth in a church: motivating and leading volunteers.

Almost all of us assume what we do each > day equips laypeople to serve effectively

IN MY RESEARCH, I BEGAN WITH A SINGLE CENTRAL QUESTION: HOW CAN A PASTOR EFFECTIVELY MOBILISE PEOPLE TO SERVE? in the church, but very few do it well.

We may be good preachers, ministers, or program directors, but we aren’t truly leaders.

In essence, churches are volunteer organisations. If the life and health of a church relies on the paid staff, three very negative things happen: the staff members become exhausted and demoralised, the people don’t grow, and the impact of the church remains severely limited. Employees of companies have a transactional relationship with the corporate office and executives in that they fulfil prescribed responsibilities for adequate compensation. Even if the employer is less than competent and lacking in encouragement and vision, most employees stay because they value their pay packets.

A church, by definition, isn’t transactional. It doesn’t fundamentally operate on the basis of quid pro quo: therefore, rewards and punishments don’t work for very long or on many people. Church leadership is inherently transformational: pastors have to inspire vision, move hearts, and enlist enthusiastic participation as the volunteers realise what they’re doing is making a difference in the lives of others. Of course, people may have very different motivations for serving, but the pastor’s role is to move them from extrinsic, transactional, “what’s in it for me” motivation to intrinsic, transformational, altruistic motivation with a heart that says, “I want my life to touch others for God’s glory.”

Church leadership is inherently transformational: pastors have to inspire vision, move hearts, and enlist enthusiastic participation as the volunteers realise what they’re doing is making a difference in the lives of others.

In my research, I began with a single, central question, “How can a pastor effectively mobilise people to serve?”

The pastor’s audience, it was intuitively obvious, is the people who come to church each Sunday, and his or her goal is to motivate them to use their God-

given talents, spiritual gifts, time, and other resources as volunteers in the church and the community. For long-term effectiveness, pastors need to become skilled in transformational motivation.

In my research, I studied 790 volunteers in 28 congregations, ranging from megachurches to congregations of less than 100, and I applied transformational leadership theory. I explain the theory in my book (Light A Fire). I found the leaders of these churches to be on a broad continuum: on one end of the spectrum I discovered pastors who used extrinsic, transactional communication with their people; on the other, I found pastors who excelled in creating intrinsic, transformational relationships.

Transactional pastors treated their people like employees, but transformational pastors treated people as valued friends, family members, and partners in the cause of Christ. My research showed that the leader’s method of motivation makes a difference . . . a big difference.

When people live under transactional leadership, they either do the minimum or they do far more but for extrinsic reasons—to win accolades or avoid

the shame of not helping. The result of transformational leadership is quite different—people perform beyond expectations. They are enthused and creative, deeply devoted to the cause and to each other.

I won’t go into all the details of my research, but let me give you the bottom line: if pastors and ministry leaders learn the skills of transformational leadership, they will inspire far more volunteers to give their hearts and their time to the kingdom of God and the ministry of the church. The book (Light A Fire), and the strategy to train volunteers that flows from the book’s principles, focuses on four crucial components of transformational leadership: • Idealised Influence: the leader’s example; • Inspirational Motivation: the leader’s compelling vision and strategy; • Intellectual Stimulation: the leader’s ability to stimulate creativity; and • Individualised Consideration: the leader’s personal connection to each person on the team.

The findings from my research demonstrate that these concepts are the heart and soul of a leader’s ability to motivate a team of volunteers. We explore them in detail in Chapters 3 through 6 of ‘Light A Fire’. © 2016 Stephen Fogarty. Extract published with permission.

STEPHEN FOGARTY is the CEO of Alphacrucis College. Before his role at the college, he enjoyed many years in pastoral ministry with his wife, Sandra. www.ac.edu.au

http://light-a-fire.ac/

https://www.amazon.com/Light-FireLIGHT A FIRE BY STEPHEN FOGARTY Effectively-MotivateVolunteers-ChurchIS AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM: ebook/dp/B01K18AQY0#nav-subnav https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01K18AQY0 WWW.AMAZON.COM

26

WORLD-RENOWNED NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE SCHOLAR APPOINTED AT AC Alphacrucis College (AC) has announced the appointment of world-renowned New Testament Bible Scholar Professor Rikk Watts to the Faculty of Theology in 2017.

Rikk, along with his wife Katie, will be returning home to Australia to take up the position after spending 20 years in academic roles at Regent College, including his current role as Professor of Biblical Studies. Rikk comes to AC with esteemed theological credentials as a highly regarded New Testament scholar, in particular in the Gospel of Mark, and brings senior academic expertise to support AC’s University vision.

AC Chief Academic Officer, David Perry, says, “We see this as a significant appointment for AC in securing one of the leading New Testament scholars and we are honoured to have Rikk join our theological faculty. Rikk’s outstanding experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership will be a tremendous asset to AC as we push towards our vision of becoming a Christian University.”

In addition to his time at Regent College, Rikk’s academic experience has included work as instructor at Gordon-Conwell (Boston), Wycliffe Hall (Oxford), La Trobe University (Melbourne), and the Bible College of Victoria (Melbourne). Rikk’s other diverse experience includes training as an aeronautical engineer and working for a number of years with IBM in large retail systems engineering. He has undertaken degrees in philosophy, art history, and sociology, before eventually studying theology at Boston and Cambridge.

AC warmly welcomes Rikk to the faculty.

More info: www.ac.edu.au

MEET RIKK WATTS | Rikk and his wife Katie have two adult children, Steven and Rebecca. In addition to an obsession with sailing, he enjoys movies, good restaurants, music, reading, and going for long walks with Katie. He has been attending Living Waters, which is part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, and also a member of the preaching team.

HUNGRY for

G R O W T H You are invited to AC’s Leadership Lunch at your ACC State Conference.

AC CEO Assoc. Prof. Stephen Fogarty will launch his new leadership book ‘Light a Fire’ offering church leaders valuable tips to grow, inspire and equip your church volunteer team.

RSVP TO YOUR ACC STATE CONFERENCE LUNCH TODAY http://light-a-fire.ac/ http://light-a-fire.ac/ light-a-fire.ac

27

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

T

he ACC National Indigenous Conference ‘Engagement’ gathered communities leaders from across the nation in Cairns for three days in early September.

“They came from Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Torres Strait, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, Moree and Tamworth in NSW, and Launceston in Tasmania, as well as a huge contingent from Queensland,” said Will Dumas, national director and host of the annual event. “This conference bought together leaders of influence from different spheres of ministries. From the opening BBQ to the closing rally, we knew God was working on hearts and lives strategically.”

With anointed worship, open hearts and a spirit of unity, the presence of the Holy Spirit was evident across the three days.

Violet Langan, who attended the conference, was impressed how everyone engaged with each other, “having fellowship and meals together, and connecting on so many levels”.

“The speakers were well informed and engaged the conference in the areas that they minister and live,” she said. “They addressed issues of the Kingdom of God, Church, Community and Culture.

“I connected to our Indigenous brothers and sister and heard the testimony of a man raised to life after being dead for two days because of the prayers of faith of their women,” she said.

“All in all, I came away empowered to seek God more, ask Him for divine connections to make a difference in our lives, church, community and culture.”

For more information on the ACC Indigenous Initiative, email: indigenous@acc.org.au

28

TIME TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE

BY DR. LILY ARASARATNAM-SMITH

H

ave you ever wondered what makes some people really good at communicating with people from other cultures? I have. In fact I’ve been obsessed with this question for the past 20 years. It is the question that has compelled and informed my academic research ever since I was a postgraduate student.

There are many ways to approach this question; I would like to discuss one of them in this article.

Intercultural Communication Competence The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people from other cultures is often referred to as intercultural communication competence (ICC).

Researchers of this topic have identified many factors or variables that contribute to ICC, and these are typically grouped into variables that involve knowledge (and other cognitive functions), variables that involve emotional skills, and variables that involve behavioural skills[1].

Of the cognitive variables, cognitive complexity is a variable that has often been associated with ICC. Simply stated, cognitive complexity is the ability to form

multiple unique categories in one’s mind.

For example, when we go to a new church where we don’t know anyone, we think of all the people in the church as the ‘church group,’ in one category. As we begin to get to know people, we start recognising familiar people and then perhaps we think of the church as ‘people we know’ and ‘people we don’t know.’ The point is, as we get to know people, we start forming unique categories in our mind in which we start putting people. The more specific the category, the more detailed it becomes.

Cognitively complex people have a greater capacity to form these specific, detailed, unique categories in their mind compared

29

to others.

When we are more cognitively complex, we tend to rely less on stereotypes.

Stereotypes are generalised behavioural expectations of a group of people. For example, “women are emotional” is a stereotype. It implies that every person who falls in the category of “women” should be expected to exhibit emotional behaviour. This is clearly simplistic and in many cases untrue. However, stereotypes have longevity because they help us to tackle an infinitely complex world with our finite mind, by making generalisations.

Stereotypes are not inherently bad; they can, however, be harmful if we overly

>

rely on them to make judgements about others and refuse to pay attention to any information that contradicts our stereotypes.

A RESEARCH STUDY What does all of this have to do with ICC? I’m pleased you asked. Recently I had been reading findings in psychology that those who speak multiple languages (bi or multilinguals) have greater cognitive abilities than those who only speak one language (monolingual). For example, bilinguals have greater capacity to engage with abstract concepts[2] compared to monolinguals, and bilinguals have greater attention spans compared to monolinguals[3]. In my own research, I found that one of the variables that contributes to ICC is the ability to listen – which in turn requires greater attention span. Another variable that contributes to ICC is empathy – the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and imagine what s/he thinks and feels; which in turn necessitates a measure of abstract thinking.

Connecting the dots, I began to wonder whether there is a link between bi and multilingualism and ICC. In other words, do people who speak more than one language have a greater capacity for intercultural communication competence compared to those who speak only one language?

Intuitively, one could say that if you speak more than one language then you can arguably communicate with more people of cultural diversity than if you speak just one language. However, I began to wonder whether the process of learning another language in of itself enables a person to develop his/her cognitive capacity.

To find out some answers, I conducted a study in which I examined the relationship between bi and multilingualism and ICC. I hypothesised that bi and multilinguals will score higher in ICC than monolinguals.

I further hypothesised that those who grew up in bi and multilingual homes would score higher in ICC compared to those who grew up in monolingual homes.

Additionally, I wanted to find out whether there are any gender differences in ICC. Other research has shown that women have a greater capacity for empathy than men. Given empathy has been shown

to be an important contributor to ICC in my own research[4] and in others’, I hypothesised that women will score higher in ICC compared to men. These were therefore my three hypotheses.

I collected data from 390 university students of which 245 identified themselves as Australian; the rest were international students representing 36 different countries. They completed a survey instrument that measured all the variables in which I was interested. If you would like to read more about the details of the study, the reference to the academic article on this study is provided below[5].

Analysis of the data I collected supported two of my three hypotheses. I found that bi and multilinguals did score higher in ICC compared to monolinguals, and those who grew up in bi and multilingual homes scored higher in ICC compared to those who grew up in monolingual homes.

But there was no significant difference between ICC scores of men and women. In other words, based on this study, there is no gender differences in ICC. As in any research, the results from this one should be interpreted within the limitations of this study. For example, my participants were from a highly culturally diverse environment. This means they would have been exposed to intercultural communication on a regular basis. So I am not sure whether I would find the same results if I did this study again in a place where there is little cultural diversity. Plus, survey research does have its limitations because it relies on people to provide informed opinions about themselves.

Bearing these limitations in mind, however, there are some interesting conclusions that can be drawn.

CONCLUSIONS 1. First, it appears that those who speak more than one language do have an advantage over those who speak just one language, when it comes to competence 30

in intercultural communication. This is not because they speak a specific second or third language, because I didn’t ask them what languages they spoke – I only asked how many. So this finding seems to suggest that the process of learning a second language in of itself is advantageous to developing ICC. This is reiterated by the fact that those who grew up in bi and multilingual homes also scored higher in ICC compared to those who grew up in monolingual homes.

2. Secondly, it is interesting to examine the meaning of this finding. There are many schools across the world that require a second language as part of the curriculum.

But there is also increasing pressures to reduce language programs due to budget constraints and due to debates about which second language is worth learning; that is, which is most useful. But the findings from this study suggest that it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter which language we learn; the process of learning it seems to help us to increase our cognitive capacity. More research is needed before we can draw firm conclusions – but this is what we can draw from this preliminary study.

3. Thirdly, there is great interest in ICC in pretty much every profession today, due to the increasing cultural diversity in the workplace. Companies hire professionals to do one-day workshops or other similar training to help their employees be more effective in intercultural communication.

But the results from this study suggest that we can do even better to prepare our students for the workplace than ad-hoc intercultural training; we should retain language programs in the curriculum and encourage children to learn a second or third language. All findings so far indicate that developing bi and multilingualism is advantageous in many ways; ironically, it seems, the least of these is the fact that you could talk to someone who speaks that language.

I hope this has given you food for thought – and perhaps the impetus to start learning a new language. ©Lily Arasaratnam-Smith. Published on the Crusis website: http://crucis.ac.edu.au/2016/07/timehttp://crucis.ac.edu.au/2016/07/time-learn-new-language/ learn-new-language/

SOCIAL MEDIA

GUIDELINES FOR CHURCH WORKERS

C

hurches are increasingly exploring and looking for ways to participate in the sphere of online community, interaction and idea exchange. As we seek to embrace the positives of social media, it is worth being mindful of best practices. The following guidelines aim to provide church leaders with helpful, practical advice and also to protect both them personally and the church.

References

[1] For more on intercultural competence, see: http://communication.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/ acrefore/9780190228613.001.0001/acrefore9780190228613-e-68?rskey=CDCAzw&result=1 [2] McLeay, H. (2003). The relationship between bilingualism and the performance of spatial tasks.

International Journal of Bilingual Education & Bilingualism, 6(6), 423-438.

[3] Bialystok, E. (1999). Cognitive complexity and attentional control in the bilingual mind. Child Development, 70(3), 636-644.

[4] Arasaratnam, L. A. (2006). Further testing of a new model of intercultural communication competence. Communication Research Reports, 23, 93-99.

[5] http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ w69xf8NR9aIDwxDhCkg9/full

1. What you say reflects who you represent. As an employee of a church or ministry, you are seen by outside parties as a representative of the church. Even in your personal use of social media, you should assume that you will be identified with your church and people may perceive you to be speaking or writing on behalf of your church. Your personal website or blog is a reflection on the church, whether or not it is specifically discussed or referenced. Make sure your communications are above reproach, in terms of content, language, images and opinions.

2. Expressing Opinions. One of the aims of social media is to create dialogue, and people won’t always agree on an issue. When confronted with a difference of opinion, stay cool-headed and don’t retaliate in the heat of the moment. Express your points in a clear, loving, and logical way. Don’t pick fights and choose your battles wisely. Correct mistakes when needed but if you wouldn’t make your social media statements publicly to a wider audience, don’t say it online.

3. Updated and Timely. Part of the appeal of social media is that the conversation occurs almost in real time. So if you are going to participate in an active way, make sure you are willing to take the time to refresh content, respond to questions and update information regularly, and correct information when appropriate.

Remember that any time and effort spent on your own personal blog or other social media should be done in your personal time and should not interfere with your job duties or work commitments.

4. Uphold Christian Values. Some basic measures are: • Always demonstrate loyalty to the church and to each other.

• Be sensitive to linking to content. Redirecting to another site may imply an endorsement of its content.

• Avoid creating competing web properties with the church’s official web presence, including use of logos. Only those authorised by your organisation may use the logos.

5. Protect Confidential Information and Relationships. Online conversations and postings are not private. What you post online may be around for a long time and potentially shared with others. It is best to avoid identifying and discussing other people, including church members, visitors, or staff, especially any pastoral details such as hospitalisations, deaths, health concerns, or counselling engagements.

DR LILY ARASARATNAM-SMITH is the Director of Research at Alphacrucis College and an Associate Professor in Communication.

She is also an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Intercultural Relations. More: http://crucis.ac.edu.au/

6. Respect Copyrights and Intellectual Property. Take care if posting copyrighted material or intellectual property that is confidential or proprietary to an organisation. Be sure that what you are sharing has been published in some other official form of communication.

Remember you are personally responsible for the content of your social media activity, and can be held liable for any content deemed to be defamatory, obscene or offensive.

31

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

BECOMING

KNOWN, VALUED & INCLUDED

BY PAUL BARTLETT

32

I

absolutely loved our ACC National 2016 Community Engagement conference.

Leaders from all around Australia gathered together at The Woolshed on 6th and 7th September, leaning into ideas, thoughts and strategies around engaging our communities. We learnt from the best about building healthy community.

I’m so proud of all the ACC Community Engagement team for the way they carry and communicated the vision.

ACC churches all across our nation are doing great community activities already, but we also have some clear ideas of where our churches need to go. We came together to find out how.

• How do we do it more effectively?

• How do we involve more of our church people?

• How do we measure it?

• And what is working for others?

But first we must work out where we are in the community. Are we known by our communities? Here are some questions to ask about your own church or organisation: • What businesses know you?

• What not-for-profits know you?

• Does your local government know you?

• What clubs, sports know you?

• How many educational groups know you?

How do you become known?

The good news is that the size of your church or organisation doesn’t matter.

I’ve found people in our community have no idea of the size of my church. Nor do they care. Regularly stick your neck out for the common good of your community.

Do things other churches won’t or don’t do - then celebrate other people and groups that also stick their necks out. Once your neck is out, keep it out! It’s about consistency – think long term. If it’s an annual event, turn up every year. We are building trust. It’s not about size, it’s how consistent you are. Do you follow through?

We have to be known in our community before they value us.

Our next step is to become valued.

What is it about us that they couldn’t live without? Here’s what Australians value and don’t value.

• In 1972, 1 in 3 or 36% attended a

church service. In 2011, now 1 in 6 or 15% YET • 55% believe in God. 47% say church is irrelevant to their life.

However 88% of Aussies say the church is beneficial for the community.

It seems that Aussies can live without church services but not without us as a part of the community. That’s good news – our value is found inside the community, not inside the church!

How do we increase our value in our community?

Turn up to things your community values.

This is the friendship phase - friends do things together. This is not merely an event. Teach your church people to regularly attend things at their workplace or University. Join your local business chamber. Become a board member of a local charity.

Our next step is to be included. Allow me to use the analogy of my experience as a chaplain with the Illawarra Hawks. When I first began, I was not known and nobody understood my value. After consistently showing up and being passionate about the world of basketball, I noticed I began to be included. This is a great stage of the journey. It represents mutual likeability - a new level of trust - an openness for us to not just be a listener, but to contribute to conversation.

You might think it’s strange to speak like this about community – like a relationship?

It’s been corporate, programmed and agenda driven for too long. Relationship is the better way to think about your community.

What can I do in this new found space called inclusion? Use my voice. Just like inclusion gives me permission to speak up, give my point of view and add innovative thought to the Illawarra Hawks, so it can be for you. Your church can start to speak into the health, prosperity and direction of your community.

My good friend, Pastor Andrew Harper, is included in his local Council. He uses his voice for prayer. I’m sure this inclusion allows him to use his voice for other things too. People who are surgeons and hospital administrators speak into the quality of care in our city. This also positions you in places of transformation - e.g. domestic 33

violence intervention, youth homelessness, aged care, restoration and rehabilitation.

Many churches think they can start their relationship with the community here, yet it needs the first two stages established first.

Then, we will be invited. This is a great place to get to as it reflects what takes years of trust building in the community.

This is where the community has seen you stick your neck out, serve without agenda, remain loyal and faithful. They have recognised your contribution as important and now consider what you are, what you have, and how you do it as information, identification and skills worthy to be shared and passed on.

Using the basketball analogy again: I’m not just in the discussions or the spaces.

I’m being asked or invited by the head coach to share what we know. This is where we can truly shape community we are a trusted brand! Doors begin to open up everywhere, things we didn’t see coming.

I believe we have all received fresh inspiration to dream and strategise bigger for our communities. Why don’t you journey with us. Share your ideas and your stories with us. Let’s help each other think differently and act selflessly in this time God has given us. If you want to gather with others doing the journey, our ACC Community Engagement team is available to do speaking and workshops across Australia. We have also developed coaching to see people develop their skills in these areas. If you’re interested in any of these, email: community.engagement@ acc.org.au PAUL BARTLETT is the national director of ACC Community Engagement. For more information, www.acccommunityengagement.org.au

FUNDING YOUR VISION A COMMERCIAL LOAN FROM ACS CAN FUND THE VISION OF YOUR MINISTRY

N

ow is a great time to secure finance for your projects so talk to our Commercial Lending experts at ACS Financial to secure the best deals available in the market At ACS Commercial Lending, we understand church, schools and ministry, and we understand lending.

For over 20 years ACS Financial, in addition to our core insurance services, has delivered attractive, reputable lending solutions for churches, schools and ministries. We are proud of our professionalism and expertise in this area.

This reputation has been built upon our National Lending Manager, Michael Hedger’s 35 years of experience in banking and commercial lending (11 of these years with ACS) and his deep understanding our sector and clients.

We are also pleased to announce the expansion of our team with the recent appointment of Shane Crouch to support Michael and expand our services further.

If you are seeking a commercial loan, right now interest rates are at record low levels and the lending markets are dynamic and complex, so it is a great opportunity for you to utilise our expertise to finance or refinance your growth plans and facilities.

We work with the leading financial institutions around Australia, and also have our own available funds via the ACC’s own ACCumulator product, to offer the latest and most attractive commercial loans to churches, schools, ministries and other commercial entities, with over $120 million in loans under management So save yourself time, money and unnecessary headaches today and speak with our commercial lending team to find out how we can help you.

Left: Michael Hedger and Shane Crouch of ACS Commercial Lending

Free Call: 1800 646 777 commerciallending@acsfinancial.com.au www.acsfinancial.com.au 34

DEALING WITH

DEBT

BY TIM MACREADY

D

ebt comes in many forms – home loans, car loans, credit cards, personal loans and more. Not all debt is bad, but the idea of ‘buy now; pay later’ can reflect a desire to have things today rather than saving up for them.

Debt can increase stress, contributing to mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual burdens. Many people raise their standard of living through debt, only to discover that the debt ends up controlling their lives, diminishing their quality of life and harming their ability to be faithful stewards.

The book of Proverbs reminds us that the borrower is slave to the lender (Proverbs 22:7). The more you owe, the more obligated you become. When you are in debt, you can lose the freedom to make your own decisions about your money – you are restricted because of your legal obligation to repay your debts. If you have gone into a reasonable level of debt to purchase a house, you may choose to sell the house and repay the debt. But if you are in debt for an item you have already consumed, you have no choice. You must repay.

It is encouraging to be reminded that our spiritual debt has already been repaid.

“You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23). We are called to serve only one master (Matthew 6:24). So whilst being in debt is not necessarily sin, we are warned of its dangers and are called to avoid it so that we can serve God unencumbered.

Before going into debt consider not only how you will repay the debt, but whether the debt could reduce your ability to live in financial freedom.

If you are struggling with debt, it is wise to establish goals to eradicate your consumer debt as soon as possible. Here are four steps to get you started: 1. List all your debts from smallest to highest, along with their monthly repayments.

2. Pray and think of a way to completely pay off the smallest debt (garage/ebay sale, tax return, overtime, birthday money, forgoing a special purchase or activity).

3. Increase your repayment on the second smallest debt with the repayment amount you have saved by paying off your first debt. Add extra if you can.

4. When this is paid off repeat for the third smallest debt and so on, until you are debt free.

It might take a long time, and it might be hard work, but ultimately the ability to live in financial freedom as a faithful steward is a priceless reward.

TIM MACREADY is Chief Investment Officer of Christian Super www.christiansuper.com.au

MAKE A DIFFERENCE. JOIN ONLINE IN JUST 5 MINUTES!

www.christiansuper.com.au

, SUPER THAT S CHANGING THE WORLD www.christiansuper.com.au n Techn o l ogy lea

ble ina sta

ns po ea

Agriculture

S ial oc

ct Impa nce na

Join the award winning industry fund that’s changing the world through ethical investing.

Micr o fi

co bac To

W

G

ps ho tS ea

ng bli am

wable Energy ne Re

Su

Sw

Porno gra ph y

C

www.christiansuper.com.au

CHRISTIAN SUPER IS A PARTNER OF THE 2017 ACC NATIONAL CONFERENCE

35

REGISTER ONLINE D I S C O U N T E D R AT E S AVA I L A B L E U N T I L E N D O F N O V E M B E R

W W W. A C C . O R G . A U / C O N F E R E N C E

36