Accemag 4 2015

#4 2015

do you know how much

quarterly publication for acc leaders

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Pray LET’S

EXTRACT FROM DARLENE ZSCHECH’S NEW BOOK

standing for

m o d e e r F#endslavery building

S afe r

churches for everyone NEWS PERSPECTIVES RESOURCES

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SIDE

IN

Pray LET’S

Let’s be committed to prayer in 2016 – prayers of thanksgiving for all the Lord has done for us, and prayers for wisdom and boldness to stand for godly wisdom and justice in our nation and across the globe.

THANKFUL... Wayne Alcorn reflects on the faithfulness of God with a thankful heart..

A BIG YEAR... A significant 12 months in the ACC movement with month by month highlights.

LOOKING FORWARD.... The ACC National Executive end the year with thankfulness and look forward with expectant hearts.

IMPACT... ACC pastors committed to make a difference in the world..

#endslavery

STAND FOR FREEDOM... #endslavery The ACC has pledged to support all efforts to erradicate slavery in the 21st century.

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‘DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU?’... In her latest book ‘Worship Changes Everything’, Darlene Zschech shares intimate moments in the presence of the Lord helped her through the dark days.

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SAFER CHURCHES FOR EVERYONE.... The ACC Child Protection Policy and Guidelines will assist in building safer churches for everyone.

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LET’S PRAY... The call to pray for our nation with the National Day of Prayer & Fasting.

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ABCD... Paul Bartett shares a different way to transform our communities according to Asset-Based Community Development.

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HEART FOR THE WORLD... ACCI IT DOESN”T PAY TO BE UNDERINSURED... ACSF GROWING LEADERS... AC Master of Leadership NEW RELEASES.... Books, Music, DVDs WHAT’S ON... 2016 Calendar of ACC national events.

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Thankful AND LET THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM CHRIST RULE IN YOUR HEARTS. FOR AS MEMBERS OF ONE BODY YOU ARE CALLED TO LIVE IN PEACE. AND ALWAYS BE THANKFUL. Colossians 3:15 NLT

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UR GOD IS FAITHFUL, no matter what season we are in. Each one of us can testify to the hand of the Lord across our lives and ministries in the past 12 months. As we reflect on the year gone by, my heart

is deeply thankful – for family, for the local church, a vibrant movement, and the privilege of serving the Lord for a time such as this.

The ACC is in a season of fruitfulness, and we are celebrating the health and growth of our churches. The National Executive have been greatly encouraged by the preliminary headline report of the ACC Census 2015. The exciting news is that our movement has exceeded our target with an eight per cent growth rate this past year. We are also celebrating great progress in church planting, our missions ventures, and the wide-ranging opportunities and endeavours across our churches and communities. Looking ahead, we also have some exciting new initiatives for 2016 and a vision that is always bigger than ourselves.

The unity of our movement continues to strengthen, and we are so grateful for the amazing people who serve with us across this nation and beyond.

We pray that you and your family will be refreshed and revived as you prepare for the new year ahead. What an honour to be called to share the good news of Jesus and bring the message of joy, peace and hope that our world so desperately needs.

Warmest regards,

WAYNE & LYN ALCORN ACC NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Follow Wayne Alcorn on Twitter: @wayne_alcorn 3

A BIG YEAR SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS OF 2015

FEB

JAN

rangers celebrates

50 years

APRIL

acc national conference

JULY

MARCH

national day of repentence

MAY

OCT

great state conferences

JUNE

nepal earthquake appeal

AUG

chart topping ‘empires’ album

SEPT

pan asia conference

youth alive united we stand

colour women’s conference

NOV

national prayer breakfast

DEC

church planting

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#endslavery

looking

d r a For w

The ACC National Executive end the year with thankfulness and look forward with expectant hearts...

JOEL A’BELL Thankful for... the great opportunity to serve the Australian Church.

Looking forward…to helping our churches become stronger and healthier because God’s Church is the hope of the world.

SHANE BAXTER Thankful for... the incredible men & women who make up the teams I get to do life with!

Looking forward... to so MUCH more in 2016!

DONNA CROUCH Thankful for... a year of ‘unusual miracles’ - and we have definitely seen this in our own family which I am incredibly grateful for.

Looking forward…to seeing our children continue to be adventurous and explore every opportunity in school, uni, youth, missions and travel.

ALUN DAVIES Thankful for...the work our team of missionaries do. They are my heroes.

Looking forward to... the exciting new opportunities God will bring us in missions: the new missionaries that will go, and the lives and communities we will change.

JOHN HUNT Thankful for...each new day.

365 times a year I get a fresh go at this.

Looking forward... to 2016!

JAMES MACPHERSON Thankful for...my family – Samantha, Joseph and Benjamin.

They make me laugh and keep me sane.

Looking forward…to seeing the church continue to move forward and witnessing a North Melbourne AFL premiership.

(I’m super confident about one of these outcomes)

JOHN McMARTIN Thankful for... a magnificent State Conference; and for new churches planted and established churches been strengthened.

Looking forward... with expectation that good days are upon the Church.

SEAN STANTON Thankful for... the support of my wife, family and church, and the great friendships I have.

Looking forward... to another fruitful year, and long service leave in 2016.

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IMPACT

ROYAL INVITATION

ACC PASTORS COMMITTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD

WA – It was a tremendous honour for ACC pastor Jade Lewis to personally meet Prince Charles and Camilla during their November visit to Australia.

Jade and her family received a special invitation to attend a celebration in honour of his 67th birthday on 14 November 2015.

Jade posted afterwards: “It was a night that we will cherish forever; for many reasons. As we stood there and chatted with Prince Charles and Camilla, it honestly felt as though I was in a dream.

To think of where I was 16 years ago – full of brokenness and without hope and where I stood last night, made me realise the grace of God at a depth like never before. I felt even more determined to reach many more with a message of hope and to say to you all, “If I can do it, then so can you!”.

MEDALS OF SERVICE PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Students from CBC’s Class of 1949, Pastors Cyril & Evelyn Westbrook, were honoured in Papua New Guinea with the British Empire Medal for Service to the Church and Community in Papua New Guinea.

Cyril and Evelyn are also the longest serving ACCI missionaries, having served in Papua New Guinea for 42 years (1950-1992) and are still active in ministry in so many ways.

This British Empire medal has now been renamed to be the “Order of ‘Logohu’” (which means Bird of Paradise). Even with the new name it still has the crown on the medal.

POLICE AWARENESS NSW – ACC National Executive member, Donna Crouch, donned police riot squad gear when she spent three days with the NSW Police at the end of October 2015.

It was part of Community Awareness Policing Program which provided “extreme insights into what police face on a daily basis,” posted Donna.

“Negotiations; counter terrorism;

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ballistics; weapons; forensics; riot squad; marine rescue; dog squad; high speed car chases were a few of our highlights.”

She continued, “But I was not ready for the incredible heart and care for ‘the one’ that we saw in the many police we met... I feel so incredibly blessed and honoured to have been involved. Thank you to all those on the other side of ‘000’.

FUNDS HELPING NEPAL NEPAL– Pastor Alun Davies, Director of ACCI Missions & Relief, visited Nepal at the end of November, seeing firsthand the devastation that still remains six months after the earthquake struck.

A highlight of the trip was visiting the Community Anti-Trafficking (CAT) Project that ACCI contributed funding to.

The CAT project has established 11 child friendly spaces which are safe havens for children who have been displaced, educates communities on trafficking through drama and has also placed check post monitors at two major highway points, in response to the high instances of trafficking in Nepal into orphanages or across the border into India. So far over 6,000 vehicles have been stopped and 36 children were identified and reunited with their families.

ACCI thanks you for your generousity towards the people of Nepal. Your donations have made a big difference to the lives of many through emergency food relief and supplies, rebuilding of homes and hospitals.

ACC STAND AGAINST SLAVERY CANBERRA– Leaders of 15 Australian different faiths pledged their support to erradicate slavery by signing the Joint Religious Leaders Declaration Against Modern Slavery.

Sean Stanton and Joel A’bell signed on behalf of the ACC and Hllsong in Canberra on 2 December 2015, World Day for the Abolition of Slavery. [More: see page 9]

SYRIAN REFUGEE APPEAL Support the ACCI Appeal for Syrian Refugees: www.acci.org.au

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#endslavery

m o d e e r F STAND

for

WE CAN BE THE GENERATION THAT ENDS SLAVERY.

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espite the best endeavours of so many in so many countries, modern slavery and human trafficking continue to expand. Victims are hidden away: in places of prostitution, in factories and farms, on fishing boats, in illegal establishments, in private homes behind locked doors and in cities, villages and slums in the world’s richest nations and poorest nations.

With an estimated 36 million people forced to live in slavery around the world today, there is an urgent and compelling need to eradicate modern slavery and trafficking in human beings.

ONE GOAL: TO END SLAVERY Eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking across the world by 2020 is the objective of a ground-breaking agreement that was announced in 2014 at the Vatican. This unprecedented agreement among representatives of major faiths launched the Global Freedom Network (GFN) and for the first time in history, leaders of the world’s largest faiths came together with one goal: to end slavery. They pledged their commitment to the dignity and freedom that is the birthright of all humankind, through signing a Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery.

AUSTRALIAN FREEDOM NETWORK The Australian Freedom Network (AFN) is a reflection of the Global Freedom Network, founded by Australian mining magnate, Andrew Forrest, and launched by Pope Francis on 2 December 2014. The Global Freedom Network is founded on the premise that religious faith can be a powerful motivating force to inspire individual and community action both spiritually and practically.

The Australian Freedom Network was launched at Parliament House in Canberra on December 2, 2015, International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. At this event faith leaders including the ACC, signed the same ‘Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery’ that was signed at Vatican City in 2014.

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FACT FILE

SLAVERY TODAY Slavery is everywhere. There are tens of millions of people trapped in various forms of slavery throughout the world today.

Researchers estimate that 21 to 36 million are enslaved worldwide, and it generates $150 billion each year in illicit profits for traffickers.

Slavery today is a hidden crime, making it harder for the public to see and for those in slavery to call out for help.

Slavery incudes: • Labour Slavery.

About 78 per cent toil in forced labour slavery in industries where manual labour is needed, such as farming, ranching, logging, mining, fishing, and brick making; and in service industries working as dish washers, janitors, gardeners, and maids.

slavery in australia There are an estimated 3,000 people subjected to domestic and sex slavery in Australia, as slaveholders are using people against their will for their own advantage. Sometimes people are hidden behind closed doors; some are hidden in plain sight. Victims of slavery and human trafficking may be the person who picks the apples on your table, attaches the rain gutters to your house, cares for your neighbours children, cleans you car, makes the clothes you are wearing or serves your food.

People are sold as objects, forced to work for little or no pay and are at the complete mercy of their employers.

Someone is in slavery if they are: • Forced to work through mental of physical threat • Owned or controlled by their employer usually through mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse • Dehumanised, treated as a commodity or bought and sold as property • Physically constrained or have restrictions placed on their freedom of movement

• Sex Slavery.

About 22 percent are trapped in forced prostitution sex slavery.

• Child Slavery.

About 26 percent of today’s slaves are children.

Source: U.N. International Labor Organisation and the Walk Free Global Slavery Index.

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JOINT DECLARATION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY We, the undersigned, are gathered here today for a historic initiative to inspire spiritual and practical action by all global faiths and people of good will everywhere to eradicate modern slavery across the world by 2020 and for all time.

In the eyes of God, each human being is a free person, whether girl, boy, woman or man, and is destined to exist for the good of all in equality and fraternity. Modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labour and prostitution, organ trafficking, and any relationship that fails to respect the fundamental conviction that all people are equal and have the same freedom and dignity, is a crime against humanity.

We pledge ourselves here today to do all in our power, within our faith communities and beyond, to work together for the freedom of all those who are enslaved and trafficked so that their future may be restored. Today we have the opportunity, awareness, wisdom, innovation and technology to achieve this human and moral imperative. www.globalfreedomnetwork.org

The Australian Christian Churches believes that every human being is entitled to freedom and equality, to live with dignity and be treated with respect.

As a movement of over 1,000 churches, we condemn slavery in all its forms and we are committed to actively ensure that human trafficking is eradicated in our world during our generation.

Today we stand as advocates for the freedom of those whose lives are being traded as commodities, and as a voice for liberty and justice for those who have no voice and whose rights have been violated.

We believe, according to the Scriptures, that this is our mandate; in the words declared by Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor; to proclaim that captives will be released, the blind will see; that the oppressed will be set free...” (Luke 4:18 NLT) Together with the co-signatories of the Australian Freedom Network, the Australian Christian Churches affirms our support for every effort and endeavour to effectively stand against and eliminate human trafficking in the 21st century. We believe that by working together in faith, we can achieve this goal.

Sean Stanton (ACC)

Joel A’Bell (Hillsong) 10

you HOW

CAN MAKE A STAND FOR FREEDOM

* EDUCATE * SIGN THE PLEDGE Visit the Australian Freedom Network website and sign the Declaration to end slavery. www.AFN.org.au

Helping to end slavery requires us to understand the issue.

• Read about slavery on the Australian Freedom Network website: http://afn.org.au/slavery-in-australia/ • Watch ‘Sandra’s Story’ a short video on a real life example of slavery happening in Australia.

• Watch ‘Slavery on our Shores’ a longer video about the issue done by the Australian Christian Channel.

• Listen to the podcast ‘Life & Faith: Slavery, then and now’ by the Centre for Public Christianity. Jenny Stanger is interviewed about slavery in Australia, and historian John Dickson explores slavery in the biblical context.

* REFLECT Take time to pray for the victims of human trafficking, the perpetrators and for the end to this human rights abuse. Additionally you could run a bible study or devote a church service on this issue of slavery.

* TAKE ACTION * ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SIGN THE PLEDGE Encourage your congregation and friends to make a personal pledge to end slavery and human trafficking.

Practical things you can do in your own life and in your church to help stop slavery.

• Support and become a Fair Trade community. Ensure that you and your church community are not contributing to the enslavement of men, women and children around the world. Swap at least two products

(coffee, tea, chocolate) in your home and church to Fair Trade only. Products are widely available from every major retailer. Look for the Fairtrade logo.

More info: http://www.fta.org.au/fairtrade-communities.html • Support awareness and fund-raising campaigns. Initiate a fund-raising activity to support victims of human trafficking or take part in the antihuman trafficking events e.g.

- Walk4Freedom events (visit www.a21.org) - ACCI community projects that are assisting with anti-human-trafficking.

• Support the campaign to protect the rights of domestic workers in Australia, who are often victims of human trafficking and/or experience slavery. http://endslavery.salvos.org. au/act/campaigns/demand-dignitydomestic-workers/ • Volunteer your support with anti-human trafficking organisations.

Some useful websites include: ACCI: www.acci.org.au A21 campaign: www.a21.org Anti-Slavery Australia: www.antislavery.org.au The Freedom Partnership: www.endslavery.salvos.org.au Walk Free: www.walkfree.org

WE CAN BE THE GENERATION THAT ENDS SLAVERY. 11

extract from darlene zschech’s new book worship changes everything

‘

do you know how much

Iove ? l you W

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i

hen the doctor told Mark and me that I had breast cancer, we heard those words with such a mix of emotions. There was fear, certainly. I love my husband, my daughters, and yes, my grandbabies, so much. I was praying before I knew I was praying. Please, Lord, don’t take away my dear ones from me or me from them.

I know that heaven is such a sweet and beautiful place – why be afraid? – but fear tried to stare me down and bring doubt about my future. Somewhere within me during this time, I just knew in my spirit that my time and work here on earth is not done. In the days that followed, as we walked to each other and the children, I experienced so much love from them and other cherished friends that I knew, just knew, that Jesus had won it all, and that He would never leave me or forsake me.

My husband is so strong, and his confidence that God was with us and would bless me beyond measure was faith-building. Perfect love casts out all fear. And this I know to be true. The confidence I have in these words continues to grow within me. And I praise God for a husband who showed great determination that we would work, rest, pray, fight, and do anything and everything God called us to do to experience His healing.

I have been so blessed to have family and friends to walk this journey with me.

My oldest daughter, Amy, has been a wonderful friend and comfort to me as she has taken care of me. Her tenderness and fierce love toward me still brings tears to my eyes. She still fusses over me to make sure I am okay in every way. Thank you, Amy. I am so, so grateful to God for my family. Zoe kept me laughing, and Chloe kept my feet on the ground.

As I entered into the medical treatments, there were moments of discouragement, frustration, and despair. I hurt. I could hardly think straight.

During chemo, I think my emotions shut down for a while. I just felt numb. But 12

was i tired? did i still feel pain? yes and yes. but oh, in that precious moment of worship, god’s love washed over me and inside me.

as a learned to open my heart again to God’s presence and just simply be with Him, worship began to flow… slowly, but wholeheartedly, and His presence with me is something I treasure more than words can express. God spoke to me in that numbness, not with audible words, but so clearly in my spirit. He asked me, “Darlene, do you trust me?” I weighed my heart and my answer carefully. My answer was soft. I was tired. I didn’t feel energy coursing through my body. But my answer was, “Yes, God, I trust you.”

That God should come so close to talk with me was enough for me to keep going. But it wasn’t enough for God. He wasn’t done talking to me. His next question, which went straight to my heart and soul, still overwhelms me. He asked, “Darlene, do you know how much I really love you?”

Tears coursed down my cheeks. I sobbed. I’m a church girl. Of course I know God loves me! I know the Bible verses and the right answers. I knew He

loved me so much He gave His only Son – my wonderful Saviour – to die for me. But God didn’t want me to answer with what I grew up with and what I already knew in my head. He wanted me to know how much He loved me, right then, right there, deep in my heart. To be honest, I was struggling with this question.

It didn’t feel like love. But in one of the most intimate moments of my life, I gave God my answer. “Yes, I know how much you love me.” I did. I do. And because I trust His love for me, I can trust Him with the process.

His presence, His love, overwhelmed me. It hurt him that I was walking through suffering. I am still awed at the moment. I heard Psalm 23 loud and clear within me – though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will walk through.

This was a shadow. He would be with me.

Was I tired? Did I still feel pain? Yes and yes. But oh, in that precious moment of worship, God’s love washed over

me and inside me. I believe that in that experience I could truly say with Job, “Though He slay me, yet I will I trust Him” (Job 13:15 NKJV). I understood David’s heart cry when he said, ‘O God my rock, I cry, Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies? Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Saviour and my God!’ (Psalm 42:9–11) I am not forgotten. I am loved. I can trust Him with all my heart – and with my husband, my children, my precious grandbabies, my friends, my church, my future, all of the unknowns – for above all, He is faithful. At the heart of worship is God’s love for us. He is present in this moment with you and with all His heart wants to know, “Do you know how much I love you?” Do you?

©2015 extract from darlene zschech’s new book worship changes everything available from www.koorong.com.au 13

Safer

CHURCHES FOR EVERYONE

The protection of children and youth in our churches remains an ongoing commitment of the ACC movement. The ACC Safer Churches strategy is being rolled out across churches, in line with the 1st December 2015 implementation date of our Child Protection Policy.

Every church has been strongly urged to make this a high priority, with a range of resources and material available to help local churches implement the necessary requirements of the policy.

A lot of hard work and professional input went into strengthening policies in relation to child protection, and the ACC will continue to stay vigilant in this area, doing everything to ensure that churches are safe environments for children and youth, and all vulnerable people.

SAFER CHURCHES STRATEGY The ACC Child Protection Policy was adopted by the ACC National Conference in April 2015, with the implementation date effective from 1st December 2015.

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A variety of resources for pastors and churches have been made available in the Pastor’s Login section of the ACC website, including information about a dedicated national helpline.

SAFER CHURCHES GUIDELINES As part of the implementation of the policy, the National Executive have developed Safer Churches Guidelines, as well as developing ACC specific Awareness Workshops and a training Manual. for all those who work with children and young people in local >

churches and ministries.

Local churches carry the responsibility for implementing the ACC Safer Churches strategy; however Safer Churches practices are everybody’s business, not just leaders and volunteers, but also the wider congregation. We all have a vital role to play to create safer churches. The Guidelines provide 17 areas of responsibility that are useful for all church workers, that include being aware of child abuse indicators, process for reporting, creating safe physical environments in local churches.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION BE MINDFUL OF HOW YOU USE ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND THE POSITION OF TRUST YOU HOLD: • Be transparent and accountable in the use of electronic communications with children or young people as far as is practical; that is as a team, not as individuals, e.g. do group emails.

It is recommended that electronic communications with children under 16 be done with the full knowledge of the parents or carers.

• Do not transmit, download or store any communication that is discriminatory or harassing, derogatory, obscene, sexually explicit or pornographic, defamatory, threatening, for any purpose that is illegal or contrary to the Code of Conduct relevant to your position.

• Do not send any electronic communication that attempts to hide your identity or represent the sender as someone else.

SELF PROTECTION PROMOTE SELF PROTECTION IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

BY HELPING THEM TO: • Trust their feelings, • Say ‘no’ when they feel unsafe, • Understand when to be confidential and when to talk to others about concerns, • Find safe people to talk to, • Know when they feel vulnerable, • Have a say in the activities and programs in which they participate as far as is practical.

[Based on ACC Guideline No. 7]

[Based on ACC Guideline No. 5]

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GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING PROCEDURES WHAT TO REPORT

PROCESS FOR REPORTING

REPORT CONCERNS RELATING TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AT RISK OF HARM • When a child or young person discloses

1. Report to local church Safer Churches person Report concerns to one of the appointed local church Safer Churches people, except when a disclosure occurs at a program or event, or a child’s/young person’s immediate safety is at risk (sexual and physical abuse). In this case, immediately phone the police and organise appropriate support for the child/ren. This can be done with the help of the most senior on-site leader, who will also need to assist with managing the immediate situation.

2. Complete applicable form/s and/or online reporting Local churches will keep an anecdotal record or log, upholding privacy principles, and/or use a state government online reporting tool.

3. Take the appropriate action with your Local Church Safer Churches Person - including: • Police/government Child Protection agency reporting (police, government agency). In South Australia, individuals must report directly to CARL (Child Abuse Report Line).

• Contact the National Safer Churches Helpline for advice and assistance.

• Initiate the correct complaints handling processes if the allegations are about ACC leaders/certificate holders.

4. Provide ongoing support, pastoral care and risk management processes It is the role of the local church board to implement pastoral care and support for all parties involved, including the child/young person and family, as much as is practical. There may also be risk management action plans that need to be implemented, e.g. stepping aside a leader/ certificate holder who has been accused of harming a child/young person whilst the investigation occurs.

they have been or are at risk of being abused • When someone else (regardless of age) discloses that they know of a child or young person who has been/is at risk of being abused • When there are concerns that the child or young person may have been or is at risk of being abused based on their physical appearance or behaviour.

[Based on ACC Guideline No. 8]

WHO TO TALK TO • The local church Safer Churches person – appointed by your local church • Your ACC State Office – Safer Churches Officer • The National Safer Churches Helpline: 1800 070 511 • The police – if a child/young person is in immediate danger

The outworking of all Safer Churches Guidelines is expanded on in the Awareness Workshops. Contact your ACC State Office for dates and locations of upcoming Safer Churches Awareness Workshops.

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CALL TO PRAY FOR AUSTRALIA

C

Pray LET’S

IF MY PEOPLE, WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND I WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND. 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 (NIV)

alling all Australian Christians to pray for our nation. The National Day of Prayer and Fasting will take place on Sunday 7 February 2016. It is a day for Christians and churches from all denominations to unite together to pray and fast according to 2 Chronicles 7:14 for revival and transformation for our nation. The theme is ‘Jesus’ for this year’s National Day of Prayer, on 7 February, to be followed by the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting from the 10 February–20 March.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE You can support these historic prayer initiatives in four ways: 1. Go to Canberra and celebrate the National Day of Prayer & Fasting between lOam-4pm in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra. Make a prayer pilgrimage to the heart of the nation to pray and stand in the gap on behalf of the land.

2. Tell your friends and networks about the National Day of Prayer and Fasting and encourage your local church to observe the National Day of Prayer and Fasting.

3. Help organise a pre-event for the National Day of Prayer and Fasting in the lead up to the day in your local area. For more information, visit the website: www.nationaldayofprayer.com.au 4. Why not sign up for the 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting following the National Day and be inspired by our Indigenous brothers and sisters to seek Jesus on behalf of our nation.

www.40daysofprayer.com.au www.nationaldayofprayer.com.au

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COMMUNITY ACTION

ACC CHURCHES MAKING A DIFFERENCE

HAMPERS BRING JOY ACC congregations all over Australia have donated tons of items to make up hampers for needy families in their communities. We may never know the extent of the impact the simple act of giving brings, but what a great opportunity to demonstrate the generous heart of a loving God.

Hampers prepared by Canberra City Care

CHRISTMAS CHEER CEDUNA, SA– Oasis Christian Church ministers to a mixed Aboriginal/White population, as well as holding services across the Nullabor Plan.

In the last year Oasis has provided emergency food relief to around 1,200 families.

“We see the welfare part of our ministry as being a vital outreach to our community,” said Pastor Stuart McIlwraith. “Through the relationships built up over many years, people now frequently call in, not for food, but wanting prayer and a yarn.”

FREE PETROL GIVEAWAY NSW – It’s not often you hear the words ‘free’ and ‘petrol’ used in the same sentence – but that’s exactly what happened at BP Stop and Go on Goonoo Goonoo Road in Tamworth.

Northwest Church gave away $20 worth of free fuel to the first 100 cars on Saturday, 31 October 2015 – “no strings attached.”

Pastors Bron & Darren Bonnell said the initiative was just another way for the church to say “we love this city.”

“A friend of ours who is a pastor in America did it to bless their community and we thought it was a fantastic idea,” Bron Bonnell said.

“Fuel is one of the bills that is hard to avoid in rural areas. We hope this helps some people through their week a little easier. We are trying to change perceptions around what a church is. It’s more than just a building. It’s people getting out there in the community. We are a church in the city, but we are more than that. We are a church for the city, so we wanted to do something really practical for people in our community.”

The church planned to have another fuel giveaway around Christmas.

MORE INSPIRING COMMUNITY STORIES...

Visit www.acccommunityengagement.org.au for more about how local churches are making a difference in their communities

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ABCD A DIFFERENT WAY TO TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES

By Paul Bartlett

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is to become opportunity obsessive. So look for opportunities to connect resources and ignite action.

Begin to share and work together to make the most of what you have and empower people to act on what they care about. American writer Margaret Wheatley once stated, “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”

• CELEBRATE: This final step involves revelling in the past, present, and even future successes of a healthy and strong community. I want to challenge you to consider your own town or city. What makes it great?

Whatever it is, find it and help your community celebrate it. I find that churches don’t speak much about the past, but community heritage is cool. It’s uplifting to a community to promote and celebrate something inspiring that happened years ago. And why not celebrate what you have now and what could be in the future?

Why don’t you journey with us? Share your ideas and your stories with us at acccommunityengagement.org.au – Let’s help each other think differently and act selflessly in this time God has given us. Remember, your greatest opportunity starts Monday… Thank God!

et me tell you about a revolution we’ve had at Lighthouse in recent years. Essentially it’s revolved around a shift in our community engagement from simply finding a need and meeting it to discovering the strengths and assets of our community and working with them.

I think we should never get to the point of thinking that we are doing so well that we don’t need to improve or learn from anybody else. At Lighthouse we’re always trying to learn from others. I’m constantly borrowing ideas from other people and churches and organisations.

It’s called ABCD, which stands for Asset-Based Community Development. Over recent years this ABCD approach has helped us to focus on what we actually have in our hands already, not on what we don’t have. I like it because it’s the ‘glass half full’ approach to community transformation.

ABCD sets out four steps your church can take tomorrow to launch community transformation: discover, connect, act, and celebrate.

• DISCOVER: This is the first step. Here you identify the assets or resources your community – and your church – already have. It involves mapping the incredible assets and passions within the community, such as the people’s gifts, groups’ passions, industries, and events. It also includes identifying land, buildings, equipment, and parks that could be useful. Look at asset-mapping what your community has. Don’t look at what your community doesn’t have and try to fill in those gaps.

• CONNECT: This second step involves linking these assets so that community transformation can begin to click into gear. Here’s what I’ve learnt about community transformation: I can’t save the world on my own! I’ve discovered that it will take at least three of us! A great African proverb says, “If you want to go faster, go alone. If you want to go further, go together.” Churches can really shine by building meaningful relationships between community assets, whether that’s individuals, groups, clubs, churches, government bodies, and so on. The ABCD approach is built around collaboration within the community.

• ACT: The third step is to begin to implement action. I think the key to community transformation

Paul Bartlett is the National Director of ACC Community Engagement.

For more info, visit: www.acccommunityengagement.org.au

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DO YOU HAVE A HEART FOR THE WORLD?

MAKE 2016 YOUR YEAR OF INTERNATIONAL IMPACT. If you have a heart to go into all the world, check out some of the opportunities ACC International has available to make a global difference. There are a wide range of missions and relief projects that you can get involved in. Why not consider registering for the One World Forum in Melbourne in May or the Panasia Conference in Phuket, Thailand in August. Visit: www.acci.org.au

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IT DOESN’T PAY TO BE

UNDERINSURED

DID YOU KNOW...

Up to 80% of Australian households say they don’t have enough insurance to cover all the contents of their home in the event of an emergency? Or that the compulsory third party car insurance required in most states just pays for personal injuries, not for damage to your own or someone else’s car in an accident? Maybe you are among the two thirds of all renters who don’t have any contents insurance?

A

re you surprised by these statistics? Many people don’t realise how important it is to have insurance. And not just any insurance, but the right insurance for their needs and their individual risk. While you don’t want to go overboard and spend on unneccessary premiums, it certainly doesn’t pay to be under-insured.

Being under-insured or having no insurance at all means that in the unfortunate event of an accident it can become extrememly difficult to return to a prior standard of living. A lot of people haven’t spent time crunching the numbers, but most insurance policies are a small fraction of the price that would need to be paid in the event of an extreme weather event, or the more

common risks of fire, theft or accident.

ACS is proud to now offer individuals the same peace of mind we have provided to hundreds of churches, schools and charities throughout Australia through our new personal insurance products. With over 25 years of experience and a strong track record of quality customer care and support, it pays to consider switching to ACS Personal Insurance.

By making the switch, you will also experience personal insurance with a difference—one that protects you and your valuables while also supporting others in our global community. ACS will donate at least 25% of revenue from each new policy taken out to support the work of ACCI Missions & Relief. Wholly

WIN 12 Months FREe HOME Insurance Simply get a quote to enter at www.acspersonalinsurance.com.au ACS Financial is excited to offer individuals the same peace of mind we have provided to thousands of churches, schools and charities over the past 25 years.

You can now access great cover for your home, car, boat, caravan and more. For a limited time, a simple quote will put you in the draw to win up to $1,500 free cover*. *Conditions apply, see website for details.

ACN 062 448 122 I AFSL 247 388 | ABN 91 460 778 961 | © 2015 ACS Financial Pty Ltd

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owned by the ACC, we are proud to continually re-invest in the movement.

In fact to date, we have given back over $1 million to various causes and charity efforts.

So if it’s time for you to reconsider your personal insurance situation, why don’t you make ACS Financial your first stop. With easy online or over-the-phone quotes, you can compare policies for your home, car, boat, caravan and more.

Plus for a limited time, simply obtaining a quote can put you in the draw to win $1,500 free home insurance (conditions apply, see website for details).

Visit www.acspersonalinsurance.com.au to get started.

GROWING LEADERS MASTER OF LEADERSHIP IMPACTS GEOFF BLIGHT

For AC Master of Leadership student and 2015 QLD ACC Pastor of the Year, Geoff Blight, the promise that Jesus would build His church was a promise he would hold onto when faced with challenges for him and his congregation. Geoff is the Senior Pastor of Life Church Brisbane, a congregation of over 600 people, with ministries that include Brisbane Christian College, a school of over 700 students. challenge myself to achieve new things and expose myself to new concepts.”

Geoff can see God’s hand at work in the way that the building project for Life Church and Brisbane Christian College came to fruition and the miracles experienced along the way. “What God has blessed us with of late regarding our facilities, is such a sovereign thing; not about us or what we have done, but evidence of His hand positioning His church for generational impact.”

Geoff was recently recognised as the QLD ACC Pastor of the Year. “I was totally shocked and amazed that I was chosen”, says Geoff. “There are so many wonderful leaders across our state and territory investing their lives to bring life to their communities.”

Visit http://study.ac.edu.au/leadership for more information about how you can grow as a leader through AC’s Master of Leadership program.

LEADERS. I T ’ S T I M E TO G ROW

VOLUME 01/04

“Like every leader we have walked through very difficult seasons. Success is often recognised at the breakthrough but is actually won in the tough seasons,” Geoff reflected.

Balancing study and ministry commitments has proven invaluable for Geoff ’s development as a leader when facing new challenges. In particular the study of governance in AC’s Master of Leadership was helpful in facilitating greater effectiveness in communication between the church and the school.

Geoff commented, “The Governance module was outstanding in enhancing my understanding of the corporate mindset required for effective governance of our diverse leadership world, which consists of both church and our school.”

Committed to grow as a leader, Geoff has found further study to be a transformative experience saying, “Studying at AC has forced me to consider and research things that would not have otherwise been part of my regular routine. I have been able to apply leadership paradigms and concepts back into my real life, leadership and ministry context. We grow by the books we read, the leaders we listen to, and the thoughts we think. The Master of Leadership is part of my commitment to constantly

LE ADERSHIP STR ATEGIES FOR CHURCH GROW TH

STEPHEN FOGARTY

“It’s Time to Grow” by Stephen Fogarty (CEO of Alphacrucis College) is the first instalment in an excellent series that takes the complex issue of church growth and turns it into strategies that are practical and effective.

- Pastor Wayne Alcorn

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY

A L P H AC R U C I S C O L L E G E

Geoff & Lee Blight 22

NEW RELEASES READ

LISTEN

WATCH

WORSHIP CHANGES EVERYTHING

UNRELENTING

A.D. KINGDOM & EMPIRE

Experiencing God’s Presence in every moment of life

Studio Album by Metro

Mini series on DVD Mark Burnett; Roma Downey

Church Creative Team

By Darlene Zschech What does worship look like in real life – at work, in your family, or with your friends?

It can be easy to have a heart filled with worship on a Sunday morning as the church band is playing your favourite song. But then comes Monday morning’s communte and Tuesday afternoon’s ile of laundry. How do we maintain a heart of worship in the daily grind?

Darlene Zschech has spent her life thinking and teaching about worship. With wisdom and contagious joy, she shares her thoughts on what worship truly is and how it should invade every facet of our being.

Everything we do can be an act of worship to the Lord, transforming our work, our friendships, our churches, our families. It’s all about living in His presence – being aware of the Lord by our side and at work in our lives.

READ AN EXTRACT FROM WORSHIP CHANGES EVERYTHING ON PAGE 12

Metro Church on the Gold Coast has released it latest album ‘Unrelenting’, leading up to the 10 year birthday celebrations of METRO church in 2016. This album is set to minister to the border community whether they are new to faith, mature in their faith or discovering what faith is.

The ten original tracks to encourage and inspire the listener are a great blend of uplifting anthems such as RUN TO WIN, quiet meditation like PEACE and pop styled reflections about HEAVEN. The title track UNRELENTING is a passionate reminder of the higher love we can experience daily. It really does contain something for everyone, taking you on a listening journey from beginning to end.

Metro Senior Pastor, Garry Mac, summed up the soul and purpose of the album: “Broken hearts and lives can be made whole again.

Anxious and weary souls can find rest. Addictions and controlling habits can fall away. Joy and boldness can be renewed. Wisdom and guidance can be received.

Strength of character can be provided. Rich blessing and lasting honour can be found. All as we encounter the touch of the Holy Spirit.

A.D. picks up where the smash hit, The Bible: The Epic mini-series, left off, continuing the greatest story ever told and exploring the exciting and inspiring events that followed the Crucifixion of Christ.

12 episodes on 4 DVDs, approx. 46 minutes each.

NOW A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

LIVE LOVE LEAD

Your best is yet to come

By Brian Houston

Brian Houston’s 2015 release, Live Love Lead has become a New York Times bestseller. Highly recommended for all pastors and leaders – an inspiring read for the new year.

Available from www.koorong.com.au 23

WHAT’S ON

Diarise to attend the key national events in 2016 and resource your whole ministry team.

WO MEN

MARCH 2016 www.colourconference.com

GL OB AL

4-5 MAY 2016

www.accimissions.org.au

YO U TH

17-19 MAY 2016

www.youthalive.org.au

M IS SI ONS

1-4 AUGUST 2016

www.accimissions.org.au

The ACC supports the National Day of Prayer and Fasting on Sunday 7 February 2016, and the 40 days of prayer and fasting until Easter. Read more: page 17

KIDS

16-18 AUGUST 2016

www.acckids.org.au

CO MMUNI TY

6-7 SEPT 2016

www.acccommunityengagement.org.au

IN D IG ENOUS

8-10 SEPT 2016

www.ganggalah.com.au

Mark your calendar for the 2017 ACC National Conference on the Gold Coast from 2–4 May 2017. Registrations will open in 2016 - watch for the special opening registration prices for you and your church team.

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www.colourconference.com

COLOUR CELEBRATES 20 YEARS The annual COLOUR women’s conference will be celebrating its 20th year in Australia. in March 2016.

Colour is being hosted across FOUR back-to-back conferences this year at the Hillsong Convention Centre at the Hills Campus in Sydney.

There is still room in Conference #2 and #4 and worth noting, is that the midweek options are great for those in ministry who want to be back for weekends.

Guests include Judah and Chelsea Smith, Lisa Bevere, Holly Wagner and Christine Caine. (Holly and Chris were the first ever guest speakers 20 years ago.)

Visit: www.colourconference.com

www.ganggalah.com.au

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STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR COLOUR 2016

SIGN UP FOR ALPHA AUSTRALIA’S EASTER INVITATION 2016 The Alpha Easter Invitation 2016 is an exciting partnership with Christian media in Australian capital cities and possibly your church. During Easter these radio stations will be supporting your community outreach through Alpha with thoughtprovoking audio clips, talk back discussion, and stories of people who have explored faith through Alpha. The radio stations will also put our ‘Alpha Finder Map’ on their websites so people can search for an Alpha nearby.

This means if you choose to be part of this national initiative, people can find your Alpha. We want you to be a part of this amazing opportunity as a local church, and it’s completely free of charge!

Every church that posts their Alpha on our website as part of the Easter Invitation will receive a free outdoor banner! (you can do that through the “Run Alpha” section of our website) Participation is free, and by signing up you’ll get some great tips on setting up and running your Alpha, and the ‘inside word’ on any new developments!

If you’d like to participate in the Easter Invitation, visit: http://australia.alpha.org/easter/

www.acccommunityengagement.org.au

www.acckids.org.au

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