NorthPoint - July, 2016

On Sunday morning, 12 June, close to 50 women from churches around the Lake Macquarie area met at the Toronto Adventist Church’s hall for the first new regional meeting initiative created by the Women’s Ministries Department of the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference. “The Gathering” was a meeting for women who are called to lead and serve in their churches, communities and homes.

“The Gathering” began with a welcome and prayer by Pastor Bethany Chapman, Director of Women’s Ministries for the NNSW Conference, and was followed by some short presentations, including a Bible reading and a talk about the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Lyndelle Peterson, a pastor at Fox Valley Church in the Greater Sydney Conference and chaplain at Wahroonga Adventist Primary School, was the guest speaker for the morning’s program, which took its theme from the story of Paul and Silas meeting Lydia — and a group of other women — in Acts 16:13.

“All you need is a gathering of women and the conviction of the Holy Spirit for the work of God to go forward,” Lyndelle told the women assembled for “The Gathering,” before she unpacked the five things that could be learned from this passage of Scripture. Those things were that all great things begin with a position of prayer; the women were gathered together — “Be a woman who gathers. Bring other like-minded women around you, but don’t discriminate or leave out those we don’t connect with” Lyndelle said; Paul found the women were willing to use what they had to get involved in ministry; the women were encouragers; and they recognised that it’s not about self, but the mission.

“When I look back at these ancient women, I feel inspired to walk in their footsteps,” Lyndelle said before closing her presentation with a prayer of commitment. This was followed by a time where the women could socialise, discuss some deeper questions and share some of the fabulous food they’d brought along to share.

Pastor Chapman says, “Many women who are in local church leadership have said to me that they know God wants them to serve, but that they feel discouraged, burdened and burnt out. After many similar conversations with women around the conference, I wanted to address the need to be built up and encouraged and empowered. I wanted to women of NNSW to value their God-given leadership and potential, whatever season of life they were in, while having the chance to network with other leaders in their regional area.”

She adds, “‘The Gathering’ was a really positive spiritual event. It felt a little odd to meet on a Sunday, but I believe that what happens in our churches on a Sabbath morning is very important and didn’t want to take away from that. I hope to see these events grow in the future, empowering women in our conference together.”

— Adele Nash

Visit <http://nnsw.adventist.org.au/women-s-ministries> to find out more about the upcoming Women’s Ministries events around NNSW or connect on Facebook — <www.facebook.com/adventistwomenNNSW>.

OUR CONFeReNCe

From the President: Practicing what I preach CFO Report: June 2016

It’s not as easy as it would sound. I am a very bad local church member at the moment. My job determines that I travel most weekends to preach at different churches, and so my involvement in the church where my membership is held (Wallsend) is almost nonexistent. That’s bad. Here am I telling everyone to get involved in their local church and discover their ministry, but I can’t model that!

Just recently, my wife and I started a small group. It meets every Wednesday, even when I’m not there. I have to say that it has been an absolute blessing for my own spiritual journey. I have learned in just a few weeks more about people I have known for years than you could possibly imagine. I have also found it very encouraging in my own spiritual walk, and I look forward to Wednesday night every week.

Why You Should Join A Small Group

> Jesus Led A Small Group

That’s what the 12 Disciples were all about — doing life as a smaller unit; encouraging, supporting and growing with each other as they came to understand the Gospel and how it relates to their everyday life. It was through this intense development phase that the Disciples became more and more like their Saviour. Christianity is a team sport, and it’s through learning and growing with others that we develop most quickly.

> People Are Lonely

When you choose to join — or even start your own — small group, by your actions you are declaring that people matter to God. So much of what we do in life is all about ourselves. We take selfies, obsess over Facebook posts and generally become more narcissistic every year. A small group is in direct opposition to our self-centred tendencies. Small groups are about supporting and focusing on others, as well as God. We should all read our Bibles and have a personal relationship with God, but we need fellowship just as much — and we need others to help stop us from becoming centred on ourselves.

> Praying Together Is Powerful

I find that my prayer life can really drift if I’m not constantly brought back by others to having prayer at the centre of what I do. Having a small group enables me to understand the Bible better and, importantly, it gives me new people and issues to pray for. I’m also able to encourage others. I joined my first group as a 20-yearold new Christian, and my knowledge of everyday Christianity increased so rapidly when I did this. For me, to pray with other people every Wednesday night is a very powerful thing that encourages me throughout the rest of the week. No matter what issues or challenges I might be facing, I know that I’m not facing them alone.

— Pastor Justin Lawman

Around The Traps is a regular e-newsletter from Pastor Justin Lawman. It features a devotional and news from the conference. To subscribe, fill out the form at <http://nnsw.adventist.org.au/around-the-traps>

Last Year’s Financial Results

The financial results for the year ending 31 December, 2015, show that the conference made a small surplus of $141,000. Whilst this is an improvement on the deficit of $150,000 in the previous year, it falls well short of a long-term sustainable financial position for the conference.

The surplus and deficits for the conference for the past nine years are shown in the chart below:

In 2015, the tithe increase on the previous year bounced back after a sharp drop in 2014 (see chart below). This means that hopefully the unprecedented drop in tithe in 2014 was a one-off event rather than the start of a long-term downward trend.

Tithe Powers Mission

The chart to the right shows our planned spending of tithe in 2016, noting that 57 per cent of tithe will be spent on frontline Gospel workers and evangelism. This is well above our benchmark of 55 per cent and is the result of restructuring the conference over a number of years.

May God continue to bless you, and we pray your relationship with God continues to grow.

— Russell Halliday

Big Camp inspires a Prayer Ministry

There was a strong emphasis on prayer at Big Camp 2016 — much prayer went into the planning of the event, and of course there were events at camp that revolved around prayer, including the screening of War Room on the first Sabbath evening.

One of the other prayer-focused elements was the early-morning prayer and worship time in the Big Tent. This was held every morning between 6.30am and 7.00am. On the first morning, only Colin Hone and Pastor Ben Rea were in attendance. From there, the numbers grew exponentially.

“More and more people came as we went along,” says Colin (pictured, left), who has been appointed by the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference to head up its Prayer Ministry. “We prayed for the speakers and the offerings. God poured our His blessings in so many ways. Because of that, Pastor Justin Lawman, President of the North New South Wales Conference, said we needed to have a Prayer Ministry — one that wasn’t limited to just camp, but was conference-wide.”

This led to Pastor Lawman, Pastor Paul Geelan (General Secretary of the NNSW Conference) and Russell Halliday (CFO of the NNSW Conference) approaching Colin to run this ministry.

Colin has a strong involvement with prayer and through Holy Spirit ministries. “I’ve been involved in encouraging churches to form prayer groups for the past seven years,” he says.

“I’ve been invited to do revival meetings at churches and conferences all over the world. I have a prayer and small group focus, promoting small groups to pray together doing the 40 Days and 10 Days devotionals by Pastor Dennis Smith — obviously, prayer is a major part of this because you’re asking the Holy Spirit for things.”

The dedicated focus of the prayers at Big Camp happened because of the realisation that there was a lack of prayer for the speakers and events going on at camp. “The prayers answered there were amazing,” says Colin. “We had record amounts of money donated for the Fiji Mission, and for church planting, evangelism and Bible workers. We also prayed for souls to make decisions.”

He adds, “God wants to pour out the latter rain on our church. He wants to pour out His blessing on us. It’s important to get involved in our local church in prayer groups. Small groups who pray make a difference. We’re not going to finish this mission we’ve been given as Adventists unless we get serious about prayer, because more prayer equals more power.”

And this is why the Prayer Ministry team will run its first prayer conference later this year at the Stuarts Point Convention Centre. Pastor Roy Rugless, Director of Prayer Ministries for the South Central Conference, will be the guest speaker at the event, which will run from 30 September to 2 October. The theme for the long weekend will be “If My People Pray… For the Latter Rain,” and is inspired by an ellen White quote that says, “I saw jets of light shining from cities and villages, and from the high places and the low places of the earth. God’s word was obeyed, and as a result there were memorials for Him in every city and village. His truth was proclaimed throughout the world” (Testimonies for the Church, 9:28, 29). Further details about the prayer conference are on the ad on the back page of this issue of NorthPoint

— Adele Nash

OUR CONFeReNCe

Adventist Senior Living takes on Japan

Avondale Lifestyle Community residents are engaged. And that is exactly how Adventist Senior Living’s Aged Care facility Diversional Therapist Lindl Webster likes it. In fact, so impressed is she with their engagement that Lindl took the joy and enthusiasm of her residents all the way to Japan in a Diversional Therapy Australia tour that showcased her award-winning Diversional Therapy program to the world in May.

With a growing reputation as one of the country’s most talented Diversional Therapists, Lindl headed off to present her cutting-edge work as invited Keynote Speaker at the Diversional Therapy International Symposium, held in May in Tokyo. The Symposium was followed by a promotional and study tour that took Lindl, her work and other international delegates to numerous aged care facilities across Japan.

“It is fantastic to be able to impact the lives of our elderly in a meaningful way,” says Lindl who is passionate about breaking down the barriers between generations. “To be able to promote that engagement and fullness of life worldwide is such an honour,” she said, adding, “I am excited to be able to promote the importance of Diversional Therapy in practice to our Japanese counterparts.”

It has been a rewarding, yet whirlwind, 18 months for Lindl and her work in improving the quality of life for aged-care residents. Not only was she the recipient of the inaugural Diversional Therapy Award for excellence in 2014, but has since been elected as Vice President of the peak body representing her field of work in Australia, and again recognised for her intergenerational initiative, with Adventist Senior Living announced as winner of the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency Better Practice Award in 2015.

— Felicity Pittaway

Connect with the NNSW Conference on Facebook

You can now connect with the North New South Wales Conference on Facebook — <www.facebook.com/ NNSWconference> — to find out more about what’s happening in and around our conference (and beyond). The NNSW Conference page will be regularly updated with a variety of content and we look forward to engaging more with you online.

— NorthPoint

Avondale Lifestyle Community Diversional Therapist Lindl Webster (right) with a member of the Adventist Senior Living care team

OUR CONFeReNCe

NNSW Pathfinder e xpedition 2016

With an east Coast Low dominating the weather of the weekend prior to this year’s Pathfinder expeditions, many prayers were sent up asking for fine, safe conditions for the events, which were run over the long weekend of 10 to 13 June. Thankfully those prayers were answered as Pathfinders across the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference enjoyed near-perfect weather at both the Southern and Northern expeditions.

The Southern expedition was held at Mount Yengo, with 240 attendees, plus expedition staff. The clubs who participated were Avondale Memorial, Central Coast, Footprints, Lakeside, Newcastle Multicultural, Southlakes and Wallsend. Hogarth Range hosted the Northern expedition, which had 247 attendees, along with expedition staff. The clubs there were Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Kempsey, Lismore, Macksville, Murwillumbah, Northern Tablelands, Nambour (South Queensland) and Port Macquarie, along with another group from South Queensland who were not a Pathfinder Club.

The theme for Pathfinders this year in NNSW is “Taste and See,” and the worships at expedition were based around this, looking at how God can be experienced through Scripture and nature. “We wanted to encourage our Pathfinders to pursue an encounter with God,” says Pastor Michael Chapman (Chappo), Associate Director of Youth Ministries for the NNSW Conference.

Pastor Rick Hergenhan, Director of Youth Ministries for the NNSW Conference, and Chappo were the speakers for the Friday night and Saturday morning programs — Pastor Hergenhan at the Southern expedition and Chappo at the Northern expedition. They both explored the feeding of the 5000 and what happened when Jesus challenged disciples to have a deeper encounter with Him, rather than just receiving food.

Following on from their worship time together, the Pathfinders split into groups to hunt out markers set up around the expedition grounds. The markers system was set up last year, as prior to this, there had simply been set routes for A, B, C and D grades. The markers system — which is like a rogaining-style course — sees Pathfinders create their own routes to get to locations around the expedition grounds — and it creates a situation where a group gets to walk where others might not instead of all doing the same trail, according to Chappo. There were 64 markers at the Southern expedition. Susan Merchant, Youth Ministries Secretary, says, “The objective is to get to as many markers as possible and record them in your log book. each marker has a unique hole punch at it, and everyone in your team has to stamp that into their log books.”

The markers are each worth points — some higher than others — which Susan says adds a “whole new element of competition and incentive.” She adds, “The Southern expedition had 45 different groups hunting for markers. each group planned out their day, submitted a ‘flight plan’ to expedition staff so we knew where they would go and then went off to hunt for markers! As they checked them off, they would leave a sticker to note the time they were there and where they were headed next. The groups also had to radio in their location every hour with base control.”

The Northern expedition had 55 markers. “All our volunteer staff put out the markers leading up to the event. For the Southern expedition alone, they estimated they spent 200 man-hours on the task,” says Susan.

The NNSW Youth Ministries team gives a huge thanks to those who volunteered to make the expedition weekend possible. Chappo says, “The district directors did a fantastic job getting the teams together. They all chipped in. The amount of expertise and the passion they have for Pathfinders shines through at expedition more than ever. They know their craft, and they give so much of their time, money and resources to make sure the Pathfinders have a great time.”

— Adele Nash

Photos courtesy of Paul Ginn, Michael Chapman, Crystal Dehn, Tim Page and Libby Hergenhan

OUR CONFeReNCe

FaithFM on air thanks to your donations

FaithFM is broadcasting on 87.6FM between Gosford and Taree in the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference, thanks in part to generous donations made by NNSW Conference members.

Nic Coutet, who heads up the FaithFM team, says, “We received $30,000 in donations for the launch and set up of FaithFM. This has enabled us to employ a part-time sound technician/editor. Thank you for your donations!”

The FaithFM team has a breakfast show that goes to air on weekday mornings between 6.00am and 9.00am. This show is hosted by Michael Lilikakis, Adele Nash, Joel Slade and Nic Coutet, with Marta Rutkowska working on the editing and production side of the program. “We have received four direct calls as a result of our breakfast show to mid-June,” says Nic. “One caller is now engaged in Bible studies!”

What does the future hold for FaithFM NNSW? According to Nic, permanent breakfast and drive-time afternoon shows; local church engagement with sermons and testimonies aired during the day; local church activities and programs advertised; professional training for the FaithFM team by some of the best on the industry; marketing campaigns, including billboards, bumper stickers and TV ads; and an upgrade to transmitting methods to achieve better coverage.

How can you help or get involved? “First of all, start tuning every morning,” says Nic. “Tell your friends about your churches new radio breakfast show on 87.6 FM. Let FaithFM know about your evangelistic activities, or book in a time to share your testimony of faith on radio. Or you can send donations to the NNSW Conference Office in Wallsend.”

— Adele Nash/Nic Coutet

Big Camp contracts available

Are you looking for a way to raise funds for your school, church, Pathfinder club or mission trip? The North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference is seeking groups to fulfil these three contracts for Big Camp 2017:

Big Camp Amenities Cleaning: This involves cleaning all the amenities blocks at the Stuarts Point Convention Centre from the Wednesday before camp to the Sunday after camp, and requires a team of about 20 volunteers.

Big Camp Store: This involves providing the volunteer labour for the operation of the Camp Store in collaboration with Better Books and Food, and requires a team of at least 25 volunteers for some time before camp and for the duration of the Big Camp week.

Big Camp Set Up: This involves working alongside a small pastoral team to set up all the Big Canvas and Family Tents, and requires a team of 20+ volunteers for up to two weeks prior to camp and a week after camp.

For more information about these contracts, please call Pastor Paul Geelan, General Secretary of the NNSW Conference, on (02) 4951 8088.

OUR CHURCHeS

Blessed baptism at Coonamble

Weekly Playful Music program engages

local community

On the last day of March, Vicki Nyveldt followed her Lord into baptism to become a member of the family of God and the Coonamble Community Church.

Vicki has a gift in serving where she is. She is a blessing to her church family with her tireless work ethic. Pictured above with Vicki (middle) are some of the women of Coonamble Church — Mary, Lorraine, Amanda and Naomi.

— Shaun Hepworth

Coffs Harbour Church’s “Belong” youth group grows

Since the beginning of last year, Coffs Harbour Church has been running a new initiative focusing on the youth of its church. Inspired by the 2015 Leadership in the Local Church weekend, Pastor Abel Iorgulescu, with the assistance of Christopher Petersen and other youth members, organised a Friday night youth group for the younger members of the church. Wanting to create a bold statement and message, the youth group was appropriately named “Belong.” The aim of the group was to provide a setting in which youth could socialise, be involved and feel included. The group has been running for the past year and has been wonderfully successful.

The general structure of the evening begins with socialising and eating, leading into games, and finally worship and a Bible study. The group has been privileged to have speakers varying from Pastor Iorgulescu to members of the youth themselves, as well as special guest speakers like Matt Para, Pastor Michael Chapman and Pastor Rick Hergenhan.

The group also encourages youth involvement, from running games, leading out in worship and giving the message. The group has also been an effective evangelism tool, as youth invite their friends to join in a friendly and welcoming social setting. Youth member emily Sonter says, “My favourite aspect of the ‘Belong’ youth group is that it allows a group of likeminded youth to meet and continue their spiritual walk together.”

So successful was the group last year that it was decided that they would continue in 2016 with an even broader campaign. Leaders have already met and decided to run three themes throughout the year: Apologetics (equipping youth to defend their faith), Christian Living (giving biblical direction on how to live) and testimonies from older church members. The group has increased in size and scope, and with God’s blessings should continue to do so.

“God has impressed us to use ‘Belong’ to build the faith of young people and help them grow into committed disciples of Jesus Christ. God is truly moving in our midst,” says Pastor Iorgulescu.

— Christopher Petersen/Coffs Harbour Church Communications

A music-based program is helping a local Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bonnells Bay connect with those in its community.

“Playful Music” is Lakeside Seventh-day Adventist Church’s most popular mission program this year. The church’s hall is filled with prams, babies, energetic toddlers, parents and grandparents each Monday — attendance at the playgroup ranges from 15 to 25 carers and 30 to 40 children.

“Music is a powerful gift to share with your community and church,” says the program’s author, Kylie Stacey. “Parents are increasingly recognising the value of music in their children’s lives.”

The value of the music is that “it’s a body and brain boost for all young children,” says Kylie. “Wholistic learning takes place when we create loving experiences through music.”

The good news is “Playful Music” is also available for you to use.

“Playful Music” offers parents and leaders ready-made programs and recordings that are simple to use, accessible online and affordable — subscriptions start from less than $4 per week. The programs are designed to teach children that they are each special, wonderfully made and loved. They are perfect for playgroups, such as the one at Lakeside, mothers’ groups and growth groups.

“‘Playful Music’ equips you with everything you need to get a group started in your local community,” says Kylie. “I’ve kept the price of a subscription really low because my mission is to make quality music affordable for everybody.”

Subscribers have access to eight Creation-based themes. They receive a seven-day free trial, weekly program templates and parent handouts, links to MP3 files, craft and story ideas, marketing materials (including logos and banner files), simple budgeting and administration templates, and personalised support.

Kylie and her team have run the “Playful Music” program at Big Camp in the Beginners tent (pictured below, photo courtesy of Ann Stafford), and it has been greatly enjoyed by children and parents alike.

For more information about “Playful Music,” visit <www.playfulmusic.org>.

— Kylie Stacey/NorthPoint

OUR CHURCHeS

Trio of baptisms at Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour Adventist Church has celebrated a number of baptisms in the past seven months or so.

U-Turn in life leads to baptism

Life’s journey for Jye Watson (pictured, left) began in an Adventist home where the Bible and church attendance was a way of life. However, in his teens, Jye began to deny the call of God on his heart, which eventually led him on a downward path to the so-called pleasures of this world for a number of years.

A crisis in our life usually entails decision making, so Jye made a U-turn in his life, moving to Coffs Harbour and living with family. It now somehow felt right to start attending church again. Jye was made welcome from the start and he felt a genuine interest from members in his eternal salvation. Pastor Abel Iorgulescu commenced Bible studies with Jye and, in due time, he recommitted his life to the Lord and requested to be baptised.

On 30 January 2016 — his birthday — Jye committed his life and rebirth in Christ and was baptised by Pastor Iorgulescu in Coffs Harbour Church, witnessed by all his family, friends and church family. A fellowship luncheon followed the service where much joy and happiness prevailed. God bless you Jye.

Wholly Thine

eric Ngirabakunzi (pictured, below), with his mother and siblings, arrived in Coffs Harbour in 2006 as refugees from Tanzania, Africa. Two years later, his aunty and family also arrived as refugees to settle and find a new life here.

Some years later, due to illness, eric was admitted to the local hospital. His aunty, Juliane Miburo, a faithful member of Coffs Harbour Seventh-day Adventist Church, requested prayer for eric’s recovery. This request led to hospital visits and prayer by church members.

This episode in eric’s life made an impression on him, as although he knew about Adventists, he had not been interested in finding out more. This now changed and he began to attend church with his aunty and family, feeling welcome from the start.

Pastor Iorgulescu followed up on eric’s interest, sharing Bible studies with church member Stuart Clarke. These studies led eric to make the decision to give his life fully to the Lord. Stuart, a keen Bible student, was accepted for the 2016 ARISe program held earlier this year.

December 5, 2015 was a day of celebration when eric was baptised in Coffs Harbour Church by Pastor Iorgulescu in the presence of his mother, siblings, family, friends and church family. At the

conclusion, eric’s family group sang his favourite hymn “Wholly Thine,” a beautiful rendition in their own language.

A wonderful fellowship luncheon followed the service, with much laughter and happiness in the crowded hall. eric’s beaming smile, handshake and “Happy Sabbath!” every week is a very welcome addition to our church family in Coffs Harbour.

Confirming a long commitment

On 5 December, 2015, Christopher Petersen (aged 17 and pictured, right) was baptised at Coffs Harbour Seventh-day Adventist Church by Pastor Iorgulescu. Christopher’s parents, Jonathan and Violeta, were baptised into the Coffs Harbour Seventhday Adventist Church in their 20s shortly before Christopher was born and, as a result, have raised him in the church his whole life. Their other two sons, Daniel (13) and Michael (nine) were so happy to see their older brother lead by example (the family is pictured below).

From a very young age, Christopher has actively contributed to all aspects of church life. At the age of three, Christopher sang his first solo item in church. At the age of 12, he presented his first sermon. Christopher has always been willing to use his talents and abilities to serve the church in teaching, preaching, music, youth leadership and service to others.

Christopher’s father showed a video of Christopher’s involvement in church activities from a toddler to the present day. Christopher is now part of the music, audio-visual and youth ministries teams, as well as being a Junior Deacon.

Last year, he commenced giving Bible studies to members of the community. Christopher loves to share his faith at school and regularly brings school friends along to church. He has been developing his own series of Bible lessons and shares these as a way of witnessing to others. His parents see the hand of God in this as they chose the name Christopher for him because it means “bearer of Christ,” hoping that he would share Christ with others throughout his life. Christopher is also an avid writer. He has already drafted his first book, a modern-day adaptation of the story of Gideon, which he hopes to publish this year.

Christopher has always had a strong faith in God as demonstrated by his consistent involvement in the church. Last year, he decided to make a public stand and declare his lifelong commitment to Christ through baptism. The church rejoiced to see such a fine young man, whom many have known since his birth, make the best decision of his life.

— Margaret Hivon/Jonathan and Violeta Petersen

OUR CHURCHeS

God’s Closet at Wyee Church

Kingscliff celebrates three baptisms

Kingscliff Church recently celebrated the baptism of three of its much-loved young people.

Anika Leistra committed her life to Christ on Sabbath, 12 March in a beautiful ceremony at her family’s property at Kunghur, where she was plunged into the upper reaches of Clarrie Hall Dam by Pastor David Asscherick. The 17 year old, who is a student at Tweed Valley Adventist College (TVAC), felt impressed to be baptised last year and was doing Bible studies with school chaplain Courtney Tyler. However, it was being given the opportunity to deliver the sermon at Kingscliff Church with two other students in December that cemented her decision.

“I was terrified when I had to get up the front, however it was very rewarding and really powerful. In preparing for that, I learnt a lot about God and started to feel different,” she said.

Anika was amazed by the turnout on her special day, considering her family lives 45 minutes’ drive from church. “I just didn’t expect it. It made me feel very loved and makes me really appreciate my church family,” she said.

God’s Closet at Wyee Adventist Church had its third Open Day on 15 May. God’s Closet is a non-profit community service ministry. They collect and distribute new and gently used children’s clothes, shoes and bedding.

Deslie ellis says, “Wyee Church has the first God’s Closet chapter outside of the United States of America. We are making friends and helping people in our community. We had 42 families — which represents 120 children — who were able to choose free clothing. The parents really appreciated the help.”

For further information about God’s Closet in Wyee, check out their Facebook page <www.facebook.com/GodsClosetWyee> or visit <www. godscloset.com>. The next God’s Closet event will be held in August.

— Deslie Ellis/NorthPoint

A large crowd also gathered for the baptism of cousins Mitchell Grolimund and Jesse Fua (by Pastors David Asscherick and Jared Smith) on Sabbath, 21 May, in a creek near their home in Limpinwood Valley.

Jesse, 19, was relieved that the water wasn’t as cold as he thought it would be! He said it’s difficult to explain such an amazing experience. “I’m feeling free I guess. I can say it’s been the best day of my life and I don’t want to go back to how I was,” he said.

Both young men completed the ARISe Cornerstone program just before their baptism and said it was pivotal in their decision. “I just learnt so much more about the Bible stories I knew from growing up in the church. Doing ARISe gave me that depth. It turned the head knowledge into heart knowledge,” 20-year-old Mitchell said.

TVAC Principal Paul Fua, who is Jesse’s dad, Mitchell’s Uncle and Anika’s school principal, was rejoicing over each one. “This is the culmination of a partnership that’s taken place with the home, the church community and the school community. It’s very difficult for young people to stand-up and stand out, but they have shown that they are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Paul is hoping that more TVAC students commit to Bible study and also consider doing ARISe when they finish school.

Anika plans to become a chef and is completing an apprenticeship while studying Year 11. Both Mitchell and Jesse are spending the next four months volunteering at Camp MiVoden in Northern Idaho.

— Summer Lockley

Harnessing the sun for science!

Avondale School Year 10 Science students were recently involved in researching the principles of solar cooking as part of a subject topic on Sustainability and the environment. The students were asked to research, then design and build their own solar cooker. Individual goals were varied and so were their designs. A big part of the task was a focus on sustainability. For this reason, students were encouraged to recycle any materials they could find, and the recent annual Lake Macquarie Council curbside pick up was a great resource, with students sourcing all kinds of materials from neighbouring streets!

“Ideas were really inspired . . . From a repurposed bread maker to an old esky found on the side of the road, from a small black box that fried an egg to a large aluminum foil concentrator that could have cooked someone’s lunch, to a pizza box that heated baked beans and a shoe box that nearly boiled water. It was a truly impressive array of designs, recycled materials and results!” said Mr Oliver, Avondale School’s Secondary Science teacher.

“It was exciting to see the way that students really embraced the challenge and were excited by their success. One student in particular, Kasey Steele, was bursting with excitement when her solar cooker reached an air temperature of greater than 115 degrees Celsius in less than hour. I really enjoyed eating a hard-boiled egg cooked in Sage Chapman’s cooker. Luke Avery and Zac Barham both heated their baked beans to a very good eating temperature in small portable cookers in less than 40 minutes,” said Mr Oliver.

— Kerrie Howells

OUR SCHOOLS

School does Meals On Wheels

On Wednesday, 4 May, eight of the Avondale School Year 11 Community and Family Studies class volunteered to assist the Morisset Meals On Wheels team to do some special Mother’s Day deliveries.

Students engaged in hand-delivering hampers to a number of elderly community members in the Cooranbong to Morisset Peninsula area. There were so many smiles and appreciative comments from those who received these welcomed parcels! The intergenerational experience saw stories shared and moments of laughter — students particularly enjoyed talking to some of the community’s war veterans.

“A couple of days before Mother’s Day, the Year 11 students felt honoured to be part of this opportunity to deliver hampers to those who cannot always cook for themselves. They can’t wait to do it again!” said Avondale Secondary Principal Benton Craig.

— Kerrie Howells

Avondale School students excel in mathematics

In November last year, three Avondale School Year 11 students sat the Colin Doyle Memorial Prize mathematics competition run by Newcastle University. This competition is conducted for Year 11 students who have previously demonstrated an aptitude for high-level mathematics. There were 133 students from the Hunter and the Central Coast who were brave enough to give the competition a go — the competition is a challenging three-hour test where students are asked to solve eight complex questions. each year students find interesting and innovative ways to solve the problems, and this time was no exception.

earlier this year, Avondale School Principal, Dr David Faull recognised the outstanding achievements of the three now Year 12 students — Filip Rieirson, Joshua Masangcay and Andrew Thompson — by presenting them each with a Colin Doyle Memorial Prize certificate. Two of the boys managed to achieved an A grade on their papers, ranking them within the top 25 students across Newcastle, the Hunter and the Central Coast. The boys were not fazed by the complexity of the test and when questioned about the types of questions, they replied:

“The problems were not the typical questions you get taught in class, so it was good to have a go at some alternate problems. When solving them, we needed to use all of the skills we have in our Mathematics toolbox, which presented a fun challenge for me,” said Andrew.

Joshua said, “I found it fun applying what I knew about Maths to solve a number of different problems.”

“I enjoyed this competition more than any other Maths competition that we have done. It was so much fun!” shared Flip.

Avondale School Mathematics Coordinator Anthony Hibbard commended the boys on their fantastic results and their enthusiasm toward pushing themselves to enter the competition.

“We were very impressed by the way in which our students approached this significant challenge and by the high levels of engagement displayed by them. It was pleasing to see our boys using their improved levels of persistence and resilience, which they have been honing in their Mathematics extension 1 and 2 classes, as they approached the eight tough questions given them. They deserve a big congratulations!” said Anthony.

— Kerrie Howells

From left to right: Andrew Thompson, Flip Rieirson, Joshua Masangcay and Dr David Faull

FeATUReS

Scholar uses the past to better understand the present

The launch of a new book by an Avondale academic has reminded Seventhday Adventists their beliefs are based in Scripture, but shaped by history.

Author Dr Bryan Ball emphasised the primacy of Scripture during the launch of Grounds for Assurance and Hope in the Watson Hall Lecture Theatre on the college of higher education’s Lake Macquarie campus on Saturday, 2 April. Christianity is a revealed religion, he said, revealed through Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, and through Scripture, the written Word.

Dr Ball noted the section in the book examining the Puritans, who he described as being misunderstood and misrepresented. “They merely wanted a church based completely on the Bible, with no liturgy, no robes, no saints days.” The major tenets of Seventh-day Adventism come out of england in the wake of the Reformation through Puritanism and early non-conformism, said Dr Ball.

“If we could transport ourselves back to the late 17th century and travel across england, we would find worshipping congregations that were abstaining from unclean foods, practicing baptism by immersion, keeping the Sabbath and ardently looking for the Second Coming of Christ. They were, in embryo, Adventist congregations 200 years before there were such.”

Documenting the existence of these beliefs at such an early time in english history is a strong argument against Adventism being a 19th century North American sect, said Dr Ball. “I still feel if only people knew this broader background they would surely view Adventism with a little more sympathy.”

Ball concluded his reflection with brief comments about two of the book’s more “provocative” chapters, “because who wants to read a book that doesn’t cause people to think.” The first chapter, “The origins of Genesis reconsidered,” is a defence of the so-called tablet theory, which suggests Moses compiled Genesis from tablets handed down through Abraham and the other patriarchs. The second, “The Decline of the West: Myth, or Reason for Hope?” is an examination of the writings of contemporaries who argue we are living in the fading twilight of the West.

Dr Ball, a former President of the Adventist Church in the South Pacific, is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Avondale. Two of his colleagues, theologian Dr Steven Thompson, a Higher Degree Research Supervisor, and historian Associate Professor Daniel Reynaud, Assistant Dean (Learning and Teaching) in the Faculty of Arts, Nursing and Theology, gave responses as part of the launch.

Dr Thompson reflected on his year as an undergraduate at Newbold, where he would eventually work with Dr Ball, who headed theology at the college of higher education. Growing up in the Bible Belt in the south of the United States of America, Dr Thompson says he knew Adventists “were a self-invented North American religious movement. But my year as undergraduate in england confirmed Adventists are but the current small link in a long chain of believers, Puritans, Sabbatarians, many of whom held surprisingly close beliefs to what we hold.”

These Puritans “are easy to caricature,” said Dr Reynaud in his response, “but Bryan

restores to our memory the capacity of the Puritans to think deeply, passionately, soundly and with life and vigour.” He described Dr Ball as a rare Adventist historian for looking beyond the church’s North America tradition. “Bryan reveals the roots of Adventism go far deeper than we may have imagined.”

Deeper means beyond the Reformation, said Dr Reynaud. “There is considerable evidence that some of the beliefs Adventists hold as distinctive were being discussed, studied and revealed even in medieval times. . . . If I’m holding a faith that has its origins in God, its greatest revelation in Jesus, it doesn’t feel very secure to know the truth of it came out in the 1800s. It feels far more secure to know the truth of it has its origins in Scriptural times and has come down through the ages.” Dr Reynaud lauded Dr Ball for “expanding our horizons and reminding us of our debt to those who’ve gone before.”

Dr Reynaud also noted the quality of Dr Ball’s scholarship — “he’s been reviewed by the best historians in the field and triumphed.” This, he said, “adds credibility to the message of the Adventist Church. I find that another ground for assurance.”

A defence of the value of historians followed — they study the past to better understand the present. “If this were not the case, historians would be out of a job, because once a history is written, it would be written. But it needs to be re-written so that it continues to address contemporary issues. Bryan has done this better than most.”

Dr Thompson spoke highly of Dr Ball’s emphasis “on the sufficiency of Scripture as a basis for revelation and for Christian belief. This must remain a core Adventist belief.” And he described Dr Ball’s chapter on righteousness and redemption in the epistles of the Apostle Paul — “do I have to do anything to be saved, is it enough to believe; is it doing or being?” — as making “one of the most original and convincing contributions to this long-standing issue.”

Dr Ball concludes the book with what Dr Thompson calls a focus on times and seasons. “It doesn’t come easily for someone who grew up in the part of the world I grew up in to think of the decline of the West, especially that part of the West. But we believe it’s happening, and we are told by prophecy that it’s certainly happening. . . . The times are changing.”

Dr Reynaud, though, had “a quibble” with the chapter on the decline of the West. “Bryan is a wonderful historian, but I’m not as convinced he’s a good prophet.” While agreeing with Dr Ball’s metanarrative — that the world is degenerating and headed toward a dramatic conclusion — Dr Reynaud does not agree “that the decline of the West is a bad thing, nor that the West represents exclusively Christian values.” Some of those values, particularly values originating from Greek and Roman philosophies, predate Christianity, said Dr Reynaud.

He ended his response with a challenge to modernists. “There is something I’m learning from the generation younger than me that I think my generation probably missed. A tolerance, an acceptance and a recognition that they don’t know everything. Postmodernism says, ‘We don’t know.’ I have found one of the most reassuring things in my journey in faith over the past 20 years is the capacity to say, ‘I don’t know,’ because it then shifts my assurance from my scholarship and my wisdom and my cleverness to revealed wisdom. If I don’t know, where do I turn? I must turn back to the evidence that comes from outside of human wisdom.”

— Brenton Stacey

Grounds for Assurance and Hope is available for $29.95 from Adventist Book Centres or the Avondale Online Store <www.avondale.edu.au/onlinestore>.

A review of Grounds for Assurance and Hope will be featured in the August issue of NorthPoint. You can read an interview with Dr Ball about his 80th birthday, the relevance of history and other theological matters at <http://wp.avondale.edu.au/ news/2016/03/22/happy-returns-how-history-helps/>.

FeATUReS

ACA’s healthy 82-year history

Imagine it’s 1934. You face an enormous, unexpected hospital bill and there’s no health fund to rely on. You’re unable to pay the bill, so you have to present your case to a committee and hope the decision-makers see fit to give you some money toward your bill.

In May 1934, the executive Committee of the Australian Union Conference gave five men the task of working out a scheme whereby all church employees could make “weekly payments to prepare for adequate care during times of sickness.” Those men were Brethren TW Hammond, Re Hare, GT Chapman, RH Adair and GS Fisher. Four months later, their recommendations were adopted and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Australia started its own private health fund for employees, called the Union Conference Medical Policy Fund.

Married workers contributed 6d (sixpence) each week and single workers 3d (threepenny). If you wanted health cover to include your parents or siblings, you had to pay 6d, whether married or single. If you needed hospital treatment, the fund covered 50 per cent of medical bills — up to the value of £20 annually.

You couldn’t send a claim to the health fund unless the bill was more than £2.2s. Surprisingly — compared with today’s generous fund — back then you were not allowed to claim for obstetrics, dentistry, tubercular-related illness, mental illness or chronic illness. The health fund existed only for workers in conferences, intuitions, mission fields and student workers. The organisation employing the worker was asked to subsidise the fund to an amount equal to what the worker contributed to the fund.

In an article in the Australasian Record in 1936, it was reported the fund had 920 contributors. “The fund has been running for a little over 18 months and is proving to be helpful and successful,” the article reads. “We have had 300 claims up to June 30 last, and we have paid out in claims £1455.”

In 1940, the fund had 1159 contributors. Slightly more than 1900 claims were made that year, with the average claim being £5. In 1954, the Australasian Record again reports the fund was proving to be a great safety net for its members. “A large number of our workers . . . have received substantial benefits from this fund, for themselves and their dependent relatives. The small weekly contribution by the worker to this medical fund has proved to be a very economical insurance against heavy medical expenses.”

The Adventist Church as an employer saw the establishment of a national fund provided additional benefits: it addressed the growing problem of inconsistent medical policies for employees transferring between states of Australia.

In August 1971, ACA Health Benefits Fund (ACAHBF) was formalised. For 10 years, from 1976-1986, ACA wasn’t registered with the Australian Government as there appeared no advantage in doing so. However, a decision was made in April 1986 to re-register — in part to provide a “continuation of entitlement” when employees transferred to other health funds when they left church employment.

A lot has changed since those early days. Today ACA Health Benefits Fund provides private health cover of exceptional value and great choice for current and past employees of the Adventist church, and their families. “The Adventist Church has long been committed to the health and wellbeing of its employees,” says Jody Burgoyne, Manager of the ACA Health Benefits Fund. “establishing a health fund was part of its ‘people ministry’. It helps the people who work for the church, to help the church fulfil its mission. We value our employees and their families, and that’s why ACA recently expanded its offering to provide private health cover for extended family members as well — not just immediate family.”

In future issues of NorthPoint, we’ll share more snippets of ACA’s history, as well as some of the exciting developments within ACA Health Benefits Fund. Take a moment right now to watch the new promotional video on our website and see how ACA Health can support you and your family. If you want to know more about ACA Health Benefits Fund and join today, contact us via 1300 368 390 or <info@acahealth.com.au>, or visit <www.acahealth.com.au>.