NorthPoint - March, 2017

“Extreme servolution” challenge given at leadership weekend

Leadership in the Local Church 2017 attendees were challenged to engage in “extreme servolution” — a revolution caused by serving others as God wants us to — by Dr David Jamieson over the weekend of 17 to 19 February.

What would an “extreme servolution” look like? According to Dr Jamieson, who pastors to the service-focused Church in the Valley in Aldergrove, Canada, it would be a no-strings-attached “revolution through serving” that would see a “significant change in the course of human history through simple acts of kindness for the glory of God.” His presentations at the Leadership weekend on Friday and Saturday explored how this can be done, providing practical and simple advice.

The servolution message was part of the leadership weekend’s over-arching theme of serving humanity, which is one element of the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference’s strategic plan. Serving others fulfils the command in Matthew 25:40 and is something Ellen White wrote about, saying Christ’s method alone will bring true success in reaching people (Ministry of Healing, page 143).

This year’s leadership weekend saw more than 1000 people attend, with the auditorium at Avondale College filled for the event. Attendees were excited to interact with other church members, learn more at workshops and be inspired by the messages shared. Pastor Ty Gibson and Pastor Peter Casillas also featured as guest speakers for the weekend, and both shared powerful messages.

Pastor Gibson’s Sabbath service explored the concept of The (Un)Leader, inverting Joseph Campbell’s story type of the hero with a thousand faces to break the narrative of redemptive violence with a hero — Jesus — who uses love to conquer force. “Jesus turns the value system upside down,” Pastor Gibson said. “He shows leadership through serving. In redefining power, Jesus gives the world a picture of the only truly effective leadership system we can imagine. . . . Who would have expected that, out of all the heroes with a thousand faces throughout history, one would emerge who would change everything in the beautiful, illuminating context of God’s love for you?”

On Sunday morning, Pastor Casillas challenged attendees to “be the prophet that God has called you to be.” He shared stories of jail, drunks, Psalms and models on planes, and asked why we should think we can be exclusive with our message, daring people to “jump in and just do things” as they become compassionate like God. “Faulty, defective people can be instruments to let God bless others,” said Pastor Casillas.

Workshops were an important part of the weekend, and they were run on the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning of the leadership weekend. The workshops were run by Pastor Justin Lawman, Pastor Neil Thompson, Pastor Ben (Continued on Page 2)

“Extreme servolution” challenge given at Leadership weekend

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Rea, Pastor Paul Geelan, Mark Webster, Pastor Lorin Pratt, Matt Parra and Pastor Casillas.

The weekend also saw the launch of the NNSW Conference’s Serving Humanity manual, which was created by Pastor Geelan, General Secretary of the NNSW Conference. It was one of the many items in the showbags handed out to attendees and will be available to churches throughout the conference. To obtain your copy, call the NNSW Conference Office on (02) 4951 8088.

Shark Tank was a new addition to the leadership weekend. What was it all about? Well, it riffed on the reality show of the same name where people pitch business ideas to a panel of “sharks” who will assess the worthiness of funding the projects. The leadership weekend’s Shark Tank was all about service, though, and youth groups had been encouraged to pitch their ideas for service projects to the Shark Tank panel in the lead-up to the weekend. On the Saturday night, the five finalists from around the NNSW Conference had their chance to pitch their ideas in person to the panel (pictured, left).

The ideas were fantastic, but unfortunately not all of them received all of the funding they had hoped for. However, no-one walked away empty-handed, as each group received funding (ranging from a modest amount to more than they had asked for). Opportunity still exists to add funds to the service project kitties — you can find the pledge page via the NNSW Conference website.

Pastor Justin Lawman, former President of the NNSW Conference, says, “I think it was our best leadership weekend yet — I may be a bit biased though. The messages we received from David, Ty and Peter were just spot-on for our conference’s vision, and they really furthered what we want to see happen in our conference. It was great, and I’m confident things will continue to grow and prosper in NNSW. Wendy and I really felt like we finished on a high with the conference, and it was quite emotional for me. We’re leaving a lot of people I know so well, a lot of investment; but we’re on another phase of our journey now. ”

— Adele Nash

Photo courtesy of Adele Nash

To view the full gallery of photos taken at the Leadership in the Local Church weekend, find us on Facebook — <https://www.facebook.com/NNSWConference>

Videos from the weekend are available on the NNSW Conference’s YouTube channel — <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdXRNO73ZQxG87c2qxi0xw>

President farewelled at Leadership in the Local Church weekend

Leadership in the Local Church 2017 was the final event for Pastor Justin Lawman as President of the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference. A special farewell for the Lawmans was given on the Sunday of the leadership weekend, with tributes paid, gifts shared and tears shed.

Pastor Jorge Munoz, President of the Australian Union Conference, spoke of Pastor Lawman’s audacious approach to ministry, which “brings forward the Kingdom of God.” He noted, “We will miss your passion and persistence for Jesus, but you will start a bonfire in a city that needs a change. We look forward to what will happen in Canberra and pray that God will use you mightily.”

Pastor Munoz also spoke of Wendy Lawman’s strong and untiring encouragement and love for Pastor Lawman. “Not half of what has been accomplished would have been done without her,” he said.

Retired NNSW Conference President Pastor John Lang shared how he and Pastor Lawman worked together for more than 20 years. “I really cherish that friendship,” he said. “I want to thank you for the vision you have and the vision you’ve given our conference. I believe our conference is on a roll. . . . Your support for the ministry team is second to none.”

Pastor Lang spoke of Pastor Lawman’s love for the church and passion for evangelism, noting his commitment to stand up for what’s right “though the heavens fall.”

In sharing his experience of working with Pastor Lawman, NNSW Conference General Secretary Pastor Paul Geelan spoke of the great relationship they shared, commenting on how they often prayed together. Pastor Geelan described Pastor Lawman as “the finest leader in the Adventist Church in Australia.”

Pastor Lawman and Wendy have moved to the South New South Wales Conference to minister to the Canberra National Church. His move from presidency to pastoral ministry was announced in the February issue of NorthPoint. The staff at the NNSW Conference Office shared a special farewell lunch for Pastor Lawman in mid-February — photos from the farewell can be viewed at <https://www.facebook.com/NNSWconference>.

— Adele Nash

OUR CONFERENCE

New President announced for NNSW Conference

Dr Tom L Evans has been a friend of the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference for more than five years, and is now its new President following his appointment in mid-February. He has spoken at Big Camp, ministers’ meetings and evangelism training events. He has visited a number of church plants in the conference in a consulting capacity and had a number of NNSW church planters present at SEEDS conferences in the United States.

Dr Evans is currently the Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry at Andrews University and Assistant Director of the North American Division Evangelism Institute (NADEI).

Dr Evans completed his undergraduate studies at Walla Walla College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications. He holds both a Masters of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Andrews University.

His Doctor of Ministry project is entitled “Implementation of a ConferenceWide Church Planting Strategy within the Texas Conference.”

Dr Evans joined NADEI in 2011. He teaches classes and offer seminars in the areas of: Church Growth and the Equipping Pastor, Ministry Coaching, Field Evangelism and Natural Church Development. He is also director of SEEDS Church Planting Conferences. More than 12 SEEDS Conferences are held annually in North America and internationally.

Dr Evans began full-time pastoral ministry in 1990, and has served in the Upper Columbia Conference, Texas Conference and South New South Wales Conference, Australia.

His roles have included: Youth Pastor, Conference Youth Director, Associate Pastor, Senior Pastor, Church Planter, Conference Church Planting and Stewardship Director, along with administrative, personnel and ministerial roles.

Dr Evans’s most recent ministry assignment prior to joining NADEI was as the Church Planting Director for the Texas Conference. 114 new churches were planted over a period of nine years. A model of lay-led church planting, with pastoral coaching and mother churches, was pioneered, which allowed for more rapid expansion of God’s work.

A significant ministry passion for Dr Evans is working with refugees in North America and abroad. He serves as the board chair for ASAP Ministries. In his classes and at SEEDS Conferences, there is a focus on ministering to the biblical trio of “foreigners, widows and orphans.” His strengths and ministry passions lie in team building, leadership, administration, vision casting, preaching, creativity, evangelism and church growth.

Dr Evans is married to Mara (originally from Brazil) and has three girls and two boys. His hobbies include: gardening, softball, racquetball, travelling and raising golden retrievers.

— Pastor Paul Geelan

OUR CONFERENCE

2017 pastoral appointments

Alstonville — Peter Howard

Armidale/UNE — Rome Ulia

Avondale College — Nimrod Maua/Steve Magaitis

Avondale Memorial — Vadim Butov/Helena Butova/Susan Magaitis

Bellbrook — Quintin Dutlow

Ballina — Keith Jackson

Blue Haven — Danny Milenkov/Daniel Brunt

Boolaroo — Grego Pillay

Booragul Church Plant — Talai Mohr

Bourke — Keith Stockwell/Danuta Stockwell

Bray Park — David Haupt/Ashley Smith

Brewarrina — Keith Stockwell/Danuta Stockwell

Broadmeadow Samoan Church Plant — Talai Mohr

Byron Bay — Keith Jackson

Camden Haven — Obed Soire

Casino — Tim Kingston

Central Coast Community Church — Mark Craig

Cessnock — Talai Mohr

Charlestown — Bob Bolst

Coffs Coast — Abel Iorgulescu

Coffs Harbour — Abel Iorgulescu

Community at the Bay — Sau Finau

Coonabarabran — Afiipu Tuaoi

Coonamble — Shaun Hepworth

Dora Creek — David Price

Dorrigo — Jacob Wills

Dungog — Braden Entermann/Lyell Southwell

Forresters Beach — Jared Smith

Forster/Tuncurry — Graham Stewart

Gateway — James Greensill

Glen Innes — Adam Cinzio

Gloucester — Uriah St Juste

Gosford — Odailson Wolff Fiahlo

Grafton — William Moala

Gunnedah — Afiipu Tuaoi

Guyra — Jack Ryder

Hamilton — Ray Eaton

Hillview — Fred Chileshe

Inverell — Jack Ryder

Kanwal — Danny Milenkov/Daniel Brunt

Kempsey — Marcus Mundall

Kempsey South — Quintin Dutlow

Kingscliff — David Asscherick/Joel Slade

Kurri Kurri — Ken Love

Kyogle — Tim Kingston

Lakeside — David Price

Lightning Ridge — Beulah James

Lismore — Tim Merritt

Macksville — Paul Richardson

Maclean — William Moala

Maitland — Braden Entermann/Lyell Southwell

Moree — Tim O’Keefe

Mullumbimby — Cranville Tooley

Murwillumbah — Ashley Smith

Muswellbrook — Miroslav Stilinovic

My House — Nic Coutet/Boris Jovinov

Nambucca Heads — Paul Richardson

Narrabri — Tim O’Keefe

Nelson Bay — Ken Love

Newcastle Church Plant David Stojcic

Newcastle Polish — Michael Lilikakis

Newcastle Multicultural — Eddie Hypolite

Newcastle Samoan — Talai Mohr

Newcastle Spanish — Roberto Valesquez

Ocean Shores — Ray Dabson

Ourimbah — Eddie Mackie

Port Macquarie — Obed Soire

Quirindi — Marty Thompson

Raymond Terrace — Blake Penland

Singleton — Miroslav Stilinovic

SEEDS — Joseph Skaf/Camila Skaf

South Kempsey — Marcus Mundall/Rome Ulia

Swansea — Fred Chileshe

Tamworth — Marty Thompson

Taree — Graham Stewart

Tenterfield — Adam Cinzio

Telegraph Point — David Kosmeier

The Xchange — Neil Watts

The Haven — Brock Goodall

Toronto — Grego Pillay

Tumbulgum — Ray Dabson

Tweed Heads Church Plant — Daniel Christie

Wallsend — Ben Rea/Alex Green

West Wallsend Korean Company — Michael Lilikakis

Wauchope — David Kosmeier

Wingham — Uriah St Juste

Woy Woy — Eddie Mackie

Woodenbong — Tim Kingston

Wyee — Susan Magaitis

*This list is accurate as of the date of going to press

Church members volunteer at Sanitarium TRYathlon in Woy Woy

Groups from Gosford and Forresters Beach Churches joined the volunteer team at the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon on 5 February, where

1300 Coastie kids swam, rode and ran for the event, which was held at the Peninsula Leisure Centre in Woy Woy. Australian cricket legend and Weet-Bix Kids TRY Hero Brett Lee was on hand to cheer kids on.

The Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon represents a great opportunity for church members engage with the community in a positive, meaningful way by volunteering at the event with an aim to inspire the next generation to build a love for physical activity that will last a lifetime. Competition takes a back seat at the event, where the focus is on “completing, not competing.”

“Some kids are discouraged from participating in activity because they won’t be recognised as a winner,” said Brett. “One of the most appealing things about the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is watching kids burst with pride as each participant crosses the finish line and receives a gold medal just for completing the course.”

Evidence suggests that physically active children are more likely to mature into physically active adults. Since its inception, more than 190,000 Aussie kids have participated in the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon. The annual series includes 10 events held across the country from January to May, attracting more than 16,000 Australian children each year.

— Darren Hagen

Women cherish creativity at Armidale

Every month, a group of women from Armidale Church known as “Cherished Women” meet for a formal dinner, prayer and praise under the auspices of the local church’s Women’s Ministries Department. The meetings provide a spiritual time of learning, reflection and creativity. Interspersed during the year are a couple of purely “fun” times when the women indulge in doing something that’s simply creative, such as card-making, pastel painting and so on. However, last year the group made what they could describe as a “uniform” to be worn on special occasions when they want to identify themselves as members of “Cherished Women.”

The photo above shows some of the “young” and younger women in the group wearing shoes that depict the individual life experience of the wearers, and tops that were uniquely designed by the women in colours that are common to each, but with designs that represent the creative streak God has placed in each one of us.

— Bernice Underwood

OUR CHURCHES

Baptisms and a farewell at Forresters Beach

Sabbath, 14 January was a memorable day for members of Forresters Beach Church.

They were sad about saying good-bye to their minister Pastor Yong Shin Chee — affectionately known as Pastor Yoshi — and yet rejoicing in the baptism of four precious souls who accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. Those baptised were Bryce Stratford, Rita Maude, John Mwszowski and Nic Pollitt (pictured below). Pastor Yoshi has been the pastor for Forresters Beach Church for the past three years and has now transferred to Wantirna Church, Victoria.

— Owen Twist

Sewing machines make a difference

Living in Australia, we are truly blessed with many opportunities to support ourselves and our families. Unfortunately in some countries, women are dependent their husbands to provide all the family needs. Sadly, when a woman is widowed or abandoned, she has little opportunity to provide for herself or her family.

Hence in 2011, the Tumbulgum Church started a project to purchase sewing machines to help women like this to earn a living and support their families. They have now bought a total of 64 machines with some training, mostly through AsianAid and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency projects, thus positively changing the lives of many women and families in third world countries.

— Karen Schofield

A group of “Cherished Women” from Armidale Church wearing their shoes and tops, designed by the women themselves during activity time at Women’s Ministries get-togethers

OUR CHURCHES

A memorable baptismal service!

Tumbulgum celebrates baptisms

The Tumbulgum Church experienced a special Sabbath on 10 December, with Pastor Errol Wright officiating as we welcomed three new members into our fellowship — Charlotte (Lottie) Taylor through baptism by immersion, and Raymond (Ray) and Judith (Judy) Robinson by profession of faith. Below are their testimonies.

Testimony of Lottie Taylor

New Year’s Eve was heralded in by a Youth Group Baptism at Browns Farm under the shade provided by two massive tractors. Naomi and Rachael Brown, who have had Bible studies with Pastor Graham Stewart, and husband and wife Robyn and Aaron Brown — who also studied with Pastor Stewart — were baptised along with Aaron’s father Vernon, who studied with Pastor Uriah St Juste.

After being baptised, Robyn, our local vet nurse, dived into the river to rescue a dog and had to be rushed to hospital after being stung by a freshwater stone fish.

All ended well though, with a baptismal service that will be remembered for many New Years to come!

— Graham Stewart

Australia’s sportiest town

Did you know that the country town of Narrabri, located on the Namoi River in the north-west slopes of New South Wales, has the unique honour of holding the title of Australia’s Sportiest Town?

It stands to reason then, that over the past couple of years, the Narrabri Adventist Church has had five young ladies from the Junior/Teen Sabbath school who have worked their way through the preliminary athletic carnivals and made it all the way to Homebush at Sydney Olympic Park to represent their schools at state level.

Zara and Meika Foley, Jo and Tess Rawson, and Shontana Foster have all had the honour of representing their respective schools in shot put, discus, relay, 100 metre sprint and swimming. Great job girls!

— Natalie Rawson

As I grew up in an Anglican Church, there was no baptism — only a christening, which is like a dedication of a child that is usually done as babies. This is all good, but it wasn’t believer’s baptism (water baptism by immersion). I thought about baptism by immersion over the years, but I didn’t rush into it. I waited until now when I am 83. I had been attending church on Sabbath with some faithful Adventist friends when, one day, there was a water baptism by immersion, and I was thinking, “That’s for me!” and down the track it happened. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”

We used to sing, “Water of life cleanse and refresh us: raise us to life in Christ Jesus.” Baptism is so special and my new life in Christ has new meaning, and I say to those contemplating baptism, “You are never too old! Just do it! Don’t wait!”

Testimony of Ray and Judy Robinson

We had been attending a protestant church that had Sunday worship where we were baptised by full immersion. Having become dissatisfied with the direction the church was taking, we had not been attending church for a while, but still retained our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We watched a Walter Veith video series called Total Onslaught and learned how important it is to keep the Saturday Sabbath, and we felt the need to attend a Seventh-day Adventist Church. Then one day, not long after, a little lady by the name of Vi came to the door and gave Ray a book called The Great Controversy by Ellen White.

Ray handed Judy the book and said, “Here is your confirmation that we need to attend a Seventh-day Adventist Church.” So Judy checked out the mission statements of different Adventist Churches in the area. The Tumbulgum Seventh-day Adventist Church’s mission statement stood put for us as concise and to-the-point.

When we started attending Tumbulgum approximately 12 months ago, we felt we were home. The love of Jesus just flows out of the church members through their worship, hymns, scripture, Sabbath school and their fellowship. We praise the Lord Jesus Christ for leading us to such a beautiful church and family in Christ Jesus.

— Karen Schofield

From left to right: Zara Foley (shot put and discus — 2014, 2015, 2016), Jo Rawson (100 metre sprint, 2015), Shontana Foster (discus, 2016), Tess Rawson (swimming, shot put and discus, 2016) and Meika Foley (relay, 2016)

OUR SCHOOLS

Visual Art students nominated for ARTEXPRESS

ARTEXPRESS is an annual series of exhibitions of exemplary artworks created by New South Wales Visual Arts students for the Higher School Certificate examination. Nomination for ARTEXPRESS occurs after the marking of the Higher School Certificate Visual Arts bodies of work.

The exhibition encompasses a broad range of approaches and expressive forms, including ceramics, collection of works, documented forms, drawing, graphic design, painting, photomedia, printmaking, sculpture, textiles and fibre, and time-based forms.

There are many factors involved in the nomination of works for ARTEXPRESS. In 2016, Avondale School’s Year 12 Visual Arts students Jacinta Neuschulz (pictured above) and Sam Gillette (pictured below) were both selected for the shortlist.

Jacinta was nominated in photomedia. Her work, a digital animation, explored the relationship we have with accepting boat people. Titled “Welcome,” the animation explored the family home and how we accept new additions to a family or wider community.

Sam was also nominated for her work in painting. Her image called “Beyond” was about the concept of what may be beyond the horizon and the contemplative relationship of the audience to small works.

Avondale School Secondary Principal Benton Craig said that the school was recently informed that Jacinta’s work had made the final cut and would be joining the ARTEXPRESS exhibition to tour regional NSW, including Hazlehurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre, Tamworth Regional Gallery, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Moree Plains Gallery, Grafton Regional Gallery and Goulburn Regional Art Gallery.

Benton continued to say, “A huge congratulations to both these girls for their works and to Avondale School Visual Arts teacher Rozie Kadareanu, for pushing them to excel. A delightful result that reflects their journey of 13 years — from those budding little finger painters in Kindy to achieving this amazing result.”

— Kerrie Howells

Find out more about ARTEXPRESS at <https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/ exhibitions/artexpress-2016/>