$550 - child for 6-16 years
$400 - parent/caregiver
(Includes accommodation, food, and activities)
Registrations open on 1 February 2023
Registrations close on 30 June 2023
Only 20 spots plus one parent/caregiver
I had the privilege to attend the 10-year anniversary Arise graduation ceremony held at Kingscliff Church on Sabbath, May 6. Arise is a three-month intensive residential discipleship training program conducted in our Conference under a license from Light Bearers Ministries in the United States. It gives students exposure to in-depth Bible study, grounds them in the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and trains them to share their faith. Over the past 10 years, a total of 375 students have graduated from the program comprising 255 domestic students and 120 coming from overseas. Forty-two students graduated from the 2023 class. Fifty-six per cent of domestic students (150) have come from our Conference, with South Queensland being represented by 45 students over the decade. Internationally, the Americas has been the region most represented, followed by Europe. A significant percentage of Arise students choose to commit to the Arise for Life program by giving the remainder of their year (six months) to being Bible workers allocated to one of our local churches. In 2022:
• 9 students had community contacts attend church
• 7 decisions were made for baptism as a result of their ministry
• 5 students were able to disciple or mentor other individuals.
Arise students become active leaders in their local churches, involved in mission projects within Australia and overseas, with a number accepting the call to be full-time ministers. In North New South Wales, we are privileged to have former Arise students as pastors in several of our churches and serving as departmental directors.
It was inspiring to hear a number of testimonies at this year’s graduation from former and current students about how Arise has changed their lives and given them a new direction and purpose. Appreciation goes to Pastors David Asscherick, Ty Gibson and Matt Parra, all of whom made a special effort to attend the 10-year anniversary graduation ceremony. Special thanks also goes to Kingscliff Church leadership for their willingness to host Arise for the last 10 years, which takes an enormous amount of time, effort and resources. Thank you to you too, as a percentage of the Big Camp appeal offering supports the Arise ministry. Conference administration are firm in their ongoing commitment to Arise.
Pastor Adrian Raethel NNSW Conference president
A Constituency meeting is the highest decision-making body of the Conference. In other words, the Session is the business meeting of the Conference. As an elected representative of your local church, you will unite with the delegates of other churches to transact all the business coming before the Conference session.
A few things are recommended for you to engage fully as a delegate; know the content of the meeting book and agenda. Like when we prepare for board and business meetings in the local church, having the meeting papers ensures that the participants are informed of the business at hand. Also, spend time praying and reflecting on the decisions you make concerning the business of the Church. Agenda items will include verbal and written reports and opportunities for questions and discussions regarding the NNSW Strategic Plan for the next quadrennium.
When reading this, the nominating committee's work will be drawing to a close. Conference-wide, our members and leaders have held the work of this Committee in our prayers. They will make recommendations to the constituency meeting regarding the following positions for the new quadrennium; The Officers, Departmental Directors, Ministerial Association Secretary, Members of the Executive Committee, and an Appointments Committee. Please continue to hold the work of the 2023 Nominating Committee in prayer as they labour through the burdens of recommending the future leaders of our Church.
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:2-6).
The Conference office was thrilled to welcome three special visitors from the Fiji Mission on April 27. Epeli Sankura, the Mission secretary, Anasa Vateitei, Education director, and Alice Kaisuva, director of Women's Ministries and Discipleship, were warmly received and hosted by the staff at the office.
As a sister Mission, the Fiji Mission and the NNSW conference had the opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and collaborate on various initiatives. The Fiji Mission hope to grow from mission status to conference status and the NNSW Conference has committed to supporting them as our sister Mission. The visit was an excellent opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship and partnership between the Fiji Mission and the NNSW Conference.
The staff at the Conference office look forward to continuing to work together with the Fiji Mission to advance our shared mission.
Our senior Week of Spiritual Emphasis (WOSE) at Tweed Valley Adventist College held from March 27 to 31 was an incredible success and worth the huge effort. In previous years, finding at least five students to speak was a challenge, however, this year ten student speakers gave powerful, heartfelt testimonies that resonated with the entire student body.
The theme "Bring it Broken" was one that many could relate to, and we even added a Friday night program to the schedule, which was very well-attended. The engagement was high all throughout the week.
The impact of the week was more than we could have expected as 14 students accepted Christ for the first time, and 32 students re-committed their lives to God. Twenty students (about 10% of our high school students) made decisions for baptism, most of them being non-Adventist students. Currently, 10 of these students are beginning baptismal studies, with the rest deciding to follow through in the future.
It was clear that God was moving throughout the week, and we were all grateful for the opportunity to witness so many students making decisions for Christ.
Jared Chung Chaplain, Tweed Valley Adventist College
TOP: Female students sharing a song. LEFT: Natalia Carrasco sharing a testimony during Day 2 RIGHT: Students leading out in sharing 'Broken' Bible stories
PHOTO: Left to Right - Fiji Mission leaders Alice Kaisuva, Epeli Sankura and Anasa Vateitei with NNSW administrators Abel Iorgulescu and Adrian Raethel.
Elly Conduit Alstonville Church
The Tut Roadshow mobile museum of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun recently concluded its tour of five schools throughout the Northern Rivers. More than 700 students in Christian schools appreciated the biblical connections to history, while the work of the Holy Spirit was also obvious in secular schools, inspiring students to invite their families to attend an upcoming weekend evangelistic event.
Owned and operated by Doctor Wayne French, the Tut Roadshow mobile museum is a black and red semi-trailer truck with King Tutankhamun’s gold mask displayed on it's side, providing curriculum-based educational programs for secondary school-aged children along the east coast of New South Wales. Students experienced exhibits within the semi-trailer displaying how archaeologists cracked the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic code to uncover the tomb of King Tutankhamun, what was discovered within the tomb, and how it connects to biblical narratives, culminating with interactive activities to cement their learning. Students were given the opportunity to view genuine artefacts and prints dating back to Messianic time, in addition to a life-sized replica of King Tutankhamun’s throne, the Rosetta Stone, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
PHOTO: 1 Participants learning about different ancient Egyptian symbols. //
2 Participants enjoying some Egyptian artwork. // 3 The exterior of the Tut Roadshow mobile semi-trailer truck.
// 4 The pinnacle challenge, one of the many children's activities available. //
5 Participants engaging with artefacts.
The Tut Roadshow Community Event Sabbath program was held at Blue Hills College in Lismore and maintained a distinctly spiritual tone with strong Biblical connections, sermonettes, worship music, children’s Bible stories, health messages, Christian literature gift bags, free Bibles, Bible study offers, and free food. Workshops included creating a clay seal, learning how to examine and identify a skull, Egyptian hieroglyphics, numbers and measurement, tomb painting and cartouche writing. On Sunday, there were additional activities including jumping castles, a bubble clown, indigenous art, the Pinnacle Challenge, face painting and food.
The Tut Roadshow Community Event was a remarkable success and we were blessed by the involvement and dedication of around 40 volunteers to reach more than 400 members of our local community. Throughout the event, 17 people signed up for a free Bible and Bible studies. The community also learned about the hospitality and love Jesus demonstrates through members of His church.
Under the guidance of Pastor Dada Fialho and supported by ADRA as well as the Alstonville and Ballina Churches the events provided a positive and hope-filled community event for the flood-affected people of the Northern Rivers. With communities still in disarray it was important to the local churches to give the community an event that highlighted a great message of hope for the future, salvation in the good news of Jesus Christ.
After almost a year of planning, grant applications, committee meetings and rallies for community support, the week-long Tut Roadshow tour of schools ended on the weekend of May 6 and 7. The Tut Roadshow truck left a lasting impression on the students and community members, connecting them to the rich history of Ancient Egypt and the message of hope found in the Bible.
Daniel Oehlmann ARISE Boys Dean
The ARISE class of 2023 celebrated the end of the three-month program with a special graduation ceremony at the Kingscliff Church on May 6. This year's graduation ceremony marked a significant milestone for the 42 students who completed the program and celebrated ARISE's 10-year anniversary of operation in Australia. The anniversary was a perfect blend of nostalgia, reflection and excitement for the future.
The anniversary program took everyone on a trip down memory lane, sharing the positive impact ARISE has had on the lives of its students over the past decade. Pastor Matt Parra, who previously served as NNSW Personal Ministries director, presented a report on how ARISE has positively influenced the Conference by fostering a culture of volunteer ministry, enhancing outreach, evangelism and support for church members. Pastors David Asscherick and Ty Gibson, along with other key individuals, provided insight into the beginnings of ARISE and how the Spirit of God has guided the program from the start. Pastor Asscherick delivered a message on the importance of discipleship and spreading the good news of God.
The ceremony culminated with an exceptional performance by an ARISE student choir, composed of both past and present graduates, creating a harmonious blend of voices that captured the spirit of the school's mission. The 42 graduates, including 17 international students, were applauded for their accomplishments. Teachers, staff, families, and friends reflected on the students growth and the working of God throughout the program.
As the graduates move forward into the next chapter of their lives, they carry the lessons, experiences and sense of community that ARISE has instilled in them. The ceremony was an opportunity to reflect on the tremendous growth and the working of God witnessed in each individual throughout the program and to celebrate the students' accomplishments.
TOP: Attendants of ARISE graduation at Kingscliff Church. ABOVE: ARISE students with teacher Pastor Ty Gibson. BELOW: ARISE student addresses congregation after receiving certificate. BOTTOM: Female ARISE students.
The Lismore Church celebrated the baptism of 12-year-old Cierra Foster on May 6 at Gawandii Beach. Church pastor Tim Merritt, with whom Cierra has been studying the Bible for three years, conducted the baptism.
Numerous family members attended Miss Foster's special day, including her grandmother, who had just completed a night shift as a nurse. Both her great-grandmother and great-grandfather were present, beaming with pride and joy. Miss Foster's sisters and cousins contributed with beautiful music for the occasion, with the hymn Nothing but the Blood of Jesus accompanying her emergence from the water.
When asked about her decision to be baptised, Miss Foster's expressed her desire to become a follower of Jesus. Having studied the Bible and learned the true meaning of baptism, she eagerly embraced this significant step in her spiritual journey. The ceremony beautifully marked Miss Foster's inspiring choice to dedicate her life to following Jesus faithfully.
The church congregation at The Bay Community Church was extra blessed on May 13 as they celebrated Mother’s Day with a special youth service. The young people conducted all elements of the program from praise and worship, operating the audiovisuals, taking the offering and preaching.
Youth representatives spoke from the pulpit about different Scripture verses that related to motherhood, taking the opportunity to explain what the verse meant to them personally. The music was led by local students from high school and university and created an idyllic and beautiful atmosphere for worship. Avondale University student, Nikita Jensen, preached a powerful sermon that reflected on spiritual lessons learned from her journey in becoming a follower of God.
Course Coordinator
Adventist Community Services recently launched the 'Optimize Your Brain' program in Coffs Harbour. The six-week program is designed to help participants improve their brain health. Doctor Neil Nedley, the creator of the program from Nedley Health Solutions, provided presentations via DVD and workbooks each Monday night to the 22 participants.
The program was centred around improving the health of the frontal lobe of the brain, an area responsible for a range of cognitive functions, including memory, attention and problem-solving. The participants were surprised to learn about the extent to which their lifestyle can affect their brain and were eager to learn more.
The program was considered a success, with many of the participants expressing interest in further programs of a similar nature. By providing educational programs and resources to help individuals optimize their brain health, Adventist Community Services is helping to promote overall health and wellbeing in the community.
The young people presented all mothers of the church with a special gift a delicious brownie wrapped with a flower and a Mother’s Day quote. The service was a lovely display of appreciation for all the mothers at The Bay and also for youth using their talents to serve God and others.
TOP: Young woman sharing a special Mother’s Day gift with a church mother. LEFT: Church members socialising with Miss Jensen (middle) after her sermon . RIGHT: A blend of high school and university students leading in praise and worship.
Participants going through program content in classroom.
Pastor Bob Manners
Consulting Editor Adrian Raethel
Editor Henrique Felix
Associate Editor Megantha Kiruwi
Cover Troy Foster
We would love to share news from your local church with the Conference in print or online. Please send through relevant contributions to <nnswcommunication@adventist.org.au>.
The Wallsend Church celebrated the ordination of Pastor Joseph Skaf on 13 May. Pastor Skaf, a former investment banker and Brazilian Army member, now serves as the Stewardship and Church Planting Director at North New South Wales Conference. Before this, he was a pastor at Seeds House Church, Nelson Bay Church, Warners Bay Church, Newcastle University Church Company and is currently planting a church in Cardiff, NSW.
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The ordination service included testimonies, special items, a sermonette by Dr Anthony MacPherson from Avondale University and an ordination charge by NNSW President Pastor Adrian Raethel. The prayer of ordination was led by Pastor Abel Iorgulescu, NNSW Secretary. Many community and church members from Newcastle area and beyond attended to support Pastor Skaf and his family.
Pastor Joseph, along with his wife, Camila, and their two children, are excited for the next chapter of their spiritual journey. He credits his journey to God's unwavering love and divine plan. "I'm committed to making disciples and investing in people, the only 'asset' with eternal potential", Pastor Skaf said.
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Phone (02) 4951 8088
The North New South Wales Conference Office will be undergoing a two-stage relocation process.
Our current office at 112 Lake Road, Wallsend will close its doors on June 16, 2023, and we will temporarily move to a provisional site at Avondale University, Cooranbong.
On June 26, 2023, we will reopen at this temporary location, where we will operate until our definitive move to our new office location, still on the Avondale estate, in early October 2023.
During this transition, our phone number, email, and PO Box will remain the same. After the final move, mail sent to the PO Box will be redirected to the new office for a period of time. You can continue to reach out to us using the following contact details:
Phone: (02) 4951 8088
Email: nnsw.conf@adventist.org.au
PO Box: 112 Lake Rd (PO Box 7), Wallsend NSW 2287
Scan the QR code or visit the conference website nnsw.adventist.org.au for more details and updates about our relocation. We look forward to continuing to serve the community from our new adress.
