The qb, The Voice of Queensland Baptists

The voice of Queensland Baptists August/September 2016

Yes I can!

My childhood church Whole-of-life discipleship Print post approved ISSN: 100003837 The Queensland Baptist - first published in 1890.

This series Vol 14 Issue 4.

www.qb.org.au

QB MINISTRIES

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20

Announcing BAPAPP (Baplink)

21

Leadership (QB Kids & their families)

22

Conspicuous (QB Youth)

26

Significant in any season (QB Women)

28

A significant legacy (QCCC)

30

Meet our doctor of ministry students (Malyon)

32

Whose Table? What Table?

(QB archives)

34

Innovation grants announced (Carinity)

QB PARTNERS 24

Global Interaction

36

Love in an age of narcissism (BWAA)

17

ARTICLES 39

Discipleship and supervision of new ministers

40

Marriage

28

18

42

Yes I can!

44

Linking divine grace to the chaos

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE 04 07 08 10

Comment: David Loder Knowing God Series Speaking out: John Sweetman Baptisms

12 14 18 38

Around the regions Milestones QB Prayer Focus 2016 Persecution brief

Our cover: Baplink’s Tony Doevendans has been on quite a journey over the past few months. Don’t miss reading about Tony’s amazing opportunity to feature in the Rio 2016 Paralympics promotional video, produced in the UK earlier this year.

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Called home Fun zone Reviews Classifieds

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04

COMMENT

NURTURE

the newbies

‘All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss’ (1 Corinthians 16:20).

This year I have been writing articles reflecting on an aspect of the 2006 and 2011 NCLS surveys. One of the questions asked in both surveys was,

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if there was one thing that needed to change to make a real difference in our church, what would it be? Much the same answers were given in both surveys. The positive is that our church attendees have a good idea of what needs to be done. Sadly, there was very little change from one census to the next. So far, I have addressed the top two responses. They were, first, encouraging people to use their gifts and, second, spiritual growth. The

third response (which, once again, was common to both surveys) was including new people in our churches.

New people will come for a variety of reasons. Some are invited by a friend or relative, some have recently moved into the area, others will come for a special service, others out of curiosity.

You will find some people showing up because they have been prompted by the Spirit to attend.

COMMENT Whatever the reason, it is important that someone is keeping an eye out for the first time or new attendees.

The larger the church, the harder it is to spot them, but it is important that the regulars are aware of the newbies. As far as possible, let the new attendees set the pace for settling in but every opportunity needs to be given to them. There are some people who will want to remain anonymous at first; others will be ready to jump right in. It is important to have a strategy. A well-known hardware chain has a clear methodology with their customers. They will always look you in the eye, smile and say hello. That is a good start for the regulars at church.

(Ensure there is some training!) Have someone think through what it would be like for a first timer at your church.

Is it clear where to go? Make good use of signs. Does the worship leader give clear instructions about what is expected? Is the language used able to be understood by non-church people?

Are greeters/helpers easily identified?

Different churches use a range of other helps. Greeting times in services, care cards, new attenders’ lunches, meet the pastor sessions, and the like.

Often we try to link new people up with regulars of similar ages. What normally happens, however, is that people most naturally link with others who started attending around the same time they did. There are various ways to introduce people into the church but a small group ministry is one of the best. Irrespective of what name they go by, meeting with others in homes and sharing life’s journey with Jesus with each other is a great way to get acquainted.

warm and sincere. (Greeting one another with a kiss is probably too much in our society but a good, firm handshake with a smile and a kind word does wonders!) Do whatever you can to make them feel at home as soon as possible. The reality is however, even after doing your best, not everyone will make their spiritual home with you.

That’s OK. Ministry matters Over the last three months I have been on a sabbatical. The main purpose has been to change pace for a while, doing some solid praying, thinking and writing about Queensland Baptists.

I am most grateful to our board for giving me the time to do this. I also want to thank all our staff who took on an extra load to cover for me— especially Stephen Ball, Col Peaker and

Q CCC

Ann Armour. They did a great job! Col Peaker is about to ‘retire’ from his role as QB Regional Consultant. What an outstanding contribution this man has made to Queensland Baptists as our longest serving Regional Consultant.

He has been well supported by his wife, Judy. Thankyou both for your ministry!

The NCLS survey will happen again this year. I would encourage all our churches to participate. We will never get it all together, but it will show us what we are doing well, and where we could improve. In the meantime—be a good greeter of new people in your church!

David Loder General Superintendent Queensland Baptists david.loder@qb.org.au

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It is always great to have new people visit our churches. Ensure you have a clear strategy in place to incorporate new people. Make your welcome

www.qccc.com.au bookings@tamborine.qccc.com.au 07 5545 1417

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06

NEWS, VIEWS & ISSUES

The qb is a member of the Australasian Religious Press Association, published bi-monthly by Queensland Baptist Services Group in February, April, June, August, October and December.

Editor: Robynne Milne Design: Shell Graphix Print: Printcraft

FROM THE EDITOR How blessed are those of us who were given, as children and young people, a solid foundation for our faith in Jesus Christ? John Sweetman (Speaking Out) is prompted to think about his childhood church and all the valuable things he learned there during his formative years. He comments: ‘I love the contemporary church and wouldn’t want to return to those old, more legalistic days. So no, I’m probably not likely to start wearing a tie. But in my more mellow moments, I do wonder whether all our modern resources and programs and staffing have produced churches that disciple and evangelise as effectively as my little childhood church.’ That’s food for thought!

There have been several significant anniversaries celebrated in our churches recently (Milestones), and Margate Baptist Church is looking forward to their special celebrations planned for 17–18 September. We praise God for the faithful witness of

our churches over so many years.

David Loder (Comment) continues his reflections on responses to the 2006 and 2011 NCLS, focussing on the need to ensure that newcomers to our churches feel welcome, and suggesting strategies to assist with this very important aspect of church life. Stewart Pieper (QB Prayer Focus 2016) provides a report on this annual event which continues to grow, Brian Robertson (Marriage) contributes his third article in the series, and Col Peaker, who has recently concluded as QB Regional Consultant, discusses what it means to be a ‘whole-of-life disciple’ (Discipleship: Time for action).

I trust that all of the articles and information in the following pages will be a rich blessing to you.

Robynne Milne Editor, The qb qb@qb.org.au

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KNOWING GOD

07

DISCIPLESHIP:

TIME FOR ACTION PART THREE Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Come, follow me’.

For the first disciples, that meant to leave everything—family, jobs, livelihood, worldly possessions—to follow Jesus, to learn from him, to be ‘discipled’ (Luke 18:22, Matthew 10:37-38, Matthew 4:18-22, Acts 7:54-60). Given that Jesus only had a few short years to train, equip and develop His disciples, the intensity of this discipleship was no doubt imperative. Many will be quick to say that to expect such a high level of commitment from every follower of Jesus in the 21st century is totally unrealistic. The real question to ask is, ‘What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus (disciple) in our time?’ or, as the title implies, ‘What is whole-of-life discipleship?’.

I see two dimensions to ‘whole of life’: a) The linear timeframe—from beginning to follow Jesus to meeting Jesus face to face. The term ‘discipleship’ is frequently associated with a prep course for new believers, where the basics of the faith are explained. In reality, we are disciples for the rest of our lives. b) The quantity of time we have to give, that is, using every aspect of our lives—whether in church, at home, during education, at work, leisure,

Whole-of-life discipleship even in retirement. We are called to be followers of Jesus, to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in every situation in which we find ourselves.

Three components integrally connect to form ‘discipleship’: 1. Knowledge Jesus taught His disciples as they journeyed life together. They learned about God, who Jesus was and that the Holy Spirit would come to help, comfort, encourage and empower them. He taught them how to pray and more generally taught them about the things of God. The foundations of our faith are important, especially in the formative years and also in a continuing process through our lives.

Learning is whole of life.

2. Development Jesus invested His life in the disciples and, in turn, taught them to invest their lives in others. This is the opportunity for Christians to really grow in their faith, putting the things learned into practice in daily living.

This is where we learn, with the support of others, to overcome the obstacles, the hardships, the testing times and the spiritual battles in our faith. Reflect on those who have invested in your lifelong development.

Consider how you might invest in others.

3. Application Jesus taught His disciples about service—serving God, serving each other and serving the wider community. We know people grow in their faith and in relationship with Jesus when they are encouraged into positions of ministry. Sadly, too often the focus has been ministry within the church program, not teaching disciples to ‘go into all the world’ to make disciples. Most of us spend more time rubbing shoulders with people in the world than we do in clusters of believers. The challenge for the church now is in teaching disciples how to ‘be in the world, but not of the world’, and how to share God’s love with others in every dimension of our lives.

If we are truly making ‘whole-of-life disciples’ we will not just be teaching and equipping people in the things of God, we will also be releasing and empowering people to serve every day in their corner of the community.

So, ‘let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV).

Col Peaker, who has recently concluded as QB Regional Consultant

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08

SPEAKING OUT

MY CHILDHOOD CHURCH Recently, I received an anonymous letter lamenting (among a number of things) the lack of a tie (or was it a suit and tie?) in my photo in The qb.

It struck me that I had not received such a comment for a long time and it took me back to the olden days when remarks like, ‘You wouldn’t dress like that if you had an audience with the Queen’ were commonplace.

the church. At the door, I was asked whether I was attending the Chinese or English service. I opted for the English one seeing I was the preacher, and was directed to another building.

It turned out that the congregation was all second-generation Chinese young adults dressed in tee-shirts, jeans and sandshoes. Oh dear, I quickly shed my coat and tie, but was still over-dressed.

Now I’m not against wearing suits and ties. I actually think I look quite dapper in a suit. And I have occasionally wished I was dressed in a suit. Some time ago I preached at a significant anniversary for an Asian church. It was an early Sunday afternoon event and I rushed straight from preaching at a suburban church on the other side of town to the church service, not thinking about the occasion. When I arrived, I found that all the dignitaries were dressed in suits and I was wearing an opennecked shirt and casual pants. I was significantly underdressed, and deeply embarrassed that I had shown such disrespect towards their culture. I tucked my shirt in, but that was all I could do. If only I had worn a suit.

Some of you may be worried about the way Malyon students and graduates dress in the pulpit. The advice I give in preaching class is to dress slightly more formally than the average person in

I’m not always so inconsiderate. On an earlier occasion, I was preaching at a Chinese church for the first time, and knowing how conservative some Chinese churches are, I wore a tie and took a coat. When I arrived, I stayed in my car for a few minutes to check out how the church members were dressed. All the men I could see were wearing suits and the ladies were wearing ‘best’ dresses, so I put on my coat and headed confidently into

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the congregation. That way you won’t offend people by under-dressing, but neither will you alienate yourself from some in the congregation by overdressing. Of course, I have no ability to ensure that the students actually listen to and follow this advice.

What set me off sharing about my wardrobe problems was this throwback to the church of my childhood.

It was a very different place from contemporary churches. I remember being chastised as a kid for running in the church building. Evidently running was not an activity that God

SPEAKING OUT

allowed in His ‘sanctuary’. Women wore hats and men wore ties. The organist peddled furiously to keep the music flowing. You could sing uproariously, but didn’t dare move to the music or worse, raise a hand.

Pianos were acceptable at times, but you didn’t suggest guitars or those deafening drums. The communion table was a hallowed piece of furniture that had to be treated very respectfully. The pews were hard. No air-conditioning, although fans were eventually introduced. There are many aspects of the church of my childhood that I do not miss. It was not just the

and its outworking had a deep impact on me.

Second, my childhood church seriously studied the Bible. The preaching could be rather dry at times, but people lapped it up twice a Sunday, along with the Wednesday night Bible study.

I learned memory verses in Sunday school and Christian Endeavour and could recite the books of the Bible at a very young age. We even had an annual Australia-wide Scripture exam.

I won my first watch in a Scripture memory competition run by a radio station (something like Australian Idol,

09

I Am at the end to make sure we got every convert). We often preached hellfire and brimstone. I had learned to counsel someone for salvation before I hit my teens. Our methods may seem old-fashioned today, but they were effective then with many people coming to know Jesus (particularly in the Billy Graham crusades).

I love the contemporary church and wouldn’t want to return to those old, more legalistic days. So no, I’m probably not likely to start wearing a tie. But in my more mellow moments, I do wonder whether all our modern

‘… my childhood church certainly did a great job forging me as a committed, biblically-literate, evangelical with a passion to serve Jesus all my life.’ suits and ties and associated external paraphernalia. That was just cultural.

It was deeper. We were quite legalistic and had a rather rigid view of what acceptance of the gospel looked like.

But despite its shortcomings (that I can see now, looking back), I really want to affirm the great strengths of my childhood church that helped forge my passion for Jesus.

First, people were incredibly serious about following Jesus. Yes, in hindsight they may have had some rigid views, but compromise with the world was never contemplated.

They were prepared to be different and didn’t mind what other people thought or how much it cost. They loved Jesus and wanted to obey Him more than anything else. This passion

but for reciting Scripture, not singing).

This forged in me a very strong biblical foundation.

Third, my childhood church loved to worship. Yes, we lacked guitars, drums, synthesisers, even microphones. We held hymn books and didn’t dare lift a finger. But could we sing. Those Reformation hymns in the morning and the Revival hymns at night bellowed from our tiny building. My love for worship continues. I’ll be lecturing worship again next year. You beauty!

Fourth, my childhood church desperately wanted to see people saved.

We gospelised in the streets. We doorknocked to invite people to crusades.

We ran regular evangelistic events (sometimes with 15 verses of Just As

resources and programs and staffing have produced churches that disciple and evangelise as effectively as my little childhood church. Maybe churches these days do just as well and I’m looking back with rose-coloured glasses, but my childhood church certainly did a great job forging me as a committed, biblically-literate evangelical with a passion to serve Jesus all my life. Thanks childhood church!

John Sweetman Principal, Malyon john.sweetman@ malyon.edu.au

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10

BAPTISMS

BAPTISMS Chad Johnston

Two thousand years ago, an Ethiopian eunuch declared ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God’ and was baptised by Philip.

On 17 January this year, five believers from Beaches Baptist Church in North Mackay wished also to declare their belief in Jesus Christ the Son of God as their personal Lord and Saviour. As ‘The church without walls’ which meets in the school tuckshop area of Eimeo Road State School, Beaches Baptist Church does not have a ‘baptisimal facility’!

Low tide at 11 am that day made for a long walk to water at the beach, so the congregation gathered at Pastor Jabin and Tarnya Mills’ home (on their last Sunday in Mackay before transferring to Beenleigh Baptist Church).

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Being January in Mackay, there was the odd shower around. However, a bit of rain in no way diminished the enthusiasm of those wishing to be baptised.

With Nigel Dalton assisting in the pool, Pastor Jabin baptised Olivia Mills, Bill Mactaggart, Caleb Mills, Telicia Noack and Chad Johnston in the joyful presence of many longing to witness this day!

The great time of fellowship continued both in the pool and over a delicious spread of food. It was indeed a memorable ‘last Sunday’ for Pastor J at Beaches Baptist Church and, of course, a very special day for those who were baptised.

Praise the Lord!

Pictured top to bottom: Chad Johnston, Caleb Mills, Bill Mactaggart, Olivia Mills

BAPTISMS

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Please pray for those baptised recently in all our churches around Queensland, including: Beaches Baptist Church (North Mackay) Chad Johnston Bill Mactaggart Caleb Mills Olivia Mills Telicia Noack Gateway Baptist Church (this year) Stephen Ashford Peter Bauer Cayleigh Couper Keegan Couper Rayna Couper Abigail Degen Grace Hanna Angus Henry Monique Hold Casey Klein Jaakin Klein Reilly Klein Jack Leyden Nikola Logan Samuel Martel Jasmine Martel Letisha Mendo Tiffiany Morris Aidan Sirett Natasha Sirett Lachlan Scurr Paul Simpson Annelise Terblanche Petrus Terblanche Wilma Terblanche Thea Terblanche Andrew Turner Stephanie Wells Hannah Ybanez Thaiy Yi Greenslopes Baptist Church George Russell Libby Russell Sue Russell Will Russell Kruger Parade Baptist Church Sam Gill Tessa O’Dell Taringa Baptist Church Samuel Gay

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‘ … in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV).

Fall asleep immersed in gratitude, wake up immersed in gratitude: it’ll transform your day!

Reading for today: Imelda Gilmore <gilmore. imelda@gmail.com>

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AROUND THE REGIONS

AROUND THE REGIONS

A great time in the community Beaudesert Baptist Church was to the fore at the second annual Beaudesert Country Music Muster and Fun Day in June. Headed by the church’s Boys’ & Girls’ Brigades leader team, the church’s stall offered balloons, badgemaking, lollypops (healthy ones of course!) and a colouring competition.

The team conducted the Games in the Park throughout the day for the second year running, at the request of the event organisers. There was an estimated crowd of 1000 people

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moving amongst the various not-forprofit association stalls and listening to the local and nationally acclaimed artists.

Many opportunities were taken to talk with kids and parents about the various children’s and youth ministries of the church: Sunday school, youth group (YMAD), the Brigades and our upcoming holiday kids’ club. Some New Testaments were given away. One young dad, confined to a wheelchair since a traffic accident some years ago, said, ‘I grew up in Boys’ Brigade in Mackay and didn’t know that it existed in Beaudesert. I want my children to

benefit from the great influences and practical life skills that are provided in the Brigades’. Two non-church families are planning to send their children to our upcoming holiday kids’ club. It was a cold, windy day but well worth the effort. We’re thinking of distributing hot cups of soup next year! BB Captain, Kenneth Evans, said of the day: ‘You know that the Church is building a good reputation in the community when the event organisers are already asking if you will be involved again next year, especially in running games throughout the day for the children.’

AROUND THE REGIONS

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On the Thursday and Friday prior to the day, in conjunction with the Church, JC Epidemic visited three local state primary schools to give demonstrations and invite the children and families to attend the community day. On the day, despite a cold westerly wind blowing, we estimate an attendance of 500-600 adults and children. There was good contact made with our church folk mingling quite freely with the crowd. At the end of the third display by JC Epidemic, the compere challenged people to consider where they stood in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Leichhardt Baptists report on QB Ministry Grant To Queensland Baptists: I wish to express the thanks of the Leichhardt Baptist Fellowship for your response to assist us in conducting the Leichhardt-One Mile-Wulkuraka Community Day on 28 May 2016.

The main attraction of the day was three performances by JC Epidemic on BMX bikes on their half pipe, which was very interesting to watch.

We also had a local band for music and entertainment, face-painting and games for the children, jumping castle and several other interesting stalls.

We just continue to pray and enjoy watching God make the seed grow.

Scripture says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who bring good newsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Romans 10:15).

On the move

Rev Max Warmington has concluded at Crosslife Southport and retired.

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14

MILESTONES

Eric Kopittke & Andrew Teo

PS Andrew Teo

TOOWONG BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATES 135 YEARS Eric Kopittke, President of Baptist Heritage Queensland, writes: On Sunday 3 July it was my privilege to represent Baptist Heritage Queensland at the 135th Anniversary celebrations at Toowong Baptist Church. As reported in the April/May edition of The qb (p33), the Toowong church building, with seating for 100 people, was opened on 4 September 1881 having cost £250 ($500).

The architect and builder was Mr William Richer, who was also pastor and founder of the church. It is the oldest Baptist church building still in use. The main part was enlarged and vestries added in 1884, doubling AUG/SEP 2016 ::: QB.ORG.AU

its size. It is recognised as a modest example of a timber-framed church in the Federation Carpenter Gothic style; these beautiful features are on view inside the main sanctuary.

At the anniversary celebrations, the bilingual program (in English and Cantonese with the aid of an interpreter) commenced at 12 noon in the church. Pastor Andrew Teo’s opening remarks covered the history of the church, mostly the past 40 years. Seven longstanding members summarised how they had come to be in the church, and how God had blessed them. I brought a greeting from Baptist Heritage Queensland.

To mark the occasion, a large plaque, outlining the significance of the building as the oldest Baptist church still in use, has been fastened to the front of the church. I was honoured to assist Pastor Andrew Teo unveil this plaque, standing with the pastors and deacons of the church.

Participating in a bilingual service reminded me of the great promise in Revelation 7:9 (GW), ‘After these things I saw a large crowd from every nation, tribe, people, and language. No one was able to count how many people there were. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb’.

MILESTONES

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Gary McGinty

CAIRNS BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATES 80 YEARS Ps Gary McGinty writes: On July 4, 80 years ago, Cairns Baptist Church began formally meeting in the original church building. A small number of families started Sunday schools around Cairns, and the new building was dedicated and opened all those years ago.

Around 250 people attended the celebration service. Jeanette Singleton (a long time member and elder of Yirrgandji people) shared about her journey and time at the church.

Grayson Simpson, who came as a babe-in-arms and has been serving the Lord at the church all those years, along with his wife, Norma, who was Image: An aunty gives welcome to country

a Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Brigade leader and Craft group leader (still meeting), spoke of the past years, and several past and present members shared their memories of the church.

One of our elders, John Greenhalgh, read letters from past pastor Rob Furlong and members recalling their time at our church.

Pastor Josh led the service with hymns and songs, and I spoke briefly of how things are changing and that I believe God has great things in store for our church and we need to continue to be reaching our community for the Lord.

The text was Philippians 1:6. Pastor Warren Crank represented Queensland Baptists and led communion.

We celebrated with a huge cake and special morning tea after the service, and lots of talking and fellowship was enjoyed. We thank God for His continued goodness and blessings and look forward to what He has in store for us. To Him be all the honour and glory.

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MILESTONES YD centre director) as guests for the weekend. Tim spoke about the history of the vision of YD and some of the joys and trials along the way. God has been wonderfully present throughout all the changing church leadership and circumstances, including some very challenging periods of the ministry’s history.

WALKING ARM-IN-ARM Excerpt from the May 2016 of Walking Arm-in-Arm, Crosslife’s newsletter:

March 16 1996 … What a day in the history of Helensvale & District Baptist Church and now CrossLife!

Young Discoverers Long Day care and child care centre opened at 39 Discovery Drive Helensvale. Twenty years later and YD still goes strongly but now with a second centre at Highland Reserve Upper Coomera, and an Outside-of-school Hours Care service at Highland Reserve State School.

We are privileged for God to partner with us in this special way, engaging with over 1000 families and their young children over these years. YD is a great example of being light and salt as Matthew 5:13-16 calls God’s people to be!

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Stephen Knott, Helensvale, Crosslife Board Member and Chair, Young Discoverers Ltd writes: What a great time we had at the combined Celebration Service held at Arundel Primary School hall on Sunday 20 March. The focus for this celebration was the 20th Anniversary of our Young Discoverers Childcare arm. I started in March 1996 when Tim Meyers was the senior pastor at what was then just Helensvale Baptist Church. It was great to have Tim and his wife, Kathryn, (our foundation

Several members of the Young Discoverers’ leadership staff spoke about examples of where God has been leading them through their roles. Chrissy Jones, Director of the Helensvale Centre, shared a moving email from a non-church parent of one of our students, saying how much they valued and appreciated their child receiving Christian values education as part of their all-round YD experience.

It was great also to see the launch of our YD wombat mascot that will form the basis of YD’s Christian values teaching curriculum based on 1 Corinthians 13. This is the culmination of nearly two years of planning and involvement of YD staff, board and external teaching professionals. We wanted to weave our Christian values into the new Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) which is the National Education standard for all registered childcare in Australia. We feel this has been achieved as the weekend revealed.

Finally, can I say what a blessing it was to see all the red shirts as around 40 YD staff from the three centres all stood at the front of the service for prayer as we committed this important part of CrossLife to the future. We look forward to the next 20 years!

Images top left - bottom right: Celebrating Young Discoverers—an annual concert in the Helensvale church building, 1995: YD Helensvale takes shape, turning a nursing home into a child care centre, Kathryn & Tim Meyers

MILESTONES

CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY RECOGNISED Congratulations to Jeanie Cotterell, an active member of Connect Baptist Church (Deagon), who has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to the community.

Jeanie has exercised her giftedness for playing the piano and organ over many years, including 40 years as musician for Geebung Baptist Church, 29 years for the Crusade Choir, and Easter and Christmas events at City Tabernacle Baptist Church. Since 2012 she has played at the Geebung and Bald Hills Anzac Day Services, and since 1987 has used her skills as a pianist for music therapy at Blue Care Sandgate Respite Care.

Next year will be the 40th anniversary of Geebung Meals on Wheels, which was set up in a room under the hall at Geebung Baptist Church. Jeanie has been involved from the start! ‘I’ve been the secretary for 20 years. I help in the kitchen and do administration work. Meals on Wheels is a great service,’ Jeanie said. ‘I volunteer as a service to the community; I like to give something back. It does bring me a lot of enjoyment. I’m very humbled to receive the award. We’ve got a fantastic team of volunteers at Meals on Wheels, so in a way I feel I am accepting the award for all of them.’

Image: An aunty gives welcome to country

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BAPTISTS AT MARGATE SINCE 1936 George Moss (Margate Baptist Church) writes: It’s hard to believe that Margate Baptist Church has been around for 80 years. This small church nestled close to the beach on the Redcliffe peninsula has seen much change, yet it is still standing as a lighthouse and beacon to the community of Margate.

‘To God be the Glory, great things He has done …’ so goes the great hymn of faith, and Margate Baptist stands

as a testimony to God—from its early beginning in 1936 as a church planted and nourished by Sandgate Baptist Church (the land was purchased for the princely sum of £65, that’s about $130), to the planting of churches at Scarborough, Deception Bay, Clontarf and North Pine (Kallangur) in later decades.

The future? Unknown to us, but known to Him; the opportunity ours, the glory His. We can and will share in that glory, for this is God’s will for us.

Margate Baptist Church anniversary celebrations are planned for the weekend of 17–18 September, including a Sunday Celebration Service.

Please contact the church on 0411 318 395 or email themargatebaptist@gmail.com if you have memories of attending Margate Baptist Church and would like to attend and/or contribute a story of the church in days gone by.

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PRAYER

Kingaroy

Townsville

Rivers

Townsville

PRAYERFUL… FEARLESS QB PRAYER FOCUS 2016 It was exciting to see so many churches gathering to pray during the week coinciding with Queensland Day (6 June). Of the 43 prayer events registered, we received feedback from 23 meetings where a total of 901 people met. It was such a pleasure for many of us on the QB regional consultancy team to attend and support a number of these prayer events. It was particularly encouraging to see the creative ways in which people were encouraged to participate. Well done, church!

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You cannot over-pray!

C. H. Spurgeon is quoted as saying, ‘Prayer can never be in excess’. What I believe Spurgeon is saying is that it’s impossible to pray too much! When it comes to prayer, moderation should go out the window! 1 Thessalonians 5:17 exhorts us to ‘pray without ceasing’ (NKJV). It seems to me that we should regard prayer less as an event and more as a lifestyle, and when we practise a lifestyle of prayer it becomes more of a reflex than a

discipline. Let us continue to gather together to prayerfully and passionately seek God for revival in our lives, our church and in the community. Keep the prayers flowing!

Nanango, Kingaroy, Wondai & Murgon: Around 40 people attended at least one of the meetings and some participants travelled nearly 300 km to come and pray. On the Saturday several people shared how they had

PRAYER

Windsor Road

Townsville

seen God answer their prayers, some during the week.

Tenthill: We had approximately 40 from Tenthill and Gatton Baptist churches as well as folks from the Church of Christ, Revival House Fellowship and Faith Works International. The pastors of the various churches were encouraged by our people’s desire to come together to pray. We used to have much enthusiasm around an annual combined outreach event where people would gather for prayer in the few months before the event. But now the momentum and enthusiasm for prayer together has continued all through the year, despite no longer continuing with this event.

Coral Coast (Bargara): The church building was open for prayer from 5.00 am to 10.00 pm and people ‘signed-up’ for one hour segments

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Murgon

Rivers

throughout the day. It was amazing to have an unbroken ‘chain’ of prayer for the full seventeen hours.

Dalby: We had three sessions of prayer and four ‘stations’ of prayer focusing on different areas to pray about. Chinchilla folk joined us for part of the evening and all up there were about 40-50 coming and going throughout the event. All who attended were very blessed.

Townsville: The combined Baptist Ministries of Townsville gathered to present a unified prayer voice to God for our city on 6 June. It was a wonderful evening with all four fellowships (Northern Beaches Connections, Northreach Upper Ross, Fairfield Baptist Church and Northreach Baptist Church) well represented. We had a simple format

where each church shared some prayer points in turn, and all present prayed together in small groups. We then moved to a time of praying for our city as a whole, and then for our nation. There was a great sense of love and unity present amongst all who gathered. Approximately 89 people attended with members of Northreach leading in worship songs to begin the night and supper preceding.

I encourage you to continue planning ongoing prayer initiatives that engage churches in your area, and to build the momentum for prayer across our movement.

Stewart Pieper QB Regional Consultant Stewart.pieper@ qb.org.au

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BAPLINK

Announcing BAPAPP— download it now!

We are excited to announce that the BAPAPP is now available to download for free from the App Store and Google Play Store. The release of BAPAPP in July 2016 is a significant expansion in our services as we continue to branch out. Developing a smartphone app was only possible with the new transactional platform we implemented in November 2015.

Since then we have been working hard to make the app a reality for our customers, as we understand the importance and growth of technology.

The BAPAPP provides our clients and signatories with a secure and convenient way to access their Baplink accounts on their smartphones. You can check account balances, transfer funds, pay bills, and so much more!

BAPAPP also makes Baplink more accessible to our churches and pastors than ever before.

The features of BAPAPP include: • Pay Bills with BPAY® • Transfer money between your Baplink accounts and to external payees • Schedule recurring future transfers • Check the account balance and recent transactions • Get the latest news and offers • Locate the nearest Queensland Baptist church • Useful financial calculators that help with managing finances.

the Apple App Store or from the Play Store for Android phones. Follow the links on our website http://www. baplink.org.au/bapapp/ To find out if you are eligible for the BAPAPP, send an email to baplink@ baplink.org.au and we will get back to you. BAPAPP is designed for oneto-sign accounts, though two-to-sign account holders/signatories will be able to use the app, but for view access only.

Download the BAPAPP today!

Baplink clients and church signatories can download the BAPAPP now from

For more information about Baplink’s services Phone: 1800 650 062 Email: baplink@baplink.org.au www.baplink.org.au

Robert Chapman Baplink Manager robert.chapman@ baplink.org.au

Presents...

Come and join us as we discuss the really tough and frequently asked questions we all have! Hear from our expert leadership panel, and voice your own questions for discussion.

Bring your team or come yourself and join our network of pastors and leaders from across the state talking all things childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and family ministry.

Please visit the QB Kids page to register for either the on-site event or webinar : http://kids.qb.org.au/event/

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QB YOUTH

CONSPICUOUS After a run and completing necessary yard maintenance on a hot afternoon, I briefly rested in front of the telly with a snack. The host of a popular holiday show offered some insight into the best cruises in Europe. What struck me was the host’s emphasis, which wasn’t on the beauty of the townships or the iconic landscapes.

The emphasis was on the churches.

These churches were hundreds of years old, yet they were still turning heads. As you may have read earlier, I am all about Comm[unity], and this idea of old churches still turning heads got me.

(Mount of Beatitudes). After He has given the beatitudes He says:

It got me asking the question, ‘Why are these churches still standing out?’ I think it has something to do with the conspicuous nature of the Church.

People, centuries ago, decided to build great church buildings to meet in, worship Jesus and help the poor. These buildings were probably not thought of as ‘a city on the hill’ as was, and is, the purpose of the Church. However, the notion that today they are startling

In Matthew’s gospel we see Jesus speak to the crowd on Mount Eremos

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‘You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven’ (Matthew 5:13-16 ESV).

emphasises the point that churches (buildings) and the Church (kingdom people) are conspicuous. Our church buildings are being seen, and we are being watched.

So what does this have to do with Comm[unity]? The first letter of the Comm[unity] acronym is C … for conspicuous. The idea that we are being seen needs to be brought to attention because, let’s face it, we are being watched. You are likely thinking, ‘No, not me’. On the contrary, you are. (I will assume here that you know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you don’t, feel free to contact the church leadership where you found this magazine, or please contact me. You need to know Jesus!)

Leader or not, you are being watched.

Why? It’s simple. First and foremost, you are a disciple and whether you like

QB YOUTH

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COMM[UNITY] it or not, you are the ‘salt’ and ‘light of the world’. Jesus dwells in you by His Holy Spirit and that light, Him, radiates from you—how cool is that!

Like when a light is flicked on in your house, that light illuminates the space; it can’t help it. Likewise, you and I, as ‘light’, cannot help being seen.

So it’s good to ask, ‘What does this mean in my context or suburb?’ You are being seen. Do what is necessary to be seen as loving, caring, selfless, patient and dependable. To do these things well, you will need to do your own legwork. Find out what the needs are in your community—church and local. Then, actively seek out ways to contribute. You are the ‘salt’ and ‘light of the world’, why not go into your suburban space and be seen? You never know, like the churches on the telly, what you build today might be remembered in the future for all the good it did, and continues to do.

Paul, teaching on elders, says that ‘… the sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden’ (1 Timothy 5:24-25 ESV). This is a great reminder that whatever we do, we are conspicuous, even when we think no one is watching.

Great looking churches will always turn heads, but the Comm[unity] of the Church has the opportunity to turn those heads to Jesus through gospel proclamation. The Church is Conspicuous. How are you being seen?

Aaron Fozzard QB Youth & Young Adults’ Ministry Team Leader aaron.fozzard@qb.org.au

Conspicuous—the Church is always visible

Outreaching—seeking out the culture and being prepared to reach it

Multicultural—we all have different backgrounds

Meaningful—important to the broader local community

Unity—to create unity we need chaos Novice—we are always growing

through stuff together

Intentional—intentionally investing into the Church community

Temporal—communities are organic and move on accordingly Young—in the scope of eternity we are still young.

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QB WOMEN

SIGNIFICANT IN ANY SEASON

I have spent my life shifting locations.

I have lived in nine different cities and resided in over twenty properties.

Change is something I have made peace with.

Every so often we get to stay long enough to put down roots. Literally.

My husband is an avid gardener.

He is my perfect match as I love a beautiful garden, but I am gardeningchallenged. However, he enjoys nothing more than heading outdoors to dig, weed, mow, plant or prune something. Wherever we live, he always creates a green sanctuary for us.

His desire to fashion something significant and beautiful, no matter where we are, has always inspired me.

Even when we were renting, he would still spend hours tending to and working on the owners’ gardens. I can

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safely say that every property we ever resided in was worth more when we left than when we arrived.

At times I have been sad to leave our houses, mainly due to the beautiful gardens. My soul longed for the brilliant colours of the native birds visiting our grevilleas. A favourite was the climbing jasmine that transformed into a waterfall of delicate white flowers each year. Its extravagant perfume on a balmy evening drifting inside to declare that summer had arrived.

However, the one plant that fascinated me most recently was the passionfruit vine that my husband planted on the back fence. Every time I hung out the washing, I would survey it and observe the effect of the seasons upon it.

During the summer seasons it would grow rapidly. Every day it would

seem to have inched its way forward.

My husband would carefully train it along the fence so that it had room to develop but keep it from consuming the clothesline. We would watch with delight as it began to grow its unique white and purple flowers, which eventually would yield the sweet and rich fruit of the season. During these times he kept the vine well-watered to support its fast growth.

Then there were the transitional seasons of autumn and spring: seasons of change. My husband prune back what was no longer fruitful. One day I went to hang out the washing and the vine was all but gone! He had removed all the dead branches. I almost wept.

‘Are you sure it will survive?’ I asked.

‘Of course,’ he responded. And sure enough, when spring came, the vine began to glisten with life once again.

Despite how harsh it looked, I knew I could trust his expertise.

QB WOMEN

As winter came I looked upon the grey wood base that jutted out of the ground. It is the polar opposite of its summer self—lifeless and fruitless.

The earth around it is dormant and the heavens are cold and silent. It is here in this quiet, hidden season that my husband feeds the plant so its roots can continue to grow deep.

This season requires patience and perseverance to ensure that it will survive the winter time.

As we journey through life, we will face all four seasons: summer, autumn, winter, spring … repeat. The cycle is God-ordained (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). It is inevitable and necessary for life to grow.

In watching my husband tend to our gardens I have realised something important. Gardeners understand the significance of each season. They also understand that no matter what season

they are in, they are significant to the season.

For a garden (or life) to flourish, the gardener (us) must be alert to the seasons, and work within that season to gain the most from that season.

At times we can rebel against the seasons, wishing it were summer when it is winter. However, we miss the significance of the moment, and our significance to the moment, when we ignore the present.

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are in (Genesis 1:28). He has chosen us to reflect His glory throughout the earth; we are significant, no matter what season we are in.

My husband’s desire to create a sanctuary, regardless of our situation or season, makes me so proud of him.

I imagine this must be similar to how Father God feels about us. I know He is so proud when He sees us grasp our significance and begin to master the seasons of life.

Each season has its purpose. A wise gardener comprehends this and tends to that season’s needs, knowing that the work done today will make for a flourishing garden in the future.

Charissa Steffens is a teacher with a background in business and publishing.

She is passionate about strengthening the Body of Christ through the spoken and written word.

It is the same for us. Whether we find ourselves in a season of growth, pruning, or quietness, each has its purpose. God created each season and He created us to master each season we

Cathy Knechtli State Director Queensland Baptist Women director@sheis.net.au

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QCCC

A SIGNIFICANT LEGACY QCCC’s origins can be traced back to the 1920s when Kenneth ‘Admiral’ Lethem hired the appropriately named steamboat ‘the Nirvana’ for week-long expeditions in Moreton Bay around the Easter weekend. It ‘transported an excited group of men from North Quay Brisbane to Jumpinpin’, where it was ‘anchored for the Easter break at the northern end of Stradbroke Island where there was a marvelous beach’. I recently made reconnaissance of that same area and can confirm the beach is marvellous, but our purpose was also to find safe navigation through what was then described as ‘strong tidal currents that made it rather dangerous for swimming’, but back then ‘that did

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not prevent some of the more adventurous from taking silly risks’.

It was definitely a more cavalier era back then, but Ken Lethem echoed the sentiments of modernday camping, the Baptist archives registering he ‘constantly felt the weight of his responsibility to those entrusted to his care’. During Easter 1931, a violent thunderstorm erupted over Brisbane. Near the present site of the Story Bridge, the Nirvana’s propeller collided with a log and the boat anchored for the night in the boat passage at the mouth of the Brisbane River. On Good Friday morning, the weather and the ocean were ‘boisterous’,

but they persisted with the trip after diverting to Cleveland Jetty to telephone the Baptist City Tabernacle Church to ask them to tell concerned parents that all were well.

Prompted by this experience, the Easter 1931 trip morphed into a study mission with the Nirvana cruising the passage along South Stradbroke, which ‘after some skillful maneuvering’ ended at Southport Jetty. Mr Lethem hired a car and they all set off to find a suitable site for a future (and presumably safer) land camp, finally settling on the site at Currumbin, which he purchased and developed for the Baptist Union.

The other recorded ‘highlight’ of this

QCCC

The ‘Nirvana’ at Kourie Yabba.

Easter 1931. Photo R. Pike.

trip was ‘in the exuberance of youth, one young man threw a line over the back of the boat during the Good Friday service, and caught a large bream. Mr Lethem was quite upset and ordered that fish to be thrown back!”

More than 80 years after those first adventures, QCCC returned to the South East Queensland coastline with its expeditions programs to inspire today’s generations with themes of reconciliation, conservation and marine history. One of Ken Lethem’s goals for Baptist camping was not only to bring people in contact with Christian teaching but also with Christian lives—an essential prerequisite of true discipleship.

QCCC’s outdoor education instructors were given extensive training over the last summer as ‘campfire chaplains’, equipping them as ambassadors of the gospel in both word and deed.

QCCC now operates a Coastal Discovery Program and Moreton Bay Expedition to local and interstate schools. The programs bring high school students into areas such as Point Cartwright, Caloundra, Bribie Island, Moreton Island and North and South Stradbroke Islands, enabling them to develop a ‘sense of place’ and connection with those land and marine environments. The programs

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equip students with boating and local marine knowledge, including the location of shipping lanes and the use of navigational markers.

the lengths PBPL will go to ensure shipping in the area maintains this pristine environment for many more generations to explore.

Just like in 1931, the beaches and islands in the expedition areas remain tranquil and unspoiled, giving students an amazing experience adjacent to the large metropolitan areas of Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

It’s incredible that there are such unexplored natural gems in such close proximity to a city area. QCCC’s educational programs were recently endorsed by the provision of a grant provided by the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL). A recent $6,000 grant has gone towards the purchase of three seakayaks, paddles and spray skirts and safety gear.

Ken Lethem was a banker and often said he ‘worked for the bank to pay expenses but his real business was the extension of the Kingdom of God’. He once shared with a friend that he ‘did not have the opportunity to be a minister himself ’ but that he considered it his commission to ‘be generous’, and it was through his generosity that Baptist camping was birthed. Ninety years later his investment lives on with QCCC ministering to 50,000 people annually, providing tangible experiences of God’s agenda for the restoration and reconciliation of all things, including the pristine areas where his vision commenced. He may not have realised it in his lifetime, but The Admiral’s stewardship has left a significant legacy.

Some of QCCC’s expeditions pass very close by to the areas where Port of Brisbane take great responsibility for marine safety and environmental conservation. The partnership with PBPL allows QCCC to not only give students a first rate adventure, but also to grow their understanding of safety in Brisbane’s busy sea lanes and

QCCC has recently developed several exciting ministry initiatives which require significant philanthropic investment to be realised. These include a Leadership Studio for QCCC Brookfield, a Hospitality Studio at QCCC Tamborine and a Custodianship Studio at QCCC Mapleton. If you’d like to follow in Ken Lethem’s footsteps and create a long term ministry legacy, please contact me.

Andrew Grant Director of Queensland Conference and Camping Centres andrew.grant@qccc.com.au www.qccc.com.au

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MALYON

MEET OUR DOCTOR OF MINISTRY STUDENTS Malyon College currently has six students studying for a Doctor of Ministry. The Doctor of Ministry is a degree designed for ministry practitioners to develop their professional skills in a scholarly manner. It involves a combination of scriptural and human-subject research to produce theologically informed practice.

Perhaps the best-known of our Doctor of Ministry students is Emil Rahimov, a Regional Consultant with Queensland Baptists. Most monoethnic churches die out as the first generation of migrants age. However,

Emil is studying the phenomena of Queensland Baptist mono-ethnic churches which have been able to exist and flourish past the first generation with a view to developing some principles to help our current monoethnic churches to adapt and grow.

Degrees in theology and ministry Bachelor | Masters | Doctoral

‘Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding’ (Jeremiah 3.15).

www.malyon.edu.au

Another well-known Doctor of Ministry student is Queensland Baptist Board member, Pam Condie. Pam is studying the opinion of Queensland Baptists on the issue of ordination of women. She has done extensive historical research but plans to actually survey the rank and file of Queensland Baptist churches to identify where opinion on this issue is now situated.

Are you wondering if God is calling you to a life of vocational ministry?

If you would like to explore your options for ministry and theological training, put this date in your calendar now: Malyon College Open Night | 11 October 2016 | 6.30pm Malyon College, 53 Prospect Road, Gaythorne

www.malyon.edu.au AUG/SEP 2016 ::: QB.ORG.AU

developing Christians of influence

Miranda Nakhla is a professional Christian counsellor. Her research is in the intersection of two counselling theories (attachment theory and cognitive therapy) and the Lord’s Prayer. She is developing a curriculum that will help people have a better understanding of the Lord’s prayer, particularly those who are going through difficult periods.

Peter Sondergeld, from The Project Church in Toowoomba, is doing his Doctor of Ministry on the topic of self-esteem. In his role as senior pastor of a growing church, he has identified that people have a poor understanding of the biblical basis for human value.

He too is developing a curriculum to help people to draw their value from their relationship with God rather than the secular alternatives.

MALYON

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in various languages, edited over 150 books and is the founder of various innovations to help the downtrodden and needy in India. His research is on evangelism of the Dalit people who are the lowest caste of the Hindu system.

Malyon is excited by the calibre of these researchers and the topics they are exploring. Through these students Malyon is having an impact not only on Queensland, but the whole world!

Keep an eye out for the exciting and important results of their work.

Another of our students, Phillip Porcheron, is currently in the Calbayog City, Samar, in the Philippines. His research involves a case study in this area of the Philippines to develop a ministry training program for local pastors and church leaders who are active in ministry but have no formal theological education. Samar is a very poor area and the Waray people group who live there are classified as unreached.

Our sixth student is CV Vadavana.

CV was a Catholic Franciscan monk for nine years. After his salvation experience he became the founder and president of the Sathyam Ministries, which is running orphanages, special schools for the differently-abled children, mission schools, vocational training centres for women, providing 100,000 wheelchairs, relief works, and sending gospel teams to various parts of India. CV has written over 30 books

Ian Hussey is the Director of Post Graduate Studies at Malyon College and coordinator of the Doctor of Ministry program.

Ian.Hussey@malyon.edu.au www.malyon.edu.au

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QB ARCHIVES we carry out just because we are commanded to do so.

It was also mentioned frequently in The qb that communion had a ‘social’ side to it. It was, as William Higlett said in 1899, ‘a partaking in common, intended to keep believers at one with each other, to remind them that they are all one in Christ Jesus, and should have the same care one for another as for themselves.’ Naturally it was the occasion when people were officially received into church membership.

Whose Table? What Table?

Glimpses from the past about Communion Most Baptist churches have a section in their doctrinal statement which says they observe ‘two ordinances taught by the Lord Jesus Christ—namely, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.’

Today there seems to be no set pattern for communion, which results in a lot of variety, even within the same church. There is also a strong tendency to informality and simplification!

Sometimes, however, there is artificial elaboration, apparently to add interest.

In many churches there is no longer a permanent communion table situated centrally in the church; it is moved out of the way of the main worship activities. The official Baptist Union doctrinal statement only says it is a ‘memorial’ to help us remember ‘the sacrifice’ of Christ.

So can we learn anything from earlier days? A quick glance through the pages of this magazine in the 1890s suggests we can!

First of all, the name—both the terms ‘communion’ and ‘Lord’s

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supper’ (or the ‘Lord’s table’) were in common use. Occasionally they were combined—‘the communion of the Lord’s Supper’ which highlights the most common understanding. This is the service where we can engage in direct fellowship with the Lord, and so draw spiritual strength and power from Him. It is the table at which the Lord is tangibly present as the host of the meal, and it is He who calls believers to come to Him—as one editor said— so we can enjoy ‘sweet communion’ with the Lord.

So although they usually avoided the word ‘sacrament’ in preference to ‘ordinance’, their understanding contrasted strongly with today’s subjective ‘memorial only’ approach.

This was a service which would strengthen the believer spiritually, not just a kind of ‘visual aid’ to help us remember the cross, something

Queensland Baptists did not favour the practice of taking the elements to people in their homes; there was no child communion, and they did not approve of communion being conducted at any Christian gathering that was not a church’s worship service (such as an interdenominational convention). Even celebrations at the Baptist Assembly were questioned because the Baptist Union was not a church as such. It would be different,

they said, if the service were conducted by one of the churches with the Assembly delegates invited to attend as guests.

Because this is the Lord’s table, it is not surprising that our forebears thought that this was no casual event—it was a ‘duty’ as well as a ‘privilege’ and ‘full of solemnity.’ It was a special service following the regular morning service (in some churches every Sunday, but others twice a month).

Absence without good reason was a serious matter, and attendance cards were used in some churches in the interests of pastoral care. Furthermore,

QB ARCHIVES the participation of deacons in this service was regarded as an integral part of their overall spiritual leadership of the church.

This also explains why communion services were held at special times – e.g., Taringa church rejoiced when, as a new church plant, they were given the privilege by their mother church of conducting a communion service.

South Brisbane held communion as part of the annual meeting, and many churches conducted communion on New Year’s Day and other special milestones.

Also the communion service was a particularly important feature of the Annual Baptist Assembly. It is no wonder then that, when open membership churches became an issue, the Assembly communion service was at the focus. It was decided that ‘immersed believers only shall be invited to participate’ at any Baptist Union communion service.

There were some practical matters up for discussion as well. Many people were concerned at this time about the devastating damage done by the abuse of alcohol in the community, giving rise to strong support for the Temperance movement. So the use of alcoholic wine in communion was highly inappropriate and there was a move towards the use of the unfermented variety. The main problem was that this was hard to get and expensive, so a few articles appeared with instructions on how to make it at home! Most ministers were said to be total abstainers.

Individual cups were also being introduced for reasons of hygiene, but there was one report deriding this on theological and biblical grounds—how could ‘many’ cups symbolise the ‘unity’ of the church? And besides, the Bible clearly said that Jesus passed ‘the’ cup to His disciples. (There was no discussion about the type of bread or whether one loaf should be used.)

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The high importance of communion in the life of the churches and members was expressed in another practical way with the occasional donation of a specially made communion table to a church, and in the case of Albion in 1891, a special set of elaborately inscribed communion vessels.

This information is all from just one short period at the end of the 19th century, and it was not surprising that there were careful steps taken to instruct young people on the importance of communion.

It was well summed up in this statement (August 1899): ‘They who in penitence and faith partake of this sacrament, feed spiritually upon Christ as the nourishment of the soul, by which they are strengthened and refreshed for the duties and trials of life. Christians partake in common of the Lord’s Supper to show their oneness in Christ, to confess openly their faith in Him, and to give one another a pledge of brotherly love.’

David Parker Baptist Church Archives archives@qb.org.au Phone 07 3354 5642, 07 3878 3178

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CARINITY

Innovation grants announced!

Since 2005, Carinity’s Innovation Grants have provided over $330,000 to Baptist Churches across Queensland to provide a range of community outreach programs.

Manager for Chaplaincy and Mission Services, Don McPherson, said the grants were a way for Carinity to continue their vision of creating communities where people are loved, accepted and supported to reach their full potential. ‘The annual grant round aims to deliver direct relief for issues of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability, homelessness and helplessness. While we have many services across Queensland that address these issues, we believe in grass roots assistance which is often found via churches,’ he said.

‘We’ve seen such a variety of programs such as counselling programs, food banks, mentoring programs, community gardens, giving breakfast to school children, accommodation assistance, youth engagement programs and more. We’re proud to announce the 2016 grant recipients.’

Bracken Ridge Baptist Church Community Care and Connection Pastor, Brad Suosaari, said he was very excited to receive a grant to expand two existing ministries. ‘The COACH (Creating Opportunities and Casting Hope) mentoring program focuses on families in need. Our mentors serve as “friends with a purpose” to support people going through rough periods in their lives or who just need guidance AUG/SEP 2016 ::: QB.ORG.AU

Image: Getting ready at Bracken Ridge

CARINITY

‘We’ve seen such a variety of programs...’ on how to live a better life. We’ve run the program before, but the grant will allow a further expansion of the program to assist more families.

‘We are also starting a regular home maintenance service called Acts of Kindness,’ he said. ‘Previously we had only done neighbourhood blitzes a few times a year. With the grant, we’re going to have a regular service with a team of around 12 people. It is about helping develop a stronger resilient community. With both COACH and Acts of Kindness, we’re trying to provide assistance before a problem develops further. We’re trying to provide support in a way a family would traditionally do it—by lending a helping hand with small items that are overwhelming people in tough times.

‘Through these programs we develop social capital and show the general public the practical and useful way churches contribute to society,” Brad said.

The Carinity Innovation Grants open in May each year and are open to Queensland Baptists’ churches. For more information, go to www.carinity.org. au/innovation-grants

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2016 Carinity Innovation Grant Recipients Dalby Baptist Church— building a propagation shed as part of the church food garden Bracken Ridge Baptist Church— COACH Community Mentoring Program and Acts of Kindness to assist people with home maintenance Life Point Baptist Church— Christians Against Poverty Program to assist with budgetary and money education Annerley Baptist Church— Establishing emergency accommodation (up to 7 days) for homeless persons

Degrees in theology and ministry Diploma | Bachelor | Masters | Doctoral

developing Christians of influence “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding” Jeremiah 3:15

Tenthill Baptist Church— Breakfast club for students before school Fairfield Christian Family— Christians Against Poverty Program to assist with budgetary and money education.

www.malyon.edu.au Bracken Ridge Baptist Church received assistance for two ministries

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BWAA

LOVE IN AN AGE OF NARCISSISM A central tenet of the consumer culture in which we live is that by getting more possessions and more experiences we will get more satisfaction. And so we invest our time, our energy and our wealth not in loving our neighbour but in acquiring more possessions and more experiences for ourselves.

If we are to become people who lead lives of love for God and others we need to carve out an alternate way of being.

For Christians, an alternate spirituality must begin with the recognition that the centre of reality is a God of generous love and that we are created to image this God to one another. In light of this, we will seek to shape our lives around love for God and neighbour rather than mere experiential satisfaction. A love-based spirituality does not simply add random acts of kindness to a lifestyle that is otherwise selfabsorbed. Rather, we will see our careers, our consumption, our use of AUG/SEP 2016 ::: QB.ORG.AU

time, and our spending of our money as opportunities to enjoy the generous love that God has for us and to serve others.

We will see that our call to love extends beyond the circle of our family and friends, that we are not simply called to avoid harming others but that we are called to do good to them.

Where people do not know themselves to be loved by God, we will bring the news of Jesus. Where people are excluded, exploited and oppressed, we will seek to build communities in which they are welcomed and included. Where people are broken and wounded we will seek to help them find healing.

In 2008 a young Australian woman, Hailey Bartholomew, found that she wasn’t enjoying life. She described herself as feeling lost and stuck on a treadmill. It was almost inexplicable.

She was married to a man she loved and had beautiful children who held her heart. So why was she feeling so down about her life?

Hailey sought the counsel of a nun, who advised her to spend time each day reflecting on something for which she was grateful. Hailey began a project called ‘365 Grateful’. Every day she took a photograph of something for which she was grateful. It changed her life, for it allowed her to see things she had never noticed. Hailey had always thought of her husband as unromantic. One day she took a picture of him serving up dinner, the thing which she was grateful for that day. She noticed for the first time that the largest portion of pie was placed on her plate. She realised that the largest portion was always placed on her plate and that this was one small but profound way her husband showed his care for her. Hailey had found mothering a ‘boring job’, but as she took photos of her children holding out their hands to her, playing and exploring, she discovered how much joy and wonder there was in her world.

Through the art of gratitude Hailey found herself lifted out of her rut and celebrating life.

Scripture is filled with injunctions to give thanks to God for the good things in our lives. This is not because God needs our praises but because we need to give God our praise and thanks.

Gratitude causes us to slow down and appreciate the many good things in our lives; relieves us of the notion that they are the results of our own hard work; and liberates us from the consumerist illusion that we don’t have enough. It enables us to recognise that the good things we have in our life often come to us as a gift from others and from God and engenders within us a sense that just as we have been blessed by God and others, so we want to bless others. Gratitude is one of the most significant resources for lifting us out of narcissism and into generous love.

Rev. Scott Higgins

This passage is adapted from The Single Thing That Can Change the World, the new discipleship series from Baptist World Aid Australia which launched in July 2016 in Baptist churches around the country. Discover afresh God’s generous love for you! Get The Single Thing That Can Change the World at: baptistworldaid.org.au/TheSingleThing.

BWAA

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ANNE’S NEW LIFE Anne lives in Uganda, with her mother, father, and eight siblings. She is 13 years old. Like other girls her age, Anne goes to school and likes to play with her friends. But for Anne, it’s almost incredible that she can do these things.

Not too long ago, Anne’s family lived in a tiny house no bigger than your living room. Every day was a struggle.

Anne’s community was not safe for children—there was always a risk of being attacked. The use of child labour was rife, and child marriage was common.

The future for children like Anne was uncertain. But that was before our Christian partner, SAO Uganda, started working in her community.

Now Anne and three of her sisters are sponsored by Baptist World Aid supporters in Australia. And, through the program, her parents have received farming training.

Anne’s parents have always been farmers. But, before, their harvest was small and they made no money.

They could not even afford to let two of Anne’s older siblings finish their schooling. It broke their hearts. But now, Anne’s parents have increased their crop yield and have learned how to keep chickens and other livestock.

Now they can send all their children to school. They have even built a bigger, stronger family home!

Anne’s parents have achieved these things with hard work, the help of our

Child Sponsorship program and the support of Australians who sponsor.

And now Anne’s community is safer too! Child labour, child marriage and child abuse are no longer the common problems they once were, thanks to community education and the formation of a Child Protection Committee (both of which were also funded through our Child Sponsorship program!)

Anne’s story is almost incredible. Be part of an amazing story like Anne’s.

Sponsor a child today! baptistworldaid.org.au/ belovesponsorship

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PERSECUTION BRIEF

PLEASE PRAY!

FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD

Is persecution returning for Russia’s Christians? New laws make evangelism illegal On 20 July 2016, a new law came into place that will highly restrict Russian Christians. No longer will Christians be allowed to evangelise outside of churches, hold private prayer meetings, or legally have house churches.

So why has this happened, what is this law and what can Christians do now?

Russia has for years been battling Islamic extremists in the Caucasus, a region in Southern Russia bordering Central Asia. These extremists have long caused issues for Russia but have stepped up attacks recently, emboldened by extremist groups such as Islamic State. In November 2015, a Russian passenger jet was blown up on its flight to Egypt, in June 2016 a Russian citizen was implicated in the airport bombing in Turkey. With an already violent branch of Islam within the country and an increase in attacks, the government has been forced to respond. And has responded with very a heavy hand.

What is the law?

The new law is called the Yarovaya Law. Rushed through parliament with very little debate, President Vladimir Putin signed off on the bill, ignoring churches and politicians’ advice not to do so.

As an anti-terrorism bill it does not explicitly target religions or churches,

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but there is a special provision for both.

The main points of the bill are: • Increased punishments for any terrorism related offence, for anyone 14 years or older.

• Newly introduced prison sentences for failure to report terrorism related offences.

• Data from phone and internet providers to be recorded for six months.

• Restriction of religious activity, such as evangelism and meetings, to registered buildings.

• Visiting religious teachers will be required to carry specific documentation of their registration with them at all times, and will only be permitted to work at the invitation of registered religious groups.

This may not explicitly target Christians, but it has huge implications. For example, any Christian who has a prayer meeting in their home, as of 20 July, will be breaking the law. Any Christian who wants to share their faith at work, school, or online will be breaking the law. For a missionary or visiting pastor who preaches in a church without a work visa, they will be breaking the law.

Intentional or not, this law will impact on Christians a great deal. And while on the surface it may appear that this is not the desired outcome, how it is enforced will really demonstrate its intent.

Churches who conduct evangelical events are concerned.

What are Christians in Russia saying?

Christians from different churches in Moscow have united in prayer against the new law. One church has simply labelled it as ‘bad’ and ‘dangerous’.

The leaders of protestant churches in Russia have met to discuss the new developments and said, ‘This law, in the requirements that it imposes on us, as Christians, we simply cannot perform. But we do not want to become lawbreakers.’ Vladimir Ryakhovsky of the Slavic Centre for Law and Justice wrote on Facebook, ‘Today is a dark day indeed … The hope was that Vladimir Putin would not in the end sign this law. A law which openly contradicts the gospel command “go and make disciples” and, in addition, violates the constitutional rights of citizens.’

Despite this, the law is now in place and will be enforced from 20 July. For Christians in Russia, this will be the new reality of Christian life. But this new reality, in a way, reflects a previous reality—the reality of Christianity under communism in Russia. And for many the concern that this is likely to occur again is very real.

SOURCE: OPEN DOORS https://opendoorsblog.org/ (excerpt)

Open Doors’ World Watch List 2016 has documented reports of more than 7,000 Christians killed and more than 2,400 churches attacked globally in a single year—the period ending 31 October 2015. Please continue to pray for persecuted Christians in countries around the world.

DISCIPLESHIP

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DISCIPLESHIP AND SUPERVISION OF NEW MINISTERS The call to be a disciple who makes disciples is applicable for every follower of Jesus.

In the last few years, Queensland Baptists has undertaken a major training review. The focus of the report was on the critical area of the formation and early development of new pastors for our movement.

While pastors are clearly a part of the whole body, their vocational call and support from the wider church make them an important part in the life and functioning of our churches.

It is interesting to reflect, for a moment, on the apostle Paul as a disciple of Jesus who was committed to making other disciples who would, in turn, make other disciples. A particular example relating to the raising up of disciple-making pastors can be seen in Paul’s relationship with Timothy.

Paul’s knowledge and interest in Timothy goes back to Timothy’s early years. Acts 16:1 tells us that, on his missionary journey, Paul comes to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived with his family. He had a mixed family background—his mother was Jewish and his father Greek. In 2 Timothy 1:5 we read that Timothy had a rich heritage of faith

in God through his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, which has clearly taken root in his own life. The glimpses of Timothy we get in the New Testament suggest that, rather than being an extraordinary prospect for ministry, he was more ordinary. He was often considered relatively young (1 Timothy 4:12), he seemed to be prone to illness (1 Timothy 5:23), and his temperament seems to have been shy and timid (2 Timothy 1:7-8).

Paul disciples Timothy as he takes him on his missionary journeys. As Timothy grows in his ministry role, Paul delegates particular roles and responsibilities to him. In Timothy’s early ministry development he was under supervision by Paul. This included being sent on ministry assignments such as in 1 Corinthians 4:17, where Paul sent him to assist the church at Corinth, rather than going himself. Timothy did not start ministry as a readymade minister, rather the journey and process of discipleship, particularly through the apostle Paul, was vital in his formation and ultimate service as a key pastor in the New Testament church.

In 2 Timothy we see Timothy as an established pastor in Ephesus and Paul is still encouraging him to stay faithful in his calling, but also to continue

to invest in others who will invest in others. In Paul’s discipling of Timothy we can identify specific seasons or stages, but Paul’s input and support carries on till the end of Paul’s life. The essence of Paul’s discipleship process is captured in 2 Timothy 2: 2, ‘And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others’.

Those who are called to be pastors in the church are not only called to be disciples who make disciples, but also pastors who disciple and raise up the next generation of pastors. Queensland Baptists has sought to facilitate this type of relationship between pastors, informally through area gatherings, by encouraging churches to work together on kingdom activities, and more formally, through registration, where each Queensland Baptist pastor is required to have a mentor. The implementation of the training review will also intentionally establish support and supervision for new ministers to help them grow and develop in their roles.

Stephen Ball QB Regional Consultant Stephen.ball@qb.org.au

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MARRIAGE

Have your say!

Another trip to the ballot box! Yes, and this one will be important for the type of nation that we bequeath to our children and grandchildren.

The Liberal / National Coalition went to the recent Federal election with a policy of holding a plebiscite about marriage if it were to be returned to office. With its re-election to the Government benches—albeit with only a slim majority—the Coalition will be asking us to vote on whether marriage ought to be redefined. They will be asking you to have your say on whether marriage should be allowed for any two persons, or whether it should remain as one-man-onewoman.

This is a vital issue—your voice needs to be heard!

Have your say for the sake of freedom Wherever same-sex ‘marriage’ has been legalised, there have been consequences for people of faith and conscience. Initially pastors are granted exemptions from having to officiate at same-sex ‘weddings’ and church buildings are exempt from being used as venues. However, the ink is barely dry on the laws granting those exemptions before same-sex activists announce plans to challenge.

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In July 2013, when the British Government legalised same-sex ‘marriage’, the churches were assured that they would be safeguarded from having to participate in such ceremonies. The law came into effect in March 2014, and almost immediately a homosexual couple— who already had a legally recognised civil union—approached the vicar of their local Anglican Church to request a church ‘wedding’. When the minister refused, the couple launched legal action. Similarly, recently a lesbian couple in England had their ‘wedding’ at the registry office and then straightaway went to their local Anglican Church to request a blessing ceremony over their ‘marriage’. The couple did not even attend the church.

When the vicar refused, they launched legal action.

If same-sex ‘marriage’ is legalised in our country, there is no reason to suppose that such challenges to any exemptions granted to clergy and churches will not begin to appear in the courts.

However, of far more immediate concern would be the situation for all the other Christians who provide goods and services for weddings.

In other parts of the world, florists, bakers, photographers, and reception centre owners have faced legal action under anti-discrimination laws because

they have politely refused to participate in same-sex ‘weddings’. We should not think that such people will be immune here in our country if the redefinition of marriage happens. In fact, the Leader of the Opposition, when asked before the election whether the providers of goods and services to weddings would be allowed to refuse a same-sex ‘wedding’, categorically stated that, under a government he led, no such exemptions would be permitted and any exemptions that were in place would be revoked.

So, if you have a wedding photographer in your church, a cake decorator, florist or the owner of a wedding reception venue, the redefinition of marriage will certainly affect them. When a same-sex couple approaches them to provide goods and services for their ‘wedding’, they will be faced with a difficult decision— provide the goods and services for a ceremony that is contrary to God’s Word and, by so doing, violate their own conscience, or politely refuse to provide the goods and services and face expensive and possibly businessdestroying legal action.

This is an issue of religious freedom.

The plebiscite will be your opportunity to have your say for the sake of freedom.

MARRIAGE

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Have your say for the sake of … freedom … children … truth

Have your say for the sake of the children The legalisation of same-sex ‘marriage’ is also the legitimising of same-sex parenting. Despite credible research that indicates that children do best when raised in a family environment consisting of their married biological parents, same-sex ‘marriage’ allows for family structures in which children raised by two men are denied a female parent and children raised by two women are denied a male parent.

Those children have a biological mother or biological father, but they are not there, not playing a role in their children’s lives, not helping to shape their identities. Is it any wonder that a number of people who were raised in same-sex ‘families’ are on record testifying to the confusion that they experienced in relation to their own self-identity and sexuality?

In a broken world, we know that no family is perfect and that children are not always raised in an ideal environment. But establishing a family structure that deliberately excludes a biological mother or biological father is not a healthy course to set.

As a nation, we have been through the sorrow of acknowledging ‘the stolen generation’ and recognising the pain that some experienced because they were forcibly separated from

parents and culture. It would be just as unwise to deliberately establish a family structure that would deny another generation the knowledge of, and relationship with, their mothers or fathers.

If, like the godly woman we read about in Proverbs 31:28, we want the next generation to rise up and call us blessed, we need to have our say for the sake of the children.

Have your say for the sake of truth A number of same-sex activists have admitted that the push for so-called ‘marriage equality’ is not because the majority of same-sex couples want to form monogamous lifelong partnerships. Some do, but the research indicates that the majority of same-sex relationships are open and short-lived. It is not homophobic to say that; it’s simply stating the truth.

Now, we acknowledge that some heterosexual couples are not faithful to their marriage vows and that some marriages end in separation and divorce. However, I have never yet officiated at a wedding where the couple intended to be unfaithful to one another. We enter marriage with the intention of staying together and staying true to the commitment to exclude all others. We may not always

succeed, but we understand that that is what marriage means. That’s the truth of the matter!

If our nation redefines marriage, we would be saying that truth does not matter, and that any relationship, no matter how open or short-lived, can be called a ‘marriage’. That perspective can be taught to our children and grandchildren in their schoolrooms and in the entertainment media— that feelings of self-centred love are more significant than covenantal commitment in relating to others, and what God has revealed in His Word is out-dated and old-fashioned … that, in fact, God Himself is irrelevant to modern life.

It is an issue of truth, and we must have our say! For the sake of truth!

Brian Robertson QB board member and pastor of the Coral Coast Christian Church Pastor.Brian@CoralCoastChurch.org If you would like to receive information for research cited in this article, please contact Brian.

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INSPIRE

YES I CAN! There has been a lot of excitement around the QB office recently.

Baplink’s Tony Doevendans has experienced an amazing few months.

We know Tony can sing, and now the rest of the world does too! He was selected by a casting agent earlier this year to front a band of people with disabilities who went on to make an amazing video to promote the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. As reported in the UK Telegraph: ‘Assembling the enormous cast for the three-minute trail … was a Herculean task. “Once we had the idea, sourcing people became a massive challenge,” says Alice Tonge, Creative Director of 4creative, Channel 4’s in-house creative agency, who began work on the film in the summer of 2015. “There simply aren’t enough disabled stars out there, so our researchers ended up burying themselves in the internet scouring for links to videos.”

‘The fruit of one such deep-dive was the advert’s main star, Tony Doevendans (also known as Tony Dee), the wheelchair-bound lead singer of The Superhumans Band, who was discovered on YouTube.

There was a clip of him singing an old Sinatra song that his wife posted.

It only had a few hundred views, but we got in touch with him and the rest is history,” Tonge says. With the rest of the band, Doevendans recorded his version of Yes I Can, a song chosen for its uplifting message and apposite lyrics at Abbey Road Studios’ (http://www.telegraph. co.uk/paralympic-sport/2016/07/14/return-of-the-superhumansbehind-the-scenes-of-channel-4s-2016-p/).

Tony is now back at his desk in the Baplink office but plans to keep on singing whenever he can. Born with Spina Bifida and confined to a wheel-chair as a result, Tony’s faith in Jesus Christ and his passion for living life to the full shine through. Commenting on his experiences he said: ‘For most of May this year, my wife, Caroline, and I were in the United Kingdom, recording and being filmed for the advertising campaign. The first full day in London was spent in the recording studio laying down the vocals for the theme song. This was done at Battersea Park Studios, a place frequented by groups such as Duran Duran. In fact, I used the same microphone as Simon le Bon, Duran Duran’s lead singer.

‘I joined a dozen other musicians who all have disabilities—paralysis, visual impairment, missing limbs, to name a few. These players are extremely accomplished and they had the opportunity to record their parts at the famous Abbey Road Studios. I got to observe from the control room, then get pictures taken on the studio floor with equipment that was used by the Beatles.

‘Also involved were many paralympians from Team GB (Great Britain) and regular people, who in one way or another have overcome disability to become mums, pilots, business people and graduates. In all, 140 people with some form of impairment were cast in the ad.

‘Filming (for me) involved 12 days of active shooting and about the same number of days were available to see the sights of London. The theme song is a jazzy tune, Yes I Can originally performed by Sammy

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Davis, Jr. The message is simple—no matter the challenges or how ‘ordinary’ a person may be, they can accomplish great things. I see this as a spiritual message as well, because I believe that God puts us on earth for a purpose and that purpose is achievable through partnership with Him.’ At the time of writing, the commercial has been viewed more than 2,750,000 times on YouTube, and Channel 4’s Facebook page has 26,811,875 views! The reviews have been very favourable, and since returning home, Tony has already done a number of interviews on TV, radio and the Internet. The song has been released as a single by Decca Records on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon in the UK and Ireland, with hopefully more countries to follow.

If you have not yet seen the video, please check it out on YouTube or on Channel 4’s Facebook page, or simply search for ‘yes I can paralympics’. You won’t be disappointed. Well done Tony! We are all very excited for you!

CALLED HOME

Gladys Mildred Steer 1 April 1939 – 18 June 2016 After more than 23 years of health struggle, Gladys Mildred Steer completed her earthly journey in the Centaur RSL Nursing Home, Caloundra. Her funeral celebration service was held at the Dicky Beach Church of Christ complex where more than 250 gathered to say farewell.

Richard Pearce, former pastor, lead the service with Col Usher singing and leading a moving segment of worship and praise, beautifully and sensitively accompanied by Debbie Sweetman on piano and Stuart White on guitar.

The eulogy was presented by Max Wheat, a long-time family friend, who also brought a fitting word of comfort from Job chapter 19. Poems were presented by Gladys’ grandchildren, which were previously written by Glad for the occasion.

Greetings, floral tributes and condolences were received from Vancouver, Canada; Orange Grove County, California; Essex, England, and from all over Australia.

The funeral was conducted by Integrity Funerals of which Gladys’ son, Rowan Steer, is the general manager and director. Many representatives from

Baptist Churches were present as well as those from the Baptist Union Executive to offer support to Gladys’ husband, Malcolm, after his many years of service as a Baptist minister. Also present were members of the PRESCARE aged care support team who so ably tended to Glad’s daily needs, and many of Glad’s nursing colleagues from the PA and RBH hospitals were also present as Glad had served as the sister-in-charge in both places, many years earlier. It was also noted that Gladys was the sole pioneer of the Blue Nursing services on the Redcliffe peninsular in the 1960s.

Gladys will be sadly missed by her loving family for her musical gifts, her bright personality, and her love and compassion for others. As the words of her tribute song said, ‘I am in a better place, I can see Jesus’ face, don’t cry for me’ (Renee Martin 2001).

Noela Joyce Lockhart 30 October 1933 – 29 April 2016 Noela, the youngest of four children, was born to Cyril and Julia Webster.

Her grandfather David was the creator of Webster’s biscuits and cakes. He also saw and filled a need for tea rooms in Brisbane in the early 1900s, including the Shingle Inn in Edward Street.

43

Cyril Webster died when Noela was just one year old. It was due to the great love and generosity of their grandfather and her uncles that the family grew up within the wider Webster family. They attended Vulture Street Baptist Church every Sunday followed by Sunday lunch.

Noela completed teacher training and her first posting was Moorooka State School, followed by Lota and Darlington State Schools. She resigned from teaching when she married Max Lockhart in 1955; however, she continued being a wonderful teacher to their six children and 15 grandchildren and was always finding ways to encourage and connect into their lives.

A Christian from her early years, Noela was a faithful church member for over 60 years. She knew that children were precious in God’s sight and was one of the women at the City Tabernacle Baptist Church who started up Little Pilgrims Sunday School. Her desire was to teach Bible stories in ways that children could grasp the truth of God’s love. She also opened her home and welcomed young mothers as part of KYB fellowship group.

One of Noela’s many roles as a volunteer that was special to her was her time as an angel with the Pyjama Foundation. Over the last five years, she met each week with a little boy named Dylan, whose grandma wrote to her saying, ‘There aren’t enough words to express our thanks. You are a magnificent woman who has left a memorable impression with Dylan. I am in awe of your creativity and am so glad you came into our lives’. Noela put a great deal of love and effort into ensuring that her family remained close, and was a good friend to many.

‘A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies’ (Proverbs 31:10).

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ARTICLE

‘I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves’ (Matthew 10:16).

I’m reading ‘Captains of the Soul’ (by Michael Gladwin) at the moment. It’s a history of chaplaincy in the Australian Army. I was captivated by this quote: ‘On one hand a chaplain’s job was to ensure that soldiers were at peak efficiency to do their job; on the other hand, a chaplain brought a humanising influence and a link to divine grace amid the chaos and destruction of war. For some chaplains the tension did not need resolving: their job was clearly to do both.’

LINKING DIVINE GRACE TO THE CHAOS

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Linking divine grace amid the chaos. While the above quote highlights the extreme tension for a chaplain in a war zone, I think it has some resonance for Unofficial Chaplains. Life can be chaotic. Workplaces and teams can sometimes be brutal and complex places. The tension is unavoidable. Into that chaos we are called to go and serve.

I think our job is to help people be the best they can be as we link divine grace to troubled lives and situations.

It’s not easy work. We find ourselves in awkward situations sometimes.

Which is why we pray for wisdom and divine aid in our ministry to the people God has placed around us.

God bless your Unofficial Chaplaincy ministry!

Warren Crank QB Regional Consultant Reprinted with permission: Unofficial Chaplain warrenbcrank@gmail.com

FUN ZONE

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REVIEWS: BOOKS, DVDS, MUSIC

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CD: OF DIRT AND GRACE (DELUXE EDITION) HILLSONG UNITED $29.99 AT KOORONG

The essence and inspiration of United’s most recent release, Empires was the Beatitudes; it was always an aspiration to film where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount and to present the songs in a live format. Filmed in Jerusalem and surrounding areas, Of Dirt And Grace is a unique take on many of the songs from Empires. With breathtaking imagery and audio, this live project is one of the most original to ever come out of Hillsong.

- Koorong

www.koorong.com

AUG/SEP 2016 ::: QB.ORG.AU

‘Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world’ (John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life).

CLASSIFIEDS

POSITIONS VACANT FULL TIME PASTOR MOUNT ISA BAPTIST CHURCH Mount Isa Baptist Church is a warm and welcoming bible-based church that aims to share Jesus’ message of hope with our local community and beyond.

We are seeking a full-time pastor. The person we are looking for will be a Godly leader who is committed to seeing the Bible faithfully taught, and who desires to serve with our leadership team and wider church as we seek promote the gospel and serve our community. This is a fulltime position with salary, housing, office and other support supplied. To express your interest in finding out more about this role please contact Andrew Ireland on 0434 079 967 or email office@mountisabaptist.com.au

PASTOR AGNES WATER BAPTIST CHURCH The Agnes Water is a growing community just an hour or so north of Bundaberg. It is a well-resourced town in a coastal paradise. The Agnes Water Baptist Church is seeking a new pastor. It is a young church in a growing area.

Recent launch of a Christian P-12 School is changing the dynamic of both the town and the church. The church is looking for God’s person to lead the church into a new era. For information and selection criteria, please contact: Damian.higgins@discovery.qld.edu.au.

SENIOR PASTOR SILKSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH Silkstone Baptist Church invites expressions of interest in the position of Senior Pastor. Silkstone Baptist Church is a Bible Based Church, who recognize God’s desire for us to transform from the traditional older church we now are to a contemporary young families’ church. Applications are invited from suitably gifted and qualified men. For a church pack please contact Ken Clarke (Church Administrator) mobile 0402 081 259 or email kenhelenclarke@ optusnet.com.au

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CHRISTIAN SINGLES

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ACCOMMODATION BRISBANE: House available as a ministry for missionaries and church workers on the move. Three bedrooms, fully furnished, everything provided. Bus stop at the door. Minimal rent. Email: gtho4536@bigpond.net.au CALOUNDRA - GOLDEN BEACH: Highset three bedroom holiday home. Weekends or weekly. Pets OK. Close to beach. Phone 0402 077 822 or lizottaway15@gmail.com.

CALOUNDRA: Sunshine Coast, Qld, beachside units from $400/wk, ph 0427 990 161.

IPSWICH: HOUSE-SITTER WANTED! From 11/12/16 – 10/2/17. Contact Leanne or James, ph 3424 3408, or email jkheriot@gmail.

FOR HIRE LARGE AUDITORIUM: Seats 290. Queensland Baptists’ Centre at Gaythorne. Phone Sharon, 07 3354 5600 for more information or visit www.qb.com.au – venue hire.

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