Together in Mission | April 2019

TOGETHER

IN MISSION

April - May 2019

IN THIS EDITION Frank reflections on the Graham Tour Ministry opportunities in our movement What’s happening at: Hills Baptist Church 4D Conference for church volunteers

A movement of local churches thriving in Jesus transforming the world.

Dr Karen Walker President

FOR PRAYER 1 - 7 APRIL •

Pray for the Lord’s leading in further exploratory dialogue between local churches and Baptist Care SA as they seek to respond to the needs of disadvantaged people and strive for more connected communities.

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Pray for Hoa’s ministry and health.

Acting Peculiar

8 - 14 APRIL

As a new and young follower of Jesus I recall coming

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Pray for Mike Mills and staff.

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Pray for our pastors.

across the verse in 1 Peter 2:9 which in the King James version (KJV) was

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Pray that our relationships will demonstrate respect for and facilitate reconciliation with our nation’s Indigenous people.

15 - 21 APRIL •

Pray for rain to sustain all families and communities who rely on the agriculture industry.

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West Beach: Praise God for the leaders of our children’s holiday program (16-17 April).

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Pray for Janine Lenigas and Amber Smith who are both settling into Executive Leader roles with Baptist Care SA.

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Easter Camp (18-22 April) – pray for young people to know and respond to Jesus personally, for protection, for leaders, for speaker, etc.

22 - 28 APRIL •

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Global Interaction: Pray for Luke and Rachel’s Cultural and Language learning, as they develop good relationships in Cambodia.

Please pray for the recruitment of an Enterprise Development Manager who will enthusiastically promote Baptist Care SA Camping and Adventure Therapy Services.

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Global Interaction: Pray that Catherine’s new home which she enjoys will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

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Global Interaction: Pray for Dr Ian Dicks’ ministry at Whitley College in Melbourne.

29 APRIL - 5 MAY

translated as “but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” As a teenager the idea of being considered ‘peculiar’ had its own appeal.

Most of us like to think we are somehow different and unique and in my contemporary Australian context that’s some of what the word ‘peculiar’ now means. It can also mean ‘strange,’ ‘odd’ and ‘oddly different’ and similar sometimes negative interpretations.

We may know people who do think Christians are a peculiar people as the word is currently used but what the Greek words in the New Testament mean is that we are God’s special people, we are his possession (this is actually what the word ‘peculiar’ meant at the time of the KJV translation in 1611). The more recent Bible translations use contemporary language in the attempt to convey the writer’s meaning see, for example, the NIV, NKJV, and the ESV for the same verse.

What does belonging to God mean? What does being a ‘special people’ mean? The Israelites in the Old Testament were called by God to be his special people. God worked in and through them to reveal his mercy, his grace and his glory to the surrounding pagan nations. He called the

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Growing Together in Marriage retreat - 3-5 May in Queensland.

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Global Interaction: Thank God for the ministry of Dema and Carolyn and their children in Thailand – several people were recently baptized.

religious structures and teaching on the attitudes they needed for their

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Pray for the churches that are partnering with Baptist Care SA in Community Projects in response to the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

him. We too are called to be our holy God’s ‘holy people.’

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Pray for Hoa and Hien’s ministry in Vietnam, that the construction of the Grace Family Home has commenced.

6 - 12 MAY •

Pray for the 3858 young people who are living in State care and seek hope and opportunities in life.

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BYG North - 10th - Disciple Night, gathering for our young people.

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Salisbury: Pray for the church to grow and be effective in evangelism and making disciples.

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Global Interaction: Pray for David and Susie as they look for opportunities to share as they prepare to serve in Malawi.

Israelites a ‘holy people’, set apart and provided by him with the social and particular time and their particular place in order to worship and glorify

When, for example, the Israelites were in a place of exile in the foreign pagan land of Babylon they remained God’s special people, that didn’t change.

What did God through his prophet Jeremiah exhort them to do? They were to “seek the peace (shalom) and the prosperity of the city…pray to YJWH for it, because if it prospers, you will prosper.” (Jer. 29:7) Here they were living in a pagan city as deportees amongst people with vastly different beliefs, attitudes and patterns of living and we read that God called them to seek the shalom of the city!

How do we live as God’s holy people here in this affluent, peaceful and

13 - 19 MAY

post- Christendom nation? Discerning what it means to be a holy people in

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Pray for the development of Baptist Care SA’s Disability Service.

contemporary Australia is central to our call as God’s people living in this

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Pray for the Baptist Assembly on 17th, and for the President, Dr Karen Walker.

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Pray for the 4D Conference on 18th.

as well as those who are living now can also be some of the ways we will

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Global Interaction: Thank God for Rob and Deb’s excellent community engagement in Cambodia.

discern how God would have us live out our calling as his special people, his

20 - 31 MAY •

Baptist Care Australia national conference is in Adelaide from 20th.

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Pray for the Board of Baptist Care Northern Territory as they explore new ways to serve their community.

time and place. It requires of us time, prayer and searching the scriptures to detect the voice of his Spirit. The wisdom of people from earlier times

possession. We are the holy people of the holy God living in this particular time and place, that is our calling and that too is our hope.

TiM News from our churches

What’s happening at HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH

young adults in our church. We have 200

Our main challenge presently relates

children in our children’s ministry and run

to buildings and facilities for both our

youth groups at both Aldgate and Verdun.

congregations. We have a vision to see

The last few years have been a season

Our Sunday night service at Aldgate

our Verdun congregation established

of constant change and growth in our

includes more than 150 young adults. We

in its own facility and are also planning

church which has been both exciting

see this therefore as a huge responsibility

to improve the facilities at Aldgate. We

and challenging at the same time. In

that God has entrusted to us and we are

have recently begun exploring a proposal

November 2015 we planted a new

blessed to have large teams of leaders

with Mount Barker Baptist to merge

congregation that began meeting in the

serving our young people.

our Verdun congregation with Mount

Littlehampton Primary School gym. The group of 70 who pioneered this new community have seen God bless and grow this church to be a congregation now of more than 400 people, just over 3 years later. They recently moved to a larger facility at the Hills Christian Community School in Verdun. In 2018 we changed our name from Aldgate Baptist Church to Hills Baptist Church to represent our current model as one church in two locations.

Last year we launched Alpha in the Hills as a key mission activity and over the past few years we have run ‘Hope In The Neighbourhood’ seminars as a way of blessing people in our local community.

These seminars have addressed issues such as parenting, mental health, and disability. For our young adults, serving in the Green Team as part of the Encounter Schoolies Festival is a highlight of each year and many young adults have also explored overseas mission through short

One of our main ministries is to care

and medium term cross-cultural mission

for and disciple the children, youth and

experiences.

Barker Baptist Church, and to unite both in mission and in building a new church and community facility in Mount Barker, in partnership with the proposed Kings Baptist Grammar School - Mount Barker.

This is a major decision to wrestle with, especially for a young congregation with many new people in it. We would therefore greatly value the prayers of our wider Baptist family. Our great desire is that we would be a light to the Hills region, and that all we are and all we do would be for the glory of God and the extension of his Kingdom.

Citizens of the Year: Lesley Maxwell and Elliot Keane

Photograph provided courtesy of the City of West Torrens and John Kruger, Hot Images.

A warm congratulations is in order for two deserving recipients in our Baptist community; on Australia Day this year Lesley Maxwell and Elliot Keane were each awarded Citizen of the Year awards.

For Lesley, this is a much-deserved

pastor at Richmond Baptist Church,

recognition of her volunteer work with

his involvement in the Thriving

the HOPE Collective, her pastoral work

Neighbourhoods Collective and work

with the Nipapanha Community, as well

with the school leadership at Richmond

as her work leading teams of people from

Primary School, among many other

Whyalla Baptist Church and other local

contributions. Elliot also currently works

churches to serve within the Nipapanha

as the Leadership Development Facilitator

Community.

for our Baptist movement.

Elliot, who received the award for the

We pray that God continues to bless the

City of West Torrens, was surprised

work and mission of these two hard-

but thankful to receive this brilliant

working, passionate people.

recognition of his time serving the community through his work as a

TiM News from our churches

4D LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

4D Leadership Conference for church volunteers This year our 4D Leadership Conference is called Restory. We will gather with volunteers and leaders from across our family of churches to imagine what it looks like to be the kinds of leaders and churches we need to be into the future.

We are excited to welcome Tim Foster as our keynote speaker. Tim has been the Vice Principal at Ridley Theological College since 2009, where he also teaches Personal Evangelism, Ministry Foundations, Gospel and Culture, Leadership and Preaching.

Throughout his parish ministries, he sought

to build gospel communities that engaged the local culture, and has developed extensive resources such as the People of God Evangelism Resource. He also founded Youthworks College, and holds a Doctor of Ministry in which he focused on mission and the church in the post-Christendom context.

We would love for you to think about who you might bring with you as you gather with others from our community of churches!

For the latest on 4D Leadership Conference, head to our website at sabaptist.asn. au/4D19.

4D CONFERENCE The conference is for all church volunteers and leaders May 18th 2019 Clovercrest Baptist Church, 2 Famechon Crescent, Modbury North Register online at: sabaptist.asn.au/4D19

Sacred Agents Frank reflections on the Graham Tour On February 21st nearly 10,000 people overflowed Titanium Security Arena here in Adelaide to hear Franklin Graham’s message. About 400 responded to his altar call. I was one of the thousand or so watching on the big screen outside.

After a Planet Shakers worship frenzy to disconcert the unchurched, and a short set

by Crowder to re-concert them, the 66-year old American in a suit took the stage.

Now I’d heard the chatter among some thinking Christians about the Graham Tour, and there’s much I agree with. Here’s a summary of their concerns: He has identified too strongly with right-wing politics in general and Trump in particular.

Flying in an American to sweep across Australia in a whirlwind, pre-packaged stadium tour breaks just about every rule of missiology. (I don’t remember him even using the name “Adelaide”. It was just “your city” – sigh.)

His ‘old school’ gospel message overplayed the Penal Substitutionary

By Andrew Turner Church Development Facilitator view of Christ’s Atonement (focusing on sin as our moral failure before a Righteous Judge) as opposed to other biblical facets of the gospel such as our being lost and in need of a Finder or captive in need of a Rescuer. In ‘old school’ evangelism, awareness of guilt is a key step on the way to Jesus, and the sins he gave time for special mention were selective … the classic ones.

All these things unsettle many Christian thinkers – but do you know what drives us most crazy? That 400 people nevertheless responded, saying that they want to be reconciled to God through Christ.

I turned these things over in my mind as I drove home and have come to this conclusion: The only type of evangelism that works is the evangelism that actually gets done. If any of us think that we can do it better, then we really should. We really must.

I’m convinced there’s still a place in our day and our culture for ‘event evangelism’,

where a Christian community combines its many gifts to create a hospitable experience for enquirers that culminates in a gifted and well-prepared evangelist sharing the message and calling for a response. We do it in small ways when a church runs Alpha or an equivalent. We do it in medium ways, for instance through Easter Camps. Event evangelism stands on the shoulders of everyday witness and has the great advantage of creating a momentfor-decision that calls out a response.

So if God can use a Trumped-up sexagenarian regurgitating a 1950s version of the kingdom message with a ‘Merican accent, then what might He do through you and me?

PS If you have the noble task of sharing the gospel with others, either conversationally or through prepared messages (spot talks, devotions etc), please join our new Gospel Sharers Network. First gathering is Tuesday April 2nd, 7pm, at Trinity Baptist.

TiM News from our churches includes a discernment process and

James Whalland

if you might be interested in finding

Assembly Board

out more please contact, in the first instance, Mike Mills at mmills@ sabaptist.asn.org or at the Baptist Centre office.

The current Assembly Board

Ministry opportunities in our movement

Hi, my name is James Whalland. I have been a member of the Assembly board since 2015. I am a

Julie Lawrie

father of two wonderful (but sometimes

Baptist Care SA Board

challenging) young children, husband

I’ve been married to my best friend for twenty years and am the proud mum/taxi service to two boys

to a wonderful wife Tanya and we are fortunate to attend Edwardstown Baptist Church. My time on the board has been one of great growth, both administratively but also spiritually.

As you read this article look to your

aged eleven and thirteen. I have over

right…now look to your left. Is there

twenty years in the field of business and

I was somewhat hesitant when first

someone sitting near you who you

marketing, and currently run my own

asked to consider being on board, with

think might have the skills and heart

consultancy.

me asking the question to myself ‘what

to serve our movement of churches through involvement on a board? Will you encourage them to consider this as a possible ministry opportunity? Indeed, might that person be you?

I’ve been challenged by God to use some of my spiritual gifts (admin, discernment) and my professional skills to live out Acts 1:8 and Matthew 25:35-40. I believe that good governance

could I bring?’. Through the grace of our great God he has shown me that even my professional vocation of a corporate risk/insurance broker has a place and value in the kingdom (and the board). I now chair the Audit & Risk Committee.

The Boards of Baptist Churches of SA

can be a great witness, and I also care

(Assembly Board) and Baptist Care SA

deeply about extending Christ’s love and

I am fortunate to be part of a board

are both volunteer boards that meet

compassion by serving children, youth,

of outstanding people. We all have

monthly to pray, discuss and decide

those at-risk or marginalised, through

a shared purpose of doing all it can

matters that will impact the lives of

purposeful community service. Serving

to ensure that the people within our

the communities we serve. There are

on the board of Baptist Care SA gives me

great state have the opportunity to

vacancies currently on each board and

an opportunity to contribute through

encounter God through focusing on the

appropriate skills and experiences are

my skills, passion and faith for those on

big picture / direction whilst equipping

being sought to add to those already

the margins of our society.

and assisting local Baptist churches wherever possible in their local mission.

present. Becoming a board member

Christian Camping as important as ever As Baptist Care SA Adventure heads into 2019, we are committed to working with churches to provide camping experiences that help people explore and grow in faith. Ironically, in an age of increasing connectedness via tools such as social media, the levels of loneliness, anxiety and depression among young people are soaring.

Research has shown that camps play a significant role in building community, as well as providing unique opportunities to make first time faith decisions or re-commitments. The need for churches and organisations to invest in Christian camps, retreats and conferences is as high as ever,

and we want to provide them with the support they need to address barriers and make these opportunities viable.

One of the ways Adventure is investing in this area is by creating a new role: Pro gram Coordinator, Christian Camping. We have appointed Laura Upton in a part-time capacity to work with leaders from churches and Christian organisations to explore their needs and goals around Christian Camping, and transfer these into positive experiences for young people.

We are convinced that as young people choose to engage with God, their country, themselves and those around them, their sense of purpose,

confidence and wellbeing will grow.

If you have any questions about how Adventure can help support you in this area of Christian camping, Laura would love to hear from you!

Please contact Laura lmahlburg@ baptistcaresa.org.au or call T: 8388 5234, M: 0431 707 022 Laura Upton E: lmahlburg@ baptistcaresa.org.au T: 8388 5234 M: 0431 707 022

TiM On mission

What is a child worth in South Australia?

The population of South Australia includes approximately 307,000

Children under 14 years of age, making up approximately 18% of the 1.7M people who wake up in SA each morning.

What could these children and young people reasonably expect from their families, communities and their Church, community and political leaders?

Code Red at the WestCare Centre: providing shelter and support to more than 300 people This Summer Adelaide experienced record breaking heat which persisted right through until the end of February. In the last week of summer, the State Government called for a ‘Code Red’ emergency response and our WestCare Centre extended its hours, remaining open for three consecutive nights.

During the heatwave, our Inner City team assisted 308 people with food, water, shelter, a cool place to stay, access to toilets and amenities, social support, a listening ear and a place to belong.

ideas

Jess, a volunteer at the WestCare Centre, spent several hours redressing wounds and helping a client remove an infection from their eyes.

“The amount of thankfulness that there is somewhere safe for them – that there is someone to have a chat.

They feel really comfortable here,” said Jess.

“We gave out water, yoghurt and treats to many young children who were so happy to receive something.”

Thank you to staff and volunteers for the vital care a support they provided and thank you also to those who supported us with additional donations of food, water and more.

indigenous children NSW and Victoria have invested in Intensive Family Support Services and have seen a decrease in the number of children coming into the State Care systems.

Each and every day, Baptist Care SA’s dedicated team is building supportive relationships with vulnerable children and young people so that they can experience safe and welcoming Is it reasonable for SA’s children to h o m e - l i k e e n v i r o n m e n t s a n d expect: subsequently minimise the risk of them dropping out of school.

Some breakfast and a high like lihood of anothe r me al But whilst our skilled staf f are sometime later in the day? committed to inspiring and supporting the life aspirations of SA’s children…

Clothing that is suitable for the wouldn’t it also make sense for them day’s climate and activities? to be engaging much earlier with An encouraging smile from families to address the complex and someone they trust and some compounding layers of adversity that words of affirmation as they sadly often lead struggling parents to head off into each new day? have no option but to relinquish their children into State Care.

It has been said that “Our children are our future” and that a society’s level Baptist Care SA believes children are of investment in its most vulnerable worth the investment of $$’s, time and members is a precursor for the future unconditional nurture so we are: prosperity of the society in which they Actively advocating with the live.

State Government for greater In the light of the Gospel (Good News) investment in Intensive Family according to Matthew 19:14, Jesus Intervention Support Services says: “Let the little Children come to that can strengthen struggling me, and do not hinder them, for the families and communities kingdom of heaven belongs to such Seeking deeper State investment as these”. into Family Intervention Services Sadly, however, recent government to increase opportunities to ‘turn reports indicated: the curve’ for vulnerable children The number of SA children and young people under the Guardianship of the State has increased to 3,858 by 31 Dec 2018 through care and protection court orders

Grateful for the ongoing support of our generous donors a n d co n ce r n e d co m m u n i t y members for our ongoing efforts to stre ngthe n familie s and communities where children are safe and nurtured.

A much higher proportion of children under 12 years in out of Blessings to you and your church as home placements (10% in SA and you seek to connect with vulnerable 4% national average) children and young people.

Only a small number of families r e ce i v i n g I nte n s i ve Fa m i l y Support Services (30% less than the national average) Our first nation’s (Aboriginal) children are 7 times more likely to be living in State Care than non-

Graham Brown Chief Executive Officer Baptist Care SA

TiM On mission

Thanks to the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society for the use of the photographs from Bangladesh Baptist Church

May is fast approaching For a century, Australian Baptists have focused on global missions in May. The Australian Baptist Foreign Mission (now Global Interaction) on May 4, 1919, organised Foreign Mission Sunday to promote the work overseas. A ‘Self Denial Week’ followed the Sunday to provide an extended time to focus on the work. An annual event resulted, and in 1990 the name changed to May Missions Month.

May provides a focused opportunity for Baptists to centre on God’s heart for the nations and to sow into cross-cultural ministry locally and globally through prayer, advocacy and giving.

We can look back and celebrate God’s activities.

An encouraging example is the centenary of the Bangladesh Baptist Church Fellowship which, over the decades, has become increasingly self-sustaining and is completely locally-led. This was the first location where our cross-cultural workers were sent from South Australia and it formed a strong foundation for our ongoing ministry. Nearly a third of South Australian workers with Global Interaction and its predecessors went to Bangladesh, formerly East Bengal and East Pakistan. Our vision, to see growing, vibrant faith communities among the least-reached, has come to fruition among this community.

However, there are many other communities yet to be transformed by understanding the Gospel in their own culture and language. Ros Gooden, crosscultural worker from 1965-1984, states that “If ever

FAMILY UPDATES Please note, we apologise for the incorrect spelling of our friend Myra Mellor in the last edition. we had a story of what our vision is, of empowering communities to develop their own distinctive ways of following Jesus, it is what is being celebrated today.”

For a detailed account see the online Autumn/Winter edition of Vision magazine.

We can look forward and renew our commitment to the heartbeat of God and to the 42% of the world that live in least reached people groups. The theme for 2019 is ‘Grow where you’re planted, sow where He calls.’ Four key words emerge. As believers GROW more like Jesus and be transformed by God’s love and compassion for others. A commitment to understanding where we are PLANTED should follow. SOWing of gospel seeds results through putting faith into action and finding common ground with people we are seeking to build kingdom relationships with. A sense of CALLing sustains living out faith in contextualized community.

An image as I consider this theme is of a dandelion. The fluffy seeds tend to separate from the stem and follow the wind, planting where they land.

Prayer notes, videos, Bible studies, project information and how to get involved is located at globalinteraction.org.au/be-involved/may-missionmonth. Otherwise contact the State Office.

What’s on IN OUR COMMUNITY BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Baptism Sunday at Andrews Farm On Sunday 24th February, Andrews Farm Community Church were touched by Kara Lipson and Braden Thompson’s courageous honesty as they shared something of their painful journeys and how God has been at work in their lives.

Kara has been on a spiritual search for some time and had a breakthrough as she worked alongside other young adults caring for at-risk young people in Davoren Park.

Braden’s friend Emily was bold enough to share about her faith in God with him when she met him on a bus and this really helped Braden decide to check out the Christian faith.

Andrews Farm Communit y Church recently celebrated their first birthday and are excited to be sharing the gospel so readily in their context.

BAPTISMS Andrews Farm Community Church Kara Lipson and Braden Thompson were baptised on 24/2/19

Mannum Community Church Russell Lunney was baptised on 3/2/19

Morialta Charitable Trust Fund Morialta Charitable Trust Fund has been supporting disadvantaged Children, Young People and their families in South Australia through its annual program of Distributions for 40 years.

To enable the Fund to continue this support through Community Organisations in South Australia Morialta Charitable Trust Fund seeks donations from the public.

Donations of $2- and above are Tax Deductible and can be forwarded to the Morialta Charitable Trust Fund at PO Box 92 Crafers SA 5152.

Together in Mission Issued By Baptist Churches of South Australia Inc 35–39 King William Road, Unley, SA 5061 08 8357 1755 tim.sabaptist.asn.au

Saturday 11th May 9:30am at the Baptist Centre, 35 King William Road, Unley.

Panel on researching the history of Baptist Churches and families in SA. Morning tea provided.

Friday 26th July 4:30pm in the Raws Room at Flinders Street Baptist.

Speaker will be Dr Matt Gray on ‘Baptism, no wall of division’: 17th Century Particular Baptists and the dynamics of toleration.’Light tea will be served. Donations appreciated.

Friday 20th September 4:30pm at West Croydon United Church.

Mal Victory will speak on ‘the history of Lefevre Bapist Church and its predecessors’. Light Tea will be served and a donation would be appreciated Friday 15th November 4:30pm at Flinders Street Baptist.

All welcome.

Any enquiries please contact Marie Lines . Phone 8332 4887 or email linesmb@internode.on.net

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Articles And Advertising in this publication are the opinions of the authors, not necessarily the editor or publisher. The publishers reserve the right to accept or decline any advertising.

Mailing Address Baptist Churches of SA PO Box 432 UNLEY SA 5061 info@sabaptist.asn.au

SAVE THE DATE Easter Camp 18-22nd April 4D Leadership Conference 18th May M&M Kids Camp 6-8th July Pastors Conference 7-8 August

GROWING TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE Take time out for a retreat weekend that allows God to work in your marriage helping it become the best it can be.

May 3-5 (QLD) June 28-30 August 23-25 October 25-27 All SA retreats are held at Weintal Resort, Tanunda For more, contact Rob and Lee Allen 8331 7061 | 0438 892 980 Or visit gtimsa.org

TUTORS NEEDED FOR ENGLISH CLASSES Flinders Street Baptist Church has a wonderful opportunity for teaching English to newcomers. But they need more tutors to sustain programmes on Monday (4-6pm), Tuesday, Wednesday (10 -12) and Thursday (4-6).

If you are interested, please contact Christine, on 8223 4550 during office hours Mon, Tues or Wed.