TOGETHER
IN MISSION
August - September 2019
IN THIS EDITION Recognised Pastors Update What’s happening at Soul Food Christian Community What happened at: M&M Kids Camp Belonging Together on Earth - new resource for churches!
A movement of local churches thriving in Jesus transforming the world.
FOR PRAYER
Exploring How We Pray
12-18 August •
West Beach: Pray for our new Lead Pastor Mick Barrett’s ministry with us, especially for local people who need to hear the Gospel.
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GIA: Deb prays that as she, Rob and the whole team sit alongside their Khmer friends in every season of life, God’s love will be revealed.
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Pray for people who are rough sleeping during the cold winter months.
19-31 August
Rev Dr Melinda Cousins
Director of Ministry Accreditation
One of the great joys of my role of leading our Accredited Ministry Formation program is spending time with our candidates talking about and practicing various tools for spiritual attentiveness. Over the last few months, we have been exploring various types of prayer. We’ve
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20 4D Kids Min Network meeting – a time of fellowship and learning.
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GIA: Pray that Luke and Rachel continue well with their culture and language learning so they can build relationships; also for Luke as he leads the Khmer team.
As we learn from others, we grow our own vocabulary and breadth of
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Pray that new Belonging Together on Earth materials will lead people living with disability to feel more included in our Churches and Ministries.
at different times. It’s also good for us to step out of our comfort zones
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23-25 Growing Together in Marriage at Barossa Weintal Resort, Tanunda. Pray.
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GIA: Pray that Oxford University Press will put the Yawo dictionary online.
1-14 September •
5-6 Recognised Pastors’ Intensive – pray for those attending and presenting.
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9-11 Converge – leaders of our movement joining with other
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Baptist leaders from across Australia in Canberra, meeting with MPs and Senators. Pray for fruitful conversation and advocacy with our elected leaders.
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Pray for Baptist Churches working on Collaborative Community Projects with Baptist Care SA to enrich the lives of disadvantaged people.
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GIA: Rejoice with Dema and Carolyn that Grace and Daniel have done very well in their Thai. studies and other activities.
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Pray for Hoa and Hien’s ministry in Vietnam, that they will now have their own home.
used both ancient and modern tools and frameworks to help us.
expression of prayer. Different people find different practices helpful and explore new ways of engaging with God, whether alone or in community. You might find some of the expressions of prayer we have been exploring spark your interest or resonate with your experience. Lectio Divina, or ‘divine reading’, is a practice of slowing down and spending time with a biblical text, reading, meditating, praying, and living it. We’ve done this individually, as a group, using an app, and on our recent Prayer Day, together in the bustle of the city in response to the world around us. A Prayer of Awareness encourages us to walk back through the previous 24 hours to see where Jesus has been in our midst, noticing how we have responded to him and when we might not have recognised his presence. We have done this as a guided exercise, with the leader taking us slowly through the times of the day, leaving plenty of time for individual reflection.
15-30 September
We’ve used a Centring Prayer, where we begin a time of listening to God
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GIA: Pray for Catherine that God will encourage her as she seeks to build relationships and share Jesus in Cambodia.
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Pray for insight for Churches participating in the Connections Workshops that focus upon inclusion of people living with disabilities.
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Salisbury: For the church to grow and be effective in evangelism & making disciples.
for us for a time, so that we can enter a time of stillness, solitude and
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20 Baptist Youth Gathering South – great outreach opportunity. Pray that young people will invite friends and begin a journey of faith.
silence in His presence.
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GIA: Pray for David and Susie, that their partnership team will grow as they prepare to serve in Malawi.
help us express our prayers in different ways. We have knelt together,
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25 Marketplace Leaders’ Journey Seminar – pray for leaders in the workplace from across our movement.
listened to music and devotional reflections, lit candles, walked, enjoyed
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GIA: Pray for state office staff, Jane and David, that they would continue to seek God, that He would guide them in their work to support the SA/NT cross-cultural staff.
1-13 October •
Pray that our Lord will continue to raise up faithful and wise people who can further strengthen leadership and governance across the Baptist Movement.
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Pray for the President, Dr Karen Walker.
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GIA: Pray that the national office and search committee has appointed a new General Director.
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11-13 Surrender Conference –
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Baptist Churches SA are a key supporting partner.
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Pray for Mike Mills and staff.
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Pray for our pastors.
by naming and writing down all the things on our mind – the people we care about, the questions we are mulling over, the things on our to-do lists, the worries and joys we are carrying. We trust God to hold these
Simple symbolic acts, physical postures, and making use of space can all
the sunshine, and explored the beauty of a Cathedral. On our previous annual prayer day, we visited the Fly Bird Fly art studio at Westcare, where Andrew McDonough encouraged us to paint in prayer, a practice some of us found more difficult than others! Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. May we continue to ask him the same question. And may we keep listening to one another and those who have gone before us as we explore the breadth of ways we can be praying.
TiM Latest news
What’s happening at SOUL FOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY Soul Food Christian Community runs the local café in Redwood Park, Soul Food Community Café. We have been operating for 13 years, we are open six days a week and we are staffed by a very committed team, most of whom are volunteers. We don’t have a church building, but rather we run the café in the
has been coming into the café since he
in their life, or why they follow Jesus, and
local shopping centre as our way of being
was in playgroup and he has been itching
we share prayer needs and pray together.
faithfully present.
to turn 14 so that he could come and
Recently a growing purpose for our café
help out! We didn’t plan any of these
is providing volunteering opportunities
We are a drop-off point for donations
connections, but we recently came across
for people. We usually have a couple of
for Backpacks 4 SA Kids (a local charity
the term ‘place-making’ and now we
high school students on the team, as well
helping children in foster care) as well
understand what God has been leading
as some job-seekers, who are looking to
as collecting donations for Westcare
us in all these years.
learn new skills and gain experience in
and Compassion. We have recently established a Free Little Library; we have
On Sunday evenings we have a
a weekly group of retired men who enjoy
community meal called ‘The Table’ which
breakfast together each week and sing
is designed to give people a taster of
carols in our café every Christmas; we
what it means to be part of God’s family.
have a knitting group that meet regularly
We have many locals who join us…we eat
on our lounges while their kids play. Our
together around one big table, someone
latest volunteer on Saturday mornings
shares about what God has been doing
hospitality. There is a range of disabilities and learning needs that can be a part of this, and we see our café as a safe and caring environment for people to explore what it means to be ‘work ready’. We consider it a joy to be able to nurture people through these times, whether that be for a few weeks, or over the long term.
The ‘cause’ that conquers our heart, our time The Screwtape letters (by C.S. Lewis) contains advice from a
contemporary ‘cause’ many of which are important to our
senior to a junior devil whose ‘patient’, a recently converted
time and place. Commitment to a ‘cause’ can be important in
Christian, needed to be turned toward their ‘Master’(Satan)
effecting positive change. Part of our calling as daughters and
and away from their ‘Enemy’ (God). Advised to lead his ‘patient’
sons of the King is to be active members of a just society. History
to identifying with one or another ‘cause,’ the junior devil is
points us to many who have engaged in such changes. Sadly,
cautioned to do it in stages, each stage taking the ‘patient closer
the posture of some who champion their ‘cause’ is the source of
to the ‘Master’ and away from the ‘Enemy.’
broken relationships. Relationships have become secondary to
Stage one is to encourage the Christian to think he has adopted
the ‘cause.’
a ‘cause’ because of his faith. The second stage is to make
In addition to those listed above by C.S. Lewis some other
him think the ‘cause’ is the most important part of his faith
indicators that the ‘cause’ has assumed pre-eminence in a
and “then, quietly and gradually nurse him on to the stage at
believer’s life may include; a failure to listen attentively to those
which the religion becomes merely part of the ‘cause,’ in which
with different perspectives; an embrace of the means justifying
Christianity is valued chiefly because of the excellent arguments
the ends; shattered relationships due to judgmental attitudes
it can produce in favour of [one ‘cause’ or the other]… once you
and actions.
have made the World an end, and faith a means, you have almost won your man... Provided that meetings, pamphlets, policies, movements, causes, and crusades, matter more to him than prayers and sacraments and charity, he is ours.” Lewis has captured something important for us as we too find ourselves immersed in our world, often drawn to some
Ultimately, our only ‘cause’ is Christ Himself and His Kingdom. Augustine wrote, “Our hearts are restless until they find their place in thee.” That, dare I write, is our primary purpose as daughters and sons of the King.
Dr Karen Walker
TiM On mission
Your Love in Action
Sacred Agents
Great Number of Expectations By Andrew Turner Church Development Facilitator
Meet Johnson. A loving little boy who desperately wants to help his family. He’s 14 and lives in Uganda. He lives with his mother, two brothers, sister and grandmother. His father is forced to find work away from home. Johnson understands poverty – the struggle to get enough food – and he badly wants to help. He’s taking the burden on his own young shoulders. “Life was difficult because I did not have anything to eat. When there is no food, I have no energy. When I don’t have school fees, I try to go to school even though they send me away, I come back.” What a great heart Johnson has! He wants to finish his education, to help his family. But look at the pressures on him – no food, no energy, no money for school fees and added to this was the constant worry over his little brother… “My brother suffers from epilepsy. I knew there was nothing to use for treating him and I knew that he would die.” But then something incredible happened… a child sponsor from Australia steps in! A kind Christian family became Johnson’s child sponsors and things began to change. Johnson’s family received a goat and they sold its offspring to pay for his little brother’s treatment. His mother also received farming training and began a small business selling vegetables. “It helps me because it gets some money that she pays for my school fees. One day, I would like to join a university. After I become a teacher, I will build my parents a good house.” Now Johnson can attend school without being sent home. His brother receives the treatment he needs. And with more food to eat, Johnson has the energy he needs to study and to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher… which means he can care for the family he loves just as God cares for him! And this all began with a kindhearted sponsor who became part of Johnson’s incredible story. You can do the same for others like Johnson! Be part of an incredible story and Sponsor a child today. Go to baptistworldaid.org.au/sponsorship for more information . *Name changed for child protection reasons
I’m a fan of the 19th Century missionary William Carey - to the extent that we named our son after him. (I now realise that was a step beyond getting a tattoo of him – but the boy is such a fan of wicketkeeper Alex Carey that he doesn’t mind.) Carey (the misho) was a doer. Not one one to swallow the “Only God can do things and it’s kind of an insult to try to do things that only God can do” pop-theology that is still too prevalent today. He got that God wants to work through us and not just around us and invites us to step up and get in the game. His famous motto was “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” If I was the tattooing type… But if you carry that idea not merely on your skin, but deeper, you find yourself in a certain stance. The stance of a sacred agent. Looking both to receive a lot and to give a lot. It’s good. The down-side, though, is that in the looking for ‘great things’ to get and to do, you miss the little things. And God so often does big things through the little things. So for a while I’m trying out a variation of the motto. Instead of “Expect much, attempt much”, how’s this: “Expect often, attempt often”? This is the sacred agent’s discipline of being faithful with small things. It reminds me to expect our generous Father to be giving me things-for-others often, more than daily. In fact, for the grace of Christ and the power of the Spirit to be at work in and through me continually. From time to time there may be a grand epiphany or an exciting project. But a simple word of kindness; glass to the thirsty; invitation to church, or lunch, or both; a quick encouraging text – am I ready for that kind of ministry? Are we? Lord, how can I be of service today? is a great morning prayer. I’m sure it was Carey’s too, and for a lot of mundane mornings.
Johnson knows your Child Sponsorship means real change for children like him and his brother.
You can interact with this and other articles on Andrew’s blog www.sacredagents.net
TiM On mission
M&M CAMP 2019 For M&M Kids Camp, it was quite a change to have Australia
results were beautiful. At the same time, 2 other leaders led
as our focus country. Campers enjoyed many activities like
a dance elective, using 2 clips of Dusty Feet Mob, a Pt Pirie
thong-throwing, weaving, sand sculpture, Sydney Harbour
Aboriginal dance team who were unable to make it to camp
Bridge building, Aussie food tasting and Aboriginal games
due to illness. It was very moving to have our own dance team
from Australian and Aboriginal culture in our Welcome Event
share their inspirational dances with us.
and Amazing Race organised by our talented and vibrant leaders. We were privileged to have several Aboriginal leaders and campers with us too. Ema Bovoro from the Aboriginal Berean Community Church spoke in our chapel sessions and helped us understand more about indigenous culture and God’s word through John 10:14 and the questions, ‘what’s my name, where am I from and who’s my family?’. Her creative and insightful talks were rich and meaningful and
The Executive Team would like to thank all the leaders who gave so much, so willingly and sacrificially to make the camp a fun, safe experience for campers as they led and cared for their small groups. We would also like to thank Deb Elliott who has given above and beyond to M&M Camp for 6 years. She leaves us to follow a new call on her life but her passion and contribution will continue to be part of our camp culture.
her encouragement to us all was to get alongside Aboriginal
We look forward to M&M Kids Camp for 2020 being a
people wherever we meet them.
continuing part of God’s work among children in SA.
A special highlight was having Aboriginal artists from Fly Bird
M&M Kids Camp Executive Team
Fly Studio come to teach us their craft and allow campers to
Deb Elliott, Isaiha Groeneveld, Brooke Derrington, Madison Ryan,
make their own creations on boomerangs and canvases. The
Deb Potter, Mandy Fairbanks (GIA) Maxine Mostert.
‘Belonging Together on Earth’ A theology of inclusion and belonging for people living with disability and their carers On Wednesday 3 July, Baptist Care SA and Baptist Churches of SA hosted the Launch of ‘Belonging Together on Earth’, part five in the teaching series on biblical justice by Scott Higgins, ‘On Earth as it is in Heaven’. ‘Belonging Together on Ear th’ builds a biblical understanding of justice regarding inclusion of people living with disability and their carers. It explores a theology of belonging that can be outworked within local churches and communities. One in five Australians live with disability (ABS 2015). Many of these people want to be connected into community and have equal opportunity to actively join in church and community life. “Our aim is to work with churches to develop their understanding and capacity to engage, include, and create opportunities for genuine participation in community life for people living with disability,” says Baptist Care SA CEO, Graham Brown. The resource includes: 1. Background Document 3. Discussion guide
2. Sermon Outline 4. Prayer Card
Intertwined with ‘Belonging Together on Earth’ has been the development of workshops and guides that highlight the opportunities and easy ways a church or community service can make to become more inclusive and accessible. Baptist Care SA’s Church Support Team has co-designed ten inclusion guides with people living with disabilities and their carers. Their voices provide tips and examples of great inclusion. “If I lived in a society where being in a wheelchair was no more remarkable than wearing glasses, and if the community was completely accepting and accessible, my disability would be an inconvenience and not much more than that. It is society which handicaps me far more seriously and completely than the fact that I have Spina Bifida”. 2 The guides are available in hard copy and electronic copy from our website – www.baptistcaresa.org.au/ connections. To download the resources, please visit w w w. baptistcaresa.org.au/belonging-together
TiM On mission
Journeying Together in Mission… Responding together to the needs of the most vulnerable with HOPE Have you ever wondered how can we reconcile the disparity between the good fortunes of our nation with the desperation of our nation’s poor and vulnerable people? Our Lord says:
By working together, we can provide ‘Transition Pathways’ to overcome hopelessness, helplessness and disconnection. Whilst the challenges are confronting, it seems to me that our Lord has entrusted and mobilised and His Church to be
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28 Economic Leaders say: “Australia will jump two spots to become the 11th largest economy on the globe by 2025.” (Report, published by the London-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (27 Dec 2017) How can it be that, in the one of world’s leading economies and democracies, approximately 3 million Australians are living below the internationally accepted poverty line including over 731,000 children? What’s worse… those sad statistics don’t even begin to provide insight into the depths of deprivation and vulnerability, nor any appreciation of the levels of despair, trauma or the forgone opportunities that are often associated with living in poverty. So how might faithful people respond to this confronting dilemma? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer… but what I do know is that our Lord’s salvation plan is that all people, from all nations, are invited to come to Him! As we celebrate Baptist Care SA Month during August, I am pleased to report that by working with and on behalf of the Baptist Churches of SA, lives and communities are being transformed. Every day, the dedicated staff and volunteers of Baptist Care SA are working with faithful people in local churches and with government agencies and other community groups and organisations and with the support of generous individuals to overcome barriers, develop resilience, make positive community connections and lead fulfilling lives.
UPCOMING EVENTS
an instrument of change here “on Earth… as it is in Heaven”. Reflection: ‘So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal’ (See Corinthians 4:13-18) Through His grace, we believe the optimism of our actions far outweighs the pessimism of our thoughts. I believe people of faith are called to be agents of HOPE and I encourage you and your church to consider what role you may need to play to transform your neighbourhood Graham Brown and community. Chief Executive Officer Baptist Care SA
TiM On mission
Recognised Pastors Update Creation Care as a Platform to Engage Community
In late 2017, Assembly approved the creation of Recognised Pastor status, designed to provide affirmation for people serving in specific pastoral roles in our member churches. It provides a pathway for strengthened relationship and alignment across our movement, including relevant training, information and resourcing. It is also one of the steps we have taken in seeking to respond well to the Royal Commission, making sure those leading in our churches have ongoing accountability and support at a number of different levels. Recognition is not the same as Accreditation and Ordination, and it is not transferable beyond a person’s current role, but we hope for those serving in lead roles that it can be a pathway towards Accreditation in the future. For those serving part time or in specific roles, it is a great encouragement and affirmation As of July 2019, we are excited to have affirmed our first seven Recognised Pastors, who serve in a range of pastoral roles including Children, Youth, Community Life, Associate, and Lead Pastors. They are Ray Bell (Coromandel Baptist), Ben Carbone (The Port Church), Jess Evans (Parkside Baptist), Llewelyn Hoy (Parkside Baptist), Katrina Levi (King’s Baptist), (Jenni McKee (Enfield Baptist), and Daniel Newton (Blackwood Hills Baptist). These pastors have undertaken training relevant to their roles, completed BCSA’s Recognised Pastor intensive, received endorsement from their churches, been approved by the Accreditation and Ordination Committee and committed themselves to ongoing learning and development. Our next BCSA Recognised Pastors intensive will be held on 5-6 September at the Baptist Centre. The intensive is a requirement for becoming Recognised, but also open to others who would like to find out more about ministry in our movement. It provides an overview of who we are and what we do as Baptist Churches of South Australia, as well as an introduction to Baptist History and Baptist Values. We also cover topics including ongoing spiritual formation, character development, and self-care. Those interested in attending can register by emailing Melinda Cousins – mcousins@sabaptist.asn.au. Application packs, as well as our Recognised Pastor Handbook and Policy are available on our website: https://sabaptist.asn.au/recognised-pastor/
Finding visa platforms to be present and to create relationship building opportunities in the regions where least reached people groups are located is always a challenge for cross-cultural workers. A contemporary practice involves creating businesses and not-for-profit organisations. Once such practice emerging in several of Global Interaction’s regions relates to creation care. In June, a cross-cultural worker from South-East Asia spoke at Unearthed on the theme “Climate, Environment and Mission: Are they Connected?”. What is occurring in SE Asia around the environment and the rationale for engagement provoked my own thinking. The theological foundation for creation care relates to God’s ongoing connection for the earth despite the fallen nature of humanity and the damage done through an unhealthy understanding of domination. God gave humanity responsibility to be good stewards and tend the earth avoiding selfish exploitation. Caring for the earth contributes to humanity experiencing shalom. Shalom results in completeness, wholeness and well-being at personal and community levels. This theological position provides opportunities for conversation and dialogue with people of other religions around the environment. Most of the major religions present sympathetic stances on the environment. As a consequence of these common sympathies, relationship building can occur around environmental enhancement and creation care, where this provides the opportunity to explain our own motivations as believers. Several key projects developed in the region relevant for the local context include a carbon credit project, tree planting, recycling, and cleanup activities in local streets, rivers, tourism sites and towns/cities. If you are interested in creation care, Global Interaction have missional opportunities in environmental and agricultural programs. Please contact the State Office. David Turnbull, State Director SA/NT
BAPTISMS
What’s on IN OUR COMMUNITY 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. 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
Blackwood Hills
Michaela Earl baptised by Deb Potter 8/4/18 Shelby Adams baptised by Sam Thomson 8/4/18 Azalea Condidi baptised by Mim Griffith 20/5/18 Kyan Chaplin baptised by his father, Brandon Chaplin 16/12/18 Joanne Pearce baptised by Nona Gregory 3/3/19 Stephen Brown baptised by Sam Thomson 10/3/19 Raenelle Jarrah baptised by Sam Thomson 10/3/19 Pat Rodda baptised by Sam Thomson 31/3/19 Micah Read was baptised by Sara Walding on 28/4/19
Flinders Street
Sylvia Premkumar was baptized by Rev Scott Cadman 10/6/18 Sophia Wang was baptized by Michael Thompson 14/4/19 Lijuan Li was baptized by Michael Thompson 21/4/19
H2One
David McDonough baptised 24/3/19 Ben Thompson baptised 24/3/19
CUPPA FOR A CURE Leprosy Mission Australia 22nd September - Knightsbridge Baptist 455 Glynburn Road, Leabrook - 2:30pm Special guest: Amar from Nepal, hear how God transformed his life! Contact Joan: 0403 205 756
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
BAPTIST 40+ SINGLES DINNERS Saturday 17th August Place: Cafe De Vili’s - 426 Main North Road, Blair Athol Time: 6:30pm Cost: Reasonable RSVP: Tuesday 13th August Saturday 21st September Place: Zante Greek Street Food - 16 Henley Beach Road Time: 6:30pm Cost: Reasonable RSVP: Tuesday 17th September Helen and Brian on 8341 8283, Helen on 0411 772 475, Brian on 0411 772 457
Or visit gtimsa.org
BLACKWOOD HILLS MENS BREAKFAST Speaker: Andrew Aish Date:
Saturday, 17th August 2019
Time:
7:30 a.m. (sharp) to 9:00 a.m.
Place:
Blackwood Hills Baptist 72 Coromandel Parade
Come along and enjoy a continental breakfast including hot ham & cheese croissants, toast, cereal, muffins, danish, juice and REAL COFFEE, followed by an interview with Andrew Aish. Andrew is an ex-SANFL footballer, husband, father, respected physiotherapist and current Sports Chaplain with the SANFL club, Norwood. Listen to his unique journey of faith. At a cost of only $8 or $5 concession. Pay on the day but please RSVP to Michael Houston on 0403 656 537 or email me at mjhouston7@gmail. com by Wednesday, 14th August.
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
BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY Friday 20th September 4:30pm at West Croydon United Church (Baptist and Uniting), 38 Rosetta St, West Croydon, at 4:30pm. 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 Church in the Raws Room. Speaker Rev. Dr. John Beasy. He will speak about his ministerial career including the churches he has ministered in; Baptist Churches of SA; Australian Baptist Ministries and Baptist World Alliance. A light tea will be served and a donation would be appreciated. Any enquiries please contact Marie Lines. Phone 8332 4887 or email linesmb@internode.on.net