Together in Mission | December 2019

TOGETHER

IN MISSION

December 2019

IN THIS EDITION Christmas Prayers, Messages & Events What’s Happening at Aberfoyle Park Baptist Church Testimony from an Australian Defence Force Chaplain 2019 Journey Seminar Wrap Up

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

FOR PRAYER 9-15 December •

Pray for Hoa and Hien from Vietnam as they enjoy their time at home with family and friends.

•

GIA: Pray for Ian, Wendy and the boys in Malawi as they work on the dictionary and encourage their friends in their walk with Jesus.

•

WestCare: Pray for Heather, Kitchen Coordinator, and her many teams of volunteers who serve up to 120 meals a day.

Called To Be Dr Karen Walker President

Parker Palmer is a Quaker and a teacher whose writings I have enjoyed and in which I have found

16-22 December

a rich seam of thought over many years. Parker

•

describes the ‘heart of the teacher’ in a way that resonates with

West Beach: Pray for God’s blessing on our Christmas Program (20th) 2 to 5.30 pm followed by BBQ and Carols for the families and church community.

•

GIA: Thank God for the way He is settling the Hutchinson family in Cambodia with language etc,

•

Pray for Global Interaction as they seek a new General Director.

•

WestCare: Thank God that the Centre stays open at night to help homeless people and those with special needs.

something deep within me, it speaks in ways that are beyond words.

Describing vocation he writes it is: not ... a goal to be achieved but as a gift to be received…Vocation does not come from a voice “out there” calling me to become something I am not.

It comes from a voice “in here” calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfil the original selfhood given me at birth by God.

23-31 December •

Pray for our pastors and leaders as they prepare special services/functions for Christmas.

•

Baptist Care: Thank God for the people who give generously to finance the many ministries.

•

GIA: Praise God for the way He has guided Dema and Carolyn, Grace and Daniel in their Ethnic Thai ministry.

•

Please pray for refreshment for kids, youth and young adult leaders over summer.

1-12 January

Parker talks about the hard work involved in accepting the “birthright gift of self” and the hard work involved living out our God given vocation. Vocation and ministry are the same coin just different sides, and as I am able to embrace my vocation I am able to minister out of who I have been called to be.

A puzzle we all face at different times is what shape or form is our individual vocation, our giftings, our calling?

•

GIA: Catherine thanks us for sharing in her Cambodian journey which God has given her.

Parker narrates a Hasidic tale whereby Rabbi Zusya as an old man says :

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Baptist Care: Praise God for the Mud Sweat and Gears cyclists who have raised a lot of money for the WestCare Centre.

“In the coming world they will not ask me: “Why were you not Moses?’

•

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

•

GIA: Pray for David and Susie, that God will provide the finance and prayer support for them to go to Malawi in June 2020.

13-19 January •

GIA: Pray for David Turnbull (SA/NT State Director) and Jane Norman (Executive Assistant) as they connect with SA churches.

•

Pray for the President, Dr Karen Walker.

•

Pray for Mike Mills and staff.

20-31 January •

GIA: Pray for Rob and Deb on six months’ Home Assignment from Cambodia.

•

Please pray for blessing over kids, youth and young adult leaders in February as the new year begins.

They will ask me:’ Why were you not Zusya?”

The tale encourages us to avoid being someone we are not made to be and to persevere in becoming who we am created to be. That ‘becoming’ includes exercising and growing in the gifts we each have been given so that we may answer in the coming world “ I was (your name)” rather than someone else whom I might deeply admire and seek to emulate.

BLUE CHRISTMAS - A PRAYER OF HOPE Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near the broken hearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”

While many of us will be fortunate enough to spend this Christmas

1-9 February

with family and friends, in happiness, health and abundance, let us take

•

a moment to pray for those who are struggling and may find this time

Pray for Gwen’s Pantry at our Edwardstown church which serves the needy community with free food hampers for those struggling with unemployment, homelessness and isolation.

of year especially hard.

Father, you are Immanuel, God With Us. Let this bring comfort to those hurting this Christmas. Place not only your warmth around them, but the presence of loving and supporting people as well. We thank you that you never leave or forsake us, even when everything seems dark. Use us, Lord, to be your hands and feet to love and serve during this season. Amen.

TiM

What’s happening at ABERFOYLE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH doing it tough. On Tuesday mornings,

by morning tea in the café where mums,

locals pour into the premises for The

dads and carers can chat together while

Meeting Place, which provides exercise

the kids are minded in creche.

for seniors followed by barista brewed coffee and cake in the café. Others sit in the crocheting circle, improve their skills in music or photography or, try their hand at quilting. In September, the team ran Market Day which invited all local arts and crafts to display and sell their wares.

“It’s like my family. I feel so welcome and included,” said Beryl of Aberfoyle Park Baptist. She arrived 18 months ago from Queensland. She said it happened, “Immediately!” Beryl is now PA to Pastor Frank Eames and volunteers time in the church office to support the administration of various ministries.

Our Community Services ministry provides the local community with access to our computer café and gives opportunity on Monday and Wednesdays for reskilling to new arrivals and those who are seeking to re-enter the workplace.

“Fabulous!” was her response when asked

Wednesday morning is the time for

about platters of food provided at the

Mainly Music which provides music and

end of morning worship.

activity for pre-schoolers and followed

Aberfoyle Park Baptist has developed a close relationship with Flagstaff R-7 with the staff of the school happy to receive a feast of food provided by the church for the Biggest Morning Tea while this year, the church was invited to participate in its Colour Run providing much needed funds for the development of the school oval.

A number of staff, including acting Principal, have accepted the opportunity to participate in our Services of Blessing for local PCWs. As each year ends, one to two thousand locals eagerly await Carols in the Park in Mandilla Reserve opposite the church.

A team of our people plan the event, rehearse the carols, set up the park and

The church has long had a focus on the

operate the stalls for food, drink and face

local community with a keen desire to

painting.

serve the poor and displaced, through a

Aberfoyle Park Baptist is a church

range of initiatives. Every Monday night,

of committed people who ‘box well

volunteers collect bread from the local

above their weight’ when it comes to

Baker’s Delight, hygienically pack it, and

serving the Lord in our local community.

make it available for collection for the

Please pray for God’s blessing on all we

next few days; others pack food hampers

undertake.

for individuals and families who are

A CHRISTMAS NOTE FROM THE STATE EXECUTIVE MINISTER Mike Mills As I write for this edition of Together in Mission the famous Pageant

human existence forever. At Christmas,

just miss it. They will miss Him simply

Jesus’ birth, God took the amazing step

because they are not looking, their gaze

of adopting human form to live with us

is fixed elsewhere. Be careful you don’t

in this world.

miss God this Christmas too. God came near for you!! Don’t miss Him. He came

has been and gone, the

In the beginning was the Word, and the

shops are already in the

Word was with God, and the Word was

full swing of setting out Christmas décor,

God. He was with God in the beginning.

and there are already conversations

… The Word became flesh and made his

From all of us here at Unley, may your

about Christmas shopping and planning

dwelling among us. (John the Apostle)

Christmas not only be safe and full of Joy,

the family gathering. You would be forgiven for thinking that we were preparing for a celebration of materialism and consumerism. Yet the Christmas season has its roots in something far more profound and lasting. Christmas is an event in history that has changed

Thousands this month will rush around with the busyness of life and the preparations for Christmas. Yet thousands will miss the significance of all that they are frantically preparing for - the arrival of God! They won’t miss it because of evil intent or malicious endeavour they will

near for your friends & family too - help them not to miss Him this Christmas.

but also a time of great adventure as you discover more of our wonderful Lord and Saviour.

TiM On mission

Rev. Haydn Lea – Testimony from an Australian Defence Force Chaplain

Sacred Agents

Are You Expecting?

By Andrew Turner Church Development Facilitator

In 2011, I was a keen young Air Force troop serving with the Army in Afghanistan. I was also a relatively new Christian, clinging hold to my faith in an understandably challenging environment. We had a number of fatalities that year, and tensions were often high. To my surprise, many of these older, experienced soldiers saw me reading the Bible every day and sought me out for spiritual advice amidst the chaos. Before I knew it, I was the ‘go-to guy’ for spiritual support. Imagine, a 21-year-old Air Force kid ministering to these battle-hardened veterans! As I soon came to realise, this was actually the start of God calling me into a remarkable life of ministry.

So hello, my name is Reverend Haydn Lea and I am now an Australian Defence Force (ADF) Chaplain.

Many people may not be aware of this, but all three services of the ADF (Army, Navy and Air Force) have fully qualified and recognised ministers serving in both full and part-time roles. In fact, there are several Baptist ministers serving the ADF as Chaplains here in Adelaide.

So who are Chaplains? As previously mentioned, Chaplains are fully qualified civilian ministers (pastors, priests, reverends, or equivalent), whilst also commissioned officers in an individual branch of the ADF. They are therefore uniquely placed to minister to the needs of defence members and their families, regardless of the member’s spiritual convictions. This means that our Chaplains have opportunities to minister to people who might never walk into a church in their life.

As ministers, Chaplains are involved in a wide range of spiritual roles. These include praying with members, helping people find suitable faith group communities, conducting Bible studies and chapel services, supporting people on their own faith journey (something that was instrumental in my own conversion), preparing couples for marriage, conducting marriages, baptisms and funerals, and conducting services such as ANZAC Day or memorials.

However, many members of the ADF are not Christian, so there is also a large number of pastoral roles Chaplains conduct. This includes providing care and support to all personnel, advising command on morale and welfare issues, engaging in physical training, mental health support, helping with character development and advocating for members in workplace issues. This is largely achieved through relationship building and participating in the everyday work of the ADF, including presence in the office, warehouses, hangars, barracks, ships, aircrafts, vehicles, field, or even the deployed environment.

So ADF Chaplaincy is a unique, exciting, challenging and incredibly rewarding ministry opportunity. As a young atheist troop, I was blessed by the indelible and powerful impact Chaplains had on me. Now as a Chaplain myself, I consider it a constant blessing to be able to serve and bless the women and men of the ADF and point them to Christ through word and deed.

The ADF is seeking women and men to join as Chaplains in a permanent or part-time capacity. So if you are a pastor, priest, minister or equivalent and think that God may be calling you into an exciting alternative ministry, please email raaf.chaplains@defence.gov.au, or visit defencejobs.gov.au.

It’s the question that no man should ever ask! But the season of Advent just sidles up and drops the question shamelessly.

Sacred agents, are you expecting?

Me: What? Who? Me? No. Of course not.

Gabriel: Why not?

Me: How did you get into this conversation, Gabriel?

Gabriel: I get around. Now tell me again about how you’re not expecting. God has big plans, you know. Don’t you want to be part of them?

Me: You know I do.

Gabriel: Well then, it’s time to get moving. Your relative Elizabeth is already … oh, hang on, hang on, wrong script. Your brothers and sisters around the world are already busy with kingdom work. So let me ask you again – are you expecting?

Mary: Yes, are you expecting rulers and thrones to be brought down and the humble lifted up? The hungry filled with good things and the rich sent away empty?

Me: Mary?!

Gabriel: Are you expecting empires to crumble while the kingdom keeps growing? Nations and cities to be transformed? Are you expecting churches to thrive? Are you expecting your neighbours, family and friends to be powerfully changed as Christ is birthed and formed in them?

Are you expecting King Jesus himself to return in triumph and glory and justice and vindication?

Me: Wow, well … truth be told? I’m not expecting, I’m just a little overweight….

Andrew Turner is our Church Development Facilitator. You can interact with this and other articles on his blog www.sacredagents.net

TiM

MICHAEL, A DAD OF THREE, SHARES HIS HEART WITH YOU Benyu Ngawota! (Hello friend in the

because I cannot live a normal life

Kumam dialect)

like my peers... when I am sick it is

I grew up as a son of a peasant farmer. When I was in grade two,

A Letter From Uganda

I fell sick and become disabled and

Even in the darkest of times, Michael’s faith in God held strong. Through the conflict and trauma of his childhood at the hands of extremists… through persisting poverty that he lives with still. But Michael doesn’t want his children to grow up in poverty like him. And with your generous support, they won’t have to. Go to baptistworldaid. org.au/be-hope to see how you can be hope for families like Michael’s this Christmas.

the disability I had.

EMERGENCY:

innocent lives are in grave danger.

Your gift to the Syria Crisis Appeal will provide urgent medical care and emergency relief for mums, dads, and children who are fleeing for their lives.

Imagine you wake to a day like any other.

You go about your usual routine… and then the shelling begins. Your home is under gunfire. Your children aren’t safe. You have no choice but to flee for your life.

You gather your family and join the thousands of others who are also leaving their homes in search of safety… where will you all find help?

On 9 October, the Turkish government

as a result failed to complete my education.

Life was so hard because I had no skill that could help me for survival. This was made worse by the sickness and

well-wishers who give me money for treatment. My disability has made it hard for me to get money to take my children to school.

Education is very important to me...

I pray my children should have a bright future and be good children who respect people and love God. And I surrender my problems and life to God and pray that he gives me a

Then, in 2003, insurgents abducted

good life. I believe that with prayers

my brother at night from his shop

God will grant him his request.

together with a few people... and they were killed. I was painful because he was a brother to whom I could run to seek for support in times of need, but when he was killed, I remained helpless.

I have a lot of stress and pain

launched a military offensive in northeast Syria. Innocent families were caught in the crossfire – claiming lives and forcing those left to flee their homes.

The numbers are staggering.

108,514 people (nearly half of them children) are currently stranded… internally displaced in Syria. 13,378 more have reached the relative safety of Iraq... which could grow to as many as 50,000 in the months to come.

Despite a ceasefire, localised fighting has been persistent. The Syrian war is now well into its eighth year and its toll on innocent families continues to grow.

They’ve already lost so much. Your help is urgently needed to provide medical care for sick and injured mums, dads, and children.

Your help is needed to provide emergency relief that will save lives.

If possible, I would request our supporters in Australia to provide support to our community.

Thank you.

Michael

When you give to that Syria Crisis Appeal, your generosity means mobile medical care in Syria and Iraq for families who have fled conflict and violence. It will provide lifesaving food and nutritional support for severely malnourished children. Clothing and blankets to help stranded families survive the deadly winter months… which are now fast approaching. And urgently needed water and sanitation in already overcrowded boarder camps.

Today, your generous gift will save innocent lives. Thank you so much for helping to provide urgent emergency relief and medical care for families who have been affected by terrible violence.

Please give generously to the Syria Crisis Appeal. Go to baptistworldaid. org.au/syria-crisis-appeal or call 1300 789 991 to donate now.

TiM On mission

Sanctuary in the City Graham Brown Chief Executive Officer Baptist Care SA

For over 100 years, the Baptist movement has sustained a strong missional commitment to addressing the needs of vulnerable and homeless people in the Adelaide CBD. Baptist Care SA is now planning to forge new transition pathways off the streets of Adelaide toward safer and more sustainable accommodation.

Inspired by the grace of God and the servant heart of Jesus, we accept the challenge to support the healing and restoration of people who are living in despair and languishing under layers of adversity that are beyond their control.

The WestCare Centre, located in Wright Street Adelaide, is a well-established ‘Sanctuary in the City’ that provides a safe, welcoming and supportive place for thousands of socially and economically disadvantaged people every year. Uniquely, 4-5 generations of Aboriginal people have found sanctuary and community in this place.

In an effort to build upon our heritage of faithful service, Baptist Care SA is developing bold plans to further enhance the range of support services and facilities to advance this highly missional service area. Four exciting projects are being actively pursued that aim to increase our capacity for service including: • Enhanced Inner City Homelessness Service Model – We aim to add additional services and better align existing services in order to further strengthen the transition pathways of vulnerable people who are living and surviving on the fringes of the city • Master Planning for the WestCare Site – The 5-10 year facility development plan will provide the blue print for a phased upgrade of the Centre’s ageing facilities to revitalise our ‘Sanctuary in the City’. We aim to enhance our capacity to respectfully respond to the needs and aspirations of thousands of vulnerable people who walk up the lane each year, including approximately 40% Aboriginal people, seeking hope, practical assistance and ‘sanctuary’ from the trauma and despair of their circumstances • Health and Wellbeing Centre – In December this year, as a first step toward a larger development, we will open a Homeless Respite Centre (pilot program) that will provide 10 safe and supported beds for the recuperation of people who would otherwise be discharged from the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) onto the streets • Housing Strategy – This pivotal work will increase Housing Transition Pathways that increase access to appropriate, affordable and stable accommodation for people living on low incomes.

How can you be a part of these exciting initiatives?

• Become a missional project partner for the Homeless Respite Centre

Baptist Care SA Collaborative Community Project Funding The 2020 Funding Round opens Monday 3 February 2020.

An information Workshop will be held on Friday 14 February 2020.

We would love to dream with you about future Collaborative Community Project ideas that could see your church create transition pathways to empower vulnerable people to move from adversity to opportunity.

For more information visit www.baptistcaresa.org.au/ collaborative-community-projects Or contact Project officer Ellen Beasy on M: 0428 864 486, E: ebeasy@baptistcaresa.org.au

Annual Report 2018/2019 We’re delighted to share with you our Annual Report for 2018/19.

To read our Annual Report visit www.baptistcaresa.org.au/publications “We continue to focus on those who are at risk or marginalised, and under God, continue to find ways to bring opportunity and hope. As we look to the coming year, it is with a renewed commitment to our mission that we continue to focus on those who are at risk or marginalised, and under God, continue to find ways to bring opportunity and hope.”

Julie Lawrie, Baptist Care SA Board Chair

Give a Gift to a Child Experiencing Homelessness this Christmas

o We would warmly welcome any financial support

(Approx $50k is required) and in-kind contributions

for the refurbishment of an ageing building to accommodate

New unwrapped gifts (to the value of $40) can be delivered to our Inner City Reception, 11-19 Millers Court, Adelaide during opening hours before Thursday 12 December 2019.

If you would prefer to donate money towards a gift, visit: baptistcaresa.org.au/donate-now and select ‘Christmas Toy Appeal WestCare’ from the dropdown menu.

o Compassionate volunteers are also needed.

• Pray with us that the Homeless Respite Centre will become a place of restoration and blessing in the lives of vulnerable people.

TiM

BREAKTHROUGHS Advent is here and focuses on the hope, peace, and faith that arose through Jesus’ incarnation, God becoming flesh and dwelling on earth. These events relate to significant breakthroughs in the spiritual realm and highlight the place humanity has in God’s purpose.

news on visiting a local village a 1 km walk away. This brought real respect and an invitation to share stories of God on Fridays after the mosque worship. The travel on Fridays to this outlying village by motorbike attracted attention. White people would not normally visit the region. During one of the trips Cam was asked to stop and meet some men and a small community has formed.

You can explore this approach to ministry with Rob and Deb Griffith when they are on home assignment from December to May. Please pray for Global Interaction workers as they share the birth

Within Global Interaction we are seeing God breaking through in workers dwelling in communities and sharing life together. This was evident during the recent visit to SA by Cam and Kath who live in rural Mozambique amongst the Yawo. Cam reports that as an agriculturalist he believed God would use his skills to benefit the community. However, they are more interested in his storytelling around God’s Word. stories of Jesus and seek opportunities through the Advent season.

Thank you for your faithfulness, generosity and for being steadfast prayers in 2019. We value your partnership with us and thank God for you.

The Global Interaction SA/NT team look forward to partnering with BCSA churches and individuals in 2020. Several key dates to note: 24 February for Unearthed & 29 February for Global Inspire.

More information to follow.

Sharing life results in sharing Jesus. They attended a funeral of a chief early on in their second term after Kath heard the

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas on behalf of the Global Interaction SA/NT team.

2019 JOURNEY SEMINAR WRAP UP - Responding to Domestic & Family Violence Our pastors and leaders gather regularly for ‘Journey Seminars’, which are opportunities for training and encouragement on a range of topics. Throughout 2019 we have hosted seminars on Preaching, Evangelism, and Mental Health, as well as a Prayer Day in the city. Our final seminar for the year was on the important topic of Responding to Domestic and Family Violence.

Special guest speaker, Carolyn Cousins, is a social worker and educator who specialises in training people working in the sector, including medical staff, police, and social workers, as well as speaking to churches and pastors. (And yes, she is Melinda’s sister).

Mike Mills spoke about the importance of addressing this topic and read from Australian Baptist Ministries’ National Council’s Statement on Domestic and Family Violence, which commits to increasing our awareness, making changes to the culture of our churches, supporting services helping people escape family violence, and advocating in this space.

Carolyn outlined the sobering prevalence of Domestic and Family Violence in Australian communities, including particularly vulnerable groups, as well as the effects and impact on those involved, children who are exposed to violence, and the wider community. She then helped us consider how we can understand the impact of trauma on people and their relational

capacities and responses so that we can better understand and support people experiencing family violence. She talked through how we can respond well by ensuring safety, preventing further violence, enforcing accountability of those responsible, providing support for those experiencing violence, and referring people to appropriate services. We were also challenged as churches to encourage and model respectful relationships and healthy conflict in our context.

Melinda led us through a theological reflection on the topic, including specific challenges churches face and the mistakes we have too often made in the past. We reflected on biblical teaching on violence, power, justice, marriage, forgiveness, and repentance. In naming the complexities around this topic, we acknowledged the need to ensure our biblical and theological teaching is not misinterpreted and to be explicitly naming the sin of domestic and family violence. Pastors were encouraged to ask themselves how both perpetrators and victims will hear their preaching.

Anne van Loon from Baptist Care finished our time off with a review of the services and resources available to us here in South Australia. We are grateful to all who participated in this significant session. Outlines from the day as well as other helpful resources will be available on our website.

BAPTISMS

What’s on

Edwardstown Baptist Church

IN OUR COMMUNITY

FREE Interactive Workshop

October 13th 2019 Ethan Johnson Fred Johnson Indiana Henning Sophie Morton

MILLICENT BAPTIST CHURCH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE

Tuesday 3 December To celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities we are hosting an extended Connections workshop focusing on how to care for carers and learn more about the NDIS.

You are invited to

November 10th 2019 Grace Henderson Kiana Meinel Jake Meinel

Millicent Baptist Church 50yr. celebration

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.

UNLEY PARK BAPTIST Community Street Party & Carols Night Bellevue Place, Unley Park

Session 1: Caring for the carer 9.30am – 12pm

A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday March 8th 2020 @ 2-00p.m. followed by afternoon tea

Session 2: Making the most of your NDIS funding 12.30pm – 2.30pm

(no morning service) RSVP by Monday 10th February 08 87332690 or millicentbaptist@gmail.com

To register contact Sophie M: 0418 359 225, slaguna@baptistcaresa.org.au

BAPTIST CARE SA

ABERFOYLE PARK BAPTIST

Carols in the Square Thursday 5 December

Aberfoyle Park Baptist Church celebrates the Christmas season with its annual...

Whitmore Square, Adelaide 5:30pm - Music and activities 6:30pm - Light meal provided 7:30 - 9:30pm - Official program

Carols In The Park

Sunday 22nd December

...in Manning Reserve. It has been running for over two decades and draws over 2000 people. It includes Christmas carol favourites and the Nativity Story.

The 2019 Carols In The Park will be held December 18th. Entry is free, and all money raised through food and drink goes back into the community.

FREE EVENT

Street Party starts at 6pm with a sausage sizzle, bouncy castle, face painting, kids activities. Carols begin at 7pm.

All Welcome.

CONNECTIONS: NDIS SUPPORT FOR CARERS

Bring your own chair/picnic rug For my information call 8273 7100 or visist baptistcaresa.org.au EVERYONE WELCOME!

“For Unto Us A Child Is Born 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

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