From the General Secretary

Happy New Year from the Secretariats office. I pray that in 2020 our faith grows stronger in an ever-changing world. I am happy to bring you some news from the Church Board Limited and Executive Committee.

FROM THE CHURCH LTD BOARD

• Risk is everywhere you look - your home, workplace and even your local church. To mitigate against risk, a Risk Control Report document has been prepared to help local churches measure risk and see where improvements need to be made. This will be rolled out in 2020. We need to keep our churches and ourselves safe!

• Last year we had 4 senior pastors retire, giving us the opportunity to hire more ministers and interns. In 2020, we have employed 6 interns, 2 Pastoral Assistants & 1 Ordained pastor.

• Five of our ministers will be ordained into pastoral ministry this year. We praise God for His calling on their life.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

• A new church plant has started in the north west of Sydney in Riverstone, which is in the north west of Sydney. There are 16 adults and 17 youth and children meeting each Sabbath. They also conduct 4 Bible studies groups during the week.

• When you drive on the Northern beaches on a Sabbath morning, there will be an additional church plant starting up in 2020 called ‘Living Water.’ It will be based in the suburb of Dee Why. It is a church plant that is being birthed out of the Freshwater and Pittwater Churches.

• Not to be left alone, the west of Sydney also has a group starting. It is called St Mary’s Group with members coming from the Mt Druitt Church to establish this group.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• On 15 February, the Australian Union Conference (AUC) is wanting all churches to do a head count of attendance in Sabbath School and Church Service. Make your presence count!

• Think Tank will run February 14-15, 2020

• Ignite Prayer Retreat will be held March 27-29, 2020

Pr Cheonneth Strickland