January-February 2022 IntraSyd

MAGAZINE

intrasyd JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2022

Ministry, Modern Times & Urban Cities

P.20-23 Greater Sydney

Features: New Mobile Shower VaN & Zoe Bendeli hits102 years Young

FROM THE PRESIDENT Alban Matohiti PRESIDENT Alban Matohiti Editors

Joyce Taylor Lee Dunstan Lauren BongardSchwarz Graphics

Lynda G. Abreu Katrina Jorgensen Nathalia Valenca Other Contributors ADRA Australia Lauren BongardSchwarz Ashley Fell Dr Darius Jankiewicz Pr Jinha Kim Daniel Lavaiamat Peter Roennfeldt Brian Swanepoel

It is my privilege to wish our Seventh-day Adventist family in Sydney a happy New Year. I hope and pray that 2022 will be a blessed year. We have left behind the many challenges of 2021, including the lockdowns and the implications they had on our local churches. Our pastors and elders have done a great job leading our congregations during this challenging time.

This coming year is going to be exciting. There are a number of events that I am really looking forward to.

Our year will start with Think Tank 2022. Most of our churches have already started working on the list of delegates for that event. I am really excited about the possibilities Think Tank 2022 holds. This will be a time when we can come back together and look at the present and future challenges and direction of our churches and conference. I encourage delegates to engage with the question that we have sent to you through our local church leadership. It is important for us as leaders to know and understand the local church challenges.

tions, I came across Psalm 40:4: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”

As Seventh-day Adventists, we have a clear picture of the challenges the future will bring. The Bible is very clear about it, and Jesus is very clear about those events in Mathew 24. I take this opportunity, brothers and sisters, to encourage each one of us to make faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ a priority for this year.

Whatever challenges we may face, I invite you to trust in the Lord our God. Our hope and confidence are in Him at all times and in all circumstances. He will bless each one of us as we continue to trust Him each day.

He has led us so far and will continue to lead us firmly during this year.

May God bless you all.

Alban Matohiti Questions to think about for Think Tank 2022

Jed Villejo (Cover pic)

Next content deadline 04 MAR bit.ly/intraSyd

The second highlight of the year will be our constituency meetings. We plan to have two of them in 2022.

The first is in April, and it will be a short meeting, enabling us to vote to have the main session online in case there is another lockdown. We will plan to have our regular session in August. Please make both of these meetings a matter of prayer.

This morning in my personal devo-

• How have the 5 key focus areas been experienced in your church since our last Think Tank in February 2020?

• What has changed in your church since Think Tank 2020? (positive and challenging) And what should we reconsider going forward? As a church and as a conference?

• Is there a change that COVID-19 has introduced to your churches that you would like to keep?

February 2022

@SydneyAdventists

COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT

1

ISSUE FEATURE

UPCOMING EVENTS

ADDRESS Shannon Bldg, 185 Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga NSW 2076 PHONE (02) 9868 6522 EMAIL GSCComms@adventist.org.au

SUNSET TIMES

Remember the Sabbath 18-02 / 7:46 Friday to 7:45 Saturday 25-02 / 7:38 Friday to 7:37 Saturday 04-03 / 7:29 Friday to 7:28 Saturday 11-03 / 7:20 Friday to 7:19 Saturday 18-03 / 7:11 Friday to 7:09 Saturday 24-03 / 7:01 Friday to 7:00 Saturday

$ OFFERING

eGiving.org.au 26-02 / EDU: SASA Scholarships 05-03 / Local Church Budget 12-03 / Adventist World Radio 19-03 / Local Church Budget 26-03 / EDU: Wahroonga Schlrshp Read more at bit.ly/2MJvRr5

Think Tank 2022

Save the Date

Articles from our event speakers.

Learn more about Generation Alpha, sharing faith through food, unban ministry in modern times and raising your spiritual temperature. Page 20-23

19-02 / 31 Days of Prayer 26-02 / Church Leaders Training 27-02 / Waterski 04-05 Mar / Think Tank Back-up 12-13 Mar / Growing Together Smmt 27-03 / Health Network Expo More events at bit.ly/3rwcUr0!

NEWS

ARTICLE

102 Years Young Zoe Bendeli celebrated her 102nd birthday recently. She is the oldest resident in the Elizabeth Lodge facility. Learn about her life and the secret to a long, healthy life. Page 08

Supporting the Community With COVID and lockdowns making the situation even harder for many in the Greater Sydney area, local church groups are looking for ways to help those who need it most. Page 11

NEWS

ARTICLE

From Our Schools

Mobile Shower Van With COVID and lockdowns making the situation even harder for many in the Greater Sydney area, local church groups are looking for ways to help those who need it most. Page 09

INTRASYD

Hills Adventist College principal, Carlie Deppeler, shares some helpful tips to support our kids during the disruption of their traditional learning environments. Page 14

OCTOBER

2018

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editorials General Secretary

Cheonneth Strickland Here are some highlights and challenges that have occurred in the late part of 2021 and into 2022.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Strategic discussions are being held with the Executive Committee and Church pastors to see how we can Grow in Discipleship and impact our local communities for God. Think Tank (18 -19 Feb) will help drive this as well.

• Over the year end, we have had 8 pastors leave our conference or retire. This has meant we were able to bring in 3 new interns and reassign some pastors out of school chaplaincy into local churches.

• Crosslands has been affected by the Covid lockdown but is starting to see more clients engage with the outdoors.

• Plans are also underway to offer formal Outdoor education programs highlighting God’s book of nature to schools and youth groups.

FROM SCHOOLS LTD •

Due to mandatory vaccination of all school staff,

recruiting teachers has been and will continue to be a challenge. If you know of anyone from Sydney studying teaching at a university or wanting to pursue this as a career, Training scholarships of $3000 are being offered by the Greater Sydney Education Department. These are limited.

Conditions apply. Please contact the education department if interested.

• Sydney SDA Schools Auburn and Hills SDA College are undertaking a building program of adding more classrooms for their students in 2022. This is due to increase enrolments and part of a 10-year capital plan as an education system.

• Did you know that approximately 30% of students at our schools are Adventist? Schools are a great mission field.

Please continue to pray for our schools, teachers, nonteaching staff, students, and their families.

FROM AGED CARE LTD

• We continue to praise God that he has kept our Aged Care residents and staff safe from Covid. This is truly a miracle in these trying times. A special thank you to all staff for going beyond the call of duty to ensure safe environments.

• Occupancy in the Wahroonga and Kings Langley facilities continues to be a challenge. This is indicative of the sector.

• Due to Covid, finding adequate staff continues to be a challenge. At Wahroonga facility, 97% of shifts are filled. At Kings Langley, it is 95% for shifts. This has put extra strain on the staff that are employed.

• Home Care that is offered on Lord Howe Island by our Aged Care company is continuing to grow. There is much need for this service on the island as the population ages.

CFO

residential accommodation for pastors/bible workers in a strategic area for a church plant.

We reflect on a busy year just pass.

The sale of the Conference Office at 2-4 Cambridge Street Epping has been completed and settlement took place in January. The demolition of the existing building and redevelopment will begin shortly, thus the need to temporary relocate our Epping ABC shop. The Conference has an option to buy back commercial space at Cambridge Street to house the Conference Office, Adventist Book Centre, and related services, as well as extra parking spaces. The surplus from the redevelopment is being invested and the earnings will be utilized for the front-line work of the church.

Colin Raymond Finance Committees have been established and are operating for both SDA Church Greater Sydney Conference Ltd and Unincorporated Church Companies.

Over the past year, several churches (e.g., Campbelltown Spanish, Enmore Fijian, Epping, Freshwater, Hoxton Park, Stanmore, Waitara, Warrimoo) have received grants to assist with repairs and maintenance in accordance with the GSC building grant policy.

One of the Conference houses is being sold, and another purchased to provide for

Major construction work will soon begin at two of our schools this year – Hills Adventist College and Sydney Adventist School Auburn to increase general learning areas and improve aging facilities.

Thank the Lord, He has granted us another year to spread His word, speak of Him to those who do not know Him and be personally prepared to meet Him upon His return. Go into 2022 with confidence (Joshua 1:9).

PR T ERRY JOHNSON MOVES

2 THE UNION CONFERENCE As it pertains to end-of-life matters, many take the time to prepare a last will/word and testament. That document simplifies the complexity of a lived life into bite-sized pieces that can be disseminated without the courts of the land having to get engaged (well… most of the time!).

After four years and three months, I’ve come to the end of my time as president of this wonderful conference, and I’d like to share my last words and testament. Maybe it will be worthy of dissemination without the courts of public opinion getting overly engaged?

Preamble of thanks and praise It’s been a wonderful experience living and working in Sydney, and our family has truly enjoyed every moment.

We’ve been stretched and have grown spiritually and in life maturity, and we thank you for the teaching and training. We love the Greater Sydney Conference, and it will always hold a special place in our hearts: • Our multicultural churches, with 20+ different languages spoken from the pulpit, continue to present the gospel truth in the context of the three angels’ messages. Evangelism is tough in our cynical city, where you, as members, continue to persevere in being the Kingdom of God now. I’m filled with spiritual encouragement when I hear your stories of God’s miraculous interventions.

• We have a fantastic present-truth pastoral team caring for our 106 churches, companies and plants. I’m convinced of their authenticity, ethic and doctrinal solidity.

• Our department directors, whom I’ve had the pleasure of journeying with, are superb, spiritual, innovative, creative, practical supporters of our faith, and I’ve been blessed by their spiritual giftedness.

• Our principals, teachers and education staff are missional and professional. They work well with the strategy of the church, and the number of Bible studies and baptisms we have because of our school system should encourage us no end!

• Our aged care provides mission opportunities, and several people have been baptized through their ministry in the last couple of years.

• All of our church members.

• The entire office staff in Sydney are so kind, professional and lovely.

Each of you have enriched our lives and we will always be grateful. You will be missed.

My last words and testament as GSC President • As Seventh-day Adventists, we need to be reminded of our God-ordained past so that we do not fear for our God-ordained future. Always reflect on what we’ve learned in order to plan better for the mission of the church today and tomorrow.

• May we be willing to drink of the cup that Christ has set for us. (Matthew 20:22) • May the Lord grant us the willingness to be poured out as a drink offering on behalf of the Kingdom of Heaven, as Christ was. As the apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:6, “I am being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” May that be true of you and me as we patiently await the return of Jesus.

• Lastly, I pray for us to maintain unity. Satan’s strategy is to cause us to disagree on trivial matters that have nothing to do with the mission of the church, which is to tell people about the Kingdom of Heaven and the coming of Jesus. Don’t be trapped by Satan, the Father of Lies’ cynical spirit, criticism, or indolent inaction.

Instead remember the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award on that day! (2 Timothy 4:8)

If we don’t have the privilege to meet again in this life, I fervently look forward to seeing you in the Kingdom. It won’t be long now.

Terry Johnson INTRASYD INTRASYD February February

2022 2022

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2022 PASTor LIST GSC Ministerial Secretary Andre Vieira

Regional Coordinators Daniel Chong Carlos Hernandez Frank Ropati Jonathan Valls Martin Vukmanic

Fox Valley SDA Church Marcus Pereira Renee Vaovosa

Campbelltown Spanish SDA Church

Freshwater Community SDA Church

Mario Guzman

Mark Baines

Caringbah SDA Church

Galston SDA Church

Mario Guzman

Nick Kross Jr

Castle Hill SDA Church

Ghanaian SDA Company

Pablo Lillo Joshua Stothers (Associate) Jessica Laws

Felix Opoku-Gyamfi

Central Sydney Samoan SDA Company

Granville Fijian SDA Church

Goshem Fellowship SDA Group Sione Kite

Edison Akrawi

Asofitu Leatuavao Brian Leuluai

3AM Ryde SDA Church

Boriss Soldat

Ashfield SDA Church

Eddy Johnson

ATSIM plus SDA Group

Fren Chileshe

ATSIM SDA Group

Sitiveni Teaupa

Auburn SDA Church

Domenic Rosina

Bankstown SDA Church

Allen Bierschbach

Andrew Russell Arthur Hudson (Intern)

Dundas SDA Church

Andrew Russell Arthur Hudson (Intern)

Hurstville Chinese SDA Group

Bidwill SDA Church Blacktown SDA Church

Eastwood Chinese SDA Company

Blacktown Southern Asian SDA Group

Echo Christian Community SDA Group

Blacktown Spanish SDA Church

Elizabeth Lodge SDA Group

Middle Eastern Relationships

Joshua Gonzalez

Abigail Figueroa Horace Evans TBA

Felix Opoku-Gyamfi Tai Mokoroa

Mele Lolohea Marty Luke

Charles Chellaiah Jeya

Leandro Cisterna-Hernandez

Cabramatta Fijian SDA Church Usaia Baravilala

Cabramatta SDA Church Usaia Baravilala

Cabramatta West Spanish SDA Church Leandro Cisterna-Hernandez

Camden Valley SDA Group Christopher Campos Tapiwa Mutseriwa

Campbelltown Fijian SDA Group

Frank Ropati Taunese (Toni) Marsh (Intern)

Campbelltown SDA Church Panapa Leuluai

Chatswood SDA Church Cherrybrook SDA Group Church in the Fields SDA Company City Cook Island SDA Group Concord SDA Church Corrimal SDA Church

Toon (Robert) Zhang Bernard Deojee Nigel Ackland Tuni Laikum

Enmore Fijian SDA Church Joseph Talipuan

Epping SDA Church

Nigel Ackland Kenneth Lee (Associate)

Fairfield SDA Church Edison Akrawi

Fairfield Spanish SDA Group Edison Akrawi

Filoship Connect SDA Company

Frank Ropati Taunese (Toni) Marsh (Intern)

Fountain in the City SDA Company Tapiwa Mutseriwa Timothy Shelton (Associate)

Shiu Kumar

Granville Multicultural SDA Church Jimmie Cha

Granville SDA Church Boriss Soldat

Guilford Italian SDA Church Wellington Caqui-Bazan

Harvest Fellowship SDA Group Andrew Russell

Holroyd SDA Company Shiu Kumar

Hoxton Park SDA Church

Soman Chu (Associate)

Hurstville SDA Church Jimmie Cha

Indian Fellowship SDA Group Shiu Kumar

Ingleburn Group

Vitolio (Vito) Vaifale

Katoomba SDA Church Tuni Laikum

Kellyville SDA Church

Martin Vukmanic Aubree Harrington (Intern) Joshua Carnie (Intern)

Kings Langley SDA Church Chris Manthey

Lakemba SDA Church Ana Lolohea

Liverpool Samoan SDA Church Asofitu Leatuavao

Living Water Group Joshua Gonzalez

Long Bay Prison Chaplain Bernard Deojee

Lord Howe Island SDA Church

Sydney Indonesian SDA Group

Marrickville Spanish SDA Church

Sydney Portuguese SDA Church

Mile End Community SDA Company

Sydney Russian SDA Church

John Wells

Carlos Hernandez

Craig Vanas Alexis Ratu (Associate)

Minto Samoan SDA Company Ramese (Rams) Tupe

Mount Colah SDA Church Carlos Hernandez

Mountain View SDA Church Charles Chellaiah Jeya

Mt Druitt Samoan SDA Church Asofitu Leatuavao Brian Leuluai (Associate)

Mt Druitt SDA Church

Wellington Caqui-Bazan

New Hope SDA Company

Lloyd Grolimund Fred Chileshe (Associate)

Norfolk Island SDA Church

John Wells

Richard Valenza (Intern)

SDA Chaplain Hills Adventist College Castle Hill Jessica Laws

SDA Chaplain Hills Adventist College Kellyville

Igor Shemet

Sydney Tongan SDA Church Sitiveni Teaupa

Justin Boyd Joshua Stothers Joshua Carnie

Tahmoor SDA Company

SDA Chaplain Hurstville School

The Way SDA Group

SDA Chaplain Macarthur Adventist College

Mario Guzman

Cassandra (Cassie) Wallace

Warwick Sawyer

Justin Boyd Azora Ufagalilo Renee Vaovosa

Thornleigh SDA Church Alexis Ratu

SDA Chaplain Mountain View College

Toongabbie SDA Church

Raul Moran Terence Greenfield Soman Chu Chris Manthey (Counsellor)

Janusz Jagiello

Ubuntu SDA Group Eddy Johnson

SDA Chaplain SYDNEY ADVENTIST Auburn School

Wahroonga SDA Church

David McKibben Igor Shemet (Associate) Gary Webster

Nick Kross Jr

Waitara SDA Church

SDA Chaplain Wahroonga School

Daniel Przybylko

Barend Nieuwstraten Fabian Eden (Associate)

Parramatta SDA Church

Wantok SDA Company

SDA Chaplain University Students

Warrimoo SDA Church

SDA Chaplain Prisons

Roger Vince

Parramatta Central SDA Group Roger Govender Henry Dunn (Inter)

Pendle Hill SDA Church

Andrew McCrostie Daron Pratt (Associate) Eden Ashcroft

Joseph Talipuan

Timothy Shelton

Frank Ropati Taunese (Toni) Marsh (Intern)

Penrith SDA Church

Western Sydney Atsim Group

Long Bay Prison Chaplain

Pittwater Community SDA Church

Wetherill Park Spanish SDA Church

SDA Chaplain Kings Langley Aged Care

Janusz Jagiello Mark Baines

Punchbowl Samoan SDA Church Brian Leuluai

Jonathan Valls Richard Valenza (Intern)

Ryde Korean SDA Company

Allen Bierschbach Abigail Figueroa

Tuni Laikum

Woollahra SDA Church

Stanmore SDA Church

Xcell SDA Company

Geoff Youlden

Sydney Central Korean SDA Church Kenneth Lee

Sydney Chinese SDA Church

Daniel Chong Toon (Robert) Zhang (Associate)

SDA Chaplain Wahroonga Aged Care Tuni Laikum Nigel Ackland (Assistant)

Wollongong SDA Church

St Marys Samoan SDA Company Ramese (Rams) Tupe

Alwin Hilton

Windsor SDA Church

Christopher Campos

Andrew Russell

Bernard Deojee

Henry Dunn

Riverstone SDA Group

Tuni Laikum

Daniel Przybylko

Frank Ropati Taunese (Toni) Marsh (Intern)

SDA Chaplain Director of Spiritual Care GS Education Richard (Richie) Reid

Sydney Cook Island SDA Church Tai Mokoroa

INTRASYD GSC

February FEBRUARY

2022 2022

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- 102 Years Young Zoe Bendeli, a resident of the Elizabeth Lodge, celebrated her 102nd birthday recently.

Zoe was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on July 30, 1919.

She grew up with two brothers and a sister, working at the Ford Motor company in Alexandria, where she met her future husband, Eli Bendeli. They married in 1944 and had two children, Alexander and Nicholas. Zoe was very much self-educated, and speaks five languages, but she saw herself firstly as a mother, something she did full time, and described by her children a “wonderful mother.”

Together they emigrated in 1964, arriving in Sydney, where she worked in a factory before joining the NSW Lands Department. Beginning as typist, she soon became proficient in operating a novel typing machine called a Varityper, preparing site names and text for government maps.

In retirement, she became an avid traveler, visiting Europe, and the USA and Canada. Meanwhile her children married, producing three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Husband Eli passed away in 2006.

At age 87, Zoe finally moved into aged care—our Normanhurst Adventist Aged Care, in an independent living unit on Waratah Way. Being fiercely independent, she continued to go shopping aboard the community coach, attended the various village activities and events, excelling at crossword and trivia competitions.

With the passing of time, some signs of dementia began to show, but fortunately remained stable over the years, such that Zoe was still able to take walks around the facility, enjoy the morning teas and lunches, and carryon conversation, often recalling the many events of her past.

Zoe eventually moved into Elizabeth Lodge higher care, where she celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends, inundated by mail from local dignitaries including a handwritten note of congratulations from the Queen.

And now she is reached 102 years young; she is the oldest resident in the facility, and always thankful to God for her every day of life. How did she manage it? “Eat well, take a lot of vitamin C, and get to bed early!”

Care with Love & Dignity Zoe’s life story is an interesting one, and to make it to 102 is no mean achievement, especially in these times of present danger to the lives of our aged family.

We at Adventist Aged Care have had no fatalities from COVID. For me, as the managing director, I see the hand of God in this. I can only thank Him for His protection of our staff and residents.

Some 85 per cent of our residents are now fully vaccinated, the remainder declining altogether. For staff, 100 per cent have been vaccinated – something that was achieved by September 17, 2021 deadline for all aged care workers in New South Wales. They are a hard-working team—some work as much as 50 hours a week—bearing the brunt of the lockdown and going a second mile to provide for the mental and physical wellbeing of those in their care. I am proud of them. I am also gratified by the large number of messages and letters of appreciation we continue to receive from the families of those we care for.

—Brian Swanepoel, managing director, Adventist Aged Care (Sydney) - https://aacsyd.org.au

Seeing Every Person as Jesus: MOUNT DRUITT ADVENTIST CHURCH HOSTS MOBILE SHOWER VAN Safety and dignity can be hard to find for unhoused people, especially when it comes to matters of personal hygiene. And while shelters and public bathrooms offer space to clean up, stigma and distance keep many people away. With COVID and lockdowns making the situation even harder for many in the Greater Sydney area, local church groups are looking for ways to help those who need it most.

In April 2021, Pastor Warwick Sawyer of the Mount Druitt Seventh-day Adventist Church (NSW) received an email passed along by GSC President Terry Johnson from Aaron, a pastor in Western Australia and CEO of One Voice, a nonprofit organisation that provides mobile showers to give a hand up to people experiencing homelessness.

“It was an exciting email asking for a church to be a leading service provider for a shower van in Sydney,” Pr Sawyer says. The van was sitting at another Mount Druitt church, where organizers had struggled to get it out into the community, but Pr Sawyer’s congregation saw their chance to serve their unhoused neighbors.

“We were finding a need in the local area for homeless people to have showers,” he says. So, the church agreed to host the shower van so nearby individuals could have

a safe place to shower and access other support services with dignity. “Lockdown hit us hard, but it has hit the homeless harder,” Pr Sawyer acknowledges, “so we are working with NSW health and police to do it safely so we can help people get some sense of normality.”

Shutdowns have so far prevented the van from traveling into the community, but that’s not stopping the ministry from moving forward. “We have had about 10 homeless people a week come here for a shower,” Pr Sawyer shares. Guests are also treated to donated meals, drinks, and desserts. “It's been a blessing to be able to offer this by just word of mouth, and we are waiting with baited anticipation for shutdown to finish [so we can] get out to partner with Blacktown, Parramatta and Macquarie Fields.”

Pr Sawyer says that his group is also seeking additional churches and organizations to be local service providers.

“One Voice is an amazing charity that not only provides the truck but also all the costs of servicing, washing the towels and supplying toiletries,” he says. “We love working with them and [are] really looking forward to what the future holds.”

What does the future hold for Mount Druitt Seventh-day Adventist Church’s mobile shower van ministry? “We are hoping for this to be a long-term service that helps the church build relationships with the less fortunate in our community,” Pr Sawyer says. “We know that the shower truck is only a shower, and the best thing we can give the community is a connection and a relationship with Jesus. Matthew 25 tells us that when we do this to the least in our community, we do it for Jesus, so [we see] every person that uses the shower van as Jesus.”

To learn more about One Voice and its mobile shower program or to get involved by donating, driving, or operating a mobile shower van, visit https://onevoice. org.au/mobile-showers.

INTRASYD

February

2022

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LOCAL

news EDUCATION

or fruit from the trees, [that] belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to Him as holy” (Lev. 27:30). You have “honored the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase” (Prov. 3:9), including pay/salary, welfare payments, retirement pension, sales of homes or businesses, and other income sources, acknowledging all we have as a God-given increase.

Over 60% of tithes and offerings are received through the eGiving app or website (https://egiving.org.au). It is great to see so many of you utilising eGiving; for those who are not as yet, please give it a try. It's safe and easy.

Scan the QR Code to get to the eGiving page and download the app.

We also provide other options to

T

return tithes and offerings at this time he 2022 Greater Sydney Conference Calendar is now available.

Please note that dates may be subjected to last minute changes and cancellations due to the ongoing pandemic crisis.

For latest updates, details regarding COVID-safe measures, or/and event contact information, be sure the check the events page at https://sydney.adventist. org.au/events.

Have anything exciting or extraordinary to share? Email us at sydney@adventist.org.au.

01

when we are unable to meet due to stay-at-home public orders and precautions. You can following:

02. RECORD GSC TITHE RECORDED DURING LOCKDOWN

> Mail cheques to the GSC office:

Greater Sydney Conference has

> Call the GSC office on 02 9868

received the largest monthly tithe

6522. Nerise or Filomena will be

amount ever recorded for our confer-

happy to process payments via credit

ence, despite being in the ninth week

card, even during this time when the

of lockdown and churches being

office is physically closed.

Shannon Building, 185 Fox Valley Rd, Wahroonga NSW 2076.

closed since late June. > Put aside cash until our churches In July, just over $2.02 million was

reopen and you can remit to your

returned in tithe, a massive 37%

local treasurer.

increase over last year. We praise God for your faithfulness in returning

Without this vital support our church

the “one-tenth of the produce of the

cannot operate in a real and practical

land, whether grain from the fields

sense.

3am Ryde Church: Feeding the Community, Body, Mind, and Soul Food insecurity is hard on families, children, and individuals. Rumbling bellies, not knowing where the next meal is coming from, and the stigma of seeking affordable or donated food can all take a toll.

Heeding Jesus’ call to care for their neighbors, members of the Ryde 3am Seventh-day Adventist Church host a weekly food pantry to help address needs in their community. Every Thursday from 6-7 p.m., community members can fill boxes and bags with groceries, fruits, fresh vegetables, and toiletries for a $5 donation. Through cooperation from Foodbank NSW & ACT and the City of Ryde, free hampers of healthy food are also available.

Pastor Andre Vieira, Ministerial Association Secretary for the Greater Sydney Conference, who until recently served as pastor of the 3am Ryde church, calls the outreach “a true blessing.”

He explains, “We have been serving an average of 25 families from the community every Thursday, and some of them are keen to connect with the church once we reopen.”

While the pantry had existed before the pandemic, it shut down in early 2020. During COVID lockdown restrictions in October of that same year, “The church saw a need to restart the food pantry to help support the community,” shares Pr Fabian Edian, associate pastor of the 3am Ryde church and leader of the food pantry ministry.

Coordinating with Foodbank, the church orders about $150 worth of pantry items, fruits, and vegetables weekly, along with free items from Foodbank. A group of volunteers, usually eight church members and two to three community members, gathers in the late afternoon on Thursdays to arrange the items. At 6 p.m., the doors open, often to guests already lined up and waiting. The evening starts with a prayer and blessing upon the food and guests before guests sign in, give a $5 donation to help costs so more can be served, and then shop the offerings, filling boxes and bags with fresh and healthy food, toiletries, and other essentials. This gives guests the opportunity to select items that best fit their needs and retains their dignity and power of choice.

Foodbank then passed on that assistance by granting Ryde agencies with free emergency hampers filled with tin-can pantry items, 2-litres of milk, masks, and toiletries. The 3am Ryde Adventist church requested 60 hampers, which members shared with those struggling with COVID, the elderly, and disabled or unemployed neighbors. So far, more than 40 families have benefited, along with weekly food pantry guests.

The church’s pantry outreach has gained recognition from the local council and leaders, including Councillor Penny Pederson, who, in a Facebook post, thanked the 3am Ryde Food Pantry for “looking out for our community” and encouraged constituents to give to local foodbanks like the 3am Ryde program.

Food isn’t the only assistance the church is offering. Tutoring services are available during pantry hours, and students and parents of other faiths are welcome. All this leads to full bellies and full hearts.

“There is definitely potential opportunity to share the everlasting gospel to our community through food pantry. As Jesus served the needs of the people first, this is exactly what 3am Ryde Seventh-day Adventist Church is accomplishing by supporting, serving and assisting the community in what they need,” Pastor Edian shares. “We have had a few from the community that have attended our church functions and pray that they are willing to learn about our Adventist Pastor Edian explains that the church covers most of beliefs. With the continued support of the church and its members, this service to the community the costs, with the City of Ryde Council generously will continue to leave our mark as a centre of helping fund Foodbank to assist agencies that influence to the Ryde community.” have aided the community during the lockdowns.

INTRASYD

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2022

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PATHFINDER AND ADVENTURER HIGHLIGHTS In October, Adventurers from all over Sydney camped in their backyards and living rooms as part of the Greater Sydney Conference Adventurer e-Camporee.

Clubs participated in a weekend of online worship programs and an awards ceremony. Pr Gary Blanchard, World Youth Director, and Pr Andres J. Peralta, World Pathfinder and Adventurer Director, blessed our Adventurers with messages centred around the theme Dive In. Pathfinders also gathered online in November for the annual Urban Expedition. This year’s expedition was unlike any before. Pathfinders completed a series of physical requirements, all of which could be undertaken in their local areas. Challenges included a 10-kilometre walk, outlining a route on a map, identifying several plants and animals, and taking a bearing on a compass.

A steps competition also took place leading up to the

weekend of the expedition.

Blacktown Club maintained the highest average of steps throughout the competition. Congratulations to them!

The spiritual focus for the expedition was The Journey, led by Pr Dejan Stojkovic, British Union Conference Youth Director, and Pr Josh Stothers, Hills Adventist College Chaplain and Pastor of Castle Hill Church.

Pathfinders were called to reflect on the journeys of some of the apostles as they embarked on their own journeys over the weekend.

your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”

Here is a snapshot of the principles churches will look at as they move through the Growing Together journey.

Unlock Keychain Leadership: Instead of centralizing authority, empower others—especially young people (Moses & Joshua, Paul & Timothy, Jesus & the Disciples).

Empathize with Young People Today: Instead of judging or criticizing, step into the shoes of this generation (Matt 7:1-5).

Take Jesus’ message seriously: Instead of asserting formulaic gospel claims, welcome young people into a Jesus-centered way of life (Matt 28:18-20; Rev 14:6-12).

Fuel a warm community: Instead of focusing on cool worship or programs, aim for warm peer and intergenerational friendships (Acts 2:42-47; John 13:35).

Prioritize young people (and families) everywhere: Instead of giving lip service to how much young people matter, look for creative ways to tangibly support, resource, and involve them in all facets of your congregation (Matt 18:6, Psalm 145:4).

One of the big questions on the minds of many local church leaders is, how do we engage and empower young people to be part of the church’s mission? Instead of releasing young people for mission, many churches are shrinking and aging as more and more young people disengage.

We don’t believe it has to be this way. In fact, we believe that our church can be one that welcomes, empowers, and engages young people in the important work God has given us.

Be the best neighbours: Instead of condemning the world outside your walls, enable young people to neighbour well locally and globally (Matt 20:28).

If you would like more information, or you would like to sign your church up, contact Greater Sydney Conference Youth Director Pr Simon Gigliotti at simongigliotti@adventist.org.au. We look forward to having your Church on board, and to God’s leading in 2022. www.sydneyadventistyouth.com/events

With this in mind, in 2022, the Greater Sydney Conference is offering the opportunity for churches across Sydney to go through a Growing Together cohort.

During this time, the local church will look at how it can implement six biblical principles that are working in churches today and will turn local churches into places that young people love to be.

The best thing is that the Growing Together journey—if committed to by local churches—will bless young people and the whole church as one generation invests into the next. This has always been what God has wanted us to do.

As Psalm 145:4 says, “One generation commends

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts”.

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EDUCATION EDUCATION

HILLS ADVENTIST COLLEGE

While school students are finishing their eighth week in Sydney’s lockdown and year 12 are in the midst of their HSC, local Hills school captains and principals were asked by Hills Shire Times.

Hills Adventist College principal, Carlie Deppeler, said “This is such a difficult time for everyone, and I would like to encourage parents in this journey, and recognise the amazing job they are doing to support their children’s learning, emotional wellbeing and physical needs all while trying to manage their own workloads, anxieties and general wellbeing.

Carlie Deppeler’s top tips: 1. Have compassion for yourselves and for others – adjust your expectations as we all learn together what our children and ourselves are capable of in this environment. Some days, and for some students, just attempting a task might be a reason to celebrate.

2. Celebrate the positive – Ask your child or yourselves every week “What have you done this week that you are proud of?”

3. Find structure – Children of all ages and many adults thrive with structure, so find a way to create a sense of certainty in the day, even when the world around us seems so uncertain and unpredictable.

HURSTVILLE ADVENTIST COLLEGE Lockdown hasn’t stopped Hurstville Adventist School from worshipping! Every morning at 9am our school joins on zoom together to sing and praise God. Our chaplain Miss Cassie leads 130+ students and their families in singing, dancing and worshipping God.

4. Find some time for fun – While so many of the ways we create memories with our families are not possible right now, it is important we try and create our own positive family memories of lockdown by playing games, creating a family challenge or just getting outside and exercising together.”

One of the parents wrote about Hurstville and said…..

“We are so very thankful that we are part of the HAS school community. I also love worship every day, it is such an amazing way to keep the whole school connected in these times. So the biggest shout out to everyone at HAS and to you for your leadership through these times, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” (Rebecca Kant) A big shout out to our amazing Chaplain Miss Cassie for uniting our school through Jesus, for taking the time to connect with parents on zoom, and being a light for our community in uncertain times.

SYDNEY ADVENTIST SCHOOL AUBURN For over a decade, the ADRA Community Care Centre in Blacktown has been providing support to some of the most vulnerable people in Sydney’s western suburbs. The student representative council ran the fundraiser for all classes.

On the 25th of June, the students and families from Sydney Adventist School Auburn rallied together and donated food to help ADRA with the vital care that they provide the vulnerable in our city.

MACARTHUR ADVENTIST COLLEGE From delivering school learning packs to navigating the everchanging lockdown restrictions, it has been an incredibly tumultuous season at Macarthur Adventist College. However God has been faithful. Our chaplains and wellbeing team have worked extremely hard with an emphasis on the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of students and staff. We’re very fortunate to stay connected virtually.

MOUNTAIN VIEW ADVENTIST COLLEGE This year has certainly been a year like no other, even in comparison to 2020, especially when it comes to the 70,000 odd students due to sit their Higher School Certificate later this year. With Sydney now in an extended lock down, Mountain View Adventist College and its sister Sydney schools had to work quickly to ensure that the planned trial HSC examinations could proceed, albeit in a modified format and assure the Year 12 cohort that together, they would get through this.

Whilst the dedicated teachers and staff worked behind the scenes to reformat its entire trail examination program, it was the wellbeing of its’ community, the students, parents, and carers that was at the forefront of Mountain View Adventist College Principal Irwin Steyn’s mind.

“As we continue through this ever-changing world, we will fare much better if we support each other through it all,” notes Principal Steyn.

Mountain View Adventist College’s Director of Studies, Melissa Jardine has been at the coalface of preparing the Year 12 students for the revised examination format. Communication has been the key in supporting everyone through this challenging time.

“Together as a leadership team we have made it a priority to prepare the students for not only what lies ahead between now and the end of the year, but also to set them up for success for a life beyond the school gate” Mrs Jardine commented.

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EDUCATION

WAHROONGA ADVENTIST COLLEGE Hallelujah! Music events such as Hymn Praise and The Sydney Eisteddfod provide students with an invaluable opportunity to rehearse and perform in a professional environment. The musicianship and understanding of music extraordinarily improves in a way that can’t be easily replicated. Recently, the senior string ensemble at Wahroonga Adventist School were due to perform at the Sydney Eisteddfod. Rather than cancelling the event, the organisers took the event online. The school was fortunate to be able to film the students performing last term and were thrilled to receive a highly commended in their category.

“This is a first for the school and were thrilled to receive the accolade. It is rewarding to see the dedication to excellence from the students and teachers being acknowledged” noted Kristina Vuceski, Head of Department – Creative and Performing Arts at Wahroonga Adventist School.

In addition, held in June this year, Hymn Praise gave the various soloists and music ensembles at Wahroonga Adventist School the opportunity to perform whilst experiencing Glorifying God and using their talents to serve him.

CAPE/CASE 2021 The GS Education team had plans to bring all their school staff, over 400, together for their annual Spiritual retreat and Professional Development days in July 2021. Bankwest stadium had been booked with a face-toface program designed to refill their "spiritual cup", engage in collaborative discussions, and unite to focus on company mission and goals.

However, due to changing COVID restrictions in Sydney this event had to be converted to recorded content which we had hoped to have shown, and engaged with, at each school – abiding by the 1 per 4 square metre rule. However, due to further lockdown restrictions our content had to be delivered remotely, to staff working from home or in classrooms. There was much disappointment as staff had been looking forward to spending time together as a conference – we have not been able to hold this event together since 2018!

However, our Sydney schools rallied together and worked hard to balance the online content with current restrictions and find ways to continue to engage and collaborate with our staff. Through the use of technology, which we have been blessed with, our schools were able to find ways to deliver this content to our employees remotely, whilst still interacting; holding "virtual meetings" to discuss the IMPACT they all have on each other, their students and their communities.

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A Local Church Fundraising Program* ACA Health Benefits Fund welcomes you to register for the Shop & Share Savings Program Join the growing church community raising much needed funds for their community projects.

At ACA Health, we believe in contributing to local churches who support our community, whilst simultaneously providing Church Members with savings on everyday living expenses, particularly now given the financial hardship for so many.

We are doing this though our Shop & Share Savings Program, with two key components – Church Member Savings and Local Church Fundraising.

As a Registered Church Member the community can generate fundraising revenue by shopping online, where on average 2% of their spend is paid to their local church.

Register at shop.acahealth.com.au Registration is FREE for all Church Members.

To join ACA Health Benefits Fund visit acahealth.com.au or call 1300 368 390.

ACA Health is an Adventist company that provides for its people to support the mission of the church.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 describes a radical plan for generosity and reciprocal economics where ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the

poor, in your land.’ (vs 11)

Health Insurance is simply an organised way for many people to contribute to the specific needs of a smaller group during a difficult time. *Supported and approved by GSC

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2022

THINK TANK

By Dr Darius Jankiewicz

What it takes to raise our spiritual temperature When I was a teenager, I had a passion for science and scientific discoveries. I devoured biographies of people like Leonardo da Vinci, Louis Pasteur, Thomas Alva Edison and many others. Among the biographies I read was that of the famous French mathematician, physicist, inventor Blaise Pascal. Most people know him for the invention of the first fully functional mechanical calculator. He also did some very important work concerning atmospheric pressure and vacuum. Whenever you see an excavator doing its work digging soil, this work can be done in part thanks to Pascal’s discoveries. In fact, the fluid pressure in an excavator’s pistons is measured in units known as pascals.

this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words, by God himself.”

But Pascal’s physical discoveries are not all that he is known for. He was a very thoughtful thinker and theologian. His most important work was not related to his materialistic discoveries but to the pursuit of God and spirituality. A couple of years after his death, his friends published his most important book, simply titled “Thoughts” (Fr. Pensées). The main purpose of this little book was a defence of Christianity. In it, he proposed an idea that later became known as Pascal’s wager. It was basically a proposition that, rationally, it makes more sense to believe in God and gain salvation than not to believe in God and, in the end, lose everything.

In focusing on our divine Creator and His continual work in us, there are three things that have helped me point my spiritual antennae toward the right direction and thus raise my spiritual temperature: understanding God’s nature, understanding the nature of His grace and the importance of sharing this knowledge with others around us.

Focusing on these three aspects will help raise your temperature too.

But Pascal’s wager led to a wooden kind of understanding of God and religion, and Pascal was ultimately not satisfied with this. He thus wrote: “What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since

Pascal’s musings gave rise to a well-known concept that within every human being, there is a “God-shaped hole” that acts similarly to a physical vacuum but in a spiritual way. God created humans as spiritual beings, and as a result, we search for meaning and purpose. Unfortunately, we often point our spiritual antennae toward the wrong places, thus filling the vacuum with the philosophical and ideological dirt of this world, ending up with nothing but garbage.

Suggested reading: “Searching for the God of Grace” by Stuart Tyner.

Available at Sydney Adventist Book Centres. and online at https:// adventistbookcentre. com.au.

“Generation Alpha”

By Ashley Fell, McCrindle Research Over the last few years, we have noticed a marked increase in the interest people are taking in the next generation – Generation Alpha. To many people, they are a bit of a mystery. As those who named them, we regularly get to speak to groups of parents wanting to find out more about the world shaping their children, educators, and business leaders wanting to better understand them, and some of the leading technology platforms about what they need to know in order to remain relevant in changing times. What we have noticed is that people are starting to sit up and take note that a new generation is not only coming, but they are already here.

When you envision the next generation of children, what do you think about them? Perhaps you conjure images of them always being glued to their devices, impatient, and a little entitled. Or maybe you see them as being resilient, optimistic, adept at responding to change and good at taking risks. Perhaps a bit of both.

Whatever your perspective, it is helpful to think about your assumptions.

Rather than looking at divisions among the generations, we believe it is important to develop understanding across them. This is the first step to facilitating better engagement and connection in places where different generations mix – particularly in

families, schools and workplaces. An understanding of the different generations enables us to honour those who laid the foundations of what we are building on today. The stories of the different generations matter, and an understanding of the unique times, events and experiences that have shaped Generation Alpha and their era will allow parents, educators and leaders to be more relevant in these changing times.

In the book, we explore the various stages of life that Generation Alpha will walk through including home and community, education, the workplace, health and wellbeing. Our hope once people have finished reading the book, is that they will have a greater understanding of the world Generation Alpha are growing up in and therefore who they are.

That readers will not only be informed but inspired and equipped with the tools to help Generation Alpha live and thrive in today’s challenging and constantly changing world. Access: www. generationalpha.com

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if you can eat & if you can thirsty

By Peter Roennfeldt listen to their stories, (2) heal and encourage them, and share your story of reliance upon God, and (3) introduce God’s story, the good news of His care.

These simple steps that Jesus outlined in Luke 10, verses 8 and 9, demystifies evangelism, putting it within reach of every believer—and it works!

Second, is Discovery Bible Reading. Once a person’s needs are met, following the three-step process of connecting that Jesus followed, some will want to know more about Jesus. Most will not respond positively to the suggestion of Bible studies, and this can be a daunting for you are well. You would be expected to know your subject, where to find all the verses, be the teacher, and have the answers!

It is much easier—and postmodern people like it better—to suggest they might like to read a small 20-page booklet written down almost 2,000 years ago by a young follower of Jesus, the Gospel of Mark. Using Discovery Bible Reading you can explore this short gospel together, and a great thing about this approach is that your friend will immediately learn how to share this idea with others!

What does it mean to be a Christian and share our faith in a multi-faith and no-faith world? In our complex post-Christian world, sharing our faith can seem equally complex. But consider how Jesus related to His multi-faith context. In my session at the Great Sydney Conference Think Tank, I will focus on the application of three key concepts: The first is: If you can eat … you can make disciples.

By His life, teaching and commission, Jesus demonstrated how to make and be disciples. My small book by this title, explores His teaching in Luke 10:1-24. He engaged Jews, Samaritans, Roman gentiles, peasants, fishermen, urbanites, religious leaders, soldiers, merchants, and others in spiritual discussions. His compassion, insights, authority, and methodology left people amazed.

Drawing on this key teaching and the example of Jesus, I suggest a simple, reproducible approach to sharing faith: (1) eat food offered to you, and

An outline and training videos, as well as Discovery Bible Reading bookmarks in multiple languages can be downloaded from www.following-Jesus.com.

Last, but not least, remember: If you are thirsty ... you can be Spirit-filled. The Holy Spirit brings you to Jesus, baptises you with His presence, and fills you daily—to be effective in sharing your faith. He is actively seeking to lead those you share to Jesus as well! Enjoy the journey with Him.

By Pr Jinha Kim

LESSONS LEARNED IN The city is an ever-changing place. Shops come and go, people move in and out, and subcultures rise and fall. How do we share Jesus in such a transient community? How do we build connections when so much separates us?

For the past 9 years, my husband Roy and I have been pastoring a church in Melbourne’s CBD. We began with just seven people but by God’s grace, our church continues to grow in number and in Spirit. What have we learned so far?

Dr. Edgar J. Elliston developed a relational model for empowering leaders in which our relationship with God, our relationship with the church, and our relationship with our community overlap for maximum ministry effectiveness. What would happen if this relational model were adapted for church ministries?

Relational Ministry Model

Ministry Effectiveness

by Dr. Edgar J. Elliston

URBAN MINISTRY ministry effectiveness if the church service also connects the community to God and to the church.

Our church mission statement is “loving God, loving others, exploring a Christ-centred worldview” and we try to make church service a place where you can do all three. For example, our sermon topics may be about the theology of the land & caring for the environment, principles of dealing with anxiety, or counsel on navigating difficult relationships in the workplace. We present these topics from a Christ-centred worldview, but also present studies or articles published in the secular sphere that corroborate the Biblical principles for those from the community.

After the sermon, we also have a discussion time in smaller tables for people to connect with each other & delve deeper into the topic of the day. We have openended questions that do not assume biblical knowledge but welcome robust conversations.

Thus, our church service is not just a time and place for believers to celebrate who God is and what He has been doing in our lives; it is also the intersection where new seekers and former believers come to explore what it means to know God, and where we exchange our experiences and insights in meaningful dialogue.

For example, a church service connects us with God and with fellow believers. However, we can have greater

Our socials, small groups, in each and outreach methods also focus on engagement over attendance.

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