September - October 2018 IntraSyd

SYD SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018

Falling through the cracks: Jonathon's Story

Features: A Constituency recap & How God shines in the fields

FROM THE PRESIDENT Terry Johnson PRESIDENT Terry Johnson terryjohnson@adventist.org.au

Editor Joyce Taylor joycetaylor@adventist.org.au

Graphic Designer Lynda G. Abreu lyndagomes@adventist.org.au

Other Contributors ADRA Australia Dave Gemmell Josh Dye Katrina Jorgensen (Graphics) Mary-Jon Tuaoi Megan Lillo Melissa Baleilekutu Meriln Sedgwick Shelley Poole

Next content deadline 26 OCT bit.ly/intraSYD

A man with leprosy came and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean!” I’m sure the man must have had to shout his words because the Bible in Matthew 8:1-3 states that Jesus was coming down the mountain after having preached and he had large crowds surrounding him.

What makes his sentence so moving is the meaning of the word “willing”.

In Greek, the word is Thel’o and it means “to resolve, to desire, to wish, to take delight in, to have pleasure in doing, to do because it is who you are”. This man knelt before Jesus and shouted, “Lord, because it is in your nature to take delight in doing good, you can make me clean!” Wow, that brings God’s love and His nature directly into the picture doesn’t it? The beauty of the passage is that Jesus must have been smiling as he reached for this man’s hand and said, “I am Thel’o! I’m willing because it’s my nature! Be clean!” What a God who as part of His very nature see the making of people who are broken, whole through His healing touch.

Church, are we healing broken people because it’s in our very nature to do so as sons and daughters of God? In 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 the apostle Paul shares with the believers that the ministry of reconciliation is one that heals the sin sick soul and that we are called as ambassadors on behalf of the kingdom of heaven to do this. He says, “Christ’s love compels us!” But, he suggests that we need to be reconciled first with God before we can reconcile others. We need to be healed, to be made whole ourselves and then we can represent God in healing others. God is willing as it’s His very nature. Are we willing to become the righteousness of God as ambassadors?

Consider turning up your personal spiritual temperature by spending some time in reflection on these two passages and seek to learn of Him in order to become His ambassador so that when broken people come to you, God through you can heal them too.

Terry Johnson

october 2018

@ SydneyAdventists

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Mens Ministry

Four years ago, Jonathon was comfortable. Then his life turned upside down. He recounts an incredible journey of heartbreak, despair and, ultimately, hope.

Page 18

ARTICLE

Save the Date

OCT / Pastor Appreciation Month OCT / ADRA Appeal Month 02-04, NOV / Pathfinder Camporee 16-17,09 / Youth Rally & Rally4Service 18-09 / Women's Leadership Brunch 18-09 / International Men's Day Get the 2018 cal at bit.ly/GSC2018cal NEWS

10 Things Pastors Wish

Although becoming a pastor is ultimately a choice, being a pastor is hard work. The days can be long, the work thankless, and many times the fruits of ones labour isn't easy to see. But church members can help.

Page 12 ARTICLE

GSC Staff Visit East Timor

From 22 June to 02 July, a few members of the Greater Sydney Conference staff embarked on a mission trip that took them north over the vast centre of Australia to Timor-Leste.

Page 06

NEWS

God Shines in the Fields

Mary* was wrongly accused of the death of her child. She lost her sense of purpose and isolation. Now, one year on, she's giving back to her community and is helping her neighbours thrive. Page 20

INTRASYD

SASA Plays Host

Sydney Adventist School Auburn recently stepped up to the plate to help the Global Education Garden, a school in Japan, in their time of need.

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OCTOBER

2018

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EDITORIALS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

EVA ING

Stewardship. It’s an old fashioned word that people don’t use much in everyday life. Yet, there’s no other word that describes this important area of ministry.

What does stewardship mean to me? Yes, obviously in my line of work, there is a financial aspect to stewardship. But it’s much more than about money.

Stewardship started in the Garden of Eden. When God created Adam and Eve in His image, He gave them a purpose, which was to “have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth” (Genesis 1:26). We have been tasked to care for all of God’s

creation from the very beginning. So for each of us, during our time here on earth, we have a serious responsibility to be good Stewards or caretakers of everything that comes within our control.

This means, that for our Time, Treasures and Talents, we should not waste, but make the best use of each. To honour God in each of these realms. To this end, we have on our Stewardship page at sydney.adventist.org.au/spiritual-gifts a spiritual gifts questionnaire to help you work out what your giftedness is.

Completing the questionnaire could provide a great insight as to what you can do to contribute towards your local church community. And this is an opportune time to find out, as local church Nominating Committees meet around our Conference to consider church roles for next year.

With our Treasures, we’re told in Matthew 6:20 to “lay them in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy, nor thieves break in and steal”. This is about making good investment choices. Choices that may have eternal consequences not only for ourselves, but for others who we share the gospel with. We are to use our resources wisely for this purpose, so that at the appointed time, our Father can say of us, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

Recap: the 29th Constituency Meeting The 29th Constituency Meeting of the Greater Sydney Conference (GSC) was held at Mountain View Adventist College, 25-26 August, 2018.

clarification and voice concerns based on information from their reports contained in the Session book. Prayer was an integral part of the whole weekend.

For those unfamiliar with it, the Constituency Meeting is when representatives of local churches from around the Conference review the operations of the Church for the previous quadrennium (2014-2017) and set the future directions for the next four years. The three officers (President, General Secretary and Chief Financial Officer) are elected and a new Executive Committee appointed. Major reports from the General Secretary and Chief Financial Officer are presented to the delegates.

The positions of all departmental directors are also reviewed following the Constituency Meeting.

On Sunday morning, Dr Wendy Jackson from Avondale College began the meeting with an address on the importance of unity in Christ. The meeting continued with reports by Mr Brian Swanepoel on Adventist Aged Care and Dr Jean Carter on Sydney Adventist Schools, and concluded with the election of the administrative team.

The Session voted to re-elect all 3 officers with strong majorities.

The overall tone of the meeting was Spirit-filled and upbeat.

The event commenced with a mission program on Sabbath afternoon highlighting new church plants and creative ministry initiatives across the Conference.

Departmental leaders formed a panel on Saturday night where delegates were given the opportunity to ask questions, seek

New Appointments, Nominating and Constitution Committees were also appointed for the next quadrennium. Further information will follow in the next issue of the IntraSyd. Photo By Ben Turner

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THINGS PASTORS WISH THEIR CONGREGATIONS WOULD DO

BY DAVE GEMMELL

1. Pray for your pastor. The pastor is the spiritual catalyst for the church. That makes the pastor a great big target for the enemy. Pray for the pastor’s spiritual health. Pray for protection.

Pray for wisdom. Romans 15:30, 2 Corinthians 1:11.

because no pastor will perfectly satisfy your ideals. Remember that your vision of what a pastor should be is probably unique to you. Extend to your pastor the same grace that God extends to you. Matthew 18:21,22.

2. Affirm your pastor. Pastoring may be one of the most difficult jobs in the world these days. While the average person may see a death, injury, illness, or family conflict occasionally, the pastor lives through these things on a weekly basis. Those little notes saying ‘pastor, you’re making a difference,’ may be the very thing that helps your pastor make it through another day. Acts 4:36

7. Feed yourself spiritually. Don’t expect to live on a limited spiritual diet of thirty-minute weekly sermons. Going seven days without eating makes one weak. The role of the shepherd is not to stick grass in the mouths of sheep but to lead the sheep to green pastures. Psalm 23:2

3. Bless the pastoral family. Pastoral stress leaks into families and is enough to test all the family bonds. Throw in a few wild expectations about how a pastoral spouse and pastoral kids are supposed to behave and you have a recipe for a family meltdown. 1 Corinthians 9:14 4. Release the pastor from constant ministry so renewal can take place. Pastors who go 24/7 for days, weeks, and months on end will inevitably self destruct. Mandate that your pastor takes weekly breaks for physical, emotional and spiritual renewal. Matthew 14:23 5. Talk with your pastor, not about or around. Complaining about the pastor to someone else is corrosive for the entire church family. Challenge privately. Affirm publicly. Matthew 18:15-17 6. Forgive your pastor for falling short of your expectations;

8. Bond with a small group. Don’t expect the primary pastoral care to come from the pastor. It is mathematically impossible, and primary care is not his/her role. Regular spiritual support occurs in small groups. Matthew 18:20 9. Follow the leader. The pastor is not the CEO of the congregation, that role is reserved for Jesus. However you should take your cue from the pastor and follow after Jesus. Help the pastor flesh out the vision and then do your part to turn the vision into reality. Hebrews 13:17 10. Exercise your spiritual gifts. Let the pastor equip you. Take advantage of the teaching and ministry opportunities at your church. Place yourself in optimal places for spiritual growth.

Ephesians 4:11,12 10 Things, Copyright 2013, Dave Gemmell

INTRASYD

OCTOBER

2018

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GSC VISITs EAST TIMOR

From 22 June to 02 July, a few members of the Greater Sydney Conference staff embarked on a mission that took them north over the vast centre of Australia to the small nation of Timor-Leste (or East Timor). Much like Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Timor-Leste shares a sub-continental landmass with Indonesia.

A developing country with a history of repeated invasions and hostile takeovers, it’s easy to find ones self confused there: its name sounds French, the official languages are Portuguese and Tetun, and its local currency is both the US Dollar (bills) and the Indonesian Rupiah (coins). Not confusing, however, is the gentle, friendliness of the people, nor the

blaring fact that dire work has yet to be done there.

While the country does have natural gas and oil reserves, the economics does not trickle down. Many people survive on a meager salary of US88c per day, with monthly wages averaging $US120-150. Still, a large percentage of the population is addicted to nicotine. Unregulated and inexpensive––at US10c a cigarette–– over 65 per cent of males and over 25 per cent of females, both including children as young as 10, smoke.

Kickstarting Stop Smoking programs was one reason why we went. The other reason was to support our fellow Adventists.

A predominately Catholic nation, it is extremely difficult to spread the Adventist message. Extreme in that Adventists there are routinely threatened, assaulted and abused. Unemployment in the church is also high due to members refusing to work on Sabbath, and students face expulsion for refusing to attend school.

We could not fix many of the problems, but what we could do, we did.

Our second goal was to establish goodwill in the community and help beautify the church. An additional $AU10k was given to the Mission to repair damage done to the church roof and to staff a pastor and a teacher for the year.

The mission trip was part of a new Australian Union Conference initiative to support both the Laos and Timor Leste Missions.

By Joyce Taylor

Food items, toys & goods were delivered to a local ophanage & school.

Days were spent sanding & scraping the exterior to be painted.

A carpenter in his former days Pr Nataniel served as site forman.

At a local school, information was shared on the dangers of smoking.

Held at the Timor Plaza in Dili, the Health screening brought in hundreds. Many people needed private consultation with Dr Ken Landers.

At the 3-day Quit Smoking program. Over 65% of men smoke.

The team also pooled resources to pay church members for their work.

The Greater Sydney Conference Dili Mission Trip team. For some members of the group, it was their first mission trip.

EXPL O R E T

Serve. Grow.

LOCAL NEWS

'Here I am, Lord...

SEND ME'

adventistvolunteers.org he mission of the General Conference Adventist Volunteer Centre is to assist the Seventh-day AdventistÂŽ Church in the proclamation of the gospel to all peoples through the ministry of Adventist Volunteers, matching talents, gifts, resources and professional expertise with defined needs. Adventist Volunteer Service provides a number of short term (anywhere from one day to two months) and long term mission opportunities. Learn more: www. adventistvolunteers.org.

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

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THANK YOU MRS SHIRLEY SUMMERSCALES & MR RALPH WESLAKE!

BY DION FOURIE

Two members of the Norfolk Island Church decided this year to end their volunteer labour in the church, after long careers in the same position.

Mrs Shirley Summerscales worked as Treasurer for an incredible 42 years, and only decided to end it when it became inevitable that computers would be involved.

Mr Ralph Weslake, who turned 93 this

year, was Church Clerk for 39 years, and handed over the reins to his son Ken. Ralph is still a very active Head Elder, another position he has held for a number of decades.

The church wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Shirley and Ralph for their selfless work, and wish them many more active and happy years!

INDIAN FELLOWSHIP: A FOCUS ON FAMILY & HEALTH

BY SHIU KUMAR & KESA LATU A free Health Screening was organised

by Indian SDA Fellowship at Carnes Hill Community & Recreation Precinct on 19 August 2018. It was focused on promoting good health and healthy living for the community.

In addition to the health screening stations, a number of wellbeing stations

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were set up, including: counselling, natural herbal remedies, spiritual counseling and prayers, a healthy food stall and a NEW START display.

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A good number of people turned up for a health check and enjoyed social interaction and the free vegetarian lunch that was served. Many people expressed their joy in seeing such happy and smiling people in the team and couldn’t help but ask why.

Members of the church plant have plans to follow up the contacts by connecting with each individual, expressing appreciation for their attendances and seeking ways to offer them further attention and assistance.

Besides health, the Indian Fellowship church plant has been focusing on families.

OFFICE GSC RELOCATION CONFERENCE OFFICE RELOCATION

PHOTOGRAPHY

The Conference Office building at 4 Cambridge Street Epping will soon be demolished to make way for Conference the construction a new Residential plus ConThe Officeof building at 4 Cambridge ference Office This will take approximately Street Epping willtower. soon be demolished to make way 2 years.

During this period, the Conference Office for the construction of a new Residential plus Con-will relocate to the Shannon Building within Sydney The Office Conference Office building at 4 the Cambridge ference tower.

This will take approximately 2 Adventist Hospital.

Our move in date is November 5, Street Epping will soon be demolished to make years. During this period, the Conference Office willway FOX VALLEY COMMUNITY 2018.

Our new mailingof address is: for the construction a new within Residential plus ConCENTRE 36 relocate to the Shannon Building the Sydney ference Office tower.

This will take approximately 2 Adventist Hospital. Our move in date is NovemberFOX5, VALLEY years.

During this period, the Conference Office will COMMUNITY 2018.

Our new mailing address is: CENTRE EXIT 36 14relocate to the Shannon Building within the Sydney HOSPITAL Adventist Hospital.

Our move in date is NovemberFOX5, VALLEY 185 Fox Valley Road CAR PARK COMMUNITY 2018.

Our new is: EXIT mailing address PICK UP/DROP OFF ZONE CENTRE 36 14

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PR TERRY JOHNSON San Clinic Tulloch Nurses Residence Swimming Pool San Foundation San Clinic IS FACEBOOK OFFICIAL Tulloch Building

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We recently had a great weekend with families and friends from other Christian, Hindu and Muslim faiths. The opportunity was taken to share on the significance of families and on how God has instituted the family and Sabbath right in the beginning. How can we have a happy and functional family in the midst of the challenges families are facing today? This was a good entering wedge for family evangelism.

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“About 15 visitors attended, and now we have a handful to follow up”, said member Kesa Latu.

DARING TO DREAM AT ASHFIELD CHURCH

BY KESIYA MPO In the Mosaic days the temple and the houses of refuge were open every day of the week. In light of this, our church elders team came up with an idea to keep the church doors open not only on Sabbaths, but on other days too.

This would facilitate a positive impact in our community.

How would they do this you may ask?

Well, they decided to provide for physical needs of the community. In so doing they would then make friends in the community. The food bank was introduced to run every Tuesday between 1:30pm-2:30pm. Our dedicated Bible Worker, Arthur Hudson, and the volunteer team are, however, there from 12:30pm-3:00pm. Arthur also drives out to Glendenning to pick up the food each week.

We have had 2-3 new families coming each week since we started in June 2018. One Sabbath in August we had the pleasure of worshipping with one

of our members of the community

colleagues, Elizabeth, and her daughter

who comes to the food bank. We hope

Joanne, a young girl suffering long-

and pray to reach more families as we

term health issues after having been

become more established in this com-

born 12 weeks premature. By age two,

munity.

she had already undergone 12 major

FUNDS FOR JOANNE AT PENDLE HILL CHURCH Members of Pendle Hill Church recently hosted a “Children reaching out to Children” charity concert. It was held to raise funds for a child with special needs and her single mother. More than 180 people attended the event.

The fundraising concert was organized

by Agnes Breski of the Pendle Hill Church who felt compelled to do something to help someone after attending a similar event hosted by the Parramat-

surgeries. Abandoned by her husband when their daughter was three months old, Elizabeth has been the primary carer of Joanne since.

The concert ended up raising $5008.60, which they presented to Joanne and her mother. Regarding future events, Agnes and her husband Joel are excited.

“Our venue, organisation and talents are available”, says Joel. “We want to support other people and causes and to let people know that God loves and cares about them. They are not alone.”

ta Church plant.

ASHREI ART PRIZE WOLLAHRA CHURCH

Following much prayer, it was revealed

In a move to see the church further used

that the beneficiary of the concert proceeds would be one of Agnes’

as a community space, Woollahra Church was transformed into a temporary art

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oats with ORange & pomegranate

06 gallery. Or rather the dining hall of the church was transformed.

Woollahra Church recently played host to the “Ashrei Art Prize”, an art competition the church opened to members of the church and community. The competition featured almost 40 pieces of artwork from a range of mediums from hand-blown glass to pho-

Serves 2

tography and sculptural pieces of mixed material. The exhibition itself is part of an initiative to promote happiness and well-being.

“Happiness is so important to our health and art is a good way to achieve happiness,” said Pr Daniel Przybylko. “This event was to encourage people to create, and in turn, be uplifted by that creative process.”

“We’ve been running a monthly painting class led by professional artist Christina Rogers for over a year,” he says. “For $30 folks could come in, paint and enjoy a vegetarian lunch with us afterwards. Between 5-15 people show up. After a while I just thought, ‘why not have an exhibition!?’”

In the end, five finalists received vouchers to participate in the

Cook 10 mins

INGREDIENTS 1 CUP OF SO GOOD COCONUT MILK 1/2 CUP OF ROLLED OATS 1 SMALL ORANGE, CUT INTO SEGMENTS 3-4 TABLESPOONS OF POMEGRANATE SEEDS 2 TEASPOON OF A MILD HONEY 1/4 TEASPOON OF GROUND CARDAMOM

Hosting the event was a natural progression to the activities the church currently runs.

Prep 5

METHODS Place the So Good Coconut milk Unsweetened into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

Add the oats and cardamom powder; cook for 4-5 minutes on a medium heat. Stir regularly to stop the oats sticking to the saucepan.

Remove from the heat and allow the oats to stand for 1 minute.

Divide the oats evenly between two bowls and top each with the orange segments, pomegranate seeds and honey.

Live More Project, a 10-week wellness initiative created by the South Pacific Division. The $1500 cash prize went to Ms Eunjoo Jang for her piece entitled, “You are here at the Rocks.”

INTRASYD

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SKETCHES FROM SESSION

BY SHELLEY POOLE After attending the General Conference Session in San Antonio (2015), I’ve carried a fire to educate myself on how decisions are made in regard to church policy and stewardship.

Over the weekend I was proud to see Spirit-led innovation on the North Shore, thorough ground-up examination of members’ ideas for restructuring the AUC, industry-calibre stewardship in Sydney, our AUC President’s flair for eschatology and Dr Jackson’s incisive call to “unity in diversity”.

The tension that’s eating at me though, is that the church is both growing and dying.

It’s a bittersweet jab to both head and heart.

These drawings [from the Constituency meeting] were never intended as great art – they were simply a constructive way to pass time during the meetings. They represent my curiosity in better-understanding church governance and my hope for the future of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia.

Shelley Poole is a Cooranbong-based artist and designer with a passion for connecting faith, art and human experience.

Medium: Apple Pencil on iPad Pro screen.

Created in Procreate.

> OCTOBER 2018

PASTOR’S

APPRECIATION MONTH

“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Jeremiah 3:15, KJV

eldersdigest.org/pastorsday

INTRASYD

OCTOBER

2018

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EDUCATION

sasa plays host to Students from Japan

By Mary-Jon Tuaoi, Secretary/Bursar

Sydney Adventist School Auburn (SASA) was contacted by Natalie Nawaikalou (ADRA Australia) on behalf of Global Education Garden, a school in Japan, with a request to receive a group of 11, 5-11 year old students looking for a host school––their intended school fell through. Tickets had been bought and an urgent hunt was on to find a school willing to stand in as a replacement host for this year.

Danyel Efstratiou, Principal, and staff knew the need was great and wanted to help where they could.

Host families were found from within the school families, staff and friends of Natalie’s that were very kind to open their homes and lives to the students who were coming to experience the different family lifestyles and be engrossed in the English language.

Wonderful connections were formed with the families and students from both schools. SASA has a high number of non-English speaking students so the teachers were able to transition their new students

into each K-6 class. With SASA’s multicultural fundraising evening, iFeast, being held at the same time, our Japanese students had an opportunity to see how diverse our school and country is. In return, students at SASA were taught how to write in Japanese and learnt about Japanese toys.

The cultural exchange was a huge success and was––as confirmed by Julia Heise, Associate Executive Director of Sydney Adventist Schools––a continuation of the Strathfield Adventist College student exchange program.

SASA IS A CO-EDUCATIONAL SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS FROM PRE-KINDY TO YEAR 6. FOR MORE INFO VISIT AUBURN.ADVENTIST.EDU.AU.

What does your child get with an Adventist education?

Character building

Christian values

Sydney Adventist Schools

A well-rounded education

Nurture for today.

Learning for tomorrow.

Character for eternity.

Invest in your child's future. Sign up today. sydney.adventist.org.au/ministries/education Locations: Auburn – Castle Hill – Doonside – HurstvilleINTRASYD – KellyvilleOCTOBER –APRIL Macarthur 2018 – Wahroonga 15

South Pacific Division

Church Planting Conference February 10-13, 2019

What Is It? The 2019 SPD Church Planting Conference is for those serious about Adventist Mission.

This conference will: • Examine Adventism’s unique heritage as a disciple making, church planting movement • Empower and equip individuals, teams, Churches, Conferences, Unions and Missions to plant churches • Show how to facilitate a church planting movement in our communities • Explore the growing potential in making disciples in an increasingly post-Christian world

Who Should Attend?

Pastors, church leaders, administrators, and especially local church members — anyone who is passionate about making disciples and church planting. We particularly hope that teams of potential church planters will attend. Maybe you want to be inspired, maybe you want to be equipped and empowered, maybe you want teachings, or resourcing whatever the reason, this Conference is for you!

With overseas and local speakers, plus over twenty workshops to choose from, this SPD Church Planting Conference, with the Holy Spirit’s leading, promises to be a unique opportunity to be inspired, empowered and equipped to join God in His mission on earth.

Avondale College will be the venue. Accommodation and meals can be booked via the registration process. See below for address.

Fo r m o re d e t a i l s c o n t a c t J a n | j a n b o l s t @ a d ve n t i s t . o rg. a u | 0 2 9 8 4 7 3 3 0 6 o r Way n e K r a u s e | w ay n e k r a u s e @ a d ve n t i s t . o rg. a u | 0 4 1 4 4 3 5 3 1 4 ONLINE REGISTRATION

https://events.adventist.org.au/ew/app/registration/index.html?e=3048

SEEKING A CHRISTIAN PSYCHOLOGIST .

The Way church has become a well-respected and accepted part of the community. With the help of dedicated volunteers who have embraced God’s heart and vision of service to the inner city community, The Way provides over 200 meals each week and has church every Sabbath. While The Way ministers to predominantly Aboriginal people, it has become a home for people from all walks of life. They all have one thing in common: a very real need to belong, to be loved and to have hope. The Way is seen as a place where no one judges, where it is ok to not be ok, and where you are loved unconditionally.

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Falling Through the Cracks

By Josh Dye, ADRA Australia www.adra.org.au/donate

It’s 2am. Cold and dark. Jonathon lies awake, shivering. The abandoned factory Jonathon and his three young boys call their home is not peaceful and quiet. Next door, an industrial laundry roars to life, disturbing whatever restless sleep the family was having.

Jonathon never pictured himself homeless. Never imagined begging for food. How did it come to this?

The most alarming thing is how quickly everything turned upside down. It took just six weeks for Jonathon to go from living a normal life to having nothing. First an injury, then a loss of work, and finally a vindictive housemate who sold all his possessions from under him while he was overseas. When he returned, he was homeless – a broken man.

"It didn’t even cross my mind that it could happen,” Jonathon says.

“To go from having a normal lifestyle with a good i n -

come, savings and a roof over my head, to the unthinkable… in the space of six weeks. That was all it took, from being normal to being invisible.”

“Living in the warehouse was cold and lonely in winter, and hot and lonely in summer. It was really, really horrible,” Jonathon says.

“As a parent and a father it was rather brutal not being able to provide my kids with a proper house and basic things they needed. It was very depressing, which didn’t help anybody’s mental state. I found myself withdrawing more and more into myself and not wanting to interact with people.”

Jonathon remembers vividly the shame and embarrassment from that painful period. He remembers drifting between different soup kitchens and service providers with his kids.

Mostly he remembers the feeling of worthlessness and loss of dignity.

“It’s important to have dignity because when you’ve got nothing, even your dignity starts to disappear because you’ve got to beg for food or rummage through garbage just to find food to survive. That gets really depressing – people look down on you or they don’t acknowledge you at all, they don’t smile at you.

“You just disappear, you just fall into the cracks and disappear. We felt worthless. A feeling that we didn’t matter, nobody cared.”

It was when he almost reached the brink that a turning point came. Jonathon calls it a miracle.

“We were given a piece of paper with the Vive Café address on it.”

He’d heard about Vive Café – a community in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs run by ADRA. As well as offering a hot three-course meal, guests could access grocery items sourced through Foodbank and SecondBite. But most of all, the friendly smiles and meaningful conversations with people who actually cared.

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“It was an inkling of some hope that we might be able to get some food there, and some conversation and a bit of help,” he says.

Straight away, Jonathon says he and the boys started to feel noticed and appreciated. “That alone was worth more than any other thing that could be provided. That feeling that you’re a person and you matter, which we hadn’t experienced at any other outreach place that we’d attended before.”

He says Vive Café had “a general atmosphere of wellbeing and just a nice place to come. Even just for one night a week it made people feel human again, that they mattered.

“It gave people back some dignity.”

Now back on his feet, Jonathon still turns up every Thursday night. Why? “To give back some of the help we received.”

Last year, Jonathon was baptised, and he also volunteers once a week managing an ADRA Op Shop. Jonathon’s story highlights the mostly hidden issue of homelessness in Australia, the so-called ‘lucky country’.

“Australia is the lucky country if you’ve got money. If you’re living below the poverty level, it’s not lucky, it’s very hard to survive. If you don’t live in that world, you don’t know of its existence.”

His challenge? Do something. Anything.

“If every person did just a tiny bit to help, we could end homelessness and poverty in Australia very quickly. It would be great if Vive wasn’t there in future, purely because it wasn’t needed.”

The annual ADRA Appeal takes place during October. Your support helps people like Jonathon to thrive. Visit adra.org.au/appeal or contact your local conference ADRA director.

Photo by Luke Vodell

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GOD SHINES IN THE

FIELDS

By Melissa Baleilekutu, ADRA Community Centre Macquarie Fields

Mary* was wrongly accused of the death of her child.

She lost her sense of purpose and suffered shame and isolation. Although the world has not been kind to her ADRA supported her back onto her feet. She became stronger and found new purpose. Now, one year on, she is giving back to her community by helping neighbours and bringing them to the centre when they need assistance.

suffered emotional and physical abuse at his hands. She joined

Tom* was incarcerated for years but, when released, was

Simone* was tricked into getting married and found herself

disowned by family as they did not want anything to do with him. When he came to the centre he was depressed and felt like there was nothing for him to live for. He was resistant, blaming the world for all his problems. A year later, after consistently staying connected with the centre, Tom is a new man.

He has mended relationships, is more open and now enjoys spending time with his family.

Peter* was homeless as a result of mental illness and had no family or friends to support him. He lost the job he had for 20 years and, not long after that, he lost his home. When he first engaged with the centre, he was suspicious and angry with the world. He did not see purpose in his life and felt unworthy.

One year on, Peter is no longer homeless, has purpose and has embarked on a new career path where he wants to use his experience to help others.

Jenny* came to Australia with her husband but no other family or support. Her husband constantly belittled her and she

the centre as a volunteer, by sneaking out when her husband was at work. It was her escape from what she referred to as her ‘prison’. After her first day at the centre, Jenny felt safe enough to share her story and seek help. She was assisted and provided with support that ensured her safety and wellbeing.

in a foreign country, a slave to her husband and his parents.

She was treated terribly; physically, emotionally and financially abused, not just by her husband and his parents, but also by her husband’s children from a previous marriage. She escaped with the help of a friend and sought solace and assistance at the centre. She has now developed skills and secured employment to support herself.

These “snapshots” demonstrate how God is using staff in the ADRA Community Centre (Macquarie Fields) to show love and mercy to some of the most vulnerable people in the local community. Even when the situation seems hopeless and progress is slow, God shines through.

If you feel called to support us in any way, contact Melissa on (02) 9829 6701. *Names changed to protect identity.

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COLOURING IN FUN!

we are helpful when we serve others. adra.org.au

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SERVE Register your church for the 2018 ADRA Appeal today

1800 242 372 adra.org.au/appeal