networking - Churches of Christ in Queensland
Transcription
networking - Churches of Christ in Queensland
networking Creating a sanctuary in foster care 013 er’s e Offic te v i t u c Exe upda Chief into w life e n g n i ing Breath unity hous comm or g up f n i t a e ames s are h Thing tate Youth G S g eparin r p o t ds of al San Medic for thousan atu u Ni-Van ing power s m e d e Sh need Men’s ith special men w Receive Networking Email Alerts Scan me! MAY 2 Bringing the light of Christ into communities From the Editor Churches of Christ in Queensland networking Over the past few months we have made significant progress with the written history of Churches of Christ in Queensland. Geoff Risson and Craig Brown have submitted sections of the publication following extensive research and interviews with a number of people. The 130 year history book will be launched later in the year. Please send your stories and photos for Networking or for the 130 year history book to communications@cofcqld. com.au or phone 07 3327 1643. Churches of Christ in Queensland, through its care services division, is committed to providing best-practice and achieving positive outcomes for our clients in our care services. Continual improvement is a big part of our vision and we are always looking to further improve the services we provide to individuals and the local communities in which we operate. We are industry leaders across several of our different care provisions and, in many cases, one of the largest not-for-profit providers of such services in Queensland. Our cover story this month is a shining example of this. We are the first organisation outside the United States to achieve certification in Sanctuary – a trauma-informed systems approach to out-of- home care (p10-11). More than 250 organisations around the world, including in England, Canada and Singapore, are implementing this model of care, but we are the first to be certified following three years of application and studies led by Churches of Christ Care Program Manager for Therapeutic Care, Annaley Clarke, and supported by General Manager for Child, Youth and Family Care, Jane Carter. The recent implementation of ChildSafe (p13) – a safety management system for working with children and young people – across all our churches is another wonderful example of our commitment to best possible care outcomes. I would like to close by personally extending an invitation to all readers of Networking, their families and friends, to attend the official opening and community day at our Churches of Christ Campus at Mitchelton on Saturday 25 May (p27). A true family and community day, we will have a jumping castle, sausage sizzle, community stalls, live entertainments and much more to celebrate this momentous occasion. The address is 28 Blaker Road, Mitchelton and the event will run from 10.30am to 2pm. I look forward to seeing you all there! Desley Millwood Director of Communications contents Chief Executive Officer’s update............................................ 4-5 Council and Board update........................................................ 6 Communications Division Churches of Christ in Queensland 41 Brookfield Road Kenmore Qld 4069 PO Box 508 Kenmore Qld 4069 07 3327 1643 [email protected] cofcqld.com.au Her Stories - The women of Churches of Christ.......................... 6 Annerley Church of Christ celebrates 100 years......................... 7 Computers wanted at Chinchilla............................................... 7 Breathing new life into community housing ............................. 8 10 CREATING A SANCTUARY IN FOSTER CARE 4 Chief Executive Officer’s update 8 Breathing new life into community housing 18 Things are heating up for State Youth Games 20 Medical Santo preparing to care for thousands of ni-Vanuatu Creating a sanctuary in foster care...................................... 10-11 Boondall welcomes Iranian imigrants......................................12 ChildSafe documents available for all churches.......................13 On tinkers and tea ladies................................................... 14-15 Welcoming your first foster child.............................................16 West Moreton Community Care team recognised for outstanding community service.........................................17 Things are heating up for the State Youth Games................18-19 Medical Santo preparing to care for thousands of Ni-Vanuatu....................................................20-21 Global Mission Partners update........................................ 22-24 Next Generation Leaders Network.......................................... 26 The Crossing.......................................................................... 26 Men’s shed empowering men with special needs................... 28 Retirement living is a lifestyle investment............................... 29 Lockyer Valley seniors battle for Games glory......................... 30 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Chief Executive Officer’s update Coogera Apartments - housing and community building at Caloundra It has been a big month of new facilities opening and expanding our ministry and mission services in Queensland. church building next door to accommodate our South East Fostering Service staff, who will relocate from their rented offices in Yatala. In April we also officially opened 66 one, two and three-bedroom apartments in Caloundra. Tallowwood Apartments - housing and community building in Ipswich Churches of Christ Care provides foster, kinship and specialist care for children and young people who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to remain living with their own parents. The new facilities will provide urgently needed accommodation for over 80 people identified by the state government. The Springwood Campus is the latest example of an integrated community, where we can work together to combine significant facilities and services to better bring the light of Christ into communities. Churches of Christ in Queensland Community Chaplaincy Team Leader Murray Thomson opened proceedings with prayer and dedication. Three levels of government were present to celebrate the official opening of Tallowwood Apartments, our new community housing development, consisting of 46 one, two and three-bedroom apartments at Booval in Ipswich. Federal member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, together with Queensland’s Minister for Housing and Public Works, Tim Mander, officially opened the new complex, while the Mayor of Ipswich, Paul Pisasale, presented a plaque symbolising the City of Ipswich’s support. Tallowwood Apartments provides quality, affordable community housing that enables tenants to remain independent while living in a secure and supportive environment. Support was provided by the Queensland Government with funding received from the Federal Government’s Nation Building - Economic Stimulus Plan. Ben Zambra, Tallowwood’s Community Chaplain, offered the opening prayer and dedication of the new facility. Springwood Church of Christ After years of prayer, visioning, planning, fundraising and working bees led by Senior Pastor Geoff Charles, Ministry Coordinator Cal Muggleton, and the leaders of Springwood Church of Christ, a new 600-seat church and community facility was officially opened on Sunday 21 April. The new, multi-purpose, community facility is a tangible testimony to the effective partnerships of the Springwood Church working together with our Queensland Conference through Churches of Christ Care and our Centenary Development Foundation. page 4 The new Springwood campus will – through its ministry, worship and conference facilities, care and community services – provide for the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the community. After much discussion, it was decided that Churches of Christ Care would purchase the old State Minister for Housing and Public Works, Tim Mander, was again generous with his time, mingling with residents and touring the facilities before the official opening. Councillor Peter Cox came to indicate the support of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, as did representatives from our Caloundra Church of Christ. Mike Armstrong (CDF), Eric King (CDF), Dean Phelan (CEO, CofCQ), Geoff Charles (Senior Pastor Springwood), Peter Cranna, (Director of Finance and Infrastructure, CofCQ), David Swain (Director, Churches of Christ Care) and Gary Edwards (Chair of Board, CofCQ). Mission Action Partner, Kevin Hamer, is the pastoral team leader for our Coogera tenants. Uplift – my new blog As many of you will be aware, I recently launched my own blog called Uplift. My aim with this blog is for each entry to leave you with a “positive grain of sand” through reflection on events, news stories, spirituality and the work we do as Churches of Christ. I am very interested in readers of Networking or Uplift to send any thoughts or feedback to me in response to what I write - I may even respond to it in future articles and posts, or it could even give me ideas for content. Please email me at [email protected] with any comments you may have. I look forward to receiving them. www.cofcqld.com.au/deansblog Dean Phelan’s blog “Uplii” ‘‘...reflections on events and news stories, and thoughts on spirituality and the work we do as Churches of Christ.’’ page 5 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Council and Board update The Affiliated Churches of the Churches of Christ in Queensland elect a Conference Council, who in turn appoint a Board. The Council and Board, together with Chief Executive Officer, Dean Phelan, and his Executive Team, oversee the activities of the Churches of Christ in Queensland. During March and April the Board and its committees met on various aspects of church business. The Board has five separate committees that meet regularly through the year – Finance and Infrastructure; Mission and Ministry; Risk and Audit; Ethics, Care and Clinical Governance; and Remuneration. The Board itself went through matters relating to Council, Board and Executive Team at the 2012 Annual General Meeting in Brisbane significant risks, expanding ministries, income streams for funding mission activities, the Ni-Vanuatu Global Missions Partners project, and development options for the Kenmore Head Office site. The Board also approved involvement with other state Church of Christ Conferences in a National Insurance Scheme – a major step forward for our movement – and approved the work done to date on a major submission to the state government on a Churches of Christ Care housing initiative in the Logan area. The Board also discussed and spent time in prayer for churches facing some challenges. The Council did not meet in the last month; however, Council members remain busily engaged with local churches – each Council member has five to eight local Churches of Christ that they seek to informally encourage through the year. Please remember to keep the church’s Council, Board and associated committees in your prayers. Annerley Church of Christ celebrates 100 years Annerley Church of Christ will this year celebrate a 100 years of witness to the community of Annerley. The thirteenth affiliated church to reach the centenary milestone, Annerley Church of Christ is holding a service of celebration on Sunday 18 August. Churches of Christ in Queensland Chief Executive Officer, Dean Phelan, will be among the guests of honour, making a special address to the crowd and joining all for a chat over morning tea. “Many people have worshipped with us over the years: some through Sunday School, Girls’ and Boys’ Brigades, children’s programs, youth groups, women’s fellowship and so on,” Annerley Church of Christ’s Corinne Forster, said. “We invite all to join us for this special milestone celebration.” For catering purposes, please contact Annerley Church of Christ via email at admin@annerleycofc. org.au or by phone on 07 3892 2568, from Tuesday to Friday between 9.00am and 2.00pm, if you wish to attend. Her Stories - The women of Churches of Christ Evelyn Colbran has been given the task of researching and collating a book: a book to tell the story of the work and mission of the women of Churches of Christ in Queensland. With 115 years of history at Evelyn’s disposal, Her Stories will cover the work of the century-old Women’s State Conference, camps, rally days, the work of individuals and groups, a roll of honour, and much more. page 6 “I take this opportunity to thank those who have sent their stories, but I need more; so for those of you who are still considering but have been caught up with the busyness of life, I ask that you put your part of our amazing history together and forward to me. “As I rely solely on God to give me the strength and guidance for this incredible task, I seek your prayers for myself and those who are helping.” Many hours have already been put into this book, but to bring to completion Evelyn is calling for readers’ help. Contributions can be sent to Evelyn via email at [email protected] or by post to 4 Jalinda Court, Currumbin Valley, QLD 4223. “I started this awesome task at the end of last year and have since sent 120 letters asking the women of our churches to give me their story, be that from the work of their women’s group or personal anecdotes,” Evelyn said. Evelyn is also available to chat over the phone on 07 5598 6934 or 0418 199 010. Computers wanted at Chinchilla Chinchilla Church of Christ is seeking two computers to help support the work of their secretary in preparing newsletters and distributing emails to their members. Pastor Erik Liljegren said the church isn’t looking for the latest and greatest, but simply a reliable, healthy and relatively quick machine. “We are hoping that one of the churches might have some computers they no longer use that they would be willing to sell or, better still, donate to us,” Erik said. “We are not looking for anything flash but just something for our secretary to work comfortably and efficiently on.” “If your church or service can assist Chinchilla, please contact Erik via email at [email protected] or by phone on 0400657328. page 7 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Beryl Wiltshire Scholarship for Study Towards a Career in the Caring Profession Breathing new life into community housing In April, Churches of Christ Care improved the lives of hundreds of Queenslanders on housing waiting lists, with the official opening of two community housing complexes at Caloundra, on the Sunshine Coast, and Booval, in Ipswich. options for individuals and families who are earning low incomes, are discriminated against in the private housing market, or are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Minister for Housing and Public Works, Tim Mander, attended both openings and said the properties would help address the shortfall in the state’s housing supply. “Churches of Christ Care is proud to be building communities where people feel safe, valued and respected, where care, accommodation and support services are available,” David said. Coogera Apartments at Caloundra and Talloowwood Apartments at Booval provide 110 new one, two and three-bedroom apartments to their local communities. “We provide quality and affordable community housing that enables tenants to live in a secure and supportive environment.” “There are currently 1,724 households on the social housing waiting list on the Sunshine Coast alone, which is well above the state average,” Mr Mander said. Mr Mander said one of the greatest challenges facing the social housing sector was matching tenants with suitable properties. “That’s why projects like these undertaken by Churches of Christ Care are so important.” “Most people on the waiting list are single and have relatively high needs which means detached suburban homes are not the best option,” Mr Mander said. The new complexes have been tenanted with applicants from the state’s housing register, with rents capped at a maximum of 30 per cent of a tenant’s income. Churches of Christ Care Director, David Swain, said the organisation provides a range of rental housing “These units are exactly the sort of thing our new tenants need.” Churches of Christ Care has undertaken the two housing projects through funding received from the Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan. “We work closely with the Department of Housing and Public Works to assist, where possible, in providing solutions to the underoccupancy issue within public housing,” David said. Churches of Christ Care is one of the largest not-for-profit housing providers in Queensland, with over 30 years’ experience in property and tenancy management. page 8 The organisation manages approximately 1,200 tenancies throughout South East Queensland. Beryl Wiltshire AM was a highly respected leader in welfare and community work in Australia especially during her long and distinguished career with Churches of Christ Care. She was also Queensland Mother of the Year and received the Order of Australia for service in the field of social welfare on Australia day 1996. She was a friend, counselor, and mentor, to any who were in need and sought her help and advice. Beryl had a particular talent for identifying the potential in people and quietly assisted many with funding for their education and training to get them started in their career. This scholarship continues the tradition she established and is designed to meet the tuition and associated costs of a person or persons who wish to embark on a career of service within the social, welfare, human services, and caring sector. An annual sum of $5,000 is available to fund one or more scholarships for study towards a qualification at any educational or training organization which may lead to a career in the caring profession. The scholarship is open to persons of all ages and there are no conditions for candidacy. Candidates should outline the nature of the career they wish to pursue, their motivation for undertaking study towards the relevant qualification, the course they wish to undertake towards this career, and give details of the likely annual tuition and associated costs ( fees, books, equipment etc). Please prepare an application including the following: (attach full details) Name Address Phone Career being contemplated Reasons for choosing this career Education/Training course to be undertaken including name of course and qualification and institution for study e.g. training organization, college, University Duration of course Annual costs to be funded including tuition fees and associated costs Names and contact details of two referees Preference will be given to applicants who do not have access to study assistance programs in their employer organisations. Please send completed application form, by September 30th 2013 to: Beryl Wiltshire Scholarship 30 Gregory St. Clayfield Qld. 4011 Further enquiries: Phone 0418 713 593 page 9 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland “Caring for children and young people who have been hurt or experienced trauma is challenging. “Sanctuary equips children, foster carers, our staff and the wider community with effective tools to enable them to recover from their trauma and go on to experience many successes in life. “It’s not about making excuses; it is a way of looking at what’s happened to someone rather than what’s wrong with them.” Creating a sanctuary in foster care Sanctuary can improve interactions not only between young people and their carers, but between staff and carers, and also among staff. While there are 250 organisations practising the Sanctuary Model around the world, Churches of Christ Care is the first organisation outside the United States to reach certification. During April, two members of the United Statesbased Sanctuary Accreditation Team, Sarah Yanosy and Landa Harrison, were in Brisbane to complete the certification. “We are inspired by the commitment of the team and their professionalism and leadership,” Ms Yanosy said. ”Not everyone can take an international model and modify it to ensure it’s culturally relevant. “Additionally, there has been a real generosity in sharing their knowledge and experience with other organisations, both within Australia and internationally. “It shows a genuine ability to put the model into action, to ‘walk the talk’ so to speak, and has created a growing sense of community within the out-of-home care sector in this country.” Over the past three years, the Churches of Christ Care team has had five visits from Sanctuary assessors, as well as undertaking monthly teleconferences for professional education and support. For the past three years, Churches of Christ Care has been implementing Sanctuary, an innovative, international model to support children, young people and families in its child protection services. page 10 Program Support Manager, Annaley Clarke, said that by undertaking a global search the organisation was able to identify the model best suited not only to children and families, but also to staff, the wider community and Churches of Christ Care’s values. The Sanctuary Model is a trauma-informed systems approach to out-of-home care programs, with an emphasis on safety and community. “We found that the Sanctuary Model offers a unique, whole of community approach, with everybody working together to help others heal,” Annaley said. “We have had candidates say they were encouraged to apply because they knew we were committed to Sanctuary,” Annaley said. “It has also helped us improve retention rates, with staff saying it is one of the reasons they have chosen to stay. “Retention in foster care and residential care is extremely important as it increases the sense of safety in kids and foster carers and helps build healthy, positive attachment bonds. “In short, retention is critical to maintaining those relationships that help people to heal.” But the most important outcome is the effect Sanctuary is having on the kids – the fact that safety and community are the key focus helps them to feel connected, secure and valued. “We have had kids who take their safety plans to school to show their teachers and explain to them what they need to do when they start to get angry, distressed or violent,” Ms Clarke said. “Some schools have adopted the safety plans and we know of kids who have started to use the tools to start a conversation with their parents, which has long-term effects for all their relationships. “We have also seen an increase in service satisfaction, with young people saying they feel welcomed, safer, more connected and with a greater understanding of what is expected of them.” Churches of Christ Care is one of the largest nongovernment providers of child protection services in Queensland. We provide foster care, kinship care, respite care, assessment and intervention services, and residential and supported independent living services. Churches of Christ Care provides assistance and care to over 2,600 children and young people annually with the support of more than 950 dedicated and compassionate foster carers. www.care.cofcqld.com.au “Churches of Christ Care has demonstrated an abiding commitment not only to the model but to the children, young people and families they support,” Ms Yanosy said. “The organisation has created a culture of traumainformed practice, putting theory into operational practice in a way that allows continuity across different sites and services.” The Sanctuary Model has also had effects on staff recruitment and retention within the organisation. page 11 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Boondall welcomes Iranian imigrants It’s not every day that a Churches of Christ congregation gets to have four Iranian Christians worshipping with them! Christians are pretty scarce on the ground in Iran; however, one family was led to Christ after tragically losing their parents in a car crash. The three siblings Rozita, Shahrokh, Morteza, along with Sharhrok’s wife Samira, found a home church that met in secret, where a man known as Albert helped them convert to Christianity. Albert loaned them Christian books and they learned more about Christ from American television. The family made the decision to flee from Iran as converting to Christianity is regarded as a crime and may involve them in ”mysteriously vanishing one night”. They left Iran and flew to Indonesia where they were told to just “stay where they were” in fairly dark and awful conditions for three months. They had to pack up quickly one night and were driven for eight hours through the night in a black car. After 20 minutes in a dinghy, the smugglers eventually put them and 62 others on a boat – destination unknown as far as they were aware. After 36 hours, the boat arrived at Christmas Island, where they spent four months being assessed. When I inquired as to how they got meals on the boat, Rozita, who learned to speak English at a private school, replied that she was sea-sick for the whole time and had not given a thought to eating. The family was transferred to Darwin for two months and then flown to Brisbane, where they were settled in a house by Red Cross, close to Boondall Church of Christ. They first attended our Church for the 10am service on 3 February and were immediately welcomed and warmly accepted by the congregation. page 12 One church member arranged for four brand new pushbikes with helmets and locks, telling us he “got a good deal”. Churches of Christ in Queensland Some members will use an Iranian phrase for “good day”, which is “rooz bekheir”, and the Iranians will quickly reply, “good day” – we’ve yet to add “mate” to that! Don Bartrim helped the two men mow their lawn, which was very high, and cleaned up the yard for them. They have been invited to various homes for lunch and, in return, they have had members to their place for the same. When the family fled Iran, they were only allowed one piece of luggage, which didn’t allow for coats and clothing for our recent spell of cooler weather, or for most of the things we take for granted in our daily lives. However, the Boondall congregation has been so generous in their support that Kath Male has taken on the role of coordinating their needs. Kath makes sure the family has enough essentials such as personal items, clothing and kitchenware, without unnecessary duplication. To help them settle in to their new community, Isabel Drew took them to the library at Sandgate and showed them the sights around the bay, as well as transporting some furniture for their home. Other members are setting up a computer for them so they will be able to connect with Iranian friends in Melbourne and Adelaide. Additionally, we have contacted the Multicultural Development Association at Nundah and two of them have enrolled for English classes at Kedron High School. A recent trip to Toowoomba enabled them to see how beautiful and free Queensland is; more than 300 kilometres of driving and there were no checkpoints along the way! Rozita read the scriptures for our Good Friday service, which was listened to very attentively by all who attended. It has been an interesting and instructive time to personalise the “illegal migrants”, “queue jumpers” and “siev” (‘suspected illegal entry vessel’) or even ”boat people”, as they are referred to. ChildSafe documents available for all churches In recent years there has been increasing awareness and expectation that organisations must be doing all that they reasonably can to ensure that children in their care remain safe. Churches of Christ in Queensland has adopted the ChildSafe system as the preferred safety management system for working with children and young people within the church environment. ChildSafe is all about keeping children safe and provides a system by which churches can be proactive about the safety of the children in their care. As part of Churches of Christ in Queensland’s ongoing commitment to supporting the local churches, the Assurance Services Division has developed a Managing Children’s Safety Policy and associated supporting procedures. The purpose of these documents is to provide guidance to the churches around child safety and also to comply with insurance requirements and state regulations specified by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. The documents address the following topics: • implementation of ChildSafe within the church • volunteer management • volunteer grievance and discipline • disclosure of harm. These documents are now accessible via LeaderLink. Click on the Resources tab on the home page and scroll down to the ChildSafe section. The suite of ChildSafe documents, developed by the ChildSafe team, is also available on Leaderlink for those churches that will not be using ChildSafe’s online database. Should you have any questions or require assistance with these documents or the implementation of the ChildSafe system within your church, please contact Churches of Christ in Queensland’s Risk and Compliance Advisor, Amy Walton, via email at amy. [email protected] or by phone on 07 3363 1768. We have been blessed by their presence. Allan Male Boondall Church of Christ page 13 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland On tinkers and tea ladies Dr Laura Schlessinger, American radio host, caused a storm when she declared that homosexuality is an abomination, as stated clearly in Leviticus 18:22. Amongst the protests, her comments sparked the following humorous response: “Dear Dr Laura, Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I need some advice from you regarding some other specific laws and how to follow them: I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. What would be a fair price for her? I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness – Lev. 15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. Lev 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, provided that they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend claims that this applies to Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians? I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?” A light-hearted letter, but with an important point: we cannot simply lift a verse from the Bible and assume it translates directly into our culture and context, and because we still quote the 10 commandments, we can’t say that Old Testament Law is no longer relevant. So how do we determine how to live as Christians? As a young teacher of English, I very quickly learned the importance of culture and context in understanding and appreciating literature. When I taught Shakespeare or Chaucer, we would often spend several weeks learning about the life, culture and language of those times. Once students understood a little of the language and culture, their initial frustrations would give way to excitement as they uncovered the richness and the nuances of meaning in the text. It was always obvious if someone had missed the background study: they risked totally misunderstanding the message. page 14 Language and culture change so much over time that even information from 50 years ago can be misinterpreted. If you doubt this, think about words such as mouse, bookmark, desktop. What about gay, cool, surf, text? And which teenager today understands the role of a tinker or the importance of the office tea lady? I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, but we need to understand that God’s inspiration, as seen in the Bible, has passed through the filter of many different writers in many different contexts, cultures and languages, over a period of 1300 plus years – 26 times the 50-year gap separating those who remember tinkers and tea ladies! Add to this the effect of translating the Bible from Aramaic and Ancient Greek, through Latin into English. Think what happens in a game of “Chinese Whispers,” where a message is passed down a chain of people, or try translating a sentence, using Google translator, into Japanese and back into English – the end result can be hilarious. Like many people, on occasions I have been given a Bible verse which has spoken directly to me. I know that this is God inspired. I have verses that I will always treasure because of their personal significance, but if we take a Bible verse at random, look only at its literal meaning and use this as the basis for an iron-clad rule, we can run into trouble. I am often challenged and confronted by the diversity of views about the role of women amongst Christian groups. Some men and women, often with the best of intentions, skew the debate, obscuring or missing the real issues. Danielle Strickland, in The Liberating Truth: How Jesus Empowers Women points out that the Bible contains far more instructions on how men should treat their wives than vice versa. She focused on Bible “rules” but could not see the forest for the trees. Her minister instructed her to forgive her husband. Most women in this situation have tried everything to change themselves, proving that it is not their fault, but that it is his behaviour which needs to change. But Jesus tells us: “If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent’, forgive him.” When an abused woman can summon up the courage to leave, who is responsible for breaking the marriage vows? As a condition of forgiveness, a sinner must truly repent his actions, and Jesus never says that forgiveness means forgetting the wrong done to us. Can anyone say Sally’s husband is keeping his vow of loving and honouring his wife while he is beating her? A woman who stays in a dangerous relationship where there is not genuine repentance cannot fulfil her spiritual obligation to reach her God-given potential. Like Zaccheus and Matthew, if someone is truly repentant, they will go out of their way to repair the damage caused by their sin and to change their ways. With domestic violence, this never means giving flowers, apologising and then repeating the abuse. It means enlisting help to change behaviour; it means demonstrating that his behaviour and his attitude towards her has changed, not just until his next outburst, but for the long-term. The same principal applies when the positions are reversed and the husband is the victim. In Lynne Baker’s study of Christian women who have experienced domestic abuse, only one out of 20 men significantly changed their behaviour. Unfortunately, the “battered wife” syndrome leaves women so powerless that most women feel incapable of leaving their husbands. They would rather believe the myth that, this time, his remorse is sincere. If she accepts her situation by forgiving him yet again, she gives him no reason to change. “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results”, according to Narcotics Anonymous. Jesus says that “anyone who divorces his wife, makes her a victim of adultery”. This is a direct parallel; the perpetrator of the abuse is the one guilty of breaking the marriage vows. I believe strongly in the sanctity of marriage. I have been blessed to have been married to the same wonderful man for 37 years and I am looking forward to many more happy years together. In 99 per cent of cases, I encourage couples to overcome hurts and find a way forward together. But for people like Sally, who have been manipulated and abused, their spouse has already broken the marriage vows. Leaving may be the only way to find safety and to regain dignity for themselves, their spouses and their children. It confronts the issues and reminds Sally’s husband of his responsibility to make reparation and to salvage his commitment to his marriage vows. What can we learn from Sally? Basing an unbreakable rule on a couple of out-ofcontext Bible verses makes as much sense as playing football with gloves on. Janette Phelan Mission Action Partner Yet Christians often focus on one or two New Testament verses about the role of a wife, without regard to context. I have previously written about “Sally,” a domestic violence victim. page 15 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Welcoming your first foster child March’s Foster and Kinship Carers Week celebrate the dedication and commitment of foster and kinship carers within the Fraser Coast region and the difference they make to the lives of the children and young people in their care. But according to Bundaberg locals, Cate and Barry, it can be carers who are most profoundly impacted by the young people they support. “You get so much back from the kids,” Cate said. “The difference a cuddle makes to a child is indescribable and the joy you see in their faces from something so simple, a gift or whatever it may be, is just magical. “Then there’s the trust - they look at you with those eyes. Innocent eyes ready to trust again, and in turn you give them the love they need. Cate said the feeling they had the first time they found out they were going to be welcoming children into their home was something they hadn’t felt before. “We received a phone call from the Department; you don’t get much notice,” Cate said. “They asked if we’d take two sibling little girls on four days respite, gave us as much background to the girls as they could, and asked were we happy to accept them. We were! “They were great girls and we had a ball with them. We were a little bit anxious before they arrived, but when we opened the door our excitement overcame any nerves. “That first placement was so rewarding: we really felt we’d achieved something.” “You want to make them feel valued and loved, but it’s the children who impart those feelings to you.” Cate said the couple now has a ritual in place when it comes to preparing for new arrivals. Barry and Cate became fully accredited foster carers in September 2012 and have since provided a vital safety net for children and young people residing in the Bundaberg area. “When we find out children are coming we have a little gift ready for them, to help break the ice,” Cate said. “It’s become a bit of a pattern now. You just need something simple, an inexpensive gift to offer them. It breaks down a myriad of barriers and has worked with every child. West Moreton Community Care team recognised for outstanding community service “It’s probably my best tip.” However, not all placements go to plan and Cate said it’s reassuring to know that Churches of Christ Care is with her and Barry every step of the way. “You quickly learn that staff are there to support you, no matter what happens, and that really puts your mind at ease,” Cate said. “If you get a placement that doesn’t suit, they are available 24 hours a day. They never put you in a position you can’t handle.” Churches of Christ Care provides assistance and care to over 2,600 children and young people annually with the support of more than 950 dedicated and compassionate foster carers. page 16 To find out more about Churches of Christ Care’s child protection services visit carepathwaysqld.com.au or phone 1800 22 2273. Staff at Churches of Christ Care West Moreton Community Care Program received some much deserved recognition for the support they provide their community after being nominated for 2013 Pride of Workmanship Awards. The annual recognition awards are held by the Rotary Club of Boonah and celebrate those who embody the Rotary ideal of “do it once – do it well”. The West Moreton Community Care Program provides elderly people the support they need to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. The team took pride in being selected among the 10 finalists, particularly as the award is traditionally reserved for individuals, not teams or programs. “The whole team at West Moreton is to be congratulated for this deserved recognition,” Jenny Tyrrell, Community Care General Manager, said. “I’m told they don’t usually accept team nominations, so they must have felt West Moreton particularly worthy. “The fact that one of our clients, who is actually an independent living resident at Fassifern Retirement Village, went out of their way to nominate us, tells you just how much she appreciates the support she receives and the way it is delivered. “What a great example of what we all want to achieve, and that is to make a difference in the lives of people living in the local communities we serve. “Well done to all staff who have had a part to play in West Moreton’s great community reputation and steering over many years.” West Moreton is one of 55 Churches of Christ Care community care programs. Programs include community aged care packages, home and community care, extended aged care at home packages, extended aged care at home dementia packages, consumer directed care, older people’s action programs, flexible respite programs for people with advanced dementia, healthy ageing programs, veterans home care, private services and day respite services. page 17 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Things are heating up for the State Youth Games From 4-7 October more than 1,000 young athletes from 20 different churches will converge on the Watson Park Convention Centre at Dakabin for the 2013 State Youth Games. Churches of Christ in Queensland wants to make this year’s State Youth Games the biggest and best to date, so organisers are making it easier than ever to get involved. Australia’s largest Christian sporting competition, the Churches of Christ in Queensland driven event reaches out and brings the light of Christ to youth and young adults via the vehicle of sport. Organising the logistics to take a group of young people to such a large event in Brisbane can be a bit daunting, so there is a whole new system to set your team up for success. Specifically designed for people 25 years an under, the event brings church groups, youth groups and school ministries together in sport, fellowship and fun. Not only do organisers provide you with all the documents, tools and checklists that you will need, but they can also organise to “buddy” you with another experienced team. As well as Dakabin, this year’s Games will be held at multiple sporting venues on the north side of Brisbane, including Brackenridge, Morayfield and Caboolture, and will feature more than 20 different sports and activities, from the less serious three-legged races to the highly competitive touch football. Sports will be played in a round-robin format, culminating in a finals’ series, with athletes given the option of competing in the open age A or B grade categories, or under-18s division. With such great variety of events, Churches of Christ in Queensland’s Director of Communications, Desley Millwood, said there is a sport or activity for everyone. “Young people can take part in a range of different sporting activities, from touch football and netball to Tenpin bowling and darts, and even get involved in the Fun Run,” Desley said. “The different categories and groups range in size from 80 people to as few as 10, and we even cater for team leaders who want to take part, letting them compete in the open category.” As well as winning trophies for each sport, players compete for either the small, medium or large “Group Champions” trophy, depending on their group size; and “Fair Play” and “Group Spirit” trophies for upholding the positive foundations the Games were built on. However, Desley insisted that this is one competition where winning really isn’t everything. “It’s about the spirit of the game,” Desley said. “What is valued most is not athletic prowess, but the attitude of the participants. page 18 “Everyone is welcome and you Easier than ever to be a part of State Youth Games Your buddy team can give you the benefits of their knowledge of planning and pre-event preparation and, even more importantly, may be able to help you out with catering for the Games. don’t have to worry about your athletic ability. “The competition varies from those who have competed at fairly high levels to those who are still learning to play the games.” State Youth Games is also about building a sense of community and involvement, so there is a whole range of activities planned off the field. With around 700 people expected to be camping at the Dakabin “Tent City”, there will be a variety of activities and entertainment held each night. “In keeping with the sense of fun and community, there are lots of recreational things planned, including a café, speakers, bands and social games,” Desley said. “State Youth Games is about helping to bring young Christians together through sport and engaging them with each other and their broader community.” This can leave you free to enjoy your first State Youth Games experience, with all the fun and sense of community that the event brings. For more information about the buddy system, or for any further help or advice, visit www.sygqld.com.au or contact Churches of Christ in Queensland Events Manager, Ben Farley, by phone on 07 3363 1737. REGISTER NOW! This year, the registration process has been streamlined and is now available completely online, with a special new system to help support first time groups and ensure their enrollment is made as easy as possible. Registration costs $90 or just $75 for early birds who sign up before 23 August. Costs cover all sporting and camping fees, but each group must organise its own catering. For more information or to register, visit www.sygqld. com.au or contact Churches of Christ in Queensland Events Manager, Ben Farley, by phone on 07 3363 1737. page 19 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland can provide specialised care to many women who are in desperate need of medical attention. Medical Santo preparing to care for thousands of Ni-Vanuatu What does a peanut farmer, a carpenter, an airline manager, a skate board teacher, a plumber, a waitress, a Boy’s Brigade leader, an intensive care paramedic and a business manager have in common with Vanuatu? God has called each one of them into His service, in Vanuatu. page 20 They are preparing the Churches of Christ Medical Santo clinic for opening next month, which will be used to minister to God’s people through health care and by sharing the good news. Medical care in Australia is a blessing from God that we do not appreciate until we have seen the lack of available medical care in Vanuatu. Churches of Christ Medical Santo is supporting the Vanuatu Ministry of Health by providing access to primary health care to over 140,000 people in Northern Vanuatu. Poor health and death at an early age is an accepted part of life in Vanuatu that I believe as Christians we cannot close our eyes to. I am responsible for my brothers Is this something that you can assist us with? Prayer is our best resource that allows God to work through His saints. Would you please pray that God will provide us with a full-time Christian doctor to supervise the Medical Santo outreach; that we will have the resources to equip the clinic to provide a high quality of service to the people of Northern Vanuatu; for the local outreach/care team who will be sharing the good news as they are visiting, supporting and encouraging all who come into contact with Medical Santo; and that God will guide us through the red tape and relationships. We are grateful for His provision in our lives. and sisters over my back fence and in Vanuatu and all nations. least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” It is God’s blessing to me that I live in Australia, a land of milk and honey. For Medical Santo there are many items to set up, equipment to source, and medical supplies to purchase. The resources and gifts that God has blessed to each according to his own ability is for His work in sharing the good news. How can I receive the abundant blessings of God without concern for those less privileged? The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the We have made contact with a specialist women’s health nurse in Vanuatu who, for $200 per week, Churches of Christ Santo Changing lives in Northern Vanuatu Thank you for your prayer in support of Churches of Christ Medical Santo. Allen Cox Churches of Christ Medical Santo Help us change lives Cheques made out to: Churches of Christ Medical Santo PO Box 5478 Maroochydore BC Qld 4558 or Direct Deposit: BSB 034-243 Acc No. 12-1873 If you require a Tax Deductible receipt please request this and send your return postal address so we can forward the receipt to you. page 21 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Global Mission Partners Pentecost power: United as One Pentecost marks the dramatic birth of a missionary church. The church that was ”born” on the first Pentecost – when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4) – is a church that came into being with a message to proclaim and the means to proclaim it. Alternatively, contact the GMP office via email at [email protected]. au, by phone on 08 8352 3466, or by post at PO Box 341, Torrensville Plaza SA 5031. page 22 Upload to Facebook or Twitter some photos and comments, and share your church’s participation in the Pentecost offering. Later, when the Makovero siblings returned from church, they recognised their father standing on their doorstep and experienced a joyful reunion. Life settled into a comfortable rhythm where survival was no longer the main priority for the day. Their father, who was critically ill, was taken away for care by relatives. Join with other local Churches of Christ on Sunday 19 May and be part of giving to this first Pentecost offering, United as One, for the growth and development of our international partners. You can find these resources at www. inpartnership.org.au/pentecostsunday. Each of the children has since settled in well at KCV, with the boys joining the KCV soccer team and all of them enjoying the singing and music. KCV welcomed Nester, twins Tawanda and Tatenda, Takudzwa, and Ayanda, the only girl in the Makovero family, in April 2011 after their mother died. Today we all, in Australia and overseas, continue to live out this task. Resources available for this event include Pentecost offering envelopes with stories from some of our church partners, Pentecost Bible studies, an International Church Partnerships PowerPoint presentation, YouTube video clips, and ideas for using these resources. A frail man stood by the door of Zimbabwe House at Khayelihle Children’s Village (KCV) on Sunday morning and asked to see the house parents. After two years of separation, there were lots of hugs and smiles and much news to share. The invitation to share the gospel message “beyond Jerusalem” still stands. These gifts will be directed to churches that are committed to living out the Pentecost call in places where resources are few and the spirit is great. A wonderful surprise at Khayelihle Children’s Village, Zimbabwe Nester, 13, had done his best to look after the other children, but trying to provide for them while living in an incomplete house with no toilet, no water or no electricity was a challenge beyond his years. However, at the back of their minds was an anxiety for the wellbeing of their father and a longing to be reunited with him. After a long time without any news, Sunday there was an unexpected moment of happy reunion. Mr Makovero is still not well and is currently unemployed, so he is not able to take care of his children as yet. They will continue to call KCV home until his health improves and he has secured a job, but the children’s worried thoughts about their father have been eased. Absent friends at Gandep, Papua New Guinea The commencement of the new year at Gandep Bible College was tinged with sadness. One of their fellow students from the Sogeram area was not among them; he had passed away in January following a prolonged illness. Anton Leloi, a long-term lecturer at the college and Dean of Students, was also absent. This year he is undertaking further studies in counselling at the University of Goroka. Yabru Jerry, Melanesian Evangelical Churches of Christ (MECOC) Director, is filling in for Anton over the next few months. The MECOC Board anticipates being able to appoint a replacement for Anton in June. “We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support for the college staff and students here at Gandep,” Principal Steven Yamok said. “Please pray for strength and wisdom and for God’s protection over them this year.” page 23 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Engaging young people with GMP Late last year, 30 young people from Churches of Christ across Australia gathered in the dingy back room of a Canberra church. Couches were placed haphazardly, the smell of greasy pizza was rife, and the music playing was typical Gen-Y indiepop. While sounding like a generic youth gathering, it was anything but; the event was unique not only for Global Mission Partners (GMP) but also for the Australian church today. The group was part of a wider community who were in Canberra for four days as part of Voices for Justice – a Micah Challenge Australia event, where Christians of all denominations, ages and backgrounds get together to encourage Australia to do its fair share in ending extreme poverty. Melbourne visited churches, cocoa farmers and young leaders in rural Papua New Guinea and are committed to exploring how global mission is part of their faith now they are home. Additionally, we’ve seen young people in Sydney organise Fairtrade afternoon teas and build relationships with GMP partners overseas. It’s stories like these that have led to the vision of embody: to see a national community of young people participating in lifechanging partnerships in global mission. GMP and the embody volunteer team will exist to empower and connect The young people attending with GMP young people in their local were not only empowered to raise their churches, throughout the state and voice with that of the poor and that across the country to participate of God in search of justice, but also became connected to a national family in global mission through prayer, passionate about God’s mission in the advocacy, lifestyle change, serving overseas, fundraising world. and volunteering. For GMP this event was unique as less than two years ago it could have been In Queensland, Ally Jensen argued that GMP’s engagement of is the embody State young people was bordering on nonCoordinator and she is existent; however, the good news is looking for a team of young that over the past 12 months, stories people to help connect and empower like that of Voices for Justice have the community. become increasingly common. The team is looking for We have seen young people from a Group Coordinator and Queensland embark on a mission a Training and Events trip to Vanuatu, building long-term Coordinator. relationships and impacting the lives of both the mission trip crew and the For further information, visit ni-Vanuatu. www.inpartnership.org.au/ volunteer or email embody State One hundred young people organised a flash mob at one of Victoria’s biggest Coordinator, Ally Jensen at ally@ embody.org.au. train stations, campaigning to end child slavery in Uzbekistan, and 3,000 young people raised more than $10,000 to build sporting facilities for their peers in Zimbabwe. page 24 A small group of young adults from The team would also love to hear from churches, youth groups or individuals wanting to know more about global mission and how to be part of this exciting new community. Volunteer positions available with embody At embody, we believe volunteering and stewardship of the time and skills God has given us, is one way of participating in global mission. Volunteering doesn’t simply have to be about stamping envelopes and running coffees. Volunteers can be central to the work we do. Check out some of the opportunities listed below, or email me if you are interested in finding out more - I would love to chat with you and work out a role that matches your skills with embody’s needs. Queensland Training and Events Coordinator Queensland Group Coordinator The Queensland Training and Events Coordinator will be a committed, relational and logistically capable embody community member who will facilitate key training activities throughout Queensland and organise our involvement in key Christian events occurring throughout the state. The Queensland Group Coordinator will be a highly relational, proactive and organised embody community member eager to equip and support young people as they engage their communities in global mission. This position will be responsible for overseeing embody campaign training days and other events that will equip and connect the Queensland embody community. This position will be responsible for the relational management, encouragement and equipping of embody group leaders and church representatives once groups have been established throughout Queensland. For further information or a job description, contact embody State Coordinator, Ally Jensen, via email at [email protected]. Churches of Christ in Queensland Save the life of a mother & her newborn Your donations will provide training to traditional birth attendants and help save lives. to find out more or donate Scan here For more details cofcqld.com.au/shine page 25 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Next Generation Leaders Network Churches of Christ in Queensland has launched the ‘Next Generation Leaders Network’. “The participants in the program are an excellent group of young people and they bonded quickly,” Marty said. This program will run for the next two years and has been set up to nurture talented young leaders who are connected to Churches of Christ churches. “Over the course of the three days, the room was continually filled with energy, ideas, debate and inspiration. Participants in the program are aged from 18-32 years and the male to female ratio is 50-50. There is also a majority representation from our rural churches which is an encouraging sign. From 19-21 March, 18 members of the Network came together for the first of six gatherings, which will occur across the duration of the program. The first gathering was combined with an Australian College of Ministries (ACOM) unit on “Foundations for Youth Ministry” and occurred at Southport Church of Christ on the Gold Coast. As well as training from Churches of Christ in Queensland’s Senior Youth Pastor, Marty Thompson, special guests’ input was provided by Ross Farley from TEAR, Danny Mitchell from Presbyterian Youth, and Scripture Union school chaplains, Erin Simpson and Alicia Shields. “If we continue to develop this team and other young people from within our churches, the movement of Churches of Christ in Queensland will be in good hands.” Over the course of the two-year program, participants will be required to attend a further six network gatherings: Centrifuge Mission Conference in May, National Youth Ministry Convention in October 2013, Youth Leadership Teams Weekend in January 2014, ACOM unit in June 2014, and Centrifuge Mission Conference in November 2014. Each successful participant has been granted a scholarship of $2,500 for those who are not enrolled in formal ministry study and $5,000 in total for those who are enrolled. You are invited... Official Opening and Community Day Saturday 25 May 10.30am - 2.00pm 28 Blaker Road Mitchelton stle Jumping Ca Live Entertainment Sausage Sizzle Community Stalls Plus much more... Help us celebrate the official opening of the Churches of Christ Campus at Mitchelton. The campus incorporates retirement living, community care, residential aged care, dementia care and community housing. It is also home to the Churches of Christ Historical Resource Centre. cofcqld.com.au The Crossing A life of radical discipleship requires a theology, disciplines and practice deeply rooted in the Biblical narrative of God interacting with, and through His people. Celebrating 130 years with a book If you are a young adult aged 16 to 25 who is interested in social justice and the call to mission and radical discipleship, Stirling Theological College invites you to attend The Crossing. It will reflect the story of Churches of Christ in Queensland and what can be learnt from our experiences through pictures and words. For further information, visit www.unoh.org/thecrossing or email [email protected]. Celebrating • years un itie s The all inclusive cost for the three days is only $150. Contributions can be sent to the Communications Division via email at [email protected] or by post to PO Box 508, Kenmore, Qld 4069. hrist in Qu of C ee s n he in ng Bri page 26 Stirling Theological College Principal, Andrew Menzies, who is committed and dedicated to preparing leaders theologically and practically for a life time of engaging mission, will be in attendance, along with Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH) workers including Ash Barker, Jon Owen and Jodie MacCartney, who will be Terry is an award-winning author, speaker and professor, specialising in indigenous peoples, cultures in context, anthropology, missions, and the church, and has been active in community-based, grassroots ministry for more than 30 years. “Our prayer is that there may be another mighty movement for God in our nation that includes Churches of Christ in Queensland,” Geoff said. nd sla centered, Spirit-inspired discipleship to be a sign of the coming kingdom to those in neighbourhoods facing issues of poverty. Terry Leblanc, a Mi’kmaq/Acadian (North American indigenous tribes) will also be joining campers. This account will build on the book “Venturing in Faith”, which was printed to celebrate the 100 year anniversary. Chu rc It is aimed at young people for the purpose of inviting and informing a new generation of a Christ- sharing real life stories of finding joy and hope in places of despair. To be a part of this historical production, invitations are now extended to churches and both missional and care services to contribute to the book by sharing the story of their church or service’s journey including pictures or documents. • Held at the Adanac Camp at Yarra Junction from 28-30 June, The Crossing is a camp where people are informed and inspired by God’s engagement in the world, and how he invites each of us to join with Him in loving and caring for the poor, the marginalised and the lost. To celebrate 130 years of Churches of Christ in Queensland, Geoff Risson and Craig Brown have been commissioned to produce a book celebrating the rich history of the organisation. gt he ligh t of Christ into com m page 27 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Retirement living is a Men’s shed empowering men with special needs The Nambour Men’s Shed recently hosted a “Disabilities in the Men’s Shed” workshop for local disability service providers’ managers. The aim of the workshop was to provide an opportunity for disability service managers to collaborate with the Men’s Shed management to discuss and agree upon a sustainable model that will assist clients with disabilities to have greater independence and involvement within the Men’s Shed for the long term. With two years’ experience in catering for men with disabilities, Nambour Men’s Shed has certainly gained a good understanding of what works well and what doesn’t work as effectively. Nambour Men’s Shed Coordinator and Churches of Christ in Queensland Mission Action Partner, Mark Wall, has come to the conclusion that the sheltered workshop type concept does not sit well with the Shed’s main objective of socialisation. page 28 Men’s Shed, making it their own while they are attending. “It is also envisaged that carers will assist their clients to participate within general shed operations with such things as maintaining their own supply stores, planning their own projects, fundraising to support their projects, cleaning, and preparing meals and social activities.” Each disability service provider is being encouraged to adopt a volunteer skilled project manager to help groups and individuals with project planning, material preparation and step-by-step instructions. “The disability service managers who attended the workshop are thrilled at how this new initiative has the potential to assist fellas with special needs to become more empowered, independent men within a man-friendly workshop environment,” Mark said. “We are now working with disability services to encourage and explore a greater sense of personal independence and responsibility for their clients, similar to other regular shed attendees,” Mark said. If you live in the vicinity of the Sunshine Coast and have some skills and experience in workshop techniques, Mark would love you to consider becoming a project manager, to assist men with disabilities and their carers within the Nambour Men’s Shed. “Instead of simply undergoing a project for only a few hours per week and then leaving, fellas with special needs will be encouraged to take greater ownership of the For further information, please contact Mark via email at blokesinshed22.salc@westnet. com.au or by phone on 07 5441 2527. lifestyle investment What goes around comes around In May 2012, Nambour Men’s Shed became aware of an ill Nambour resident, named Len. Len had great difficulty in accessing the footpath from his house to have a taxi transport him to medical appointments, so the men from the Shed went to work to provide a concrete path to assist him. Len has since recovered remarkably well and as an act of appreciation used his engineering skills to build a mobile work bench for the shed, and donated some new workshop tools. “Everyone is a winner when people willingly care for one another, for no other reason other than, because we can,” Nambour Men’s Shed Coordinator and Churches of Christ in Queensland Mission Action Partner, Mark Wall, said. Len’s well-appreciated gifts stand as a tangible reminder within the Men’s Shed that what goes around comes around. Retirement is meant to be the best time of your life, a time to relax and focus on the people and things you love and enjoy the most. For many, it can also mean creating their own personal sanctuary at the beachside or hinterland community, often on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, an area rich in services and lifestyle options for seniors. Imagine having the freedom to enjoy an active, independent, coastal lifestyle without the worry of maintaining your home and gardens, with the additional security of tailored care packages if ever required. Churches of Christ Care Retirement Living General Manager Kim Teudt said this is what makes living at one of the organisation’s three retirement villages at Nambour and Bribie Island so attractive and popular. “Our retirement villages offer total freedom and independence with the security of ageing-in-place, which means knowing you can stay in your home and community, with additional support available if and when you need it,” Mrs Teudt said. “Our industry leading retirement living model provides residents with support, companionship, personally tailored care and peace of mind, while enabling them to remain active members of the wider community. Residents of Churches of Christ’s Sanctuary Park Retirement Community at Nambour are also offered a choice between brand new and refurbished twobedroom units, some with the option of a study and second powder room. “Retirees live full lives, so the option of a study helps them continue to focus on learning and other interests without sacrificing living space or that all important guest accommodation,” Mrs Teudt said. “We have residents who are involved with the University of the Third Age and others whose sewing, craft or other interests need that extra space the study allows. “Also, being able to choose between new and refurbished units also increases the flexibility of their options and accommodates for different personal situations.” Sanctuary Park Retirement Community is close to local amenities including the Nambour Golf Club, hospitals, medical centres, shopping centres, council library, cinemas, churches and the bus and rail network to Brisbane. It is situated in a rainforest setting next to the beautiful Ferntree National Park and only a short drive to the famous Blackall Range towns of Maleny and Montville. Churches of Christ Care also operates two retirement villages on Bribie Island, Woorim Village and Bribie Island Village, for those retirees who prefer the option of beachfront access, but who still want to remain close to local services and amenities. Churches of Christ Care is one of the leading not-forprofit providers of retirement living in Queensland, operating 18 retirement villages throughout Queensland (14) and in Melbourne, Victoria (4). To find out more, or to request a tour of a Churches of Christ Care retirement village on the Sunshine Coast or throughout Queensland and Melbourne, Victoria, call 1800 199 740. page 29 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Lockyer Valley seniors battle for Games glory Nubeena and Amaroo become best of friends On Tuesday 12 March, Churches of Christ Care Amaroo Retirement Village in Gatton hosted the inaugural Lockyer Valley Seniors Games. Residents at Churches of Christ Care’s Amaroo and Nubeena Retirement Villages are thoroughly enjoying their newfound friendships. Amaroo and Regis Valley Views in Gatton together with Tabeel Nursing Home in Laidley, each fielded seven athletes, along with two support staff, who competed across seven disciplines - darts, grip ball, throw ball, hoops, basketball, golf putting and quoits. Amaroo also supplied an event coordinator, several off-duty staff and a number of volunteers to run the games. Lifestyle Coordinator, Janine Granzien, said enthusiasm was high from the moment the teams arrived. “It was exciting to see each team arrive in uniform; everyone’s morale was boosted at first sight,” Janine said. “It was a wonderful day and we have had so much positive feedback. It was certainly the highlight of our March. “Regis sent us a ‘Thank you’ card too, signed by each of their team members.” All athletes, officials and volunteers joined together for a cuppa and some delicious fresh scones before the ‘Games’ began. The competition was exciting and the events well-contested, with residents from each of the facilities enjoying the opportunity to relive, and reminisce about, their glory days. page 30 Churches of Christ in Queensland “Everyone was a winner,” Janine said. “There was so much laughter and interaction between everyone, whether they were participants or spectators. “It was also great that each group, rotating around the games, consisted of a member from each team; it gave all a chance to mix and to have their competitive streak appear. “We even had to have a ‘playoff’ between Amaroo and Regis to decide the winner of the basketball.” The games ran so smoothly that they finished ahead of schedule, so, following lunch, all athletes played Bingo until Member for Lockyer, Ian Rickuss, arrived in the afternoon to present the individual trophy winners and overall team champions. Vera won one trophy for Amaroo, with Tabeel also taking home a trophy. Regis claimed top honours in the other five events and the overall title. “Congratulations to Regis, but we will be in training for next year, so watch out!” Janine said. “I wish to thank all residents who participated on the day and those who watched on and encouraged the teams. Together they helped to make the day a huge succcess. “Thank you also to Emily for instigating the idea; Arnold, our volunteer, who organised the day; all our volunteers who assisted by running the games; and to our cook, Jenny, for preparing a delicious morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea - the quiches were a big hit; and to the staff who came in on their day off to help out. Thanks so much.” Churches of Christ Care is one of the leading not-for-profit providers of retirement living in Queensland, operating 18 retirement villages throughout Queensland and in Melbourne, Victoria. To find out more, or to request a tour of a Churches of Christ Care retirement village in Queensland or Melbourne, call 1800 199 740. Following a village meeting at Amaroo, residents told staff they would like to arrange a social gettogether with their counterparts at Nubeena. Always obliging where possible, Amaroo, Nubeena and Crows Nest Retirement Living Manager, Jan Beutel, and her staff quickly set about making the request happen. The first gathering of new friends took place in March, and Jan said it has fast become a highlight on many of the residents’ social calendars. “Churches of Christ Care’s retirement villages have always been a lifestyle investment: an investment in an active, independent lifestyle where residents can age-in-place with total freedom and independence; so we were obviously more than happy to accommodate their request,” Jan said. “Word quickly spread to Nubeena and the residents were all excitedly arranging to go to Amaroo for afternoon tea and a chin wag, and Charmaine Huth (administration officer) and I accompanied three car loads of residents down the range from Toowoomba to Gatton. “The laughter and chatter coming from the room was just wonderful to hear. They shared cakes made by the residents and chocolates, and everyone had such a good time. “During the conversations, residents discovered that many of them loved playing indoor bowls, and so in April we headed back down the range for a game of bowls followed by a cuppa. “They have come to enjoy each others’ company so much, that they have decided to make this a monthly event and are counting down the days to 29 May for the next gathering.” Churches of Christ Care is one of the leading not-for-profit providers of retirement living in Queensland, operating 18 retirement villages throughout Queensland and in Melbourne, Victoria. To find out more, or to request a tour of a Churches of Christ Care retirement village in Queensland or Melbourne, call 1800 199 740. page 31 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Restoration Vision Retreat 6:30pm Friday 9th August 2013 Brisbane City Hall, King George Square Aims Our Restoration Vision Retreats aim to: • impart an understanding and appreciation of the history, DNA and unique features of Churches of Christ in Queensland as a frontier missional movement within the kingdom of God Who should attend? Anyone interested in understanding Churches of Christ and its expression of ministry activities is invited to attend our Restoration Vision Retreats. In particular, all ministerial leaders throughout Churches of Christ in Queensland are encouraged to participate. This includes paid and voluntary leaders, Next Generation Leader Network and Fresh Horizons Leader Network members, and Australian College of Ministries (ACOM) students based in Queensland. Retreat content The Restoration Vision Retreats are generally a two-day, live-in event. However, the content can be presented in other formats to suit local/regional needs. • consolidate our contemporary vision and future directions • build unity across all missional activities • welcome and incorporate new leaders • refresh and refocus existing leaders Session 2: The Restoration Movement in church history. • assist ministering persons to meet endorsement requirements Session 3: The Restoration Movement’s history, DNA and core beliefs. • renew leadership focus and passion for the next stage of the journey. Session 4: The church united through its diversity. Session 1: Restoration Vision Retreat introductions, aims and sharing of stories. Session 5: Churches of Christ’s history in Queensland and Australia. Session 6: Churches of Christ in Queensland’s vision of bringing the light of Christ into communities. Session 7: Churches of Christ in Queensland’s future – our resources, networks and priorities. page 32 For more information contact Ross Pelling Senior Pastor - Leader Development, Mission Division P: 0428 195 226 E: [email protected] When and where are the retreats held? Two Restoration Vision Retreats are held each year at venues across South-East Queensland. Additional retreats can be held regionally when 12 or more leaders are in attendance. The retreats run for two days, from the morning of the first to the afternoon of the second. However, other time/day configurations can be arranged to suit individual requirements. Why is the retreat held over two days? Supporting people at risk of homelessness BOOK NOW cofcqld.com.au/caredinner or contact Chris Stone on 07 3327 1627 or email [email protected] SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE Tickets Table of ten Restoration Vision Retreats are a concentrated period of vision building and learning. They are held over two days to allow ample time for prayer, reflection, discussion, networking and inspiration. Costs The full cost of the two annual Restoration Vision Retreats will be covered by Churches of Christ in Queensland. A shared cost for other retreats in local/regional areas can be negotiated. l Mystiq u o S ue Featuring world class entertainment! $225 $2000 M s- on Bec L au gh t The purpose of our Restoration Vision Retreats is to provide a setting for ministerial leaders throughout Churches of Christ in Queensland to connect, network and be inspired to continue bringing the light of Christ into communities. ris Bombol h C a Purpose C page 33 networking networking Churches of Christ in Queensland Churches of Christ in Queensland Inspire Bright Solutions for the Women of Vietnam Empowering Women: Challenging Poverty Speakers Aliki & Donna Savill with music by Krysalus & Claire Hazard Bundaberg Church of Christ Women’s Conference Providing an opportunity for women in Vietnam to become part of a formal workforce. By providing employment to single mothers, widows, low skilled or unemployed women, Bright Solutions aims to increase their work skills, job prospects and self-confidence, thus empowering them and their families to move towards financial independence. Cost $25 (Earlybird) $30 (after 16/6/2013) 13 July 2013 Includes gift bag, meals and refreshments. Shining Like Stars Help to support women employed by Bright Solutions in Vietnam by purchasing handcrafted items. Request a brochure at www.inpartnership.org.au Global Mission Partners Churches of Christ in Australia 07 4155 1619 www.bundabergchurch.com Bundaberg Twyford Street Church of Christ A Ministry of Churches of Christ in Queensland important AnnuAl CelebrAtion FeASt Join us for a MAY Saturday 15th June 2013 fantastic evening 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start of fun, food, giveaways, ministry resources showcase, awarding of the annual Dream Grant and saying thanks. Churches of Christ Campus, Mitchelton 28 Blaker Road, Mitchelton Tickets just $15 per person Special Guest: tbA Churches of Christ in Queensland ignite giveaways page 34 lolly buffet Ministry resources showcase A feast of information, ideas, inspiration, motivation and fun for children’s ministry leaders. register today at cofcqld.com.au 15 dates Children’s ministry Annual Celebration Feast 23 Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea 16-22 Drug Action Week 26 National sorry day 20 World Refugee Day JUNE 1 JULY Seniors’ Month 5 World Environment Day 7 NAIDIOC Week For the 2013 Calendar of Important Dates visit www.cofcaustralia.org page 35 BEQUESTS MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE GROWTH OF GOD’S KINGDOM A bequest, however large or small, is a legacy of love. It stands as a monument to the values you hold dear. The Christian beliefs and faith we hold in this life are passed down to future generations so that they too may know the love of Jesus and continue His work. Through a bequest to Churches of Christ you can continue to strengthen God’s kingdom and ensure its growth into the future for the benefit of generations to come. Whatever the purpose of the gift and whatever the amount, Churches of Christ in Queensland treats every gift with the utmost diligence and respect. You can be assured that your bequest will be used for the growth of the kingdom of God. A Will is one of the most important documents you will ever sign! Without a valid Will, you will have no say in how your estate is managed after death, and your assets will be distributed according to State Law, even if your intentions are well-known. Taking time to write your Will allows you to make provision for your family and friends. It also gives you the opportunity to let your love live on through a bequest to Churches of Christ in Queensland. DONATE TODAY! Post to: Churches of Christ in Queensland PO BOX 508 Kenmore, Qld 4069 www.cofcqld.com.au Phone: 1800 600 900 Head Office 41 Brookfield Road Kenmore Queensland 4069 Phone (07) 3327 1600 Fax (07) 3878 1268 Website cofcqld.com.au