A sporting success story

theadvocate.tv
In Conversation Rodrick Gilbert talks about the
disciple making movement he leads in the slum
areas of New Delhi, India. PAGE 12 >>
NOVEMBER 2015
“What surprises await us as we take up His challenge?”
SHERIDAN VOYSEY PAGE 13>>
3 Prayer for justice
Hundreds pray on the lawns
of Parliament House >>
7 SportsFest
Photo: Ross Daniels
Participants’ reflections on
SportsFest >>
15 For the children
Puzzles for the kids
to enjoy >>
Lakeside Baptist Church were pleased with their results at this year’s SportsFest as they claimed the overall title.
A sporting success story
Terry Hicks
The words ‘let the games begin’ was the cue for
over 1,300 competitors and volunteers from over
30 churches to excitedly exit the Leschenault
Leisure Centre to commence SportsFest 2015.
Thus commenced three days
of friendly competition across
40 different sporting activities
ranging from basketball,
football and ultimate frisbee
and fishing to the more
mentally challenging UNO and
Scrabble.
SportsFest is an annual
event coordinated by Baptist
Churches Western Australia
(BCWA) held annually over
the September long weekend
at various sporting venues in
Bunbury, Australind and Eaton,
with the aim of bringing young
adults together for ministry,
fellowship and sport.
The hugely popular event
once again created great
opportunities for young
people to get to know each
other in a non-threatening
environment where people
could just enjoy the fun of
being together.
A highlight of the event
is always Saturday morning’s
opening ceremony where all
churches present their team
banner and theme, often
cleverly based on well-known
movies, brands or slogans,
while all team members are
decked out in their matching
t-shirts.
Sunday night’s service
was eagerly anticipated
and saw an exciting time of
worship, with the sound of
1,300 people singing very
stirring to all present. As part
of the service BCWA Pastoral
Consultant Rob Furlong
presented a challenging
gospel message which lead
to many of those present
respond to the message by
heading to the front of the
stage for prayer or noting this
on their response card.
The service was not
without some serious
incidents with a power surge
totally disabling the sound
desk and the power units of
various electronic devices.
This resulted in ‘controlled’
frantic activity to repair
equipment before the service
began, including a return
road trip to Mandurah. Event
coordinators shared that
despite the disruptions and
issues they felt it was evident
that overall this was God’s
hand in control as the service
successfully came together.
}} Continued P10
We are
stronger
when
we work
together.
BAPTIST CHURCHES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
2
my view
NOVEMBER 2015
Building community today
Believers are architects. We are charged with designing and redesigning
community life in relation to our faith in Jesus Christ. God has chosen that His key
instrument for this building program is the Church, despite all its imperfections.
Stephen Nosworthy
Stephen Nosworthy is Senior
Pastor at Lake Joondalup
Baptist Church.
It is the very community which
is a visible symbol of Christ’s
presence and His activity in
the world. While it’s true that
some people have distorted this
image and even misrepresented
what the church is all about, the
Church continues to mediate
God’s real presence to humanity,
seeking to transform the quality
of people’s lives.
During the last months of
his life, from prison, Dietrich
Bonhoeffer sketched the outline
of a book which he did not live
to complete. He wrote about
Christian discipleship as ‘being
there for others’. This was and
is an emphasis on servanthood
which represents the life of Jesus.
Being part of a servant
community means exactly what
Bonheoffer wrote about – ‘being
there for others’. Community
amongst people only becomes
possible in its deepest sense in
the context of our communion
with God. This seems to be
consistent with being called to
love God first. It is this devotion
that leads us to love others. How
we do this in the midst of
busy lives is a great challenge,
but it has to be met. Jesus
demonstrated the importance
of valuing people, with His love
being the supreme quality in all
His relationships.
Consider again the
gospel in which we see Jesus
continually engaging with
people. When He talked
about love, He was quick
to demonstrate it. There
was never a credibility gap
between what He said and who
He was. In His teaching on
love, Jesus preferred stories
to lectures. He demonstrated
the depth of what He taught by
how He lived. None of us can
adequately stand against the
measuring stick that is Jesus
Christ; yet we are challenged to
respond to His grace and live for
Him each day.
‘Because we loved you so
much, we were delighted to
share with you not only the
gospel of God but our lives as
well.’ [1 Thessalonians 2:8]
When I no longer remember ...
The Bible has many striking images, but one of my favourites is the creation of
Adam from the dust of the earth and the breath of God. It wonderfully conveys
that we are simultaneously frail and majestic ... mere dust, but animated by the
very breath of God.
Dr Brian Harris
Dr Brian Harris is the
Principal of Vose Seminary
and Pastor at Large for the
Carey Group.
At times the truth of this strikes
deeply – as with the unexpected
news that my indestructible
mother-in-law, at the age of 98,
has developed dementia. We
thought she was too old for that
– she seemed forever immune
to the ailments that strike other
mortals. But we were wrong.
Her husband was John,
but preferred his second name
Grady. He died 24 years ago,
having served as a Baptist
pastor for all the 54 years of their
marriage. She (and he) were ‘old
school’. They saw sacrifice as
normal – even a privilege. One
of the first churches they served
had no manse, and as they had
no money to rent a house, they
stayed in the church office which
had to be home for them and
the two young boys they had at
that stage. It was a time of great
economic hardship, a time to
trust God to provide.
It birthed so many stories ...
Mother-in-law: “Did I tell you
about the time we had no food?”
Us: “There must have been
some?”
Mother-in-law: “No nothing,
nothing at all. Dreadful to be a
mother with no food for your
children.”
Us: “Couldn’t you have asked
for help?”
Mother-in-law: “We did. We
asked God.’”
Us: “And what happened?”
Mother-in-law: “Nothing.
I was desperate but Grady just
said, ‘keep praying’. And pray
we did. But nothing happened
until ten minutes to seven that
night, when a stranger knocked
at the church door (our home)
announcing he had heard God
tell him to drop off a large supply
of food. He was not to delay.
Never did a meal taste better, and
I’ve never doubted God since.”
Ah mother-in-law ... you’ve
forgotten that story now. Never
mind. We haven’t. And God can
still be trusted ...
Line in the sand
Upon leaving the church I began to ask myself the question, “Why does this
church, whose theology usually supports infant baptism, place so much emphasis
on believer’s baptism by immersion – even more emphasis than the Baptist
churches that I visit or have been a part of in Australia?”
Phil Bryant
Phil Bryant is the Church
Health Consultant for Baptist
Churches Western Australia.
We were in Singapore on a
Sunday and being unfamiliar
with the church scene my wife
and I looked for a church with
an English speaking service.
We were greeted
enthusiastically by Chinese
people. We knew nothing
about the church but as we read
literature and listened to the
preaching and comments we
gradually discovered that it was
a Presbyterian church. However,
we were surprised to hear so many
mentions of baptism by immersion.
It was even a requirement for those
participating in communion.
As I thought through my big
question I came to the conclusion
that this church is located in a very
multicultural society. The hotel was
surrounded by meeting houses
and temples of many religions.
By placing a strong emphasis on
believer’s baptism the church was
calling on people to draw a line in
the sand and say to the culture, “We
are now followers of Jesus”.
That reminds me of the church
of the New Testament. Existing
in a multicultural society with
multiple religions or no religion,
new believers were baptised the
moment that they chose to follow
Jesus. Acts 2:41 begins a theme that
is continued throughout the New
Testament when it says ‘Those who
accepted his message [Peter] were
baptised and about 3,000 were
added to their number that day.’
Belief is followed by baptism.
Why? Because to choose to
follow Jesus means a change in a
person’s life beliefs and direction. As
I have the privilege of visiting many
Baptist churches in Australia I have
discovered that generally baptism is
rarely mentioned. It is the exception
to see a church challenging people
to be become followers of Jesus and
be baptised. And yet we are living in
a multicultural and multi-religious
society. My thought – maybe
we could learn from the New
Testament and our Singaporean
brothers and sisters in Christ about
encouraging people to ‘draw a line
in the sand’?
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3
NOVEMBER 2015
United in prayer for justice
Voices for Justice participants gathered in prayer on the lawns of Parliament House.
“Having Christians around
the country praying in this way
sends a powerful message to
politicians and reminds them
that we hold politicians to their
highest calling which is to work
for the common good and to
protect the rights of the poor and
needy both within our borders
and beyond them,” said Micah
Australia National Coordinator
Ben Thurley.
Voices for Justice event
participants combined prayer
with action by meeting
with over a hundred Federal
politicians to discuss ways
Australia will support the new
Millennium Development
Goals by restoring Australia’s
aid program and increasing
emission reduction targets to
combat climate change.
Baptisms in the gorge
Photo: Jon Arnott
Since 2006 Micah Challenge’s
annual Voices for Justice event
has been held in Canberra to
raise a united voice for justice
and influence Australia’s
leaders to act against global
poverty, and empowering
Christians to become lifelong
advocates for the poor.
Lobby group leader and
Carlingford Baptist Church
(New South Wales) member
Sarita Hales was amongst the
almost 200 participants who
joined with Federal politicians
and local Christians in a public
candlelit prayer vigil on the
Parliament House lawns.
“Prayer is an incredibly vital
part of advocacy because we’re
not the ones that can achieve
justice, only God can, He is
just gracious enough to work
through us,” Sarita said.
“The prayer vigil was a
great opportunity to remember
this, and to join our brothers
and sisters all around the
country in praying for justice.”
As participants gathered
outside Parliament House to
pray for the nation’s leaders,
Christians from over 40
local churches and Christian
groups across the country,
representing all major
denominations, joined in
corresponding prayer vigils.
Photo: Lewis Best, Micah Australia
Hundreds of
Christians from
churches across the
nation gathered to pray
for Australia’s leaders
and contribution to
a world free from
extreme poverty as
part of the annual
Voices for Justice
event in October.
Tom Price Baptist Church Pastor Gavin Douglas, Jakayla Reid, Sharnee Meagher and Emma Bradbury prepare
for Sharnee’s baptism.
Gavin Douglas
The church door was
locked and a sign was
posted on it saying, ‘No
service here today’.
The community of Tom Price
Baptist Church, along with a
team from Youth for Christ
(YFC), had jumped into their
four wheel drives and headed
out on the dusty road to
Hamersley Gorge.
Sunday 20 September was
no normal Sunday – it was a
baptismal service for Sharnee
Meagher. This was the first
baptism in many years for the
community, and there was great
excitement that Sharnee was
making a public declaration of
her faith.
An hour after leaving the
church, the people descended
into the gorge. Attendees shared
that God’s creation was on display
in all its glory, with one member
stating “we live in God’s country”.
The community gathered
together in the natural cathedral
and sung ‘God of Wonders’ and
‘Indescribable’. Those present
shared stories, readings and
prayers, affirming Sharnee and
her faith.
Sharnee confidently shared
a testimony of her faith in Jesus
and thanked the support of her
family, church and YFC.
Emma Bradbury and Jakayla
Reid from YFC had been to Tom
Price on mission trips a couple
times over the past three years
and had seen the transformation
in Sharnee’s life. On this trip, they
were asked if they were willing to
baptise Sharnee at her request.
“From all the seeds that YFC
had planted in young peoples’
lives across the North West, a
seed had sprouted in Sharnee
and it was a privilege to have
the opportunity to water it and
celebrate in baptism,” one church
member said.
The children, family and
friends gathered at the water’s
edge, while Sharnee, Emma and
Jakayla, along with Tom Price
Baptist Church Pastor Gavin
Douglas, stepped into the chilly
water of the gorge, and Sharnee
was baptised. As Sharnee
stepped out of the water the
community sung her favourite
song ‘Oceans’.
4
news
NOVEMBER 2015
Pastors accredited for ministry
Jill Birt
the financial report and
acknowledged the extensive
service of BCWA Accountant
Peter Lu. Peter is due to retire
in February 2016 after 20 years
serving the denomination.
“Peter has done an amazing
job – this report includes his
20th unqualified audit,”
Greg said.
“I want to personally
acknowledge the significant
contribution he has made to our
churches.”
Phil Beeck, Jeff Jackson, Eliot Vlatko, Malcolm Good and Van Cung Ling were welcomed as accredited pastors
at the Baptist Churches Western Australia Annual Assembly.
20 years of service
Terry Hicks
Peter Lu became
the longest serving
employee of Baptist
Churches Western
Australia (BCWA),
celebrating 20 years of
service in October.
As a much loved member
of staff, Peter has witnessed
many changes in the time
he has been with BCWA,
including software upgrades
on financial systems and the
start of the partnership with
Baptist Financial Services.
BCWA Business Manager
Greg Holland spoke at the staff
gathering to recognise his years
with BCWA, thanking Peter for
his significant contribution
to Baptist churches. Greg also
outlined a brief history of the
process of Peter’s appointment.
The Baptist Churches
Western Australia Annual
Assembly held in 1995 decided
to appoint an accountant and
Peter commenced work on 16
October 1995.
Peter’s quiet, helpful and
thorough work is illustrated in part
by the fact that there has been 20
years of unqualified audits.
At the time of his
appointment, Trevor Harvey
was President, Bob Clark was
the Director of Ministries,
Neil Campbell was General
Secretary and Brian Read
was Chairman of the Finance
Committee for BCWA.
Baptist Churches Western
Australia management, pastors
and staff congratulate Peter on 20
years of service in the ministry of
Baptist churches.
Photo: Terry Hicks
During the half-day event, five
pastors were accredited for
ministry in Baptist churches: Phil
Beeck (East Fremantle Baptist
Church Senior Pastor), Van Cung
Ling (Western Australia Chin
Christian Church Pastor), Malcom
Good (Katanning Baptist Church
Pastor), Jeff Jackson (CranbrookFrankland Baptist Church Pastor)
and Eliot Vlatko (Kalgoorlie
Baptist Church Senior Pastor).
Another group of leaders had
their accreditation transferred
from interstate or overseas:
Grant Ludlow (Australian
Defence Force Chaplain),
Pa Hrang Humng (Western
Australia Chin Christian Church
Senior Pastor), Alex Huggett
(Coastal Community Church
Pastor), Victor Owuor (BCWA
Cross Cultural and Indigenous
Ministries Consultant), Graeme
Ritchie (Denmark Baptist Church
Pastor), Robin Taylor (Sorrento
Christian Church Pastor) and
Garth Wootton (Newman Baptist
Church Interim Pastor).
The 50 voice choir from
the WA Chin Christian Church
performed a four-part harmony
choral item in the Chin language.
The group predominantly
consists of young adults.
Vose Seminary Principal,
Dr Brian Harris was guest
speaker at the gathering,
highlighting answers to some
of the arguments against
Christianity raised by the new
atheist movement.
BCWA Director of Ministries
Pastor Mark Wilson presented
a comprehensive report of the
ministries of BCWA.
BCWA Business Manager
Greg Holland spoke to
Photo: Terry Hicks
Over 200 delegates from city and country Baptist
churches converged at Morley Baptist Church for
the Baptist Churches Western Australia Annual
Assembly on Saturday 17 October.
The BCWA team gathered to celebrate Peter Lu’s milestone in October.
digital church
06/10/15
07/10/15
leadingsmart.com
The vision – It is the vision
that draws people. Proverbs
29:18 says ‘Where there is
no vision, the people perish’
(KJV).
stephenmcalpine.com
With God, unlike fallen
humanity, there is no
dissonance between the word
spoken and what the word
achieves. Sin has corrupted
language, just as much … as it
has corrupted everything else.
Praise God there is one King’s
man – but only one – who can
put language back together again.
Tim Stevens
07/10/15
JD Greear
jdgreear.com
Other religions say, “Do this
and you’ll earn your way to
heaven.” But only the gospel
says, “It’s already done. Come
broken, come sinful, come
empty … and receive life
eternal.”
Stephen McAlpine
08/10/15
CS Lewis
twitter.com/CSLewisDaily
Our Father refreshes us on the
journey with some pleasant
inns, but will not encourage us to
mistake them for home.
08/10/15
Donald Miller
twitter.com/donaldmiller
If you want to be the most
courageous leader, just be
vulnerable. Most ‘tough’ leaders
aren’t bold enough. You’ll stand out.
09/10/15
Eugene Cho
twitter.com/EugeneCho
There’s no such thing as a selfmade person. Someone believed,
encouraged, invested in you. Be
grateful ... and be that ‘someone’
for others.
10/10/15
Ron Edmondson
ronedmondson.com
Be Kingdom-minded. Think of
others interests even ahead of
your own. (That’s biblical.)
11/10/15
Rick Warren
rickwarren.org
We’ve been waiting 2,000 years
now for Jesus to come again.
When is He going to come again?
At just the right time – God’s
time … You need to apply this
to your time of waiting and
remember that a delay is not
a denial. When you think God
is saying “No,” He may just be
saying, “Not yet. Will you keep
trusting me through this?”
12/10/15
John Piper
desiringgod.org
Christianity means change is
possible. Deep, fundamental
change. It is possible to become
tender-hearted when once you
were callous and insensitive.
12/10/15
Todd Adkins
twitter.com/ToddAdkins
How completely satisfying it is
to turn from our limitations to
a God who has none. –
AW Tozer
news
5
NOVEMBER 2015
Karen refugees cleaning Carey
Caitlin du Toit
Carey Group Business Manager
Mark Wagenaar was inspired to
find employment for a group of
Karen refugees after meeting
with Miranda Cooper. Miranda, a
member of Carey Baptist Church
was teaching the refugees
English. In turn Mark had an idea
to turn Carey’s need for cleaning
services into a missional platform
opportunity.
Carey ended their external
cleaning contract at the end of
Term 3 and have since employed
seven Karen refugees to be the
cleaning team for the Carey Group,
which encompasses Carey Baptist
Church, Carey Baptist College and
Jump Carey Early Development.
This initiative was established to
provide the Karen people with
stable employment, but more
importantly an opportunity of
hope and compassion.
The Karen people experienced
great hardship in Burma due
to violent attacks by Burmese
soldiers. Although many were left
without their families and homes,
remarkably they still speak of the
wonderful things God has done
for them.
The team, consisting of
one full-time and six parttime employees, are led by the
Property Services Team Support
Manager, Tony Dower. Tony will
also act as a mentor to the Karen
people and provide them with
any support or encouragement
they need. He has worked
with the team since their
commencement at Carey early
October and has since trained
Photo: Carey Group
The start of a new school term always brings about
new and exciting projects, but for the Carey Group
it has been so much more – they have seen the
beginning of a new missional platform.
Multicultural Workforce Development Coordinator Paul Kyaw with Karen cleaning team members La Bleh, Klo Seh,
Naw Ti, Daisy and Kin Sweh, and Carey Baptist Church member Miranda Cooper.
them to be a fully functioning
cleaning team. The team will
also be given the opportunity
to complete traineeships while
employed at Carey.
Although this project has
not been without challenges,
the staff at Carey all feel
encouraged and excited about
this new platform.
“It’s amazing how God allows
us to work and we are so grateful
for the opportunities He gives
us to be a hand and foot to these
people,” Mark said.
For Scott Ingram, starting
his own business was a
childhood dream.
“In Year 6, one of my teachers
started a ‘micro-economy’ in our
classroom,” Scott said.
“Students were given ‘fake’
money for good behaviour.”
Even at this young age, Scott
quickly discovered an aptitude for
business.
“Rather than treating the
teacher as the only source of
income, I realised I could start a
business and make ‘fake’ money
that way.”
“By the end of the year I had
employed half the class and sent
the teacher bankrupt,” Scott said.
“From this experience I knew
I wanted to one day start a real
business.”
Now the owner of Helium
Digital Marketing, Scott’s dream
has become reality. Helium offers
services which help small business
owners with their online presence.
Through helping others, Scott
gets the opportunity to let God’s
presence in his life shine through.
“I get great satisfaction from
giving value to our clients. We’ve
had clients jump out their chair to
give me a high five.”
While it took a leap of faith,
Scott has always felt that starting
Helium was the right decision.
“I feel God has given me a
passion and aptitude for business,
and that being involved in business
is His plan for my life,” he said.
“By taking an honest and
authentic approach to business,
I find I’m given an abundance
of opportunities to share why I
do business the way I do, which
means sharing my faith as well.”
Photo: Kirsty Russell
Dream a reality for Christian entrepreneur
Scott Ingram was guest speaker at the ‘After 5’ Business Edge networking
event earlier this year
6
news
NOVEMBER 2015
Morley cares for chaplains
Chaplains play a crucial role in looking out for the
needs of others, but who is there to support the
needs of chaplains?
“Being connected in the
context not to the context where
the spirituality that motivates
our pastoral care practice has its
foundations in a theologically
reflective faith community,”
John explained.
One of the
major issues that
chaplains face is
that of isolation.
People can
assist chaplains
by regularly
praying for
those involved
in chaplaincy ...
Photo: Terry Myers
The question of how to care for
chaplains prompted Morley Baptist
Church to conduct a training
morning for Baptist Churches
Western Australia’s network of
contacts involved in chaplaincy.
Chaplains from a variety of
areas including sports, prison
ministry, aged care, schools and
Baptistcare attended the seminar.
Morley Baptist Church Senior
Pastor Rev. John Crosby, an active
mentor and trainer of chaplains
in the Australian Defence Forces,
was the main presenter at the
first training morning held
on Saturday 19 September. He
spoke on the topic of ‘Injury and
Moral Repair for the Chaplain’,
including the need for self-care
in the push for the secularisation
of the chaplain’s role to become
‘mental health providers’.
The training highlighted that
it the need for chaplains to have
a support team to sustain them
in critical times of ministry and
service. There is a real need for
the church to reclaim the identity
and purpose of their chaplains to
sustain them in tough times.
“One of the major issues that
chaplains face is that of isolation.
People can assist chaplains
by regularly praying for those
involved in chaplaincy, ensuring
they are connected into the wider
body of the fellowship of the
church and regularly asking them,
“How are they going?,” John said.
John also shared that
connecting with the local
church can help chaplains to
maintain their focus on the ‘big
picture’ of God’s world whilst
they serve in a world that at
times lacks connection.
Chaplains gathered for caring support at Morley Baptist Church.
A minute with ...
Specialising in:
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Those that attended the
training were reported to be
extremely positive and found the
information beneficial to their
individual situations.
The training session was
organised by Morley Baptist
Church member Terry Myers,
who is currently completing a
Graduate Diploma in Chaplaincy
at Murdoch University. Terry is
involved in sports chaplaincy with
a local football club. Following
the success of the first training
morning, more activities are being
planned for chaplains through the
ministry of Morley Baptist Church.
School general cleaning
Window cleaning
Carpet steam cleaning
High-pressure cleaning
Post-construction cleaning
End of lease, move in, move out
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Phone: 0455 331 957
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Armadale area, Perth, WA
Tom Price Baptist
Church Pastor
Gavin Douglas
briefs
Pastoral changes
Pastor Daniel Rodgers has
commenced as the new Youth
and Young Adults Pastor at Lake
Joondalup Baptist Church. Pastor
Hrang Hmung is the new Senior
Pastor at Western Australia Chin
Christian Church. Pastor Alex
Huggett is concluding as the
Pastor at Coastal Community
Church. Pastor Robyn Christie has
concluded as a Young Adults Pastor
at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.
Attadale Baptist Church
closed on 4 October 2015 after
60 years of ministry to the area
of Attadale. Former Pastors Glen
Lock and James (Jim) Gibbon
were present, and Mark Wilson
reflected on the Church’s history.
The property was sold to the
Covenant Bible-Presbyterian
Church by the members of
Attadale Baptist Church. The
proceeds of the sale have been
donated to Baptist Churches
Western Australia.
Retirees’ round-up
The sixth Retiree’s Round-up
for retired Baptist Pastors was
held recently at Riverton Baptist
Community Church and was
attended by over 30 pastors
and their spouses. The annual
event was initiated by Bob and
Sue Clark over five years ago
as a way of drawing together
those who were no longer in
‘full-time’ pastoral ministry
and as a means of keeping in
contact with each other for
support and encouragement.
The Clarks have now handed
the responsibility for the event
over to Baptist Churches Western
Australia (BCWA). “This is all
about recognising the significant
ministry of a number of our
pastors who have moved into the
‘retirement’ phase of their life as
well as drawing them together
for fellowship, prayer and
encouragement,” BCWA Pastoral
Consultant Rob Furlong said.
Colouring-in for
Christians
There is a colouring-in for
adults movement happening at
the moment which is thought
to help with stress. Australian
Lorien Atwood from Lorien
Illustrations is currently working
on a Christian colouring-in book
Meditations: Beautiful Bible verses
for colouring. This book allows
you to meditate on a particular
verse of scripture while colouringin. To place a pre-sale order or for
more information, visit
www.lorien-illustrations.com
What led you to this role?
Some say “Once you get the
red dust of the Pilbara in your
blood, you never get rid of
it.” God had placed a love for
the North West in me during
childhood. When God opened
a way for our family to head
north into ‘God’s country’ we
had to follow.
Where is the church located?
In the heart of the Tom Price
community at 87 Oleander
Street.
What time are services held?
We have a service at 9.30am
every Sunday.
How and when did the
church start?
The church started as a Baptist
fellowship back in the late
1970s.
What is a feature of your
church or ministry you’d like
to share?
We have a lot of people pass
through Tom Price, from all
different denominational
backgrounds. People often stay
for a couple of years then head
off to somewhere else. I love that
people are given opportunities
to have a go at serving in
different aspects of the church,
and the broader community,
and then use those skills in
other churches when they leave.
A final thought …
A big thank you to everyone
that has passed through our
community, engaged in the
town and church. It is great
to see so many of you have
gone on to serve God in
different ways within the
Kingdom of God.
To anyone passing through
‘God’s country’, visiting places
like Karijini; drop-in and
celebrate God’s handiwork with
us. We love visitors!
news
7
NOVEMBER 2015
Reflections on SportsFest
Wez Blackett, East Fremantle Baptist Church
and on fire for our great God and
beginning to become involved
in our young adults ministry! A
special mention goes to our two
New Life Christian Community
Church team members who I trust
will join us again next year.
We thank God for the strong
Bible teaching exhibited at this
year’s event, providing all of us
with the challenging thought
of who do our hearts belong to?
Do our lives and our goals in life
reflect the fact that our hearts
should belong to Christ?
This year’s event, from our
team’s perspective, was exciting
because as a ‘small church’ we
came seventh overall and top of
the small church category, but
final placings are irrelevant when
you begin to consider that out of
26 team members, ten were ‘youth
groupers’. How exciting it is to see
these great kids becoming excited
captains with the 2015 Small Church trophy.
My SportsFest experience
SportsFest
provides a great
opportunity
in which
Christians can
come together ...
Baptist Churches Western Australia Director of Ministries Mark Wilson presents East Fremantle Baptist Church
Sally Pim, Riverton Baptist Community Church
Even though this was to be my seventh
SportsFest, the excitement was no less as I walked
into the gym where our team from Riverton
Baptist Community Church would be staying
over the long weekend.
Some things had changed
since my first experience at
SportsFest back in 2005, not
least of all my choice of bedding
for this occasion. While the
younger crew mocked and
laughed at the stretcher I set up,
the older ‘SportsFest veterans’
looked on with respect and
admiration, knowing I had got
my priorities right.
As it turns out, it seems the
rest of the ‘Rivo team’ didn’t
need the good night’s rest to
play well and by the end of the
weekend we were all stoked to
take home second place.
It wasn’t just winning the
games we enjoyed. Spending a
weekend building friendships
with those both on our team,
and from other church teams
was a huge highlight. Another
was Rob Furlong’s inspiring
message at the Sunday night
rally reminding us to turn from
our selfish ways and commit to
and follow Jesus in obedience.
Photo: Terry Hicks
Perhaps more importantly, it is an
event where not yet Christians feel
comfortable in coming along and
are exposed to the truth of Jesus
in a way that does not feel too
forced or too ‘preachy’.
What does this mean for us at
East Fremantle Baptist Church?
Well for starters, talk about
‘cool themes’ for the team begin
about one week after the end of
the previous year’s SportsFest.
These ideas range from the
ridiculous – ‘The Amazing
Spider Jesus’ was quickly rejected
– to the more theologically
appropriate. More significantly,
these conversations are between
the non-Christians and Christians
alike and show the enthusiasm
that this event has.
Photo: Terry Hicks
In a society and culture where sport is such a
prominent way of socialising and keeping active,
SportsFest provides a great opportunity in which
Christians can come together and spend a weekend
in fellowship with one another.
Riverton Baptist Community Church showing their strength as team.
Every year this weekend
provides such a valuable
opportunity to connect with
others, have a lot of fun, and
discover something more of
who God is. Bring on next year!
Photos: David Alderson, Ross Daniels, Terry Hicks, Ian Walker and Sarah Wickham.
10 news
NOVEMBER 2015
}} Continued from P1
A sporting success
story
The worshipful atmosphere
was again very evident when
a musician collapsed on
stage, which resulted in the
service being stopped for
some time as the person was
treated and taken to hospital
by ambulance. (They were fine
after a night in hospital.) The
crowd of 1,300 chatted, prayed
and waited patiently as the
musician was treated.
Amazingly someone from
the congregation came up and
offered to fill-in for the person
and with no practice and fitted
in perfectly. Service organisers
had no idea who this person
was, but again shared their
gratitude at God’s provision.
Lakeside Baptist Church’s
team was the overall winner of
SportsFest 2015 competition,
while East Fremantle won the
small church competition.
As SportsFest concluded
for another year, Mark Wilson
thanked Jeff Cross for his
13 years of involvement in
leadership roles, nine of these
as Sports Coordinator and four
as Director. Jeff was given a
standing ovation by those in
the crowd.
SportsFest could not be held
without the valuable support
of sponsors and this year
they were:
• Baptist World Aid
• Baptist Financial Services
• BLK Expresso
• Imagepak Marketing
• Makit Hardware Albany
• Vose Seminary
The 120 volunteers who
tirelessly made the ‘wheels
turn’ and the event run
well were also significant
contributors.
briefs
Christians beheaded
Christian Aid Mission reports 11
indigenous Christian workers
and a young boy living near
Aleppo, Syria had the option
to leave the area and stay alive
but chose to stay in the area
where Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria (ISIS), other rebel
groups and Syrian government
forces wrought carnage and
destruction. They stayed to
provide aid in the name of
Christ to survivors. Relatives
of the group said ISIS militants
captured the Christian workers
on 7 August. On 28 August they
asked the Christians to renounce
Christ and return to Islam. All
refused and were beheaded then
hung on crucifixes. The 41 year
old team leader led a number of
house churches in the area.
Conversion ban
World Watch Monitor reports
bills proposing a national ban
on conversions from Hinduism
could soon come before both
houses of India’s parliament. Two
members of the ruling Bharatiya
Janata Party plan to introduce a
private member’s bill, in response
to a recent census showing the
percentage of Hindus in India has
dropped below 80 percent. Tarun
Vijay, an MP from Uttarakhand
state, has reportedly said that
his bill in the Upper House
would advocate for a ten year jail
sentence for any ‘person found
engaged in the act [of conversion]’.
The MP in the Lower House, Yogi
Adityanath, is head priest at a
prominent Hindu temple.
Strengthening
freedom
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
joined a range of other faithbased, intergovernmental and
United Nations (UN) agencies in
endorsing a Conference
Declaration on strengthening
freedom of religion or belief in
Southeast Asia at a groundbreaking two day conference in
Thailand in early October
attended by approximately 70
human rights defenders, members
of religious groups, rights groups
and UN agencies.
Nepal trouble
BosNewsLife reports Christians
in Nepal flocked to prayer services
after several church bombings,
carried out by suspected Hindu
militants, which injured at least
three people in September. On
21 September a bomb rocked
the Jhapa District police station,
wounding three police officers.
Police said the device was
originally planted at a local church
in the Surunga area. It was being
diffused at the police station when
it suddenly exploded, police said.
Those injured were rushed to a
local hospital. Police had reportedly
brought the bomb to the station
following a tip-off by residents.
Just prayer
Jill Birt
Global Interaction and Australian Baptists across the nation are planning events
for the Just Prayer weekend from 6 to 9 November. The inspiration for the
focus on prayer comes from the belief that all people, regardless of culture or
community, should have the chance to hear the gospel.
Just Prayer focuses on asking
God to open up possibilities
and opportunities for nine
least-reached people groups
where Global Interaction serves,
to encounter the love of God.
Churches, youth groups, small
groups, friends and family will
use this time to focus prayer on
these groups which are among
some of the least reached people
groups of the world.
People are encouraged to
pray for the right to hear about
Jesus and for people to have
choices to believe and have a
relationship with Him. Another
point for prayer is for Global
Interaction’s cross-cultural
workers who seek to serve
and work to empower entire
communities to worship Jesus
within their own culture.
Unrestricted access to the Bible
and other Christian resources
will also assist these least-reached
groups encounter Jesus and see
their lives transformed.
Convinced that prayer
changes things and transforms
lives, Global Interaction has
produced a series of materials to
help people focus their prayers
for justice over the weekend.
The materials also contain some
creative ways to engage church
communities in prayer and ideas
suitable for youth and adults
praying in groups or on their own.
Global Interaction has been
advised by a number of churches
that they plan to host events
around hospitality where food
from one or more of the leastreached groups will help people
connect more deeply with culture.
To obtain the materials or
for more information, visit
globalinteraction.org.au
news 11
NOVEMBER 2015
Sustainable goals launched
Jill Birt
Not-for-profit and aid
organisations from around the
world have backed the new SDGs.
Micah Global’s vision of
seeing communities living life in
all its fullness, free from poverty,
injustice and conflict, embraces
the SDGs as an important
framework to strive for the
common good for all.
Baptist World Aid Australia
also supports the SDGs.
“While Christian development
efforts will take us further and
deeper than the SDGs, the intent
expressed in these goals represent
powerful targets that will help
move the world closer to the
one God intends, and for that
reason, we should champion
them,” Baptist World Aid Australia
Advocacy Manager Gershon
Nimbalker said.
The Sustainable
Development Goals fall into
seven core groupings:
1. Dignity and wellbeing for
all: ending poverty and
embracing equality for all
2. Life in all its fullness for all
people: ensuring basic needs
are met, enabling access to
services, training and jobs,
with a special emphasis on
inclusion of all people
3. Just societies: enabling just
and fair institutions and
polices that promote justice
for all
4. Peace: working towards
sustainable peace while
embracing diversity
5. Restoring and protecting our
planet: living within planetary
boundaries and ensuring
recovery of ecosystems
IMB lose workers
Jill Birt
The International
Mission Board, an
arm of the Southern
Baptist Convention,
announced in late
August that it will
reduce its staff by
approximately 600 to
800 workers.
Photo: Jill Birt
Budget constraints are the
cause of the staff cuts. Currently
International Mission Board
(IMB) has 4,800 missionaries and
450 staff in the US but will need
to shed a total of 800 workers
to put IMB in a responsible and
sustainable financial position.
IMB currently has two
workers in Western Australia
who may be offered a ‘voluntary
retirement’ option.
Baptist Press reports that
while Southern Baptist giving
through the Cooperative
Program and the Lottie Moon
Christmas Offering has
increased in recent years, it
will fall $21 million short of its
current annual budget, marking
several consecutive years of
budget shortfalls for the 170 year
old organisation.
The International Mission Board has staff working in some of the
least-reached people groups in the world.
6. Sustainable development:
encouraging fair
economic productivity
within ecologically
sound frameworks with
a commitment towards
renewable energy sources
7. Cooperation and partnerships:
seeking the best for one
another in which joint
initiatives aim to enhance the
common good for all in the
realisation of all the SDGs
Girshon Nimbalker reported
that the UN Secretary-General, Ban
Ki-Moon, describes the Millennium
Development Goals as the most
successful anti-poverty movement
in history, having helped to lift
more than one billion people out
of extreme poverty and more than
halve the number of children dying
before their fifth birthday.
Photo: Getty Images
Two hundred nations gathered in New York in September at the United Nations
to launch the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 new goals build
on the previous eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were
adopted 15 years ago.
Liu Bolin created a special artwork ‘The Future’ to raise awareness of the
UN’s Global Goals to end extreme poverty and fight inequality, injustice
and climate change.
“Astonishing achievements
that we as Christians should
delight in,” Girshon said.
Micah Global acknowledged
there are risks and hurdles in
each commitment of the SDGs,
but there are also inspirational
opportunities for people to unite
behind a common vision and
framework to advocate for world
governments to implement the
new commitments.
12 in conversation
NOVEMBER 2015
Saving souls across India
Rodrick Gilbert is based in New Delhi, India. He
leads a disciple making movement that permeates
slum areas of the mega city as well as rural
communities across the north of India. He spoke
exclusively to The Advocate’s Jill Birt while she
was in India in September.
Can you describe the
breadth of the movement
today?
We started in 1992 in the
Delhi slums. There was a
word vision of Delhi: smoke
of spiritual life rising from the
slums. We started to see people
coming to faith in Jesus. In
1996 I met Curtis Seargent
who has done significant
work and research into church
planting movements in India.
We wanted to work out how to
translate the slum work to the
rural areas of India.
By 2000 I was involved in
the Dawn Ministries (Discipling
a Whole Nation). I had the
responsibility to reach Delhi.
That’s 25 million people. In 2005
we saw four new churches and
40 baptisms per day. Now there
are 14 new churches and 190
baptisms per day. And, we’re
working in 11 states of northern
India with 450,000 followers
in 40,000 small groups, led by
37,000 trained volunteer leaders
who we continue to monitor
and mentor. There are 98 paid
workers in the movement.
Business enterprises help sustain
funding for the movements.
We also mentor and
encourage more than 70
independent ministries in
regional areas over the last three
years, helping spread in unique
regions. We’re more Kingdom
minded than ‘church’ so we’re
very happy to be building into
other organisations.
What enables continuing
growth?
I’d say it is the power of
the Word of God and the Holy
Spirit. Some have reduced
the ministry of the Word of
God to intellectual discussion.
God gave us His Word for our
transformation. Be careful it
does not feed our information
gluttony. Some groups are
more into the Holy Spirit – into
experiences and sensationalism.
Both are wrong.
Photo: Dave Lawton
How did the disciple
making movement you lead
begin?
There was a desperate
need felt in my heart to see
souls saved in larger numbers.
The climax could be noted in
1990. We had a team of 120
guys sharing John’s gospel
in 750,000 homes over three
months. Just two people came
to faith. That ripped my heart
apart. What would it take? I fell
at the feet of the Lord.
I met with renowned
Indian leader Pastor Samuel
regularly for about three
months. He educated me
on how to commune with
God on a spiritual level …
and finally laid hands on me
and prayed for me saying, “I
impart the ministry God gave
me to you.” That changed
my entire perspective on
ministry and I began to focus
on the slums of Delhi. Six
million people live there.
Some churches and NGO’s
were doing mercy ministry
– blankets, medications. But,
there was spiritual darkness
there, so we went to these
Delhi slums and prayed.
Rodrick Gilbert and his wife Neetu are based in New Delhi where Rodrick leads an extensive disciple making
movement in cities, slums and country areas of northern India.
How are you taking new
believers and making them
into fully devoted disciples
of Jesus?
The cutting edge of the
movement is pushing into
new areas and bringing others
to faith. This is often where
people have no understanding
or knowledge of Jesus.
Let me tell you about
Sarina. She was a rude and
fighting woman in her Muslim
community in a slum area. She
developed cancer of the uterus
and became very sick. She
was very poor so there was no
option for medical treatment.
So she went to a local house
church and asked them to
pray for her. God touched her
and healed her. But, it wasn’t
just the physical healing.
He changed her. Her whole
life was changed. In early
September Sarina was baptised
along with six others she has
introduced to Jesus – her
daughter and son-in-law and
four other women.
Sometimes we see God do
that and there is immediate
deep change. Other times
we have to teach and train
methodically to help people
learn to follow Jesus and obey
all that He commanded us.
Can you describe what a
house church gathering
might look like?
Small house churches are
our strategy for sustaining
new believers and multiplying
further into communities.
It always depends on the
situation but mostly the groups
are between five and 20
people. You can’t do life deeply
together in a larger group. We
don’t have buildings, so we’re
dependent on the size of where
the groups meet.
Multiplying is always
the best option for growth.
Leaders are trained in the
basics: prayer – for the needy;
lostness and redemption –
helping people meet Jesus; and
leading people in worship and
prayer – singing is an integral
part of worship as we connect
with the heart of God. When
you’re in the presence of God
there doesn’t have to be a slick
professionalism about worship.
God appears and change
happens. Worship softens the
soul and our carnality is not in
control, then our souls are more
fertile ground for the Spirit of
God to work.
What spiritual disciplines
do you personally model
for the movement?
The first is ‘be real’. There
is no place to hide in my home.
There are always many people
in it. I’m the same publicly
as I am in private. Although,
I’m very private with my
wife and children and I work
hard to have time with them.
Sometimes it may just be
two or three hours together.
Other times we’ll go away for a
couple of days.
I focus on three levels
of relationships to keep me
walking on track. The top
group are several father figures
who regularly ask me very
hard questions about myself
and work. They are not paid,
but do this willingly. Several
months ago one asked me why
we were not reaching our goal
of baptising 38,000 this year.
That made me go back and
carefully examine our goals
and processes. I wrote six
pages to this man in response
to that question.
The second group is my
peers where they can correct
me and challenge me. We have
fun together and can walk
away encouraged.
Finally there is the next
generation, the ones I’m
discipling. Authenticity is very
important. I can teach nothing
to the new disciples that I
am not doing. They see that
there is more accountability
through authenticity.
How do you maintain
your personal spiritual
vitality?
I meet with God every day.
Sometimes it may just be five
minutes. Other times it’s a lot
longer. I wake before the rest of
the household and go into my
study. It’s a private time with
God to meditate on the Word.
It has kept me going. There
have been attacks and crises
and temptation, but there has
also been this quiet time to
encounter God.
Are you sending workers/
trainers internationally?
Where?
Yes, we have a heavy burden
for the West. I’ve been travelling
in Europe teaching evangelism
and training local leadership.
The West needs to rediscover
what God’s Word says about
making disciples.
What books are you currently
reading?
I’m writing a training
manual at the moment so my
reading is a bit scattered. But
I’ve been spending a bit of
time in Renewal Theology:
Systematic Theology from a
Charismatic Perspective by J
Rodman Williams. I’d love to
take this book and translate it
into Hindi for India.
Archivist Vacancy
Got a love of History and how
the past shapes the future?
Then this position could be for
You!
There will be some
remuneration and it is
expected to be one day a
week.
Excited by this opportunity?
Then contact Terry Hicks at
Baptist Union Of Western
Australia on 6313 6300 or
email resume to
[email protected]
leadership 13
NOVEMBER 2015
A God of surprises
Sheridan Voysey
Sometimes I wonder what it was like just before creation sprang into
existence. Were the angels surprised when God sketched out plans for a
universe he didn’t need?
They must have been – as
surprised as when they saw the
first waters rush forth and the
mountains burst up through
the seas. As surprised as when
they watched the first bird take
flight and saw the first humans
open their eyes.
God has always been a
God of surprises. You find
him pulling stunts on most of
the Bible’s main characters.
He surprised Abraham with a
promise, Sarah with a child,
and Moses with a flaming
bush that never burned up.
He surprised Isaac with a
wife and Jacob with a dream,
Samuel with a voice and Elijah
with a whisper. God surprised
David with kingship, Solomon
with wisdom, Hezekiah
with life, and Isaiah with a
vision. And then one day God
surprised a teenage girl with
an angelic visitation.
The child born to that girl
surprised the learned with
His knowledge of God. After
coming of age and learning
a trade, He surprised those
around Him by setting off on
a mission. On that mission
He surprised blind men by
opening their eyes and the
demon-afflicted by casting
their tormentors into swine.
He surprised crippled women
by straightening their backs
and wedding hosts by turning
water into wine. He surprised
the poor with His attention,
children with His affection,
the leprous with cleansing,
and sinners with restoration. It
was a surprise when this Jesus
returned to life after death and
offered to forgive the very ones
who betrayed Him.
Full of surprises was this
Christmas child! Even His
teaching brought gasps of
astonishment. Climbing a hill
to give His famous Sermon on
the Mount [Matthew 5-7], Jesus
surprised all who listened
on. Because in His very first
words He blessed the poor and
troubled, not the rich and well,
and said little people like us are
the salt and light of the world.
He said conflicts were resolved
by loving one’s opponents, by
turning cheeks and going the
extra mile. He rewrote the rules
on relationships, equating
anger with murder, and
overturning ancient customs
on vows. He told us the birds
of the air can teach us about
trust, and we can decide how
to treat others by considering
how we should be treated. And
as He closed that Sermon, He
gave a surprising promise:
that our lives will be resilient
when we put His teaching into
practice [Matthew 7:24-27].
Put His teaching into
practice. That was the most
surprising thing – the startling
weightiness of Jesus’ words.
He didn’t speak like other
Jewish teachers with their
borrowed authority. He didn’t
say “the law tells you” or “Moses
says”. He had been more
audacious than that. Without
caution or apology He said “I
tell you”, “My words”, and “I
say” throughout his Sermon.
Each of His words echoed with
divine authority.
And they still echo now.
Today the famous words of
Jesus’ Sermon are quoted
by presidents, chanted
by activists, pondered by
theologians, and shouted by
rock stars. They’re printed
on posters, t-shirts, fridge
magnets, and bumper stickers,
depicted in artwork, shared on
the net, etched in stone, and
tattooed on skin. They’ve been
admired, ignored, scorned,
adored, preached, painted and
performed. But remember: the
one thing required if they’re to
manifest a resilient life is that
they must be lived.
Which is why we must ask:
“What surprises await us as
we take up His challenge?” As
we accept His invitation to be
forgiven, restored, embraced,
and rewarded. As we take up
our calling to be salt and light
in the world. As we develop
holy hearts, words, holy
commitments and promises. As
we give, pray, and trust the way
He has taught us.
This is all to be pondered
as we approach another
Christmas: that the One
born in Bethlehem is full of
surprises. He doesn’t just give
us forgiveness of sins or hope
for tomorrow, but a mission
to live now, and a life of
resilience.
Adapted from Resilient: Your
Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped
Life by Sheridan Voysey.
Sheridan Voysey is a writer,
speaker and broadcaster on
faith and spirituality.
Leading into generational change
Sue Ash
What are you going to do about handing over to the next generation? Perhaps
like me you and others like you are the ‘elders’ of your sector at church or
work. You won’t be around for ever. So I’m wondering what you are doing to
handover and support the next generation of leaders.
I was sitting at an airport having
a coffee with a colleague, when
she asked this question. I wasn’t
ready for the question, albeit I
had given the idea of succession
planning quite a bit of thought
over the years.
Most of us face the challenge
of generation change in our
families – suddenly the adult
son is stronger and more
capable than his father or the
competent parent needs to
become reliant on their younger
child. Organisations also face
generational change and this
often forms part of the leadership
change of an organisation.
One of the most important
responsibilities an organisational
leader has is the development
of the people you work with.
Most organisations have staff
and volunteers from at least
four generations – the Baby
Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y and
Millennials. Each generation
has special characteristics
formed as a result of the times
and culture in which they lived.
Without stereotyping individuals
according to their generational
label, it is still important to be
aware of the different worldview
of each generation. Young people
require opportunities to learn,
and to succeed; people need to
learn how to manage people;
senior people need to learn about
vision and strategic thinking.
Each group needs to learn how to
become competent for different
roles in the organisation.
Leaders and managers also
need to discern when someone
is well suited to a role and
importantly assist people to
recognise when they are not
suited to undertake certain
activities. A question that is
often not focused on is the
question: When is it time to
hand over responsibility and
how and when do you do this?
Jesus has always provided a
great example of a person who
addressed these very critical
issues. Put very simply, and in
organisational language, He
understood both the long-term
objective, and also His role in
achieving that objective. He
influenced many, modelled
leadership consistently, but
formally trained and developed
a few. He understood, even
expected, that people would
make mistakes, get the wrong
perspective and nuance the
message incorrectly. And when
His time came to ‘move on’ it
was marked by important rites
of passage and final messages
before He left. Having left, He
maintained an appropriate level
of engagement, firstly personal
and then through His Spirit.
Photo: UnitingCare West
Sue Ash is a member of Riverton
Baptist Church and the CEO of
UnitingCare West.
14 news
NOVEMBER 2015
Rejoice a first for Perth
98five Music Director Chela Williams
Editor:
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Terry Hicks
Andrew Sculthorpe
Maclain Bruce
Vanessa Klomp
Peter Ion
Sally Phu
Sally Phu
5th of each month
Global pop star Stan Walker (above) and renowned Aussie band Planetshakers (above right) will performing live at Rejoice Music Festival, 7 and 8 November.
Although seemingly different
in style the two headlining acts
are sure to bring more than
enough energy when they come
together on 7 and 8 November.
“It will be a great reminder
to all that God is the centre and
whether they are performing
worship, praise or secular music,
as long as the message of love,
joy and peace is portrayed to the
community,” said Wayne.
For tickets and more information,
visit www.outix.com.au
For more information on the
latest Christian music, visit
www.98five.com/latest-music
EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING:
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Mail:
Baptist Churches
Western Australia
PO Box 57, Burswood WA 6100
Tel:
(08) 6313 6300
Fax:
(08) 9470 1713
PUBLISHERS GENERAL DISCLAIMER
All the articles, comments, advice and other material contained in this publication are by
way of general comment or advice only and are not intended, nor do they purport to be
the correct advice on any particular matter of subject referred to. No reader or any other
person who obtains this publication should act on the basis of any matter, comment or
advice contained in this publication without first considering and if necessary taking
appropriate professional advice upon the applicability of any matter, advice or comment
herein to their own particular circumstances. Accordingly, no responsibility is accepted
or taken by the authors, editors or publishers of this publication for any loss or damage
suffered by any party acting in reliance on any matter, comment or advice contained
herein.
The Advocate is published on behalf of Baptist Churches Western Australia
by imageseven. Tel: (08) 9221 9777 Email: [email protected]
imageseven bcw J2151
The Messiah for Perth
Photo: Planken Photography
“Rejoice Music Festival is the
sole vision of myself. I have been
blessed enough to be able to attend
three Hillsong conferences over
the last few years,” said Wayne,
creator and director of Rejoice.
“It’s just powerful to be
praising the Lord with 10,000 plus
other people and I want others to
feel what I felt.”
From there Wayne established
his business Creative Marquees
which taught him firsthand how
the event industry worked.
“I ended up doing many jobs
for churches and also Easterfest
in Toowoomba two years ago,”
Wayne said.
“Once again the feeling of
community coming together
was a heartfelt moment for
me [so] being involved with
Easterfest [I] immediately wanted
to do something for Perth in the
near future.”
“WA is always considered
in the ‘too hard basket’ when
it comes to organising major
festivals in Australia.”
“Gospel music has changed
so much over the years and our
Christian artists are singing many
different types of genres.”
Over two days the Swan
Valley will be home to some
of Australia’s most popular
Christian music acts. Local
artists Jade Diary, Ezereve, Cate
Williams, Paul Morrison and
Licy-Be are just a few who will
be supporting and performing
alongside renowned Aussie band
Planetshakers and global pop star
Stan Walker.
Photos: Planetshakers
Rejoice Music Festival will premiere on 7 and 8
November as Perth’s first Christian music festival at
the iconic Belvoir Amphitheatre. The innovative event
was birthed out of Wayne Wairau’s own personal
experience of large scale praise and worship.
Music lovers can again enjoy the Perth Symphonic Chorus’s performance of the Messiah.
Each year the Perth Symphonic Chorus, under the direction of nationally
renowned conductor Dr Margaret Pride OAM, presents Handel’s Messiah to
audiences in the Perth Concert Hall.
This year’s performance will
feature soloists Sara Macliver
(soprano), Sally-Anne Russell
(mezzo-soprano), Richard Butler
(tenor) and James Clayton (Bass)
performing with the Chorus on
Saturday 19 December.
For many music lovers the
end of the year festivities are
not complete without attending
a performance of Handel’s
Messiah. The sheer melodic
inventiveness of Handel’s
masterpiece allows the listener to
indulge in an abundance of great
well known arias and revel in
the majesty and power of grand
choruses unmatched by any
other composer.
Renowned for its moving,
dramatic and memorised
performances of this work, the
Chorus will again highlight
the depths and celebrations
of a libretto that delivers the
Christmas message with joy
and wonder.
If you are interested in joining
the Messiah Christmas Chorus,
email Marian Shakespeare at
[email protected]
To purchase tickets and for
more information, visit
www.collegiumsymphonicchorus.
com.au
intermission 15
NOVEMBER 2015
1
2
3
Find the books of the Bible listed below in the diagram. The words appear
horizontally, vertically, diagonally and backward.
4
Acts
Exodus
Ezra
Genesis
James
Job
John
Joshua
Jude
Leviticus
Luke
Malachi
5
Answers can be found in John 6:1-15
in the Bible.
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listen
WOW Hits 2016
WOW Hits 2016 is another great
compilation of contemporary Christian
songs in the WOW series to add to your
collection. The album hosts a wide range
of contributors like MercyMe singing
‘Greater’, TobyMac with ‘Beyond Me’,
Third Day’s ‘Soul On Fire’ and Hawk
Nelson singing ‘Drops In The Ocean’,
just to name a few of the 33 songs. This
is a great listen for those who like a
variety of styles and artists or as a ‘taster’
if you’re not sure who and what you like
best. Available in the regular double disc
format or the Deluxe version features an
additional six bonus songs.
Reviews by Koorong Mount Lawley
Assistant Manager
Dorothy Waddingham
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7
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Mark
Matthew
Micah
Nehemiah
Psalms
Titus
8
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10
11
Across
3. Who found someone with food?
Answers to The Ark crossword in the
October 2015 issue.
6. Jesus went up the mountain to be ____.
1
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5
Down
2. How many baskets of food were left over?
4. Did Jesus already know what He was
going to do?
5. What other food did the person have?
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1. What lake was Jesus crossing?
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7. Who did they say Jesus was? A ____
8. How many loaves did the person have?
10.Was it a girl or boy who had food?
Answers will be published in next
month’s issue of The Advocate.
read
The Complete Chronicles
of Narnia
CS Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia have been and are
still among the most popular books written
by CS Lewis, both for children and adults
alike, and in The Complete Chronicles of
Narnia the stories live on. This more recent
single volume collection has all seven titles
in the Narnia series, such as The Lion, The
Witch and The Wardrobe, one of the most
popular titles. It also includes a beautiful and
personal introduction by CS Lewis’s stepson,
Douglas Gresham; the original drawings by
award-winning illustrator Pauline Bayne
printed in colour; and a ribbon marker – all
bound together in this large deluxe hardback
edition it is a great gift for anyone or
something to add to your own collection.
Website: www.koorong.com
Address: 434 Lord Street, Mount Lawley
Phone: 08 9427 9777
The Spirit of Python
Jentezen Franklin
The Spirit of Python is an excellent book for
any Christian seeking to understand more
about spiritual warfare. Jentezen Franklin,
author and pastor, uses the example of a
python and how it suffocates it’s prey to
describe the attacks and strategies of Satan
to squeeze the life and passion of believers.
This book shows how to recognise the
signs of a spiritual attack and how to break
free from them. The Spirit of Python will
help you see ways you may unknowingly
be allowing Satan access into your mind,
and how those thoughts will affect your
actions. We need a closer intimacy with
God and this book will explain how, and
inspire you to stand your ground in the
spiritual war.
S
This
voucher
entitles you
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The Advocate – November 2015
N
16 news
NOVEMBER 2015
Serving for justice
Jill Birt
The focus of ‘The Pong’, as
the event is affectionately
called, is to raise funds to bring
freedom, hope and a future to
young people in Southeast Asia
whose lives are impacted by the
injustice of human trafficking
and sexual exploitation.
Mount Hawthorn Baptist
Church organiser James
Cooper said this was the first
year the church has been
involved in the project.
Five events were held in
Western Australia during October:
Nedlands Uniting Church, The
Billabong Community Centre,
Mount Pleasant Uniting Church,
Bunbury Vineyard Christian
Fellowship and the Mount
Hawthorn group.
Project coordinator Adrian
Rowse said the first two events in
WA raised more than $14,000.
98five Sonshine FM raised
the profile of the project during
a live broadcast of their three
hour Drive program from The
Billabong Community Centre on
9 October.
More than 44 churches,
sporting clubs, schools and
pubs across Australia joined
the fun filled 24 hour table
tennis event this year. By midOctober they had raised more
than $75,000 by asking their
family and friends to sponsor
them for a three hour block of
table tennis.
The Pong supports eight
partner organisations, all
tackling human trafficking
from different angles. They
have supported The Sold Project
which focuses on prevention of
human trafficking, since 2011.
There are 35.8 million
slaves in the world, many of
them in the sex trade. Research
shows that every 30 seconds,
another person becomes a
victim of human trafficking. In
Thailand it is estimated that 30
to 40 percent of the country’s
150,000 to 200,000 sex workers
are children.
“We had the privilege of
serving up some justice during
this year’s event,” Adrian said.
Photo: The Pong
A team of 16 people from Mount Hawthorn Baptist
Church played non-stop Ping Pong for 24 hours over
the last weekend of October as part of the national
2015 Ping-Pong-A-Thon.
Mount Hawthorn Baptist Church raised funds by playing ping-pong.
A coach with a difference
English football giant Liverpool has announced
committed Christian Jurgen Klopp as their new
manager.
Several years back Klopp
was asked a question commonly
posed of coaches by sports
journalists after a loss – were the
football gods against you today?
Klopp used this question to great
effect to share his Christian faith.
Photo: 360b / Shutterstock.com
Klopp hails from Germany
where he is a much-loved
figure due to his successful
coaching record with former
club Borussia Dortmund, but
also thanks to his honest and at
times outspoken nature.
Jurgen Klopp does not hold back when given the opportunity to share his faith.
“In order to answer this
question once and for all, although
there is no football god, I believe
that there is a God who loves us
humans, just as we are, with all our
quirks, and that’s why I think he
also loves football! But we have to
score our own goals,” Klopp said.
In an interview with
Frankfurter Rundschau, Klopp
provided further insight into his
faith and why he chooses to talk
about it publicly.
“To be a believer, but not to
want to talk about it – I do not
know how it would work!”
“If anyone asks me about my
faith, I give information.”
“Not because I have claim to
be any sort of missionary. But
when I look at me and my life –
and I take time for that every day
– then I feel I am in sensationally
good hands.”
“And I find it a pity if other
people lack this sense of
security – although they don’t
know it, of course, because
otherwise they would probably
look for it,” said Klopp.
Whilst Liverpool supporters
will now be putting their hope
in Klopp, his hope and faith will
be in something greater than
football results.
SportsFest 2015
results
Overall
Place
1
2
3
4
Score
Church
861.5 Lakeside
578
Riverton
407.5 Lake Joondalup
382
Carey
25
100
Ellenbrook
26
90
Morley
27
77
Rockingham
28
70
Busselton
29
58
Deo Gloria
30
50
Thornlie
South Perth
5
326.5 Beaumaris
31
46
6
299.5 Woodvale
32
5
7
293
East Fremantle
8
270
Gosnells
Vietnamese Evangelical
9
240
Albany
Small church
10
228
Parkerville
Place
Score
Church
487
East Fremantle
11
194
Girrawheen
1
12
170
Quinns
2
433.25 North Coast
13
170
North Beach
3
415.25 Atwell
14
165
North Coast
4
368
Ellenbrook
15
150
Lesmurdie
5
327
Como
16
148
Mount Hawthorn
6
17
147
Christian Reformed
7
18
140
Mount Barker
8
19
132
Claremont
9
245
Lesmurdie
259.5 Yokine
254
Rockingham
250.5 Claremont
10
237
Morley
121
Atwell
11
182
Busselton
22
116
Eaton
12
166.5 South Perth
23
112
Yokine
13
135.5
Vietnamese Evangelical
24
102
Como
14
78.5
Thornlie
20
21
130.5 1Church