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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018theadvocate.tv
Building healthy churches.
BAPTIST CHURCHES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
5 A special ChristmasBaptistcare staff are looking forward to working on Christmas Day >>
11 Celebrating LutherReformation Day drew unexpected crowds in Germany >>
7 Christmas eventsA collection of upcoming Christmas events across Western Australia >>
IN CONVERSATION Journey Church’s Artists and Young Adults Pastor, Brett Mabury, talks about his Christian faith and life in Tennessee. PAGE 12 >>
“God’s way of preparing us for what’s ahead is almost never what we would expect … but it’s only God who knows exactly what we need
for a future only he can see.” BONNIE DOWIE PAGE 13>>
Central to the Girrawheen Baptist
Church story and its celebrations,
is its long serving Pastor, Rex
Gabrielson, and his wife Faye,
who after 40 years continue
to faithfully serve and provide
stability, care and compassion to
the Girrawheen community.
“From a small beginning,
under God’s providence, we have
come to this point of time when
we reflect with thankfulness and
we can say with confidence ‘This
far has the Lord helped us’ [1 Sam
7:12],” Girrawheen Baptist Church
Secretary Pedro Cruz said.
Rex was appointed as Worker
Pastor at Girrawheen Baptist
Pastor Rex Gabrielson and his wife Faye recently celebrated more than 40 years of ministry with Girrawheen Baptist Church.
Church on 28 April 1972. Prior to
that he had received Theological
training and pastored a Methodist
Church in the Eastern States before
returning to Western Australia.
After completing a year of
studies at the Baptist Theological
College, Rex and Faye threw
themselves wholeheartedly into
the Yokine Outreach Work.
“It soon became apparent to us
through the increasing preaching
assignments that here was a man
within our own ranks, called of
God, gifted and able to lead us,”
Pedro said.
On 14 October 1973, a full-time
program of services commenced
40 years of service
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with 14 members from Yokine
Baptist Church, plus other
supporters and inquirers.
The group changed its name
from the Balga Fellowship to
the Girrawheen Fellowship, and
was officially recognised by
the Baptist Churches Western
Australia in 1974.
An initial three-year, full-
time term as pastor began on
1 August 1977, and became the
forerunner of many renewal calls
to Rex, showing the appreciation
of his leadership from the
Church’s members.
The unbroken continuity of
the leadership, together with other
key personnel remaining in Office
from the outset has reportedly
provided the church with great
stability and impetus.
When asked about his
longevity in ministry at
Girrawheen, Rex said, “There
was a very certain call that we
were sure about in our coming
to minister in Girrawheen. We
weren’t planning on being here
– ministry in Queensland was
a very real possibility – but the
Lord had other plans for us here
in Girrawheen.”
“A highlight for me was
the small core of people who
committed to the journey and
held to the vision in the early
days – this was wonderful. This
vision has stayed over the years
even as people have moved
on. Our church has a passion
to reach out to the people of
Girrawheen,” Rex said.
“The passion and vision
was evident in the starting
of Emmanuel Christian
Community School and the
impact of this vision has seen
marvellous results.”
For more than 40 years, members of Girrawheen Baptist Church have prayed, laboured, given, persevered and made sacrifices that the life and witness of Jesus Christ may be evident and effective in their community.
2 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
my view
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On birthdays and beginnings…
Simply this. December readers
expect me to be saying something
about Christmas, January readers
about the New Year. I’ll try and be
all things to all people and say a
bit about both…
Christmas, 2017. Ponder the
2017. If you think your 42 years
make you old, ask how you’d feel
if it were your 2017th birthday.
And spare a thought for whoever
makes the birthday cake – finding
room for 2017 candles could be a
challenge. “Don’t be ridiculous,” you
say. “Jesus isn’t really 2017 years
old. He died in his early thirties.
Christmas is just a reminder of his
birth.” True – but it’s not as though
we’d still remember his birth if it
hadn’t been for his resurrection.
And that resurrection proclaims
him as still very much alive —
albeit in post resurrection form. So
bring out those 2017 candles, and
let the celebrations continue.
Of course, blowing that many
candles out might take you until
the New Year.
happen?” A few years had some
completely unexpected things
take place.
We never really know what
the future is going to hold –
do we?
Which is why I plan to hold
on to some basic, forever valid,
truths … Like, I know nothing
about tomorrow except that
God’s love will rise before
the sun; and I also assuredly
know that the risen Jesus will
accompany me on each and
every step of this year’s journey.
So happy 2017th Jesus, and
roll on 2018 …
I love writing for the December/January edition of the Advocate. It’s a bit of challenge, as some readers will devour the content of this column in December, others delaying the delight until January. “What’s the big deal?” you ask.
Do you enter it with
optimism, dread or a bit of
both? Actually, the path ahead
is never certain. Most years
I’ve set myself worthy goals for
the beckoning year. Recently I
flicked back and looked at the
hopes I had expressed each year
for the last decade. Some have
been met – many are simply
a distant memory and seeing
them again I asked myself
incredulously “Did you ever
really think that was going to
Dr Brian Harris is the Principal
of Vose Seminary and Pastor at
Large for the Carey Group.
Dr Brian Harris
Bad theology kills
We’ve heard this kind of rhetoric
before. A belief that life is a
struggle between the forces
of good and evil. It is often
described as Manichean – and I
think it brings dangers with it.
Manicheism was a dualistic
religious philosophy taught by
the Iranian prophet Mani in the
third century. It was rejected
by orthodox Christianity as
heresy. Yet it often surfaces in
the fundamentalist extremes of
these faiths and can be used by
those wanting to stir up a binary
nationalist feeling by calling
‘them’ the bad people and ‘us’ the
good. In my view, it’s not only
bad theology, but it’s not what the
gospel tells us about God, ourselves
or the world. Whole people groups
can’t be righteous any more than
whole countries can be evil. The
prophets constantly warned
against thinking in these terms.
Righteousness was not a birthright.
Righteousness is a tricky
word. Marrying the concept
of goodness to an idea of
justification. It has something
to do with right action – like
seeking justice for the poor and
the outcast – but it has nothing to
do with where we come from
Jesus tells a parable about a
religious leader and a tax collector
who went to a temple to pray. The
former prayed about himself,
thanking God that he was not
like those other ‘bad’ people,
and pointing to his good deeds;
but the tax collector, feeling
unworthy, simply asked for
God’s forgiveness. No prizes for
guessing which one walked away
justified before God.
In a world of wild rhetoric
and hot boasts we must listen
carefully to hear what’s really
being said. The words of the
righteous have been described
as being like ‘a fountain of life’
or ‘apples of gold’. Perhaps when
anyone makes a speech claiming
to be righteous we should check
for the evidence of that life and
look for its fruit.
Author of The Aftermath,
Rhidian Brook is an
award winning novelist,
screenwriter and broadcaster.
Rhidian Brook
It’s a time for speeches, with plenty to remember from Donald Trump. His threat to destroy North Korea, the ridiculing of its leader as ‘Rocket Man’ and his insulting of Iran stick in the mind; but the most disturbing element for me was his division of the world into ‘the righteous many’, and ‘the wicked few’.
Don’t tell me what to do!
We like to be treated as individuals
for who we are, make our own
decisions, and don’t like being told
what to do.
Geert Hofstede is an
internationally renowned
sociologist. He measured the
degree of individualism in a
culture – the tendency to be
independent and the desire to
make your own decisions. Where
does Australia rank among
other nations on measures of
individualism? Second only to the
United States. That means, if you
were born here, or if you’ve come
here and you like it, you’re probably
a person who values individualism,
and likes to feel free to make your
own decisions in life.
That’s part of Aussie culture.
But, it’s an aspect of our culture
that can hinder us from growing
as disciples of Jesus. The New
Testament assumes that the input
of others is vital for our spiritual
growth. It turns out, in following
Jesus, we need others to speak into
our lives, correct us, and guide us.
Consider these verses …
Let the word of Christ
richly dwell within you, with
all wisdom teaching and
admonishing one another with
psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs. [Colossians 3:16]
It is Christ we proclaim as
we admonish and wisely teach
everyone, so that we may present
everyone mature in the Messiah.
[Colossians 1:28]
As Aussies, we tend to
back away from anyone who
would want to admonish us.
Are we as Aussies, then, too
far gone down the track of
individualism to ever grow as
disciples?
Australians are an independent bunch. If we see a tall poppy we get our knives out. We look with suspicion on those positions of authority.
Mike Bullard is the Church
and Leaders Pastor for the
Baptist Churches Western
Australia.
Mike Bullard
I don’t think we are. Consider
this: At half time in any sporting
match, the players usually gather
together and are spoken to by
the coach. The coach will often
raise their finger, point to the
players, and admonish them
to do better. And big, burly, fit
athletes will sit and nod their
heads, “Okay Coach, I’ll give it
a try.” There we have it! Aussies,
being admonished, and actually
taking it in.
There’s something in that
image that can help us as
disciples of Jesus. There are
people we need to accept into
our lives as coaches, who will
admonish us. Our spiritual
growth depends on it.
3newsDECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
Merry Christmasfrom the team at Baptistcare
Wishing The Advocate readers a safe and blessed holidayseason with family, friends and loved ones.
Baptistcare is one of WA’s largest not-for-profit aged care and community services providers, supporting communities in metro and regional areas for 45 years.
Residential Care | At Home Services | Disability Services | Retirement Living
1300 660 640baptistcare.com.au
Christmas candles
The candle is called ‘The
Prophecy Candle: The Candle of
Hope.’
What have the past 11 months
held for you? Pain, heartache, loss
or disappointment? How has 2017
turned out for you? A great year?
A tough year? Awe and wonder?
Apathy and fear?
The first Sunday in December
begins with the powerful
reminder that hundreds of years
before Jesus Christ came, the
prophets of Israel foretold the
coming of the Messianic King.
Despite their own tragedies and
failures, those men of old believed
that a gracious God would send
a royal saviour to redeem and
restore humanity. They held onto
hope [Isaiah 9:2-7], grounded in
God’s own promise.
Many people need such a word
of hope again today.
Are you facing another
Christmas alone? Anticipating the
first Christmas as a broken family?
Wondering how your broken heart
can handle the season of ‘good
cheer’? Bitter about the darkness
that has wrapped you like a
weighty cloak? Burdened by fear
of the future?
Perhaps this week, get a
purple candle ‘The Candle of
Hope’ and light it each evening
for an hour; a spiritual discipline
with a difference that can make
a difference as you ponder the
thrice coming of the King; the first
time in Bethlehem, the second
time in our hearts, and the third
time for eternity.
Lift up your heads. Be not afraid.
Author - Pastor Mark Wilson
Historically, many churches have
brought out candles for Advent;
the four-week season leading up
to Christmas. Christmas has been
more than a day. It culminates a
season of theological reflection
and preparation. Perhaps some of
us thought the weeks leading up
to Christmas were for planning
gifts, outdoor displays and menus.
Baptists assembleOn Saturday 28 October, 300 pastors, ministry leaders and church delegates attended the 2017 Baptist Churches Western Australia Annual Assembly held at Inglewood Community Church in Dianella.
appointment of members to the
Unions Appeals Panel along with
the reappointments of Dr Vanessa
Chang and Bruce Watkins to the
Union Council.
“I am looking forward with
passion and God’s guidance
to the future as we continue to
be an empowering movement
helping pastors, ministries,
churches and their communities
say ‘Yes’ to Jesus,” Pastor Mark
Wilson said.
Baptist Churches Western
Australia Church and Leaders
Pastor Mike Bullard was the guest
speaker and shared on the
journey that non-believers make
before giving their hearts to the
Lord and of the discipleship
passage that all believers should
journey on.
Director of Ministries Pastor
Mark Wilson, along with the
Accreditation Team, were pleased
to be able to present ten pastors as
Accredited Persons in ministry.
Key decisions made by
delegates on the day included the
Evangelicals don’t do bells and smells very well in church. We like lights and sound, but we generally use them to create ambiance not significance.
He comes not as a mere messenger but as the King, preparing to reclaim what was His from the very beginning.
On the first Sunday of Advent
many congregations light a
single purple candle. The candle
radiates significance.
The light calls us to remember
how desperately we need light in
the darkness of the world. It also
signifies the Light of the world;
Christ himself.
The colour purple denotes the
royalty of the coming Messiah. He
comes not as a mere messenger
but as the King, preparing to
reclaim what was His from the
very beginning.
4 newsDECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
The power of hope
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Fulan and her husband Kamta have been able to make a living income from making 15kg of rope each day.
But no matter how hard she
worked, Fulan could never sell
enough ropes to feed her
hungry family.
“Many times we would go to
bed without dinner.”
For six years, this was the
story of Fulan’s life. A sick
husband and two young children
– both with disabilities – to care
for, unending hunger and a
constant fight to stay alive.
Fulan explained that she had
no hope that things could ever
get better and her heart was filled
with despair.
At Christmas, we reflect on
the hope Jesus brings to the
world and can share a small part
of this hope with others.
For Fulan and Kamta, hope
means regular meals and full
bellies for their family. Hope
means buying clothes for their
children, instead of watching
them shiver in the cold. Hope
means they can pay for medicine
to cure tuberculosis, instead of
more years of sickness.
When she worked by hand,
Fulan could only make 2kg of
rope a day. The first day Fulan and
Kamta used their new machine,
this increased to 15kg of rope.
“I feel very good, because of
the machine we are able to get
food, clothes and we have some
savings as well!”
Baptist World Aid is encouraging
people to give generously and
‘Be Hope this Christmas’ to
families like Fulan and Kamta’s.
To give, visit
baptistworldaid.org.au/be-hope
This Christmas, Baptist World Aid Australia is hoping that we can Be Hope to those people who are living without hope.
The Be Hope appeal aims to fight
poverty, hunger, sickness and
despair by giving hope to those
depressed and living without hope.
People like Nepalese couple, Fulan
and Kamta.
Married as children at 11 and
13 respectively, life in Nepal was
already very difficult for Fulan and
Kamta. But when Kamta fell ill with
tuberculosis, life got even harder.
With her husband too sick to
do anything but fight to stay alive,
Fulan was left to fend on her own.
Her family’s survival was entirely
in her hands – literally.
Fulan took to collecting
grass and learned to make rope
by hand. At first, the process
would make the tender flesh of
her palms so raw that she could
make very little, but she persisted
as she had no other option.
“It was better to do something,
rather than dying by starvation,”
Fulan explained.
Baptism springs from café
Two years ago, a group of people came together to transform a dormant building at Kalgoorlie Baptist Church into the Hope Café. Their vision was to create a place of acceptance and make a difference in the lives of people like Keith Cowan.
Soon after launching, the café
started being visited by a regular
array of people from a variety
of backgrounds.
Keith Cowan emerges from the waters of baptism, assisted by his friend, Pastor Eliot Vlatko.
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BaptismsRobyn Losinski was baptised
at the Golden Bay Beach on
Sunday 8 October in obedience
to God, whom she has been
following for many years.
BCWA Accreditation of PastorsOn Saturday 28 October,
the following pastors were
recognised as being Accredited
Persons in Ministry; Pastor
Andrew Binns, Pastor Ann
Clews, Pastor Bassam Abou
Haidar, Pastor Ian Hewson,
Pastor Daniel McGrechan,
Pastor Grant Moore, Pastor
Dinh Nguyen, Pastor Benjamin
O’Reilly, Pastor Bradley Vigus
and Pastor Kirsty Wager.
Pastor Len van Aarde was
presented to the Assembly
having been accepted as an
Accredited Person in Ministry
through transfer of his
Accreditation from
South Africa.
Pastoral ChangesPastor Joseph Chang has
concluded as the Youth and
Young Adults Pastor at Riverton
Baptist Community Church.
Pastor Garth Wootton is
concluding as the Interim
Pastor at Kununurra.
Pastor Baren Van Heerden has
been appointed as a Pastor at
Beaumaris Baptist Church.
Pastor Bruce Miller is
concluding as the Associate
Pastor at Gosnells Baptist
Church and will be starting
as the Pastoral Care Pastor at
North Beach Baptist Church in
the New Year.
Pastors David and Kirsty Wager
are concluding at Collie Baptist
Church in 2018.
Pastor Jason Hemsley has been
appointed as the new Senior
Pastor of Yokine Baptist Church.
briefs
“We first dreamed of, and
prayed about, opening a ministry
café where ordinary local
community members would know
that they are welcome,” Kalgoorlie
Baptist Church Senior Pastor Eliot
Vlatko said.
“Thanks to our amazing
team of volunteers who major
on loving people, word soon
spread that this was a place
where you can find acceptance.
Even local government mental
health experts began to refer their
clients to the Hope Café!”
“I clearly remember first
meeting Keith Cowan at the
Hope Café about two years ago.
Our friendship developed over
time, so when he decided to
follow Jesus during Easter in
2017, I was so excited! In the
months that followed, he joined
the Life Group led by my wife
Sandy and I. Keith has grown
rapidly as a new believer.”
“His baptism on 15 October
was a day to celebrate how God
has grabbed hold of Keith’s life,
since he first walked in off the
street and introduced himself.”
At Christmas, we reflect on the hope Jesus brings to the world ...
5newsDECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
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“I just love being able to help and
make a difference. If the residents
are feeling down, I think about
what I can do to brighten their
day. I just love it,” Sue said.
Christmas in particular is a
day on which Sue makes an effort
to work, as she believes it is
important to be with the people
she cares for throughout the year.
For Sue, spending this time with
the residents is like spending
Christmas with family.
“I work every single
Christmas. It’s something I enjoy
and put my name down for each
year. I haven’t got a big family
and my family doesn’t live
nearby. So I just love coming in
and being here for residents,
especially those who don’t have a
lot of family. The residents are
lovely. We’re all like family to
each other,” she explained.
As one of the team working
on Christmas Day, seeing the
residents enjoy the day with good
company, Christmas carols, a
delicious meal of turkey and ham,
and all the traditional trimmings,
brings her joy. Celebrating with
the residents and making sure
Making Christmas special
Baptistcare carer Sue Owen (left) with resident Pat
Groundskeeper John Pim and Chaplain Chris Ellery at the annual
Vose Open Day.
they feel loved and cared for on
special occasions like Christmas,
particularly those who are unable
to spend them with family and
friends, is an important way the
team at Baptistcare help to reduce
social isolation and loneliness.
In light of Aged Care Minister
Ken Wyatt’s recent calls for more
love and respect for older people
amid claims as many as 40
percent of aged care residents do
not receive visitors, this
approach plays a crucial role in
caring for our communities’
older generations.
“You need to make it special.
If the residents don’t have family
or anyone else to make those
special occasions special, it’s up
to us to really make an effort and
make sure they enjoy the day –
that they’re happy and
surrounded by people who care.
It makes them light up. I just
think it’s so important to bring
them joy and make their
Christmas special,” Sue said.
Sue says her dedication to the
people she cares for is shared by
her colleagues. Ensuring each
person feels valued and
Sue Owen has a heart for caring for older people and this Christmas Day she will choose to work at Baptistcare’s Gracewood Residential Care facility, so that she can be with the people she cares for throughout the year.
meaningfully connected to those
around them is a priority for all
staff and volunteers at the
residential care facility.
Open day a huge success
While the morning looked
ominous and cold, the coffee
van, live music, and vibrant
community atmosphere brought
warmth to the unseasonably
cool spring morning.
Throughout the day, more
than 100 visitors came through
the doors, some coming to check
out the book sale and catch up
with old friends, others opting to
attend a mini-lecture or speaking
with Vose career advisors about
future study options.
“It was very encouraging to
see the level of interest in
studying at Vose; there are lots
of gifted people open to God’s
leading,” Vose Principal Brian
Harris commented.
Approximately 20
organisations exhibited in the
Career Expo, connecting with
current and future students
about future employment
opportunities.
The day also featured
outdoor lawn games, a cuddly
animal farm and plenty of
delicious food.
Director of Vose Leadership
Monica O’Neil gathered together
with a few members of Vose
alumni to plan for future
engagement with the wider Vose
community.
“What I am excited about is
seeing some investment from
seasoned pastors and leaders
into the next generation of
people being trained for Gospel
Ministry today,” said Vose
alumnus Pastor Paul Quicke.
“I’m happy to be here and I
know others feel the same. I hope
I’m always able to be here and do
what I do,” Sue said.
The annual Vose Open Day was held on Saturday 7 October and successfully brought together the local community, career exhibitors, families and future students.
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Vose remembers Luther
The Reformation had a
profound impact on the
Christian faith, and changed
society as we know it and
experience it today. The Vose
Seminary conference revealed a
number of little known facts.
Did you know that Martin
Luther wasn’t always called
Martin Luther? Actually his
name was Luder, but he
changed it in 1517, drawing
his new name from the Greek
word eleutherius, which means
‘freedom’ or ‘the free one’.
Luther’s name change was
significant. He understood the
gospel as a message of freedom
in Christ, a message of the free
grace of God that sets his people
free – from sin and guilt, death
and hell, fear and judgement.
More than 40 people
gathered to hear four papers
presented by Brian Harris and
Michael O’Neil (Vose Seminary),
Peter Elliott (Perth Bible
College) and Matthew Bishop
(Bethlehem Lutheran
Church, Morley).
Participant feedback was
enthusiastic about the focus,
content and quality of the papers.
A first-time visitor to the
Seminary expressed thanks for
the invitation and said, “It was
most enjoyable on a number
of fronts.”
Attendee Arthur Payne
said it was a “memorable day”
and that the clear talks “added
to our knowledge of those
momentous times”.
Others expressed
appreciation of the Seminary’s
initiative in hosting the event,
given there had been so little
formal acknowledgement of the
anniversary and its significance
in Australian media and culture.
The conference papers are
available online in the Pacific
Journal of Baptist Research
November 2017 edition.
Vose Seminary commemorated the recent 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s reformation with a conference which aimed to highlight the significance of an event that changed the way we think, work and live.
For more information about
Baptistcare, please visit
baptistcare.com.au.
6 newsDECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
Carey’s night on the blockHeld on the school grounds,
the night kicked off with Principal
Nigel Wise leading a treasure hunt
in the dark, aided by glow sticks
and torches. Students participated
in games including Tug-of-War
and soccer with giant inflatable
equipment. Volunteers from
the church set up fire pits while
chatting with dads and children as
they cooked damper and roasted
marshmallows together.
According to Mark, the event
comes out of the church’s vision
to serve the community.
“We host events, such as Night
on the Block, to connect with
and serve people in ways that
will enable them to personally
experience something of God’s
love for them.”
Carey Baptist College
Forrestdale School Principal Nigel
Wise welcomes and supports the
Carey Baptist Church recently hosted a ‘Night on the Block’ at Carey Baptist College’s Forrestdale campus, with dads and children building memories together and enjoying time as a community.
Carey Baptist Church’s Forrestdale
campus Senior Pastor Mark Lilley
shared that the Forrestdale church
is “passionate about seeing the
local community connect with
church” through events like Night
on the Block.
“The evening creates an
opportunity for the dads of Carey
Baptist College Forrestdale to spend
quality time with their children
and other fathers,” Mark said.
Chaplain helps students see clearly
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Local fathers enjoyed quality time with their children and other fathers at
Carey Baptist Church’s Night on the Block event.
church involvement within
the college.
“This event is a wonderful
opportunity for the church
community to build relationships
with the College’s community.
As this is a dads and kids event,
it is very important for our
dads to spend meaningful time
with their kids and also with
other dads. At Carey, we value
family and community and this
underlines our commitment to
both,” Nigel explained.
Night on the Block is
growing in popularity and
the anticipation is building
amongst the school families for
future events.
Carey Baptist College gave
thanks to Pastor Mark Lilley and
the Carey Forrestdale Church
volunteers for hosting the
families of the school.
The actions of Gilmore College Chaplain Linda Liddelow to help one of her students, has led to free eye checks and glasses for the Gilmore College community.
When Linda noticed one of her
students wearing a pair of broken
glasses, she knew she had to help.
She approached her local OPSM
store to ask if there was any way
it could help cover the cost of
new glasses. A member of the
community paid for the glasses
and the shop also provided a
significant discount.
Linda then organised for
OPSM’s charity partner, OneSight,
to come and provide free eye
checks and glasses for students at
the school.
The OneSight team is a made
up of OPSM optometrists and
employees who volunteer their
time to help those in need.
“The process was very easy,
OneSight provided all the forms
and information, which was sent
out to all the families,” Linda said.
“The students were required to
return the form to attend the eye
screening test.”
The OneSight team completed
166 eye tests, with 63 staff and
students receiving vouchers for
ongoing checks and free glasses.
Linda said the day was a great
success for all, with OneSight
indicating that this will be an
ongoing service available to the
Gilmore community.
Author - Josh del Pino Ph
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Gilmore College chaplain Linda Liddelow with OneSight Volunteers.
7newsDECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
BCWA Christmas Events ListAlbany Baptist ChurchCarols Night
3 December
Sausage sizzle at 5pm followed by Carols from 6pm.
Austin Cove Community ChurchCarols by the Canals
16 December
Children’s entertainment from 6pm to 7pm. Carols from
7pm.
Lucie Hunter Park, South Yunderup Road, South
Yunderup.
Free children’s entertainment: bouncy castle, face
painting, mobile zoo and more. Sausage sizzle, coffee,
and ice-cream available for purchase.
Beaumaris Community Baptist ChurchCarols in the Park
9 December
Children’s events from 5.30pm. Carols from 6.30pm.
Sir James McCusker Park, Iluka.
The Carols in the Park is held in association with Ocean
Reef High School’s various student bands and choir.
Bellevue Baptist ChurchChristmas Carols and Community BBQ
10 December
Event commences 6.30pm.
35 Great Eastern Highway, Bellevue.
Join us for a free community sausage sizzle at the
church, followed by Christmas carols. For more
information, contact [email protected].
Busselton Baptist ChurchChristmas Carols Night
1 December
Event commences 6.30pm.
Cnr Queen Elizabeth Avenue and Recreation Lane,
Busselton.
All are welcome.
Carey Baptist ChurchCarols at Carey
10 December
Community Festival with food and beverage trucks from
5.30pm. Carols begin at 7pm.
Primary School Oval, Carey Baptist College - Harrisdale
Campus, 51 Wright Road, Harrisdale.
A great family atmosphere complete with farm animals,
bouncy castles, face painting, kids craft zone and a
variety of food available from food and beverage vendors.
Claremont Baptist ChurchChristmas Service
24 December
Service commences 10am.
324A Stirling Highway, Claremont.
Coolbellup Campus – Mount Pleasant Baptist churchCooby Carols
16 December
Event from 5.30 to 7.30pm.
Hargreaves Park, Counsel Road, Coolbellup.
Come and enjoy a family evening. Bring a picnic or enjoy
a free sausage sizzle while singing Christmas carols in
the park.
Cornerstone Community Baptist ChurchCarols by Candlelight
9 December
Pre-event starts at 4.30pm (face painting, camel rides,
competitions). Main event starts at 7pm.
Cooloongup Primary School, 21 Westerley Way,
Cooloongup.
Joint venture with Salvation Army and Deo
Gloria Church.
Dalkeith Baptist ChurchFamily Open Air Carols
16 December
Event commences 6pm.
Dalkeith Baptist Church. 123 Waratah Avenue, Dalkeith.
There will be singing of Christmas carols and hearing
the Bible’s version of what Christmas is all about.
There will be a sausage sizzle afterwards.
Denmark Baptist ChurchChristmas Carols at the Denmark Scouts Christmas
Fair
16 December
Fair event from 2pm to 7.30pm. Carols from 5pm to 6pm.
Scout Hall, Brazier Street, Denmark.
All of your family are invited to come to the Fair to help
celebrate the reason for the season – the birth of
Jesus Christ
Golden Bay Baptist ChurchGolden Bay Carols
16 December
Family fun from 6pm. Carols from 7pm.
Golden Bay Foreshore, cnr Dampier Drive and Marillana
Drive, Golden Bay.
A combined group of local churches getting together to
share God’s good news with our community.
Inglewood Community ChurchWonder
24 December
Event commences 5pm.
10 Cleveland Street, Dianella.
Festival with food truck, kids zone and live music.
Carols together featuring Inglewood Collective.
Lakeside Baptist ChurchChristmas Eve Celebration
24 December
Service from 5pm to 6pm.
Cnr Bibra Dr and Farrington Rd, North Lake,
Lakeside Recreation Centre.
Join us for a high energy, modern take on the Christmas
party! Let us celebrate the goodness of God shown in the
gift of Jesus.
Lesmurdie Baptist ChurchChristmas at LBC
24 December
Event from 9am. Service at 11am.
1 Varley Street, Lesmurdie.
Join us for breakfast. The morning will also include pony
rides and petting zoo, face painting and children’s
craft activities.
Maida Vale Baptist ChurchMessy Christmas
16 December
Event from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.
24 Edney Road, High Wycombe.
Messy Church takes on a recycling theme for Christmas
this year. Join us for family activities and tea together.
RSVP: [email protected]
North Beach Baptist ChurchCommunity Carols
17 December
Funfair 4:30 to 7pm. Carols from 7pm.
Charles Riley Oval, North Beach.
Join us as we present The Christmas Cracker!
Scarborough Baptist ChurchCarols by Candlelight and Free Family Fun
10 December
4.30pm
Scarborough Baptist Church – 158 Brighton Road,
Scarborough.
Come enjoy our petting zoo, face painting, balloon
twisting, bouncy castle, dunk tank, sausage sizzle,
ice cream and carols by candlelight.
Totally free – all welcome.
Waratah Christian Community and Miracle Point ChurchDown to Earth, Port Bouvard Carols ‘17. #downtoearth
17 December
Event from 5pm.
Batavia Reserve, Wannanup.
Carols ’17 is people coming together under the stars to
join us as we celebrate Jesus coming … down to earth.
Yangebup Baptist ChurchYangebup Carols by Candlelight
2 December
Activities and food from 5pm. Nativity and Carols at 7pm.
Nicholson Reserve, Osprey Drive, Yangebup.
Yangebup community groups and churches are staging
the Yangebup Carols by Candlelight. An offering for the
work of YouthCARE chaplains in local schools will be
taken on the night.
Yokine Baptist ChurchCelebrating Christmas @ the Church with the Garden
17 December
Event from 3:30 to 8pm.
50 Frape Ave, Yokine.
This Christmas we want to share the Love of Jesus by
engaging with our local community. There will be food,
live music, adults and kids craft, community garden
tours and much more.
8 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
feature
In 2018, Olive Tree Media will work with denominational
and local church leaders across Australia for the Jesus
the Game Changer National Campaign. This campaign
is seeking to inspire and equip church leadership and
attenders to focus on reaching people in their communities
with the message of Jesus and will run in local churches for
the six Sundays leading up to Easter 2018, from 25 February
to Easter Sunday on 1 April.
Jesus the Game Changer is a documentary-style series
filmed in the UK, USA, India, Singapore and Australia. It
contains 30 interviews of authors, researchers, Christian
leaders and modern day game changers who explore how
Jesus has influenced modern democratic nations. The
series features people such as John Ortberg, Christine
Caine, Rico Tice, Jossy Chacko, John Dickson, Paula
Gooder and many others. The content of the series is
balanced between historical information, cultural insights
and retelling the stories of modern day game changers
looking at topics including Jesus, equality, women and
children, care, leadership, and forgiveness.
Karl Faase, the well-known Australian Christian
communicator, Baptist Pastor, leader and social
commentator, leads Olive Tree Media and comments about
the new series.
“The primary method will be to invite people to join
others to watch and discuss the Jesus the Game Changer
series over six weeks. While every church and group will
decide for themselves how to run the program, the model
which will be encouraged is to invite people to a neutral
venue, to share a meal, create relationships and discuss the
series Jesus the Game Changer.”
“Many churches are also focusing the theme of the
Sunday service leading up to Easter on the topics of
the campaign. The series will finish on Easter Sunday
when churches will invite participants to attend Easter
celebrations. Throughout the week of Easter, in groups and
Easter celebrations, attenders will be challenged to respond
to Jesus.”
“The series of 28-minute episodes seeks to respond to
the present attitude in western nations where Christian faith
and belief is being removed from the public square. In this
environment, where faith and belief is seen as a potentially
negative influence, this series seeks to demonstrate the
influence of the teachings of Jesus on the foundational
values of our culture.”
“We encourage as many churches as possible to take
this opportunity to reach out to your communities with
the message of Jesus. People are still open to hearing about
Christ and are warm to the Christian faith. This campaign
gives you the opportunity to connect into your
local community.”
“Those churches involved in the campaign will have all
the resources required. The episodes are on DVD or they
can be streamed and a discussion guide for participants
which is also available as a free app. There will be many
other resources such as invitations, banners, children’s
programs, PowerPoints, introductory videos and training
videos for leaders, all available via the website free of charge
for participating churches.”
Well-known UK evangelist J. John reviewed the
series recently and wrote on his blog the series is “…
impeccably produced … The speakers are authoritative
and communicate well; they are persuasive without
being preachy, and neither dumbed down nor
pompously academic.”
“It would be easy to describe this resource as
evangelistic or pre-evangelistic. It’s certainly that but it’s
also more. It is an extraordinary and timely reminder of
something that is increasingly widely overlooked: the values
of our modern world that are universally upheld have not
arisen by accident but are the fruit of the transforming
power of the good news of Jesus. In doing so, this resource
makes the point – essential in an age when religion of any
sort is scorned – that Christianity is incredibly valuable.
And although more implied than proclaimed, these videos
carry a warning: suppress Christianity and don’t be
surprised if its values and principles vanish.”
“Its great strength is that it builds on precisely those
values that our friends, neighbours and colleagues care
for, and from them moves nearer to Christ. Alpha and
Christianity Explored are wonderful resources for leading
people who are interested in exploring Christianity to
faith. The problem is that increasingly most people are
even further back; they have little interest in exploring
Christianity because they consider it irrelevant.
By presenting a compelling case for seriously looking at the
faith, Jesus the Game Changer alters that.”
Churches across the Australia of all sizes are signing up
to be part of the campaign. Two experienced leaders with
significant churches, Pastors Brandon Chaplin and Nathan
Harris are looking forward to their churches being involved.
Brandon, Senior Pastor of Blackwood Hills Baptist in
Adelaide, is excited by the prospect of being involved in the
campaign, and said, “We have four congregations in three
locations. Once a year we try and do something together, we
are really excited about Jesus the Game Changer because it
brings us all together with our Sunday services, content of
sermons and what we do in our small groups.”
Senior Pastor of Bridgeman Baptist Community Church
in Brisbane, Nick, said, “Bridgeman Baptist has signed up
to this campaign and we will be using the series across our
small groups and Sunday services. We are looking forward
to using Jesus the Game Changer to have a gospel impact in
our community.”
Baptist Churches Western Australia Church Health and
Leaders Pastor Mike Bullard is excited about local Baptist
churches in Western Australia getting involved in
the campaign.
“We’re inviting churches to get on board and
encouraging them to invite people from their community to
explore Jesus and the impact he has had on history.”
For more information and the chance to register your
church for the campaign, visit olivetreemedia.com.au/
jesus-the-game-changer/
Jesus the Game Changergoes national
Jesus Christ has made an indelible mark on human history and He continues to do so through His followers. Yet many people do not realise that the values western democracies are built on originate in the life and teaching of Jesus – the equality of all, servant leadership, care for the poor and marginalised, dignity of women and children, education, to name just a few.
9DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
feature
Jesus the Game Changergoes national
Who is this Man?
Senior Pastor at Menlo Church in California,
John Ortberg, is interviewed by Karl as part
of the series.
In sharing about writing his book Who
is this Man? with Karl, Ortberg commented
that his experience of ministering in the bay
area of California is that “many people have
positive feelings about Jesus, but they know
very little about him.”
“When I started to talk about his impact
on history, there was quite a sense of
amazement. Most folks just don’t know what
a different world we live in than we would
have lived if there hadn’t been this guy
called Jesus.”
“His life and teaching simply drew
people to follow him. He made history by
starting in a humble place, in a spirit of
love and acceptance, and allowing each
person space to respond. His vision of life
continues to haunt and challenge humanity.
His influence has swept over history
bringing inspiration to what has happened
in art, science, government, medicine, and
education; he has taught humans about
dignity, compassion, forgiveness and hope.”
“Even in death, Jesus’ influence is
hard to escape. The practice of burial in
graveyards or cemeteries was taken from
his followers; cemetery itself comes from
a Greek word meaning ‘sleeping place’.
It expressed the hope of resurrection. If
there is a tombstone, it will often have the
date of birth and the date of death with a
dash in between, the length of that human
life measured by its distance from Jesus’
lifetime. In many cases, if a tombstone is
unaffordable, a grave is marked with a cross,
a reminder of Jesus’ death. To this day,
if a cartoonist wants a shorthand way of
referring to the afterlife, a simple sketch of
Saint Peter in the clouds by a pearly gate will
be understood. Whatever it did or did not
do to his existence, death did not end Jesus’
influence. In many ways, it just started it.”
Confident Christianity
Mary Jo Sharp, a former atheist from the
Pacific Northwest who thought religion
was for the weak-minded, now an assistant
professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist
University, and the author of the top-selling
Bible study Why Do You Believe That? is also
interviewed by Karl.
She talks about her upbringing
in a home that “valued the scientific
endeavour and wasn’t steeped in the deep
understanding of the Christian faith.”
She discusses the significant impact that
her high school band director had on her
life and that his witness to her helped her
through the tough questions that she was
facing. “Is this all there is? Am I really just a
collection of atoms in a vast and
different universe?”
Sharp shares with Karl the importance of
knowing what you believe, the art of sharing
your faith, and why you should be prepared
to defend your faith as a follower of Christ.
10 newsDECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
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The 14 year old daughter of a Southern Baptist pastor was among at least two dozen people killed when an armed man opened fire during worship
services at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
Leaders visit grieving church
You lean into what you don’t
understand. You lean into the
Lord ... Whatever life brings to
you, lean on the Lord rather than
your own understanding. I don’t
understand, but I know my God
does. And that’s where I’ll leave
that,” Frank said.
Pomeroy’s wife Sherri, who
also was out of town during the
shooting, expressed thanks for
the love she has received from
Southern Baptists ministering in the wake of what some have called the deadliest church shooting in the United States history say they have witnessed ‘God at work’ despite the 26 dead and some 20 others wounded at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
Local pastors and field personnel
with the Southern Baptists of
Texas Convention (SBTC) began
providing grief counselling within
hours of the shooting at First
Baptist’s morning worship service
on 5 November. Southern Baptist
Convention (SBC) President
Steve Gaines and SBC Executive
Committee President Frank Page
also arrived in Sutherland Springs
on 7 November to offer prayer
and encouragement.
The North American Mission
Board has offered to cover funeral
expenses for all shooting victims
in coordination with the SBTC.
First Baptist Pastor Frank
Pomeroy, who was out of town
when the shooting occurred
and whose 14 year old daughter
Annabelle was among the dead,
told reporters the church’s
tragedy will exalt Christ.
“Christ is the one who’s
going to be lifted up. That’s
what I’m telling everybody.
Congress’ prayer tradition upheld
The United States Capitol building remains a house of prayer.
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Ronnie Floyd, President of the
National Day of Prayer and former
President of the Southern Baptist
Convention, told Baptist Press he
is thankful the judge upheld the
prayer tradition in Congress.
“The freedom of religion
should exist in every corner of
American life, including when
Congress meets in session,”
Ronnie said.
“We are a nation built upon
the strong commitment, ‘In God
We Trust’.”
“There is no greater need in
this nation than for all of us to
pray. I am convinced we must
do all we can to mobilise unified
public prayer for America.
First published in
baptistpress.com and
republished with kind
permission.
Federal Judge Rosemary Collyer
of the District of Columbia said
United States Supreme Court
precedent undergirds the long
tradition of prayer to open
congressional sessions and the
House’s rules in carrying out
the practice.
Speaker of the House
Paul Ryan, and Southern Baptist
and evangelical prayer leader,
expressed gratitude for
the decision.
Paul said he is grateful the
House “can continue to begin
its work each day as we have for
centuries: taking a moment to
pray to God.”
“Recently, especially following
the return of Majority Whip
Steve Scalise [who was critically
injured by a gunman in June], this
institution has been reminded
about the power of prayer.”
The constitutionality of legislative prayer gained reaffirmation on 11 October when a federal court dismissed an atheist’s challenge of the United States House of Representatives’ right to bar him from delivering an invocation.
friends, community members and
even strangers. She commented,
“As much tragedy as Annabelle’s
death entails for our family, we
don’t want to overshadow the
other lives lost yesterday.”
“We lost more than Belle
yesterday,” Sherri Pomeroy said.
“One thing that gives me a sliver
of encouragement is the fact that
Belle was surrounded yesterday
by her church family that she
loved fiercely, and vice versa.
Our church was not comprised
of members or parishioners.
We were a very close family.
We ate together, we laughed
together, we cried together and
worshiped together.”
“Now most of our church
family is gone, our building
probably beyond repair and the
few of us that are left behind lost
tragically yesterday.”
“Please don’t forget Sutherland
Springs,” Sherri said.
Article first published
by baptistpress.com and
republished with kind
permission.
11DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
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Christians support Rohingya
According to Amnesty
International, at least 430,000
Rohingya have fled Myanmar
(former Burma) to escape
targeted violence. Considered
one of the most persecuted
minorities in the world, the
Rohingya have been facing
severe violence, torture and
discrimination for many years.
“We urge the Myanmar
government to stop these
atrocities on an immediate basis,”
Chaudhry Amon Emmanuel,
a Pakistani Christian social
activist, said in an interview with
Christians in Pakistan.
Dozens of Pakistani
Christians met in front of
the National Press Club in
Karachi in September to protest
against Myanmar’s treatment
of the predominantly Muslim
minority. They condemned
Myanmar’s government and
military for carrying out
severe human right abuses and
stripping the Rohingya of their
citizenship.
“Our Christian leadership
and community stand in
solidarity with our Muslim
brothers and sisters in
Rohingya. Our prayers are with
them in this difficult time,”
Pakistani Christian politician
Asiya Nasir said at a meeting of
Christian leaders in Islamabad.
Ram Gidoomal, chairman
of the Christian charity South
Asian Concern, told Premier
Christianity that all Christians
should be concerned about
what’s happening to the
Rohingya.
“Jesus said love your
neighbour. He did not say love
your Christian neighbour, or
love your English neighbour.
He said love your neighbour,
period,” Mr Gidoomal said.
“Whatever ethnicity,
whatever religion, we must love
them. Unless we demonstrate
that love, without restriction,
we betray our Christian faith,”
he added.
As foreign NGOs are no
longer permitted to provide aid
in Myanmar, aid organisations
such as World Vision have
asked permissions to provide
emergency assistance to
Rohingya in neighbouring
Bangladesh, starting with
food aid. Other Bangladeshi
Christian groups are seeking
to help the minority by
demonstrating for their cause,
offering shelter and food, and
providing medical support in
refugee camps.
More than 400,000
Rohingya have fled to
Bangladesh in less than a
month following a military
crackdown in Rohingya
villages. Myanmar’s security
forces had allegedly burned
down thousands of Rohingya
homes in reaction to a series of
attacks by Rohingya militants
in August. The militant group
emerged in October last
year, playing a strong part in
the region’s increased state
of violence. Previously, the
Rohingya had been considered
a mostly peaceful people group,
despite years of persecution.
Author - Ramona Őtting
Members of the Rohingya minority in Bangladesh after fleeing Myanmar.
Crowds celebrate Luther
Reformation Day drew unexpectedly large crowds into church services in Germany with thousands of visitors waiting in line to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Luther nailing his 95 theses onto a church door in Wittenberg.
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Many visitors waited in line to enter the service at St. Catherine’s Church in Oppenheim, Germany.
Christians in Bangladesh and Pakistan are advocating for the Rohingya people, a muslim minority in Myanmar, to show their support for another persecuted minority in Asia.
Contrary to the general drop of
church visitor numbers in many
churches across Germany, some
visitors missed out on a seat in
church on 31 October.
In Wiesbaden, a church
community set up an outdoor
marque with live-streaming
as all 1,700 seats in the main
church building were taken.
Some churches ran two services
back-to-back to accomodate all
visitors.
“It was like Christmas
and Easter combined,” said a
spokesman for the Protestant
Church in Hesse-Nassau, adding
that almost nobody had expected
such large crowds for the
Reformation Day services.
The German government
had made Reformation Day a
one-off national public holiday
this year, to celebrate the special
anniversary.
Author - Ramona Őtting
12 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
How did you become interested
in music and what led you to
pursue it as a career?
One of my earliest memories
was sitting with my twin brother,
Paul, under my Dad’s Rhodes
piano. We were pretending it
was a spaceship while Dad was
overseeing a sound check. He
was the Music Director of the
Jesus People Big Band. After
getting everyone’s attention,
he counted in the band and
I was taken to another place.
Trumpets, trombones, woodwinds
and rhythm section belted out
Star Wars with a disco flavour
– it was the seventies after all. I
was three-years-old and as this
blanket of sound enveloped me it
somehow got inside my heart.
My grandma taught Paul and
I piano from six years of age, and
at 13 Paul started learning drums
and I took up saxophone. Upon
finishing high school, I ended
up doing a science degree and
worked in the health field, but I
still had a musical outlet with a
band called The Jive Express.
When I was 25, there was a
night I sat motionless in my chair
as the church service at Mount
Pleasant Baptist finished. I was
convicted of not developing the
musical gift God had given me. In
that moment I committed to make
a change and all I could think to
do was get saxophone lessons
and start practising again. Little
did I know, this would lead to an
audition at the West Australian
Academy of Performing Arts just
three months later. Miraculously,
I was accepted into the program.
I then spent the next seven years
at school attaining a Bachelor
of Music (Jazz) in Composition
and Arranging with first class
honours, and a Master of Art
(Creative Arts).
You moved to Tennessee
in 2013. Are there any key
differences you have noticed
about Christianity and the
church compared to your
experience in Australia?
I can see why it has been
called the Bible belt. As I drive
in my car I can choose from
multiple Christian radio stations,
two of which have nonstop
sermons throughout the day.
There are church buildings
on every corner. If someone
hasn’t had a traditional church
attendance growing up they are
usually from out of town. When
eating in a restaurant I commonly
see people praying before a meal.
In coffee shops I often see church
in conversation
for His glory and leave the
outworking of that to Him.
I experience the temptation
to try and control what I have
organised, rather than trust the
sovereignty of God. It is often
these unexpected, challenging
moments that most profoundly
reveal the content of our hearts,
allowing us to see what God is
going to heal.
You have also been involved
in some exciting projects
since moving to Tennessee,
including Believe: The Movie
and Brian and Jenn Johnson
from Bethel Music’s After All
These Years. Tell me about your
involvement and highlights
from these experiences.
It has been amazing. On the
movie, I got to work on the score,
co-write a couple of melodies that
were used throughout the film,
and I orchestrated a couple of
scenes. I also co-wrote two songs
for the soundtrack and helped on
set for two of the bigger scenes
in the movie. With the Bethel
album, I wrote all of the strings
and conducted the section when
recording at Blackbird Studios. In
both cases, the highlight was the
people. On the Believe film I saw
a production team come together
that I am still working with, and
on the Bethel project I got to work
with my twin Paul and a close
friend Jason Ingram. Sitting in
the studio having those amazing
string players perform the notes
I penned was a taste of heaven. A
moment of doing something I was
made by God to do.
How has your Christian faith
impacted your career?
I’ve learned being faithful to
God in what he places before me
on a given day will lead to the
next thing God has for me. Just
like David fought the animals
before he fought Goliath. I
don’t have to try and take it. I
still plan for the future, but I do
so with this awareness. As an
example, in 2015 I wrote parts for
a string trio to play at Journey
on a Sunday because I wanted
to encourage a young violinist
and create more diversity in
the musical worship expression
of our church. I didn’t know
it, but Jason was sitting in the
gathering that day listening to
those parts. A year later he called
me to do the Bethel album.
What do you do to maintain your
own personal health, spirituality
and wellbeing?
I try to do this by creating
space for God in my life, and for
Life in Tennessee
leaders and business people
meeting to plan for the next
event, album, book, website, app
or some kind of church resource.
There is a huge machine that
exists here to serve the church
around the world. As I’ve gotten
to know the personal stories
of my Nashville friends, I’ve
discovered there to be both great
beauty and deep pain attached to
this picture.
Tell me about your role at
Journey Church in Tennessee
and what this involves.
For the first three years,
I largely looked after all the
creative elements that happen
in our different gatherings – our
kids, teenagers and the Sunday
services. As you can imagine,
the talent that exists in Nashville
is incredible. We have hundreds
of artists moving to this city
every month with a dream in
their heart. The challenges for
those that ‘make it’ – and those
that don’t – are very real. As a
result, most artists have talked
to me about navigating these
challenges. These conversations
led to me starting the Journey
Arts Collective.
The purpose of this ministry
is to build a community of
artists and aspiring artists who
support each other in their art
and story journey. Wherever we
gather, our focus is on what and
who is forming us, the creative
endeavors we are embracing,
and how we’re serving together
as we live out our God-designed
life. The Arts Collective has
become the focus of my role at
Journey Church.
You have recently returned from
leading a team from Journey
Arts Collective on a pilgrimage
to Europe. How was this
experience and do you have any
key takeaways?
I take artists to Paris,
Lausanne and Florence to spend
time with God, meet with local
artists and create. I have different
readings, reflections, questions
and exercises for the group as we
travel. It’s the second trip like this
that I’ve led.
I’ve seen God using the
most unexpected art pieces and
moments to speak and shape us
as we travel. I will never fit God
into my paradigm. His ways are
higher than mine.
I see God using artistry to
impact the lives and culture
around us, but we mustn’t limit
this to our lifetime. We create
what I believe he is speaking
to me to be worked out in
community. Creating space
with God is extremely diverse
for me and includes music,
prayer, meditation, film, art,
books, exercise and nature.
Whatever the experience, it is
always grounded in the bible. My
primary community is my wife
and four children. I also have
a small group that I’m a part of
and different mentors that I meet
with regularly. Here I’m able to
laugh, cry, celebrate and confess
my brokenness, experiencing
God’s healing.
What is on the horizon for you?
Definitely time with my
family. My children are nine,
seven, three years and two
months old, so this is a special
season. The Journey Arts
Collective is looking to start
developing a studio space
for artists to work through
the week. Connected to this,
we will be starting different
learning experiences for the next
generation of artists. I’m also
writing some of my own music
and I hope to get this released
next year.
Brett Mabury, previous Worship Arts Pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and Head of Arts at Mount Pleasant College, moved from Perth to Tennessee in 2013 to become the Worship Arts Pastor at Journey Church. Caitlin Quartermaine recently caught up with him to talk about his Christian faith and life in Tennessee.
13DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
Don’t give up your day dream
before we get to the ‘good
part’. But God calls us to grow
wherever we are, to engage fully
in each moment, and to invest in
the people around us wherever
we find ourselves. Even when it
seems a thousand miles away
from what is burning on our
hearts to do.
Every single season of life we
find ourselves in has purpose,
whether or not we can see what
it is. God’s way of preparing us
for what’s ahead is almost never
what we would expect and often
appears quite obscure, but it’s
only God who knows exactly
what we need for a future only he
can see.
Will you choose to trust him
through the process? Lean into
him, grab hold of the peace he
freely gives, don’t throw away
your dream and embrace where
he has you. His timing is perfect
and his plans for you are much
better than you could imagine.
Take the focus off yourself
You know those times where
it feels like all your friends’
wildest dreams are coming true
at once, and you’re the only one
50 steps behind? And as much
as you want to celebrate with
them, your heart is grieving and
discouragement and self-pity
begin to creep their way in?
These are times we need to
tell ourselves, ‘Stop it!’, and get
out of our self-absorbed world –
while of course acknowledging
what our heart is feeling and
bringing it to God. And the
quickest way out of self-pity and
discouragement? Go and be a
blessing to someone else.
Wherever we are, however
much our heart is longing
for unfulfilled desires, we
should never stop being an
encouragement to others. God
didn’t give us dreams so we
could become self-absorbed and
wrapped up in trying to make
them happen. In fact, he made it
so without others, the fulfilment
of our dreams and destinies
wouldn’t be possible.
So if you’re feeling 10,000
miles away from your dreams, go
and encourage somebody else.
You’ll be surprised how much
your own heart will come alive
again with purpose and hope.
And may we never forget
it’s God who gives us dreams.
The dreams in our heart and the
destiny we passionately want
to fulfil, are ultimately for his
glory, not our own. Knowing
If we let it, discouragement will
steal away our dreams, our passion
and our drive to move into all God
has called us to and gifted us for. It
will keep us small and hold us back
from the extraordinary.
No one is immune from facing
discouragement, but the good
news is we don’t have to let it take
us out or snuff out our dreams.
How should we respond then,
when we find ourselves battling it?
Stay encouraged
To pursue the dreams on
our life takes a huge amount
of courage. Discouragement
literally takes away our courage,
and therefore our ability to see
our dreams become a reality.
Staying encouraged then, or
filled with courage, is crucial as
we go after our dreams.
To stay encouraged,
intentionality is key. We cannot
expect it to just come our way
and feel sorry for ourselves
when it doesn’t. By pursuing
and engaging with God and
community, we should never be
short of encouragement.
Are you feeling weary and
discouraged, disheartened at
how far from living out your
dreams you seem? Talk to God
about it. Wait on him until you
hear what he has to say. Get in
the Bible until your heart is filled
with encouragement again. His
words always breathe life.
Get around people who know
the dreams on your heart, who
see the treasures inside of you,
and who won’t let you quit. I
couldn’t list the amount of times
the people around me have
pulled me back from the brink
of despair by speaking words of
life to me, reminding me of who
I am and filling me with courage
to keep going. You can’t put a
value on friends like that.
Grow where you are
The reality is, when we have a
dream, there is always a process
to its fulfilment. And often it is a
longer, more convoluted process
than we expect. Rarely, if ever,
does life go the way we imagined.
And guess what? We aren’t
ever going to reach a place where
we feel like we’ve ‘made it’. There
is always going to be more to go
after. Our dreams will expand and
countless facets of our lives will
open up requiring more growth.
Sometimes in life there’s a
strong temptation to check out
from where we are because it
feels like an ‘in between’ stage,
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There are points in life where anything feels possible and the dreams on our heart seem tangible and alive with hope. Then there are seasons where talking about dreams feels like one big cliché and our heart is weighed down with discouragement.
growth
this not only takes the focus off
ourselves and puts it back onto
him, it also takes the pressure
off us having to strive to make
things happen. It is only by
his grace. And when we’re
operating by his grace, things
happen with a lot more ease!
So there you go. Go and kick
discouragement in the face and
never stop dreaming. Keep on
keeping on, and as Heidi Baker
said, “If you don’t quit, you win.”
Author - Bonnie Dowie
Bonnie loves all things old-
fashioned, exploring new
places, coffee with friends
and being with her family. She
is passionate about broken
hearts and relationships being
restored through the power of
vulnerability and honesty with
God and others. Bonnie has
a Bachelor of Humanitarian
and Community Studies and a
Master of International Public
Health, and hopes to work in
developing countries one day.
14 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
news
Editor: Matt ChapmanManaging Editor: Andrew SculthorpeSubeditor: Caitlin Quartermaine Production: Vanessa Klomp Creative: Peter IonAdvertising: Sally PhuDistribution: Sally PhuEditorial deadline: 5th of each month
EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING:Email: [email protected] [email protected]: Baptist Churches Western Australia PO Box 57, Burswood WA 6100Tel: (08) 6313 6300Fax: (08) 9470 1713
PUBLISHERS GENERAL DISCLAIMERAll 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) 6500 7777 Email: [email protected]
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Carols and kindness at Carey
Held on 10 December, the event
will include a variety of food
vendors as well as entertainment
for all the family before the
Carols event begins.
The evening will begin with a
festival event, including bouncy
castles, face painting, kids’ craft,
an animal farm and pony rides, as
well as an array of food trucks and
beverage vendors.
“It is a wonderful community
event. The brass band is amazing
and the choir and soloists
are so talented. There is an
amazing standard of production,
accompanied by a really lovely
community atmosphere with lots
of children, families, young and
old members of the community
getting into the Christmas spirit,”
said event organiser Miranda
Miller.
Every year, Carey Baptist
Church chooses a theme to
centre Carols@Carey around.
The theme for this year’s event is
‘Intentional Act of Kindness’.
“With random acts of
kindness being a bit of a buzz-
phrase these days, we thought we
would direct people to the one
intentional act of kindness that
changed the course of history.”
Carey Baptist Church holds
its Carols evening as a way of
serving its surrounding and
wider communities, with more
than 2,000 people expected
to attend.
“Everyone is welcome to
come along for a night of fun
and community, and join in the
celebration of the birth of our
Saviour through song.”
Carey Baptist Church will be
using the hashtag #iakindness
on Instagram in the lead up to
the event to spread the message
of kindness that Christmas
brings. For more details about
the Carols@Carey event, visit
church.carey.asn.au
Chelsea Cullen returnsP
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Chelsea Cullen will return with the release of her latest single, On This Rock, this December. The single will launch on Thursday 7 December at Bar Four5Nine.
Chelsea will be supported by
singer/songwriter and producer
Sam Wylde, Annika Moses and
eight piece accapella group,
Darling.
Chelsea released her first
single, Truth, in May. In review
of Chelsea’s first single, Music
Director of triple j Unearthed, Dave
Ruby Howe said, “Get ready for a
powerhouse voice”.
Chelsea has spent the past
year writing and producing her
upcoming EP, which is due to be
released early next year. Many
of these songs will feature at her
upcoming single launch.
Chelsea has several years
of performing experience at a
variety of shows, from intimate
solo shows at The Ellington Jazz
Club to performing with big
names such as Lior and Fatai.
Chelsea also has experience in
worship and gospel music as the
worship leader at Dalkeith Road
Church of Christ.
Chelsea Cullen will launch her second single on 7 December at
Bar Four5Nine.
There is an amazing standard of production, accompanied by a really lovely community atmosphere with lots of children, families, young and old members of the community getting into the Christmas spirit ...
Carey Baptist Church will host its popular and much-anticipated annual Carols@Carey event again this year.
For more information or to
listen to Chelsea’s music, visit
chelseacullen.com.
Carey Baptist Church will host its annual Carols@Carey event on Sunday 10 December.
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15DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
intermission
This voucher entitles you to 15% off your next purchase in store at Mount Lawley
The Advocate – DEC/JAN 2018
A minute with ...
You keep on coming back each year to serve at Leavers, what drives you to make
this commitment?
Every year over 6,000 leavers attend and they are so grateful that there were people
out there who care enough to volunteer for a week to keep them safe. Not only that, the
Leavers Green Team becomes an extended family. You make friends for life.
What is a feature of the team you are a part of that you’d like to share?
Our older volunteers. When I first started in 2008 there were lots of young adults
that volunteer. Over the years, I have seen parents and even grandparents want to
come and be a part of the Green Team. Their love, compassion and energy to serve
their community is inspiring.
When you think of the young people you serve at Leavers, how would you
describe them?
They are fun, energetic, enthusiastic and grateful.
What do you think God has been trying to say to you lately?
God has been placing on my heart a greater passion for our volunteers. Without
our 125 volunteers each year, we wouldn’t be able to serve the community. This has
encouraged me to seek how we can better support our volunteers – even if it means
me taking a tray of vanilla slice to them!
What is the most important ‘nuts and bolts’ lesson that you can give me?
What you do is important no matter who you are. Leavers is an incredible place to
challenge yourself and maybe find something in you that you didn’t know you had
in you.
Do you have a plan to intentionally develop yourself as a leader?
I never set out to be a leader, I just love to serve and use my gifts. Through
opportunities to help, I have had people along the way help me develop my skill sets.
Without other leaders alongside me, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.
What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?
Every leader needs to have a passion and dedication, not just on the project they
are working on, but also for their team. I love seeing the volunteers get excited and
talking passionately about Leavers to potential new volunteers.
Reviews by Koorong Mount Lawley staffWebsite: www.koorong.com
Address: 434 Lord Street, Mount Lawley
Phone: 08 9427 9777
Alecia West – Volunteer Coordinator for Leavers Green Team and member of Beaumaris Baptist Church.
watch
read
Wish for Christmas Many parents might hope their child
will share their values and convictions,
but this is not always the case. Wish for
Christmas is a story of a girl’s choice
that turns her world upside down as
well as those around her. She sees
just what impact her parent’s faith
has on every facet of their lives when
she wishes away their faith in God.
The story follows her journey from
selfishness to faith, where God allows
her to make a bad choice and endure
the consequences, while continuing to
look after her.
Beautiful Word for Christmas Mary Demuth
Beautiful Word for Christmas is a
devotional book for women filled
with bright bible passages illustrated
in full colour. The book contains a
devotion for each day focused on
Christmas to help readers find joy
and peace through the sometimes
busy and stressful season. With the
pages brightly coloured and every one
different, the book offers readers an
opportunity to read an age-old story in
a new and inspiring way.
WOW Christmas 2017Get into the spirit of Christmas
with the new compilation from
today’s top selling Christian Artists,
WOW Christmas 2017. The 19 track
compilation contains both traditional
and new renditions of popular songs
such as Chris Tomlin’s He Shall
Reign Forever More, Lauren Daigle
singing Have Yourself a Merry Little
Christmas, Tenth Ave North’s version
of O Holy Night and Amy Grant
singing Tennessee Christmas. This is
compilation is suited to people who
appreciate Christmas songs from all
eras and want to enjoy modern music
during the Christmas season this year.
listen
16 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018
sport
It’s about family
Cricket – the ultimate family sport?
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Playing cricket is a team and individual game. To win you need the team. To play well all you need is to win for yourself. To be a cricketer you merely have to play. To have a club you need family.
More precisely you need
families. While I do not have
family playing alongside me,
many of my friends at my club
do. Brothers, cousins, uncles and
of course mothers, sisters and
aunties all contribute to a good
club. Many attend matches, assist
at functions, hold office, or even
presidency. Yet the dominant
family relation at any cricket club
is most often fathers and sons.
What is the pinnacle of a
father’s cricketing life? Playing
alongside your sons. Though
let us not pass over fathers and
daughters or even mothers and
sons. Playing a game of cricket
with your progeny is a great
honour for all parents. Inducting
a child into an adult pastime
in the form of sport is possibly
the closest to initiation Anglo-
Australia gets.
At a young age, many sons
begin playing as substitute
fielders out on the boundary. Far
out on the boundary. Safe enough
for Mum not to freak out. Close
enough for the son to patrol the
boundary and be a part of Dad’s
game. Though, being on the field
creates the possibility of proud
Dad moments.
I remember a game where
one young son was fielding
on the long off boundary. The
ball was hit into the air in his
direction. Many days in the
backyard and junior games came
to the fore. Small hands were
raised for the high skied ball.
Dad, the wicket keeper, inhaled
shallowly. We all held our breath
there is always one person who
arrives late. Or worse, has to leave
early. Our working culture today
is a long way from the 38 hour
working week.
Positives come in the form
of the possibilities with fathers
and daughters. Though it is
very rare to play against women
in senior men’s competitions,
it does happen. Now with the
growth of women’s and girl’s
teams there will surely be in the
future opportunity for fathers
and mothers to share the same
proud moments.
These moments are the ones
that reinforce the family aspects
of a cricket club.
as the ball descended towards
young small hands.
And we all winced at
the missed opportunity of a
first catch. We all ran to him
immediately after. Cheers all
round. Even from the batsman
who noted, as we all did, that
the boy did not shy away from
the rather hard cricket ball.
Meanwhile a proud Dad checked
that there were no broken fingers
for Mum to find.
Of course times are changing
and there are positives and
negatives. Negatives come in the
lack of time for sporting activities.
Many parents have to work on
the weekend. At most games
They are in my view more
important than winning
premierships, because they
speak beyond the individual and
even beyond the club. There is
a difference between winning
as an individual and winning as
a team. And that is what team
sport teaches at its best.
As a team, as a club, dare I say
as a church, we are better when
we share in success and failures.
We are able to commiserate and
find solace with each other in
defeat. In victory we are able to
share even when we are not as
effective as others. Proud Dad
moments are there to show us
how it should be. It is not win at
all costs as the relational cost is
too high.
Author - Phillip Hall
Phillip Hall plays suburban
cricket in Melbourne’s Eastern
Suburbs. When he is not
playing cricket, Phillip studies
at the University of Divinity
and is working on a post-
graduate degree in Theology.
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ENROL NOW FOR SEMESTER 1, 2018Whether your future is in Ministry, Theology, Chaplaincy, Mission, Education or Leadership, Vose has a pathway for you.
“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to
give you hope and a future.”Jer 29:11
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