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theadvocate.tv NOVEMBER 2016 In Conversation Leading Australian Economist “As we look at the leadership landscape today we do well to Professor Ian Harper discusses how his Christian faith ask why there are still so many who quit, are set aside or are relates to economics. PAGE 12 >> plateaued and directionless.” DAVE KRAFT PAGE 13>> 4 Reflecting Fiona Stanley Hospital patient Warren Boggs finds motivation to write >> 7 Wellbeing conference Emerging issues for Generation Z discussed by conference delegates >> Photo: Ben Good Participants at SportsFest queuing during a meal break, benefitting from the hard work of many volunteers. SportsFest a winner 11 Religious freedom Ben Good One of the main objectives of “I’m young at heart. I love Chinese government SportsFest is to give non-Christian encouraging and supporting our propose changes to young people the opportunity to youth and I love the atmosphere,” religious affairs law >> Over 1,000 competitors, more than 150 volunteers hear and respond to the gospel she said when asked why she and a host of spectators and supporters from over and the Sunday night service is keeps coming back. 30 Baptist churches attended SportsFest 2016 in the traditionally an important part Lindsay, from Gosnells Baptist of achieving this. After a rocking Church was a competitor in the South West over the September long weekend. praise and worship set, Baptist past and has been volunteering Churches Western Australia Youth for the last five years. Aside from Committed to SportsFest is a combined churches and a re-enactment of a scene and Young Adults Consultant Ed helping out his church’s team sports competition and has been from the latest Star Wars movie. Devine shared a message with the he loves reconnecting with being honest, run by Baptist Churches Western The audience responded with 1,200 strong crowd. In response, people from other churches and transparent Australia annually for the past 18 cheers and applause, making the 16 people said ‘yes’ to Jesus and 20 would recommend volunteering years. atmosphere very festive. more made recommitments. to others. and above A palpable excitement filled Organisers said the SportsFest’s success is always “Definitely, get involved. It’s Leschenault Leisure Centre to festive atmosphere continued largely attributed to the volunteers. great doing SportsFest ‘from reproach. open the weekend as the 30 throughout the weekend, with “We couldn’t run SportsFest the other side’, going from a competing churches paraded some wonderful sportsmanship without them. Their positive competitor to a volunteer,” into the stadium wearing on display. Sporting games often attitude and willingness to do he said. BAPTIST CHURCHES brightly coloured team shirts began and concluded in prayer, whatever they can to make the “More volunteers are needed, WESTERN AUSTRALIA and representatives unveiled teams shaking hands and even games a great success is amazing,” so why not put your hand up and team banners. Catchy slogans or hugging the opposing team. Baptist Churches Western give volunteering a go?” themes such as ‘Super Messiah’, Volunteers noted how Australia Director of Ministries, SportsFest is held each a take on Nintendo’s Super Mario impressed the youth from the Mark Wilson said. Queen’s Birthday long weekend game, ‘Finding Glory’ a take local community were. “Some of them have been and in 2017 will be held 22 to on Pixar’s Finding Dory, and “The youth could see how faithfully serving at SportsFest for 25 September. many more were brandished on much respect people have for many years.” the many banners. There was each other,” Yvonne, a volunteer Yvonne has been volunteering For more information, visit even choreographed dancing from Mount Barker said. since 2009. www.sportsfest.org.au 2 my view NOVEMBER 2016 When there just aren’t words to say I sat in a dimly lit room, crowded with grieving women, my forehead pressed by when I don’t ask God what He against that of a lady I don’t even remember meeting before, both of us bawling has me doing here? our eyes out. Lately, He’s been reminding me that it’s not my fancy words or my wisdom that people need, My best friend had passed away await the ceremony, back to the once have I thought of a single it’s my presence that speaks the day before, tragically lost dimly lit room where I sat, cried, comforting thing to say. the loudest. after childbirth complications. and held my friend’s mother as I usually just sit silently and I think it’s easy to feel that We’d spent every other day she called out over and over, pray. I pray that people will know way wherever we are – worried together for three years, ever “My child, my child.” A cry I’ll that I love them. I pray that they that we’re not going to know since I moved to Mozambique. never forget. might know that God loves them. what to say to our friend who She had taught me all about Over the last few months I’ve I pray that they too might know might be grieving or suffering. my new neighbourhood, a new had more opportunities than I the God of all comfort and that Maybe God is saying to you too, Kath Beeck language and invited me to be care to count to sit with friends somehow He might use me to don’t worry about the words so Kath Beeck and her family part of her family. in the depths of grief. Sickness, comfort others. much – just be present. work with Global Interaction The morning of the funeral I poverty, suffering and death I’m surrounded by people in Mozambique. arrived early to go with a group are rife in Mozambique and whose language I don’t speak of women to prepare my friend’s they’ve been hitting the people very well and whose culture body for burial. Afterwards, I we love hard. In all those times I’m really just beginning to returned to the family home to spent sitting with people, not understand. Barely a day goes On forgetting a name … Don’t know if it has happened to you. You are staring into the face of someone remember people’s names, and you know, remembering all kinds of things about them … the work they do, am quietly envious of those how many children they have, the suburb they live in, who they are friends who have no memory lapses in this area. Perhaps it is because I with – everything except their name. And it is their name that you require. know that God takes our name so seriously that He sometimes Of course you can try the old again G … cough, splutter … How sign that they don’t matter to you offers to give us a new name – Christian trick, and say something are things going with our friends (can’t even remember my name, one that more accurately reflects like “Hello brother (or sister), nice the Morgans?” so don’t pretend you have been our life calling. And perhaps to see you!” But it doesn’t fool Does this matter? praying for me). Actually, that’s that’s the key – not to worry many, nor does it work if you’re To some people, not in the not necessarily true. For me, when others don’t remember our supposed to be introducing them slightest. Indeed, some heave a praying for people often involves name, but to listen more closely Dr Brian Harris to someone else. Or you can try sigh of relief and admit they a series of pictures that flash for the new name God wants to being clever, “Can you remind me don’t remember your name through my mind of people I feel give us. Dr Brian Harris is the Principal how you pronounce your name?” either. There is nothing like burdened for. Their name may or of Vose Seminary and Pastor at Naturally it’s rather awkward if it shared ignorance to ensure an may not attach to the picture, but Large for the Carey Group. turns out to be Sue or John. Most amiable atmosphere. I do entrust their need to God. commonly I just mumble and Others find it more difficult For all that, I do often cough and say “nice to see you to accept, and take it as a sure ask myself why I struggle to Life in a box The cupboards are empty. There’s nothing on the shelves. All that is left are bare what we think the necessities of walls, an unlaid table, and a bit of furniture. Everything else, all that was deemed life are – and jam what seems less ‘unnecessary’ for four days is crammed away in a 33m3 shipping container. important into the back room, hoping to get to it someday. Sometimes what seems like a Everything. Thirty years of has now turned into ten days, get to the back, or, find an luxury, or an indulgence, is more everything so well crammed and will turn into more. What alternative to my paper, books, essential to our being than we that I’m scared to open the back was deemed as unnecessary is brushes and inks. realise. Something as simple as door of the container for fear that looking more necessary! And I found an alternative. It was paper and ink – brightly everything will spring out like a what is unnecessary, but greatly much easier. But it’s not as coloured inks. jack-in-the-box! desired, is right at the back of the satisfying … Is there something that I admire the way my husband container behind 32m3 of other Now, what is my point? should be more necessary in Jackie Smoker Phil packed the container, things … my paints, ink, brushes, Sometime soon, the box has to be your life? Something that helps with not one vacant space books and papers.

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