CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS Inside … THE FELLOWSHIP OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES August 2019
P 1,2 From the Gen. Sec. Edited by General Secretary, Tim Foskett
P 3 Junior Camp
P 4 - 5 Pastoral Ponderings
P 6, 7 Reach Australia
P 8 Mission Moment
P 9 Jannali
P 10-12 Annual Assembly 2019
P 13 N SW Council of Churches
P 14 Employment
P 15 Community
P 16 Coming Up
P 17-19 Please Pray
Fellowship of Congregational Churches ‘To be a dynamic fellowship of evangelical churches, with each Church effectively PO Box 47s, Bexley South, NSW 2207.
reaching its local community with the Phone: (02) 9588 5128 Gospel and, collectively, impacting our nation and the world for Christ. Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fcc-cong.org Our Vision
Congregational Communications, August 2019 FROM THE GEN SEC
Saturday, the 20th of July, marked the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landing. What is perhaps a lesser known event is that which soon followed: the first communion service held in space by Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon. Aldrin, a committed Christian, wanted a symbol that united his faith with what he perceived as a monumental ‘step forward’ for the human race.
He later said of the event: ‘We wanted to express our feeling that what humankind was doing in this mission transcended electronics and computers and rockets.’ Aldrin’s pastor, Dean Woodruff, of Webster Presbyterian Church in Houston, said that it had been something with which Aldrin had been wrestling for some time before his sojourn into space. Communion seemed to them both to be the perfect symbol. ‘One of the principals of the symbol,’ Woodruff said, ‘is that God reveals himself in the common elements of everyday life.’
It is interesting that he describes a journey into space as ‘common elements of everyday life.’ This has not been my experience, so far ... still, his example makes a helpful point. One of the common tendencies of the church throughout its history has been what some have called ‘dualism.’ All this means is that Christians have sometimes struggled to bring together the ordinary, mundane and boring elements of life - family, work, bills, space travel - and the more transcendental or ‘spiritual’ aspects of faith. We have often thus separated life into two: that which is sacred and that which is not.
Now, even though this may seem lofty and abstract, it is very practical. For example, the practice of some to be cultural or ‘Sunday Christians’ owes some of its legacy to this. Think also monks and nuns living in secluded monasteries in the wilderness or even the idea of the ‘clergy’ as a separate and elevated class of Christian. This is dualism in practice. It is as if life is a cake: God gets a small slice; I get the rest.
I wonder if Jesus or Paul would agree. After his death and resurrection, Jesus declared that ‘all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’ (Matt. 28:18). This is an astounding claim, if we pause and think about it. I’m also reminded of the first chapter of Colossians. Paul has just given us a dizzying vision of the reality of Jesus’ person and some of its implications. He then goes on to say: ‘For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.’ (vv.19,20)
I’m especially challenged by Paul’s insistence that ‘all things’ are reconciled through Jesus’ life and death, ‘whether things on earth or things in heaven.’ All things. Why, then, would I assume that my work is somehow separate to this? Or my relationships? Or my time? Or the way I speak to and treat others? Or my finances? Can I really encompass ‘all things’ with a couple of token hours per week at church?
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Dutch theologian and statesman Abraham Kuyper once put it like this: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign overall, does not cry, Mine!” Fifty years ago, Buzz Aldrin applied this to the very extremities of humanity’s reach: space. But what of the extremities of our hearts? What about those things to which we cling, the secret deep things of which no one knows apart from God, over which we will not let go?
Are we truly ready to say that all of our lives - our hopes and dreams, fears and doubts, work, leisure, family, everything – are truly His?
Tim
‘So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.’
1 Corinthians 10:31
2 Congregational Communications, August 2019 JUNIOR CAMP 2019
I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days at the FCC’s annual Junior Camp at Camp Fletcher, Hazelbrook. I made sure I packed my woolens because the weather was jolly cold. Still, I could see that everyone was having a blast learning from the Bible about heroes of the faith, eating great food, hanging out with other campers and leaders and acting like super-heroes.
The focus of the talks and sessions was ‘Heroes of Faith.’ Pastor Heath Smith from Miranda Congregational Church spoke from Hebrews 11, focusing on the theme of Faith, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, David and Gideon. On top of the talks, the kids sang, recited memory verses and watched video clips, all helping them understand the gospel message. The highlight of the teaching was probably the Thursday evening Campfire session, where Heath pointed to the ultimate hero of faith, Jesus.
The rest of the time was filled with different activities to keep the superheroes active. On Tuesday, campers engaged in ‘Messy Games,’ a time where campers could test their super- hero prowess in baked bean slides and the like. Other activities were bushwalks, laser-tag, baked bean slides, hamster balls (pictured: basically, big plastic cocoons which enable you to run really quickly into stuff) and a dinner dress up. There was a total of sixty plus campers and around twenty leaders from different churches in our fellowship. Even more exciting: as a result of the ministry of the camp, several kids made commitments to follow Jesus.
3 Congregational Communications, August 2019 PASTORAL PONDERINGS
I made the trek out to the beautiful climes of Hazelbrook, in the Blue Mountains, to chat to Heath Smith, pastor of Miranda Congregational Church. Heath was speaking at Jr. Camp and made time during the week to talk to us.
Hey Heath, thanks for chatting. Just so we can get to know you a little more, what kinds of work/study had you done before you began pastoral work?
Before ministry, I studied to be an optometrist and I also did two years as an intern for the University of Western Sydney in Penrith, the MTS program.
I first thought about ministry when I was seventeen, I was on a teenage Christian camp and met people who were themselves heading into ministry. I found it exciting that you could do stuff for God as work. That was really the first time, but then I decided that I should go to university and perhaps get some more years of experience under my belt before I pursued that. So, I enrolled in optometry at UNSW.
Would you say that there was a ‘calling’ or was it more pragmatic?
There wasn’t one specific incident where I felt ‘called’ but basically, there were numerous occasions where someone I was speaking to asked if I should think about doing ministry. I think it was more of a confirmation of a call, from other Christian brothers and sisters, rather than saying I have heard it directly from God. It was along the way, as I was already thinking about it.
What excites you most about pastoral ministry?
I’m always excited to see people understand the gospel, whether that means they grow as a Christian or even to grow as a Christian. That is always exciting. In terms of the day to day, I’ve always found speaking easier and exciting. I’m always nervous about preaching, but I never dread giving a sermon. I always enjoy it.
In the time I have known and worked with you, you have always had a massive heart for local mission. Would you say that, generally speaking, the church needs to be more missional?
Perhaps the statistics have changed a little since the numbers came out, but in the early 2000s, 90% of ministers or paid ministry workers said that mission was the main focus of the church, and yet, the same number of members of the church said that the church was the main focus of the minister or ministry. So, that is always an ongoing battle. I remember a friend of mine, who focusses a lot on mission, said that you need to speak about mission twice as much as anything else to get it up to the level of the other focuses of the church, so I personally have a lot of non-Christian contacts and friendships that are mission focussed. That does not mean I always get to share the gospel, but the friendships that develop and the opportunities that come up are pretty amazing.
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I assume that it’s about being intentional and deliberate. Would you say you’re a natural evangelist?
Up until a point, yes, but like all of us, I find it hard to have the ‘tough word’ – if I just told people ‘your life is going so well, just add God to the mix,’ that is not exactly the gospel. The Bible tells us to give up our lives and follow Jesus. In the area in which I live, they are like the young rich ruler; most people have a good life and they own a lot of things. They are interested in spiritual things, but when they hear that they are to give everything up, it’s hard. It’s hard to even ask that, even though it is Jesus that is asking. It’s not easy.
You’ve been at Miranda for nearly five years, now. What would you hope or dream for the church going forward?
I would love the church to be an integral part of the community of Miranda, really across the whole Shire if possible. The idea would be that if we got up and left, even if people disagreed with some of our thinking on certain issues, they would feel that we were missed because we had injected so much life into the community. So, for example, one of the churches in Christchurch in New Zealand is the second biggest provider of help, behind the government, in charity work and help. They actually had someone, a very wealthy person, who was not a follower of Jesus, who came to them and spoke to the reception and asked if this was the church that helps people. That’s not a bad thing to be known for, and that is what I would like to be the situation in Miranda.
I have heard some play those ideas against each other …
Well, if we read the book of Acts, for example, there is a pattern: the work of Jesus, serving the people in some way, opened the door for the word of Jesus. Words and works seem to go hand in hand.
What can we be praying for you and the church in Miranda?
Please pray for me, for courage in hard conversations, pray for a growing heart for mission in our church, and also for a vision to look forward to what God has for us in the future rather than always looking behind to what God has done in the past.
Please continue to be in prayer for Heath, Jeanine, Maddie, Eleanor and Alexander and the church in Miranda.
5 Congregational Communications, August 2019 REACH AUSTRALIA
For several years, I was conferenced out. I thought my time could be better spent at my desk or reading a book on whatever the conference was about. Of course, that generally meant I just stayed at my desk and continued as usual, without reading the book. That changed a couple of years ago when I went to the Team Pastoring Conference at EV Church, Erina. Technically, I shouldn’t have gone as I am not part of a team and I think I was the only small church solo pastor there, but I found it to be un-hyped, down to earth and helpful. I took over twenty pages of notes and remembered one thing Andrew Heard, lead pastor of EV Church, said in particular: ‘The better organised you are, the better you can get the gospel out there.’ That struck a chord. The Lord had been growing his church here in Cessnock, despite me, but our structures had not changed. If the church and I could get better organised, then things might be even better. I returned from the conference and implemented some ministry teams to focus on specific areas like welcoming and service leading. This started okay but since then, I have failed to keep the energy up with the teams until a few months ago. Things have started to get back on track. That conference, I perhaps should not have even been at, made a difference to our church. It was the first conference I can think of where a concrete outcome was implemented, albeit falteringly, on my behalf. So, I was looking forward to the Reach Australia conference this year which finished a few weeks ago. Reach Australia is a rebranding of the Team Ministry conference with the addition of organisations such as Geneva Push, The Vine Project and others joining together to Reach Australia. I was not disappointed; it was very worthwhile. The one simple main thing I came away with was the importance of being intentional. That is very simple, and I should not need a conference to remind me of that, but it did, and I don’t think I’m alone. Pastors get so busy between sermon preparation, preaching, meetings, hosting meals, visiting, administration, weddings, funerals, phone calls, SRE, counselling, peacemaking, making tea and drying up (usually my last job of a Sunday night around 9pm) that we can forget this main thing. Reach Australia reminded me to be intentional about mission and discipleship, not just keeping the wheels turning each week. To have a heart for the lost, loving the world so that we give our intentional effort, prayers and organise to reaching it. This year the importance of having a discipleship pathway was reinforced. This means having open invitation events people can come to such as Christmas carols. We are about to run a Christmas in July and everyone has been reminded to invite a friend. We have a wonderful group of ladies that call themselves the Wonder Women. Each month they organise a social gathering to invite people to that might have a brief devotion or testimony. I am also wanting to develop a live Christianity Explored
6 Congregational Communications, August 2019 type course with interaction and Q&A and to host it regularly. Then, if people have been to a few of our events, the next step might be an invitation to the course. We will be getting our calendar a lot better organised next year to intentionally plan events that can flow together. On the other hand, I learned at Reach Australia that people take a lot longer to come to the Lord now. This pathway process can take years. That is due to many factors such as not having a general Christian culture, meaning we must start further back in explaining who Jesus is, prevailing thinking patterns of relativism and individualism, and an increasing stigma regarding Christianity. I was reminded again of the importance of setting up teams and structures that once in place are scalable. I was also challenged regarding the current debate on religious freedom. This is an important issue that I have supported, but one speaker gave an important perspective. He said: ‘If we are not sharing the gospel when we have religious freedom, we won’t share it if we lose it.’ Yet, in those places lacking religious freedom, it hasn’t stopped God’s people sharing the gospel and suffering for it. We need to reflect on what we are currently feeling more strongly about, religious freedom or the infinitely more important sharing of the gospel. They may or may not be the same thing. Our pastors and members could plan to attend next year’s Reach Australia Conference – Building Deeper Lives and Teams 19th - 22nd May, 2020. https://reachaustralia.com.au/2020-conference/
Steve Wood, Cessnock Congregational Church
7 Congregational Communications, August 2019 MISSION MOMENT
Over the next few months, members of the FCC Mission Committee will be writing articles and conducting interviews with returned overseas workers to stir our heart for what God is doing in different parts of the world. Below is a piece by Sue Wallace of Engadine Congregational Church. Follow on in the next few months for more updates.
When so my husband (Les) passed suddenly, life changed dramatically for me for obvious reasons. I desired a purpose from the Lord, one that would provide me with a chance to serve Him. Since then, He has given me the opportunity to travel to Kenya and to also spend time in Papua New Guinea in short term service. Through these experiences, I have been able to take in so much beyond my own culture and have been able to spend time with missionaries in their own work-place.
It has been truly a joy and I have grown so much in my relationship with God because of these opportunities. I came back to Australia with a greater awareness of the missionaries themselves and their work and am encouraged by their love for our Lord and their courageous lives. There are many ways we can help to bridge the huge gulf that can often develop between us, their supporters, and those serving on the field. They need encouragement, support and prayer so they can endure in often difficult and isolated situations, so distant from families and the cultures they grew up in.
Our world has become so much more frantic. Many of us are so busy that we can have difficulty to take time out to:
1. Spend time daily in individual quiet times including prayer and reading His word. 2. Remember our missionary brothers and sisters in prayer as well as their special needs. 3. Communicate with our missionaries on the field.
Please continue to watch this space for more ways that both you and I can improve our communications and support for those serving in different parts of the world.
Sue Wallace
8 Congregational Communications, August 2019 JANALLI
Anniversary
On Sunday, the 21st July, Jannali Congregational Church celebrated ninety-one years of ministry in the same location. There had been an earlier Sunday school work on other premises going back as far as 1924 but the inaugural service in Louise Street, Jannali, was held on 21st July, 1928, ninety-one years ago to the day. Some things haven’t changed: then, as now, we had no ordained pastor. Some things have changed: then, the Congregational Union was not represented. This time, we had two representatives from the FCC and the message was presented to us by its General Secretary, Tim Foskett. One thing that has remained constant is our Lord, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever!
Tim presented a clear message from John 1 and challenged the congregation to remember that Jesus Christ stands not only for grace but also for truth. The service also featured an uplifting rendition of Holy City by our musicians and was followed by a fellowship luncheon. As we enter our 92nd year, we reflect on the words from that musical item: Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to the King!
Christmas in July?
Well, no, it was actually Christmas in June but we missed the publication deadline! A couple of dozen ladies, both from within our congregation and visitors, gathered to pack 132 shoe boxes for our annual Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child (OCC).
The aim was to provide Christmas gifts for children in developing countries. OCC is really part of a larger evangelical operation because the gifts provide entrée for the Gospel. Gifts had been received steadily over the preceding couple of months. On packing day, Mrs Lillian Corban presented the Gospel to the other ladies, taking as her text Matthew 25: 40 where King Jesus says: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ So, the men would not feel left out, the challenge was presented following morning services so all could contribute to the shipping costs. It is pleasing to report that the congregation rose to the challenge, enabling us to remit the funds to Samaritan’s Purse. We also transported the boxes to the Shire Christian School which is a drop-off point.
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10 Congregational Communications, August 2019 ANNUAL ASSEMBLY 2019
The FCC Pastors and Families Retreat will be held at Camp Fletcher, Hazelbrook, from Wednesday 9th until Friday the 11th of October. Our speakers will be Rev. Stuart Coulton (Principal, Sydney Missionary & Bible College) and Dr Patricia Weerakoon, sexologist, writer and academic. The FCC Assembly Meeting will be held at Padstow Chinese Congregational Church on Saturday the 12th October, commencing with a Celebration Meeting at 9.30am. Our speaker will be Rev. James Stone from Engadine Congregational Church.
Reports from Churches and Committees to the 42nd Annual Assembly and lists of delegates, with email addresses, need to reach the FCC Office no later than Friday, 31 August. All FCC churches are advised that nominations for President, Treasurer, Registrar and FCC Committees need to be received by the Returning Officer, Mrs Bronwyn Stark (11 Garnet Road, Miranda, NSW, 2228) no later than Friday, 31 August. (Please copy the NOMINATION FORM on the following page as required.) All churches are urged to prayerfully consider this matter and, if led to do so, make appropriate nominations. Please note that nominations must come from local FCC church meetings. Current committee members cannot be nominated by their committees but must seek nomination by an affiliated FCC church.
With the resignation of the current FCC Treasurer, due to his heavy work commitments, nominations for the position of Treasurer are sought for commencement as soon as possible - these should be sent to the FCC President. The election for the position of Treasurer for the next FCC year (from Assembly to Assembly) will take place in the usual manner at the upcoming Assembly. Names for the ‘Act of Remembrance’ need to be forwarded (in writing or by email) to the FCC Office by Friday, 28 September.
SPEAKERS
James Stone has been the Patricia Weerakoon is a sexologist, Associate Pastor at Engadine educator, speaker and writer. She trained Congregational Church since in medicine in the University of Sri Lanka 2014. He studied at George and completed a postgraduate study in Whitefield College (Cape Town, sexology at the University of Hawaii and South Africa) and at Sydney worked for 25-years as an academic at Missionary & Bible College. He the University of Sydney. She also served is married to Alison and they as the director of an internationally have a son, Caleb. recognised postgraduate program in sexual health. As an Evangelical Christian, all of Patricia’s work flows from a biblical, Christ-centered worldview.
Stuart Coulton practiced law before undertaking theological studies. He was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in 1987 and pastored Presbyterian Churches in Burwood and Blacktown East. Stuart commenced as a visiting lecturer at SMBC in 1987, before joining the faculty of SMBC on a full-time basis in July 2002. He became principal in 2013. Stuart is married to Pauline, a social worker in Sydney's western suburbs. They have three married children and 4 grandsons, with a granddaughter on the way. He enjoys walking, reading novels, spending time with family and having his heart broken by the Waratahs, St George and West Bromwich Albion.
11 Congregational Communications, August 2019 NOMINATION FORM
Churches are requested to give prayerful consideration to the need each year for the right people to be nominated to committees and to offices of the FCC. These nominations must come from a church meeting and the nomination form below should be used. Nominees need to be members of an FCC Church.
A separate form for each nomination should be used.
…………………………………………………………………………………… is pleased to nominate (church name)
………………………………………………………………………………………… to serve the FCC as (nominee’s name)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… for 2020 (Office or Committee)
………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………… (Church of which nominee is a member)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………... nominee (signature)
…………………………………………………………………………………...... church secretary (signature)
The nominee commits himself/herself to the FCC Constitution, By-Laws and Guidelines adopted by Assembly.
PLEASE FORWARD TO:
Returning Officer, Mrs Bronwyn Stark, 11 Garnet Road Miranda NSW 2228
BY: 31st August, 2019.
12 Congregational Communications, August 2019 NSW COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
You may not realise that the Fellowship of Congregational Churches is one of seven evangelical Christian denominations that make up the NSW Council of Churches. The others are:
• Anglican Sydney Diocese • Baptist Churches of NSW/ACT • Christian Reformed Churches, NSW Classis • Churches of Christ, NSW • Presbyterian Church, NSW • The Salvation Army, NSW/ACT
First formed in the 1920s, the Council is active in various ways.
One of the most noticeable activities is the provision of radio programs on Sydney’s 2CH. There are several hours on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings, plus one-minute spots through the week, usually just before the news on the hour. You can see more about this on the website: www.nswchs.com
The Council also has a range of policies and makes comment on social issues in NSW, such as Religious Freedom, Marriage and Families, Schooling, Gambling, Alcohol and Drug Use, Abortion as well as other issues prevalent in modern Australian society.
The Council meets twice each year and is comprised of nominated heads of each member denomination and is chaired by the Anglican Archbishop (currently Rev. Glenn Davies). Currently, the FCC is represented by our President, Rev. Alan Best.
There is also an Executive Committee that meets four times each year and is comprised of a nominated representative of each member denomination. Our representative is elected at the FCC Annual Assembly each year. This Committee is chaired by an Executive Director, currently Rev. Marshall Ballantine-Jones.
The NSW Council of Churches has no connection with the ‘National Council of Churches in Australia.’
Greg Jones FCC Executive Committee member
13 Congregational Communications, August 2019 EMPLOYMENT
Address: 28 Waratah Road, Engadine NSW 2233 Website: www.econg.org.au Ministers: Matthew Murray (02) 952O 8162 James Stone (02) 8501 2655 Secretary: Greg Jones (02) 952O 5334 Address all correspondence to: PO Box 9, Engadine NSW 2233
Engadine Congregational Church - Youth Worker
Engadine Congregational Church is an evangelical church located in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. We are a diverse group of people, united in our commitment to knowing Christ and making him known. We have a small but stable cohort of upper-primary students to whom we have provided ministry through our Friday afternoon Kids Club. We desire to continue to minister to them and, God willing, see ongoing growth amongst this age group.
As such, we are seeking a suitable person who will have particular responsibility for re-establishing and growing our youth ministry to join our current team of two pastors and various committed church members.
Key responsibilities will include: • Collaborating with key leaders in the planning of program content • Providing faithful and age-appropriate Bible teaching • Providing training and equipping of youth • Providing support and care of youth • Growing and strengthening relationships with relevant families
The successful applicant will: • Demonstrate an active and growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ • Possess a clear commitment to prayer and to God’s Word • Have some experience in youth ministry • Be committed to team ministry • Have, or be working towards, some form of theological training • Have a valid Working with Children Check and be willing to abide by the church’s safe ministry policy and guidelines
The role is a paid position of 2-3 days per week. Expressions of interest can be directed to Senior Pastor, Matthew Murray (0433 759 909; [email protected]).
14 Congregational Communications, August 2019 COMMUNITY
15 Congregational Communications, August 2019 COMING UP
September
Sunday 8th September FCC Sunday
C October a m Wed 9th – Fri 11th October FCC Pastors and Family Retreat p
F Saturday 12th October FCC Assembly, l Padstow Chinese Congregational Church C e
a t
m c C p h a November F e m nd Kogarah Bay Congregational Church 90th Anniversaryl r Saturday 2 November p e , 3.30pm – 4.45pm F t H l c a e h z e t e c r l , h b e H r r FCC RECOMMENDED PASTORAL STIPEND a o , z o H e k l a b z r e o l o b k r o o k
16 Congregational Communications, August 2019 PLEASE PRAY
- Please continue to pray for Con Despinidic as he gradually recovers from his cancer treatment.
- for those who are unwell or recovering from illness or surgery
- for our SRE teachers who faithfully teach God’s Word week-by-week in our State schools.
- for FCC churches without pastors.
- for our 2019 ‘FCC Church in Focus’ - Cessnock Congregational Church
- for world leaders that they will look to God for wisdom in their dealings in these extremely difficult times.
- for our politicians, that they might know God’s leading as they serve the Australian people.
- for the ministry of the Church in the world’s trouble-spots and the plight of the persecuted Church worldwide, especially the families of Christian martyrs.
- for our churches, that they will be enabled to respond wisely to the many issues that impact our lives.
MORGAN UPDATE
I have recently withdrawn my visa application from the country I originally intended to go to since more than 6 months had passed with no sign of a positive response in the future. A few days after withdrawing the application, I received unfortunate news from the leadership of the Christian hospital stating that most of the expat staff were told by authorities that they had just two weeks to leave the country. Please pray for faith and guidance for those who have had to uproot their lives. Please pray for wisdom for the Christian hospital as the leadership decide on the future management structure and for discernment and faith during the period of transition.
Please also pray for me as I seek out an alternative placement in South Asia, that God will guide me to where and how he wants to use me.
Thanks for your prayers
17 Congregational Communications, August 2019 PRAYER CALENDAR, AUG
Thursday 1st July Friday 2nd My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Leichhardt Church, NSW – Pastor Stephen Hitchins Living Bible Fellowship, Goondiwindi, Qld – (Wife: Wendy) Rev Paul Andrianatos (Wife: Joy-Anne) David Strange (retired WBT), NSW Michael and Catherine Brooks, (FM) France and the UK FCC sponsored Youth Camps WECF Member Country, South Africa
Saturday 3rd Sunday 4th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Revitalisation in our FCC Churches Miranda Church, NSW – Rev Heath Smith (Wife: Jeanine) Kurri Kurri Church, NSW – Rev. Phillip Graham (Wife:Cheryl) Gail Warhola (Generations – Christian Education), Hong Kong Camp Fletcher Managers, Ben and Carolyn May WECF Member Country, United Kingdom FCC Executive Committee FCC Camp Fletcher, Hazelbrook, NSW
Monday 5th Tuesday 6th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Narellan Church, NSW – Pastor Simon Nixon (Wife: Bethany) New Norfolk Congregational Church Mission – WECF Member Country, United States of America Rev Cameron Douglas (Wife: Sally) Retired FCC Pastors David and Jenny Rowe (WBT) FCC Camp Fletcher Committee FCC Acting Treasurer, Mr Ian Harvey
Wednesday 7th Thursday 8th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Oak Community Church, Dapto, NSW – One R Church, Grose Vale, NSW – Pastor Jock Mathie Pastor Matthew Woolley (Wife: Katherin) (Wife: Lyn), Pastor Craig Spillane (Wife: Leigh) WECF Member Country, Guam and Saipan (Assoc.) Pastor Alan Mayhak (Wife: Tara) FCC SRE Teachers Brian and Rosemary Allbutt (WEC), Qld
Friday 9th Saturday 10th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Padstow Church, NSW – Interim Pastor - Rev Dr Peter Back (Wife: Revitalisation in our FCC Churches Wendy) Padstow Chinese Church, NSW – Rev John Zhengkui Yao (Wife: WECF Member Country, Nepal, (Provisional) Wendy), Rev Frank Cong Ai Xue (Wife: Jennifer), Bob and Evelyn Prior (Sport Chaplaincy), Australia Pastor Sam Lin (Wife: Helen), Rev Alan Best, Anton Zhang
Sunday 11th Monday 12th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Raceview Church, Qld – Pastor Billy Diehm (Wife: Kylie) Revesby Church, NSW – Pastor Michael Hunt (Wife: Amanda) WECF Member Country – Argentina Vine and Branches Campsite, Philippines FCC Ministers serving elsewhere FCC Missions and Evangelism Committee FCC Registrar, Mr Greg Jones FCC President, Rev Alan Best
Tuesday 13th Wednesday 14th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Towradgi Church, NSW – Vacant Jannali Congregational Church and its Deacons Greg Booth and WECF Member Country, Australia Paul Warren FCC Chaplains FCC Ministry Committee FCC Finance and Property Committee FCC Pastoral Relations Officer, Pastor Steve Hitchins
Thursday 15th Friday 16th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Wollongong Church, NSW – Australia Ling Liang Church, Asquith (Assoc.) – Pastor Michael Rev Con Despinidic (Wife: Leonie) Leong (Wife: Jennifer) WECF Member Country, Brazil Heather Johnstone (retired Mukti Mission), NSW FCC Members-at-Large WECF President, Rev Mike Plant (UK)
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Saturday 17th Sunday 18th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Revitalisation in our FCC Churches Cong. Church of Jesus in Samoa, Melb (Assoc.) – Cong. Church of Jesus in Samoa, Syd (Assoc.) – Rev Poe Pouesi (Wife: Litia) Rev Atepera Lee (Wife: Fetuna) David Strange (retired WBT), NSW WECF Member Country, Bulgaria WECF Vice-President, Rev Dr Ron Hamilton (USA)
Monday 19th Tuesday 20th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Congregational Church For All Nations (Formerly Macarthur - Northern District Chinese Christian Church, Sydney (Assoc.) – Rev Cambodian) NSW (Assoc.) – Pastor Sivyeng Luy David Truong (Wife: Gigi), Rev Danny Wong (Wife: Eva, Pastor (Wife: Y Keang) Children’s Ministry), Rev Doug Fyfe (Wife: Jayme), Rev Timothy WECF Member Country, Canada Leung (Wife: Kitty), Pastor Glen Culling
Wednesday 21st Thursday 22nd My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Bexley Church, NSW - Vacant Bexley Chinese, NSW – Pastor Tiny Tse WECF Member Country, India, (Manipur) (Husband: Chun Fai Ngan) Michael and Catherine Brooks, (FM) France and the UK Camp Fletcher Managers, Ben and Carolyn May WECF Treasurer, Rev Gwynne Evans (UK) WECF Secretary, Rev Alan Best
Friday 23rd Saturday 24th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Brassall Church, Qld – Pastor Peter McRoberts Revitalisation in our FCC Churches WECF Member Country, Ireland Campsie Chinese Church, NSW – Rev Sidney Yip Gail Warhola (Generations – Christian Education), Hong Kong (Wife: Mandy), Rev Leung Sung (Wife: Kitty) and WECF Executive Committee Pastor Neil Clark (Wife: Helen)
Sunday 25th Monday 26th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team 2019 FCC Church in Focus - Cessnock Church, NSW – Emmanuel Church Mullumbimby, NSW – Rev Grant Tieman (Wife: Pastor Steve Wood (Wife: Liz) Suzanne) WECF Member Country, Macedonia David and Jenny Rowe (WBT) Retired FCC Pastors FCC General Secretary, Pastor Tim Foskett
Tuesday 27th Wednesday 28th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Engadine Church, NSW – Rev Matthew Murray (Wife: Susan) and Establish Church, Cronulla – Pastor Lee Murray (Wife: Cathra), Rev James Stone (Wife: Alison) Pastor Tim Foskett, Pastor James Ayre (Wife: Brielle), Keely Wu, WECF Member Country, Micronesia, (Chuuk) Matthew Beresford, Meg Blight, Rach Farag, Brian and Rosemary FCC SRE Teachers Allbutt (WEC), Qld
Thursday 29th Friday 30th My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team Georges River Church, NSW – Pastor Haydn Sennitt Gresford and Salisbury Churches, NSW – Rev Roy Waters (Wife: Victoria) Greg and Kaye Brien GAA (Greg) WECF Member Country, Myanmar FCC Social Services Committee
Saturday 31st My Church, Pastor and Leadership Team One R Church, Grose Vale, NSW – Pastor Jock Mathie (Wife: Lyn), Pastor Craig Spillane (Wife: Leigh) Pastor Alan Mayhak (Wife: Tara) Brian and Rosemary Allbutt (WEC), Qld
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