The Edition Volume 2, Issue 4 September 2017
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The Edition Volume 2, Issue 4 September 2017 GREEN SHOOTS "Faith, hope, and love: here they are again. They are the language of life, the sign in the present of green shoots growing through the concrete of this sad old world, the indication that the creator God is on the move, and that Jesus' hearers and follow- ers can be part of what he's now doing." ― N.T. Wright The Edition Volume 2, Issue 4 September 2017 Published by Churches of Christ Vic/Tas A | 1st Floor 582 Heidelberg Rd FAIRFIELD VIC 3078 P | 03 9488 8800 E | [email protected] W | churchesofchrist.org.au 2 | The Edition In This Issue Here Am I, Send Me p.6 Keith Marsh Building A Base Camp p.7 Simon Risson A Story Of Partnership And Hope p.8 Michael Vanderree Country Ministry: Some Snapshots p.10 Paul Cameron Joys and Complexities: Ministry in Community p.16 Linda Young The Lay Of The Land p.18 Nick Wight A Bunch of ‘Old Codgers’ p.20 Robert Hough From A Desolate House To A Lighthouse p.22 Graeme Cann Weaving A Fabric Of Care And Concern A Peek At Some Of Our CareWorks Partners p.28 Writer Gabriel Hingley A Passion for Prayer at Red Cliffs p.30 Writer Bruce Thorne Volume 2, Issue 4 | 3 From The Editor Ready for some heresy? I, an Australian writer, let are wider, the kerbs are taller, the houses are not alone one of Churches of Christ stock, have never always proportioned in the way I expect. been able to connect with the books of Tim Winton. It’s not him, it’s me. Space is part of the stunning beauty of the place— not least at night when, less than an hour out of Winton’s books, like much of Australian literature, town and that much closer to the geographical are richly embedded in place, in experiences and centre of nowhere, you can sit on the Mundi Mundi people that are intimately tied to land, whose lives lookout as the sun goes down and the stars come are shaped by dirt and soil. This is not my experi‑ out and the entire sky is filled with oh so much of ence, growing up and living in the ever‑urbanising God’s handiwork that the lights of the ‘big smoke’ eastern suburbs. I never considered myself to be hide and God can speak profoundly through the formed by place in the way that might provide the contrast to what is known, what is formed in us by emotive connection to the characters in Winton’s our places. books… and so the stories remain unread. Much of the missional discussion that has been But, in the vein of the old adage that the fish is the happening among churches in the previous and last to understand that it is wet, I have begun to current season is informed by the concept of understand that I, too, am as formed by place as place, and how God is at work in our places in dif‑ any character in any Winton book, it is just that my ferent ways to which he is at work in other places. place is different, and so I am formed differently. The Edition celebrates those stories, sharing in its small way the Good News of what God is Contrast is informative, and I began to keenly doing in his created world and among his created feel a sense of my own formation as I have been people in and through and with our movement. making the semi‑regular trek three hours north of Stories in this issue are focussed (though not Mildura, through a stretch of the most boring road exclusivly) on Communities of Hope and Com‑ on Earth, to Broken Hill where my girlfriend has passion, and the Leaders that lead them, in been undertaking her internship year. Even the regional and rural settings. I would like to thank dirt is different. the contributors who have shared from their own stories and experiences, showing us how God is But the thing that strikes me every time I go up at work in their places while we explore the same there is the difference in space. Broken Hill may questions in our own. not be the middle of nowhere, but they have the same bin night. All around it there is space. Even —Mitchell Salmon in the town, space operates differently. The roads CCVT Inc Special General Meeting An SGM has been called to vote on the adoption November 11, 9am to 1pm, of Affinity:2, the document articulating the at LifeGate Church, relationship between CCVT and Affiliates. All 758 Waverley Rd, Glen Waverley, Vic. affiliated Communities of Hope and Compassion are encouraged to participate. More information at churchesofchrist.org.au/sgm. 4 | The Edition A Morning With Mark Conner Mark has been in team leader and senior minister roles both locally and nationally in the past, and brings a long experience of navigating both the highs and lows of ministry. Join us for a morning of conversation around topics of healthy ministry, in which Mark will share from a wealth of experiences and observations from his many years of leadership. Venue: Cross Culture Point Cook, 7 Adelphi Blvd, Point Cook, Victoria Cost: $45, plus we will be collecting a love offering for Mark and his ministry Date: October 3 2017, 9am until 1.30pm. Lunch included Register at churchesofchrist.org.au/ morningwithmark Volume 2, Issue 4 | 5 Here Am I, Send Me Writer Keith Marsh As pastors and leaders, we may often pray the prayer of okay—“now go”—but more importantly, the reassurance he Isaiah 6:8: “Here am I. Send me!” When we pray it, do we would be with us every step. That was so important. I have a believe it? This can be a very dangerous prayer to pray. friend who gave his life to Christ, went to Bible College, and I should know; it took me from Queensland to the bottom of then went straight into a parish. Within two years his mar‑ Tasmania. Let me explain. riage had broken down and his church was dying. He was so talented, he could play the guitar, sing, and preach. So what After planting a church in Mount Mee, Queensland, my wife was the problem? He said to me, “If you are not called, Barbara and I stayed there for 11 years. Then, I believed, our don’t go. It’s obedience. My ministry was not blessed, for it time at Mount Mee was up. We waited on the Lord, praying, was my doing not God’s”. That is so true, ministry is a calling, “Lord, what is next? Here we are, send us!” I found it very it is not a job. That is why we waited! difficult to just wait, but that is what the Lord wants us to do, just wait and trust him. To plant a church you need outside So where do we go from here? Baptists, Churches of Christ? income, and being a tradesman I owned an air condition‑ I felt led to start with the Churches of Christ; after all, the ing business, which allowed me to complete my degree. speaker was a Churches of Christ pastor. It is amazing how This helped Barbara and me to wait for twelve months on the God closes doors and opens others. I started with Churches of Lord, praying and fasting, for his next move. Christ in New South Wales, but ended up calling CCVT. Within two weeks I had three positions available. God is good! Then one Sunday morning the Lord answered our prayer. Leaving our old church, we started to go to a Baptist Church. We have been at Nubeena church in Tasmania for fourteen We had a great time of worship and fellowship. This Sunday months now, and the Lord has blessed us in a big way. was different. The pastor was on holidays, and standing in I know at this time of our ministry we are where God has told for him was a friend, a Church of Christ pastor from Gympie. us to go. Our family is still in Brisbane, and we miss them As he stood to preach, he started by saying, “This is differ‑ dearly. People ask us, “Why so far? What are you running ent—a Church of Christ pastor in a Baptist Church—but I have away from?” My reply is to remind them of the ‘now go’ pas‑ a message today that God has given to me for someone here. sage. Fortunately, we only had to go 2540 kms. This is not a I know it is for this church, because it was so clear.” He then job, this is a calling! started to preach on Exodus 14, talking about the Israelites, how they needed to trust in God, that he was with them all I believe there is a revival coming, and it is so exciting to be the way. Then he finished off by saying, “Now this is the mes‑ part of what the Lord has planned. Let us pray for our state sage in verse 15: ‘I hear your cries, your prayers, now go.’” and our country, for the church in Australia is dying and we need this revival. So I encourage you to pray, obey, and study Wow, it was like getting hit by a brick. No doubts, God just the word. ● answered my prayers. Legs went to jelly and a tear formed in my eye.