Vose Breaks New Ground Having an Impact on Local Communities >>

theadvocate.tv JULY 2015 News Slacktivism – What is it and how it can “To face the greatest challenges of life, we need to cultivate be a good thing. PAGE 12>> creative thinking.” JOHN MAXWELL PAGE 13>> 3 Sexuality Baptist Churches Western Australia puts the topic on the agenda >> 4 Medical miracle Barry Knowles’ remarkable journey >> Photo: Terry Hicks Mark Wilson and Brian Harris get to work on the site of a new facility at Vose Seminary. 8 Prayer walking Vose breaks new ground Having an impact on local communities >> only the temperature but the and construction will be able to humidity levels. commence soon. In a significant development for Vose Seminary, Approximately 50 people then Significantly both former Director of Ministries Mark Wilson joined proceeded outside for the soil Principals of Vose Seminary Committed to Principal Brian Harris in June to break the first turning ceremony. There was an (formerly Baptist Theological air of optimism and excitement College) were able to attend the being honest, ground and mark the commencement of a new as Mark Wilson and Brian Harris ground breaking ceremony. construction project. dug their spades into the soil. The Dr Noel Vose (Founding transparent project was committed to prayer by principal), Dr John Olley and and above The new facility will significantly now being held on Saturdays due Dr Noel Vose and Mark Wilson. Dr Brian Harris represented the increase Vose’s seminar space and to the current space limitations, The tender for the new building whole life of the Seminary. This reproach. enable conferences of up to 200 to which will no longer occur on has been awarded to Lansdown added a special touch to the be held at the campus. completion of the new building. In Constructions and the Project occasion, with each having made In welcoming people to the closing he thanked those who had manager Ross Daniels stated that a significant contribution to the event, Mark Wilson highlighted contributed towards the build and he was looking forward to working growth and development of the that the Seminary student acknowledged God’s hand, not with them and the architect Ian Seminary. All three were excited BAPTIST CHURCHES numbers were growing, as well only in this project, but the quality Anderson in making the plans at this new development and the WESTERN AUSTRALIA as the programs on offer. He across all of the offerings at Vose. a reality. announcement of air conditioning also noted it would be the first It was also announced that It was indicated that one of the in the library. new building on the campus for there had been a generous delays in commencing had been Generous donations have many years. donation for air conditioning the need to have Western Power provided almost enough money Dr Brian Harris gave a brief in the campus library. The Vose provide a solution to relocating for the total cost of the project, history of the project mentioning library is recognised as the the overhead wires underground, but funds are still needed towards that further to the extra teaching most significant theological as well as increasing the supply of furniture and fit out. Tax‑deductible space, will be the addition of much library in Western Australia, and power to cater for air conditioning donations can be made to the Vose needed bathroom facilities. He there has been a real need for in the library. This is now well Building Fund through Baptist also explained that lectures were air conditioning to control not on the way to being resolved Churches Western Australia. 2 my view JULY 2015 What does it mean to care? Renowned Catholic Priest and Professor Henri Nouwen poses the question that what despair we have known – has always been central to the mission of Jesus, and all those who follow in His we are not alone. footsteps within the Christian church – what does it mean to care? And how do Nouwen states, “When we honestly ask ourselves which we do it in a way that is pastorally appropriate for those in need, and not just an person in our lives means the expression of our own expectations of what care looks like? most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving One of the greatest challenges or prognosis challenges our and doubts are just too big to be advice, solutions or cures, have in providing pastoral care is to ability to control, change or held within the framework of chosen rather to share our have the courage to empty our maintain power over our lives, our belief. For others, our faith pain and touch our wounds hands, close our mouths, and and reminds us of our frailty doesn’t answer the questions, it with a warm and tender hand. open our hearts – allowing our and vulnerability. We respond formulates them. The friend who can be silent grace filled presence to provide to these realities in ways as Life can at times bring us to with us in a moment of despair Jenni Ashton the space for honesty, empathy, diverse as the situations that our knees, and what we need or confusion, who can stay Jenni Ashton is Manager compassion and ultimately, cause them in the first place. most from those who offer us with us in an hour of grief and Pastoral Services, St John of healing and wholeness. Often regardless of, and in spite pastoral care, is an acceptance bereavement, who can tolerate God Murdoch Hosptial. Sickness and death confront of the depth of faith we bring that it doesn’t matter where the not knowing, not curing, not our fundamental beliefs about to our experience. For some, pain of life has taken us – what healing and face with us the ourselves and our relationships. in the midst of despair, it can questions we have cried, what reality of our powerlessness, An unexpected diagnosis feel as if the questions, fears doubts we have whispered or that is a friend who cares.” Dangerous prayer I recently started a message at church by asking: “So which of these three do you live by. Perhaps you can sense think is the most dangerous: skydiving, motor racing or prayer?” I could see that what he means. You start at although most guessed that prayer would be the answer (this being a sermon), the beginning of the prayer, and pray ‘Our Father’ – and they doubted I would be able to justify it. After all, since when has prayer been suddenly realise how many are hazardous for your health? included in the ‘Our’. We have to radically include those we usually overlook. And you What they didn’t know was “Sure – I’d like you to be a part of might fail and we could edit can’t pray, “Your Kingdom that I had been asked to write that answer. Prepare to relocate our prayers so that they always come, Your will be done, on a commendation for Darren and change your career so you fall into the safe category – earth as it is in heaven” unless Cronshaw’s not yet published are in a better position to do so.” “God bless me, myself and I.” you are willing to live by the book Dangerous Prayer. It’s an Or, “God, I am really troubled So do you pray safe prayers, radically different standards Dr Brian Harris excellent and challenging read. about the 50 million refugees or do you sometimes launch into of heaven. It’s then that the Dr Brian Harris is the So why is prayer dangerous? who have no place to call home.” dangerous prayer? Cronshaw prayer becomes a creed to Principal of Vose Seminary Well what if God expects us to “So am I. Start befriending some suggests that even the Lord’s live by. and Pastor at Large for the be the answer to some of the who have recently relocated to prayer is potentially hazardous, The book comes out next Carey Group. things we pray about? “God, Australia, and champion their and invites us to view it both as year, but why not risk praying please end the child sex trade.” cause.” After a while our courage a prayer to pray and a creed to dangerously now? Fall from grace I recently received an email from a colleague who I’d not seen for years, course of my life had I not explaining how they had fallen on hard times and it contained a request for been on the receiving end of money. A follow‑up email included bank details and the hope that I might be able other people’s financial help and generosity. to help out. The widening gulf between rich and poor, makes I assumed that their email address and do not turn away from the they’d fallen off the edge of it seem likely that ever more had been hacked so I ignored it. one who wants to borrow from a cliff. Poverty, as it says in people will fall off the cliff However, when a further email you’. When I went back to the Proverbs, had fallen upon them and not get up again. As my arrived, explaining a little more text and searched for get‑outs ‘like an armed man.’ colleague’s story shows, the and leaving a phone number to and caveats I couldn’t find any. As I listened to my contingent, fragile nature of call, I began to see it as a genuine, All my ‘uming’ and ‘ahing’ colleague’s story, the reasons life is a reality for all of us.

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