14 Baptist Homes Destroyed
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theadvocate.tv NOVEMBER 2013 “What the Bible teaches us is that unlike much secular In conversation Keith Jobberns talks leadership today, success isn’t just around the corner.” about the state of Baptist churches in LLOYD PORTER PAGE 13>> Australia PAGE 12 >> 14 Baptist homes 5 A new generation of support Gavin Douglas’ Grandad’s destroyed work helps him to connect with Aboriginal inmates >> Catastrophic fires that devastated New South Wales last month have claimed the homes of 14 families from Baptist churches. At the time of going to press, basic personal needs and we’re almost 200 homes had been collecting cash to help with 7 Sportsfest a winner destroyed in the Springwood/ medium and long-term needs,” Early spring rain did Winmalee area. Clive said. nothing to dampen Baptist ministries in NSW Springwood Baptist Church competitor enthusiasm at affected by the fires included is also offering leadership to the annual Sportsfest >> 20 churches, the Kiah Ridge local groups, including sport and campsite which had to be community support clubs. evacuated, a school and an aged care centre. None of these properties were damaged. At Springwood in the Blue At Springwood Mountains, fire destroyed the homes of ten Baptist families. in the Blue The homes of two families from Hawkesbury Valley Baptist Mountains, fire Church and two from Glenbrook destroyed the 11 No holiday at Baptist were also destroyed. Photo: Tim Hunter Bangkok Hilton Springwood Baptist Church homes of ten Patrick Adel stands in front of what was the Adel family home in Ellen Broerse is preparing Secretary Clive Dillen told The Winmalee, NSW. His church family at Springwood Baptist Church is her 19th visit to some of Advocate accommodation has Baptist families. helping the family as they start on their journey of a fresh beginning. Thailand’s worst prisons >> been found for all the Springwood families. “We want to be seen, more homes, church leaders “Patrick Adel and his family trusted and useful now with at times felt overwhelmed as were already under pressure with “We’re pretty clear about what the immediate trauma still they heard more stories of pain his wife in an induced coma we can offer – we’re a church happening around us, and on and grief being inflicted on the following brain surgery when the and our primary focus is offering into the mid-term and long-term people in their communities. Building healthy fires struck,” Clive said. counselling, care, friendship and – we want to be relevant.” The full toll of the fires will churches. “Now they have lost their prayer,” Clive said. Calling for people to pray not be appreciated for some home and their two children Many local businesses are that all church people would weeks and it will take a very long are struggling a bit – we’ve conducted from home offices respond with grace, Clive time for families to recover and found accommodation for them and the church has offered office implored people to not judge get back on their feet. already.” space with Wi-Fi access at the those who may not have taken The Advocate readers’ “Some families are just in church to local businesses and out insurance. prayers will be valued by all those BAPTIST CHURCHES short-term places but others politicians. “And pray for healing for our affected now and into the future. WESTERN AUSTRALIA are in medium and long-term As well as providing financial whole community, including Baptist Churches Western accommodation.” assistance to those who have those who no longer have their Australia Director of Ministries, “We’re working alongside lost all of their possessions, the homes,” Clive said. Mark Wilson encouraged other groups, backing up church is offering counselling “Pray we will take all the churches to contribute to the government agencies and groups and acting as a hub where people opportunities we get to talk with NSW/ACT Bush Fire Appeal. like the Salvos.” can meet and talk through their people about Jesus and His love “Visit www.mybaptistchurch. “We’re working with loss and grief. and care.” org.au/donations to make a tax Samaritan’s Purse, distributing “Please ask your readers to With fires in the area deductible donation to the Bush kits that will help with immediate pray for us,” Clive said. continuing to burn and threaten Fire Appeal,” Mark said. 2 my view NOVEMBER 2013 Power relationships – Ezekiel 34 In an age prevalent with Royal Commissions, the church is again looking initiated it’, or ‘it was as much carefully at leader-follower relationships and considering the importance of what they wanted as what I boundaries. wanted’. Leaders must take responsibility for their actions It shouldn’t take government the wool, and butcher the best God makes it abundantly clear knowing that they answer to pressure or social expectations animals, but you let your flocks in scripture that the leader’s God, not just to humans. Healthy to force widespread reflection on starve. You have not taken care of role is one of stewardship, not self-awareness and personal matters the Bible makes explicit the weak. You have not tended the ownership, in regard to the sheep boundaries (internal integrity), and clear. sick or bound up the injured. You He gives into the leader’s care. as well as good accountability In Ezekiel 34:2-4 we read: have not gone looking for those When we take what is not ours and church procedures (external ‘Son of man, prophesy against who have wandered away and are to take, we are stealing not only integrity), are needed to the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. lost. Instead, you have ruled them from the sheep but from God maintain healthy leader-follower Steve Ingram Give them this message from with harshness and cruelty.’ (NLT) Himself. relationships. Steve Ingram is Leadership the Sovereign Lord: What sorrow In any leadership role, the It is common for a leader, Preventative action is far more Development Consultant with awaits you shepherds who feed onus is on that individual to when confronted about helpful than simply caring after Baptist Churches Western yourselves instead of your flocks. ensure their motivation and inappropriate behaviour, to try the fact. Some things that are Australia. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their actions are guided by the needs and justify taking advantage of a stolen can never be returned and sheep? You drink the milk, wear of the follower, not their own. follower with excuses like ‘they some wounds leave lasting scars. Not such a bloodthirsty book ... Ever heard people mutter, ‘But the Bible is such a attributed to God’s help. David is what we should long for and bloodthirsty book?’ would never have defeated the work towards. Jesus reminds us giant Goliath unless God had in Matthew 5:9 that it is peace made it possible. Why then does makers, not peace breakers, who On more than one occasion A clearer insight into the God decline David’s services are the children of God. When I have been asked to defend heartbeat of God is given in 1 as temple builder? We must placed in the impossible situation the moral vision of the Bible, Chronicles 22:6-10 and 28:1-3. In conclude that whilst God agreed of having to choose between particularly that of the Old these passages, David explains that the brokenness of David’s bad and worse, it is true that Testament, because of the many that God had forbidden him to time required tough military warfare was sometimes seen as corpses scattered across its pages. build the temple because the action, God was unwilling for the lesser evil, but to imagine it is A quick reading could give warfare with which he was warrior imagery to be associated therefore God’s ideal is to ignore the impression that God is associated excluded him from with the temple. In short, God the witness of the temple David Dr Brian Harris very one-sided, caring about the project. For its time, this makes it clear that warfare is a didn’t build. Dr Brian Harris is the the Israelites but having little is radically counter-cultural, tragic consequence of human Principal of Vose Seminary time for anyone else. While especially as ancient kings evil, and that it will never have the and Senior Pastor of Carey the loss of Hebrew lives on the routinely built temples to thank last word. Community Baptist Church. Bible’s battlefields is seen as their gods for military victories. Isaiah 2:4 imagines a day tragic, Canaanite, Philistine and These passages are when swords will be beaten Egyptian carcasses don’t really fascinating. After all, David’s into ploughshares and spears seem to matter. many military victories are made into pruning hooks. This Disabling prejudices With International Day of People with Disability coming up on 3 December, makes his presence known. This I want to remind readers how important it is to engage, encourage and include is hard to accept in a success and people with disabilities into your church community. production-oriented society.” [Henri Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak – A Spiritual Journey, This is a topic I am very passionate of great blessing, but also struggle, Vanier, Thomas Reynolds and p.19] about — even more passionate disillusion and despondency. Henri Nouwen. Of course the Yangebup Baptist Church than supporting the Dockers! So what can you do? Well, not Bible is your most valuable will be holding their annual About 20 percent of people ignore them; you can engage resource in this area. Disability Service to celebrate in Australia have a recognised with them, ask them how they Henri Nouwen, a Catholic International Day of People with disability and another ten percent are going, be friends with them, theologian who gave up his Disability on Sunday 1 December.