Fires Savage South West 6 Youth Scene
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theadvocate.tv FEBRUARY 2016 In Conversation Writer, speaker, and Six things pastors need from broadcaster Sheridan Voysey talks about younger adults. developing resilience. PAGE 12 >> DAVE KRAFT PAGE 13>> 5 Freedom award Behind the Barcode recognised for contribution to anti-slavery >> Fires savage South West 6 Youth scene Photo: Department of Fire and Emergency Services Changes are on the Baptist churches assist the South West community after summer bush fires cause havoc. horizon for WA Baptist youth in 2016 >> were working together to host a There will be long-term ways to fundraising concert to benefit those support and encourage.” Every West Australian would be aware of the devastation affected by the fires. and heartache caused by the recent bush fires to strike “Our church is getting ready to To support those who have Yarloop and the wider shires of Harvey and Waroona. help with the medium to long-term lost homes and property Baptist rebuilding work,” Richard said. Churches Western Australia “It’s going to take a long time for (BCWA) has opened the Baptist Malcolm Taylor, 73 and Les Taylor, A number of members of people to pick up the pieces and get Relief Fund for donations which will 77, both tragically died in the Australind Baptist Church were life back in order.” allow Baptist churches in the region fire, unable to escape the inferno involved in the fire fighting efforts “We would ask people to pray to support their local community. 7 New Vose facilities surrounding their homes. The with two volunteer and one career with us for wisdom to know how to Over $15,000 had been raised at the Vose Seminary is in the entire town of Yarloop has been firefighter on duty at the frontline engage with all of this. People will time of going to print. midst of an exciting decimated. In total 121 homes of the fire. experience compassion fatigue.” Donations can be made phase >> were lost as well as historic At the time of going to print “There will be many needs – not through local Baptist churches timber workshops, factories, old the combined churches of the for material things. They’ve already or by contacting BCWA direct on churches, the hospital, local shops, Australind, Eaton and Bunbury area asked people to stop donating. 08 6313 6300. the hotel, and the local school badly damaged. Australind Baptist Church Building Pastor Richard Foster and his wife Ros live in Preston Beach and WA couple feared abducted healthy the fires got dangerously close to their home, causing them to be their lives to providing medical churches. evacuated to the beach on three relief to people in the remote separate occasions. Grave fears are held for former Perth couple Dr Ken northern area of Burkina Faso,” “The beach was totally safe and and Mrs Jocelyn Elliott who are missing, presumed the statement said. some people were evacuated by abducted from their West African home by “Their commitment to boat from the beach,” Richard said. the local people is reflected “The worst day for us was the suspected Islamist extremists. in the fact that they have third time we were evacuated to continued there with only a BAPTIST CHURCHES the beach. That was Friday when The couple, in their 80s are based family released the few holidays since 1972. They WESTERN AUSTRALIA the fire was very close to coming believed to have been abducted following statement. are held in high esteem by the around the top of the salt lake that on Friday 15 January in Burkina “Ken and Jocelyn began their local people.” runs parallel to the beach. If that Faso following an attack on hospital work in the town of Djibo “Recent news from the had happened we could have been the capital of Ouagadougou on in northern Burkina Faso in 1972. country indicates an alleged in big trouble.” Friday that killed 28 people. At present they operate a surgical abduction of Ken and Jocelyn A number of people left Preston At the time of going to clinic with around 120 beds where on Friday night, however no Beach on the Saturday of the week print Ken and Jocelyn were still Ken is the sole surgeon, supported reason is yet given for this of the fires and were unable to head missing, feared held hostage by a small number of dedicated and their whereabouts is south so a police escorted convoy and their Western Australian local staff. They have dedicated still unknown.” headed north to Perth. 2 my view FEBRUARY 2016 Love, God’s answer to fear Looking into my daughter’s eyes as she gasped for breath one night I knew deep when I feel like I am drowning fear. Fear is insidious, its potential to overwhelm grows in the moments that and distant He is still present. we rely on ourselves and not God. It’s fed by our own feelings of uselessness, Reflecting on that long night I was reminded again of why we worthlessness, distance from the creating and all-powerful God. Our denial or live in Mozambique. Not because ignorance of truth. we want our kids to suffer from lack of healthcare, but because we want our neighbours to know On that night the isolation of Fear that the doctor was right impotent over sick family the same peace and assurance living in a remote Mozambique and my baby might die. Fear members. I knew what it felt to that we have. I want to see fear village set in. With many that without hospital care she be hopeless. broken. I want them to have hope, hours travel between us and had no chance. Fear of failing Thankfully, my feelings of to know and live in truth. medical facilities, being advised as a mother to protect those fear although overwhelming were People get sick and struggle Bek Falconer that without urgent hospital entrusted to me. temporary. God reminded me globally. Fear is ubiquitous. Let’s Bek Falconer is a cross‑cultural attention my child might die was That night I knew the reality repeatedly that night and in the be part of revealing God’s perfect worker for Global Interaction shattering. I’d like to say that that our neighbours live with. I days and months to come of His love which casts out fear. I want in Mozambique. in that moment my trust was understood what drove them to faithfulness, His love greater than in, do you? completely and unwaveringly seek magic to protect their kids. that of a parent. His power over in God, but it wasn’t. In that I felt their fear and knew the the spirits, over sickness, over moment I was gripped by fear. pain they felt as they hovered fear. I was reminded that even My Fitbit If you are curious as to what my Christmas present was, I got a Fitbit (plus no idea, but it is pretty cool being chocolates, socks, books and more). Truth to tell, a few weeks before Christmas able to start a conversation, I had never even heard of this gadget and asked for one only because it seemed “So what’s your current heart rate? Mine is 58”. (I’m typing the top of everyone’s wish list. But now I am the proud owner of this instrument so fast it’s crept up from the (I am trying not to say Fitbit lest I be accused of advertising), it is rapidly taking previous paragraph.) over my life. Amazing the information so readily at hand. So much so that it is easy to forget the For the handful of ignorant heart rate. Currently I can assure have walked (3,777 – but the day probing question asked in the readers who have no idea what you that I am alive with a heart is not over yet) and even, how Westminster Shorter Catechism: I am talking about, let me tell rate of 57 beats per minute. But long you sleep for (6 hours and “What is the chief end of man? you about the skill set of this wait – there is more. It also tells 7 minutes on average – though Man’s chief end is to glorify God, Dr Brian Harris remarkable device (see, I didn’t you how many calories you have it doesn’t differentiate between and to enjoy him forever.” And we Dr Brian Harris is the say Fitbit). burnt in the day (1,337 thus far, being awake and pretending should do that regardless of how Principal of Vose Seminary First, it tells the time – which with a prediction I will finish on to be awake while your mind many steps we have or haven’t and Pastor at Large for the could make my mobile phone 2,044 – most annoying, in light of wanders elsewhere). walked today ... Carey Group. redundant. But wait – there is the chocolate bar I was thinking So why is this knowledge more ... It also tells you your of eating), how many steps you revolutionary? I have absolutely What’s trending? A simple ‘what’s trending’ Google search has given me a small insight into what given that Jesus is inspiring! makes the people of 2016 tick. In this captured moment of time, according to Just reading the accounts of how whatstrending.com, it appeared that there was an array of different topics that people responded to His stories and miracles, we see His following grabbed the interest of those perusing the World Wide Web. grow rapidly as He travelled. But are God’s people offering this Within just a couple of hours of the most inspiring moments of ‘inspirational quotes’.