Langham Partnership Australia News November 2014

NOVEMBER 2014 Equipping a new generation of Bible teachers Thanks Wendy! angham itself was scarcely 8 years Officer. Wendy’s first action in old when Wendy Toulmin took that role was to invite John Lon responsibility for its affairs in Stott (insist, actually!) to come Australia. She and Graham had returned for a tour of the major cities to Australia in 1978, after two years of Australia, which he did in in London as secretary to Michael July 2002, accompanied Baughen, Rector of All Souls Church, by myself as the new Langham Place — during which time, International Ministries John Stott with Wendy Toulmin in London 2005 of course, she got to know the Rector Director for LPI. The tour was Emeritus, John Stott. John asked Wendy a great attraction (I still have to handle any donations from his friends the T-shirt!) in which thousands not only in Australia for the work of his two young heard John Stott for the last time, but also But Wendy was never merely a fund- trust funds — the Langham Trust and saw and heard the Langham vision and raiser. With the same missionary heart the Evangelical Literature Trust (now mission, often for the first time. that had taken her and Graham to Congo, combined in Langham Partnership since she wanted to see the Langham vision 2001). That she did, with the help of From then on, Wendy threw heart and soul into promoting the awareness actually implemented in the regions several bishops who knew John well — closest to Australia — the Pacific and Jack Dain, Donald Cameron, Paul Barnett, and income of Langham in Australia. Tirelessly, she visited churches, colleges South East Asia. Langham Literature and then Rob Forsyth, who became the projects were conceived, funded and first Chair of Langham Partnership and individuals, produced newsletters achieved. In 2007 she spearheaded Australia (later followed by the present and appeals, connected with publishers the planting of Langham Preaching Chair, Trevor Cork). and like-minded agencies. Year after year, she organized itineraries for myself and movements in Vanuatu, then Solomon In 2001, however, the Langham other senior Langham staff, with detailed Islands, then Papua New Guinea which Partnership International was formed planning and diligent follow-up. Under have flourished to maturity. And in the and Langham Partnership Australia was her leadership, enthusiasm, creativity and past few years she has brought Langham one of the founding members, with sheer hard work, LPA has grown steadily Scholars to Australia from Uganda, Tonga, Wendy (who had already served Langham in numbers of supporters and significant Myanmar and Pakistan — and cared for for two decades, apart from the years she growth of income. them and their families. Hers has been an and Graham were serving in D.R. Congo) all-round Langham leadership role. as its Executive As Wendy leaves us, the Langham family worldwide is losing its longest continuously serving staff member. ‘Losing’ her only as a member of staff, but not as a much-loved friend, inspiration and example. Thanks, Wendy! Langham Partnership owes you so much. John Stott chose wisely, but even he could not have imagined what would result from his simple request to an Aussie secretary back The first Langham Preaching event in the Pacific: in Vanuatu in 2008. in 1978. Wendy pioneered LanghamVanuatu, Preaching the Solomon in the Pacific,Islands andcoordinating Papua New multiple Guinea. events over the years in Chris Wright International Ministries Director PO Box 530 Springwood NSW 2777 | Phone 02 4751 9036 | Email [email protected] | Web www.langham.org The Langham Partnership Australia Committee is pleased to announce that Gillean Smiley has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Langham Welcome Partnership Australia. Gillean currently works for Peirson Gillean! Services in Brisbane, after working in senior executive roles in the South Australian Public Service, the SA Bible Society and the Bible Society in Australia. illean will attend the Langham the Bible, and in turn grow in their team here in Australia, and can’t wait to Partnership International Council understanding and maturity as Christians. begin!” Gmeetings in the USA in late Given that the most effective local Gillean’s appointment opens a new October, prior to commencing full duties evangelism will be coming from those chapter in Langham Partnership’s work in in late November. well equipped, mature local Christians, Australia. Gillean says, “Equipping local teachers it’s hard to imagine a more exciting and preachers in the majority world, so and important thing to be doing! I am We look forward to your continued they can better help people understand honoured and grateful to be joining the support for that work. An indigenous movement: Langham is committed to an outcome that is sustainable within the country and with limited resources. Before a programme Langham Preaching: is commenced, a line-up meeting is held with church leaders from across the denominations and across the country What’s it all about? to plan and establish local ownership. While in the early days of our partnerships foreign personnel and funding is Langham Preaching is about training approach which complements homiletics prominent, as a given movement in a way which builds and sustains (as taught in theological colleges) — and develops it becomes increasingly an indigenous movement of Biblical often supplements it as well. We aim to regionalised as local facilitators working preachers which changes the culture of be more practical, working with fewer at the grassroots become the focus. Then preaching in the Majority World. and simpler skills practiced and modelled when a movement reaches maturity, it repeatedly, so that we build a training that will be identified by regular gatherings et’s take each of those words or is more transferable without the need for of these facilitators that will be directed phrases in turn to describe what an abundance of resources. The Level 1 locally. Langham Preaching is about:- L seminar introduces the foundations of An indigenous movement of biblical Preaching: Langham is committed to Biblical preaching. Level 2 typically covers preachers which changes the culture preachers and preaching. “We believe the theme of preaching from the New of preaching: Under God’s gracious that God wants his church to grow up. We Testament, and Level 3 tackles preaching hand Langham is working towards believe that the church grows through from the Old Testament. changing the culture of preaching. And God’s Word, and that this Word comes as that transformation in preaching to people, primarily, through preaching” Training which builds and sustains an indigenous movement: Langham is takes place we believe it can lead on (John Stott). to the transformation of the church … committed to smaller seminars designed and then as the church transforms there The Majority World: Langham is to spark a movement as people gather is the expectation that there will be a committed to those countries where the regularly between the seminars in transformation of the often troubled need is greatest, where the resources are local fellowships for encouragement countries in which these churches are fewest, and the growth in the church is and accountability. And to nurture this embedded. This is because biblical fastest. But it is often “growth without regionalised movement the emphasis preaching helps the church grow up into depth”. Under God’s gracious hand, we are gradually slides across to the training of maturity and a mature church, living as committed to seeing depth develop. local facilitators. So the event which is salt and light and full of grace and truth, the seminar becomes that brief moment Biblical preachers: Langham is is the God-ordained agency for the in time when the infection is introduced, committed to that brand of preaching transformation of societies. after which we pray that a ‘benevolent which opens a biblical passage and frees virus’ might spread. So while participants that passage to provide the shape and Langham Preaching worldwide in 2014 often gather looking for an event that purpose for the sermon because the • Preaching movements in 55 countries. contains something useful for themselves, preacher remains in that passage for the • 400 volunteers training over 10,000 we are even more interested in how duration of the sermon. pastors and lay preachers. they will scatter into a movement with • More than 200 training events. Training: Langham is committed to an something useful for others. Home is Where God’s People Are n late August, the second Training “Although my late parents were Sri encouraged by their support for the of Trainers for Sri Lanka Langham Lankan, I have never lived on the island work of Langham Preaching. They were IPreaching was held in the capital except for a brief eighteen months enthusiastic to promote careful attention Colombo. Contributing to the training for when I was eight years old. So it was an to God’s word and patient explanation of the first time was Rev. Kanishka Raffel, absolute thrill for me to spend a week God’s truth to equip all God’s people for an Australian with Sri Lankan parents who with a diverse group of brothers in Christ the works of service He has prepared in is the Rector of St Matthew’s Shenton Park — Sinhalese and Tamil made “all one in advance for them to do. The Sri Lankan in Perth. It was a most profitable week! Christ Jesus”. Each of them is committed church faces many challenges including to the faithful proclamation of God’s Word shortage of native language resources, Alongside the training, there were for the strengthening and upbuilding of ministering to people in great need meetings with church leaders in God’s church.

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