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Building healthy churches.
AUGUST 2016theadvocate.tv
BAPTIST CHURCHES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
5 The Ingredients ProjectNew program gives people with disability the chance to learn to cook >>
7 Empowering womenFresh Conference support has enabled work with women’s groups in Nepal >>
8 Alpha for evangelismA focus on evangelism in the local church is a constant challenge >>
A church plant from Mount
Pleasant Baptist Church, with
support from Riverton Baptist
Church, Carey was established
under the leadership of Pastor
Steve Izett.
Steve had a vision of not only
planting a church but starting
a school, which would be a
ministry of the church and act
as a conduit into the community.
From the beginning Steve had a
desire to establish community
on the campus with a school,
community centre, and church
all in the same location.
Twenty years later, on the
In 2016 Carey Baptist Church is vastly different from its humble beginnings and had good reason to celebrate its 20th anniversary recently.
original site in Harrisdale, Carey
now has a school, child care
operation, café, community
centre and many other
ministries, all with Carey Baptist
Church at the centre. Also in this
20th year, Carey has planted a
new campus at Forrestdale which
will again grow to be a school,
child care, and community centre
with a church at the centre.
Carey Baptist Church
Senior Pastor David Kilpatrick
said The Experiencing God
course by Henry Blackaby
was very formative in Carey’s
development.
Carey celebrates 20 years
Ph
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imo
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On Pentecost Sunday 26 May 1996 Carey Baptist Church held its first service in the home of two of its founding members, Peter and Dianne Smith. This year marks the Church’s 20th anniversary –a cause for their recent celebrations.
In Conversation Indonesia’s first supermodel, Tracy Trinita speaks about her Christian faith. PAGE 12 >>
“When someone we admire fails us, the painful emotions trigger questions. Should we stop looking up to the leaders
around us?” JOHN C MAXWELL PAGE 13 >>
“Blackaby noted that we
experience God as He calls us
to become involved in what He
is doing and His call leads to a
crisis of belief requiring faith and
action,” David said.
“That has been very much the
story of Carey, stepping out in
faith and asking God to do what
only He can do.”
The founding statement,
“Attempt great things for God,
Expect great things from God”
was taken from a sermon William
Carey preached before he left
England to go to India and it
has become the motto. The
church was also named after the
pioneering Baptist missionary.
“The story of Carey is not one
of clever people or great plans.
Carey is a story of what God
can do through a community
of people who step out in faith
believing that God can do
anything,” David said.
Today the church has a new
vision: Carey 2020 with two
components: ‘Realising our
potential’ and ‘Positioning for
impact’. Carey has only just built
the first part of its community
centre and commenced its new
campus. Both require a lot of
work to fully develop and the
plan is that this will be done in
the years to come.
“We believe we are called
to continue to grow and
develop new campuses both
in Australia and overseas,”
David said.
“There is much work to be
done to develop the leadership
and organisational capacities to
enable us to do so.”
“The key issue, however, is
not what we can do, but what
God is calling us to do and
whether we will be courageous
enough to follow Him. I
certainly hope we will.”
2 AUGUST 2016
The bystander’s problem
Detectives later determined that
38 of Kitty’s neighbours had
watched her ordeal from their
windows and not a single person
had shouted out or called for help.
Psychologists subsequently
coined a phrase: ‘The bystander
problem’. They concluded that
when many people are present,
we are less likely to respond. The
smaller the group, the higher the
likelihood that we’ll take action in
a crisis or emergency.
This phenomenon has
repercussions for our Baptist
churches and all of us who call
ourselves Christ followers. We
may feel overwhelmed by the
avalanche of pain around us, or
paralysed by the sheer magnitude
of the brokenness in our world.
What could I possibly do to
make a difference? Could my
efforts possibly count? Isn’t there
someone else more talented, more
educated, more passionate, more
connected, more affluent, or more
able who will stand in the breach?
Our tendency to see the
whole and not the parts stifles our
response. The problems are so
enormous, where should we start?
So we don’t. But if we could see
one family and touch one life, we’d
begin the process.
I was overwhelmed with
emotion when I visited Mother
House in Calcutta. Did Mother
Teresa initially set out to found
an order that would establish
hundreds of centres in more than
90 countries with over 4,000 nuns
The brutal slaying of Kitty Genovese shocked New York City in 1964. Her assailant pursued and attacked her three times over the course of 30 minutes before finally stabbing her to death. But something more horrifying overshadowed this sickening violence.
my view
On being a follower …
Following doesn’t mean all that
much. I recently discovered that
I have four Twitter followers,
and that is without ever having
made a Tweet!
There are different kinds
of following. Some are easier
than others. Follow someone
on Twitter, and you get access
to each Tweet they make. Given
that its maximum length is 140
characters, it’s not an onerous
onslaught, and it has turned
‘dumbing down’ into an art
form. Can anything worthwhile
be said in 140 characters?
Apparently yes, but you’ll
understand why those of us with
a preaching background haven’t
been enthusiastic adopters.
We might be followers in
other zones. It’s un-Australian
not to follow a footy team – and
in some seasons that’s tougher
than others. I’d tell you who
I follow, but then half of you
would never read my column
again. And to be honest, given
their track record this season,
I’d prefer not to tell you.
To hammer the point home,
German theologian Dietrich
Bonhoeffer once wrote, ‘When
Christ calls a man, he calls him
“Come and die with me.”’
So who in their right mind
responds to an invitation
like that?
People who want to change
the world – for that’s what those
early disciples did.
If someone invites you to
follow them on Twitter, don’t
agonise too long. The cost is
ridiculously small. But if you
hear Jesus call, count the cost.
You and He could be about to
change the world …
How many people do you follow on Twitter? Don’t feel bad if your answer is in single digit territory, or even zero.
Sometimes it’s best not to own
up to these things.
And then there is following
Jesus. Do you remember His
invite, ‘Come follow me’?
It might seem an innocent
enough invitation, but it turns
out that following Jesus is one
of life’s tougher gigs. Of the
first dozen who signed up for
it, 11 died as a result, while the
12th spent his closing years
imprisoned on the island of
Patmos where he had been
sentenced to forced labour.
Dr Brian Harris is the Principal
of Vose Seminary and Pastor at
Large for the Carey Group.
Dr Brian Harris
letters to the editor
send us your letters
The Advocate welcomes your letters to the editor on topics of concern to you and the community. Send your letters of no more than 100 words to [email protected] by the 10th of each month.
Love thy neighbour
It seemed it was a prayer that
God was excited to action! Over
the next few years it was our
pleasure to love and serve three
beautiful families who were in
a time of transition.
Then the house sat vacant and
I prayed.
After a while a Sudanese
Muslim family moved in. Three
little children, a dad with a deep
booming voice and flowing
white robe, a mum in a hijab who
never seemed to come outside.
I imagined that they had fled
violence. I imagined they were
uneducated and didn’t speak
English. I imagined she was
oppressed by … everything.
We started with a waving
relationship, which progressed to
chats on the driveway. I learned
that my prejudice was so wrong,
and I was embarrassed. He was a
diesel mechanic, she was a doctor
studying for her master’s degree,
and their children had been born
in Sydney.
Friendship grew as we spent
time drinking tea and chatting
together. Their little blokes kicked
the footy with my kids, our
husbands rebuilt a LandCruiser
Prado. Casual chitchat soon gave
way to deeper conversations
about marriage, raising children
and prayer. We grew in love for
each other as we spent more time
together and shared the things on
our hearts.
Recently we talked about Jesus.
She told me that she couldn’t
understand that God would kill
His own Son. God is too good for
that, she said. She thinks it wasn’t
really Jesus hanging on the cross
– that His body was swapped
for someone else. I told her God
sacrificed His Son because He
loves us. We didn’t agree.
But the point was not to ‘win’
the conversation. It was about
wanting to understand each other
more so we could love each other
better, just as God commanded
us to.
As I love my neighbour and
open myself up to be loved in
return, and as I continue to speak
gently of God’s sacrificial love,
God will do what only He can do.
Yvette Cherry is the Worship
Ministry Coordinator at
Riverton Baptist Community
Church.
Yvette Cherry
One day I sat on my bed and prayed that God would help me to love whoever lived in the rental across the road. As I said, ‘amen’, the doorbell rang and my new neighbour wanted to borrow jumper leads.
Mark Wilson is the Director of
Ministries at Baptist Churches
Western Australia.
Mark Wilson
and many more thousands of lay
workers? Or did she devote herself
simply to touching the lives of the
poor, sick and dying in the slums
of Calcutta – the ones she met?
While most people squeezed
their hands at the enormous
oppression under the Romans,
Jesus set about bringing liberty
to the captives, one at a time. The
movement took hold as individual
people reached out to others.
What might the Lord do through
our lives if we collectively decided
to invest in a single other life?
Centuries ago, another bystander
asked “Who is my neighbour?”
Perhaps we’ll be able to answer that
question clearly and unequivocally,
and make a difference.
3newsAUGUST 2016
1300 660 640www.baptistcare.com.au
At Baptistcare, we understand no two people are the same.Compassionate, person-centred care is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you are looking for residential aged care accommodation, services to support you in your own home, or assistance with staying active and connected to your community: we can help.
Aged CareSpecialised care at 14 residential aged care facilities; flexible home services assisting people in their own home.
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Community ServicesPersonalised support for people with a disability or a mental illness to achieve their goals and aspirations.
More than care
Baptistcare is one of WA’s largest not-for-profit aged care and community services providers, supporting communities in metro and regional areas for more than 40 years.
New churches for BCWA
Australia through the United
Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees resettlement
program as they were among
the Chin people groups that
were persecuted in Myanmar
by the former military regime.
Their hope is to be resourced in
developing leaders for the future
of their church by joining Baptist
Churches Western Australia
(BCWA).
“We are very excited to be
part of the family of Baptist
churches in WA because this
gospel partnership will help
our church be effective in our
ministries among our youth”,
Perth Siyin Baptist Church Youth
Leader Thomas Thawng said.
The Church regularly meets
at the premises of North Balga
Christian Centre in Balga.
Hosanna Karen Baptist
Church is comprised of refugees
from Myanmar and the majority
speak the Karen language.
Most of the members of
this church have a Baptist
background from Myanmar.
“We wanted to join BCWA
because we believe in the same
purpose, values, vision and
mission, having come from a
Baptist background”, Hosanna
Karen Baptist Church Secretary
Wah Nay Moo said.
The church meets at
Kelmscott Baptist Church on
Sunday afternoons and is led
by Pastor Roman Sein who
led a Karen Baptist church in
Geelong before he arrived in
Perth in 2012.
Many of the new churches
that are becoming part of
Baptist Churches Western
Australia are struggling to find
suitable venues to meet.
“As Baptists, our values
state that we are a generous
people who also value all
people no matter their racial
background. Imagine, what
it would be like if the church
where you worship lived these
values, by inviting a cross-
cultural church to share the
buildings that God has provided
to established churches,”
Reverend Owuor said.
Pastor Dinh Nguyen and Rev Victor Owuor at a recent meeting to
discuss Eternity Christian Church.
BFS growth assists Baptist churches
to Baptist Churches Western
Australia (BCWA) by providing
a grant of $125,168 for the
2015/2016 financial year.
BFS Chief Executive
Officer David Slinn noted his
appreciation for the support of
the BCWA staff, championed
by the Director of Ministries
Pastor Mark Wilson and the
State BFS Relationship Manager
Anina Findling.
“BFS continues to
appreciate the opportunity of
providing financial investment
services and loans to resource
and serve BCWA and their
associated ministries,”
David said.
For further information on the
services BFS provides, please
phone 08 9472 0078.
Baptist Financial Services client funds in Western Australia have grown significantly over the past financial year, exceeding $55 million.
Baptist Financial Services exists
to provide financial solutions
for the development of Christian
ministry across Australia and
has been operating for over
30 years.
Client funds in WA increased
by 30 percent in the past year
and over 70 percent of Western
Australian Baptist churches have
accounts with Baptist Financial
Services (BFS). As a result of
this increase, BFS was able to
increase its financial support
Ph
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Five new churches have been welcomed into the Baptist family so far this year as new church plants.
... this gospel partnership will help our church be effective in our ministries among our youth.
The new churches are Austin
Cove Community Church,
Eternity Christian Church,
Hosanna Karen Baptist Church,
the Midland Community Church
and Perth Siyin Baptist Church.
Baptist Churches Western
Australia Cross Cultural
and Indigenous Ministries
Consultant, Reverend Victor
Owuor, has been working with
three of these churches as they
are cross-cultural ministries.
“I am excited to see them
joining Baptist Churches
Western Australia and I’m
looking forward to them
contributing to our family of
churches,” Victor said.
Eternity Christian Church
is comprised of Vietnamese
families and conducts their
services in Vietnamese. The
church was planted in September
2015 with a view of reaching out
to the Vietnamese community
in Perth.
“There are about 20,000
Vietnamese people who do
not know Christ and we are
committed to evangelising
these people,” Eternity Christian
Church Pastor Dinh Nguyen said.
Eternity Christian Church
currently meets at the Bedford
Bowling Club every Sunday
morning.
The Perth Siyin Baptist
Church started meeting in a
home in November 2006 and
has grown to around 150 in
attendance each week.
Members of the Perth Siyin
Baptist Church were settled in
4 newsAUGUST 2016
08/07/16Dave Kraftdavekraft.squarespace.com
Who are you really working and
living for? It’s so easy to become a
man-pleaser [Galatians 1:10] and
attempt to give people what they
want instead of what they need.
09/07/16Stephen McAlpinestephenmcalpine.com
I believe we are in a time when
the younger generation of
leaders in the church can begin
the process of building and
strengthening God’s future
people by acting like first
generation migrants.
10/07/16CS Lewistwitter.com/CSLewisDaily
All that is not eternal is eternally
out of date.
10/07/16Michael O’Neiltheologyandchurch.com
The life of the children of God
transcends the bounds of this
life. Its primary concern is not
its own fullness in this world,
but the hope of seeing God
and being transformed into
His likeness.
11/07/16Michael Cooperlifeway.com
God might take us through the
‘how long oh Lord’ times so we
can embrace the ‘it is good to
praise the Lord’ moments with
renewed affections. You aren’t
alone in your calling. Other
brothers have been there. More
importantly, Christ is with you.
12/07/16Tom Feltenourdailyjourney.org
Paul told Timothy to fix his
eyes on Jesus, the ‘King of all
kings and Lord of all lords’ [1
Timothy 6:15]. In Him we find
the strength to rise above the
challenges of today.
12/07/16Max Lucadotwitter.com/MaxLucado
Mercy prompted the Samaritan
to bandage the wounds of the
victim. Grace prompted him
to leave payment for the
victim’s care.
13/07/16Sera McCullochwritesomething.org.au
Justice – the kind that Jesus
calls us to – is meant to make
you feel uncomfortable. Not
for the sake of it, but because
it’s so antithetical to the culture
in which we swim that it feels
awkward. We shouldn’t be afraid
of feeling that.
14/07/16Amy Boucher Pyeodb.org
When we think about God’s
faithfulness over the years,
we know that He’s willing
and able to turn our grief to
dancing once again – to give us
sufficient grace in this life and
full joy in heaven.
digital church
A new way to give
Ph
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: Bap
tist
Fin
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es
GiveWay makes it simple for people to give to churches and ministry organisations.
Burmese leaders to gather in Australia
A new online payment portal, GiveWay, has been developed by Baptist Financial Services to enable people to conveniently make financial contributions via credit card or direct debit to churches and ministry organisations.
The GiveWay website will allow
churches and organisations to
set up dedicated pages to provide
an online secure portal to receive
payments for their ministries,
events, offering or any other
purpose. A direct link can also
be included on a church’s own
website for donors to make
payments.
Baptist Financial Services
Marketing and Communications
Coordinator Daniela Vittor
said GiveWay is in response
to a growing need within the
community for digital accessibility.
The existing iGive platform,
an anonymous offering payment
service, has seen a take-up of
over 110 churches in the past two
years and has been rolled onto the
GiveWay platform. iGive church
sign up has grown to the pace
of one new church application
per week.
Within the first two weeks of
operation GiveWay received eight
applications.
“The sole purpose of Baptist
Financial Services is to resource,
develop and enhance Christian
ministry and we hope GiveWay will
assist in this mission,” Daniela said.
“GiveWay provides a flexible,
attractive and user-friendly
website, backed by efficient and
streamlined ‘behind the scenes’
processing.”
GiveWay also incorporates a
merchant facility to accept credit
and debit card payments on a cost
effective basis, with no fees and
competitive merchant fees.
“GiveWay is simple to use
and has numerous features and
benefits, including promoting
giving and creating an online
presence,” Daniela said.
“Its flexibility allows one-off or
recurring payments and for any
period or frequency.”
Donors are provided with tax
receipts for each financial year for
tax deductible funds.
Baptist Financial Services
(BFS) will continue to provide iGive
services as part of the new GiveWay
portal. BFS provides this facility for
congregations of churches to make
regular electronic contributions to
support the ministry of the church
and without cost.
For more information, visit
www.giveway.org.au
were really impressed with the
translation.
“God used and will continue
to use this event as a tool for
injecting His power and plan
regarding leadership into our
minds,” he said.
Baptist Churches Western
Australia Director of Ministries
Pastor Mark Wilson said to be
able to support pastors and
leaders in Burmese churches
in a way that strengthens and
empowers them will be an
incredible privilege.
“The goal of the Global
Leadership Summit is to gather
Ph
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nMembers of Myanmar Baptist Church in a breakout group discussing the
possible Summit event.
In an Australian first all
sessions at the Summit will be
translated into the Burmese
language. There was great
excitement when those gathered
realised that this would be a
groundbreaking event.
During their meeting, a
DVD session from California’s
Abundant Life Christian
Fellowship Lead Pastor Brian
Loritts was presented. The
pastors heard the message in
their own language through
Burmese voice over.
Myanmar Baptist Church
Senior Pastor Zaw Win said they
churches together to go deeper
in their relationships with one
another and in their leadership
development,” Mark said.
“As leaders get better, churches
get better. As churches get
better, people’s lives are
touched. As people’s lives
are touched, communities
are changed.”
Burmese, Karen and Chin pastors and leaders from eight Western Australian Baptist churches have gathered to discuss the possibility of hosting the inaugural Burmese Global Leadership Summit in November.
5newsAUGUST 2016
SU Camps change lives. Great fun, alive faith, deep friendship and Christian community.“It was amazing!”- Glen Echo camper
Scripture Union Camps: book now at suwa.org.au/camps
Ph
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: B
apti
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are
The Ingredients Project participant Romola Groenewold (right) enjoys
learning to cook with Service Facilitator Joanne Seymour.
Ph
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: Jim
Ha
ir
Sun shines on Lakesidehave been able to reduce their
carbon footprint while saving
valuable finances,” Anthony
concluded.
was put in place.
As a result, heavy power
consumers, such as court lighting
was changed to more efficient
units, and high usage fluorescent
lights were upgraded.
The final step was to explore
renewable energy systems.
Wind was considered but despite
Lakeside being in a good position
to collect sea breezes, this option
was deemed too expensive.
The group’s research found that
solar panels were the best option,
with a three year payback period
available.
Funds to finance the project
came from members’ loans and
donations.
“The interest in sustainable
energy was amazing with several
offers coming in soon after
the invitation was published,”
Anthony said.
Lakeside Baptist Church now
has 153 solar panels on its roof that
produce a significant proportion
of the daytime power consumed.
A recent energy audit revealed
that over 98 percent of the power
generated is used on-site.
“With the panels almost
invisible from the street,
‘Lakesiders’ are pleased that they
Celebrating food and community Linda Lee
A new program that gives people with disability the opportunity to learn cooking skills was launched in late 2015. The Ingredients Project was the result of some creative thinking to come out of a new partnership between Baptistcare and ATCO Gas Australia.
spaghetti, vegetable skewers,
and homemade pizza and
gourmet quiches from ‘scratch’
– pastry, dough and all.
Everyone’s efforts were
showcased by hosting an
impressive celebration dinner
which was attended by their
family, friends, support
workers and service facilitators.
Enjoying cooking in
this setting has sparked an
appreciation for healthy eating
among each participant and
provided them with valuable
skills for independent living.
While most participants
had limited experience in
the kitchen at the start of the
program, each person has now
gained the confidence to cook by
themselves and for others.
“This project has made me
excited about cooking,” said
participant Romola.
“I made pizza for everyone
I live with at home with
capsicum, tomato, cheese
and chicken – it was so yum!”
“I especially love doing this
Lakeside’s solar panels being inspected by Project Manager Doug Raymond.
because I love food and now I
can cook all by myself.”
Another participant Sonya
said she feels fully alive when
she cooks and now creates a new
dish at home every week. She
loves trying new ingredients and
experimenting with flavours to
develop her own recipes.
The participants learned
about nutrition and cooking,
how to use natural gas safely, and
were able to gain important life
skills and now have the potential
to undertake professional
catering training in the future.
For more information, visit
www.baptistcare.com.au/
disability-services
Jim Hair
When the annual electricity costs for Lakeside Baptist Church surpassed $50,000 in 2015, the management team knew they had to look at ways to reduce the expense.
As part of their ministry, Lakeside
own and operate a commercial
recreation centre in Bibra Lake,
accounting for a large portion of
the cost.
Senior Pastor Anthony Palmieri
said there are many benefits in
owning such a large complex.
“People visit this place of
worship every day and while
waiting for kids to finish their sport
they are open to the message of
hope,” he said.
“The down side is that
everything is big … lawns, car parks,
maintenance lists and power bills.”
The first step taken by a team
of interested members was to
investigate what used the power
and when, so a monitoring system
The Ingredients Project saw six
Baptistcare Disability Services
participants – Ashleigh, Corey,
Lisa, Romola, Sonya and
Steven – attend lessons over
three a month period to learn
how to cook healthy meals.
The participants learned about
nutrition and cooking, how to
use natural gas safely, and were
able to gain important life skills
and now have the potential to
undertake professional catering
work in the future.
ATCO Gas Australia hosted
the lessons at the ATCO
Gas Blue Flame Kitchen in
Jandakot and chefs Kym
Werner, Kirsty Langden and
Robert Cumberworth from
Aurum volunteered their time
and expertise for the training
component of the program.
Participants were challenged
with new techniques and
practical cooking skills each
week, trying many things for
the first time.
The group’s culinary
adventures included making
This project has made me excited about cooking.
6 newsAUGUST 2016
Ph
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: Kat
he
rin
e v
an
Ass
elt
Tannah Pridmore, Isabelle Whittering, Talya Conradie, Ava Phelps, Zoe Hubbard, Eliza Clubley leading students
and staff in worship.
Worship service first
Mandurah Baptist College
Student Services Staff Member
Katherine van Asselt said the
staff aim to encourage students
to develop a personal awareness
of God and to assist them in
applying biblical principles in
their lives.
“An important example of
this is to have student leaders
do what they do best – lead,”
Katherine said.
The worship assembly
provided an opportunity
for students of all ages to
come together for a time of
community and fellowship.
“The facilitation of
community is an important
aspect of what takes place at
Mandurah Baptist College,”
Katherine said.
“The College’s leadership
team strives for cooperation
between teachers and students.”
The idea of being in
community with one another
as a College played a significant
role in the assembly. Unlike
its regular assemblies where
students are seated in year
groups, students sat wherever
they chose and were encouraged
to engage in activities with
people they didn’t know in order
to learn more about each other.
Year 11 and 12 music students
lead the worship during the
assembly and students and
staff sang songs praising God
together.
Anthony Harrison, a Youth
Pastor in Mandurah shared a
short devotion about having
courage in times of struggle
and reminded the students that
there will always be times in
life that are hard and to not lose
hope. His overarching theme
was to be reminded of God’s
unending love for those present.
“The College’s first student
led worship assembly was a great
success and the College staff are
very proud of the initiative and
hard work all the student leaders
put into making it a memorable
experience for everyone
involved,” Katherine said.
“We hope that this can
be experienced again in the
future.”
Virtual reality church
to wake the kids, no hurry to
get dressed and have breakfast
before hitting the road late and
in a fluster. You amble over to
the living room and plop down
on the sofa, pulling the virtual
reality goggles over your eyes.
Instantaneously your home is
gone. You are sitting inside a
wonderfully bright and beautiful
building. Every which way
around you people are chatting
and finding their seats. The
worship leader walks across the
stage and encourages people
with outstretched arms to tune
into the presence of God.
The drumbeat kicks in and
people are up, clapping and
singing praise to God. Your
senses are engaged. You are fully
immersed. You feel the presence
of the Spirit rise within you as
you join passionately in the
worship.
However, you are still in your
living room and have just woken
up the household!
There is so much for the
Church to consider about
virtual reality. Would it fall into
the Hebrews 10:25 category
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Is the PlayStation VR headset something we will be wearing to
‘attend’ church?
Virtual reality has moved from the realm of science fiction into, well … reality. One only need look at Sony’s PlayStation VR promotional trailer to understand that once this technology hits the market the social fabric of society will be changed.
Recent years have seen the
meteoric rise of social media
and the universal church has
had to deal with questions of
its adoption to keep in touch
with a hyper-connected world.
Just think, there is a Pope who
Tweets! But what if the social
media leap was just a foretaste of
the change that is coming?
Picture this scenario. It’s
Sunday morning and time to
get ready for church. No need
Students at Mandurah Baptist College are encouraged by staff to live out the College’s motto ‘be strong and courageous’ and this was demonstrated in the form of a student led worship assembly in June.
of not meeting together? Is a
virtual Baptism with a sincere
testimony and witnessed by
scores of people legitimate?
Is there need for a bricks and
mortar building when you could
have a virtual reality designer
build you an online sanctuary
where congregants from all over
the world link up? Certainly, it
is a frontier that will test our
theology and our hearts desire
to continue sharing the gospel.
Ed Devine
There is so much for the Church to consider about virtual reality.
7newsAUGUST 2016
Fresh empowers women globally
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Generous Fresh Conference support has enabled Baptist World Aid Australia to work with women’s groups in Nepal.
Noongar Sunday celebration
“God no longer counts our
sins against us because of the
work of Jesus, therefore we can
forgive and be reconciled to
each other,” Martin explained.
“Our reconciliation to God
also makes each of us a new
creation.”
“What matters is not how
we look on the outside but that
we have all been changed from
within by God.”
The morning service was
followed by a luncheon that
featured traditional Noongar
food of yabbies, damper, lamb
and kangaroo tail, all cooked on
coals at the rear of the church.
“The church was thankful to
God for such a successful event
and look forward to celebrating
with their local Indigenous
brothers and sisters again soon,”
Gnowangerup Community
Church Pastor Gerard Field said.
A key part of what the
conferences have achieved has
been the funds raised, within
excess of $673,000 having been
donated by attendees since 2007.
The aim of Fresh Conference
is to mobilise women to bring
change to their local and global
communities. Since the inaugural
conference in 2007 where 100
women came together to explore
what God-based generosity looks
like, Fresh has grown in both
number and impact.
Over the years, women from
Western Australia have been
able to assist in a wide variety of
ways around the world as they
partnered with Baptist World Aid
Australia and the projects they are
involved with.
These projects have
included building birthing
huts in Papua New Guinea to
significantly reduce child and
mother mortality; installation
of a water pipeline for an entire
village – Mamusi, Papua New
Guinea; support for women
coming out of the sex trade in
Kolkata; rebuilding a village
destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan
in the Philippines; provision
for child support and women’s
empowerment in Bangladesh;
and extensive aid and recovery
work after the recent earthquake
in Nepal.
State Leader for Baptist
Women in Western Australia
Karen Wilson said she has been
astounded by the generosity of
the women who attend Fresh
Conferences.
“Each one of us wants to live
in a way that makes a difference
in the lives of those around
us. Together, women at Fresh
Conferences have grasped the
idea of making a difference in
their world,” she said.
“The past nine years have
seen incredible financial
giving and collectively have
had an incredible impact – it is
something to truly celebrate.”
Baptist World Aid Australia
CEO John Hickey is very
appreciative of the partnership
with Fresh Conference.
Robbie Miniter and Tim Beeck enjoy eating some yabbies during
Noongar Sunday.
In celebration of Reconciliation Week, ‘Noongar Sunday’ was held by Gnowangerup Community Church in late May to thank God for the local Indigenous people.
The service was attended by
Noongars from Gnowangerup,
Tambellup, Katanning and
Albany.
Tambellup local Martin
Smith, who now pastors at
the Aboriginal Evangelical
Church in Balga spoke from
2 Corinthians 5 about the
importance of Indigenous and
non-Indigenous people being
reconciled to one other. He said
this is only made possible by
God having reconciled us to
Himself through Christ.
As Fresh Conference 2016 approaches organisers have reflected on the events’ humble beginnings and achievements ahead of the tenth year of the popular women’s conference.
Pastoral changesPastor Phil Beeck has concluded
his role at East Fremantle
Baptist Church and will be
commencing as the new Senior
Pastor at Albany Baptist Church.
Pastor Ben Fisher was inducted
by the Baptist Churches Western
Australia Director of Ministries
Pastor Mark Wilson as the
new Pastor of Hedland Baptist
Church in July. Ben grew up in
the Hedland church and has
been the Student Pastor under
the guidance of Pastor Bill
Joukhadar.
Rev. Dr Peter Christofides
has concluded as the Dean of
Students and Lecturer in New
Testament at Vose Seminary
and will commence full-time
ministry at Mount Pleasant
Baptist Church with a focus on
the Coolbellup Campus.
AFFA Film FestivalMandurah Baptist College
hosted a college tour, Memory
Forever film viewing and a press
conference for the Asia Film
Faculty Association and Filming
Studio group from China.
The group of CEOs, actors and
directors visited the school as a
follow-on from its 2015 Memory
Forever documentary and spent
the day with students, taking
part in College activities and
a viewing of the documentary
in the auditorium. The group
also supported the College by
hosting a drama workshop and
the AFFA Film Festival at the
Lakes Theatre on Saturday
18 June.
Tom Fisher HouseThe Western Australia Heads of
Churches (WAHOC) reported it
is pleased that the Tom Fisher
House is due to be opened in
August. WAHOC have been
championing this homeless
shelter since 2010 in its annual
meetings with the Premier.
Tom Fisher House will be run
in a partnership between the
Government and St Vincent
de Paul Society, providing
nightly safe accommodation
for up to ten men. Former Child
Protection Minister Robyn
McSweeney said Tom Fisher
House would provide secure
crisis accommodation to
people who would otherwise be
sleeping on the streets.
“This facility will provide a safe
place to sleep for some of the
city’s most vulnerable men,”
Mrs McSweeney said.
local briefs
“This community of women
from Western Australia have
made, and continue to make,
a tangible, long-term and
sustainable difference in families
and communities around the
globe,” John said.
“Thank you for your
partnership, generosity and
support of our vision to see a
world where poverty has ended
and all people enjoy the fullness of
life God intends.”
In just a few weeks’ time,
women on all over WA will
gather on 26 and 27 August to be
inspired, hear the needs of women
and children from around the
world, and respond with hearts
more focused on reaching out.
“We were made to live life
large and impact the world
around us and the women at
Fresh do just this,” Karen said.
For more information, visit
www.freshconference.net
What matters is not how we look on the outside...
8 AUGUST 2016
feature
Jill Birt
Pastor Bill Hybels from Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago
said at its Leadership Summit in 1995 that evangelism is one of the
easiest things for a church to lose through no funding in the budget,
no training, no prayer and no catalytic voice from the leadership of
the church.
A tool like Alpha can assist a church to keep an outward focus
and engage followers of Jesus to be on the front foot in conversations
and activities where they may discover people who are interested in
spiritual life.
To date 30 million people around the world have completed an Alpha
course. Hundreds of thousands of people have met God as they explored
their queries about life, faith and God.
More than 20 Baptist churches in Western Australia are currently
using resources available from Alpha.
Resources
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that engage people in
conversations about life, faith and God. There is a range of resources
for churches to use, depending on their situation and needs. Each
resource is based around food, teaching and conversation, upheld by
concerted prayer.
A congregation needs a variety of evangelism tools to support
followers of Jesus as they reach out to family and friends. No single tool
will meet all the needs. Recognising this, Alpha has developed a stable of
resources to help the local church keep evangelism ‘on the boil’.
The classic sessions developed in the 1980s with Nicky Gumbel
speaking directly to camera for about 45 minutes was the first resource
that went global in the late 1980s. The course ran for ten sessions and
helped thousands of people engage with their spiritual questions and
presuppositions in a non-confrontational, engaging environment. Pastor
John Harris and his wife Rosemary used this resource many times at
Claremont Baptist Church and saw the church grow from 35 people to
about 350.
Alpha fine-tuned the sessions in the early 2000s. Jamie Haith
presented the teaching elements and Alpha used a more contemporary
form of filming, picking up on more recent forms of television and film
presentation for documentaries. The truths addressed remain the same
but the method of delivery is more in tune with modern day needs
and styles.
The Alpha Youth material has a slightly different format and allows
more flexibility with groups able to pick and choose the elements of
topics they want to use.
Keeping a focus on evangelism in the local church is a constant challenge.
Eliot and Sandy Vlatko with Helen and Paul Kenny led the recent Alpha
Marriage Course in Kalgoorlie.
The talks at Alpha gatherings explore the big ideas about faith and are
designed to inspire and engage conversation.
Alpha works with small groups of people who gather to share in
conversation and often a meal.
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CHURCHES USE ALPHA TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES
9AUGUST 2016
feature
CHURCHES USE ALPHA TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES
Challenges
Discovering guests who want to explore spiritual issues is a real
challenge. Craigie Baptist Church delivered 5,000 promotional leaflets
to local residents with no response but personal invitations saw about
20 people join the course. More than a decade ago Claremont Baptist
Church hung a large banner on their building fronting Stirling Highway
advertising the group. Many people responded to the advertising.
For some conservative churches Alpha’s inclusion of teaching on the
availability of the Holy Spirit to empower followers of Jesus for ministry
and worship is challenging. Others embrace the entire teaching of the
course, and have been surprised by the results.
Rob Stevens from Lakeside Baptist Church said they made the
decision to do the entire course as it is presented.
“We have always insisted that if we run the course, we will run the
whole course as it is, and won’t water down the ‘Holy Spirit stuff’. That’s
both challenging and exciting, but if you don’t get out of the boat, you are
never going to ‘walk on water’!” Rob said.
Pastor Mike Miles from Mount Pleasant Baptist Church noted that
some churches present this section of teaching a little differently.
“There is no reason why one of the teaching ministers of the church
can’t take the teaching for that day [with the focus on the Holy Spirit]
more in line with their own church’s position. I have heard of this done
very successfully and ought not to be a deterrent to doing the Alpha
course,” Mike said.
What’s coming?
Bear Grylls, who strengthened his relationship wth Jesus through
doing the Alpha course, is the face of a national focus on Alpha
during 2017. Bear has gifted his support to Alpha Australia to
engage Australians to consider exploring their questions
about life, faith and God through the Alpha course.
Churches across Australia are invited to host an
Alpha course during the year and start the journey of
helping people meet Jesus. South Perth Baptist Church is
already planning training events for their team of volunteers.
“We think Alpha can help us engage with our
local community so we’re getting on board and
started early to be ready,” South Perth Baptist
Church Pastor Steve Izett said.
For more information and to
register, visit alpha.org.au
Pastor Brad Lewis and his team at Bentley Baptist Church use elements
of the Youth course in their regular Friday evening youth program as a
discipleship tool.
A need for input to support married couples was the catalyst for
developing the Marriage Course. Helen Kenny and her husband Paul
have recently finished running the Marriage Course with Pastor Eliot
and Sandy Vlatko at Kalgoorlie Baptist Church for the first time.
“The course was great. We saw marriages enriched, people reaching
out to others struggling in marriage and potential break-ups averted,”
Helen said.
“With our great support team preparing amazing food and a unique
venue in the Hope Café which is part of the church property, we’ll
definitely be running this course again.”
The unique Alpha Prison Ministries resources were developed to
help those visiting prisons on a regular basis. Other groups including
Indigenous Australians have content and structure suitable for their
culture. Alpha for Our Mob is currently being used with Indigenous
Australians in country New South Wales.
Support
Based on research, structuring the gathering around some form
of food and drinks seems to be the best format. This can be anything
from a catered three course meal to a cup of soup and a bread roll, or a
fine coffee and handcrafted chocolates. Churches, including Kalgoorlie
Baptist, Lakeside Baptist, Mount Pleasant Baptist and Scarborough
Baptist, have developed longstanding teams that look after catering, set-
up, prayer and in some cases, child care. Alpha gives opportunities for a
wide range of spiritual gifts and passion to be used.
Training
Western Australia Alpha representative Kim Stanfield believes the
training Alpha provides is crucial to running the course well. The
investment in preparing the team that runs the course reaps rewards
for participants.
Pastor Eliot Vlatko has conducted the course numerous times in a
number of Baptist churches.
“It’s challenging for many church people who want to help seekers
‘race to the finish line’, so the training helps people to stand back and let
people interact and wrestle with the truths of biblical faith,” Eliot said.
According to Eliot, one issue for groups who do not grasp the model
of letting people ask whatever they want is that small group leaders
invariably talk too much.
10 newsAUGUST 2016
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With their village totally
destroyed and desperate to
escape the continued US
bombing in their region,
Mr Nhernh and others fled into
Vietnam. They were traumatised
but also deeply worried that in
their haste to leave they hadn’t
had time to make offerings to
appease the spirits.
Mr Nhernh is a member of
the Bunong tribe, which, like all
the hill tribes in Cambodia, is
traditionally animist, regularly
sacrificing livestock to the
spirits. Although they were
relieved to have escaped the
bombs, and were trying to
rebuild their lives in Vietnam,
they felt overwhelmed with grief
and fear.
Some Vietnamese people
began to visit the refugees. They
offered them help and
friendship, and also shared some
good news: God loved them and
War catalyses change
After years of living as a refugee, Tot Nhernh returned to his homeland
Cambodia planting simple churches throughout the Bunong villages.
had released them from all
bondage through His son, Jesus.
Mr Nhernh recalls how he felt all
his fear falling away, replaced by
a peace and freedom he had
never experienced. He was
among several Bunong refugees
to become Christians, learning
much about their new faith
during their time in exile.
When the war ended, he
could not wait to return home
and share the gospel. He and the
other new Bunong Christians
planted small churches in
Bunong villages, and also
evangelised other hill tribes,
including the Krung and
Tampuan.
Although work to translate
the Scriptures into Bunong had
begun in Vietnam in the 1960s,
the work had been disrupted by
the war and the manuscripts
lost. Some small portions of
Scripture in Bunong were
Tot Nhernh, 93, vividly remembers the panic he and his family felt as the bombs started falling on their village in north-east Cambodia. It was the 1970s and the Vietnam War was spilling into the region as members of the Viet Cong crossed the border to hide.
published before the war, but
these were only available in
Roman script – understandable
to the Bunong in Vietnam but
not to those in Cambodia, who
use Khmer script.
So Mr Nhernh and other
Bunong evangelists in
Cambodia were sharing the
gospel by simply telling people
the story of Jesus.
The two decades of
communist rule that followed
the war were very difficult for
the church in Cambodia,
particularly for ethnic minorities
like the Bunong. But Christianity
grew steadily, and today, around
10 percent of Cambodia’s
Bunong people are Christians.
In May 2016 around 50 years
after the first attempt to translate
the Scriptures into Bunong, the
Bunong people of Cambodia
and Vietnam received the New
Testament in their language.
Undertaken by Vietnam
Partnership, the Bible Society in
Cambodia and Summer Institute
of Linguistics, printed in both
Khmer and Roman scripts.
Bibles needed for Walespersonal and social education
lessons to the students. These
lessons have customised
workbooks which give life lessons
drawn from biblical characters.
In 2014 the Sporting Marvels
started presenting a Bible at the
end of the school year as a gift to
the students. This effectively put
God’s Word back into the centre
of the home. To date they do not
have sufficient Bibles to meet
their needs this year.
As the community is steadily
transforming, Sporting Marvels
recently planted a church in
the Rhondda Valley to support a
growing generation finding life
and hope in Jesus Christ.
having a Christian role model in
front of every school child.
Today, Carl Brettles reports the
Rhondda Valley has changed.
“Crime is down,
unemployment is down and
physically, the whole place looks
brighter,” Carl said.
“I wonder if that spark of faith
and much prayer 14 years ago has
had this tremendous effect on the
34 villages that make up the two
Rhondda valleys?”
Sporting Marvels now have
ten full-time workers in schools
across the Rhondda Valley,
providing sports coaching
support to the religious education
team. As fully committed
Christians, the team also provide
Carl Brettles from Sporting Marvels needs Bibles for the people of the Rhondda Valley communities in Wales.
In July 2002, the region was
known for drugs, unemployment
and a reputation for abuse in
homes. No-one seemed to have
any solutions.
During a prayer meeting in
early July, the idea of Sporting
Marvels formed.
The plan was to use sports
coaching in schools as a way of
Buddhists changeCharisma News reports revival is
exploding across Tibet following
a Tibetan monk’s conversion
to Christianity in 2015. Several
sources are reporting more than
200,000 Tibetans have accepted
Jesus. Asian Access’ Joel Handley
said he believes much of the
faith sweeping the region stems
from Christian response to the
devastating Nepalese earthquake
more than a year ago. “They haven’t
seen Buddhists, Hindus or other
religious groups helping in the
midst of the rubble. Rather, week
after week, it is the followers of
Jesus who have proved the test of
international briefs
Jill Birt
A full time position is available for an enthusiastic and experienced person to oversee Lakeside's Youth Ministry.ToTo fulfil this position, you will require creativity, excellent leadership, and communication skills. The youth pastor is responsible for the direction, vision, long-term planning and development of the Lakeside Youth Ministry.ForFor more information or a copy of the selection criteria, contact Anthony Palmieri via [email protected]
time, sacrificed their own lives to
serve, and been the hands and feet
of Jesus,” Joel said.
Pakistanis sufferingPakistani Christians continue to
suffer following the Easter 2016
bombings that claimed 70 lives
and maimed and injured about
300 people. At a recent London
conference on persecution, a
Pakistani pastor broke down as he
described the devastation in the
Christian community after the
attack. The bomber had packed
ball bearings around the explosives
to maximise injuries to families
celebrating Easter near a play
area. People still have ball bearings
imbedded in their bodies and the
resulting infections are causing
the death toll to rise. Release
International is sending trauma
counsellors to help traumatised
victims of the bombing.
Russian lawsIn early July the Federation
Council, the upper house of
Russia’s parliament, approved new
anti-terror bills that could make
sharing the gospel in Russia illegal
activity. “If the bill is signed and
it stands as is without change,
it looks like missionary activity
would be off limits to anybody but
representatives of the registered
organisations or groups, or
individuals who have entered
into formal agreements with such
bodies,” Slavic Gospel Association’s
Joel Griffith said. The new anti-
terror legislation cracks down
on anything that is interpreted
as a violation of public security
and order – extremist actions,
coercion into ruining families, and
encroachments on the freedom
of the person and the rights and
freedoms of citizens.
Sudan troubleSouth Sudan became the
world’s newest country in 2011
after seceding from the North.
Following a lengthy dispute
over where a border should
be, it was decided that Sudan’s
predominantly Christian South
Kordofan and Blue Nile states
would remain in the mainly Sunni
Muslim North. The Sudanese
government has waged a bombing
campaign against the southern
region. Sudan’s Christians, who
are concentrated in the southern
regions of the country, are among
the hundreds of thousands of
people who have been displaced
by the violence, and whose homes,
crops, churches, schools and
hospitals have been destroyed.
11newsAUGUST 2016
Trainer opportunity in PNG
A recent baptism service of more than 100 believers demonstrates the vitality of the churches of the Baptist
Union of Papua New Guinea.
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from many parts of Papua
New Guinea and they are
equipped in a certificate level
course in Tok Pisin. From
there, typically, they start
village pastoring. But the
College is not enough.
Baptist leaders and local
associations’ church leaders
recognise a need for English
language training of pastors
at diploma level. The training
would be in a blended
learning style.
The trainer would work
under the leadership of the
Director of the Division of
Ministry within the Baptist
Union of Papua New Guinea.
“They need to apply
to become an accepted
candidate with Global
Interaction, have pastoral
experience, especially in
equipping others, hold a
Certificate IV in Training
and Assessment (or higher)
with experience in blended
The Baptist Union of Papua New Guinea has invited Global Interaction to send a person to assist in establishing training in English and Tok Pisin (Melanesian Pidgin) at diploma level for national church workers.
Crafty cap project helps Ethiopian nurses
Western Australian based nurse Ann Mitchell, from York Hospital, returned to Ethiopia in early July with some special gifts.
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Bethany McGrechan models a theatre cap as Parky Craft Coordinator Joy Gregson (middle) hands over the pile of new
theatre caps and masks to Ann Mitchell who delivered them to Ethiopia.
Exciting position available at Carey Baptist Church | Harrisdale
Full time Associate Pastor
For further information and key selection criteria please contact Church Administrator, Mel Gillis on 93949155 or email applications to [email protected]
Applications close 5:00pm, Friday 26 August 2016
The Associate Pastor should be a spiritually mature, enthusiastic Christian leader who is experienced in developing pastoral care and discipleship systems and leading in spiritual formation.
learning and competency-based
training and an appropriate
tertiary qualification,” Geoff said.
The appointee would live
in Mount Hagen, Western
Highlands, Papua New Guinea
in a provided unit. The position
would involve travel to various
locations, especially the Baptist
Theological College located in
the Baiyer Valley, just one hour’s
drive away.
“Whoever the Lord calls to
this role will find enthusiastic
learners and a fulfilling function
in equipping others in a context
where followers of Jesus are
exhibiting a revitalisation in
their faith expression in their
community,” Geoff said.
“The appointee will need
to learn Tok Pisin, build
relationships and assimilate
with local culture.”
For more information, visit
globalinteraction.org.au
helping maintain high standards
of hygiene.
Parky Craft Coordinator Joy
Gregson said the ladies from the
craft group were pleased to be
able to help meet a specific need
in Ethiopia.
Women at the group donated
fabric and their time to create
the brightly coloured cotton caps
and masks for the Ethiopian
doctors and nurses. The women
met for a Saturday workshop,
first drafting patterns then
completing the items.
Ann returned to Ethiopia
with a team from Australian
Doctors for Africa after a
similar visit earlier in February
2016, to teach theatre skills
and wound care to Ethiopian
nurses at Hawassa University
Referral Hospital, a teaching
hospital connected with Awassa
University on the shores of Lake
Awassa in the Great Rift Valley in
Southern Ethiopia.
... helping maintain high standards of hygiene.
There are between 60,000 and
80,000 church members across
Papua New Guinea.
Albert Kroenert, the first
Baptist missionary in PNG
recorded in his diary on 24 June
1949 after trekking for several
days in the Western Highlands,
“This is the place where I
believe God wants us
to begin.”
The first followers of Jesus
were baptised in 1956. The
church is alive with 123 being
baptised at one service recently.
Global Interaction
Consultant with the Baptist
Union of Papua New Guinea,
Geoff Cramb said equipping
pastors in a way that is a good
fit with the context, has been a
constant challenge.
Fewer than 20 people
have degree level training
in Bible and theology. The
Baptist Theological College
in the Baiyer Valley, Western
Highlands, attracts students
Parky Craft group, a ministry of
Parkerville Baptist Church where
Ann is a member, sewed more
than 100 operating theatre caps
and masks for staff at Hawassa
University Referral Hospital and
Bahir Dar Hospital.
Until now staff have been
re-using disposable face masks
day after day and using gauze
for their caps. The new caps and
masks can be washed regularly,
12 AUGUST 2016
How did you come to be a
supermodel?
It was a unique journey
from being nobody to being
somebody.
I’m half Brazilian and half
Indonesian. My mother had me
when she was very young. So I
was raised by my grandparents
until I was seven. My
grandmother was a professing
Christian and my grandfather,
Muslim. Then I moved back with
my parents, and grew up in Bali,
Indonesia.
I remember as a kid, I started
to feel weird about the way I
looked and my ethnicity, and I
was especially annoyed by my
name. I had a foreign name, so
kids at school called me ‘Trasi’
(read: Trah-see,) which means
smelly fish. I didn’t look like most
of the other kids. I was neither
fully Asian nor fully Western.
I struggled with these identity
issues from such an early age.
When I was 14, my life took
a 180 degree turn. My mother
sent my photo to the top teen
magazines in Indonesia, which
hosted annual modelling
competitions. One chose me
as one of their finalists, and I
became the winner. At first,
I didn’t realise the impact of
winning that competition –
I instantly became famous.
People started calling me by my
name, and asking me for photos
and autographs.
The same year, my mother
entered me into an international
modelling competition in
Jakarta, which I won. I then
flew to Seoul, Korea, to represent
Indonesia. I competed against
77 contestants from 65 countries
and won US$50,000 and a two
year contract with Elite Model
Management in New York City.
Before that year, I had never
felt so much acceptance and
love. I had never felt happier.
There and then I committed
myself to pursue this fame and
fortune for I reasoned that’s
where happiness would be
found.
The label ‘Indonesian
supermodel’ was given to me
because never before had there
been an Indonesian model who
walked in Paris and New York
Fashion Weeks, and worked
for mega designers and big
worldwide campaigns. It took a
lot of sacrifice and hard work to
get to that point.
As Indonesia’s first supermodel, surrounded by fame and glamour, Tracy Trinita found herself with an emptiness that could not be filled until she realised that Christianity had the answer to her deepest questions about life. The Advocate had the privilege of catching up with her before she shares her journey at a Perth City Bible Forum event, ‘When the fashion model met the Designer’, on 1 September.
in conversation
never before. It was like God gave
me a new vision and mission, and
there was meaning and purpose
in my existence. I wanted my life
to be even more meaningful. I
joined many organisations. I was
the ambassador for the World
Health Organisation in Indonesia
for the anti-tobacco campaign;
I joined an orphanage ministry,
Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa
(YCAB) [translates to ‘Loving the
nation’s children foundation’] and
church missions; and I shared
about Jesus to my friends.
Then I returned to the
modelling world in New York, but
with a totally different mindset. I
no longer felt I had to impress the
world or gain fame and wealth. I
just wanted to use my potential,
and at the same time to make my
Saviour known. Being a Christian
gave me such a freedom to say
‘no’ to ungodly things, because
the most important opinion
about you is what God sees in
you. Ultimately I wanted to please
God through using everything
He had given me.
What opportunities did you
have to share your faith
with people you met in the
modelling industry?
First of all, the joy in my
heart was just overflowing.
I think people could totally
see that. Second, I invited my
friends to come to church with
me. Third, I just wanted to live
by God’s standard even though
people might think of me as
old-fashioned.
In the modelling world,
people prefer action more than
merely words. I hope I did show
them what life in Christ really
looks like.
Even now, I still want to
reach out to the modelling
and entertainment world. I
want people to know the Lord
Jesus: the mega designer of
the universe who transforms
lives and brings meaning to our
existence. Praise be to God for
the many open doors. I trust
it is God who has given us the
opportunities and we should
all be faithful in following His
guidance and direction.
You’ve had a career change
since your modelling days,
how did this come about and
what are you working on now?
Ever since I became a
believer, I have been excited
about life. I want to try and
enlarge my potential. I became
a writer for a magazine, a music
promotor inviting famous
singers to perform, I acted
in movies and soap operas, I
opened a fashion boutique,
and finally one thing changed
my life: going back to school
under a scholarship. I studied
Theology and Apologetics at
the Oxford Centre for Christian
Apologetics (OCCA) in the UK.
In my second year of theological
school, I prayed to God about the
direction of my life: “Lord, if you
want me to be a full-timer, please
send a pastor that would offer
me a job to be a pastor in his or
her church.” For me, that would
be the final confirmation. God
answered my prayer by sending
an American pastor who lived in
Jakarta to Oxford, he offered me
a job, and so I accepted.
I worked as a pastor from
2009 to 2013 at the International
English Service Church in
Jakarta, Indonesia, and then
in 2013 I joined Ravi Zacharias
International Ministries (RZIM)
as an itinerant speaker.
I love my calling, sharing
the good news of the gospel
everywhere God sends me.
Was it more difficult being a
supermodel or a Christian in
Indonesia, given the country is
a largely Muslim nation?
It is always difficult being a
true Christian in the marketplace
in any country, because your
conviction and lifestyle will be
against the flow.
I learned about religious
tolerance at a young age,
celebrating Muslim and
Christian holidays with my
grandparents, and still now
respecting other beliefs and
carefully expressing my thoughts
with kindness.
I believe it is harder for those
who convert to Christianity
than those born into nominal
Christian homes.
In ministry, I have to
carefully speak from my heart,
expressing myself in the truest
and kindest way possible.
I’m glad I’m not the one who
converts people – Jesus is. So
my part is just to share the good
news and Jesus is the one who
calls His people back to Himself.
Salvation comes from Jesus
Christ.
What is the biggest challenge in
your Christian walk and what
Fashion model meets Designer
How did you become a Christian
and develop a faith in Christ?
I worked in various cities:
Paris, New York, Milan, Sydney,
etc. After working as a model
for some time, I started to gain
what I was looking for: fame and
fortune, and I was hoping, as a
result, happiness. But there was
a strange feeling that started to
steal the joy in my heart that I
couldn’t explain at the time.
I expected that fortune and
fame would bring the ultimate
happiness, but I found myself
discontented and lonely. Nothing
in the glamour and name
recognition and adoring fans
could fill that void. I wondered if
what was missing in my life was
God. Growing up I was never
taught anything about any faith
in my family. I heard about it in
school, or from my grandma, but
I never personally believed in it.
So one night in my room in New
York City, I cried out to any god
who might be listening, to please
reveal himself to me.
Not long after, I moved
to Paris, where I met a fellow
Indonesian friend. After a while,
she invited me to come to church
with her. I knew that my friend
would never give up until I
agreed, so I gave in.
As I entered the church, I
realised that there was something
different: the people were so
simple, but glowing. No one wore
glamourous clothes, no one wore
much makeup, yet everyone’s
face seemed to be glowing with
happiness. I was intrigued.
That was the beginning of
my curiosity about faith. I didn’t
want to easily believe in the
Christian faith. I needed to do
my homework. I studied a few
religions, and decided the one
with the best answers would be
the right one for me. I found that
only Jesus offered words that
touched both my mind and heart.
After considering many things
about faith, I turned to Jesus as
my Lord and Saviour.
Life has never been the same.
The Lord Jesus filled my heart
and my mind, and finally my life
was meaningful because of what
the Lord did. I started to have
fresh, new perspectives about life.
As a supermodel, how did
your Christian faith impact
your career?
When I became a believer,
I was so excited about life like
Indonesia’s first supermodel, Tracy Trinita will be in Perth 1 September to
speak about her life and Christian faith.
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have you learnt during your
modelling career?
I’ve learnt to explain how and
why I have made the choices in
my life, especially to those in the
entertainment industry. They
sometimes look at me like I’m
from another planet!
Also how to “love your
neighbours as yourself.” In
an industry that is so highly
competitive, it is refreshing to
be a friend and always to be kind
and forgiving.
What is your definition of
success?
I look at success as being
faithful to the purpose of why
you were created. It cannot be
measured by money, power, or
achievements, because those
things are temporary. In short,
success is to know God and to
live to the fullest of our potential
for His glory.
What else is in the wings for
you this year and what are your
aspirations for the future?
I’m looking forward to
visiting various cities in Australia
and sharing what the Lord Jesus
has done in my life, and I trust
He has an amazing future for
everyone who puts their trust in
Him.
I’m extremely excited for
missions in Java, Indonesia. God
has put this in my heart for two
years and I’m trying to open the
door to reach out and prepare
church leaders across the island
of Java, but somehow the door
has been constantly closed, for
various reasons. I don’t give up
easily, especially since I know
God is with me and by His grace
everything is possible.
I want to be part of God’s
work in preparing generations to
go deeper into Scripture and to
bring transformation.
To book a ticket or
more information, visit
citybibleforum.org/city/perth
13AUGUST 2016
growth
Role models on the runmembers of the USA’s 2012
Olympic team. Rather than
shy away from the platform
that comes with fame, Felix
stepped confidently onto it.
She feels her position comes
with the responsibility to be a
positive example – a role she
has embraced. As part of Project
Believe, a program of the US
Anti-Doping Agency, Felix
submits to randomised blood
and urine tests to prove that she
is competing drug-free. Through
her participation, Felix hopes
to send a message to up-and-
coming athletes that they don’t
have to inject anything into their
bodies to be able to perform at an
elite level.
Felix also travels
internationally as an Athlete
Ambassador for Right to Play, a
non-profit organisation seeking
to empower disadvantaged
children through the power of
athletics. In that capacity, she
has travelled to Lebanon and
Palestine to inspire children
to develop life skills and self-
confidence by playing sports.
Furthermore, Felix advises the
government on opportunities to
promote active, healthy lifestyles
as a volunteer member of the
President’s Council on Fitness,
Sports and Nutrition.
As much as she once looked
up to Marion Jones, Allyson
Felix’s Mum and Dad have always
been her foremost role models.
John C Maxwell
Disappointed. Confused. Hurt. That’s how we feel when a role model turns out to be unreliable. When someone we admire fails us, the painful emotions trigger questions. Should we stop looking up to the leaders around us? After all, they routinely seem to let us down. Also, should we run away from being role models ourselves? Should we warn others not to look up to us in case we mess up?
In 2007, American sprint star
Marion Jones confessed to using
performance-enhancing drugs
while winning five medals at the
2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Perhaps no one took the news
harder than current Olympian
Allyson Felix, whose own passion
for track and field had been
inspired by Jones’ feats. She was
devastated by Jones’ admission
of guilt.
Having won a silver medal
in 2004 along with a silver and
gold in 2008, Allyson Felix ranks
among the most celebrated
Andrew HamiltonP
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“I admire them so much
because they are real people yet
they live such godly lives. They
have countless responsibilities
and hectic schedules, but they
know what their life is all about,
and they have a passion for
sharing their faith and making
a difference in our community.”
She credits the love and
support of her parents as a
major reason for her successes
in life. She also caught an
important lesson from
them: leaders have awesome
opportunities that come with
tremendous responsibilities. In
the words of her Dad, speaking
of his leadership role in the
Felix family, “It is a great calling
to be fathers our children can
pattern themselves after.”
Leadership is inseparable
from influence. We cannot live
in this world without touching
the lives around us – and being
affected by them in return.
We’re always going to influence
and to be influenced. We always
are role models, and we always
have them. The biggest choices
we will ever make, then, are
how we will influence others
through our roles in life and
who will be the role models we
allow to influence us.
Reprinted with permission
from The John Maxwell
Company. ©2016
www.johnmaxwell.com
Mapping out a life trajectoryare we will unknowingly take the
path of least resistance and finish
up in a place we never intended
to be.
Now that I’m nearly 52 I’ve
seen this so often – some gradually
move into spiritual maturity and
health while others slowly drift into
a life where faith has diminished to
a vague memory.
So who do you want to be?
And what choices do you need
to make to ensure you remain
on a trajectory that allows you to
become that person? It isn’t just
going to happen.
Lately I’ve been pondering the concept of ‘trajectory’ as a way of making sense of the shape that our lives take, especially the faith dimension.
You see no one just wakes up one
day and discovers that they are
fat. Obesity is a result of a series of
many interconnected life choices
that have leant in the direction of
over-consuming. Neither does
anyone wake up fit and in great
shape. Again a series of many,
many choices over many years will
have contributed to this outcome.
So the idea of spiritual maturity
takes form in a similar way. No one
wakes up one day as a ‘spiritual
giant’, nor do they suddenly find
themselves spiritually empty. From
the time we surrender our life to
Christ we make choices that either
move us in the direction of more
substantial faith or we can head
the other way and make choices
that run at odds with our stated
intention of becoming Christlike.
Most of us lumber around and
have fits of passion followed by
periods of indifference, or maybe
even despair.
But our choices matter.
Small choices here and there
that conflict with where we hope
to head are like a donut in the
middle of a strict diet. Not ideal,
but not likely to make a significant
difference to the final destination.
But if a person were ‘on a diet’
and eating a donut a day – while
stating their intention was to get
slim, then we’d view them with
a bit of scepticism. It’s a repeated
pattern of choices and it will have
an outcome in due course.
I’m certain that where we are in
faith today is the result of a series of
choices we have made over a long
period of time, and equally where
we will be in 15 to 20 years’ time
will be a result of the choices we
are making now.
So perhaps the question we
need to grapple with is ‘who do
I want to be in 20 years’ time?’
Because if we don’t have any sense
of our ‘life trajectory’ then chances
Andrew Hamilton is the Pastor
at Quinns Baptist Church.
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14 AUGUST 2016
After extensive touring, Josh Lovelace, Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart and Seth Bolt of Needtobreathe are
looking forward to releasing another album later this year.
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98five Music Director Chela Williams
When Needtobreathe landed in Australia for their first ever national tour with Third Day in 2015, the band’s gold-certified single Brother was gaining phenomenal success all over the world. Riding the wave of the song’s success destined a stop in every Australian capital city, including Perth, performing to thousand strong crowds and winning new fans.
news
Editor: Matt ChapmanManaging Editor: Andrew SculthorpeSubeditor: Maclain BruceProduction: Vanessa Klomp Creative: Hayley EmmettAdvertising: Sally PhuDistribution: Sally PhuEditorial deadline: 5th of each month
EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING:Email: [email protected] [email protected]: Baptist Churches Western Australia PO Box 57, Burswood WA 6100Tel: (08) 6313 6300Fax: (08) 9470 1713
PUBLISHERS GENERAL DISCLAIMERAll the articles, comments, advice and other material contained in this publication are by way of general comment or advice only and are not intended, nor do they purport to be the correct advice on any particular matter of subject referred to. No reader or any other person who obtains this publication should act on the basis of any matter, comment or advice contained in this publication without first considering and if necessary taking appropriate professional advice upon the applicability of any matter, advice or comment herein to their own particular circumstances. Accordingly, no responsibility is accepted or taken by the authors, editors or publishers of this publication for any loss or damage suffered by any party acting in reliance on any matter, comment or advice contained herein.
The Advocate is published on behalf of Baptist Churches Western Australia by imageseven. Tel: (08) 9221 9777 Email: [email protected]
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Needtobreathe’s hard love
Comprised of brothers Bear and
Bo Rinehart, Seth Bolt and Josh
Lovelace, the band then returned
home to begin writing and
recording the follow up to Rivers
in the Wasteland with Hard Love
to be released this year. Vocalist
and keyboardist Josh said Brother
is the band’s most personal song
to date.
“The song is special because
it’s about us and our relationships
with each other,” Josh said.
“Being in a band with brothers
has taught us that even when it’s
hard, family is more important
than any success or accolade that
we could ever achieve.”
The song was also released as
a remix featuring US pop artist
Gavin DeGraw.
“It was fun to collaborate with
a friend on something that means
so much to us,” Josh explained.
Since touring Australia in
2015, the South Carolina rock
group have been on the road
throughout the US in between
recording Hard Love.
“What we do on stage every
night is probably the most
important thing we do as a band,”
Josh confesses.
“The fact that people come
out to our shows to hear their
favourite song or one of their
favourite bands is super humbling
to us.”
Touring also inspires the
band to keep writing and creating
music.
“Without the live side of what
we do, we wouldn’t be where we
are today.”
“Touring dominated the
inspiration for Hard Love and
challenged the group to create in a
new and fresh headspace.”
“We have always been a band
that creates sounds in an organic
way, breaking rules to get the
sound we are chasing,” Josh said.
“On this record, we dove into
new sonic territory and tried to
push ourselves outside of what we
would normally do when writing
or recording music.”
“This is the most fun we’ve
ever had making a record and I
think you can hear that through
all the tracks.”
For more information, visit
www.98five.com/latest-music
Prices start from a low $260,000 for a spacious 2 bedroom unit and vendor finance on some units only might be
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Retirement living in a peaceful semi-rural setting.
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15AUGUST 2016
intermission
This voucher entitles you to 15% off your next purchase in store at Mount Lawley
The Advocate – August 2016
watchA minute with ...
Cranbrook/Frankland River Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Jackson
What led you to this role?
I had a desire to ensure people knew about God’s love through Jesus and the
cross. As I pursued that aim through ‘uni’ ministry in Darwin and theological
college in Perth, I concluded that pastoral ministry in a local church was the best
means for me to achieve this aim. This eventually landed me in Cranbrook.
What is a feature of your church or ministry you’d like to share?
Their love and care for myself and my family. We experience the love of God
through their love for us.
Did anyone put you through an intentional plan for leadership development?
What was the plan?
Two Uniting Church ministers did! The first began by telling me it was my turn
to preach! The second had me watch what he did, discuss why he did it and what
else he could have done. He then had me try it myself and gave me feedback, for
almost three years.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the
first time?
Find a mentor with a very different personality and style to yours. It is a gold mine.
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RisenRisen follows the story of a centurion in
charge of keeping the peace in Jerusalem
at the time of the death of Jesus. Worn out
from the tiring role of keeping the Jewish
rabble in line, he is then charged with the
investigation of the disappearance of the
dead Jesus. Already questioning his lifestyle
and ambitiously looking to progress in the
ranks to return to Rome and leave the current
difficuties behind, he is now confronted with
logic versus his instinct as an investigator
while being pressured to close the case.
His enquiries uncover the unexplainable,
unexpected and supernatural and leaves him
with a bigger question – Is Jesus of Nazareth
really the Jewish Messiah – the Son of their
God – and what does this mean for him and
his spiritual beliefs?
Miracles from HeavenGet the tissue box out ready to see the true story
of a brave young girl and her family in Miracles
from Heaven. Anna is an energetic young girl
who becomes ill but is misdiagnosed and her
mother – knowing there is more – pursues
doctors for an explanation. When finally the
true cause comes to light there is still more
bad news with a lengthy wait for the only
doctor who is able to help. Along this journey
Anna shares her faith with other children
and families as they too deal with illness and
the prospect of death. Through a bizzare
accident Anna is miraculously cured and as
they share their miracle they are met with
disbelief by others in their church. This leads
to the discovery of the many miracles that God
was able to bring about as a result of Anna’s
illness and her faith in Him during her long
journey to health. Viewers can be inspired by
the revelation of how God can use any and all
circumstances to bring about good things in
the lives of those we touch.
Inspire: The Bible for creative journalingThe Inspire Bible is a brand new style of Bible
and one of the first of its kind in Australia.
Inspire is available in the popular New Living
Translation in single-column format. With
5cm wide margins lined for note taking and
400 beautiful line-art illustrated Bible verses
designed to be coloured as you sit, meditate
and memorise the words of God, it is created
for those who love both adult colouring and
creative journaling. This imitation leather
edition features a silky floral printed cover, with
quality cream pages as well as blue patterned
edges and a matching ribbon page marker. It
is designed to inspire the God given creativity
within a person as they flick through the pages.
However, there are other formats to choose
from including a teal hardback that has an
elastic to keep it closed when not in use.
Reviews by Koorong Mount Lawley
Assistant Manager
Dorothy Waddingham
Website: www.koorong.com
Address: 434 Lord Street, Mount Lawley
Phone: 08 9427 9777
read
16 AUGUST 2016
news
Bright start to the 2016 season
Caleb Douglas takes a corner kick in a Western Australian Christian
Football Association Under 10s game.
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conflict with their commitment
to attend church.
They found that the vast
majority of organised junior
competitions in Perth were
run on Sunday mornings.
Consequently, they saw a
need to provide competitive
soccer played on Saturdays
and the organisation was
born. From small beginnings,
the competition grew to
involve more than ten clubs
and around a 1,000 players
in its first decade. In 2010 the
name changed to the Western
Australian Christian Football
Association.
The vision of WACFA is to
provide access to high quality
organised football to every West
Australian family in a manner
that supports and encourages
active participation in all
aspects of Christian life and
community.
Football West Chairman
Liam Twigger commented in
the Football West Annual Report
Hundreds of excited junior
players and around 500 parents
and supporters gathered at
Ashfield Reserve to kick-off
the new season with a match
and the traditional club march
past. Western Australian
Christian Football Association
(WACFA) President Roger
Edland welcomed everyone to
the 2016 season and Football
West Chairman Liam Twigger
attended to bring greetings
from the broader football family
in WA and Australia, along with
the Member for Southern River
Peter Abetz.
WACFA Chaplain Philip
Watson opened the season
in prayer and all the players,
parents, coaches and
supporters were encouraged
to play and participate in a
manner that glorifies God.
Eight year old Jacob
Chapman from the Riverside
Christian Football Club looked
forward to the new season.
“I’m excited to start the new
season playing with friends
from school and getting out
onto the field today,” he said.
The Western Australian
Christian Football Association
currently has 12 clubs who are
part of the league with teams
ranging from Lake Joondalup
Baptist Church in the north to
Armadale Christian Football
Club in the south, with around
1,600 players in total involved
in the 2016 season.
Originally the Evangelical
Soccer Association of Western
Australia, WACFA began in
2000 with a number of families
wanting a soccer competition
for their children that did not
Brilliant sunshine, clear skies and an enthusiastic crowd were all on hand for the start of the 2016 Western Australian Christian Football Association season.
GiveWayBaptist Financial Services Australia Limited (BFS)
is delighted to announce the arrival of GiveWay!
Why use GiveWay?
• Provides a simple, effective and online method to make offerings and payments
• Promotes giving to churches with a direct link from your website
• Payments can be one off or re-occurring and for any period or frequency
• Tax receipts to donors for each financial year for tax deductible funds
The sole purpose of BFS is to resource, develop and enhance Christian ministry.Online Payment Portal
Baptist Financial Services Australia Limited (BFS) ABN 56 002 861 789 is incorporated as a public company, limited by guarantee. BFS is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFS Licence Number 311 062) issued by ASIC, which requires the company to meet a range of compliance and risk management conditions.
Contact UsPH 1300 650 542FAX 1300 784 699EMAIL [email protected] www.bfs.org.au
2015 that “Never before have we
had so many people engaged
in our sport, whether through
playing, watching or talking
about the world game.”
“Football remains the
most popular sport in Western
Australia with more than
200,000 participants involved
in one form or another. This
is due in no small part to the
incredible work our clubs
and their respective
committees and volunteers
put in every week.”
Armadale Christian Football
Club President and Gosnells
Baptist Church Senior Pastor
Tony Spencer commented that
Gosnells Baptist Church and
the Football Club see this sport
as a wonderful way of reaching
people in their community with
the love of Christ.
For more information, visit
www.wacfa.com.au
... all the players, parents, coaches and supporters were encouraged to play and participate in a manner that glorifies God.