Day 1: Sunday 21st (Everywhere)
On Sunday our team split up to visit a number of services of churches we will be partnering with throughout the next week. These included Chester Hill Anglican, Berkeley Life Centre, Park Rail Anglican and Grace City Church. Those of us who visited more than one church found some services couldn’t be more different, but it was encouraging to realise that it was the same gospel proclaimed everywhere. As we reflected on the contrast between some of the churches there was one other word which unified them all: intentional. It was great to learn how each church had carefully thought about how to communicate the gospel and run their Sunday service in light of who their congregation members are, whether their age, ethnicity, social and economic status, or spiritual maturity; and to see this intentionality flow into their evangelism as they seek to reach the local area. Give thanks for the chance to visit other churches and be encouraged. Please pray for those preparing sermons this week to preach at these churches (Tim S, Tim A, Eric, Tony, Alex, and Jade).
Day 2: Monday 22nd (Grace City Church, Green Square)
Today our team had the privilege of learning from Tim Clemens and his team about church planting and Grace City Church. Tim opened our eyes to church planting as an evangelistic strategy as he shared his own story with planting Grace City. It was great to hear the staff’s insights as we sat in on their staff meeting and understand the systems which facilitated evangelism and spiritual growth. Most importantly though it was wonderful to see the gospel transforming lives as the main aim and motivator. Give thanks for the opportunity to learn more about church planting. Tuesday is a day off, so please pray for us on Wednesday as we head down to Wollongong. Pray for safety on the roads as we travel, for those teaching SRE and joining the 1-1 ministry at Albion Park Rail, and for those doing visitation and walk-up evangelism at Berkeley.
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