Moore College

Equipping men and women to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ

Naremburn – Cammeray Mission 2021 Day 4

Naremburn – Cammeray Mission 2021 Day 4

by

The community morning tea took place on Wednesday morning and was attended by about 15 people all up including leaders. Some of the attendees were regular and a couple were attending for the first time. Moore College students were available to attend to the guests, serving teas and coffees. The church put on a spread of baked food and the atmosphere in the room was warm. The purpose of the event was to revive weekly morning bible studies for the older Christians which had stopped because of Covid and give the guests a taste of the regular meetings.

However, being the first one, we did not have bible studies conducted as usual. Instead, the time was used to mingle and get to know each other and later on Graham, who runs the bible studies, briefed us on the regular schedule of the meetings. The regular attendees had a chance to say why they love bible studies and a number of them appreciated the opportunity to discuss the word of God and do community. Graham then invited Edward Happer to give a testimony of how he became a Christian. Edward also shared about how he came to consider vocational ministry having started out in the army as a musician. He encouraged the seniors to be deliberate in meeting younger people in the congregation because senior Christians were strong witnesses to him growing up. Overall, it was a wonderful morning, giving us the Moore college students a taste of the ministry to senior citizens at the Nuremburn-Cammery church.
Read more . . .

ENC Mission 2021 Day 4

by

Berkeley

Today we went around the community at Berkeley offering free bread. It was amazing to see people open up as we asked ‘how their day was going?’. On multiple occasions, we heard people struggle with the idea of God because of the evil and suffering they’ve seen or experienced in this world. Please pray that these individuals would come to know that God is real because He sent His Son into this messy world to save us and that one day he will return to rid the world of evil and sin.

Albion Park Rail

It was such a joy starting the day with Scripture at two primary schools in Albion Park Rail. The team got to do a short skit, memory verse and share some testimonies. Give thanks for the refreshment of witnessing the kids’ enthusiasm in class – we learnt that most of them may never hear about God outside of this time, and there was this wonder in their eyes and openness to be in the class that was such a great encouragement. Pray that these young ones will come to trust and obey Jesus as God’s chosen king who came to suffer and die.

Give thanks also for the faithful teachers who go in each week with such joy to minister to the children. Speaking to Yvonne (who had been doing this for 37 years!), we were struck by the immense value of teaching these young ones the truth about their Creator, as she shared about how a student of hers came to faith as an adult because he remembered learning how to pray in school Scripture.

Over lunch we got to hear from Neil Scott, the senior minister at Park Rail Anglican. It was so valuable for us to hear Neil share his ministry insights from his time in the area and how it has come to bear fruit:

  • Going where there was great gospel need and trusting God to provide for him and his family;
  • Listening well to learn about the people he was ministering to;
  • The value of being in the community (with schools as a hub) and building trust;
  • The principles behind their 1-1 bible discipleship model for pastoral and training purposes.

Thank God for how He has grown the church in a low socio-economic area, that in the brokenness of their lives they have a deep understanding of the gospel that brings forgiveness and salvation. Pray for Neil and the church as they persevere in making disciples by sharing the hope that Jesus brings.
Read more . . .

Jesus is Alive! St Stephen’s Normanhurst Mission 2021

by

Last night most of the team got to join in on church small groups, with a few members also sharing about ministry and training at a young adults training night.

Early in the morning, the SRE team were up ready! They got to tell the children at Normanhurst Public School about the empty tomb and Jesus’ being raised from the dead! Great actions, interaction and song making it clear that Christ is better than Easter eggs and hot cross buns. Jesus is alive!

With the sun coming out today there were also lots more opportunities to go door-knocking in the neighbourhood! Thank God for all the people we were able to invite to the Easter Services! Pray that they will attend!

A solid day of mission ending with Peter Blake and Ash Braithwaite running separate seminars on sexual purity for the year 9-12 youth. Thank God for lots of honest and encouraging discussion!

Prayer and praise:

  • Pray for more gospel seeds to be sown as the SRE team goes to Normanhurst West Public School to share about Jesus being raised from the dead!
  • Pray that God would use Jess Sheely to encourage women and clearly present the gospel at the Women’s Event tonight.
  • Pray for continued mutual encouragement as we spend time having meals with the saints at SSNAC.
  • Praise God for T who we met earlier in the week at the Anglicare Table. After meeting up with a member of SSNAC to talk about Christianity, she’s said she wants to follow Jesus! Please pray for SSNAC in their follow up and discipleship of her!

Read more . . .

Armidale Mission 2021 Day 4

by

Team Time

Over lunch, Rod the bishop and Geoff the bishop’s assistant told us about their experiences in rural ministry. Geoff – who is also Matt H’s dad! – explained to us some of the processes about becoming candidates in the Armidale diocese.

Check out the cool graphic representing the diocese that Rod is holding in the photo.

School Bible study

Sarah, Merryn, Kim and Alison did a school bible study on Romans 5 with four Year 7 girls. Three of those girls were investigating Christianity and willing to talk. Merryn even reconnected with one of the girls at the school musical on Thursday night and met her mum!

Praise God for the way He uses us as role models in the community.

Lenten service

Ben, Jared, Merryn and Sarah attended the Lenten service on Wednesday night at St Mary’s church. The sermonette on John 8 challenged the parishioners to consider what side they are on…

School Chapel

Michael L preached a challenge to the boarders at their school chapel from the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18. Oscar read the Bible and Simon led the students in prayer.

Pray that God will continue to be challenging the boarders to find their righteousness in Christ.

Coledale Front yard church (Tamworth)

Adam, Matt H and Reuben travelled to Tamworth with Bishop Rod to check out a “front yard church”. During his time as vicar at St Pete’s South Tamworth, Rod planted this bible study/ fire pit gathering, that, nine years later, is a kids club for the indigenous community. There were over 50 indigenous kids, and a wonderful support team from the church to check-in, cook dinner, sing with and present the gospel to the kids.

Afterwards, the guys visited the home of indigenous pastor Jum and his wife Pip to hear their experiences over the last 2 years.

Praise God for the way He has grown this work from a small bible study into a thriving kids club.

Thank God for Jum’s passion for the community, and the possibility of an indigenous MTS worker in the future.

Pray that God will continue to sustain Jum and Pip in the ups and downs of being in the community.

Coffee & Dessert Women’s Event

Over 50 women attended the well-planned evangelistic event. Kim spoke faithfully about the prodigal son, and Merryn had an engaging conversation over dessert with an unbeliever who really connected to the Bible story.
Read more . . .

Naremburn – Cammeray Mission 2021 Day 1

by

Our first day of mission was a full day meeting the members of Naremburn Cammeray Anglican Church. The Moore team was split for much of the day to get around to all the different church services, but this was an important day for establishing the unity of the Moore team and the NCAC team. This involved preaching, sharing lunch, and many conversations after services.

At the Naremburn 6:00 PM church service Ed Hannah spoke on John 3:16 to 100 young adults. He spoke clearly from John 3:16 to encourage some to put their trust in Jesus for the first time. Some hearers said: L, “Good everyday examples.” T, “Core message of the gospel.” C, “Great the way he showed the necessity of a response.”

Please pray that the Moore student team and the Naremburn Cammeray Anglican Church will be of great encouragement to each other throughout mission.
Read more . . .

Church @ The Peak Day 4

by

So when the crowd came together, Pilate asked them “Which one do you want me to set free, Barabbas or Jesus?” Some of the Kindergarten students yelled out, “Jesus! He’s done nothing wrong!” When the crowds called for Barabbas to be set free, the students cried out “No!!!”.

The story of Jesus and Barabbas clearly had an impact on these students at Peakhurst South Public School. It was a wonderful opportunity at the Easter Assembly to share how Jesus similarly takes the punishment for us, and how this forgiveness is a gift we don’t deserve. We also had lots of fun with them singing songs and learning a memory verse.

Please be praying for the 80 students who heard the Gospel message, most of whom are from non-Christian homes. Pray that they would accept the gift of forgiveness by saying sorry to God, asking for forgiveness, and thanking Jesus for what he has done.

In the afternoon we were sent 2 by 2 with maps in hand around the streets of Peakhurst. With every knock there was nervous anticipation. Would they be home? How will they respond? There were a number of good conversations, and most people were happy to take the Easter Event fliers. We chatted to Dave who said he’d never read the bible before and was happy to take a Gospel of Luke to read. While we were on the front porch of another house further up a car pulled up and a guy called out to us. I braced myself, thinking he was angry with us for being on his property. But he said, “Hey can I have one of those fliers too? And one of the Gospels?” That was certainly a surprise! It turns out he was a cousin of Dave who we had spoken to earlier.

Thank God for how He works in unexpected ways. Pray that both Dave and his cousin would read the Gospel of Luke and put their faith in Jesus. Pray for others who showed interest, that they would in fact come along to an Easter event. Pray for those who showed disinterest, that God would slowly be softening their heart.

To keep in your prayers:

– Youth group and a Parent’s BBQ on Friday night
– ‘Grill the Pastor’ Q&A event on Saturday night
Read more . . .