MARCH 2011 1

fellow workersnews from around the presbyterian church of victoria

Editor Chiara Bilyj ed.fellowworkers@gmail.com www.fellowworkers.pcvic.org.au Vol. 8 No.1 March 2011

VICTORIAN FLOODS IMPACT OUR CHURCHES

Continued on page 2

Deadline for next

FW edition: 1 May 2011

Foreword from our ModeratorAfteraprolonged,harshdrought,withferventprayersofferedtoGod,wehavereceivedawateringofourlandthathasbeendescribedasa‘onceinahundredyearflood!’Thishascausedhardshipandlossformanyonascalehardtoreckon.ThefollowingisacompilationIhavecollectedoftheexperiencesof

manyofourruralfolk.Ithankthemforsharingtheirstories.Rt. Rev Andrew Bray

ThenewRochesterManseon15thJanuary.Thegaragesoonflooded,butnotthehouse!

PYV: captured

by the gospel Page 4

Kilnoorat Preaching

SeminarPage 5

A vacant parish?Mt Evelyn

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Thechurchproperties,whilstthreatened(seeabovepicture),weresafe.Ourserviceon16thJanuarywascancelledbecausetherewasnoroadaccesstoRochesterononehandnorcouldanyonereachthechurchwithoutswimming.Aboutsixhomesbe-longingtoparishionershadwaterflowingthroughthem.Othershad

shedsandsomewaterdamagetohomes.Thereareperhapsthreefamiliesstilldislocatedandtheywillbeforsometime.Manyhelpedwithcleanup,re-

movalofcarpetsandsoon.Shorttermneedshavebeenprovided,longertermneedsdependoninsuranceoutcomes.Farmerslosthay,withonefarmerhavinghiswholepropertyinundatedexceptforthehomeanddairy.WelooktotheLORDforour

comfort.‘ButthemercyofLORDisfromeverlastingtoeverlasting.’Psalm103:17

Ian and Heather Brown Minister Emeritus and wife

Carisbrook Therewasnotimeforpreparation.Thewatercamequicklyandwentquickly.Eighty-threepercentofthetownwasflooded;onlythoseonthehillweredry.Mosthadthreefeetofwaterthroughtheirhousesandsheds.Thechurch,manseandhallhadwateruptothreefeetdeep,whichmeantthatcarpets,fridges,heaters–anythingunderthewater-line–hadtobetossedout,includingsomerecordsandbooks.Assoonaspeoplewereallowed

backintothetown,ElderShirleyTurpinandherdaughter,Heather,

Rochester Watereverywhere–andnonethatcanbeused!Itmakesastarkcontrasttothelast15yearsofdrought.Afteraweekofsteadyandcontinuousrain(10/1-16/1)acrossmuchofthecountryonecouldnotexpectanythingbutfloods.Eightypercentofthetownflooded.

NewFW

website launch!

Back page

St George’s 150th

Page 5

FELLOW WORKERS

startedthecleanup,astheywantedtogetbackto‘normal’assoonaspossible.IttookeverydaywithmanywillinghandstogettheChurchupandrunningbythenextSundayweek.Ashortservicewasheld(veryemotional)andthenacuppainthehallsothatallcouldtalk,notonlytoeachotherbuttothePastor.Thepeopleneedprayerin

theshortandlongterm.Ithasbroughtmanypeopletogether,butithasalsodestroyedsomefamilies.Noweveryonewaitsonreceivinginsurancepayments.Thedayshavebeenlongandhard,listeningtopeople.Thephonehasbeengoingfromearlymorninguntillateatnight.

John and Rosalie Gething Home Missionary and wife

Horsham Horshamanddistrictsufferedrelativelymildly.Theriverflowedatafairlyfuriousrate,butwhenitoverfloweditsbanksitdidnotdestroyeverythinginitspath.Thecommunityhadseveraldayswarning.Atitspeak–aboutmidday,Tuesday18thFebruary–lessthan50houseswerereport-edtohavesuffered.Someareaswereevacuatedasaprecaution-arymeasure,butmostwereabletoreturntotheirhomesthenextdayorthedayafter.Severalfarm-ers’propertieswerewater-logged,resultingindamagetocrops.ThePresbyterianChurchprop-

ertywasnotindanger,andalltheparishioners’homesalsoescapedharm.Threeparishioners’homes(includingthemanse)werecutoffbywaterfloodingthestreet,butonlyone–anelderlygentle-man–wasevacuated,andhetoowasabletoreturntwodayslater,findinghishomesecure.Afterthepeak,Ispentfour

sessionsatthe‘recoverycentre’whererepresentativesoftheCouncil,Centrelink,andtheSalvationArmywerehelpingfloodvictims,andtheHorsham

ministersweretakingshifts,be-ingavailabletocounselanyonetraumatizedbythesituation.Veryfewwere‘traumatized’–mostjustcameforachatandtoseeiftheymightqualifyforthegovernment’soffersoffinancialassistance.Onegoodoutcomefromthe

floodsisthatcommunitiespulledtogetherandhelpedeachother–sand-baggingandthelike.Iheardfrommanythattheyhadreallygottoknowneighbourswithwhomtheyhadpreviouslyonlyhad‘anoddingacquaintance’.Godhasagainbeengraciousto

theHorshamcommunity–afactwhichwaspubliclyacknowledgedinaworshipserviceorganisedandconductedbymembersoftheMinistersAssociationattheSoundShellinSawyerParkonSunday23rdFebruary.

Willem and Pam Vandenberg Minister and wife

Kaniva and Nhill Nopropertydamagehasoc-curredintheKanivaandNhillcommunities,buttheeffectoftoomuchrainhasbeensignificant.Localfarmershavebeenunabletoharvestthe‘abundantcrop’ofgrainandlegumes,andcontinualrainperiodshavedown-gradedthegrainquality.Thisdashingofgreathopeshasledtodepressionandfinancialstressthat,insomecases,hasbecomeunbearableafteraprolongeddrought.Thefarmersareresilientand

areoftenheardtocomment,‘Whatcanyoudoaboutit?’Nonethe-lessthereishurtandhardshipnoteasilyrecognisedwhencomparedtothefloodselsewhere.WecelebrateGod’sgoodnessthroughallthisandthecallHehasgiventhoseonthelandtohelpfeedtheworld!

Ian and Janet Smith Home Missionary and wife

Kerang Therewasadequateadvancewarningoftheslow floodon

Kerangandsurroundingdistricts,somuchpreparationwasdoneinadvance.Therearekilometresofleveebankswhichhelpedthetownsfolk,butthefarmingproper-tiesweremostlyallunderwater.Thechurchpropertieswere

unaffected–thanksbetoGod!AllmainroadsaccessingKeranghavebeenandarestillcut.Waterisstartingtoslowlyrecedebutthesituationcouldeasilyescalatewithanyfurtherheavyrainfall.

Keith & Fay Stanyer – Elder and wife

TherewasplentyofadvancewarningofwatersapproachingKerang.However,wefiguredthewaterwouldn’tgettousbecauseweweresome25kilometresfrom

Kerangandnotinthepathofthewater.Wealsobelievedwewereprotectedbylevees.Wewerewrong!Thewaterkept

creepingtowardsusandbecausetheleveesnextdoorarenotwellmaintained,thewaterliterallycoveredourfarm.Thecattlewereinitiallytrappedbut,withhelp,wetransportedthemtoBarham,NSW.OnFridaymorning,weweregiven20minutestoevacuate.WearenowstayingatKoondrook.Kerangroadswerecompletelycut-offinalldirections.Someroadsarestillimpassable.Allthepastureandcropsareatotalwipe-offandnowturningintosmellyandrottingvegetation.Thenext12to18monthswillbetough,butweareresolvedtogeteverythingbackinorder.

John & Barbara Pascoe Session Clerk and wife

Skipton OnThursday13thJanIfoundoutthatEmuCreekmightpeakonSaturday,sowestarteddoingsomesandbagging.Everyone

continued from page 1

VICTORIAN FLOODS IMPACT OUR CHURCHES

‘Webelievedthewatercouldn’tgettous.Wewerewrong!Thewaterliterallycoveredour

farm.’

Background picture: Street in Skipton, courtesy of Hui Lim

MARCH 2011 3

wasquitehopefulthatthetownwouldn’tbefloodedagain,be-causewewereactingearlierandquicker.TherewasnoofficialfloodwarningaboutSkipton.Thesituationsoonchanged,andmorevolunteerscametohelpoutsand-baggingaroundthehouses,shopsandcreek.Wenowexpectedabigflood.Friday14thJan.Skiptonwas

alreadyfloodedinthemorning.Alloureffortsfromthedaybeforeseemedfutile–thewaterwashigherthanthesandbagwalls.Ninehomesandelevenbusi-nesseswentunderwater.Atsomepoints,thewaterlevelwasmorethan1.8metresinthehouse.Sunday16thJan.Waterre-

cededandtheroadre-opened.IwasabletodrivetoLismoreforour9amservice.Skiptonchurch,manseandmembersarenotaffectedbythefloods,andwearethankfultoGodforit.Ihavebeengoingaroundandhelpingoutinthecleanup.Ithasbeenagreatopportunitytoworkalongwithpeoplewhodon’tcometochurch.Iamstillvisitingpeopleaffectedbythefloods.Manyofourchurchmembers

haveworkedreallyhardinhelp-ingpeopleaffectedbythefloods.OneofourelderswasdoingtrafficcontrolwiththeCFA,andcouldn’tgohomeonFridaynightbecausetheroadbacktohishousewasflooded.Hestayedatthemanse.Pleaseprayforwisdomandthe

rightwordstosayasIminglewiththoseaffectedbythefloods.ItwasgreatbeingaregisteredCommu-nityChaplain;Iwasabletointro-ducemyselffreelytothePolice,ReliefCentreandotheragencies.TheShirerangmetofollowupontwofamiliesandIamkeepingintouchwiththem.IcommendourHealth&CommunityChaplaincyCommitteefortheirwisdominrunningtheaccreditationforCom-munityChaplaincylastyear.

Hui and So Young Lim–Minister and wife

Swan Hill ThetownshipofSwanHilles-capedtheinundationthatwasexpected,butthesurroundingcountrywasasheetofwater.Therewillbeatotallossofpasture

andcrops.Thechurchpropertyandmansewerenotthreatened.

Keith and Fay Stanyer – Elder and wife

Pyramid Hill OnSaturdayJanuary15th,avastinlandsea,reportedtobe90kmswide,wasmovingnorthandPyra-midHillwasinitspath.BySundayJanuary16thlocalknowledgeestimateditwouldfloodPyramidHilltownshiptoadepthofthreefeet.Localsand

strangersbroughtintheirheavyexcavatorsandwillingvolunteersappearedfromnowhereandtoiledtofillsand-bags.OurchurchhadalreadyinformedourMinisterthattheroadswereimpassableandweplannedtoconductourownservicebutthishadtobecancelled.At1amTuesday,thetown’sfire

sirensoundedandweheardarushofheavymachineryandve-hiclesgoingpast.Achannelbankhadburstandatorrentofwaterwassurgingtowardsthecentreoftown,floodingouryardonitsway.InthedarkofnighttheSESdrovebytellingustoevacuateimmedi-atelytotheMemorialHallandvol-unteersranfromhousetohousehelpingpeopletoleavehome.Ourmobilephonealsodeliveredamessagetoevacuate.Weloadedourbags,alreadypacked,anddrovetofamilyoutoftown.Manyruralpropertiessuffered

severedamage.Cropsreadyforharvestweredestroyedandstoredgrainwasdamaged.Pastures

wereruinedandfencessmashed.Sheepdrowned.Dairycowsinfullmilkhadtobeshiftedthroughdeepwaterandtransportedmilesaway,ahorrifictaskforthoseinvolved.Ourson-in-law,daughter,grand-

sonandhiswife(faithfulmembersofourchurch)arefacingterriblelossduetocropsnotharvested.Justwhenthingswerelooking

bleakestforthosewhosufferedloss,theDepartmentofHumanServices,Centrelink,RedCross

andothersarrivedtohelp.TownsfolkweredelightedtoreceiveaflyingvisitfromourPremierofVictoria,MrTedBaillieu,whomovedaroundandchattedtothose

campingintheHall.BythegraceofGodtheleveebankshadheld.Skilledpeoplewiththeirmightymachinesandotherselflessvolunteershadsavedthetownfromdestruction.PeoplestartedreturningandPyramidHillbegantocleanup.Afterthepeakhadpassed,FireBrigadesarrivedinfromelsewhere,cleanedoutthelocalswimmingpoolandwashedoutfarmhouseswhichhadbeenflooded.Itisreportedthateven“Elvis”,thebushfirehelicopter,carriedhayandfoddertostrandedanimals.Mostofusintownhavefamiliesforsupportbutourfarmerswhohavelostmostwillbethelasttomaketheirdifficultiesknown.WepraiseGodfromwhomall

blessingsflowthatnoliveswerelostandweearnestlypraythatHewillcomfortandrestorethosewhohavesustaineddamageandloss.

Linton and Val Mills Elder and wife

‘Thefiresirensounded.Atorrentofwaterwassurgingtowardtown,floodingouryardonits

way.’

Continue to uphold God’s people and the people of the af-fected communities in prayer, for it will take time to get their lives back in order. Please also pray for our Ministers, Home Missionaries, and church leaders as they seek to alleviate the physical, mental and spiritual issues of those to whom God has called them to minister.

Notwithstanding the devastation, there have been many testimonies of God’s goodness from those I have spoken with – praise be to our great God.

‘Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.’ Psa.124:8

Rt. Rev. Andrew Bray, PCV Moderator

FELLOW WORKERS

ItwasaprivilegetowitnessGodatworkonSummerCampinDecem-ber.Bothcampersandleaders

learntandgrewspirituallythroughtheengagingandchallengingmessagesthatAndyMaybroughttousfromEphesianseachday.ItwaswonderfulforthestudygroupstoexplorethedepthsofGod’sgrace,andtoconsiderwhatitmeanstobetruly‘captured’bythe‘mystery’ofthegospelintheireverydaylives.Eachsessionbroughtgloryto

God;itwasinspiringtoseesomanymusical,technical,creative,organisationaland‘publicspeak-ing’giftsusedinhisservice,andcoordinatedsoeffectivelybyTiaWishart.

PraiseGod,acamperdedicatedherlifetoChristduringthe‘HowdoIgettoheaven?’workshop!ItwasatestimonytothepresenceofGodthatmanycamperschosetousesomeoftheirfreetimeonNewYearsEvetogotoanotherworkshop(orre-attendonethey’d

alreadybeento)!PraiseGodforJoeDunningwhodidsuchanexpertjobofarrangingthework-shops.Theclassic‘roundrobin’of

outdooractivitieswasmetwithenthusiasmandgreatteamwork.OnNewYearsEve,alltheper-formancesintheStarWarsFilmChallengemadeforamemorable(andhilarious)eveningwheresomeamazingtalentand‘OutofthisWorld’creativitywasdisplayedbycampersandleaders!AnotherhighlightofNYEwastoheareve-ryonepassion-atelyprayingintheirgroupsjustaftermidnight.PraiseGodforansweringour

prayersandthankyoutothosewhoprayedforcamp:162camp-ersand51leadersattended.Thefifteentrainees(formerly

knownas‘interns’)wereinexcel-lenthandswithNelloBarbieriandDeanCarroll,andbyallreportsexperiencedgreatteaching,fellow-shipandgrowth.PraiseGodthataschildrenof

God,weareoneinChrist,andthatSummerCampwasatestimonytothatfact.MassivethankstoallthosewhogaveoftheirtimeandenergytoserveGodonthiscamp.

Nic BilyjSummer Camp Convenor

Young people: captured by the gospel PYV Summer Camp

ThreeweeksonfromthePYVSummerCamp,mostofushavereturnedtoourregularroutines.Thememoriesthatweremadewillnotbequicklyforgotten.Willwecarrymemoriesofthemes-sagesandstudiesweheard?Itwasamessagethatwas‘outofthisworld’andamessageofgracethatcantransformlifeasweknowit.Recentlyourcountryhasbeen

hitbysomeoftheworstnaturaldisastersinAustraliaʼshistory.FromNorthernQueenslanddowntoTasmania,evenacrosstoWesternAustralia,peoplehavebeenhitbyfloodsandbushfires.Peoplehavelosthomes,posses-sions,andevenlovedones.Thesepeopleneedshelter,food,clothing,andfinancestorebuildtheirlives,butthereissomethingmorethesepeopleneed:thegospel—thatis,thegraceoftheLordJesusChrist.Iʼvebeencapturedbythis

gospel,IʼvebeencapturedbythegraceofmyLordJesusChrist.IdonʼthaveawholelotofmoneyorstuffthatIcangivepeoplewhohavelosteverything.ButIhavegoodhealthwithtwohandsandtwofeet.Ihavethetimeandfreedomtobeabletogoandhelpcleanuptheirhomes.Whoknows,indoingthat,ImightgetthechancetotellthemwhyIʼmtheretohelp—becauseIʼvebeencapturedbythegospel,thatGodlovedmesomuchHesentHisOneandOnlySontodieforme.ForthemonthofFebruary,IamofferingmytimeandhelptothoseinneedinQueensland.Ihavenoideawhatadventuresareahead!ButGodhaspreparedthisinad-vance,soIguessIshouldnʼtworry(butIdo)!

19 Jan 2011Peter Luu

Youth WorkerBurwood Community Presbyterian Church

What’shappenedtoPetersinceJan?Findoutathttp://qldflood.chromatix.com.au

YouthworkergoesfromcamptoQLDfloodzone

CamperTimFriestriestoescapewiththeprizedlightsaber!

MARCH 2011 5

St George’s Presbyterian Church in Geelong celebrates 150 years and the Reformation

The150thAnniversaryofworshipwithinourchurchwascelebratedonJuly4th,2010.WewerejoinedbythecongregationofScots,Gee-longWest,adaughterchurchofSt.George’s.Ourseniorminister,theVeryRev.Dr.AllanHarman,ledtheworshipandwewelcomedourpreacher,theModeratorofthePresbyterianChurchofAustralia,theRev.RobertBennandhiswifeLaurel.AppropriatelyhespokeofourresponsibilitytoobeythewordsofJesusandcontinuetoproclaimHisname.

Fortheoccasion,Drs.AllanandMairiHarmanwroteProclaim-ing the Faith,afinehistoryofSt.George’s1860–2010.Allpresentreceivedacomplimentarycopy.Oursecondlargefunctionlast

yearwasonewehostannually,theReformationService.Itwasappropriatelyheldonthe450thanniversaryofLuther’snailingofhis95ThesestothedoorofWittenbergCathedral.ThechurchwaspackedbypeoplefromthereformedchurchesofGeelongtoheartheRev.ProfessorDouglasMilne,PrincipalofthePresbyterianTheologicalCollege,preachonthesignificanceoftheReformationtoChristianfaith.Itwashearteningtomeet

togetherforworshipandameal,particularlyasthereweresomanyyoungpeopleandchildrenpresent.Thesetwofunctionsindi-

catedthatwithinthePresbyterianChurchinGeelongisavibrantChristianityasworshippersofourLordandSaviourseektotakeHismessageofsalvationtoagrowingcity.

Mrs Dorothy McNair

OnSaturday29thJanuary,twenty-onemenmetinthePresbyterianChurchHallstocompleteaonedayseminaronApplication in PreachingpresentedbyDrMurrayCapill.DrCapillisthePrincipaloftheReformedTheologicalCol-legeinGeelongandhelecturesinPastoralandPracticaltheology.DrCapillhasjustfinishedwritingabookentitledPreaching with Spiritual Vigourandiscurrentlyseekingapublisher.DrCapillalertedusasexposi-

torypreacherstothedangerofbeinglazywhenitcomestoappli-cation.Heexhortedusto‘holisticapplication’inpreaching:preach-ingthemessageasawhole,forthepersonasawhole,forlifeasawhole.Wewereencouragedtolookatthetextthroughfourlenses:1.Thefunctionoftheword•Whatisthewordaskingusto

do?2.Thefacultiesoftheheart•Truthshouldcometotheheart

throughthemind.Itshouldaffecttheconscienceandwillevenpenetratethedeeppassions.3.Theconditionsofthesoul•Thesoulsofourlistenersare

invariousconditions.LikethePuritans,weshouldbemindfulofallthese.4.Thereservoirofthepreacher•Thetextiscommunicatedto

othersthroughthereservoirofyourownexperiences.Liveanenrichedlife.Keeplisteningandlearning.Thedaywasatremendousen-

couragementtolayandordainedpreachersalike.TheWarrnamboolChurchhoststhreedayseminarsonpreachingayear.Thenexttwofor2011areShaping an Exposi-tory SermonandthenListening and learning from sermons–apracticalseminar.

Ben JohnsonMinister

Warrnambool Presbyterian Church

Preaching Seminar for Kilnoorat Presbytery

102year-oldMissJeanRentoulcuttheAnniversary Cake with the assistance of 3year-oldIsabellaHenry

December10thwasajoyousoccasionforthefolksatBallaratNorthParishbecausetheyhaveanewPastortoshepherdthem.PastorRonWilliamsonwas

Rejoice!CommissioningatBallaratNorthandInductionatSomerville

commissionedbythePresbyteryasPastoroftheAppointmentPar-ishofBallarat.MayGodcontinuetoblessRonandJeanandthecongregationsatBallaratNorthfortheextensionofHisKingdominBallaratandbeyond.TheRev.A.KenBrownwas

inductedintothepastoralchargeofSomervilleataserviceheldatSomervilleon11thFebruary,amidrejoicing(thatcontinuedlateintotheevening!)bythoseatSomer-villeandthesurroundingchurches.MayKenandGiannaBrownandtheSomervillecongregationberichlyblessedwithwisdom,graceandjoyastheyseektoloveandserveGodandeachother.

Various contributors

FELLOW WORKERS

MtEvelynPresbyterianwas‘vacant’fortwoyearsandoverthistime,lessonsoffaith(orofGod’sfaithfulness)werelearnt.Iwouldliketosharesomereflectionsthatwillhopefullyencouragebelieversinchurchesthatarecontemplat-ingbeingwithoutapastororhavebeenvacantforsometime.MtEvelynisachurchof40-

50peoplewiththreeelders.MarkCrabb,wifeLindaandtheirchildren,hadbeenatMtEvelynfor10yearsasanappointment.HisministrywasgospelfocusedwithaclearanddistinctivecalltobethepeopleofGod,livinginthelifegift-edtousbytheGodofgraceandmercy,anddefinitelynottorelyonwhatwedo,(thatiseventhegoodworkswearecalledtodo)toearnorkeepfavourwitharighteousandholyGod.Mark’sdetermina-tionwastopreachnothingbutChristcrucified;thepowerofGod.Isharethesethingsbecauseitisthispreciseemphasisthathasprovidedasolidfoundationforallthatweasachurchdoorattempttodo.Inotherwords,thechurchdidnothavetodoorbeanythingotherthanthepeopleofGodweek

A ‘vacant’ parish?

inandweekout:afellowshipofforgivenpeople,acommunityofthoselivinginthegoodnessandgreatnessoftheFatherwhodoesallthingswell,andacommunityprayingtotheFatherforallthingsaccordingtoHiswill.Iwouldliketosharesomedefin-

ingmoments,bothpersonalandfromourcongregationfromthe

pasttwoyears.Asanelder,itishumblingtoleadandshepherdagroupofpeoplewhoknowtheGodofgraceandwhatHehasdoneforHispeopleinHisSonandinthepowerofHisSpirit.Iwasnotsurewhattheresponseofthecongre-gationwouldbewhenIannouncedthenewsthatMarkwasleavingMtEvelyn.Markandhisfamilywereverymuchlovedbythecongrega-tionandtogetherwehadenduredhardshipforthesakeofthegospelthroughoutthechurch’srecenthis-torywithsomeverydestabilisingissues.Buttomyrelief,whileMark

wouldbegreatlymissed,therewasasensethatMark’sleavingwouldmeanthatotherswouldnowhavetheopportunitytobebuiltupandstrengthenedinthegospel,aparticulardelightasthechurchthatMarkwasgoingtohadbeenvacantformanyyears.TheothercommentmadeatthetimewasthatifitwasGod’swillthatMarkbeledsomewhereelse,thenwhoarewetostandintheway?AtthispointIwasstruckbythegeneros-ityandmaturityofthecongrega-tiontoletMarkgoandnotclingasonewouldexpectmighthappeninthissortofsituation.Havingsaidthis,ittookafew

monthsforthechurchtoexperi-encethatGodsustainshispeople,feedsthem,answersprayerandprovidespreacherseachweek.Wealsosawthattheelderscouldlead,guideandgrowwhilethechurchwas‘vacant’.Meetingto-getherbecameevermoreajoyaswelookedtotheLordtoprovideforusandfoundthathedid.Ifthiswastheonlyareaofgrowthoverthetwoyears–thatis,tofindthatGodistheall-sufficientone–thenthiswouldbemorethanenough.

NewlyordainedandinductedTravisMoronyandfamilywiththecongregationatMtEvelyn

‘WelookedtotheLordtoprovideforusandfoundthathedid.’

MARCH 2011 7

AnotherdefiningmomentformewaswhenIhadopportunitytoworkfewerhoursinmypaidemployment.Ihadbeenwonder-ingwhatelseIcoulddobutfelttheinnerconvictiontonotoverlookthelocalchurchforotherChristianintereststhatmightbemoreexcit-ing.IfelttheLordimpressingonmeHisloveforHischurch‘asitis’:arelativelysmallandinsignificantchurchbysomestandards.Theworkwastolookafterandtakecareofthelocalbelievers,thoseforwhomChristhaddiedandlovedsodearly.Leading,nurtur-ing,guiding,andspendingtimeservingthelocalchurchseemedtobeacleardirectionformewiththetimelyprovisionofbeingabletoreducemyhoursatwork.Atthetime,Ifoundmyselfwonderingwhatthechurchisto‘be’undertheheadshipandLordshipofChrist,andparticularlyhowtothinkaboutthechurchwithoutapastor.Wasthechurchtomerelymaintainitselforwasittogrow?WasItomaintainmyself–justgolimpingoninmaintenancemodehopingforapastortoreplaceMark–orwasItostepupandstepouttodowhatwasneeded?Withrenewedstrength(even

intheusualtirednessoflife)wegotonwithbeingthechurchinthistimeandplace,ratherthanputtingthingsonholdandwaiting.Letmesharesomeofthethingsthatstuckoutforme.Therewasaneedtostarta

newstudygroupsoItookthison,notfeelingnecessarilygifted,butwithasensethatGodwouldopenupHiswordtoHispeopleandfeedthem,andboy,didheever.Despitemylackofenergyandpreparation,thatsmallgrouphadsomewonderfultruthsbroughthomeonasubjectnotoftentackledindepth:deathanddying.AnothereldercontinuedonwiththeoversightofprovidingmusicthatreflectedtheimportanceofChrist’sworkforus,andsomade

surewewouldbeencouragedinwhatwesang.Althoughthiswastiringforhim,hestayedcommit-tedtomaintainingtheintegrityofwhatthepeopleofGodatMtEvelynweretosing.ThiswasoftremendousencouragementaswemettogetherandGodblessedandbuiltusupthroughthisministry.

WhenMarkleftwewerecon-sideringelectingnewelders.Afterawhile,wewentthroughtoelectonenewelder,asignificanteventinthelifeofanychurch.Thiselderwaskeentopreach,anaddedbonusinthetaskoffillingthepulpiteveryweek.Overthecourseofthetwoyearswehadtwosubstantialperiodsofparttimepastoralministrythankstocontactsfromourinterimmodera-tor(MattJames).BothwereparttimelecturersatBCVinLilydale,bothweretherightmenforthejobandbothbecamemuchlovedandappreciatedbythecongregation.Wehadfourfuneralsoverthis

timewhichthechurchhadtorespondto,caringforthosewhoweremourning,andpresentingagospelwitnesstofamilymembers.There-alitiesofdeath,resurrectionandeternityhadtobelivedoutbeforeawatchingworld.Whilewedidn’thave

manychildren,wehadenoughtore-startaSundayschoolthatcouldrespondtotheneedsofchildrenwhenandiftheycame.Atthesuggestionofsomegrand-parentswhobroughtalongtheirgrandchildrenandwiththeoversightofourthirdelder,westartedsomethingthatwasflexibleandnottooburdensomeonthefewSundayschoolteachers.Wewantedtousethe

resourceofourvacantmansefortheKingdomofGodandprayedtothisend.Themansewasusedfor6monthsbyaninterstatepastorwhowasonasabbatical;MtEve-lynwasjusttherightplaceforhimandhisyoungfamily.Itwaslaterusedbyanewlyweddedcoupleforsomemonths.Thecallingofanewpastorwas

undertakenandafteralengthyprocess,TravisMoroneywasordainedandinductedon30thJanuary2011.Andsowhatnext?TheLordknows.Canachurchreallybevacant?

Notwhenthereisagroupofbelieverswhogathertogetherandbearwitnesstothegospel–thegoodnewsofsinsforgivenintheCrossofChrist.Notwhenwecon-siderChrist,whoisthebridegroomandheadofthechurch,whoholdseverythingtogetherforthechurch,inwhomallthefullnessofGoddwellsandwhohasgivenhisfull-nesstoHisbody.ConsiderColos-sians1and2.Thechurchcanneverbevacant,orlacking.PraisetheLordforhisfaithfulness.

Peter FairbanksElder, Mt Evelyn Presbyterian Church

‘WouldIstepuptodowhatwasneeded?’

Reflections from Mt Evelyn elder Peter Fairbanks

FELLOW WORKERS

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Mayfield Presbyterian celebrates 150 years

Mayfield Presbyterian Church, Mernda, will be celebrating 150 years of

worship in this district. There will be a special celebration service on

27th March 2011 at 2.00 pm with afternoon tea to follow. Guest speaker

is Rev. Andrew Bray. Past ministers, members and friends are warmly

invited to attend and bring memorabilia and photos if you have any.

Enquiries - Bev Hawke (03) 9716 2255.

(Rev) Evan PrenticeMinister Whittlesea-Mernda Pres.

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