I was musing, as you know, last week, about the diversity of ministries that our church is offering to the community. It somewhat flies in the face of being a 'simple church' but it demonstrates our capacity, with God's help, to reach people that he brings across our paths.
To emphasise that we have just today over 100 seniors raising money for water wells in Tanzania while listenting to Scottish music in our hall.
At the same time we have well over 200 people shopping up big at the weekly garage sale.
And... we have over 500 families this week connecting with our Glenelg centre through the Great Jetty Road Treasure Hunt. For more information on that event go to http://www.holdfast.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1383&c=17390. This is proving to be a great way to showcase our services and open the doors to our local community.
Also - a heads up that on August 4 we will be hosting Rahab ministries at our 10am, Seacombe Gardens congregation. For more information on Rahab, go to: www.rahab.com.au
We are blessed to be able to continue our focus on shining God's light into southern Adelaide so that others join us disciples, so that they can know God, grow in God and then go in God to show God's love themselves.
Tuesday 16 July 2013
Friday 12 July 2013
A day in the life...
I am fully aware that so often the great ministries of our Corps are performed in unspoken ways, and quite often people simply aren't aware of the scope or the depth of what God continues to do through Marion Corps.
Today was a day when I had cause to sit back and think for a moment about just how much God continues to use the people connected with this place.
Throughout the day there have been such a variety of interactions. We've had people complaining to us about the brothels in our neighbourhood, and we've been able to make fresh links with Rahab, a ministry to sex workers, to seek assistance. There are women being trafficked and abused in our area and we can do something. We've had further interaction with our court chaplains who are using our doorways workers to support their clients. We've had people planning away, getting ready for the launch of our Celebrate Recovery program in a few weeks time - a programme that specialises in brining recovery to people in addiction.
We've had a man from our Munchiez van in today because of the relationships he has built; he has just lost his wife and it was through our doorways team, with the help of a shop volunteer, that we've been able to set him up today with emails and other aids that will help him during his time of grief. We've had the opportunity to minister through a funeral service for a man in his sixties who lost his life in a car accident, and whose wife is still under hospital care since the tragedy occured.
We've had people seeking emergency assistance and others coming in to volunteer. We've had people in today preparing the prayer newsletters and others that are helping organise kids to go to a youth camp, starting on Monday.
We have a great church that continues to shine God's light in Adelaide's south through numerous means - every day!
Today was a day when I had cause to sit back and think for a moment about just how much God continues to use the people connected with this place.
Throughout the day there have been such a variety of interactions. We've had people complaining to us about the brothels in our neighbourhood, and we've been able to make fresh links with Rahab, a ministry to sex workers, to seek assistance. There are women being trafficked and abused in our area and we can do something. We've had further interaction with our court chaplains who are using our doorways workers to support their clients. We've had people planning away, getting ready for the launch of our Celebrate Recovery program in a few weeks time - a programme that specialises in brining recovery to people in addiction.
We've had a man from our Munchiez van in today because of the relationships he has built; he has just lost his wife and it was through our doorways team, with the help of a shop volunteer, that we've been able to set him up today with emails and other aids that will help him during his time of grief. We've had the opportunity to minister through a funeral service for a man in his sixties who lost his life in a car accident, and whose wife is still under hospital care since the tragedy occured.
We've had people seeking emergency assistance and others coming in to volunteer. We've had people in today preparing the prayer newsletters and others that are helping organise kids to go to a youth camp, starting on Monday.
We have a great church that continues to shine God's light in Adelaide's south through numerous means - every day!
Tuesday 9 July 2013
Coming home
It's fitting that this is post 601 - starting a 'new hundred' now that I start another period back at Marion Corps.
Many people have been asking me about coming home. How am I travelling? Has it taken much adjustment? In some ways it has been quite a shock - not least of which has been experiencing the Adelaide cold after a few months of African heat.
In other ways, nothing has changed. The mission we undertook in Mali is the same that we undertake here in Australia. The call that is on our lives to save souls, grow saints and serve humanity is the same here as it is in Africa. The need to know God, grow in God, show God's love and go in God to change the world is ever present.
Perhaps the symptoms of the needs of people are different. Perhaps the scale or the severity is different. The resources for the mission are certainly different. But the mission itself is the same. We are always in the business of shining God's light so that others may see what we do and give him glory - and, we pray, join us as disciples.
Many people have been asking me about coming home. How am I travelling? Has it taken much adjustment? In some ways it has been quite a shock - not least of which has been experiencing the Adelaide cold after a few months of African heat.
In other ways, nothing has changed. The mission we undertook in Mali is the same that we undertake here in Australia. The call that is on our lives to save souls, grow saints and serve humanity is the same here as it is in Africa. The need to know God, grow in God, show God's love and go in God to change the world is ever present.
Perhaps the symptoms of the needs of people are different. Perhaps the scale or the severity is different. The resources for the mission are certainly different. But the mission itself is the same. We are always in the business of shining God's light so that others may see what we do and give him glory - and, we pray, join us as disciples.
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