Pubs

The old fashioned "Pub Booming" Ministry is one that doesn't get much press these days, but it's worth mentioning. It still happens each week, thanks to the dedication of Lucy Haley and Kym Lear. Mostly they visit the pubs on South Road and make connection with the community there.

Tonight I am filling in for Lucy who is unwell, and I'm glad that I am.

I met a young man who stated with the usual story of how he 'always gives to the Salvos'. Turns out, though, that there's a good story behind it.

He is a graduate of the Morrisset Bridge Program outside Sydney. He credits the Salvos with getting him off heroin. He also spoke about his 'enlightening' experiences worshipping at the Sydney Congress Hall, where he was taken twice a week by the Bridge staff.

While he didn't testify to an encounter with Christ while we were talking, he is certainly a life transformed through The Salvation Army's ministry. And one that we've kept in touch with through the hotel ministry. Next Friday night, pray for Kym and Lucy as they go and meet our neighbours in Jesus name.

24/7 Prayer

This is our emphasis for this week. Praying in our Corps around the clock. Thank you to those that signed up to help cover the time slots.

As you pray, pray for the Corps - starting with yourself and then working out to cover the whole community. As you do, please pray for the Banquet Sunday this week and remember to bring some food to share for lunch, and a few friends.

Also, please keep praying for Tyson Wright (son of Nathan & Chrissy). He is still in intensive care in the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne after having a shunt put in to help his little heart on Tuesday. Tyson is about 9 weeks old. The reports to date are that the surgery seems to have been helpful and Tyson is coping well.

New ideas

Now that 2010 is underway, it's worth letting everyone know about some new projects that are underway and will be coming to our centre this year:

1. New Dawn is a partnership between Marion CSS and BP. Essentially the project houses people and provides them with a service station traineeship. We are at the stage of finding a house (at BP's expense) and finalising the paperwork necessary for the tenancies.
2. SalvoPsyche is a partnership statewide between CSS and the Australian Psychological Association. This will provide free psychological consulations at our centre.
3. Mental Health Community Access program. This is in the embryonic stage, but essentially is the result of the FaCHSIA (Dept of Families, Communities, Housing, Social Services and Indigenous Affairs) funding us to work through our CSS/ER program specifically with people that have mental health concerns. This will be in connection with the local mental health professionals.
4. St Josephs Community Centre partnership - This is a partnership with the St Josephs Community Care in Mitchell Park. While the funding for the original tenancy support program fell over, we are continuing to pursue mutually beneficial client services.
5. Community meals program. The Sundays@4 congregation are going to resurrect the community meals program in the evenings, probably after church on a Sunday.
6. Recovery Cafe. This is another project in its embryonic stage. Our youth team are partnering with other Corps in the area and hope to run a recovery cafe some weekends around the bayside suburbs.
7. Hallett Cove. This outpost has been on the cards for so long, and we continue to hope and pray that the zoning problems around our proposed property are resolved. At this stage we are still on track for a June launch in the Cove.
8. Doorways. This is a rejuvenated model of offering support through our Community Services team. It is a comprehensive approach that is client centred and strengths focussed and will enable our team to use their limited resources to extend the services offered to visitors to our centre. (By the way, did you know that Marion CSS is the 9th largest in our territory, and no. 4 in our state?)
9. Service podcasting. We are hoping in the near future to open up our services, via the internet, to those that are shut in or those that live a more 'virtual' experience. It may be that we can extend this to vodcasting as well.
10. "PSA". While a 'pleasant Sunday afternoon' is not anything new, these will return in 2010 as a further means of the band's outreach program. Look out for the first one, planned for Sunday March 28.

These and other ideas are always on the table. Please pray for the team leaders and the Corps as a whole as we advance the work of the Kingdom through all sorts of means this year. It is going to be an exciting year to be around Marion Salvation Army.

Raukkan... and welcome

Today I had the privilege of traveling to Raukkan (Point Macleay) to conduct the funeral service for an elderly lady of the Narrandjeri people (forgive my poor spelling, please). Apart from a unique cultural experience and being blessed to be asked in the first place, I had an insight into the value of ministry.

An elder of the community asked me over and started to cry as she thanked me for coming. "I never thought I would see The Salvation Army at Raukkan again". She then asked me about the Leggett family. They were appointed to The Salvation Army's work at Raukkan/ Pt Macleay straight from the training college. Mrs Leggett was apparently only 19 years old. However, both have left such a lasting impression from their ministry that there is local council permission for them to be buried among the people if that be their choice.

What legacy are we leaving from our ministry?

Oh... and a footnote to the blog note from this morning. Today Lucy hosted a young African widow with three children. After helping her in the shop, she gave her all sorts of information on our children's ministries and showed her into where our services are held. "I can feel God is here" was the lady's comment. Well done, Lucy. Let's pray for this young woman in our community.

Entertaining Angels

In Genesis 18 Abraham has a couple of visitors that he entertains and hosts beautifully. Turns out it was the angel of the Lord. He gets a blessing including the promise of a son, despite their age.

In Genesis 19 something similar happens... Lot hosts the same men/ angels and his family are saved from the destruction promised their city.

When we host people that come into our centre, could it be that we are hosting angels unknowingly? Could it be that we are blessed, or we are saved? Our hospitality and our service could have amazing and holy ramifications.

"Whatever you do for the least of these, you do it for me".

Cleaning Up

The great annual clean up has commenced. Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered to help by wiping, dusting, sorting, packing up and generally helping out as we prepare our facilities for the year ahead.

Jobs like these are menial at times but each time we put something away or clean something up we are making way for people to engage with our church and preparing for the many ways in which the gospel is communicated through our ministries.

It's not too late to come down and give a hand if you have the time. There are plenty of tasks still on the list near reception for people to 'adopt'.

2010

Well, it's been a few weeks. Now it's time to get back into the swing of some sort of normality. Not always the easiest thing to do.

As we enter 2010, we are starting with our "Salvos Out There" series. Yesterday was a good start and it was evident in both congregations that people were engaging in worship.

Part of our declaration, as read out by the members of the congregation, stated, "We see ourselves as part of belonging communities that embrace others, seeking and believing for God's wholeness for every person". We also said that, "We build long term relationships and, like Jesus, we don't give up on people".

They're massive statements. Even though it's only 10.30 am I've got to admit that I've been stretched twice in this regard.

The statements aren't just ideals though. They are things that we need to strive for, and God helping us, we can.

Happy New Year everyone.