Author: Jenny Baxter

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Regional RoundUp Sept-Oct 2021

Sassafras Baptist Spring Regional Roundup Sept/Oct 2021
Advance Sept-Oct 21 Regional RoundUp

around the grounds:

Regional RoundUp Sept/Oct 2021

Wynyard

Wynyard Baptist
Wynyard Baptist
  • CHAT N CHOOSE Many ladies are pleased to be meeting again with their friends after a long break due to COVID. Wednesday Get Together is now on the 1st and 3rd Week of the month for fun and fellowship.
  • JUST GIRLS. SPRING REVIVAL. The ladies’ ministry organised an enjoyable afternoon with people asked to wear an item from their favourite Op Shop. Irene Godman spoke on Healing, Trauma and PTSD, a biblical way of ministering healing those suffering from the effects of trauma .  Ailleen also spoke of her work, and the beginnings of Grow Gather Give, an outreach and support providing food to those who need it. This is run from our ChurchHhall, ROC, on Monday and Friday mornings.
  • OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD. 226 shoe boxes where packed from our church and Chat n Choose this year.
  • Sarah raised $644.30 for the Cancer Council through the sale of daffodils.

Penguin

Penguin Baptist Church
Penguin Baptist Church

News from Penguin: we are small in number, in good heart and varied health.

  • This month we began a preaching series on Isaiah 1-39. We have joined the solar age with a substantial array on the roof, and have a new container for the ministry Library Aid International to fill and send to Africa for distribution. This will be the tenth (and likely the last) container to go.

Latrobe

Latrobe Baptist Church, Photo credit Duncan Grant 2018
Latrobe Baptist Church
  • Chat n Choose continues at the Latrobe Baptist Hall every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm. Ladies bring along their knitting/crochet/hardanger work or any other craft to join with up to 50 others and enjoy chatting together. Morning Tea is served at 10.30am, Cost is just $2.
  • The Woodturning Group meets in the Men’s Shed. Latrobe Men’s Shed continues every Friday from 9am to 12pm with a BBQ at 12. We are always looking for community projects and new members to join in. A toolbox meeting guarantees a great time of great fellowship, with morning tea at 10am.
  • Latrobe Community Playgroup continues every Friday morning from 10am. All mothers/carers are welcome to bring their little ones up to age 4 and join with up to 20 others for a fun time of activities. A story time and singing finishes each morning around 11.30am.

Sassafras

SPRING SERVICE
Spring service at Sassafras, Regional RoundUp Sept/Oct 2021
Spring service at Sassafras
  • This Spring seems to have arrived so quickly! Again, the Sunday School greatly blessed us with a presentation. Even more impressive were the volume and beauty of the flower arrangements. It is a reminder of the grace and kindness of the Lord so obvious for all to see in this blessed Island.
    The various talents of the children were all on display this year often to the wonder of the Congregation. (Doting parents and teachers opening and closing their lips in tune with the script the kids spoke).
    One talent which came to prominence last year was in poetry, and again this year we heard from Rochele Long. 
Spring is here and the flowers are vibrant
And the birds chirp happily singing God’s great song
The lambs have grown up so much like the plants that grow too 
God planned all this and we should thank Him. 
Spring sunshine beams, the days lengthen
Swallows spiral up to heaven, the Larks sing praise to their Creator 
Lambs gambol in the spring grass 
Hidden bulbs and seeds burst from the soil to worship their Creator 
New life comes from our God let us praise and worship Him.

Rochele Long, Sassafras

North

Gateway Launceston

Gateway's Mystery Art Sale, Sept/Oct 2021 Regional RoundUp
Art Sale Flyer
  • We want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all the artists and Churches who supported and helped with our Mystery Art Sale Fundraiser for the children of Haiti.

Newstead

Hutchison Family 2021
Dan, Maria and the family, August 2021
  • Newstead Baptist Church are pleased to be welcoming Dan Hutchison as Pastor beginning in January 2022. Dan and his wife Maria and 3 children will be moving north from Hobart where Dan is currently working at Citywide.
  • We are looking forward to Dan’s ministry with us and would value prayer for a smooth transition for the whole family into life in Launceston including a suitable family home and schools for the girls.
  • We are holding our Annual Celebration meeting on Sunday and give thanks to God for a good year as a fellowship, for the many people who have come to preach throughout the year and the many ways that God has blessed us.
  • Our Seniors Drop-in Centre has being going well with new people from the community joining. Praise God for this opportunity to share his word over a game and a cuppa.

Perth

Perth Baptist Church
Perth Baptist Tabernacle
  • Many from around Tasmania would have known Wyn Gurr in her ministry over many years. Wyn passed away in September following a long battle with her health. She has gone to join her husband Allan in glory.
  • We are thankful and blessed by the four people who recently came into Membership.
  • Our Wednesday night ‘Better Men’s’ group is starting to attract a number of men with needs and a willingness to share.
  • The craft group continues to attract new ladies.
  • We hosted a very successful Community afternoon tea for the wise and elderly of the town which attracted a full Hall. We pray that we will see many of them again
  • The relationship with the school enabled us to sponsor two children to attend camp as their parents we not able to pay for them to go. This will provide us contact with those two families.
  • This year a Children’s picnic and family BBQ will precede our Carol Service – the whole town will be invited.
  • As the only Christian Church left in Perth, we take our responsibility to be Christ’s representatives in the growing town seriously. Please pray that what we do will be God’s will and will bear fruit.

Riverlands Longford

Roberts and Cloudsdales, Regional RoundUp SeptOct 2021
Alan and Meg Roberts | Ann and Steve Cloudsdale
  • On 29th August, Riverlands made space in our Sunday service to acknowledge and appreciate the commitment and contribution of two special couples. Steve and Ann Cloudsdale and Meg and Alan Roberts have served in various ministry roles and activities at Riverlands over many years.
    It was a special moment as we prayed for each couple and released them from ministry responsibilities as they enter a time of sabbatical for rest and refreshment. As they continue to journey with their Riverlands family, they will be waiting on the Lord for his wisdom and guidance for this next chapter in their lives.

South

Citywide

Citywide Converge Team with Eric Abetz, Resional RoundUp Sept/Oct 2021
Citywide Converge team meets with Sen. Eric Abetz
  • During September, several of us visited State and Federal Politicians following the Converge Justice Training Day in August. They presented their cases for Domestic Violence, Global Poverty and Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
  • One of us is involved in the local Climate Change Action Group. They facilitated an excellent Climate Change Expo for the public at Citywide premises. There were various speakers and booths demonstrating how they can recycle responsibly as well as other informative information. 
  • Church Camp: The first weekend in October saw us all heading to Poatina for our first church camp in many years.  Poatina is an incredible site for such a gathering with various accommodation options, good food, and many interesting local activities.  Our theme for the weekend was Living in Community and the staff at Poatina shared their experiences. 
    Our mix of congregations, including the Nepalese, were blessed and we have achieved a further development in our joining together.  Everyone is already talking about our next camp next year!
Citywide Camp 2021 Sept/Oct 2021 Regional RoundUp
Camp fun in Poatina
  • During October we hosted a team of 6 from the YWAM Discipleship Training School in Perth WA.  What a blessing they are!  They for involved in Citywide groups, the wider body of churches in Hobart, and our local community by door-knocking and street evangelism.
  • We now produce a weekly podcast, each Wednesday, which involves a panel of four people discussing, and personally sharing about, the challenges from the previous Sunday’s sermon. Find it on our YouTube channel or as an audio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  Our current series is on ‘Next Steps’ and what it means to follow Jesus. 
  • Sunday 10th October was our Shoe Box Sunday. Our congregations packed 150 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child during the service! This is an activity people engage with eagerly and we pray heart-felt prayers for each box.

Hobart

HBC Movie Night, Regional RoundUp Sept/Oct 2021
Movie Night watching “Blue Miracle”
  • At Hobart we recently held a great Movie Night including games, a scavenger hunt and pizza!
  • We have already had several weddings in our refurbished spaces, with more booked in.
  • The Mustard Seed coffee shop, on Elizabeth Street, will soon open, creating more opportunities to connect with our neighbours, and Elizabeth College students next door.
  • Our youth are raising funds to provide income for one teacher to teach youth in a Karen refugee camp in Thailand.
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Bringing the Kingdom of God to Tasmania

Reengage | Reimagine | Realign
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mission-shaped:

It’s time to …

“Reengage Reimagine Realign”

What the newly adopted strategic plan might mean for us as Tasmanian Baptists

Seeing Tasmania infused with the salt and light

When Jesus taught about the kingdom of God (or kingdom of heaven in Matthew) it was more immediate and grander than just securing a place in heaven for people after death. The kingdom of God is the rule of God here on earth. It exists in part now and will exist in fullness when Jesus returns.

Jesus taught of something new entering into our broken world. His presence among us, along with his miracles and healings, was evidence of God’s rule coming to this planet. After his resurrection he charged his disciples with the responsibility of keeping the project going. Ever since, when the Church has been at its best, it has been an agent of this kingdom.

What we hope for

We acknowledge it “is not the church of God that has a mission, but the God of mission who has a church” [1]. God has a job for his church in Tasmania. As Tasmanian Baptists, we are committed to becoming a union of churches who willingly “lay aside our personal preferences for the sake of the community being served” [2].

It “is not the church of God that has a mission, but the God of mission who has a church”

Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury.

This is the heart of the new vision that we adopted at our May 2021 Assembly. It is to see “Tasmania infused with the salt and light of the kingdom of God.” We believe this is God’s hope for the state of Tasmania; it is our hope too.

The Church needs to adapt

The vision goes on to note that our contribution to the realisation of this vision will be through “facilitating and developing innovative, diverse, and transformative member churches and faith communities living out the Gospel.”

By stating this, we acknowledge how many in our communities do not consider the Church a place to go to for assistance with the issues they face. Our inherited form of being and doing Church needs to adapt to the changing world. This is not a something new for God’s Church. At many points during the past 2000 years, the Church has undergone renewal and reformation as the Spirit has remoulded it for successive generations.

Three key strategies: Reengage | Reimagine | Realign

With that in mind, the newly adopted strategic plan outlines three key strategies: to assist our churches and members to reengage in God’s mission, to reimagine the church for our time and to realign our resources (time, finances, buildings, organisational structure) towards these ends.

This is no mean feat and will not happen overnight. As I’ve said a bit lately, it took God weeks to get Israel out of Egypt, but 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel. Like Israel, we can fall into mourning the loss of the past, rather than embracing the opportunities God has before us. Yet this is the call of the journey of faith, to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us [by] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith”[3].

“run with perseverance the race marked out for us [by] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith”.

Hebrews 12:1b-2a

We live in a profound moment in the history of the world. In declaring Jesus is Lord, and praying that God’s kingdom may come, and that God’s will may be done in Tasmania as in heaven, we are not only aligning ourselves with God’s purposes in our world, but asking God to use us.

I trust you can say “Amen” to that.

Stephen Baxter
Stephen Baxter

Stephen Baxter
Mission Director, Tasmanian Baptists
stephen@tasbaptists.org.au

[1] Former Archbishop Rowan Williams

[2] Church of England, charge for candidates for Pioneer Mission

[3] Hebrews 12:1b-2a

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Participate in Prayer Events

Prayer evets ADVANCE SeptOct 2021
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At home, online, in groups, at church, with other denominations

NOVEMBER is a big prayer season, not just in Tasmania but across the nation and globally. There are many ways to participate.

Perhaps you could choose one or two of these prayer events that best suits you.

Local

1. BAPTIST WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

State-wide events during first week of November

International Day of Pryaer for Baptist Women, Prayer events

Pray and raise funds for Baptist women around the world who are working on many projects to help disadvantaged communities. Funds for Frog farming (Thailand); Lighters of Hope in Darkness (mental health support, Philippines); Educational Library (Cameroon).

Find out More: bwawd.org/day-of-prayer
Download: Program >>>

PRAY IN THE North and Northwest

7:30-8:30pm Monday 1st Nov (or anytime that week). Alone, in groups, in homes, in churches. Info North: wendy.marston@iinet.net.au; Info NW: gabfife@gmail.com.

PRAY IN THE South

7:30-8:30pm Friday 5th Nov Dessert and coffee evening. Come and see the new Soundy Lounge, Hobart Baptist Church 284 Elizabeth St Hobart. RSVP 1st Nov: jenny@tasbaptists.org.au

2. TASMANIA CELEBRATION 2022

Hobart 20-22 May 2022 | Launceston 27-29 May 2022

In May 2022, Will Graham will visit for the Tasmania Celebration. keep reading for the many prayer events already taking place to prepare the church and people of Tasmania.

Find out More Tasmania Celebration >>>

Preparation Prayer Events for the Tasmania Celebration

North:
  • Gateway Baptist Church hosts weekly prayer meetings for Tasmania Celebration.
    7am every Thursday morning. 22 Wellington St Launceston
  • Launceston Prayer Walks in City Park.
    10am every Thursday. 45-55 Tamar St Launceston
South:
Time of prayer and breakfast!

Hosted by Ps Dave Morse and the Executive Leadership Team Co-chairs Ps Matt Sharples and Rev Pete Adlem you will hear how the Tasmania Celebration is not just a single event next year but a series of collaborative events designed to increase our prayer activity as a collective church; equip local believers through the intensive Christian Life & Witness Classes; increase our effectiveness for Christ through new outreach initiatives and offer opportunities to get involved.

  • 7-8.30 am Wednesday 27th October | Your Church, 29 Charles St Moonah
    RSVP HERE for the breakfast for catering purposes.
  • Generally, these times of prayer are at 7.30am on the last Wednesday of each month for coffee, however next month it will be a gathering on Wednesday 17th November
Tasmania Celebration Launch, 19th/20th November 2021
Tasmania Celebration Launch, prayer events

An invitation to the launch of Tasmania Celebration 2022 with Will Graham, to gather, prepare and pray for the events next year.

  • Hobart Launch event: 7-8:30pm Fri 19th November, C3 Convention Centre.
  • Launceston Launch event: 7-8:30pm Sat 20th November, Door of Hope Conference Centre.

Find out more tasmaniacelebration.org.au

3. TASMANIAN PARLIAMENTARY PRAYER BREAKFAST, 24th NOVEMBER
6:45am Wednesday 24th November 2021

  • Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart. Guest speaker Patrick Parkinson.
TPPB 2021, Prayer Events

Find out more and Register: https://tasmanianprayerbreakfast.com

The Tasmanian Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast brings together like-minded people from across Tasmania to pray for our State, our leaders, parliamentarians, businesses, schools, communities, and community organisations; our families, youth, and children. In the name of Jesus, we ask God to grant us the will and wisdom, the creativity and strength we need to care well for each other and to see Tasmania flourish in every dimension. Join us for this special moment of unity and humility.

Guest Speaker, Prof. Patrick Parkinson

Prof. Patrick Parkinson, Prayer events

Professor at the TC Beirne School of Law, Patrick Parkinson is a specialist in family law, child protection, law and religion, and the law of equity and trusts.

Professor Parkinson served as Chairperson of the Family Law Council, an advisory body to the federal Attorney-General, and chaired a review of the Child Support Scheme in 2004 which resulted in major changes.

Nationwide – Online

4. MOVEMENT-WIDE PRAYER GATHERING, 3 NOVEMBER

  • Australian Baptist Ministries invite you to join in a nationwide prayer gathering via Zoom at 7:45-8:30pm Wednesday 3rd November. Register here: bit.ly/ABMpraywithus
ABM nationwide prayer events

International

5. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH, 7 NOVEMBER

November 7, 2021 International day of prayer for the persecuted church
  • Pray with persecuted Christians suffering for their faith.

Your church can unite in prayer for the persecuted church, with Open Doors. Please take a moment during your service to pray for the persecuted church on 7 November. Find out more and

SIGN UP Open doors Prayer Event >>>

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Behold the Conqueror

Behold the Conqueror, Ray Hawkins
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poetry:

By Ray Hawkins, Beauty Point

Behold the conqueror!
He comes to gain His throne.
Behold the conqueror!
He comes for His own.
Who is He?
He is the Lord God of Hosts,
Heaven’s warrior Lord.
His name is Jesus,
His word a sword.
He is the Christ,
His glory the cross.
Before Him I surrender,
He is my conqueror! 

Behold the Conqueror!
His scars are from His cross.
Behold the conqueror!
Hear His triumph song.
Who is He?
He is the Saviour, Lord,
Son of God, Son of Man
Immanuel
Pre-eminent One.
He is the Christ.
His emblem the cross.
Before Him I surrender,
He is my conqueror.

Behold the conqueror!
The victory He has won.
Behold the conqueror!
His enemies undone.
Who is He?
The Lamb for sinners slain,
Risen victorious,
All glorious
His righteousness.
He is the Christ.
His power the cross.
Before Him I surrender,
He is my conqueror.

Raymond Hawkins © June 2011
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Need to Know ~ News

Need to Know ~ News
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news:

September/October 2021

New Website

The new Tasmanian Baptists website was released in time for the Annual Assembly, on the 21st October. You are enjoying it right now!

Why not have a look around while you are here?

Please be aware it is a work in progress, and more will be available in the coming weeks.

If you have any problems accessing any part of the site, or have any feedback, please contact Jenny Baxter: jenny@tasbaptists.org.au

EmpowHer Walks

Southern and Northern Walks – on soon!

EmpowHer Southern Walk – Saturday 13th November

Claremont Windermere Bay Loop

10am-1pm Saturday 13th November
4km easy circuit. BYO picnic lunch or buy takeaway at end of walk.
All women and girls welcome! 

Download flyer to invite friends >>>

Registrations essential to Jenny
jenny@tasbaptist.org.au

EmpowHer Northern Walk – Saturday 20th November

Hollybank Picnic Adventure

All women welcome to join a BYO picnic around the fire. Be sure to bring your own blanket and/or chair. Also BYO bike (or ask to borrow a friend’s) for those wanting to ride.

Download Flyer to invite friends >>>

For more info or to register, contact:
Jenna 0488 330 390 OR Belinda 0408 267 188

Behold the Conqueror

Poetry by Ray Hawkins Beauty Point >>>

Behold the Conqueror, Ray Hawkins
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News & Prayer Notes: 24 October

News and Prayer 24Oct21
Sunday 24th October 2021

Reengage | Reimagine | Realign

  • BAPTIST INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR WOMEN
    1st WEEK OF NOVEMBER
    Pray and raise funds for Baptist women around the world working on projects to help disadvantaged communities. bwawd.org/day-of-prayer
    North and Northwest 7:30-8:30pm Monday 1st Nov (or anytime that week). Alone, in groups, in homes, in churches. Info North: wendy.marston@iinet.net.au; Info NW: gabfife@gmail.com.
    South 7:30-8:30pm Friday 5th Nov Dessert and coffee evening. Come and see the new Soundy Lounge, Hobart Baptist Church 284 Elizabeth St Hobart. RSVP by 1st Nov: jenny@tasbaptists.org.au
  • OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
    Please pray for those processing the Tasmanian shoeboxes in Hobart. There are 1000s of boxes being checked and sealed, all done by volunteers. It is a big job, requiring perseverance, concentration, and stamina.
  • WOMEN’S STUDY AT BEAUTY POINT
    After-church Women’s study/share group, for 8-weeks. Leader: Rachelle Hawkins. Childcare: Serena Hawkins. Response is very positive. Sunday service begins at 5pm. The Bible study starts at 6:30pm.
  • PRAYER FOR PERTH BAPTIST
    As the only Christian Church left in Perth, we take our responsibility to be Christ’s representatives in the growing town seriously. Please pray that what we do will be God’s will and will bear fruit.
  • PASTORAL SEARCHES
    Across our churches there are many in the process of calling pastors and would value our prayers. Newstead, City and Longford have made appointments; Wynyard, Westbury, Citywide, Hobart, and Beauty Point are in the process of looking and next year Burnie will begin. Pray for wisdom and God’s leading.
  • MOVEMENT-WIDE PRAYER GATHERING,
    3rd NOVEMBER
    Australian Baptist Ministries invite you to join in a nationwide prayer gathering via Zoom at 7:45-8:30pm Wednesday 3rd November. Register here: bit.ly/ABMpraywithus
  • INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH, 7 NOVEMBER
    Pray with persecuted Christians suffering for their faith. Your church can unite in prayer for the persecuted church, with Open Doors. Please take a moment during your service to pray for the persecuted church on 7 November. SIGN UP: https://www.opendoors.org.au/get-involved/the-power-of-prayer/
  • LAUNCH OF TASMANIA CELEBRATION 2022
    An invitation to the launch of Tasmania Celebration 2022 with Will Graham. Hobart Launch event: 7-8:30pm Fri 19th November, C3 Convention Centre. Launceston Launch event: 7-8:30pm Sat 20th November, Door of Hope Conference Centre. Find out more: tasmaniacelebration.org.au
  • TASMANIAN PARLIAMENTARY PRAYER BREAKFAST, 24th NOVEMBER
    6:45am Wed 24th November. Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart. Guest speaker Patrick Parkinson. Find out more and Register: https://tasmanianprayerbreakfast.com ALL WELCOME!

REFLECT:

For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Isaiah 56:7



We need more news each week from our churches!

Help us pray for you and promote your events.

Items should be sent to info@tasbaptist.org.au by Tuesdays 12 noon for the following weekend edition.

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PROFILE: City Baptist, Launceston

Climate Scarf 7 August 2021

Big changes are heralded at City Baptist in this Sept/Oct 2021 ADVANCE | step by step. Read first of all an overview of the shift. And then a reflection about the changes from Gary Billing, below.

Planning for the Unseen

Change is in the wind for City Baptist as they work on their “Makeover Vision”
City Baptist Congregation
Sunday Morning at City Baptist

City Baptist Church, in the centre of Launceston, is preparing to undergo profound change. You may have heard that the Frederick Street property is on the market. You may not have heard that the church has also just called two younger women onto staff.

So what’s going on?

Hard decisions and a faithful response

Last November the church faced the necessity of some hard decisions. The congregation’s response once again has proved its courage and boldness. For some years they had sought to be a community of disciples based on the scriptures.

Serious discipleship led them to befriend those in greatest need – especially the street community and the refugee community. Mission, in turn, took the church into active advocacy for social justice. Local mission is now in the DNA of the church.

But how was this vital ministry to continue into the future, in a changing world? The Church Council prepared a vision in February, The Makeover Vision: Our role is to be a welcoming Christian presence in the centre of Launceston, befriending those on the margins. To establish this on a firm footing for the future, with God’s help we intend to become an intergenerational faith community, culturally relevant to younger adults, whilst remaining a Baptist Church with our particular values and priorities.

Discernment about property . . .

Thus began a further four-month discernment process. From November 2020 to June this year, the church met no less than six times to pray, discuss and eventually decide.

City Baptist
Our 180-year-old building

So with sadness, we decided to place the current property on the market. The 180-year building is full of historical significance and beauty. There is a strong sense of grief in moving on. Yet for the future, we believe the Gospel will be better served by direct street frontage, more flexibility, lower maintenance.

The Pastor, Jeff McKinnon, and his Advisory Group – Kay Hunter, Garry Billing and Ivan James – oversaw the ‘makeover process’.

We listed the property for sale in July. Tenders were due on 1 September. It may be then a further year before City vacates the property, because of the potential for a lease-back arrangement.

. . . and discernment about staff

The Church also appointed a Pastoral Search Committee, convened by Pastor Maddy Svoboda. Maddy eventually brought two names to the church in August.

Jenna and Anthea

Pictured, are Anthea Maynard (Team Leader) and Jenna Blackwell (Leadership Development) who were commissioned on Sunday 5th September. Until December 2022, City Baptist will undertake a period of transition, as the new Ministry Team is formed and prepares to take over from Jeff’s leadership.

Jeff will meet regularly with Anthea and Jenna (and eventually a third team member), until Jeff retires. It will be this new Ministry Team who will lead the church into its unseen future.

Unless a grain of wheat falls in the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds. 

John 12:24

Hope Found in Small Moments

The seed head of a dandelion substitutes the “O” in HOPE on the dust jacket of Tim Costello’s book of that title (Hardie Grant Books 2012). From the beautifully formed orb of the dandelion, seeds drift off in the breeze, scattering new life abroad. Tim’s compiled stories arise from his years of work as CEO of World Vision Australia. They depict the hope that can arise within confronting settings of challenge and disruptive change.

Our circumstances are obviously different, but for me, as a member of City Baptist, this dandelion image has become symbolic. It is evocative of both relinquishment and possibility as we anticipate a re-envisioned mission within Launceston CBD.

With fellow members, I value many aspects of our current church life. Our traditions of corporate worship, patterns of community ministry, the beauty of historic architecture, and so on. The dandelion image stands as a metaphor for all of this. There’s a part of me that would like to keep it intact as it is. However, I realise this is a transitory beauty, and we must allow life to be disseminated in fresh ways. Our current form will yield to life’s wider potential.

An invitation

I sense God now inviting us to surrender the conventional comforts of our current congregational life. But in inviting his Spirit to “blow where he will”, we offer our “seeds” to his breeze, confident of their germination in fresh earth. We open ourselves to strategic relocation To the formation of an enhanced leadership team. And to the seeking of more user-friendly facilities tailored to our distinctive city mission. We call this a “makeover vision”.

God’s gentle Spirit-breeze is evident in this new vision He is giving us. This is clear from the harmonious decisions arising from our shared prayer and discussion. I’ve found our legitimate sense of loss in relinquishing a conventional model dim, as we anticipate with hope the possibility of something excitingly new. I expect the core values of our mission will be novel, life-giving expression in ways we cannot yet see. But for which we can confidently trust God.

This fills us with well-grounded hope, and encourages us to remain radically open to God’s future.

Gary Billing

Garry Billing
Community Music Liaison Officer
City Baptist Church

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ADVANCE | step by step – Jul/Aug 2021

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
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My plan for your future has always been filled with hope

Based on Jeremiah 29:11

Request Print Version via Mail

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE PDF

HOPE. Across the globe this Covid-19 season, we hope like birds in cages.

We HOPE the virus will dissipate; that vaccinations will help; that loved ones are kept safe.

How important to remember Jeremiah’s words:
“God has plans to give us a HOPE and a FUTURE”.

Take hold of hope by joining the National Prayer Gathering for the Covid Situation on Tuesday 31 August. Find out more below.

This issue includes . . .
FROM THE MD: Stephen Baxter with treasures new and old
INTERVIEW: Liam Conway Ministry Apprentice at Hobart: he is a gift!
HOSPITALS IN PNG: Prayers answered to avoid closure (a gift of PPE)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Jenna Blackwell wrestles with being a missionary in Tasmania
CHURCH PROFILE: LifeWay Devonport, now ministering in the South!
MERGE YOUTH: Citywide are kicking goals
REGIONAL ROUNDUP: City, Latrobe, Westbury, Claremont, Citywide and Hobart
NATIONAL PRAYER GATHERING: Nationwide prayer against COVID-19
CONVERGE CONFERENCE: Advocating to our government leaders
NEED TO KNOW (news):
GATEWAY turns 145! | EmpowHer Northwest walk | Request from Library Aid International | Tas Baptists’ website | Fostering Hope devotional-zoom | Australian Christian Literature Awards | Baptist Basketball Grand Final | Stand Sunday | Farewell PETER CUTHBERTSON | Ray’s Poem

You can read all these in the download-able version

Be blessed this week!

Jenny

Jenny Baxter, God's love poured in to you

Jenny Baxter
Communications Manager
Tasmanian Baptists
jenny@tasbaptists.org.au

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CHURCH PROFILE: LifeWay Baptist Devonport

LifeWay Baptist church
Advance July-August 2021, LifeWay Baptist

our church:

ADVANCE | step by step features a series of church profiles. This issue it’s all about LifeWay Baptist in Devonport. Plus the new work – in Cygnet.

From the LifeWay Baptist Senior Pastor:

Nicholas Alexander

LifeWay Baptist is an amazing church . . .

It began in the 1880s when a group of Christians got together in the local billiard room to worship and seek God. 141 years later, we are still getting together.

As the current lead pastor, I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of this chapter. We are building on a beautiful legacy and God willing laying the foundations for an exciting Kingdom-focused future.

To give you a taste of what our church is like, I asked our two Associate Pastors to write about the church from their perspectives. Penny has been a part of our church for a few months, and Denise Stephenson was practically born on the pews.

Hopefully, their accounts will give you a good idea of what LifeWay is like, but also remind you that God is always active and is right now building his kingdom throughout all our churches.

Nicholas Alexander
Pastor Nicholas Alexander

Nicholas Alexander, Senior Pastor

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Hello!

The pastoral team at LifeWay Baptist are Nicholas, Denise, and myself – Penny. We are part of the tribe leading and serving in Lifeway Baptist in Devonport and Cygnet. Between us all, we have a bunch of almost identical blonde children. Some patient and amazing pastor-partners. And a fantastic community of members who are striving to love and serve Jesus more and more.

As a team, we like to have long staff meetings, brainstorm big ideas and have cake together whenever possible. Collectively we work well together. Amazingly, we cancel out one another’s weaknesses with mutual shared love of the vulnerable, the downcast and the forgotten.

Just Like Any Other Church

LifeWay Baptist Passions

LifeWay Baptist is a church not dissimilar to any others. We gather, we sing songs (sometimes not so well), we pray with our hearts imperfectly. Kids are so important and we absolutely love them (and their prayer too) and their precious innocence and view of God. We have a long history of laughing, making jokes and capturing joy. So we are not a polished or modern church. We just try super hard to be real, authentic and full of Jesus and his Spirit. We’ve had moments of great joy and sorrow together, which has made our love for our church stronger and deeper. At LifeWay we thank one another for all others are doing. We try to encourage with words and deeds, and we seek to be helpful and supportive.

At LifeWay we have a huge list of volunteers and ministry leaders who keep things ticking over. This includes ministry areas such as Young Adults, Kids ministry, visiting of the elderly, social justice awareness and advocacy, and Missionary support. It also includes grocery shopping and casual connections over coffee. It is our belief that with the right alignment to Jesus and his radical and transformative love, all things flow. One of the things LifeWay cherishes is vulnerability. We are working towards being the kind of church who will pray for one another after a service,. Who will invite one another’s personal struggles into a small group (pulse group). And who will invite neighbours, friends and strangers into the family at LifeWay – with or without a Sunday service.

More About LifeWay

We are not fancy, or flashy, or particularly special. Our building is getting a slight re-vamp, but the members unanimously decided to keep costs low so we could use funds to support mission and the poor. At LifeWay we try hard to see those who are unseen, and look for opportunities that God has placed, right in front of our noses, for mission that flows easily and without struggle. So we are like a passionate barista, serving weekly by making a coffee; a fitness enthusiast starting a boxing group; or an art teacher sitting with teenagers to create.

We partner with Devonport Chaplaincy to provide a need with the facilities we have been blessed with such as TAFE training, using our commercial kitchen, providing space for community groups to hire, and connect and facilitation play spaces. We didn’t think of these things ourselves – they found us!

In lots of ways, LifeWay is just an extension of a bunch of families getting together, with the title “church” wrapped around it. We hold Jesus at the centre, and with our collective giftings and talents, we are excited about what he might plant or uproot in the coming years.

Ultimately we acknowledge and trust that this is his church, and we are really enjoying being in partnership with him.

Denise Stephenson

I’ve been a part of the Devonport Baptist Church (now LifeWay Baptist) since before I was born, almost 60 years ago. My parents, Ted and Dawn Nibbs were active members, so my family attended the little West Devonport Sunday School; my sisters and I sang in the Junior Choir; attended Girl’s Brigade and the Youth Group. Dad was Church Secretary (and later, a pastor), and Mum was Superintendent of the Sunday School, amongst many other things.

Denise Stephenson
Denise Stephenson
LifeWay Baptist History

Every Sunday at 11am we filed into church for the Sunday service, where men wore suits and ties, and ladies wore Sunday “best”, including hat. For all the formality which was part of going to church in that era, it was a welcoming, engaged community of Jesus followers

Growing up at Devonport Baptist I had no sense that any aspect of church life was off-limits to me. It was a long time before I realised that not all churches had women in leadership. Or even allowed women to preach. In every other place in my life I was very shy, but at Church I was encouraged to be part of things. Youth Group was a great place to find my feet as a follower of Jesus, hang out with others. It was there I tried out speaking in public, leading worship, and having a voice.

The 1970s was a period of great change as church became a less important aspect of people’s lives, and many of my friends from Sunday School and youth group stopped going to church. Even in Devonport, times were changing and this naturally affected church life. In the 1980s, young people were leaving to study and not returning, and families leaving to pursue work opportunities interstate. I was one of them.

The Next Era

When I returned to Devonport in the mid-1990s, church was very different. There were now two morning services: a family-focused, contemporary service at 9.30am; and a traditional, hymn-based service at 11am. I accepted a role on the Leadership Team in the late 90s. Then I worked in the office for 10 years before taking on a pastoral position three years ago. I’ve been part of taking our congregation through some challenging times as we’ve navigated changing social expectations and behaviour.

We’ve experimented with worship structure, ministry focus, and changed our name to LifeWay. At times, I’ve felt frustrated by the slow rate of change. But looking back now, I can see that DBC/LifeWay has actually changed significantly! Sometimes you need to take a step back to see how far you’ve come.

In December 2020 my husband Mark and I moved way down south, to Lymington (near Cygnet), to explore a new way of being a community of faith here in the Huon Valley and Channel area. We have the image of a Long Table where everyone is welcome. And our plan is to keep our eyes open to what God is doing. But we haven’t gone alone. The lovely community at LifeWay have chosen to “send” us south, supporting us through prayer and encouragement.

It’s great the faith family who walked with me my entire life chooses to accompany us on this new adventure.

LifeWay Baptist Montage

Read more in the July/August 2021 ADVANCE | step by step

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Without

Without. A poem by Jenna Blackwell
A poem by Jenna Blackwell
Jenna Balckwell
WITHOUT

Heater on, tea in hand,
Curtains just ajar.
Pen at the ready,
I sit, I watch, I wait for you.

The trees, like fits of rage on a drug-induced night,
Bend every direction in the gusty wind.
They are but shadows against the dark sky,
Mere blurs, not close to human.

The sky has been crying all night,
The fields are flooded in its tears.
My eyes on this city prompts my heart,
As a ten-tonne truck sits on my chest.

People. It's always people.
Without homes, without safety,
Without warmth, without family.
Without weighs on my chest.

Does without have a name?
We hide them away, buried in darkness.
We wish someone else would jump in the muck
And bring them to the light.

My heart rages at injustice.
But my outward eyes turn in on me
And the truck reminds me of its weight.
What am I doing?

Comfy, warm, safe, peacefully alone
I too have flooded tears, but not over this.
"Disconnect!" my mind screams
But I refuse to let this be another too hard basket

I don't want to sit in comfort,
Disconnected from those without.
I don't want to say "I'm yours, God,"
And not break for what breaks you.

I love comfort, but I don't want to live it
If it's outside of your reign.
I don't want to be another Sunday-goer
Who isn't transformed by you.

I want people to know your goodness,
I want lives to be transformed.
I want connection, not disconnection.
I want... to be without?

That's too scary to say aloud,
I wrestle with the discomfort.
But they say to live is to die.
To die to self is to live for you.

Without, they cry.
Without, I surrender.

Jenna Blackwell © 2021
Without. A poem by Jenna Blackwell
Inspired by Jenna’s article Am I An Imperfect Missionary?