July/August 2021 Archives - Tasmanian Baptists

26 October 20214 November 2021

Being an Imperfect Missionary

Heartlands Spring 2021

Being an Imperfect Ministry by Jenna Blackwell (scroll down)
Walk | Pray | Love Events during November 2021
Baptist World Day of Prayer for Women by Elissa Macpherson

food for thought:

Mission in Tasmania

Jenna Blackwell ponders her frustration about mission in Tasmania

A friend once asked me when I first heard about mission or “felt the call”. I fumbled for words, speechless. No recollection, just compounding moments and realisations through teachings, coaching and mentoring.

It made me wonder: Am I a missionary?

I looked out the window at the blistering wind and thought of the people in my city, Jenna Blackwell, Food for Thought

Recently, I was sitting in my lounge room on a rainy morning, heater on, cup of tea in hand. I looked out at the blistering wind and thought of the people in my city – those without homes, without food, without heating, without safety, without peace.

Without.

I sat there in my frustration, guilt, and sadness.

Is it as easy as just going out into the streets and filling my lounge with people for a night, so they can get out of the ice and wind? What about the next night? What about the people fleeing domestic violence? What about those who are grieving loss?

There is so much hurt! How can I call myself a follower, while I sit in my comfort? Please, tell me you’ve wrestled with this.

Called to GO

As I reflected, I was reminded of my friend’s question about mission. We often think mission is about being overseas, or just for ‘really special’ people. But aren’t we all missionaries?

My workplaces are mission fields – full of opportunities to show the character of God, and to connect people to the Kingdom. But I so often fail my own expectations. There is still something in me that desires perfection.

While there is a balance needed, and while I cannot do everything, I also cannot excuse my own laziness and selfishness.

We are called to go – to the hurt, to the broken, to the lonely, to the messy. While I know this to be true, it is uncomfortable. So many of our churches are full of middle-class people. Have you wondered why? Have you considered how to change this? Do you even want to?

Recently, Denise Stephenson challenged us to consider “unfiltered” selves, and an unfiltered church. Maybe there’s a connection between this, and our comfortable churches. I like comfort. I like safety.

But God does not call us to be comfortable. He calls us to follow the feet of Jesus, who did life with those who are messy, who others thought were unworthy, and no one wanted to be around.

The hard work of WRESTLING

I am an imperfect missionary.

As I’ve sat in my lounge over the last few weeks, soaking in Luke 10 and contemplating all of this complexity, I have wrestled – with myself and with God.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. Luke 10:2 (NIV)

It’s been uncomfortable. But I have resolved to not be unattached and ignorant of those most vulnerable in this city. I may not have the right words or actions to understand this fully yet, and it is terrifying! But there is nothing about me that makes this easy or special. Just a hesitant willingness to follow God into the difficult, heartbreaking and vulnerable places.

I don’t know what it is to live and relate without privilege, and I don’t have all the words, or a 12-step plan. But I know following God must mean changes.

My next step is to learn to be in the places my privilege resists, and do it out of an overflow of God’s presence. To be an imperfect missionary.

God’s presence is key

After spending time in Luke 10, it suddenly hit me one day that immediately following Jesus sending the 72 out with power and authority, he told a story about a foreigner/outsider being the one to sacrifice and help someone in humiliating need. (Luke 10:25-37) In so doing, he challenged the one who thought he was right to take that same position of vulnerability and humility.

Doing is not the goal. Rather, it is about doing as an overflow of being. Jenna Blackwell, Food for Thought

Jesus then challenged the balance of being and doing. He reinforced that being at his feet was most important. To take the position of a humble learner who spends time and their teachers’ feet is to know the teacher and the ways of the teacher, so much so that everything one does is an overflow.

If life consisted of only being at Jesus’ feet, I think I would be at peace with that. It is my natural reflective state, and I could spend days in God’s presence. The challenge for me is to act, to do. But as I have been challenged to do, God has reminded me that doing is not the goal. Rather, it is about doing as an overflow of being – spending time at the feet of Jesus, in God’s presence, so that my life and actions may be an overflow, an extension, of the One that I live for.

Your call

I am an imperfect missionary, drawn to safety and familiarity. I am someone who, without compounding understanding, would not have called themself a missionary. But we are not on this Earth for ourselves.

We are called to be an extension of the Kingdom of God here on Earth – to spend time at the feet of Jesus so we may be filled to overflowing and transformed by his grace, ready to go about our daily lives, extending transformation to those around us – in our workplaces, in our homes, in our streets, in our cities and towns.

How is God calling you to be an imperfect missionary?

How is your balance of being and doing?
What does being look/sound/feel/taste like?
What does doing look/sound/feel/taste like?
What’s your next step?
Who are you doing the journey with?

READ Jenna’s POEM, INSPIRED BY THIS ARTICLE

Jenna Blackwell is the Tasmanian Baptist Mission and Leadership Coach
jenna@tasbaptists.org.au

12 August 202114 September 2023

CHURCH PROFILE: LifeWay Baptist Devonport

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.

Pastor Nicholas Alexander

Nicholas Alexander, Senior Pastor

Visit LifeWay Baptist website >>>

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 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

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.

12 August 202121 October 2021

Without

A poem by Jenna Blackwell

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}

Inspired by Jenna’s article Am I An Imperfect Missionary?

12 August 202128 October 2021

MERGE YOUTH

youth:

Citywide’s Merge Youth Kick Goals

A Great Space for Teens

Matthew Henderson leads MERGE Youth, Citywide’s youth program. He also serves as an Elder, and on the Teaching Team

The MERGE youth program at Citywide Baptist church has been a lot of fun during 2021.

At MERGE, we provide a space for teenagers where they can let down their hair and blow off some steam. At the same time, we create space for conversations and group discussions. These are spiritually uplifting, spiritually educational, and spiritually healthy for everyone who participates.

This year we’ve spent a lot of time getting to know each other better, as I am new to the role of leading this group. We’ve also learnt a lot about heroes from the Old Testament, which is an area of biblical learning often overlooked.

Merge is blessed to have several very talented young leaders as part of the team. It’s exciting to give these committed and gifted young adults the permission and opportunity to test out their leadership skills.

A Different Spin

Earlier this year we had a fantastic night with a ‘Glow in the Dark theme.’

It’s amazing how many games and activities have a different spin when your only lighting consists of a few florescent head and wrist bands! This year we also celebrated Christmas in July, with a big Christmas-themed night of activities and fun. Finally, just last week, the 2021 MERGE Olympics took place. We had another great night filled with fun and friendship.

For me, the best part of our MERGE youth group is the genuine friendships that have developed. As well, we enjoy deep and important conversations about the Bible, Jesus, and the issues faced by young people. They are trying to navigate a complex and confusing world, and need help!

So far, 2021 has been great. And we’re looking forward to having even more great times together as the year progresses.

About Matt

Matt Henderson is married, and father to three boys (21, 13 & 8). His two younger sons are both on the Autism Spectrum. Currently, he’s completing a Bachelor of Ministry at Alphacrucis College in Hobart. He enjoys working with young people and sharing Jesus with them, loves to play games, watch movies, and he’s an amateur film maker.

15 July 202128 October 2021

Treasures New and Old

comment:

From the Mission Director

Stephen Baxter

Treasures New and Old

After seven parables in succession, Jesus asked the disciples if they understood. When they replied, “Yes,” Jesus responds with a one-sentence-long parable.

“Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” (Matt 13:52 NIV).

It’s a comment on his teaching of the Kingdom. Jesus explained how his teaching drew on the rich tradition of the Hebrews and the scriptures of the Hebrews, yet was also full of fresh, new insights that he brought.

EVERY TEACHER . . . brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old
Matthew 13:52

His teaching on God’s kingdom through the parables did not ignore or reject the past, rather he built upon them to explain how God rules in new and engaging ways.

And then . . .

To illustrate the point, Matthew explains what happened next. Having finished this teaching session in parables, Jesus journeyed to his hometown and taught in the synagogue. The people were astounded and wondered where all his wisdom and miraculous powers came from. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son,” they asked, “Isn’t his mother’s name Mary?”. (Matt 13:53-56 NIV)

No wonder Jesus resorted to parables. What he taught was just too hard for some people. The final verse of the chapter notes the outcome: Jesus “did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” (Matt 13:58 NIV)

They thought they knew Jesus, but their familiarity was a stumbling block. Their inability or unwillingness to see it was an act of unbelief and they missed out. The “wisdom and miraculous powers” of Jesus promised them a new future but they were unable to receive it.

The Kingdom Comes

The heart of all Jesus taught was about the rule of God on earth. He taught his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10). Then, as they prayed, Jesus demonstrated what it looked like. The “blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Matt 11:5).

Every healing changed people’s future in an instant.

This was the kingdom coming and it made a profound difference. Every healing changed people’s future in an instant. And not just for themselves, but for the whole community. A healed leper, once shunned by family and community alike, could no longer be treated as an outcast. Their life, and the life of the community, was changed forever, and everyone needed to adjust to the change. Sure, the old familiar ways of living were there, but something new was in the air. Every healing was a small social revolution. Life could never be the same.

A Call to Believe

Everything Jesus did and taught was a call to believe in the possibility of a new and open future for both individuals, and their communities. He called us to trust that things can change, newness can come, and inexplicable gifts will be given. Yet, the people of his hometown took offence. They settled for the familiar and dismissed the new, fresh kingdom transformation Jesus was bringing. Their “lack of faith” meant they missed out.

Your Choice – to be like Him

At the Tasmanian Baptist May Assembly this year we introduced, and received, a new strategic plan. Its key strategies of Reengage, Reimagine and Realign are a call to our churches, and everyone in them, to exercise our faith in Jesus. It is an invitation to trust in God’s goodness and power, and not be content with the familiar. God is not mute or impotent in the face of our current realities of decline, decay and death.

But do we believe it? Will we embrace the new things Jesus Christ is bringing into our world through his church? Like the people of Jesus’ hometown, we have a choice.

Our lack of faith will limit what God does in and through us, but it does not limit God. Despite the “unbelief” of his hometown, Jesus was not deterred. He went on to fulfil all that God called of him despite their lack of faith.

May we be found faithful in life and ministry, just as he was. And may we continue to listen to his treasures, new AND old.

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

15 July 202128 October 2021

All About Liam Conway, Hobart Baptist

Liam Conway wsa born under teh shadow of Mt Wellington/kunanyi

interview:

Liam Conway is the Ministry Apprentice at Hobart Baptist Church.

Who is he and what does the future look like for him?

Read on to find out . . .

Where were you born and what was it like growing up there?

I was born under the shadow of kunanyi/Mount Wellington in Hobart, where I have spent the majority of my life, particularly in the Northern Suburbs of Hobart. Growing up was okay for the most part, there were several periods of financial struggle, but I also remember lots of time spent exploring Hobart on my bike.

When and why did you move to Tasmania?

I’ve always lived in Hobart, except for a small stint in Sydney when I was four years old,. I’ve chosen to be here because it’s my home. I feel a strong connection to the land, and the mountains. So I never want to leave this island home.

What do you enjoy most about living here?

I enjoy being around family, being close to nature, the good food, beer, and company. Hobart is a wonderful place to be, given its proximity to nature, its amenities, and the comfort that Hobart affords.

Tell us about your family

Liam Conway with Hannah — Liam and Hannah

Mum and Dad have always followed Christ. Dad’s been involved in churches on multiple levels, I have two siblings, both of whom follow Jesus, and we have all grown in an atmosphere that has worked towards our developing knowledge of Christ. I was lucky enough to get married recently, and both Hannah and I are busy building ourselves as good people, to raise a family in the future.

How did you become a Christian?

I don’t really know of a time where I didn’t believe in the Creeds and promises of God. However, moments of really conscious belief occurred a couple of times before my baptism. The first was in reading through the First Testament, particularly Exodus and Leviticus, and coming to a greater knowledge of the faithfulness of God. Then in Vanuatu, in 2009, where I spent a lot of my time on that mission trip reading the minor prophets and deepening that value of God.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

BEST ADVICE: When cooking, read the recipe twice

When cooking . . . Read the recipe twice: the first time to know what you’re doing; the second to actually cook.

It emphasizes the importance of preparation to do any job, and tries to mitigate potential disasters. Instead, be prepared to do the job, then execute it with precision.

When people ask you how you spend your time, what do you say?

“Creative writing, study and working at Hobart Baptist,” is what I say, normally. A large portion of my creative writing is with a group of friends in running Tabletop Role Playing Games, and my own personal projects. I spend a lot of time with Hannah and our cat, enjoying discussions with one another.

What is your role in the Baptist Church?

Presently, my role is with Hobart Baptist as a student Pastor. This includes preaching, studying, organising and all that stuff. Next year I shall be at Riverlands Baptist (Longford) in their Associate Pastor position, which will aim towards youth and young adults.

What excites you most about what you do?

I am most excited, presently, about the direction God has presented to me. I’m very excited to be able to present and discuss the gospel with a congregation; to be in a position where I’m able to use my knowledge for the benefit of other people.

What challenges do you have as you do this work?

A lot of my challenges are internal, requiring a development of confidence and social skills. The external challenges are less threatening, but the desire to please others and occasionally surrender the position that I hold to, is a very real and present one.

How can we pray for you and your work?

I would appreciate prayer for the transition from Hobart Baptist and into Riverlands that God’s peace and wellbeing will be with myself and Hannah.

I would appreciate prayer for the transition from Hobart Baptist and into Riverlands that God’s peace and wellbeing will be with myself and Hannah.

Short and Sweet – Liam Conway

I am looking forward to … My new job and working in a country town at Longford.

I am worried about … The manipulation within the worldwide church.

I am confident that … Life is going well and we shall be safe in this modern world.

I am joyful about … The future of Baptists within Tasmania.

I would like to change … The world? Is that too much?

I am at my best when … I’m relaxed and with God’s flow in the world.