reCharge Archives - Page 14 of 14

2 March 20227 June 2022

Baptists in Ukraine

Standing with the war-torn

Baptists in Ukraine offer hope and help across Eastern Europe

For years now, Baptist leaders across Ukraine have been preparing for a possible invasion from Russia. Pastors have encouraged churches to stockpile resources—food, fuel and other essentials—in case a military assault results in displaced people.

That time has come. With Russia’s recent aggression toward Ukraine, a humanitarian crisis is escalating as people leave their homes in search of safety. As of 28 February, more than 368,000 Ukrainians have fled since their homeland fell under attack. They crossed the border to neighbouring countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. Many are women, children and elderly people leaving loved ones behind. Men of military age join thousands of citizens—men and women—who have stayed to take up arms in defending their country.^[i]

Responding to the crisis

As the situation continues, the UNHCR expects up to four million Ukrainians will be displaced. This exacerbates the already urgent need for food, emergency services, medical care and refuge.

Governments, organisations and churches around the world are responding to the crisis. Countries like Poland and Romania have opened their borders. European Union members are accepting Ukrainian refugees for up to three years without asking them to apply for asylum. Meanwhile, Australia has committed to fast-tracking Ukrainian visa applications.

Across Ukraine, there are 25 Baptist regions. Twenty-four of these have suffered direct attacks in recent days. Missile attacks were reported perilously close to a Baptist orphanage where 60 children are housed.^[ii]

Centres of hope: Baptists in Ukraine

While Baptist churches throughout the region are well placed and prepared to shelter displaced people, leaders expect their resources could run out quickly. Acting as ‘centres of hope’ⁱⁱ, churches are offering fleeing families food, shelter, medical care. As well, they can provide a place people can shower and wash clothing, and spiritual encouragement in this frightening time.

‘No matter what news you may hear,’ said one leader from a Baptist women’s ministry in Ukraine. ‘No matter what [may come], we will stay and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.’ⁱⁱ

Baptist churches in Hungary and Poland have also set up centres for humanitarian aid. They are distributing what food and hygiene items they have and are providing basic medical care. Reports also suggest that individual Baptists welcome refugees into their homes and churches. The burden on both will continue to escalate without help from abroad.

Baptist World Aid Australia is responding to this crisis both within and around Ukraine.
Melissa Lipsett, CEO Baptist World Aid Australia

Pray for peace

Primary in their request to the global church is to pray for peace. Consequently, numerous Baptist agencies around the world are setting up online prayer meetings.

‘A refugee crisis is an inevitable outcome from such tragic conflict, and our response must be both prayer and action,’ said Melissa Lipsett, CEO.

‘Baptist World Aid Australia is responding to this crisis both within and around Ukraine, supporting Christian Partners throughout the region as they care for an influx of people seeking safety. We are also positioned with other Christian Partners at home to advocate for a stronger Australian government response to support refugees displaced from their homeland.’

Standing with Ukraine

Baptist World Aid’s ‘Standing with Ukraine’ appeal will provide support for food, hygiene items, medicine, generators, blankets, pillows and necessary items for displaced people as well as shelters set up for them. https://bwaa.co/standing-with-ukraine

‘The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin,’
Psalm 146:9

For more information about Baptists in Ukraine, please contact Jo Kadlecek, jo.kadlecek@baptistworldaid.org.au , Communication Manager, Baptist World Aid Australia.

[i] https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/02/27/ukraine-war-european-nations-open-their-doors-as-nearly-120-000-ukrainian-refugees-flee

[ii ] https://www.baptistworld.org/prayforpeace/

23 February 202223 August 2022

Praying for Alice

A Lifetime of Prayer

By Jenny Baxter, Tasmanian Director, EmpowHer

What do you do when the answers don’t seem to be coming?

While my life flashed before my eyes, I sat in the Spanish winter sunshine, nervously waiting for the bride, our Alice, to be given away.

Well, it wasn’t my life exactly. It was pieces of Alice’s life I’d kept close in my heart. Moments I had participated in, helped with, and cried over.

The memories flickered through my mind like precious flowers, once fresh but now pressed, faded and time-worn.

FLASH: Her traumatic assisted delivery, after an almost-C-section.

FLASH: The trip to Canada before she could even crawl.

FLASH: Sitting in piano lessons, piano lessons, piano lessons.

FLASH: Tears over a nasty gravel graze, her first week on a bike.

FLASH: Her first grown-up hairdo, Grade Six graduation night.

FLASH: Torn, watching her lag at the back of a pack of high-schoolgirls, convinced she was born to lead.

FLASH: Goodbyes on the bus, leaving home for Victoria, little knowing she was really on her way to France, via Sydney and Japan!

The memories flickered through my mind like precious flowers, once fresh but now pressed, faded and time-worn. Compressed into short minutes.

And the prayers. Especially, I remembered the prayers. So many for this very moment. This day, when she would promise: To have and to hold from this day forward.

Praying for Alice – and the switch

Prayer is a commitment I made to my children as each was born. I pray for them all, regularly.

As well, I committed to pray for each one’s life-partner as both halves were forming and founding, maturing and mellowing, living and learning. What better time to sow into their lives until the two became one? Granted, I didn’t know who those partners would be. But God did.

For well over three decades, I prayed for Alice, and her as-yet unknown husband. Where was he? What had happened to him? My hope wore out.

Only a year ago, Alice had given up. But during one Zoom call, from somewhere deep down, I found the words to encourage her to keep believing he would materialise. Tearily, she’d agreed. But only when remembering the letter her close-to-death grandfather had written 13 years ago, for opening on this very day.

It’s hard to believe it was only 10 months since I’d switched up my praying. Inspired by the story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24, I stopped asking for a husband. Instead, I audaciously asked for Alice to be the answer to someone else’s prayer.

The most unexpected answer

And here he was. My soon to be son-in-law, AJ. Arthur Jnr. Standing with the minister, patiently waiting for Alice. He was everything I had hoped for, and nothing like I expected.

I didn’t know he would be Nigerian-American. Or that he would live in Spain. Or that Alice would move to France, and now Spain, to join him for their new future. How little I knew!

But those qualities. They were everything I had prayed for. Faithful. Caring. Believing. Strong. Determined. Loving. Kind.

Her moment had come. That prayer from her birth, now answered before my very eyes. God’s magnificent answer.

And then came Alice on her Dad’s arm! Jessica’s Theme melodically bringing an undeniably Aussie flavour, and tears to my eyes. She was ready. In love. Looking gorgeous and dewy-eyed. Having waited all those years.

Alice and her dad, walking the aisle to "Jessica's Theme" from Man from Snowy River. Photo Credit: Jonas Mantay

Here was the culmination of a lifetime of prayer. Pinching myself this was all real, I was so aware it was a moment I will savour forever, that morning in the wintry Spanish sunshine. It was an ending and a beginning. The old and the new. The faded and the fresh.

My prayers for Alice and her future husband, are now complete. Thank you God!

But, you know, there is more to come. From here on, I pray for Alice and her newfound family.

Alice’s life in pictures

Alice at 2
Alice at 4
Alice at 10, our family complete
Alice at 12, in Grade 6
Alice at 14
Alice at 17
Alice at 24
Alice at 29
Alice at 32
Nigerian ceremony
It is done! Time to celebrate. Alice at 34.

This story was first published in HEARTLANDS Summer 21-22.
This is the quarterly e-mail news for EmpowHer, an activity of Tasmanian Baptist Women.

To find out about EmpowHer events and activities for women in Tasmania, please subscribe to Heartlands!

SUBSCRIBE TO HEARTLANDS

23 February 20227 June 2022

ReCharge NEWS Feb 2022

FEBRUARY 2022

Table of Contents

Tamar Island Walk & Picnic

12:30-2:30 Sunday 27th February

An EmpowHer* Event

All women are welcome to join the Tamar Island Walk and Picnic, 12:30-2:30pm, Sunday 27th February 2022.

The Tamar Island walk is a short 4km return boardwalk, just 10 minutes drive from the heart of Launceston.

It will begin with a BYO picnic. Please also bring a picnic rug &/or chair, as tables are limited.

This is an all-access walk and children are welcome under your supervision.

MORE INFO/REGISTER: Wendy 0407 675 414; or Belinda 0408 267 188

Download Brochure >

*EmpowHer is an activity of Tasmanian Baptist Women

Nationwide Prayer Gathering

Prayer Gathering of Australian Baptists

Please join your Baptist family at 7:45pm on Tuesday 1st March for a Zoom prayer gathering.

We will pray for God to work within our lives, our families, our churches, our communities our Baptists partners, our States/Territories, our nation, and our world.

We especially want to pray for our BaptCare family as they battle COVID outbreaks in aged care facilities, and support exhausted staff.

As well we will pray for the situation in Myanmar, for the people of Tonga, and for the unfolding situation in the Ukraine.

REGISTER: bit.ly/ABMpraywithus22 >

DOWNLOAD Flyer for distribution >

Leading with Courage – Muster

For Tas Baptist Pastors and Leaders

ReCharge News — At the Muster in September 2021

WHEN: Lunchtime Monday – Lunchtime Tuesday March 7-8, 2022
WHERE: Hobart Baptist Church
WHO: Appointed key leaders of Tasmanian Baptist churches
WELCOME! It will be a great opportunity to meet newly appointed pastors around the state.

With great pleasure and expectation, Tasmanian Baptist pastors and key church leaders are invited to the upcoming Pastors’ Muster, 7th-8th March 2022.

Gathering together as leaders never fails to be a rich time.

With just 24hrs together, some big conversations will focus on the importance of leading with courage.

We will create a safe to share with others – a courageous aspect of leadership. For this reason, only pastors, and leaders of churches without a pastor, have received invitations.

MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER!
If you are missing your invite email please contact jenna@tasbaptists.org.au

Recent Inductions

Exciting times for Tasmanian Baptist Churches

It has been an unprecedented few weeks, as five pastors were inducted during January and February, 2022. They are Dan Hutchison (Newstead), Matt Henderson (Hobart), Liam Conway (Riverlands); Jeff Percival (Lower Barrington); and Dan Evenhuis (Citywide).

Dan Evenhuis at Citywide
Evenhuis Family being prayed for
Liam and Hannah Conway at Riverlands
Jeff and Ann Percival with their daughter Anitra, and Stephen Baxter at Lwr Barrington
Jeff Percival, preaching at Lwr Barrington
Daniel Hutchison at Newstead
Matt and Kylie Henderson at Hobart

Welcome LIAM AND HANNAH!

New Associate Pastor for Riverlands

Liam Conway joined Riverlands Christian Community as Associate Pastor and was inducted by Maddy Svoboda at Riverlands on 6th February 2022. The service was followed by a BBQ lunch. A very special morning, it was wonderful to see many visitors who came in support of both Liam and Hannah, as they join the Riverlands family.

Please pray Liam and Hannah will settle in well with the Riverlands church family, but also the wider community of Longford.

Safer Spaces Toolkit

Australian Baptist Ministries pull together to create a great resource

In 2021, ABM recognised domestic abuse resources are often available only by region, and wanted to create a resource which could be accessed by any pastor anywhere, with access to the Internet. The outcome is now available as a resource for use in localities across Australia.

Baptist women from around the country made up the project working group. Between them, they have expertise in pastoral leadership, theology, teaching, domestic abuse and project management.

Together they created the Safer Spaces Toolkit: standagainstdv.net >

The Safer Spaces Toolkit is a work in progress so feedback and suggestions are welcome. To get in touch, send an email using the CONTACT PAGE >

GLOBAL LAUNCH: 16th Feb
Baptist Mission Australia

You are Invited!

5-6PM, WEDNESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2022

Scott Pilgrim, GIA to BMA, ReCharge News

Global Interaction has become Baptist Mission Australia

One of the nation’s oldest mission organisations has changed its name as it looks to strengthen its partnership with Baptist churches across Australia and international partners around the globe.

Executive Director Scott Pilgrim (pictured) invites you to the GLOBAL LAUNCH!

This is your invitation to join with teams around the
world to dedicate this year of ministry to God.
Together we will pray, commission our teams
and say, “Come Holy Spirit”.

REGISTER TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK:

Newstead Farewells Marion Sherriff

27 July 1935 – 16 January 2022

Marion was born on the 27th July 1935, and went peacefully to be with her Lord on the 16th January 2022. She spent over 70 years of her life living in Launceston in the suburb of Newstead, as a child and then for most of her married life.

Marion was farewelled on the 21st January from Newstead Baptist.

Marion and her sisters attended Newstead Baptist where they attended Sunday School, Camps and Church. It was there that Marion came to a faith and belief in Jesus Christ as her Saviour. At Newstead, she also met Edward Humphrey ‘Ted’ Sherriff and they married in the church on the 26th May, 1956. Ted later became the President of the Baptist Union of Tasmania.

Marion loved God in a deep and personal way. She loved God’s Word, the Bible. Coming to church, for Marion, meant learning about God, meeting with God, and singing together to rejoicing with God’s people. It brought her happiness and gave her strength through life’s sorrows and disappointments.

Added to family duties of raising four children, Marion was a faithful member at Newstead Baptist for over 60 years serving through Sunday School Teaching, Christian Endeavour, the Missionary Committee, Ladies’ Meetings like Homemakers and Baptist Women’s Fellowship, Chat’n’Choose creche co-ordinator, hospitality and more.

Marion will be sadly missed by her ‘loved’ Ted, and many family members. We know that she is now at peace and in no pain with her Lord.

Christian Life & Witness Courses

Training to sharpen your evangelism skills

WHEN: 21st February to 12th March 2022
WHERE: In various churches in the Launceston and Hobart regions, including Baptist churches in Westbury, Perth, Launceston (Gateway), George Town and Hobart.

The Christian Life and Witness Course helps believers deepen their faith in Jesus Christ and share Him with others. Specifically, during the Tasmania Celebration with Will Graham in May 2022. But also, on their own as they witness to friends, family members and co-workers.

During the two-hour/week, three-week course, participants will learn:

Biblical principles on living a life that pleases God and points other people to Him.
Practical tips and advice about sharing Jesus Christ with people who do not yet know Him.
How to best support new Christians and help them grow in their faith.

Check out dates, times and locations > | tasmaniacelebration.org.au

Tasmanian Baptist Key Dates, 2022

Dates for your Diary

Some participants at Tasmanian Baptists Annual Assembly 2021; ReCharge News — Some attendees at Assembly, Oct 2021

7-8 March 2022 Pastors’ Muster in Hobart

26 March 2022 Council Meeting

6-7 May 2022 Mid-Year Assembly at Riverlands

18 June 2022 Council Meeting

26-27 July 2022 Musters: Regional with PM sessions

10 September 2022 Council Meeting

3-5 October 2022 Muster: Pastors and Families

28-29 October 2022 Annual Assembly at Riverlands

19 November 2022 Council Meeting

16 February 20221 November 2023

Tasmanian Baptists’ Theme for 2022

It takes courage to take hold of Reengaging, Reimagining and Realigning

By Mission Director, Stephen Baxter

2022 is upon us, but it in Tasmania, it hasn’t been the easiest of beginnings.

Jenny and I were blessed to attend our daughter’s wedding in Spain in late December. While we were away, Tasmania’s borders opened for the first time in 18 months, paving the way for the COVID virus to re-enter our state.

(en)Courage
Wedding photo — AJ and, our daughter, Alice, with their parents. It was an Australian-Nigerian event!

By the time we returned home in the first week of January, so much had changed. Mandatory mask-wearing had become the norm, and a careful hesitancy by people meant our streets and shops felt somewhat empty.

Tasmanian churches changed over that time too. Facemasks are now mandatory for church services, although it has been the norm for many around the world for quite a while. Not surprisingly, attendance numbers are down as many, for various rational reasons, have chosen to stay home preferring online services instead.

God’s promise to us

It is no understatement to say we live in trying times — for both our communities and our churches. Yet, it is in such a time like this, that God promises not to leave us but to be with us. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul says God is the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles”. We are all thankful for that.

May God comfort you amid all the disruption and uncertainty you are experiencing at the moment.

This is a prayer we can pray for ourselves and each other. It is certainly my prayer for you. May God comfort you amid all the disruption and uncertainty you are experiencing at the moment.

I also pray God will use this time to continue the transformation process for all of our churches. The Bible is full of times when God has used difficulties, struggle, and even suffering, to renew the people of God.

Whether it was the wilderness experience of the Israelites fleeing Egypt for the Promised Land, or their exile experience in Babylon, or the persecution of the church in the early days by the Roman Empire, God is always at work in times such as these. Indeed, for Jews and Christians at all times, God never wastes hard times. Comfort and renewal are at work side-by-side. I trust that is true for us too.

Reengage | Reimagine | Realign
(en)Courage

Three critical words

In 2021 at our May Assembly, we endorsed our new strategic plan which included three key strategies: to Reengage, Reimagine and Realign.

These words are designed to help us understand and commit to what we sense God is doing among us –

To reengage with the mission of God in our communities,
To reimagine what church might look like as we take seriously that we are to be salt and light in our communities, and
To realign the resources of our churches and union to enable us to be the church God calls us to be.

It seems to me that God is using this “COVID-moment” to help move us along the transformation path as expressed in our 3 Rs (Reengage, Reimagine and Realign). If that is correct, we can be comforted God is at work amid the challenges. And our response should be a resounding “Yes” to cooperate with God in this transformational work.

I’m not suggesting this is easy. It takes courage to say “Yes” to God.

It takes courage to trust, and courage to keep going. It takes courage to accept God’s compassion and God’s comfort. It takes courage to live with and open heart. It takes courage to love, accept and forgive. And it can take courage to comfort others. As Paul goes on to say, God comforts us, “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (1 Corinthians 1:4).

(en)Courage one another

Our theme for 2022 is (en)Courage.

It is an encouragement to take courage, to embrace what God is doing amongst us, and to receive God’s comfort at this time. All with a view to not just receiving courage, it but passing it on into our communities.

We’ll share more about this in the months ahead. But in the meantime, this is my prayer for you, and I trust we may pray it for each other:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ
(1 Corinthians 1:3-5).

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

26 January 202220 November 2023

George Town Baptist Church

Church Profile

Keeping Hope Alive

George Town Baptist Church is like many of our regional fellowships. They hold onto hope for the future, in fellowship with other churches in the area. Pastor Bob Goolsby reflects on this faithful fellowship, taking the opportunity to chat to a few of the George Town Baptist members.

There has been a Baptist Church in George Town since circa 1958. Technically, we count our establishment in 1961, so we had an uncelebrated 60th anniversary last year. We are going to have a commemoration service as soon as we think Covid conditions will allow it – might as well do it right!

When Sylvie and I arrived in George Town, we decided to look for a church to attend. The Baptist Church was small, and the first Sunday we tried to attend, they were in a service with the Uniting and Anglican Churches off premises. When we finally attended, we met a church that had heroically survived without a pastor for about eight years. Anne Godman and Pauline Heppel were keeping hope alive.

Then Anne moved to New Zealand, leaving Pauline to handle things on her own. It was not just the Baptist Church. Every church in George Town suffered declining membership and attendance during those years, but it was particularly hard to overcome the lack of a pastor. Graeme Goninon was the last pastor of record. He was loved and regarded highly by all. He left in 2010.

George Town Baptist Church

Location, contact details and meeting times >> >

Better Days

Faith Millen

Faith Millen is a faithful member who arrived in George Town from England in 1972. She recalled the better days of the church, including the years in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when the Baptist Church had over 40 children in Sunday School, and a vibrant youth group.

But times change, and as always, the church must re-evaluate the way it interfaces with the world around us. (I owe much of the information about the past to Faith, and Dawn Leslie, both of whom are serving as Deacons.)

Let’s press in

Sylvie and I did not move to George Town to take on a church, but it seemed to be “manifest destiny”. Since that time, we have made progress in reaching new people in town. Pre-Covid, things were looking up. These days we have had to retool, like everyone else. Nevertheless, all we know to do is press in.

We saw a youth ministry start, which struggled along for a while. Lately we have had an increase in attendance at the once-a-month youth meeting, which we find very exciting. Our visitation program is allowing us to become acquainted throughout the area, making friends in high places and in low ones, too.

The church is working with the Salvo’s to help collect food for needy people; the Seafarer’s Mission to find ways to touch people who work on the ships that come into the local harbor; and Vinnie’s, where we participate in a community meal served at the local Catholic fellowship hall.

Path to growth ahead

When you are small, there are so many things you want to do, but simply cannot, because the money or the resources are not there. We are asking ourselves the same question Elisha asked a needy widow, “What do we have in our house?” If we present it, God can use it.

Thus the saying “One sows and another reaps” is true.
John 4:37

We are growing, albeit slowly, as God brings people in. Some we reached out to in the past, and others who simply found their way to us. No matter whether our evangelistic efforts are the key, or simply continuing to be “open for business” to serve and help equip those the Lord is calling, we believe in “one sows, another waters, but God gives the increase” (John 4:36-38).

Current member Peter Gross wrote the following, that sums up our current position quite well:

I am a retired engineer, living in the George Town – Low Head area for 16 years. I started at the Baptist Church two years ago and have enjoyed worship and fellowship with others who love the Lord and long to see others find new life in Him.

Peter Gross

Like the other churches in George Town, we are small in number but work well together in sharing times of combined worship, Bible study, outreach and building relationships with the community. As a smaller fellowship many of us wear several hats, but it is great to have the opportunity to explore our gifts and abilities in both spiritual and practical ways.

Bob and Sylvie have shown great dedication and leadership in challenging us to reach beyond our comfort zone to serve the Lord and honour Him in worship and applying the Word to our lives.

Making Him known

We are also blessed to have long-standing members who have served the Lord faithfully at George Town Baptist for many decades. Their commitment to knowing the Lord and making Him known is a continuing challenge to all of us, including a youngster like me.

Speaking for established, but numerically challenged Churches of Tasmania, I recall the parable of the fig tree in the vineyard. Rather than cut it down, the vinedresser (Jesus in parable form) asked for some time to give it special attention, fertilizer and time.

Obviously the first task is to secure viability. After that is accomplished, become influencers in the community. As a great leader once said, “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care”.

From that standpoint, we at George Town Baptist feel we are well situated to face the future.

Pastor Bob Goolsby

Originally from Calvary Temple in Eastern Illinois, USA, Bob Goolsby and Sylvie have pastored at George Town Baptist since 2019.

Standing with the war-torn

Responding to the crisis

Centres of hope: Baptists in Ukraine

Pray for peace

Standing with Ukraine

A Lifetime of Prayer

Praying for Alice – and the switch

The most unexpected answer

Alice’s life in pictures

Tamar Island Walk & Picnic

Nationwide Prayer Gathering

Leading with Courage – Muster

For Tas Baptist Pastors and Leaders

Recent Inductions

Welcome LIAM AND HANNAH!

New Associate Pastor for Riverlands

Safer Spaces Toolkit

GLOBAL LAUNCH: 16th Feb Baptist Mission Australia

5-6PM, WEDNESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2022

Newstead Farewells Marion Sherriff

Christian Life & Witness Courses

Tasmanian Baptist Key Dates, 2022

Dates for your Diary

It takes courage to take hold of Reengaging, Reimagining and Realigning

By Mission Director, Stephen Baxter

God’s promise to us

Three critical words

(en)Courage one another

Church Profile

Keeping Hope Alive

George Town Baptist Church

Better Days

Let’s press in

Path to growth ahead

Making Him known

GLOBAL LAUNCH: 16th Feb
Baptist Mission Australia