Need to Know

news Nov-Dec 2021:

2ND DECEMBER 2021

Safer Spaces Toolkit

On 22^nd November 2021,  Australian Baptist Ministries (ABM) released the Safer Spaces Toolkit. This is a  resource to address domestic abuse and build relationally healthy communities.

The Safer Spaces Toolkit is an endorsed project of Australian Baptist Ministries aimed at resourcing pastors and church leaders to address domestic abuse and build relationally healthy communities.

The project working group is made up of Baptist women from around the country who have expertise in pastoral leadership, theology, teaching, domestic abuse and project management.

This project started because ABM recognised that domestic abuse resources were often available only by region, and wanted to create a resource that could be accessed by any pastor anywhere, with access to the Internet.

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

The Safer Spaces Toolkit is available HERE 

---

GIA change their name

Global Interaction have got something exiting to share… they are changing their name! Global Interaction is becoming Baptist Mission Australia.  

This is not something they undertake lightly. Over the past year they began implementing the 2021-2025 Strategic Roadmap. With this came big questions about the future direction of GIA.

While listening to the Spirit, they saw it was time to refresh the name and brand for a new and exciting season of ministry.  FIND OUT MORE

Christmas Poem

Mary’s First Christmas Ponderings

A poem by Ray Hawkins of Beauty Point

READ HERE

Based on Luke 2:51

Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

READ MORE: NOV/DEC 2021 ADVANCE | step by step

18th November 2021

Big Hearted Gifts

Gifts that end poverty

Baptist World Aid (BWA) Big Hearted Gifts do much more than meet immediate needs like clean water, food, health and income. At their heart, these gifts are an expression of God’s extraordinary love at work in the world. They allow people to live with dignity, and they end poverty. Not just for individuals, but for whole communities. These are gifts that give hope.

Each gift supports the community-driven work run by BWA’s Christian partners. It’s about making a bigger, lasting difference by helping individuals and families develop long-term livelihoods, health, education and leadership skills.

Thanks to the lasting impact of your Big Hearted Gifts, along with the wonderful work of people on the ground, you help end poverty.

How it works

When you select a gift card for a family member or a loved one this Christmas, you’re also making a donation to a community development project. Your tax-deductible donation will fund vital community development projects that include the activity featured on your card.

• You can give an eCard, a Gift Card (which is mailed to you for your use), or do a last-minute-dash and print your own as a PDF file.
• Perhaps you need help working out what sort of gift to give? Use the Gift Generator to help you pick the perfect gift card, and make a difference on behalf of your loved one.

Tasmania Celebration Launch

Launceston and Hobart moments

A Time to Dedicate the Outreach Events with Will Graham, in 2022

• LAUNCESTON: 6:30-8pm Friday 19^th November Door of Hope Christian Church South Launceston
• HOBART: 6:30-8pm Saturday 20^th November C3 Convention Centre South Hobart
• More info: tasmaniacelebration.org.au

Converge Tasmania 2021

On the 17^th August, 23 Tasmanian Baptist leaders from around the state met in Longford to prepare to speak out for the needs of the global poor, refugees and survivors of domestic violence.

Our church has been talking for some time about what it means to actively engage in issues of justice in the broader community. Ten of us made it to the Converge conference because we saw when Baptist churches work together in areas like these, we’re much more effective.
The work the different Baptist agencies have done in putting together the JUSTICE 2021 Report gives us a credibility and tangible way forward we simply could not do on our own.

Pastor Matt Garvin (Citywide)

Since then, Tasmanian Baptist teams have visited the local member in each of our five federal electorates, and to as many of our 12 senators as possible as part of Converge 2021. At each meeting they have discussed big issues, and presented each one with a copy of the Australian Baptist Justice 2021 report.

Check out the slideshow! Below there are photos of only five of the ten visits that took place.

---

POLITICIAN	TEAM
Mr Brian Mitchell (ALP) Member for Lyons	Rodney Marshall, Jacinta Sinclair (BaptCare) and Jeff McKinnon
Mrs Bridget Archer MP, (Lib) Member for Bass	Ed Love, Kay Hunter, Maddy Svoboda, Jenna Blackwell, Karlin Love
Sen. Jonathon Duniam, (Lib) Clark	Stephen Baxter, Matt Henderson, Liam Conway, Michael Henderson
Sen. Peter Whish Wilson, (Greens) Bass	Jeff McKinnon, Kay Hunter, Stephen Avery
Sen. Helen Polley, (ALP) Bass	Kay Hunter, Ed Love, Karlin Love, Jeff McKinnon
Mr Andrew Wilkie MP, (Ind) Member for Clark	Michael Henderson, Stephen Baxter, Liam Conway
Sen. Anne Urquhart, (ALP) Franklin	Michael Henderson and team
Hon. Julie Collins MP, (ALP) Member for Franklin	Matt Garvin and team
Mr Gavin Pearce MP, (Lib) Member for Braddon	Nicholas Alexander and team
Sen. Anne Urquhart, (ALP) Braddon	Nicholas Alexander and team

---

READ MORE IN THE NOV/DEC 2021 ADVANCE | step by step

• Man (or Woman) in the Mirror Engaging young people in the 21st Century
• Church Profile Latrobe Baptist
• Food for Thought Developing Leadership By Frans Ammerlaan, Sassafras
• Annual Assembly Report by Kate Barnett, Newstead
• Q&A Interview with Geoff Maddock, Global Interaction Tas/Vic
• Crossover Spring 2021 Appeal by Maddy Svoboda

---

4th November 2021

Book Review

Finding God in Brazil: Personal stories to amaze and inspire

Author: Dr John B Dyer
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN: 978-1979439817
Available: $15AUD from Amazon >>>

Dr Dyer describes this book as a series of stories about his experience of living and working in Brazil over a period of 33 years. His story involves the stories of other people, and both become interwoven into a single fabric.

I found this book to be easy to read as it written in everyday language without the use of theological jargon. There is humility in Dr Dyer’s sharing. His sense of humour is evident as he tells of the lighter moments of being a missionary in Brazil. Clearly, he has an obvious love for the Brazilian people.

I am struck by the tenacity of both Dr. Dyer, and his wife Maria. They persevered through many hardships that come with living in a different culture. As well, there are difficulties with many subcultures, and a varied terrain and climate throughout Brazil. They also experienced personal tragedy with their first child being stillborn, and their second child dying 24-hours after birth. There is also adventure and danger. For example, John was hit by a car, and held at gunpoint in his own home!

A young child is miraculously healed of malaria in an Amazonian rainforest. And also a young man with cancer, given two-years to live in 1985, continues to serve God to this day. Yes, God still performs miracles.

John describes his book this way; “The aim of the book, written from the perspective of a Christian missionary working in the most remote parts of the country, as well as in some major urban centres, is to show how God is perceived to be involved in our everyday affairs.”

In my opinion, he has been successful in this aim!

Karen Buckney, Assistant Administrator
Tasmanian Baptists

Faith and the Arts

FATA22 Online from Poatina, 7-11 January 2022

Jump on faithandthearts.org.au to check out the amazing range of Electives and Mix It Ups

Faith and the Arts is an awesome annual conference held in Poatina, Tasmania, targeting creatives of all disciplines and skill levels. The aim is “to come together to give time and space to their faith-art journey.” 

I have always got heaps out of it, both personally and within my creative practices. There are always great speakers, highly skilled teachers, and a heap of fun. I especially appreciate the chance to try practices I am not familiar with.

This year it is online (Covid! they hope to return to normal in person in 2023). I am leading an afternoon workshop on Monday this year, called “Small Prophetic Art”. Hope to see you there.

Michael Henderson, Mission and Leadership Development Coordinator
Tasmanian Baptists

Ethical Fashion Guide

Baptist World Aid’s 2021 Ethical Fashion Report finds lingering gaps in wages, sustainability  

People, planet or profit? What’s most important to consumers in purchasing the brands they like?

Today you can find out. The 2021 Ethical Fashion Guide/Report is now on the Baptist World Aid website, along with some great new features for consumers to communicate directly with brands. This year’s report also explores the impact of COVID on garment workers; slavery/exploitation of all workers in the supply chain; and the environment.

The grades of the brand companies within the report/guide reflect some progress, but we have a long way to go!

 About the 2021 Ethical Fashion Report   

With its mission to end poverty, Baptist World Aid Australia has published the Ethical Fashion Report since 2013. As one of Australia’s leading publications on ethical fashion, the Ethical Fashion Report and Guide helps consumers make better choices based on thorough data from almost 100 companies representing more than 400 brands. 

---

READ MORE IN THE NOV/DEC 2021 ADVANCE | STEP BY STEP

• Progress at City Baptist (Launceston) Bittersweet: exciting times, along with tragic news (available 2nd Dec)
• The Tasmanian Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast 2021 Inspiring words (available 2nd Dec)
• Tasmanian Baptists Christmas Listing What’s going on around the state this Christmas (available 2nd Dec)
• Man (or Woman) in the Mirror Caring for our Youth and Young Adults
• Church Profile Latrobe Baptist
• Food for Thought Developing Leadership By Frans Ammerlaan, Sassafras
• Annual Assembly Report by Kate Barnett, Newstead
• Q&A Interview with Geoff Maddock, Global Interaction Tas/Vic
• Crossover Spring 2021 Appeal by Maddy Svoboda