God is not a Santa in the Sky A short, fun, poetic Christmas video (3m) by Glen Scrivener
2. Peace, Hope and Joy at Christmas
Outreach Christmas video (3m 18s) produced in conjunction with Olive Tree Media
SERMON/MESSAGE RESOURCES
Missing Peace?
This Advent and Christmas series was developed by Crossover. It is adaptable for use in all kinds of churches, highly invitable, and full of the great news about Jesus.
The series title, Missing Peace? is, of course, a two-sided play on words. It calls to all who thirst for peace, and hints at a ‘missing piece’ which is Christ the cornerstone.
Resource Includes
Five message outlines can be used in any order, with each standing alone.
Missing Global Peace
Missing Relational Peace
Missing Personal Peace
Missing Everyday Peace
Finding the Missing Peace
Easy-to-edit artwork for invitations and promotions
ABOVE: Assembly October 2022, L to R – Paul Manning (BWA); Sherry and Geoff Maddock (BMA); Stephen Baxter and Ben Cochrane; Worship time; Those Gathered!
After two years online, the annual faith and the arts school in Poatina will be held in-person!
Whether discovering FATA for the first time or returning – you can explore how to infuse faith with art, and art with faith.
The FATA team are praying for God’s grace on the time of encouraging, up-skilling and living in community.
Get ready to continue your creative journey …
The Gatherings Team are planning a spiritual and creative journey that will have attendees chewing on how, why and what we communicate, with our diverse creative languages.
Keynote Speaker: Lucinda Coleman
TOM and PAT
A new book by Ivan Jordan (Yolla Baptist)
Forward by Rev. Tim Costello AO
Front Cover
Tom Fleming is one of my heroes; a man who suffered under the Japanese in WW2 but turned his suffering into service of the Warlpiri people at Yuendumu. I am proud to be a Baptist Minister because of the character and witness of this spiritual giant. Ivan Jordan has given us a jewel in providing understanding of one of the most significant chapters of Christian mission in this nation’s history
Tim Costello
ORDER DETAILS
Back Cover
RRP is $35 less 40% for trade, plus freight. If Church groups order five or more copies, they will qualify for the 40% trade discount. Order here >
ORDER DIRECT
Phone: 08 9362 5955 (Intnl +61 8 9362 5955) Tuesday and Friday 1pm to 5pm W.A. time
Email: books@hesperianpress.com Please ensure the following are included in your email or letter to Hesperian Press:
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them”
John 7:38 (NIV)
The recent Crossover Spring Appeal, Streams of Living Water, is a huge success! A big thank you to those who signed up to give to Crossover on an ongoing basis.
Director of Crossover Andrew Turner (who conducted Tas Baptists’ recent leadership review) explains what the appeal is all about in this video. OR you could read Andrew’s letter to churches.
The generosity of supporters gives Crossover the ability to:
Create new resources (like the new Christmas resource, Missing Peace?)
Run events (such as hosting the recent online Australian Baptist Prayer Gathering)
Provide encouragement to Aussie Baptists (it’s time to read the new article about young adults exploring church!)
And offer invaluable training (more and more churches are using the Plan A resource).
Every dollar given is a blessing. Each donation comes closer to Crossover’s goal:
To see our Baptist movement baptising twice as many new believers each year by the end of the decade.
Streaming GOOD. Television
Find out about GOOD. TV
Australian Christian Channel have a free streaming service to provide positive entertainment options.
In an ever-changing world it’s great to know some things do not need to change. There is so much good to look forward to, which is why the people at GOOD. are committed to providing positive entertainment options so people can always watch something they can trust and rely on.
This is more than just a wide variety of programs. It includes a standard of viewing bringing more goodness into your life, with content to provide you with peace of mind. And will make you feel good at the same time.
GOOD. provide quality movies, TV series, documentaries and much more. You have the choice you want, without the stress of the not-so-good stuff that you do not want for your family.
As well, GOOD. is FREE, without any hidden costs or monthly bills.
Women gathered to pray at Day of Prayer events around Tasmania
On Saturday 22nd October, women gathered at Claremont and Ulverstone Baptist churches to pray for women around the world. They also gave funds to assist with Baptist projects in our Pacific region.
In each location, small groups prayed for international regions about specific prayer requests. These included prayers such as:
Nations recovering from COVID (Carribean and Asia)
Domestic abuse (Pacific and Caribbean)
Unexpected pregnancy support programs (Latin America and Canada)
Shelter for victims of human trafficking (Asia/Azerbaijan)
Reconciliation for indigenous people (Australia and NZ)
Peaceful elections (Africa)
Baptist women are doing astounding work across the globe!
In the recent budget, the Government announced $1.4 billion of additional aid to our region over the next four years!
Micah Australia welcomes these increases while continuing to call strongly for further urgent aid to help fight famine in the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria.
WATCH: Micah Australia’s Tim Costello (Exec. Director) and Matt Darvas (National Director) respond to the Budget from Canberra
Fostering Hope’s vision is to find a family for every child who needs one.
Tasmanian Baptists work with Fostering Hope to encourage churches and families to both provide, and support, foster carers.
Along with recruiting new carers, Fostering Hope supports people on the journey with connection, training, pastoral care, and mentors for children. As well, they offer trauma-awareness training for churches so they can be safe places for all children and adults.
Currently, Fostering Hope are looking for more fostering families to offer homes for children who need them.
There is also a need for respite carers to offer extended family and community around full-time foster and kinship families and we just don’t have the families to ask.
Children without the protection of their parents are the most vulnerable in any community. These children need families and communities to offer them hope, healing, and a childhood free of adult stresses and full of fun.
If you would like to know more about Fostering Hope’s work, or have someone from the team talk at your church or run a trauma-awareness training, please get in touch.
The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis
The winner of the Christian Book of the Year Award 2022 is The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis, by Tony Rinaudo.
The book tells the story of a revolution in reforestation that is transforming the lives of subsistence farmers around the world. An inspiring and irresistible story of one man’s obedience and God’s faithfulness.
The awards are presented every year by SparkLit.org, who aim to advance God’s Kingdom by empowering Christian writers, publishers and distributors.
By Andrew Turner, Director of Crossover, helping Australian Baptists share Jesus
I know most of you don’t love statistics as much as I do, probably 98.841% of you with a margin of error of … WAIT! Don’t switch off. The recent Australian Census data is important. Let me try to translate the number columns into a meaningful story.
Some results were not that surprising. Turns out we’re all five years older than we were at the last census five years ago. Over that time the Australian population grew 8.6% (1.5% per year) to 25.4 million. Half of that growth came from migration. Ask your parents where the other half came from. Speaking of which, did you know nearly 50% of us have a parent born overseas? Oh, and that Millennials have totally taken over as largest age demographic? LOL. Eye-roll emoji.
But it was the Religious Affiliation data that surprised many. The proportion of Aussies who claim to be Christian dropped sharply, from 52% to 44% (in 2011 it was 61%). At the same time, those who ticked ‘No Religion’ rose from 30% to 39%. This represents two million nominal Christians no longer claiming to be what they don’t practice.
Most of us would see this as a rise in honesty – don’t claim to be a musician if you don’t play an instrument. But if it’s a shift from ‘I’m a lazy musician who hardly ever practices’ to ‘I’m no musician and selling my trumpet’, it is a loss and a grief.
Uneven Spread
The drop-off from those claiming Christianity was not spread evenly across denominations. Anglicans especially, but Catholics, Uniting, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Salvos had very significant reductions. Pentecostals and Churches of Christ fell a little. And Baptists actually grew – by 2,192 – small falls in most states were more than offset by a jump of 4,500 in Victoria. Go BUV!
The generation that is least ‘Christian’ (31%) and most ‘No Religion’ (47%) are those millennials, now aged 26-40. But this may be more about life-stage than generation; young adults often do a prodigal walkabout before returning to faith. Let’s be sure to welcome them.
So what’s the story? What might God be saying to us and what might we do with all this?
Kidzfest begins with music guests and “The Quest,” an interactive presentation with a fun Gospel message. There will be petting zoo, games, balloon animals and other fun activities all for free!
KIDZFEST LAUNCESTON
KIDZFEST HOBART
Tickets are requiredto attend Hobart events: (not for Launceston!)
Led by Denise Stephenson (LifeWay) and Jenny Baxter (Hobart), this retreat will focus on sheltering in God’s presence.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1
If you are weary and burdened with life, and need some time to enter God’s presence to reflect, restore and rest, then come along!
INFO: The retreat is non-residential, and will be held in Blackmans Bay. COST: $45/person NB. There are other ways you can contribute if money is an issue – so get onto us! ARE YOU IN? Call or SMS to reserve your spot, and we will send you more info: 0401 652 566 BROCHUREDownload here
Ministry Training at WEC
Cert IV Christian Ministry and Theology
Eastern College Australia are offering accredited units at its delivery site in Launceston. Worldview Centre host evening classes where you can complete units towards a Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology.
The Tuesday evenings include catered meal breaks.
Unit Costs $300/unit
Where Worldview Centre for Intercultural Studies, 41 Station Road, St Leonards, TAS 7250
5pm-8:30pm 14 June-30 August (10 weeks): Christian Ethics 5pm-8:30pm 13 September-29 November (10 weeks): Discipleship
Tasmania Celebration
Since 1950, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has held Crusades across the globe to proclaim God’s love to people who need Jesus Christ. Today, Will Graham Celebrations continue this life-changing mission.
A Celebration is not just an evangelistic event; it is a process of prayer, training, outreach, and follow-up that takes place over a 12-month period—and it begins and ends with the local church.
The Tasmania Celebration is scheduled to take place in May 2022, just a few short weeks away.
In Hobart, the Tasmania Celebration will be held at the My State Bank Arena on 21st May. In Launceston, the main events will be at the Silverdome on 27th-29th May.
PRAY for the Events
Commit to praying; privately, within your Connect Groups and prayer gatherings. Click HERE to download prayer points as we pray together in unity.
Perth Baptist is running a bus to attend the 29th May event at the Silverdome. For more info, please email info@perthbaptistchurch.org.au or call 0418 130 221.
Advocating for the Most Vulnerable
Micah Australia is a coalition of Christian aid agencies who lobby the government on behalf of the world’s poor, vulnerable and oppressed. Micah Australia’s Executive Director, Tim Costello, is one of Australia’s best-known community leaders and a sought after voice on social justice issues, leadership and ethics.
The 2022 federal government Budget, released on 31st March, revealed some major wins. This included the announcement that the government will increase the intake of Afghan refugees.
Watch the video from National Director, Matt Darvas, to find out more:
There were also some incredible outcomes for Micah’s End Covid For All campaign. This is the direct result of months of campaigning for Australia’s neighbours in crisis.
You can take action
Please spread the good news and thank Minister Alex Hawke (Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs) for responding, by sharing this Facebook post.
Through Micah’s latest campaign, A Safer World For All, the momentum will be sustained in the lead-up to the federal election. It’s an unmissable opportunity to call on Canberra to support our neighbours in crisis.
Since the formation of the Asia Pacific Baptists Federation in 1975, and the first historic gathering of Baptists in 1979 in Hyderabad, India, the APBF Congress has met regularly every five years. As a result they have touched thousands of Baptists through the Congress.
APBF has witnessed the faithfulness of God in Asia and the Pacific over the period of 40 years as the Baptists of Asia and the Pacific has grown to almost 40,000 churches today.
The 10th APBF Congress again calls Baptists to gather with the theme “Stronger Together” in its first Hybrid Congress (available to both in-person and online attendees). Attendees will witness yet again God’s faithfulness. In-person will allow you to interact face-to-face with the speakers, while online will provide a seamless flexibility to join the Congress from your location.
STOP PRESS! Due to an overwhelming response, all registrations for in-person attendance have now closed.
Here’s some exciting news: if you stop by the Baptist World Aid website, you’ll find a new look and a new visual identity. The look might be new, but they are still committed to ending poverty so all people can enjoy the fullness of life God intends.
(Even now, BWA’s Ukraine appeal is helping Christian Partners care for displaced families.)
BWA will also print a new quarterly 16-page magazine for supporters, Better World Magazine, which will hit mail boxes in the next few weeks and includes news updates, inspiring features and even a column on ‘Curly Questions’.
A heads-up that our next Tasmanian Baptist Assembly will take place at Riverlands Longford on Friday night 6th May, and Saturday 7th May.
As always, Assembly will be an inspiring time of challenge, encouragement and connection.
On Saturday, Scott Pilgrim of Exec. Director of BMA will speak. “Business” is kept to a minimum, and the focus will be our theme for 2022: (en)Courage.
If you are not a regular attendee and would like to attend you are very welcome. It is important to note, however, that only official church representatives have voting rights.
Church Secretaries watch out! Information for Assembly, will soon come your way to distribute to delegates.
Crossover Easter 2022
History has shown that nothing transforms lives, communities, the world, like people coming to know Jesus. Sharing Jesus is so vital, what if we had more confidence, more wisdom, suitable methods and more really useful resources. Crossover passionately focusses on helping Australian Baptists share Jesus.
Will Graham will be in Tasmania in May for the Tasmania Celebration. Let us make sure we cover the entire event in prayer before, during and afterwards!
Prayer meetings are scheduled in the north and south of the state over the next few months.
Do you want to know how to easily share your faith with others? Or perhaps you would like to be a prayer partner/counsellor at the Tasmania Celebration?
Then look no further! This 3 x 2-hour-session course is being run in Hobart and Launceston, and you can pick up missed sessions online.
BY Crossover National Taskforce rep, Maddy Svoboda,
Maddy wonders about altering friends’ perceptions of Jesus, and how the “Crossover Spring Appeal” will help!
In the 2006 movie ‘Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby’, Will Ferrell’s character Ricky Bobby and his family, as well as his NASCAR teammate Cal Naughton Jr, are having a meal.
Ricky Bobby gives thanks for the meal of KFC, Dominoes and all manner of food. It makes me wonder how effective a prayer is when asking God to bless this food to our bodies, as Ricky prays to Baby Jesus. He prays over and over to tiny baby, infant Jesus (8-pound 6-ounce baby Jesus who is so cuddly and omnipotent) before his wife stops him.
Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby
Everyone has a picture of Jesus
What impacts me about this scene (apart from the absolutely ridiculous nature of it) is the implicit truth that we all have a picture of Jesus, or God. This picture shapes us – and is an image of Jesus that we gravitate towards.
Part of our work of evangelism is telling the story, or painting the picture of Jesus, as accurately as we can. This means we can invite people to know Jesus as he is, rather than how we imagine him to be.
What is Crossover?
The ministry of Crossover has richly blessed Tasmanian Baptists. Before COVID-19 struck, Crossover ran conferences for people with a noticeable gift of evangelism. Crossover funds covered the entire cost for each attendee. This meant people who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity attend an event like this, could be there.
Why Crossover’s Spring Appeal?
In Tasmania alone, 15 people have attended the Emerge Evangelism Conference over the years. As I look back over the list of attendees, I see people who contribute to our life in significant ways. I’m so thankful to be part of Crossover, and to see the fruit from our investment into evangelism and mission.
That’s why Crossover is running a Spring Appeal over the next few months.
For Crossover to continue to provide resources, and equip the church to proclaim the good news of Jesus, we are asking churches around Australia to commit financially to Crossover. There are multiple ways you and your church can do this.
Q&A Interviewwith Geoff Maddock, Global Interaction Tas/Vic
NEWS: Need to Know Global Interaction name change | Safer Spaces Toolkit | Christmas poetry | Big Hearted Gifts | Tas Celebration Launch | Converge 2021 | Book Review | Faith and the Arts | BWA Ethical Fashion Guide 2021
