Baptist advocacy and speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Our Perspective on What’s New
Earlier this month I travelled to Canberra to represent Tasmanian Baptists at the annual Converge. At Converge, held at Parliament House, Australian Baptist leaders spend a week advocating for the most vulnerable in our country and around the world. Converge brings together the Mission Directors from each state, CEOs from church organisations such as BaptCare, Baptist Mission Australia, and Baptist World Aid, plus many others. They also let a few sneaky Tasmanian pastors tag along.
Representatives advocate for specific justice issues such as international aid, domestic violence, unrest in Myanmar and modern slavery. Converge reminds our nation’s leaders that Australian Baptists are concerned about issues of justice and will raise their voices for those that are often silenced. This is a core national commitment for Baptists and has always been a core practice of God’s people.
Consider the following scripture passages:
Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.Psalm 82:3-4
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”Matthew 25:40
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.James 1:27
Housing Crisis Focus
As Christians and as Baptists we are all called to speak up for others.
This year our focus was on those most vulnerable to the housing crisis, such as people in the lower deciles of household income and those who have suffered from domestic and family violence.
“Australia is in the midst of a historic housing crisis. More people are experiencing housing stress than ever before. Over 640,000 households need social housing but cannot get it, and 122,000 people experience homelessness on any given night.” – Final Report from the People’s Commission into Australia’s Housing Crisis
Reports around homelessness are alarming. While this is a national issue, the Rental Affordability Snapshot reveals that Tasmania’s northwest is one of the worst hit communities.
“There were only 12 one-bedroom units on the private rental market in the North West on Snapshot weekend. A person on a government pension can afford to pay no more than $192 a week, which is not enough for anything except a shiftworker’s unit in Rosebery. If that person was willing to live in a sharehouse, they would find seven to choose from at the lower end of the market. However not even the cheapest room ($140 a week, in Devonport) was affordable for a person receiving the very low rate of Youth Allowance or JobSeeker.” – The Rental Affordability Snapshot
A Tassie winter is not pleasant for those sleeping rough.
Called to Speak Up for Others
Throughout the week of Converge we secured over 30 meetings with Members from both houses and from both sides of politics. We advocated for an increase in social and affordable housing and to take policies out of the issue and work together across all tiers of government. We advocated for better support for the services that help people get back on their feet. I believe our leaders were listening.
They were listening because hearing that 122,000 people are homeless every night in Australia is alarming but they were also listening because we keep turning up.
Remember, Your Voice Counts
Perhaps what struck me most about this year’s Converge was the reception I received from many of the Senators and Members of Parliament that I visited. They remembered me from previous years. Some of them greeted me by name – and they listened as I spoke on behalf of the vulnerable in my community. This surprised me, given that my lobby group consisted of the CEO of Australian Baptist Ministries, the CEO of Baptist Care Australia, and the Director of Flood Relief for the Northern Rivers. All of these impressive people are skilled and articulate and hold prominent positions within our national movement. In this group I expected to be surplus to needs. Yet it was often me, the pastor of a small church in Devonport, who was remembered and who established rapport – not because of my title or expertise, but because for the past five years I’ve simply turned up again and again, and called on my country not to forget the vulnerable.
Power in Perseverance
I was reminded of the words of Galatians 6: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
There is power in having the perseverance to keep turning up, even when you feel insignificant. Verses like this serve as a beacon of hope, reminding us that our efforts, no matter how small or seemingly futile, can lead to significant outcomes when pursued with faith. Sometimes simply turning up is all that Jesus requires of us. The rest is up to him.
I was fortunate to meet with our nation’s leaders in their offices in Canberra, but I did it as part of a national movement of Baptists, speaking not for our own interests but for those who can’t speak for themselves. That’s something you can be a part of too. Every voice counts.
What is Converge?
Converge is an annual gathering of Baptist leaders to lobby Federal MPs and senators on social justice issues. The first Converge was held in 2016, and since that time we have advocated for better policy on refugees and asylum seekers, international development assistance, family and domestic violence, child wellbeing, and foreign policy toward Myanmar.
Our immediate aim each year is to influence policy outcomes and in the longer term to build a Baptist voice for justice that is known to our political leaders and build a culture of advocacy within the Baptist community.
Rev. Nicholas Alexander is Senior Pastor at LifeWay Baptist Church
They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”
Luke 5:33-39
Our Perspective on What’s New
Reading this passage, I was struck afresh by what Jesus might have meant by the old and new when he spoke of cloth and wineskins. These parables aren’t easy to understand at first, and they seem to be irrelevant to the question about fasting. But I understand that Jesus was saying he had come to do something new – something that wouldn’t fit into the preconceived ideas of the Pharisees and John’s disciples.
It seems that Jesus chose disciples who were ready to embrace the new…. That is, him.
Our perspective on what’s ‘new’ depends on our experience. As a 30-something, my perspective of ‘what’s new’ in our faith communities is very different to someone who has been part of churches for 70+ years. Not a lot seems new to me.
But to others (maybe yourself), a lot seems new, and that can be really scary. Songs are different. Policies are different. People are different. Ways are different. Society is different. It’s not like it was.
It’s rare that old and new mix well. When we mix them, tension is created (like in the cloth and wineskins). Jesus certainly created tension with his new ways. He challenged those who were ingrained in the old ways and who struggled to embrace the new that he wanted to bring. They would say ‘the old is better.’
Jesus was bringing new covenant life, which we now live in. But there is still something to be learned from this story for us today.
We like to say, “the old is better.”
We can be scared to question our ways, to embrace the new, and to let go of what’s familiar and believed to be right.
Furthering God’s Kingdom
I’ve been reflecting on this in our faith communities. It’s easy to get stuck in old frameworks and patterns, and struggle to embrace new ideas, patterns, and ways. I believe this can restrict the Kingdom. How does what we do, and how we gather, further God’s Kingdom here on Earth?
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes the old is good, but often we’ve lost the communication of why it is good. Let me give you a recent example.
I grew up knowing that meetings were held quarterly, motions had to be seconded, voted upon, etc. “It’s just how us Baptists do it,” I thought.
I also thought this was outdated, boring, unspiritual, and a put off for younger generations. What I didn’t knowwas that this is not Baptist specific, it’s the structure provided by ACNC for not-for-profits. It’s Australian law.
Did I feel incredibly stupid? You bet! No one had ever explained to me why we did it that way. They just assumed I knew.
Am I the only one? I doubt it.
So, I was left with the fact of a procedural way of governance that brought order but felt dry, unspiritual and completely outdated for younger generations.
Then came pending questions that needed to be wrestled with. – If we cannot do away with this structure, how can we breathe new life into it? – How can we communicate the why and invite people into the how, rather than just expecting them to follow suit? – How can we not just do what the law says, but actively welcome Holy Spirit into it?
I would love to give you a simple answer! But the truth is, there isn’t one. You need to work it out for yourself, your context, and your community.
We have been gifted these guidelines that aim to help churches have structure. This is not the way God intended it to be (Stephen spoke about this at our recent muster). However, in our brokenness, we have a structure that is intended to helpus. What we need to determine is how that structure actually helps, and how we can use it to bring health to our faith communities.
Can I challenge you, that simply saying, “this is the way we do it” doesn’t make sense for younger generations. We will question everything, so you need a better answer than that. Otherwise, we’ll just walk away and find another place of belonging that makes more sense.
Our Baptist Way
Our Baptist way of congregational governance is a gem. It allows people to have a genuine voice. So how can we steward it well? How can we partner with Holy Spirit and contextualise this for younger generations?
Here are some suggestions from my point of view:
1. Know the why and learn how to communicate it:
For example, “we value… and this informs why we do…”
2. Be attentive to Holy Spirit:
We have a structure provided to us by ACNC, but we also have a living God, with us by His Holy Spirit. So we need to learn (afresh) how to be attentive and responsive to the Spirit’s prompting. We need to learn this:
Individually – Investing in relationship with God. Spiritual disciplines are a great way to foster this intentionally (but that’s another topic) – Paying attention to ourselves, our emotions, and doing deep inner work, so that we bring our transforming selves to our communities
Collectively – How can we create space to pause and pay attention? Do we have collective spiritual rhythms? – How can we create space and time to listen to one another and discern what Holy Spirit might be saying to us and through us?
3. Promote the voices of younger generations
If people had listened to me complaining about our system and changed it simply because I said so, we could be in strife. However, when people are willing to come alongside younger generations, welcome their questions, allow them to wrestle, and let their perspectives be heard, wrestled with, and discerned, we might just be able to move forward together. Then we can live in the tension of the old and the new experiences. How can you include younger voices in the decision making of your church? In doing so, maybe our churches can experience Kingdom life afresh.
Jenna Blackwell works part-time for Tasmanian Baptists and is responsible for Leadership Development. She is a Christian Coach, with a particular interest in spiritual and personal formation. Jenna also pastors part-time at City Baptist Church Launceston, as their formation pastor.
Here is the third quarter news from our Baptist churches around Tasmania. This time we hear from: Lifeway Devonport, Newstead Baptist, The Point, Citywide and Hobart Baptist Church. I hope this update from our churches encourages you and reminds us of the precious community that we have in Jesus Christ!
Around the Churches August – September 2024
Northwest
Lifeway Devonport
August began with a group of people from LifeWay joining with a team from Landcare to revegetate a strip of coastline in East Devonport. The area was spread with topsoil, covered with bark mulch and planted with a variety of shrubs and grasses. With plenty of LifeWay people to help, the Landcare team had time to clean up the nearby beach. LifeWay valued this opportunity to make a positive contribution to the Devonport community. LifeWay marked Fathers’ Day with a special morning tea of scones, jam and cream that were enjoyed by everyone, not just fathers!
North
City Baptist Church
City Baptist church has been engaging in the Seasons of Creation and enjoyed a combined gathering with Pilgrim Uniting Church on 8 September 2024. They also celebrated their annual general meeting, sharing stories from City Seeds, including the community garden, weekly drop-in centre, Re-Imagine (young adults) and more. They are finishing Alpha at the end of September and looking forward to a great Holy Spirit Day on 21 September.
Combined gathering with Pilgrim Uniting Church
Re-Imagine young adults
Newstead Baptist
Newstead Baptist Church recently enjoyed an introductory HEART OF WINTER EXPO highlighting some of the 17 businesses and ministries held weekly on its church premises.
Businesses involved on the day were Wise Learning Tutoring Services, Lions Club of Launceston, Drop-in Centre, Men @ Maccas, Men in the Shed, Chat ‘n’ Choose, Active Ageing, Launceston Dance Centre, Tasmanian Performing Arts Centre, Andrea Badcock Vocals, Rosemary Hill Art. The Expo also included a Kids Zone with craft activities by Scripture Union, face painting and a colour-in competition.
About 100 people attended the Expo – a very warm and friendly occasion on a cold, wet day. It was a great opportunity for representatives from all groups to meet and mingle over the displays, refreshments and a sausage sizzle. (use photos from Facebook)
The Point Baptist Church
The Point Baptist survived the recent wild weather. They are praying for one of their members, Gavin, who works with Transend and is helping to restore the power to homes and businesses.
The church is encouraged by the increased participation of their young adults and youth, who are leading worship and taking on other activities. They are still looking for a part time youth leader.
Craig Hawkins returned from a two-month Creation speaking tour through Victoria, NSW and Queensland. He spoke to nearly 2000 people, including over 500 school students. The two Craig’s: Craig Ellem and Craig Hawkins were thankful that Anthony McClone assisted while they were away on preaching duties.
The Creation Discovery Centre has had some recent additions and improvements made to it.
Some of the Creation Discovery Centre Displays
Briar Marshall leading praise and worship
South
Citywide Baptist (Mornington, Lenah Valley, Levendale and Nepalese)
Time Out 30th Celebrations
Great were the memories and celebration of the craft program, Time Out, in July after 30 years! Many people and past team members attended this very special morning. Time Out ministry has offered friendship, a listening ear, and creative craft opportunities to many people in the community through the years.
Coinciding with this milestone, Raie Semmens stepped down from her long tenure of leading the program after 22 years. What an amazing ministry Raie has given, sharing her heart for people and her dedication to Jesus. Marg Moss has stepped into the role and is bringing her own creative gifting to the program.
Citywide’s Trivia Night
Stuart Semmens has again excelled in his amazing planning and running of this fun night, helped by our young adults’ group. Over 90 people attended, and every table had visitors and friends sharing in the fun and challenge.
Tabletop Sale
Again, over 30 tables were booked for this event – most from the wider community. The aim is to open the premises for the community and share in this service.
Wedding Congratulations
The church rejoiced with Nic Mayall and Ben Tomlison as they were married on 31 August. The ceremony was held at Blue Lagoon and the reception at Citywide. Citywide’s love and prayers are with them as they journey together into their future. May they know God’s blessings in abundance.
Hobart Baptist Church
HBC held a thanksgiving service for Stephen Jenny Baxter on 1 September. Members at Hobart Baptist Church prayed for Stephen & Jenny Baxter during the service and Stephen wrote this letter to for church community:
Dear brothers and sisters of Hobart Baptist Church,
Thank you. From the depths of my heart, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your support, love, and prayers throughout my time as pastor at HBC. It has been an honour to serve you and to serve God over the years.
Together, we’ve shared moments of joy, growth, challenge, and deepening faith. Your faithfulness has been a constant source of inspiration, and I’m truly grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me.
As I reflect on this chapter of my life, which represents a quarter of my working years, I’m filled with a profound sense of gratitude for your kindness and encouragement. They have been invaluable, shaping both my ministry and own my personal growth.
Jenny and I are especially thankful for your continuing prayers as we have walked alongside each other on this journey. The memories and the bonds formed over the years will always be cherished.
While this is an end to being your pastor, it is not the end of our relationship. Looking ahead, I’m confident God will continue to bless and guide this congregation, and we look forward to being part of it.
The baptisms of Sarah, Rachel, Hadassah and Lizzy made a joyful start to the month as we celebrated the commitment that these four people were making to their Lord.
June also brings our annual Solstice Splash event when we share lunch after the service, showcase our skills in turning the humble apple into a wide range of delicious treats in the Apple Cooking Competition, and the hardy amongst us take a quick dip in the ocean.
Our last service in June was competently led by our church children with signs of future leadership among them. We are blessed to have dedicated leaders of this growing ministry.
The fortnightly Men’s Coffee and Cheese Afternoon continues to offer a caring and supportive opportunity for men to meet and share their stories.
“The Marriage Course @ LifeWay” will begin mid-July to encourage couples to celebrate their marriages and build new strengths into their relationship.
by Judy Magor
Solstice Splash
Penguin Baptist
These days our church includes only a dozen attendees on the best days, but half the congregation preaches or leads worship so that is not a problem.
One of our older ladies recently said: “I love our little church. I love every sermon.”
We enjoy a monthly men’s lunch and have fun at a monthly ladies games and chat group, which includes some who don’t attend a church. In these days, when loneliness is a common problem, it provides great opportunities for connection and support.
We are also privileged to be able to support two overseas missionaries, two children and one grandma, as well as local chaplaincy, and have hosted a Chat n Choose group for three decades.
Penguin Baptist Church
Around the Churches
North
City Baptist Church
City is celebrating just over one year of gathering at the Boathouse Function Centre. The church is starting Alpha in August, meeting on Sundays 12.00 – 1.30pm at Boathouse Function Centre.
Pastors, Anthea and Jenna have begun training with Building a Discipling Culture (BDC), along with a few other Tas Baptist Pastors. They are really enjoying the simple and multipliable communication around discipleship.
Around the Churches June-July 2024
South
Citywide Baptist (Mornington, Lenah Valley, Levendale and Nepalese)
National Senior Pastors Conference We hosted this annual event at Citywide in May with 80 delegates attending from all round Australia. Reports and comments received indicated a special time was had by all, with inspiration, networking and worshipping refreshing these busy people.
Foundations The Foundations discipleship course is going well, with many attesting to fresh insights and revelations about God, their faith, and their relationship with others.
Prayer & Fasting We again held a prayer and fasting week over the solstice period, including a prayer session on Rosny Bluff before joining other Hobart churches at St David’s Cathedral for a midnight service. This culminated a week of celebrations across the churches of Hobart bringing the Light of Christ into the darkness across Hobart.
MAANS (Merge Academy Awards Night) Our youth again excelled themselves and facilitated our annual ‘red carpet’ event showcasing original and innovative videos from our congregations. It was good to bring out the bow ties and after 5 wear to be part of this grand awards event.
National Senior Pastors Conference
Mid-winter Prayer & Fasting
MAANS (Merge Academy Awards Night)
Hobart Baptist Church
Luminous Festival
HBC held its annual Luminous festival in June, with this year’s theme as Sacred Tasmania – Exploring the connections between the sacred, place and sustainability.
This was the fourth year for Luminous, and this year involved four conversations, plus three art installations and a concert with an indigenous singer Scott Darlow. Also, a Christmas in Winter carols service brought the joy of Christmas into the middle of the year.
The 4 conversations were very different in nature, but all related to the theme of Sacred Tasmania. Along with the three different expressions of art, the commonality was clear: there was much to reflect on. The importance of having conversations, listening to differing points of view and of education, cannot be underrated.
Passover at Deloraine Monday, 22 April was the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the biblical date for Passover. Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples at the meal we call ‘the Last Supper’ (Luke 22:15). Although Holy Communion (aka the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist) is a very ancient and appropriate Christian tradition, it was within the context of the Passover meal that Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
Accordingly, twenty-three Christians enjoyed a traditional Passover meal at Deloraine Baptist Church on the evening of 22 April. The meal included roasted year-old ram lambs and all the traditional trimmings.
From a Jewish perspective, the Passover commemorates their redemption from bondage to Pharaoh through the shed blood of the lamb without blemish. As Christians, we also see its further application to our own redemption from slavery to sin through the shed blood of our perfect and sinless Messiah (1 Corinthians 5:7b).
Passover at Deloraine
Although (for now) the Jewish people remain blinded to its significance, the traditional Passover meal is replete with Christian symbolism. For instance, three matzot (unleavened bread) are placed in a special ‘three-in-one’ bag. During the meal, the middle matzah is broken (“this my body”), wrapped in linen and hidden away. It is later ‘discovered’ – a prophetic picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
Four cups of wine are traditionally consumed, representing the four promises God made to Israel in Exodus 6:6-8. They are the Cups of Sanctification, Deliverance, Redemption and Restoration. The third cup is not drunk until after the meal. It was this one (Luke 22:20) that the Lord referred to as “his blood.” However, Jesus deferred drinking the final Passover cup until his return (Matthew 26:29). In fact, our Lord is currently teetotal while he serves as our great High Priest in the Heavenly Temple (e.g. Hebrews 9:11 cp. Leviticus 8:8-9).
The event lasted two-and-a half hours and was enjoyed by all participants. Many agreed that it was a more meaningful commemoration of the Master’s death than the traditional hot cross buns and chocolate eggs.
FROM TOP LEFT: Serving dinner; the community gathers; Michael and Michelle; Vicki and Wes; the table set…
Lifeway Devonport
Social activities The vibrant Lifeway worship community is busy throughout the week, with Monday Tribes for kids after school, Converge for young adults on Tuesday evening, Men’s Coffee and Cheese Wednesday afternoon, Seniors’ Bible Study Thursday morning, Prayer Group Thursday evening and Fellowship Group on Saturday. There are also Pulse small groups, which meet regularly to support and pray for each other.
Visiting Chaplain On Sunday 28 April the Chaplain of the Adelaide Crows Football Club spoke at the morning service and gifted a guernsey to Pastor Nicholas and longtime supporter of the crows Bill Magor.
May Mission Month During May Mission month the dedicated Mission Team have worked hard to form study groups for most days of the week, set up a wonderful interactive display in the auditorium and, after worship Sunday morning in the Café, provided a guest to speak in the Human Library about a chapter in their lives connected to mission.
Deaths Recently, Alec Small from the Karingal Community and Trevor Levett passed away.
Sheffield Baptist Church
Membership Increase We are pleased to say that our doors are open each Sunday to witness and share the gospel with locals and visitors alike. In February we welcomed two new members which was a real encouragement.
To us long term attendees, we are thankful for speakers from different churches making themselves available to preach each Sunday, it is a special blessing. Our fellowship teas continue to be well supported on the third Sunday of the month at 5:30 pm followed by singing of hymns and favourites for approximately an hour.
Sheffield Baptist Church
Ulverstone Baptist Church
Social activities UBC Seniors continue to meet on the first Friday of the month for fellowship and morning tea. The have enjoyed guest speakers, Ian Pickford with a display of various flags; Josh Skeat from the Ulverstone Anglican Church, as well as Valma and Yasmin McPherson (mother and daughter) who spoke in a morning themed “Remembering Mothers”.
Our recent Men’s events have included riding bikes to the Turners Beach Berry Patch for breakfast, go-karting and indoor cricket. These events have been well attended by a variety of ages and has been a wonderful opportunity to reach out, encourage and strengthen relationships.
On Mother’s Day weekend, about 40 of our UBC ladies enjoyed a scrumptious morning tea at the Turners Beach Berry Patch in their yurt. As Mother’s Day and May Mission Month both share the month of May we were blessed on Mother’s Day to have a mission visit from Andy and hear of the work he is doing in Southeast Asia.
Our winter table tennis competition has once again commenced on Monday evenings.
From the pulpit Over the course of the last few months, we were challenged and encouraged by Pastor Louis and Lyn McKay as they preached a series titled “Called”.
Home in glory We were saddened to hear of the passing of our dear sister Ivy Priestley. We give thanks to the Lord for the blessing that she was to our UBC family and all who knew her.
Ulverstone Baptist Church
Wynyard Baptist Church
Pastor Changes In 2023, Franz Brosch started the role of associate Pastor at Wynyard. Before that, he grew up in Germany in the southwest region. He always believed in God, but when it comes to Jesus and the Gospel it was in secondary school that his understanding grew. He was baptised as an adult to affirm that commitment. Recently, Pastor Owen Muskett retired after 10 years of service and the church affirmed Franz in taking Owen’s role as successor. God has led Franz and Heidi in ways that they had never expected. Pray for the church in this time of transition, and with the added challenge of Franz completing his studies.
North
City Baptist Church
Community and adventure! The City Baptist community has enjoyed a few adventures this year. We ventured out for a baptism at Low Head (see pictures), we joined the Marginata community in Evandale for a Taize gathering, and the Launceston Easter Festival happened on our front lawn.
The community garden (St Leonards) continues to flourish, providing welcome and hospitality to many former refugees. Our church is supporting an ecumenical initiative in Launceston that is focused on providing a safe space for young adults to ask faith questions and build community.
We hope to begin a new seed of faith, fun and community by welcoming parents/carers and their children to a weekly nature play space. This is in partnership with the manager of Utas Inveresk community garden; we are still waiting for the right person/people to help with this initiative.
With our emphasis on prayer lately, we welcome you to pray with us as we seek God’s direction for future steps.
Baptism at Low Head
Latrobe Baptist Church
Remembering Two Women It was a sad couple of months for the Latrobe Church in February and March with the passing of two of our ladies. Both ladies are very sorely missed but we know they are both now at rest with the Lord.
Anneke Carrasco, (1949 – 2024) passed away suddenly on 26 February after a short illness. She had not been with us long, but her smile and cheeky manner is remembered by all of the church family
Beryl Rallings (1931-2024) passed away on 26 March. She had been a member of the church for many years. Beryl had a wonderful singing voice and this was mentioned by lots of people at the funeral as something they remembered about her. She was a beautiful Godly woman who loved her Lord and showed that in her life.
Anneke Carrasco, (1949 – 2024) and Beryl Rallings (1931-2024)
Newstead Baptist
Matu Church There are five Baptist churches in the Launceston area. In 2020, Rodney and Maddy reached out to connect with the Matu church. That has begun a journey of coming closer into community and being on a journey of growing in relational connection. Now the Matu are based out of Newstead Baptist.
The Matu meet on Friday nights, Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. The Matu Pastor has had two decades of ministering in church and he has a deep heart to connect with the Pastors around Tasmania.
Summerhill Baptist Church
Alpha We are well into our first Alpha with Session Six this Thursday, 9 May. God has blessed us with around 14 people each week, consisting of around eight from our congregation and six seekers. There are a wide range of ages, personalities, and backgrounds, all attending the course for different reasons. There have been some great conversations already, and as relationships and trust develop people are engaging more.
This doesn’t mean it is without its challenges. There have been times when we believe there has been negative spiritual pressures brought to bear on our groups, sometimes through distractions, discouragements, physical disruptions and recalling deep emotional experiences.
But we are hugely grateful to God, not only for the opportunities to reach out and share the gospel but also in the incredible ways he is working in so many in his church here. Many supporters bring along beautiful food each week, with so many praying for the team and guests alike. May the Holy Spirit be at work through each one for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)
South
Citywide Mornington, Lenah Valley, Levendale and Nepalese
Deaths We have been sad to say goodbye to three of our long-term members in April. Ed Straatsma, Patsy Appleby and Neil Broomhead all served their Lord and his Church faithfully throughout their lives. We praise God for them and rejoice that they are now with Jesus.
Baptisms We have been blessed and excited to witness two baptisms in the last month: Anya Evenhuis and Brendan Isaac have testified to their faith and been baptised – much to the delight of family and church friends.
Levendale We have re-launched a fellowship in Levendale under the care of Paul Dare. They are now able to receive our streamed services from Citywide. It’s a small beginning and we are praying for God to move amongst the people in that district.
ANZAC Day Again, this year we ran a fun festival for the community at Lenah Valley. It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of fun, it’s a lot of connections. Each year we are encouraged by the numbers of people who express their appreciation for the opportunities they have to express their thanks to people who have served our country and to celebrate together our freedoms and culture. The morning is a good expression of community.
Dinner Together For the rest of this year, we have offered an invitation for other Baptist churches in Hobart to join us in our monthly Dinners Together. Our goal in this is to build a stronger community across our churches and get to know each other better. This month there were 65 involved which included 11 from Hobart Baptist.
Foundations All southern churches are invited to join us as we run the Foundations course again. The course runs over 12 weeks, offering both lunch time and evening classes weekly. This is a discipleship journey looking at God, Ourselves, Others and the World. Register on our website.
Nepalese
Nepalese The church is growing by 10 percent every year, and we’re up to 90 people at services, but we only have 70 chairs, so this is a good problem to have.
Claremont Baptist Church
Window on Witness Last Christmas time, we wanted to make a display that would draw people back to the “reason for the season” so we set about to make a nativity scene outside the church. Everyone was involved, the men with bits of wood and things, the ladies with craft materials. The stable, a donated cubby house, grew to accommodate wisemen and shepherds, a sheep and donkey. Time came to dismantle the display and we found the stable was now too heavy to move! We now have a window to dress, and this has opened up a range of creative ideas. We try to change the display every six weeks. Dog walkers, people waiting at the bus stop and cars passing by are looking in the window and taking notice! The church asked for poppies to be made for an Anzac Day tribute, below, and over 900 knitted, crochet, paper and felt poppies were made by the ladies!
Easter This Easter, beside wonderful worship services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday we reintroduced the Dawn Service on the Montrose Foreshore. We’d like to call it a “sunrise service” but clouds shrouded the sun. Nonetheless it was a wonderful morning with participants from five different churches in the Northern Suburbs, worshipping and praying for our community together.
Increase We have been blessed over the past six months to see a gradual increase at Sunday morning worship services from around 25 to well over 40 some mornings. Our Sunday School is active and vibrant again thanks to a new dedicated teacher. God hears and he answers prayer!
Claremont window displays 900 poppies made by the ladies for ANZAC Day
Claremont Easter gathering at Montrose Bay
Claremont Easter cross at Montrose Bay
Claremont window display for Christmas 2024
Claremont window display for Easter 2024
Hobart Baptist Church
Luminous Festival Winter is when things generally get quiet. At Hobart it is our busy time. It is a positive way to interact with Dark Mofo in a positive way. Theme is Sacred Tasmania the links between sacred and sustainability in Tasmania. We have representatives of Parliament coming to our church. To register, visit the website.
Esteem Coffee Shop Esteem Coffee’s customer base has been growing, but somewhat incremental. Starting this week the coffee shop will be offering all hot drinks for $3 for everyone. And… in July they will trial a ‘pay it forward’ scheme. This will begin with 100 hot drinks to give away. So, if you would like a drink, you cannot pay for your own cup because it is already paid for! But if you would like to pay it forward for someone else, they will add it to the running total and keep offering everyone free cups of coffee until the running total lowers to zero.
The Rev Alan J L Neate died on 2 March 2024. Alan began his ministerial life as a student pastor at Port Kembla and Lugarno before serving as pastor at Wagga Wagga, Broken Hill South, Liverpool and Auburn Baptist Churches in New South Wales as well in ministering in Ashfield as Director of Religious Education.
He and his wife Lillian and family moved to Tasmania and pastored Central Baptist in Launceston from February 1974 to October 1980 before moving to Victoria and pastoring Bendigo Baptist Church from 1980-1987 and then Wodonga District Baptist Church from 1987-1992. Alan was the President of the Baptist Union of Victoria in 1988-1989.
Alan was a pastor who regularly visited the congregation in their homes and was a much loved preacher. Born in NSW on 16 September 1926, he was converted during a CSSM beach mission and years later was baptised and joined a Baptist church.
Prior to training at the NSW Baptist College from 1949, he worked for the Commonwealth Bank for seven years. Here Tasmania he was President of the Baptist Union. He served on many Councils and Committees of the various Baptist Associations. He was lovingly supported by his wife Lillian (dec.) throughout his ministry.
He’s was never afraid to tell people they need Jesus Christ in their lives.
“I like to preach for a verdict,” he once explained. “People have been saved in a communion service because I’ve stopped to explain what communion was about.
“Although, I don’t see myself as a red-hot evangelist, and I regularly use others who can put the net out.”
For him the keys to church growth were the effective exposition of God’s Word and genuine pastoral care by the pastor, the pastor’s wife and others. One of his children, Margaret, Christian educator with the ABMS both in Timor and Indonesia, became well known to us Tasmanian Baptists. – Laurie Rowston
Around the Churches, February-March 2024
Northwest
WYNYARD
Church Events
The Wynyard Church and Sunday School picnic at the Railway Institute Hall was an enjoyable day for all ages and the “Just Girls” group enjoyed a day out at Kaydale Gardens recently.
Approximately 90 people met for a special Chat n Choose morning tea and fellowship on Thursday, 14 March. The event was to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of Chat n Choose. It was a great opportunity for past and present ladies to get together. Chat n Choose women meet every Thursday morning during school term for morning tea and various crafts.
The annual Harvest Thanksgiving Auction and dinner fundraiser held in March was a great success and enjoyed by everyone that attended.
Members from our congregation opened their home and provided a BBQ lunch on Sunday, 25 February at Hellyer Beach. The time together was enjoyable, despite the rather gusty conditions.
BBQ lunch: Barry & Jann, Graeme & Debbie, Mark & Avril, Basil & Val, Jeff & Rosemary, Ann, Geoff & Maureen, Max, Annette, Vivien & Richard.
Lunch with a view
Enjoying lunch
Strolling along Hellyer Beach
Thumbs up
ULVERSTONE
Christmas Day Lunch 2023
It was a privilege for Ulverstone church to host a Christmas Day Lunch, with 58 people attending. Illness kept a few from coming. All who attended were well fed, with leftovers to take home. A Christmas message was presented, and a small gift, with a take home message, was given out to attendees.
Leadership Vision Day Retreat 2024
On Saturday 17 February Ulverstone held a Leadership Vision Day Retreat. Attendees were blessed by a time of praise and worship, and prayer. The group completed a survey, followed by a time of discussion. Nick Booth from Romaine Park blessed everyone with his sharing, then this was followed by a yummy lunch and further discussion.
Church Family News
As a church family, Ulverstone continue to enjoy the warmth of summer and fellowship as they gather each month after the Sunday morning service for a picnic at Fairway Park.
In November they celebrated with Abbey and Cameron Hingson with the safe arrival of their sweet son Rory Mac Hingston. Rory’s timely arrival meant that he was able to attend the celebration of his Great Grandparents, John and Glenys Preston’s 60th wedding anniversary in December.
From the Pulpit
A new catch phrase “Believing for more in 2024”, has seen the church be challenged. The church has been reminded, over the last few weeks – by Pastor Louis, Lyn McKay and John Sypkes – how each person has been called according to His purpose.
BURNIE
Farewell Ian Joyce
Ian Joyce passed away on Friday, 23 February, aged 102. He was a long serving member of Burnie Baptist for many decades. Ian and his wife Fay moved away from Burnie to down-size and be nearer to family about 15 years ago.
In 1983, Ian was made Life Deacon after serving as Deacon and Elder over many years. In 1984, he was inducted as Associate Pastor, a role he served for 10 years until his wife Faye took a position with Lifeline in Broken Hill. In Broken Hill, Ian served as Pastor of Broken Hill Baptist Church. He returned to burnie after four years. He continued to preach occasionally.
After moving to nearby Penguin, Ian and Faye faithfully fellowshipped at the Penguin Uniting Church. Ian continued to be a faithful servant until his passing.
Around the Churches February-March 2024
South
CITYWIDE Mornington, Lenah Valley, Nepali
Summer Teaching Series
Throughout January we were challenged and inspired by different speakers sharing from their faith journeyings. We were blessed!
Finalising Carpet Replacement
Great rejoicing! We finished replacing the old, worn carpeting throughout the building at Mornington; As a result, the new carpet looks so much better. Praise God for his provision through the generosity of his people.
Dinner Together
Over 50 people gathered in various homes to share the first of our pot luck Dinner Together meals this year. We will be changing the way we do this for the rest of the year, in that we are aiming to meet in our own suburb with Christians from other Baptist churches in our area – a way of getting to know others in God’s family who live near us.
Potluck Dinner Together meals at Citywide
Child Safe Workshop
Several of our leaders have joined with other churches in our area to workshop the changes in Legislation together. This is a significant area of risk for us and facing the compliance responsibilities is a challenge.
Mission Foci
In January, our focus was on Aboriginal Day and the needs of our indigenous people of our land. February featured the 12 children we sponsor through Baptist World Aid, Compassion and REHOCH children’s home in Zambia. In March, we are centring on our support of two remote rural pastors in Nepal, and hearing of their work and the people they care for.
Esteem Cafe, operated by Kelvin Smith, is bringing a quiet but steady stream of people into the new space at Hobart Baptist Church. After the success of the Long Table dinners and Market Stall days, Kelvin is now turning his attention to starting weekday groups, between 8am and 2pm. Groups include English Conversation and Story Telling. Esteem is still waiting for kitchen approvals before progressing to being a full cafe.
Long Table dinner at Esteem
Luminous
The year began with an Info Session and pre-planning session for Luminous 2024 festival, held in June every year. Luminous seeks to open a space for discussion, develop thought and shine a gentle and welcoming light on profound and foundational questions in a way that is life-giving and unifying.
The festival brings art and conversations together through the theme of Christmas within its original context of the dark and cold of winter. This provides and opportunity to celebrate the rich themes of light and hope, which often go missing in an Australian summer Christmas.
What are our youth up to in the north of the State? Roger Radford (Summerhill) fills us in on the unified approach taken by Launceston and Longford churches.
Launceston Combined Youth
7-9pm, 4th Friday every month
I am excited to share with you all the wonderful events that the greater Launceston area Baptist Youth has had in 2023.
It has been an incredible year filled with fun, fellowship, and growth. We have had the pleasure of coming together and enjoying each other’s company through a range of exciting activities.
The first event we had was Bowling, where we had a friendly competition and shared many laughs. We all appreciated the chance to let our hair down and relax in each other’s company.
Our second event was held at Newstead Baptist, where we enjoyed a range of games that challenged our strategic thinking and teamwork skills. It was great to see everyone working together and having a great time.
More recently, we had a Laser Tag event, where we gathered for an action-packed day of running around and dodging lasers. It was a great opportunity to let loose, have fun, and bond with each other.
Plans for the year ahead
As we move into 2023, we have an exciting lineup of events planned.
On the 28th April, there will be a Sports and Skate event. Then Basketball games on 26th May, where we can show our competitive spirit and have a great time cheering each other on.
There will also be a Trivia Night on 23rd June, which will be a fantastic opportunity to learn new things and share our knowledge with each other.
We are still planning our fourth event on 28th July, and will confirm the details soon. Be sure to stay tuned for more information about this exciting event.
Please come!
I am grateful for the wonderful year we have had so far and am excited about the upcoming events for 2023. I encourage all youth to come along and get involved in these events. They are a great way to meet new people, have fun, and grow in faith together.
Over the New Year period, two of our teams, a men’s and a women’s team, attended the 50th National Baptist Basketball Carnival in Adelaide. We also sent one junior player who had the fantastic opportunity to suit up and play with an Adelaide team.
Although none of our teams made it to the finals this year, it was a thrilling experience to be back at the carnival after a two-year hiatus due to the global situation. The camaraderie, sportsmanship, and faith-filled atmosphere were truly inspiring.
In even more exciting news, the 2024 National Baptist Basketball Carnival will be hosted by Launceston! This will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to showcase our beautiful city and welcome fellow Christian basketball enthusiasts from around the nation.
Season news
Our LBA Baptist regular season has recently kicked off, and we have seen significant growth in participation.
This season, we have six A Grade men’s teams, four A Grade women’s teams. Plus ten B Grade men’s teams, and five B Grade women’s teams.
Games are on Saturday nights at Elphin Sports Centre and Newstead College, and we encourage everyone to come out and support our talented teams.
