Perth Baptist Tasmania Archives - Tasmanian Baptists

June 21, 2023August 7, 2023

ReCharge NEWS June 2023

21st June 2023 | ReCharge News

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School Chaplains

Positions Vacant with Scripture Union Tas

Provide emotional, social, and spiritual support to school communities…

Scripture Union has multiple chaplaincy positions available across Tasmania. Chaplains provide emotional, social, spiritual, and often practical support to school communities. They are in the prevention and support business: helping students find a better way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdown, loneliness, depression and anxiety.

SU Chaplaincy models the compassion and unconditional love demonstrated and taught by Jesus, as recorded in the Bible. Chaplains will be sensitive to, respectful of, and available to all regardless of beliefs or religious affiliations. All SU Chaplaincy staff and volunteers are empowered and equipped to champion a child-safe culture, and are committed to the highest standards of safety and care in our work with children, young people and families.

See positions available in Tasmania >

Last Daughter

In Cinemas – but you can arrange to watch at your church!

After being raised by a white family, a young girl is taken away and returned to the Aboriginal family she didn’t know. Decades later, she’s on a journey to discover where she truly belongs.

Brenda’s first memories were of growing up in a loving white foster family, before she was suddenly taken away and returned to her Aboriginal family. Decades later, she feels disconnected from both halves of her life. But the traumas of her past do not lie quietly buried. So, she goes searching for the foster family with whom she had lost all contact.

INFO for Churches > | READ review >

WATCH at the movies: Launceston Star > | Hobart State Cinema >

WATCH the trailer:

Our Baptist Values

From Australian Baptist Ministries

As mentioned at the May Assembly

A great resource for your church or small group, the Values Project* is designed to help individuals, churches and groups reflect, talk and learn about our identity and values as communities of faith within the Australian Baptist movement.

The Values Project strengthens our sense of identity, encourages connectedness and community across our movement, and informs decision making and leadership.

Four free episodes are available, along with corresponding Scripts, Facilitator’s Guide, Discussion notes, and sermon ideas.

They are a great basis for discussion and understanding Baptists, particularly for those new to the movement.

The 4-5 minute videos each focus on one of our four values: 1. Jesus-Centred; 2. Community; 3. Mission; 4. Freedom

FIND OUT MORE

WATCH Value 1: Being Jesus-Centred …

_{* The Values Project was made possible by the support of Baptist Insurance Services, Baptist Financial Services and Baplink.}

Famine Relief Announcement

News from Micah Australia

As reported in reCharge in November 2022, the Horn of Africa is suffering a severe famine. So it is encouraging to learn that in the recent federal budget, the government announced Australia will contribute $29 million from the Humanitarian Emergency Fund to partners in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

This includes:

$15 million to address increased humanitarian, displacement and protection needs of people in drought-affected areas in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
$4 million to provide food and nutrition support to the most vulnerable in Yemen.
$10 million for food and monetary assistance to refugees and vulnerable populations in Lebanon and Jordan.

Read the full story >

Samine relief from Australia's federal budget 2023

EmpowHer Day of Courage

Heads Up!

Saturday 18^th November 2023, Riverlands Longford

Calling all women! EmpowHer are gathering women around the state for a Day of Courage.

SPEAKER: Karen Wilson President, Baptist World Alliance Women; CEO Global Leadership Network Australia.

Watch out for more details available soon.

DOWNLOAD THIS IMAGE HERE FOR DISTRIBUTION / INVITATIONS

On the Move

City Baptist Launceston

Have you heard City is moving to two new locations?

Our Sunday Gatherings will be held at The Boathouse, 55 Lindsay Street Invermay, for at least the next 12 months. The Boathouse is an attractive modern building in the Seaport precinct, overlooking the North Esk River and Trevallyn, and next to Riverbend Park. Our first Gathering there will be on 18 June.

Our Drop in Centre will remain operating on Saturday nights out of the Red Dove Café in the Pilgrim Uniting facilities in Paterson Street.

City Baptist Launceston - some people — City Baptist Launceston – some of our people

Events at Hobart and Perth

Hobart Baptist’s Luminous Festival

For more details visit hobartbaptist.org.au, or Eventbrite for essential free bookings (catering).

Hobart Baptist church is again running its mid-winter festival, Luminous. This is the third year for Luminous, which aims to shed light on important topics for the people of Hobart during Dark Mofo. The festival runs for two weeks from 8-25 June and hosts conversations around spirituality and hope and showcases installation art.

6pm, Thursday 8th June, FESTIVAL LAUNCH AND ARTWORK

Michael Henderson’s art installation opens. Michael is an artist based in lutruwita / Tasmania and his work is entitled: The Seed of Life, Weighed Down. He uses symbols and metaphors to tell stories about identity, faith and longing.
The artwork will be open from 12pm-6pm until 16th June.

6pm, Tuesday 13^th, Thursday 15^th, Tuesday 20^th June, LUMINOUS CONVERSATIONS

Over successive evenings with free refreshments, this year’s topics ask, ‘Is Tasmania A Place for Everyone?’; ‘How can we help Tasmanian Children flourish?’; and ‘How Do We Create Healthy Families?’ Each of the conversations are a safe space for discussion, and not just for people of faith. We value the unique journey and point of view each of our panellists can contribute.

CHRISTMAS IN WINTER – IN THE TAB

6pm Friday 23^rd June Luminous Carols
10am Sunday 25^th June A traditional Christmas Service

All are welcome to the festival and entry is free, but bookings for evening events (catering) are essential.

Perth Tabernacle’s coming events

Women’s Collective

For women in Launceston

Calling all women in Launceston and surrounds who are interested in growing in their faith-in-action journey. You might be leading or interested in leadership, serving, or wanting to grow in faith that leads to action. This is a new space for you! Join with other women who want a safe space to process and learn together.

No life qualifications necessary. This is not a small group, or a Bible study. It’s a collective of women who are serious about learning and living in the ways of our good God, doing the journey with others, and hopefully having some laughs along the way.

Get in touch to express interest or find out more:
jenna@tasbaptists.org.au | gabi.dunn@allsaints.network

Women's Collective for femaile leaders, Launceston

About Us

Jenna Blackwell is Tasmanian Baptists’ Mission Leadership Coach. Gabi Dunn works for the Anglicans. They are housemates, great friends, and peer supports in ministry. With the support of their organisations, they are collaborating to bring a new space for women.

No, they don’t think events/gatherings have to be gender-specific. But yes, they acknowledge the complexity of life and history, and that sometimes you just need a space with other women.

Jenna Blackwell, Gabi Dunn — Jenna Blackwell; Gabi Dunn

ReCharge NEWS May 2023

24th May 2023 | ReCharge News

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Women’s Collective

For women in Launceston

Get in touch to express interest or find out more:
jenna@tasbaptists.org.au | gabi.dunn@allsaints.network

About Us

No, they don’t think events/gatherings have to be gender-specific. But yes, they acknowledge the complexity of life and history, and that sometimes you just need a space with other women.

Advocacy and support for Myanmar

National Council Resolution:

Adopted 17 May 2023

The National Council of Australian Baptist Ministries [ABM] stands in solidarity with all the church communities from Myanmar that are members of State Unions affiliated with ABM. We grieve with them as they witness their family and friends displaced, persecuted, and killed at the hands of the Myanmar military.

We note, that according to the United Nations, an estimated 1,584,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) were reported across Myanmar as of 30 January 2023, and there are more than 1 million refugees and asylum seekers in neighbouring countries. Church buildings have been destroyed and pastors detained.

We call on the Australian government to:

Increase humanitarian visas to refugees from Myanmar, particularly from ethnic areas such as the Chin, Kachin, Karen and Karenni States. This is where people have been displaced and waiting for settlement for upward of 35 years.
Increase humanitarian aid to these ethnic areas that struggle to receive international support due to Myanmar Government restrictions.
Increase pressure on the Myanmar government through further sanctions against individuals and companies associated with the Myanmar military. In addition, with further action at ASEAN and the UN.
Increase pressure on the Indian Government to issue exit permits to refugees who have already been granted Australian visas.

We commit ourselves to prayer, to continue to speak out on behalf of the people of Myanmar, in particular those connected to our church community members from Myanmar, and we commit to providing material support to displaced communities in Myanmar and border refugee camps.

Alongsiders

May Mission Month

No matter where you are, you can journey alongside your neighbours and friends.
Being an alongsider means listening, showing hospitality, bringing peace and humbly sharing the good news of Jesus.

It means praying and seeking the Spirit’s leading. It means loving the people God has put in your world, as well as loving the world.

Being an alongsider means sharing God’s love in genuine, active and relevant ways. It means partnering together with each other and God – sending and being sent, giving and receiving. Working together as partners in God’s mission.

Watch the video to find out more …

Stamps for Overseas Mission

Help raise funds for Baptist Mission Australia

For over 50 years, Australian Baptists have collected and sold postage stamps to raise money for Baptist Mission Australia (baptistmissionaustralia.org/Support/Stamps!) . This simple fundraiser generates about $70,000 every year!

Accumulations, old stamp albums, postal history and other stamp memorabilia are also very welcome.

Jill Ashdown, of Gateway Baptist, oversees this ministry in Tasmania, and anyone can assist by collecting stamps. Stamps received by our churches can be delivered to the Tasmanian Baptist State Office at Riverlands Longford.

What to do

Prepare the stamps by cutting the stamps off the envelope, leaving a 5mm border around the edge.
Collect a bundle in a box, envelope or bag.
Drop them off to Riverlands Longford, 159 Wellington St, Longford. The office is open 9am-12pm Mon/Tues/Thur/Fri. Or else, call to arrange a suitable time: 6391 2202.

Other questions
Contact the Tasmanian ‘stamp lady’ Jill Ashdown: 0439 354 849 or mjashdown@netspace.net.au

Gateway Stamp Collecting night — Stamp sorting and trimming night at Jill Ashdown’s place

23rd Baptist World Congress

Living the Good News

Brisbane, 7-12 July 2025

Watch the video explaining the symbolism behind of the logo for the Baptist World Congress 2025.

The Creation Discovery Centre

Good conversations

The Creation Discovery Centre, based at Seahorse World Beauty Point, has had an amazing summer tourism season. The Centre is run by many of our people who attend The Point Baptist Church, which also meets on the premises.

A display at the Creation Discovery Centre

During the summer, many hundreds of visitors including numerous non-believers have taken Christian resources, Bibles and tracts. We praise God for one woman who gave her life to the Lord at the centre in March.

Email Craig Hawkins at tas@creationdiscoverycentre.com if you would like to hear about the latest developments and testimonies from the museum.

Here are a few stories:

Di is an atheist who came in seeking answers and left encouraged with a Bible after hearing the gospel.
Mark and Betty came in to buy fossils for their grandson at the end of the day. Two hours later they left after going through the museum, which was not part of their original plan. Mark said, “I have never before heard the message tied in with real history.” They were both very interested and took Christian resources with them as well as a couple of fossils for the grandson!
Pray for Carla who had been witnessed to for over three years by a faithful Christian and came in while a school group was receiving a presentation. After a while she went to the front counter to speak with Rachelle and her friend saying, “It all makes sense now”.
She repented of her sins there and then, which included occult involvement, and now needs to find Christian connections in the rural area where she lives.

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Tearfund’s Rubbish Campaign

plastic, plastic, plastic

New campaign highlights the human cost of our global plastic waste crisis

Rubbish Crisis, Tearfund, ReCharge News May 2023

The Rubbish Campaign, by Christian agency Tearfund, is highlighting the human cost of the global plastic waste problem and calling on Australian households to join the effort to address this rubbish crisis.

As Australian Christians, let’s unite to address the urgent waste crisis that is unfolding: in our households and around the world. Already suffering the worst impacts of COVID-19, extreme weather and hunger, growing landfills are making poverty worse for vulnerable communities around the world.

Between 2000 and 2019, plastics production doubled and plastic waste generation more than doubled, with nearly two thirds of this coming from plastics with lifetimes of under five years. (OECD, 2022).

Tearfund is encouraging Australians to be part of the solution and to demonstrate their care for their global neighbours by signing their petition.

The petition calls on the Australian Government to do all it can to influence global negotiations and ensure that this plastics treaty helps end the world’s rubbish problem.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE >

Perth Baptist’s Ministries

Being active in the community

For more information about any of these activities, see the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PerthTabernacle | READ Perth’s Church Profile >

Weekly Sunday Cafe
Please get in touch for locations
- 4pm, Adults
- 4pm, Young People

Bread Run 6:45-7pm, Tuesdays
More than just picking up the remainder of the day’s bread from a local bakery, this is a time for people to pick up pre-cooked meals (when available), coffee, and discussion.

Home groups
Please get in touch for locations
- 10am, Thursdays
- 7:30pm, Thursdays

Ladies Craft Group
1:30pm, Tuesdays

Men’s Fellowship
10am, Alternate Wednesdays

Perth Baptist has a long-standing relationship with the residents of Eskleigh Home for people with disabilities

CHURCH PROFILE: Perth Baptist Church

Perth Baptist Church Profile

Generations of Legacy

Long ago, Perth Baptist Tabernacle had its foundation stone laid on the 8th August 1888. This was thanks to incredibly generous support by local pastoralists William and Mary Ann Gibson. Their legacy continues . . .

Church Administrator, Tony Hart, compiled this profile, with help from long-time member Fay Bunton, and others.

Perth Baptist: The Present

In March 2020 the Leadership of the church met and made the decision to close due to Covid-19. When it happened, one leader said, ‘If we close, we may never reopen’. At that time the church had an average attendance of about 45 to 50 mostly people aged over 70.

During the closure, we kept in touch with every person. Then, we came back with a new enthusiasm! We have since grown to an average attendance of 55 to 60, with several middle-aged people joining us. Recently, we had at least six people at our service who are currently seekers – all at different stages. They all need Jesus.

Most of these seekers were introduced to the church through the Alpha Community Meal activity we ran in October to December last year. On the last night we had about 45 people sit down for dinner and listen to the Gospel from the Alpha course.

Tuesday nights – We are open!

From about April last year, we were offered left over bread by a local baker each Tuesday. We opened the Hall to the community on Tuesday nights, and saw God provide fresh fruit and vegetables and pre-cooked meals.

Then, Eskleigh Home [local disability support service] ran a cooking activity for their residents, packed what they cooked, and gave it to us! The activity has grown beyond expectations with many needy people coming, while others in the community come for a chat.

Eskleigh residents at last Steptember’s service celebrating the church’s
connection with the disability provider.

Recent activities

On the Saturday before Christmas 2022, we arranged a Community Picnic. We had over 300 people come and be part of it. They then came to our Christmas Carol Service that night – over 200 people filled the church to overflowing!

On the last Sunday in February, we commenced what will be a regular Sunday evening activity. There will be a meal once a month, and afternoon tea on the other weeks. The content will be The Chosen television series.

We are open to see what God will do as we work to see His Kingdom Come in Perth.

READ MORE about the beginnings of Baptist work in Tasmania, written by Laurie Rowston.
HISTORY OF THE PERTH TABERNACLE provided by Perth Baptist church.

Tony Hart IS ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE FUTURE:

I was recently called by the church’s bank which was conducting an anti-money laundering audit amongst not-for-profit organisations. Many questions. One was to determine the church’s assets which I answered by saying that we have to insure our buildings for about $2 million. This was followed by a question as to how the church got the money for a Church, a Hall and a house!
It reminded me how God has worked at Perth Baptist, and given great encouragement for His continuing work.

Perth Baptist: The Past

Perth member, Fay Bunton, recalls her life in and around the church.

‘My grandparents moved to Perth in the early 1940’s. I would go and stay with them in the mid 1940’s and I went to church with grandma.

“My grandfather would go and open both the front doors half an hour early. In the winter he would have little round electric heaters in both aisles, to help keep the congregation warm in the cold weather.

“As we entered the church everyone was given a hymn book, as numbers of hymns were displayed on the wall above the speaker.

“We would have Sunday School at 2:30pm in the Church Hall – at least 140 children would be there all set out for grades 1 to 6. Grandma was one of many teachers.”

Easter Camp at Perth, 1954.

Hive of activity

Fay married in 1960 and left Perth, but returned in the late 1980’s. Fay remembers when the church was a hive of activity – two services each Sunday, Sunday School, weddings, harvest festivals and Sunday School Anniversaries.

In the 1990’s Fay, and her sister Edna, ran the Sunday School in the vestry during morning service and recalls that the children could sing only when the church congregation sang.

Fay was part of a group who would visit the patients at Missiondale [City Mission residential facility in Evandale] and bring them to church. She recalls two patients from Missiondale coming to the Lord, marrying, and then moving to the northwest as part of the Mission Team.

The ‘best night’ Fay participated in was the Billy Graham Crusade Choir in 1959 at York Park. There, she witnessed hundreds come forward to give their life to Christ.

FAY’S PRAYER: That God’s church at Perth Baptist will continue to be a place of witness, where people can come and hear the Gospel.

Eskleigh Bible study

Fay also recalls going to the Eskleigh Home for people with a disability for Bible Study. As part of her visits to Eskleigh Fay befriended two residents – Stephen and Andrew. They were very good friends. After illness, Andrew passed away.

About a year later, when Stephen was not well, Fay told him that Andrew was now in a good place. Stephen said, ‘No he is not there yet, he is waiting for me so we can go together’. Stephen still comes to church each week with another eight residents and their four carers.

Fay’s daily prayer is that God’s church at Perth Baptist will continue to be a place of witness, where people can come and hear the Gospel.

^[1]Launceston Examiner 1 May 1880, p5c7.

READ RECENT CHURCH PROFILES

Read ReCharge

February/March 2023

Getting to Know You Franz Brosch, Associate Pastor at Wynyard
Around the Churches, Feb/Mar 2023 Community engagement from Marrawah to Mornington!
Deep Thought March 2023 by Dr Christa McKirland, Carey Baptist College, Auckland
No Limits Women’s Symposium REPORT by Ann Herbert
Marrawah Baptist Closes It was a grand finale! By Dan Evenhuis
GOD and Life in Tasmania From the Mission Director, Stephen Baxter
Walk the World Lifeway win Baptist Mission Australia award
NEWS: February 2023 | March 2023

Recent (PDF) Issues of ReCharge

School Chaplains

Last Daughter

Our Baptist Values

Famine Relief Announcement

EmpowHer Day of Courage

On the Move

Events at Hobart and Perth

Hobart Baptist’s Luminous Festival

CHRISTMAS IN WINTER – IN THE TAB

Perth Tabernacle’s coming events

Women’s Collective

For women in Launceston

About Us

Read More ReCharge!

June/July 2023

ReCharge News June 2023

Women’s Collective

For women in Launceston

About Us

Advocacy and support for Myanmar

National Council Resolution:

Alongsiders

May Mission Month

Stamps for Overseas Mission

Help raise funds for Baptist Mission Australia

What to do

23rd Baptist World Congress

Living the Good News

The Creation Discovery Centre

Good conversations

Tearfund’s Rubbish Campaign

plastic, plastic, plastic

Perth Baptist’s Ministries

Being active in the community

Read More ReCharge!

April/May 2023

ReCharge News May 2023

Perth Baptist Church Profile

Generations of Legacy

Church Administrator, Tony Hart, compiled this profile, with help from long-time member Fay Bunton, and others.

Perth Baptist: The Present

Tuesday nights – We are open!

Recent activities

Tony Hart IS ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE FUTURE:

Perth Baptist: The Past

Hive of activity

Eskleigh Bible study

READ RECENT CHURCH PROFILES

Read ReCharge

February/March 2023

Newstead Baptist Profile

Perth Baptist Church Profile