Profile Archives - Tasmanian Baptists

Ministry Profile

Dan Evenhuis recently began working at Citywide Baptist as the Executive Pastor.

I hail from Smithton, and I spent my early years with my four siblings on a cattle farm. My family had a strong Christian focus, with Bible readings and prayer at mealtimes. Currently, I am Executive Pastor for Citywide Baptist Church. My job is to help the smooth running of our church. I’m also focusing on worship, pastoral care, and outreach.

We lived in Melbourne when I was between the ages of four and 12, while Dad ministered to the Melbourne Jewish Community. Then, when I turned 13, we returned to Smithton. I found the transition very difficult, although it was during this period I met Jesus, who became my best friend. I was constantly aware of His presence and a natural friendly relationship developed, and I was very conscious of God with me. As I rode my bike to the milking shed at 5:30am, I’d talk to Jesus along the way as though it was the most natural thing.

As an adult, I have loved working with the Youth and Community organisation Fusion, with committed godly communities around the world, seeing others being saved. I loved to see the effect no matter what the denomination.

Reaching our communities is the long-game.
Dan Evenhuis

My most recent experience with Fusion was in Oxfordshire UK, bringing the community together in a three-day festival. It was an amazing few days, ending a quite depressing year. I felt people were feeling something like, “I respect and admire these people and know they are Christians. They’re smart and don’t seem deluded, but they really believe in this God stuff. I must be missing something.” Reaching our communities is the long-game. It’s a lot of work and investment, but so worth it.

Family and the BIG move

Danni and I have been married now for 21 years. Back in the UK she taught and did dance instructing. Now, she’s teaching at Calvin Christian School in Kingston. We have four children aged from 11 to 17 years old. When I am asked how I do spend my time, I say: “I have four kids!”

Last year, we decided to come back to Tasmania after 18 fulfilling years of ministry in the UK. Back in 2014 a few of us in Oxfordshire started a less formal, and more welcoming, family-friendly Church. It continued to grow due to its unique ministry and had become stable. Now that the church is sustainable, Danni and I thought it’s time to go back to Tasmania. Family is important, and yet for 18 years we’d been doing mission on the other side of the world. It was time to expose our English-born children to Aussie culture as well as give them time to get to know their cousins, grandparents, uncles and aunties. Slowly, they’re beginning to settle into Tasmanian life. It’s going to take a lot of time though for them to feel like they belong. Please pray for them after this big international move.

In Tasmania, we love the nature and the outdoors, the beauty, and the stunning surroundings. We always thought Hobart was one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and now we live here! My family also enjoy having extended family around. It’s different to being in a country on our own. I remember on a holiday here seven years ago, my kids were surprised someone had a photo of them up in their loungeroom. It was my Auntie from Burnie. Family is like that.

I am really looking forward to getting to know the Citywide family, and other Christians across the state. I think the church seems to be struggling a fair bit here in Tasmania, and I’m so keen for us to work with God and throw all we have into His ministry.

Life Challenges for Dan Evenhuis

“A calm sea never made a good sailor”

The best advice I have received is: “A calm sea never made a good sailor”. God does not ask us to cram our Christian mission beyond our busy life. We decide how much time to allocate. I’m keen for the church to be a source of enlightenment in our community – for us not to be in our Christian ghettos, but to bring Christ within reach of those around us.

I have many challenges in everyday life. Running a church is busy work and I want to be careful that we manage how much of our effort goes into a Sunday Service. Many churches invest around 80% of their time and resources into that one Service. I would instead love to say, if you want to get to know our church, don’t just turn up on a Sunday, come and see us through the week as well. For example at Citywide, there is an amazing craft group which meets on Thursdays, with about 100 attendees. Our purpose is to stay outward focused because we exist for those who are not in the church yet!

I’d really appreciate your prayers for me, that I can stand back and have some time with God regularly so I can work out what he wants me to work on. There are no end of jobs to do, but I want to do what he has for me today.

And Briefly

I am looking forward to … bushwalking with my family.

I am worried about … many struggling churches across Tasmania.

I am confident that … I’m where God wants me.

I am joyful about … being around family.

I would like to change … church being performance- and sermon-driven. I’d love to see the church becoming a vibrant, God-centred community of believers involved in whole-life ministry.

I am at my best when … I am close to God and aware of His love for me.

FIND OUT: Citywide Baptist Church
READ: Jeff Percival (Lwr Barrington) Ministry Profile

Dan Evenhuis

Jeff Percival

Jeff Percival at Lower Barrington

Jeff Percival was inducted at Lower Barrington Baptist on Sunday 6th February 2022. He is pictured above on induction day with Ann, their daughter Anitra, and Tas Baptists Mission Director Stephen Baxter.

But who is Jeff and what gets him excited? To fill the gaps, Jeff wrote his story. Read on!

The Royal Women’s Hospital in Sydney is where it all began for me. Dad was granted compassionate leave from duty with the air force in Darwin to see his eldest son, just after I was born. He spent most of time with the bomb disposal unit at the Darwin RAAF base. My parents moved to Cronulla in the Sutherland Shire NSW when I was five and I spent all my teenage years there.

My young sister died at four years old and that event
changed the life of the Percival family

Most of my time outside of school hours was spent surfing at Cronulla beach and sailing in Botany Bay with Dad and my younger brother.

My young sister died at four years old and that event changed the life of the Percival family forever. God intervened in a mighty way when my parents sought answers as to why she had to be taken from us. The long journey ended when they became Christians and joined the local Baptist Church.

Church became a major part of our lives from then on, and Church camps and Sunday school provided great times of fellowship. It was at one of the camps at Tahlee where I was convinced of my need to confess Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.

Working and Ministry Life

Further study after leaving school centred on Accountancy and Purchasing Diploma, and led to a position of Purchasing Manager with a large multi-national company. The fast-paced life in the secular world took its toll after 20 or so years. So, Ann and I moved to the north coast where we built our home in a beautiful dairy valley. By that time, all our children had married, and we now have 15 grandchildren.

“All those who graduated were sent out to supportive churches”

I had begun theological studies with Tabor College, and after several years we were called to Teen Challenge, a Christian drug and Alcohol rehabilitation centre. Our job there was as Camp Director/ Pastor and Counsellors.

We spent three years living with 10 staff and 30 “students”. Teaching was done at four Chapel services a week, and one on Sunday. Counselling was given on a needs basis, and the students lived on site for 12-months. Then, all those who graduated were sent out to supportive churches. There they were encouraged and supported to live drug free.

Never have I been so aware of the sovereignty of God in difficult situations and the changes in the lives of those students who graduated when they yielded their life to Christ. The Lord was so present with us and so real. So much so, it was difficult for all staff to readjust to “normal” life outside when they left.

How Will they Hear?

In later years I began an interim pastoral role with churches who were without a pastor. This brought us to Tasmania in March 2015. Here I have had an itinerant ministry, preaching from north to south, over approximately eight years.

A quotation from Charles Spurgeon I’ve applied to my life since first reading it in the mid-90’s is, “When God calls you to preach the Gospel , don’t stop on the way to become a King.”

I will never decline the opportunity to preach the Gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ. This is because I’ve seen captives set free from the most debilitating addictions. As well, “how will they hear without a preacher?” It is so exciting to see lives transformed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God!

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Romans 10:14

Blessing upon Blessing

Jeff and Ann

What blessings the Lord has bestowed upon Ann and myself over the years! Here we are at Lower Barrington Baptist Church. It is our new Church family, who are hungry for the Word of God.

These are exciting times for those who watch for His coming to call His children home to be with Him. It is time to be diligent in the study of the Word and prepare ourselves for the Lord’s imminent return. Pray for those who, week by week, preach the unadulterated truth that they never compromise the God they serve.

In a few words: Jeff Percival

I look forward to worshiping the Lamb and crying, “Holy Holy worthy is the Lamb!”

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:12 (NIV)

I worry about, and am burdened for, the lost, those who have no living hope!

I am confident that the current world situation is encapsulated in Psalm 2.

Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
Psalm 2:1

I am overjoyed the Lord has seen fit to bless me with an opportunity, at this end of my life, to preach the Gospel.

I am at my best when I am walking with my Lord, confident that He goes before me.

FIND OUT MORE: Lower Barrington Baptist Church
READ: Dan Evenhuis (Citywide) Ministry Profile

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Dan Evenhuis – Citywide