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.
Tasmanian Baptist Pastors Do you know of any budget-friendly accommodation that our Tas Baptist pastors could use for personal retreats or holidays with their families? The Tas Baptists team are putting together a list of retreat locations and want help in sourcing some options.
It may be that a member of a congregation owns a shack, a holiday home or a cottage on their property or even a caravan that they would be so generous as to loan to a pastor every now and then, either for free or a reduced rate. It could be anywhere in Tasmania.
Pastors and church leaders work hard, and often their work is exhausting and mentally draining. Making time for rest, reflection, and connection is an essential spiritual practice, particularly for those in church leadership.
If you know of a possible option, or want more information, contact Karla Miller at Tas Baptists.
Youth Alive Main Event
Saturday, 17 August from 3.30pm to 8.00pm Main Event is a statewide event for youth to gather from all over Tasmania to lift up the name of Jesus over their generation! Main Event will be the biggest youth event of the year, and will feature Andy Harrisson and Josh Ham, along with food vans, indoor inflatable rides, limited edition merchandise releases, foyer DJ’s, giveaways, and more! Main Event will be held at the MAC 02 venue at Hobart.
Saturday, 24 August at 8.00pm Aussie Baptist churches are invited to challenge the reigning champions, Knightsbridge Baptist SA, at the ultimate Church Trivia Night. It’s Church vs Church and State vs State for the most knowledgeable Australian Baptist Church of 2024.
The challenge takes place on Saturday, 24 August at 8.00pm through Zoom. Join in around a table or in a living room from a laptop (or other Zoom-able device).
A thousand churches. Six associations. One big family games night.
Find out more and register your church team(s) on the Crossover website.
FREEDOM24 conference
Monday, 5 August, 9.00am-4.00pm Freedom for Faith is hosting the FREEDOM24 Conference on Monday 5 August, 9am-4pm in Sydney. Livestream tickets are free for those who cannot attend in person.
The conference aims to develop your understanding of threats to religious freedom in Australia from historical, theological and policy perspectives.
Historian Sarah Irving-Stonebraker will examine the history of religious freedom, while John McClean of Christ College will share a theological perspective on how the church is to respond to legal threats to ministry. In addition, a number of experts will unpack the major religious freedom concerns in Australia, as well as implications and paths forward for advocacy.
Fri 20 – Sun 22 September Are you looking to get away for a day or two and discover more about God? Do you need some time to escape the hustle-bustle of your life, to quietly rest in God’s presence?
“But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.”Psalm 73:28
The Day of Presence will be held in Maydena in Southern Tasmania to create space for busy women to stop, experience God’s presence, and B-R-E-A-T-H-E.
– Denise Stephenson, an experienced spiritual director and gifted retreat leader, will lead our time together.
– $150/person for 2 nights. If you can, bring some food to share at dinner time. (Please contact us if you have hesitations about cost. There are other ways you can contribute).
– Register your interest in coming by emailingempowher@tasbaptists.org.au and we’ll get back to you with more details.
Gateway Baptist Church Special Meeting
Sunday, 4 August Gateway Baptist Church is holding a special meeting on Sunday, 4 August at 10am, for Ps Noel and Beckie Eagling who are retiring from leadership at after five years of serving the church and are being released into itinerant ministry. Ps Bob Goolsby and his wife Sylvie are being commissioned as the new leaders.
Join them for this special time in the church family, giving thanks to the Lord for the past five years, sprinkled with perhaps a tinge of sadness in the leaving, but focussing upon celebration in the provision of what is to come.
Ps Maddy Svoboda will represent Tas Baptists to complete the commissioning process. The service will be followed by morning tea. They would love to see anyone from the Tas Baptists family, as they thank and farewell Noel and Beckie and welcome Bob and Sylvie.
SparkLit Awards
Thursday, 22 August The SparkLit Awards recognise and encourage excellence in Australian Christian writing and publishing that helps people discover Jesus in a way that is authentic and culturally meaningful.
The 2024 shortlist is out. Ten titles have been shortlisted for Australian Christian Book of the Year Award! The shortlist this year features Christian responses to suffering, the ecological crisis and the challenges of mission. The 2024 Australian Christian Book of the Year will be announced at the SparkLit Awards Night on 22 August.
You can find more information about the titles that have been shortlisted for the 2024 Australian Christian Book of the Year Award on the SparkLit website.
Save the Date: Myanmar Sunday
Sunday, 15 September Australian Baptists are joining together to support our brothers and sisters in Myanmar who are experiencing atrocities every day at the hand of the military.
Baptist World Aid Australia, Baptist Mission Australia and other Baptist ministries and Unions are inviting Baptist churches around Australia to join the Stand with Myanmar campaign.
Churches can do this by holding a Myanmar Sunday church service on September 15th (or on a Sunday between Aug 15-Sept 15).
Despite disappearing from our daily news reports, the situation has worsened in recent months. There are approximately 2,650,000 internally displaced people living or hiding in the jungle in Myanmar and a further 1,133,000 seeking asylum or in refugee camps in the countries surrounding Myanmar. Funds are desperately needed for education, medical supplies, food, water and clothing. The ethnic people groups of Myanmar are largely Baptist and here in Australia we have around 75 Baptist congregations originating from Myanmar, 56 of which are within our Baptist Union of Victoria.
Please consider joining with us by adding this important event to your church calendar for Aug – Sept 2024, as we stand with our brothers and sisters from Myanmar.
Resources and ideas for how to hold your Myanmar Sunday service will be available soon.
Ellie Firth, Mentor Coordinator at Fostering Hope explains how the Mentoring Program reflects Christ’s love by supporting at-risk children, and those who care for them.
Fostering Hope exists to reflect Christ’s love by supporting at-risk children, and those who care for them. One of the ways we do this is through our Mentoring Program. We screen, train and support volunteer Christian mentors for kids who are growing up in OOHC or are at risk of going into care. Research shows that having just one caring adult, especially one who isn’t paid to be there, makes a difference in the life of a child in care and those who care for them. Just by showing up consistently, our mentors show their mentees that they are valuable and worthwhile. Mentoring isn’t about proselytising, but it is an opportunity that we have as Christians to show vulnerable kids that they are cared for by our great Heavenly Father.
Jesus, Children and the Vulnerable
We know that children are important to Jesus, again and again in the gospels we see Jesus welcome children and completely reverse the world’s view of kids (see for example Mark 10:13-16 and Matthew 18:1-5). We also know that we are called to care for those who are vulnerable and poor (for example see James 1:27). Children who are in Out of Home Care (OOHC) are some of the most vulnerable around us and there is something we can do.
What is Mentoring?
Each mentoring relationship looks different depending on the needs and availability of the child, carer and mentor. For some they meet weekly, for others monthly and some in between. Some mentoring relationships are in the carer’s home, others meet out in public settings like libraries and cafes. They might play basketball or chess, dance or cook.
No expertise is required and there are no goals that need to be met or set agendas. Every mentoring relationship is just about developing trust and having fun together.
For Fostering Hope, mentoring is about being a “friend with purpose”. It’s about being someone who is just there for the child, responding to their needs and desires for the mentoring relationship.
“My child has enjoyed meeting up and sharing with his mentor. Some weeks he isn’t keen but that usually changes pretty quickly. Learning new skills and having someone with “no strings” to chat to is great, someone with no expectations or pressure.”
What Makes a Mentor?
As Christians we want to make sure that our interactions with children and vulnerable people not only meet the safety expectations of the world around us but exceed them.
At Fostering Hope we make it a priority to screen all our mentors to ensure all kids are safe, and all mentors are appropriate for their role. We also invest in training our mentors, and host a full day of training in trauma awareness and mentoring skills to make sure our mentors are equipped and ready to mentor. Matching is essential for the mentoring relationship to last. We spend time finding the right mentor and mentee, working hard to ensure that a mentoring relationship is a good fit. Finally, we continue to supervise mentors by walking closely with them each step of the way. This process of screening, training, matching and supervising is not a cookie cutter process but is responsive to each mentor’s needs.
One Mentoring Story… Dance Parties in the Park
Anita* has been meeting with her mentor Jenny for the past 18 months since she was 11. Each Wednesday Jenny picks Anita up from school and they head to a local park. They might cook pancakes on the BBQ and have a dance party. Sometimes they crochet or do some craft. Often, they drink tea and chat. Sometimes it is a combination of these. When Anita’s foster family changed that didn’t impact her time with Jenny. We were able to talk with her new carers and they agreed that the mentoring should continue. It has been amazing to see this relationship blossom and see Anita grow in confidence.
“[What has been most helpful about mentoring is my daughter is] time with a friend outside of family where [she] can be herself and do things she enjoys with no other family members getting in her way. She loves the freedom and the love that comes from her mentor, and it really helps her confidence.”
What Will You Do?
Fostering Hope is so grateful for the many years of financial, relational and prayer partnership we have shared with TasBaptists, BaptCare and Baptist churches. We are here to partner with local churches to equip and empower the body of Christ to serve Him in this area. Our mentoring program only recruits Christian mentors, so we would like you to prayerfully consider becoming a mentor. Not everyone is in a position to open their homes and foster kids, but many Christians are able to mentor.
What about you? Can we be there for you so you can be there for a child in care?
Ellie Firth is a Mentor Coordinator at Fostering Hope and runs the mentoring program. She also teaches mentoring at Sydney Missionary & Bible College and mentors Christian women through her own practice, Deeply Formed.
You may go to a friend’s house, and whilst you’re there you’re asked if you want some tea. You should receive tea, maybe a biscuit if they’re available. If you don’t ask for tea, and are given tea, or forced to have the tea, your consent has been ignored. At least according to one successful video, see below.
It’s often that simple. Consent is the act of giving a free willed yes to another’s proposal or desire. This can be expressed directly and unmistakably, implied through interpreting a particular action, or fully informed through clear explanation of facts. Often consent is discussed within the context of sex, either initiating or prevention of sexual assault. If anyone doesn’t consent to sexual engagement that’s assault.
For us as Baptists consent is key, we were born out of our church’s consent being violated. During our inception mandates were put upon the early Baptists around infant Baptism, congregational governance, and the place of the Common Book of Prayer. This led to early Baptists being exiled and developing in Amsterdam before returning to England and advocating for the freedom of local congregations.
We Do Faith Differently
This is shown in our decision not to baptize infants, nor force baptism upon others. We do not violate the free choice of individuals, nor do we coerce people to join the elect. Baptism is given to those who profess the creeds and faith in Christ. People must give their fully informed and explicit consent to enter the Kingdom of God. The Baptist tradition is filled with individuals who say they want to be a part of God’s mission. They consent and act towards the benefit of the Kingdom with their church.
We do faith differently! We were among the first Christians to focus on this ancient way of Baptism rather than keeping the tradition of infant baptism. Infants and young children cannot give informed consent and so we would argue they cannot consent to entering the family of God, which is symbolised in the new birth of Baptism. Instead, we seek to introduce people to the Living God, even as children, so when they can give consent and follow him they are well informed and understand God.
Why Understanding Consent is Important
As we are a collection of individual churches struggling to maintain numbers, I believe this understanding of consent grants us a deeper appreciation of how our world is thinking at this point in time. Those outside churches want safe spaces where they have the ability to choose, to give full informed consent. For us we have that built into our understanding of church, that pressuring others is unnecessary, we need only show the reasons we have faith.
Giving people reason to meet the loving God, opening the door for the Holy Spirit to meet the dormant soul and enliven it to his purposes. We must also respect the differences between people, yet offering confidence in our choices is essential. The Holy Spirit has met us, we have joined the family of Christ, and the Father guides us. Mission is the act of doing this in such a way that we can maintain consent, giving full and soulful choice to a new believer. This is the power of holding the door open and welcoming people to meet God rather than demanding conformity.
Offering the Right To Choose
If we’re leading ministries, giving people under us the opportunity to exercise this freedom, to give of themselves wholeheartedly without pushing them, grants them freedom to accept or refuse as they need. If we’re attending ministries, it’s important to stand up for what we can and can’t do, stating clearly our boundaries and enforcing them for the good of a ministry or ourselves, God’s image bearers. Open spaces to discuss consent, both in terms of the religious power we have of fully and freely giving of ourselves to God’s mission, but also in giving women space to advocate for their own desires, children space to speak their minds, and the elderly a chance to advocate for their needs.
Offering people the right to choose and honouring that, just as God does with our salvation, gives us the opportunity to be more moral people, to uphold each other’s sanctity before God, and to see each other as co-authors to the coming Kingdom of God. Will we stand beside those seeking his kingdom so they may choose him and be alongside him forevermore.
Liam Conway is Associate Pastor at Riverlands, Longford. He was born and raised in Hobart, graduated from UTas with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology. He is now the associate Pastor of Riverlands community church and is studying his Master of Divinity.
Christians of different denominations came together last week at the darkest time of the year to celebrate the light. Many different events provided expressions of love and light for the city of Hobart. A slide show from the various events is below.
Prayer walking and listening
Midnight communion service at St Davids
Jesus Bids Us Shine – Sermon on the Winters Solstice 2024
Hobart Baptist Church lights up
Artwork at HBC
Scott Darlow
Luminous panel
Luminous conversation
Luminous panel discussion
Luminous panel discussion
Luminous conversation
Luminous panel participants
Luminous panel participants
EmpowHer Day Of Wonder 2025
Save the date in 2025 on Saturday 29 March for next year’s EmpowHer Day of Wonder. Heartlands Autumn/Winter 2024 issue is out now. Read how to move from being STUCK into FREEDOM and how Breaking free from a rut can be incredibly liberating. Melissa Lipsett, CEO of Baptist World Aid and the keynote speaker for the Day of Wonder write on how women can change the fabric of local communities from poverty to cohesion. Plus Day of Presence on 20-22 September in Maydena in Southern Tasmania and other events for your calendar..
Hobart Night of Prayer
This Friday, 21st June a number of people are meeting for prayer or for prayer walks in Hobart.
You are welcome to join other Christians or gather your own group together, to pray solo or in pairs and choose a place to pray at home, at church or “prayer walk” outdoors.
Below is a list of times and locations for organised prayer groups:
6:00 – 8:00pm – Prayer at St James Anglican Church New Town, followed by a prayer walk into St Davids Church
7:00 – 8:00pm – Prayer at Kangaroo Bluff with Citywide Baptist Church
9:00 – 10:00pm – Prayer walk through the CBD. Starts at the Salvation Army Corps, 180 Elizabeth St
9:30 – 10:30pm – Prayer walk from Montagu Bay Primary School (Conara Rd – just under the Tasman Bridge) going across the bridge to St Davids along the waterfront.
*Please turn up 5 mins beforehand for prayer walks.
The latest edition of Better World Magazine is out now. This issue explores:
– What 50 years of Child Sponsorship has taught us – Why disaster preparation is a justice issue – Mi Kai Lagwi’s fight to end oppression in Myanmar – Power: am I the problem?
The Baptist World Aid magazine highlights pressing issues facing communities, offers inspiring good news stories, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse of local Christian Partners’ work around the world.
Christians from different churches around Hobart are coming together at the darkest time of the year to celebrate the light. Many churches are holding events during June to celebrate the winter months and spread the light and hope of Jesus.
Hobart Baptist’s Luminous festival is participating, along with other churches and different expressions of love for the city of Hobart. Events include: prayer walks, art installations, outreach, youth events, pancakes, hot chocolate, lanterns, hot topic discussions, midnight communion and more. These events are an excellent opportunity to invite those who don’t know Jesus yet.
This year’s Luminous Festival at Hobart Baptist includes an exhibition of art by three artists, Karin McCormack, Joel Wybrew and Michael Henderson. They explore the theme SACRED TASMANIA and the connections between the sacred, place, and sustainability.
In Tide Line, a ceramic and raw clay installation by Karin McCormack, she subscribes to ‘the broader notion of sacred, that which inspires awe and deserves respect and reverence…’.
Joel Wybrew’s music Recording with Images is called (How) are you loving home? It’s an intimate piece of music, which seeks to provoke listeners to reflect on the land they inhabit and the community they share it with. Listeners are encouraged to pause and think about if and how they embody these values.
Past – Present? – Continuous? is a work of graffiti on photographs, by Michael Henderson.
The exhibition is open 12-15 June and 17-20 June: 10am-2pm at Hobart Baptist Church and kicks off with a panel discussion with the artists 12 June at 6pm.
The theme this year is “Sacred Tasmania” with a focus on “home, love and the things that unite us” and includes four conversations on the sacredness of life and how to live it well on this wonderful island Tasmania.
On 24 May, a deadly landslide struck Enga Province in Papua New Guinea, possibly burying up to 2,000 people and leaving many families devastated.
Australian Baptists have a strong history of partnership with Baptist Union PNG. Baptist Union PNG staff members have shared the devastation of the situation as they try to locate missing family members and mourn the loss of loved ones. They’ve also made known the urgent need for aid, as the landslide has buried homes, farmland, and infrastructure.
Baptist World Aid is helping Baptist Union PNG provide emergency food rations. BWA is also cooperating with Baptist Mission Australia to practically and prayerfully respond to this disaster.
BWA, in cooperation with BMA, have developed a PNG Landslide Appeal here which is now live for donations.
Baptist World Congress
7-12 July 2025
Hosted every five years in rotating regional locations, the 23rd Baptist World Congress will take place in Brisbane. Baptists from all over the world will descend on Brisbane’s Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre. This year the Congress is a partnership between the Baptist World Alliance and the Australian Baptist movement. It will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity to gather with Baptist sisters and brothers from around the world and learn how God is at work in and through our global family.
The event theme is “Living the Good News” drawn from Luke 4: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (v. 18-19)
Library Aid International provide opportunities for schools and others in Tasmania to give a second life to used books and educational resources so that they can be shipped to needy schools in overseas countries. heir 12th container is about to be shipped.
The Sheffield community has warmly welcomed Library Aid International Inc. that originated as the vision of Linda Abblitt from Tasmania. The group is now led by Leoni Read and in 2023 relocated from Upper Burnie to the Beulah Memorial Hall with new volunteers and supporters coming forward.
They continue to see schools, libraries, churches, organisations, and private citizens donate books, educational resources and finances to LAI.
Students and staff from a school recently held a Book Drive and donated 1,161 books and a generous donation of two thousand dollars was made from the proceeds of morning teas at a popular market.
A children’s authors’ small business in Hobart donated 100 copies each of three non-fiction educational books for young children.
LAI recently placed a “Book Library Fridge” in front of the Uniting Church in Sheffield for books donated to LAI that, for various reasons related to culture or other factors, cannot be shipped. The Book Library Fridge is a novel and imaginative approach that encourages the joy of reading and community engagement, both at home and abroad while promoting LAI on the volunteer-painted fridge doors.
Experience an engaging half-day Leaders Networking Event to workshop building a culture of trust. Presented by Dr. Henry Cloud, clinical psychologist and author of 45 books including “Boundaries”.
The half-day session on Tuesday 11 June will be co-hosted by GLS Next Gen on the Northwest Coast at Devonport.
Understanding the significance of trust within a team has profound impact on enhancing working environments. The event offers a fantastic opportunity for networking, learning, and potentially catalysing positive change within church culture. Learn, grow and connect with leaders from across Tasmania.
The highlight of the meeting will be an insightful presentation by Dr. Henry Cloud.
Benefits include: – World-class insights – Dynamic conversations – Defined next steps to enhance trust with the people you lead.
Costs start at $65 per person and includes GST, workbook and morning tea.
Point Baptist Pastor, Craig Hawkins writes about his life, his love for nature and how dreams of opening a Creation Museum has now become a reality. Read on to find out . . .
Early YEARS
My Father and Mother moved to Orange, NSW to plant a new church there for the Churches of Christ movement, and that is where I was born. Before I was six, we had moved to Gladstone, Queensland because there was a plan to close the church there, but my parents felt led to help keep it open. Praise God it is still operating to this day. These are the things remembered by young minds. My dad sold vacuum cleaners and my mum sold encyclopedias to keep the pantry stocked as I remember very few people came to the church at first and sometimes our family were the only ones who turned up.
Gladstone was fun to grow up in. A tough place in the 1970’s, as a coal port and aluminium smelter. We remember the excitement of someone being shot across the road from our house one night, although apparently, they survived, I’m not certain though as I was only about eight years old. One school excursion we went to the Hoop Pine forests west of Gladstone and I loved it. It was here that my passion to work in the forests was born. After five years, the church was going well enough for dad to be called to plant a new church in Maitland, NSW. This is where I spent my high school years, letting off competitive steam playing cricket and hockey.
Keeping Faith and Science
Neither dad nor mum were much into science, but they were very early supporters of the Creation Science Foundation and I remember having John Mackay and Ken Ham come to dinner as a 15-year old. I became very interested in how science and the Bible fit together, and I am sure that this helped me keep my faith whilst completing a science degree at the Australian National University in Canberra. Years later I would reconnect with John and am now working full-time with him at Creation Research.
University and beyond
During my university years, I was lucky enough to get a Cadetship with the NSW Forestry Commission and spent an amazing field year working across NSW in some wild areas. I met a wide range of interesting Aussie characters and learned to always connect with a local country church. What a great way to learn the importance of hospitality within the Body of Christ as many people warmly welcomed me into their homes for meals and fellowship. The practical experience in the bush helped me to do well finishing off the degree.
My first professional posting was in the beautiful country town of Gloucester, NSW working in the Barrington Tops region. The forest wars were in full swing at the time, and we had various incidents to deal with. I particularly enjoyed the training in wildlife research and spent many hours surveying forest owls, large forest gliders, koalas, bats and many other creatures.
Craig and Rachelle
Spotlight Surveys Lead to Rachelle
One night in the mountains we were conducting a track-line spotlight survey when we spotted some rare Parma wallabies further up the track. We were stopped and looking at them, when suddenly they began hopping down the track towards us. One after the other they bumped into the stationary vehicle before hurtling off into the dense undergrowth. No wonder they are endangered, I thought. However, it was while doing spotlight surveys that I discovered a very good way to get close to that special girl. I had invited Rachelle and a couple of her friends out to survey wildlife out in the middle of nowhere. In the pitch-black darkness, all of a sudden, a pack of dingo’s started howling a short distance away. She clung to me tightly.
Rachelle finished her science degree at the University of Newcastle while I was working in Sydney as the departmental liaison officer for the Minister of Land and Water. However, the city life was not for this country boy and after getting married in early 1997 we moved to Tasmania so I could work with a private forestry company.
point Baptist
Rachelle did a postgraduate degree in Aquaculture and became the first biologist for the Seahorse farm which we now own. We attended Newstead Baptist and loved our years there before moving to Beauty Point with the new business in 2002.
The Lord has directed our paths and Proverbs 3:5-6 is a very special verse for us especially as we manoeuvred through difficult early years in the business. This passage would be the best advice I have ever received.
Eventually, I had to make a decision to either leave forestry or close the business as it had become too difficult to do both. By this time, I had a senior position with the Forest Practices Authority and loved the work. It needed the clearest direction I had ever had from the Lord to make me leave the profession. I am thankful that I heeded that direction.
While in Beauty Point it became quickly obvious how neglected the area was with Christian outreach. My parents had moved to the area to be close to their grandchildren and the decision was made, with dad’s church planting experience behind us, to begin what is now the Point Baptist Church.
We have six children, four boys and two girls. Our oldest son Damon also loves the outdoors and completed a forestry degree. He is married to Isabelle and lives in Queensland. All the others are still at home with two at UTAS and the youngest three at Launceston Christian School.
seahorses and museumS
The Seahorse business is now going well, having survived some very difficult times through COVID and I have refocused my full efforts into the Creation Discovery Centre and wider Creation Research ministry. Rachelle and I both had a dream of opening up a Creation Museum to show how real science supports the Biblical account of history and it has now become a reality. It has already provided an extraordinary number of witnessing opportunities.
We are also encouraged by the church’s recent growth. There is much to be done but we have a lovely congregation with many lives changed and growing in the Lord. Tasmania is a wonderful place to live with great people and away from the rat race of the big cities of the mainland.
Craig with a Crinoid fossil from Africa for the Creation Discovery Centre
Pray For…
Please pray for our church and our area which needs an even stronger Christian witness and the Creation Discovery Centre and the many un-churched it reaches.
Craig Hawkins
Short ‘n’ Sweet
I am looking forward to. . . growing the Creation Discovery Centre God-willing.
I am worried about. . . not diligently doing what God wants me to do.
I am confident that. . . Jesus has all things under His control.
I am joyful about. . . watching my family grow.
I would like to change. . . the impact of false science leading people away from Jesus.
I am at my best. . . when practically engaged in the things I love.
2. People are hungry for spiritual conversations, especially young adults,
Known truth: God is over it all.
People Engaging in Deep Transformation
I think I have one of the most privileged jobs. I get to sit with people as they wrestle through the ups and downs of this journey we call life – through truth and scars, opportunities and failures, hopes and disappointments.
There isn’t a greater privilege than being beside people in some of their most vulnerable processing. I’m not a counsellor; I’m a coach, a pastor and a friend. But ultimately, I’m a child of God and co-heir with Jesus, and none of this is possible without that being the foundation.
Recently, I had a very odd encounter with a stranger that left me feeling quite perplexed (to say the least). On my way to my next meeting, I was praying, “God, you need to have this, because I don’t – I’ve got nothing – I need you to lead this session.” I tried to listen to Holy Spirit, I followed leads, and as we went around in circles, I felt I was leading them on a wild goose chase that would not be useful. But God knows what He’s doing, even if it makes no sense to us.
Maybe you’ve experienced ‘a-ha’ moments when things suddenly start making sense. You understand why you get annoyed about something that shouldn’t bug you, or you realise how your perspective on something is hindering the very change you wish to see.
Or you simply see the various unrelated threads that all come back to a core issue or belief.
God’s work as Counsellor
This is the privilege I get to see on a regular basis. The Holy Spirit prompting something in someone that takes them to a deeper level of insight, understanding and wisdom.
It is a privilege to share a moment in that person’s journey. I say a moment, because God’s work as Counsellor is continuous. We rarely change suddenly. Change happens through a continuum of opportunities to go deeper with God, and I love walking with people as they embrace these opportunities.
Women’s Collective
One space that I get to see this, in addition to individual coaching, is in the Women’s Collective. This initiative started in 2023, co-created with my friend and housemate (Gabi). The Women’s Collective is collaborative and non-denominational. It seeks to encourage and equip women to lead.
Our vision is to create a safe and empowering space for women to process life, leadership, and ministry. We gather in homes, with intentionality and vulnerability, and we share a space to process life and leadership as women in our various contexts. This is a collaborative collective that is deeply encouraging and inspiring for all involved.
We had a hunch there was a need… We didn’t realise how right we were!
People are hungry for belonging and community; but they are also hungry for spiritual conversation.
Last year, some friends and I gathered with a shared heart for people to have a space to wrestle with questions about life and faith. For people to have a place to belong – a community – where no question was too silly or naïve or wrong. A place where their experience and the world’s culture could be challenged. A place that would be an initiator of community, transformation, hope and faith.
So we joined together, from different churches, with a shared heart and a hunch that maybe there was a need for this sort of space, especially among young adults. We didn’t realise how great the need was. Since starting in February, we’ve had 20-30+ young adults coming each night. We’ve had friends bringing friends, new people at each gathering, and a core group returning.
The process is simple, really. We share a meal, we offer a ‘thought’, and we invite discussion. It’s not rocket science. It’s genuine hearts with a genuine hope for genuine transformation through genuine community.
Do you get the emphasis? It’s genuine. Maybe it is radical, if that’s not your norm.
But younger generations (in particular) smell ‘fake’ and ‘programs’ from a mile away. If their radar senses you’re not authentic, you’ll only see the back of them. But genuine connection – real hearts of love and compassion – this is what they’re craving.
Young people are hungry for spiritual conversations. The great thing is that you don’t need to facilitate a group like this. It doesn’t have to be a big thing.
Over to You
Who do you know that you could come alongside? Who are some people you can invite over for dinner? Or have a cuppa with? Who are the young people you know? Invest in them.
A Few Points of Advice: – Listen more than you talk – If you don’t agree, wait, listen, ask ‘wondering’ questions – Avoid yes/no questions – ‘Could you tell me more about that?’ is a great invitation
Two things I’m seeing, One Thing I Know
God is Over it All
This shouldn’t have to be stated, but let the record show:
It is God who works in us (Phil 2:13) and, It is not by works, so that no one can boast (Eph 2:1-10)
We have the privilege to partner with God; we have the invitation to know God. And, we have the responsibility to reveal God and God’s heart.
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. She’s currently involved in the Women’s Collective and Re-Imagine – the two initiatives mentioned in this article.
Fostering Hope is a Tasmanian, Christian organisation seeking to support at-risk children and those who care for them.
One of the ways they do this is to increase understanding of the impacts of unsafe beginnings on children and young people. Many of these children and young people interact with kids that go to church, youth group, playgroup, and other programs.
Their behaviours can be challenging, yet everyone has a role to play in showing them God’s love and acceptance. This can be so powerful in their healing.
With the support of the Tasmanian Community Fund, Fostering Hope partnered with Dr Suse from Shine Through Psychology to develop easy to understand, free, online trauma awareness videos. These videos encourage people already working and volunteering with children and young people and increase their understanding of the impacts of unsafe beginnings.
The course consists of six engaging and easy to understand sessions designed to help you bring compassion and care to children impacted by trauma. The videos take about an hour total.
Hobart Baptist Church is again challenging Hobartians in the middle of winter with the Luminous Festival. Sacred Tasmania is the theme, exploring the connection between the sacred, place and sustainability.
There will be: – Four Conversations about home, love and the sacred things that unite us – Three incredible art installations – Two inspiring events with Scott Darlow, indigenous musician – Two Christmas in Winter events to celebrate the coming of light into darkness – One Multicultural Market with a feast of food options!
TICKETS: Sat 15 June, Scott Darlow in Concert $10/adult (free for kids 0-14). Profits to World Vision.
On Sunday, 12 May, Scott Ambrose shared the news that, Stephen Baxter would be concluding his time as Senior Pastor at Hobart Baptist Church later this year. Stephen is leaving the role after 14 years and is the longest serving minister in the 140-year history of Hobart Baptist Church. Stephen indicated that he felt a clear sense that God was calling him to conclude his period of service as Senior Pastor. Consequently, his final Sunday will be 1 September 2024.
This is not necessarily the end of Stephen and Jenny’s time at Hobart Baptist Church but, rather, the conclusion of serving as Senior Pastor.
HBC will celebrate Stephen and Jenny and their pastoral ministry over the coming months and invite everyone in the Tas Baptist community to join in as they honour them.
The HBC community are incredibly grateful to God for the leadership of Stephen and the support and work of Jenny over many years. Stephen and Jenny have responded faithfully to the call of God to serve Him through Hobart Baptist Church, and it is fitting that they are now responding to His call as they seek His will for the future. The changes in the Church in both the physical buildings and in the pastoral team approach and missional outlook, are a testament to Stephen’s ministry.
The Diaconate will be meeting to prayerfully consider future pastoral leadership and invite all members of the Tas Baptist community to thank God for the provision of Stephen and Jenny for this period in the life of Hobart Baptist and, to pray for God’s will for the HBC community. Watch the announcement below from HBC’s YouTube site.
impress: passing faith onto our kids
New book, impress by Ainsley Freeman
A new book explores sharing faith with our children in the context of busy, modern households.
With the pressures of our modern world, parents are struggling to find the time, energy and tools to talk about and demonstrate faith to their kids. impress is a book written for these parents in the “drowning years” of raising children and is part encouragement and part how-to when it comes to sharing faith to the next generation in the context of our modern households.
Mother of three sons, author, media professional and church pastor, Ainsley Freeman, says the book represents much of her life journey to date.
This book is a call back to the primary task for any caregiver to pass the baton of faith in a compelling, meaningful, and relevant way in the context of our families. It’s a call back to evangelism and sharing the good news with people we’ve been entrusted.
Reflecting on her new book Ainsley says, “It is imperative that we talk about and live our faith in a way that leaves a real impression on the next generation and this book will help and inspire parents to do just that.”
impress is available through the Olive Tree Media online store and instore or online from Koorong bookstores. To find out more about impress visit the @impress.daily Instagram page or go to the website www.olivetreemedia.com.au/impress and be sure to sign up for Ainsley’s 52-week devotional accompanying the book called impress weekly.
National Volunteers Week
20-26 May
Next week we notice and celebrate our volunteers. Notice – because volunteers are often the quiet and generally unnoticed people making things happen in the background. They are rarely recognised for their work, and rarely expect to be – because it’s in their nature to help others! How do you let your volunteers know that they are so very valued? Send a free e-card or appreciation certificate.
Micah Australia
2024 Budget Night Response
In the wake of Budget night, Micah Australia have created a Budget response as part of their joint campaign – ‘Safer World for All’ – run with the wider Australian International Development sector.
They have also developed an Advocacy Plan to help churches advocate for an Australia that acts justly for country neighbours and the most urgent global justice issues facing the world today – extreme poverty, rising conflict and climate change.
Further resources unpacking the need to advocate for a generous aid program from a Christian perspective can be found here.
Baptist World Aid Matching Grant Appeal
May-June 2024
Support the work of Baptist World Aid before the end of the financial year
Inspired by Isaiah 61 and God’s infinite kindness to those who are suffering, May-June will see Baptist World Aid launch their annual Matching Grant Appeal.
Donations made to this appeal will be combined with government funds and invested in specific community development projects.
Current projects funded through the Matching Grant Appeal are in Cambodia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Lebanon.
For over 10 years, they have used the campaign as an opportunity to raise the funds needed to access additional financial support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). All donations are tax-deductible.
Youth Alive Undivided is a state-wide event for young people and youth ministries and are perfect for teenagers to bring their friends along. Tasmania is holding three events with over 1000 young people gathering! Dates for the Undivided are:
24 MAY – Launceston, 6pm At Door of Hope Christian Church
25 MAY – Devonport, 6pm at Gateway Church
21 JUNE – Hobart, 6pm at Hillsong Church Hobart (New Venue).
This video offers a big picture understanding of how God is at work – restoring and renewing – as well as tangible examples of how people around the world are joining with Him as co-menders of a beautiful, broken world.
At the May Mid-year Assembly, the 2024 Tasmanian Baptist Handbook will be released. The Handbook contains important information for Tasmanian Baptist Churches, including contact details for pastors, churches, Baptist agencies nationally, church statistics for the past year and much more.
The Handbook will be distributed in both printed and electronic form…
Printed: At Assembly, two printed copies will be available for each church. To save us postage, please make sure you pick up your church’s Handbooks!
If your church requires more than two printed copies, please contact Anna-Maree Richardson at the Tas Baptist office: anna-maree@tasbaptists.org.au
Electronic: The final e-version will be distributed as a PDF to Secretaries the week after Assembly. As well, a link will be included in reCharge, distributed on Wednesday 15 May.
Please note that for privacy reasons we no longer publish the Handbook on the Tas Baptist website. If you need a copy later, you can always contact the office. For the same reason, do take care with the distribution and availability of the Handbook. It would be wise to carefully destroy past copies of the Handbook you may have in your possession!
IMPORTANT! Quite a few churches and pastors have not yet submitted their details, and it is now becoming urgent.
If you need to be reminded how to access the form, or if you have any questions, please email the Tas Baptist office on info@tasbaptists.org.au .
Caring for People Workshop
Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Tasmanian Baptists are running a workshop on the process of caring for people through these four significant life events: Marriages, Funerals, Baptisms and Dedications.
These events require more than just conducting a ceremony or giving a talk. They require pastoral care from leaders who journey with people and families and support them to navigate some of life’s most emotional and challenging events.
To do well, they require involvement, including before, during, and after the event. This might sound like a lot to do, but there are ways to manage time and emotional investment AND truly bless families.
The workshop will discuss some practicalities around relevant documents and legal responsibilities. But, the majority of the time will focus on ways to balance a pastor’s or leader’s regular responsibilities with the additional responsibilities that come with these significant events.
Open to any pastor or leader that wishes to attend. We recognise that many different leaders are involved in these activities in a church.
Morning tea, espresso coffee and tea, and lunch will be provided. Please note: no live-streaming or recording will be offered at or after this event.
LOCATION: Riverlands Baptist Church, Longford. DATE: Wednesday, 22 May TIME: 10:00am to 1.30pm
COST: $20 per person, payable to Name: Tasmanian Baptist Union BSB: 704-922 Account: 100007060 Reference: WEDDINGS
Register by 10 May by emailing Anna-Maree at Anna-Maree@tasbaptists.org.au with all the names of those attending at your church. Please let Anna-Maree know of any food related needs as you book.
Any questions, please email Michael Henderson at michael@tasbaptists.org.au
Reflecting Forward Conference
Monday, 13 to Tuesday, 14 May 2024
Your Church Tasmania is hosting the Reflecting Forward conference for ministers and other pastoral care workers. Spiritual Care is a growing and vital part of any organisation that cares for and about people. The conference will cover Spiritual Care: Personal, Professional & Political Perspective and Harmony in Thought: Resolving Dissonance and Reordering Cognitive Schema with an option to attend dinner on Monday evening at Government House with a reception with the Governor beforehand.
Located at RACV Hotel, 154-156 Collins St, Hobart, keynote speakers include Michael Paterson, Scotland Director of the Institute of Pastoral Supervision and Reflective Practice along with Susan Marcuccio, President of the Australian Association of Supervision.
Elective/workshop topics: Susan Marcuccio – Using practical models and tools in our supervision, mentoring and chaplaincy Michael Paterson – Brave Space Tim Dyer – Supervising individuals in conflict Sean Conry – The transferrable core of Spiritual Care across sectors Paul Hueston – Supervision in groups
Experience an engaging half-day Leaders Networking Event to workshop building a culture of trust. Presented by Dr. Henry Cloud, clinical psychologist and author of 45 books including “Boundaries”.
The half-day session on Tuesday 11 June will be co-hosted by GLS Next Gen on the Northwest Coast at Devonport.
Understanding the significance of trust within a team has profound impact on enhancing working environments. The event offers a fantastic opportunity for networking, learning, and potentially catalysing positive change within church culture. Learn, grow and connect with leaders from across Tasmania.
The highlight of the meeting will be an insightful presentation by Dr. Henry Cloud.
Benefits include: – World-class insights – Dynamic conversations – Defined next steps to enhance trust with the people you lead.
Costs start at $65 per person and includes GST, workbook and morning tea.
The Point Baptist, at Beauty Point in Tasmania, is looking for a part-time youth pastor to take over from the current pastor who is returning to the USA in June.
For more information, please email Craig Hawkins at hawkthe32@gmail.com or call 0487 343348.
Citywide Baptist church hosted the pastors of Baptist churches (bigger than 300 attendees) from around Australia for the annual Baptist Senior Pastors Gathering.
Seventy people were part of the gathering hosted at Citywide on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, before moving to Hobart Baptist church for the final morning session on Thursday. The Gathering has been going on for about 20 years, although, this is the first time it has been hosted in Tasmania.
Designed as a chance for peer learning and fellowship, the gathering featured workshops and sessions led by the pastors themselves, with intentional space made for the pastors and their spouses to connect. Wednesday afternoon was set aside time for Rest & Recreation, where half the group went bushwalking on Mt Wellington and the other half touring Richmond and Puddleduck Vineyard.
Pastor Paul Rai personally cooked an incredible Nepalese buffet dinner for the whole gathering on the first night.
The only external speaker was Minister Guy Barnett, who shared personally and inspirationally at a dinner on Wednesday evening.
At the end of the gathering, pastors were asked to write down a word to capture their experience and came up with a telling Word Cloud.
Word cloud generated by Pastor feedback from the event.
A smaller gathering of multi-site churches met from after lunch Thursday to lunchtime Friday to discuss this model of church and share what they have been learning.
Time for some R&R
Behind the Scenes
The Citywide team worked very hard to host the event, with Jess McEldowney and Peter and Janine Collins coordinating a team of volunteers at Citywide and Matt Henderson and Kelvin Smith managing things at Hobart Baptist. Dan Hutchison (from Newstead Baptist) and Dan Evenhuis (Executive Pastor at Citywide) helped lead different parts of the gathering.
Melissa Lipsett,CEO Baptist World Aid, explains the impact of women who are empowered to change their world.
It’s illegal, but 40 per cent of girls in Nepal are married before they turn 18, and seven per cent before they turn 15. The Nepalese government is hoping to eradicate child marriage by 2030, but is this even possible? Will this ever change?
I believe it will. Here’s why
I recently returned from Kapilvastu in West Nepal. It’s a region that has major development challenges and a general lack of adequate services. For example, there are no toilet facilities or running water in people’s homes. There are few opportunities for people to generate income and, sadly, high levels of gender-based violence and child marriage.
The challenges are overwhelming, but here’s the thing: communities ARE overcoming them. Baptist World Aid works with local Christian Partners who share our belief in the dignity, value and equality of all people (Gen 1:26-27).
Our Partners bring the locals together in community groups, and it’s the locals who lead the transformation of their communities. Ninety per cent of these community leaders are women. They’re known as self-help groups, and they’re courageously changing their world.
Our Partners bring the locals together in community groups, and it’s the locals who lead the transformation of their communities.
What self-help groups do
Working as a committee, with elected positions such a chairperson and treasurer, members collaborate to make the changes they want to see in their community. These women showed me how they had depolluted their pond and water source.
Some of them have started small businesses. And I heard stories of how they confronted perpetrators of domestic violence as a commanding group of 17! I saw leadership, determination and courage from the same people who were, until recently, considered less than their husbands, brothers and sons.
Emerging from poverty
Every one of these women, these “change makers”, has a story. Many married as children and didn’t have the opportunity to go to school. Quite a few are now mothers, surrounded by little people with constant needs that are hard to meet. In the past they might have given a daughter in marriage to ensure she—and her remaining siblings—would survive.
But the gains they’ve made in emerging from poverty means they now say, ‘No more! We will not allow our daughters to suffer as we did’. And they mean it.
‘No more! We will not allow our daughters to suffer as we did’.
As I travelled through the area, I could see that poverty is effectively diminished and girls attend school.
One extraordinary facet of these self-help groups is that are made up of traditionally antagonistic social groupings, but with no infighting. They are too busy changing the world.
I wonder if what would happen if we were too?
Melissa Lipsett is the CEO of Baptist World Aidand is the keynote speaker at the coming EmpowHer Day of Wonder in March 2025.
Melissa is a servant leader, playing active roles across the church and Christian humanitarian aid and development sector. She believes leadership matters, and so does the call of God on our lives. She is an outspoken advocate for the importance of hearing women’s voices and empowering them to use their God given gifts and graces for the sake of our world.
Want info about the Day of Wonder? SUBSCRIBE to Heartlands, below!
