Tag: Tasmanian Baptists

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Mentoring Kids in Foster Care

Mentoring Kids in Foster Care

Fostering Hope

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? 

Register to come along to our next online information session on Tuesday 30 July at 7pm or find out about our Training Days on the website.

*Names changed for confidentiality.

A turning of the tide?

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. 

Mentoring Kids in Foster Care

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But Who Are You Really?

But who are you really

Sacred Agents

Andrew Turner of Crossover reflects in his Sacred Agents blog.

We all have some fear of exposure, of being really seen. (I accidentally drank some invisible ink the other day. I went straight to the hospital, but it was 12 hours before they saw me…) Many have the occasional nightmare along the lines of going to church and realising they’re wearing no pants. 

But doesn’t that raise the question of Who are you at the deepest level? 

Whilst you may fear being revealed as a fraud due to your incomplete discipleship, this is not actually your deepest level. If absolutely everything was to be told about you, the main headline would be this: You’re a precious child of God, dearer to him than life itself. 

This should not only comfort, but also embolden us. I’ve long been convinced that the #1 key to missional effectiveness is neither tools nor technique. They’re both important, and why at Crossover we invest in resources and training. But more transformative by far is identity. 

Bringing the Kingdom

Do we really believe that we are representatives of God’s kingdom? The name Sacred Agents came from a conversation I had with a group of 10-year-old boys who thought that being a pastor must be the most boring job ever. “No, it’s much more like being a secret agent!” I said.  

Do we think of ourselves as ‘bringing’ the kingdom of God into every room we enter, every conversation we join, every new day we wake to? It sounds astonishingly arrogant even as I type it, except for two things: Christ himself said that he sends us even as the Father sent him (John 20:21), and the kingdom we bring is not arrogant at all – and so neither is the way we are to bring it. 

Responsibilities in the Family Business

Now except for very rare cases, there’s no need to be a secret as well as a sacred agent. We should be seen – and such self-disclosure can readily be navigated without arrogance. The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19) – and that is not merely future-us, but here-and-now-us too by the grace of God! 

So next time at a party someone asks ‘And what do you do?’ let’s face it, you’re not going to say ‘I’m a spy for Jesus.’ No, you’re still going to say you’re an architect (which is strange, because you’re a hairdresser). No, no, remember in true fact you’re a precious child of God. And not a baby, simply to be carried, but an heir, with responsibilities in the family business. 

These responsibilities may include designing hotels or hairstyles, but if you’re consciously a temple of the Holy Spirit in every meeting room, classroom and chatroom, they’ll never be the same again. 

Thanks so much to all who have supported Crossover through the Australian Baptist Easter Offering. Later-in-the-year contributions from churches and individuals are very welcome as an investment in Helping Australian Baptists Share Jesus. See crossover.org.au/offering 

Andrew Turner, Director of Crossover.

Andrew Turner is the Director of Crossover for Australian Baptist Ministries. Photo by Marten Newhall Unsplash

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Consent, our Missional Gateway

But who are you really

Theology and Culture

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.

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Route Options for Repenters

Route Options for Repenters

Sacred Agents

Andrew Turner of Crossover reflects in his Sacred Agents blog.

I find Jesus wonderful and endlessly fascinating, so when opportunities arise to talk about him, I’m rarely at a loss for material. But yacking on about Jesus is only one part of evangelism.

There’s another part that comes less easily to me, and I think to many across our movement. In fact, if every Australian who speaks for Christ could get together for a seminar, I reckon we should spend at least half of it on this: Inviting a response.

The gospel is news, it’s an announcement to be proclaimed. But it’s news-with-personal-implications. It’s an invitation, it’s a proposal. So we not only seek to make plain the goodness of God, but also to offer steps of faith in response. Sacred agents are guides for others – not blind guides like some Pharisees, but ones who know the way to peace with God because we’ve taken it ourselves.

Sacred Agents are Guides

Inviting a response is not always about an alter call while Ira Sankey sings Beneath the Cross of Jesus. If a work colleague is curious about why you go to church, it may simply be ending your answer with, “Would you like to come along and see for yourself?”

One challenge with this, however, is figuring out what level of response your listener/s may be ready to make. You can ask questions, read body language and look for clues. But it can be hard to know. Is this person ready to repent, be baptised, and identify fully as a Christian? Or is their next step simply to pick up a Bible or come to Alpha or watch a clip online?

Thankfully, we don’t need to offer only one response. When Google Maps gives me directions to reigning-quiz-champions Knightsbridge Baptist, it gives me several route options. Here’s the best and most direct way, in bright blue. But here are other steps too that will ultimately get you there.

Here’s the best and most direct way, in bright blue. But here are other steps too that will ultimately get you there.

Being cautious, we often assume that people aren’t ready to go straight to the foot of the cross. But this can mean we offer people tiny, incremental steps that result in a circuitous and not-so-scenic route to peace with God. If we only offer small steps, it can even suggest that getting to God is like a long mountain climb, not a particularly helpful gospel image. It’s true many are not ready to go straight to Jesus, but they need to know that they can.

Giving Options

On the other hand, if we only offer giant steps, then the only alternative to a big Yes is a No. So why not give options? “If you want peace with God, you can have it today, you know. But if you just want to check it all out, why not come along to Alpha, or read John’s gospel?”

We may be surprised by some who are indeed ready for a big step of faith. And we may also be surprised by some whose small steps turn into big ones.

Andrew Turner, Director of Crossover.

Andrew Turner is the Director of Crossover for Australian Baptist Ministries. Photo by Manfred Richter (CC). Thanks so much to all who have supported Crossover through the Australian Baptist Easter Offering. End-of-financial year contributions from churches and individuals are very welcome as an investment in Helping Australian Baptists Share Jesus. See crossover.org.au/offering

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National Baptist Senior Pastors Gathering

National Baptist Senior Pastors Gathering group

Hosted by Citywide, 21-23 May 2024 

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 from National Baptist Senior Pastors Gathering group
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. 

National Baptist Senior Pastors Gathering group
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. 

National Baptist Senior Pastors Gathering

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Assembly Report 2024

Mid-year Assembly Report

Mid-Year Assembly

It was a good mid-year Assembly, with an update from Scott Ambrose on the search committee process, input from Scott Pilgrim, Executive Director at Baptist Mission Australia (BMA) and with a significant focus on Boreham College provided by Matty Coppin. The Boreham College brochure is now available on the Tas Baptist website. 

Maddy Svoboda spoke about the new discipleship coaching course staring this June. At last year’s muster, Tim Piesse from Crossway Church in Victoria spoke about discipleship. He explained how the Crossway congregation felt they didn’t have a clear idea of how to make disciples. As a result, the church formulated the course, ‘Building a Discipleship Culture’. This course outlines intentional ways to put the mission of God back into the hands of everyday people.  

Maddy is starting a Tasmania cluster for this course that will involve fortnightly, group coaching calls from June. The course will go for one year, with an option for a second year. IT will cover how to embed discipleship practises in the life of our churches. Churches participating include Newstead, City, Riverlands, and Summerhill. If this sounds like something you want to be part of, there’s still time to join, contact Maddy for more information. 

What God is Doing

The Assembly provided a great opportunity to see what God is doing amidst our Tasmanian churches.  

Nicholas Alexander from Lifeway Church spoke about the two new Student Pastors at their church Stuart Crabtree and Morgan Read. For more info see our recharge articles on each. 

As Franz Brosch takes the helm from Owen Muskett at Wynyard Baptist church, he shared some of his interesting back story.  

Anthea Maynard gave an update on Fostering Hope. She shared about the ongoing need for mentors and how Fostering Hope’s Mentoring program and training provides kids in care a “friend with purpose” and offers them another positive relationship as part of their therapeutic web. Tas Baptist strongly supports Fostering Hope in several ways, including financial assistance that comes from a generous gift from Baptcare. 

A Reimagining Journey

Scott Pilgrim spoke on the ‘reimagining journey’ in the context of May Mission Month. He pointed out that with BMA on their own reimagining journey, both groups can share the synergies and learning opportunities with each other in this rapidly changing world time we find ourselves in 

His talk was timely for both Tas Baptists and BMA, especially with May Mission Month underway, and for Tas Baptist as we celebrate a significant step forward with the launch of Boreham College. 

Scott Pilgrim considered the current global context, along the changing nature of our Tas Baptists context, and proposed we re-imagine what God’s Spirit can do in and through us as we take intentional steps on the journey that includes: 

Re-affirming and celebrating “Missio Dei” and reframing change, for example, embracing a default attitude of expectancy in God as a people of faith, rather than suspicion, uncertainty and fear.  

Courageous Questions

Scott posed several courageous questions:  
– How does the decline of Christianity in the west impact the future of western mission agencies?
– How does Jesus’ new wineskins metaphor speak to us about mission opportunity in existing and potential locations?
– Are we willing to let go of power and control in genuinely embracing global south partnerships?
– What is the future of sending from Australia?
– How does Jesus’ turning the tables metaphor challenge us in our approach to mission?
– What is our future in an increasingly culturally and religiously diverse Australia?
– Where are we stuck and what do we fear?

Over the past 18 months Tas Baptists have done a lot of Looking, listening, learning – looked back … looked to each other … looked to others … and looked to the Spirit … 

Scott finished his talk by highlighting the importance of contextualisation in a changing world and by providing quotes and examples of innovative, collaborative expressions. 

“Contextualisation is a very difficult thing to do. It challenges deeply ingrained understandings and practices and demands radical and uncomfortable shifts in mindsets. But it’s so desperately needed in our changing world if people are to experience the good news of Jesus in ways they understand.” Claire TC Chong

He pointed out that Boreham College is a good example of Innovation and collaboration going hand in hand with contextualisation

Paul Manning (Baptist World Aid) spoke about some of his recent experiences visiting Nepal.

“Innovation and collaboration go hand in hand with contextualisation… Across the globe, God’s Spirit is raising up new missional partnerships and collaborations. Let’s be a part of what the Spirit is doing!” Steve Sang-Cheong Moon

Assembly Report

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Supporting the Supports 

Picture of stone pillars through binoculars for Sacred Agents

Sacred Agents

Andrew Turner of Crossover reflects in his Sacred Agents blog

One of the beautiful strengths of the Baptist movement is our conviction that all believers are priests. Within those four words are numerous deep truths around access to God through Christ, participation in mission and ministry, and responsibility in the church. Everyone has a part to play.  

Everyone Has a Part to Play

But they don’t play it equally. As in a Shakespeare, one actor has a hundred lines and another has two. One may play four different parts, another is simply a tree. Jesus’ parables of responsibility often feature uneven participation, too. One servant’s entrusted with ten talents, another five, and another one. So uneven participation is not surprising – even among those who’ve been given the same amount of lines or talents, some give everything they’ve got, and some don’t.  

We Baptists rightly love our culture of volunteerism – no one is forced to give anything – it’s all given freely from the heart. This is lovely, but it can also have a shadow side. 

Pillars of Your Church

There are some roles, like Treasurer or Worship Coordinator that are complex and involved and pretty much require a super-volunteer. But who has that much time to give? It’s the rich (who can live off reduced paid-work hours), the active-retired, the under-employed, uni students during summer, and those doing court-ordered community service.

These are the ones who have the time to be pillars of your church. Not so much the single parent, the small business owner or the full-time worker. Now there are some beautiful saints among the former list. But the criteria you really want to be using for such important roles has more to do with spiritual maturity and gifted capability than simple availability. 

Photo of stone pillars for Sacred Agents Supporting the Supports

Supporting the Supports That Need Support

So a church can look wider in its search for pillars, if it is willing to look for supports that need support. If your church pillar needs to be so strong they can stand alone, you’re building a culture of self-sufficiency and stoic independence – not conducive to healthy church community? 

Staffing is not the only alternative to this. That single parent may be able to serve as a Worship Coordinator if the church provided them with some babysitting. For some roles the church may be able to provide an expense account, or pay for training, or carry some of the load in a hundred other possible ways. 

Asking ‘Who is God calling to this Role?’

It’s more complex than simply asking ‘Who has time to do X? Only Jenny? Well, Jenny it is then.’

It begins with asking ‘Who is God calling to this role?’ and then ‘How can we release them into it?’ It’s complex, but so it the body of Christ. Beautiful community is quite interdependent, and it is a witness in itself.    

Andrew Turner, Director of Crossover.

Andrew Turner is the Director of Crossover for Australian Baptist Ministries. Thanks so much to all who have supported the Australian Baptist Easter Offering – which funds Crossover to Help Australian Baptists Share Jesus.

Photo by Diogo Nunes on Unsplash

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A Particular Kind of Boldness

Picture of a knight through binoculars for Sacred Agents

Sacred Agents

Andrew Turner of Crossover reflects in his Sacred Agents blog.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31 

A Particular Kind of Boldness
It takes courage on multiple levels to live as a representative of Jesus Christ. Courage before Christ himself, to have the nerve to say Yes, Lord, I’ll be your person in this place as opposed to Master, I know you are a hard man … so I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground.

It takes courage on multiple levels to live as a representative of Jesus Christ.

But courage also, of course, in the face of the world, because when we endeavour out in Jesus’ name, we’re likely to receive the same full gamut of different responses that Jesus himself received – welcomed and honoured through to mocked, despised and rejected. 

Vulnerable to Rejection

Now this is nothing to do with success or failure. If you board a ship and share Christ, all 100 passengers may receive you happily. Or they may hate you and throw you overboard. Neither outcome necessarily means you’ve represented Jesus well or badly. Each could be a beautiful worship and service to Jesus. The point is, it’s out of your control. There is no way to program the mission of God so that an outcome is guaranteed. God refuses to simply reprogram the robots, but instead makes himself vulnerable to rejection. (Paradoxically, wonderfully, he wins our hearts through having his broken.) 

The point is, it’s out of your control. There is no way to program the mission of God so that an outcome is guaranteed.

The Boldness We Need

So the boldness we need, and the boldness the first disciples sought and received from God, is not an imperviousness to rejection, like a coat of armour so strong we can simply crash through and feel no pain. On the contrary, it is the courage to feel that pain.  

It’s interesting that the word gallantry has two main definitions: ‘Great bravery in battle’ and ‘polite and respectful attention in courtship’. Do you see how these are linked? Both involve the willingness to be shot down.

It’s interesting that the word gallantry has two main definitions: ‘Great bravery in battle’ and ‘polite and respectful attention in courtship’.

The boldness that sacred agents need by the Spirit is this Christlike form of boldness. It steps out from behind safe cover. Takes the first steps forward toward the other because they have God’s attention and God’s respect. Is prepared to suffer pain, but it takes pains not to inflict it.

Asking God for Boldness

The more we can take that posture and those steps in all the places God sends us, the more likely we are to in fact receive a very positive response. So let’s spend less time calculating our chances and more time asking God for his kind of boldness. If you’re thinking of inviting someone to church, or Alpha etc – worry less about whether they might say no, than about how their life may be if no one invites them at all.

Andrew Turner, Director of Crossover.

Andrew Turner is the Director of Crossover for Australian Baptist Ministries. Thanks so much to all who have supported the Australian Baptist Easter Offering – which funds Crossover to Help Australian Baptists Share Jesus. It’s not too late to still contribute if you haven’t.

Photo by Manfred Richter (CC)

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The Turning of the Tide?

book with pen and graph for sacred agents crossover

Sacred Agents

Andrew Turner of Crossover reflects in his Sacred Agents blog.

I blinked and had to look at the number a second time: 34 percent! Each year we gather the number of baptisms reported by Australian Baptist state associations, and there was a 34 percent increase from 2022 to 2023. Wow! But what to make of it? 

It could be a whole range of things. Perhaps Australian Baptists got a whole lot better at reporting! (I imagine plenty of baptisms go un-counted, and while that’s frustrating for statisticians, it’s rather how things should be in a decentralised movement like ours.) 

Or was it a post-Covid bump? Possibly, but I’m not convinced. Was it our National Baptism Week initiative? No, given the six-month lag in collecting the numbers, they’ll show up next year. I had been expecting a rise of over 20 percent simply based on what I was hearing anecdotally from pastors and leaders. But 34 percent is remarkable – what could possibly explain it? 

Is the wave of baptisms another indication of the ‘turning of the tide’?

Could It Possibly Be Jesus?

Well, I think the answer could possibly be Jesus. Why on earth would so many people want to be baptised? Hang on, why would they not? Let’s remember that belonging to God’s family through faith in Christ is the normal and sensible thing given the unfolding of his kingdom, the place in it he offers, and the promise of his Spirit! We can get lost in studying the tea leaves of culture and economy to see whether people will or won’t like Jesus – and find that we believe more in the power of culture and economy than in the power of the gospel to captivate people of all cultures and economies. 

That said, I do wonder whether wave of baptisms is another indication of the ‘turning of the tide.’ The church in the West has long been adjusting to the end of Christendom and the loss of (mandatory) popularity that entailed. Many have become resigned to endless decline – a narrative that’s entrenched itself even as church participation has increased. 

New Theist Movement

As Western culture increasingly becomes a spiritual desert, however, should we be surprised that spiritual thirst increases?

As Western culture increasingly becomes a spiritual desert, however, should we be surprised that spiritual thirst increases? Along with stories of baptisms, I’ve been inundated with stories of ‘gate crashers’ – people (especially young adults) walking into churches that neither advertised nor invited them – and asking to be introduced to Jesus and Christianity.  

Ten years ago the ‘New Atheist Movement’ held the floor among Western intellectuals, but it has died much faster than any church it mocked, and in its place we now see the ‘New Theist Movement’ – including such opinion-leaders as Jordan Peterson, Tom Holland and Ayaan Hirsi Ali (now openly a Christian). For more on this see Justin Brierley’s The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God book and podcast.  

So are we seeing the turning of the tide – even the beginnings of revival? It’s 20 years too early to say. But keeping our heads – indeed keeping our eyes on Jesus – our confidence to live for and witness to him should be based on him, rather than the fickle fashions of our culture.

Let’s be absolutely confident in Christ, and in pointing people to him, regardless of whether they’re likely to applaud or imprison us. 

Andrew Turner, Director of Crossover.

Andrew Turner is the Director of Crossover.
Crossover exists to Help Australian Baptists Share Jesus.

This article appears on his Sacred Agents blog

Please support the Australian Baptist Easter Offering – which funds Crossover to Help Australian Baptists Share Jesus. For information on how to participate and run the offering, see crossover.org.au/offering.

Photo by Isaac Smith on Unsplash.

A turning of the tide?

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An Ode To The Shepherd

An Ode to the Shepherd

For you to Ponder – Psalm 23

By Frans Ammerlaan, Sassafras Baptist 

Throughout our lives, events just seem to happen apparently at random. God teaches that there is nothing random about our lives and that He is always in control. 

In times of weariness rest comes ‘beside quiet waters’, always aware that the purposes of our lives are to be accomplished.  

It soon emerges that strength and struggle are the means by which we become capable of growing up and gathering character. 

David, the future king of Israel, was led through a shepherd’s job, to acquire skills and character traits which would prove extremely useful to him in later life.  

He was aware of this as shown in Psalm 23. In awe of God’s input into his life and affairs, he wrote ‘The Lord is my shepherd’.  This was his Ode to the Shepherd.

Of all the people in the world, he could speak with authority of this fact. Seeing the defeat of Goliath, in front of the Israeli army and King Saul.  

He was just a lad then, a teenager. How could the pebble slung from his sling hit Goliath exactly in the right place, with such force as to kill him instantly. Such a strong and huge man! The major threat at that time to the baby nation of Israel. David instinctively knew the God of Israel had enabled him.  

More than anything he began to think that the anointing he received was the new reality in his life. That the power of God was released in his declarations before Saul and his army. Somehow the words he spoke empowered the actions he took. 

A resistless force!

A force that operated flawlessly without his trying. He realised it was the power of God almighty. His confidence grew enormously at this demonstration of power. Hereafter he was never again the demure youngest son of Jesse. Never again to be bullied by Eliab or any of his older brothers. He now had power in his spoken words. 

David knew that the job of a shepherd was to totally care for sheep.

It taught him responsibility as he learnt to deal with their wayward natures. (Just as he had to deal with the men of Israel later when he was their King.) 

Even though sheep often got in trouble by walking off on their own, he loved their gentle and placid nature. As their shepherd he provided for all their needs and kept them safe. Especially at night when predators were about in the dark. These sheep were not even his. They were his father, Jesse’s. 

This psalm finds its source in that experience. I suspect he realised that the Lord was doing the same for him, in his life, as he did for his sheep, and he was grateful. No doubt reminding himself that the anointing he received was for God’s purposes and it made sense that everything he experienced was in accord with those. 

The Creator of the universe wants to be an intimate friend with us.

At times when David was exhausted and weary of the whole job he would cry out to the Lord. Then he would be reminded that the hardships he endured now would prepare him for an extraordinary destiny! That is true for all of us. 

He grew up in this relationship with God, which became intimate, mature and personal. They became good, trusted friends. He, the created, with the Creator.  

Since Jesus opened the door for us, such an amazing relationship is now available to all of us believers. Difficult as this may be to accept, truly the Creator of the universe wants to be an intimate friend with us. A relationship such as David’s!  What a thought! What a vision! 

Even though David strayed a number of times from the ‘straight and narrow’, his friend the almighty God of the Universe never abandoned the relationship. David was only corrected by Him when it was absolutely necessary. 

All of his needs were always met and provision for him was abundant.   This impressed him to the point of declaring:  

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; 
He leads me beside the still waters. 
He restores my soul… Psalm 23:2-3 (NKJV) 

In trusting, he must, like us, have wondered often where he was being led to. 

This special relationship with God, based on the evidence, found expression in his whole life and affairs. He then lists many of the major events in his life where the road ahead looked awful, but then saying in the next verse: He restores my soul. 

God kept him morally upright for His name’s sake; though David was reluctant at times. When threatened by having to walk through the ‘valley of the shadow of death’, he feared no evil.  

He knew that God was with him as he says, ‘Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me’.
The rod and staff being a means of support and defence.  

Before we wish that we were David, remember he was exposed to extreme life events which would have taken all his acumen to survive. (We are reminded of him being pursued by King Saul and having to hide from his continual jealous wrath). 

David then notes, in wonder, God’s preparing a table before him though surrounded by enemies. Historically, this happened literally many times. Ever since he was anointed with oil by the prophet of Israel, ‘You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Psalm 23:5 (NKJV) 

He could not be happier at that moment and is prompted to say:  

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 (NKVJ) 

This is all we ever wish to do! 

The Lord is involved in every aspect of our lives.

You could say: How could this apply to us? He was anointed and God seemed almost visibly present and looking after him!  

We can and do say that with Jesus in our hearts we have the equivalent and an even better provision. All the things David said are now equally true for us. Of course, he was one of the very few who could experience God’s presence at all times before the Messiah came. 

Whilst God had to be ‘about’ David; Jesus is actually in us and will never forsake or leave those who have accepted Him as their Saviour. Really a much better deal!  

This psalm does show us how involved the Lord is in every aspect of our lives although perhaps not as often as demonstrated with David. Maybe we are not as physically surrounded by enemies who seek to devour us, but even so, we are surrounded by enemies we cannot see but which can be, and often are, equally deadly.  

The most poignant observations David makes come at the end of this wonderful Psalm. Acutely aware of God’s presence in every aspect of his many struggles, he is moved to cry out:  ‘You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Psalm 23:5 (NKJV) 

Such an expression of awesome and exceeding joy. I often wonder why we do not declare that more often. For us it is equally true. We just have to accept it by faith and then have it! 

He ends with an exultant exclamation:  

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 (NKJV) 

A confident statement. A confidence based on experience. 

For us who are still here, we should find real encouragement and even peace in this public declaration. An awareness of similar life experiences and a Presence, which makes it often obvious that He has intervened in our lives. To save us from ourselves, most likely.  

What David said had direct bearing on the outcome of his actions

Often overlooked is the fact that David was quite aware that what he said had a direct bearing on the outcome of his actions. Classic is the case of the actions he took and what he said when he took on Goliath. Then follow a series of events so invaluably instructive for us now. Nothing has changed much since then in human attitudes and beliefs. 

Firstly, his brother Eliab, apparently suspicious of his baby brother saying that he knew David to be proud and insolent and that the real reason he came was to see the battle (1 Sam 17:28).  

Eliab did not know that this was the beginning of David’s ministry to the state of Israel. That he was really led by the Lord God. David’s confidence, particularly for one so young, is led to say to those just standing about: 

What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Sam 17:26 (NKJV)

King Saul said:  

You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” 1 Sam 17:33 (NKJV) 

King Saul was quite unable to scare David into abandoning this ‘silly’ adventure in his eyes. 

A sense of abandonment to a positive outcome rests entirely on trust

Our life lessons come from what David then said, in faith, to the King: 

Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”

Moreover, David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:34-37 (NKJV) 

This demonstration of sheer faith in his companion the Lord God, should not be any different in its application to our lives now. We too have this presence within us to be utterly relied on. This is a sense of abandonment to a predictable and positive outcome rests entirely on trust. A reliance, a faith or trust we have guaranteed within each saved believer in Jesus.

The process: David spoke it; he believed it absolutely; he did it and the result was what he expected, was there.  

This whole historical saga is recorded for our benefit as an example to follow: Say it; Do it; Receive it; Tell the world. Now, do so likewise! 

The whole of this psalm is testimony to the wonder of His grace, love and kindness. 

May God bless you always, 

Frans 

 

Frans Ammerlaan attends Sassafras Baptist. He is a published Author, Linguist, Journalist and Student. He plans to publish a book of devotionals he has written, this one included.

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