Heartlands Autumn 2023 is the quarterly email for EmpowHer – a network of Tasmanian women growing and encouraging each other in their God-given potential.
Table of Contents
INTERNATIONAL IMPACT
World Women’s Day of Prayer
Last October, Day of Prayer events were held around Tasmania. Did you get to one of them? These are incredibly encouraging times of hearing, praying and giving.
DAY OF PRAYER ATTENDEES …
HEARD about the work, and worlds, of women around the globe.
PRAYED for the women, some of them have devastating stories.
GAVE to the amazing projects, run by women, which are changing families and communities.
In 2020, Australian women raised a total of $365. In 2021, Tasmanian women raised a total of $560. And in 2022, Tasmanian women raised a total of $869!WOOT!
Great work everyone! Watch out for the Day of Prayer opportunities in your region in October 2023, and make a difference to our world.
NORTHERN EVENT
Weekend Wind-Down
WHEN: 7-8:30pm Friday 17th March 2023 WHERE: Hoo Hoo Hut, Trevallyn Nature and Rec Area (Duck Reach Rd) WHERE? Change of plan! New location: Liv-Eat Kings Meadows, Shop 143 Hobart Rd. SEE MAP WHAT: Wind-down for the weekend and enjoy supper! WHO: All women welcome INFO: Wendy (0407 765 414); Mary (0408 335 618) FLIER: Unfortunately, the flier is now out of date and no longer available.
SO FAR IN 2023
Women in Leadership
Ann Herbert explains what took place at the recent No Limits women’s conference in Brisbane, when many of the sessions explored the importance of women in church leadership.
Pictured above are Tasmanian attendees Jenna Blackwell (City), Zahara Rehrman (Summerhill), Tracey Avery (City), Ann Herbert (Citywide); Jenny Baxter (Hobart), and Kez Hutchison (Wynyard) . Plus the speakers panel, and the women gathered.
ABOVE: Assembly October 2022, L to R – Paul Manning (BWA); Sherry and Geoff Maddock (BMA); Stephen Baxter and Ben Cochrane; Worship time; Those Gathered!
After two years online, the annual faith and the arts school in Poatina will be held in-person!
Whether discovering FATA for the first time or returning – you can explore how to infuse faith with art, and art with faith.
The FATA team are praying for God’s grace on the time of encouraging, up-skilling and living in community.
Get ready to continue your creative journey …
The Gatherings Team are planning a spiritual and creative journey that will have attendees chewing on how, why and what we communicate, with our diverse creative languages.
Keynote Speaker: Lucinda Coleman
TOM and PAT
A new book by Ivan Jordan (Yolla Baptist)
Forward by Rev. Tim Costello AO
Front Cover
Tom Fleming is one of my heroes; a man who suffered under the Japanese in WW2 but turned his suffering into service of the Warlpiri people at Yuendumu. I am proud to be a Baptist Minister because of the character and witness of this spiritual giant. Ivan Jordan has given us a jewel in providing understanding of one of the most significant chapters of Christian mission in this nation’s history
Tim Costello
ORDER DETAILS
Back Cover
RRP is $35 less 40% for trade, plus freight. If Church groups order five or more copies, they will qualify for the 40% trade discount. Order here >
ORDER DIRECT
Phone: 08 9362 5955 (Intnl +61 8 9362 5955) Tuesday and Friday 1pm to 5pm W.A. time
Email: books@hesperianpress.com Please ensure the following are included in your email or letter to Hesperian Press:
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them”
John 7:38 (NIV)
The recent Crossover Spring Appeal, Streams of Living Water, is a huge success! A big thank you to those who signed up to give to Crossover on an ongoing basis.
Director of Crossover Andrew Turner (who conducted Tas Baptists’ recent leadership review) explains what the appeal is all about in this video. OR you could read Andrew’s letter to churches.
The generosity of supporters gives Crossover the ability to:
Create new resources (like the new Christmas resource, Missing Peace?)
Run events (such as hosting the recent online Australian Baptist Prayer Gathering)
Provide encouragement to Aussie Baptists (it’s time to read the new article about young adults exploring church!)
And offer invaluable training (more and more churches are using the Plan A resource).
Every dollar given is a blessing. Each donation comes closer to Crossover’s goal:
To see our Baptist movement baptising twice as many new believers each year by the end of the decade.
Streaming GOOD. Television
Find out about GOOD. TV
Australian Christian Channel have a free streaming service to provide positive entertainment options.
In an ever-changing world it’s great to know some things do not need to change. There is so much good to look forward to, which is why the people at GOOD. are committed to providing positive entertainment options so people can always watch something they can trust and rely on.
This is more than just a wide variety of programs. It includes a standard of viewing bringing more goodness into your life, with content to provide you with peace of mind. And will make you feel good at the same time.
GOOD. provide quality movies, TV series, documentaries and much more. You have the choice you want, without the stress of the not-so-good stuff that you do not want for your family.
As well, GOOD. is FREE, without any hidden costs or monthly bills.
Women gathered to pray at Day of Prayer events around Tasmania
On Saturday 22nd October, women gathered at Claremont and Ulverstone Baptist churches to pray for women around the world. They also gave funds to assist with Baptist projects in our Pacific region.
In each location, small groups prayed for international regions about specific prayer requests. These included prayers such as:
Nations recovering from COVID (Carribean and Asia)
Domestic abuse (Pacific and Caribbean)
Unexpected pregnancy support programs (Latin America and Canada)
Shelter for victims of human trafficking (Asia/Azerbaijan)
Reconciliation for indigenous people (Australia and NZ)
Peaceful elections (Africa)
Baptist women are doing astounding work across the globe!
In the recent budget, the Government announced $1.4 billion of additional aid to our region over the next four years!
Micah Australia welcomes these increases while continuing to call strongly for further urgent aid to help fight famine in the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria.
WATCH: Micah Australia’s Tim Costello (Exec. Director) and Matt Darvas (National Director) respond to the Budget from Canberra
Fostering Hope’s vision is to find a family for every child who needs one.
Tasmanian Baptists work with Fostering Hope to encourage churches and families to both provide, and support, foster carers.
Along with recruiting new carers, Fostering Hope supports people on the journey with connection, training, pastoral care, and mentors for children. As well, they offer trauma-awareness training for churches so they can be safe places for all children and adults.
Currently, Fostering Hope are looking for more fostering families to offer homes for children who need them.
There is also a need for respite carers to offer extended family and community around full-time foster and kinship families and we just don’t have the families to ask.
Children without the protection of their parents are the most vulnerable in any community. These children need families and communities to offer them hope, healing, and a childhood free of adult stresses and full of fun.
If you would like to know more about Fostering Hope’s work, or have someone from the team talk at your church or run a trauma-awareness training, please get in touch.
The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis
The winner of the Christian Book of the Year Award 2022 is The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis, by Tony Rinaudo.
The book tells the story of a revolution in reforestation that is transforming the lives of subsistence farmers around the world. An inspiring and irresistible story of one man’s obedience and God’s faithfulness.
The awards are presented every year by SparkLit.org, who aim to advance God’s Kingdom by empowering Christian writers, publishers and distributors.
Do you suffer from FOMO? It is so easy to have a Fear Of Missing Out!
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. Psalm 30:11 (NIV)
We don’t want to miss out what’s on social media. So we scroll, and keep on scrollinig.
We don’t want to miss out on that delicious cake or muffin. So we stack the kilos on.
We don’t want to miss out on that special moment, or this event, or the other big gathering. And in the process wear ourselves out.
But check this: THERE IS ANOTHER WAY!
Have you heard of JOMO?
The “Joy Of Missing Out” is easy too.
Stop scrolling, and ease your anxious heart.
Say NO to that cake – and enjoy a slimmer you.
Take a break from endless commitments, to make some space to rest your body, soul and spirit.
Instead of being fearful of missing out, choose JOY and relief in taking time out. Today.
Women Making a Difference
From one Generation to the Next
Love Beyond our Backyard
Three generations of northwest Baptist women leave a wonderful legacy across the world.
Sophia Russell recently chatted with three women from the same family from Wynyard: Shirley Wilson, daughter Cindy and granddaughter Kelsea Clingeleffer. Kelsea is the International Programs Coordinator at Baptist World Aid.
Women from more than 100 countries will gather around the first week of November for World Day of Prayer. This event was launched by the Baptist World Alliance Women over sixty years ago after World War II had shattered unity between the nations. Once again, this need is as desperate as ever, especially for the many Baptist women in Ukraine and Russia.
Here in Tasmania, two regional events are planned for Saturday 22nd October.
NORTHWEST: 10am, 22nd October at Ulverstone Baptist.
Many Papuan women will walk up to three days through the jungle so they can be part of the World Day of Prayer.
What’s the World Day of Prayer?
The World Day of Prayer sets aside a time in which women and men pray for their global sisters. The Prayer Guide lists prayer requests from all over the globe, requesting God’s intervention over issues of domestic violence, human trafficking, armed conflict, and areas devastated by natural disasters.
Here in the Pacific region, many will gather to be part of this global movement. Over a thousand will gather in Papua, with many women walking up to three days through the jungle so they can be part of the World Day of Prayer.
Yet, others will gather in churches and homes in Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, PNG, Vanuatu, and Tonga. The Pacific Island have the highest rates of domestic violence in the world so the need for prayer is desperate.
L to R: Women pray for our world; Sewing machines, Vanuatu; Day of Prayer 2021; Gardening project, Fiji.
Financial Support
As part of the gathering, women will bring a monetary gift which will be used to finance the work of Baptist World Alliance Women, and also our regional branch, Baptist Women of the Pacific. International projects supported by the Baptist World Alliance Women include a women’s outreach in Iraq, a safe shelter for women in Jamaica, and nurses aid training in Myanmar.
Within our own region, offerings have funded a gardening project which enabled Fijian women to feed their family and community during Covid-19. Purchased sewing machines for women in Vanuatu, and funded literacy programmes for women in the highlands of PNG.
