THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF NORTH WEST AUSTRALIAPO Box 2783, Geraldton WA 6531. Ph (08) 9921 7277 email reception@anglicandnwa.org

The team from Trinity.L-R: Ewen Lin. Matt Macolm, Jono Wesley, Cameron Sutherland (Asst Minister Bluff

Point), Louisa Read, Amy Stopher, Andrew Burr (Senior Minister Bluff Pt) and Frank Nicol.

June 2011 No. 84

Sharing God’s Good News

Only Eternity will reveal the tremendous impact of that one Sunday school teacher, Mr Kimball, who invested his life in the lives of others. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Everything we do in the name of Jesus Christ has an effect which will be viewed through Eternity.’ (Quoted from Just A Minute Inspirational E-mail.) In April this year six students from Trinity Theological College in Perth visited St George’s Bluff Point for a week of mission. There were the usual speaking engagements with testimonies and Gospel talks. But there were the unusual events like the Kids’ Bus Party, Dinner Q&A’s and a Mums’ & Bubs’ morning tea. This mission gave people opportunities to hear about the Kingship of Jesus Christ. It also gave the Trinity students ministry experience with the added bonus that they could hear church ministers sharing insights into pastoral work. Again, only eternity will reveal the impact of this mission. But our church is grateful for the work of Trinity and we have been encouraged by the team’s enthusiasm, friendliness and gentleness.

Revd Andrew BurrBluff Point Parish

In April a team from Perth‘s Trinity Theological College visited the parishes of Bluff Point and Northampton for a week-long mission.

‘Evangelism’. A word that can strike fear into your heart. And for some, bad memories of hell fi re preaching, loud arguments on doorsteps and fast talking church pastors on TV. It’s been said that evangelism ‘is explaining the road to salvation in less than one minute without hesitation, deviation or repetition’. Even good things can go sour. But in the New Testament evangelism means preaching, or proclaiming God’s Good News. In each of the Gospels it is the work Jesus gives to the church; Matthew 20:16-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-48, John 20:21-23, Acts 1:7-8. As the church shares this Good News in the way they speak and live God works in His own time to bring people into His kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ. Someone has noticed a ripple effect in sharing God’s Good News. In 1855, A Sunday School teacher, a Mr Kimball, led a Boston shoe clerk to give his life to Christ. The clerk, Dwight L Moody, became an evangelist. In England in 1879, Dwight L Moody awakened evangelistic zeal in the heart of Fredrick B Meyer, pastor of a small church. Meyer, preaching to an American college campus, brought to Christ a student named J Wilbur Chapman. J Wilbur Chapman, engaged in YMCA work, employed a former baseball player, Billy Sunday, to do evangelistic work. Billy Sunday held a revival in Charlotte, North Carolina. A group of local men were so enthusiastic afterward that they planned another evangelistic campaign, bringing Mordecai Hamm to town to preach. During Mordecai Hamm’s revival, a young man named Billy Graham heard the Gospel and yielded his life to Christ.

Ten days before Easter, Andrew Hadfi eld (Assistant Minister) and I made a gruelling 1800km round trip, Kununurra-Darwin, in a 21 seater bus, through fl oods and washed out roads, to bring a team of 16 students from Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC) to Kununurra for our “Local Mission Week”. What a fantastic week of teaching and evangelistic activities. A Family Fun Night was attended by 100 people, half of whom were not Christians. The gospel was presented by the team via a dynamic puppet show. We also had an EasterChocolate Making outreach for the ladies which was great and a Men’s Breakfast at one of the waterfalls. Some of the new contacts we made have since come along to church. During the week, we had a teaching night for our church answering the question “Why World Mission?” This was a look into the Bible that showed us why we should support world mission, go on mission and how to practically do these things individually and as a church. The mission has helped our church to refocus on evangelism and mission. Everyone worked together well and were bold in inviting friends along to events. The SMBC team was fi rst class and helped us to reach out to our community and encouraged individuals in their walk with Christ. What a blessing!

Rev Gary AlexanderSt James Kununurra

It can only get better Advertising - that’s important! So for our fi rst Splash Zone we made sure that we had notes sent home to the parents at the School with the newsletter. Out of, at a guess 400 students, we had 14 positive responses from parents giving permission for their children to come to Splash Zone, a lunchtime kid’s club. The fi rst week (myself and the other leader) had one very young child. Next week will be better we thought. Wrong. Next week we had no one. I say ‘we’ but actually I was on my own. Anyhow it gave me a chance to go through my phone messages and that’s when I discovered that my co-leader was in hospital. The next week my co-leader was still sick, then she was going away for a couple of weeks, then swimming lessons would start at the school. So I gave up. In the meantime the pastor of a nearby church was contacting me regularly to say that their church would like to support this ministry fi nancially and wanted to know how it was going. Less than thriving. Anyhow the pastor had the idea of starting again with a bang, or at least a barbecue. The Principal was supportive and enthusiastic, my co-leader is better, so next term we start with a lunchtime barbecue in the school.

Post Script: The bad news is that my co-leader is back in hospital for major surgery. I’m praying for her recovery. The good news is that Jocelyn Ross helped me out, the school Principal was still supportive and we had 12 children turn up for the barbecue, games and a Bible talk. So, praise the Lord, it did get better.

Jeremy RiceDean of Holy Cross Cathedral

Website:www.anglicandnwa.orgPROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The Diocese of North West Australia is a safe place for all. If you have a complaint or a question about sexual abuse or inappropriate behaviour please contact the Director of Professional Standards.

Tracie Chambers-Clark (JP) Ph (08) 9325 7455 Email tchambers-clark@perth.anglican.org

Mission in the top end

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Sowing Seeds The male students from Trinity Theological College cooked up a storm at a “Big Blokes Breakfast” in Northampton. Ewen Lin used readings from Mark’s gospel to challenge men in the way they live and lead, at work and in their families. The Ladies held a “Cooking Demonstration” afternoon tea. Those who came along, half of whom were newcomers, enjoyed learning how to make Wonton soup. Amy Stopher was ‘Chef’ and also shared the ways in which God had infl uenced her life. The team ran an Easter seminar at Chapman Valley Primary School in Nabawa where we’ve been teaching SRE fortnightly. The children were treated to a varied program of quizzes, puppets, memory verse games and action songs. When it came to the song, “Super Saviour”, even the teachers joined in, standing to do the actions. I took some team members to Binnu for the monthly Friday night house church meeting. Jono Wesley used his farming background to connect with the farmers about the importance of being prepared for ‘the fi nal clearance sale’. Frank Nicol (future Assistant Minister at Port Hedland) preached at the Palm Sunday service in Northampton. I also spent time sharing with the students about ministry in the parish, giving a clearer picture of small church ministry in a rural setting. Northampton parish is grateful to our Lord for the ministry of the Trinity team amongst us and we look forward to seeing seeds grow from what was sown.

Revd David DayNorthampton Parish

From the Bishop What a privilege it is serving the Lord Jesus Christ. All Christians are called to serve the Lord. We read in Ephesians 4 of some of the gifts which God gives to His Church. There God tells us through His servant Paul, that such gifts are given to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ (the Church) may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (verses 12-13)That’s quite a mouthful! We see in this passage that ‘gifts’ are not for our own benefi t or something to boast about. They are designed to grow God’s Church to being a serving community, united in God’s truth and mature in knowing God better. For over seven years, Maureen and I have had the enormous privilege of sharing in ministry and fellowship with hundreds of Christians either within our Diocese or outside, who together are serving God in this part of the world seeking to make Christ known, calling men and women, teenagers and boys and girls to a living faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Some of them are Anglican Ministers and their wives. Some are faithful members of Congregations scattered around our huge area. Some are people who pray for the ministry here and support it with their dollars. Some come for short periods as volunteers to work alongside the Congregations in seeking to reach their communities for Christ or maintain our properties. In mid-October this year, Maureen and I will be leaving the North West and moving to a little cottage in the sea-side town of Gerringong, two hours South of Sydney. There we will slow down a little, hand over to a younger Bishop, see more of our children and their families and be involved once again in Parish ministry. While it is not time to say good-bye, I thought that our extended Diocesan family (inside and outside the Diocesan boundaries) should know of our plans. In the meantime, there is much to do, as not all of those living within our area are committed to Jesus Christ. May God help us to keep serving Him until our dying breath.

Sincerely in Christ,David Mulready

Weekend at Warroora A crowd of people, locusts, water and proclamation of Scripture. No it wasn’t a re-enactment of John the Baptist, it was the Exmouth Anglican Community Church Camp. Warroora (pronounced “Warra”) Station is two hours south of Exmouth on the pristine Coral Coast. It boasts some of the most magnifi cent coastal scenery, beaches and swimming in Western Australia. Leonie, Bernice, Marty and Muriel who own and run the station were very excited to have us use the Shearers Quarters in their Homestead area for our weekend of fellowship and teaching. We were joined by a million locusts who happily took part in all our activities – including showering Richard, Tracy, Josh and Sarah Goscombe made the 600km trip from Wickham Anglican Church to teach us over three sessions. Richard led the 22 adults to a better understanding of the purpose of church, concluding in each person praying about then writing a personal missional covenant for the year ahead. I led a fi nal session, think tanking our specifi c purpose as ExmouthAnglican Community Church. The Parish Council will then take these ideas to help form a Purpose and Vision Statement for the church as it moves forward. Tracy, Josh and Sarah led the 15 kids in their own teaching time. On their return from each session they were all able to excitedly recite the memory verse. They also explored every building at the homestead in search of a cool and large enough area to play their energetic games. Saturday afternoon was free time. Many took the opportunity to cool off swimming, kayaking and snorkelling at the beaches. Others chose to read a book under the shade of a tree or tend to the four camp ovens over the open fi re. Dinner was a real treat with roast lamb, beef and pork along with roast vegetables. That night we were entertained by the various hidden “talents” of those on the camp. The fi rst unexpected act was the arrival of a Dugite snake which casually made its way through the seated crowd onto the outdoor stage and then off again under the veranda. The fi nal act resembled God’s pillar of fi re as Annette and Frank Bush wowed us with their fi re twirling, fi nishing off our wonderful day in the wilderness. Everyone went home physically and spiritually satisfi ed, if not somewhat exhausted, looking forward to going on camp again (at a cooler time) next year.

Revd Lachlan EdwardsExmouth Anglican Community Church

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Introducing Two New MinistersWe are very fortunate to be soon welcoming two new young ministry couples and their families to our Diocesan ministry team. Both men are still studying at Trinity Theological College in Perth this year but will be Ordained on October 12 during our Fellow Workers Family Conference. Frank and Jo Nicol are no strangers to the North West. Frank spent some of his early years in Port Hedland. After their marriage, Frank and Jo spent three years in both Karratha then in Kununurra/ Wyndham where they were very much involved in the local Church. In January 2011, they took Services in Exmouth so that the Edwards could go on holidays. In early 2012 they will move with their new baby from St Alban’s Highgate to Port Hedland to work with Philip and Elke Knight.

A number of friends from parishes in the Diocese of North West Australia from the last 40 years gathered to celebrate with Bill & Jocelyn Ross the receiving of the Order of Australia Medal. It was a wonderful night. Bill and I thank all of you, our friends and readers, for your congratulations. We are so grateful to God for your prayers and for being part of our journey through our 41 years in North West Australia.

Urgent prayer request for Broome parish

During our visit to Broome in May, it was decided to buy a block of land and build a house in which to put the incoming assistant Minister from February 2012. The alternative is to pay $30,000-$35,000pa in rent.

We urgently need $280,000 to buy the block of land. Your prayers for this matter are much appreciated.

Network News

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Carnarvon MU members organised a 24 hour ‘camp’ at Hamelin Pool Station Stay, near Monkey Mia. Sixteen travelled from Carnarvon, Geraldton and Denham to share time together with a trillion fl ies, and later on Saturday afternoon large number of unwanted grasshoppers! We gathered to learn from God’s Word, be refreshed by His Spirit and fi nd direction and purpose from within the group. JenniferWarburton, the previous MU President, was thanked for her friendship and encouragement and farewelled as she leaves WA for Bendigo to be closer to family members.

From Bluff Point Parish in Geraldton Peter Curedale, an unsung hero, born in 1954 with cerebral palsy, and in the 80’s badly burnt in a car accident, has died after a brief illness. Sadly only at his death we fi nd more of the real person. He was a faithful CEBS Leader in the 1980’s at St George’s Church and a committed reader of the Bible. Faithfully supported by a number of parishioners for the last 30 years of his life Peter was able to live with dignity and independently. Vale, Peter.

Bill and Jocelyn celebrating with their family after receiving the OAM

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By Jocelyn Ross

Eion and Claire Simmons are from Perth and are memers of St Mary’s Kelmscott. They have two young children Ngaire (4) and Josiah (2) and a baby due in November. In early 2012 they will move to Broome to work with Archdeacon Tim and Kathy

Mildenhall. In January 2011 they took the services in Broome to allow the Mildenhalls to go on holidays. We are still needing partners who might help pay and house Eion and Claire! Please pray for these two terrifi c couples as they complete their studies at Trinity and prepare to join us.