Monday, March 22, 2010
Evangelism success at the TAFE
Well my evangelism lately is having more success with the 'Aussies' than with the Africans. I'm having great chats with Robert and Glenn. Please pray for them. Today we talked at length about the evidences for Jesus' resurrection, about whether faith must mean commitment without evidence, whether there is absolute truth or meaning, and much more. Pray that these guys will come to a true and lively faith in the Lord Jesus. Nearly all the sound engineers are open to chat, so that's great... Praise God for that.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Launch a success
Well, I think our launch was big success. Well done to all. It was encouraging that many of the skater boys were willing to come over, take free stuff, take our card advertising us..... and one couple of boys even suggested they might come to church with us. Also, Linda wants to join us. (The lady that came with Rosemary found out about us through the Messenger article......Bravo!)
Listen to me on Life FM 10.10 Thursday 18th March
Yep, there's 15 minutes worth of Mike being interview. Please pray I commend Jesus with what I say!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Money for Alina's family
Hi all,
Alina's family are struggling in Tanzania at the moment. She has 8 brothers and sisters (4 brothers, 4 sisters) there. Three of them are married, and some of those families have children. Alina's Mum and Dad are also there. There is no food anymore, because UNHCR have left and the Tanzanians want the refugees to go, so they are restricting further their freedoms. For example, no more pet goats allowed.
Only 30000 refugees now remain, meaning that the majority have returned to Burundi.
Alina's father believes if he returns to Burundi, he will be killed. This is because the man who is now staying on Alina's dad's land will not want him to return and claim the land which is rightfully his. He will arrange for Alina's Dad to be killed, they are sure about that. Many of the Burundian refugees who have returned have been killed - not in public battles, but in quiet targeted killings of this sort, or of a political nature.
I have said we will get together $500 and send it over to help them eat for 3 months. Please pray they will get refugee visas so they can come out of there.
Alina's family are struggling in Tanzania at the moment. She has 8 brothers and sisters (4 brothers, 4 sisters) there. Three of them are married, and some of those families have children. Alina's Mum and Dad are also there. There is no food anymore, because UNHCR have left and the Tanzanians want the refugees to go, so they are restricting further their freedoms. For example, no more pet goats allowed.
Only 30000 refugees now remain, meaning that the majority have returned to Burundi.
Alina's father believes if he returns to Burundi, he will be killed. This is because the man who is now staying on Alina's dad's land will not want him to return and claim the land which is rightfully his. He will arrange for Alina's Dad to be killed, they are sure about that. Many of the Burundian refugees who have returned have been killed - not in public battles, but in quiet targeted killings of this sort, or of a political nature.
I have said we will get together $500 and send it over to help them eat for 3 months. Please pray they will get refugee visas so they can come out of there.
Life FM interview
Good news, guys. I'm getting an interview on Life FM, to be broadcast 10.10 Thursday 18th March.
I'll talk about our church and our launch and other things.
About 15 minutes worth, which is fantastic.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Minutes of Core Group Meeting
St. Barnabas Elizabeth core group meeting - 24/2/10
1. Bible reading and opening prayer - 2 Cor 12 – “When we are weak then we are strong” – a call to humility and to realize that God works mightily through our weaknesses.
2. Report from Mike on things happening
Archbishop, upon invitation, thought that Neil at Elizabeth may be offended that we are calling ourselves a church, not just a Burundian congregation. Archbishop can’t make it anyway.
Lyn Arnold sent his apologies.
Mike and Bosco having a photo Thursday 25th for Messenger, to be included with story on church and launch.
BBQ after service.
Background music outside.
Need welcomers outside for service. Two on the road – Jeff, Kat and youth. Two at the door – Pauline, Festus.
Mike to get sticky labels made up (through Rosanna) to stick on the back of the photo cards already made up, to give out to invite people to launch.
Steve and Lyn on roster for kids ministry. Will combine efforts with them.
BBQ Food – Heather to buy sausages (gluten free).
Buy bread and sauce and serviettes. Get drink dispensers from McDonalds. Ben to call McDonalds about drinks.
Sat 6th March – give out enviro bags and balloons to advertise church launch.
Ben to work on bags and balloons
Mike to speak to centre management.
Pauline and the bottomless tea jar to work on funds.
Jumping castle and face painting – Harricks know, Ally to chase up.
Interview on Life FM – Mike. Ben to chase up
4. Should we have a termly 'ministry meeting' with the preaching
program in front of us to prepare stuff? Yes, will confirm date once preaching schedule from Magill is available.
5. Idea for social – Festus kill a lamb day.
6. Next Core Group Meeting – 28th April.
7. Prayer
1. Bible reading and opening prayer - 2 Cor 12 – “When we are weak then we are strong” – a call to humility and to realize that God works mightily through our weaknesses.
2. Report from Mike on things happening
- Continuing to meet new people at Salisbury Tafe. Many of them Christians and going to other churches. Not trying to pull them from their churches but encourage them, read the Bible with them, and they can be good contacts for other non-Christian people.
- Alina’s family in Tanzania not in a good position. Going hungry.
- Tuesday Biblestudy going well, Festus, Bosco, Alphonse, Russell’s and Cosfords coming. 3 meetings so far.
- Blog has begun, seeking to communicate to all people. Will think about how to print off blog occasionally for those who don’t have internet access.
- Finance Update – Ambitious budget set for 2009 giving at St.Barnabas. Magill support $2458 more than budget. St.B’s budget for 2010 is 5% more than 2009 actual giving of $21,318. Last year Mike said he would absorb the shortfall for giving, and later thought he shouldn’t have said that. Nevertheless, Mike intends to keep his word and make up the shortfall for last year, but not in the future. Ben commented it is right for him not to absorb the shortfall but that we should pay the worker his wages.
- Through Bosco’s contact Leonard and Pastor Alexus, have arranged a partnership in a kiln business. IS a business where they take 50% and Mike takes 50% of the profit, to help them in teaching how to run a business, with partner expectations of reports, accountability. It needs to be clear that this is not the gift money given by the giving group.
- Next core group meeting have major focus on financial 5 year plan, including covering Mike’s wage, and other visions.
Archbishop, upon invitation, thought that Neil at Elizabeth may be offended that we are calling ourselves a church, not just a Burundian congregation. Archbishop can’t make it anyway.
Lyn Arnold sent his apologies.
Mike and Bosco having a photo Thursday 25th for Messenger, to be included with story on church and launch.
BBQ after service.
Background music outside.
Need welcomers outside for service. Two on the road – Jeff, Kat and youth. Two at the door – Pauline, Festus.
Mike to get sticky labels made up (through Rosanna) to stick on the back of the photo cards already made up, to give out to invite people to launch.
Steve and Lyn on roster for kids ministry. Will combine efforts with them.
BBQ Food – Heather to buy sausages (gluten free).
Buy bread and sauce and serviettes. Get drink dispensers from McDonalds. Ben to call McDonalds about drinks.
Sat 6th March – give out enviro bags and balloons to advertise church launch.
Ben to work on bags and balloons
Mike to speak to centre management.
Pauline and the bottomless tea jar to work on funds.
Jumping castle and face painting – Harricks know, Ally to chase up.
Interview on Life FM – Mike. Ben to chase up
4. Should we have a termly 'ministry meeting' with the preaching
program in front of us to prepare stuff? Yes, will confirm date once preaching schedule from Magill is available.
5. Idea for social – Festus kill a lamb day.
6. Next Core Group Meeting – 28th April.
7. Prayer
Days available to promote at Elizabeth Shopping Centre
The days available to use the free 'Community Stall' are 2,3,7,9,10 March.
That's Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday
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