newcastle & central nsw...
TRANSCRIPT
Newcastle & Central NSW Division
Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring
things, immeasurable things, things greater than we
ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in
us. Ephesians 3:20 (The Voice)
Greater Things!
DHQ Newsletter: Issue 5 05 March 2014
WHERE ARE THE GREATER THINGS?
"Very truly I tell you, whoever
believes in me will do the works I
have been doing, and they will do
even greater things than these,
because I am going to the Father"
(John 14:12 NIV).
So I have a question: Where are these
"greater things" in our day?
When we open up the book of Acts,
and read the continuing
story of Jesus after he
has gone back to the
Father (Acts 1:1), we
see all sorts of "greater
things" happening in
the lives of ordinary,
powerless, simple, and
everyday people who
believe in Jesus. So
what's the difference between them
and us? Let's be honest with
ourselves:
God didn't suddenly get less
powerful.
The promise of Jesus didn't
expire.
The Holy Spirit didn't leave
the scene.
The message of Jesus didn't
lose its radical convicting
edge.
So let's be courageous enough to ask
ourselves, "Is the reason we are not
seeing these “greater things” a
problem with us?" We need to start
where those who first believed the
message of Jesus began (Acts 2:41).
When this conviction touched their
hearts and they responded in faith,
they became part of a community of
people who "devoted themselves to
the apostles' teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer" (Acts 2:42).
Notice the key word: "devoted"! The
apostles were devoted to four areas;
teaching, fellowship, the breaking of
bread and prayer. Devotion was
clearly a key part of the early church's
experience of the "greater things"
that Jesus promised. Unfortunately,
this is a quality often
lacking in those
claiming to follow
Jesus in our Western
churches today!
So here comes the
really convicting
question for you and
me: How frequently
does devotion to these things
mentioned in Acts show
up in our lives?
We're not talking about adding these
four areas of devotion to our already
busy lifestyles. No, we're talking
about these four being the ordering
principles around which we arrange
our lives. That's what it means to be
devoted! We lean in and attach
ourselves to these four commitments
as the ordering priorities of our lives
as followers of Jesus.
Jesus longs to do "greater things" in
us. Our hearts yearn to experience
God in all of his holy power in our
lives. Our corps’ ache to be something
more than a weekly show within four
walls that seems absolutely
disconnected from our everyday lives.
I don't know about you, but I'm ready
for "greater things" and not just the
old things! So if Jesus' promise to do
"greater things" is for "whoever
believes" in him, isn't it time we
followed their example by doing what
they did and devoting ourselves to
what they did?
Wendy & Gavin Watts
Divisional Leaders
Inside this issue:
Message 1
_______________________
News 2
_______________________
More News 3
_______________________
Personnel 4
_______________________
Prayer Page 5
_______________________
Events 6
Page 2
SINGLETON NOW HAS JUNIOR SOLDIERS!!!
Singleton Corps/Red Shield Defence
Services began its first Junior Soldiers
group 2 weeks ago. It is the first
Junior Soldier group we think for over
20 years.
It is amazing to see God at work not
only amongst the children who
attended, but also in challenging our
own faith.
We believed for 6 children to attend
and I baked butterfly cakes for
morning tea. I was kicking myself as
everyone arrived for our first Junior
Soldiers lesson because I had baked
11 cup cakes and ate one while I was
getting organised. When the 10th
person arrived I was seriously
concerned we would no longer have
enough cupcakes. God has a sense of
humour!
Anyway God challenged my faith as I
only dared believe for 6 children. We
had a fantastic morning doing the first
lesson of the preparation for Junior
Soldiership. Then on Sunday when
we had our 2nd lesson, God
challenged my faith again, as I was all
ready for 10 children when 12
children and an adult who wanted to
participate all arrived! This time I am
happy to say that I baked the right
number of cupcakes.
The children mostly come from
disadvantaged families coming to our
Kids Club and some are defence
families. We are excited by how God
is working amongst the children and
also in expanding our tent.
- Captain Leanne Bennett
DIVISIONAL WATER FUN DAY
On Saturday 22nd February the rain
stopped and the sun came out right in
time for an afternoon/evening of great
fun, frivolity, laughter and of course a
little competition! Approx. 130 people
of all ages from 7 different Corps in
the Division turned out at Swansea
pool for our Annual Swimming
Event. No longer called the Aquatics
Carnival, but the Water Fun Day, (just
as well seeing as races were certainly
low in number), still, people gave
their best and competed for a
certificate, and of course the famous
Triumph Winner's Cup!
The children gathered in the kid's pool
for games and fun and lots of
splashing and laughter! The Social
Games followed the freestyle races
and saw most people in attendance
involved in relays, fun races, bombing
into the pool and fun. People of a
variety of ages from varying Corps
united as coloured teams mixing in
together and giving their best to see
their colour win the social games.
We saw Rubber Ducky's being
transported across the pool, a balloon
relay, an in pool scavenger hunt,
Chinese Whispers in the water, and of
course an all-in game of Dodge Ball.
OUR 7 MISSION PRIORITIES
We will do whatever it takes to see: 1. A territory marked by prayer and holiness 2. Every place involved in evangelism 3. Corps healthy and multiplying 4. Our people equipped and empowered to serve the world 5. Passionate about bringing children to Jesus 6. Youth trained and sent out to frontline mission 7. Significant increase of new soldiers and officers.
Page 3
A visual Biblical Reflection of 3
blindfolded people racing down the
pool carrying a bag of weights and
wearing a hat and fully clothed, was a
time of stopping and remembering the
verses found in Hebrews 12:1-3.
We reflected on how we would never
choose to swim in a race carrying
bags, weights and wearing a lot of
layered clothing. Yet we sometimes
run the 'race' of following Jesus
carrying things like guilt, distraction,
sin, lack of faith, worry, lack of trust
in God, disobedience, lives that are
too busy and poorly prioritised,
addictions etc. and we must remember
to THROW these things off and keep
our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Of course at the end of the race they
each received a prize - 'Marvellous
Creations'; we too, at the end of our
race will receive a prize from our
Marvellous Creator!
The tempting scent of BBQ filled the
air, and people refuelled in time for
the Freestyle Relays at the end of the
night.
It was great to see people travel from
as far as Taree & Forster (some
passionately fully fledged brightly
orange-coloured flag bearing Forster-
ites were in attendance). A night of
mingling and uniting together in fun
was enjoyed and we thank God that
NO injuries or First Aid was required
on the night!
Newcastle Worship and Community
Centre took out
first place and won
the Triumph Cup,
with Tuggerah
Lakes Corps taking out the
BMW (Beryl May
Williams)
Memorial
Encouragement Cup. Well Done!!
- Envoy Angela Cairns – DYS
Doorways is up and running now in 9
Community Welfare Centres across
the Division.
Doorways is not a new program but a
philosophy of welfare provision that
involves casework of clients at risk of
being entrenched in the poverty cycle
and welfare dependence. Here are
just a couple of reports that show the
nature of the work.
Doorways Tuggerah was off to a
great start in February with Noreen
working with a couple on a Carer's
visa 116, whose carer/sponsor died in
December and Centrelink and Dept.
of Housing told them they had to wait
104 weeks for any assistance. Noreen
spent a whole afternoon on the phone
discovering lots about Immigration
and Welfare Law, and helping them
negotiate the maze. At this stage
there is a strong chance that they will
be granted a "Special Benefit
Payment". Noreen has also connected
them to Employment Plus who are
helping with job seeking.
Out in Dubbo, Doorways began in
December. Through the assistance
and support of the Doorways worker
(Leyna) a client has had her children
returned to her care and has for the
most part stayed and obeyed her
methadone program. Leyna was able
to connect the client to a financial
counsellor, who with the support of
Doorways was able to make
applications to have debts reduced or
cleared altogether due to her current
health issues. She has also assisted the
client in the reporting of physical
abuse from her partner to the point
when the police finally took the
situation seriously, acted on our
reports and arrested and removed the
now ex-partner.
Through Doorways the client has
reached out for grief counselling to
learn better ways to cope with her
grief that doesn’t involve drug use,
and now talks to her Doorways case
worker BEFORE she goes out and
hocks her possessions or applies for
pay-day-loans to see if there is a
smarter way she could be paying for
the things she needs in her life.
We praise God for the Doorways
program!
- Howard Mole
March
Chloe Lauder 6th
12
Corey Pethybridge 26th
6
Elijah Cairns 29th
13
Page 4
DATES TO REMEMBER
March
7 World Day of Prayer
8 Div. Men’s Breakfast
10 Div. Women’s Celebration
(Evening)
12 Div. Women’s Celebration
(Morning)
20 Family Store Manager’s
Forum
21-23 Spiritual Retreat Lochinvar
(Deadline for March Retreat
Monday 10th March)
22 Div. Pulse Youth Church
30 Self-Denial Altar Service
30 International Day of Prayer
for Children
SALVATIONIST SUPPLIES CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT
Until further notice, the management
of Salvationist Supplies is under the
office of the Assistant Secretary for
Business Administration.
We acknowledge the valuable and
long term service of Mr Graham
Lang who vacated the position of
Manager some time back.
All general enquiries and orders
should be directed to the store by
email at Trade/AUE/SARMY, or by
phoning 1800634209 or (02)
92669511.
APPOINTMENT CHANGE Captain Kathy Crombie, currently
serving as Director, School for
Multicultural Ministry and Associate
Corps Officer, Auburn Corps, the
Greater West Division, has been
appointed as Senior Policy Analyst,
International Social Justice
Commission, based in New York
City, effective from 1 May 2014.
PROMOTED TO GLORY Lt-Colonel Harold Roy Stiles, known
as Roy, aged 98 years, was Promoted
to Glory at 6.15pm last Friday, 28th
February, 2014. Lt-Colonel Roy was
the father of Major Innes (and
Christine) Stiles and Allan (and
Jenette) Stiles, the grandfather of
Paul, Scott and Martin Stiles, Tresna
Anderson, Jodie Stiles and Katrina
Gott, and was a special great
grandfather to numerous
grandchildren. A private family
burial was held at 11.00am on
Wednesday, 5th March, 2014.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life
of Lt-Colonel Roy Stiles was
conducted by Commissioner Les
Strong at 1.00pm on Wednesday, 5th
March 2014, at The Salvation Army
Springwood Corps.
HEALTH CONCERN Liam (Mission & Resource Team-
Systems/Samis) and Allison
Holland’s son, Asher, is very ill and
is in Westmead Hospital. Asher is
also the grandson of Majors Sandra
(Ryde Corps) and Topher Holland
(Territorial Strategic Disaster
Response). Your intercessory prayer
would be appreciated for Asher, as
well as his parents, Allison and Liam
and his grandparents, Sandra and
Topher.
THANKS Majors Brenda (Broken Hill Corps)
and Kelvin Stace (Broken Hill Social
Programs) would like to pass on their
thanks and appreciation to all those
who have prayed and sent cards and
well wishes for Kelvin's recovery. He
is doing fine - just a bit impatient with
himself, expecting to bounce back
quicker than it is actually happening.
We both look forward to the day he
regains full use of his shoulder. Your
continued prayer support would be
appreciated.
ENGAGEMENT NEWS We congratulate Major Colin
Maxwell (Capricorn Region Corps)
and Ms Jan Geaney (Finance
Department, South
Queensland Division) who have announced
their engagement. We
wish Colin and Jan well for their
future life and service together.
BABY NEWS Last Thursday evening, 27
th February,
the Grigg family was excited and
blessed with the safe arrival of
Amelia-Rose Louise Grigg to Drew
and Ruth. Amelia-Rose is the
granddaughter of Majors Elwyn
(Office of The Chief Secretary) and
Raewyn Grigg (School for
Leadership Training) Congratulations.
Major Beatrice Kay (Tuggerah Lakes
Corps) is celebrating the birth of her
eighth grandchild and seventh
grandson, Tommy James Kay born
Tuesday 4th March, 2014 to Kristy
and Andrew. Archie is thrilled with
his new brother and playmate.
Certainly the 'KAY' name is alive and
well as Noel would say, “God is good
all the time”. Congratulations to all
the family and may God continue to
bless Tommy and the Kay family.
RESIGNATION
We thank Majors Beverley and David
McMurray for their service. Beverley
and David are standing aside from
Officership for a season to take
leadership of a church in Melbourne.
Page 5
PRAYER PARTNER DIARY
March 9-15, 2014
“To pray in Jesus’ name means to
pray in his spirit, in his
compassion, in his love, in his
outrage, in his concern, in other
words, it means to pray a prayer
that Jesus himself might pray.”
- Kenneth L. Wilson
- Narelle Gurney – Director of
Development, Service and
Projects, Malawi Command
- Carpenter Court Residential
Aged Care – Tracey Lee
Garratt, Major Margaret
Millington and Team
- Casino Corps – Captains David
and Meryl Cook
- Centenary Corps – Captains
Derek and Sonia Whitehouse
- Centennial Lodge – Lieutenant
Cara Brackstone and Team
- Central and North Qld DHQ –
Majors Kelvin and Cheralynne
Pethybridge, Majors Glenn and
Lynn Whittaker, Captain
Tracey Schutz, Envoys Jake and
Amanda Clanfield, Envoy Stuart
Grice and Team
- Central and North Qld
Division Chaplains – Major
Anne Gumuna and Bob Down
11 – 14 Territorial Salvos
Stores Manager’s Convention
“Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Prayer Points:
- Pray for baby Dawsyn Gillies
(8 months old) unwell in
hospital undergoing blood tests.
Pray for Envoy Melissa her
husband John and their other
5 children.
Boundless 2015 International Congress
We are pleased to announce that the registration process for the 2015
International Congress is now open! You can book your place at the Congress
using our online booking system which can be accessed via our website -
www.boundless2015.org/boundless/registration.
The online registration system has been developed to allow you to register yourself, your
family and friends for each of the main sessions as well as allowing you to book tickets
to other concerts and events that will be taking place during the week of the Congress.
Initially you are only able to register delegates for full registrations, giving them entry to
all of the 7 main sessions at the Congress. You will need to enter details for each of the
delegates you wish to register and then select which full registration type you need for
each of them. Tickets for additional events and for individual sessions will be released at
a later date.
The registration system will guide you through the process of booking your place at the
Congress but if you have any questions or experience any problems with the system,
please contact the Congress Office.
International Headquarters
Congress Office
Page 6
You are invited to hear the Sydney Staff Songsters!
Free Concert!
March Retreat
applications close
Monday 10th March