networking - Churches of Christ in Queensland

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SCAN ME!
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2015
O C TO
Bringing the light of Christ into communities
Welcome to Networking.
It has been a busy second half of
2015 so far, with the release of the
new Strategic Plan 2015-18 (page 4)
and the launch of our Reconciliation
Action Plan (page 9). We also
celebrated Seniors Week in August
(page 14) and marked Child Protection
Week in September (page 11).
Child Protection Week (6-12
September) promoted the theme
that child protection is everybody’s
business. Churches of Christ Care
is one of the largest providers
of child protection services in
Queensland and the demand on
these services continues to grow.
We recently opened three new
services as part of the Queensland
Government’s Stronger Families
program, providing intensive family
support in the Moreton Bay and
Wide Bay regions. Launch events
for these vital services were held in
September and October.
networking
Communications Group
Churches of Christ in Queensland
41 Brookfield Road Kenmore Qld 4069
PO Box 508 Kenmore Qld 4069
facebook.com/cofcqld
07 3327 1600
communications@cofcqld.com.au
cofc.com.au
We will also hold a launch event
for our new Mobile Office. With
our Housing Services supporting
communities spread over a wide
geographical area, the Mobile
Office will help us to support the
needs of these clients. Residents at
Bongaree Park, one of our housing
communities on Bribie Island, were
the first to check out the specially
decked-out van at a barbecue
recently (page 12).
CELEBRATE 2015 – 20-21 NOVEMBER
The Celebrate weekend includes
Centrifuge, the Annual General
Meeting and the Awards Dinner. We
look forward to taking this time to
share our achievements with you,
inspire you and empower you to live
out our mission.
On Friday 20 November, Centrifuge
will examine the theme of ‘In it for the
long haul’, with special guest speaker
Peter Janetzki, a highly regarded
counsellor and educator. This event is
a time for reflection, creative worship
and fellowship, and is an opportunity
to identify difficulties we face and
create practical action plans to
overcome them.
The Annual General Meeting will be
held immediately after Centrifuge,
starting at 4.30pm, and followed by
a light supper.
Our Awards Dinner will be held
on the Saturday night, bringing
together church members, staff
and volunteers to celebrate the
many amazing achievements,
inspirational individuals and
exceptional teams and projects.
Thank you to everyone who
submitted nominations for the
awards. The high standard of
nominations is testament to the
high calibre of people we have
working across our organisation.
If you haven’t already registered
for one or all of the Celebrate 2015
events, do so today at
cofc.com.au/celebrate before
these events book out!
CHURCHES OF CHRIST
MEDICAL SANTO
Earlier this year our community
generously donated to our Cyclone
Appeal to help Medical Santo in
Vanuatu provide relief to those
affected by Cyclone Pam. This
amazing service continues to
provide medical care to the people
of Vanuatu and needs support to
carry out this vital work. You can
read about their work on page 27,
and donate today at medicalsanto.
com/how-to-help/#give, by
calling 1800 600 900 or emailing
fundraising@cofcqld.com.au
I look forward to seeing you at
Celebrate 2015.
Desley Millwood
Director – Communications
Networking is published bimonthly (February, April, June, August, October and
December) and contains a variety of news and stories from across Churches of Christ in
Queensland Articles and photos can be submitted to communications@cofcqld.com.au.
The submission deadline for the December/January 2016 edition of Networking is
Tuesday 3 November 2015.
FOSTERING YOUNG
ARTIST’S TALENTS
9
NEW GRADUATE
PROGRAM TOP CLASS
21
8
17
RECONCILIATION
ACTION PLAN LAUNCHED
STEPHEN CHEEK’S
MEMORIAL
24
DASHING GENTS
CAPTURED ON FILM
CONTENTS
Chief Executive Officer’s update................................. 4
Exploring our historical foundations.......................... 6
Award winning service .............................................. 8
22
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
AT BOONDALL
Fuelling a passion for education ..............................10
Mobile Office is on the move .................................... 12
Celebrating Seniors Week ........................................ 14
L10 conference a blast for our young people ............ 20
Gatton Church of Christ’s 60th anniversary.............. 26
Saving lives in Vanuatu............................................27
28
Finding enrichment through volunteering ................ 29
ARCADIA CELEBRATES
10TH BIRTHDAY
Finding your fit in life’s second half ..........................32
networking
Chief Executive Officer
Dean Phelan
Chief Executive
Officer’s
STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-18
Our Churches of Christ in Queensland Executive,
Board and Council recently finalised and endorsed our
Strategic Plan for the next three years.
We have been on a great journey over recent years.
After much work, in 2010 every area of our organisation
united around one mission: ‘Bringing the light of Christ
into communities’ and six goals that we needed to
focus on in order to forward this mission. At our 2014
Annual General Meeting last November we presented a
Report Card on our five-year progress against these six
goals and the plans we had set for ourselves in our five
year strategic plan back then. The Report Card showed
significant blessings and growth in all areas of our work,
services and resources – thank God.
In looking back, and also forward at the next three
years, there are a number of major factors that have
been shaping our strategies: cultural and societal
changes have seen Christianity declining in Australia
and the western world for the past 50 years. Our
Australian population is ageing with proportionally
fewer taxpayers being called upon to support more
people with increasing healthcare needs and costs.
This is occurring at the same time as a decline in
mining revenue, which has helped to underwrite our
nation’s budget for a number of decades. In addition,
global cloud technology, social media and online 24/7
operations are having a profound impact on our culture
and the way we work and live.
Each of these macro trends is profoundly impacting the
communities in which we live and serve, and they are
shaping local, state and federal government policy.
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This past year has seen continued grappling with these
issues, and following detailed analyses and review of
our learnings over the last five years, we have framed the
key priorities and strategic plans to guide our efforts over
the three years ahead. We look forward to further growth,
and further investments to enable our Churches of Christ
movement to continue to forward Christ’s mission with
communities in Queensland, and in partnership with
Churches of Christ in Victoria and Tasmania.
Strategic Plan 2015-18
Members of our executive team will be visiting all
our care services in the coming months to present
the Strategic Plan, while our chief officers will be
visiting churches during the next 12 months to
consult with local leaders. These short informal
sessions include an opportunity to ask questions
and find out more about the direction we as an
organisation are taking over the next three years.
Additionally, the Strategic Plan will be presented
at our Annual General Meeting on Friday 20
November, with copies available throughout the
Celebrate 2015 weekend.
You can watch the video of Chief Executive
Officer Dean Phelan talking about the Strategic
Plan on our website at cofc.com.au
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RECONCILIATION ACTION
PLAN LAUNCHED
As flagged in our last
edition of Networking,
Churches of Christ
in Queensland’s
Reconciliation Action
Plan was launched at
our Townsville campus
at the end of August.
Reconciliation Action Plan
I was proud to present
on behalf of us all, our
first intentional plan that outlines actions that we, as an
organisation will take to contribute to reconciliation. At
times these actions will challenge us; they will require us
to listen and sit with the knowledge that we do not have
all the answers. However, through the relationships that
we have built, and will continue to build, with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we can find a shared
path with opportunities to bring uplift and transform lives
– some of which may be our own.
You can read more about the Reconciliation Action Plan
on page 9.
QUEENSLAND CHURCH LEADERS GATHERING
Churches of Christ hosted an historic gathering of
Queensland church leaders at our Mitchelton Campus
in August. State leaders from the major Christian
denominations came together for a day around the theme
of leadership and influence. The aim was to explore God’s
possible call on us collectively as leaders in Queensland,
to respond to some of the weighty issues impacting our
congregations and the communities we serve. I was
privileged to facilitate the day.
After a process of collective prayer and reflection, each
person was invited to individually write down on sticky
notes the one or two issues that were most pressing for
them in terms of the need to take action. These were then
posted onto a wall and clustered into themes.
Whilst many areas were identified, four themes emerged
as being of most concern across the leaders:
1. More humane society; kindness
2. Refugees; greater justice
3. Social isolation; caring for the marginalised
4. Child protection; family wellbeing;
domestic violence
Four spaces for dialogue were then created and
participants joined the discussion they were most
passionate about in terms of influencing greater
outcomes. Report backs were then made to the whole
group. It was great day of relationship building, shared
understanding and the emergence of possibilities for
action. It was agreed that the dialogue would continue.
Blessings
Dean Phelan
Chief Executive Officer
ceo@cofcqld.com.au
Back row (L-R): Rev Brian Hoole – Presbytery Minister Bremer Brisbane – Uniting Church; The Most Rev’d Dr Phillip Aspinall – Archbishop
of Brisbane – Anglican Church; Valerie Joy – Queensland Leader – Quakers; Geoff Charles – Deputy Chair of Council – Churches of Christ;
The Rt Rev’d Alison Taylor – Bishop of Southern Region – Anglican Church; The Rev’d Canon Richard Tutin – General Secretary, Queensland
Churches Together – Anglican Church; Most Rev Brian Finnigan – Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Brisbane – Roman Catholic Church; Gerry
Weatherall – Chief Mission Development Officer – Churches of Christ; Greg Runge – President and Chair, Conference Council – Churches
of Christ; Rev Alan Robinson – Presbytery Minister, South Moreton – Uniting Church; Most Rev Mark Coleridge – Archbishop of Brisbane –
Roman Catholic Church; The Rt Rev’d Dr Jonathan Holland – Bishop of the Northern Region – Anglican Church; Rev David Baker – Moderator,
Queensland Synod – Uniting Church. Front row (L-R) Dean Phelan - Chief Executive Officer – Churches of Christ; Rev Rex Rigby – National
Superintendent – Wesleyan Methodist; Steve Drinkall – Mission Action Team Leader – Churches of Christ; Pastor Paul Smith – Queensland
Bishop – Lutheran Church; Tim McMenamin – Senior Pastor, Strategic Mission Development – Churches of Christ; The Rt Rev’d Cameron
Venerables – Bishop Toowoomba – Anglican Church; Dr Joe Goodall – Queensland Leader – Queensland Congregational Fellowship
Absent: Rev John Cox – Associate General Secretary – Uniting Church
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Exploring
our historical
foundations
Who we are and what we stand for: a series of articles and stories that have
shaped who we are as Churches of Christ by Dean Phelan.
Communion
and openly invited everyone to come, saying that all
who loved the Lord would be welcome.
Not that long ago I was invited to attend a church
service with another denomination. When it came time
for communion, the leader indicated that those who
were members of their denomination should come
forward to receive communion. Those of us who weren’t
could come forward and receive a blessing. I knew what
it felt like to be a second-class citizen.
This was revolutionary. Large crowds came regardless
of their denominational heritage. In the new frontier
people wanted to worship together and to be free of the
divisiveness, control and prejudices regarding worship
and being God’s people in communities.
Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander Campbell were
significant leaders in the founding of our Churches of
Christ movement. Thomas was an ordained minister in
the Scottish Seceder Presbyterian Church in the late
1700s and he spent time with the Old-Light Anti-Burgher
Seceder Presbyterian Church. These names, chosen
by their adherents, give some indication of the level of
division and splits that were rife amongst the churches
at that time.
Within these groups, communion was conducted twice
yearly. Only members could participate; and, even if you
were a member, the church elders would visit you leading
up to the event, to determine whether you were worthy
to partake at that time. If you were certified worthy, you
would be given a lead token, which you would show on
the day, and then be given the sacred emblems.
As a young man, Alexander Campbell was sorely
troubled by this practise. People were excluded on the
basis of being judged unworthy or unclean. Alexander
saw this as the opposite of what Jesus practised and
often an abuse of power.
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When Thomas Campbell went to America in the early
1800s he found himself on the frontiers ministering to
people on new farming lands around Washington. When
he initially began to follow the communion practises he
had been trained in, he felt ashamed to be setting up an
exclusionary system within his community. So he took
a radical decision – he promoted a communion service
Predictably the denominational authorities summoned
Thomas Campbell to account for his actions, which were
clearly disrupting the established order and proper ways
of things. He was eventually banned. This however freed
Thomas, who was joined by son Alexander, to minister
with all Christians regardless of denominational brand,
and a new movement had begun.
Alexander Campbell wrote in The Christian System
(1839): ‘All Christians are members of the house or
family of God, are called and constituted a holy and
royal priesthood, and may, therefore bless God for the
Lord’s table, its loaf, and cup – approach it without fear
and partake of it with joy as often as they please, in
remembrance of their Lord and Saviour.’
Campbell rebuked other denominational Christians for
their joyless practises of communion, describing them
as like ‘mourners in a house of sorrows’.
Another founder of the Churches of Christ movement
was Barton W Stone who believed that Christ was the
host at the Lord’s Table and, as God granted the gift of
faith to believers, the church may ‘neither invite nor
debar’ people from joining in communion. His view of
scripture was indeed an open table.
British Churches of Christ came together as a movement
after reading the writings of the Campbells who were very
strong on the need for the penitent believer to be baptised
by full immersion (see the last August/September edition
of Networking). The British Churches of Christ took the
stance that baptism by immersion was required before you
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could partake in communion, thus turning the circle back
on itself as far as everyone being welcome.
are described in the bible – but certain details seemed
unimportant in the light of moral and health concerns.
In colonial Australia around the 1850s we tended to
follow the British practise. Early Churches of Christ also
majored on baptism by immersion before you could
partake of communion.
By the 1930s whoever presided over the Lord’s Table
could, according to their conscience, invite only those
who were baptised by immersion, or they could invite all
who follow Jesus to share in communion.
Barton Stone would have argued very strongly for a
fully open table on the basis of love and unity. Indeed
Thomas Campbell’s original practice was to invite
all who love the Lord. However, the Campbell view
of baptism by full immersion held sway, and it was
generally accepted that this was required before you
could partake in communion. In line with this our
churches were often built with the communion table
placed at the top of the centre aisle, and behind this
was the baptistery. The placements emphasised the link
between baptism first, and then communion, which was
at the centre of our worship.
By the 1970s an open table, as taught by Barton W
Stone, had become the practise in the majority of
our congregations. Anyone who loves the Lord was
welcome to take the bread and the grape juice without
stipulations or judgement.
As time went on we gradually evolved our own way
of doing things. Being influenced by the Temperance
movement, our churches stopped using alcohol for
communion wine and substituted grape juice. And
then, as contagious diseases such as diphtheria
began to spread, chalices were swapped for individual
glasses. We remained committed to restoring New
Testament ways – doing things according to how they
Today, almost universally throughout Churches of Christ
in Australia, we pride ourselves on the open table. It is
part of our identity. Our understanding is that it is the
Lord’s table and it is He who invites us; it is He who loves
us; and it is He who speaks to us individually. Jesus’
words ‘do this’ are accessible to all who love Him. All we
need to do is to come as we are and simply receive.
FURTHER READING:
•
The Christian System (1839) by Alexander Campbell
•
The Open Table – A Churches of Christ in Australia
resource which can be found on the website
•
DNA of Churches of Christ by Graham Carslake
History, once forgotten, is hard to reclaim
As part of building a complete picture of Churches of
Christ in Queensland, we seek your help in gathering our
collective memories and history.
• What is the legacy of the ministry?
We can tend to think of history in the form of large-scale
events. However, the history of Churches of Christ is
made up of the stories, recollections, testimonies and
events that were important to individuals attending
our churches, sitting on our committees, individuals
working in or being cared for in our services and
bringing the light of Christ to people in many and varied
ways. In short, that means your memories, your stories
and those of your church members are important as
we seek to bring an updated version of our history
publication ‘The Church from the Paddock’ to life.
If you are able to answer any or all of these questions, please
email the details to communications@cofcqld.com.au.
Additionally, if there are documents, photos or records that
answer these questions, we would love to see them.
We’d also like you to help answer the below questions
about your church:
• How did your church or group commence?
• What are the key dates? (Opening, first service etc.)
• What is the current state of the ministry and plans
for the future?
If you have documentation from the past, it would be
useful if you could send it in to our Historical Resource
Centre so that future generations can benefit from your
experience and the lessons that you learned. These can
be sent to the following address:
Historical Resource Centre
Churches of Christ Campus Mitchelton
Community Centre, Lower Ground
28 Blaker Road, Mitchelton Q 4053
• Is there a story behind the origins?
Remember – your story is important, and it may well
be a vital piece that helps us understand the history of
Churches of Christ in Queensland in a better way.
• What significant changes have occurred in the
years since?
We appreciate your help in this important historical
collection activity.
• Who was involved?
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Award winning service
Pastoral care is a cornerstone
of our seniors and supported
living services, so we were
delighted to recently receive
the 2015 PASCOP (Pastoral and
Spiritual Care of Older People)
Annual Quality in Pastoral and
Spiritual Practice Award.
This was awarded to our innovative
pilot dementia church service
initiative, developed at our Moonah
Park Aged Care Service.
Empirical evidence suggests that
older people who attend church
receive more spiritual and emotional
support compared with those who
do not attend. The more they feel
supported, the more closely they are
connected to God and older people
who are more connected to God are
generally more optimistic and enjoy
better health.
The dementia specific church
services are built on these findings.
Since 2014, 42 per cent of residents
living with dementia within our
South East Queensland aged care
facilities have attended weekly
church services.
Dementia has an impact on a
person’s ability to connect with God
in the way they have in the past.
Through music, singing, scripture
and prayers delivered within a
dementia specific church service,
individuals living in residential aged
care facilities are able to reignite
their connection with God.
Chief Executive Officer Dean Phelan
is excited with the success of the
pilot program and said there are
plans to expand the pastoral care
initiative across our services.
‘Our chaplains, such as Wayne
Crouch who introduced the pilot,
and aged care staff continue to
achieve great things together for the
benefit of clients,’ Dean said.
‘This award confirms that our people
go beyond caring for the physical and
medical needs of our residents, they
also care for the spiritual needs of
some of society’s most vulnerable.’
The PASCOP Quality Practice Awards
are Australia’s first national awards
program dedicated to innovation and
excellence in pastoral and spiritual
care of older people.
Aged Care Chaplain Wayne Crouch
delivering a dementia church service
at Churches of Christ Care Moonah
Park Aged Care Service
Executive Director of PASCOP David
Petty congratulated Churches of
Christ for introducing the program.
‘The introduction of the church
service has made a positive, tangible
difference, not only to the residents
but also to the staff and volunteers,’
David said. ‘It highlights pastoral and
spiritual care in practice for residents
who are often seen as difficult to
connect with.’
In addition to receiving $1,000,
we also now have the opportunity
to present at the PASCOP
Meaningful Ageing seminar and
national conference.
Fostering young artist’s talent
At only 13 years of age,
Raymond is showing natural
unbridled talent as an
Indigenous artist, and with
the help of Churches of Christ
Care, he is developing his
skills and learning more about
the art form.
Fostering Case Worker
Maryanne Williams noticed
Raymond’s talent and
passion for art, so she
decided to find someone who
could help develop his skills.
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She found a local Indigenous
artist to mentor Raymond and
teach him about art and his
culture. The artist now holds
monthly sessions at
the South West Fostering
office, welcoming any child or
young person from the service
who has an interest in learning
the art.
An exhibition showcasing
the children and young
people’s work is being
planned for next year.
Raymond has kindly donated
some of his artwork to adorn
the walls of the freshly
refurbished office, with his art
proudly on display to everyone
who attends the service.
A selection of Raymond’s artwork.
The artwork donated to the South West Fostering office.
networking
Reconciliation Action
Plan Launched
After many months of planning and consultation,
in August we were proud to launch our
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for 2015-2017.
The plan contains a range of practical activities to
build stronger relationships and greater respect
between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
and other Australians. Endorsed by Reconciliation
Australia, the RAP sits alongside our Strategic Plan
and forms a public commitment to improving the way
we engage and work with Indigenous people — as
clients, colleagues and communities.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2015-2017
Our RAP gives us a framework to examine what
we can do as an organisation to contribute to
reconciliation. It coordinates our actions and
holds us accountable for improving the way we
work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples and businesses.
We developed this plan with a working group
that included Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander staff members and representatives from
our service and support areas. As we move to
implement the plan over the coming months,
we will be in contact with services and support
areas to work through what the proposed actions
will mean for you, and how we can work together
towards our goal of reconciliation.
You can view the plan online at
cofc.com.au/publications
One of our launch events was held in
Townsville. Events were also held at
Mitchelton with the Senior Management
Team, and at Springwood. Other events will
be held over the next 12 months.
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Fuelling a passion
for education
Yvette Gray from Churches of Christ
Care Warrawee Aged Care Service
shares her story about reigniting a
long faded passion for education.
‘I thought I had missed the boat to
getting anywhere in life. I’m in my
early 40s and thought I was too old
to learn anything new and this is
where I was to stay,’ Yvette said.
While Yvette enjoys her job as an
Environmental Services Worker at
Warrawee, she wanted something
more, not being content with where
she was.
In primary school Yvette was a
straight A student with an insatiable
hunger for knowledge, and sat at
the top of each class.
Unfortunately, things were
happening in her home life that she
couldn’t cope with and she started
to lose interest in life, and went from
an A student to an F. Her behaviour
became unruly and her pursuit for
knowledge became a quest for the
unsavoury things in life.
‘When I found out that I could leave
school at 16, I did, and left home,
only going halfway through year 10,’
Yvette said.
She met her husband when she was
20 and had two children.
‘I stayed at home to raise the
children until the youngest went to
school. I then enrolled in a course
to go back to work. It went for six
months and I really enjoyed it; it
gave me the confidence I needed to
go back to work.
‘I worked in accounts and was trained
by the company I worked for, and was
there for four years. When the job
finished we moved out to St George.
My husband grew up in Cunnamulla
and he missed the bush.’
In 2010, she started work with
Churches of Christ Care after one of
her husband’s colleagues suggested
she approach the St George aged
care service for a job.
Yvette Gray
‘I haven’t looked back since. I enjoy
assisting people in their day-to-day
lives and finding new and better
ways to make their lives easier.’
With the ongoing encouragement of
Service Manager Julie Bryant, Yvette
recently completed her Certificate III
in Aged Care.
‘It has started the fire for learning
again. I’m currently looking at
studying a Diploma of Nursing next
year. Until that starts I’ve been doing
small courses presented in-house,
which keeps the passion burning.
‘I hope my story encourages others
to keep going no matter what their
age or past. Look to your future.
One thing I’ve learnt is that the only
person who says you can’t is you! So
say you can and you will!’
Well done Yvette.
Foster carer.
Could you
be one?
1800 22 22 73
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10
fosterwithus.com.au
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A better world for children
is everybody’s business
Over 6-12 September we marked Child Protection Week
across the nation. It was a time to reflect on the theme of
‘child protection is everybody’s business’, but what if it
didn’t need to be anybody’s business and we didn’t need
to raise awareness about this blight on our society?
Churches of Christ Care General Manager Children,
Youth and Families Jane Carter urges everyone to think
what it would be like if no such week needed to exist.
‘Picture a place where the children and youth we
protect are able to live their lives free of abuse,
neglect, hardship and fear, and where all children
have a safe place to call home, to love freely and have
love given freely by those they hold dear,’ she said.
‘Unfortunately that is not the case for many thousands
of children across the country.’
Thankfully there are people and organisations that
look out for these children in their time of need.
This includes child protection services delivered by
Churches of Christ Care, where over 3,200 Queensland
children and young people rely on our staff and
volunteers to provide care and protection for them.
‘While we aren’t the only provider of child protection
services, we are one of the largest in Queensland, which
brings with it many challenges and rewards. Challenges
range from the diversity of children and youth in our care
and their individual needs, to the growing demand for
our services and the need for more foster carers.
‘However, the rewards are great and while not always
tangible, they are life changing for children and youth,
and those who interact with them. This includes the
satisfaction of being able to place a child into suitable
care, be it returning to their family or welcomed into
a new home, to enhancing the life skills of a young
person to become a capable young adult.’
Jane said that while the demand for child protection
services is growing and funding continues to remain a
challenge, the organisation must continually innovate
the way it delivers these services.
‘We will continue our focus in the area of early
intervention and prevention, and build our vision for the
future look of child and family welfare. In doing so, we
will actively link with other care services, our churches,
government, and other non-government organisations.
‘We are taking part in the government’s Stronger
Families program, providing the Family and Children
Connect service in Wide Bay and intensive family
support in Wide Bay and Moreton Bay regions. We
are working with the government and other nongovernment organisations to make it easier for families
to find the support they need in the toughest of times.’
Child protection really is everybody’s business. We all
must keep an eye out for the best interests of children
today while working towards a brighter tomorrow.
A number of activities for children and young people were
hosted by our services across Queensland, including
superhero discos, a carnival and colouring competition.
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11
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Mobile Office is on the move
Churches of Christ is active in many
communities across Queensland,
and we don’t always have office
space where our clients are. The new
Mobile Office is designed to provide
an access point for local communities
over a wide geographical area to
connect with our services.
The purpose-built mobile office
facility will:
•
•
•
•
take vital housing management
services directly into the
communities we serve
provide a visible point of contact
for existing tenants
further encourage tenants to
interact with staff and benefit
from additional services we
are able to offer through our
partnering activities
deploy and provide support in
the event of a natural disaster,
in addition to being used on a
daily basis.
The Mobile Office is self-sufficient
with power provided by solar panels
and a petrol generator for when there
Bringing hope
to Gold Coast
women
The inspirational leader Archbishop
Desmond Tutu once noted that hope
is being able to see that there is
light despite all of the darkness.
Southport Church of Christ has
reflected this belief of bringing light
into lives in their new community
service, which helps women and
their families on the Gold Coast.
Hope 31 provides practical support
and assistance to women in need in
the church’s local community in a
caring and open environment.
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12
The program offers monthly lifeskills workshops addressing real life
is no power connection available. In
the case of an emergency it can run
and provide power to recharge mobile
devices including phones, laptops
and tablets.
It also has a signal booster system
for mobile phones and internet
connections in remote areas,
and a UHF radio, ensuring good
communications can be maintained
at all times.
Completing the package, the van
is equipped with state-of-the-art
security cameras, refrigerator,
microwave oven, fresh water storage
and a toilet.
On 9 September the new Mobile
Office was unveiled at a barbecue at
Churches of Christ Care’s Bongaree
Park on Bribie Island. The residents
on Bribie Island will be some of
the first to benefit from this new
service as it travels to Bongaree
Park each week, providing residents
the opportunity to meet with their
housing officer close to their home.
Bongaree Park residents were given the
chance to check out the new Mobile Office
when it was unveiled for the first time.
challenges including budgeting,
cooking, parenting and relationships.
The first workshop ‘Food For
Thought’ was held in August.
Participants learnt about the
essentials of affordable cooking,
including the importance of kitchen
hygiene, safe handling of food and
cooking for the freezer.
A cooking demonstration was a
feature during the workshop,
with attendees enjoying lunch
together after.
The workshops are an opportunity
for women to meet new friends
and become a part of a supportive
community.
Participants are also matched
with a mentor to provide one-onone support and encouragement
between workshops.
The overriding goal of Hope 31 is
to show the love of Jesus to these
women in a way that is genuine and
practical, assisting them to regain
their strength, find their self-worth
and empower them as they move
forward in their lives.
Through the building of relationships
and ‘doing life’ with these women,
we pray that many will come to know
and respond to the love of God, as
seen in His son, Jesus.
networking
Getting a lesson on physiotherapy
Many of us have been to a
physiotherapist to get help for a
dodgy knee, a tiresome back or tennis
elbow. They work with getting us
back to moving properly and without
pain. That is why physiotherapy
is important in aged care; to keep
residents moving the best they can.
Second year physiotherapy students
from The University of Queensland
were given an insight into the world
of caring for older people when
they visited our Brisbane aged
care services as part of their first
practical experience.
Almost 80 students visited our Brig-ODoon, Buckingham Gardens, Moonah
Park and Clive Burdeu services as
part of their Geriatric Physiotherapy
course, led by Dr Anna Hatton.
‘I wanted to give the students early
exposure to the clinical environment.
Rather than practicing on each other,
they get to have interaction with real
people early on,’ Anna said.
For the students, the experience
highlights the challenges of treating
aged care residents.
Communication is the primary
challenge, with therapists needing to
find information from other sources,
including case notes, nurses and
family members, rather than directly
from the client as they usually would
before commencing treatment.
Churches of Christ Care
Physiotherapist Craig Wilson said
the residents were glad to interact
with the students as they completed
assessments.
‘They felt good and were happy to
help. They felt wanted and like they
were making a contribution,’ he said.
According to Craig, physiotherapy
in aged care promotes the safe and
optimum function of every resident.
‘I encourage residents to walk the
best they can while also helping
them maintain their independence
as much as possible,’ he said. ‘This
includes falls prevention, and the
ability to get into bed, go to the
toilet or get to the dining room
by themselves. By doing simple
interventions, we can make a huge
difference to their quality of life.’
As part of their physiotherapy,
residents take part in group
exercise programs and get involved
with everyday activities including
cleaning and baking.
‘There are also benefits to their
social and emotional wellbeing. I
don’t want our residents to come into
aged care and feel they no longer
have a purpose to live,’ Craig said.
For the visiting students, aged
care physiotherapy may not be the
‘glamorous’ side of their industry,
but by getting to experience what
it is like it has given them an
appreciation of the challenges and
rewards of caring for older people.
Physiotherapy students visiting Brig-O-Doon Aged Care Service, flanked by Churches of Christ Care
physiotherapists Adele and Craig, and lecturer Dr Anna Hatton (centre).
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13
networking
Celebrating
Seniors
Week
As a leading not-for-profit provider of seniors care,
we proudly celebrated Seniors Week across many of
our Queensland locations during 15 to 23 August.
Celebrations included a high tea and hot rod car
show on the Fraser Coast, barbecue with the mayor
in Townsville, visits and morning tea at Parliament
House and even a bridal fashion parade on the
Gold Coast.
Churches of Christ Care Director of Seniors and
Supported Living Bryan Mason said that while
the organisation helps older people to live
abundant lives every day, Seniors Week is an
ideal time to recognise the contribution they make
to our communities.
‘Our seniors, whether they are clients, staff or
volunteers, all help create the communities that we
live and work in,’ Bryan said.
‘Without them we wouldn’t have the rich tapestry
of human life, stories and experiences that make
our communities the vibrant places they are today.’
Churches of Christ Care is a large employer of
seniors with 446 staff aged 60 years and over,
making up 13.9% of our 3,200 employees. Older
people also fulfil vital volunteering roles, with
62 per cent of the organisation’s volunteers
considered to be seniors.
‘Our oldest employee is 80 years young and works
as an administration officer in residential aged
care,’ Bryan said.
‘Of over 1,100 volunteers, we have 707 volunteers
aged 60 and over, while our most ‘senior’ volunteer
is 99 years old!’
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14
Seniors celebrate in style
On 18 August the Scenic Rim Regional Council
invited residents from Fassifern Retirement Village
to a morning tea and concert. The Royal Australian
Air Force Band and the Fassifern Voices entertained
the audience and in true country style, there
was an abundance of fruit, biscuits, cakes and
sandwiches and the opportunity to catch up with
old friends.
The residents also had the unique opportunity to
visit Parliament House for a very special morning
tea and concert.
They set off at 8am in perfect weather for an
‘unforgettable’ day. After arriving and being
welcomed at Parliament House, students from
the McGregor State School String Ensemble, the
Gap State School Choir, the Brisbane High School
String Orchestra and Robertson State School
Choir entertained the residents. The talent of the
children was ‘faultless and remarkable’.
Following the concert they were given a private
tour of Parliament House and met some current
Members of Parliament.
Shirley’s light shines as
Senior of the Year
We were delighted when Shirley Roberts, one of
our volunteers from St James Retirement Village,
received the Townsville City Council 2015 Senior of
the Year Award.
Shirley was recognised for her tireless work at the
village and her dedication to other local groups
including Legacy, City Heart
Lions, Meals on Wheels
Wulguru, Neighbourhood
Watch, Wulguru Holistic
Cancer Help Centre and Go
Group Aitkenvale Uniting
Church.
On her award win, Shirley
said ‘it has been a privilege
to serve this community for
the past 40 years.’
Well done Shirley and
thank you for your
wonderful contribution.
Senior of the Year
- Shirley Roberts
networking
Dedications and history at Amaroo
Perhaps the importance of a loved
one can be best summed up in the
poignant words of Leo Buscaglia
‘A single rose can be my garden.
A single friend, my world.’
Reflecting the value and impact of
each resident, on 18 August, Amaroo
Aged Care Service in Gatton held the
dedication of their new Memorial
Rose Garden.
Residents and their families were
invited to the afternoon event, where
Aged Care Chaplain Noel Nicholls
gave a dedication prayer and address.
Amaroo resident Rhonda Powell
originally suggested the creation
of a memorial rose garden and
with her passing late last year,
her family was asked to do the
first planting in her honour. Her
favourite was a white rose, so a
beautiful ‘Princess of Wales’ rose
bush was planted.
There were also two other plantings
to remember recently passed
residents Clem and Gordon. In the
future, after a resident ‘passes on’, a
rose will be planted in their memory.
Following the dedication they
held a celebration, including
entertainment by ‘Bobby Ricks’,
Amaroo residents visit the Historical Society
a lovely dinner and the chance to
dance the night away.
On 21 August, residents and
staff joined in Seniors Week
celebrations at the local historical
society. The vintage cars were
lined up ready, and a number of
residents were taken for a drive
around the local area.
There was a chance to tour the
old buildings including a ‘local
store’ with items such as Rinso
washing powder, rolled oats in a
tin, a pipe, and an old-fashioned
milkshake maker with tiny ladles
to measure out the syrup. It was a
lovely venture down memory lane
for everyone who attended.
Rose garden dedication and dancing the night away
Island expo hit with seniors
Learning, sharing of information
and a little socialising was the
flavour of the day when the
community gathered on 18 August
at Bribie Island Retirement Village
to celebrate Seniors Week.
The Bribie Island Seniors Expo
attracted 65 locals who listened
to a diverse range of speakers and
presentations throughout the day.
They were also able to sing along
with local performers The Gleemen
Singers and Gallery Singers in the
afternoon and had the chance to
do a hint of shopping during the
breaks with craft stalls selling
wonderful creations.
Service Manager Katherine Falzon
said it was a great event.
‘There was some wonderful
feedback from the expo, from
the room set up, to the range of
presentations and provision of
refreshments,’ Katherine said.
‘The presenters were thankful
they could attend and are
looking forward to attending this
worthwhile event next year.’
The Bribie Island Seniors Expo was
possible thanks to funding from
the Department of Communities,
Child Safety and Disability
Services and the support of COTA
Queensland.
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15
networking
High tea in support of
Alzheimer’s awareness
The finery came out at Churches
of Christ Care’s Sanctuary Park
Retirement Village on 9 September
as 50 residents enjoyed a high tea for
Alzheimer’s awareness.
Clinical Practice/Dementia Lead Lyn
Carlson gave a presentation and
busted many of the myths around
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
She provided a very interesting
and informative discussion and the
residents appreciated the insight
and expert knowledge about a
disease that may affect many of
them in the future.
Held during Alzheimer’s
Awareness Month, the
residents enjoyed a
scrumptious assortment
of food, including delicate
sandwiches, cupcakes
and slices and refreshing
beverages. They also
held a cake auction and
other activities.
Imagine
working for
the love of it.
Imagine
volunteering
with us.
Given the diversity of our services,
chances are your skills will be perfect
for one of our roles. So you’ll find your
efforts as rewarding for yourself as it is
for those you help.
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16
imaginevolunteering.com.au
networking
New graduate program top class
Churches of Christ Care has been
praised for the introduction of a topclass program for graduate nurses to
gain valuable hands-on training and
mentoring.
Over the next 12 months, eight
graduate nurses are taking part in a
program designed to ready them for
a career in aged care.
The Clinical Transition Program
offers new nurses an intense and
supported experience in their
chosen field. It has been praised
by The University of Queensland for
the level of support the graduates
receive and the ability for them to
gain experience working in rural
areas, something not offered by
other providers.
Sharon Scotney is a graduate nurse
taking part in the program, based
at our Toowoomba Residential Aged
Care service.
‘The program has been structured
in a way that allows us, as newly
graduated nurses, to be mentored
and supervised by experienced
staff in a safe environment,’ Sharon
said. ‘Our learning needs and skills
for the specialised field of aged
care are able to be “fine-tuned” in
a way that allows us to reach our
individual and professional goals.’
Each graduate will complete a
research project as part of the
program. Through the project, they
Sharon Scotney (L) with Area
Manager Valerie Taylor and a fellow
graduate
are to identify something at their
service they think could potentially
be done better, and offer solutions to
improve it, thus helping the residents.
At this stage Sharon is not certain
what she will choose for her project,
but areas of interest include falls
prevention, palliative care and
effective communication.
Next year it is hoped the program
will expand from eight graduate
nurses to 28, with one graduate in
each aged care service.
Graduate nurses with their service
managers
Many hands make
light work
Hands Across Time brings
generations of volunteers together
to support the local community,
making brighter spaces and
forming friendships in the process.
Over 26-27 June, 86 volunteers
from 6-71 years of age gave their
time to brighten the outdoor
area of Churches of Christ Care
Fostering Service office in Ipswich.
They created an inviting space for
families who visit the service and
the staff to enjoy every day.
Giving 500 hours, the volunteers
painted the fence, built a small deck
area for a barbecue, planted three
vegetable patches, and painted a
mural inside that represents the
work the centre does.
Amy Moore volunteered with
Hands Across Time and found she
got more than she bargained for
from the experience.
‘Through the project I met a
variety of people from the
corporate, care services and
mission areas of Churches of
Christ,’ Amy said.
‘For me, working alongside many
people from different areas
gave me new perspectives,
plus a sense of community and
friendship that now extends
beyond my office desk.’
By joining together they were able
to transform the area and make a
contribution.
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17
networking
Taking the time
Dr Andrew Menzies talks about how quality time together is something needed not
only with family, but also with God.
Recently, my family gathered for
my mother’s 82nd birthday. It was a
lovely day; capped off by my wife’s
unbeatable slow cooked lamb
(see recipe below) and my sister’s
incredible banana cake with the
thickest and most delicious cream
cheese frosting.
After we finished a lovely meal
together and as the kids played, the
adults spent the afternoon talking
as around the table. You could tell
my mother was happy having her
family gathered there together.
After some conversation, one of my
family members decided to share
something that had been on his
mind. He spoke freely and at times
was quite emotional. We listened.
Then we talked it through, and we
helped him get a great outcome.
He felt listened to, supported and
understood. It was a beautiful time
of family being family that should
happen more often.
So here’s the thing that led us to this
precious experience – we needed
time, attention, safety and space
where we could talk, laugh, banter,
hear all of the children’s news and
finally talk as adults. That was what
led us to him opening up to us.
It is the same with our relationship
with God. It can’t thrive through
an occasional service at a church
alone. It can’t prosper if our prayers
are just lists of needs. It has to
also have a listening and attentive
posture toward Him. It needs time
(like the roast lamb). God isn’t
going to shout from the rooftops to
get your attention. God is waiting
patiently for your presence.
Christian author Ruth Hayley
Barton said:
‘We are becoming increasingly
aware of the fact that no matter how
much one spiritualises it, Christian
business must not be confused with
the Christian spiritual life or with a
Christian’s experience of God.’
In the Bible, Mary and Martha were
both committed followers of Jesus.
You can read about them in Luke
chapter 10. They had seen their
own brother Lazarus raised from
the dead by Jesus. They knew
Jesus really well. He was like
family. Their house was his home
base. You couldn’t get much
closer to Jesus than Mary and
Martha. Yet only one of them put
themselves in a place of presence.
Martha was great. She asked
interesting questions and worked
hard to keep the household running.
But there were times when her sister
Mary would sit at Jesus’ feet and
soak up his ministry and Martha
wouldn’t. She would work harder
and do more and grumble while
Mary soaked up the presence.
No one was stopping Martha from
being in that very same presence
that Mary was experiencing. Jesus
was right there. The easy thing was
to complain and drag her sister
away from the presence. Sometimes
the hardest thing to do is actually
the thing you want most.
Dr Andrew Menzies
Principal, Stirling Theological
College
Kim’s slow cooked lamb
Leg of lamb (2-2.5 kg)
½ bottle of white wine
4 sprigs of rosemary
Salt & pepper
1 lemon cut into wedges
2 cloves of garlic (or more!)
1 cup of beef stock
Cook at 150 degrees for 6-7 hours.
Add a cup of water in the last few
hours if drying out.
Use a cup of liquid from the base
to make gravy.
Serve with roast vegetables.
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18
CE
AGM
CE
AD
AGM
CE
AD
AGM
AD
networking
a blast for
our young
people
The L10 Conference brought together
young people from across Queensland for
a weekend of worship and friendship.
Over a weekend in September,
200 young people from
churches across Queensland
converged on the Sunshine
Coast for the L10 Conference.
With fun activities, community
and God on the agenda,
the late teens and twentysomethings were able to
refresh, recharge and reignite
their love and passion for God.
The weekend included four
rallies. It started with a main
rally where Pastor Peter
Millican from HumeRidge
Church of Christ preached
about letting go of the labels
bestowed by others.
Red Frogs founder and director
Andy Gourley spoke from the
heart about what we can do
with our God-given talents
in the second rally. Darryll
Stephen from Elevation Church
on the Gold Coast spoke about
his experience growing up
in South London in the third
rally and the final rally brought
the community together as
Pastor Paul Redfern from Rivers
Church of Christ preached with
passion about the importance
of keeping grounded to your
home in God.
The attendees had the chance
on Friday night to mingle with
other like-minded youth from
our churches as a band played
and the stars shone above and
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20
the coffees, hot chocolates
and chai lattes kept them warm.
Each morning, 40 attendees
rose with the sun for an
acoustic praise and worship
session before breakfast.
Stripped back to just one
man with his guitar, they were
guided through praise and
worship songs in a powerful
hour of worship.
Fun activities were a must
for the weekend, and they
competed in church versus
church bubble soccer (soccer
played by individuals inside
large blow-up ‘bubbles’),
archery tag (a game of tag
using bows and foam tipped
arrows shot at opponents)
and a giant slip n’ slide
provided an enjoyable outlet,
even in the pouring rain.
Master classes ran
throughout the morning
with a major highlight being
Westside Church of Christ
Katrina Hampson’s session
about hearing God’s voice.
Before the conference closed,
the 200 young people were
asked to spread around
the site to take time to pray
for each other. They joined
together, from different
churches, from different parts
of the state as new friends,
coming together as a new
community under God’s name.
networking
Stephen Cheek’s
Memorial
Standing tall in the Warwick Cemetery, a monument marks
Stephen Cheek’s grave. Erected in 1884, it is a significant
part of the history of Churches of Christ in Queensland.
The monument is a visible reminder of the pioneering
efforts, commitment and sacrifice of our early evangelists.
Stephen Cheek was a most prominent evangelist from
Tasmania, who spent time in South West Queensland
planting churches. On 17 February 1883, at 31 years of age
he died of typhoid fever. He had walked from Killarney to
Warwick (approximately 35 km) when he was caught in a
storm and became drenched from the rain.
It is imperative that steps are taken to ensure that the
memorial is restored and preserved for future generations.
However, time has been unforgiving and the monument
now requires a great deal of work to restore it and to ensure
it survives for generations to come.
To maintain this memorial to a significant pioneer of our
movement will require significant care and attention along
with funds for the restoration of the sandstone structure.
We are hoping you can help.
Stephen Cheek
Donations are needed to help restore and
preserve this monument for many years to come.
DONATE TODAY at
gofundme.com/stephencheek
or phone 1800 600 900.
Thank you for your donation to save this piece of
our history. Please note that donations are not
tax-deductible.
Stephen Cheek’s memorial in Warwick Cemetery and inscription on the monument
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21
networking
Centenary
celebrations
at Boondall
Boondall Church of Christ is hoping
to reconnect with people who have
been involved with the church
and its history as it celebrates its
centenary next year. The church
would particularly like to hear from
anyone who has old photos and
history they can share.
You are invited to join in the
celebrations, which will include a
special service on the first Sunday
of each month. The first of the
special services will be held on
3 January 2016.
Past ministers are invited to
take part in the services and to
celebrate all aspects of the work
done at Boondall. If anyone has
Boondall 1925
Boondall 1937
Working bee 1939
Sunday school 1951
some knowledge of the history of
Boondall, was a past member, has
photographs or would like to come
to any of our celebrations, please
contact Isabel Drew on 07 3269 7702
or email isabeldrew@gmail.com
Building a church in Boondall
On the 23 January 1916, Organising
Secretary for the Home Missions
Committee W J Way was on a
weeklong mission to Zillmere, the
first Church of Christ in Brisbane. He
believed that the area now known
as Boondall would be a good place
to start a cause, and inspired the
Zillmere church to plant a new
church there.
By August, the first Sunday school
commenced at the then Nudgee
College Church of Christ. Classes
were conducted on the ground under
trees. Logs were cut and used for
seats and a tarpaulin provided cover.
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22
In November 1916, J Bruce gave
stumps from his paddock for the
construction of the new church
building and W Albury carted them
down. The stumps were put in and a
stump capping ceremony was held
on the 16 December 1916.
John Sage prepared the plans for
the new chapel, and in anticipation
of the 23 December opening,
successfully erected the building in
just one day using voluntary labour
and a small
team of skilled
labourers.
In 1924, the
suburb’s name
was changed
to Boondall.
A Courier Mail
article from
21 December
1923 reads:
‘Nudgee College
Station on the
Sandgate line will
be known in future as Boondall. The
change in name was approved at the
last meeting of the Executive. The
sinuous Cabbage Tree Creek is in this
district, hence the name, Boondall,
which, in the local Aboriginal dialect,
means crooked creek.’
Out the front of today’s Boondall Church of Christ
networking
HumeRidge
helping connect
remote villages
in PNG
A remote area of Papua New Guinea (PNG)
is going to receive vital infrastructure
connections over the next four years thanks
to HumeRidge Church of Christ plans to
support the Gandep Project.
Gandep (pronounced Garn-dep) is the
name of a neutral, multi-tribal, community
meeting point and trading post for the remote
villages. The area, in the central north of PNG
on the Ramu River, is made up of 170 villages
with a population of approximately 20,000
people. It is one of the most remote places on
Earth. To get from Brisbane to Gandep takes
three days travel with one day by air and
two days by boat and canoe followed by a
15 kilometre trek through swampland.
The project, being undertaken in consultation
with PNG tribes, will provide improved air and
road access to support medical, educational
and trade opportunities for the Gandep
people.
Access to medical and education facilities
is difficult as local trade routes to Madang
(a town of approximately 30,000) take up to
three days to navigate each way and involve
walking, canoeing and vehicle transport.
In the 1960s Gandep was a Training College
built on 200 acres of land by Frank Beale,
a Church of Christ missionary. He did
everything by hand including felling trees,
clearing land and sawing lumber.
Pastors trained at the college replaced the
local witch doctors, and provided them with
basic training in agriculture and living skills.
Gandep is now the major centre for the
region’s resident villagers.
For more information on the project,
visit gandepproject.org or
facebook.com/GandepProject.
IMAGE: Gandep from the air
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23
networking
Dashing gents
captured on film
In the April/May edition of Networking
we featured a story about the ladies at
our Clive Burdeu Aged Care Service who
took part in a glamour photoshoot.
Recently it was the gents’ turn to have
some fun in front of the camera.
Activities Therapist Tracy Kenyon said the
residents really enjoyed dressing up and
taking part in the photo shoot.
‘They were such good sports, they really
played it up for the camera,’ Tracy said.
‘The man playing the trumpet and the
one painting were captured doing what
they love. The others were having a great
deal of fun in front of the camera.
On the day some of the men were lucky
enough to have their families visiting and
were able to take the opportunity to get
precious photos with their loved ones.
‘The photo of the granddad and
his grandson was lovely to get. The
grandson said he was so glad he had
taken the day off work and was able to
do this with his beloved grandfather,’
Tracy said.
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24
networking
page
25
networking
Gatton Church of Christ’s
60th anniversary
In 1955 a new church was born
in Gatton: it was the vision
from the evangelism of the Ma
Ma Creek Church of Christ who
released members to begin the
new fellowship.
On 7-9 August this year, Gatton
Church of Christ honoured
this vision as they celebrated
- remembering the past and
reaching out to the future.
The special weekend included
line dancing on Friday night,
an international family day and
lunch on Saturday, and a Sunday
celebration worship with Senior
Pastor Tim McMenamin as the
guest speaker.
Their diverse congregation
was also celebrated, with
singing groups and dancing
from many nations, including
India, Papua New Guinea,
Kenya, Nepal, Indonesia,
Philippines, Botswana, Vietnam,
China and Australia.
The church’s theme is
‘Reaching the World with the
Gospel’ – beginning with Gatton
and the local community.
The church thanks God for His
blessings and look forward to
what He has for us in the future.
The diverse congregation was celebrated
during Gatton Church of Christ’s 60th
anniversary celebrations.
An appetite for life
to be shared
One of our valued aged care service
cooks recently embraced the chance
of a lifetime to learn from one of
Australia’s most celebrated cooks,
Maggie Beer.
The Maggie Beer Foundation invited
a number of passionate cooks from
Victorian aged care services to the
Barossa Valley in South Australia
to teach and inspire them. Arcadia
Aged Care Service chef Chathura
Jayawardana was lucky enough to
attend the special course.
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26
Chathura discovered new methods
for delivering healthy and tasty
meals to his residents, through the
first ‘Creating an Appetite for Life’
education program. He was joined
by other participants who ranged
from qualified chefs, cooks with no
previous formal training to catering
and hospitality managers.
The three days were jam-packed
with hands-on experience and
plenty of lively discussion, as well
as educational sessions, cooking
demonstrations, a mystery box
challenge, and the chance to listen
to guest speakers.
The aim of the program was to
educate and inspire the cooks with
new methods to reinvigorate a
traditionally overlooked section of
the food and aged care industries.
Chathura Jayawardana, top row, third
from left with Maggie Beer and other
participants
networking
Saving lives in Vanuatu
Giving back a future
How urgent action
saved a life
Several years ago, before Churches of Christ Medical
Santo opened, members of the Medical Santo
Executive Committee met a young man on one of
the nation’s islands. He had no future — he was
injured, he could not work and there was no treatment
available to him in Vanuatu.
One year ago, Medical Santo received a desperate
phone call during the night from a distressed
husband; his wife was in great pain and he rushed
her to the clinic. Following a thorough assessment
and treatment, she was sent home with strict
instructions to call immediately if anything changed.
They made the easy decision to help change this young
man’s life — following through was the hard part.
Medical Santo received another call and this time
they needed to go to the house immediately. The
young wife was in severe pain and she was brought
back to the clinic for monitoring.
He spent 15 months in Australia and endured several
operations that finally gave him back his life and the
ability to live it to the fullest.
Thanks to this experience, the young man felt that
he should give back to the Vanuatu community after
receiving so much care. He volunteered to help
Medical Santo when it first opened, and was there for
the renovation of the building and to assist in any way
he could. Seeing his enthusiasm his huge interest in
health work, after having endured so much himself,
the Medical Santo team took him under their wing,
mentoring and training him.
Where once he had little prospect of a job or family,
he now lives a valuable life in the community with
both. He is a proud father and he is no longer a
burden to his family thanks to the partnership
between Medical Santo and the people of Vanuatu.
Churches of Christ
Santo
Changing lives in Northern Vanuatu
In the early hours of the morning as her situation
became worse, a specialist from the Northern
Provincial Hospital was contacted and the decision
was made to transfer her to hospital for emergency
surgery. The hospital and Medical Santo worked
together to save this young woman’s life.
According to doctors she was less than 30 minutes
away from dying.
Today she is the proud mum to a newborn
baby. If it was not for the expertise of Medical
Santo’s volunteer doctor assessing and correctly
diagnosing the patient and the close working
partnership with and capability of the specialist
doctor at the Northern Provincial Hospital this
would not have been possible.
DONATE TODAY
Your donation makes such a huge difference to
people in Vanuatu. Thank you.
medicalsanto.com/how-to-help/#give
1800 600 900
page
27
networking
ARCADIA
celebrates
10th birthday
On 29 August 2005, Arcadia Aged
Care Service and Arcadia Apartments
opened their doors and became
a part of their local Essendon
community.
Service Manager Margaret Nuttall and
Retirement Living Manager Joanne
Antoni marked the 10th anniversary
by welcoming 160 residents from
the residential aged care service
and independent living units, their
families, volunteers and staff to enjoy
a gala afternoon tea.
Special guests included Chief
Executive Officer Dean Phelan,
Area Manager Farida Banks, and
General Manager Retirement Living
Beth Littler, who made the trip from
Queensland to attend the celebration.
Dean spoke about the decision to
take on the project of Victorian aged
care services joining Churches of
Christ Care in 2011. He said it was a
big decision for the Board at the time
and that history has shown it was a
very good one.
Long term residents and staff cut
the cake
It was a wonderful day that
celebrated Arcadia’s place in not only
the local Essendon community but
its place in Churches of Christ Care
providing quality care in Victoria.
page
28
Chief Executive Officer Dean Phelan
talks at the celebrations
networking
When Larry met Sue
Eight years ago, Sue Burgess and
Larry Wright met and fell in love.
In June 2012 they moved to Kingaroy,
and a spiritual journey began in
earnest. As Sue describes it, ‘We
just felt we had to go in to church’.
For the congregation at Kingaroy
Church of Christ, it was a privilege to
become a part of their journey.
Sue discovered the church kitchen,
where she instantly ‘felt at home’.
They joined a local home bible study
group, and their growth was rapid.
Pastor Steve Nixon was soon asked
to baptise Sue.
As the church became a larger part
of their lives, Sue and Larry realised
the importance of marriage. They
wanted to get married, but they did
not want the fuss associated with a
traditional wedding.
Pastor Steve and the couple
decided on a date and plan, but
no announcement. They instead
decided to tell their loved ones they
were holding a fundraising event for
Churches of Christ Medical Santo.
On 4 July, guests arrived, ready for
the fundraising event. The church was
decorated in style, and when Pastor
Steve got up to talk about Medical
Santo, he asked Larry and Sue to
come forward and proceeded to
perform a wedding ceremony – much
to everyone’s
pleasant
surprise.
Despite a
few dropped
jaws, it was
a wonderful
evening of
celebration,
plus an
opportunity
to share not
only the love of
Larry and Sue, Larry and Sue cutting their
wedding cake
but a love and
commitment
for all people. Not only were Larry and
Sue able to declare their love for each
other but for their church community.
Finding enrichment through volunteering
Volunteering, it is said, is good for
the soul. For Michele, volunteering
isn’t just about helping others; it is
about the enrichment she has found
for her life.
Michele has been a volunteer at
Churches of Christ Care Oak Towers
Aged Care Service for the past five
years, using her skills as a musician
to bring the light of Christ to
residents and staff.
In the 1970s, she would regularly visit
her aunty and uncle who lived at Oak
Towers. In 2004, she was the Music
Director for a ministry called ‘Emmaus
Walk’ when the program director was
a chaplain at the Oakleigh service.
‘In conversation with her about her
work I light-heartedly said “When I
retire from work I would like to play
music for Oak Towers”. She replied
“I won’t forget that,” – and she
didn’t!’ Michele said.
By July 2011 Michele had retired, and
soon after the chaplain asked her to
consider using my musical skills as
a volunteer.
‘In a very short time I found
myself as a volunteer pastoral
care assistant providing musical
assistance for the worship service
when the regular pianist was away,’
she said.
‘Later, when a pastoral care group
was established I became the
musician for that. I have been
volunteering in this way for about
five years now, and I love it!’
But it is more than just helping people
that draws Michele to giving the way
she does.
‘Volunteering in this way is part of
my Christian witness. It enriches
me. I love the challenge of choosing
songs and hymns for use in the
group that compliment the chosen
theme of the day.
‘At my ripe age of 70, I am
continually encouraged by the
amazing resourcefulness and
enthusiasm that can exist in the
latter years of life.
‘If you are considering volunteering,
Churches of Christ Care aged care
services are a welcoming and
enriching option that have made a
lasting impression and difference in
my life.’
To learn more about volunteering
with Churches of Christ Care, go
to imaginevolunteering.com.au or
email volunteers@cofcqld.com.au
‘I love the interaction and warmth
of the participants. The group
has grown into a supportive,
connected family that is more
about belonging and fellowship
than it is about attending.’
Michele said she is uplifted by
the depth of faith of the Oak
Towers residents, who even in
their advancing age, continue as
ambassadors for Christ.
Michele Hancock with a resident at
Oak Towers Aged Care Service at
Oakleigh, Melbourne
page
29
networking
GMP News
Poverty Explained–
Inequality and Participatory
In the last edition of Networking, we
looked at two causes of poverty on
a quest to gain understanding of the
life of people who are poor.
We began by looking at two ways
of measuring poverty — Monetary
Income, often expressed in terms
of Purchasing Power Parity, which
makes adjustment for varying
purchasing power around the world
and for the non-cash economy. And
then the Capabilities Approach,
which focuses on our ability to do
the things that are important to
us, often measured by the Human
Development Index.
This month we look at two
other methods, Inequality and
Participatory.
INEQUALITY
This approach focuses on the
economic disparity between people.
It reflects the reality that people
feel poorer when they know they
have less than their neighbours.
As the world becomes increasingly
connected by telecommunications,
our global neighbours become
increasingly aware of the difference
between their lifestyle and ours. But
it is not just the jealousy factor that
makes a difference.
page
30
Research shows that countries
that have greater inequality fare
worse on every social indicator - for
example, incarceration, teenage
pregnancy, and mental and general
health rates. In fact, inequality is a
better predictor of these things than
income. That is, a lower income with
more equality is better than a higher
income with less equality.
This is the principle set out in 2
Corinthians 8:13-15 ‘Our desire is not
that others might be relieved while
you are hard pressed, but that there
might be equality. At the present
time your plenty will supply what
they need, so that in turn their plenty
will supply what you need. The goal
is equality, as it is written: “The one
who gathered much did not have too
much, and the one who gathered
little did not have too little.”’
PARTICIPATORY
As people struggled with the idea
of defining and measuring poverty,
someone finally said, ‘Why don’t
we ask the poor what they think?!’
A 1999 survey by the World Bank
called Voices of the Poor is the
biggest attempt to do this:
‘The poor describe poverty as
lack of material things — food,
especially but also lack of work,
money, shelter and clothing —
and living and working in often
unhealthy, polluted and risky
environments. They also defined
poverty as bad experiences and bad
feelings about the self. Perceptions
of powerlessness over one’s life and
of voicelessness were common; so
was anxiety and fear for the future.’
‘Poverty is lack of freedom,
enslaved by crushing daily burden,
by depression and fear of what the
future will bring.’ — Georgia
‘If you want to do something and
have no power to do it, it is talauchi
(poverty).’ — Nigeria
‘For a poor person everything
is terrible - illness, humiliation,
shame. We are cripples; we are
afraid of everything; we depend on
everyone. No one needs us. We are
like garbage that everyone wants
to get rid of.’ — A blind woman from
Tiraspol, Moldova
Similar reflections are found in
Proverbs 13:8; 14:20; 19:4,7 and 22:7.
Colin Scott, COCOA Director.
networking
Stories from a
year of being
‘Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty of all
before you...’ — Paramahansa Yogananda
I am in my tenth week of living in a slum in Kolkata. I
am very used to now not having running water, using a
bucket to shower over a drain in an open lane (I have
to wear a floor length nightgown for showering), use a
communal squat toilet, and climb up a rickety ladder to
sleep in a bubble-gum pink two by three metre room. My
‘norm’ is wonderfully simplistic, and clutter-free of the
physical noise of bring in a consumeristic world.
My community of co-slum dwellers treat me with such
generosity and love, all I can see is beauty before me. It’s
only when the smell of the drain near my window wafts
up, or another mouse tries to climb up my nightgown
while I am sleeping, that I remember that I am meant
to be living in a ‘dirty, hopeless, poverty-stricken’
community. But if you begin to see the initial status of
extreme poverty, you see beauty. It’s confusing I know, on
one hand you have the constant in-your-face poverty, but
then there is this amazing undertone of beauty.
Her daughter is now in her 30s with her own little family.
This lady, my dear Masi, welcomed me (and another
intern) into her home with such warmness and many
smiles. A radical Hindu lady, who had in a short 10
weeks shown me more love and authenticity than I have
experienced in a long time. She is beautiful.
So for now I am learning to live quietly in the moment,
and see the beauty before me. It’s sometimes a little
chaotic and messy, but it’s simply wonderful.
Ally Jensen
So far, Ally and ‘On-the-ground Nepal Earthquake
Funds’ have raised over AU$50,000 thanks to
donations from around the world. They have helped
build shelters, temporary schools, and provided food
to some of the most marginalised people in Nepal.
Beauty is in the smiles of the joyful, resourceful
children. You see beauty in the eyes of the tired, old,
cranky aunties. You see beauty in the youth hoping and
striving for a different life. These people are resilient,
strong, and courageous.
The best example I have to share is of the generous lady
who looks after me, named fondly, Masi (meaning my
mother’s sister in Bangla). Her husband died when their
small daughter was only a few years old. She wanted to
give her daughter the best and worked hard to find a job
and keep their tiny room in the slum.
Going against the Indian culture of remarrying or giving up
her daughter, she raised a strong, independent woman.
Donate today
Your donation makes a huge
difference to the lives of
people in Vanuatu.
1800 600 900 medicalsanto.com
Ally and friend in India
Churches of Christ
Santo
Changing lives in Northern Vanuatu
page
31
networking
Fresh Horizons Conference
– August 2015
‘If you’ve got a pulse you’ve got a
purpose,’ was the catch-cry at this
year’s Fresh Horizons Conferences
held in August in Tauranga, New
Zealand and in Brisbane and Cairns.
Richard and Leona Bergstrom
from Re-Ignite Ministries in the
United States engaged conference
participants in an interactive
journey designed to sharpen
the focus of living purposefully
throughout our whole life. They
reminded us of Paul’s words in Acts
20:24 (NLT) ‘My life is nothing to me
unless I use it for finishing the work
assigned me by the Lord Jesus.’
and a 2nd Half forum, exploring
ideas and practical applications for
ministry to the baby boomer and
senior generations.
Time was spent in personal
reflection of life’s journey to
this point, identifying values,
personality, strengths, passion, and
spiritual gifts and how these things
contribute to determining how we
will live out our purpose in the
second half of life.
The 62 attendees at the Brisbane
conference were aged 40 and over,
and some travelled from Tasmania,
Melbourne, Sydney, Blue Mountains
and Mackay.
The conferences also featured
support speakers, ministry exhibits
The ‘Wordle’ featuring words from attendees
summing up the conference
Celebrating Grandparents
Sunday 25 October is a special
day. Around Australia, we will
be celebrating Grandparents
Day, taking the opportunity to
thank grandparents for their
love and support and to honour
the significant contribution they
make to their family, church and
community.
page
32
In 2011, the Australian Bureau
of Statistics reported that
close to one million Australian
children receive care from a
grandparent on a regular basis.
Each participant was asked to sum
up the conference in one word, which
was turned into a ‘Wordle’ word cloud.
You can read the full report of the
event at freshhorizons.org.au
Richard and Leona
Bergstrom
We are living in challenging
times both morally and
spiritually, especially for
our children, and the roll of
grandparents is becoming
more important than anyone
could ever imagined. What an
incredible calling for the second
half of life.
Plan a church family picnic,
a special morning tea, use
presentations or video clips
that honour grandparents,
interview some grandparents
and grandchildren, or have
grandparents stand and pray
for them.
Let’s make Grandparents Day
across our churches a day of
celebration.
Remember, each grandparent is
unique and irreplaceable; they
are God’s gift to the family.
networking
A gift in your Will
can make a significant
impact on the growth
of God’s kingdom
A gift in your Will, however
small or large, is a legacy of
love. It stands as a monument
to the values you hold dear.
The Christian beliefs and faith
we hold in this life are passed
down to future generations so
that they too may know the
love of Jesus and continue His
work. With leaving a gift in your
Will to Churches of Christ in
Queensland you can continue
to s
trengthen God’s kingdom
and ensure its growth into
the future for the benefit of
generations to come.
Whatever the purpose of
the gift and whatever the
amount, Churches of Christ in
Queensland treats every gift
with the utmost diligence and
respect. You can be assured
that your bequest will be used
for the growth of the kingdom
of God.
Your support will make a real
difference, please contact us at:
Churches of Christ
The Fundraising Office
PO Box 508, Kenmore Q 4069
Phone: 1800 600 900
Email: fundraising@cofcqld.com.au
page
33
networking
The Australian College of
Ministries (ACOM) is now looking
for those who will benefit from
ministry training next year.
Is there someone you know who
needs some encouragement to
jump into ministry? Do you want
some training to assist your own
ministry to be more fruitful? Now
is the time to start thinking about
studying ministry in 2016.
ACOM offers a range of options for
students. At vocational level, there
is Certificate IVs and Diplomas in
Christian Ministry and Theology.
At higher education level, one year
Diploma of Christian Studies, two
year associate degrees and threeyear bachelors of theology and
ministry. At postgraduate level there
are four unit graduate certificates,
eight unit graduate diplomas
and masters of arts, theology
and divinity. If you are more into
research, the Doctor of Ministry or
PhD programs will serve you well.
At ACOM, we try to combine the
best of both worlds. We allow
people to study their passions
at their own place and pace.
However, we also bring students
together for crucial spiritual
formation groups and optional
facilitations. We find that this
combination of distance and
face-to-face is great for people in
ministry who need flexibility and
lots of interaction with others.
In Queensland, we have a
great range of facilitations
available. Non-students are
always welcome to come along
for interest or professional
development. If you are interested
in Conflict Resolution, Pastoral
Care, Mastering Change or other
Imagine
what you
can do.
Imagine a
career
with us.
Imagine turning tears of desperation
to joy or the hug of a child you’ve
just helped. With 200 services from
early childhood learning to affordable
housing, you’ll feel the rewards of your
efforts every day.
page
34
imagineyourcareer.com.au
courses, ask for more details by
2016 Queensland
facilitations:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Spiritual Formation
Pastoral Care
Restoration Movement
Old Testament Introduction
Biblical Answers for Life’s
Questions
Conflict Resolution
Mastering Change
Theology for Ministry
Pauline Literature
courses, ask for more details by
contacting Stephen Parker on
0410 614 894 or
sparker@acom.edu.au
networking
important dates
4-10
Mental Health Week
5
Labour Day public holiday
7-10
National Youth Ministry
Convention Gold Coast
11-17
Anti-Poverty Week
12-18
Carers Week
23-25 Girls Getaway Camp
24-1 Nov National Children’s Week
27
Grandparents Day
11 : NOVEMBER
1-30
Transition to Independence
Month
5
International Volunteer
Managers Day
11
Remembrance Day
19
World Day for Prevention of
Child Abuse and Violence
Against Children
15-21
Bullying Awareness Week
20-21 Celebrate 2015
20 – Centrifuge Event
20 – Annual General Meeting
21 – Awards Dinner
25 White Ribbon Day
21-29 Social Inclusion Week
12 : DECEMBER
01 : JANUARY
02 : FEBRUARY
03 : MARCH
10 : OCTOBER
1
1
26 osevale Church of Christ
R
125th Anniversary
New Years Day
Australia Day
13 Apology Day
Mark 23 July 2016 in your
diaries and join us for a day of
discussion, reflection and faith.
In July this year 120 women were uplifted,
refreshed and joined in fellowship at the
inaugural Sacred Restlessness Women’s
Conference. It was a truly wonderful day of
exploring what it means to be women in
our movement and the great things we can
achieve as modern women.
5
10
25
26
3-9
8
21
25 27 International Volunteers Day
Human Rights Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Foster and Kinship Carers Week
International Women’s Day
Harmony Day
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
SAVE THE DATE
Women’s Conference
23 July 2016
‘I feel refreshed and ready for ministry.’
‘…It made you think about leadership. Where
you are and how we are as Christians can
make a difference.’
page
35
cofc.com.au

networking - Churches of Christ in Queensland

Transcription

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