Our Auntie Bev

Auntie Bev (Bev Lunt) is very near and dear to our hearts as she is the one who found our rental property for us before we arrived in AU and took us under her wings when we arrived. She has also been adopted by our family as a surrogate “Auntie/Grandma” to us. We love her and are sadden to learn she has terminal cancer. She had bowel cancer a year ago and this past August we thought she was cancer free. Well, in Nov, she was told her cancer came back into her liver. The cancer is in 75% of her liver and is terminal. It is very progressive and the prognosis is 2-3 months but she is doing chemo to extend her time maybe another 3-6 more. She is at peace with the idea of meeting Jesus sooner than she anticipated. She is cleaning “house” and spending precious time with family and friends. Please remember her in your prayers and our family as the children do not know yet about Auntie Bev’s illness. Here is a photo of our Auntie Bev…isn't she precious?!

Lori's Photography Hobby

In Nov., Lori took 25 family portraits over the course of 2 weekends. This was done as a fundraiser for our church building project. People are thrilled with her work and this hobby seems to be turning into a business from word of mouth! Lori is excited about this business opportunity as our youngest, Mikah, will start school full-time this year AND we are saving $$$ for a much anticipated visit to the USA in Spring of 2011! Below are a few samples of her work…

More updates to close out 2009 and begin 2010!

Community Care Seminars

We saw 58 people attend the "Why You Need a Will" Seminar. Many whom I did not know and where from the neighbourhood. The speaker was amazed as he usually has 6-8 people! We are following up on those from the community who are interested in a personal money management help. Which brings us to...

$ Ministry Growth

We are thrilled to have 11 people respond to our goal to begin a Financial Management Ministry. This is in response to a community questionaire we handed out earlier in the year. Our strategy includes 3 sermons, a community seminar, mentorship for personal budgeting, small groups and a ministry for running a Business by the Book. Please pray for God’s point person for this ministry to respond by early January.

Blessings Thru Refugees

God has provided our church family with people from many different countries including Liberians. Lori has become a key point person to help assimilate them into the Australia culture thru meeting basic needs: furniture, clothes, toys, food and most important friendship. Laughter and joy is a regular part of this ministry. Please pray we are sensitive to God’s ways as we mix our lives together for Him.

Going Global

Several months ago, our mission committee ceased & I took the responsibility to redevelop a new mission ministry strategy for our church family. The aim is to involve our lives to reach the Unreached, remember the Persecuted, and assist in reaping the Responsive. National pastors, church planting, short term teams and university ministries are key elements to the proposal. Please pray our leaders are unified in our global vision to bring God glory & we are able to move forward in late January with the plans.

3 x 3 Basketball Outreach

January 23rd will be our third tournament. We now have unchurched people volunteering to help us run the event & outside groups wanting to sponsor the community event. We will also support a local basket ball league with some of the profits. What? The church giving money away to a non Christian program? Please pray for Blair (our church Chaplain) as he leads the way for us in this community outreach, the gospel seed is planted as we have more unchurched people attend than churched.

Personal Evangelism

Praise the Lord we completed training of a 2^nd group of people in XEE (personal evangelism). We are now looking into equipping all responsive people through small groups. We will see what happens in the months ahead.