Wow! What an exciting and tiresome first four months to 2011.

Yes, it has been that long since we have entered into our blog and certainly way over due. Let us boast on God a bit so you too can give thanks and maybe even smile like I am at the moment.

Women of Worth

We started off the year with promoting a One-Day Women’s Conference and a Men’s Advance Weekend.

In February, Lori secured their 2010 Getaway speaker for a one-day conference held at our church. It was open to the community and over 200 women spent a Saturday learning how to Fan the Flame of Faith! The American speaker had a team come and video record the conference for publication. This was a big success for our church, particularly in helping us to pursue excellence and saying “yes” to opportunities.

Men’s Advance!

Men don’t retreat they Advance! This was the call out to our men to participate in our first Men’s Advance Weekend in too many years. 70 + men responded. God drew us together as we were challenged to put His priorities in order in our whole life. Our fellowship was so authentic, we have witnessed many men connect deeper to one another into accountability groups. We have decided November 5-7 will be Men’s Advance Stage 2!Want to come?!

Small Groups Bursting!

Over the last several months we have seen many of our adult small groups expand to double digits and several leaders have asked for their group to be declared Full! We are in great need for others to step up and out in faith to being equipped to join a Small Group Leadership Team. This will be a major prayer and priority for us in the next 3-4 months.

Community Care

Rather than provide our Community-wide Funtastic event the weekend before Easter at a local primary school, we communicated our desire to support the school’s plan to hold a Fund Raising Fair (FETE). They were so surprised and relieved. We believe God opened the door of trust even wider to continue to partner with the school in bringing the presence of Christ Jesus to our community. We supplied some helpers, food, chairs and tables, and publicity. It was a great day and they made lots of money!

Easter Weekend

“Would you hear Him if He spoke?” This was the title for the 4700!invitations we placed in mailboxes in our neighbourhoods inviting people to our Easter Services. We thought if we had 2-3% response we would have standing room only.

On Thursday night we had the largest Communion service we have had on this special night of the year. A young man suddenly yelled and scream into the church and threw a few eggs at us and ran off. God used this disturbing event to cause us to reflect even more on Christ and those really being persecuted for their faith.

Then for the first time we offered two Good Friday morning services (typical Aussie culture) and the Lord brought 400+ people! Amazing time!

On Resurrection Sunday, we almost had standing room only but we set out even more chairs in the aisles. Not a good day for a fire marshal to visit. 600+ people! Then I was told we had about 1/3 of our own people out of town! WOW! God is incredible.We had some professions of faith and Morgan reaffirmed her faith in Jesus as her Saviour and Lord! What a great God we have!

Missions Ministry Team

We are finally on our way with a new strategy for global and national missions. Today we met with a young couple heading to Mozambique to help evangelize and plant churches among the Muslim-Animalist communities. Prayerfully, I hope we are also able to support missionaries to our Aboriginal communities, fanatical Muslims in Indonesia, and a national pastor in Eastern Europe.This will require our church leadership to let loose of the old way of funding and moving to a new way of funding. We would appreciate your prayers inthis.

BIG CHEERS...USA here we come!

Yes, that is right. After four years, we are finally able to return to the USA. May 16th the Munn tribe will arrive and will be furloughing in a State near you until our return to Australia the 13^th of June. We look forward to spending time with some family and friends and thanking our partners who have generously partnered with us for the last 4-7 years as we have sought to serve the Lord in missionary capacities. We hope to see you in a few weeks!