Missions and Ministry
HBBC Missions Team
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
1 Chronicles 16:24-25 NIV
1 Chronicles 16:24-25 NIV
As we head into May, which is traditionally Mission Month in Baptist churches, I would like to reflect on how blessed we are at HBBC to have a strong mission focus for sharing God's love with both international and local people. The Mission Team's role is to look after our International Missionaries, ensuring we keep connected and that they know we are praying and caring for them on the field, and assisting when they are home.
The Missions Team currently has up to 15 people who assist in various ways. We meet the first Sunday of the month after church, to plan future events and check in with the contact people for the various missionaries about any needs that may come up. Several people within the church are short term missionaries, others engaged in long term ministries from here and then there are the people who go out on short term mission trips. As a team we support them in prayer, giving them opportunity to share their stories and assisting with Governance if needed.
The Missions Team also help coordinate the Two-Birds Missions Giving Christmas catalogue that has been produced here for more than 15 years and provides an extra source of support for our Missionaries and their individual missions at Christmas time.
Some exciting highlights within the last year have been the visit from Wayne and Olya from Ukraine in Dec 2024, having Alan and Leanne home on their first home assignment from Cambodia and Max and Helen Sahl will be visiting in May. Keith Stevenson is speaking at a conference in Fiji and will catch up with the Fiji Bible college team and Heather and Laurie going to visit Canada in June.
We have seen several people embarking on short-term service this year including Esther Pattemore (Teen Mission), Judith Shaw (Vietnam) Mark and Cathy Payne (3 months training in UK), Steve Niebling (Story the Bible in Africa)
As a church we financially support the following International Missionaries with regular budgeted monthly payments:
Max and Helen Sahl – (0ver 20yrs) Wycliffe Australia -serving currently in Melbourne they will be visiting Mid-May to share with us.
Alan and Leanne Purvis – (2 yrs) WEC Cambodia – home on Furlough currently and sharing with us at the end of May before they return.
Wayne and Olya Zschech – (over 20 yrs) Operation Mobilisation- Ukraine – They were in Australia Dec/Jan 2024 and spent a week in Hervey Bay sharing their journey.
Fiji Bible College – Ambassadors for Christ – (around 20yrs) Working to train pastors (150 students in 2025) to go into the Pacific Islands and build Gods church.
More informally we have other Missionaries we support in prayer and assistance in different ways.
Karen and Wade Lineburg – preparing to serve with Wycliffe Australia for 2years+ in Ukarumpa PNG from late 2025 – teaching and administration roles.
Matt and Ruth Lahey – (7yrs) Mile One Mission – Kilbride Newfoundland Canada – Planting a local church in a growing area with no current Evangelical churches.
Josie Dixon – (5yrs) Power to Change – Melbourne working with University Students to teach them how to share their faith.
Debbie Butters and Kym Robinson- (10yrs) Anguganak Health Motherhood Project – PNG – Short Term trips yearly teaching safe birthing, women’s and men’s health and practical projects.
Judith Shaw - Short term visits to the Mong people in Vietnam teaching safe birthing and women’s health
Support is offered for others going on short term visits or preparing for long Term mission. If anyone has an interest in Mission we would love to hear from you.
Heather Dickfos for Mission Team.
The Missions Team currently has up to 15 people who assist in various ways. We meet the first Sunday of the month after church, to plan future events and check in with the contact people for the various missionaries about any needs that may come up. Several people within the church are short term missionaries, others engaged in long term ministries from here and then there are the people who go out on short term mission trips. As a team we support them in prayer, giving them opportunity to share their stories and assisting with Governance if needed.
The Missions Team also help coordinate the Two-Birds Missions Giving Christmas catalogue that has been produced here for more than 15 years and provides an extra source of support for our Missionaries and their individual missions at Christmas time.
Some exciting highlights within the last year have been the visit from Wayne and Olya from Ukraine in Dec 2024, having Alan and Leanne home on their first home assignment from Cambodia and Max and Helen Sahl will be visiting in May. Keith Stevenson is speaking at a conference in Fiji and will catch up with the Fiji Bible college team and Heather and Laurie going to visit Canada in June.
We have seen several people embarking on short-term service this year including Esther Pattemore (Teen Mission), Judith Shaw (Vietnam) Mark and Cathy Payne (3 months training in UK), Steve Niebling (Story the Bible in Africa)
As a church we financially support the following International Missionaries with regular budgeted monthly payments:
Max and Helen Sahl – (0ver 20yrs) Wycliffe Australia -serving currently in Melbourne they will be visiting Mid-May to share with us.
Alan and Leanne Purvis – (2 yrs) WEC Cambodia – home on Furlough currently and sharing with us at the end of May before they return.
Wayne and Olya Zschech – (over 20 yrs) Operation Mobilisation- Ukraine – They were in Australia Dec/Jan 2024 and spent a week in Hervey Bay sharing their journey.
Fiji Bible College – Ambassadors for Christ – (around 20yrs) Working to train pastors (150 students in 2025) to go into the Pacific Islands and build Gods church.
More informally we have other Missionaries we support in prayer and assistance in different ways.
Karen and Wade Lineburg – preparing to serve with Wycliffe Australia for 2years+ in Ukarumpa PNG from late 2025 – teaching and administration roles.
Matt and Ruth Lahey – (7yrs) Mile One Mission – Kilbride Newfoundland Canada – Planting a local church in a growing area with no current Evangelical churches.
Josie Dixon – (5yrs) Power to Change – Melbourne working with University Students to teach them how to share their faith.
Debbie Butters and Kym Robinson- (10yrs) Anguganak Health Motherhood Project – PNG – Short Term trips yearly teaching safe birthing, women’s and men’s health and practical projects.
Judith Shaw - Short term visits to the Mong people in Vietnam teaching safe birthing and women’s health
Support is offered for others going on short term visits or preparing for long Term mission. If anyone has an interest in Mission we would love to hear from you.
Heather Dickfos for Mission Team.
Posted in Missions & Ministry