Recently I attended the annual Queensland Baptist conference. It was an encouraging and inspiring time. Jason Elsmore, our head of vision and mission for the QB movement, preached a couple of times. One of those times was on prayer, its importance and power. He gave us 5 prayers to take away, and I would love for us to pray these over us, the church, our city and our nation.

1. Prayer for fullness in your life (Ephesians 3:17-19) - We want every single one of us to be growing in the knowledge and love of God. But more than that, we want to be filled with the "fullness of God" in truth, love and power.

2. Prayer for favour over your family (Numbers 6:24-26) - We know the importance of family and God's design for it. The primary disciples in this life are our spouse and our children, grandchildren and extended family. If our families are strong in the Lord together, our churches also grow in strength. We pray for favour and blessing over every family in this church.

3. Prayer for faithfulness in our church and ministry (2 Thessalonians 1:11) - We are not a social club; we are a church. God chose His church to love and disciple one another. We want a faith-filled church here in Hervey Bay, with every ministry marked by faithfulness as well.

4. Prayer for fruitfulness in our community (Matthew 9:36-38) - We were also chosen by God as a church to reach the lost in our community. We have been given a heart for the community by God. Let us pray for a growing heart in this space. May our conversations and outreach ministries be fruitful and multiply. We pray for workers for the harvest field. May we all know our calling.

5. Prayer for revival in our nation and generation (Psalm 85:6) - This has been the heart of mine and many others, including the Queensland Baptist movement, for a number of years. May God revive this city, this state and this nation for His glory. May this generation rise with such passion to see God for who He truly is.

We pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Saviour and our King. Amen.

Your brother in Christ,
James

 Join together with others for prayer.

• The PrayGround – Sunday mornings from 8:30 – 9:30am

• The Lounge - (127 Torquay Rd, Scarness) –  Friday mornings from 8:30 – 9:30am, specifically for the ministry of Kindness Works

• Men’s prayer – Friday morning at the church 9:00 – 10:30am

• Or Join a Life Group, where prayer occurs on a weekly basis

• Join the prayer chain, to pray with others in the church over various requests & needs within the church.

• Use the May Missions Prayer Calendar to pray for our missionaries and local outreaches

HBBC has a strong focus supporting those who are called out share God’s word both locally and internationally.

As a Sending Church, we currently support 4 long term missionaries in both financial and prayer support

• Max & Helen Sahl have served with Wycliffe Bible Translation since 1998, the past 6 years in Melbourne, with Max as CEO of Wycliffe Australia and Helen in many supporting roles within the team.

• Wayne & Olya Zschech have served in Ukraine, Wayne since 1997, in ministry, and Wayne is currently Field Co-Ordinator of Operation Mobilisation in Ukraine, helping many throughout the war of the past 4 years and working on sustainable energy projects.

• College of Theology and Evangelism (Fiji Bible College) provides training for many people in the Pacific Islands to enable them to go back to work in their home areas with a sound knowledge of the Gospel.  HBBC have partnered with them since 1993.

• Alan & Leanne Purvis are our newest long-term missionaries serving with WEC in Cambodia, commissioned September 2022.  Learning the language and culture, they are working to train local pastors who often have no formal Bible training.

HBBC also provides ongoing prayer and physical support to the following ministries:

• Wade & Karen Lindburg (Wycliffe), Ukarumpa PNG

• Matt & Ruth Lahey (Mile One Mission), Newfoundland Canada

• Anguganak Healthy Motherhood Program, PNG

• Josie Dixon – Power to Change, University mission (Melbourne)

Locally - Kindness Works, Chaplaincy and Christian Religious Instruction.

Each week will focus on an area, and we are excited to be able to share with you some opportunities for short term teams to go from here, mainly to PNG and Fiji in the coming 12 months.

The Prayer Calendar will include all these missionaries and outreaches to pray for.
A paper copy will also be available from the church on Sunday.

There will be an opportunity to contribute to our special May Mission Project via Penny Pig and online. This year’s project will be to support those teams going out on short term mission over the next year.

Bank details for Direct Debit

• Missions:
  • BSB 704 913
  • ACC# 400041919
  • General mission offering: 
    • Reference: Mission Gift
  • May Mission Month Project:   
    • Reference: Project 2026

Thank you all for praying and considering how God may be leading you to assist in Supporting this important work.

HBBC Missions Team

Sometimes God does things that are outside of our neat little boxes of expectation. We like predictability. We love to understand why. And we like being in control. But when God does His thing, there can be no objection.

When the Jewish believers heard the news about what God was doing among the Gentiles, they fell silent. All their objections became irrelevant. All of their neatly packaged theology became uncomfortably expanded beyond their expectations. God does what He does and we are forced to adjust to it.

Many changes have occurred down through church history that have re-shaped the way ministry is done. It is not that the message has changed but the package the message comes in has changed a lot.

There may be some people who value stability and tradition so much that they will refuse to follow God’s lead in breaking into new mission methods. They see the new movement of God as a threat to their security and out of fear they oppose the very thing that God is doing. They cling to tradition almost the same way they cling to the Bible. So God is forced to bypass them.

The churches who will not adjust to what God is doing in the current day will eventually die out. We as followers of Jesus need to be sensitive to how the Holy Spirit is leading us and be ready to follow Him by faith into each new season of mission.

Brett

When the apostle Paul was converted, the persecution of the church went into remission.

When Paul went by the name of Saul, he was the main drive behind some horrific persecution. From house to house the authorities would go searching for followers of Jesus. In Acts 9, Saul was now going from town to town. Then Jesus met him. Saul was converted. A single dramatic event that led to a whole new season for the church. How quickly things can change when God takes hold of a moment in time.

After Saul was converted, a time of peace and growth came over the church.

This story is a reminder that there are seasons in the life of the church. There are times of growth. There are times of hardship. But God is over it all. We should always be encouraged that God has control over all things. He has a plan that no one can thwart. His purposes will unfold, maybe not as we expect, but as He wills.

Let us be ready for whatever season God gives us, in the good, bad, the exciting, and mundane. God is over it all.

Brett

Life can feel overwhelming at times. There are moments when our thoughts race, our worries build, and we’re unsure what to do next. Prayer is where we can pause, breathe, and bring it all before God.

When we pray, we don’t have to have the right words or a perfect plan- we simply come as we are. We can lay down our anxieties, our questions, and our burdens, trusting that God hears us and cares deeply for us.

Prayer shifts our focus. Instead of being consumed by what’s happening around us, we are reminded of who God is-faithful, present, and in control. And in that place, He gives us a peace that steadies our hearts, even when circumstances don’t immediately change.

Sometimes the situation stays the same, but something changes within us. We begin to trust God more. We rest in His presence. We find calm in the middle of uncertainty.

That’s the beauty of prayer-it doesn’t just change things around us, it changes us.

Ezekiel received a wonderful vision of God. So overwhelming was his vision that when he saw it, he fell face to the ground.

Many of us might envy Ezekiel, thinking that if only we could see a vision like that, we would have much greater faith. That is until we see his calling. It was a difficult call.

Ezekiel was sent by God to preach to the people. But God assures him that they would not listen. What a frustrating mission. As we follow Ezekiel’s story, we see that he was greatly inconvenienced in delivering God’s message and suffered because of it. Yet to see no ‘results’ at all would have been demoralizing to say the least.

Ezekiel’s story is a reminder to us that faithfulness is more important than immediate results. The work we do for God may not always return fruit straight away. It might be just a stepping stone in the story, a single thread in the grand picture that God is designing.

Though our obedience may appear insignificant to us, in God’s plan our faithfulness is key to His unfolding will. We tend to overemphasize things like comfort, convenience, and reward. When we crave these things we diminish our usefulness. Rather we ought to embrace God’s calling even if it is uncomfortable. Only then are we fit for service in the kingdom.

Brett

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26

It’s easy to feel alone in tough times, but God is always with us. Prayer reminds us He is in control and will carry us through whatever we face.

Prayer strengthens us. It helps us focus on God, not our circumstances. Whatever we face, He gives us strength and hope. We’re never alone.

Don’t hold back from praying—take a moment now. God is always listening and cares deeply about what you’re going through.

If you feel lost or afraid, pause and pray. Ask God for strength and peace. Consider praying the armour of God daily, so He can equip you to stand firm.

The armour of God prayer is based on Ephesians 6:10–18, where Paul describes God’s spiritual protection. Many use this as a daily prayer to “put on” each piece.

Here’s a simple, heartfelt version you can use:

Heavenly Father,
Today I put on the full armour of God.
Help me to walk in Your truth, live in Your righteousness, and stand in Your peace.
Strengthen my faith, guard my mind, and guide me by Your Word.
Protect me and lead me in all I do today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

To some, it may not seem as though serving coffee is a ministry. But to our barista team, they are truly dedicated to serving others and take great joy in making themselves available on Sunday mornings.  

Why? Because they know that they are creating an environment of hospitality where people feel welcome, relationships are deepened and encouragement is given to build up the body of Christ.
 
Yes, not everyone feels the need for that caffeine fix when they come through our doors, but for those that do, please make sure you give our voluntary team your thanks as they focus on serving in the best way they can.  

Most Sundays there’s a rush as soon as the service finishes, so please be patient. The team prioritise the orders from our new people’s table, of which there are only a handful of Sundays throughout the year, that there isn’t an order or two…, or three... from our first time guests.
 
Would you be interested in being a part of this team? Have a quick chat to Judith Shaw at the coffee bar to find out what serving on the team looks like, as there are a few different positions. The team start early and clean up after the service also.

Thanks barista team for your commitment to serving in our church!
 
We greatly appreciate each of you. 

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is a very important doctrine.

There were many false claims during the first century and many of the New Testament writings address these issues. Some false teachings include: Jesus didn’t really die. Jesus did not rise bodily, the disciples only saw a ghost. The resurrection was a lie made up by the apostles who stole His body. These were all ‘fake news’. This is why the apostle Paul is very clear that Jesus rose from the dead and that there were many witnesses.

In a Hebrew court of law, the truth would be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Some of the witnesses to the resurrection include the women who followed Jesus, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Peter, Thomas, the 11 disciples together on a number of occasions and a whole crowd of 500 people at one time. This is more than enough to establish the resurrection of Jesus Christ as an undeniable reality.

We serve a risen Saviour who rose, ascended into heaven and now is seated in authority. We are His followers. We speak His message. And we shine His light.

Brett

Why is prayer important?
Prayer is one of the ways we grow closer to God. It’s not just about asking for help-it’s about aligning our hearts with His. As we pray, we invite God into our everyday lives, asking Him to guide us, strengthen us, and walk with us through whatever we’re facing.

Prayer helps us grow closer to God.
Prayer is also a place of surrender. We lay down our plans and trust that God sees the bigger picture-that He knows the path ahead even when we don’t. And as we spend time talking with Him and quietly listening, we begin to recognise His voice and understand His heart for us.

Over time, God gently reveals His will as we seek Him. What starts as a simple conversation grows into deeper trust, and we begin to see Him work in ways we never could have planned ourselves. That’s why prayer matters so much-it draws us closer to Him and shapes our lives in the process.

An update from Josie Dixon,

In the ministry of Power to Change (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) my team have been helping university students learn to share Jesus and make disciples. As the Catalytic team seeks to pioneer and start a spiritual movement on campuses across Australia, we are looking for students who are willing to say yes in the adventure of sharing Jesus. On each campus, the students have ownership of the ministry and missionaries provide coaching, resourcing and ongoing discipleship to support students in their personal walk with God and in their skills and perspectives in ministry.
 
God has blessed my team with both big picture and detailed oriented people which has allowed us to produce some resources for the current culture of students that’s given them clarity, and is easy for students to lead with others. Here’s a summary of our three main resources we invite students to take part in, and a story for how God has worked in their lives:

Equipped to Share (For believers wanting to learn to share their faith)
Isaac, a Student Leader at Monash, we met 2 years ago while doing outreach. He was interested in learning to share his faith and finished Equipped to Share. Since then he has seen God use him in leading multiple students to Christ and train other believers in these perspectives and skills!

Growing in Faith (For new believers looking at foundational practices in their walk with Jesus)
E* is a student from East Asia, she had grown up with a Christian mum but herself went away from God in recent years. She heard the Gospel from Isaac on campus and realised God was inviting her into relationship which she really desired. She then went through Growing in Faith and I could see the way the Holy Spirit was both convicting and comforting her with the satisfying life she could live as a Christian and not follow in old unhealthy patterns. She’s now going through Equipped to Share with Isaac on campus, and I’ve been able to model sharing the Gospel with various students to her.

Searching for Answers (For seekers learning about Jesus through the book of Mark)
Last year Rob, a Student Leader at CQU Bundy, invited two of his classmates to explore Jesus, one Muslim and one agnostic. Through reading the Bible together the agnostic friend decided to follow Jesus and amazingly since then he has been having intentional conversations about the Gospel with their Muslim friend.
Bonus story: Just before Easter we saw a girl from a Catholic background at RMIT accept Jesus by faith! She shared when she started SFA she believed it was through following the 10 commandments and being a good person would save her, but during our 5 weeks of conversations together she’s come to understand it’s only through faith in Jesus she can have hope and assurance of salvation.

We are praying and asking God to raise up more students, like these young men and women on campuses across Australia! It is the students who are best able to reach other students, and this year my team is seeking to intentionally look for these students on the next 9 campuses in Perth and Adelaide. Our team will temporarily split in July and spend 6 weeks pioneering in these locations. We will partner with local churches, with the hope to see a sustained movement of students reaching other students on these universities.

Please pray for God to continue to lead our team in dependence on Him and that God will multiply the impact in students lives.

You can read more on the ministry of Power to Change on their website.

To support Josie financially in her ministry, you can give through our church's missions account.
Account: HBBC Missions
BSB: 704 913
Account Number: 400041919
Reference: Josie Dixon

Why is prayer important?
The importance of prayer can sometimes be overlooked. For many of us, prayer becomes something we turn to when we need help or want God’s blessing. And in the busyness of life, it can easily slip into being an afterthought. But it’s worth asking—why is prayer so important?

Prayer helps us grow closer to God.
One simple thought that could sum up the importance of prayer would be this: prayer draws us closer to God. When we pray, we are inviting Him into every part of our lives. As we spend time talking with Him and listening to Him, we begin to know Him more deeply.

The more we draw near to God, the more we become aware of His presence with us—and He draws near to us too.

And when God is close, what is there to fear? What more do we need to strive for? Like Paul, we can live with courage and confidence, knowing that our mighty God is with us and for us.

The greatest example of God’s love is shown to us on the cross.

There are so many things we see here that are demonstrations of God’s love. God’s love is so incredible that it is hard for us to understand. For example, Jesus died for the world even though many would end up denying him. He knew that the cross involved suffering, but willingly did that for us so that we could be saved from our sin. He carried our sin into punishment so that we would not have to. He asked God to forgive the very soldiers who had nailed Him to the cross. He showed a moment of compassion for the thief who was executed next to Him. And He spared a thought for the welfare of His mother. Jesus submitted to all this because of His great love.

The love of God that flows to us through our Lord Jesus Christ is far deeper than we could ever achieve. And that love poured out on us and through us to others. We are undeserving because of our sin, and yet because of Jesus we get to participate in the glory of God for all eternity. This is the wonder of salvation

Brett

A regular event on the church calendar, the men of the Rebels (with a cause) Life Group have held a monthly breakfast for the men of the church on and off over the years.

Over the last few years since starting up again, the food is now second to none in the Bay for a $10 brekky! With barista made coffee! Served by a small group of men, who have lots of fun prepping food the day before and testing their recipes (sometimes on the office staff), the team then meet nice and early on the Saturday morning to present a well catered for breakfast.

The aim though? To provide an environment of support to men as they spend time together, encouraging each other, building each other up, being vulnerable, and making sure no one feels like they’re doing life alone.

This year, Pastor Brett has committed to speaking at each of these breakfasts to encourage men to step into the God given anointing on their lives as Aussie Christian men, walking in holy masculinity.

Can you bring a non-Christian friend? Absolutely! The environment is non-threatening for non-Christians, and Pastor Brett’s sharing, we could probably all agree, can be appreciated by any age & any stage of faith.

All profits are kindly donated to the ministries of Kindness Works, seeing funds to nearly $5,000 donated throughout 2025! What a great accomplishment from this small band of volunteers, and the generosity of those attending.

The men also have a ‘Containers for Change’ drive running, raising funds to support our church missionaries. So, bring along those empty 10c refundable cans and bottles.

Breakfasts are held at 8:00am on the first Saturday of each month, but next month, due to Easter falling on the first weekend, they have postponed the brekky to Saturday, April 11th.

These men with a heart to serve also desire to bless the women in the church choosing to forgo their May breakfast to hold a Mother’s Day breakfast on Saturday, May 9th. (Details to come ladies.)

You can keep up to date with these dates through the HBBC app or through the events page on our website – hbbc.com.au/events.

So, men, we encourage you to come and be inspired, to learn about God's heart for manhood and who He created us to be. And bring your sons!

See you Saturday, 11th April - 8:00am!

In the week leading up to the cross, Matthew and Luke both record this moment where Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. He weeps because He sees something no one else sees. He mentions the words "abandoned" and "desolate". This is strange for Jesus to say, especially at Passover, where the city would be bustling and overflowing with people.

As we continue to read, we realise Jesus is talking about the destruction of the temple and the sacking of Jerusalem that happened in AD70, only 40 years after Jesus' death. He saw it and wept. But I suspect that His weeping was not just for the suffering of the city, but also for their rejection of Him. Jesus came to save His people, yet His people did not receive Him. They were consistent with their own history. They killed the prophets and messengers of God. Now they were about to kill the Messiah. This is why Jesus wept.

The fact that Jesus died for the world, yet there are people in the world who reject Him is the saddest thing. There are a lot of bad things that happen in the world. We see greed, and suffering, and poverty, and war. Yet, nothing is as sad as a soul for whom Jesus came to die and refuses to believe.

Pray this Easter that the message of the gospel will cut through all the noise in the world, and will draw the hearts of people back to God.

Brett

As the Lord’s Prayer draws to a close, we ask for God’s protection in our daily lives and reaffirm our confidence in His everlasting kingdom.
 
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
A prayer for protection and strength. We ask the Lord to guard our hearts and minds, to strengthen us against temptation, and to protect our congregation from the schemes of the enemy.

“For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”
A declaration of confidence and hope. We end where we began — with God. All authority, power, and glory belong to Him. Our trust is in His unshakable rule, today and always.

This week’s portion of The Lord’s Prayer reminds us of our daily reliance on God and the significance of humility, grace, and unity. As we pursue God's continual provision, we also open our hearts to His cleansing power and the call to extend forgiveness.

Prayer for Daily Provision and Forgiveness

“Give us today our daily bread.”

A humble reliance on God as our provider. We present our daily needs — physical, emotional, and spiritual — trusting Him to supply what is necessary each day.

“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”

A call to repentance and grace. We ask God to search our hearts, cleanse us, and help us extend forgiveness to others, guarding unity and love within our church family.
 

By Julie Booth

The Host Team has been experiencing a busy time over the past year or so with the influx of many new people to the church during that period.

Given there doesn’t appear to be a slowing down of the number of new people to the church we are regularly looking to review the way we do things to ensure all new people and visitors to the church feel welcome, both initially, and ongoing to settle in.

The Host Team met last Sunday and discussed a number of topics including:

• Our processes, covering from when new people arrive at church for the first time, followed by contact to check in on them, answer questions and inviting them to meet the church leadership over the coming months to see how they’re settling in,

• identifying what’s working well for each section of the host team and where we might be able to improve, with members of the team being able to present several suggestions,

• streamlining some of our Newcomers morning tea processes, and

• discussing initial proposed changes to the Ushers role.

We could not do what we currently do in Host Ministry unless we had a team of committed and gifted volunteers which we are blessed to have in our church. They are a passionate and friendly group, who we greatly appreciate.

Currently, we have 40 team members across the four teams:
Door Greeters; Newcomers Team; Connection Desk; and Ushers.

We would welcome more volunteers as Ushers or in the Newcomer’s Team, so if you happen to be interested in one of these teams or want to know more about these roles, please let me know.

If you get the chance of a Sunday morning, please let the various Host Team volunteers know how much you appreciate what they do to make our church the welcoming and friendly church that we are and that we hear from regular feedback from newcomers.

We also greatly appreciate what you as the wider church congregation do to make new people and visitors feel so welcome and at ease when they come along of a Sunday.

As we prepare for the Easter celebration we are reminded of what enabled our salvation.

The sin that separates us from God was paid for on the cross. Jesus uses analogies like a shepherd laying down his life, his life as a ransom. He is the lamb of God, the sacrifice of atonement. He has redeemed us. We are justified by His death. None of this comes as a result of our morality or hard work.  It is entirely by the grace of God. God has shown His love and favour toward us. None of us can boast that we earned our salvation. Unlike all the other religions, the Christian does not find themselves in good standing with God because they obeyed a set of laws and rituals, but by believing the truth about what God has already done.

People look at Christians and see goodness but they sometimes confuse the reason. We are not morally good because we have superior willpower or some higher virtue. It is because the Holy Spirit comes in and the fruit of the Spirit flows out. Just as salvation is by grace, becoming holy is also an act of grace. From beginning to end, God’s grace is what defines us.

Since Jesus laid down His life for us, we are called to offer our lives to Him.

Brett

Throughout March, we continue our focus on the Lord's Prayer, allowing this prayer that Jesus taught, to shape our hearts, our church, and our shared petitions before God.

“Your kingdom come.”

A longing for God’s rule and reign to be evident among us. We pray that His kingdom would grow in our community — that lives would be transformed, hearts softened, and many would come to know Christ.
 
“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

A surrender of our own plans and preferences. We ask that our church leaders, ministries, and families align with His purposes and walk in joyful obedience to His Word.
 

In keeping with the Shepherd theme of Psalm 23, Jesus refers to Himself as the good shepherd.
 
The good shepherd goes ahead of his sheep and they hear his voice. But Jesus adds another quality to this good shepherd. He risks his life for the sheep. In the process of protecting sheep from predators, shepherds would be in danger themselves, especially if the predator was a powerful animal like a lion. A hired hand would run away in the face of danger. A good shepherd stays and protects.

For Jesus, death was the ultimate act of love and grace. Jesus did not just leave the comforts of heaven and live with the frustrations of this fallen world but He was also tried, tortured, and executed by evil people. He was innocent yet put on trial by the guilty. And He did this for us. He who is holy and perfect died for us who were sinners. This is what He means when He says He lays down His life for the sheep.

Since Jesus laid down His life for us, we are called to offer our lives to Him.

Brett

By Andrew Painter

This year has seen several changes – Joshua Faint has moved on after doing a fabulous job over the past few years as Youth Director. Pastor Brett has stepped in to help guide and mentor the leadership team during Term 1. Andrew Painter is now heading up the leadership team.

We started the year with some of the largest attendances we’ve seen in years. Over 50 kids on the first night of term and large turnouts for the following weeks. More than 50% increase over last year’s average attendance.
 
Our format has changed slightly – we’re now combining our small group time with supper (previously supper tended to be quite rushed at the end of the night). This makes for a more relaxed discussion time after our devotional talk and does better justice to the fantastic suppers prepared by a team of amazing volunteers.

It’s great to see how many of the kids are inviting friends from school. Consequently, we’ve seen many new faces this term enjoying lots of different games, thought provoking and challenging devotional talks and small group discussion.
 
We are super thankful for our team of parents and other volunteers who help run the sign-in desk and provide delicious suppers every week.

Sunday Youth has also seen a significant increase in attendance this year and we have continued our journey through the gospel of Mark. 
 
Please pray that God will continue to build and develop our leadership team so we can continue to provide a safe, positive and spiritually encouraging experience to an ever-increasing number of kids this year.

God is good!

In this section, during March, we will pray together through the Lord’s Prayer.

The disciples come to Jesus and say to him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” As Jesus begins to teach the disciples the prayer, we see that it’s not just the prayer of one person, but the prayer of many — the prayer of a community.

"Our Father, give us each day our daily bread, forgive us as we forgive…" This isn’t a prayer just about me or I; it’s the shared prayer of us, a heartfelt conversation with our God. And it’s more than just a prayer for our church; it’s a prayer that echoes across the wider community of the church worldwide, uniting believers everywhere.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

An invitation to come confidently before God as our loving and perfect Father. We begin by lifting our eyes from ourselves to His holiness, honouring His name in our hearts, our homes, and our church family.

On the first Sunday night of the month we have a night church service.

The vision for this came out of the need to give another option for worship to those who miss morning church because of work or because of ministry commitments. It also provides a slightly different style and vibe of church for those who like the small intimate setting. In addition to this, it is a good opportunity to train up younger musicians, singers, and preachers who might otherwise be overwhelmed by the larger congregation.

These services are simple, with a short worship set and a Bible based message. But the smaller number, the nighttime setting, and the air conditioning, gives a special ambience to the experience which many love.

On average 30-50 people attend and are of mixed ages. Many of these are regular to the Sunday Night church. Some will come in the morning as well as the evening. Occasionally, we have visitors as well. Some of our young adults even go off to have dinner afterward.

Josh Painter heads up the worship team, and Jai Lambden is welcomer and MC for the services. Pastor Brett oversees the spiritual input. We usually remind people through Refresh and announcements when Night Church is on, but it is usually the first Sunday of the month at 6:30pm in Conference Room 1.

The ‘Shepherd’ is one of the more intimate images of devotion and discipleship in the Bible.

From the well known Psalm 23, to Jesus’ instruction to Peter to take care of His sheep, the idea of spiritual leadership being like a shepherd is common and very rich in its meaning.

The image draws from the old way of sheep herding. In those days, sheep were not driven with dogs like they are today but were smaller flocks that would follow the voice of the shepherd. Sheep do not have the ability to forage for food or find suitable water. They are totally dependent on the shepherd.

It is that dependance that the Bible uses to describe our relationship with God. Jesus speaks of Himself as a Shepherd. This means that He not only saves us, but also leads us along in life’s journey. The realisation that Jesus is with us, leading us in our life, effects so many things. It brings peace, calm, confidence, and assurance.  

The life of discipleship is one of learning to hear the voice of the Shepherd and to trust Him as He guides. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will always be with us no matter what.

Brett