Monthly Archives: September 2016

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

FROM ‘DE FACTO’ TO ‘DE JURE:’ Part 02

Finding Legitimacy in an Immoral World
‘Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.’ –Hebrews 13:4
DE FACTO: Existence without legal or ecclesiastical recognition or sanction.
DE JURE: Existence by right according to law.
Last month we looked at the ever-rising phenomena of de facto relationships, also known as cohabitation. We will explore this topic some more.
Are There Any Benefits to Cohabitation?[i]
Just because something is commonplace and permitted by society does not make it healthy and right. After all, cigarette smoking is legal but it can cost your thousands of dollars a year and have a detrimental effect on your health. Gambling also is legal and look at the trail of trouble and sorrow it leaves.
           
Some claim that a de facto relationship helps prepare a couple for marriage and prevents divorce. Does it? Research suggests otherwise: couples that live in a de facto relationship before marriage are more likely to divorce than couples that wait until marriage. One statistic said that of couples who were married twenty years or more, 56% of those who lived as a de facto couple before marriage ended up in divorce, while 29% of those who never cohabited before marriage ended up in divorce. According to the Jubilee Report on cohabitation: ‘The idea that first cohabitations that lead to marriage do not result in an increased rate of divorce is not reflected by this data set: prior cohabitation with a spouse is associated with 60 per cent higher risk of divorce (emphasis mine).
Another study concluded that 75% of married couples were still together when their child turned 16; only 7% of de facto couples can make the same claim. That’s a ten-fold increased for the married couples. In Britain, the direct annual cost of family breakdown is GBP 41.7 billion. The Daily Mail Online, ‘Married Parents Ten Times More Likely to Stay Together,’ Sarah Harris (February 2010).[ii]
Why Are Those Who Live Together
Before Marriage More Likely to Divorce?
Why is this the case? Why do couples who live in a de facto relationship have a greater chance of divorce? It is like the analogy of a building during an earthquake. If the building has deep, strong foundations, then it will withstand the tremors. However, if the building has weak foundations, the first shake will bring it down. Life-long relationships have good foundations: Godly commitment, mutual love and respect, morality and strength. These things will help the relationship weather any storm. Unfortunately, the de facto relationship does not have these things and so even when one eventually marries, due to the poor moral and commitment foundations, it will be vulnerable to collapse, even with the slightest of shaking.
Others say that single parents enter into a de facto partnership so that the children can have a father figure in the home. While it is indeed possible for non-biological fathers to show love and kindness to (step) children, there is an alarming trend of the adverse effects de facto relationships have on youngsters.
In his article, “De Facto Danger” (Melbourne Herald Sun, April 6, 1998, page 19), Paul Gray says “Our ongoing willingness to pretend that de facto fathering is just as good as traditional fathering (the biological father living in a stable relationship with the mother) is having horrific consequences.”  Gray quotes former human rights commissioner Brian Burdekin as saying de facto living arrangements have increased the child sex abuse rate by 600 per cent. A NSW Child Protection Council reports says suspected killers in de facto relationships was 6 1/2 times higher than in the population at large. The sad and sensational cases of Jesse Winning (14 months) and Daniel Valerio (age 2), who were murdered by their mother’s de facto partners, only highlights this alarming trend. ‘Traditional fathering, within the stable, two-parent family, is clearly the best way to protect and raise children. For that, the evidence is overwhelming,’ remarks Gray.
If the person is uncommitted to their de facto partner, why would they be caring and committed to the children of that partner?
           
Above all, there is a far more serious implication about de facto relationships that have a long-term effect. Any sexual activity within these relationships clearly falls into the category of fornication and/or adultery. Apart from the temporal disadvantages of these acts, like venereal disease and unwanted pregnancies, are the eternal consequences. On this matter, God’s Word is very clear. Hebrews 13:4 affirms this. Read also Ephesians 5:3-5; I Timothy 1:9-10; Revelation 21:8; 22:15. The implications couldn’t be plainer
Study after study confirms the following conclusions:
1.   De facto or cohabitation relations lead to a markedly increased risk of divorce compared to those who have never married.
2.   De facto increases the risk of domestic violence against women and men, and also violence against children;
3.   Lower levels of happiness and satisfaction;
4.   De facto relations have serious spiritual consequences.
Having observed the world for all these years, it is impossible to ascribe any benefits whatsoever to cohabitation. Consider the bedrock motivation behind many de facto relationships: a lack of making a genuine, long-term commitment; fear of failure; wanting to reap the benefits and pleasures without taking the responsibilities and commitment those benefits require; exhibiting and enhancing weak character. Of course, these attitudes of de facto-ism are not just in relationships; they can also occur in business, politics, the church, and more.
To be continued


 FACTS ABOUT COHABITATION[i]

•       Over half of all first marriages are proceeded by cohabitation (University of Wisconsin document)
•       Cohabitation doesn’t reduce the likelihood of divorce–in fact it leads to a higher divorce risk. One study showed 46% higher risk (1992 Journal of Marriage and Family).
•       No positive contribution of cohabitation to marriage has ever been found, not even sexual compatibility, as usually suggest (1993 Journal of Marriage and Family)
•       Cohabitants tend not be as committed as married couples, or prepared to work on their differences (1995 Journal of Family issues)
•       Particularly problematic is the area of serial cohabitation. It generates a greater willingness to dissolve later relationships. (1993 Journal of Family Issues)
•       About 60% of cohabitation ends in marriage (1989 National Study of Cohabitation
•       In general, cohabiting relationships tend to be less satisfactory than marriage relationship-s, with cohabiting couples reporting lower levels of happiness, sexual exclusivity and sexual satisfaction, as well as poorer relationships with parents (Bumpass, Sweet & Cherlin’s 1991 study)
•       After five years, only 10% of cohabiting couples are together. They do not tend to permanency (Bumpass & Sweet’s 1989 study)
•       Married couples have substantial benefits over the unmarried in terms of labour force productivity, physical and mental health, general happiness and longevity (1994 American Journal of Sociology)
•       Annual rates of depression among cohabiting couples is more than three times the married rate. (1990 Psychiatric Disorders in America)
•       Physical and sexual abuse of a spouse is much higher. One study showed evidence of being twice as high (1991 Journal of marriage and family)
•       Abuse is 20 times higher for children with cohabiting, but biological parents, but 33 times greater if the parent was cohabiting with a non-parenting male partner (1993 Family Education trust: London).
•       The 1996 poverty rate was 6% with married parents, but 31 % with cohabiting parents (1996 Journal of Marriage and the Family).
–taken from Leadership NOW! January 2000, page 12.
Apologetics, Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

FROM DEFEAT TO VICTORY: A Lesson from Joshua Part 01

Life has a nasty habit of not going according to the script. The journey is often longer, harder, and more unpredictable than expected. Victory and defeat, success and failure, joy and tears, are often next door neighbours, happening in quick succession. However, when you follow Biblical principles, ultimate blessing, success, and victory will be yours.
Let’s take the example from the life of Joshua. As appointed, anointed and directed by God, he led the children of Israel into the promised land – the inheritance promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, the journey from promise to fulfilment went in directions hard to imagine.
1.     Left turn: Jacob/Israel, due to the famine in Joseph’s day, ended up leaving the promised land altogether;
2.     Sojourn: Israel ends up living in Egypt.
3.     Length: The Egyptian sojourn lasted 400 years.
4.     Return: The journey back to the promised land was long and indirect, with twists and turns throughout the wilderness. Due to five sins, the journey took Israel 40 years (I Corinthians 10:5-13).
5.     Fulfilment: Now that Israel left Egypt, made it through the wilderness, and stood at the gate of the promised land, their inheritance would not be handed on a silver platter. They would have to fight for it. There are numerous promises in Scripture and all of them are ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ in Christ (II Corinthians 1:20). Yet, we too, will have to ‘fight the good fight of faith’ in order to lay hold of them (I Timothy 6:12).
Victory and Defeat
The first fight was the conquest of Jericho (Joshua 6). Though an impregnable fortress, Jericho’s wall crumbled with ease before the victorious Israelites. Flush with victory, Joshua found out that their next destination, Ai, would be a ‘cake walk.’ No need to send the entire army – just 3,000 men.
This ‘piece of cake’ turned out to be a death trap. The people of Ai came out of their town as tigers and 36 Israelites were smitten.
What went wrong? Why was there this ‘speed bump’ that knocked the entire enterprise off-track? After rising up early in the morning and seeking God, Joshua got a very direct answer from God to explain their defeat. It was not because of the strength of their enemies. The cause came from within: Israel sinned.
The sin was the in several parts (Joshua 7:11):
1.     They transgressed God’s covenant – the binding agreement that attracts great blessing when obeyed and terrible curses when broken;
2.     They took the accursed thing;
3.     They stole it;
4.     Dissembled it;
5.     They put it among their own stuff.
This was no misdemeanour. Failure to obey meant that Israel was rendered powerless before a minor enemy. Furthermore, God said He would no longer be with them until they rooted out the accursed thing.
As is often the case, our greatest challenges come from the enemy within, including our own evil hearts, more than from external foes. One’s ability to be cleansed from the evil attracts God’s presence, which virtually assures victory.
In short, defeat came to Israel because it touched the accursed thing. Only by remedying the situation could victory come.
Next month, we will learn the nature of the accursed thing and have to pass from curse to blessing.

TO BE CONTINUED:
Articles, Culture, Education, News

News Update – 15 Sept – Marriage Week, Adoption, Plebiscite, Pauline Hanson, Gambling

News Update – 15 Sept – Marriage Week, Adoption, Plebiscite, Pauline Hanson, Gambling

News ball Fotolia 31010118 320x200It’s always amazing how much happens in ONE week!

Happy reading 🙂

Jenny

_______________________________

News Update – 16 September 2016

Australian News
1. Marriage Week – 11-17 September – Celebrate marriage!
2. Victoria – REVIEW of Adoption Act by Law Reform Commission
3. Homosexual ‘marriage’ – Plebiscite legislation, Q&A, Melbourne FORUM
3.1 Malcolm Turnbull introduces ‘plebiscite enabling legislation’
3.2 Bill Shorten strengthens his opposition to plebiscite
3.3 Homosexual groups unite in condemning plebiscite question
3.4 Q&A – Nationals Senator questioned on Q&A – by homosexual brother
3.5 Melbourne FORUM: ‘Why is it Important to Preserve the Marriage Act?’
4. Pauline Hanson – Maiden speech, Islam, Muslim immigration … and criticism
5. Victoria: Tribunal rules that two women can’t BOTH be listed as ‘Mother’ on birth certificate
6. Australian losses on gambling – $23 BILLION – HALF on pokies!
7. Victoria: Government plans to ban fracking and coal seam gas
8. NSW: LGBTIQ ‘teaching resource’ taken out of classrooms
9. NSW: Man carries out ‘Islamic State’ edict and stabs man

Overseas News
1. Mexico – A million march for marriage

________________________________________________

News Update – 16 September 2016

Australian News

1. Marriage Week – 11-17 September – Celebrate marriage!
Let’s start with something ‘positive’!
This week is ‘Marriage Week’ in Australia. “Marriage Week is a coalition of the Christian church, media, ministries, and other organisations across Australia who have the same vision of marriage being upheld and strengthened…..”

It shouldn’t need to be stated that this means ‘marriage between a man and a woman, voluntarily entered into for life’!

Celebrate marriage – check out the resources and links… Join in by celebrating your marriage with the ‘Great Aussie Date Night’ on Saturday 17 September!

Website: Marriage Week

2. Victoria – REVIEW of Adoption Act by Law Reform Commission
In December 2015, the Andrews Labor government asked the Victorian Law Reform Commission to review the Adoption Act. The review is already underway, with Consultations held during August. Submissions close tomorrow, 16 September.

We’ve already had some changes to Victoria’s Adoption Act. . .
In December 2015, the Adoption Act was changed to allow same-sex couples to ADOPT children. That came into force on 1st September, 2016.

This review looks at other possible changes – relating to adoption by single people, by relatives, by step parents. Apparently the theme is “whether the legislation works in the best interest of the child, and how exactly is “best interest” defined.”

The review will not cover same-sex adoption (already legal) or inter-country adoptions (a federal issue).

See the Law Reform Commission webpage: Adoption Act
It includes Background, details on what the Review covers, and a Consultation Paper.

Submissions are due by 16 September 2016. 
Click this link to make a submission: Make a submission to the review of the Adoption Act.

Article: State government begins righting a ridiculous wrong, The Age, 27/8/2016.

3. Homosexual ‘marriage’ – Plebiscite legislation, Q&A, Melbourne FORUM

3.1 Malcolm Turnbull introduces ‘plebiscite enabling legislation’
PM Malcolm Turnbull has introduced the Bill to parliament that would enable a plebiscite to be held on the issue of homosexual ‘marriage’. It is called the Plebiscite (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill.

During his speech he defended holding the plebiscite. He reiterated his support for same-sex ‘marriage’ and said, “The time has come. From the bottom of my heart – our society would be stronger if more people were married and there were fewer divorces.”

Article: Malcolm Turnbull introduces same-sex marriage plebiscite legislation to Parliament, SMH, 14/9/2016.

3.2 Bill Shorten strengthens his opposition to plebiscite
Labor leader Bill Shorten is increasing his opposition to the plebiscite and is continuing to label ANY opposition to homosexual ‘marriage as “bigotry”. He said, “The fact the Liberals announced public funding to give a platform to bigotry shows no interest from the government to work with Labor on this.”

3.3 Homosexual groups unite in condemning plebiscite question
“LGBTI organisations also released a joint statement slamming the provision of public funding for both sides and calling the proposed question “unnecessarily complex” and not inclusive of all gender-diverse relationships.” (Source)

Star Observer wrote, “SIXTY of Australia’s major LGBTI organisations have released a joint statement today condemning the Plebiscite (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill.”

The homosexual newspaper published a list of organisations PLUS their four page statement.
Article: 60 LGBTI groups come together to condemn plebiscite, Star Observer, 15/9/2016.

3.4 Q&A – Nationals Senator questioned on Q&A – by homosexual brother
Victorian Nationals Senator, Bridget McKenzie, who is married, publicly opposes the legalisation of homosexual ‘marriage’. She has previously stated that she would not vote for it, even if a plebiscite voted in favour.

Last Monday night, Senator McKenzie was a panelist on Q&A. The show played a video question from her BROTHER, Alastair McKenzie, who is homosexual, which asked about the ‘emotional toll’ a plebiscite would have on same-sex attracted people.

Thankfully, Senator McKenzie stuck to her principles. Sky News reported, “Senator McKenzie said she thought the debate would only be damaging if people chose not to respect each other’s views. ‘I have obviously a conscience view on this issue, I believe it is a conscience issue, and it is that the definition of marriage is between a man and a woman,’ Senator McKenzie told the program.”

She then proposed a way of removing the ‘tension’ relating to MPs who do not support homosexual ‘marriage’ on conscience grounds… “Make the plebiscite binding!”

Article: Senator’s gay brother questions plebiscite, Sky News, 13/9/2016.

3.5 Melbourne FORUM: ‘Why is it Important to Preserve the Marriage Act?’
Three speakers: Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Mrs Vickie Janson, Father Tony Kerin.
“Following presentations tackling the consequence of a change in legislation & the importance of preserving natural marriage, the panel will take your questions.”
I’ll be the MC for the evening!

DAY & TIME: Tuesday 20th September, 2016 at 7.30 pm.
VENUE: Maureen Clifton Centre, St Clement of Rome, Egan Drive, BULLEEN

4. Pauline Hanson – Maiden speech, Islam, Muslim immigration … and criticism
Pauline Hanson gave her ‘maiden speech’ in the Senate yesterday. It referenced her previous ‘maiden speech’ in the House of Representatives 20 years ago, which talked of Australia being “swamped by Asians”. This time she said Australia was at risk of being “swamped by Muslims” and she called on a halt to Muslim immigration.

If you ONLY saw the headlines and a few seconds of her speech on the news, then please READ ALL the speech (SMH link below).

With reference to the ‘swamped’ comment, she said, “In my first speech in 1996 I said we were in danger of being swamped by Asians. This was not said out of disrespect for Asians but was meant as a slap in the face to both the Liberal and Labor governments who opened the floodgates to immigration, targeting cultures purely for the vote, as expressed by former Labor minister Barry Jones – to such an extent that society changed too rapidly due to migrants coming in the front door but also the back door, via New Zealand. Now we are in danger of being swamped by Muslims, who bear a culture and ideology that is incompatible with our own.”

Shen then spoke about culture, beliefs and identity, and the beliefs of Islam: “Why then has Islam and its teachings had such an impact on Australia like no other religion? Islam sees itself as a theocracy. Islam does not believe in democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, or freedom of assembly. It does not separate religion and politics. It is partly a religion, but it is much more than that. It has a political agenda that goes far outside the realm of religion. It regulates Muslims’ social and domestic life, their legal system and politics – their total life.”

The Greens walked out, she was criticised by Malcolm Turnbull, Nick Xenophon said he was ‘heartbroken’ – but she was congratulated by Derryn Hinch!

Former Prime Minister John Howard warned against making the same mistake that was made 20 years ago, by marginalising her, and ‘demonising’ her and her supporters!

Article and Transcript: Pauline Hanson’s 2016 maiden speech to the senate: Full transcript, SMH, 15/9/2016.

Article: Pauline Hanson calls for Muslim immigration ban in maiden speech to Senate, ABC, 14/9/2016.

Article: Don’t marginalise Pauline Hanson again, John Howard warns, MSN, 14/9/2016.

5. Victoria: Tribunal rules that two women can’t BOTH be listed as ‘Mother’ on birth certificate
Two lesbian women, Tamara and Linda Arc-­Dekker, have taken the Victorian Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, because the Registrar refused to change a birth certificate of a child to record ‘two mothers’. The child, now four, has Tamara as the ‘birth mother’. When the child was born, Tamara was named on the birth certificate as the ‘Mother’ and Linda was named ‘Parent’. They asked that they be both labelled as ‘Mother’ or, failing that, that they both be allowed to be labelled ‘Parent’. The court refused their request to both be labelled ‘Mother’ – but didn’t rule out them both being labelled as ‘parent. The Registrar now has to consider that second request.

Article: Lesbian couple told they ‘can’t both be mother’, The Australian, 15/9/2016.

6. Australian losses on gambling – $23 BILLION – HALF on pokies!
The Age reported recently, “Australian punters lost nearly $23 billion last year, with a 30 per cent growth in sports betting helping to drive a continued rise in annual gambling losses.

“New Australian Gambling Statistics figures show Australians lost $1241 per head in 2014-15, with poker machines still the biggest cause of punter losses with $11.6 billion lost, an increase of 4.9 per cent.”

So pokies are still the biggest reason for LOSSES – at a staggering $1.6 billion LOST.

Although the rate of growth is high for sports betting, it still only has losses of $864 million. Even so, that’s a huge amount!

In other areas, losses in racing were $2.8 billion, and on Lotto losses were $1.7 billion.

Article: Australian punters lose $23 billion, half on the pokies, The Age, 22/8/2016.

7. Victoria: Government plans to ban fracking and coal seam gas
In response to concerns expressed by local farmers and others, the Victorian government has announced that they plan to ban ‘fracking’ and exploration for underground gas.

Reports from the USA reveal that the fracking process can release harmful gases into the water supply.

Article: Victorian unconventional gas exploration ban to end fracking and CSG extraction, ABC, 30/8/2016.

8. NSW: LGBTIQ ‘teaching resource’ taken out of classrooms
Last week The Australian reported that an LGBTI ‘resource’ was posted on the NSW Education Department website. Huffington Post picked up the story. ‘The official 17-page document, which is said to be based on the Safe Schools program, is aimed at encouraging teachers to be more inclusive of LGBTI issues, such as incorporating same-sex families into classroom language.’

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli was unaware of the resource, despite the fact it was developed by his own Department and posted online. He ordered that it be removed from schools, and the Department’s website, and fully reviewed.

Article: LGBTI Teaching Resource Pulled From NSW Schools, Huffington Post, 8/9/2016.

9. NSW: Man carries out ‘Islamic State’ edict and stabs man
Following the edict from IS/Islamic State, an Islamic man has stabbed a neighbour whilst he was out walking. The man has since been charged with committing a terrorist act and with attempted murder.

Article: IS radical’s mission to ‘kill an Aussie’, Daily Telegraph, 12/9/2016.

Overseas News

1. Mexico – A million march for marriage
Mexico is currently considering the issue of homosexual ‘marriage’. The President, Enrique Peña Nieto, is planning to “enshrine same-sex “marriage” in the nation’s Constitution”.

The pro-family activist group Frente Nacional Por La Familia (“National Front for the Family”) organized the protests – it is estimated that more than 1 million Mexicans marched, across 122 cities.

Now they are planning a NATIONAL march – “On September 24, Frente Nacional Por La Familia will host a Grand National March in Mexico City.”

As Ros Phillips from FamilyVoice says, “Mexico City and several Mexican states have legalised same-sex “marriage” – but many Mexican people disagree.  Some media say the number who marched in support of natural marriage in cities throughout Mexico on Saturday was “tens of thousands” – but organisers show there were more than a million.”

Would we see more than a MILLION people out on the streets in Australia supporting marriage continuing to be between a man and a woman?

Ros said that the politicians introducing homosexual ‘marriage’ Bills this week, “do not understand the fundamental man-woman meaning marriage has always had throughout history”.

“Marriage is already ‘equal’,” Ros Phillips said.  “Every man has an equal right to marry a woman, as Federal Court Justice Jayne Jagot pointed out on 21 February 2013. The issue is not about ‘marriage equality’.  It is Marriage Reality!”

FamilyVoice Australia Media Release: A million march for marriage in Mexico, 13/9/2016.

Lifesite article: Over 1 million march in Mexico against same-sex ‘marriage’, 13/9/2016.

 

Baptist, News

Is Your Ministry Covered?

Apart from talking through associated risk areas and ensuring that adequate risk management measures are in place (visit our website www.baptistinsurance.com.au or refer to our Risk Management Guide for Churches for more information on risk), we will ask a few questions:

  • Is this ministry endorsed by the church leadership/council/board?
     
  • Is this ministry directly accountable to the church? The ministry may involve people from the community or other churches, but leaders must be attendees of the church and accountable to the church.
     
  • Does the leadership of this ministry/body/group constitute at least 51% from the church, ie the majority in terms of decision-making? Is it noted in the church’s constitution? This line of questioning will be applied to incorporated ministries.
     
  • If the ministry receives a fee for service, does the money go back into the church? If the ministry has its own bank account and does not give its profit to the church, then the ministry could be seen as a separate body and may require their own insurance cover.
     
  • Does the ministry involve qualified contractors/practitioners? If it does and they are paid direct for their services, eg counsellor or electrician, then they will need to operate under their own specific insurance covers. If money is donated back to the church, then cover can extend to them. We do ask that you contact your local BIS office for further clarification.
     

With regards to combined church events where a number of churches work together, cover will only extend to the church who is covered under our scheme. Other churches and third party organisations will be required to  have their own insurance.

If you are unsure about cover for an event or ministry, we encourage you to call us so that we can assist, not only around advice on risk management, but also advice on policy terms and conditions.

Baptist Insurance Services serves to protect the local Baptist church and its ministries. We do this by developing, educating and providing a comprehensive range of insurance and risk management programmes.

For further information on Baptist Insurance Services and what we provide, please visit our website www.baptistinsurance.com.au

By Baptist Insurance Services

Baptist

Is Your Ministry Covered?

Apart from talking through associated risk areas and ensuring that adequate risk management measures are in place (visit our website www.baptistinsurance.com.au or refer to our Risk Management Guide for Churches for more information on risk), we will ask a few questions:

  • Is this ministry endorsed by the church leadership/council/board?
     
  • Is this ministry directly accountable to the church? The ministry may involve people from the community or other churches, but leaders must be attendees of the church and accountable to the church.
     
  • Does the leadership of this ministry/body/group constitute at least 51% from the church, ie the majority in terms of decision-making? Is it noted in the church’s constitution? This line of questioning will be applied to incorporated ministries.
     
  • If the ministry receives a fee for service, does the money go back into the church? If the ministry has its own bank account and does not give its profit to the church, then the ministry could be seen as a separate body and may require their own insurance cover.
     
  • Does the ministry involve qualified contractors/practitioners? If it does and they are paid direct for their services, eg counsellor or electrician, then they will need to operate under their own specific insurance covers. If money is donated back to the church, then cover can extend to them. We do ask that you contact your local BIS office for further clarification.
     

With regards to combined church events where a number of churches work together, cover will only extend to the church who is covered under our scheme. Other churches and third party organisations will be required to  have their own insurance.

If you are unsure about cover for an event or ministry, we encourage you to call us so that we can assist, not only around advice on risk management, but also advice on policy terms and conditions.

Baptist Insurance Services serves to protect the local Baptist church and its ministries. We do this by developing, educating and providing a comprehensive range of insurance and risk management programmes.

For further information on Baptist Insurance Services and what we provide, please visit our website www.baptistinsurance.com.au

By Baptist Insurance Services

Source: BUV News

Baptist, News

Chin & Karen Children’s and Youth Ministry Training

An ongoing challenge for churches in Australia is how to engage and connect with today’s youth. This is an issue for Anglo churches and also churches from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds. 

Recently Darren Cronshaw and Beth Barnett led a training day for Karen children’s and youth ministry. It was hosted by Werribee Karen Baptist Church on 6th August. It is part of ongoing training to help Karen and Chin and other LOTE churches with their children’s and youth ministry. There are more training days coming up with one for the Karen at Croydon Hills Baptist Church, and for the Chin on September 17 at Sunshine and in February 2017 in the Eastern suburbs. 

On the day, there were 44 Karen teenagers and young adults, involved or open to being involved in Sunday school and youth ministry. The attendants were really engaged and interested to learning more about approaches to ministry. Darren Cronshaw noted, “I was really encouraged by the Karen young people’s eagerness to learn about their own faith and discipleship and how to encourage faith and discipleship in others. They are keen to adapt, to celebrate their own culture but to thrive in their adopted culture."

(Darren Cronshaw leading discussion)

The training is about meeting the needs of children and young people in the church. Darren and Beth taught leadership and modeling, as well as basic principles to help children learn and grow in faith. This included interactive teaching, classroom discipline and creative resources. Some of the youth leaders learnt about Sunday school and children’s ministry in refugee camps, which may not be completely applicable to the new socio-cultural context in Australia. The training helps them to transition their thinking and approach to children’s and youth ministry, in order to better engage with children growing up in an Australian setting.

(Discussion Groups)

The training series is part of a broader effort to engage with and learn from LOTE churches, including the Karen and Chin people groups. There is a lot that they can learn from us, but there is much that we from Anglo and other cultural groups can learn from them. As Darren noted, we need to engage with Christians of other cultural backgrounds "to learn lessons about community and communal living, and perseverance in faith, and how to relate to people of different religions, and how to learn new cultures.” The Karen and Chin people groups have come to Australia from Myanmar. Their experience before arriving in Australia is frequently one of hardship, facing conflict and persecution in their home country and facing difficulty coming to Australia. They can teach us a lot about standing true to faith and persevering in the midst of suffering, especially as the issues we face in Australia are generally less dire by comparison. 

As Chin Baptist Church Pastor Arohn Kung noted ”Unless we bring up our children well in faith, who will be the church of the future?” The Senior Pastor at Werribee Karen Baptist Church Rev. Gail Moe commented further that, “the future is all about the young people” and thus “when we’ve lost the children, we’ve lost everything.” 

This training aims to promote fruitful and positive children's and youth ministry. By doing so, it aims to help young people grow in their faith and mission and empower them to become the next generation leaders of the church. 

By Benjamin Cronshaw

 

 

Baptist

Chin & Karen Children’s and Youth Ministry Training

An ongoing challenge for churches in Australia is how to engage and connect with today’s youth. This is an issue for Anglo churches and also churches from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds. 

Recently Darren Cronshaw and Beth Barnett led a training day for Karen children’s and youth ministry. It was hosted by Werribee Karen Baptist Church on 6th August. It is part of ongoing training to help Karen and Chin and other LOTE churches with their children’s and youth ministry. There are more training days coming up with one for the Karen at Croydon Hills Baptist Church, and for the Chin on September 17 at Sunshine and in February 2017 in the Eastern suburbs. 

On the day, there were 44 Karen teenagers and young adults, involved or open to being involved in Sunday school and youth ministry. The attendants were really engaged and interested to learning more about approaches to ministry. Darren Cronshaw noted, “I was really encouraged by the Karen young people’s eagerness to learn about their own faith and discipleship and how to encourage faith and discipleship in others. They are keen to adapt, to celebrate their own culture but to thrive in their adopted culture."

(Darren Cronshaw leading discussion)

The training is about meeting the needs of children and young people in the church. Darren and Beth taught leadership and modeling, as well as basic principles to help children learn and grow in faith. This included interactive teaching, classroom discipline and creative resources. Some of the youth leaders learnt about Sunday school and children’s ministry in refugee camps, which may not be completely applicable to the new socio-cultural context in Australia. The training helps them to transition their thinking and approach to children’s and youth ministry, in order to better engage with children growing up in an Australian setting.

(Discussion Groups)

The training series is part of a broader effort to engage with and learn from LOTE churches, including the Karen and Chin people groups. There is a lot that they can learn from us, but there is much that we from Anglo and other cultural groups can learn from them. As Darren noted, we need to engage with Christians of other cultural backgrounds "to learn lessons about community and communal living, and perseverance in faith, and how to relate to people of different religions, and how to learn new cultures.” The Karen and Chin people groups have come to Australia from Myanmar. Their experience before arriving in Australia is frequently one of hardship, facing conflict and persecution in their home country and facing difficulty coming to Australia. They can teach us a lot about standing true to faith and persevering in the midst of suffering, especially as the issues we face in Australia are generally less dire by comparison. 

As Chin Baptist Church Pastor Arohn Kung noted ”Unless we bring up our children well in faith, who will be the church of the future?” The Senior Pastor at Werribee Karen Baptist Church Rev. Gail Moe commented further that, “the future is all about the young people” and thus “when we’ve lost the children, we’ve lost everything.” 

This training aims to promote fruitful and positive children's and youth ministry. By doing so, it aims to help young people grow in their faith and mission and empower them to become the next generation leaders of the church. 

By Benjamin Cronshaw

 

 

Source: BUV News

ACC, Education, News

Work smarter

The saying ‘ministry builds people but leadership builds the Church‘ is largely true. Dr. Ian Jagelman, in his book ‘the Empowered Church’ writes; ‘Ministry is any activity which serves the needs of people. It includes such things as preaching, teaching, counselling, praying, visiting, feeding and cleaning and, Leadership is any activity which directs, influences, or facilitates ministry by others. It includes such things as planning, decision making, personnel selection and vision setting.

The Church in which the pastors become the professional ministers will grow to a certain size but then invariably fall back. A small group can only keep a limited number of people engaged for a limited time. If the people are not being mobilised, equipped and resourced as Eph 4:11-14 requires, they will never find fulfilment now nor one day hear their own ‘well done’ from Jesus. In NCD surveys, the ACC rates lowest on ’empowering leadership’. The view by many pastors is that it’s easier to do it themselves than to train others or that there is no one who wants to do it. Both views will keep Churches small.

Ministers default to ministry. Their diary tells the story. The church calendar and the board agenda also illustrate it. There is little leadership development only ministry meetings. Lots of presence but little process. Limited discipleship happens because people have limited engagement in growth opportunities.

Leadership can be cultivated but it requires changing long held patterns, operating out of comfort zones, associating with effective leaders, and trial and error processes to find new ways. When long hours and hard work see little result perhaps it’s time to work smarter and not harder.

The post Work smarter appeared first on Australian Christian Churches.

ACC

Work smarter

The saying ‘ministry builds people but leadership builds the Church‘ is largely true. Dr. Ian Jagelman, in his book ‘the Empowered Church’ writes; ‘Ministry is any activity which serves the needs of people. It includes such things as preaching, teaching, counselling, praying, visiting, feeding and cleaning and, Leadership is any activity which directs, influences, or facilitates ministry by others. It includes such things as planning, decision making, personnel selection and vision setting.

The Church in which the pastors become the professional ministers will grow to a certain size but then invariably fall back. A small group can only keep a limited number of people engaged for a limited time. If the people are not being mobilised, equipped and resourced as Eph 4:11-14 requires, they will never find fulfilment now nor one day hear their own ‘well done’ from Jesus. In NCD surveys, the ACC rates lowest on ’empowering leadership’. The view by many pastors is that it’s easier to do it themselves than to train others or that there is no one who wants to do it. Both views will keep Churches small.

Ministers default to ministry. Their diary tells the story. The church calendar and the board agenda also illustrate it. There is little leadership development only ministry meetings. Lots of presence but little process. Limited discipleship happens because people have limited engagement in growth opportunities.

Leadership can be cultivated but it requires changing long held patterns, operating out of comfort zones, associating with effective leaders, and trial and error processes to find new ways. When long hours and hard work see little result perhaps it’s time to work smarter and not harder.

The post Work smarter appeared first on Australian Christian Churches.

Source: ACC News