Supporting Churches to Engage in Local Communities

Geoff and Sherry Maddocks have recently joined our BUV team with responsibility for helping churches find the best ways to engage with their local communities. They are also responsible for overseeing Community Development grants. They come to the BUV after 18 years of community development experience in the United States specialising in refugee resettlement, urban farming initiatives, and neighbourhood engagement through public/private/church partnerships. They have completed Masters degrees in Intercultural Studies and Missiology at Asbury Theological Seminary and are keen students of emerging food security issues for urban contexts. They have a teenage son and live and work in Melbourne’s CBD with Urban Seed.

Meet Geoff and Sherry

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwJe_CdY6vs]

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoff.maddock@buv.com.au
Sherry can be contacted by email at sherry.maddock@buv.com.au

Source: BUV News

Ordination of our first Persian Pastor

I am Sam Farbod and I am currently the Persian Pastor at NewHope Baptist Church in Blackburn North, where I have been pastoring the Iranian community for the past 4 years. I am married to Nicky and we have one daughter, Negin.

Most members of the Persian congregation at NewHope are refugees and asylum seekers, and it is a great privilege for me to serve them by taking care of their pastoral needs, teaching and helping them to grow as disciples of the Christ. Despite the challenging and demanding nature of my ministry role in this community, I am really blessed by witnessing the Lord’s amazing work among the people whom I serve. There have always been dramatic changes and transformations in the lives of people. Seeing the fruits of the Spirit in people is the most enjoyable and refreshing experience in my ministry.

When I look back over my life, I realise how our gracious God has always been present and worked patiently in each step of my life to shape it and to direct it according to His plan. He directed me to come to Australia and appointed me to share His blessings, grace and love with other Iranians – a plan, I could never have imagined in the past. According to His gracious plan, He also directed me to be a part of the Baptist family and nourished me alongside my sisters and brothers in this wonderful family.

He also directed me into the Ordination pathway to transform, shape and affirm my calling through my sisters and brothers at NewHope, Whitley College and the BUV. In fact, ordination presents a significant stage of my journey as I seek to follow Jesus, share the Good News and make disciples for Him.

The BUV ordained Sam on Sunday 30^th April at NewHope Baptist Church. 

Source: BUV News