As I reflect on the week at Sole Parent Camp, I am reminded that God is at work every day if I just open my eyes to see. And it’s in the ordinary things that I see God’s grace.

On one day everyone is outside on some activity, and I am about to join them, but I see a mum sitting alone, and I take my cuppa and sit with her, we talk about the weather and her children, ordinary small talk.

Then she sighs, and I ask how the year has been. She looks at me, weighing up what to say next and I wait. Then she says “can I ask you about something?” I nod and listen. She pours out her heart with the struggles and pressures of her life that she has held in for so long with no one to share her story with. She tells me the story of someone about to lose control, and I see a woman who is holding it all together. She feels weak, and I see strength. She feels selfish talking about herself, and I see someone who has sacrificed a lot for her family, and I tell her as much. We continue to talk for a while, and I pray for her. What’s important for her at that moment is less about what I do or say but about being there with her to hear her story and to see her as someone loved by God.

Every day we come across people in need. We just need to have eyes to see them. See them as people created and loved by God. We don’t have to do anything complicated; we just have to be there. Everyone deserves to have their story told, their voice heard. I see God revealed in ordinary ways in the people that I meet at camp and I thank God for the opportunity to journey alongside them.

Robyn Rainford
Baptist Camping Chaplain

Every year since 2002, Karen Baptists from around Australia have gathered after Christmas for an annual camp. Each year a campsite has been rented and Karen have flown – or made a long drive – from all over the continent to get there. But as the community has grown larger finding campsites large enough has become increasingly difficult – and expensive.

This year more than 800 Karen gathered in Werribee for the annual gathering. Worship, bible studies and workshops were held at Werribee Baptist Church. Several thousand Karen live in Werribee, and visitors from outside Melbourne were billeted with local Karen families.

Holding the gathering at Werribee Baptist Church and placing visitors with local families dramatically reduced the cost and removed the now almost impossible challenge of finding a campsite.

The gathering started on Boxing Day with music and performances by congregations in Melbourne, and a video presentation by Werribee Karen Baptist Church pastor Rev Gail Moe. The theme of the gathering was ‘fight the good fight’. (1 Timothy 6:12).

It was a wonderful time of daily worship, bible studies and hearing from keynote speakers.

We would like to thank the BUV for their kind support of our annual Christmas Carols event. The carols in Yarra Glen are a much anticipated whole community event, we are excited to find in the crowd, along with the locals, people who have travelled for an hour to be there and have our carols in their calendar as a part of their regular Christmas traditions. It is such an honour and a huge opportunity to share about God’s love for mankind in an open space.

The 2018 Carols was an interesting event, with rain pouring down for the week prior and the morning before, it looked like the whole thing would need to be cancelled. But with determination, many churches praying and the willingness of the sound and lighting team to set up in wet weather we were able to go ahead. Surprisingly even with the forecast report looming the crowd continued to grow to our regular approximate of 1,500!

We are very blessed to have Life Ministry Church from Chirnside Park play as our main carols band. They have a beautiful modern sound, a wide range of instruments and are a truly talented bunch of people! Other entertainment singers bring high quality performances of a Christmas song of their choice, many of these singers have volunteered their time to sing in Yarra Glen for many years, these songs are spread throughout the night along with the traditional carols. We also have performances from the local primary school, kindergarten and a dance performance by our local ballet school. The CFA brings the fire truck and Santa, who gives each child a bag of chocolate from the local Chocolatrie. This event also takes the whole community to run!!

This year we intended to share a Christmas Story of Love through a narrated sand animation, but the weather turned just after half way through the night and we had to finish for the safety of the performers and because the crowd had partially dispersed.  Disappointing as it was to not share the Christmas message as we had planned, we had for the first time written a Christmas message in the program for the night, which had been handed out to each family that came, so we pray that people will read that message of God’s love coming for them and hope that their hearts will turn to Him.

2019, will be a special event, Chapliancy Australia and our MC have volunteered their time at our Christmas Carols for 10 years this year and they would like to be involved in the planning of a pre- carols event, exciting times! Christmas Carols events are a wonderful way to bring a community together, from local businesses donating financially or by volunteering, local community groups running sausage sizzles all the way to the families that gather together on the lawn, friendships are built and the message of God’s love is shared.

The Baptist Union of Victoria has a vision to establish 100 new Communities of Faith within the next 5 years. We understand that this is an impossible task only achieved through the partnership of the Holy Spirit and our existing churches.

We greatly value the Kingdom aspirations of our local churches and where God has placed them in their neighbourhood. Equally, at our BUV Office, we are passionate to encourage, support and cultivate a missional posture within our churches. Our Mission Catalyst Team comprises pastors, church planters and entrepreneurs who are available to preach on mission and to share some of their experiences. We also have consultants and resources to assist you, either to establish a culture of mission within your church, engage your community or indeed establish new Communities of Faith.

If you would like someone from our team to preach at your church in order to encourage mission amongst your congregation or to consult with you regarding community engagement, please contact Lisa Isaacs, Mission Catalyst Team Administrator (lisa.isaacs@buv.com.au).