In view of the surge in the number of confirmed Covid-19 (Coronavirus) cases around the world, experts say that the likelihood of it spreading to Australia and within our communities is inevitable.

While the World Health Organisation is yet to escalate the nature of Covid-19 to a pandemic level, the Australia Government is taking necessary steps to prepare and plan for such a pandemic and has activated the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for COVID-19.

So, what can we do as a union of churches to be prepared to respond and keep our church community safe?

Until further notice, churches and congregation members should continue to go about normal daily life and travel, church, work or study as normal.  Church and congregation members should already be following best-hygiene practices as detailed below. 

Personal Hygiene

• Wash hands often with soap and running water, for at least 20 seconds. Dry with paper towel or hand dryer
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow.
• Isolate yourself at home if you feel sick. If you take medication, ensure you have adequate supplies.
• Phone your GP first if you need medical attention. They will tell you what to do.
• Don't wear a face mask if you are well.
• Get the flu shot (available April).

Churches should be thinking about prevention and preparation strategies in case a Pandemic is announced. Check the BUV website or BUV Bulletin for further updates.

Prevention Ideas for Churches:

• Buy an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with over 60 per cent alcohol. Have hand-sanitisers available throughout the church.
• Encourage people to wash their hands and post reminder signs throughout the church. Resources available via The Department of Health and Human Services website in both English and Chinese.
• Shaking hands is optional! Give permission for fist bumps or a hand wave to replace hugs and hand shaking
• Place boxes of tissues in public access area eg church reception
• Wipe down everything touched by churchgoers, like door handles and railings after every service
• Limit potlucks and other nonessential large gatherings
• Host conference calls or video chats as alternatives for face-to-face meetings, as possible

Communion

• Take precautions to limit the spread of disease by not sharing common vessels for food and drink.
• Individual pre-filled communion cups (including wafers) are available as per pic below $59.99 per 100  – click this link to buy from Koorong

Preparation Ideas for Churches

• Review your church's emergency operations plans and communication plans in the context of a pandemic.
• Church leaders should appoint a second in charge (2IC) who can run the church efficiently in his/her absence.
• Remind your congregation that rumor control is essential. Please get information from trusted sources like state health officials and The Department of Health and Human Services website.
• Last week, the government also published the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan which provides an overview of the national approach and operational plan.
• Churches should also prepare to support vulnerable people in their community especially elderly or people with a disability.
• Spread the word that all people should seek medical care if they require it.
• Advise church staff and congregation members to review their family emergency plans, and, take time to prepare now. For more information go to   https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/documents/112015/135368/Home+Emergency+Plan+Workbook-pdf/a96fb8c4-8fca-4967-b8ca-ad2d97526aff .
• Create plans to enable church staff to work remotely if that becomes a necessity Click here for more information on Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws
• Many affected countries have suspended their church services, and some bigger churches are streaming their Sunday services live. In an event of a Pandemic, you can either Facebook live your sermons or use pre-recorded videos on Sundays. If resources are limited, you can also share sermons from some of our Baptist churches who are already live streaming their Sunday services. Here are their links:
• NewHope Baptist Church – https://vimeo.com/newhopebaptist
• Crossway Baptist Church – https://www.crossway.org.au/campuses/online-campus/
• One Hope Baptist Church – https://www.onehope.org.au/watch-and-listen/
• Syndal Baptist Church – https://www.sb.org.au/watch
• Bendigo Baptist Church – https://www.bendigobaptist.org.au/sermons
• Follow Baptist Church – https://follow.church/media
   
• You can also encourage people to listen to church podcasts:
• NewHope Apple Podcasts or  NewHope Spotify

• Check other churches websites for podcasts

Source: BUV News

BUV 预防冠状病毒(COVID-19) 建议

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Kongah BUV Thawngthanh

In view of the surge in the number of confirmed Covid-19 (Coronavirus) cases around the world, experts say that the likelihood of it spreading to Australia and within our communities is inevitable.

While the World Health Organisation is yet to escalate the nature of Covid-19 to a pandemic level, the Australia Government is taking necessary steps to prepare and plan for such a pandemic and has activated the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for COVID-19.

So, what can we do as a union of churches to be prepared to respond and keep our church community safe?

Until further notice, churches and congregation members should continue to go about normal daily life and travel, church, work or study as normal.  Churches and congregation members should already be following best-hygiene practices as detailed below. 

Personal Hygiene

• Wash hands often with soap and running water, for at least 20 seconds. Dry with paper towel or hand dryer
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow
• Isolate yourself at home if you feel sick. If you take medication, ensure you have adequate supplies
• Phone your GP first if you need medical attention. They will tell you what to do
• Don't wear a face mask if you are well
• Get the flu shot (available April).
• See 10 ways to reduce your risk of Coronavirus 

Churches should be thinking about prevention and preparation strategies in case a Pandemic is announced. Check the BUV website or BUV Bulletin for further updates.

Prevention Ideas for Churches:

• Download and share 10 ways to reduce your risk of Coronavirus 
• Download the Victorian Government Coronavirus Factsheet
• Buy an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with over 60 per cent alcohol. Have hand-sanitisers available throughout the church
• Encourage people to wash their hands and post reminder signs throughout the church. Resources available via The Department of Health and Human Services website in various languages
• Shaking hands is optional! Give permission for fist bumps or a hand wave to replace hugs and hand shaking
• Place boxes of tissues in public access area eg church reception
• Wipe down everything touched by churchgoers, like door handles and railings after every service
• Limit potlucks and other nonessential large gatherings
• Host conference calls or video chats as alternatives for face-to-face meetings, as possible

Communion

• Take precautions to limit the spread of disease by not sharing common vessels for food and drink
• Individual pre-filled communion cups (including wafers) are available as per pic below $59.99 per 100  – click this link to buy from Koorong

Preparation Ideas for Churches

• Review your church's emergency operations plans and communication plans in the context of a pandemic
• Church leaders should appoint a second in charge (2IC) who can run the church efficiently in his/her absence
• Remind your congregation that rumor control is essential. Please get information from trusted sources like state health officials and The Department of Health and Human Services website
• Last week, the government also published the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan which provides an overview of the national approach and operational plan
• Churches should also prepare to support vulnerable people in their community especially elderly or people with a disability.
• Spread the word that all people should seek medical care if they require it
• Advise church staff and congregation members to review their family emergency plans, and, take time to prepare now. Click here for more information.
• Create plans to enable church staff to work remotely if that becomes a necessity. Click here for more information on Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws
• Many affected countries have suspended their church services, and some bigger churches are streaming their Sunday services live. In an event of a Pandemic, you can either Facebook live your sermons or use pre-recorded videos on Sundays. If resources are limited, you can also share sermons from some of our Baptist churches who are already live streaming their Sunday services. Here are their links:
• NewHope Baptist Church – newhope.net.au/teaching
• Crossway Baptist Church – https://www.crossway.org.au/campuses/online-campus/
• One Hope Baptist Church – https://www.onehope.org.au/watch-and-listen/
• Syndal Baptist Church – https://www.sb.org.au/watch
• Bendigo Baptist Church – https://www.bendigobaptist.org.au/sermons
• Follow Baptist Church – https://follow.church/media
  You can also encourage people to listen to church podcasts:
• NewHope Apple Podcasts or  NewHope Spotify

• Check other churches websites for podcasts

Source: BUV News

This month, we are celebrating International Women's Day by featuring stories of courage and determination by ordinary women who are playing extraordinary roles within our Baptist community.

Watching for a bend in the road – Christine Wanstall

Growing up in 1970s Grafton NSW, Christine was more than familiar with the local joke that the most interesting thing to do in town was watch a bend in the road. It was true that outside of sport, there were not a lot of opportunities for young people. However, Christine was the sort that threw herself fully into the opportunities that Grafton did present and became involved in netball, rowing and music.

When the Canadian Leighton Ford went to Grafton in the mid 1980’s, Christine attended the Crusade with her youth group. She was skeptical of the altar call, but felt God strongly drawing her forward. The Crusade was a deposit of strength to be drawn upon one year on when Christine’s father tragically died at home of a massive heart attack.

“The night that my father passed away, I remember opening my Bible and pulling out a tract that I had been given from the Leighton Ford Crusade. The passage I went to regarding grief was Romans 8:39 – There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. There was this really strong reassurance of God being with me.”

With God’s presence in her life, Christine took the bend in the road, and left Grafton. She met her husband David and together, they made the move to Victoria. Christine started working in front-line child protection and then later in hospital social work, and David worked as a chemical engineer. They had two children in this time and were involved in a church plant in Port Arlington.

David then went on to study at Bible College and began work in pastoral ministry. This was a time for Christine of grappling with her role in ministry.

“Was I the pastor’s wife? I wasn’t typical. I wasn’t interested in leading the women’s group. I spoke bluntly at times. When we got married, I knew that David would be heading into church leadership roles. And at the time, there were not many women who were in those leadership roles. And the models of it did not resonate for me.”

Whilst there was a clear leadership path for her to follow in her work career, there was not a pattern for her prophetic gift in church leadership. In the struggle to find her contribution, Christine pursued God more fervently.

“Back in the 90s, if I were a man, I would have been given a lot more opportunities. I would have been asked to preach more and encouraged to go to Bible college. However, if I had pursued church leadership, I suspect I would have burnt out or blown up – because of the internal insecurity that sat with me. The struggle of working out my role and purpose forced the conversation about identity, which then allowed God to do that work inside me. I love what I do, but I would be okay without it.”

The lack of a clear-cut path for her was ultimately a gift in discovering her true identity.

In the years, to come she learned to challenge the natural instinct for criticism and comparison and resist the lie that her generation was sold – the lie that she could do it all. Her daughter’s fifth birthday party is etched in her memory as a day when this lie was well and truly exposed. After a long and difficult shift at the hospital, working with expectant mothers at risk, she bolted home to finish preparations for the party, welcome fifteen five-year olds into her home, present the home-baked and decorated cake and the hand-made snacks which eventually burned in the oven. But all she actually wanted was rest and peace.

“We are told you can be a mum, you can be a career woman, you can have a perfect house, you can home bake your bread every day. That is a flat out lie.”

But, more than learning to overcome the negative influences of our culture, Christine’s lack of obvious role models in her gifting caused her to focus on the Giver of her gift. She was spurred on to what God was calling her to, her purpose in the kingdom and recognising God’s love and his care for her as his child.

It was God’s clear guidance that helped Christine plant herself where she is today. In 2013, in another season of searching and discontent, Christine sensed God asking her, “What would you do if you could do anything?” And there was no doubt in her response: “I would like to be a church health consultant.” That same day, she walked into training at the BUV where she was volunteering and was told of a job opening. Since 2014, she has filled the role of church health consultant. 

The path to this point has had many bends in the road. Without the typical pattern to follow, Christine has challenged negative culture and limiting expectations within the church. In her struggle and formation, she is quick to acknowledge the role of mentors. There have been many women who have called out gifts and encouraged her to stop emulating others and be who God created her to be. And while some in ministry have not encouraged her, there have been men in leadership who have provided insight into her gifting and capacity. Christine places a high value on mentoring – those who will call out gifts, recognize capacity and create opportunities.

For those who face an unclear path, with gifts or capacities that seem to be unusual, Christine’s pursuit of God offers great encouragement. The path that is unclear and the road with unknown bends offers the hard-won opportunity to know one’s identity that reaches beyond a role.

Christine Wanstall is a Church Health Consultant for the Baptist Union of Victoria. She is a trained Social Worker (Bachelor of Social Work) with over 22 years of experience working in Child Protection, Hospitals and Local Government settings. Christine is also a 2020 Ordinand. 

Source: BUV News

This month, we are celebrating International Women's Day by featuring stories of courage and determination by ordinary women who are playing extraordinary roles within our Baptist community.

Leading in the middle – Robyn Song

Robyn is single, female, Asian, a migrant, a leader and a mother of four. But these titles don’t confine her. She is a woman who is cutting a path for others, as she stretches the perceptions and expectations of her peers. Change has not come through a desire for leadership, but through listening and learning along the way. In many aspects of her life she finds herself in the middle, acting as a bridge for others – a bridge for international students into community, for people of diverse background into theology, for women into leadership, for Western leaders in understanding a non-Western voice and perspective.

Robyn was born in South Korea, as one of five siblings. She’s in the middle. At the age of 19 her family moved to Sydney, following the calling of her father as a Baptist pastor. She moved to Melbourne in 2000, and life was full with volunteering within her church community, running her own business, and bringing up a family.

“It was a very busy period.” Robyn confesses as she reflects on her journey over the last decade.

And yet, even in the busyness of life, Robyn felt a strong desire to know God more, and decided to invest in this relationship through enrolment at Whitley College.

This step of faith was not supported by many in her life, partly due to women not being widely accepted in leadership at the time. As a forerunner for other women, she needed strength to persist in her on-going commitment of serving and learning. And it has been precisely in her place of her ministry that she has found a significant leadership opportunity, as she assisted in the coordination of the Whitley College TransFormation program, an innovative and accessible Diploma for culturally and linguistically diverse theology students.

While studying at Whitley, becoming a pastor was not in Robyn’s thoughts, however God slowly unfolded his plans for her life. Robyn took up an internship role with Auburn Baptist Church as community development coordinator of AuburnHub – a hospitality space and English classes for migrants and international students.

Rev Darren Cronshaw of Auburn Baptist Church affirms Robyn’s capacity to effectively bridge the cultural divide. “One of Robyn’s best contributions to the church is helping us understand what it takes to be a church that is hospitable and welcoming to people of different cultures. We want non-Westerners not just to be welcome as visitors but also to be included as equals.”

Robyn also served as part of the BUV multi-cultural ministry group for 12 years and has been also a part of the BUV Mission Grants Panel for the last six years.

“I was influenced by many good women leaders, especially at Whitley and BUV. It’s very inspiring to see them stand up and take up their calling. I also saw many examples of men and women working well together. These gave me confidence to play a role in the areas where I serve.”

In 2015, Robyn was offered the role as a pastor for the English service at Bentleigh and Korean Baptist church. She is one of the first female Korean pastors, especially in the Baptist world. Now looking back, Robyn can see a change in culture over the last 15 years, as more women are offered opportunities to lead. She encourages women of diverse background to embrace their culture.

“Don’t be somebody that you are not. Embrace both cultures as your being the middle person can bridge the difference across cultures.”

Robyn describes this position in the middle as a fortunate position, “I learn to be Korean as well as Aussie. I am both and I embrace both. The blessing is double!”

In her capacity as a member of the BUV Multicultural ministry group, Robyn reviewed the Soong Chan-Rah publication, “The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the church from Western Cultural Captivity.” One of the key insights she draws out is that:

“part of what is needed for non-Western leaders to have their voices invited and their leadership welcome … A dilemma for non-Western leaders is that they often have a passion for mission, deep experiences of faith and ideas for how the church can flourish, but they also hold values about respect for leaders especially in the church. Thus they may be hesitant to offer their contributions if they are not invited.”

Finding her own voice has been a long season of learning for Robyn, as she is naturally a very shy and introverted person.

“Over the years, I learnt to speak up. It took me almost twenty years of learning. I used to filter what I wanted to say, as very often, I understand the conversations from both Australian and a multicultural point of view. It can be challenging but also an opportunity to help others see the other side of the story.”

Her hope for the future is compelling. Having already experienced much cultural change in the last two decades, she longs for more.

“I would encourage women to take up their calling and challenge, get out of their comfort zone, make themselves available to see other cultures and be inspired for change.”

But she also issues a challenge to existing church leadership to be more open-minded and to give opportunities, training and encouragement for women to lead so that others can see and follow.

“This will encourage more women leaders and I believe that change can happen.”

Robyn Song is a Pastor at Bentleigh and Korean Baptist church and also a 2020 Ordinand.  

Source: BUV News

This month, we are celebrating International Women's Day by featuring stories of courage and determination by ordinary women who are playing extraordinary roles within our Baptist community.

The blessings of diminished capacity, tiredness and God’s grace – Jess Groszek

The year was 2015. I had one child at home, one on the way and I was trying to do it all. I had been asked to help provide some pastoral care within a large organization where many were suddenly processing their redundancies. I sat with people who felt uncertain about the future, who last week felt things were on track in their lives, and suddenly were confused or angry or resigned to the shape of their future. I listened and provided what support I could. One person, despite the whirlwind of emotion, paused to ask me what I usually do for work. My response was straight to the point: “I have just been made redundant. And my husband has also been made redundant.” We sat together in empathy for one another’s situations.

Since Chris and I married in 2013, we have experienced together four redundancies, the birth of three children, four houses, two graduate degrees and seven jobs. God has moved us through disappointment to greater clarity over these years. But there have been days full of struggle, juggle and sheer frustration. I feel the pull of my passion and gifting to lead others within the community through my role as Campus Pastor in Surrey Hills with NewHope Baptist Church. But I also feel the desire to cherish and lead my little herd and make the most of every opportunity. At the heart of my struggle has been dealing daily with the lie that I can do it all.

The truth is that women can achieve in all areas of skill, capacity and diligence. However, this truth has become increasingly twisted. Firstly, we are told our ability is self-made; secondly, that each one of us can achieve in every area; and thirdly, that each one of us can achieve in every area in every season. I have fallen victim to the plethora of television experts teaching me how to do ordinary things on a grand scale. And I have been tempted to busy my life in all directions to gain acceptance in a fast-paced society. Undoing this lie in me has been akin to unknotting my daughter’s wild hair – a slow and painful process. It has been slow because I believed the lies for too long, and painful because I let my identity become entangled in it. But, through His grace, God has been slowly unwinding the lie – to the point where I can see more clearly the blessing of weakness, of reduced capacity and of tiredness.

Blessed with reduced capacity

Within the context of community I have found that my children have compounded the opportunities for connection and ministry. In their circles and interactions, they constantly invite me into relationships to the point where I always have the opportunity to be around others. Yet ironically, my capacity to make the most of these opportunities is frustratingly diminished. My brain is foggy, the time is short, the conversations out of my control – and, very often, cut short. In reality, conversations have never been in my control, but in this new season, I am aware that the moment could pass at any stage. I have learned that God is in control. In my leadership decisions, I seek to be present in the conversation, ready to listen and encourage where I can.   

Through practising leadership over many years, I have learnt that I love to achieve, make things happen and see things through. People come to me if they want to get things off the ground. Now with children, my time for outward-focused mission activity has diminished. I need to be more strategic about what I achieve. Having a list of tasks that are ticked off at the end of the day may fill my tank, but I am now asking myself, what should even make it onto the list in the first place? The result is that as I have sought to become more fruitful, my house has become messier. I find myself investing more in people, taking on formal mentoring roles, learning to listen and love others, and being less distracted by the tidiness of my house. I am learning to be comfortable with the house and enjoying transformation through deep relationships. My reduced capacity has helped me to undo the “I can do it all” lie.

Blessed with tiredness

Despite suffering from chronic fatigue well before having children, I have never known tiredness quite like I do now. I need forgiveness constantly as I stumble through the days. There have been many days where all I can think about is going to bed that night. I used to bemoan that I need more sleep than the average person. It is frustrating for an achiever to be rendered unconscious for an extra few hours per day. I began to resent the need for rest. But, a wise friend encouraged me to regard sleep as worship. It is the time of the day where I can say to God, “I can’t go on. I trust you to hold the world in your hands while I am out to it. I trust you to look after my child who has croup. I trust you to restore me as I sleep. I trust that you will give me enough grace for tomorrow’s feeble efforts.” It is a time to acknowledge my weakness and God’s providence. My tiredness is a blessing and reminds me to focus on the one who leads me beside still waters.  

Blessed with sufficient grace

Just last month my grandmother passed away, at the age of 96. A fond memory is a regular trip from the farm to town in the old Toyota. Without fail she played her favourite cassette. She would sing along, “One day at a time, Sweet Jesus! That’s all I ask of you!” As a child, I had no idea what it meant. “Each day always comes after the other. You never have two days at once. What does this song mean?” Now with the demands of regular adult life, I have come to understand why my grandmother sang with fervor. I slump into bed at the end of the day, with no reserves. I was granted enough energy for the day and plenty of grace for my failings. Now, I need His grace to get through another – with the demands of ministry and children and daily life. I have learned that I can’t do it all – or at least, not all at once. In fact, in my exhaustion and inability to go on, I can do nothing. God reminds me constantly that, ‘“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’ (2 Corinthians 12:9).

In this season of family life and the desire to make Jesus’ name known in Surrey Hills, I have been untangling myself from the lie that I once bought into. I can’t do it all. Actually, I can’t do anything. As a leader, I do not want to lead others into the lie, for them to feel the same frustration, struggle and juggle that I have had. God is the giver of grace for our family and ministry. I am grateful to be leading with limited capacity, with tiredness and with grace that is sufficient for today.

Jess Groszek is the Surrey Hills Campus Pastor with NewHope Baptist Church. She also serves as a Sports Chaplain at Surrey Park Swimming Club. Her day to day is filled with caring for three young children and trying to keep life simple in a complex world. 

Source: BUV News

This month, we are celebrating International Women's Day by featuring stories of courage and determination by ordinary women who are playing extraordinary roles within our Baptist community.

Finding one’s voice – Charlene Delos Santos

Charlene’s upbringing was not a typical one. Arriving in Australia at the age of six with her parents and younger sister, her Filipino heritage has largely shaped her family’s decisions and hopes. Her early experience of church, in a predominantly white youth group, was one of being on the fringe.

“It was hard being the only Asian person in my close group of friends.”

Charlene’s good humour, and affable smile belie the struggle for identity and finding her own voice in leadership in a culture where she does not fit the status quo. A life shaped by expectations from cultural heritage along with power structures pervading Western society are shared by many who call themselves second-generation Australian. For some, this tension can be overwhelming and destructive.

However, Charlene’s love for Jesus and desire to make him known has opened up a place for ushering in peace through right relationship with God and across cultural distinctives. Towards the end of the high school, Charlene had a strong encounter with God.

“During that time, I felt so loved by my father in heaven. I felt so surrounded and embraced by his love.”

Charlene was compelled to do what she could to share God’s love with others. As a student and with the support of Scripture Union (SU), she started a prayer group in school, and ran lunch time programs. “It was hard work, and at times really disappointing, but I felt Jesus was close.”

This foray into ministry leadership brought Charlene to a point of tension with traditional expectations of her migrant family. “Even though they were Christians, there was a lot of resistance to me seeking to be in ministry. As a child of migrant parents, they were worried about me not being financially secure or having a stable job. To compromise, I ended up doing a youth work degree at RMIT, rather than studying at Bible College.”

Upon graduation, Charlene accepted a position with SU in schools ministry and ran an internship program for culturally diverse leaders. After 11 years with SU, Charlene stepped out in faith, seeking God for a workplace where culture was celebrated and affirmed.

Through God’s sovereign hand, SURRENDER Conference sought her out and Charlene is now in her fifth year on the team. Her work with SURRENDER built connections with the BUV, where she is currently coordinating IGNITE, the BUV’s annual multicultural youth conference.

Reflecting on the conference, Charlene speaks with deep understanding,

“Many of the second-generation youth at IGNITE live every day with pressure from both sides – from their parents’ or church’s cultures and from western society”.

“When they gather at the IGNITE conference, they can breathe. They feel like they can be themselves. Many are building bonds with other youths outside their church and community because they understood each other.”

Charlene describes it as not knowing where one fits in, yet also trying to integrate multiple cultural identities.

“Because of my personal journey, I am passionate to engage with and support this next generation of culturally diverse leaders.”

Charlene is working closely with the team to provide focus on international leadership development for the IGNITE leaders and for connections to be maintained beyond the conference.

Being one of the few Asian women in ministry leadership today, Charlene dream of a diverse church with more multicultural leaders – particularly female leaders.

“There are many good women leaders serving in their church communities, but there are also limitations to areas in which they can lead, many barriers and missed opportunities. Currently, there are also few role models for young second-generation leaders to follow.”

Charlene is in the continual process of deepening her relationship with Jesus and learning her own voice in leadership. But she freely admits that finding her voice in leadership has been fraught at times. The majority of leaders in meetings represent traditional Western society, and subtly hold the power of opinion. ‘When I am in a meeting, I listen to these voices in the room more than others to gauge whether I am on the right track, rather than ask, “What is my voice? What do I think?"

Charlene laments the times she has not listened to her gut and has shaped and filtered her ideas to suit what the powerbrokers may want to hear. “There are other times where I live out of that sense of what God has called me to do and be. And other times when I should have listened to my gut, but I decided to go with what I thought success looked like. And it has hurt.”

The journey to finding her voice has required self-reflection, courage and persistence. She freely admits, “It’s a challenge I’m learning to overcome!”

Charlene Delos Santos is the Co-Director of Surrender Australia and the BUV Multicultural 2nd Generation Coordinator. 

Source: BUV News

Source: BUV News

By Rev Dr John Sampson

J. D. came from Tasmania after being baptised in the Hobart Tabernacle in 1933. As a young man he served in pastorates at Deloraine and Yolla before being called to the ministry and entering the Victorian Baptist Theological College. He graduated in 1942.

After college he served in South Hobart 1943/4, and as an Interim in Hobart in 1945 before going to Devonport 1946. In 1949 he took up a position at North Adelaide and he stayed here until 1958.

He then accepted the position of secretary of the Australian Baptist Missionary Society where he served until 1983, leading the mission through the difficult transition from a colonial world to a post-colonial world. It was he who developed the policy that saw the mission aim to develop an indigenous church and get out as soon as possible, rather than continue with the colonial model where you build a local church dependent on outside leadership.

In 1984 he joined the team at North Balwyn and remained here until 1992 after which he completed his life’s work with a number of Interim ministries until the year 2000.

In all this time he remained single and I wondered how much this influenced the opportunities open to him?

We all recognise that Jesus never married but seem very hesitant to appoint people who follow his example and deliberately remain single.

Surely we do not believe that a single person is incapable of maintaining a house or cooking a meal. If we really valued them we could support them by providing home help or a housekeeper. This was suggested in a letter to the South Australian Baptist paper Truth & Progress in 1893 in a letter that bemoaned the state of affairs in which the churches are deprived of the services of a minister’s wife. To quote ‘How is it possible for her to go among the people, visit the sick and attend the various meetings of the Church when her whole time has to be given to domestic duties because she cannot afford to keep a help’.

But real life is far more complicated than this simple argument.

For example Jesus was not a lone itinerant preacher. He lived in a community made up of the disciples. Devoted men & women, who shared his life. Also when he sent his disciples out they went in pairs. So to follow biblical precedent perhaps we should look again at communal living. The Community of the Transfiguration comes to mind, but others with fewer resources may well find a share house fits the bill.

And then I discovered that JD did not live alone. He lived with his sister Leslie who maintained the house and cared for him for the whole of his time in Melbourne.

When I sent a draft of this article to the Rev. Tony Cupit he pointed out that there are many other examples of single ministers who have done great work in the BUV. To quote him;

‘Clarrie Edwards had some long and successful ministries, for example Boronia and Nth Balwyn,

 Peter Arnold ministered in churches before marrying Yvonne.  

And there have been a number of unmarried female ministers; e.g.,

Jill Manton after Peter’s death,
Marion Welford,
Marita Munro (though not in a congregation),
Sue McDonald. etc, etc’.

We could add to this the list of Deaconesses from the 1950’s as they were all expected to remain single and celibate while they served in the churches or the mission field.

Note why did Baptists only expect the deaconesses to be single and celibate while serving the church while the Roman Catholics expect both men and women to be single and celibate?   

Footnote:
If you would like more info on JD we have a good introduction to his work in his article ‘Twenty Five Years in the Australian Baptist Missionary Society’[1]. If you would like a hard copy please contact me. As treasurer of the Victorian Baptist Historical Society I can provide you with one for $20 plus postage or I could send you a digital copy for free via my email.

JD was a character and there was far more to him than you will ever find in one article but at least we have a good starting point. However there are so many others whose lives need to be celebrated.  

So please choose a subject, arrange some interviews & do a bit of research. Then pull out your laptop and start typing.

If you submit your work as an essay to the Victorian Baptist Historical Society’s Essay competition you could even earn yourself with a nice little bundle of cash for Christmas!

Source: BUV News