Check out this article from the local paper on Hamilton Baptist’s Interim Pastor Bob Fergie and this great community engagement initiative.

This Lent, Common Grace and Bible Society Australia invite us to rediscover Jesus's profound teachings veiled in everyday stories. As we come together, we're praying for ears to hear these teachings of Jesus afresh, to let them get past our defences and under our skin, as they transform us to make things right in this world.

Justice is not about punishment: it’s about healing.

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This series has been produced by Common Grace and Bible Society Australia.

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Surrey Hills Baptist Children’s Centre (SHBCC) connects with over 120 families each year through its Kindergarten and Childcare programs. The Centre maintains a Christian presence in its community and describes itself as “A place of faith and early learning.” Over 250 of the children and families of the Centre attended the 2019 end of year Christmas celebration for community connection, celebration of the year and re-telling of the nativity story. The leadership of the Centre imagined a creative re-enactment of the story where parents would be spontaneously scripted into the story, given costumes and lines on the spot and engaged in the re-telling of Jesus birth, while others played musical instruments and sang well known carols throughout the reenactment. With much laughter and fun parents were given costumes and played the various roles as the story was narrated.

As the story concluded and the costumes were being packed away a mother who had played the role as the Inn Keeper approached the Centre’s Director and asked if they could speak further. The mother started, “I have been the Inn Keeper in a play that I don’t understand. Can you explain to me what I was just a part of?” The Director took one of the Children’s nativity books from the Reception display and opened it to re-tell the story of the birth of Jesus once more. As the story was read the Director spoke of her own experience of the good news of Jesus birth that the angels announced to the Shepherds. She spoke of how He had forgiven and changed her life and offered her hope. She went on to speak of how Jesus came to offer hope to all of humanity without exception and that all are welcome to join in and receive the forgiveness He offers. As the mother heard all of this she was prompted with more questions, “So it’s not a made-up story? It actually happened? Jesus really was born and lived for these reasons?” “Yes, it is a true story, an actual historical event” the Director replied. The mother asked again, “So this is what Christian faith is about? This is your faith?” “Yes” the Director replied. As the mother paused to reflect on all that she had re-enacted, heard and seen in the Children’s picture story book she had one more question, “Why has nobody ever told me this before?”  

The declaration of the good news of Jesus birth by the angels to the Shepherds in the field was good news to the ears of the Shepherds 2000 years ago and it is still good news to those who truly hear it today. Nothing has changed in the power, authority, freedom and hope of this good news message. Our culture may know of the story but we are called to be the people who carry it in ways that allow others to truly hear it and experience all of the good that this news brings.  

Running Alpha Online is here to stay. In a matter of weeks, 190 online courses across the country have been registered with digital gatherings quickly becoming the norm. Whilst online Alpha has been explored in the past, the sudden surge in interest in Australia indicates that people are more than ready to adapt. “There is no going back. Alpha Online will remain an option even when we can meet in groups again,” says Philippa Fielding, Alpha Australia Church Relationship Lead.

For some churches, attendance in services has surged since going online. There is still speculation regarding the trend, but anecdotal evidence suggests that people are enjoying some anonymity in gathering online and the forum is logistically easier for many who may be experiencing illness, distance or a lack of transport options. There also seems to be a greater appetite in society for asking the big questions of faith and life and the forum is more welcoming of those who might be experiencing growing uncertainty or anxiety.

Giving support to observations, McCrindle has recently researched the emotional state of Australians. “The unfolding situation around COVID-19 is creating a sense of uncertainty among Australians. Two in five (39%) feel extremely or very uncertain … while another 52% feel somewhat or slightly uncertain. In this context of change and uncertainty Australians are feeling anxious (45%), frustrated (37%) and vulnerable (29%). There is still a sense of optimism, however, with more than a quarter (27%) feeling hopeful.” You can find the full McCrindle report here.

Google Trends indicates that questions such as ‘What is the point?’, ‘Why and I here?’ and ‘Is this it?’ have all been at their highest for the last 12 month period in March and April this year, potentially correlating with the declaration of the pandemic by the WHO.

Offering Alpha is a natural step for people who want to ask their questions in a safe environment. Surprisingly, “Alpha Online is proving to be an easier forum for some introverts,” says Philippa. Some don’t turn on their videos. They choose to maintain the conversation through audio only. For those churches who are now part way through their courses, it has become evident that there “doesn’t seem to be as much pressure online.” Alpha Online has also seen an increase in participation of people with transportation challenges and single parents, who ordinarily face the difficulty of finding care for children in order to be able to go out of an evening.

The personal invitation has also been made easier in the online setting. Inviting a friend has always been a central focus of Alpha. The physical distancing requirements and isolation have shifted our focus to broader connections. Some Alpha participants from a Victorian Baptist Church have invited their friends living in Iran and China to join an Australian-based Alpha. And other Australian courses are crossing state borders, with participants not constrained by geography. As our globalised world helps us to forge relationships not bound by borders, so Alpha Online is enabling those relationships to delve into these big questions together.

Many churches are running small Alpha gatherings on the Zoom platform using a paid account, which allows for break out rooms and longer meetings. However, others are choosing to use a free Zoom account, and having guests login together for 45 minutes after watching the Alpha Film Series independently through Vimeo. Some churches, confident in using the online platform, are hosting Alpha and including other church groups, who then breakout separately for discussion. A Victorian church, never having previously run Alpha, is offering Alpha every night of the week. Others are starting up new Alphas each week. The tradition of running Alpha once or twice per year consecutively no longer needs to be adhered to. Creativity and ‘giving it a go’ have been hallmarks of those who have leapt into the opportunity.   

These trends are not unique to Australia. All over the world Alpha has been utilised as a safe forum during this crisis. Holy Trinity Brompton, the home of Alpha in London, is currently running its biggest Alpha cohort in history. 1100 people are gathering weekly. It is also hosting 1500 couples in the online Marriage Course. “This is a good thing since some couples are under greater pressure in the crisis,” says Philippa.

The essential elements of Alpha are being reprioritised. Food together is not an option; the ‘Weekend Away’ is being handled differently by different groups as leaders share their stories and ideas with one another; but prayer ministry remains vitally important and is often being organised through breakout rooms with smaller gatherings of people. Training is offered for churches who are keen to learn how to make the most of Alpha Online. As people have been led in prayer in the training context, “there has been a sense of the Holy Spirit there with us online.” Prayer remains a priority throughout Alpha, with The Prayer Course online being recommended as a potential follow up course at the close of Alpha.

Whilst the online forum provides an insurmountable challenge for some to participate, for many, it is exactly what is needed at this time, and a gathering that many have been waiting for.

For more information and resources, go to the link below:

Courses:

Alpha                               https://www.alpha.org.au/
The Prayer Course:         https://prayercourse.org/
The Marriage Course:     http://www.marriageandparenting.org.au/tmc

Devotions recommended by the Alpha team                                     

Bible in One Year              https://www.bibleinoneyear.org/
Lectio 365:                        https://www.24-7prayer.com/dailydevotional
Bridgetown Podcast:         https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bridgetown-audio-podcast/id84246334

This Lent, Common Grace and Bible Society Australia invite us to rediscover Jesus's profound teachings veiled in everyday stories. As we come together, we're praying for ears to hear these teachings of Jesus afresh, to let them get past our defences and under our skin, as they transform us to make things right in this world.

Justice is not about punishment: it’s about healing.

Embed video here via source

Text

This series has been produced by Common Grace and Bible Society Australia.

Click here to read full article.

Molestation Insurance

Victorian Baptists are committed to providing safe programmes as an expression of loving our neighbours. As part of this, and in order to continue Molestation Cover with our insurer, churches should ensure that as a minimum they comply with the following policies and procedures:

1. A policy committing the organisation to providing a safe environment for children and vulnerable adults.

2. A Code of Practice covering pastors, employees and volunteers who may come into contact with children and vulnerable adults.

3. A process for screening applicants for ministry, employment and volunteering, including referee checks and working with children/criminal record checks.

4. A process for handling allegations of sexual abuse.

5. A process for complying with mandatory reporting obligations for suspected sexual abuse.

6. Training for pastors, employees and volunteers in the above policies/procedures.

The documents below provide resources to assist churches in these matters.

Declaration for churches to sign and return

Molestation insurance explanatory notes

Sample Flowchart Reporting Process

Sample Church Safety Policy

Sample Molestation Insurance Code of Conduct

Sample Reporting and Handling Allegations of Sexual Abuse

Sample Safe Church Concerns Form Template

Sample Staff and Volunteer Application Screening Form

In the face of coronavirus meeting restrictions, Bacchus Marsh Baptist gave prayerful consideration as to how church should look for them. While they were grateful for the many online worship services being made available from other churches, in Pastor Jeremy Van Langenberg’s words, “we were concerned to maintain a sense of ‘us’ –   our local church community”.  

They began by placing all church attendees including children, youth and young adults into cluster groups. For the first time ever, everyone in the church is in a small group! So far this is working well with groups meeting digitally or by phone.

Sunday sermons are pre-recorded online in a fairly simple fashion and for those without digital access, sermon notes and orders of service are hand delivered (with careful thought to hygiene). A weekly prayer guide is also being provided for the church to pray at the same time each Wednesday.

While church finances were initially struggling in the absence of physically meeting on Sundays, in recent days more church members than ever before have signed on to direct debit giving. While these last few weeks have been challenging and stretching, Jeremy reports the church community are encouraged, thankful and in good spirits.

Parking at BUV Office

Parking has changed at our BUV office. Please see the map below where street parking of various time limits is available.

Orange: No restrictions
Blue: 2 hour parking
Purple: 4 hour parking
Green: 1 hour parking (excluding various times – check signage)

• Please check all council parking signage and adhere to it. This map is a guide to assist you in finding parking and is not intended to be fully comprehensive in all instances. The Baptist Union of Victoria does not accept any liability whatsoever for the content, for any errors or omissions contained therein, or for any infringement you may incur.

This Lent, Common Grace and Bible Society Australia invite us to rediscover Jesus's profound teachings veiled in everyday stories. As we come together, we're praying for ears to hear these teachings of Jesus afresh, to let them get past our defences and under our skin, as they transform us to make things right in this world.

Justice is not about punishment: it’s about healing.

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This series has been produced by Common Grace and Bible Society Australia.

Click here to read full article.