What is Transforming Melbourne?

Welcome to “Transforming Melbourne”

Through the Unity, Servanthood and Prayer of the whole Church

for God to Renew His Church and Transform our City

“Transforming Melbourne” is a Movement of Christians praying and acting together with the vision that God will renew His Church and not only bring new life to the people of our city, but transform its culture and society.

INTRODUCTION

The ministry of Transforming Melbourne grew out of a conviction that the Lord’s heart for the Church and His strategy for evangelism was expressed in His prayer in John 17:

“that we would be one, as he and the Father are one, that the world would know who He is”.

This has led to a passion to see the Body of Christ, including all denominations, relating and praying in unity with a common heart and vision to see the Church renewed and the Lord transform every part of Greater Melbourne. It began in 1996 as the Melbourne Pastors Network with a vision for “One Church in Melbourne with many congregations”. and for the pastors and churches in each of the 31 local cities to meet and share and pray together.

VISION: To see the whole Church in Melbourne become a united missionary movement, working and praying together to bring the compassion and salvation of Jesus to every people group and see our City Transformed. This vision is encapsulated in the motto:

“Transforming Melbourne “through the unity, servanthood and prayer of the Whole Church”

KEY VALUES: The key values that underpin the vision are:

Servanthood and humility
Prayer
Unity

STRATEGY: A Strategic Approach

We will communicate and impart our vision to the Church at large in Melbourne through these key strategic approaches.

Promoting the unity and renewal of the whole Church and its ministry to our city.
Working with local pastors’ to encourage relational unity between them in each of the 31 local cities of Melbourne.
Working to raise the level of prayer across the Church – especially sustained, united prayer.
Undertaking research to identify issues impacting the Church in Melbourne.
Communicating the vision and activities of Transforming Melbourne to individual Christians in Melbourne who are committed to the unity of the “Whole Body” and a transformed community.
Develop the administration and support for T/M ministry

The name “Transforming Melbourne” was introduced in 2001 with the second 40 days of Prayer and Fasting for our city. (The first “40 days” in 2000 was under the name “Love Melbourne” when a few hundred people joined in the fast).

Since then under the new name, thousands of Christians and churches from most denominations have joined in praying and fasting and the wider activities of this movement. “Transforming Melbourne” is now the name and the vision for this movement.

Those involved include: Melbourne Pastors Network, Awakening, Intercessors for Melbourne, other organisations promoting prayer, and Christians of many denominations and local pastors and churches in every area of Greater Melbourne.

OBJECTIVES

1. NETWORK PASTORS

* Foster Pastors Networks in 31 Local Cities of Melbourne: working with pastors of all denominations to build unity in relationships and prayer and to adopt the vision of being “One Church to pastor our whole city”.

* Organise the Melbourne Pastors and Leaders Prayer Summit: an annual 4-day time of prayer, worship and ministry for pastors and leaders of all denominations to seek God together and bring renewal of personal faith and vision for local and citywide ministry as One Body.

* Communicate with Heads of Churches and leaders of Christian Ministry Organisations to promote and support the vision of being One Church to reach the City.

* Maintaining a database of churches, pastors and key Christian leaders, and providing regular contact through leaders emails.

2. DEVELOP A CITYWIDE PRAYER MOVEMENT

* Initiate and coordinate the “TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE” movement of prayer

– Organising 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for Melbourne and each local city

– Fostering regular combined church prayer meetings in every local city

– Encouraging research of local community resources, needs and problems to allow focused prayer and to develop expectation of measurable answers to prayer

* Discover, work with and build an awareness of the many independent prayer activities and organisations, to encourage cooperation and unity in prayer across the city

3. DEVELOP COMMUNICATION FOR THE CHURCH IN MELBOURNE

Develop an awareness and potential of the One Church through:

* The “TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE” website and regular E-Letters, to inform and inspire Christians across the city with what God is doing, how to be part of the movement to see our city transformed and resources on unity, prayer and other key issues for pastors and leaders.

* The “Melbourne Christian Events Calendar”, and a “Directory of Christian Ministry Organisations” and other resources available on the website

4. CATALYSE NETWORKS OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WITH SIMILAR GOALS

* Christian Business Network (Now led by Aust. Marketplace Connections): networking the many Christian groups meeting across the city, encouraging Christians to see their workplace as a place of ministry (sacred, not secular), training Christians for leadership in business and politics, intentional outreach in the marketplace (Business Alpha, etc).

* Multicultural Network: fostering intentional inclusion of people of all cultures and ethnic groups in the life and leadership of local churches. Supporting and encouraging pastors of ethnic churches to feel included in the wider Body of the Church.

* Youth and Children’s Ministry Networks: gathering together those working to reach the one million Under-30s in Melbourne outside the Church. Involves the youth and children’s directors of denominations and leaders of organisations involved in youth and children’s ministry working strategically together to reach their generation for Christ.

* Other Strategic Networks: there is great value in having Christians in the main sectors of society relate and work together to bring intentional Christian influence and leadership in their sector. Eg: Education, Health and Welfare, Law and Government, Media, Entertainment and Sport. A number of sectors have such networks. There is a vision to bring representatives of each sector together in an annual “Citywide Strategic Roundtable”

5. RESEARCH THE HISTORY AND PRESENT SITUATION OF THE CHURCH

* Rediscover and communicate the Christian foundations of Melbourne
– the contribution of the Church to founding the many social institutions
– the Christian principles that are the foundations of our society

* Rediscover how God has touched our cities and nation in the great revivals

* Be aware of how much the Church contributes to the social welfare of the community. Knowing our Christian Heritage builds faith and inspires boldness in our stand for Christ. If we don’t know this information, we can be sure the rest of society won’t. Without this information there is little reason for society to respect or retain the Christian values that are the basis of our civilisation, but which are now being eroded as irrelevant. This process unchecked would lead to the collapse of social order, or systems such as “sharia law”.

For more information Email: office@transformingmelbourne.org or to become a partner in the vision click here

Who Are We?

TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE is a movement of Christians across Greater Melbourne working and praying together for God to renew the Church and transform our city. It involves people and Churches from almost all denominations, many prayer ministries and Christian organisations.

Transforming Melbourne and Melbourne Pastors Network are organised and coordinated by a small team of people who have a passion for the Kingdom of God in this city.

TEAM MEMBERS

Rev. Rob Isaachsen – Coordinator of MELBOURNE PASTORS NETWORK

Rob was ordained as an Anglican minister in Melbourne, Australia and served as Vicar of Christ Church, Dingley for 19 years. Rob has traveled widely in mission situations in East Africa, Asia and PNG with CMS, OMF and APCM (now Pioneers). In 1996 Rob left Dingley, and began the “Melbourne Pastors Network” with the vision of seeing unity in the Body of Christ across Melbourne. He has worked to foster networks of pastors and churches in each of the 31 local cities of Melbourne relating and praying to pastor their whole communities together. He has also organised the Melbourne Pastors Prayer Summit for 7 years with pastors from over 20 denominations and coordinates the “Transforming Melbourne” movement of prayer, which is focused on an annual 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for the Church and Greater Melbourne.

Lois Isaachsen – Intercessor

Sue Tinworth – Prayer Coordinator

Ruth Allison – Intercessor

Nofoao Thomas – Intercessor

Rosemary Breyley – Administrative Assistant

Sheryl Minns – Office Administrator

Jenni Kneebone – Office Volunteer

Dorothy Coleman – Office Volunteer

Bruce Seamer – IT Team Member

Richard Harvey – IT Team Member

Ben Van der Merwe – IT Team Member

Phillip Hughes – Research (All Melbourne Matters)

Kitty Cheng – Journalist & Communications

The management and accountability of this ministry is taken very seriously. The Servant Leader Team of key pastors provides the spiritual oversight. These pastors are appointed at the annual Melbourne Pastors’ Prayer Summit.

THE TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE BOARD

Richard Kasperczyk (Chairman), Pastor Graeme Cann, Neil Flavel, Colonel David Jamison, Peter Earnshaw and Rev. Rob Isaachsen.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

This is a faith ministry. We rely on individuals and churches to provide support for the ministries of Transforming Melbourne and Melbourne Pastors Network and for Rob Isaachsen in his role as coordinator. Up till now Rob has relied on a few individual churches and friends who share his vision to provide finance. For this vital ministry to continue and develop, we need churches, business people and other concerned individuals to be financial partners by providing regular contributions. To become a partner click here

PRAYER SUPPORT

It is only the Lord who can transform lives and communities, but He invites us to partner with Him through obedience and through expectant prayer. So, we invite you to become a Prayer Partner in this Vision and receive our monthly PARTNERS NEWS or join us for prayer in our office or other times, as you are able. For more information contact us

PARTNERSHIP

Transforming Melbourne and Melbourne Pastors Network (which is part of the same ministry) has no fixed income. They depend on those who share Gods Vision for the Church and our City to contribute financially (see our partner churches). Transforming Melbourne is an incorporated body with a registered Board of Management and transparent accountability. As well as needing finances to enable us to take up the unique opportunities the Lord has given us, we now need to find a skilled administrator who we will pay at least part-time. We invite you to become a Financial Partner in this Vision by completing the attached PARTNERSHIP INVITATION click here.

For more information contact: office@transformingmelbourne.org or to become a partner click here

Research Of Whole Church In Melbourne Launched

23 Denominations Endorse Ground-Breaking Study

A detailed picture of the whole Church across Melbourne is the goal of a project launched this week. "Transforming Melbourne" with the Melbourne Pastors Network are working with the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) and the Christian Research Association to research the nature and location of Christian churches and ministries across Greater Melbourne.

For the first time, the denominational results of the NCLS survey of most Melbourne churches (in October) will be all be put together. Additional major surveys will be done of independent, ethnic and other non-NCLS churches, as well as other ministries. These will all be combined to give the most complete picture of the Church in Melbourne ever.

The overall results will be displayed on digital maps showing a picture of the location of all churches in Melbourne. These maps on Powerpoint will be overlaid with demographic information from the recent national census, allowing comparison of churches to local populations – eg Chinese churches to Chinese populations. These maps and results will also be available for each of the 31 municipal cities of Melbourne.

The research will include a study of emerging and house churches, marketplace ministries, recently planted churches, large housing estates without churches and major people-groups largely outside the Church. A directory will be established of Christian ministry organisations in Melbourne – including prayer, outreach, training, campus and caring ministries.

The result will be a first-ever picture of the Church in Melbourne: where churches are – and where they are not. The research is expected to be complete by early 2008.

RESEARCH AND THE 3.3 MILLION PEOPLE "OUTSIDE THE CHURCH"

In our city of 3.8 million people, it is estimated that less than 500,000 people are active members of the Church. This means maybe 3.3 million people are outside the Church, with little faith or knowledge of the Good News of Jesus, but often with great spiritual hunger.

There are some excellent ministries, and some of these people are coming to faith. Some individual churches are growing. Many churches are being planted in the South-Eastern suburbs. But many areas have few churches or other Christian witness. Most churches and denominations plan and act alone – often focussing on their own survival. Many Christians are leaving "their church" to find more meaningful fellowship, worship and ways of ministry. And most of the 3.3 million don't know the Good News and will never think of "coming to church".

Churches trying harder to do the same things will not change this picture. Without radical change the Church in Melbourne will continue as it is (at best).

The aim of this research is to provide a picture of the Church and the city that will challenge and resource the whole Church for a radically new level of collaborative and intentional mission to our city.

In just over 12 months Church leaders will be invited to city-wide and local meetings to receive the results of this work, which will give something of God's view of Melbourne and His Church. The presentations will reveal the enormous resources within the Church as a whole, the enormous opportunities we have together – and the great challenges of ministering to these millions and of influencing the whole life of the city. Without information there is no change.

Will this lead to the changes needed? That will depend on our openness to share the Lord's compassion for our city, our willingness to go beyond what we are used to (including to new expressions of "church"), and our willingness to become a united missionary movement. It will involve much prayer, faith and humility. This is not just a sociological exercise – it is an invitation to a spiritual journey for God's people in our city. There are many people waiting!

(It is great to report that in meetings of the Reference Group for this project over the past 6 months, with official representatives of almost every denomination – Pentecostal, mainline, evangelical – there has been evident enthusiasm about what it would mean to join as One Body to bless our city.)

This Project has been Endorsed by the following Denominations:

Anglican, Antiochian Orthodox, Assemblies of God, Assoc of Christian Ministries, Apostolic, Baptist Union, Christian Brethren, Christian City Church, Christian Outreach Crusade, Christian Revival Crusade, Church & Missionary Alliance, Nazarenes, Churches of Christ, City Life, Evangelical Chinese Churches, Lutheran, Presbyterian Home Missions, Christian Reformed, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist, Uniting, Vineyard Christian Fellowships and Wesleyan Methodist.

Also endorsed by:

The Australian Evangelical Alliance, Forge Mission Training Network (Vic), OIKOS House Church Support Ministry, Bible College of Victoria, Harvest Bible College, School of World Mission, Tabor College.

People interested in praying for or being part of this project are welcome.

Please contact:

TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE: PO Box 2536, CHELTENHAM, Vic 3192 Ph. 9570 2534

Email: office@transformingmelbourne.org Web: www.transformingmelbourne.org

From: Rev. Rob Isaachsen

Coordinator of Transforming Melbourne

and Melbourne Pastors Network

Partnership Form

Transforming Melbourne Inc. ABN: 23 457 205 519

and

MELBOURNE PASTORS NETWORK

PARTNERSHIP FORM – download the partnership form

Name: ………………………………………………………..…..… Date: ………..……

Address: …………………………..………………………..…………P/Code: ………….

Church: ……………………………….… Business: ……………………………………..

Email:………………………..………..….……………… Phone: …………………………

I/WE WISH TO BE PARTNERS in the Vision of TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE

All Partners receive a monthly Prayer Letter with the latest news of our Ministry

Regular Prayer for the ministry of TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE and MPN

and receiving our monthly PARTNERS NEWS of the ministry

HELPING WITH: …………………………………………………………………….

A Monthly amount of $50 $100 $……………

(Even a small regular donation is the most helpful to us)

An Annual amount of $100 $500 $ …….…….

Receive the Transforming Melbourne E-Letter

CREDIT CARD: Bankcard / Visa / Mastercard

Card Number: ….……… / ………… / …..…… / ……..……. Expiry: ………. / ………..

Name on Card: …..……………………….. Signature: ……………….….……………

CHEQUES: Please make out to: “TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE”

DIRECT DEBIT: C.B.A., Mentone, A/c No. 063 144 – 1030 5001

We Really Value Your Comments: Please Email any time to: office@transformingmelbourne.org