Kingdom Growth Night (1 April 2020)

Unsurprisingly, this month’s prayer notes are longer and more extensive. Our Gospel

Partners really value our prayers at this time of crisis (some sent in prayer notes without

prompting)! Please keep praying through the month. We don’t have to finish it in one night.

1) Thanksgiving Prayers (7.30-7.40pm)

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever!” Psalm 107:1

We begin each Kingdom Growth Night with thanksgiving prayers. What have you been thankful

for, despite being shut-in during the pandemic?

o Are there things to thank God for at work or school or home?

o Are there people that you would like to give thanks for?

o Have there been events and situations where you can see God’s hand in?

o What great Biblical truths are you thankful for?

2) Praying for the world and our church (7.40-7:50pm)

THE WORLD

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

All over the world, the focus is on the coronavirus pandemic, so let’s make this the focus of our

prayers too. In particular, you can pray for:

o the stop of the spread of the virus, particularly in countries (Europe, US) which are most affected.

o those infected to recover, that good treatments be developed and an effective vaccine found.

o those who have lost loved ones that they will find comfort and peace in the Lord

o those who are economically and financially impacted that they will find help and be cared for

o Governments to be given wisdom to tackle the coronavirus but also the economic and social

fallout that will result from trying to stop the spread

o citizens of all nations to do their part to stop the spread, but thinking of the vulnerable in their

community, rather than the curtailing of their individual freedoms and privileges.

o the church to be a beacon of light in both their word and deed, so that Christ’s name is glorified.

THE CHURCH

• PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH, IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES:

o Pakistan – where jobless Christians are not even unable to beg on streets.

o Sri Lanka – where converts from Hinduism/Buddhism are prevented from entry to churches and

temples to get government food supplies.

o Armenia – where churches lack funds to assist with basic needs.

o Laos – where Christian farmers are being banished from their own fields.

o Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Nepal – with churches closed, pastors are unable to visit folk who

have no other means of support. In addition to praying, if you would like to give to help our brothers and sisters financially, one website you can visit is

https://barnabasfund.org/au/donate. PR1530 is a C-19 emergency fund set up to help in this current crisis.

• PRAY FOR US IN BLACKBURN AND DONCASTER

o Pray for the ministry of word and prayer to remain unimpeded during this time of not being able

to gather physically. Pray for wisdom on how we can still gather God’s people online each week,

given the Government restrictions keep getting tighter. Pray particularly that those without access

to technology will still be able to find ways of connecting and being spiritual nurtured.

o Pray for wisdom to determine how best to minister and reach out with the Gospel during Easter.

o Pray for the Growth Group, Youth and other leaders, who are stepping up to do more pastoral

care and lead their groups in an increased capacity, now that the church is unable to gather

physically.

o Pray that God will continue to provide financially for the church so that ministry may continue.

o Pray for a smooth and safe delivery of Vijay and Rachel Henderson’s baby.

Here are some specific prayer points for specific areas of church ministry:

o Chinese ministry at HTD and St John’s (David and Esther, David Xu, Alan):

▪ pray for Worship Online with YouTube Live and bible studies with Zoom. May the Lord lead

us to continue to learn the truth and expand the church.

▪ pray for brothers and sisters that the Lord will give them peace in the storm and provide them

with ministers of the word to protect them so that they may know the Lord better.

▪ Pray for those who are far from the Lord. May God use this time as tools to discipline, remind,

urge people to repent and return to the Lord.

o Kids’ Ministers at HTD and St John’s (Michelle Caruana and Jan Budin)

▪ Give thanks for a good start to the year, and lots of kids joining (and continue to come even

when we have gone online).

▪ Pray for health and safety of all the children and their families, and for the kids’ leaders to

have a good rest over the term holidays.

▪ Pray for creativity and wisdom to engage with children so they continue to grow in God’s

Word even while we are unable to meet physically.

▪ Pray for speedy resolution of the issues related to St John’s cottage, which prevent us from

using it for kids ministry.

▪ Pray for Michelle to be diligent with her studies at Ridley.

o Youth Ministry (Geoff Hall)

▪ Give thanks for the youth ministry teams, for their energy to serve and love of the youth. Ask

that God will sustain them and Geoff in both their service and in their personal godliness

▪ Pray for wisdom among the leaders as they care for the church amidst the current pandemic.

3) Praying for our Gospel Partners (7.50pm)

Sandra Joynt (AFES Monash)

The impact of the Coronavirus has totally changed the shape of our ministry this semester. We lost our

main opportunity to connect with new students this year (O Week). All our FOCUS meetings and campus

ministry plans this semester have been shelved, & face to face meetings with students cancelled. Instead we

are connecting with students online where we can and encouraging students to meet in triplets for Bible

reading (Philippians) and prayer. Please pray:

o that even in the face of physical restrictions, God may still bring gospel opportunities and help me

connect with new students who are keen to know God.

o that many students join Bible reading triplets, and are encouraged and built up in faith, love and

maturity through these groups.

o for international students who are feeling anxious and isolated at this time.

o for God to be working out His good purposes through all these unexpected circumstances, building his

church and glorifying the name of Christ through students at Monash.

Candice Bergamin (AFES Deakin)

There's so much to be thankful for and for the many ways God is teaching me through these times. Please

thank God:

o for my living situation. I have moved in with my friends and co-workers Dan and Jess Kong (and their

family) with my cat Pilgrim, so I don’t have to live by myself in self-isolation. Thank God for the family

that is his people!

o that Jesus is on His throne - and He will use this for good. Although we're probably all feeling a sense of

loss or fear about the future, one of the apprentices reminded the team last week that God only has

plan A and will work all things for Jesus' kingdom and glory, and that will include our ultimate good.

o for the new opportunities God will bring to love and serve and speak.

o for the staff team and student leaders - and the way they have creatively kept praying, loving and

inviting their friends to hear the gospel.

o for the wider AFES fellowship - and their generous sharing of ideas and encouragement.

o that the mission to proclaim Jesus at University does not change - even if how we do it will.

Please ask God with us:

o for wisdom as we adjust to some new ways of reaching the campus with the gospel.

o that God will use the current crisis to wake sleepy souls and open closed eyes to the hope this is in Him.

o that we who know Christ would be salt and light - as we love others as we've been loved by God in

Christ. I've reached out to my neighbours in my apartment building, but then promptly moved to

another suburb. Pray I'd still connect with them and have opportunities to love them.

o that God will surprise us with how He uses our online efforts to evangelise, encourage, train and send.

Peter and Elspeth Young (Pioneers, Thailand)

Peter and Elspeth Young returned to Australia 3 weeks earlier than planned due to the COVID-19 and the

closing of Thai borders. As a team, we wrestled with contingency plans several weeks ago. As more

information emerged about COVID-19 and availability of respirators/beds in Chiang Mai, we decided as a

team that those at greater risk would return to their sending countries while the rest remained. We are

presently at home under quarantine (Stephen our son has kindly moved to Peter's sister's house at this

time). We are grateful for God's kindness to be back for a few weeks (we hope!) until Thailand re-opens.

The team is now scattered - Thailand, US, UK and Australia. Pray that we might continue to be effective in

dealing with different issues that affect our movement, despite distance. We have a twice a week

connection call. Most of our work can be done online. Pray for quick understanding of Zoom, ingenuity

and Elspeth’s ability to run lessons for the doctors in Thailand online.

Just before we left Chiang Mai we read Ps 95: God is good , God is powerful and we need to continue to

remember that no matter what our circumstances.

Philip and Elka Knight (Port Hedland Anglican Church, BCA)

The Knights are finishing at Port Hedland and moving to Melbourne, where Philip will lead the parish of St

Mark’s Forest Hill, starting on 23rd April.

o Pray for us as we settle into life and ministry at St Mark's, Forest Hill.

o Give thanks for God's goodness in helping us to minister in Port Hedland for 14 years.

o Pray for BCA and the diocese as they seek a new minister for Port Hedland.

Andrew and Heather Reid (ETCAsia, Singapore)

We have had significant staffing changes. Our administrator (Joy) has had to resign to look after her mother

who had a stroke and was hospitalised. We have reorganised staffing as a result. Please pray for wisdom in this reorganisation and that we find good candidates for the positions that we are seeking.

Give thanks to our gracious Father as we anticipate seeing some of our first intake of students graduate with their degree on 30 July.

Pray for our financial situation. We had many generous donors help us get started. Many of them

committed significant amounts for the first three years, which have now passed. In this financial year we are

heading for a very significant deficit with no reserves. Please pray for God's people to be generous. We are

searching for both small and large donors. Please do prayerfully consider if you might be able to help.

Give thanks for two books that I (Andrew) have been involved in writing. The first is co-written by Tim

Patrick, the principal of the Bible College of South Australia. It is the first book that I've written for a US

publisher (Crossway). The second is ‘Teaching 1 Samuel’, which is designed to help preachers and Bible

study group leaders prepare to teach and preach 1 Samuel. You could pray that I finish the second volume

soon (it was due with the publisher on 1 January). Please pray that all three books result in people being encouraged and equipped to teach God's people God's word.

Please pray for upcoming travel and speaking plans for both of us (which are COVID 19 dependent).

Heather has already had one conference cancelled and there is the possibility of the second one going

online. Similarly, Mike Raiter had to pull out of his annual two weeks of training here in Singapore. This will

now be done online. We are also considering that the rest of our semester might be done that way as well.

Please pray that this would be rolled out smoothly and well.

Pray for Jonathan Wu, our first potential locally born and bred faculty member. He has just started his

doctoral studies at Moore College in Sydney and will hopefully start with us in three years’ time.

Give thanks for Heather making slow but solid progress on her doctorate after a period of dropping behind.

Pray that this will continue.

Pray for Andrew who is quite weary with lecturing, administration, and other commitments as well as staff

finishing up. He has also had snippets of melancholy or depression appear again. Pray also for his short-

term memory, which was significantly affected as a result of his head injury a little over a year ago.

Give thanks that we are both finding refreshment in various ways and have been able to return to jogging

regularly around the Stadium that we overlook from our condominium unit.

CMS

For CMS missionaries, please refer to their individual prayer letters on the following pages.

Our other Gospel partners will be the focus of next month’s Kingdom Growth Night.

4) Praying for others personally in church or your group (8.05pm)

Spend some time praying for one another and for needs specific to each individual and to family and

friends.

Dear praying friends, I write with a heavy heart knowing the world is hurting, but also optimistic that God is using this pandemic to turn people back to himself.

Schools are closed and the children have been doing online schooling. This seems to have helped in curbing the number of COVID 19 cases in Japan. Strangely enough, with the number of cases now rising, schools will start again in April. Tahlia, who is doing the Year12 IB program, has just found out that her final exams have been cancelled and instead she will get her certificate based on the work she has done so far. She is quite happy with this decision.

With this ever-changing situation we have come to realise that instead of leaving Japan in June as planned, we may need to remain here for significantly longer. It is a strange season to be packing up but also preparing to stay; to be reducing food in our cupboard whilst also stocking up. We are very confused.

Meanwhile I have continued to meet with people, but in small groups with plenty of space and ventilation around us. It was wonderful to hear that Mrs Kaji, who gave her life to Christ four years ago, has finally decided to be baptised. Her biggest hurdle was getting her husband to agree. So it was a pleasant surprise to see him turn up at church with her on Sunday. Maybe these uncertain times are drawing him towards God.

It was great to have Tomo, Sho and Hama along to Bible Explore again and for Kei to come along for the first time. Tomo has told us he won’t be able to come anymore as he must study for his university entrance exams for the next 12 months. Please pray for him, that he will remember all that he has learnt, that God will continue to work in his heart and that one day he might become a Christian. Please pray that God might be doing a transforming work in Sho and Kei’s life too.

I’ll be preaching this weekend on Psalm 57 and I have been finding the message very applicable to today. We can’t underestimate how challenging David’s circumstances were as he spent seven or eight years fleeing from King Saul who was determined to destroy him. He wrote

this Psalm in a cave as he hid for his life. And his words do not hide the reality of his pain and distress. He didn’t pretend that everything was okay, instead he acknowledged his troubles. But the key to his perseverance was in his decision to deliberately turn his thoughts towards God. Instead of dwelling on the scariness and uncertainty of his circumstances, he turned to God, pleading for mercy and worshipped God. Verses 5 and 11 repeat these words “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.” And what was the result? Verse 7 tells us his heart was steadfast. Throughout last week I found myself waking at 3 o’clock a few mornings in a row with a sense of dread in my stomach. I believe this was caused by the stress of not knowing what our future holds together with seeing the world in such turmoil. Eventually I remembered to apply the words of my sermon to myself and in doing so, in turning my thoughts deliberately to what a wonderful, powerful, loving and good God we serve, I have found my heart became steadfast. I pray that you will remember this too. For me, it needs to be more of His Word and less Coronavirus news.

Thank you for your prayers.

In Him, Michelle

The Jacksons in JapanReaching Gospel-poor people for Christ

2020年03月26日

March Newsletter 2020 View this email in your browser

CHRIS & JULIE DEAN

 

Dear friendsWe are deeply thankful to God for you all, and for the fellowship that we share in theLord Jesus. These days of the COVID 19 pandemic are- humanly speaking- uncertain,and troubling. How we need to trust in God, & His good Gospel-purposes for His world& for His people, during these times. And how we are being reminded of how we needto pray for God’s world! And what an opportunity for God’s Church, and individualbelievers, to “shine… like stars in the sky, as [we] hold �rmly to the word of life” (Phil2:15-16, NIV), and to be “the light of the world… a city set on a hill” (Matt 5:14, ESV) thatJesus calls us to be. May God give us grace & love to be these things, being ready togive “a defence to anyone who asks [us] for a reason for the hope that is in [us], yetdo[ing] it with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet 3:15, ESV). 

We trust that- whatever personal circumstances you face in these days- you remindyourselves- as we remind ourselves- to cast all your anxieties on God, our Father,because He cares for us (1 Pet 5:7). Please feel free to let us know of ways we can prayfor you, or help or encourage you in other ways.

Home AssignmentWell, Home Assignment over the month of March has been eventful, in unanticipatedways.  We started March with encouraging visits to St Stephen’s Anglican Church,Greythorn (1/3), followed by Rope Factory Church, Warragul (8/3), the WarragulPresbyterian Church Ladies Encouragement Day (14/3), and West GeelongPresbyterian Church (15/3). We really enjoyed these opportunities to meet new peopleand connect with old friends. The fellowship that we- as Jesus’ people- share in HisGospel is a glorious & sublime thing! It was a privilege to share with many peopleabout our plans, under God, to serve His Gospel-purposes in Timor Leste, invitingthem to partner with us prayerfully and �nancially.

The impact of COVID 19, and the associated Government regulations, have meantthat- for the foreseeable future- our deputation is largely going online. Last Sunday,22/3, we were at St John’s Anglican Church, Diamond Creek: they live-streamed boththeir morning & evening Services, including the Pastor interviewing us- and Chrispreaching- on camera. We plan to do something similar at Berwick Anglican Church

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for this coming Sunday, 29/3. This is all good practice for us at being �exible andadapting to the requirements of our context and environment. It does, however, makeit more tricky for us to establish relationships with people in our Link Churches. It isalso an opportunity for us to learn better to trust God, particularly that He will raise uppeople to prayerfully and �nancially support us. The Coronavirus is a profoundreminder of our mortality and our dependence on God in all circumstances. 

Meeting with Geelong West Presbyterian               Live streaming to St Johns Diamond Creek

Coming up.....Next month we have plans to meet (at least “virtually”) with Drouin PresbyterianChurch, Mt Evelyn Presbyterian Church, Scot’s Presbyterian PWMU (Melbourne), andDrouin PWMU.

Currently, our Commissioning Service is scheduled for 3.00pm, Sunday, June 21st, atWarragul Presbyterian Church. We will keep you updated regarding this. We had beenhoping to leave for Timor Leste at the end of June, but- for obvious reasons- it’sbecome increasingly clear that our departure timing is overwhelmingly in God’s hands.

Please Give Thanks to God....

For the sure, certain, living hope of eternal life that we have in the Lord Jesus:for our eternal inheritance in Him, which can never perish, spoil, or fade (1 Pet :3-4)For mutually-encouraging meetings thus far with Churches and groupsFor the opportunity to develop supportive Gospel-partnerships with a variety ofpeople and ChurchesFor technology, which enables us to keep in contact with one another, andencourage one another in the Lord Jesus

We would love it if you could pray....

For believers in Timor Leste, including in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church(EPCTL), that they might remain strong in the Lord Jesus during this time ofpandemic, witnessing to Jesus’ saving power in their communitiesFor the advance of the Gospel in Australia, that- from the pandemic’s anxieties-many would turn to the Lord Jesus, for certain, eternal hopeFor us, that we will serve Jesus and His people lovingly and well, where we are,during Home AssignmentThat God would continue to raise-up supporters to partner with us �nancially,as well as prayerfully, in the Gospel, so that we can serve in Timor Leste

Thank you!

Yours in Gospel-partnership,

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March Newsletter 2020  View this email in your browser

MATT & KATE VINICOMBEwith Bethany (5) and Chloe (2)

On Groote Eylandt, NT. 

Dear Andrew and Helen

Well our world has certainly changed since last time we wrote.  And we are very awarethat the impact of COVID-19 is most likely much greater for you than it is for us.  Weknow some of you must be in isolation, some out of work, some of you needing tomake major decisions in workplaces and such.  We feel somewhat separated fromwhat is happening around the rest of Australia.  Feel free to send us an email backletting us know how you have been impacted.  We are always happy to pray for you,our friends and supporters.

COVID-19 has caused much conversation about the virus both with Warnamamalya(collective term for people who speak Anindilyakwa) and non-indigenous people.Recently there has been a two Facebook videos published in Anindilyakwa whichprovide all the usual information that you would expect form the government aboutthe virus. These videos have helped us re�ect of the importance of contextualising thegospel here on Groote.

I (Matt) have been showing the videos to people to help them understand whats goingon. The response that I've got has reinforced the importance of understandingpeople's worldview- which is one of our current aims of being here.  One manresponds with "I don't believe that, do you?".  Some are saying "God will protect us".

These responses to the video and other information about the virus, (which in theoryshould be great because it in people's �rst language), show a disjunct between themessage and what is being received. The government information in these videos hasfailed to take into consideration the cultural and spiritual context that the message isgoing into.  All this highlights the importance for us to listen to people and learn howthey see the world so that we can learn to share God's good news faithfully andmeaningfully. Otherwise we will be like government messages which are true but justend up being meaningless statements.

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Throwing spears at a friend's place. Beth even managed to get it stuck into a tree.

Give thanks...

That Groote is currently COVID-19-free

That Beth has really settled into full school days (those these will �nish soon for

at least 3 weeks now- lockdown+holidays).

That Matt has continued to have great contact with a range of men.

Please pray...

For a successful, COVID-19-free, 'lockdown' of Groote Eylandt from the 1-14th of

April.  There will be no �ights (so no FIFO workers for the mine or any other

groups) to or from the island, along with limiting travel between the mining

town and the Aboriginal communities as much as possible.

creative ideas on how to continue ministry and relationship building over this

time.

Growth in godliness in parenting over this time- patience, generosity, kindness

etc etc etc....

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Once again, thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and support.  Know thatwe are praying for you and our country as we all navigate the upheaval of our normallives and all the di�culties it brings. 

Picture 1: Excitement of seeing the new puppies at Gayangwa's.Picture 2: Bush mechanics.

  give.cms.org.au/vinicombemk

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope that we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 

Hebrews 10:23 

 

  cms.org.au/vinicombemk                    mkvinicombe@cms.org.au

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