January – May 2015 From our home missionaries

Page 4 – Red Dust Ministries

Bro & Sis Meijer

Page 7 – Ballarat Report Bro & Sis Butcher

Page 9 – Gold Coast Report

Bro & Sis Caltabiano

Page 10 – Ten Target Cities Launceston

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It has been an exciting first half of the year for the Australian Church with several developments taking place behind the scenes. Apostolic Believers from all over the country are beginning to make contact with the UPCA as well as other doors for ministry beginning to open. From Daughter Works to Bible study opportunities, as well as prospective new preaching points, contacts are emerging throughout the landscape.

With the Newcastle Daughter work of the Northern Beaches

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Pentecostal church supported by Home Missions continuing on, we are encouraged to see the desire of many churches and pastors to expand and sacrifice for the Kingdom of God. There have also been recent changes in leadership with outgoing pastors passing the mantle to younger leaders, such as in Adelaide with Br & Sis Behrendorf taking over from Br & Sis Cochrane and also in Brisbane with Br & Sis Imarisio taking over from Br & Sis Hall.

 

 

Australian Home Missions Committee

Director Rev. Stanley Harvey (Campsie) Secretary Treasurer Rev. Cameron Butcher (Ballarat) Strategy Development Rev. Jonathan Downs (Canberra) Administration/Resources Rev. Greg Hackathorn (Campsie)

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 AHM DIRECTOR’S EDITORIAL Connecting the Dots (…continued from page 1)

The Alice Springs Church may also have a possible new pastor as the Haden’s seek to retire from ministry. Meanwhile Br and Sis Rodney Murray are still looking for takers for the Port Lincoln, SA assembly. ANYONE INTERESTED? Please come and see me for more details.

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More changes in other churches are forthcoming. We have been buoyed by various reports of growth in many of our churches, which are experiencing many conversions such as in Hornsby and Darwin and the Gold Coast.

What has been another exciting development are the various contacts and opportunities that have risen such as a group of Pentecostal people in Cootamundra where the Canberra Church has begun monthly visits, holding services with about 15 people. Not far from their NSW regional area there is Culcairn, where we have another group of Believers meeting regularly. There are also contacts in Wagga, Junee and Mudgee. It is our desire to somehow connect these regional areas, with what looks like dots on a map, and be able to create a network of Apostolic Believers than can form a regional church. We have a prospective Home Missionary, so we ask you to join with us in prayer for these plans to be realized.

We must connect the dots. Every dot matters because it represents a soul. We must do our utmost to ensure that every lead is thoroughly explored and connected. This is a good principle not only for the Home Missions Landscape but also for our local assemblies. I am convinced that if every person is connected in a significant relationship with others, their likelihood of continuing on in the church and in their spiritual journey is greatly increased.

On The Homefront | 2 | January – May 2015

So I’m challenging you to become a connector and a networker. In Luke 5, Jesus instructed his disciples to let down their nets for a catch and when they obeyed, their nets were so full of fish that it was on the verge of tearing and their boats sinking from the sheer weight of the catch. While Jesus performed the miracle, the fishermen still needed to undertake the work of casting the net and pulling up the fish. In like manner, if we create a network of our Saints and our Churches, we can catch much more souls for the Kingdom of God.  

 

 

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Pentecostals Of Newcastle Praise the Lord from Newcastle, the second most populated city in New South Wales and a target city of the Australian Home Missions department!

Northern Beaches Pentecostal Church was blessed by the visit of several families from the Newcastle area in August of 2014. They were seasoned Christians without a church simply looking to bless and encourage us with their fellowship. We were certainly encouraged and we got to know them a little bit better as they were able to visit our congregation in the following months.

The brethren from Newcastle invited the NBPC saints to a combined family picnic in Newcastle. We enjoyed fellowship, games and dreamed of possibly combining these children of God into one church scattered across two cities. With permission from UPCA Superintendent, Rev Downs, we

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hosted a special planning session in November at NBPC and decided to start a daughter work in the Newcastle area.

Our very first service, November 26, was a time of rejoicing! We sang, we prayed and Rev Modarelli preached. Many saints from NBPC came to cheer on this new work. We had 32 in attendance! And the fire just kept on burning!

Our last service of the year, just prior to General Conference, included visitors from Cairns and Gold Coast. By this time, more people from the local area had joined us and two Apostolic families moved to Newcastle and joined us. We had 40 in attendance on that night!

On the 25th of January 2015, we were blessed with the visit of Superintendent Rev John Downs, his wife Sue and granddaughter Sarah Drew. Sarah sang with the music team, Rev Downs preached and afterwards Rev Don Modarelli was installed as the pastor of the new work. The Pentecostals of Newcastle are very grateful for the support of the Home Missions department and the saints of Northern Beaches

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Pentecostal Church. They are committed to the church motto, “Introducing People to the Life-Changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Be sure to spot their smiling faces at future events like General Conference, Turning Point and Youth Camp!

Darwin Update This year Northern Light Pentecostal Church celebrated 7 years in existence and what an incredible 7 years it has been! Just this past year they were able to become an autonomous work.

Br Namakadre and the Darwin church were blessed with visits by Br Manoa Naseiyawa and Sis Nancy Grandquist, who was travelling to Timor Leste with Sis Downs, that saw 3 souls filled with the Holy Ghost and 7 baptised in the wonderful name of Jesus!

The Lord continues to move on the ‘Top End’. Please keep Br and Sis Namakadre and the saints of Northern Light in your prayers!

On The Homefront | 3 | January – May 2015

 

 

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RED DUST HOME MISSIONS 4 – 18 MARCH 2015 This year, in the Yuendumu and Nyirrpy area, there is, and has been, the biggest ‘Men’s Business’ and initiations in thirty years with roadblocks, fear, and intimidation causing many people to flee to ‘safe’ areas.

The reason for all this, I have heard, is that many elders have passed away, needing to be replaced by young men who need to be initiated, willing or not.

Wednesday 4th March We arrived in Alice Springs airport, and after a jumper lead start from the Stirling Station boss lady, we drove to ICTV having picked up the caravan. Our contact at ICTV was very happy to receive the first two lessons of the Book of Acts. Whilst there, we were also able to finalise information required for the airing of the rest of the lessons of the book of Romans and the Tabernacle Plan.

We were graciously received at Sis Mollie’s, who then hosted a lovely dinner with Pastor and Sis Haden joining us.

Thursday 5th March Among the preparations for the trip was the fitting of a new door handle on the caravan, pulling the solar panel covers off, checking the batteries, packaging DVDs in cases bought in Alice, printing up of the book of Acts chapters 3 – 8 notes (ready for the Warlpiri translators to process),

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shopping, packing and vehicle prep.

We joined the folks in service this night, and listened to Bro Haden as he did an excellent job teaching on ‘Living by Faith and Not by Signs’. We caught up on who was where, in the aboriginal community, with our indigenous sisters, Andrea and Henrietta.

Friday 6th March We arrived in Yuendumu around 3.00pm and called in at Pastor Langdon’s house, met with his son, then his mother, and finally with his wife who all told us that Bro Jimmy had gone to Willowra, a community 180 km north of Yuendumu.

We went to Bro Colin French’s house and he was home to greet us.

Not long after our arrival, Sis Glorine from Yuelamu/Mt Allen came to the door and we went out to greet Bro Patrick and a busload of Yuendumu saints.

We settled in for a good night of fellowship with our dear Brother French.

Saturday 7th March We three left early to go to Willowra and, after a short hunt, found Bro Jimmy eating bush turkey on the verandah of his brother’s house.

We wanted to support our

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brother, including helping him with the service that evening, so we waited through the late afternoon, and saw the church bus return from a swimming hole trip.

Unfortunately the bus tyre was chewed up, and not fixable, until Monday. I preached on Jesus, ‘The Truth that Makes People Free’.

The Warlpiri have a word for truth, but that if some one wants to distinguish real truth from half-truth, then they have to modify the normal word for truth. It is a little like the use of the phrase ‘Verily verily’.

Because of the travel time, and Sunday morning commitments, we had to leave a few minutes after finishing preaching. We drove the 180 km back to Yuendumu, ate and got ready for Sunday.

Sunday 8th March When we arrived in Yuelamu, Pastor Singleton was asleep after a great previous night. We checked in with Sis Glorine, and met up with the saints of Yuendumu who were camping there, avoiding Men’s Business near their homes in Yuendumu .

They had been song writing and were filling the air with sweet gentle songs of Worship! It was a blessing to be in the presence of God lovers.

On The Homefront | 4 | January – May 2015

 

 

A little later the bus rolled in with children, and Sunday School was up and running!

Sister Meijer did an excellent job holding these wonderfully behaved children’s attention and interest for over an hour and a half!

I was asked to speak to a man wishing to be baptized, and I encouraged him to speak to Bro Patrick. He clearly had reservations about this and in later discussions with Bro Patrick, there were clearly some repentance issues, which our friend still needed to process.

At 1:45pm we drove back to Yuendumu for lunch and a rest, before returning at 7:00pm for evening service.

We entreated the presence of the Lord, and He did the rest! It was a powerful, wonderful night with Bro Patrick weeping and many people reaching out and touching God!

We took sister Nelson’s granddaughter back to Yuendumu, and got home for another late night meal.

Monday 9th March Sis Meijer and I drove to Yuelamu, and arrived late morning. We spent several hours catching up with Pastor Singleton. We discussed ministerial ethics and the fellowship was sweet. We finished around 2:00pm when Sis Meijer held a Sunday School teacher’s seminar with the teachers of Yuelamu.

Meanwhile with the pastor’s consent, I visited a troubled saint, and encouraged them to come back into fellowship.

We drove back to Yuendumu after 4:00pm, and had a good night of fellowship.

Tuesday 10th March We had been told that another lease meeting (for church land) was imminent, and we were keen to find out the current state of affairs. After contacting the CLC lawyer, I went to hunt down Bro Otto who works for the CLC in Yuendumu. When found, we discussed the land lease and the state of the church.

I picked up sister Meijer and we drove to Yuelamu, where we spent the rest of the day discussing, inter- pastoral protocols, annual growth reports, National Youth Camp details and trying to get USB sticks for Bro Patrick, to work on their monitor.

We eventually got ‘home’ to Yuendumu around 6pm.

Wednesday 11th March It is truly wonderful to be able to stay at Bro French’s home!

We received approval for service this evening from Sis Geraldine, and conducted a Sunday School Teacher’s seminar with the sisters in the afternoon.

While visiting Sis Alice Nelson at the school to ask her to bring the manuscripts, we were invited to a teachers’ meeting a little later that afternoon. The lady who invited us was keen to receive a copy of the bilingual Book of Acts 1&2. We gave two bibles away as well, and on the way home, loaded petrol for the generator for evening service.

I was preparing for evening service when some sisters came, but took time out to show them the start of the Acts DVD. At 6:30pm bro Jimmy came to the door asking me to pump up the back tyres of the bus. We did this while he talked about an evening service, he left, and the sisters went back to their home around 7pm.

We waited some time, and then determined to hold service: it was after 8pm at the basketball court.

On The Homefront | 5 | January – May 2015

 

 

Bro Jimmy dropped off some equipment, and disappeared again to get cleaned and dressed for service. I set up Bro French’s little amplifier, with a microphone and his guitar and sang to the Lord.

I preached on ‘Staying in the Word’, and by the end, Bro Jimmy was weeping and refreshed. As it turned out there have been some problems, and he had been having trouble dealing with the situations.

At the end of the service he came to me and said, “You don’t need loud noise to run a service” I answered, “No, you just need Holy Ghost!”

We finally got everything packed up, and had a late dinner.

Thursday 12th March I called in to Bro Jimmy’s house and caught up with Bro Kenneth and his family, who have decided to move to Yuendumu. Then Bro Jimmy came with me to Bro Colin’s home.

We worked through the growth reports, and the new Strong Pastor Brothers document. That night I was to preach.

Service didn’t start until after 8:15, with about 15 children, and

no more than six adults.

So we ministered to the children after Bro Jimmy’s children’s worship service.

It was a lovely evening, finishing with all the children joining us

in prayer for a lady’s sick daughter.

Another wonderfully cooked late dinner, and preliminary good byes to Bro French who would be at work before we arose.

Friday 13th March We hunted down a sister for the translated chapters of Acts, cleaned the house, coupled the caravan, packed all the gear, burned DVD, checked with youth for youth camp, booked flights to Sydney, emailed print outs for lease applications and then off to Nyirrpi.

We passed Bro Micah and his wife, Ursula, on the road as they were off hunting goannas. When we got to Nyirrpi, we stopped at the shop for some power cords and were met by some of the saints. We set up the caravan at the church, and were lovingly attacked by a bunch of boys who were after company and Vitamin ‘C’s! We rested up, and got ready for service. Bro Micah was playing the keyboard and while we talked, Bro Lance turned up.

We got ready, and a number of saints were in church by the time we joined them.

When they went to the front and started to sing, the Spirit of the Lord filled the place, under the stars, and a long way from home. The Lord had given a message on Hope, and the whole congregation was hanging onto the ‘palm tree of hope’.

There was a beautiful move of the Holy Ghost, and people were strengthened, and encouraged. Isn’t God great!

Saturday 14th March We set up the outdoor shower tent, had breakfast and went out to meet Bro Micah. We worked through the growth report, talked about ministerial ethics and enjoying good fellowship. After 2 hours we stopped for lunch and recommenced at 2pm with some Q&A. That was followed by a look at a Psalm and then a study of the simple English text for ACTS 3. There were 6 people in attendance, and they enjoyed the teaching.

I was happily surprised at Bro Micah’s quick, deep, insights into the scripture. After two and a half hours we all retired, to prepare for evening service.

Sis Meijer preached a wonderful message on ‘Walking in the Spirit’!

On The Homefront | 6 | January – May 2015

 

 

Sunday 15th March Early in the morning I looked out of the window to see Sis Ursula sweeping the church in preparation for Sunday school! The water hose for the AC did not arrive, so we threw buckets of water into the ‘swampy’ (evaporative air cooler), as Sis Carla taught the children with a number of mums there looking and learning!

We had a ‘first’ today, the first Warlpiri memory verse! They memorised John 3:5 and Sis Ursula helped with teaching the words.

Brother Micah had been the bus captain this morning and was sitting with a man who recognized me from the ICTV program, and told me that he felt that he needed to be in church! I assured him Jesus was here at the church even when we are not.

In the afternoon, Sis Meijer taught Sunday school teachers, while Bro Micah and I worked through the notes of Acts 4 and 5. It was an uplifting time!

That evening Bro Micah decided to have service at the

basketball court. There were around 20 in attendance, including Sis Maudi and Phyllis. The word was on choosing the ‘good part’ over the needful! A few came out to pray and there was a sweet Spirit at the end of the service

Monday 16th March We packed up the shower room, finished packing, picked up the keyboard for Bro Jimmy and later the keyboard to be repaired for Bro Micah, said our ‘goodbyes’ and then we were off to Yuendumu.

When we arrived, we went to the school to catch up with Sis Alice, and whilst there, met the new principal and discussed contemporary Warlpiri.

From there we went to Bro French’s, where we sorted out the insurance cover on the caravan with Sis Butcher. We were able to park the

caravan in the yard, set down all the gear and then reload the 4WD.

I visited Bro Jimmy, where we caught up with Sis Selina from Ti tree/ Willowra, who was taking a bunch of teaching DVD’s back home with her.

We drove home and at Tilmouth Well, we met up with Sis Yvonne and Ormay, with whom we discussed translations, and then followed behind them, as they were not carrying a spare tyre.

Tuesday 17th March We finished cleaning and tidying up and then joined the Hadens for a pleasant lunch and time of fellowship.

Wednesday 18th March John and Molly arrived home, and after a short hello, we went to the airport, and flew back to Sydney!

BALLARAT REPORT I Love Our Family This is a saying that would warm any parent’s heart – but even more exciting was that the quote from our youngest daughter was not in relation to our immediate family but rather the local church family. Conference was over, we had returned to Ballarat to continue praying that the Lord would lead us to our Cornelius (Acts 10 – Br. Leaman’s closing Conference message), and the post-conference fellowship continued sweet and precious. Thank the Lord that he puts the orphans into families, makes the weak strong and to the spiritually destitute; He provides all. In late January we were honoured to perform our first Ballarat baby dedication.

On The Homefront | 7 | January – May 2015

 

 

(continued from p. 7) A family connection of some of the church saints provided us with the opportunity to minister to their extended family and friends. A beautiful group of first time visitors came for the occasion and the Lord ministered wonderfully to their needs. The baby was perfect and she continues to bless us every time she makes it to service with a smile and a spirit that shows how much she enjoys being in the presence of our Saviour.

We give thanks to the Lord for what He has done; what He is doing; and for all that He is going to do. When we look back and reflect on our experiences after arriving in Ballarat, we cannot be thankful enough for what the Lord has done and for the many ways Home Missions and a praying network of churches (the Australian church family) has blessed us.

Time and space does not permit me to give all the details but let me share with you that during 2014 our first time visitors increased by 16% and even more exciting is that our repeat visitors were up by 19% on the prior year. Jesus - pour out your spirit upon all flesh, as we lift you up.

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

Last month we joined together with the Victorian Ministers and Leaders to experience a forum including topics such as integrity, faithfulness and being a visionary in the 21st century.

We are thankful to our Presbyter Br Hogben for entrusting us with organising the forum and for facilitating the night, and to Br and Sis. Ross and the Greater Life church for being our hosts. The Lord blessed the session greatly with many Ministers and Leaders wanting to know when the next forum would occur.

We have commenced Bible School and recently our students were overjoyed to pass their very first exam. We know it’s not all about passing exams – we are hiding His word in our hearts and growing in His ways – but it’s nice for the students to get great results too.

Our current Wednesday night bible study is based on Br Bernard’s 7 Apostolic Principles on Growing the Church and and once a month, in the middle of the month; we hold a Wednesday night session titled “What does the bible say about…” and we cover a range of topics.

Last month the Lord called Sis. Carol home. She was 79. Sis. Lynn Jones baptised her in the precious name of Jesus some

years before our arrival in Ballarat and my wife and I, along with Sis. Jones were honoured to attend Sis. Carol’s funeral. I will never forget that as the Spirit of the Lord moved on Sis. Carol during service she would rise up out of her wheel chair to lift her hands to worship Jesus! Thank you Jesus – our hope is in you.

In May, a young person came to her first youth meeting and our spirits were buoyed to hear that she could not stop telling her family about what a great time she had at youth. The group may have been small numerically on the night, but thank the Lord that He never requires a majority to move. Thank God that He ministers to our needs individually.

On Mother’s Day in Ballarat saw the service blessed with 12 (Yes 12) first time visitors. Pray for these families. We are very excited as these families have backgrounds from Australia, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Soon the Higher Ground Victorian Regional Conference will be upon us and we cannot wait. Next year (in May) we will be hosting these meetings in Ballarat. Consider this your invitation – come and join us and see what great things God is doing!

On The Homefront | 8 | January – May 2015

 

 

by the end of the year.

About an hour later, I received a phone call from a lady called Sally inquiring about baptism. She stated that she had recently been converted to Christianity with several family members as they were once Hindu. Upon her conversion Sally had connected with an Apostolic web site in the USA and they had spoken to her about Jesus name baptism. Sally then asked several churches in her area to baptise her and 3 relatives in the Name of Jesus but all refused telling her it wasn't important. Sally's friend in the USA then found our website and gave her our details. I explained to Sally that, yes we only baptise in the name of Jesus, and organised to meet up with her and her family. Sally then told me she lived on the NSW side of the border. So we organised to meet on the Saturday at Tweed Heads (this is were we have been praying for a second preaching point). When we got there we noticed there was a sign for the public stating the small pool was closed for 30 minutes for Baptisms.

After a short Bible study we baptised Sally, her sister, mother and Aunty in the Name of Jesus.

We continue to keep in contact with Sally and believe that God will have a church on the QLD/NSW border.

So we continue to trust in God at Gracepoint knowing that the Lord is building His church. One of our biggest struggles of last year was consistency but this year we have noticed the faithfulness of the saints. People have been making themselves available and are getting involved. We have had

GOLD COAST REPORT The year 2014 ended with Gracepoint Church in a place where consistency was back, the church was growing and we had a vision for 2015. The conference was inspirational and we had 30 of our church family attend. During the conference we baptised a couple who had attended Gracepoint Church for a short period before moving to Melbourne. Before he left the Gold Coast we had discussed the salvation message, however he was skeptical. But while he was away in Melbourne, John felt God was reaching out to him and so he decided to come to the conference with a made up mind he was getting baptised. I was blessed to baptise John and his fiancé in the hotel pool.

On the way back from Sydney, my wife and I spoke about the goals of the church for 2015. We discussed our desire to see a second preaching point on the southern part of the Gold Coast

On The Homefront | 9 | January – May 2015

 

     

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TEN TARGET CITIES Launceston, TAS Located at the junction of the North and South Esk rivers, Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania.

With a population of over 100,000 people, Launceston is the ninth largest non-capital city in Australia. Settled in 1806, this beautiful city has all the amenities of a modern city.

This is a wonderful part of the world and one that we must reach for Jesus Christ!

Other Target Cities

Gladstone, QLD Mooloolaba, QLD Toowoomba, QLD

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Armidale, NSW Dubbo, NSW Wagga Wagga, NSW Newcastle, NSW Mildura, VIC Bunbury, WA

We are looking to churches to appeal to the workers and leaders in their assemblies to take up the challenge of going into these new areas and we are praying for individuals to take the step of faith in doing the same.

Australia Home Missions United Pentecostal Church of Australia

Director. Rev. Stanley Harvey

PO Box 12 Belmore NSW 2192

Phone. (02) 9718 8086 Fax. (02) 9718 2679 australianhomemissions@gmail.com

www.upca.org.au

Australia Home Missions Purpose Statement.

VISION: Every Church in Australia involved in planting new Churches.

MISSION STATEMENT: is to inspire and equip every UPC church in Australia to win and disciple the unsaved through planting new works in unreached areas and significant population centres.

GOAL: Every existing Church to start one new Daughter Work by 2018.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS FOR OUR HOME MISSIONS WORKS AND FOR AUSTRALIA.

Donate to the Australian Home Missions

ACC Name: Australian Home Missions UPC ACC No: 1008 7203 BSB No: 06 4170 PO Box 739 Ballarat, VIC 3353

Please ensure that any donations are submitted through your local assembly.

On The Homefront | 10 | January – May 2015

(…continued from p. 9) several visitors who now make this their home church. Some families, who had stopped coming last year have come back as we have focused our prayer towards restoration and have seen the Lord restoring back to the family of God. There have been several testimonies of God blessing our saints with work. When we get together for Church prayer meetings, we have witnessed God answering specific prayers within the week.

So we thank the Lord for His faithfulness towards to the saints at Gracepoint Church and we continue to ask for the prayers of the national body as we work together to see revival throughout this great South land