“Poverty is a fact of life for far too many Australians ...” BAPTISTCARE CEO, DR LUCY MORRIS

We value community because we are stronger when we work together.

BAPTIST CHURCHES WESTERN AUSTRALIA

11 Poverty for 1.5mOver 100,000 Australians are homeless each night and 25 percent of those are aged 12 to 18 >>

4 Campsite safeBaptist Churches Western Australia has renewed the lease for the Busselton Baptist Camping Centre >>

7 SportsFest 2011SportsFest continues to be a highlight of many churches’ annual youth programs >>

NOVEMBER 2011theadvocate.tv

In conversationThe Advocate celebrates its 10th anniversary. PAGE 12 >>

Tony Campolo speaking at the churchtogether event in Perth.

churchtogether is one of the

largest Christian combined

church events of its kind in

Australasia, and in a powerful

statement of unity, 7,000 people

from 160 different churches filled

the park.

A stunningly beautiful Perth

spring day enticed many to bring

their picnic sets and eat in family

and church groups before the

celebration began.

More than 500 volunteers

served as ushers during the

afternoon and evening.

Local musicians, including

Jonas and Lucinda, Rob

Humphreys and Paul Morrison

entertained the crowd with

acoustic music during the hour

before the program started.

Mark Wilson, Director of

Ministries for Baptist Churches

Western Australia, welcomed

the crowd and set the program

themed ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ in

motion.

Dr Tony Campolo, President

of the Evangelical Association

for the Promotion of Education,

Pennsylvania, USA spoke to the

crowd.

passengers evacuated smoothly

from the bus while one of the

men put out the fire. No one was

hurt.

Several passengers travelled

home to Albany later in the day

in private vehicles with other

competitors due to work and

school commitments on Monday

morning. Some students were

sitting exams on Monday.

More than 30 competitors

spent the night at Eaton Baptist

churchtogether 2011Crowds flocked to G.O. Edwards Park in Burswood from mid-afternoon on 23 October ready for the churchtogether 2011 celebrations.

His topic ‘Bringing the

Kingdom into your world’ related

well to the entire crowd.

An elder statesman of the

Christian community, the

renowned author told stories

highlighting God’s wisdom and

involvement with individuals to

bring transformation and hope

to broken lives.

Phil Baker, former Senior

Minister of Riverview Church,

Church then travelled to Albany

on Monday, arriving in town

around 3:00 pm.

“We’d really like to thank

Geoff Black from Bunbury who

drove us home in his hire bus

and didn’t charge us,” Craig

Sullivan said. “We only paid for

the petrol.”

“The whole team from Baptist

Churches Western Australia

were so helpful and the people at

Eaton Baptist were great too.”

Bus fire at Sportsfest

took the idea of a city wide

gathering of Christians to a

group of influential church

leaders almost 20 years ago. The

first churchtogether was held in

1993.

Senior Minister of Riverview

Church, Haydn Nelson,

invited Phil and his wife

Heather on stage at this year’s

churchtogether. The crowd

cheered wildly to honour Phil

who spoke briefly about his

journey with churchtogether.

He continues to recover from

serious medical issues.

Tim Hanna, CEO of

Compassion Australia and Tim

Costello, CEO of World Vision

Australia talked together about

their work among the poor of the

world.

Although both men lead

hugely influential teams that are

making significant differences

on the global scene, Tim Hanna

said the thing that keeps him

awake at night is children dying

from preventable diseases. Tim

Costello loses sleep because of

slavery.

Later in the program guest

performers, Parachute Band,

from New Zealand cranked out

some brilliant music. A highlight

for everyone was Henry Seeley

joining Parachute Band on

stage.

A leaking fuel line caused fire in the engine of a bus taking 40 young people home to Albany from SportsFest in Australind on Sunday, 2 October.

Albany Baptist Church Youth

Pastor, Craig Sullivan, said the

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2 NOVEMBER 2011

my view

letters to the editor

send us your letters

The Advocate welcomes your letters to the editor on topics of concern to you and the community. Send your letters of no more than 100 words to editor@theadvocate.tv by the 10th of each month.

The significance of baptism

To lose sight of all coasts ...

I’m not a baptismal regenerationist

(someone who believes that if we

can just immerse them we’ll save

them). It is by God’s grace that we

are saved through faith (Ephesians

2:8). However, let’s dispel some of

the common myths that sink us.

Jesus’ baptism is not a model

for us. Jesus did not refer to it as

a model, neither did Peter or Paul

in the New Testament writings.

Jesus’ baptism was not a Christian

baptism. Nor was it John’s

So I hauled out my trusted diary —

in 2001 a notebook and pen affair.

Discovery one was that I prefaced

the year with two quotes I had

presumably found inspiring.

The first was from French

philosopher Andre Guy, “We can

never discover new continents

baptism. It was a priestly baptism

that was entirely unrelated to sin.

It was ceremonial preparation for

priestly service (see Leviticus 8:6

ff).

Paul states in Romans 6 we

are buried with Christ through

baptism into death. Paul makes

no mention of the word ‘symbol’

or ‘symbolise’. Something actually

happens. It may be that baptism

symbolises our faith, but for Paul

it actualises a spiritual death and

until we have the courage to lose

sight of all coasts.” In 2001, I was

approached to take up a post at

a seminary in the USA. While

it all fell over (the institution

concerned fired 38 of their 42

theologians at the same time as

they withdrew their invitation to

resurrection experience.

Then there is the old

Augustinian phrase that drips

incessantly — an outward sign

of an inward experience, sign

and symbol. Christian baptism

is simply an expression of, or

testimony to an experience

that has already taken place.

Specifically, a born again

experience of one’s own

defining that did not necessitate

any specific act of obedience.

You won’t find this phrase or

sentiment in the New Testament.

Christian baptism is an act

of obedience. Matthew 28:19-

20 includes it in the Great

Commission as the means by

which we make disciples. We go

me), I can understand why I was

agonising about losing sight of

the coast.

The second was from one of

the church elders, Jamie Wood,

“Visions conceived with God are

never stillborn, but often aborted.”

Profound stuff. It’s true that God

never wimps out of the plans He

has for us, but we often do.

Flicking through my diary

has been fascinating. Endless

meetings — some with people

whose names no longer conjure

up a face, while others spark

instant nostalgia. For some I have

offered a prayer in the dark. I

remember how tough things were

for them then; and wonder how

and make disciples by baptising

and teaching people. Christ

commanded it, so we do it, but the

Bible teaches so much more about

this wonderful ordinance.

I am puzzled by the current

state of conviction among many

Christian leaders. I suspect that

much of the ambiguity and soft-

peddling on baptism springs from

a desire not to rock the boat or

offend people who have followed

Christ for years without being

baptised.

Let’s rediscover baptism, not

as a work that earns salvation, but

as a term of the covenant that God

has prescribed and to which we

must therefore be obedient if we

are to be covenant people.

they are travelling now.

And how am I travelling?

Well, a few years later we did lose

sight of all coasts and made the

journey to Perth. It was worth

the risk. And we have found that

visions conceived with God are

not stillborn; and God has given

us the strength not to abort.

So sorry, I can’t say much

about The Advocate turning

ten, but I can affirm that God is

faithful, year in, and year out.

Mark Wilson is the Director

of Ministries for Baptist

Churches Western Australia.

Mark Wilson

Dr Brian Harris is the

Principal of Vose Seminary

and Senior Pastor of Carey

Community Baptist Church.

Dr Brian Harris

The significance of baptism has been watered down substantially over the years in Protestant circles. The outcome has often been a reduction to the lowest common denominator — Jesus did it, so

we should too.

The editor informs me that the current edition marks the 10th anniversary of this publication, and wondered if I had any insights to note the milestone. Given that ten years ago the powers that were didn’t have the foresight to invite me to write for the opening edition, I can’t claim to remember the ‘back then’ days. But it did inspire me to think about what I was doing a decade ago.

disclaimer

The Advocate reserves the right to edit or withhold from publication any letter

for any reason whatsoever. Once received, all letters become the possession

of The Advocate. The views written in ‘letters to the editor’ do not necessarily

reflect the views of The Advocate or Baptist Churches Western Australia, nor

does The Advocate take any responsibility of the views stated by those who

write to the editor.

Share Your Will Power

Thinking about your Will?

Call 1300 789 991 or visit baptistworldaid.org.au/ bequests for a copy of

Baptist World Aid Australia’s ‘Guide to Wills and Bequests’

Give generously to Baptist World Aid’s Christmas Appeal today. Visit www.baptistworldaid.org.au or phone 1300 789 991.

What does Jesus Want for his BirthdAy?“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

Clean water for

Mani and his family

3newsNOVEMBER 2011

Mark Wilson was re-appointed as Director of Ministries for Baptist Churches Western Australia (BCWA) for a further five years at the Annual Assembly of the BCWA in late October.

DOM reappointed

The Annual Assembly of the Baptist Churches Western Australia (BCWA) was a celebration of God’s faithfulness and heart for people.

Assembly celebrates God

Almost 90 delegates met at

Gosnells Baptist Church on

Saturday, 22 October to hear

stories of God at work. It was the

first BCWA Assembly for Vose

Seminary’s Dr Peter Christofides

and newly appointed Pastor

Ted Ward of the Coolbellup

Charismatic Baptist Church.

Accreditation candidate,

Karen Siggins, spoke of her

journey with God as He prepared

her through suffering and pain

as well as joy and celebration to

the point where she now leads

the church at Lesmurdie.

The accreditation culminated

with Dr Brian Harris and other

senior staff of BCWA as well as

Karen’s family and close friends

gathering around her and

formally setting her apart for

the ministry God has called and

equipped her to do.

BCWA Director of Ministries,

Mark Wilson, presented her with

a certificate of accreditation and

a Bible.

The Assembly also

welcomed Pastors Chuck Barrett

and Nathan Randall whose

accreditation was transferred

from overseas.

The Assembly voted to extend

Mark Wilson’s call as Director

of Ministries for five years and

accepted the nominations of

Bruce Watkins, Brad Entwistle

and Karen Siggins as members of

the Council of BCWA.

Dr Harris outlined the

growth of Vose Seminary and

Dancers from the WA Chin Christian Church performed at the Annual Assembly of the Baptist Churches Western Australia in October .

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the pressing need for improved

facilities.

“We’ve gone from 41 students

in 2004 to more than 200 this

year,” Dr Harris said.

He outlined the concept of

Vose College which will train

students who have completed

high school. Plans include studies

in education and commerce.

“We’re serious about helping

people develop a robust and

thoughtful Christian faith,” he

said. “We want to help grow

Christian leaders not only for

the church but also for the

marketplace.”

The Assembly endorsed

a capital giving campaign to

enhance and enlarge the facilities

of Vose Seminary.

Hans’ Christmas gift album - carols sung in German, English and French & other albums; You gave me life Inspired melodies Peace like a river Sounds familiar Silent Night Divine (single) are now available.

To order email: hjls77@yahoo.com.au Albums $18; Single $5 incl postage within Australia

Brief video clips highlighted

God at work in several arenas of

the Kingdom. Pastor Colin Lituri

spoke of the progress at Woodvale

Baptist Church and Pastor Joanne

Jarlett talked about the Karratha

Baptist Church; Karen Wilson

highlighted the work among

Baptist women.

Monica O’Neil from Vose

Leadership explained how

leadership clusters are helping

individuals become better leaders

while Dan McGrechan talked of

the influence SportsFest is having

among young people.

Dr Marc Chan explained that

ethnic churches make up 10

percent of Baptist Churches in

Western Australia and the unique

role they have in ministering to

people from other cultures.

The WA Chin Christian

Church sent a group of singers

and dancers to the Assembly.

Their four-part a cappella

harmony chorded with many

people at the Assembly. The rich

heritage of their culture was

also evident in the dance they

performed, which told the story

of God’s faithfulness.

“It’s wonderful to see the

overwhelming endorsement of

the leadership and ministry of

our Director of Ministries, Mark

Wilson,” Chairman of the BCWA

Council, Allan Thomas said.

“There is a real sense that

God is working through Mark’s

ministry and we look forward

to what the next five years will

bring.”

4 newsNOVEMBER 2011

Kennedy Baptist College recently appointed Mark Ashby as its inaugural Principal.

The College was created through

the amalgamation of Somerville

Baptist College and Winthrop

Baptist College, on their adjoining

campuses in Murdoch. It will

start operating at the beginning

of 2013.

Colleges combine for 2013centre and upgrading present

facilities will be ready for the start

of the 2013 school year.

“While some parents are

concerned that students will not

be cared for as well in a larger

College, we know that the quality

of care has little to do with size,”

Dr Phil Ridden, Executive Officer

Kennedy Baptist College said. “It’s

about the quality of relationships,

and students and staff at Kennedy

Baptist College will continue the

tradition of strong staff-student

relationships.”

27/09/2011

Mark D Robertswww.patheos.com/blogs/

markdroberts

“At the risk of oversimplifying

things, let me say that worship

is offering to God all that God

is due. For us individually, this

means offering our whole selves

to God.”

18/10/2011

Carl Truemanwww.reformation21.org/

blog/2011/10/howard-

jacobson-on-steve-jobs.php

“... Steve Jobs was the great

facilitator in our day of Pascalian

distraction/diversion. For those

digital church

Baptist Churches Western Australia has been invited to renew the lease for the Busselton Baptist Camping Centre for the next 21 years.

Campsite finally safeAfter more than five years of consultation and negotiation, Baptist Churches Western Australia (BCWA) has been invited to renew the lease for the Busselton Baptist Camping Centre for the next 21 years.

All the lease holders that

applied for their leases have had

their applications confirmed.

Recommendations were

approved by the Busselton Shire

Council on 12 October at a regular

Council meeting.

Baptist Churches Western

Australia have been invited to

hold leases for two adjoining

sites.

“The granting of the leases

presents BCWA with exciting

opportunities to serve the

community,” Terry Hicks,

Business Manager for BCWA said.

“It’s a real blessing for us to

have two sites to work with,”

Ross Daniels, Director of Camp

Ministries said. “The biggest

thing for us is we can cater for

larger groups. That’s more than

200 people at a time.”

A new requirement of the

lease agreement is an annual

contribution to the coastal

erosion program run by the

Busselton Shire.

“This is a significant new

expense for us,” Ross said.

“The lease now has building

set-back limits that we’ll need

to adhere to. This will affect us

immediately as the dormitories

on the new lease site will have to

be demolished.”

“We’ll re-configure our

current buildings to allow the

best use of facilities for group

bookings.”

Possible changes in the future

include some new buildings to

of us who love our iPads and

iPods, that is a very sobering

thought.”

18/10/2011

Andrew Hamiltonwww.backyardmissionary.com

“… maybe Facebook is more like

real life than we would like to

admit. Maybe this is how it works

in our world. I have certainly seen

plenty of people cut friendships at

the slightest hint of disagreement.

Unfortunately it only creates

immature people who fail to

grow and develop relationships of

substance — because you can’t do

that when you cut off everyone

who disagrees with you.”

18/10/2011

Mike Friesenwww.mikefriesen05.

wordpress.com

“One of the most

transformational teachings

a Christian can find in their

lifetime is that they’re made

in the image of God. It brings

about a whole new perspective

for them in the way they are

called to live. This teaching,

called the Imago Dei, reveals

the beauty of every single

human being and the eternal

worth in which they were

created.”

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BirthsDaniel Jordan Rivett was born

to Steve and Josie Rivett (North

Beach Baptist Church) on 22

September.

EngagementJason Watterson and Anika

Fitch announed their

engagement recently. Jason is

Ron and Sandra Watterson’s son

(Cranbrook Baptist Church),

and Anika is Doug and Janet

Fitch’s daughter (Mt Hawthorn

Baptist Church). Vanessa

Moore and Tim Robertson from

North Beach Baptist Church

announced their engagement

on 15 September.

Pastoral changesPastor Paul McKeich concludes

his ministry at Mt Barker in

early November to work as a

chaplain at YouthCARE based

in Perth. Pastor Steve Izett

concludes ministry at Carey

Baptist Church in late November

and starts as Senior Pastor at

South Perth Baptist Church in

late January 2012. 

briefs

“We have a very clear vision

for the future of Kennedy Baptist

College,” Mark said. “It will involve

building on the great foundations

of the two current schools.”

“Creating the new College will

provide some real advantages

for students, including a greater

breadth of opportunities across

all aspects of the College

curriculum.”

The new College is a response

to emerging trends in education.

A building program featuring

a new and contemporary enquiry

meet the needs of guests.

The set-back limits outlined in

the lease agreement will provide

open space for guests on the

beach front.

“If there are people who have

skills, practical or otherwise, I’d

really like to hear from them,”

All current teachers will

be accommodated in the new

College. A new leadership team is

being formed.

“We will definitely be

employing a chaplain,” Mark said.

Kennedy Baptist College

expects to have a student body of

about 1,300.

“The new opportunities

and possibilities created by the

formation of the new College are

exciting for students.”

Ross said. “This is a great

opportunity for people to share in

the ministry of the BCWA.”

Busselton Baptist Camping

Centre is all about creating an

excellent camping experience

that helps build changing

relationships and memories

through short-term community.

Camp managers, Andrew

and Rebecca Collins, expect to

be busy with bookings over the

summer.

The Green Team, volunteers

assisting with Leavers events at

Dunsborough in late November,

is accommodated at the camp site

each year.

“Busselton is such a great

campsite — close to the beach,

simple accommodation at

affordable prices, possums in the

trees — campers never want to

leave,” Ross said.

5newsNOVEMBER 2011

Colleges combine for 2013

(Mount Pleasant Baptist Church)

powerful voice inspired the

audience to sing praises to the

‘King of Kings’.

‘This Little Light of Mine’

captured the image of Perth being

a city of light. Challenge Stadium

was studded with points of light

when people waved glow sticks

and mobile phones as the crowd

sang. In 1962, American astronaut

John Glenn recognised Perth

from space when the population

turned on the city lights as he flew

over WA.

Shine was the brainchild of

Commonwealth Prayer Initiative

founder, Wendy Yapp, who spent

two years planning the ten day

Christian festival to celebrate

CHOGM 2011 in Perth.

“When I first heard the

Premier, Colin Barnett, announce

two years ago that Perth would

host the 2011 Commonwealth

Heads of Government Meeting, I

was excited that this significant

event would be held in our city,”

Mrs Yapp said.

“The Premier then asked the

WA community to get behind

the event. Well, the Christian

community has certainly done

that,” she said.

Two more city-wide rallies

followed the opening event. One

Perth shines for CHOGM

Prayer changing lives

Dr Muyiwa Sorunmu from Nigeria prays for Africa at the opening of the Shine at Challenge Stadium.

The prayer event marked

the beginning of ten days of

Shine activities, many focused

on prayer for the nations of

the Commonwealth and the

Commonwealth Heads of

Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Following a colourful Parade

of Nations, featuring all the flags

of the Commonwealth, politicians

Peter Abetz and John Kobelke

brought messages from the West

Australian Premier and the Leader

of the Opposition, respectively.

The program focused on

prayer with representatives from

local churches, including Mark

Wilson, Director of Ministries of

the Baptist Churches Western

Australia, and many international

guests praying for unity and

purpose among local, national

and international churches.

A military band and bagpipes,

a 150 voice choir, dancing, flags

and balloons helped the audience

worship.

The Bible brought to Australia

on the First Fleet and the first

Aboriginal language Bible were

paraded into the stadium and

displayed on stage.

Nick Scott, Senior Pastor at

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

was master of ceremonies for the

event. Singer Christine Kang’s

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Shirani Wikramanayake spoke at the Shine Assembly on 21 October where 300 people met at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church to hear stories of God at work among the nations and to pray for the nations of the Commonwealth.

Since the tsunami on Boxing Day

2004, Shirani Wikramanayake

has had a strong connection

with Perth through Nicole

O’Dea who works in Sri Lanka

with Daughters of Destiny

International. More than 36,000

people died and 800,000 more

lost their homes and work when

the tsunami hit Sri Lanka.

“I believe that Perth hosting

the CHOGM is no accident,”

Shirani said. “Perth has cried

with us, prayed with us and

shared with us so generously

through so much.”

“I believe it is Perth that will

shine tall and bright and will

reconciliation in Sri Lanka, a

nation torn by civil war.

“We mobilise people to pray

— small groups praying one day a

week, with specific prayer points.”

“Our first goal is to bring

the Body of Christ together.

That’s been my focus. In 2007

we held a unity gathering with

thousands of people from many

denominations. Things are

changing.”

Leaders from around Australia and the world met at the Shine Assembly meetings at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on 21 and 22 October to share stories of God at work and to encourage people to pray.

The gift of God

at Victory Life Centre on Friday, 21

October and another at St Mary’s

Cathedral on Saturday, 22 October.

“It is powerful to see the

churches in Perth coming

together as the nations of the

world come to our city,” Victory

Life Senior Pastor, Margaret Court,

said. “What a significant time to

stand together for the nations in

prayer and worship.”

Converge, a week of prayer,

praise and performances at

Wesley Church in the Perth CBD

was organised from 24 to 30

October.

Inside Wesley, people prayed

24 hours a day for the entire

week. They prayed for peace

and security of delegates during

CHOGM week, as well as for the

needs of the 2.1 billion people of

the Commonwealth nations.

reach the rest of Australia. It’s

only the fuel of prayer that will do

this.”

Shirani’s life changed 24

years ago when she met a group

of Christians at a Bible Study.

Born in Sri Lanka and brought up

as a Buddhist, she was captivated

by the love and care of the group.

For the last two decades her

work has focused on the Prayer

for Peace (P4P) movement for

My work is mobilising the next generation ...

Shirani Wikramanayake spoke at the Shine Assembly recently.

Christians from churches across the city celebrated the opening event of Shine on Thursday, 20 October at Challenge Stadium. Organisers estimated 1,500 people attended.

Sydneysider Jane Mackie, founder

of the Children’s Prayer Network,

equips children and leaders to

pray using the gifts God gives

them.

“My work is mobilising the

next generation as agents of

transformation for the next

generation,” Jane said.

During the Assembly she

ran workshops with high school

students helping them experiment

with prayer.

“We’re so privileged to have

Jane here,” Wendy Yapp, founder

of the Commonwealth Prayer

Initiative said. “She is a world

leader having taught in 35 nations

around the world.”

David Stanfield, ‘The Banner

Man’, held workshops on using

banners and flags in worship.

“Banners really help people get

moving in worship,” David said.

“I’m seeing a lot of men engage

more fully with worship when

they use a banner. Sometimes our

worship is so soft and sedentary.

It’s not attractive to men.”

“Flags and banners aren’t

something new. They’ve been part

of worshipping God since the Old

Testament times.”

Other speakers included Ian

Cole from the World Prayer Centre

in the United Kingdom, Brian

Pickering from the Australian

Prayer Network and Pastor Gireva

Gireva from Papua New Guinea.

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6 newsNOVEMBER 2011

BaptismsBelinda Wilcox and Katherine

O’Dea from Pingelly Baptist

Church were baptised during

the church’s camp at Busselton

on 2 October. Bruce Watkins was

baptised at Parkerville Baptist

Church on 25 September. Adrian

Bockhoop, Caitlin Becsi and

Trevina May Howell were baptised

at 1Church in Mandurah on 25

September. North Beach Baptist

Church celebrated the baptisms

of Naomi Smith (formerly from

Karratha Baptist Church) on 18

September and Sue Archibald on

2 October.

Maida Vale turns 50A Saturday evening dinner

and Sunday morning service

and lunch made up the 50th

anniversary celebrations of

Maida Vale Baptist Church on

17 and 18 September. Guests

at the dinner included former

Pastors Jeff Mitchell, Keith

Gallagher, Nic Rensen and

Simon Jennings. Six foundation

members of the church cut the

anniversary cake. A church

history was produced and a

photographic display prompted

many to reminisce about how

God has worked in the area. Ian

Duncan led the Sunday morning

worship time using songs that

reflected the changes to music

and worship over the decades.

Bob Clark, now retired, spoke at

the service.

History reviewedDuring the Baptist Historical

Society Western Australia’s

meeting on 13 November,

the day’s speaker, Aylene

Quartermaine, will be talking

about Mount Pleasant Baptist

Church’s first fifty years (1959 –

2009). Secretary Rhoda Walker

said the meeting will be held

at the Mount Pleasant Baptist

Church, 497 Marmion Avenue,

Booragoon at 2:30 pm. “People

are welcome to come and hear

the story of one of our churches,”

Rhoda said.

briefs

Fifty-five young people from

six Baptist churches met at

Parkerville Baptist Church on

the night of Friday 14 October to

participate in Just Prayer.

Organisers Pastor Craig

Palmer (Riverton Baptist Church)

and Pastor Dan McGrechan

(Parkerville Baptist Church)

guided the group through prayer

for the people groups Global

Interaction has teams working

among.

Groups came from Baptist

churches at East Fremantle,

Riverton, Girrawheen, Lesmurdie

and Parkerville as well as one

from Wagin.

The night started with

a sausage sizzle and drinks

followed by a game in the church

car park to help the group get to

know each other.

Ben Good, interim Pastor

at Wagin Baptist Church and

a Global Interaction worker

preparing to go to Mozambique to

work with the Yao people, spoke

of his journey responding to

God’s voice.

Peter Birt, one of the Pastors at

Parkerville Baptist Church, with

years of experience working cross

culturally in Indonesia and the

Philippines talked with the group

about the desperate need for

people to go to groups that have

not yet heard of God’s plan.

“You’ve got to be courageous

to do this,” Peter said. “All the

easily reached groups already

know about Jesus. It’s the hard

to access ones, and there’s about

6,000 of them, that still need to

hear.”

He suggested Jesus’

comments about going to ‘all

nations’ refers to ethno-linguistic

groups, not merely individuals.

Youth show the way

The auditorium, lit by

soft candle light, became an

environment conducive for

reflection and prayer. The young

people divided into four groups to

pray for people in Africa, Central

Asia and South East Asia.

At East Fremantle Baptist

Church the Sunday morning

gathering had a strong emphasis

on prayer for people groups that

do not yet know of Jesus.

“We followed the service

designed by Global Interaction,”

Pastor Andrew Duncan said. “This

is something we can do any time,

but the emphasis this weekend

when we knew so many others

were praying too was great.”

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Charis Waugh and Rhys Ludemann were part of the group of young people from six churches who prayed

together for people groups of the world.

Joy for Pingelly campers

Sixty people from Pingelly Baptist

Church travelled to Busselton for

the weekend.

As well as plenty of fun

activities there were some

teaching sessions. Pingelly’s

Pastor, David Adams, taught on

‘Having a practical prayer life’

and John Kenyon, an elder at the

church, spoke about ‘Five key

principles of wealth’.

“The highlight of the camp

was the baptism,” David said. “It

rained heavily during the service,

but the sun came out just in time

for the baptism on the beach.”

Katherine O’Dea and Belinda

Wilcox were baptised. Three other

adults expressed their interest in

being baptised.

“On Saturday night we had

a spectacular quiz night run by

Sarah, Emma and Clare Lange.

They conducted a fantastic show,”

David said. “Great strength was

shown by the young women who

we thought were shy.”

Many campers said they

felt they were brought closer

to the Lord and their faith was

strengthened because of the

weekend.

Global Interaction called churches across Australia to pray for the whole weekend of 14 to 16 October for Just Prayer. The initiative encouraged churches to pray for people around the world who are from groups that have not yet heard about Jesus Christ.

Two baptisms in the ocean off the Busselton Baptist Camping Centre were a highlight of Pingelly Baptist Church’s family camp at the site over the first weekend in October.

David Adams (left) and Malcolm Cunningham baptise Katherine O’Dea

during the Pingelly Baptist Church camp at Busselton.

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7newsNOVEMBER 2011

SportsFest 2011

Queue for the loo

“Millions of people around

the world don’t have access

to a toilet. That’s not just an

uncomfortable situation to

endure it brings major health

problems to a community,” Robin

said. “We’re working to highlight

that problem and to encourage

people and governments to give

funds to help solve this problem.”

The Mount Pleasant Baptist

Church team won the photo

competition with their cheeky

shot of an expectant queue.

At SportsFest 2011 Robin Carter from Baptist World Aid Australia asked teams to take a photograph to demonstrate the plight of people who have limited access to sanitation.

At SportsFest this year 1,126 young people from 30 churches competed in different sports over the weekend of 30 September to 2 October.

SportsFest, for those aged 16 to 28

years, continues to be a highlight

of many churches’ annual youth

programs.

Baptist Churches Western

Australia Events Coordinator,

Erik Olsen, and Events Assistant,

Michelle Smoker, worked with

more than 200 volunteers and

support people to ensure the

program ran smoothly.

“Each year it’s a logistical

challenge to program the event,”

The Mount Pleasant Baptist Church team queue for a loo to win the Baptist

World Aid Australia photo competition.

Michelle said. “This year’s event

was unique because it was run

over two days, instead of the

usual three day long weekend.”

“We could never run

this event without the huge

contribution made by the

volunteers,” she said.

The event was once again

held at the Leschenault Leisure

Centre in Australind.

“The SportsFest competition

is a highlight of the annual

calendar at Leschenault Leisure

Centre,” Lisa Johnston, Centre

Booking Officer, said. “Erik and

his team are a pleasure to work

with and do an awesome job.”

“The weekend is action packed

with people participating in a

variety of events in and around

the Centre, and there is always a

smile on everyone’s face.”

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Robin has been part of

SportsFest for the past three

years.

“I just love coming to Perth

for this event,” Robin said. “These

young people are so enthusiastic

and creative.”

On Saturday evening Ben

O’Reilly led a tight worship band

comprising of musicians and

singers from several churches.

Pastor Anthony Palmieri (Lakeside

Baptist Church) was the main

speaker for the gathering at Eaton

Recreation Centre.

Almost 20 percent of the

audience wrote responses asking

for prayer or wanting to talk about

an issue, including choosing to

follow Jesus.

Competition started on Friday

night after the opening ceremony

with the tug of war challenge.

Wagin won the men’s event and

the Bentley women’s team won

their event.

The 2012 event will revert to a

three day program.

For more SportsFest news see

pages 8, 9 and 16.

Participants gather at the Leschenault Leisure Centre on Friday, 30 September for the opening of SportsFest.

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10 NOVEMBER 2011

news

Their hearts are still in Central

Asia where they have many

friends among the students they

taught during the past decade.

“We’re really missing the deep

fellowship we had with people

there. It’s going to take some time

to feel comfortable and accepted

back here,” Shirley said.

With their family living in

Alberta, Canada and London,

England, the return to Perth has

been a little strange. The Dean’s

home church is Tom Price Baptist

Church in the Pilbarra, and even

there the transient nature of the

population focused on mining

work means they know few people

in the church.

“We’d love to go back and visit

the church,” David said. “At the

moment we’re not sure how that is

going to happen.”

The Deans have spent the

first month back in Australia

going to medical appointments

David and Shirley Dean recently returned to Perth after 11 years with the Global Interaction team teaching English at universities in Central Asia.

Katanning celebrates home

Out of Asia

and visiting government

agencies to organise pension

payments.

“We’ve been visiting Perth

churches each weekend to thank

people for their support and

interest in the work we’ve been

involved in for the past few years,”

Shirley said. “It’s difficult to really

get to know people when you’re

just in and out in one day.”

That thought is not foreign

to many people returning to

Australian culture after an

extended time working cross

culturally.

“One thing that is easy to

adjust to is clean air,” Shirley said.

“And everything looks so new and

clean, unlike parts of the ancient

city we lived in.”

Over the years the Deans

worked in three universities in

Central Asia. In August, before

they returned to Australia, they

met with a group of students

Shirley and David Dean recently returned to Perth after teaching English in Central Asia.

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Three hundred people from the Katanning region recently celebrated 25 years of Katanning Baptist Church meeting at Kobeelya.

Kobeelya was built in 1902 as the

stately home of the Piesse family,

12 years after Katanning town

began. For six decades it was

home to a girls’ boarding school

before Katanning Baptist Church

purchased the property in 1986.

Katanning Karen Baptist Church

also meets at Kobeelya.

Schools, churches and

community groups can hire the

conference centre. For about 20

years the ‘Single Again’ camp has

met at Kobeelya, bringing hope

and courage to people on their

own after a marriage breakdown

or the death of their partner.

The celebrations ran over

the weekend of 27 to 28 August.

People queued to join local

identity Jean Phillips as she led

tours through the large house. All

the other buildings were open for

interested people to view.

Activities focused on relaxed

fun — sack races, egg and spoon

races, tug of war and three legged

races.

The newly laid chess board

in the central lawn area attracted

many competitors for a game

of chess or checkers. Beach

volleyball and croquet were also

popular.

A cake stall, fresh garden

products and plants, lunch

and high tea helped raise more

than $3,200 for bedspreads for

Kobeelya’s new beds.

The celebrations included

a worship service at Katanning

Baptist Church on Sunday

morning followed by lunch on the

lawn.

Pastor Malcolm Good said the

weekend was a great community

celebration.

Caption

from the first class they taught

who were celebrating the 10th

anniversary of their graduation.

“We’ve seen some changes in

the society over the years,” David

said. “Foreigners could not live

inside the old city walls in 2000

when we first arrived. They can

now.”

“The last few years we’ve seen

attitudes of respect for elders and

authority diminishing, and wealth

and independence becoming

driving forces in society.”

“With the massive population

there is intense competition for

jobs. Many people have no hope.”

“We saw many lives change

as students introduced their

friends to Jesus. They found

hope for the future and they

experienced God’s love for them

as individuals. So many of the

students had never experienced

that,” David said.

The Deans will look for work in

Western Australia in the new year.

At Vose Seminary, no two stories are the same.

People join us to learn more about Jesus and The Word for all kinds of reasons.

Some are young, some older. Each one seeking to follow Jesus in a deeply biblical, highly practical learning environment.

Some come to fuel and equip a ministry journey they’re already on, or are exploring. Others because they’re wanting to add knowledge to cultivate a robust faith. Others come because they know that this is simply the next step on a long journey.

Whatever your story, come, grow at Vose Seminary. Continue your journey at www.vose.edu.au

come, grow

Age 5 Mum prays a prayer with me and I say ‘yes’ to Jesus

Age 14 I say ‘yes’ all over again at youth camp at Serpentine.

Age 16 Start leading at camps, start leading worship at church.

Age 26 One of the pastors at church says, almost incidentally, ‘I think God could be calling you to plant a church’.

Age 28 I’m working hard but down deep, something stirring. God’s working on my heart...

Age 31 I enrol at Vose Seminary and begin a new journey of learning, growth, equipping and discovering Jesus in community. Pretty excited...

Age 34 Our first Sunday!

Built in 1902, Kobeelya has been home to Katanning Baptist Church for 25 years.

11newsNOVEMBER 2011

“Poverty is a fact of life for far too

many Australians and there is no

need for it to exist to the extent

that it does.” Baptistcare CEO, Dr

Lucy Morris said.

Over 100,000 Australians are

homeless each night and 25

percent of those are aged 12 to

18.

Homelessness, poor health,

limited education and issues of

illiteracy, insecure jobs in service

industries and a pervading

sense of hopelessness are

consequences of poverty.

“I’m tired of seeing the

gap between the rich and

poor increasing, the constant

demands of consumerism and

the demand for constant growth

at the expense of sustainability

and general human flourishing,”

Dr Morris said. “It’s time there

was a much clearer agenda for

human happiness than the only

one which appears to exist, that

of having money to spend.”

During Anti-Poverty

Week, from 16 to 22 October,

Baptistcare ran several events

across the West Australian

community to highlight the

plight of Australians living in

poverty.

Baptistcare encouraged

people to display a ‘reverse

poverty, reverse park’ bumper

sticker to call people to action to

start reversing poverty.

Poverty for 1.5m Aussies

Ross Daniels from BCWA shows the ‘reverse poverty’ sticker on his car during Anti-Poverty Week.

Baptistcare officially opened its new Welshpool office on Friday, 14 October.

The new office brings together all

the support staff from Baptistcare’s

Applecross and Rivervale offices

to work in an open plan office at

100 Welshpool Road.

The event marks a new

chapter for Baptistcare, with

the launch of the new name

Baptistcare Inc. (formerly the

WA Baptist Hospital and Homes

Trust Incorporated). A Five Year

Strategic Plan and new website

were also launched.

Baptistcare opening

Chairperson Cynthia Clive

officially opened the new building.

Community Ambassador and

Patron, Pastor Graham Mabury,

prayed, asking God’s blessing on

the Baptistcare team and the new

offices.

“People loved the open plan

arrangement and its sense of

energy, as well as being able to

see Baptistcare’s future in the

Strategic Plan, the new website

and new name,” Baptistcare CEO,

Dr Lucy Morris said.

“It was wonderful to see so

many of our friends, colleagues

and supporters gathered to share

in our celebrations.”

Also attending the event

were Baptistcare staff and board

members, representatives of

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The Burroughs Trio entertained guests as they arrived for the launch of Baptistcare’s new offices in Welshpool.

More than 1.5 million Australians live in poverty and many more are close to the edge.

People were asked to take

a photo of their car parked in

reverse with the bumper sticker

on view, then post the photo

on the Anti-Poverty Western

Australia Facebook and Twitter.

Staff from Baptist Churches

Western Australia joined the

activity.

“Many people in our society

don’t see the impact of poverty,

so this campaign is useful to

raise awareness of the issue,”

Ross Daniels from BCWA said.

“The bumper sticker is a simple

way to start that process.”

Dr Morris, Co-Chair of

Anti-Poverty Week 2011 in

Western Australia, was a speaker

at an event at Notre Dame

University in Fremantle during

Anti-Poverty Week. She spoke

about the links between climate

change and poverty.

Staff and board members at

Baptistcare posted video clips on

the internet talking about some

of the issues causing poverty and

their experience in Australian

society.

Aimee Somerville from

Baptistcare said poverty is

everyone’s issue, not simply

those who deal with poverty in

their lives every day.

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The team of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church recently received a national award for their work with young families.

MOPS make a difference

The Spirit of MOPS Award is

given to a chartering church

or organisation that has

supported and promoted the

cause of MOPS in their area in a

significant way during the year.

Inaugural Coordinator,

Pauline Hough, heard about the

MOPS program at Lifestreams

Christian Church in South Perth,

became inspired and went to her

church leadership team with the

desire to start a MOPS group at

Mount Pleasant.

“MOPS was a huge blessing

in my life as I brought up my

children over the three years I

was coordinator. I know it really

encouraged those who attended

and many seeds were planted in

their hearts,” Pauline said.

MOPS has been running at

Mount Pleasant for ten years.

They helped start new groups

at Carey Baptist Church and

Karratha Baptist Church in 2010.

In 2008 they hosted the national

conference.

Currently MOPS at Mount

Pleasant has no coordinator, but

the team continues to work in

the MOPS model — a dynamic,

inviting environment where

women can come just as they

are to build friendships, be

encouraged and gain practical

parenting strategies, while

children are lovingly cared for in

a MOPPETS program managed

by volunteers.

One single mum struggling

with three boys said that MOPS

at Mount Pleasant always made

her feel like a queen.

MOPS is conducted Australia-

wide. There are 17 groups in

Western Australia, seven in

Baptist churches.

the Baptist Churches Western

Australia, building design team

and suppliers, government

representatives, other industry

providers, colleagues and friends.

“Even though we moved into

the office in May, having the

celebration really symbolised our

new direction,” says Baptistcare’s

Director of Organisation and

Quality Development, Des Lewis.

“It was much more than the

opening of the building.”

For more information, visit

www.baptistcare.com.au.

12 NOVEMBER 2011

in conversation

Gathering news and photos

is a constant task for The

Advocate’s team. One edition

goes to print and the next one is

already being planned.

“It’s quite a dynamic

publication to work on,” writer

Jill Birt said. “We’re often

updating stories right up to

the time we go to print so our

readers have the most up-to-date

information.”

The latest design changes

appeared in the June 2011

edition. The Advocate is now

a full colour production of 16

pages.

“The Advocate has been and

continues to be a wonderful way

to share the stories of Baptist

churches in Western Australia

and the wider Christian

community,” Mark Wilson,

Director of Ministries said. “On

this our 10th anniversary of The

Advocate, with its new 2011 look,

is a newspaper that we can all be

very proud to read each month.”

The Advocate turns 10

Some people said it wouldn’t last, but this month marks the 10th anniversary of The Advocate newspaper.

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Terry Hicks looks back over the first edition of The Advocate from November 2001.

Brad Entwistle, Managing Director

of imageseven, has worked on the

design of the newspaper since its

creation.

“Our original brief was to

create a publication that built a

sense of community across all

the Baptist Churches in this very

big state. To do that we knew we

would have to craft a publication

that is interesting to read. So it’s

been an ongoing challenge for

The Advocate team to create a

newspaper style publication on a

monthly basis, while keeping the

stories current.”

“One of the distinctive

characteristics that sets The

Advocate apart is our editorial

style. We set out to write the

stories in a way that doesn’t use

too much in-house language. We

want people who have no direct

connection with their local Baptist

church to be able to pick up the

paper, read it and not be alienated.

Even more than that, we want

those people to have a positive

impression of what Christians are

up to across Western Australia and

the things that are truly important

to us being reflected ... and that

we can have a laugh at ourselves

from time to time.”

“Over the last ten years I’ve

read nearly every word that we’ve

published. There are stories

that break your heart and there

are stories that remind me how

wonderful God is. But I really

enjoy being able to report the

small successes of churches and

Christians across the state. When

you add them all together, there’s a

lot going on in WA.”

Before The Advocate, Baptist

churches throughout Western

Australia received information

through the monthly bulletin-style

publication Contact.

“The transition to a newspaper

was an interesting and in some

ways brave move as Contact had

been a church hold word for a very

long time,” Terry Hicks, Editor of

The Advocate, said.

“I have to give a lot of credit

to Terry Hicks and the team at

the Baptist Churches Western

Australia. After a few years we

went to them and suggested that

The Advocate take a wider focus

and become ‘Western Australia’s

newspaper for Christians’ they

saw the vision straight away,”

Brad said. “While the focus is

clearly still on Baptist churches,

The Advocate is a service to

Christians of all denominations

in WA.”

The first design was 12 pages,

black and white, with colour

photographs front and back.

“We were all set to distribute

the first edition at the Annual

Assembly at the Concert Hall

in the city,” Terry said. “The

adrenalin was flowing as we

handed out The Advocate, then

we found out churches had also

received it on the Sunday prior

to the Assembly, so many people

had already seen it!”

The mix of church news

and stories from national

and international groups

demonstrates the dynamic

nature of the Christian

community and God’s power at

work.

“I’m hoping this journey

over the past ten years has been

helping WA Baptists share the

great things God is doing and

how people’s lives are being

challenged and transformed in

their local communities,” Terry

said.

The Advocate is a service to Christians of all denominations in WA.

13NOVEMBER 2011

leadership

By John Maxwell

The gift in the slap By Monica O’Neil

Feedback and criticism are fairly constant for leaders; unless you have managed to surround yourself with a bevy of henchmen who keep people and their opinions away or you are so intimidating that no one is game to talk to you. People will let you have some from time to time or possibly all the time if you are a radical change agent. Their words or actions can be difficult to receive, yet in each one is a gift. That gift is worth the discipline it will take to unwrap and accept.

1. Gain clarity

Clarity is the most important

concept in personal productivity.

Leaders cannot make the best

use of time until they have

a clear-cut notion of their

purpose in life. Dr Edward

Banfield of Harvard University,

after more than 50 years of

research, concluded that ‘long-

term perspective’ is the most

accurate single predictor of

upward social and economic

mobility in America. Long-

term perspective turns out to

be more important than family

background, education, race,

intelligence, connections or

virtually any other single factor

in determining your success in

life and at work.

Successful people have a

clear future orientation. They

think five, ten and twenty

years out into the future. Take a

moment to ponder your purpose.

What do you hope to accomplish

in life? Where would you like to

be in ten years?

More concretely, ask yourself,

“Why am I on the payroll?” Pose

this question to yourself over

and over again throughout your

career. In truth, most people are

not sure exactly why they are

on the payroll. Yet, if you are not

crystal clear about the results you

have been hired to accomplish,

it is very hard to perform at

your best, raise your value as an

employee and earn promotions.

2. Generate priorities

Leaders look ahead to where

they hope to be in the future, and

they set priorities in the present

to make sure they end up at their

The time of your lifeWhich significant event or season would you describe as ‘the time of your life’? Perhaps your wedding day and honeymoon, an adventurous vacation, or the birth of a child. These memorable moments stick in our minds and remembering them brings back feelings of joy. Yet while our lives may be marked by notable occasions, they’re not defined as much by any single event as by the unremarkable days which shape our character and values. The hours, minutes and seconds in a day literally are the time of our lives. How we use them shapes who we are. To make the most of the precious resource of time, consider the following three steps.

desired destination. Their future

intent influences their present

action. Prioritisation means

giving focus and energy to those

things that give the highest

return.

The 80/20 Rule is a helpful

concept to hone in on your high

return tasks. This principle says

that 20 percent of your activities

will account for 80 percent of

your results, 20 percent of your

customers will account for 80

percent of your sales and 20

percent of your products or

services will account for 80

percent of your profits. This

means that if you have a list of

ten items you do, two of those

items will turn out to be worth

five or ten times or more than the

other eight items put together.

Which priorities on your to do

list are most likely to account for

the bulk of your productivity?

3. Get on a schedule

Scheduling is telling your

time where to go instead of

wondering where it went.

Sticking to a predetermined

schedule guards your time

and puts you in control of

your agenda. Alternatively,

unscheduled time flows to trivial

tasks, falls under the sway of the

assertive personalities around

us and surrenders to every

emergency that arises.

Thoughts on scheduling:

Schedule in advance

Work a couple of months

ahead. Put top priorities on the

calendar first, making sure to

keep your family at the top of the

list.

Resist the urge to over schedule

You’re not Superman or

Superwoman, so don’t try to

cram 14 hours of work into an

eight hour day. Also, build in

ample time for rest and exercise.

In addition, give yourself margin.

Leave some free time to deal with

unexpected events or to fit in an

unforeseen appointment. Finally,

just say ‘no’. Filter out meetings

or involvements that eat away

time and offer little in return.

Create large chunks of time

Most of the truly important

work you do requires large

chunks of unbroken time to

complete. Your ability to carve

out and use these blocks of peak

value, highly productive time is

central to your ability to make

a significant contribution to

your work and to your life. Study

your natural rhythm and carve

out space on your calendar to

perform your most important

work during the time of day

when you function best.

Used with kind permission from

The John Maxwell Company,

www.johnmaxwell.com.

It takes skill to carefully

unwrap the gift given and

sort through its contents. The

good news is that skills can be

learned. It also takes grace and

forgiveness, and fortunately,

as followers of Christ, we have

been given plenty and can, in

turn, give plenty.

So what kind of skill is

involved? Glad you asked.

Separate your emotional

response from the data.

Criticism can set off a

bevy of emotional responses,

including anger, despair

and sadness. Criticism can

tag itself to a particular part

of our sense of self which is

insecure. We all desire to be

loved and accepted, as well as

hopes for making a significant

and valuable contribution in our

community. These are the bases

which can take a beating when

we are criticised. That critique

can go straight to some of our

very soft places and we feel it.

Critique has data. If it is off

the wall, from another planet,

simply weird and irrelevant, we

can easily dismiss it, and rightly

so. But most criticism has truth in

it. Data which is real. Sometimes,

extra facts or opinions have been

added by the giver to give weight

to their case. Generalisations

and exaggerations can be

investigated for the kernel

or harvest of truth which is

contained in it. You can make

a genuine enquiry as to the

nature, severity, examples of

and frequency of the offending

action.

It is helpful to imagine this

data on a table out in front of

you, like notes spread out to be

examined. You can sort them

through, look for value in them

and thank the giver for their

feedback. Pieces which prove

to be lacking veracity can be

discarded gracefully.

The difficulty is that our

emotional response has been

triggered almost instantly. We

have instantaneously opened the

door for the emotional threat to

barge into our deeper being and

threaten us, and the door seems

to slam shut right in time to

block out all the useful data.

There is a discipline

to quieting your physical

response of stress, anger,

confusion or sadness. Until

you do so, it clouds capacity

to read the data. I haven’t

said you don’t feel it. Simply

acknowledge it and quieten it.

What if we pushed the

information and our response

back out the door and onto

the table outside of ourselves

where we can examine it

broadly and generously? Then

we could choose the gift to

take away. We can also choose

the gift of a response filled

with integrity and grace.

Monica O’Neil is the Director

of Vose Leadership.

14 newsNOVEMBER 2011

the facts

Editor: Terry Hicks

Managing Editor: Brad Entwistle

Sub Editor: Jill Birt

Production: Fiona Hood

Graphic Design: Peter Ion

Catherine Bartlett

Advertising: Priscilla Penn

Distribution: Priscilla Penn

Editorial deadline: 5th of each month

EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING:

Email: editor@theadvocate.tv

advertising@theadvocate.tv

Mail: Baptist Churches

Western Australia

PO Box 57, Burswood

Tel: (08) 6313 6300

Fax: (08) 9470 1713

The Advocate is published on behalf of

Baptist Churches Western Australia by imageseven.

Tel: (08) 9221 9777

Email: info@imageseven.com.au

Publishers General DisclaimerAll the articles, comments, advice and other material contained in this publication are by

way of general comment or advice only and are not intended, nor do they purport to be the

correct advice on any particular matter of subject referred to. No reader or any other person

who obtains this publication should act on the basis of any matter, comment or advice

contained in this publication without first considering and if necessary taking appropriate

professional advice upon the applicability of any matter, advice or comment herein to their

own particular circumstances. Accordingly, no responsibility is accepted or taken by the

authors, editors or publishers of this publication for any loss or damage suffered by any party

acting in reliance on any matter, comment or advice contained herein.

imageseven bcw P303

events calendar

To find your local Baptist church visit www.baptistwa.asn.au

contribute news

November

6 November Day of Prayer on Climate Change,

Hope for Creation,

www.hopeforcreation.com.au

11 November Remembrance Day

11 to 12 November Prayer 101 Workshop, 1Church

Mandurah, 0407 986 214

12 November 21st Birthday Celebration,

Busselton Baptist Community

Church, 9754 8001

13 November Baptist Historical Society

Public Meeting,

Mt Pleasant Baptist Church,

9384 5460

16 November International Day of Tolerance

19 November Jazz at the Wood, Inglewood

Community Church, 0406 073 690

25 to 28 November The Zone at Leavers’ Week,

Dunsborough, BCWA, 6313 6300

26 November Opening of Woodvale Baptist

Church Auditorium, 9309 4044

26 to 28 November The Zone at Leavers’ Week,

Rottnest, BCWA, 6313 6300

December

3 December International Day of People

with Disability

5 December International Volunteer Day

10 December International Human Rights Day

19 December IGA Carols by Candlelight,

Supreme Court Gardens

2012January

2 to 7 January Super Heroes Summer Camp -

Inters, BCWA, 6313 6300

8 to 12 January Super Heroes Summer Camp -

Juniors, BCWA, 6313 6300

14 to 15 January More Than Sunday Music Festival,

Old Broadwater Farm Busselton,

www.morethansunday.org

February

18 February Jazz at the Wood, Inglewood

Community Church, 0406 073 690

March

8 March International Women’s Day

24 March Jazz at the Wood, Inglewood

Community Church, 0406 073 690

24 March Perth Children’s Ministry

Convention, North Beach Baptist

Church, 9341 1560

25 March Moora Baptist Church 20 Year

Celebration, Moora Baptist

Church, 96531414

15NOVEMBER 2011

listen

Journey into God’s Heart Jennifer Rees Larcombe

This story tells a personal

account of a woman born into a

famous Christian family with the

public eye upon her. After being

miraculously healed, following

eight years in a wheelchair,

Larcombe explains her journey

walking through the fire and

overcoming serious challenges of

faith. “… none of them had realised

that the times I treasured most,

in retrospect, were the secret

moments alone with God when

I felt my spirit had touched His

and, for a brief moment, we had

merged completely.”

Courageous Randy Alcorn

Based on the screenplay by

Alex and Stephen Kendrick

(Fireproof, Facing the Giants

and Flywheel), Courageous is a

novel that revolves around four

police officers and the challenges

that they must face, not only

with their professional life, but

with their personal and spiritual

too. With a heavy focus on

parenthood and working together

in our faith; Courageous is a

call for men and women to take

charge in ‘fathering’ our families

in Christ.

Mirror Ball Matt Redman

“This book is about living a big,

bold, bright life of worship,”

explains author Matt Redman.

Mirror Ball, the perfect title for a

book that focuses on our calling

to reflect God’s light out into

the world. Matt brings focus to

our daily lives and how we can

worship, not only through song,

but through passion and love.

Redman encourages readers

to remember that, however

inadequate they may feel to live

out this passion, God will work

in and through them, just as light

radiates through the smallest

prism.

No Ordinary Day Amelia Jae

When Australian singer/

songwriter Amelia Jae last year

released her debut album No

Ordinary Day, no one would have

guessed that within a year she’d

be wooing crowds at the Big Exo

Day in Sydney and other Christian

music festivals, as well as singing

to record-breaking crowds at

major sporting events such as the

NRL finals. This album reveals

Amelia’s natural talent to enthrall

audiences and create songs about

life, love and faith. ‘Wannabe’ is a

standout song.

A Moment of Clarity Seasons

Four years after the release of her

debut solo album Note to Self, and

seven years after her appearance

in the top four of Australian

Idol, Hayley Jensen now leads

the Christian pop rock band

known as Seasons. The five song

EP, A Moment of Clarity, makes

compelling listening and shows

that Seasons is one of those rare

bands that can get a crowd on its

feet from the very first song. Every

song is a winner.

All or Nothing Jonnday

The Australian indie five-piece

Jonnday has attracted a lot of

attention and accrued some

impressive accolades, winning a

stack of band competitions and an

increasing number of fans along

the way. The band’s current line-

up, finalised a couple of years ago,

has performed at Easterfest, the

Big Exo Day and the Forest Edge

Music Festival. Each of the songs

on this six-track EP is full of hope

and encouragement. ‘One Type of

Falling’ is a highlight.

intermission

Answer:

Name:

Phone number:

Please complete this form with your details and post it to:

The Grace of God Competition11 East Parade East Perth WA 6004

onethousandpremieres.comOne Thousand Premieres is a campaign to bring one of the

greatest Bible stories to the silver screen. It’s the story of David

and Goliath, in its time period, but presented in a progressive

cinematic style for the next generation. Rather than distributing

it through conventional theatres, History Tellers Productions

are building a network of 1,000 individuals and churches

that will help bring this film to life and present it as a gift to

their communities. The film is called Four Stones and will

released internationally on 12 to 14 October 2012. You can

host a premiere in your home or in your church, check out

onethousandpremieres.com for more information.

browse

win

Reviews and competition kindly supplied by Word Bookstore.

Website: www.word.com.au

Locations: Morley - 4 Wellington Road, phone 08 9375 3722

Victoria Park - 359 Albany Highway, phone 08 9361 7899

competition

The Grace of God Andy Stanley

“But grace can’t be earned …”

explains Andy Stanley, a Pastor,

communicator and author

based in Alpharetta, Georgia.

“To earn something is to find an

equivalent. There is no equivalent

where grace is concerned. Grace

is birthed from hopeless inequity.

Grace is the offer of exactly what

we do not deserve.” Stanley

describes clearly to us, the

meaning of grace; the evidence of God’s grace through the lives of

people like Moses, David, Jonah, the Samaritan woman at the well

and the prodigal son (just to name a few). It is an inspiring, in-depth

study on the Lord’s great grace. “We find in the pages of scripture

that the stories often mirror our own stories, and that we too need

the very thing we do not deserve; the grace of God.”

The Advocate, in conjunction with Word Bookstore is giving you an

opportunity to win a copy of The Grace of God. To be in the draw,

simply answer the following question:

Question: What is grace birthed from?

Entries close 16 November and all winners will be announced in the

December edition of The Advocate.

Start Your New Life competition winners:

N Aplin, A Bozanich, C Bulley

read

Kindly supplied by Wanno from Woodlands Media

Website: www.woodlandsmedia.com

16 NOVEMBER 2011

sport & youth

Ph

oto

: Te

rry

Hic

ks

Riverton Baptist Church won the ‘big church’ category of SportsFest 2011, with wins in badminton, indoor cricket, kubb, field soccer (mixed), draughts, recreational Australian rules football(mixed), badminton and the all important cheering/sportmanship categories. They also finished second in indoor soccer (male), badminton and handball (male), collecting them enough points to top the table.

Riverton wins SportsFest

Parkerville Baptist Church’s

team, named jPod won the ‘small

church’ category. Their team

included six young people from

Newman Baptist Church.

“It was really great to have

these guys with us,” Parkerville

Youth Pastor, Dan McGrechan

said. “We hope they’ll be with

us again next year. We were

happy with being runners-up

in the mixed netball and squash

competitions.”

The number of team

members determines if a church

is in the ‘big church’ or ‘small

church’ category. The number of

team members for ‘small church’

teams varies each year.

Each year, groups make

banners and design t-shirts that

reflect the theme of their team.

Mount Barker Baptist’s ‘I once

was lost’ theme showed creative

flair and their matching t-shirts

definitely stood out in the crowd

helping them win the banner

and t-shirt competitions.

Carey Baptist Church were

runners-up in the banner

competition with a clever take on

a dishwashing product.

Mount Pleasant Baptist

Church were runners-up in the

t-shirt design competition.

For more SportsFest news see

pages 7, 8 and 9.

Riverton Baptist Church were the big winners at SportsFest this year.

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League tableBig Church Small Church

Riverton 455 Parkerville 397

Bentley 453 Mandurah 389

St Matthew’s Anglican 386 Lake Joondalup 369

Lakeside 348 Ellenbrook 312

North Beach 299 Morley 297

Christian Reformed Church 271 East Fremantle 277

Mount Pleasant 266 Mount Hawthorn 238

Albany 235 Armadale Congregational 184

Claremont 207 Yokine 109

Winners of Best Shirt Mount Barker

Runners-up Mount Pleasant

Winners of Best Banner Mount Barker

Runners-up Carey

Best Cheering/

Sportsmanship Riverton

Runners-up Lakeside

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