In 1850 or thereabouts John Watson and his wife Anne moved into the forest beside the Cudgee creek not far from Warrnambool. He was a stonemason and built ‘Haverhill’ house for his family.  Over the years Annie presented him with nine children so the house was well filled and the couple had a tremendous impact on the area. John became a persuasive evangelist and, after being convinced of the need for adult Baptism formed the Cudgee Baptist Church.       

   But this is not about John Watson and his celebrated church where a revival in the 1860’s was so noteworthy that the Baptist Association sent the Rev William Poole to Warrnambool on a steamer to hold baptismal services at Cudgee and establish a church at Warrnambool.

          No this is about his remarkable wife Annie.

          She was a young wife when she arrived in Cudgee and lived there until her death in Nov 1906 aged 76 years and nine months.

          She was greatly admired and respected by all. The women  of the district were especially appreciative as she was their confidante, nurse and a midwife and for years delivered most of the children in the area.

          She had nine children of her own and several of her descendants still live around Warrnambool.  

          Of the nine children I can only positively identify a couple and have not attempted to produce a complete genealogy. Most of the information comes from the gravestones in Warrnambool cemetery and these are not only old and hard to read but also have some confusing entries.

          For example one headstone has an entry for a boy who died aged five that reads as if the woman entered below him was his wife.

          On the headstone for John and Anne Watson we also have Grace Grant Watson who died on Jan 6th 1863 aged 3 years. Then in 1869 they had another daughter whom they also named Grace. She died in 1938 aged 69. At the time it was common to name a later child after one that died young but we would hesitate to do that today.

          Although Annie had her own share of suffering it was in the care for others for which she is remembered.

          Childbirth at the time was very dangerous. Births occurred naturally at home with no anaesthetics, no antiseptics, and no thought of surgical intervention. This resulted in a high mortality rate among both infants and mothers.

          No doubt Annie had her share of sorrows with complications, miscarriages, stillbirths, and deaths but she also had the deep satisfaction of delivering dozens of healthy babies who grew up to be well and strong.

          She shouldered an enormous responsibility and no doubt had an intense emotional response to the joys and sorrows of her calling.  

          By the time she died travel was becoming easier and with a local hospital being built in Warrnambool the possibility of accessing specialist support became a reality.     

          In 1871 the church presented John Watson with a buggy as a token of their esteem and one wonders if Annie ever used it to transport one of her charges to the Warrnambool hospital for some urgent medical assistance.  

Source: BUV News

Some years ago, the Lord was calling me to pastor in our Arabic community, it took me years seeking God for His confirmation to my calling. Sometime in Mid-2017 and through Pastor Gayle Hill, I was introduced to North Baptist church in Craigieburn. My wife Martha and I started attending the church and seek God’s confirmation to His calling to start the Arabic ministrys at the church.

Launch of Arabic Service – Martha Kaldas; Ros Pritchard (North Church Secretary); Michelle Mitchell; Samy Kaldas

 

In June 2018, I was locally ordained to start my pastoral role in the church. It was a good journey with ups and downs, encouragements and support from God, the pastoral team, Elders and the Arabic brothers and sisters, God has established the ministry so rapidly with joy and success.

 

Early days of the Arabic Service at North Church, Craigieburn

 

Due to the closure of the of the rented facility at Craigieburn, God moved the Arabic Ministry to Mill Park Baptist Church (MPBC). With this move, our ministry expanded beyond North of Melbourne to North East of Melbourne. On 1^st March 2020, just a couple of weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic hit us here in Victoria, the Arabic Ministries started at MPBC.

Through God and the support and prayers from the MPBC pastoral team, elders and senior pastor Geoff Shepherd, we are expanded our Arabic Ministry online and reaches more people than before the pandemic. Our Facebook and YouTube online Sunday Arabic service reaches almost 2000 to 3000 people weekly with almost 1,200 to 1,500 regularly watching the service, from Victoria, Australia, and other parts of the world.

Our ministry extends out from the main service on Sundays, through to prayers meetings every day. The ladies meet twice a week; Sunday school runs once a week; youth and young adults meet twice a week, and a bible study group meet once a week.

My wife Martha puts in huge efforts, praying, preparing for the ladies meeting, Sunday school and pastoral care for women. She resigned from her work a year ago to support me in our Arabic Ministries. The Lord has also appointed a lot of brothers and sisters in the Arabic congregation to get involved deeply on all these service. We are praying for God to grow us more to know and serve Him until He comes again.

We see the Covid19 pandemic as a very positive experience as it really grows the Arabic Ministries at MPBC beyond what we can imagine. One of the ladies recently requested that we keep the bible study meeting online as she cannot attend it on Fridays in the church – but she can attend it via zoom. She has never missed a zoom meeting and I am sure others have similar sentiments. I pray that once we are back to normal, we can still do the bible study at the church but also run the zoom meeting at the same time so any one can always join us.

We all see the positives of what God has allowed all of us to go through during this pandemic that we all sure it will pass on His great time, All praises to our Almighty God.

 

Samy Kaldas
Associate Pastor (Arabic Ministires)
Mill Park Baptist Church

Source: BUV News

“I was challenged, spiritually invigorated, and encouraged.”

 

These are the words of Maigan. Maigan is a young, passionate student who attended Global Interaction’s Strategic Mission Week alongside over 100 cross-cultural workers, candidates and people interested in discerning how God might be calling them to make a difference across the world. The course explored the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of cross-cultural mission through a combination of teaching, discussion time and real-world stories from mission practitioners serving in different contexts.  

 

COVID-19 presented a unique opportunity to run this course entirely online. This format, which included interactive Zoom sessions, breakout rooms and reflection times, made it accessible to people all across the country and world. Over the week, participants gathered to grapple with topics including the foundation of mission, contextualisation, the power of stories and practical ways we can care for God’s creation.

 

Lachie, a participant who attended Strategic Mission Week for the first time, shared, “I never particularly thought of myself as a person who was ‘called’ to mission. However, after attending this week, my understanding of mission has been completely flipped on its head. I now see that I am called to be a part of God’s bigger story and I’m inspired to find practical ways to step out and make a difference.”

 

This statement, alongside feedback from other participants, reminds us that we are part of a bigger story. God is inviting us to partner with Him in His mission both in Australia and globally. The reality is that in today’s world there are still millions of people who face cultural, linguistic and geographical barriers that prevent access to the Gospel in ways that make sense to them. However, through God’s provision and the faithful partnership of  cross-cultural teams and supporters of Global Interaction, we have seen faith communities emerge all over the world and new believers explore how they can follow Jesus within their cultural context.

 

Global Interaction will be running Strategic Mission Week from 18 – 22 January, 2021. The course is planned to be held in Melbourne, however, will be run online if necessary. For those who are interested in finding out more, please contact info@globalinteraction.org.au.

Source: BUV News

G’day friends.   Greetings from rainy Orbost!

Much has happened since the first week of January, let me tell you some of the story.

I started the year watching the glow in the sky of an approaching fire which, in the hours that followed, narrowly missed my parents’ property where I was living and proceeded to obliterate much of the region I call home – I wasn’t really ready but was mostly willing and certainly available.

We were faced with a very present need and shortly thereafter I found myself with a mandate:  To find fire affected people, find out from them what they need and do my best to meet that need.

It’s fairly simple in words, unfortunately less so in action.  So, what have I achieved?

I have built fences, cut down fire affected trees and even rebuilt a bridge restoring primary access to a home, just in time to allow Grocon to clean up the sheds that had burnt. Oh, and drunk lots of tea.

These are all hands on, quantifiable things (except for the tea) – I’m a practical guy, I like to see what I’ve achieved – but I’m slowly learning that God sees things I don’t.

Over these months I have accumulated a total of 49 people/couples/families on my list of those I’ve sought to engage and of them have 22 ongoing relationships.

There have been evenings when I’ve sat in my 4wd on the side of the road and just prayed,

‘Lord, is that all You had for today?’

‘I’ve been out for 10 hours, driven 150kms and You’ve prompted me to stop in places that have led to 3 conversations. Jesus is that enough? Can I go home now?’

Yes.

In His eyes and economy spending time with people is time well spent even if the only thing I built was trust.

One guy whom I’ve had a dozen different interactions with since the start of February said the last time I saw him, ‘you’ll be back before then,’ speaking of a fencing job he might need a hand with. It may have taken a dozen visits and phone calls over months but he knows that sooner or later I’ll show up, ask him how he’s going and offer him a hand – and he appreciates it.

He’s not the only one who appreciates me dropping by semi-regularly. People generally seem to be getting tired and they’re lonely and COVID 19 isn’t helping.

I hadn’t spoken to this particular older lady for a number of weeks when a mutual friend called and said she was talking about leaving this world and they were worried for her. She answered my second call and spoke for over an hour. I visited the following day and she spoke for another 2 hours. She seems stable but really needed someone to talk to and again, I’ve visited or called her more than a dozen times since early February building a friendship where she’s comfortable to actually invite me in, offer me a cup of tea and just talk.

In response to the question, ‘what have I achieved?’ I could give many answers but I think the best answer is simply, ‘I have been there when people needed me,’

Lord willing, by the generosity of the Baptist family, I’ll continue to be.

Thank you!

 

Source: BUV News

It’s now the end of July, 7 months since the first of the Upper Murray cluster fires that began an inferno of similar severity to the 1939 bushfires. One of the main differences, is that many larger properties have been subdivided into smaller properties, a large percentage of which do not support families on agriculture alone. These are either smaller farms where perhaps one partner works to put food on the table and provide funds for large capital expenses; or lifestyle blocks, where owners either rely solely on outside income or may be semi-retired and only generate a modest income from their land.

Whatever the situation, many of these properties lost livestock, pasture and fodder (stored hay, silage, and grain/pellets). Additionally, the loss of infrastructure in the way of fencing, yards, water systems, sheds, equipment and for some, houses, took a huge toll. Whilst some people had insurance, even those who thought they were well covered are finding huge gaps they are unable to meet.

Large grants have been made available to commercial scale farmers whose farming income exceeds their off-farm income, which has assisted with the shortfall. A huge number of fire affected people in the Upper Murray do not qualify for these grants.

Hence the importance of organisations such as Blaze Aid, Red Cross and many different church and philanthropic groups that are coming to give financial aid and help.

The Corryong Baptist Church with the backing of donations from generous Baptist folk has been in a position to help fire affected farmers across the board. From my perspective assisting Pastor Graeme van Brummelen, it is not the amount of financial aid that we are offering, but that we consider each and every person of equal worthiness, no matter whether they have 2 cows or 200 cows. This is the teaching of Jesus, which we demonstrate by our actions rather than our words in this situation.

Jesus also taught compassion. Because I don’t have his ability to see into people’s hearts I am learning to become a better listener. I can help the person a lot better if I understand where they’re at in their recovery journey. 

At this point in time, some folk have told their story often enough and don’t want to go through it again. For example they’ve been happy to receive a seed or freight subsidy from the BUV, but don’t want to accept a Relief and Stimulus Package as they feel this is “double dipping”. They are grateful but their head is full of the next steps they need to take to prepare for a fencing team arriving sometime in the next month and they only have headspace for that task.

Some folk have been lost for words when receiving a package or assistance. Having reason to follow up in the future, gives them the opportunity to tell their story if they wish to, or determine whether they have other needs where we can help or connect them.

Others have only just come up for breath from their task-focussed labours to contain their animals from wandering all over the district and keeping them alive. Or they’ve had their livestock away on agistment, have managed to replace some fencing, the stock have arrived home, it’s winter, they need hay to get them through, their hay shed has not been rebuilt and they don’t have any stored fodder. This is only one thought stream as the reality is juggling a myriad of thoughts and tasks.  They feel overwhelmed and are only now asking for help and perhaps, not feeling comfortable in having to ask. Their first and foremost need may be to tell their story.  Sometimes they are ready to receive assistance and we are in a position to offer them something or refer them to where they can get the help they need.

Others may be further down the track in their recovery, but have lost or never had social connectedness. They may not even want to receive any financial help from a church, but need someone to come alongside, listen, and perhaps connect or re-connect them back into the community.  One of the effects of a natural disaster can be to fragment existing relationships, both at individual and group level.  For these people, someone to assist them into easing back into community belonging is another role the church can offer.  Sometimes other community groups are already forming or in existence and local knowledge of this nature is invaluable. The church needs to be part of the overall community for this to happen.

Currently, Corryong Baptist Church has put together the 4^th round of Relief and Stimulus Packages, which are a wonderful resource to have on offer when making the first connection or following up with fire-affected people. As many folk on properties also have off-farm income from a business they either work for or operate in town, these businesses have been whacked with a double-barrelled shot from both the bushfires and coronavirus. BUV donations have purchased vouchers from the bulk of these businesses, supporting their owners and employees as well as those receiving these packages.

Such is the heart of this community, that several businesses declined the offer to purchase vouchers for Round 4. Their story was identical. “We’d love to take your money, but we’ve only redeemed a few vouchers from the earlier round. Re-direct it towards groceries instead”. Not only are these businesses struggling from lack of custom, they often echo the words of property holders who decline our financial assistance with “I’m sure there’s somebody else who needs it more”. 

 

Sharon Roberts
Corryong Baptist Church

Source: BUV News

How long Lord?

Well, here we are Victorians. Isolation number 2 that we thought we were handling well and now find ourselves with another 6 weeks with even further restrictions.

During the first isolation I wrote about the three week mark and the importance of recognising the emotional impact as we experience challenging and traumatic situations.

Over the last week or so I have been reflecting on the latest challenge with the increased restrictions, the fear about the economic impact, hearing stories of people being made redundant, people becoming sick and the significant grief for families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. How do we respond when things seem to be turning bad?

I have been considering two things as I travel through this uncertain time: maintaining a soft heart before God and the importance of lament.

Hebrews chapter 3 has been a helpful reminder to maintain a soft heart before God.

“Do not harden your hearts”

The word “harden” in this context literally means dried out, inflexible, obstinately stubborn, resisting what God says is right. The writer of Hebrews reminds us how the Israelites hardened their hearts as they wandered in the desert and implores us not to do the same. It can be hard not to dig in, put up barriers and just wait this out when life becomes tough. The danger in digging in, is to make sure we don’t check out from relationship with God. Perseverance is important but not in our own strength. So, this speaks to me about checking my emotional health and making sure I am maintaining a soft heart, an open heart to God.

In checking my emotional health, I have rediscovered the role of lament. Do you know that over a third of the Psalms are Psalms of lament? (I’m sure you did!) “How long Lord?” Psalm 13:1 cries out.

Lament gives voice to the deep cries of our heart. It gives a framework to put words around our despair, frustration, hurt and grief that is sitting in our souls. It places us within the kingdom of God as we bring our cries to Him. Jesus brought a lament as He was on the cross “My God, my God why do you forsake me?”

What would it look like for us to engage with lament in this season?

Recently I was with a small group of pastors and the observation was made that we are in danger of engaging in false positivity during this season. There is pressure to ignore the pain by bringing positive messages of hope all the time. I recently read about toxic positivity – the culture of portraying ourselves as happy or always encouraging people to see the bright side of life and not open up to anything bad. We recognised that encouragement is important and we are all bearers of good news but scriptures suggests it is important to recognise when we are in challenges and bring our cry to God.

So as a group, we engaged in the spiritual discipline of lament. We wrote our own psalms, prayers and petitions to God. It did not take long – I gave them ten minutes – but we all remarked on the power of writing our own heart cries and hearing each other’s laments. It gave voice to our hearts while recognising God in our midst.

We recognised that, as leaders, we often are holding other people’s emotions and feel like we need to have things together ourselves. There is power in giving voice to our lament as we anchor ourselves in God. As one pastor said “As a leader we are often there holding other people’s stuff. That is hard work. We need to ground ourselves in the perspective of eternity.”

We share the laments we wrote as examples of what they can look like. Take some time to write your own lament and connect with another leader to share and pray with each other.

It is so important in these times that we maintain a soft heart before God and we find the opportunities to connect our soul cries with the heart of God. Psalm 13 starts with the cry “How long, Lord?” but ends with the proclamation “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” As we connect with God and release our heart cries, we find our perspective shifts as God reminds us of His presence with us each day.

 

A psalm of recognition.

You are bigger than me.
So you see a lot more. You understand.
I want to hear your words, but things which don’t stretch me bring me comfort right now.
You probably need to change that in me. I probably need your help in making that happen.

I am tasked with leading others during dark times. I wonder how Moses coped?
Ok, you have given me promises that you will help, support and walk with me.
Let me see how you are doing that in a clear light.
Then give me the strength to help others see the same in their life.
Wisdom and discernment are needed, along with a tender and light touch.
Lord bless me with this.

I have many hats to wear and many roles to fill, but my first in recognising that I am yours.
I am your child, your son, I am your treasured possession.
May the enemy know that I believe this to be true.
In this may he run from your Spirit which is found within me.

Lift my Spirits now. Give me hope that all is in your care.
Lift my energy that I can do the tasks before me
May my actions bring your name honour

Amen.

 

Psalm for COVID

Hear my cry Lord,
Listen to my prayer

From one end of this world to the other
People are suffering, their bodies burdened, their minds tormented
There is death and disease, and loss of income. 

We are feeling caged, shut off from our families and friends
Unable to enjoy the life we treasure.

Your church is under threat, 
Apathy, distraction, weariness and persecution
continue even behind closed doors.
Faith seeds planted are being threatened,
Our work feels like it’s being choked.

Yet you are there, above all and in the midst.
You have always been faithful and your word is true.

Eternal God, you were there before the beginning
you will be there long after the end.
Help me to press into your strength when I am weak,
Help me to press into your endless joy. 

 

Psalm for an Enclosed time

See me, God, hear me 
I am hidden, I am muffled 
I'm enclosed, trapped and surrounded 
I am limited, my arm has no reach 
From under a doona 
Behind the door 
Screened by a laptop 
Muted by a mask. 
See me, God, hear me 
For I cannot reach, stretch, explore 
Your world, your people, your adventure. 

God, you reach, then. 
You reach, from East to West 
From region to Metro 
From the world to Victoria 
God, reach in and out, and down and up 
Incarnate yourself
Through the mask, 
In the laptop, 
Behind the door, 
Even under the doona
For your steadfast love is great 
And your faithfulness reaches to the skies –
Reach in and down, too.

 

A Psalm for today

The walls are closing in day after day.
The hour outside seems too short.
Things are getting worse not better.
Sickness seems to be the closest enemy despite our best efforts, it is moving closer each day.
When we look to you God you voice seems absent, silence, no healing or saving from this war.
Our hands are tied close to our home.
Our options are limited.
Where O God is your abundance, your generosity, your unending grace as the grey continues?

Your breath fills my lungs as you cause my heart to beat. My life has closed in but it still continues.
Your kingdom is unending and your glory still fills the earth. You place the stars in the sky and know the hairs on my head.
Your love moves across the internet, connecting me to thousands with your hand on my heart reminding me this season will pass.
Your Spirit is close to me, within me settling my despair.
Although your hope still feels out of reach, your presence fills my soul.
That is enough, for today.

 

Christine Wanstall
BUV, Church Health Consultant

Source: BUV News

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the initial COVID restrictions came into force earlier in the year, the team at Wodonga and District Baptist Church talked about how they could practically move forward.  Pastor David Hodgens explains that “as a large regional church we recognised that it would only be once restrictions were completely removed that we could function as a gathered community in the manner we were used to; so we looked for an alternative”.  Medium to larger gatherings, assuming 20, 50 or 100 people in the same space were going to be difficult for Wodonga to facilitate because of the contact recording and cleaning expectations. Sensing back then, what we know to be true now, David was also mindful that there might be a second wave of the virus, which could return them to a constrained environment, and so the church looked for a model of gathering that would sustain them for as long as needed.

So began Wodonga’s network of neighbourhood churches.  These churches were intentionally neighbourhood churches, not house churches – the language was important because they wanted to anchor the people in their own neighbourhood. Practically, this would mean church being hosted in a neighbourhood home that was hospitable and large enough to gather with groups of between 5-12 wish social distancing space and capacity to view the online material. It also meant not only finding the homes, but also the hosts.

The church went about this firstly by breaking the wider church up into geographical areas.  “Our congregation is spread across two states as well as the hinterland and so all regular attenders were nominally allocated to a particular neighbourhood church.”

The second step was to produce an online service for people to engage with in the various homes across the region.  “We started delivering our services online from day one of the Covid-19 restrictions and so we already had the perfect platform to engage the Neighbourhood churches with resources for adults and children.”
 

The online service had to be as interactive as possible – particularly around the message. “This remains a bit of an ideal, but small neighbourhood church has a greater capacity to engage with teaching material, conduct discussions and talk about life application and we want to encourage that by providing some discussion questions or activities that can be done by the neighbourhood church as they gather.”

Thirdly, the church had to focus on encouraging people to not just attend the service in the home but to stay for lunch or brunch following the service.  “We also wanted hosts and church members to consider how their neighbourhood church related to their actual geographical location – encouraging them to gather people from the area, connect with their neighbours and be ministers in their neighbourhoods.”

David recognises that the Wodonga network of neighbourhood churches is still a work in progress  and due to the tighter restrictions that have come into place in regional Victoria, the neighbourhood churches have had to shut down for the time being.  But the mission potential for the church to influence the community on a long-term basis is great and this model may continue to operate well beyond the current conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Source: BUV News

At a time when most see ‘unprecedented’ obstacles, Mornington Peninsula Mayor Sam Hearn sees opportunity. With COVID-19 lockdowns forcing the closure of many Community Support Centres, Sam (who is also involved in the leadership of his neighbourhood Baptist church community) dreamed up the ‘People’s Army’: redeploying stood down local council staff to deliver care packages to vulnerable and isolated people in the area. The idea came to him after seeing community members share on Facebook how they were reaching out to their neighbours.

‘People have been doing it far tougher than they probably have for decades and decades,’ said Sam. ‘And yet the way that people have just reached out and suddenly become so much more intentional about wanting to do things for their community has gone through the roof.’

The food parcel plan is part of the Mornington Peninsula’s Caring for Community program, intended to help lessen the spread and effects of the pandemic by creating a sense of ‘togetherness’. The council co-ordinated response involved creating a database of all the vulnerable, elderly or disadvantaged people in the area and setting up supply chains directly from supermarkets to requisition food for those who could not get it themselves. More than 2500 families have been supported so far and the formal council response created a ripple effect into the community, with locals sharing approximately ‘ten times’ the resources of the council on an informal level.

‘It cuts through in a different way when someone sees their mayor or a local community leader saying, “This is the way we as a community are going to respond to this,”’ said Sam. ‘So I’ve gone on the front foot very quickly to give the message that this is about checking on your neighbour, call your friends, check in on the older people in your street, make sure people are doing okay.’

It’s not the first time Sam has headed up something like the food parcel plan. As bushfires raged over summer, more than 200 Mornington Peninsula Shire staff came together to offer support, comfort and accommodation to over 1000 Mallacoota evacuees. Sam views the mission to ‘love your neighbour’ as inseparable with community support, particularly in challenging times.

‘I think the biggest opportunity is for the church to truly and fundamentally be a community of people that are really present individually and collectively in an intentional way as good citizens in their local community – that’s always mattered and is always needed.’

Sam has been committed to building long-term community relationships and trust in this local community, seeing it as vital to mission. His first sense of calling was to his own high-school of Mornington Secondary College when he came to faith as a 15 year old and continues now with his role as Mayor.

‘If we as the church want to actually be relevant and present in our communities, we need to build selfless, long-term, trusting, generous relationships with our local community…to support in anyway way,’ said Sam. ‘I think this year will have shown churches across the country whether they are really connected to their community… If you have only turned up when this crisis hit saying “We want to rescue you, we want to help out”, most people will go “Who the heck are you?”’

‘The great thing is that all church communities can encourage and mobilise their members to reach out and care for their neighbours at a time like this.’

Rather than merely an obstacle to overcome, Sam sees the pandemic as an opportunity to serve community, and for churches to reflect on their local community involvement. Bringing hopeful change to community often feels slower than Sam would like it to be, but the pandemic has brought what matters most to the front and accelerated the process.

‘COVID-19 has probably shown us, reminded us and confronted us with the fact that as human beings we’ve always been together at our most cellular and foundational level,’ Sam said. ‘We’re realising that staying socially connected is what matters most to us – being part of community, feeling loved, giving love, knowing our place and feeling a sense of belonging.’

‘This is especially true as we’ve had the heartbreaking experience of coming out of the first wave with a sense of optimism and gratefulness only to see a second wave emerge,’ Sam said. ‘It’s really taking a heavy toll on people’s mental and emotional wellbeing, and a sense of connection and hope is more important than ever.’

Through the second wave, Sam is practically reaching out and connecting with the people he personally is caring for: delivering food to a single dad in his neighbourhood, chatting to other families at kinder drop off, giving the local café owner a call to encourage him.

‘Those simple things can really help people find strength to persevere, not to mention being a witness to the hope and love that is there for them in Jesus.’

 

Source: BUV News

Mayor, Cr Sam Hearn takes us behind the scenes at Rosebud Memorial Hall where Shire staff are preparing the community care packages filled with non-perishable food and essential hygiene items 

At a time when most see ‘unprecedented’ obstacles, Mornington Peninsula Mayor Sam Hearn sees opportunity. With COVID-19 lockdowns forcing the closure of many Community Support Centres, Sam (who is also involved in the leadership of his neighbourhood Baptist church community) dreamed up the ‘People’s Army’: redeploying stood down local council staff to deliver care packages to vulnerable and isolated people in the area. The idea came to him after seeing community members share on Facebook how they were reaching out to their neighbours.

 

‘People have been doing it far tougher than they probably have for decades and decades,’ said Sam. ‘And yet the way that people have just reached out and suddenly become so much more intentional about wanting to do things for their community has gone through the roof.’

 

The food parcel plan is part of the Mornington Peninsula’s Caring for Community program, intended to help lessen the spread and effects of the pandemic by creating a sense of ‘togetherness’. The council co-ordinated response involved creating a database of all the vulnerable, elderly or disadvantaged people in the area and setting up supply chains directly from supermarkets to requisition food for those who could not get it themselves. More than 2500 families have been supported so far and the formal council response created a ripple effect into the community, with locals sharing approximately ‘ten times’ the resources of the council on an informal level.

 

‘It cuts through in a different way when someone sees their mayor or a local community leader saying, “This is the way we as a community are going to respond to this,”’ said Sam. ‘So I’ve gone on the front foot very quickly to give the message that this is about checking on your neighbour, call your friends, check in on the older people in your street, make sure people are doing okay.’

 

It’s not the first time Sam has headed up something like the food parcel plan. As bushfires raged over summer, more than 200 Mornington Peninsula Shire staff came together to offer support, comfort and accommodation to over 1000 Mallacoota evacuees. Sam views the mission to ‘love your neighbour’ as inseparable with community support, particularly in challenging times.

 

‘I think the biggest opportunity is for the church to truly and fundamentally be a community of people that are really present individually and collectively in an intentional way as good citizens in their local community – that’s always mattered and is always needed.’

 

Sam has been committed to building long-term community relationships and trust in this local community, seeing it as vital to mission. His first sense of calling was to his own high-school of Mornington Secondary College when he came to faith as a 15 year old and continues now with his role as Mayor.

 

‘If we as the church want to actually be relevant and present in our communities, we need to build selfless, long-term, trusting, generous relationships with our local community…to support in anyway way,’ said Sam. ‘I think this year will have shown churches across the country whether they are really connected to their community… If you have only turned up when this crisis hit saying “We want to rescue you, we want to help out”, most people will go “Who the heck are you?”’

 

‘The great thing is that all church communities can encourage and mobilise their members to reach out and care for their neighbours at a time like this.’

 

Rather than merely an obstacle to overcome, Sam sees the pandemic as an opportunity to serve community, and for churches to reflect on their local community involvement. Bringing hopeful change to community often feels slower than Sam would like it to be, but the pandemic has brought what matters most to the front and accelerated the process.

 

‘COVID-19 has probably shown us, reminded us and confronted us with the fact that as human beings we’ve always been together at our most cellular and foundational level,’ Sam said. ‘We’re realising that staying socially connected is what matters most to us – being part of community, feeling loved, giving love, knowing our place and feeling a sense of belonging.’

 

‘This is especially true as we’ve had the heartbreaking experience of coming out of the first wave with a sense of optimism and gratefulness only to see a second wave emerge,’ Sam said. ‘It’s really taking a heavy toll on people’s mental and emotional wellbeing, and a sense of connection and hope is more important than ever.’

 

Through the second wave, Sam is practically reaching out and connecting with the people he personally is caring for: delivering food to a single dad in his neighbourhood, chatting to other families at kinder drop off, giving the local café owner a call to encourage him.

 

‘Those simple things can really help people find strength to persevere, not to mention being a witness to the hope and love that is there for them in Jesus.’

Source: BUV News

Pakenham’s Follow Bless Collective has received $5000 from the council to continue to support Cardinia residents who are struggling financially and have been affected by the coronavirus.  The $5000 grant will be put towards the cost of the charity’s care packs which are being distributed during the Covid-19 relief and recovery period.  The care packs contain essential non-perishable foods and toiletries and are available for individuals and families who are facing hardship.

“Receiving the grant means that, along with ongoing community donations, Follow Bless Collective will be able to continue to provide care packs until December to those who are struggling financially and have been affected by Covid-19,” Follow Bless Collective community care manager Leanne Griffiths said.

“People have been affected by Covid-19 in many ways, including loss of work, isolation, an inability to access programs and services.

“The grant will allow essential items to be purchased and provided to people who are currently needing practical support by way of food and toiletries.”

To date, 260 care packs have been distributed to individuals and families across the shire.

The Follow Bless Collective’s mission is to “strengthen the community by providing collective services, programs, support and genuine love to those who are undervalued, isolated and disadvantaged within the Cardinia shire and beyond”.

Its purpose is to care for the underprivileged, isolated and homeless; provide practical support for those in need; help make the community a better place though care, crisis assistance and social connection; collaborate with other organisations and individuals; provide opportunities for community members to serve and contribute to their community; and to redeem and transform gateway areas.

Follow has been spearheading this in conjunction with Cardinia Shire and the Church property is the drop off and pick up point for people in need in the community. Care packs are full of non-perishable food, toiletries, face masks and, of course, chocolate!  The local Sikhs have helped with the chocolate donations to be added into our care packs and many other organisations, churches and local community members have also helped provide food, knitted scarves and clothing during this time.

In addition to the care packs, there has been many other acts of kindness in the local community.  Local muslim lady, Shoheli Sunjida has provided the elderly, pregnant women, single parents, multicultural communities and small business owners with free masks.  Ms Sunjida first made masks for family and friends before extending the generous offer into the wider community.

“I had some fabrics and elastics and I have the skills to sew and a sewing machine at home, so I started making the masks … it felt good after completing about 12 masks and did not take a long time,” she explained.

“Then I thought there are people in our community who may not have access to reusable masks and single use masks are not financially feasible.”

Ms Sunjida took to social media to offer up the masks and made it clear that she wanted priority to be given to the most vulnerable community members.  Inspired by the support, Ms Sunjida will continue to create masks free of charge and will even offer Zoom training sessions so people can make their own masks from home.

“I was surprised and overwhelmed by the response that I received within 24 hours, I received hundreds of positive and encouraging comments,” she explained. “I was ready to cut my sarees to get enough fabrics for a few hundred masks.  Some people wanted to pay for the mask, but I am not taking money from anyone.  I am here to help my community in anyway possible in this difficult time and I am confident we will look after each other and come out as a stronger community on the other side because we are doing it together.”

Ms Sunjida hopes those in a position to, can donate to the Pakenham Sikh temple and the Follow Baptist Church in Officer. “They are our local heroes and are tirelessly helping people,” she said.

For more information about the care packs, donations and updates, contact the Follow Bless Collective at info@bless.org.au or check out their website at bless.org.au.

Source: BUV News