On Monday March 16th, the leadership at Bendigo Baptist decided to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic by moving all of its weekend services into one livestream. Like many other churches that have made this move, it didn’t stop us from BEING the church – it just changed that way in which we would GATHER as the church here in Bendigo.

To ensure that our connection across our entire church (i.e. two campus locations) and the broader community remained as effective as possible, we decided to up the level of our communication through a variety of creative means. With our church already appreciating the connection through our livestream, we decided to add video devotionals entitled “Growing Stronger” and then redeploy some staff to shoot another video segment called “This Is Our Family” which is shown each Wednesday evening.

Growing Stronger: Each week, there are three separate video devotionals being recorded by people of all generations in our church. These are posted on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning and have been a great source of encouragement to our entire church as they engage and reflect on what our own people are saying.

This Is Our Family: This weekly news segment helps us share a variety of different stories / testimonies telling our wide church family how God is at work in the life of the church. Our theme in 2020 has been the “mission of God in the hands of ordinary people” and this weekly segment has helped spur us along in mission.

Our church has responded well to the extensive effort put in place to keep us all connected. While many are experiencing social isolation, the majority of those within our large church family are feeling a greater sense of connectedness than they did before.

We are so grateful to God for what He’s done in and through us during this period of time.

Ps Dave Lovell
Senior Pastor

Source: BUV News

Alison, can you tell us a bit about your journey into pastoral leadership?

Like many women, I moved into pastoral leadership hesitantly. My mother was a pastor at a time when the church was largely hostile towards women in ministry; it was not a situation I envied. Although I was studying theology, writing Bible studies, preaching, questioning how we did things as a church, and journeying with people towards change, it took several requests from the church, and a long process of God breaking down my internal resistance, before I could formally accept the call.

What would you say are the barriers (and blessings) to your ministry as a woman?

Although they rarely realise it, many people cling to an idea that ‘normal’ pastors are straight white men. This means that those of us who don’t fit into that mould are seen, first and foremost, as the perceived ‘difference’ to that mould. So I am seen as a woman not a pastor, and asked to talk about being a woman in ministry rather than just my ministry. The unspoken assumption is that neither I nor my experience are ‘normal’.

And so, for example, the men in my local Baptist ministers fellowship go away together to men’s conferences and retreats, because that’s what ‘normal’ pastors do; and I am excluded from the shared experiences, conversations and networking. I love the local blokes, but I have had to maintain a pastoral peer group in Melbourne to ensure I get the support I need.

To give another example, when I was ready to leave South Yarra the only work I was offered was with playgroups. Now, I love little kids one-on-one, but a group of them leaves me cold; it would have been a disaster both for them and for me. People who know me call me a pastor-theologian: I am a thinker, writer and preacher. But because I am a woman, others do not see these gifts; they just assume I should work with kids.

Ironically, having no formal opportunities has had its advantages. It opened the door for the Holy Spirit to prepare a people and a place for me here in Warrnambool. I am now the sole pastor of a four-year-old church plant of 50-60 regulars, including many children and teens. In this context, I have enormous freedom to try things which have never been tried before; to follow the Spirit’s lead; and to serve an intergenerational cohort of people, many of whom previously had very little connection with church. This ministry is a great blessing and joy.

In what ways do you see God’s hand at work in your ministry now?

When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, he promises living water that will never run out. For me, one of the signs of God at work is an endless well of creativity bubbling up from within, which shapes and inspires my ministry. I am constantly dreaming up new paths through the desert, writing extensively, and in so doing watering other people’s faith. When I began Sanctuary, people described their faith as dry, desiccated, dormant, even non-existent (they came for their kids). People are now stronger and more confident in faith, and some young people are seeking baptism. Online (since COVID-19), I see many people, including many pastors, accessing our website, and borrowing and adapting things for their own circumstances.

As you reflect back on your own leadership journey, what advice would you give to women starting out on theirs?

In our society, there is enormous pressure on women to be inoffensive and to conform to other people’s expectations; this can be doubly true in the church. But your task is not to conform, make everyone happy, or be super-nice. Instead, your task is to love God and people, keep your eyes on Jesus Christ, follow the Spirit’s leading, and be true to your call.

For some, this will go sweetly. For others, this will upset a few apple carts and lead to conflict, even crucifixion. If this happens, know that this is normal. Healing in the gospel invariably leads to conflict, and journeying with Jesus means heading towards the cross: but on the other side of the cross you find life. So stick with him; keep dwelling in the Word; keep praying; keep loving your enemies—and make sure you have a couple of trusted colleagues who will journey with you through thick and thin!

Alison at her Ordination service in 2018 with a member of Sanctuary, Noah, who introduced her. 

Source: BUV News

Ignite is the BUV’s Multicultural Youth & Young Adults Conference. Like most events this year, we’ve had to adapt and bring things online! Though our Ignite crew couldn’t meet in person, we were still keen to gather online to encourage each other in our journey with Jesus. 

We tried to capture some of the vibe and atmosphere of what it would have been like if we had met in person! We danced with an online K-pop dance tutorial (Korean pop, for those who don’t know!).
We enjoyed eating and challenged each other on who could make the best gourmet instant noodles. We were encouraged through stories, from keynote speaker Jon Owen (Pastor & CEO of Wayside Chapel), sharing his own discipleship journey. We enjoyed amazing music, through Fatai, who brought her songs of encouragement. We were blessed by our own Ignite crew who shared their musical gifts and talents and testimonies. And we were able to laugh, participate in fun games, and pray together in small groups.

Some of the positive impact of the conference were:

“Ignite challenged me to follow Jesus and call out injustice”

“Ignite made me appreciate the faith and multicultural aspects of my life and the   world even more!”

“One of the things that stood out from Jon Owen’s session was when he said     ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’. It makes me think about the people around        me, and who I want to learn from to grow in life and faith. It makes me think about who I currently am and who I want to be.”

We’re looking forward to when we can gather together in person again, but for now, we are encouraged that God continues to move, inspire, and ignite our faith even through computer screens!

Source: BUV News

CCLI LICENCES FOR 2020-2021

Including

In addition to the above CCLI Licenses, you can also obtain from Heritage Films – The

Big Studio Movie License (save 10 – 20%) which enables you to screen any films from some big producers like Walt Disney, Roadshow Films, Warner Bros, Sony, Icon, Hoyts Distribution, Studio Canal, Hopscotch, E-one, Madman, Rialto, Palace Films, Transmission and Pinnacle Films, which are currently not covered by CCLI Video License. For more details visit the below website https://church.bsml.com.au/

If your church has previously purchased The Big Studio Movie License, you can still join the Denominational License Scheme and maybe entitled to a credit to your account – just indicate in the Application Form enclosed with this letter.

If you have any questions regarding the CCLI or The Big Studio Movie Licenses, please email ccli@buv.com.au.

What do you need to do now?

The application form is now an ONLINE APPLICATION FORM. Please click below:

Online Application Form

Do NOT send any PAYMENT after completing your form. Our Finance Team will send an invoice to your church.

Please note, any applications received after the 31^st August 2020 WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED due to CCLI and The Big Movie Studio deadlines.

Source: BUV News

Updated on 29/07/2020

JobKeeper 2.0

The Federal Government has advised that the JobKeeper scheme will continue until  March 2021. There are some changes to the current arrangement for stages 2 and 3. Here's a great article explaining what is currently known about the next phase of JobKeeper. Please ensure your church Treasurer is aware of this information.

Cash Boost

When churches submit their June 2020 BAS, there is an automatic additional Cash Boost of $5,000. This does not have to be applied for or refunded by the church. This amount will be added to the refund or deducted from the amount payable.

State Grant

The State Government has announced a Business Support Grant for businesses and not-for-profit organisations based in the Metro Melbourne area or Mitchell Shire. It is similar to the $10K grant, previously offered, but some of the criteria has changed. For more info click here.

Source: BUV News

Want to enjoy 7 Date Nights as a couple and in the process invest significantly in your relationship?

For seven Monday evenings, starting August 3^rd, Bill and Julia Brown are again hosting ‘The Marriage Course’ online and invite you to join them on Zoom.

Here’s what they say,

‘Facilitating and participating in The Marriage Course has been a great opportunity to build our relationship and discover and sharpen tools that help us in every area of our marriage. It is fun, encouraging, challenging and well worth the investment of time.’

Recent participants comment:

‘… great course to improve communication and work at honest interaction and support for each other … great investment even for a healthy marriage … while looking at some big topics it’s gentle in the way it goes about addressing them … great way to nourish your relationship … gives tools to work on issues raised … sit in the comfort of your own lounge room and be guided through conversation and discussions to deal with all the important aspects of your relationship … helpful topics and good balance of instruction and structured discussion … talking about things in the privacy of your own home enabled conversation to go deeper ..  we were more open and vulnerable as it felt completely private … enabled us to participate even though we have young children because we didn’t need to find baby-sitters … great for our kids to see us investing in our relationship.’

The Marriage Course is for any couple who wants to invest in their relationship, whether you have been together 1 or 61 years or whether you have a strong relationship or are struggling. Couples from different cultural or religious backgrounds have all expressed appreciation after participating in the course. Remember too, that perhaps the best way to build relationships for your family and community is to model what you want caught.

The online course provides couples the space to consider the following:

• Strengthening Connection
• The Art of Communication
• Resolving Conflict
• The Power of Forgiveness
• The Impact of Family
• Good Sex
• Love in Action

The course is free. There is never any group work and you will never be asked to share anything about your relationship with anyone other than your partner. There is a downloadable manual for every participant or, if preferred, a participant’s manual can be purchased for around $16 each (i.e. $32 per couple plus postage).

The sessions commence at 7.30 pm and are all over before 9.30 pm. With the course being online you will need to provide the mood lighting and whatever food and drink you would like.

Check the trailer for the course below:

How to register? Send Bill and Julia an email at bill.brown@buv.com.au and they will send you a registration form, the zoom details and a link to download the participant’s manual.

Source: BUV News

Source: BUV News

This week's hard lockdown of the Kensington and Flemington public housing estates has not stopped the People's Pantry from their mission.  The Flemington People’s Pantry is a food rescue and redistribution project run by, and for members of the Flemington/ Kensington and Ascot Vale public housing estate communities.  The Wednesday program is an activity of the People’s Place: Newmarket, a faith community of Essendon Baptist Community Church who seek to build community connections by initiating and supporting various local food initiatives. The programme has been operating since 2009 and they are committed to being in the community for the long haul, well after the immediacy of the current lockdown situation has passed. 

A diverse group of local volunteers experiencing under/unemployment, order, collect and redistribute 1 to 1.5 tonnes of food to 75-100 households each Wednesday, in a festive, multi-cultural, multi-faith, ‘food swap’ environment.

Participants register over tea and coffee from 12.30pm in the old Newmarket Baptist Church Sanctuary in Flemington.  After the ballot is drawn at 2pm, participants choose a hamper of food from fresh fruit and vegetables, fridge and frozen, dry goods, milk and bread between 2 -3.30pm.

The People's Pantry partners with other agencies to provide volunteer work for asylum seekers; people experiencing mental illness or intellectual disability, and under/unemployment.  The Pantry exists to redeem waste, share food and work, dispel loneliness, reconnect neighbours, celebrate difference and subvert the status quo! The People's Pantry is also a registered charity agency of Foodbank Victoria.

Although most of the volunteers and participants and are in lockdown, and they cannot deliver food to the estates, Rev Marcus Curnow, Pastor of the Newmarket campus of Essendon Baptist Community Church, says those who are still able to, will continue to deliver food door to door to the vulnerable who are in immediate and surrounding suburbs that are currently under the Government's Stage 3 stay at home restrictions. 

During the emergency lockdown this week, Marcus reveals that Foodbank Victoria were delivering bulk hampers through the night and that two of the agencies partnering with The People’s Pantry (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and STR-EAT), have been contracted to provide catering for those in hard lockdown. “Although this immediate need is being funded by the Government, these agencies are both not for profits who we work with in ongoing ways to deliver food locally.”

Another of our churches, West Melbourne Baptist, is in partnership with the Hotham Mission and well before this emergency, has had food going into high rise towers every week.  Rev Geoff Pound, Pastor at West Melbourne Baptist Church, says “Our focus during COVID-19 has been supplying food to 60-70+ asylum seeker families as they have been hit the hardest. Their casual work dried up fast and they are not eligible for JobKeeper or any Centrelink payment. Many have gone hungry.”

Geoff points out that during this sudden lockdown, the high-rise towers in Kensington and Flemington are getting lots of media attention and plenty of help.  “The Sikhs are cooking each day and with the help of police and DHHS, are delivering 1325 meals.  The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre are delivering hot meals. There are long lines of cars on Boundary Road with people delivering supermarket bags of food.” According to Geoff, right now, they are getting overwhelmed with too many groups helping. What will be important is the ongoing support of the many vulnerable people living in these areas after the media attention has diminished.

If you would like to help, here are some practical things you can do:   

1. Prayer – First and foremost please Pray:
   1. Pray for the pantry volunteers and participants who are locked in… and out  
   2. Pray for those who have contracted COVID-19 in the community – for speedy recovery, health and safety
   3. Pray for Essendon Baptist Community Church members and leaders – those who are locked in, those who are police and those who are part of the welfare response; that they may be able to bear witness to Christ’s love
   4. Pray that the Government and agencies can provide food and emergency relief quickly and efficiently
   5. Pray for peace and unity – that the people in lockdown can move beyond outrage, fear and criticism.
   6. Pray for a deeper spiritual awareness and transformation of the painful systemic issues of race, human rights, economic poverty and the need for accessible affordable and adequate housing that this moment exposes.

2. Give
   1. For immediate donations of food, please contact Foodbank Victoria or make a donation here
       
   2. The People’s Pantry (run by Essendon Baptist Community Church Newmarket campus) has been and will continue to be committed to this community for the long term.  If you would like to support the  ongoing weekly local work of delivering  1.5 tonnes of food to 100 local families from the estates as things open back up after the immediate emergency, you can donate to The People’s Pantry, through Essendon Baptist Community Church.  Bank details are as follows.

      Bank: Baptist Financial Services
      Account Name: Essendon Baptist Community Church
      BSB: 704922
      Account Number: 100005342
      Reference: The Peoples Pantry
       

   3. The West Melbourne Baptist Church will also distribute food – you can donate for this specific group. Bank details are:

The West Melbourne Baptist Church
BSB: 033132
Account: 960004
Reference: Hard lockdown donation

Source: BUV News