Berkeley
Today we went around the community at Berkeley offering free bread. It was amazing to see people open up as we asked ‘how their day was going?’. On multiple occasions, we heard people struggle with the idea of God because of the evil and suffering they’ve seen or experienced in this world. Please pray that these individuals would come to know that God is real because He sent His Son into this messy world to save us and that one day he will return to rid the world of evil and sin.
Albion Park Rail
It was such a joy starting the day with Scripture at two primary schools in Albion Park Rail. The team got to do a short skit, memory verse and share some testimonies. Give thanks for the refreshment of witnessing the kids’ enthusiasm in class – we learnt that most of them may never hear about God outside of this time, and there was this wonder in their eyes and openness to be in the class that was such a great encouragement. Pray that these young ones will come to trust and obey Jesus as God’s chosen king who came to suffer and die.
Give thanks also for the faithful teachers who go in each week with such joy to minister to the children. Speaking to Yvonne (who had been doing this for 37 years!), we were struck by the immense value of teaching these young ones the truth about their Creator, as she shared about how a student of hers came to faith as an adult because he remembered learning how to pray in school Scripture.
Over lunch we got to hear from Neil Scott, the senior minister at Park Rail Anglican. It was so valuable for us to hear Neil share his ministry insights from his time in the area and how it has come to bear fruit:
- Going where there was great gospel need and trusting God to provide for him and his family;
- Listening well to learn about the people he was ministering to;
- The value of being in the community (with schools as a hub) and building trust;
- The principles behind their 1-1 bible discipleship model for pastoral and training purposes.
Thank God for how He has grown the church in a low socio-economic area, that in the brokenness of their lives they have a deep understanding of the gospel that brings forgiveness and salvation. Pray for Neil and the church as they persevere in making disciples by sharing the hope that Jesus brings.
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