PASTORS E-NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2010
Hi fellow Pastors!
At last weekend’s Annual Baptist Conference I was inspired and challenged by some excellent messages brought to us by our guest speakers, Allan Demond and Murray Robertson. Sadly, so few of you were there to hear them. Alan’s messages on Friday and Saturday mornings on Micah 6 challenged us to consider how we live justly, love kindness and walk humbly with God. I was particularly moved by the message on Walking Humbly with your God and challenged by what it means to walk intimately with the Creator of the Universe and what that means for my ministry. I’m not sure whether these sessions were recorded but if they were I’ll let you know next month how to access copies. Allan’s address to the 54 pastors and spouses at out annual dinner, on Caleb and how he followed God wholeheartedly, was also very encouraging and challenging to those of us present.
In a rather casual and intimate manner, Murray’s message on 2 Timothy 5 to those being accredited was a message that is appropriate to all of us in ministry and to the denomination as a whole. This was recorded and I encourage you to obtain a copy to have a listen. I’m sure you could gain a copy by contacting the office at Gymea Baptist.
There were eight persons (one pastor was unable to attend as his wife was having their first child) accredited as fellow ministers last Saturday but I was disappointed that there were no pastors present other than those who were already associates with those being accredited. It is really important that we stand alongside those who are starting out early in ministry, to welcome, to encourage and support them and to cheer them on whatever their circumstances. As you know, ministry can be tough at times and it is vital to know that we aren’t alone in that journey; to know that others who have gone before us are there to be alongside at those times when life and ministry is tough and to celebrate with us in victory. Can I encourage you to make contact with some of these new colleagues to introduce yourself and to encourage them and to show that they are valued. They are Josh Carmichael (Chester Hill Baptist), Wilson Fong (Chinese and Australian Baptist – West Ryde), Chris Hall (Merrylands), Matthew Le Clair (Parkside Baptist) Johan Linder (National Director of OMF), Gary Pope (Berry), Dale Skewes (Junee Baptist), Lucas Uhlman (Bega) and Grant Watts (Mayfield).
PASTORAL SETTLEMENTS AND PASTORAL SUPPORT
In the last newsletter I published the wrong phone number for Stephen Jamieson who will be providing support to pastors, churches and the rest of the team in issues related to pastoral placements and movements and pastoral crises while Viv is on long service leave throughout September and October. Steve can be contacted on 02 4471 2667 or svj@westnet.com.au. For any other matters, you can contact MSD at the Baptist Ministry Centre, Epping on 02 9868 9230.
PREACHING SURVEY
Marc Radar has expressed a big thank you to all of you preachers who have taken the time to fill in the questionnaire on current evaluative practices in regards preaching! The response has been really encouraging. If you haven’t yet participated and can spare five minutes of your time, hit the following link to begin: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HG8SRSM.
There has also been a reasonable amount of interest in participating in the focus groups to discuss the ins and outs of an annual review of preaching based on 360-degree feedback. Marc will be sending out more information in a couple of weeks but he thought it might be helpful to let you know where and when the focus groups will be held.
As it stands the focus groups will be held November 9 -11 from 9.30am to 11.00am in the following areas (specifics are yet to be determined): Parramatta (9th), Newcastle (10th), and Gymea (11th). If you are interested, and have not already expressed interest, you can email Marc at Marc.Rader@gymeabaptist.org.au
PASTORAL TEAMS DAY
While the Teams Day for October 29 has been fully subscribed, you may want to be added to the waiting list if some team needs to withdraw. Contact Ros at the Ministry Centre Office to register on the waiting list.
FINANCIAL PLANNING for PASTORS
The Pastors’ Financial Boot Camp seminar, sponsored by Christian Super, was a very successful day. The sessions were videoed and after editing they will be available for those who weren’t able to attend. Discussions are under way about hosting similar workshops and seminars on financial matters for pastors. Ian Altman and myself will also be meeting with the Baptist Union Finance Committee next month to discuss a review of stipends and ways to assist pastors to retire in a better financial position.
FREE VIDEO TEACHING. A new website setup to deliver free video teaching for pastors and churches is available at http://www.videoteaching.com/ . The site contains a number of teaching videos from the likes of Wayne Corderio, Mark Batterson & Mark Driscoll – a full list of current speakers can be found here - http://www.videoteaching.com/speakers
Note that most of these video’s are large downloads. Contact Rev. Ian Altman (ian@lithgowbaptist.org.au) if you would like any of the teaching videos posted out on a DVD. (Ian has permission to do this).
KIDS in CHURCH
Have you considered the place of children in our Christian Communities, especially in worship services? Together in Kids Ministry has a couple of helpful articles regarding children in church. There is a link to their website from the MSD website at www.msd.org.au or http://www.children.baptistnsw.asn.au/ These are also attached.
a) The Pastor, The Parent, The Precocious Child and the Pewsitter. Mr Potato-Head and the Couch Potatoes Go to Church is a thought provoking article about engaging with kids in a church service, written by Beth Barnett of the Baptist Union of Victoria. http://www.children.baptistnsw.asn.au/church_the_boring_bits_for_.pdf
b) Church, the Boring Bits for Kids (they’re not what you think) is a further article written by
by Beth Barnett . - http://www.children.baptistnsw.asn.au/church_the_boring_bits_for_.pdf
PRAYER
Let me finish with some prayers that were written at a recent Pastor’s Day at Orange for pastors in the Central West:
“Lord, help me to be at peace with who I am, who You created me to be but at the same time don’t let me get complacent or lazy. Help me to know myself as you know me. Lord, help me to turn my good intentions into actions. Lord, give me wisdom and guard my tongue. Help me to know when to speak and when to keep silent, especially before unbelievers. My life is fleeting so make my words, my actions and my relationships count. Use me in ways that I may not even be aware of and help me to always bring glory to You. Amen”
“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
Great is the Lord
Great in majesty
Vast in reach
Mighty through history
Glorious in salvation
Exalted in Christ Jesus
Glorified in His Church
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Amen”
May you be richly blessed in your own ministry service and be a blessing to others.
Ken Clendinning
Director of MSD
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