Northern Region churches are finding new ways to build on the success of traditional ministries to reach local children and families as part of the Diocesan Mission. Organisers say their efforts show that creativity and diversity are needed to realise the goal of evangelising all of Sydney.
Christ Church, Gladesville doubled its efforts from the summer school holidays by holding an ‘urban’ beach mission in colder weather. “Without a beach and without the summer holiday atmosphere we wondered if it would work, but we tried and it was a great success,” said lay minister, Andrew Mitchell.
The project was a result of successful church planting growth. Each year the parish runs summer missions to two new church plants on the Central Coast of NSW. With the effort put into these missions, attempting something similar at ‘home’ seemed an obvious next step.
The week-long mission aimed to reach out to the very young to the elderly. A children’s program ran each morning, with the children also involved in the final service at the end of the week. Promotion included door knock-ing and advertising in schools.
A coffee shop for adults ran during the children’s programs. Talks had a ‘gospel edge’ and concerned adult health, children’s health and parenting.
In another example, St Barnabas’, Roseville East brought Christmas forward to avoid the lead up rush for families. The parish capitalised on the secular trend of ‘Christmas in July’ to remind their community that Christmas is a time to help people in need, with all gifts donated to Anglicare.
The event was designed to be a bridge between the morning and evening services as well as an informal celebration to reach out to friends and family. St Barnabas’ children’s worker Anne Palmer said the church wanted to help families cope. “The end of the year is such a hectic time for families with school age children,” she said. It was great to be able to focus on the needs of others in a positive way without the pressures of the Christmas rush.”
At St Luke’s, Hornsby Heights, the unique Sunday School building – a modified train carriage – is being used to invite people to church. The Rev Dennis Oliver will host a Model Railway Exhibition on 15 and 16 November where over 700 people are expected to attend to see the church grounds transformed. Mr Oliver says he is planning ideas so that as people see the model trains, they will also see ‘Jesus as the real model for life’.
Each church hopes the efforts will result in growth. At Gladesville, contact with non-churchgoers during the mission has resulted in the formation of two Simply Christianity groups.
“To have the involvement of so many in the church family, working together in mission was wonderful,” said Mr Mitchell. “As winter may be a slow time for many, having a winter beach mission at home seems to be a real option. I’d recommend it as a strategy for others to try and we would be happy to pass on our programs, brochures and ideas.”
