St Stephen’s, Lidcombe was built in 1875 and over the years it has gradually changed from a strong Anglo-Celtic ministry to become a largely ethnic Chinese ministry. There is a cultural diversity, ranging from second generation Australian Chinese to those who are newly arrived in Sydney. Today St Stephen’s consists of Australians, Chinese and Chinese Australians.

Link spoke to the Rev Joseph Thiem about the cross-cultural ministry at Lidcombe.

Link: How did it start?
Joseph Thiem: The Chinese Ministry began with my appointment here in 1997. The parish has two church centres;  Berala has a traditional Anglo-Celtic ministry; Lidcombe was left with less than 14 parish-ioners, with the youngest person being 68 years old. Therefore it seemed good to start a new gospel ministry at Lidcombe, and at the same time to build up the existing ministry at Berala. Because Chinese are one of the highest non-English speaking people groups in Lidcombe, we started the Chinese evangelistic outreach ministry.

The first Bible study group was formed with four people in December 1997, and a Chinese service started with 12 people. Today we have well over 100 adults attending the Chinese Sunday Service (over half of whom are in the age range of 18-25), with 25 children in Sunday School. Three midweek adult Bible study groups meet at the rectory, with more than 40 people coming to study God’s word. A young worker’s Bible fellowship of 15 young professionals meets in the hall on Friday night, and a university student Bible fellowship, meeting at the rectory on Friday night and during the week on Cumberland Campus, ministers to more than 50 students each week.

Also there are monthly meetings such as a church prayer meeting, an adult fellowship, a ladies’ group, and a seniors’ group.

Link: How many people have turned to Christ since you started?
JT: In the last six years, there have been 54 unbelievers who have turned to Christ. Over 70 per cent of these new Christians are from university student ministry. Today, these Bible-equipped Chinese Christians are the backbone of the church. When they complete their education in university, most of them do not move away to another church, or overseas. Lidcombe becomes a spiritual home to them, where they find a true Christian community in the gospel outreach ministry, and in loving one another in spirit and in truth.

Link: What about the local people in Lidcombe?
JT: For the last six years, we have run a community outreach program at Lidcombe: two English classes for new migrants, a playgroup and a drop-in centre. Due to limited resources and manpower, we ran the playgroup for four years, and the drop-in centre for two, and re-targeted our efforts into teaching and training many new Christians to study the Bible and be equipped with tools to share the gospel with their friends. Nevertheless, the English class continues to be a source of great blessing to the Church and community.

Link: Is there any plan to rebuild the existing English ministry?
JT: In early 2001 we began to look for an opportunity to build up the children of the Cantonese Congreg-ation. In April, after much prayer and a vestry meeting, we decided to change the traditional service – which for the last four years about 14 people had been attending – to become the Family and Youth Service, in order to give Lidcombe English Ministry a new start. Today we have 30 people attending this new service on Sunday morning, and an English youth Bible fellowship meets afterward. We are grateful to our English congregation for embracing this new change – we praise God for their godliness, sacrifices and commitment to regrow the English ministry for the next generation.