Overflowing facilities are compelling lower North Shore Christians to use kitchens, garages, community halls " even demountable buildings " to call people like this young woman to repent and believe.
This recent convert is a new member of the Naremburn Asian Australian Church (NAAC) which rents a local school and a community centre because the buildings of its parish, Naremburn-Cammeray, are already full with existing ministries.
The secular environs are no barrier to the gospel for the families and young professionals who are accepting invitations from friends to come to church for the first time.
This young woman, who can't be named for privacy reasons, is one of seven people who was baptised, three who were confirmed and one who was received into the Anglican Church by the Bishop of North Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies last month.
"The commitment and energy for living for God's glory in these young believers and their obvious joy in publicly declaring their faith in Jesus was evident to all," says Bishop Davies.
The Asian church is a strategic ministry that started two and half years ago with ‘15 keen Christians who just started inviting people', says pastor the Rev David Lim.
According to Mr Lim, it was particularly special seeing a whole family being baptised.
"We are thankful to God for his grace and mercy," he says.
Now the church holds two services, one in the morning and one in the evening, with about 70 members.
Stretched facilities a challenge for active church
It was cause for celebration on the weekend for a church that is fast outgrowing its facilities, particularly in the areas of children's ministry, which is currently using the church kitchen and office, the rectory garage and a demountable building for activities.
One hundred and ninety adults and 88 children crowded into the church building for a special service, including the Mayor Pat Riley and local MP Gladys Berejiklian, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Christian ministry and witness by St Cuthbert's, Naremburn.
The church was originally one of two "mission' church planted in the late 19th century by nearby St Stephen's, Willoughby and St Thomas', North Sydney.
The parish has been revitalised following a group of church planters from St Thomas' joining the church to start a new morning congregation eight years ago.
"The value of our history is more likely to be overlooked and neglected than remembered and cherished," says Assistant Minister the Rev Will Orpwood.
Mr Orpwood said it would be easy to over-emphasise the work of church members in the church's witness and ministry over the years.
“It's too easy for us to think it was us who revitalised, to think that Christ's church is something we build. [So] the 90th anniversary is very significant for us. It is testimony to God's faithfulness."
The parish is currently exploring the development possibilities of the St Cuthbert's site.
