Since going public about his plans to fund vocational training chaplaincy across NSW with what can best be described as an "online op shop', the Rev Craig Blacket has been flooded with donated items.
The deluge includes an entire house full of items from a woman who is about to move into a retirement home.
Mr Blacket is now looking for someone who can help him value the extraordinary range of goods.
"Some of these items are absolutely beautiful and antique," he said.
The flood of items has "already exceeded capacity' at the Mt Druitt wharehouse that Mr Blacket is using as a supply centre.
As reported in the most recent Southern Cross, Mr Blacket has spent 15 years trying to develop a ministry model for TAFE colleges but was forced to face a new reality when diocesan organisations were told their Synod grants would be cut by an average 50 percent cut.
Up until recently Mr Blacket had been working as TAFE advisor for the Diocese through Anglican Youthworks, but that is no longer possible.
"They have been providing office space and equipment, but Youthworks is no longer able to support us as they have other challenges in their immediate focus."
Forced to do some soul searching and creative thinking, Mr Blacket has decided to start an interdenominational board overseeing Christian ministry in TAFE and private training colleges around the country.
"The Sydney Diocese has been stronger in its work with university students and the middle class, but much weaker in its work with TAFE students and the working class, so there is still a great challenge and much to do in the area of TAFE ministry," he says.
Earlier this year the Inter-College Christian Fellowship (ICCF) was established with Craig Blacket as CEO and Patrick Benn as chairman.
Mr Blacket describes ICCF as "AFES for TAFE'. The plan is that it will run with inter-denominational support across the 10 vocational training institutes in NSW.
ICCF's central office will be funded with profits funded by selling donated items over the internet.
Mr Blacket suggests this approach could raise about $2500 a week.
However, It is also expected that ICCF will receive some funding from Sydney Diocese next year.
Bishop Ivan Lee told SC that "the Northern and Western regions especially have been strong financial supporters of TAFE ministry, but now the Diocese as a whole has seen the importance of this work.
"The Diocese has set up the Tertiary Oversight Committee to co-ordinate strategy and funding for both university and TAFE ministry. This is an exciting development, but much work is ahead of us."
Additional reporting: Joshua Maule
