Cherrybrook Anglicans have offered their parish to an Australian ex-pat because of his ground-breaking ministry in the United States.
The Rev Gavin Poole has spent almost five years church-planting for the Dallas-based Trinity Episcopal Church.
His efforts included building a contemporary evening congregation called "Trinity After Dark' for unchurched Americans.
Cherrybrook leaders realised reaching the diocese 10% goal meant looking for a minister who knew how to break new ground.
Parish nominator, Alan Hohne, said Mr Poole was chosen as rector for his faithfulness and for his experience forming new congregations.
"Gavin was involved planting a contemporary style church in North Dallas for young adults. So he has plenty of experience in church planting, which is our origin," Mr Hohne says. "And he is a person that loves the Lord, loves the Bible and loves people."
Mr Poole's work also included raising the theology bar by introducing Texans to Moore's external studies program.
"This has been important to lift the Biblical literacy of the parish and has been received enthusiastically. It really is a great way to educate," he says.
Mr Poole also faced the major challenge of convincing his diocese to sign up with the "Network of Confessing Dioceses' in the wake of an allegedly practicing homosexual being elected Bishop in New Hampshire.
"At the diocesan Synod last year we introduced a canonical change to ensure that ministers uphold the biblical view of marriage," he says. "We have also been successful in electing conservatives to various positions and offices."
Mr Poole has only been back in Sydney for a week and he's already reveling in the diocese's bible-based focus.
"It has amazed me how much conservatives from this part of the world look toward Sydney and so they should," he says.
Mr Poole says he always thought of Sydney as his long-term place of ministry and he admires Cherrybrook's "pioneering spirit'.
"In discussions with my wife we concluded that we would return when offered a position that was a good match. We believe that Cherrybrook is that place."
He doesn't see the parish's lack of buildings as a disadvantage; it's more than made up for by a solid laity linked by a common vision.
"I think their mandate for the minister in their parish profile says it the best " "" you have been called to be a messenger, a watchman and steward of the Lord; to teach and forewarn, to feed and provide for the Lord's family, to seek for Christ's sheep who are scattered abroad and for his children who are surrounded by temptation in this world, that they may be saved through Christ forever.' I actually promised to do this at my ordination but it means even more to me now that Cherrybrook has asked me to do this," Mr Poole says.
