After a year of prayer for the drought-stricken parish of Barraba, Cherrybrook Anglican Church has returned from its second week-long mission in the small rural town.
40 Cherrybrook parishioners partnered with St Laurence's Anglican Church, Barraba in the mission, over double the number in Cherrybrook’s first team last year.
Cherrybrook's rector, the Rev Gavin Poole says the parish felt the benefits of returning to the small town north-west of Tamworth, which they had been praying for since September last year.
"The people of Barraba welcomed us even more warmly than last year, and any suspicion there before has been demolished " I'm really glad we were there," he says.
"Building on our existing relationship with Barraba gave the week a different dimension".
The three-day kids club attracted 50 kids this year, 20 more than last year, and the team also put on a lunch for seniors in the area, a men's dinner, and a ladies' coffee night.
Forging friendship
The two mission trips have helped build strong ties between the two churches, with Cherrybrook finding different ways to help the town of only 1200 residents.
"We've raised money for large-letter bibles for the older members of the congregation," he says.
"We've also been praying for them as they've been suffering because of the drought, and vice versa."
Mr Poole says being in the township once again brought home the fact that the effects of the drought are still being felt.
"It's very dry there and you notice when you talk to farmers that they are struggling."
However he says he could also see the difference of faith in the Christian farmers he spoke to.
"The Christian farmers were philosophical about it and had a theology about the drought," he says.
He adds that he hoped Cherrybrook's presence in the town helped to encourage the church there.
"They want to know they're not on their own and that the city cares for them " it's easy for them to feel isolated," he says.
For Cherrybrook's relatively small congregation which meets in the local community centre, Mr Poole says the mission involved some sacrifices.
"Last weekend, all our musicians were in Barraba, so the service (back at Cherrybrook) had a CD backing."
"We average 150 a week, so it's a big thing for a church like us to take something like this on."
Yet he says seeing members of his congregation step out of their comfort zones and try new things was worth the effort.
"For me, the highlight was seeing our people stand up and be not ashamed of the gospel and give good clear presentations " that for me was encouraging."
Mission the country way
Cherrybrook parishioner Darryl Beitsch has attended both missions and says they are "constant work but very rewarding work."
"Last year, people came to church who had never been before" we had some incredible answers to prayer that week."
Mr Poole says he has been encouraged by the hard work of Barraba's parishioners in inviting their friends to events " and the willingness of Barraba locals to come along.
"When we advertised an event, in the local paper for example, people would actually come."
