It is a special church service that gets new people through the door each week. St Andrew's Cathedral has farewelled the pastor behind an extraordinary ministry that works miracles in people's lives, year in, year out.
Canon Jim Holbeck, the gentle leader of the Cathedral's healing ministry, is retiring on October 1 after almost two decades of servant leadership to the city and 38 years of full-time ministry.
"It never ceases to amaze me what the Holy Spirit can reveal as I sit under God's word when Canon Jim Holbeck is teaching."
So recounts Narelle, one of countless people from Sydney, interstate and overseas who have come to know and trust the long-serving pastor through life's ups and downs.
"The more I learnt of God's love, mercy, forgiveness and grace through the programs at the Healing Ministry Centre in Newtown and the St Andrew's Cathedral healing services, the more I was able to trust Jesus," says another, Lynette, who has suffered from an auto-immune disease and is rejoicing that her blood tests have recently showed signs of healing.
"He's perceived by the congregation as a very warm, gentle and caring person and very faithful teacher of God's word," says the Cathedral's Senior Assistant Minister, Chris Moroney.
The relationship between the Cathedral and the healing ministry is a healthy one, Mr Moroney says.
"Since [the Dean of Sydney] Phillip [Jensen] has come there has been a much closer relationship between the Cathedral and the healing ministry than there has been in the past," he says.
Dean Jensen and Mr Moroney have both preached at the ministry's regular Wednesday evening services.
A country boy who was called by God
Born in 1935 in Gympie, James Evans Holbeck worked as an industrial chemist until going into full-time ministry.
After completing theological studies at Ridley College in Melbourne, he was deaconed in 1968 and became a priest in Brisbane a year later.
Married to Carole, he was a curate at Coorparoo from 1968 to 1972 and became rector of Mt Gravatt in 1972, a position he held until 1978 when he became Dean of St Peter's Cathedral in Armidale that same year. He was Dean for ten years before coming to St Andrew's Cathedral in 1988, where he has been an assistant minister ever since.
In all, not a bad run for a country boy from outback Queensland who left school in Year Ten.
"The highlight has been from day one, seeing the change in people's lives " people coming to know the Lord, relationships being re-established," Canon Holbeck says.
While the joys have been many over the years, he says it is still difficult to see Christians coming as a last resort, almost too physically ill to know what's going on around them.
"The majority would come because of some physical problem or people coming with some emotional mess," Canon Holbeck says.
He says while those seeking help from the ravages of substance abuse has been a constant, he has noticed an increase in the numbers of people seeking healing from gambling addictions.
"Alcoholism is the main one [but] gambling has been a real problem in recent years," he says.
Canon Holbeck expressed his desire that more local parishes seek to provide appropriate ministry to those in their congregations who are hurting deeply.
"One of the problems of us evangelical Christians, we're not willing to admit we've got a need," he says.
"We've got all the answers, we walk in victory, but you don't mention that you're hurting " you're meant to be on top."
Canon Holbeck is currently on long service leave and with his wife Carole is set to journey to the United States where they will take part in a mission to Florida and Wisconsin.
When they return to Australia they will move to Port Macquarie.
A legacy of compassion in the inner city
The healing ministry holds a special place in the Diocese for many people who have come to be healed, comforted and forgiven in Christ.
Canon Jim Glennon AM, who passed away on June 11 last year, founded the Cathedral's Healing Ministry in 1960.
He later helped in the formation of a healing ministry at St Mary's, Waverley.
The healing ministry is based at the Cathedral as well as at the healing ministry centre in inner-city Newtown, Golden Grove.
Chris Moroney will be the acting leader of the healing ministry until an appointment of the new leader.
The recently retired rector of Cooks River, the Rev Tom Halls will be assisting him during July and August.
"We are very concerned to help the ministry of prayer for people, teaching the Bible and healing to grow and increase," says Mr Moroney.
"There are many opportunities to grow. We certainly want to encourage this ministry."
Mr Moroney and Mr Halls will oversee an extensive ministry: a healing service runs on Wednesdays from 6.00pm-7.30pm at the Cathedral, while at the Newtown centre, a daily chapel service, Bible studies, prayer groups, seminars and other activities that take place during the week and on weekends.
The ministry runs regular seminars on dealing with grief and loss along with support days for those with cancer or chronic illness and their carers.
New this year has been Canon Holbeck's introduction of a weekend seminar series on dealing with stress.
The ministry also draws some well-known faces. On November 18, television journalist Leigh Hatcher will speak at the healing ministry centre about his personal journey with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
He will talk about how his faith guided his way through this illness and how to support people with chronic illness.
Mr Moroney says a lot of people regard the healing ministry as their second faith community in which they have a common experience of healing.
The congregation has a very active lay involvement, including committed regular members who have experienced healing and now pray for those who are seeking to be healed themselves.
"They're bonded together by God's spirit working in their lives in a special way," he says.
According to Canon Holbeck, what should the future hold for the ministry he leaves behind?
"[It should be] compassionate, Bible-based and Christ centred," Canon Holbeck says.
"We can't do anything, but God can through us. There should be no arrogance in ministry. It's really based upon on relying on the Holy Spirit."
http://www.cathedral.sydney.anglican.asn.au/
