An exciting new initiative between a Sydney Anglican parish and Sydney's largest evangelical Chinese church is set to make great inroads for the gospel in Sydney's south-west.
The parish of Beverly Hills-Kingsgrove and Chinese Christian Church, Milsons Point (CCC) are partnering together to reach the large Chinese population, particularly the Mandarin-speaking Chinese, who are increasingly populating the area of south-west Sydney surrounding Kingsgrove.
In the latest census, the south-west region has over 80,000 Chinese-speaking residents. In the immediate suburb of Kingsgrove-Beverly Hills, 30 per cent of the population is Chinese.
The rector of Beverly Hills-Kingsgrove, the Rev Peter Hayward (pictured right), first approached CCC in 2006, inviting them to assist in building a Chinese/Asian ministry in Kingsgrove.
In February 2008, CCC ministers the Rev Luke Wong (pictured left) and the Rev Peter Ko (centre) were selected to lead this ministry, know as South West CCC.
"It has been a privilege to get to know the pastoral team and elders at CCC who have been extremely supportive and generous in the development of this partnership," Mr Hayward says.
Five of the seven CCC pastoral ministry team, including Mr Ko and Mr Wong trained at Moore College, so the evangelical convictions shared by the CCC leadership and Mr Hayward are likely to facilitate a smooth planting process.
Model partners
The Rev Peter Ko says if the partnership works it will be a model for other churches to work across denominations.
"It seems unusual for CCC to partner with Sydney Anglicans but growing the gospel means more to us than growing our own church and our own network," Mr Ko says.
"The willingness of Peter Hayward to step outside denominational boundaries to advance the kingdom has inspired us to partner with the Anglicans in our shared mission of reaching all nations for Christ."
In the 1950s and 1960s Kingsgrove was a leading church in the Diocese at one point, having the largest Sunday School in Australia and the large St Thomas', Kingsgrove premises was built as a consequence, Mr Hayward explains.
"Over the next 30 years, even with able and energetic ministry, there was a slow unstoppable decline," Mr Hayward says.
In the past four years the parish has planted four new congregations but has been seeking a way forward for using the Kingsgrove premises.
"Our vision is that Kingsgrove can once again become a leading church in the Diocese by making it a major Chinese ministry centre," Mr Hayward says.
The official launch of the church will be in April 2009 but Sunday ministry in both Mandarin and English will begin in February.
"We will be drawing a core planting group primarily from CCC and our network of Chinese churches. Many Mandarin speaking locals are indicating that they have been waiting for a Mandarin speaking ministry in the area for a long time," Mr Wong says.
"Our main target will be reaching unbelievers and unchurched believers who live in the area. We really want the church premises to be a community centre for Chinese people to connect, both in formal and informal ways."
The first service at the St Thomas’ site will be a Christmas service at 10am, December 25 in English and Mandarin.
