Mission partnerships between Sydney churches and other Anglican congregations look set to grow after a successful trip by a team from St Paul's, Chatswood to the parish of South Ballarat.
Debbie Gould, outreach pastor at St Paul's, plans to see a similar trip to other churches happen each October.
The partnership with Ballarat came as an "unexpected' outcome of the work of the Rev Stuart Robinson, rector at St Paul's, as National Mission Coordinator.
South Ballarat's rector, the Rev Mark Schnerring, who trained at Melbourne's Ridley College, organised the mission with Mr Robinson after meeting him at a Clergy Conference.
The partnership has refreshed and reinvigorated both churches. It comes as Ballarat's Bishop, the Rt Rev Michael Hough, has stressed the need for churches to welcome outsiders and understand what it means to "be a disciple'.
"If we continue as we are, we will not survive," he says on his blog.
The week-long mission involved a range of events, including invitational dinners, events at nursing homes, doorknocking and children's' talks in local schools, as well as kick-starting ongoing ministries for men, women and young adults.
"We were impressed with [the Sydney team's] sheer energy and commitment to Christ," Mr Schnerring says.
"There was a sense that the Sydney team had imparted their love of God to others and showed great humility."
One Ballarat family described the St Paul's mission team as "releasing a yeast of faith and love amongst us which bubbled constantly through the week."
Mr Robinson preached at the Sunday morning services in both parish centres, and eight people at each service knelt at the communion rail to commit or recommit their lives to Christ.
The view from Chatswood
Pauline Loughhead, from Chatswood was "absolutely thrilled' with the mission.
"It was amazing and very humbling," she says. "It was difficult to get back on a bus and leave."
She says that she had spent a lot of time in prayer before the mission and "expected God to act', but wasn't exactly sure how.
She recounts how she gave a large-print Bible and devotional guide to a vision-impaired church member she billeted with.
"When she found that she could read the Bible for herself, her face just lit up!" Mrs Loughhead says. "It was such a joy to see her reading it each day!"
Mrs Loughhead, who has just turned 60, says that her experience in Ballarat and the thorough training she received have made it much easier to share her faith, both publicly and with her friends.
"I've realised that I don't really have any time to waste!" she says. "I need to know how to share the deepest thing in my heart."
