As a small parish on Botany Bay uses a new cross-cultural ministry to reach its ethnically diverse community, it is receiving a fresh boost as a rookie rector joins in 2009.
The Rev Steve Bryan will commence as the rector of Brighton/Rockdale on January 19, 2009. His induction service will take place tonight at St Mark's, Brighton-le-Sands.
Mr Bryan, who was previously the assistant minister at St John's, Beecroft, says he, his wife Meredith and two sons will miss the church family there.
"Meredith and I have rejoiced in forming close friendships at Beecroft and we will miss them greatly. It’s also been a great place to live and raise our boys, and we grieve the loss of the opportunity for them to go to school with their friends," he says.
However, Mr Bryan says he is looking forward to building upon the multi-ethnic ministries already in the parish.
"At Brighton/Rockdale we hope to see the Spirit bring in many people of varying ethnic backgrounds and to see Christ build vibrant multi-ethnic congregations where all people are welcome to glorify God in Christ."
Mr Bryan says the Brighton/Rockdale area is “incredibly multi-ethnic” with over half the residents born outside of Australia.
New church plant grows
A new cross-cultural ministry to Rockdale's ethnically diverse community is helping a small church reach its neighbours.
During 2007 the parish of Brighton/Rockdale was encouraged by Bishop Peter Tasker to consider how to reopen St John's, Rockdale, which was closed and delicensed by the Archbishop under unfortunate circumstances in January 2006.
Former rector of Brighton/Rockdale, Archdeacon Ian Cox says the closure was “a sad occasion in the life of [the] church”. However, he says reopening the church over two years later gave the parish an opportunity to more effectively reach locals.
"The parish council recognised that with over 50 per cent of the population of Rockdale speaking another language other than English at home, we would have to do some creative thinking. We knew we would have to begin a church out of nothing, for we were a small church," Archdeacon Cox says.
In January 2008, Brighton/Rockdale appointed assistant minister and diocesan lay worker John Lee, who completed his Bachelor of Theology at Moore in 2007 and was keen to engage in cross-cultural ministry.
Mr Lee says he saw a great need for the gospel to be heard by the people of the community of Rockdale.
"A local church should reflect the wider community in which it is situated," he says.
Mr Lee and his wife Carolyn, two student ministers and five Brighton members were the core group that launched the new church on Easter Day 2008. The Rockdale Anglican Church International Meeting (RACIM) is now an easy English service.
"Even though diverse, we wanted to be united in Christ and a common language: English," Mr Lee says.
RACIM uses various means to connect people to the congregation including their relationship with Rockdale Community Services which uses the church building as a meeting place for community groups. There is also a playtime group for young mums and their toddlers on Tuesday mornings and ESL classes on Friday nights.
Mr Lee has also developed a friendship with a local Rockdale coffee shop owner and uses this venue to meet people.
"My plan is to move people from the "froth of cappuccino' to the milk of God's word," he quips.
Around 30 people currently attend RACIM and Mr Lee is pleased that the church is reaching locals more effectively.
"We are reaching people who dominate the Rockdale population: Macedonians, Serbians, Croatians, Mainland Chinese and Koreans in the area."
Mr Lee hopes the church can continue to function in two ways.
"As a church I want us to continue to gather around God's word serving, equipping and strengthening all the saints that God sends us," he says.
"From a community service point of view we would like to continue and improve our ESL classes, serve new immigrants by helping them settle in as Australians and be a centre for discussion and debate for things that matter in community."
