Six couples trying to start a new church in a hard to reach part of Sydney have transformed into a committed group of almost 70 believers just 24 months later.
Holy Trinity Bexley North, sandwiched between the M5 motorway and Stony Creek Road in Sydney's multicultural south-west, celebrated its second "birthday' as a church plant last month.
The 10.30am congregation is part of the St George North parish, which encompasses the churches of Bexley, Bexley North and Carlton.
Former minister and now Director of Evangelism Ministries the Rev Jim Ramsay spoke at a special service, while children invited their friends to a birthday party.
Up to 90 people attended on the day, the largest the building has seen in a long time, says minister the Rev David Mears.
"There's the impression that you have to have 30 or 40 people to start a church plant," David says.
"But you don't have to start with a critical mass " you can actually grow by just beginning with 10 to 12 people."
He says the close bond between members has led to a definite feel of ownership of the plant, as "everyone has a job to do'.
"If you have the right people, you can do it," he says.
Lay members who went the extra mile
The original church planters were young couples from the evening congregation, "Church in the Bank', held in a former St George Bank building in Carlton.
The group of 12 all made a commitment to serve at both congregations, which David says "minimised the feeling of risk that the new plant was “all they had”’.
David Mears is thrilled with the progress of the church and puts the growth down to a committed leadership team that is "welcoming and outward looking'.
"Personally, I find it tremendously encouraging," he says.
"The people who come always love it."
Apart from outsider friendly Bible studies and a well-run children's ministry, the preaching program is especially designed to be welcoming to non-believers.
David decided to change the sermon series at one stage to teach the "Two Ways to Live' evangelistic course to appeal to a non-Christian who had arrived at church.
While the church has experienced transfer growth, local people have also been converted.
"Not everyone wants to go to a massive church," David says, adding that the smaller church dynamic is appealing for local residents who like the idea of walking to church and being a part of their community.
Another sign of growth is purely "biological', David says.
"People just keep popping out babies," he says.
Approximately 25 to 30 regular children attend the kid's program.
A "year of mission' in 2006
David says the first phase of the plant was conversion growth and getting together a group of mission-minded Christians.
The next stage is to take the gospel to the community by making 2006 a "year of mission'.
"We want to reach the area because there hasn't been a lot happening up here," he says.
"It's exciting for people to say "we are growing'."
The school community is a key place for building relationships, evidenced through the children inviting their friends along to church last month.
Five new children attended the celebration on the day.
The parish of St George North was created from an amalgamation of the parishes of Carlton, Bexley and Bexley North in 2003.
The parish is a test case for a growing trend across Sydney where parish life has shifted away from the church building in recognition that the congregation is the basic unit of ministry, doing away with a "main church' or "branch church'.
