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Dear Friends,
Some fresh mission things...
(1) CMS surveys some “trusted partners in mission”
(Nov 2009)
A summary of a recent survey on global issues in mission today
yielded many insights including:
• the World will be increasingly evangelised by non-Western
countries (bringing new methods that will challenge us!)
• “mission” definitions continue to grapple with
gospel/social action or spiritual/physical priorities — often
dividing Christians. [Jesus modelled gospel conviction (Mark 1:38)
and then personal compassion (Mark 1:41) — so should we.]
• in a day of ‘no fixed truths’ in the West there
are increasingly no fixed commitments making mission a lesser option
(while Islam assumes the West will turn there for answers!).
• as China inevitably turns into the new superpower (America
is $800 billion in debt to China!) this will bring big changes to
our world.
• in Australia visits from African Christians to aboriginal
Christians have brought great blessing.
(2) Andrew and Stephanie Browning
• a new chapter will open for Andrew and Stephanie Browning
when they move from the Barhir Dar fistula hospital at the end of
October.
• please pray for them as they consider the next best area
for service — and for the ongoing fistula work.
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Lord God, as this hospital has stood for your Name, please
work to preserve its testimony to Christ and provide its needs
— in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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(3) Kenny and Rose Lloyd
• good ministry continues in Port Elizabeth, South Africa,
but they feel their ‘isolation’ away from the major cities
— keep them (and Joel Cunningham) in prayer.
• please pray for their work, their home, their struggling
Sunday School and their joy.
(4) North Sydney Scripture
• as you know this is being seriously affected by the offer
of ‘ethics’ as an alternative. [The facile argument that
if scripture was ‘fun’ people would be going in droves
misses the point entirely that not all lessons of value are fun
— where would Maths classes be if students voted on its ‘fun’
capacity?]
• www.sreontrial.com.au will show you more.
(5) Preschool — our mission with new facilities
I asked Peter Hicks to answer some questions on our mortgage
to pay off the re-development costs — for your information.
(i) Why do we need to mortgage part of the property?
“Mortgaging part of the property allows us to invest in the
Preschool facilities now and repay the loan over time through
increased fees. Without the loan we would face ever-deteriorating
Preschool assets and pressure to lower fees.”
(ii) Is this anything to do with the Ministry Centre
re-development or the shortfall in offertory?
“No, the mortgaged property is specifically to allow a $300k
loan only for use related to the Preschool and for repayment by
the Preschool.”
(iii) Why do we need an ordinance?
“The Diocese of Sydney is the property owner of our Church.
To allow a mortgage requires an ordinance or legal approval to
be provided to the Parish. The notice period of 3 weeks at Church
is a requirement of the ordinance process.”
(iv) Who will loan us the funds?
“Subject to a competitive offer we expect our bank Westpac
to provide the loan.”
(v) Is there a chance the bank will take possession
of the property?
“The current Preschool Board anticipates being able to
meet the loan requirements given its high occupancy over several
years and current fees. In the unlikely situation that the Preschool
fails the Parish previously rented the Preschool property commercially
for funds in excess of the loan requirements.”
Yours in His victorious mission,
Simon Manchester
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