Jenn Sands writes:
As part of the evangelism paper that I am doing this semester through Bible College of New Zealand, a recent assignment was to look at the Antioch church in Acts 11 and what it modelled for us, as a church that God uses in evangelism. I had to reflect on how well, or not, my Opawa church was doing. Here is what I wrote:
Open to outreach - in my church I can see two of the three aspects of outreach, modelled in the Antioch church, happening. Each year recently there has been teaching, either through sermons or small group courses, on evangelism, where people have been shown conversational evangelism, Biblical pictures of witness, process versus event evangelism, etc. There is a monthly missionary focus as part of the morning service and also people in overseas and home mission who are supported financially and prayerfully by my church.
I was really encouraged by what I discovered as I spent time looking behind the scenes and reflecting on the current practices of Opawa and its vision for growth. There are lots of good things happening and God is at work in the life of our church. I also had to assess myself personally using this criteria of Open to outreach. It was a challenge to me and so I'd like to challenge you to reflect on how you personally are involved in helping Opawa Baptist be a church that God uses in spreading the Gospel message.
This week has been an incredibly sad week for all New Zealanders. We have been saddened by the loss of 7 lives at Mangatepopo. This includes Tony McClean, son of Baptist pastor at EastView Baptist Church, John and Jeanette McClean. We have been encouraged by the Christian witness seen on our TV screens. We have been saddened and angered by the discovery of the body of Marie Davis here in Christchurch.
Our Sunday morning service will allow time for us to pray together in the light of the events of this week. We will explore the question that must be on many lips - "where is God?" by using the Psalms of the Bible. We will have two large cards, for any who want to sign, and to send to John and Jeanette McClean and to Elim Christian School.
On Sunday evening, when more of our teenagers are present, we will allow time to pray together for the family of Marie Davis. Similarly, we will have a large card for any who want to sign, and to send to her family.
Our newsletter carries this cartoon. View it here
Steve Taylor
for Opawa Pastoral team
As a church, we have a structure which seeks to balance leadership vs
congregational government, big picture vs details, inward vs outward
focus. In summary it looks like this:
Church members
Appoint the Board and (senior) pastor
Affirm the vision, approve the budget
Make major directional, staffing and property decisions
Board 3-5 people of mature godly character
Develop and protect mission and vision of the Church.
Accountable to the Church members
Comprises Sylvia, Gavin, Lucy, Kevin, Lawrence.
The (Senior) Pastor Sets the vision with the Board;
Selects ministry leaders (with Board)
Leads the ministry team and holds them accountable for the agreed goals
Develops leaders who develop leaders
Answers to Board
Ministry leaders Head up a variety of core ministry areas
Authority to function within goal and budget guidelines
Accountable to the Pastor
Some of these are voluntary. Others are paid, with more regular get-togethers with the pastor and involvement in the on-going decision making and vision. Comprises Noelene (administration), Emma (childrenīs ministry), Paul (community ministries), Neville (facilities), Alan (missions), Stephen (worship), Hugh (outreach and evangelism), Craig (pastoral care), Amanda (small groups), and Steve (spiritual growth). Youth is currently vacant.
It was a privilege last Sunday for Steve and I to share lunch with Rodney McCann, the National Leader of our Baptist Family of Churches here in NZ, and Dr Neville Callam, the General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance.
The Baptist World Alliance began in 1905 and is a fellowship of 214 Baptist conventions and unions worldwide, comprising a membership of 36 million baptized believers and a community of 105 million.
It seeks to be a global movement sharing a common confession of faith in Jesus Christ, bonded together by Gods love to support, encourage and strengthen one another, while proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to a lost world. Coming together as a whole enables us, for example to advocate on behalf of persecuted Baptists.
The Baptist World Alliance has five stated goals:
1. To unite Baptists worldwide.
2. To lead in world evangelism.
3. To respond to people in need.
4. To defend human rights.
5. To promote theological reflection.
It was great to meet this learned and gracious Jamaican and hear a little about the work of the BWA, as well as to be encouraged in the work that we are undertaking down under in Aotearoa New Zealand.