Regional
Snapshot
Regional
SnapshotFrom Rod and Ruth Matthews
Australia and New Zealand
By Aub Warren
BURLEIGH HEADS, Australia--After calling on the regional membership to join with them in prayer, members of the regional administrative team conducted three days of review and planning meetings Nov. 3 to 5.
During the meetings each participant reviewed their own performance, achievements and challenges in their areas of responsibility, a review of the team's effort and observations on what had worked and what had not worked throughout the year.
Noting the obvious blessing on the training programs and the good fruit they had borne, the team agreed the equipping emphasis must continue to be a priority for the fellowship. Other key areas addressed were media opportunities, the potential for spreading the gospel in Asia and the need to continue developing support services for our restructured environment.
Prayer was a constant element of the three days of meetings, which concluded with a briefing for John Schutz, Australian National Advisory Council chairman. The result was an updated Strategic Directions Document, presented to the National Advisory Council at its Nov. 6 and 7 meeting at the regional office.
The document, an update of the one released at the beginning of 1999, outlines the key activities of the church in the year ahead.
The document carries the vision, mission and goal statement: "Building and growing the church by equipping Christians for the work of living and sharing the gospel."
The introduction notes: "The gospel creates the church. The church exists to share the gospel. Our transformation sees a shift from relying on media alone to preach the gospel to focusing on the efforts of congregations (and individual members) in their local situations.
"The church is to preach the gospel and make disciples. We acknowledge that all of our plans and goals are subject to the will of God and thus commit to continual corporate, congregational and individual prayer."
Here is a
summary by John Schutz of the key areas of activity highlighted in Council Reviews First
Year.
By John Schutz
At its Nov. 6 and 7 meeting the Australian National Advisory Council (NAC) reviewed its past year of operation.
The NAC discussed its effectiveness and ability to assist the national administration to more effectively manage the church and deal with the challenges facing our fellowship.
Our meetings have covered many significant areas over the year, including church identity, membership, financial restructure, budgets, local advisory councils, youths, media, a Christian college and national registration. Many of these were encapsulated in the Strategic Directions document that administration published early in 1999.
At the November meeting, Director of Ministries (Australia and New Zealand), John McLean, presented the council with an updated version of this document for beyond 2000.
John outlined the process the management team at the office had undertaken in reviewing progress on the 1999 document, in light of the restructure of roles and responsibilities, and available resources, as a backdrop to setting realistic goals for the coming year.
The NAC was encouraged by the process and commitment undertaken as outlined by John and fully endorsed and congratulated the team on their approach and the direction taken. The NAC believes that this process and the document will give the administration an excellent building block to plan and report against for the coming year.
How many times have we heard the question, "Where are we headed?" Well, the best way to answer that question is to start doing the things we have been saying we should be doing and get people involved. The council discussed how vital it is for our fellowship to move forward and stop dwelling on the past. Strategic Directions Beyond 2000 will greatly assist in achieving this critical outcome.
The NAC took time to thank God in prayer for the answered prayers of our people that were so obvious in the discussions, planning and outcomes for the coming year. The council prayed over the five men directly involved in the review and planning, and thanked God for them, their work and the outcome. The council also prayed for their families and all the staff at the Burleigh Heads Office.
The NAC finished 1999 with a belief that the council had definitely assisted administration with many issues, and while there is still much to do, let's acknowledge the achievements of the past year and thank God for all he has done in our fellowship, which has laid an excellent foundation for the year ahead.
John Schutz is chairman of the Australian National Advisory Council.
ADVISORY COUNCIL--From left: John Schutz
and Arthur Mavros. [Photo by Aub Warren]
COUNCIL MEETS--The Australian National Advisory Council meets in the
church's
Burleigh Heads Office Nov. 6 and 7. Key activities were outlined for the year ahead.
[Photos by Aub Warren]
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000