BURLEIGH HEADS, Australia--More than 3,100 people attended the Festival in the region coordinated by the Australian Office.
They participated at more than 20 sites in nine countries, with more conducting celebration services and activities at local sites.
Highlights from this year's Celebration of the Kingdom of God included:
* Guest speakers from other fellowships and para-church organizations.
* Workshops.
* Visiting musicians and singers performing worship music.
* Women's ministry breakfasts and luncheons.
* Small group meetings and prayer meetings.
* Shared meals after services.
* Events to which community members were invited.
* A combined churches conference.
* Contemporary worship services.
* Collections of food and clothing for the needy.
* And hours and hours of fantastic fellowship!
Visiting speakers and musicians were a feature at a number of sites, with visitors commenting positively on the changes that swept our church in the past few years and others staying on to join in our Festival celebrations.
A community invitation in Sri Lanka brought 25 visitors to a service. A bomb blast the day before the Festival caused the cancellation of the opening service. Two members who work in hotels damaged by the explosion were spared injury, even though one was only 200 meters away at the time of the blast.
In Australia's island state, Tasmania, Festival participants joined more than 100 members and ministers from other fellowships at a weekend conference during the Festival that culminated with an interdenominational service.
In Gosford, New South Wales, Andrew Tuck from the Voice of the Martyrs organization alerted those gathered there to the fact that every three minutes a Christian somewhere in the world is killed for the faith.
Sam Chapman, a Christian Maori leader, made several encouraging presentations, urging a focus on reconciliation, at the site in Rotorua, New Zealand.
A general comment from around the sites was the observation that a warm, positive and Christ-focused atmosphere had not only prevailed but been personally experienced.
"From the opening day it was obvious that something special was happening," said Cliff Worthing, coordinator for the Gold Coast site. "It was obvious that people came to encounter God--together--and we did."
Regional director Rod Matthews and his wife, Ruth, visited four sites in Australia. In his messages Mr. Matthews stressed the church's responsibilities and opportunities in the areas of outreach and evangelism--the church's themes in October and November.
"Our goal as a church is to bring people to a relationship with Jesus Christ," he said. "Those we reach with the gospel may or may not end up worshiping with us. We would like them to, of course. But our goal is not to build a denomination.
"Our goal is to help people come to repentance, to know Jesus Christ, to come to salvation. If we put Jesus Christ at the forefront, if we're focused on him and on bringing people to him, we will grow naturally."
Mr. Matthews urged a prayerful approach toward outreach and evangelism.
"Pray for opportunities to touch people's lives," he said. "Pray for people's conversion. Let's pray that we can become a church that reaches outward, that sees clearly that our job is out there in our communities."
Australia
Caloundra, Queensland 716
Gold Coast, Queensland 139
Gosford, New South Wales 217
Lakes Entrance, Victoria 391
Launceston, Tasmania 56
Perth, Western Australia 417
Ulladulla, New South Wales 198
New Zealand
Queenstown 76
Rotorua 274
India
Secunderabad 68
Mahabalipuram 105
Solomon Islands
Honiara 14
Santa Ana 7
Ranongga 44
Suva, Fiji 112
Port Vila, Vanuatu 44
Papua New Guinea n/a
Colombo, Sri Lanka 93
Phuket, Thailand 83
Nov. 18, 1997, WN, page six
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