From Rod and Ruth Matthews
By Aub Warren
BURLEIGH HEADS, Australia--For the past couple of years, the church in Australia and New Zealand has consistently called for members to acknowledge and employ their gifts for the work of ministry and the building up of the Body of Christ.
The response to this message can be seen at the individual, congregational and national levels.
Individuals are not only identifying new opportunities to serve, but are also recognizing their decades of faithful service as genuine Spirit-led ministry.
This produces greater respect for the ministering service of others and acknowledgement of the need for all members to participate in ministering--serving--to one another as disciples of the Great Servant King.
The church development office--managed by John McLean--emphasizes this calling to ministry at conferences and leadership training seminars. The coaching role of pastors is emphasized as a part of developing more people who are equipped for ministry in congregations.
New opportunities are emerging to serve in established ministries and to initiate new ones. In addition, local church councils provide a practical avenue for spiritually mature members to provide support, encouragement and input to pastors.
Congregations are blessed as more and more people contribute to an increasing number of ministries, supporting and supplementing the work of pastors. In some areas with no resident pastor, pastoral teams are filling the void.
A focus of pastoral work is on equipping the saints for ministry: identifying, equipping and deploying those gifted for various ministries within each congregation.
To support this, the first of a planned series of three national training programs was conducted in January at the church's Lake Moogerah, Queensland, campsite.
More than 80 people from Australia (and two from New Zealand) gathered for four days of workshops, lectures, worship and fellowship.
"The concept of the ministry of all believers has now taken root--reinforced and expanded at this training program," said John Klassek, a member from Perth, Western Australia, "which I believe opens up endless possibilities and potential in sharing the gospel in an Australian setting."
Members from small churches found encouragement and support from their brethren representing larger congregations, while the bonds of denominational unity were reinforced as people suggested ideas and offered resources.
"We have been equipped with a vision for the future of the WCG, which is real, alive and an essential part of God's work to reach the lost of this world," said Leanne Ashcroft, a member from Morwell, Victoria.
With an emphasis on servant leadership, the program offered sessions on worship, preaching, women's ministry, outreach, children's ministry, evangelism, mentoring and leadership. Another training program is scheduled for June.
"The occasion exceeded participants' expectations," said Mr. McLean. "The whole experience was encouraging--and encouraging for the fellowship that gifted and talented people see that our fellowship has a future and want to contribute to that future."
Administratively the church has not only taught and encouraged the ministry of all believers, but has restructured its financial administration and established national advisory councils (in Australia and New Zealand) of mature, gifted and respected church members.
In August the regional administration announced a new financial administration that sees 75 percent of contributions from congregations being applied to the costs of maintaining and growing the congregations from where the contributions are made.
The implementation of this new structure is in process, requiring a strategic plan from each congregation before funds can be applied.
The new structure is designed to "facilitate growth in our church and encourage greater member involvement," said regional director Rod Matthews, introducing the proposal to pastors.
Essential to the new structure is acknowledgement that congregations grow through a series of stages, from being a small group to a house church to a congregation that can support part-time pastoral support, to full-time pastoral support, to planting new churches.
It seeks to balance the efficiencies of centralized administration with the local impact of congregational outreach and evangelism.
Also in August the Australian Office announced the appointment of a National Advisory Council to provide input, feedback and support to the national administration.
Comprised of 10 members (two employed pastors, four ordained or commissioned members, and four lay members) the council has met four times and is "a source of great support and advice," according to Mr. Matthews.
A six-member NAC in New Zealand will conduct its first meeting in May.
The harnessing of centralized resources and expertise for the benefit of congregations has been seen in the media area since mid-1997, when the church launched Living Today magazine as "a tool for congregations to use in serving their communities."
The 16-page magazine is designed specifically for unchurched readers.
Congregations distribute the magazine in their communities (through friends, waiting rooms, letterboxes and newsstands), clearly linking the magazine to their congregation.
It is a means of a) serving the community; b) building an identity; and c) establishing a relationship of trust so that community members may respond positively to invitations to church activities or services.
Living Today has also been used by other denominations as part of their outreach activities.
In May the church will release a new publication titled Foundations of Faith. Foundations will initially be a supplement to Living Today subscriptions, but will later become a separate publication.
It is designed to take readers through the basics--the foundations--of Christian belief, teaching, practice and faith.
"We see Foundations of Faith being a valuable tool for members and congregations to use in sharing the gospel with friends and conducting classes introducing people to Christianity and discipleship," said Mr. Matthews.
NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM--Participants in the first national training
program at the church's Lake Moogerah, Queensland, campsite in January. [Photos by Aub
Warren]
GETTING ADVICE--The Australian National Advisory Council conducts its
first meeting in August at the regional office in Burleigh Heads.
NETWORKING--Fellowship and networking were important elements of the four-day
training program.
SHARING IDEAS--Steve Steel from Melbourne and Ben Mann from Perth share ideas
over a meal at the training program.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1999