3rd September 2022

Hello and welcome to CCC Weekly News, edition number …. ah … oh …. nah I don’t know, but it’s definitely a few now. THIS WILL BE ONE OF A FEW BIGGER EDITIONS DUE TO THE NEED TO HAVE INFO ABOUT OUR SPRING CAMPAIGN RECORDED IN ONE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS, so please just take a few extra minutes (which is all it will take), to read through the details. We are praying as always for our church family and mission partners who live in our vicinity and elsewhere. Lord Jesus, by faith we pray for all those who are needing God’s healing grace and peace at this time. May you and yours experience God’s exceeding abundance this week, especially you Dad’s – Happy Fathers’ Day!!

THANK YOU … THANK YOU … THANK YOU … Wow, what a night was shared last Saturday at City Diggers in Wollongong. We are assured by the feedback that God moved powerfully in people’s lives and generous funding support was released. Our deepest gratitude to all who worked hard for weeks on the presentation and to ALL who have supported the effort, whether in the room on Saturday or not, particularly those of you who have specifically prayed for the team and the event on occasions during the lead up. There is a few weeks left in the fund raiser, but the extra fund raising (that is, not including ticket funding which will be shared with the ‘Hope and Future’ Ugandan Orphan project), has achieved a terrific response and the total as at the 1st September had shifted in just one week from about $500 to something more like $1600. We are so thankful to God for people’s generous giving hearts.

BREAKING NEWS: The Sydney edition of the Keith Green Tribute Concert is scheduled for 7pm Saturday 15th October 2022 at the ‘BIG Music’ Auditorium – 85 Alexander Street, Crows Nest and here is the DIRECT LINK to the Concert’s booking website if you or someone you know missed out last week and would like to experience the event.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SUNDAY 4th SEPTEMBER – We welcome Betro back to the lectern, looking forward to him sharing some gospel stories with us in the aftermath of his trip with wife Soyoung, and mum Grace, to Korea last month. We thank God once again for Bob and Julie who have preached at The River Church in Dapto over the last couple of weeks for and on behalf of our sister May who is recovering from recent health issues. This is who we are!

IF YOU ARE IN THE VICINITY ON SUNDAY, PLEASE DO JOIN US face to face at the Augusta Street Hub, and if you are unwell, on leave, or just away for whatever reason, please join us ONLINE via our Live-Stream from 10am THIS and EVERY SUNDAY … (see our Facebook page link OR our YouTube Channel for online access).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER – PLEASE stay home if you or someone in your household is feeling unwell.

JOHN STEPHNEY VISIT – NEXT Sunday (11th September) we will be blessed by a long time friend and partner in the gospel – John Stephney, who led the Wollongong (perhaps the Australian) chapter of Agape Force Ministries a few decades ago. A number of our people have history with John so his visit will be a coming home of sorts. If you were connected in the late seventies into the early eighties with those of us who were trying to follow Jesus and live by faith; doing high school ministry, youth drop in and street evangelism and or facilitating a stream of International Christian Artists to venues like Wollongong Town Hall or High School Auditorium, then you will probably have engaged with John and the Agape Force team. Here’s a little of what world renowned bible teacher Winkie Pratney wrote about those early Agape Force young people …..

‘They had gazed a little on eternity and realized that while they were only teenagers for a tithe of their time on earth, the investment of the early years of their lives would give them an open heaven for the rest. The real lessons of the Agape Force were not the academic or the scholastic. They were in the school of the Holy Spirit – the realm of trust in a Living God who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. In matters both small and seemingly insignificant to the really big battles and challenges they learned what it meant that the just shall live by faith.‘

Winkie Pratney

‘We look forward to sharing some time with John next week.

THE SANCTUARY ILLAWARRA – ALSO NEXT SUNDAY 11th – Our ‘backyard missionaries’ Jono and Nicky Hyratt will join us for a chat designed to help inform our prayers about their efforts in the name of Christ, and the people that have begun journeying with them as they follow Jesus’ call to reach the lost through this southern church plant and more. PLEASE PRAY for them as they share their testimony about God’s calling on their lives with our brothers and sisters at the Nth Beaches Church of Christ this morning.

The HOPE Project Mission Situation Reports (Sit-Reps)

HOPE COMMUNITIES UPDATE – Due to the size of this news edition, we will share detail of the ‘Spring Campaign’ schedule of group / sharing / praying / planting opportunities in NEXT WEEK’S update. We WILL talk about some of them at the gathering and via various specifically targeted communique’s through the week but detailed info via this forum next week. Thanks for your patience – your prayers for our efforts are always appreciated!

HOPE4Kids ANNUAL AWARENESS & FUNDRAISER WILL RUN ‘OFFICIALLY’ UNTIL FRIDAY SEPT 23 – this will be the official closing date for the effort BUT we won’t wrap things up until after the second Keith Green Tribute Concert in Sydney during October (see above for details).

You CAN of course give cash specifically earmarked for H4K-22 to Heather or Carol if and when you see them (as some lovely people have done recently), OR if you are already giving to the church account electronically, you could identify an extra gift deposit as ‘H4K-22’, OR you can DONATE DIRECTLY VIA CARD TRANSACTION HERE.

As you may know, sales of Graeme’s music raises funds for HOPE4Kids all year round, and each year, dedicated sales funds are added to monies raised through the annual community fundraiser to boost the total giving. We are re-setting our music and merchandise counter at the HUB OR you can contact Heather about anything ‘Heartland Music’, particularly with Christmas approaching (arrrrrgggghhh I said it!). You can also catch up with the latest about our KIDS and the 2022 campaign stories on the HOPE4Kids Facebook Group. If you’d like to read the H4K backstory, visit our website’s ‘HOPE4Kids’ page.

TRIVIA NIGHT IN SUPPORT OF SCRIPTURE AND CHAPLAINCY IN OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS – the night is all but upon us – NEXT SATURDAY 6.30 FOR 7PM @ C3 CHURCH THIRROUL. If you’d like to register your interest to be on one of our tables, please let Carol or Heather know ASAP. If you’d like to register yourself, here’s the link …. REGISTER FOR NISB TRIVIA

UCI BIKE RIDE (17th – 25th September) – The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the world governing body of cycling, recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and somehow, it is holding it’s largest annual world cyclist competition event in Wollongong for 8 Days later this month. We are sure you are becoming aware of the inconveniences that have been thrust upon the community for this event, BUT if you’d like to brush up on road closures etc. HERE IS A HELPFUL LINK which is a part of a bigger web site with a lot of helpful information on it.

  • IMPORTANT NOTE: On Sunday the 25th September which is the day of our Annual General Meeting (AGM), please note that Pioneer Road will be closed between Bellambi and Towradgi between 9.15am and 12.15pm (and knowing how these things go, probably a little bit before and after) so ….. please adjust your travel route to the HUB from the west (unless you are John and Margaret who I’m sure will just thumb their noses – nicely of course – and walk up Augusta St)

NOW ….. OF COURSE THERE IS A GOSPEL REACH OPPORTUNITY HERE THAT SOME HAVE LIKENED TO THE PENTECOST FESTIVAL – with visitors from up to 150 countries of the world present in our city, a lot of regional churches with current programs and plenty of resources have channeled effort towards ensuring we have a gospel presence and representation at all the community opportunities that the event affords. Here’s a couple of ways we can serve.

  • SHARING YOUR FAITH – We are all at different stages of this journey of intentional faith sharing and so, instead of offering to do things as a church in this arena, I suggest that anyone with seasoned experience or a genuine passion to share their faith through the coordinated effort of the churches making up ‘Together for the Illawarra’ of which we are one, then let me know your interest ASAP and I’ll connect you to an appropriate group of people so that you can pursue that safely and effectively. NB: It’d be good to have a chat about it in any case as we are about to launch a training option for intentional, word-based faith sharing and multiplying – (HOPE Communities update NEXT WEEK)
  • UNDER-GIRDING PRAYER – Based on our recent efforts as a church, to support kingdom ministry through providing pray-ers as well as facilities and resources to this end, I was asked this week if I would join the small group of facilitating people to oversee prayer effort in the region in support of what I called, the ‘declaring, representing and demonstrating of the kingdom of heaven’ in the lead up to and during the 8 -Days of the UCI Event. I will know more later this week BUT if you would like to be a part of OUR team of prayer warriors joining with others in various ways across the region (and you’ll be able to choose how involved you want or can be), to PRAY for God’s kingdom rule to come and for His will to be done (as it is in heaven), please register your interest with Heather at the HUB or via our Contact Us page, which is basically the secretary email address. THANK YOU!
  • There will be other updates and information to share and we’ll do our best to pass all that’s relevant on to you in an expedient way.

‘BUILDING THE FUTURE’ (BTF) – In the aftermath of our meeting with the potential project manager last Tuesday, the BTF Team is now reviewing the reams of material that we’ve been provided for prayerful consideration. There is a significant journey ahead of us and nothing will happen overnight, but all the sifted through and pertinent summary information will be presented as part of the ministry reports at the AGM on September 25th. Stay tuned for the official notice of that meeting in the coming week. If you are still catching up and missed the ‘Building the Future’ announcement that Mick presented so well and clearly on the 31st July OR, you simply couldn’t access the link for one of a number of reasons, HERE IS THE LINK to the recorded version.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD (OCC) 2022 – is our hands-on way to bless children in need across the world by filling shoe-boxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and fun gifts. The shoe-boxes and other helpful materials are available now from the Hub. See Heather or one of our Hosts soon, if you are at the Hub on any given Sunday OR use our Contact Us page to let us know you are interested in helping and would like to know more and we’ll make sure you have all the information you need. As boxes are completed, we will gather them together and deliver them to our local OCC coordinator Robyn, who will distribute them in the name of Jesus Christ to children living in vulnerable situations.

Calendar Updates

(Please use our Contact Us page if you’d like to register for, or get more details for the following)

  • Women’s Monday Fortnightly Study and Prayer (Julie) 5th September – 10.30am @ the HUB
  • General Bible Discussion (Beverley) 7th September at Judy’s place (on the verandah or inside with the heater if cold), (now the 1st and 3rd Wednesday’s of each month) Contact Beverley or Judy if you are thinking of coming any given meeting.
  • Regular Hour of Prayer for the Churches of the Illawarra and the Salvation of Souls (Graeme) @ The Hub 7.45am the 2nd & 4th Mondays of each month. Next Prayer Time = 12th September.
  • Korimul Gang (Scout & Guide) Shows – September shows Friday 9th – 7pm or Saturday 10th – 2pm OR 7pm (Merrigong IPAC Theatre Wollongong Tickets – Choose your Day then Show Time) for more details contact Rob or Sharon Sackett
  • TRIVIA – Northern Illawarra Scripture Board Fundraiser at C3 Thirroul on Saturday 10th September – so, support the Korimul Gang Show on Friday or Saturday Matinee, and our Scripture Teachers/Chaplain on Saturday night. REGISTER YOURSELF OR GET 7 OF YOUR MATES & REGISTER A TABLE HERE NB: If you know someone who might be able to add worthwhile items for the silent auction, please let Heather or Carol know OR hand any items to them ASAP so they can be registered for bidding.
  • Covenant Partner Sunday – AGM – scheduled for the Sunday 25th September Gathering – notice will be sent before Sunday 11th September in accord with our Constitution. (see road closure notice in sit-rep about UCI Bike Ride)
  • The Wollongong ‘Keith Green 40th Anniversary’ Tribute Concert # TWO (for HOPE4Kids & Hope and Future Ministries) at ‘Big Music’ Auditorium, 85 Alexander Street, Crows Nest (North Sydney) Saturday evening October 15 … find out more HERE, including our ticket website
  • ‘Carols in the Street 2022’ – is scheduled as always for the second Sunday of December (11th). The street closure will occur from 4pm – 8pm. We will gather on that Sunday (11th Dec) morning to PRAY and ALLOCATE tasks for this our annual Christmas Gift to the community and as such there will be NO SUNDAY AM GATHERING that day. Our mate AMBER NICHOLS is booked in! DESPINA is checking her schedule. More Details soon. SAVE THE DATE!
  • Spring Campaign – Check back here SOON for the updated HOPE Project schedule! (as per the above note about HOPE Communities)

Weekly Pastoral Prayer Update

NB: We leave prayer points up until we either hear about resolutions OR thank God for answers etc. so …

  • Firstly, we are THANKFUL for all the answered prayers that often go unnoticed. Thank you, Lord, for Your faithfulness.
  • Secondly, each and EVERY week we pray for each other and our brothers and sisters representing the Illawarra region’s body of Christ through other local churches who meet around us. And as Jesus prayed 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. We know this is a season when we will need to be combat ready and so we pray for each other that we would stand firm in the victory Christ won for us … AND that the Lord will add daily, those who are BEING SAVED!
    • THIS WEEK we pray for our kingdom of heaven siblings who meet at Nth Beaches Church of Christ. For their new ministers Peter and Linda Watson and for our Jono and Nicky who will share their testimony there tomorrow (4th) Lord, we pray for oneness and favour.
  • Thirdly each week we pray for the New Season of Mission Effort – We thank you for the first ‘7 years of planting and re-aligning to heaven’ and now we pray for the FIRST PHASE of the time we are referring to as ‘The SEED of Sustainability’ (2022-23) so a strategic plan for Spring 2022 will be released for prayer and response shortly. PLEASE PRAY AS WE PREPARE (Pre-Prayer) and keep tuning in for more. PLEASE ALSO PRAY AS WE PREPARE FOR THE UCI BIKE RIDE AND THE 2ND KEITH GREEN TRIBUTE CONCERT IN SYDNEY ON OCTOBER 15TH. GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR LAST WEEK’S CONCERT AND THE KIDS AND FAMILIES WHO WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH HOPE4KIDS.
  • Fourthly, here following are the MOST RECENT prayer requests that we have been given permission to share across our praying network … (please talk directly with the source of the request if you want more info) – we will endeavour to seek updates on all of the following, particularly those points that we’ve been praying for these last few weeks – not always simple, so thanks for your patience.
    • Father, we pray for our Gwen who was admitted to the hospital’s medical ward this week. We pray fro complete healing and peace and strength for Nancy, Jason and the whole family.
    • We ask Lord that you continue watching over the Boots family. We pray for all the health and other things that have occurred during their time away, that all might be resolved in Your care.
    • We pray particularly for Christian who was rushed to hospital with acute appendicitis recently. We thank you for the stability of his condition which has allowed preliminary processes to occur and we pray peace and resolved good health as doctors seek to schedule other needed procedures soon.
    • Lord we continue to pray for Jayden O’Connell (son of John and Chris) who took ill whilst away in Tweed Heads. He is stable and slowly recovering in ICU. There are things being monitored and we are awaiting an update after a keyhole surgery. The family will be in their current location for a bit longer yet but are assured of the best care where they are. Thank you Lord.
    • We pray for Margaret and John. We ask for extra strength for this wonderfully caring and hospitable couple in the aftermath of the loss of Margaret’s brother. We continue praying with them for their friends (and ours) Mike & Judy and Rob & Young.
    • We continue to pray for June and Josie and their wider family as they not only grieve for Don, but also now in the follow up to their brother Ken’s passing as well as another well loved Beaton family member last week. We pray for Ken’s family, June, Josie and their families including Julie’s, Donna’s and Sandi’s – BUT also for our mate and Ken’s son, Mark, his wife Lou, his brother and sisters and all connected to this well known local family. We pray for peace beyond all understanding after a lovely, indeed inspiring ceremony for Ken’s farewell at Corrimal UC last week.
    • Please keep praying for our friend Marie and her family as she continues to recover from some serious health challenges. We praise God for her recent positive move to a Residential Care Home and we pray for the family and health professionals as they work longer-term options out with Marie and Doug.
    • We are praying also for our friend Audrey who is also facing some health challenges over the coming months. We pray for health and peace for her, her family and her friends.
    • We are praying for complete healing in Jono’s body, particularly the hernia that has been an issue for some time now, and a few other things. Lord, bring peace to Jono, particularly with regard to a resolution required in his work situation.
    • We pray for Nicky who is in need of a restorative touch from heaven.
    • Jono’s son Jacob – we ask you Lord for long-term answers for the life and health issues confronting this terrific young bloke.
    • We thank you Lord that Christine continues to improve after her broken toe and the recent bout of the migraines she’s been having.
    • We thank you Lord for our sister Dot who sends her love to you all and we keep praying for her general health and well-being.
    • We continue to pray for Betro and SoYoung as they settle in back at home, and particularly for Betro’s residual minor health issues.
    • We thank God and keep praying for Evelyn’s complete recovery.
    • We are praying for Maree’s friend Gail who has a suspicious nodule on her thyroid gland. We pray for God’s miraculous healing supernaturally through the surgeon – guide them in whatever they do. Lord bring hope, peace and healing to Gail and all who love and care for her.
    • We pray for Emma’s friend Anna. That you will be sovereign in her life and completely cure whatever is wrong with some vital organs. We thank you for a recent positive update.
    • Linda and Andrew have some things going on for them with friends and family. God knows what’s happening so let’s pray for them and the circumstances in faith for complete resolution in the name of Jesus.
  • Please Keep Praying for these Brothers and sisters and situations –
    • We pray healing for members of our family who are each dealing with a variety of ongoing health issues currently, including those still experiencing cold and flu symptoms and or respiratory infections. We thank you for recent full recoveries and Lord for your protection over other family members of these precious folk.
    • We continue to pray for Harry, Joy and Greg, Tom, Elsie and Carolyn’s family, Tim, and for Kylie.
    • We pray thanks to God for the work of the Northern Illawarra Scripture Board and for answered prayer. We pray that we are empowered to play our part in this kingdom advancing work as it increases across the northern Illawarra churches network. We pray for our scripture teachers and chaplain as they get stuck into the challenges of term 3.
    • We also pray continuously for health and energy for Rob and Sharon who are heavily involved and busy as, coordinating scouts across the region for an increasing return to activities post-covid AND in particular the Korimul Gang Show, rehearsing to return to the stage (IPAC) NEXT WEEK.
    • We continue praying for Murray and Julie and the Food for Life Community Care team as they work tirelessly to provide affordable groceries to people trying to make ends meet across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. We pray for Murray in the aftermath of a melanoma removal and the impact this has for Julie and the Kids, with Julie running the FFL Service currently. We pray for our support team who work with the hamper truck on Thursday mornings. (Gary, Christine, Beverley, Ken, Jacki, Denise, John, Margaret, Maggie and Alex)
    • We pray for the people doing it tough that our Food for Life volunteers come across weekly when they serve hampers off the truck.
    • We continue to petition our Lord Jesus for Heaven’s answers to the needs of so many who are struggling in the current economic climate and or have lost significantly in these repeated floods and cold weather snaps up and down the east coast.
    • For all of the wonderful people connected with our church family as we stand together during this new season of the battle for souls. We thank God for His encouragement, His healing touch and His mercy, grace and protection.
    • We pray both thanks to you God and ask for exceeding abundant blessings on all the new people who are determining whether or not to partner with us in the mission You have called us to.
    • We also pray with thankfulness for the wonderful and consistent giving and investment that our family and partners offer to enable this mission to thrive.
    • Graeme is so grateful for teh faithful pray-ers who have stepped up and interceded for important gospel and kingdom work that we’ve been engaged in of late. Please pray that Karen’s energy returns swiftly.
    • We have been asked to pray with Lionel Rattenbury (Hope Church – Helensburgh) as he and a team engage people with dire need in the Port Kembla CBD. We pray for all efforts in this space, including Gordon and Port Kembla Baptist, Brian and Hope Street (Baptist Care), James Dargin and the Aboriginal Outreach, The Foundery, YWAM and more. Lord, hear our prayers!
  • The World needs our Faithful Prayers –
    • We continue to pray for people in the Ukraine and Russia, for peace, for unity, for a sense of purpose together for the future, instead of the divide and the misdirection that seems evident and ongoing. LORD HAVE MERCY!
    • We pray for ongoing health issues around the world and ask for Your intervention Lord, bringing about your purposes in response to these things rather than feeble human control efforts. LORD HAVE MERCY on those affected and those working out what’s happening, and those working closely with those affected.
    • Please pray for the people who are hungry and helpless. Pray for the church (under persecution in many of these countries mentioned below) that they along with World Aid organizations will be able to be God’s effective hands and feet in that desperate scenario.
    • Pray for the people in many other countries who are dealing with political, religious and military unrest and or are being subjected to violence and persecution; in particular this week we pray for the unrest and unease particularly in Myanmar this week, but also ongoing concerns in Afghanistan, the senseless violent attacks on people in Ethiopia, Vietnam, Togo and Ghana, Kenya, Papua (Indonesia), Eritrea, Burkina-Faso (particularly in the East where Jihadists seem hell bent on eradicating Christian facilitated education), Algeria and Indonesia, Nigeria (particularly for recent savage attacks on churches and renewed calls by IS to attack Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Shi’ite places of worship across Africa and Asia), India, Iran, the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and this week our prayer call is for continued and lasting peace along the North-Eastern Syrian border with Turkey (and Syria in general)
    • PLEASE add any concern you have for our world HERE and pray LORD HAVE MERCY!
  • Of course if you have any thing you feel confident to ask us to SHARE in prayer for, please call, send a text or email Gary Padwick if you know his contact details, otherwise via our Contact Us page. We can help connect you, and Gary will faithfully engage our prayer-network.
  • Thank you for continuing to uphold each other and the lives and circumstances of our partners everywhere, in life-empowering prayer.

Love & blessings
Graeme for The Team