10th June 2022

Greetings to all our church family and mission partners and our love and prayers are with you whatever is happening for you and yours over this Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend.

THIS SUNDAY 12th JUNE – Last week, we thrilled at a Q&A session designed to help us wrap up the May Theme Messages on ‘Intimacy’. Plenty of food for thought and challenging reflection to pray through as David facilitated the session utilizing Bob as a sounding board and reference post. Thanks to the team! THIS WEEK Graeme will add a few more personal and prayerful reflections as he starts pointing us down the road we are referring to as ‘The SEED of Sustainability’ with a bit of a Pentecost Sunday flavour. We are aware of a number of our beloved family away with family and or traveling this weekend and we pray for our very own Julie and our brothers and sisters at the River Church in Dapto, as she preaches on Sunday for our mate May. JOIN US face to face at the Augusta Street Hub IF YOU CAN, or ONLINE via our Live-Stream from 10am THIS and EVERY SUNDAY … (see our Facebook page link OR our YouTube Channel for online access).

The HOPE Project Mission Situation Reports (Sit-Reps)

ANNUAL PIE DRIVE for the Northern Illawarra Scripture Board – orders CLOSED last Sunday. Thank you so much to all who made an order. It’s been a record year for our involvement and we are grateful. The pies will be available for PICK UP (with your own bag please) FROM NORTHERN ILLAWARRA (BULLI) UNITING CHURCH CENTRE ON MONDAY 20TH OR THURSDAY 23RD JUNE BETWEEN 4.30 AND 6PM. If you can’t get out to the centre for pick up for whatever reason, please contact Heather via our Contact Us page so she can help you work out pick up as there are a couple of options available IF WE KNOW YOUR SITUATION. THANK YOU!

DESSERT AND COFFEE NIGHT for the Northern Illawarra Scripture Board – this last Wednesday night was a terrific time of engagement with our THREE scripture teachers (Dal @ Woonona HS, Clara @ Corrimal HS and Leanne @ Bulli HS) and ONE chaplain (Amanda @ Corrimal HS), as they shared testimonies and interesting anecdotes about their work – all of which were well received by the approximately 80 patrons. Our ‘Elastic Band (the trio version)’ provided the background ‘cafe set’ music, Graeme brought the Board Chairman’s welcome, Heather coordinated the extensive dessert choices and we had 5 or 6 more of our church family in attendance. Thank you for making this work a priority for our mission endeavour. Please let me know ASAP if you’d like to be added to the NEW prayer team in support of this work and I’ll make sure Susie our High School Ministry Prayer Coordinator communicates prayer needs and opportunities to you for the rest of this year.

We were blessed throughout the event by the efforts of the hard working board, with an unwell Generate Field Development Manager, Nathan Zorn still providing an informative video, and a special guest visit from the Woonona High School Principal, Caroline David. Caroline is a visibly public christian and she gave us wonderful and at times frank insight, about the value of scripture in public schools from a school management perspective. Invaluable input for our prayer in particular. Our mates from Helensburgh Baptist (Brad and his team gifted us our church’s coffee machine) generously provided a machine, 2 baristas, and all the coffee and hot chocolate making ingredients for the event … so, please support ‘The Cupbearer – Pop-Up Cafe’ on Parkes St opposite the park when you are next in Helensburgh. Great night and kingdom of God advancing event!

Save the date for Northern Illawarra Scripture Board ‘TRIVIA’ – Saturday 10th September 2022 … more details soon

COMBINED NORTHERN ILLAWARRA CHURCHES PRAYER GATHERING – It was important for us as a church family to support the first one of these combined prayer meetings in a while. Ron and the team at City Life Church hosted us well and it was a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer for churches, the community and the ongoing mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has asked us to take our part of the responsibility for being a catalyst in the Northern Illawarra for advancing the Kingdom of Heaven and this was a small but important step. I thank God for the 5 of us who represented CCC at the event. This is an important season in the mission God has called us to.

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) 13th June – 10.30am @ the HUB
  • General Bible Discussion (Beverley) 15th June on the verandah at Judy’s place
  • National Day of Thanksgiving presentation to TEACHERS in our schools. We are offering gifts of thanks to teachers at Corrimal East Public School and Corrimal High School as soon as we hear back from the schools and can organize a suitable time ….
  • The next Blokes Ministry Event – Date to be confirmed late July or early August
  • The Wollongong ‘Keith Green 40th Anniversary’ Tribute Concert (for HOPE4Kids) at City Diggers Saturday evening August 27 … Artists include Mark Matthews, Gordon Barr, Wayne Gardner, Graeme Hush and More … Details released soon.
  • TRIVIA – Northern Illawarra Scripture Board Fundraiser at C3 Thirroul on Saturday 10th September
  • Stay Tuned for impending updates about the HOPE College Podcast Station and Equipping Workshops.

The Sanctuary Illawarra – Our southern hub church is starting to develop its God-shape. The 3pm Sunday online offerings are ON HOLD for the time being BUT you can still catch up with previous and current online messages via YouTube channel and via their Facebook page for all that’s happening and for updates as they come to hand. Things are starting to grow around the Thursday face to face opportunity so please pray for our ‘Backyard Missionaries’, Jono and Nicky – for God to work through their faithful service, for the Lord to move miraculously in the lives of those who are connecting with them from time to time AND give The Sanctuary connection details to anyone you know in the Southern Illawarra that would benefit from the ministry of this Targeted Mission HUB, particularly with regard to their ‘Soul Recovery ALL Addictions’ weekly meeting 8pm Monday’s at Central Church Hall, 4 Fitzwilliam Street Port Kembla.

Weekly Pastoral Prayer Update (designed so you can spread points for prayer out over the week)

  • 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! We particularly pray with gratitude for those involved with staging and hosting recent regional combined prayer events; that the churches of the Illawarra might be ‘In ONE-ness accord’.
  • Thirdly each week we pray for the New Season of Mission Effort – We thank you for the catalyst to our Pillar of ‘PREPARE’ that Brian and Nola’s ministry with us brought recently. We are now working towards the FIRST PHASE of the time we are referring to as ‘The SEED of Sustainability’ (2022-23) so a strategic plane for the 2nd half of 2022 will be released for prayer and response at the end of June. PLEASE PRAY AS WE PREPARE (Pre-Prayer)
  • 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 have been asked to pray for Oliver who is the grandson of close friends of the Fisher’s. We praise God that latest reports have Oliver doing better and being allowed to go home. We continue to pray that he and his family, experience more of heaven daily.
    • Our June’s hip replacement surgery went well and she is now being cared for by her family. She is seeking prayer for a quick and effective rehabilitation.
    • June also asks for prayer for Bailey, a 10 year old boy who is a friend of the family who has had health issues from birth. We pray God’s mercy and healing power for Bailey and his family.
    • Jono’s Dad Richard – we praise you Lord for answered prayer and we ask for your continued peace and protection as Richard prepares for a pacemaker to be inserted.
    • For Jono and Nicky as they continue to work out life and church planting with Jono’s new employment and Nicky changing employers in her field of work. Particularly as they have been dogged by the flu these past few days. Pray for quick healing and renewed energy.
    • For Dylan who is in the Hyratt’s sphere of pastoral care. Dylan is struggling with his ankles and legs and is feeling insecure in St George Hospital. Pray for peace and healing.
    • For 2 and a half year old William who is the son of Jono’s work mate Dan, rushed to hospital with Pneumonia. Praying for God to bring a miracle of healing to this little boy.
    • For Christine seeking prayer for wisdom and strength for her and her two sisters and the aged care consultants helping them care for their Mum in her own home, also for her family members who have been inundated with water during recent rains and their daughter with a broken arm.
    • Christine is also asking for prayer for hers and our friend Treena who has been very unwell this week.
    • Maggie asks us to pray for the daughter of a friend in Qld who was rushed to hospital this week in need of intravenous antibiotics for a compromised immune system. We pray God’s healing peace and power for her AND ….
    • Our Evelyn who is recovering from a fall at home, having had a pin inserted in her left leg. Currently in Bulli Hospital for rehab. Please pray for complete and speedy recovery.
    • We continue praying for Gwen who is recovering at home (and misses us) and her son Jason who has had Covid recently.
  • Please Keep Praying for these Brothers and sisters and situations –
    • 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 our support team who work with the hamper truck on Thursday mornings.
    • We pray for the people doing it tough that our Food for Life volunteers come across weekly when they serve hampers off the truck; in particular we pray for Mich and Hamish at this time.
    • We continue to petition our Lord Jesus for Heaven’s answers to the needs of so many who have lost significantly in these floods 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 for Dot and her family, Maree and Jacki and their families.
    • We pray healing for Maggie, Alex and Carol, and quite a few others in our family who are each dealing with a variety of ongoing health issues currently, including the growing number experiencing cold and flu symptoms.
    • We continue to pray for Harry, Joy and Greg, Tom, Elsie and Carolyn’s family, and for Kylie and her family and friends’ needs.
    • We pray for complete healing from recent COVID symptoms for John, Beverley, Nick, Diana, Christian, Jason and others affected across our network; including Karen’s parents Peter and Eileen in the Brisbane area.
    • We pray for our mission partner Mark Beaton and his wife Lou. We thank God for good initial results from his tests and an effective correction plan that is about to be engaged. We continue to pray for good outcomes. Mark is Julie, Donna and Sandi’s cousin.
    • Grant Wilson (Kiama Baptist Minister) whom Graeme saw recently. He is now back at home in Kiama and has started a minor regime of work. Pray for his continued good recovery, his family and the church as they deal with challenges in this time of transition. Grant has asked to pray that he has more grace for the long haul.
    • We ask you Lord to bring healing and increasing peace to Graeme’s ministry colleague Wayne Crockford (whom some will have met) who has had a difficult week with health and broader circumstantial issues.
    • 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 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.
  • 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 currently. LORD HAVE MERCY!
    • We pray for hepatitis and monkey pox outbreaks around the world and ask for You intervention Lord, bringing about a speedy restoration of health. 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 senseless violent attacks on people in Togo and Ghana, Kenya, Myanmar, Papua (Indonesia), Eritrea, Burkina-Faso (particularly in the East where Jihadists seem hell bent on eradicating Christian facilitated education), Algeria and Indonesia, Nigeria, India, Iran, the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
    • 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