Norma shows us how to do ‘outreach’ at Bundaberg West

Posted by Bill on April 28, 2012

Getting testimonies out of my ‘young’ pastor friend, Bob Brown, of Bundaberg West Baptist Church, is like ‘pulling teeth’. After serving him with a strong rebuke, he came to the party with a great testimony that was sitting right under his nose. Bobby replied with …

“Ok, ok – I am rebuked. Forgive me brother Bill, I have sinned! I know what you mean, mate, but the last thing we want to do is create the impression to the world that we have ‘got it all together’.

Our two small groups are growing slowly and I will be thrilled when we have the team really in place. We have gone through losses, gained new ones and we still see excellent possibilities to continue our reach-out into our community ministry. Good things are happening.

Norma Spoor (picture attached) and Noel are in their 70′s and have been real encouragers to Margaret and me. They love being part of Life-group

Noel & Norma Spoor

on Sunday evenings. Lately we have again been considering how to engage with people in our community and Norma felt if she could meet people in her street (they moved there 12 months ago) they may be interested in hearing the gospel from her.

Bill, I nearly had a fit! Norma is very much a ‘collectable dolls’ lady. So she dressed up in a bonnet (old fashioned Easter style) got an old pram and walked up and down the street pushing this pram. My eyeballs nearly fell out…. as did all in her street! She was an instant hit. The men thought it funny but their wives said, “I don’t go to church, but I would really like to get to know you.” After two months there are 12 in her group! What a woman!

Bill, I don’t know how to put it in words, but we now have a new group! Praise the Lord for courageous people like Norma.

Bobby.”

Friends, I’m going to be in Bob’s face more regularly to squeeze him for golden testimonies like this.

Absolutely fruitful and fulfilling at LTCC

Posted by Bill on April 14, 2012

The Quaks!

Dave and Jess Quak stepped out in faith last year and planted Living Temple Christian Church at Elanora, Queensland, Australia. LTCC is a small groups based church. In the short time of the church’s existence, they are thrilled to pieces with the amazing things the Lord has done. Dave says …

“This year has been fantastic for Living Temple. We began the year with seven life groups and they are all going along very well. God has blessed us with an amazing group of leaders who are truly pastors to the flock in their care. Our celebration services have really been building momentum as well. God has blessed us with two amazing worship leaders, and an awesome bunch of people willing to be committed to see the Kingdom come on earth.

We started our sermon series last year, preaching through the whole Book of John. It’s already March and we are only up to Chapter 7! There is so much gold in this Gospel we just cannot rush it!

Personally, Jess and I are feeling like this is an absolutely fruitful and fulfilling season, probably the best we have ever had. By God’s grace we pray it continues for a very long time. Thanks CCI community for your love and prayers… chat soon! Dave Quak.”

Friends, Living Temple Christian Church is a church on the ‘go’. You can know more about this exciting church through …www.livingtemple.com.au

Bill

New team mates – Jimmy & Christie

Posted by Bill on March 24, 2012

Jimmy & Christie

Friends, it gives me great pleasure to welcome Jimmy and Christie Hill to our CCI Team. I first met Jimmy when he signed up for Small Groups Development training at the Gold Coast Christian Family. My first impression of him was remarkable – before my eyes stood a godly man of vision, passion and commitment. In the years I have known Jimmy; my first impression of him has been soundly validated. Since our first meeting, Jimmy and I have enjoyed a mutually encouraging, mentoring relationship.

In preparation to welcoming Jimmy and Christie onto our team, I asked him to share with us his vision and passion in his walk with the Lord. Jimmy says …

I’m a youth pastor with Cross-life Church on the Gold Coast. My ministry is reaching teenagers who don’t know Christ. My passion is sharing the gospel with young people who are desperately searching for someone to heal their brokenness and emptiness – I long for these young people to know Jesus intimately.

My beautiful wife, Christie, shares in this ministry with me. We were married in 2011, and it is a joy to serve the Lord together.

In 2009, after a God appointed meeting with Bill, I signed up for a small groups’ development training. My passion to see effective life-groups grow and multiply has grown ever since. Our current life-group has been such an encouragement to us. I love seeing our un-believing friends join our group and take steps forward in their spiritual journey. I love seeing group members develop their leadership in serving the group, and I love seeing Christians growing in authentic relationships.

It is from seeing our simple, humble group begin to ‘reach in’ and ‘reach out’ that has fuelled my passion. At some point down the track I have on my heart a desire to plant a simple church with life-groups as the core … a church where life-groups equip their members to be practical with their faith!

Life Groups are so simple! I think we make church too complicated.

Please pray for Jimmy and Christie. The Lord is doing amazing things through their lives and service to Him. We are blessed to have them on our team. We will learn much from their collaborative engagement with us.

Bill

CCI is branching out!

Posted by Bill on March 22, 2012

Did you know that CCI is branching out? We now have a Port Headland (Western Australia) office!

I know that many of you already have heard about this, but in case you haven’t… earlier this month Beryl and I made the road-trip from our home on the Gold Coast to Port Headland, where I have taken up a new job. Our across-country journey of 5,360 kms took us 4 ½ days to cover. Beryl and I tag-teamed in the 50 hours of driving. The weather was great, and the roads we travelled along were straight and well surfaced. Australia sure is a BIG country! We believe this is the beginning of a new and exciting adventure with the Lord and as always, we are expecting great things to result from our commitment and service to Him.

The new CCI branch office in Port Headland, Western Australia

Our new branch office!

After undergoing the induction, and working for a couple of weeks, I now know my availability of time to serve the Lord, and you, through CCI. Apart from not being able to respond within 24 hrs of receiving email contact from people, my input to CCI remains the same as before. CCI’s momentum is increasing, and I want to see it remain this way.

Beryl is now back home and although we are far apart, we remain in regular contact throughout the day by mobile phone, and emails. Guys, we needed to do this. We all, at various times, see the need to make sacrifices in our lives for worthwhile outcomes. Both, Beryl and I have peace with the actions we have taken.

Please include in your prayers: Elijah’s small groups development conference and training in Liberia (early April), Fredrick and his Destiny Kids International team’s Easter day Food Gift-bags outreach to Sudanese refugee youths in Cairo, and Wale and Emma in the early days of Liberty City Church. More news about these exciting initiatives will come to you soon.

Please keep me and the rest of the CCI team updated with what the Lord is doing in and through your lives.

Thank you for your love and encouraging support.

Bill

Jimmy’s vision for a small groups church!

Posted by Bill on March 3, 2012

Pastor Jimmy and his wife Christie - Southport Baptist Church

Jimmy & Christie

Jimmy is the youth pastor of Southport Baptist Church here in Queensland, Australia. I first met Jimmy when he signed up for small groups development training, a course I facilitated at Gold Coast Christian Family a few years ago. Jimmy, is a tender-hearted ‘Timothy Type’. He’s an absolute delight to know and partner with. Oh, Lord … how can I adopt Jimmy as a son!

Last week I received the following testimony from Jimmy. Let me tell you: This is the stuff that fuels my passion in life. Jimmy says …

Without a doubt, our Life-group is our favourite time of the week. God is doing great things! We’ve seen our group reach out to our un-churched friends (currently we have 4 un-churched friends as part of our group!). We’ve seen people begin to exercise and develop their gifts through serving in the group, and the we’ve seen a real growth in fellowship and accountability.

It is such a joy at the end of the night to see an un-churched friend take steps forward in their spiritual journey, to see a friend grow in confidence as they serve the group, and have such good friends around you to help you stay strong in the Christian life. And most of all, it is actually so simple, anyone can do it!

God has encouraged me so much through our Life-group. What I really have on my heart is to plant a simple church, starting with three or four groups as the core (just like the three groups that meet at SBC on Tuesday nights). They are functioning how they should – they are ‘reaching in ‘ and ‘reaching out’. This is what excites me the most – It’s my biggest joy!

This is my passion in life: I love evangelising and seeing non-believers join the church; I love seeing shy people develop their leadership potential; I love encouraging people; I love to see Christians growing together, and keeping each other accountable.

Life-groups are so simple. I don’t know why we make church so complicated!