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

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!

Graham is delighted with his Life-group!

Posted by Bill on April 1, 2011

I received the following testimony from a friend who leads a Life-Group at Helensvale Baptist Church, and wanted to share it with you…

I was chatting with one of our pastors today, and reflecting on my experience of Life-groups over the past couple of years at HBC. I shared how the group is such an encouragement to me, and the sense of enjoyment, nurture and fulfillment which makes Life-group now something to be anticipated each week.

As I looked back to several years ago, having led a group in our home for many years, I recalled the sense of fatigue and effort involved in leadership, and how it sometimes seemed that Wednesday nights came around too frequently! And how Ailsa and I often felt we were just “hanging out” for the holiday break!

What made the difference? Partly, I am sure, it is in having a great co-leader, so that Ailsa and I can often, over a cup of coffee, share with Geoff and Merilyn Tudor about our group’s life, and decisions which need to be made.

But I also think that the difference, in large part, is now due to the sharing of roles within the group, and the willingness of folk to participate in leadership of the meetings – and also the renewed emphasis on expressing our love for the Lord in worship, and on reaching out to others who don’t know Him yet.

So, thank you, Bill and Stu, for your teaching and training, and your encouragement!

Graham Denner

Thank you Graham and Ailsa – for your servant hearted leadership. You are a great example and encouragement to all of us!

Living Temple Christian Church

Posted by Dave on December 2, 2010

Dear CCI family and friends,

We would love to thank you all for giving us the opportunity to come on board officially with CCI. These are going to be some very exciting years. We feel privileged to be building God’s kingdom with people who love Jesus, and are committed to seeing him glorified. read on →

Dave & Jess join the CCI team!

Posted by Bill on December 1, 2010

Dear friends – the Lord is SO good!

You will have read a couple of posts in the blog (here and here) about Dave and Jess Quak – a wonderful young couple with the vision to build a small-groups model church that will grow to have 1,000 small groups in just ten years! read on →