As a church we love that we are part of God's mission to the world through Jesus. As we seek to make and mature disciples in everything we do, we also have specific mission groups that meet regularly.
Mission Partners Group: This group meets most months to discuss how we can best pray for and support our mission partners. For more information, contact the leader of the Mission Partners Group, Geoff Bishop (geoffjackie@bishop.id.au). You can also read about our various mission partnerships below
Praying for 7.30AM: This group meets each month to pray for the mission and outreach of our 7.30AM congregation. For more information, contact John Strachan (john.strachan6@bigpond.com).
Religious Instruction: At St Bart’s we support RI in public schools by prayer and a number of our members are involved in teaching RI.
2021 Mission Partners
In 2021, we’re delighted to be supporting our five mission partners from last year again. This year we are very excited to continue to partner with the Langmead family working with BCA at Lightning Ridge. We will also be continuing our partnership with M in the middle east in working in a locked down area. Please be continuing to pray for our mission partners and be in contact with their liaisons below. Every week their prayer points will be in the NEWS and in snippets.
For more information, please contact any of the liaison people or with the coordinator of the Mission Partners group, Geoff Bishop.
LOCAL
SU QLD Chaplaincy
This year we will be continuing to support Jason, Kevin, and praying for a chaplain at the Middle Ridge State School. Jason Berry is the chaplain at Centenary Heights State High School which also encompasses Toowoomba FlexiSchool campus. He provides a safe, positive influence for students, staff and the wider school community. A key part of the chaplaincy role is to help students find a better way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdown to loneliness. Kevin Murray currently works at Gabbinbar state school where he has been chaplain for just over 6 years. With Bev Cowie retiring last year, we will be continuing to pray for a chaplain to continue on this vital ministry at Middle Ridge State School. Please also pray that a field development manager would be found quickly for SU as well.
Kevin Murray at Gabbinbar State Primary School
Jason Berry at Centenary Heights State High School
Benjamin Gaydon at Middle Ridge State School
Type of Support: Prayer, Financial ($4000/chaplain – total of $12000), and Practical support.
St Bart’s Liaisons: Sheila Forknall and Katie Goodall
NATIONAL
BCA
The Langmead family began their term in Lightning Ridge in early 2020. Kurt and Rebecca have always loved sharing their lives and the gospel with people in places that others might miss. They count it a privilege to be serving as a family in Lightning Ridge. Together with their local church and wider network of supporters, they are prayerfully seeking to be “Building Christ’s Church – in the Ridge, on the Rock" – that is, the solid rock of Christ and his word. BCA has a priority in mission to the isolated, regional and remote people of Australia. Locals in many of these places live in sparsely populated towns, and often don’t benefit from strong support networks of family and friends. Churches in these areas can struggle, and encouragement can become a rarity. St Bart’s seeks to provide support and encouragement to Kurt and Rebecca, and their children (June 8, Arthur 6, Lydia 4, and Jeremiah 2).
Type of Support: Prayer, Financial ($5200/year), and Practical (we’re currently waiting to hear which particular BCA site that we will be connected with).
St Bart’s Liaison: Penny Fuelling
INTERNATIONAL
Diocese of Duk, South Sudan
The Diocese of Duk is located within a significant conflict zone in South Sudan. Many (almost 90%) of the people, live in displaced camps within South Sudan, and in Refugee Camps in Kenya and Uganda. In recent times, the people in the Diocese of Duk have continued to undergo significant trials. This year there have been devastating floods, continued conflict, and the effects of COVID-19. As we partner with the Diocese, we also have the opportunity to provide support at particular times of challenge. We are also working with Bishop Daniel to help establish a long-term model for support for different projects in the area.
Type of Support: Prayer, and Practical (website and other).
St Bart’s Liaison: Adam Lowe
CMS
The Church Missionary Society of Australia (CMS) is a fellowship of Christian people and churches committed to global mission. This year we will be supporting M. M is a CMS missionary in partnership with a mobilising company operating in the Middle East for about 2 & ½ years. M works in a medical field and part of a Christian community in a region where the majority community is of another faith. M is taking an intensive Arabic grammar course and to help them become fluent in the language and each day strives to learn in Arabic a verse from the Matthew’s Gospel. The region has been impacted by Covid 19 lock-downs that has limited some contact with local people of the majority faith; however M has relied on the Holy Spirit to guide them when conversing with people from the community.
Type of Support: Prayer, Financial ($5200/year). Due to distance, practical support is limited, however we do send care packages and host the annual Toowoomba conference.
St Bart’s Liaison: Barry Stone and Geoff Bishop
The Lean Family (Samaritan’s Purse)
The Lean family have been serving God at the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea since early 2019. Dave is a paediatrician and has participated in Samaritan Purse’s post-residency program, which provides 2 years of mentoring & training for Christian medical doctors and their families as they seek to meet critical needs in mission hospitals around the world. Mary has been caring for their five children, (Zeke, Toby, Judah, Hudson and Maisie) and homeschooling the older boys. There have been many challenges during their time in PNG with severe staffing shortages (accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic), limited resources, and ongoing conflicts. This year they have returned to Australia for home assignment in January and are prayerfully considering what next steps the Lord may have in store for them.
Type of Support: Prayer and Financial ($10000)* are the main focus due to distance. *Includes a $2400 gift from a small group.
St Bart’s Liaison: Belinda Bell
