What a bounce back - Thank You God!

We all asked God, "Should we keep Playgroup going or not?"

After several weeks of very low attendance, we gathered the key Christian women of Playgroup and prayed: "God, please grant us obedience that we will do want you want: either keep Playgroup going or close it. We don't mind." I asked the church leadership and I asked YOU via this blog. Last week 24 people attended Playgroup with 4 new families!! This Monday we had 24 people attend with 4 new families!!! Several women told me, "God told me to come"! We are SO AMAZED! Praying later, I felt the Lord say He wants me to make it more SPIRITUALLY POWERFUL! So here we go, a strong season of CHRISTIAN PLAYGROUP! Praise Jesus. Pray with me it will be everything it can be for the Kingdom of God!

What do we do about the school-kids?

Pizza Making

Attendance at Kids Club and Cross Training was ZERO last month, so we stopped and prayed as a team. We decided to schedule a Pizza Night for August because these have been the most effective for building attendance in winter. We had 11 attend all up and it was a fun night with the kids cooking their own pizzas and helping with the fire. There is an obvious need to develop a Christian Youth Group here in Corio where the needs are SO EXTREME. We have scheduled some Pizza Nights and Kids Club events till the end of the year, but please continue to pray we will succeed in bringing effective Christian ministry to the unchurched kids of Corio.

Pop-Up Church is SO LOVELY!

I am honestly SO AMAZED that this ministry is thriving so strongly. Early August we had 45 people attend and a strong presence of God. As MC I strongly felt the active anointing of God as I led the crowd, the team and the ministry. We had an altar call and around 10 locals came forward. I have never felt such anointing. The Filipino church One in Christ are working faithfully alongside us and they are the perfect people to serve the heartbroken folks at Labuan Square. At our next one, we'll try to bring prophetic healing prayer to everyone in the crowd who is willing.

Church - Isaiah 58 - "Spend your lives on behalf of the poor"

Isaiah 58 has been coming up at church recently so I led a workshop last Sunday putting the congregation into small groups to discuss: "From God's viewpoint, what does it mean to be rich? What does it mean to be poor?" Then we discussed: "Who are the poor in Corio and Norlane?"

Plans for Christmas

Thank you for covering us in prayer as I feel so confident that the Lord wants us to host a Christmas show in our local Rosewall Reserve Park bringing together several churches in the area and making it all about JESUS!

Need for greater leadership Wisdom, Prayer, Support and Crew

Could you please pray for me to have greater Wisdom and Power from God to lead these ministries and to lead people to God and to disciple them? Please ask God to give me more leaders and more people of Godly wisdom to guide me. In fact, would YOU like to join my WEEKLY PRAYER ADVISORY TEAM? Let me know if you'd like to step up to this exciting frontline prayer role.

On the Radio

I was on the 96Three last Monday talking about an upcoming Watchmen School of Intercession. It was such a privilege.

Thanks for praying for Christine and me. Love you heaps. Angus

 

Time to Evaluate

Celebration Dinner

Next Saturday Christine and I are thrilled to host a special lunch to honour and celebrate our entire team of Evangelists and Intercessors here in Geelong who have worked so hard and closely with us over the last 3 years with Pizza Nights, Tree Planting, Kids Club and Labbo Pop Up Church. I also want to thank YOU who have prayed for us, supported us financially and guided us with words of wisdom, love and prophecy. We're honouring and celebrating these frontline warriors because it is so necessary to acknowledge those who reach out to the lost with the Word of Life. We want to encourage more people to step out and love their neighbours and help them find Jesus' redemption. 

Pop-Up Church is Growing!

Growing team of Evangelists

July was the best Pop Up Church we've ever had! There was so much love being shared around by the awesome Christians God is giving us and the warm-hearted locals who've come to enjoy Pop Up Church. God provided several new Christians who strugle with regular church and are seeking to serve the lost by sharing the gospel. I'm building relationships with these new folks. 

We had a wonderful meeting with the board of One In Christ Church who are committing to learn evangelism from us. Wow! They are younger and bring great worship and the lovely warmth of the Filipino people.

Winter Tree Planting

Six evangelists gathered on a rainy day in a tiny park in Corio, undeterred by the cold. We had blanketed the immediate neighbourhood with flyers and about 15 locals turned up with a positive spirit. They were happy to participate in gum-boot throwing and tug-of-war. We decorated tree-guards and then planted gumtrees in the park. 

We hosted a drama on Zaccheus, the tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus. Then we gave people the opportunity of responding to Jesus. Two children said they wanted to follow Jesus.

And Now for the Bad News

After the Tree Planting, we advertised a Kids Club, but no one came except our team. Then the following Friday we 'launched' Cross Training, our discipling course and again, no one came. On both nights we as a team talked deeply and prayed together. There are many reasons why the local kids didn't come, but we don't know what they are exactly. The one thing we know is that they didn't want to come enough to actually get here. Therefore, it's time to change.

Time to Stop and Evaluate

As we stop and reflect, we are weighing up the effectiveness of all our ministry offerings versus the effort and cost to deliver them. We also need the supernatural wisdom of God. Right now our work with the children of Corio (including our Playgroup) has declined in terms of attendance significantly over the last two months. This coincides with a feeling of tiredness I'm experiencing. Plus several intercessors have suggested a time of change has arrived. 

Prayer at Pop Up Church

Therefore, we've decided to pause most of our work with the local children and
families. We will continue Playgroup for Term 3, but pause Kids Club and Cross Training for the rest of term 3 and rest a bit. Instead I will focus more on Pop Up Church. We're thinking of launching a Home Group for interested folk from PopUp Church. I'm also thinking of trying a Men's Prayer Group of men from Bethel Church. 

I want to share these complex thoughts with you because we are an experimental mission group which tries to create new ways to lead the church to love the lost. 

WORDS FROM A PROPHET FRIEND

Thank you for having Pop-up church.

It means a lot to God that His people are at Labuan square touching lives.

God holds us accountable for how we minister to the lost. 

We win the lost by loving them with the love of God.

Corio Winter Mission Update

Corio Winter Mission Update

Pop-Up Church

We had one of the best ever outdoor services in June with a beautiful sense of the Presence of God, of love, awe and friendship. It was a smaller gathering in the cold, but we feel we should keep going monthly for the time-being. In the photo, Christine is leading a drama - street theatre about Jesus. 

Kids Club
Once again we had Kids Club in our home and 10 locals came and heard the gospel, played games and had food and fellowship. We talked about the Discipleship Course we're starting in July and there was a really good response. We're following up all those interested in following Jesus this month and getting as many as possible for the Cross Training course.

The video below gives you a taste of Kids Club where we are using drama to explore issues like stealing, smoking and peer-pressure. We then steer the kids to the Bible and declare that Jesus is the best friend you could ever have. 

Discipleship Course - "Cross Training"

We have decided to run a discipleship course for unchurched kids in Term 3! Thank you for praying. We will call it "Cross Training". It will run for three Fridays. Then there will be a two week break and then it will go for another three Fridays. We have a team, a prospectus and we're now contacting all those who have expressed the desire to follow Jesus.

Intergenerational Prayer Engagement

The Lord showed me that to assign every child attending "Cross Training" a prayer mentor from the older folks at Bethel Christian Fellowship - our church. I hope to facilitate a meeting of the children and their Prayer Mentors at the Graduation at the end of Term 3. Please continue to pray for this ambitious project. 

Sandra Steps Back

I need to mention that Sandra Harvey is no longer working closely with us. She has felt that God has called her to step down from Kids Club and helping me with running the team. She is still connected with us, but is not taking a central role at this time. Thanks for praying. The Lord moves in mysterious ways :)

New Ideas under consideration

I'd value your prayers about hosting a conference on new models of church. I'm also considering a sizeable Christmas Tree-Planting event with several guest organisations and I'm trying to arrange a training video with YWAM folks. Please pray we'll get the God ideas not the Good ideas. 

Drumming in Band
I'm playing drums in a 9 piece band! Here is a photo of our second gig together at the Geelong Boat House - It's a fish n chip shop which floats upon the water! It is such a great hobby the Lord has given me where I can have so much fun in such a short time.

Prayer Remains Central
Here is a photo of where I pray 3-4 times per week. I feel to stress we are not trying to build an organisation. Rather we seek to impact the unreached with the love and Word of God. Here the medium is the message: intimate, personal, loving. 

A hard-working, unglamorous month

Keep on doing the right things

Brian Pickering

While Pastor Paul Hills has been away, I have been acting senior pastor with many responsibilities. Here's my latest sermon on: "Stop Complaining". I also helped host Brian Pickering from the Australian Prayer Network - Watchman School of Intercession in the Bellarine Peninsula.

Pop-Up Church - Small but significant

We had about 20 in our team and had done extensive publicity, but the day was very cold and the locals who usually come were not there. Only about 10 locals came, but those who did seemed drawn by God as they were deeply touched and refreshed by the Lord. 

Please ask God to show us if we need to change anything or even stop this ministry in future. We didn't have time for photos.

Super Sunday Kids Club - Wow! Quite amazing!

It was a cold day but sure enough about 15 children and parents enjoyed games in the park and then came through the gate and inside the house. We performed a drama on peer pressure which really spoke to them and then found Bible passages about true friends. We sang songs and taught a memory verse: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you". 

When we spoke about a weekly course to learn to actually follow Jesus, they seemed enthusiastic and one of the fathers' said, "Friday Church". So please continue to pray about how we might run a discipling program for those who are wanting to go further with us and the Lord. We are thinking of starting in Term 3. 

Playgroup - Smaller than usual

A friend takes story time

Attendance is down but the quality is up. We're seeing a great response to the Christian teaching and Christine is also teaching English to the parents. In the photo, our friend Lesley is reading the story.

Tree Planting in July

Please pray for God's way as we seek to work the local council to host another Tree Planting in July. 

Determined, but flexible.

The cold weather is testing our resolve so we need to be more determined than ever. At the same time, we must be soft-hearted to feel the breath of the Spirit, to move with His will. Please continue pray as we all feel revival is coming, hearts are softening and people are turning. Thank you.

3rd Anniversary Edition

Christine's Birthday Ferry Ride

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

I can't believe its three years since we launched Little Miracles Home Group Corio. Some people say it takes 7 years to 'work out what you're doing in ministry', but thanks to God an to you for praying as we seem to be getting quite a few things right with our Mission in Corio.

Discipling Kids - Our New Focus?

Today I'm asking you to pray for God's kingdom to come in power among the children who are deciding to follow Jesus. Approximately 10 children have strongly indicated they want to follow Jesus and we feel our Heavenly Father's heart calling us to lead them into a healthy relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit; to grow them from small Christians to big strong Christian leaders. Please pray for Father God's wisdom, power and love to manifest as we discuss and plan how to shift our focus to discipling those who feel the call to follow God. 

Honouring Pastor Paul Hills

Our lead Pastor, Paul Hills has been in the role 12 years and he's hungrier for Jesus than ever. We honoured him and his wife Karen last Sunday with kind words and a generous gift. So good to get the small things right! He insists on following Jesus - a great role model.

Pop-Up Church is Growing Quickly

Locals invited their friends and my radio interview encouraged newcomers so we had about 50 people early April for our best ever Pop-Up Church. Healthy, warm-hearted Christians making friends with the drunks, drop-outs and druggies. This warms our Father's heart. The crew from One In Christ Church sang powerfully, moving the crowd. Here is a video to give you a better idea of what we got up to!

Super Sunday Kids Club - Tree Planting

Easter Tree Planting Festival

As I'm sure you know, during the cooler months we focus our kids outreach on Tree-Planting. This brings us into contact with new families, expanding our intake. This month we planted in a tiny, neglected park, McKinley Ave Reserve, Corio, with a permit from the City of Greater Geelong. Over 40 people came to the event and heard the Easter Message with a reenactment of Jesus' death & resurrection and an opportunity to receive a prayer of blessing. 

Here is a very short video of the event, shortened by a camera malfunction.

Personal Testimony of God's Sanctifying Power

I cannot overstate how grateful I am for your prayers and the power of God to better His willing workers. For a long time I have judged the churches inadequacies from my place of self-righteousness. Recently it came to a head. God showed me I was right in my judgement. They were not doing the right thing. But then He showed me I wasn't doing the right thing either. We are all wrong. The idealism which brings us to Jesus must give way to maturity which sees all our mutual faults and gets on with the mission regardless. What a freeing lesson.

A Break in Brisbane

We took a week off camping around Brisbane and visiting Christine's family. It was wonderful reading about Keith Green and Nancy Alcorn from our rented camper van. 

Beautiful Relationships Abound

Play Group is so beautiful
God is using the Play Group as a strong spiritual ministry. The group is growing with about 20 each session and we are seeing so many beautiful acts of God bringing life and health and peace to these migrants and their children. And the  non-Christian are singing the God songs!

Kids Club - Amazing

22 people attended our 2nd Kids Club and listened to the teaching of the Word. We had a strong team of 7 leaders who all contributed passionately and by the Spirit. Several of the kids can't read and one kid has been completely expelled from the school system at age 13. Since we changed to monthly from weekly gatherings, we've noticed everyone seems thirstier! Here is a short video of the Kids Club highlights.

 

Introducing Sandra Harvey - Admin Assistant

Thank you for praying God would grow our team, because we have a strong team now and Sandra Harvey is stepping up to help with administration, leadership and ministry. She is a prophetess who is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus. She is experienced in event management and is a good friend of me and Christine. 

Here is short video introducing Sandra Harvey. Please pray for her.

Pop-Up Church in Labuan Square Norlane
We hosted our 2nd monthly Pop-Up Church in March and were blessed by a local Filipino Church joining us in the outreach. Here is a video of our 2nd Pop-Up church. Our next one is this Saturday so please pray for salvations and discipleship and the team growing in faith and power to bring revival. 

Prayer Seminar with Ps Check Chia

During March we helped host the Journey in Prayer with legend pastor Check Chia. It was so good to sit under a very wise and accomplished teacher/intercessor. He really impressed upon us the importance of FASTING to draw closer the our Heavenly Father and encouraged us to GO FOR IT like never before. We had 100 people from 20 churches learning more powerful prayer. Such a big win for Geelong. 

Easter Tree-Planting Festival

On Easter Sunday we're hosting a Tree-Planting Festival and outreach in McKinley Ave Reserve Corio. It is a tiny park but we hope to bring some love, hope and friendship to the area as we host a fun family day. Please pray for salvations and Jesus' love to be manifest. 

Free Publicity

Praise God I have an open door at the radio station 96Three. Here is an interview I did to publicise the Pop-Up Church and the Prayer Seminar to give you a taste of what's going on. 

My Best Sermon Ever

I wanted to share this teaching with you, my best ever. It is on Jesus' call on us to be fruitful. I call it Hyper Yield. I hope you like it!

Finally - Spread the Word

If you think this is worth sharing to encourage someone to press on for revival, then feel free to share it with them.

Thank you for being a crucial part of this exciting adventure. We couldn't do it without YOU! 

Two new ministries launched

Super Sunday Kids Club Begins!

I'm so grateful for God's wisdom and the prayer support of many people behind the switch from weekly Family Pizza Nights to monthly Super Sunday Kids Club where we focus more fully on teaching the kids to follow Jesus. We are also fulfilling all legal requirements to host the children in a supervised environment for 2 hours. Parents can drop them off, sign in and come back to 5pm.

We have a team of 7 leaders and have decided to continue monthly for this year as best we can. 

Here is a video of the February Kids Club 

Please pray for real salvations and true and effective discipleship from Kids Club in 2022. Thank you :)

Easter Tree-Planting Festival Coming Up

Please pray for God's wisdom and enabling as we plan a significant Easter event. Currently I have permission from the council to plant trees in McKinley Ave Reserve (pictured below). I seek to couple this with a dramatisation of Jesus' death and resurrection and have some games and food. Our regular Kids Club kids and leaders will be there plus we'll outreach into the locals around the park to spread the word. I think the Lord will give us more evangelists to join our crew. 

Pop-Up Church begins!

In February we created our first ever "Pop-Up Church". First time we called it 'church' and we think many people came because it was church. It ignited a hunger in them. Our pattern is group prayer, singing, words/testimonies, then we have a break and go into the crowd and pray for miracles for people saying, "God wants to show you His love for you by doing a miracle in your life. What do you think God wants to do in your life?" 

Because we're well known and trusted, we find people are open and ready to bare their souls to us to pray when we approach them like this. After the service is over, we have fish and chips with the locals and build friendships over a meal.

Play Group is growing beautifully

Yesterday we had our second biggest playgroup ever  (23) with more newies than regulars! Thank you for praying as this is a significant ministry confirming their faith and being a lovely witness to unbelievers. I'm thankful that we have so many refugees from Myanmar who are genuinely needy and that they are soaking up the Christian teaching hungrily. And Christine has started helping them overtly with English. 

No Man is Greater Than His Prayer Life - Loenard Ravenhill

As the Lord calls me forward and upward into leadership and governance, to be a powerful evangelist, the more I have to pray, the more I have to pray. This picture shows a lonely, narrow path at Avalon Beach which I share with solitary fishermen and my faithful hounds, my prayer-dogs. This is the engine room of revival. The path gets narrower the further you go along! You have to give up lust, greed, sloth, selfishness, fear, small-mindedness, etc....

Have I not commanded you? Be Strong and Courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1: 9