|
Menno-Notes
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
for
all Newsletters |
May 2005 Volume 8, Issue 2 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Articles Our Trip to Australia
1st church service of PMC-March 31, 1963 From the Pastor's Heart....
|
Our Trip to Australia |
| Phillip Palmore: | |
|
|
Our mission trip to Australia was an awesome experience. I really enjoyed getting to see a different country and learning to know the people that live there. It was exciting to see how God could use me to minister to the people who lived there. We were able to do a lot work with the teenagers. Many of the teenagers don’t have any Christian friends to influence them. So we had an opportunity to make a difference. After our meetings with the teens, some would come up and tell us they were thinking about becoming a Christian and how much our mission team had impacted them. Thanks to everyone who helped us through prayers and financial support. It was really a great trip. |
| Matthew Lehman: | |
|
|
Our mission team went for a Wednesday night church service near Sydney. We played a game of soccer to get the evening started before we witnessed to the kids and teens. Most of the young people were from a nearby government-housing neighborhood. Most of the families were on welfare and fatherless. The fathers who did still live with their families were often abusive. Some of the kids did not know where their mothers were and lived with grandparents or relatives. We were told before we arrived at the church service that after all they had been through, these kids would probably have a hard time trusting people. We were told that we had to earn the kids’ trust before we could be an effective witness for Christ. |
After playing a game, we gathered the
kids together and made our presentation of skits, songs, and Phillip’s
and Steven’s personal testimonies. One
of the full time missionaries, Rodney, presented the message of salvation
to the group, explaining how God’s gift of salvation is a free gift open
to anyone who asks. He could
see that they just weren’t getting it, so he held out a basketball and
said, “Who would like to have this basketball?”
Naturally every hand in the room went up.
Rodney smiled and said, “OK, take it.” Nobody moved. “Come on
now you said you all wanted it so take it.
The first one who takes it from my hand gets to keep it.”
Some of the kids were saying he would take it away when anybody got
close. Some kids started
asking the American kids, “Can we really just take it?”
Rodney was getting tired from holding the ball in his outstretched
hand for so long. Finally, one
of the youngest boys of all the kids in the room ran up to Rodney and took
the ball from him. (After
James reassured him that he could really keep it.)
Everybody in the room was jealous of the little boy who got a free
ball when all they had to do was come and get it themselves.
Rodney smiled and explained, “That is exactly like the gift that
God gives to everybody who asks. Anybody
who asks Jesus to come into his or her heart will never be rejected.”
The kids got the message.
| Jonathan Habel | |
 |
Australia was a growing experience for the members of our team. It was good to meet other Christians from the other side of the world and learn about their experiences and beliefs. I enjoyed ministering in the public schools very much. Unlike America, Australia's public school system is open to God and the Bible. In fact, public schools in Australia require students to take a scripture class in which they are taught from the Word of God. One thing that really stuck out in my mind was our visit to the church in Coonabarabrand, Australia, located in the Northern section of New South Wales, close to the outback. There, we had opportunities to minister to other young people our age through gym jams and church meetings. It was in Coonabarabrand that I really felt God tugging on me. That Friday night, I felt the Spirit of God working in me, enabling me in spite of my nervousness, to share Christ with a young girl. Australia was a really rare experience. I would like to go on another mission trip in the future, if God leads. I encourage anyone that has thought about going on a mission trip, but does not feel they could ever really do it, to pray about it and draw close to God. If God wants you to go, and you are seeking His will, He will provide the way. |
| Steven Pruett | |
|
|
God is doing some amazing things in Australia right now. Our group was fortunate enough to have a chance to minister in schools and churches in Australia. It was awesome to see kids coming to the Lord because of the Holy Spirit ministering through us. God blessed us with a wonderful opportunity, but none of it could have possible without your help. Again we would like to thank you for your prayers and financial support. |
