A New Chapter Opens
Our new home, complete with resident EmusWelcome to a new chapter. We have been in Exmouth now for three months! How the time flies. We are feeling very blessed by God – he has made our arrival and transition into a new ministry, school and community very smooth. Not wanting us to sit on our hands the Lord has kept us busy doing his work here. Bec has wisely suggested that I use some information from my Rectors Report at our March AGM to fill everybody in on what has been happening. Following is the edited report:
Rectors Report
2009 AGM
It was with great excitement that my family and I arrived in Exmouth on 5th January this year. We are grateful for the work that many had put into our smooth arrival including the work that had been carried out on and around the rectory.
As with any arrival, the first months have been a flurry of activity as we settle in to our new home, ministry, school and clubs. We have been encouraged by invitations to meals and activities and have been spurred in the knowledge of people praying for us especially in my preaching ministry.
I resolved to begin ministry in Exmouth by watching and listening to what was already happening in the church and in the community. Through prayer I have then asked that the Lord direct my energies into worthwhile and sustainable ministry activities. The irrevocable ministry of preaching the gospel remains at the centre of my ministry objectives. What a great honour and responsibility it is to be a preacher of God’s Word! The gospel of Jesus Christ is what sets us apart from all other organisations. It must remain our core objective in everything we choose to do.
Since arriving in Exmouth I have observed a church membership which is very cohesive. This cohesion is shown through the great care each member has for the other, especially those who are in greater need. It is also shown through the bible study attendance which is nearly 100% of the Sunday attendance.
I have also seen a church which is adaptable. It is not an easy task for a church to have three different locum ministers over a three year period. Add to that the further disruption of the need to move from the church home at the Harold E. Holt Naval base chapel to the Senior Citizens Centre in town and it seems the church has maintained well.
It can also be a daunting prospect welcoming a new incumbent minister and the shift in expectations and ministry objectives that arrival may bring.
I praise God for this cohesive and adaptable church!
Since my arrival it has been my pleasure to have had one baptism enquiry and seven wedding enquiries. This has led to five couples being prepared for marriage. I will be conducting each of these weddings in or around Exmouth. I see wedding preparations as a wonderful gospel opportunity, as marriages are a reflection of the relationship between Christ and his Church (Eph 5:21-32). I spend a minimum of 5 sessions with each couple explaining what it means to be married in the sight of God and also, when requested, take the couple through a pre-marriage training course called Prepare. It has been exciting to share the Gospel of Jesus with each of these couples.
I was also recently invited to meet with the High School Principal and Deputy Principals to think tank a mentoring program for the students. This again is another opportunity for the Gospel as I would seek for opportunities to give an answer for the hope that I have in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15).
Getting to know both church and non-church members has been a great joy. I have tried to meet regularly with a number of church members and I am seeking to get a chance to speak to all the members on an individual basis. The Lord has also graced the rectory doorstep with the opportunity to serve others in the community. Over the last three weeks I have had two different people come asking for assistance. Sometimes I can fulfil their physical needs such as the provision of food or direction to other counselling and emergency assistance services in town; and sometimes I cannot such as provision of accommodation or cash handouts. I will always seek to help them to understand their deepest need of knowing Jesus.
I have also attended each Shire Council meeting in an effort to get to know the “movers and shakers” of the town and to keep a finger on the pulse of what is happening and what is being planned for the town. This helps me to contextualise the unchangeable message of the gospel onto the Exmouth wavelength. This also occurs as I make myself known to shop owners and other individuals that I may meet in the school, the pool, the yacht club, the junior cricket club, and other locations and events. I pray that this interaction might lead to Gospel conversations, or at the least raise awareness of our church.
There is much to praise God for in the last two and a half months. There is also much to be praying for. My prayer for our church is that God will teach us how to move from Maintenance Mode into Missional Mode. I was inspired by a Synod Representatives report that identified Exmouth as “being ready for new Kingdom growth” and that there was “a wind of change in the air.”[1] I think that with God’s help He will cause great things to happen here in Exmouth over the next few years as we Contend for the Gospel and Contextualise it in our community. Already I can see God preparing our way.
As a church we have embarked on an ambitious building program. This has the potential to see the Kingdom of God grow significantly in Exmouth as our building becomes an identifiable location for our church. This in turn will enable us to outreach into new areas of our community as we use this as our mission base.
More importantly I have sensed a readiness in the church members to be outward looking, and an eagerness to learn how to reach our town for Jesus. I expect God to use each of us, and the gifts he has given us to achieve His purposes. This will be a team effort. He will strengthen us in our knowledge and love of him and spur us on to boldly reach out. We have been given a responsibility to proclaim the gospel in Exmouth. May the Lord do his work in us and through us!
It is with a thankful heart that God has provided for all our needs. The generosity of our small church membership is testament to your gospel convictions. Likewise the generosity of our ministry partners throughout Australia who are contributing toward my stipend, and those who have donated toward our building project is truly humbling
Finally, can I encourage you to seek the Lord every day. As you wake each morning ask the Lord to be opening your ears and eyes and softening your heart to him. When you come to church be seeking ways to encourage each other and to come with an expectation that the Lord is amongst us and will teach us both corporately and individually. And might all our efforts be girded with prayer, upholding our church activities, our preachers, our readers & prayers, our leaders and each other in everything that we do in His name.
Amen
L E Edwards
Lachlan Edwards
Senior Minister
Exmouth Anglican Church
[1] This is my recollection of the verbal report and prayer given by one of the Exmouth Synod Representatives at the 2008 Synod.
Rectors Report
2009 AGM
It was with great excitement that my family and I arrived in Exmouth on 5th January this year. We are grateful for the work that many had put into our smooth arrival including the work that had been carried out on and around the rectory.
As with any arrival, the first months have been a flurry of activity as we settle in to our new home, ministry, school and clubs. We have been encouraged by invitations to meals and activities and have been spurred in the knowledge of people praying for us especially in my preaching ministry.
I resolved to begin ministry in Exmouth by watching and listening to what was already happening in the church and in the community. Through prayer I have then asked that the Lord direct my energies into worthwhile and sustainable ministry activities. The irrevocable ministry of preaching the gospel remains at the centre of my ministry objectives. What a great honour and responsibility it is to be a preacher of God’s Word! The gospel of Jesus Christ is what sets us apart from all other organisations. It must remain our core objective in everything we choose to do.
Since arriving in Exmouth I have observed a church membership which is very cohesive. This cohesion is shown through the great care each member has for the other, especially those who are in greater need. It is also shown through the bible study attendance which is nearly 100% of the Sunday attendance.
I have also seen a church which is adaptable. It is not an easy task for a church to have three different locum ministers over a three year period. Add to that the further disruption of the need to move from the church home at the Harold E. Holt Naval base chapel to the Senior Citizens Centre in town and it seems the church has maintained well.
It can also be a daunting prospect welcoming a new incumbent minister and the shift in expectations and ministry objectives that arrival may bring.
I praise God for this cohesive and adaptable church!
Since my arrival it has been my pleasure to have had one baptism enquiry and seven wedding enquiries. This has led to five couples being prepared for marriage. I will be conducting each of these weddings in or around Exmouth. I see wedding preparations as a wonderful gospel opportunity, as marriages are a reflection of the relationship between Christ and his Church (Eph 5:21-32). I spend a minimum of 5 sessions with each couple explaining what it means to be married in the sight of God and also, when requested, take the couple through a pre-marriage training course called Prepare. It has been exciting to share the Gospel of Jesus with each of these couples.
I was also recently invited to meet with the High School Principal and Deputy Principals to think tank a mentoring program for the students. This again is another opportunity for the Gospel as I would seek for opportunities to give an answer for the hope that I have in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15).
Getting to know both church and non-church members has been a great joy. I have tried to meet regularly with a number of church members and I am seeking to get a chance to speak to all the members on an individual basis. The Lord has also graced the rectory doorstep with the opportunity to serve others in the community. Over the last three weeks I have had two different people come asking for assistance. Sometimes I can fulfil their physical needs such as the provision of food or direction to other counselling and emergency assistance services in town; and sometimes I cannot such as provision of accommodation or cash handouts. I will always seek to help them to understand their deepest need of knowing Jesus.
I have also attended each Shire Council meeting in an effort to get to know the “movers and shakers” of the town and to keep a finger on the pulse of what is happening and what is being planned for the town. This helps me to contextualise the unchangeable message of the gospel onto the Exmouth wavelength. This also occurs as I make myself known to shop owners and other individuals that I may meet in the school, the pool, the yacht club, the junior cricket club, and other locations and events. I pray that this interaction might lead to Gospel conversations, or at the least raise awareness of our church.
There is much to praise God for in the last two and a half months. There is also much to be praying for. My prayer for our church is that God will teach us how to move from Maintenance Mode into Missional Mode. I was inspired by a Synod Representatives report that identified Exmouth as “being ready for new Kingdom growth” and that there was “a wind of change in the air.”[1] I think that with God’s help He will cause great things to happen here in Exmouth over the next few years as we Contend for the Gospel and Contextualise it in our community. Already I can see God preparing our way.
As a church we have embarked on an ambitious building program. This has the potential to see the Kingdom of God grow significantly in Exmouth as our building becomes an identifiable location for our church. This in turn will enable us to outreach into new areas of our community as we use this as our mission base.
More importantly I have sensed a readiness in the church members to be outward looking, and an eagerness to learn how to reach our town for Jesus. I expect God to use each of us, and the gifts he has given us to achieve His purposes. This will be a team effort. He will strengthen us in our knowledge and love of him and spur us on to boldly reach out. We have been given a responsibility to proclaim the gospel in Exmouth. May the Lord do his work in us and through us!
It is with a thankful heart that God has provided for all our needs. The generosity of our small church membership is testament to your gospel convictions. Likewise the generosity of our ministry partners throughout Australia who are contributing toward my stipend, and those who have donated toward our building project is truly humbling
Finally, can I encourage you to seek the Lord every day. As you wake each morning ask the Lord to be opening your ears and eyes and softening your heart to him. When you come to church be seeking ways to encourage each other and to come with an expectation that the Lord is amongst us and will teach us both corporately and individually. And might all our efforts be girded with prayer, upholding our church activities, our preachers, our readers & prayers, our leaders and each other in everything that we do in His name.
Amen
L E Edwards
Lachlan Edwards
Senior Minister
Exmouth Anglican Church
[1] This is my recollection of the verbal report and prayer given by one of the Exmouth Synod Representatives at the 2008 Synod.
The Turning of the Sod for our new church building
Lachlan's Induction as Minister-in-Charge of Exmouth
posted by Lachlan Edwards @ 2:41 PM
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