Latest News (Page 29)

Latest News (Page 29)

News from around the Australasian Union Conference. Also visit the Good Tidings News page for downloadable back issues.

Life Ethics Seminar – NSW Youth Department

30 March 2014 – Schofields Centre – Presented by:  NSW Youth Department “Life Ethics Seminar” was especially designed to provide youth with some valuable information as they go through different phases in life.  The topics presented related to awareness of the expectations they will be facing as they embrace adult life and how best they can relate to situations in the home, with peers, at work, social world and at church. Prior to the day, for the leaders, planning this…

Passing of Neville S. Brittain

It is with much sadness in our hearts that we say goodbye to our dearly beloved Brother Neville Stuart Brittain who fell asleep in Jesus on Friday morning 28th March 2014 at the age of 85. Born in Victoria, Australia, Bro. Brittain came to the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement in his youth. As a young man he attended the Missionary College at Hebron. Bro Brittain married Elizabeth Southwell on 12th April 1953. He was also trained as a naturopath…

Wedding – Josie and Etienne Decuyper

What a happy occasion a wedding always is… the weather looked a little grim on Monday morning the 24th March 2014 as guests started to arrive at the stunning venue in Mt Eliza, Victoria; but we are thankful to God that the rain kept away during the time of the wedding and afterwards while pictures were being taken.  In the beautiful gardens of the vineyard with the ocean as a backdrop, Josie and Etienne Decuyper affirmed their vows to each…

Special Gifts from God – Birth Announcements

It has been wonderful to receive news of three new babies who have been born within the last month into God’s family.  We extend our congratulations to families De Souza, Gordon and Polistina and wish them God’s many blessings as they bring up their children to love and serve the Lord. “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD” Psalms 127:3 first part. Baby Lucas Daniel de Souza Jacob de Souza, a Bible worker in the Queensland Conference, and his…

Pope’s Call for Unity – Is Protestant Reformation Over?

On February 25, 2014, the Catholic News Agency reported that Pope Francis sent a video message to a gathering of U.S. Pentecostal leaders, voicing his “yearning” that separation between Catholics and other Christians may end. “We have a lot of cultural riches and religious riches. And we have diverse traditions,” he said. “But we have to encounter one another as brothers.” “Let’s give each other a spiritual embrace and let God complete the work that He has begun,” he said,…

Missionary Training Program 2014

Report from Missionary Training Program Six very excited students gathered together at Elim Heights Youth Camp on Sunday 9th February 2014 for the start of another Missionary Training Program (MTP). Unfortunately, due to an accident, one had to go home, but five very enthusiastic students have remained for the full program. I asked the students to write a paragraph expressing their thoughts on the MTP thus far and here are some of the thoughts expressed by them: On Sunday you will…

Engagement – Josie Allen and Etienne Decuyper

Congratulations to Josie and Etienne on their Engagement. Josephine Joy Allen, the middle daughter of David and Rebekah Allen has recently got engaged to Etienne Decuyper. Etienne is from France and was recently baptized into Christ on the Sunshine Coast, QLD. We wish them God’s blessings as they plan their future lives together. They will be married in March, in Melbourne, Australia.

History of the South Pacific Union Mission

The twenty fifth of December two thousand and thirteen, proved to be a very important day in the history of the Australasian Union Conference (AUC) of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement. During the thirty third delegation session held at Elim Heights Youth Camp, forty six AUC delegates were present in session and voted unanimously for the formation of an Islands Union Mission. We thank the Lord that the spreading of the gospel throughout the islands developed in such a…
Sr Maria Rodriguez

God’s Hand Even in Tragedy

On Sabbath the 15th of March an unfortunate bushwalking accident occurred at Elim Heights Youth Camp. Sr Maria Rodriguez, visiting us here from Spain, experienced a very serious fall, breaking several vertebrae. She was transferred by helicopter to hospital and spent several days in intensive care before undergoing emergency surgery. We are pleased to report that the operation was successful and Sr. Maria is now recuperating. She has been able to walk and the prospects are good for her recovery.…
Baptism QLD - Etienne Decuyper

Baptism QLD – Etienne Decuyper

On a beautiful Sabbath afternoon the 15th February 2014 at the Eudlo River, Maroochydore in the lovely Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Etienne Decuyper publicly declared his commitment to God by allowing his old self to be buried in the watery grave and resurrecting to a new life in Jesus. Many members and friends from churches and groups in the Queensland Conference gathered to witness this joyful occasion. We praise God that another young person has made a decision to follow in…
Gluten free Cooking Demonstration

Gluten free Cooking Demonstration – Nundah, QLD

There are many today who are searching for alternative healthy foods due to the great amount of allergies around. Appreciating the fact that folks are searching for ways to cook healthy, and at the same time, tasty allergy free meals, Clayfield members and friends decided to hold a gluten free cooking demonstration in the Nundah area. The demonstration took place on Sunday 16th February 2014. While we had a few challenges trying to turn the building alarm off before the…
NZ Camp, January 2014

New Zealand Camp Report

Let me share with you of our recent camp had in N.Z. Invitations were sent out to a Family Youth Camp to be held at the Eltham Presbyterian Campsite from 2pm Tuesday 21st January – Sunday 26th January 12:30pm. New Zealand membership, friends and associates are scattered from the top part of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island. Also a mother and daughter joined us from Australia. The joy of seeing all together in one place…

AUC Welcomes families: Dumaguit and Pedrosa

Dumaguit Family The Australasian Union Conference would like to officially welcome the Dumaguit family to Australia; we pray that your stay here will be a very blessed and wonderful one. Three members of the Dumaguit family, Brother Rolly, Sister Mercy together with their son David, arrived in Sydney on Tuesday the 19th November 2013. Their eldest son Abraham will join them later on this year. Born in the Philippines, Brother Rolly and Sister Mercy Dumaguit both have a huge passion for…

Report from Samoa Fly’n’Build Project

Sometime ago a plan was formulated to have a “fly-build” project to erect a chapel in Samoa.  The brethren there are very happy that this time has finally arrived!  Unfortunately Br John Lausevic, director of the Welfare Department, is not able to carry this out due to some health problems, so Br Luke Kneebone was entrusted to take on this project. On Sunday 9th June 2013 Br Luke, his wife Sr Jade and Josiah left Sydney for Samoa.  Jade shared…

International Youth Congress 2013

Announcing the International Youth Congress 2013 August 12 – 18, 2013 Mongyorod, Hungary, EU With the theme “Friends of the King” Dear friends, as you may already know, we have prepared a week of fellowship with the Lord and His followers from all around the world! You will be received with the same hospitality as you surely remember, at the Church in Mogyorod (about 23 km N-E from Budapest downtown) Godollo Ut .(street), No. 201, Hungary. (N:  47°.59’51”76, and E:  …

Vanuatu Church Dedications & Pacific Leaders Forum

In November, Vanuatu Mission Field hosted the Pacific Leaders Forum, with representatives from PNG, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Australia, and of course Vanuatu, in attendance. The Pacific Regional Secretary, Br Rolly Dumaguit was also present for the meetings, which discussed the needs of the Pacific Mission Fields, including a proposal for the establishment of a Pacific Union. Another very special occasion took place during that trip – the dedication of the newly completed church building in Port Vila.…

Welfare Department Work in PNG

It has been several years since a visitor to Perth’s Guildford Church returned to Goroka, a large town in Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Ever since that time, thought has been given to the work in Goroka where the main produce grown are pineapples, bananas, coffee plantations and sweet potatoes. Some corn is also grown as the main cash crop for subsistence farming.   Along with the nice climate this town is also a university town where many students…

Welfare Department Work in Oceania

For the past two years several outreach seminars were planned by the Welfare Department to take place in the various islands of Oceania. Due to various funding issues and time constraints the department was unable to complete the scheduled events until just now. As we write this report to you, several more events are in progress.  One of the most recent events was a one day Agriculture and Garden Improvement Seminar held in Western Samoa. The members and visitors in…

AUC Workers Seminar 2013

From the 2nd to 6th of January, 2013 the Australasian Union Conference held a Worker’s Seminar for our Australian and New Zealand based workers. Br D Sureshkumar (General Conference Vice-President) conducted the Seminar based on the theme of “Leadership”. All appreciated the opportunity to reflect on the principles of leadership particularly in the context of pastoral ministry. The seminar concluded with a self-assessment questionnaire that helped identify individual leadership traits.  

Wedding – Vivian Ilic & Chris Cosson

Monday, 29th October, 2012, on a warm and sunny afternoon, many guests gathered to witness the marriage of Christopher Cosson and Vivian Rose Ilic. The service was held at a historic St John’s Anglican Church at Camden. The groom and his attendants – Jonathan Gules (best man), Jeremy Gordon, Jesse Ilic and Luis Ilic as groomsmen arrived well before time. The groom firstly ushered his parents to their seat and then retraced his steps to usher the bride’s mother to…