Posts from April 2020
Asylum Seeker Family Update
UPDATE 6/5/2020: A GoFundMe Page has been set up. You can also donate through church channels if you prefer to do so (see below). We have reported in the past (here and here on the plight of a Sri Lankan asylum seeker family who were caught up in an unfortunate series of events that saw the husband and father held in immigration detention. As we write, he is still in detention. “Brother A” and his family came to Australia on…
Elim Missionary College Programme
Twelve energetic students gathered at Elim Heights for the 2020 Missionary Training Program. Coming from around Australia and the USA, they entered upon their studies enthusiastically. We started with Bible Research and Gospel Workers classes, and then moved into how to conduct home Bible studies. After the first intensive month at Elim Heights, the program moved to Schofields. The canvassing program got into full swing, with many books sold and contacts made. But just as the canvassing program was finishing…
Organic Practices taught across the South Pacific Union Mission
The fight against poverty and climate change has been an ongoing battle across the entire South Pacific Region. Scientific studies have shown that best practice organic agriculture is a win-win situation. Research has shown that organic farming systems are more resilient to adverse weather conditions such as increased number of tropical cyclones and drought patterns over the last few years. Due to the increase of these types of incidents the Australasian Union Welfare Department has been assisting the South Pacific…
SA Baptism – Brett Wilcox
It was with great joy and refreshingly cooler weather that the baptismal drought in South Australia was broken on Sabbath, the 18th of January 2020. Brother Brett Wilcox has finally decided to make the ‘plunge’ and join Jesus publicly. After studying, on and off over the years, the reasons for our little company’s existence and the Present Truth, he is uniting with God and the church. He has studied with our brethren at Brisbane (Clayfield), in Perth (Guilford), and now…
LIttle Ones…
Gurduiala Family Grows Congratulations to the Gurduiala and Newman families on this wonderful news.A little bundle of joy arrived at the home of George and Shelley on Wednesday the 15th January 2020. How thrilling must it have been for these parents when God’s precious gift entered their family! We pray the Lord will richly bless George and Shelley with wisdom and knowledge, as they bring up little Eva Victoria to honor and love her Creator! Baby Boy Arrival It is…
Wedding Congratulations to Ashley and Benjamin
There is always an element of excitement in the air when it comes to weddings—whether for the couple themselves or for the guests attending it. The dream of nearly every girl is to grow up and one day be a beautiful bride. How fitting it is that the church is also compared to a bride adorned for her husband. Marriage—what a beautiful gift our Maker gave to mankind! How wonderful that Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding feast.…
Eulogy – Maria Cristea
I’d like to share with you all a few things about the life of our grandmother Maria Cristea. Maria was born in the heart of Romania in the small German village of Sincu Brasov on the 14th of June, 1934, to parents Emil Ghircoias and Elena Moga, who were both of similar age, born in 1898. She was the baby of the family—she had three brothers, Gheorghe, Jon and Basile. Life was not easy, when you consider that World War…
A Tribute to our Mum – Catharina Bende Sas
This is a very brief recollection of the life of a beautiful lady, Catharina Bende Sas, as seen through the eyes of her children Lidia, Charles and Rubem. Catharina Bende Sas was born on Saturday, 24th November 1934, in a little town called Caiva Presidente Venceslau. The second of nine children born to Americo and Barbara Bende. Sadly, two passed away very young, in their infancy. Andrew was only 5 weeks old when he died of cot death and Lidia…
Cyclone Harold Appeal
A news update from Br. Ben Thiel, secretary for Pacific Region. As I’ve been in contact with the brethren from different countries across the Pacific recently, it has been encouraging to hear that during this time, where it’s difficult to move about, that people are keeping in contact and supporting each other, with prayer, through phone calls, and also that fellowship and meetings are still happening via various multimedia options—both the Sabbath schools, divine services, young people’s meetings and prayer…