About
I currently live in the beautiful, leafy, outer Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, by the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, have grown up in the church of Christ (non-denominational), was taught the meaning of Grace by a Pentecostal guy, spent many years trying to find out what it means to follow Jesus. Along the way, I got a degree in film making, rejected the church I had grown up in (ask me sometime!), read ardently about Zen and other religions, got married to my best friend and most beautiful woman in the word, aspired to be a pastor, completed an internship with Forge, realised I didn’t have to be a pastor to impact the world and the church, had three kids with most beautiful woman in the world (the same one mentioned previously!), and now live in the Outer Eastern burbs of Melbourne!
I am struggling with prayer, trying to grow and follow Jesus, whilst trying to see where God is at work in my neighbourhood. I chose to do a Diploma in Community Welfare Work to aid in my work with the community. I could have studied Theology (something I love to talk and read about) but chose to learn some practical skills that can benefit the Church and my community.
I am seeking support for my work here in Lilydale as a church planter and community worker for the homeless and disadvantaged, please take a minute to have a look at what I am doing and what I am seeking.
Part of what I see God doing is my work with The Dining Room and Vive Cafe, and the homeless in the area. My eyes and hearts have been opened to the injustice and darker regions of the ‘burbs! I would love to see a centre for the community open in Croydon that the meals for the homeless by the various congregations doing the meals could be in one centre, undercover, warm in winter and cool in summer, with places to relax, send emails, write resumes and do laundry etc!
In addition I would love to see a community like the 24–7 Boiler Rooms here in Lilydale, with a Rhythm of Prayer, a heart for Mission and Justice in the community! Anyone care to join me!?
Some of my heroes are David Knoop — the guy who is supervising me at TDR, Alan Hirsch for his wisdom and love for the church, John Jensen (damn he went back to the USA!) for his heart for the injustice in the world and family, Mark Van Steenwyk for his faith and encouragement from afar! Hmmm, maybe I should blog this!
{ 3 comments }
Sure, This is great. We are to invest in heaven through our everyday life, work and homemaking by doing even chores with faith, hope and love. Paul in 1 Cor 3:10-15 argues us to do things with faith; in some way beyond our imagination even simple is actually ministry work to jesus. There fore be courageous and continue; do not loose heart.
Robert
Good luck with your community projects. I wish you the best, it appears you have a larger hurdle to overcome then most. I understand the struggle of the disadvantaged. I hear the passion in your writing. Dont be concerned with the value of what you do, the value is illusive as you can not place a calculated figure upon it. Simply do because you enjoy it, or you see other benfiting from the work. Create your own faith, bring to the people what you have created with them, not of yourself.
Good work…
Good luck with your community projects. I wish you the best, it appears you have a larger hurdle to overcome then most. I understand the struggle of the disadvantaged. I hear the passion in your writing. Dont be concerned with the value of what you do, the value is illusive as you can not place a calculated figure upon it. Simply do because you enjoy it, or you see other benfiting from the work. Create your own faith, bring to the people what you have created with them, not of yourself.
Good work…
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