His love IS our mission!

As Christ followers, our ultimate MISSION is the one Jesus Christ gave to His disciples through all the ages – to…

GO, in and by the full authority of Jesus, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything He commanded us, KNOWING that He is always with us AS WE GO… to the very end of the age. (Matt 28:18-20 paraphrase)

That great commission is built upon the great commandments –

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

The God we serve is the one true God. He is the God of LOVE. On Sunday evening, Australia and the world watched in horror as a brutal attack was carried out in one of our most iconic and beautiful spaces - Bondi beach. This was a massacre driven by evil, by hatred – the very opposite of what we stand for as servants of the Most High God and His Son, Jesus, Saviour of the world.

Never before has the world needed the Gospel message more. Never before has the need been more desperate for us to rise up as active disciples, sacrificing our comfort and setting aside our personal agendas to spread His love, His truth, His healing power throughout the world. Throughout the spaces we inhabit, the spaces He has entrusted to us to steward.

This is what was happening, as you supported or took part in Under The Tree.

Across our locations, over 250 families were blessed by the love of Jesus, expressed through the hands and hearts of LifeHouse Care. Over 700 children will now have a gift waiting for them under the tree this Christmas, because of the Church rising up as she is meant to, leading and joined by the wider community to bring love and joy and hope.

This is what was happening, through the Red Frogs on mission at Schoolies.

A group of young people sacrificing their time, saving up to cover their costs and spending a week serving school leavers on the Gold Coast, being a light amidst a lot of darkness, bringing a lot of joy and love as they represent Jesus.

Young Adults leaders Jakin and Hannah Mai say it so well, that you’ve really got to hear it straight from them…

Click here

This is what is happening at the Courthouse as people at their lowest moments are encountering the love of Christ through the Chaplaincy team.

Laura Strelitz shared one encounter she had through this expanding area of mission…

“On November 26th I went to the courthouse to set up the Christmas tree. This was exciting as the courthouse has never had a tree before, but because of the amazing work the chaplains and canteen volunteers are doing, we were granted permission. You wouldn’t think the simple task of putting up a Christmas tree would create an opportunity for God to work, but God can work anywhere and on this day a young girl walking past made a comment on the tree, and I asked if she wanted to join in decorating it. As we chatted I discovered that growing up she had a traumatic accident where she had to learn to walk, eat, talk and function again. She later had the heartbreak of her child being taken from her, as the disabilities from the accident meant she couldn’t care for the child. But… in one of her court visits she ran into one of the ladies who had fostered her child until she became adopted, which she was stoked about. It was a big conversation, with a lot of stories shared and even though she didn’t know God, I could see where He was showing up in her life. I am so glad that in the simple task of setting up a Christmas tree, God allowed me to be an ear for someone to feel heard that day.”

There are a thousand more stories like this, which you are a part of.

Sometimes God works through the big and extravagant. Often He works through the small and messy. Just like a small baby who was born into the mess of a manger, but hidden within that tiny heart was the greatest gift the world had ever known. A baby born to die, that we may have redemption. To be raised from the grave, that we may have life victorious and become His followers, and do the same. To lay down our lives to share His love with the world, in both word and deed, as we go about each day.

God bless you and yours abundantly this Christmas.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

With so much love,

From your Missions Team xoxo

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