Australia Coordination Board Report (April 2022)

2021 saw the third wave of the pandemic hitting Australia with the Delta variant in June and the Omicron variant in November. Two major states have been affected badly namely New South Wales and Victoria. However, thanks be to the grace of God that under His protection and guidance, many Australian churches managed to carry on with their divine works.

Border control in Australia is state dependent. Hence, different states in Australia have different restrictions. Churches in states like Queensland (Brisbane), Western Australia (Cannington and Dianella) and South Australia (Adelaide) were able to hold physical services throughout 2021 except for occasional lockdowns. Melbourne church started physical services in January 2022. Sydney churches started physical services in February 2022. Darwin worship point is supported with online services weekly. Gold Coast worship point started to rent a community hall for Sabbath services weekly towards the end of 2021. Fiji pioneering areas are supported with online services monthly. Pr. Zephaniah Li will start physical pastoral visits in March 2022. Thank the grace of God that we see gradual improvements in the pandemic situation.

The National Church Conference and Australia Coordination Board Exco meeting 2021 was held via ZOOM due to travel restrictions from 7 – 9 May 2021. Eld. Ming Yang Chao of the International Assembly and Eld. Joshua Phoong of the Eastern Hemisphere Department of World Mission also joined in the meetings.  

Bro. Austin Weng of Bexley Church, Sydney was proposed for deaconship during ACB Exco meeting in June 2020. Thank God on 3 April 2021, the members of Sydney churches had voted in favor of Bro. Austin to be ordained as a deacon with more than 2/3 majority. Bro. Austin will be ordained as Dn. Amos Weng on 26 February 2022. 

Adelaide Church acquired a new property on 31 December 2020 as the church grew in number. The building is currently under renovation and the first phase of renovation is expected to complete in February 2022. They plan to move in to the new building for service in March 2022.

Melbourne church had also purchased a new property on the northern side of the city in a suburb called Preston and they are going to start renovation works soon.

National Working Youth Seminar and Short Term Theological Training Course 21/22 of Australia was held via ZOOM. There were 67 NWYS and 38 STTTC full time participants from five countries namely Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. Four lecturers assisted in the work namely Pr. Peter Shee (Singapore), Pr. Barnabas Chong (Singapore), Pr. Nahum Lim (Malaysia) and Pr. Zephaniah Li (Australia). 

We pray to God for continued guidance and protection that regardless of the obstacles we face, we will always hold firm our faith in Him (Matt 24:13)