Going Out to Preach: Australia Holy Work Update

Adelaide

Adelaide Church started to hold services on their new premises on January 13, 2023. Plans for extension work to build Religious Education classrooms have been approved by the local city council. Target completion date of the RE building is in 2025. Once completed, Adelaide Church plans to hold a dedication service in the same year, which will coincide with the National Church Conference in May 2025.

Brisbane

Bro. Henry Kuo was ordained as Dn. Stephen Kuo on October 1, 2023 in Brisbane Church. 

National Seminars

The 2023/2024 Short-Term Theological Training Course (STTTC) and National Working Youth Seminar (NWYS) were held at St Joseph’s Conference Centre in Sydney. The NWYS was held from December 24 to December 30, 2023 and STTTC was held from December 24, 2023 to January 14, 2024. There were 45 NWYS participants from Australia, 15 from New Zealand, 1 from Singapore (total 61, last year 42). There were 33 STTTC participants from Australia, 8 from New Zealand, 1 from Fiji, 2 from Fiji via Zoom (total 43, last year 51). A word of thanks to the three lecturers – Preachers Peter Shee, Habakkuk Hee, and Zephaniah Li for their labour and for the delivery of the lectures as per Education and Training Division (ETD) allocation. The NWYS theme was “Reaching Out.” Pr. Li delivered sessions on “The Church and Society.” Pr. Hee shared on “Reaching Out to Lost Sheep.” Pr. Shee shared on “Reaching Out to Preach.” ETD shared on “Wisdom Literature.” The workshop sessions were generally well prepared and presented. Feedback from the participants was positive in respect to both the lecturer sessions and peer-led workshops. 

Pastoral Trip to Papua New Guinea

Thanks be to God that after more than 5 years, Pr. Ezra Chong from the Eastern Hemisphere Department of Word Mission (EHDWM) and Bro. Wilson Liang from Brisbane were able to make a trip to Papua New Guinea from September 17 to 22, 2023. There are currently 8 members there and 2 truth seeking friends. Our members are located in 4 different cities/towns namely Port Moresby, Alotau, Lae and Goroka. During this trip, Pr. Ezra and Bro. Wilson managed to visit all the cities/towns except Goroka where the believers returned to China for holiday. Papua New Guinea is still not entirely safe to travel and it is best for foreign visitors to be escorted by the locals. It is advisable to stay indoors in the evenings. 

IA EXCO Meeting in Brisbane

On March 12, 2024, the International Assembly Executive Committee members meeting was held in Brisbane Church hosted by the Australia Coordination Board. 20 ministers from all around the world came to Brisbane for a one-day meeting and an excursion on March 13, 2024. Most ministers were later sent to other cities in Australia such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth to assist in divine work there. Some also travelled to New Zealand and Fiji to assist in divine work there.