Concern Australia

Concern Australia is a Christian mission, advocacy and welfare organisation. this is the mission organisation that I'm going to be with. It is situated in Melbourne. The many components of Concern Australia are all inter-related and inter-dependent and based on a strong belief that mission and community must go hand in hand.

Concern Australia is a movement based on the beliefs and values focused on changing the world with the love of Christ by making the gospel relevant to the ordinary person, and creating a church community to care for them.

Concern Australia strives to care for social need and provide an appropriate response to a hurting world.

There is a deep concern and purpose is for those people who traditionally have not been familiar with the established church. We genuinely aim to reach out in love to such people, offering them not only the transformation of lifestyle which only Jesus Christ can give, but also warmth and love and practical assistance through our whole community as well. Concern Australia has a concern for all types of people, irrespective of their age or cultural background.

It was founded by Rev Dr Kevin John Smith, and it exists to advocate and serve the marginalised, the poor and rejected and disadvantaged. It is a real honour that CA has agreed for me to go on my sabbatical with them. I'm very grateful indeed. 

Blogsite Up and Running

The site is now up and running. The last thing to do was to set up Google Calendar to work with the Itinerary Schedule. This has now been done so that anybody can access the details even if they are not a user of google. I'm very pleased with the result. I'm hoping that this site will be a help to those who feel that they want to pray for me on my journey to the other side of the world. I will be posting every day with information and with photographs, perhaps even video via the YOUTUBE facility. There will be much to see as the days go by. There are only a few things left to do now. Praying that the funding will come in. Everything is paid for but it would be nice for something to offset the family budget.

Sabbatical Plans - Phase Two

Phase Two :- 14 February - 28 February 2011
For two weeks (14-28 February) I’ll be working with Sean Stillman, who is an Authorised “Concern Australia/ St Martin’s community church pastor working in Swansea UK. Sean runs a church plant called Zac’s Place. Sean is also the International vice president of God’s Squad CMC. Sean also works in other cities across the UK, penetrating and connecting with those on the margins and the families behind this sub culture. I will also be working for another two weeks (1-15 March) with Howie Pickering the Pastor of God’s Garage in Stockport UK. Howie is the President of the UK chapter of God’s Squad. God’s Garage is a place for the broken and damaged from this scene, from tattoo clad rockers to ex-drug users. Howie has been working in this scene for over 15 years. Howie also works in many other towns and cities in the uk in his capacity of UK president of God’s Squad.Goals: 1. Observe and reflect on how Sean/Zac’s place and Howie/ God’s Garage connect and encounter the Marginalised in Swansea and Stockport and in other area’s in the UK, reflect on the general and specific mission principles involved in Sean and Howie’s work. (ie, Hospitality) 2. From the perspective of Sean and Howie’s work, mission and ministry and combining this with my own work  and what I have learned from the visit to God’s Squad CMC Australia and St Martin’s community church - wrestle with the question “What is the language, customs and culture of those who live there life on the edge and what kind of church planting/mission is needed in this subculture”? 3. Write a report based on all my reflections and observations in Australia and in the UK in order to promote further engagement and encounter within this subculture in the future, Combined with a guiding document on Engaging with the Language, Customs, Traditions and Culture of this particular mission field.

Sabbatical Plans - Phase One.

Phase One: - 7 January - 4 February 2011.
Travel from the UK to Melbourne Australia to visit for one month with St Martin’s Community church and God’s Squad CMC Australia. Goals: 1. Observe and reflect on St Martin’s and God’s Squad CMC Australia’s approach to mission among the marginalised by accompanying the Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Tasmanian, chapters on club runs and reflecting on their ethos of hospitality and friendship, with a view to contextualising this for mission and ministry within the UK.  2. Spend time with the pastors of St Martins community church to observe and reflect on how pastoral care works in this sub-culture among the broken and damaged with a view to contextualising this for mission and ministry within the UK. . 3. observe and reflect on other  “Concern Australia” initiatives and projects in other fields such as schools programmes, prison work, mechanics and engineering apprenticeship schemes, that are presently run for people who have been part of this viloent sub-culture, with a view to contextualising this for mission and ministry within the UK.