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PEACE AT MAIDSTONE AUSTRALIA
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Cleansing of the land
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PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS:
[email protected]
A regional pastors and church leaders gathering was held at Maidstone Family Church on 20 May 1999. This was led by Pastor Rodney Minniecon with his wife Glenda from Townsville, Queensland. There was a supporting team from Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales as well as Victoria. Carl and Karen Fechner from Cleansing Stream Ministries coordinated the event.
Pastor Rodney Minniecon has a mission from God to address the important issue of cleansing Australia from the injustices of the past. He is an evangelist with a healing and deliverance gifting. He led a very powerful and significant event with Aboriginal spiritual leaders in accordance with Biblical instructions.
We read in Deuteronomy 21: 1 - 9 how the elders of the city made atonement for the blood on the land.
Led by God's Holy Spirit the gathering sought God's healing for the land, restoration and blessings upon Maidstone.
On behalf of the people of Maidstone, and as spiritual leader of the congregation, Pastor Andrew McMillan - a white male migrant - recognised and confessed to the past wrongs against the aboriginal peoples and sought forgiveness. This was followed by confessions for wrong racial and gender attitudes by many present, including aborigines, who sought forgiveness for wrong attitudes. During this emotional time healing and reconciliation took place. On behalf of all Aboriginal peoples and with the authority of the spiritual guardians of the land - Pastor Minniecon granted forgiveness.
The unity that followed reconciliation amongst the people present led worship to a new level for everyone. Then followed the washing of hands; which led into a very moving enactment of Communion; followed by the blessing of the land.
Carl Fechner spoke to the gathering about the needs of the area and those gathered were extremely generous as they gave towards the outreach of the congregation. Over $800 was raised for outreach work.
Please pray for the work of reconciliation and cleansing of Australia. That the ministry of Pastor Rodney Minniecon may be effective and that God's Holy Spirit may move in a powerful way in the hearts and minds of all Australians.
Pray too for the work of Cleansing Stream Ministries and the work being done by Carl and Karen Fechner that it may reach into congregations across Victoria and bless the whole Body of Christ.
The photograph shows Pastors Andrew and Rodney sharing the pulpit at maidstone Family Church.
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SHARING TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIP
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Seeking connections in the search for an Australian identity was one aspect of the ecumenical workshop with indigenous people.
This workshop was sponsored jointly by:
Aboriginal and Islander Commission (National Council of Churches in Australia);
Australian Theological Forum;
and Nungalinya College in Darwin.
Workshops explored issues of culture, spirituality, customary law, social justice, values and world views, kinship, communication and networking.
Pastor Andrew McMillan attended the 1999 Workshop from 21 - 28 August.
Please pray for all participants for understanding and for the unfolding of divine guidance through God's Holy Spirit as these significant issues are dealt with following on from the Workshop.
In September Pastor Andrew was invited to attend an ecumenical gathering of pastors and church leaders on issues related to churches being from many ethnic backgrounds. Some use the word multicultural but even tyhe choice of words to describe our great and rich diversity are matters of debate. Nevertheless the conference was informative and establshed informal networks as well as providing input about what has been happening.
The photograph is of the gathering at Nungalinya College in Darwin attended by pastor Andrew in August.
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EMPOWERMENT
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We advertised for people to come and meet an ex-truckie who is a down-to-earth guy with a vital message for Australians of all backgrounds. In May Dennis Payne came with his wife Doris to lead the first of our sunday evening Friendship Celebrations. Doris always brings compassionate understanding to her work amongst women and in recovery work for those who have experienced abuse. People came to meet Dennis and Doris for themselves.
Evangelist Dennis led a great gathering. Geoff Farmer, Pastor of Diggers Rest Bread of Life Christian Fellowship, led the singing with great gusto and the congregation thrilled to the vitality of the occasion. This was the first sunday evening meeting for several years and was bright, uplifting and encouraging for everyone present. Visitors encouraged the congregation and the outsiders who responded to invitations, were blessed during the special prayer and counselling session which followed the meal.
In June we held the second of our monthly Friendship Celebrations. Our guest was Arch Stevenson a well known Gospel singer from Melbourne's western suburbs. This gathering was a great time of praise and music interspersed with personal testimonies. Testimonies were from Arch Stevenson, Mrs Yr Ham (from Iceland), and Geoff Farmer. These testimonies revealed how God's Holy Spirit transforms the lives of ordinary everyday people and how they change for the better as a result.
Praise God! Praise Jesus Christ! Praise God's Holy Spirit!!
Maidstone Family Church is in Revival. Pray for us as we battle the reactions!!!!
God bless you our readers too.
In July we held an Empowerment Mission conducted with Stauros Ministries.
On Friday 16 July our Friendship Club held a `bring and share' meal and enjoyed some games and plenty of fellowship.
Saturday 17 July saw the special Healing Meeting on the afternoon with a small attendance. But wow has God moved powerfully through those present.
In the evening we held a family celebration meal with fun and games for all ages.
Sunday saw the really serious issues dealt with. Doris Payne, our special guest speaker spoke about the needs women, in particular, have to address all sorts of abuse issues in their lives. Eva Pearce gave a powerful personal testimony on what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in her life.
Sunday evening Dennis Payne dealt with the issue of Loneliness and how this can be overcome.
This was a very significant weekend in the life of our church and marks a moving forward in outreach activities.
Our next major event was on Sunday 19 September 1999 when we had Jeff Weston from Adelaide join us with Jack Edwards from, Melbourne. He helped us to focus on missions overseas.
On Sunday 17 October 1999 we hold our next bring and share evening meal commencing at 5 pm. Our guest will be Ms Kerrie Handasyde from Coldstream in Melbourne. Kerrie was a youth delegate to the recent church leaders world gathering in Africa. As a young Australian it will be interesting to hear her views and learn something about world church issues and how the churches seek to work together.
Last updated 1 December 1999 AD.
The photograph shows our chapel.
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