One further thing our Assistant Minister suggested is that we could put a advert postcard into the sample bag for whatever Christmas outreach activities ECOM is running in the city mid-week at lunch time etc.

Thanks Sandy,

That’s very helpful and encouraging. Thanks too for the link to Stuart Robinson’s article - very well presented. There sure is a lot of great material in the Mission Thinking section.

Hi all,

I have had some enquiries from churches asking about printing some of our A5 poster designs to hand out as flyers at their Christmas services.

We are offering the art for free for churches to use as they wish, but are also happy to find a printer for those who want to avoid the hassle.

If anyone else is interested please let me know. The more that we get printed the cheaper the per unit cost for everyone.

cheers
JH

Even though it ain’t Sydney, our church is hosting an outreach for men tomorrow evening. Pat Alexander, the composer of the song, “Duncan,” made famous by Slim Dusty, is giving his testimony at a local pub in Wagga.

I’ve heard it and it packs a punch for Jesus. I pray that many men who hear Pat will be challenged to make Pat’s Lord and Saviour their own.

Angela,

Sounds like a great night is planned for the guys. Could someone ask Pat if he has considered releasing a new version of “… a beer with Duncan” with words like ...

“ I’ld rather have a walk with Jesus, cause Jesus is my mate… “ ?

Will be interested to read some feedback after the event.

ps I have just found Pat’s background here:

http://www.mushroommusic.com.au/songwriters/songwriter.asp?id=359

Here’s a good article that offers help for those wanting to improve their church’s communications :

http://your.sydneyanglicans.net/mission/missionthinking/theres_an_elephant_in_the_room/

( includes 5 TIPS on how to design a better Christmas brochure )

WANT MORE?

FEVA is holding a conference on November 25 called “ Promoting the Word through Image and Text “ to help churches communicate more effectively. Details: www.feva.org

There is also a great world views chart in a pdf file at
www.feva.org

that could be useful in discussion.

PRAYER REQUEST!!

Next week will be taking life in hands as try to talk to principal.

Will be asking principal permission to attend Year 6 Scripture class at my public school (not sure if paid classroom teachers are allowed to sit in on SRE classes).

Want to be in Scripture class (final class of year is 28/11) so can share testimony with Year 6.  Has come to my attention that even though we all went on camp together and I know them and am rather fond of them (even when they do not behave), they are unsaved.  See this as only chance to share what I believe about Jesus with them as after the 21st Dec. they all depart for numerous high schools in other places.

Please pray:
* God will open a door for His message, that I may proclaim the mystery of Christ
* God will work in my principal to give me permission to sit in
* God will give me time to speak to the regular Scripture teacher about sharing my testimony
.....all (of course) if it be His will

* and pray that I will be accepting of and submissive to God’s will, whatever the outcome.

Give thanks:
* that God wants all people to be saved and not to perish but to come to repentance and knowledge of the truth
* that even if this plan ultimately fails, God’s word will not come back to Him empty but accomplish what He desires in the world & achieve the purpose for which He sent it
* that God loves us all, sent His Son to die for all, & takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked
* that He is sovereign & everything is under His control.

Sorry you haven’t heard much from me.  This my first year doing Term 4 reports and so very busy!  If worried, pray I’ll be a Mary over a Martha (Luke 10).

See you all in a fortnight or so...hopefully!

And thanks for praying.

TZ.

Tia,

I have prayed that God will open a door of opportunity for you. I can certainly inform you that there is no barrier to a regular class room teacher sitting in on a SRE class, so long as he or she has RFF at that time (and the SRE teacher is happy for you to sit in, of course).

At a local school here, there is a part time teacher who also teaches a SRE class for us on a day when she has no lessons.

I have no idea about your school, but if it were I, I would politely share with the Principal that Christmas is really important to me culturally and that I’d like to share that with those in the Anglican (or whatever it’s designated) Year 6 SRE class, since you;ve got to know the kids, and that the SRE teacher has invited you.

Assuming you are granted permission, and your budget can stretch that far, could you consider giving each child in the SRE class a tract like Who will be king? (2 Ways to Live for kids) - see Or Kel Richards’ Gumtree Gully yarns also based on 2WTL? See .

Or what about Kel Richards’ The Aussie Bible (Well, bits of it anyway!), which tells the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection from the Gospels in Aussie vernacular? See .

The Bible Society also has various Christmas tracts written for kids each year.

At any rate, I pray you can connect with them via the SRE class.

Anybody know of a source for a good christmas gospel tract in Chinese?

[quote author="John sandeman"]Anybody know of a source for a good christmas gospel tract in Chinese?

Hi John,

I don’t know the ‘quality’, but I imagine that what the Bible League sells/distributes would be of a high standard.

Cheers,
Andrew

A day or so ago, I wrote

PRAYER REQUEST!!

Next week will be taking life in hands as try to talk to principal.

Will be asking principal permission to attend Year 6 Scripture class at my public school (not sure if paid classroom teachers are allowed to sit in on SRE classes).

Want to be in Scripture class (final class of year is 28/11) so can share testimony with Year 6.  Has come to my attention that even though we all went on camp together and I know them and am rather fond of them (even when they do not behave), they are unsaved.  See this as only chance to share what I believe about Jesus with them as after the 21st Dec. they all depart for numerous high schools in other places.

Please pray:
* God will open a door for His message, that I may proclaim the mystery of Christ
* God will work in my principal to give me permission to sit in
* God will give me time to speak to the regular Scripture teacher about sharing my testimony
.....all (of course) if it be His will

* and pray that I will be accepting of and submissive to God’s will, whatever the outcome.

Give thanks:
* that God wants all people to be saved and not to perish but to come to repentance and knowledge of the truth
* that even if this plan ultimately fails, God’s word will not come back to Him empty but accomplish what He desires in the world & achieve the purpose for which He sent it
* that God loves us all, sent His Son to die for all, & takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked
* that He is sovereign & everything is under His control.

Sorry you haven’t heard much from me.  This my first year doing Term 4 reports and so very busy!  If worried, pray I’ll be a Mary over a Martha (Luke 10).

See you all in a fortnight or so...hopefully!

And thanks for praying.

Hi Sandy,

Thank you for your encouraging e-mail.  Don’t know about the tracts or books...but I have a CD I could play if there’s time.

Update on situation:

* Principal has said it is fine for me to sit in!
* Scripture teacher seemed thrilled and excited that I was a Christian and wanted to share about Jesus & Christmas with the kids.

So give thanks that God has been merciful & answered prayer thus far.

HOWEVER...I have not exactly said to principal that I myself will be speaking to the kids about what Christmas means for me.

Prayer for courage and clarity and the door to be kept open would be appreciated from anyone!

In Christ,
TZ.

Recently I posted :

FEVA is holding a conference on November 25 called “ Promoting the Word through Image and Text “ to help churches communicate more effectively. Details: www.feva.org

Just wanted to report back that it was a really great day. Seemed like near 300 were in attendance. Folk came from various denominations all over Sydney - some even travelled from Canberra and Tamworth. Many churches sent several participants. This was their first conference and plans are under way for next year. The presenters were quite proficient in their areas of advertising, web design, publicity, powerpoint, copyright etc.

This event is filling a need in the Christian church to help us better promote the gospel effectively to the wider community - and to be more effective and professional within our churches and church gatherings.

If you want to be informed about next year’s event, just send your details to FEVA. Did anyone else attend on Saturday ?

My Christmas handouts are selling well but still got about 500 on my office floor to get rid of at the very competitive price of $19 for 100 copies. They are on thick quality glossy artpaper. Churches would not be able to produce any similar at this cheap costing.

It includes gospel explanations by John Dickson and Dominic Steele, Christmas themed testimonies and an apologetic story by Michael Jensen.

Check out the PDF

Tia Zheng, freed from the slavery of school reporting at last, with a follow-up news item from Blacktown in the stuffy bushfire-smoky west of Sydney:

SRE drop-in went well - never got around to telling the principal what I was going to talk to the kids about...but still got to tell them!

Used Colin Buchanan’s song “Little By Little” to talk with the Year 6 kids about how we need Jesus as our Saviour and Lord & the difference He makes in my life - new life now - & the hope I have for the future because of Him.  Tried as much as possible to present the gospel of Christ accurately & even with a little humour…

May God work through this nervous little messenger of His gospel to bring glory to His name through turning the hearts of lost children to Him by His Spirit!