Parish in Focus - St Thomas’, Auburn

St Thomas’, Auburn contains two congregations: an English language service attended by around 25 people and a Mandarin language service attended by around 75 people.

“Our hope is that through this we can double our numbers in the next five years.”

The Rev David Zhang has been the curate-in-charge of St Thomas’ since 2005, however when he arrived as assistant minister in 1998 the church did not have a Mandarin service.

“I was supported by Anglicare to do Mandarin church planting,” he says.

Mr Zhang was not given any core group to start with so he started up English classes, a kids club and other outreach work.

“We just shared the gospel with many people and soon grew from nobody here to a handful, then a dozen and kept growing,” he says.

Tertiary Outreach

Despite its location in the Western region, the church is now involved in university student ministry to Mandarin speaking overseas students at Macquarie University.

“Together with the Rev Hooi Wan Cheng at St Peter’s, Hornsby we are reaching out to the students on campus,” Mr Zhang says.

Baptism first

St Thomas’, Auburn includes a Chinese congregations and Bishop Yong conducted what is believed to be the first confirmation service entirely in Mandarin in Sydney Diocese at a St Thomas’ church service last month where 20 people were confirmed.

The Rev David Zhang says he values the consultancy work of Bishop Yong.

“We have been very enlightened and challenged by the focus he has given us. At Auburn,
we want to train 20 to 25 lay leaders in the next two years by commencing a two-year discipleship and leadership program next year.”

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