The Big Change - August 2006

Webmaster | 1 August 2006

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HUI RONG LIN
St Paul’s, Carlingford

Hui Rong Lin has started a new life in Christ but is unable to start a new life with the man she married last month.

The softly spoken 25-year-old has spent the last two and a half years at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in South-West Sydney, having sought asylum in Australia after escaping harassment from the authorities in her native China.

Just hours after her wedding to Iranian-born Amir Mesrinejad at St Paul’s, Carlingford on July 1, the bride was taken back to the detention centre.

Her husband Amir, a former Muslim who fled likely torture in Iran, was granted his freedom in September after five years of detention. He is now a permanent Australian resident and works as a ministry trainee at St Paul’s.

The couple both became Christians while in detention through reading the Bible with St Paul’s lay workers Stewart and Helen Binns.

Hui Rong, who was brought up in a non-Christian family, gave her life to Christ just 18 months ago.

However, Amir said he is very concerned for his new wife’s mounting stress levels.

“The long time in detention has affected her mentally and really broken her down,” he said. “She is carrying the stress of others, sharing in their stress.”

Hui Rong’s appeal for refugee status is currently before the Federal Court.

“There’s no reason to keep her in there. It is a waste of taxpayers’ money,” Amir said.

Amir believes God is working through Hui Rong’s suffering. She is becoming more Christ-like in her new-found faith and is putting other people before herself.

“She has been very strong, considering her age. Since her re-birth she has become a different person,” he said.

While Amir admits he is ‘as devastated as she is’ at their predicament, ‘we have put our trust in the Lord’.

“I am confident that [he] is in control, and I know he always makes good out of bad situations,” he said.

Southern Cross was unable to talk to Hui Rong because journalists are not allowed to communicate with detainees.

CLERGY CHANGES

Move from Roseville to Newcastle
Rector of Roseville East, the Rev Lawrence (Laurie) Davies, is taking up an assistant minister position in the parish of Camden Haven, Newcastle Diocese. He leaves the parish this month after 17 years in Sydney, nearly eight years at Roseville East. “The invitation to become the third staff member is an opportunity to play a part in an exciting stage of parish growth. It also means having time for reordering the care of a family member with dementia and for reading and perhaps some writing,” he said.

Mountains pastor retires
Rector of Blackheath, the Rev Ian Mears is retiring from 3 September. Mr Mears was ordained in 1971 and has served in the parish of Seaforth, the faculty of Moore College and various diocesan bodies, including the Board of Education and the Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation. He was director of the Continuing Education for Ministers (now Ministry Training and Development) from 1990 until 2002.

GENERAL APPOINTMENTS

New Principal for Roseville College
From Term Four Roseville College will have a new principal, Briony Scott. Dr Scott has most recently served as Head of Senior School at Oxford Falls Grammar School, and has taught at Peninsular Anglican Boys’ School (now part of St Luke’s Grammar School).

New CEO for Hope Healthcare
Mark Newton has been appointed as Hope Healthcare’s new CEO. An economist by training, Mr Newton has a career health services and hospital manager background in various senior management roles. He is a member of St Andrew’s, Lane Cove.

VALE

John Mason 1917-2006
The Rev John Mason passed away on July 9. He was 90. He served in parishes such as Berrima/Moss Vale, Northbridge, Mowbray and Springwood and held positions at Shore School, Trinity Grammar, St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Blue Mountains Grammar and the Diocesan Board of Education.

Leon Morris 1914-2006
The Rev Canon Dr Leon Morris, former Principal of Ridley College, Melbourne and internationally recognised Bible scholar, passed away on July 24, aged 92. Born in Lithgow and ordained in Sydney, his ministry also included work for the Bush Church Aid Society and with churches in Sydney and Melbourne. He is survived by his brother, Max. His wife Mildred predeceased him in April 2003.

VACANT PARISHES
Parishes and Provisional Parishes, vacant or becoming vacant as at 19 July 2006.

GEORGES RIVER REGION
Bankstown*, Canterbury with Hurlstone Park*, Lakemba*, Oatley West, Panania, Sadleir*

NORTH SYDNEY REGION
Eastwood, Lavender Bay, Normanhurst, Roseville East

SOUTH SYDNEY REGION
Cooks River, Eastgardens*, Pyrmont*, South Sydney*, Strathfield and Homebush, Summer Hill*

WESTERN REGION
Blackheath, Cambridge Park, Emu Plains

WOLLONGONG REGION
Austinmer, Caringbah, Glenquarie*, Jannali

* denotes provisional/Archbishop appointments

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