The Big Change - July 2006

Webmaster | 5 July 2006

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JOHNATHAN AND RENE CHEN
St John’s, Parramatta

A husband and wife who were both atheists when they landed on Australian shores just over four years ago endured a terrible accident to find Christ.

Johnathan and Rene Chen were riding near their home in Granville one evening in 2004 when a car hit Rene at an intersection, throwing her off her pushbike. A car had been deemed too expensive for the young couple from Harbin in Northern China who were looking for full-time work.

Rene spent the next three weeks in hospital after undergoing surgery to repair her broken ankle and skull.

The patient in the bed next to her was a Chinese man, and they struck up a conversation in Mandarin. The Chens were introduced to the man’s friends who came to visit him in hospital, Chinese minister at Parramatta’s St John’s Cathedral, Ken Tang and his wife Joyce.

Johnathan recalls: “I wondered why [the patient] was so joyful and happy in his affliction. He told us the gospel for the first time.”

The Tangs befriended the young accountant and his wife and invited them over for a meal. They also came to their house with tracts and Christian CDs.

Two months later, the Chens accepted the invitation to join the Tangs at church. They felt loved and cared for by the congregation.

Johnathan read the New Testament in Mandarin over two months and both he and Rene became convinced that God and Jesus were true.

“[Ken Tang] told us a very simple message – admit, believe and commit,” Johnathan said. “This love is unconditional and it was very valuable for us – we accepted it very quickly. It [was] so wonderful.”

The couple grew in their new faith through prayer, Bible teaching and regular fellowship. The couple had friends who would pick them up from their home in Granville every Sunday, which contributed to their sense of being made to feel at home among God’s people.

Johnathan decided he needed to better understand the Bible and enrolled in the four-year Bachelor of Divinity at Moore College this year. “I need more time to learn more,” he says.

He is the first student from mainland China to study at the college and has joined the ministry staff at St John’s as a student minister.

Meanwhile, Rene has not entirely recovered from her accident and still needs help to walk. She is attending church and is doing secretarial work for the parish.

CLERGY CHANGES

Former missionaries back to the field

Rector of St Stephen’s, Normanhurst Philip Sinden has accepted the invitation of the Archbishop of Singapore, John Chew, to be the Senior Minister of St George’s, Tanglin in the Diocese of Singapore.

Mr Sinden and his wife Judy have been appointed missionaries with CMS Australia and will conclude their ministry at St Stephen’s at the end of August.

They will move to Singapore in September to commence ministry at St George’s in the first week of October.

The move involves a return to the Diocese in which they served prior to St Stephen’s at All Saints’, Jakarta from 1988 to 1996 before coming to Normanhurst.

“This decision has not been an easy one for us, for many reasons. But we have seen God’s hand in our deliberations, and we believe that God has confirmed this to be the direction in which he is leading us at this time,” Mr Sinden said.

“Judy and I thank God for the wonderful privilege he has given us of serving [at St Stephen’s] over the past ten years.”

Located just outside the city area, St George’s offers traditional Anglican worship with three Sunday services and a wide range of ministries involving a large expatriate community.

Full-time minister for Jamberoo

The historic South Coast village of Jamberoo has its first full-time minister in nearly half a century with appointment of the Rev Glenn Farrell, 35.

Mr Farrell, formerly assistant minister at St Paul‘s, Shellharbour, will be the only Christian minister resident in the town and will run the only weekly Christian church service. The young father is excited about the opportunities for ministry to the people of Jamberoo Valley. ”My style is to be flexible in form but uncompromising on the truth of the gospel as revealed in the Bible,” he said. The church members at Jambaroo are excited about the appointment and looking forward to sharing the gospel with the village in an even bigger way.

The parish of Shellharbour is helping to fund Mr Farrell’s ministry.

Faithful servant hangs up his hat

The Rev Robert (Bob) Silberman is retiring after more than three decades of ministry.

Mr Silberman, who is married to Denise, has been rector of Eastgardens parish since 1995. Prior to that he was rector of Pagewood. During his ministry he has been Area Dean of North Canberra, and rector of the parishes of Hackett, Murrumburrah, Kameruka and Albury.

Ballantine-Jones moves to Earlwood

The Rev Marshall Ballantine-Jones becomes the new rector of St George’s, Earlwood on 31st June. He moves to the parish leadership role from his previous position of Assistant Minister ar St Clement’s, Hoxton Park

CMS workers return from Jakarta

The Rev David O’Mara with wife Cheryl and Benjamin, Joseph and Peter return to Sydney in July after serving with CMS at All Saints’ Anglican Church, Jakarta, since 2004. David will pursue a ministry position in Sydney.

GENERAL APPOINTMENTS
Anglicare invests in parish partnerships

Jenni Sawyer (nee Davies), Anglicare’s Manager for Emergency Services has been seconded for a new 12-month role as the charity’s Parish Relationship Ministry Coordinator. Mrs Sawyer will be responsible for developing strategies that will enhance partnerships between Anglicare and parishes.

BOARDS AND COUNCILS

Moore College Council
The Rev Kevin Kim, Curate-in-Charge at St Andrew’s, Strathfield has been elected to the Moore Theological College Council.

Continuing education for ministers
Rector of St Paul’s, Carlingford Bruce Hall has been elected to the Council for Continuing Education for Ministers.

King’s School
Senior Minister at St John’s, Parramatta, the Rev Bruce Morrison has been elected to the Council of the King’s School.

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