5 ways to pray for the Chapman family

Those of you who are part of our Saturday night congregation will know Bruce and Jodi Chapman, our mission partners in the Northern Territory. Bruce and Jodi work with Bush Church Aid, a society committed to reaching Australia for Christ. BCA’s priority is to bring the gospel to people living in regional and remote parts of Australia, and to build up the church in those places.

When they got married in 1997, Bruce and Jodi had talked about serving God outside of Sydney. After studying at Moore College and getting a bit of experience in a church at Eastwood, Bruce was offered a ministry position in Darwin. Bruce became the Northern Territory’s Youth Minister. If that sounds like a big task, it is! The goal of his work is to encourage, support and build youth and leaders so that they are growing in their relationship with Jesus and reaching out to those not yet in a relationship with Jesus.

Bruce is based part-time at St Peter’s Nightcliff. Nightcliff is a northern suburb of Darwin with a young, transient population. Bruce’s role is to grow the youth ministry there and use it as a model for youth ministry around the territory. St Peter’s is one of five Anglican churches in Darwin, and Bruce encourages the youth in those churches to be connected to one another. He’s also involved in supporting youth ministry in churches outside of Darwin, and encouraging indigenous Christians to be the main teachers of young Aboriginal people.

Jodi is involved in coordinating the Playgroup at St Peters and has been encouraged to see new families coming along this year. Bruce and Jodi have four children: Matthew is 9 and enjoys cross country running and cricket. Laura is 7 and loves gymnastics and Auskick, as does Felicity who is 5. Their youngest, Oliver, is 3 years old. Please be praying for the Chapman family in their ministry:

- Give thanks for the Diocesan Conference in June, at which all the NT Anglican churches came together. Pray that discipleship and mission in the NT will increase as a result of the conference.
- Pray for the four indigenous camps in different communities happening in July and for lasting effects in the lives of young people.
- Pray for Bruce as he juggles responsibilities at St Peter’s Nightcliff, diocesan youth responsibilities and other diocesan work.
- Pray for relationships and opportunities to share the gospel at Playgroup.
- Pray for Matthew, Laura, Felicity and Oliver - that they will continue to grow in love and knowledge of Jesus and be keen to serve him.

If you’re interested in seeing what life and ministry in the NT is like, a mission trip to Darwin is being planned for 7-16 October 2010. It will be a chance to help with the Youth Megasurge conference in Darwin and to spend time with the Chapmans. If you’d like more details, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

With love in Christ,
Stephanie Menear