Mission at Church by the Bridge

Here at Church by the Bridge, we are committed to mission! Our fifth Core Biblical Value reads: God’s love for his world has been demonstrated through the person and works of Christ. God desires all people to be saved through faith in Christ and obedience to his Lordship.  We are committed to presenting the Lord Jesus, by word and by deed, both locally and globally. We are committed to encourage & equip, send & support God’s people in this task. 1 Tim 2:3-5, 1 Peter 3:15, Mt 9:37-38; Rom 10:14-16.

Mission is at the very heart of the God whom we serve. He has lavished His love on us in the person of Jesus, His desire is to see people turn to Him in repentance and faith and be saved; he has entrusted us with the gospel message to declare and to demonsrate; His Spirit has been at work through the ages to send the gospel to the ends of the earth (yes, even Australia!)

So if we love Jesus and if we are utterly convinced that ‘salvation is found in no other name’ (Acts 4), then we will have a heart for the lost from ‘every tribe, people, nation and language’. Unlinke 100 years ago, today it seems that the growth of Christianity in the developing world and Eastern countries has led to a passion for these people to send out their own missionaries! That should greatly challenge many of us – most of whom have biblical knowledge, financial resources and ease of transport that far outweighs those people. Let’s pray as a church that God would raise up many gospel workers from among us who will have a heart for the lost and the boldness to leave Sydney to preach Christ. Here at Church by the Bridge, mission falls into 3 areas:

1) Overseas/interstate mission. The support (financial and prayerful) of mission partners in different parts of the world. This committee is chaired by Russell & Naomi de Vries and has representatives from each service. Our current mission partners are:

• Kenny & Rose Lloyd (with Jenna): Student ministry in Port Elizabeth, South Africa (8am & 9.45am)
• Morgan & Anna Powell (with Annika): Leadership training & discipleship in Ecuador (9.45am)
• Mark & Annette Bennett (with Alleytia, Lewis, Martin & Dylan): Fistula Hospital and midwifery college in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (5pm)
• Bruce & Jodi Chapman (with Matthew, Laura, Felicity & Oliver): Youth ministy in North Territory (Saturday)
• Elisa Yule: Occupational therapy in Anandaban Hospital, Nepal (Saturday)
• Andrew & Stephanie Browning (with William & Christopher): Fistula Hospital in Bahirdah, Ethiopia (6.45pm)
• Voice of the Martyrs: supporting 16 prisoners and their families who have been persecuted for their faith in Vietnam (6.45pm)
• Overseas Council Australia: Supporting a faculty member (currently Peter Thien) at Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (5pm)

b) Local outreach. Promoting the gospel in word and deed in our local Kirribilli community. This includes courses such as Simply Christianity, and events such as ‘I Heart Kirribilli’, ‘Fair Trade Markets’, Carols under the Bridge. Hayley Neal heads up this wing of mission.

c) Social Action: Church help seeks to meet the practical needs of members of our church family, while various other ministries seek to care for those in our community and beyond (e.g. James Milson Retirement Village visits, Community and Greenway Lunches, Walk & Talk, Hope Street breakfasts). Individuals are also encouaged to be involved in ministries such as Kairos, Food Van, etc. Jane McCullough heads up the Social Action ministry.

I do pray we as church would keep taking every opportunity to seek the lost, preach the gospel, care for the needy and honour our Saviour.

With love in Christ
Paul Dale (Senior Pastor)