Energising Hope for Mission

Energising Hope for Mission

Mission Development Minister Rev. Maggie de Leeuw of Far North Coast Presbytery, sought support from Rev. Jan Reeve, who is the Consultation Coordinator of the Mission & Property Project Team in finding resources and support for Life and Witness Consultations in May 2017. Maggie shares her reflections on the way this work has energised and given hope to congregations in the Far North Coast of NSW.

The resources and support for Life and Witness consultations have been a God-given tool in the life of our Presbytery. We have completed just over half of the congregation consultations to date. Each of the congregations have responded in a very positive way to the consultations and embraced the ongoing journey that has resulted from participating in the consultations.

The data gathering has helped to create a picture of the spiritual life and witness of the congregation. This included such things as its missional aspects, having a clearer understanding of how the church councils are functioning, which included time management and financial acumen. The anonymous member surveys have been invaluable in the process. The surveys have helped to inform the direction of the consultation discussions with the leaders, opening up areas for exploration that otherwise may not have taken place.

The resources enabled us to grasp the hopes and dreams for the future of the congregations. It has also helped to identify the obstacles that were preventing the congregations from actualising their hearts desire to move forward in their spiritual life and witness. This has led to opportunities for the Presbytery to engage
in workshops with the leaders of the congregations on areas of leadership, mission and spiritual development. It has created opportunities to lead special services of healing and reconciliation.

In some cases, it has helped smaller congregations to explore combining together, to share their resources as one, rather than struggling on as separate congregations. This is allowing for new expressions in ministry. It has helped to clarify and bring into focus the central call of the Gospel — the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, and what that looks like.

Jesus clearly said that He will build His church! However, as members of His church we have not always recognised how to live out the Great Commission. In response, our Presbytery has introduced a tool called EvangelismSHIFT, which is helping to create a clear understanding of being a ‘sent’ people. Together with the resources and support for Life and Witness Consultations, this tool is enabling the Presbytery to go through a paradigm shift from ‘doing’ church, to becoming Kingdom builders.

As a Presbytery, we can sense a palpable stirring of renewed life and witness of the Spirit taking place in our midst that is creating a new energy and a real sense of hope for the future. I would highly recommend the Life and Witness Consultations throughout our Synod, to gauge the pulse of the church and recognise the Spirit’s life-giving steps towards becoming a Kingdom-building people.

Rev. Maggie De Leeuw

For information on these resources contact Jan Reeve on  janr@nswact.uca.org.au 

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1 thought on “Energising Hope for Mission”

  1. Barbara Nowland Secretary Kingscliff Uniting church

    Both Rev Maggie De Leeuw and Rev Robert Griffith leadership has breathed new life into our Northern Rivers Presbytery. Each time I attend a Presbytery meeting now I feel energised. It is such a delight to be present.

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