Happenings August 2009

HAPPENINGS

News of churches of Christ in Australia–August 2009

Welcome to Happenings for this month!  We appreciate those who regularly send us news—thanks!  We usually don’t publish personal news, but sometimes we make exceptions!  If you want to send information please email it to tedpaull@hotmail.com, or mail it to P O Box 41 NORTH RYDE NSW 1670 or ring (02) 9888 9664, (02) 9878 3008 or (02) 9878 1078.
Ted Paull
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Kurrajong Baptism
At the Kurrajong (NSW) congregation, Carlie Sherwood was baptized on July 31 after studying with her mother Esther (who was baptized in February) and Don Males.

Southwest Baptism
News from Southwest (Campbelltown, NSW) church is that Rachel Burns was baptised into Christ on Saturday 11th July, at Hurstville public swimming pool.

Gold Coast Activities
The Gold Coast church which meets at Nerang (Qld) plans a congregational retreat at a resort on Saturday August 15 followed by a special youth day on Sunday August 16 at the Nerang Bicentenary Community Centre with Craig Peters from Sydney and Daniel McDonald from Toowoomba as speakers.  Contact: Frank Gnanam (07) 5529 7743 or fgnanam@people.net.au.

MSOBS Lectureship
The lectureship on the theme: “God’s Community in Our Community!” during July 22-26 was a tremendous time of fellowship in study, worship, discussion, conversation and eating!
Brethren from 18 Australian churches as well as overseas visitors attended.
Youth & Young-at-Heart
Michael VanderLaan of the Blacktown church presented a lesson on Sunday July 26 when about 75 attended.
This Month’s speaker at 5.30pm on August 30 will be Christopher Johnson on the topic of “Staying Qualified for the Prize”.

Scarecrow Outreach
The Kurrajong (NSW) congregation plans another outreach effort during the community’s Scarecrow Festival on October 24-25.  Brethren from other congregations are invited to help the church spread the Word in the Kurrajong community on that week-end.

Bushfire Relief
By the end of July churches and individuals brethren around Australia had contributed $10,301 for assistance to victims of the February bushfires in Victoria!

A Mentor Makes 102!
On July 11, Sam Sampson, member of the South Coast church in Albany, WA turned 102.  John Wood of Perth wrote these comments about his mentor:
”Last time I was in Albany I read the local paper - like I usually do when I visit Mum and there on the front page was an article about Sam. You see Sam celebrated his 102nd birthday this year!
Let's put this in perspective - when I first met Sam I was 19 years old, just back from a year or two in University. I was full of ideas and passion for the future and often a lot more besides. I was a little wild at times and in need of a strong hand.  Sam was in his early 70's at this time and we soon struck up a friendship - as differing as our ages were.

Common Bonds
Our first common bond was our admiration for old machines - particularly cars. Sam always had some old car he had bought and was driving around. He was a real bush mechanic and could fix anything and even at 70+ was still very handy with a welder.
Our second bond was our Christian faith. I had just become a member of a church in Perth and was also very passionate about this part of my life. Again I was quite reckless in the way I shared my new found beliefs and at times rubbed people up the wrong way. Sam on the other hand was gentle and caring and people were drawn to him and readily listened to his soft words of encouragement. I learned to temper my enthusiasm and to show a little human kindness in my faith.
Sam had a passion to support the church in Albany and as a pensioner he had little cash to spare. His solution was to build stuff - particularly trailers.  He used to buy old banged-up trailers bring them home and repair them and then sell them! The money he made he gave to the church!

A Family Link
I spent many hours with Sam during my summer holidays and the year break I took from University. I also brought my bride to be to his home,she stayed with Sam and Em at the time. Margit had come to Albany with her mum for a holiday and I saw this as a chance to spend time with her. We had been in touch with letters for a few months at this point and I was already pressing her to think about a life together.
I have over the many decades since brought my daughters to visit as they grew up from babies. Ron Bainbridge (Sam's Son-In-Law) married Margit and I in 1981, buried my father, grandfather and grandmother and has also been a great comfort and friend in all these years.

Now I am 50 and Sam is 102!
So you can see that from those early days as a teenager the influence of Sam on my life has been subtle but deep. I have many happy memories of Saturday afternoons listening to music or sharing a cuppa and cake. Unusual for a smart, know-it-all teenager from the big smoke, yet critical to my surviving those wild years!
Every teenager should be so blessed to trip across a wise and patient mentor like Sam and I will make it my ambition to be available for the teenagers of my later years as well.
Happy Birthday Sam and thank you for many years of friendship and encouragement!”
John Wood

CALENDAR
August 8th
Ladies Day @ Thornside, Brisbane
August 16th
Youth Day @Nerang, Gold Coast, Qld
August 21st-22nd
Ladies Retreat @ Devonport, Tasmania
August 22nd
Teen Event @ Macquarie, Sydney
August 30th
Youth & Young at Heart @ Warringah, Sydney
October 16th-18th
Western District Lectureship @ Blacktown, Sydney
October 24th-25th Scarecrow Festival Outreach @ Kurrajong, NSW
November 5th-8th
Saving Light Series @ Heidelberg West, Melbourne
2010
March 1st-14th
Campaign @ Toowoomba, Qld