Mt. Magnet Mission
In September 2002 a team from St. Stephen's went to Mt. Magnet and some
surrounding towns for a 8 day mission.
Here are some pictures from the activities. (Click the thumbnails to enlarge).
Allan and Mellita Bates' prayer letter issued after the mission sums things up:
Things to thank God for:
1. We give thanks to God for His work amongst the mission team from Normanhurst and in our communities from September 7 to 16.
10 children gave their lives to Christ in Mt. Magnet as a result of the
team's work in RI seminars and the after school kid's club. (40 to 50 children
attended the kid's club each day, a record for Mt. Magnet.) 1 teenager,
Christine, has either dedicated her life to Christ or is not far from the
Kingdom of God after the Highschool RI seminars and fashion and drama workshops
for youth. (Around 20 youth attended the workshops each day and heard the
gospel clearly proclaimed.) 1 adult is coming to speak to Allan and Mellita
this week to ask them questions about how to become a Christian as a result of
a home dialogue meeting. Local Christians were encouraged not only by the
presence of the team but the team also put on encouragement evenings (Meal,
Bible study, etc) for we the Christians who have chosen to live and work in
both Meekatharra and Mt. Magnet. The gospel was clearly and simply presented at
5 church services held throughout the parish. The outside of the church in Mt.
Magnet was painted and looks great.
Apparently there was no crime in Mt. Magnet during the 10 days of mission.
Allan spoke to one member of our community who said, "I'm really thinking
of writing a letter to your bishop to tell him what a great job you are
doing!" The team members themselves were challenged, encouraged and
overwhelmed by the openness of people to the Gospel in this region and became
aware of the extremely limited human resources for gospel ministry not only in
this parish, but also in other outback and country areas. One or two members of
the local Roman Catholic Church were encouraged by their children's growth in
faith during the week, whilst others were encouraged to look at ways in which
they too can reach out to the community with the Gospel. The team met for
encouragement each day as their rector, Philip Sinden, took them through II
Corinthians. One of the key themes for the week was how God works through our
weaknesses. (2 Cor 12:9 NRSV) "but he (the Lord) said to me, "My
grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I
will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ
may dwell in me." God did just that during the week. For example, one team
member, Trent, was unable to attend the mission at late notice due to having to
undergo major surgery shortly before the mission, making the team weaker. But
God used this weakness for His work and His glory. Many of the team are
spending a further week or two in Western Australia. Pray that the team may
have a great week enjoying some of the wonderful scenery that the West has to
offer and also pray for Phil, their rector, who has returned home already to
lead their parish.
2. The mission team decided that each child who attended the kid's club should be given a Bible and offered to try to pay for them. Mellita refused this offer saying that "the parish would somehow find the money to pay for them." Within 24 hours we received a phone call from a lady in Sydney who, after praying through the BCA prayer notes that day, decided that she would send us a donation to be used for children's Bibles. Mellita suggested that we would purchase cheap Bibles and was greeted with a response like, "No these children must get Bibles that will last."
3. We give thanks that Darren attended all six weeks of Christianity Explained. He was a great participant and asked many great questions which challenged us all, however at the end of the day he still does not see a need to make Jesus his Lord. Pray that God may reveal himself in a way in which Darren cannot but help respond.
Pray for Allan and Mellita as they recover from the week of mission and as they return to the mundane duties of home life, parish administration etc, and as they seek, with extremely limited human resources, to follow up those who have heard the Gospel during the mission and to disciple those who committed their lives to Christ. Pray that God would raise up more workers in this region for (Mat 9:37-38 NRSV) "... The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest."