Pop Up Church
What a lovely day it was at Pop Up Church in August. The weather was surprisingly warm and the crowd of 60 sat quietly and listened to Angus, Kiri and Marion and the crew from One In Christ bring worship songs. The Lord led us to teach on His authority and truth as our creator and what that means for us, that we are valuable despite what the world says. I (Angus) tried to improve my preaching by following the outline of Andy Stanley (I, we, God, you, we). And the Rock Band, “The Jokers” did a great job warming up the crowd with ten solid rock songs. Thanks to everyone who prayed. We feel the presence of the Lord bringing the Word of God to open hearts. Praise God!
Leaders’ Friendship Dinner
Little Miracles teamed up with Covenant Grace Church, the Ebenezer Karen Baptist Church and Bethel Christian Fellowship to host a leaders’ dinner at Corio Christian Centre. It was a wonderful night with 35 leaders from 16 different groups all sharing about what they do in Corio, Norlane and Lara. Several groups didn’t come so there will be even more next year!
Bus Stop Cafe
We love this ministry. We speak the gospel into so many people’s lives with a minimum of effort with both the warm hospitality of a free chocolate milk and the spiritual nourishment of the gospel. This month we’re introducing a weekly teaching video for children and parents who want to learn more. You can check out Learn More with Angus by scanning the QR Code or clicking here. I’m doing this because I feel led by the Holy Spirit to focus on learning how to speak the gospel into people’s lives. Quite a challenging responsibility. We’re praying about shifting our focus from teaching the gospel to addressing the issues children face from a gospel perspective.
Sewing Class is Lovely
Christine is so passionate about teaching sewing and so kind as she facilitates everyone to make things. Pyjamas are nearly finished then it’s onto Christmas presents as we head into Term 4. The photo shows a little miracle. Ysabel, a Christian migrant from Peru, turned up, joined in and has now become a friend. Praise God for Bus Stop Cafe developing so beautifully!
Invited to share at a Conference in Adelaide!
Through my leadership program at Project Nexus, I’ve been invited to share the mission of Little Miracles at their ‘Spark a Flame’ Conference at Edwardstown Baptist Church in Adelaide in late September. Please pray for God’s best plans to be manifest as this takes place and for me to know how to present LMC to the attendees.
The BIG PICTURE – On a Personal Note – Where are we going?
Is God trying to tell me something?
In August Christine and I went to a David McCracken conference and I also attended my Project Nexus Leadership workshop, so our brains are trying to make sense of new challenges to become a ‘greater leader’.
David McCracken’s talk was about the certainty of God’s provision: If God has asked you to do it (and for me and Christine we had a strong call to ‘feed my lambs’) then He will provide everything you need as long as you stay dedicated to the task. In fact, given God’s eternal nature, He has already sorted your future. He’s already there and so are you doing those awesome things in partnership with Him. Part of the challenge was rubbing shoulders with leaders who run churches and plant churches. I have a feeling they’re wondering why I’m still mucking around with Bus Stop Cafe and Pop Up Church rather than doing a proper church. Maybe it’s just me…
The Project Nexus Leadership Workshop challenged me to embrace my gifting as a “Core-Edgy Leader”. “You can see and create so many amazing new ministries, why limit yourself to just two?” was a question which emerged. Another question was, “Does Little Miracles Community have a Core? Is there a solid ‘home-base’ from which new ventures emanate?”
My Executive Prayer Team also posed the question, perhaps God is calling us to expand with greater courage to extend the Kingdom of God in Corio. So I’m rightly asking, Is God preparing us for greater things?
Then I remember the beginning of 2024 when I actively scaled back several big ideas. One mentor was disappointed because new ideas are exciting, but he understood we had to because we didn’t have the team to run Playgroup, Warrior Church and Revival Song as well as Bus Stop Cafe and Pop Up Church. (I’d also love to create another Pop Up Church in Whittington and another Bus Stop Cafe elsewhere, wouldn’t you?) But we don’t have the people.
I feel a bit of a failure for not having more people helping with Bus Stop Cafe and Pop Up Church because people say there should be more people helping. But then I notice most of the Christian groups in the area are run by a very small team, 3 or 4 people. I’m also reminded we are asking Christians to move well out of their comfort zone:
1. Christians are used to being served at church, not serving.
2. Outreach is usually very challenging as people aren’t interested in hearing about Jesus.
3. We are in Corio and Norlane which are very ‘disadvantaged’ suburbs from which many Christians flee.
4. We are asking volunteers to serve migrants and children and also drunks, druggies and dropouts which sounds challenging.
So as much as I’d love to multiply my fruitfulness, I don’t have the people – yet. If God wants me to embark on a new venture, He’ll provide everything we need. We have never lacked over the last 5 years we’ve been running LMC.
So, while it’s flattering to be told I have a lot to offer, I will stick to Bus Stop Cafe and Pop Up Church until I (and my spiritual minders) hear clearly from God. Because right now the blessings flowing to the poor and marginalised through our ministry are quite lovely and amazing. Can we get better than that? The only questions for me to ask are: How can I love Father God more and love the poorest and weakest around Corio and Norlane more? And to spend time in God’s presence seeking His face and intimacy with Him. The rest should take care of itself….
Questions, Conversation & Discussion
If you have any observations, questions or comments, I’d love to interact with you. Just drop me an email: angus@littlemiraclescommunity.com.au
Would you like to help?
If you would like to help contribute the Pure Spiritual Milk for the children at Bus Stop Cafe, you can give to Little Miracles Community.
Account Name: Little Miracles Community Inc.
BSB: 633 000
ACC: 205 402 357