I usually don’t tell too many people when I go and look at one, partly because its just looking, and partly because I don’t want to get people excited again and again about different places, that don’t end up working out. But this is one of those times when I think I should let people know. Its not certain by any means, but its gone past the “maybe” point to the “real possibility” point.

I’ve been looking at a site in Broadmeadow, near 9-ways that I’d like to get the Association Committee (the Elders) to consider renting.

The hope of this place would be that we could run ALL our mid-week activities in… and more than that, it would become a kind of home-away-from-home for our church overall.

It’s not meant to be a place we use for our big Sunday services… Lambton High School and the Uni really are excellent locations for our Sunday meetings. Rather, its a place where people from HBC, and even their non-Christian friends are going to feel at home in the 6-day gap between Sunday to Sunday.

If it did all work out, I’d love us to run Monday Mad Skills there, NextStep, Life and Women’s Bible Study. We could run our other special events there (like Wave Training Days, Get ya’ Mission, etc…). That would save us a lot of money in renting spaces and venues that aren’t really ours to be at home in.

There’s still loads of questions to be asked and answered, like; should KidsClub or YouthGroup meet there? How will we pay for any renovations? What if a possible site comes up to buy and we’re stuck in a long term lease? These are the type of things the Committee will need to discuss soon, and we’d appreciate your prayers and ideas.

Now’s the time when Greg and the staff team would love to talk with people interested in applying.  So get in touch with me if you’d like to get that process started.

We’re keen to take on as many trainees as we can, so that God’s kingdom by his power can continue to grow.

Here’s something new… HBC is looking to employ a Financial Administrator as part of our team. Its a part-time position (probably 3-days a week). You can see the details for it here…

position-description-financial-admin.pdf

Please let us know if you’re interested or know someone who might be!

photo credit: RambergMediaImages

Rob and Jen run mission awareness tours. They’re passionate about opening people’s eyes to the harvest field - in our own nation. They pick a bus load of people up on their bus, drive to remote communities and show them the harvest field.

It’s an amazing two weeks of tight fellowship, real encouragement, rugged adventure, indescribable creation, solid time in Scripture, getting uncomfortable, feeling tired, eating unknown items, spotting kangaroos (sometimes eating kangaroo)… experiencing God’s enormity and responding in prayer: “Your Kingdom Come”.

If you are keen to come you can email sam@hunterbiblechurch.org and he will email you application forms and more information.

Back in 2011 we started a 4 year series in Romans. Each year, in term 2, we’re taking a look at a chunk of Romans and this year we’re up to chapters 5-8. These chapters are often thought of as the heart of the epistle as Paul deals with the righteousness of God (from ch 1-4) and how it plays out in the lives of believers in the real world.

Kicks off May 29th and goes to June 17.

This Easter we will be looking at John 19 & 20.  We meet Jesus in his death and resurrection and see that Jesus brings hope to hopeless world.

Got doubts about the resurrection?  Check out the video below…

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It’s just a few days until MadSkills kicks off for 2012.  There’s a bunch of great training courses starting up, and we’re kicking of the Mad Hour with a prickly topic… “Can a Christian fall away?”

Check out more details here.

Last week I received this email from Ross & Lyndal Webb, some of our mission partners, who work with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Vanuatu. The email is to all of our church.

“Dear friends at HBC,

Please pass on our thanks to all in the congregations for encouraging us as 2012 gets underway with your generous gift.

We know you have many demands on your money and that your ministry in your local area is very important and bearing fruit. But thank you for branching out and including us across the ocean as another part of your ministry.

We have many things lined up for this year - a course for local translators starting next week, the national conference for local translators, a celebration of 30 years of SIL’s work here, and a New Testament dedication in May for starters. Thanks for your contribution to all these events and for helping ni-Vanuatu have a chance to know God more through His Word.

We really enjoyed visiting with many of you at the end of last year - that seems a long time ago now. Thanks for your welcome and interest in our work.

God bless you richly,

In Him,

Lyndal and Ross“

• Relationships built (especially on the bus and at the YHA)
• Excellent Bible teaching on the subject of work (Paul Grimmond and Gary Millar)
• Very comfortable accommodation at the YHA Katoomba.  I got a good coffee early on Saturday from ‘Elephant Bean’ up the road
• Watching Matt Wade unbog a small car
• A lot of good books recommended and purchased
• 100% of us felt challenged to change and grow this year as godly Christian men.

Silencing people in love? The worst of sinners? Shipwrecking one’s faith? Praying men and modest women? Deacons and disgrace? All things are good? A list for widows? Public rebukes? The root of all kinds of evil? Fight the good fight. There’s just some of the issues we’re going to face as we look through  Bring’it at hbc:am and hbc:pm over the next 8 weeks… starting Sunday 5th Feb.

As the uni year begins, we’re praying that God would graciously use us at unichurch to see people saved and Christians mature while they’re at uni. Last Minute Sunday is where we lay out our plans, under God, to see this happen. Get along! 4pm Feb 19th at CT202. Free BBQ before church included.

Check out news and other videos of our MTSers here.

Check out news and other videos of our MTSers here.

Sign up for KMC now…

https://hunterbiblechurch.wufoo.com/forms/hbc-goes-to-katoomba-mens-convention/

Registrations have opened for the unichurch WEEK away… Forge. Early bird discount runs out soon, so register here…

https://hunterbiblechurch.wufoo.eu/forms/the-holy-spirit-at-forge-12/

Katie and I reflected on our ability to consider our lives on earth more excitedly than eternity with Jesus. In 2011 we got engaged, married & bought a house that we’re about to move in to. I started a new job (twice) and a bible college course. Lots happened, lots of good things. But things that we’ll forget if Jesus comes back.

Jesus has promised that he will come back, sometime that we can’t predict - “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows” (Matthew 24:36). It could be 2012 ironically. It doesn’t matter, because we’ve been told what we should be doing while we wait.

We are to wait together faithfully

Hebrews 10:24-25 says “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, ²⁵ not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other,^(A) and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

When Katie and I get tired, church is often the last thing we want to do on a Sunday before the regular week starts. When we do turn up, trying to look after other people, we’ll drive home saying “that was so good, I can’t believe we thought about not going”. Waiting together for Jesus’ return is both our work and our encouragement while we wait.

We are to wait together faithfully

When Jesus comes back he’ll measure our faithfulness relevant to what we’ve each individually been given. Matthew 25:29 says “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” What these servants have (or do not have) is fruit produced from what Jesus has given them. Individually and uniquely.

Last night one of the PM guys was reminding me about the need for Christians to deliberately and prayerfully have a look at where God has put them, what abilities and resources he’s given them, and to use those circumstances and abilities to produce fruit for God. The consequences for never doing this are terrifying (Matthew 25:14-30) and the reward for doing it is the opposite.

I’m praying this year that God will graciously force me to be fruitful. It may be the year.
Come Lord Jesus, come.

But who are they and what will they be doing in 2012? Well, they’ll all be writing and leading Bible Studies (Growth groups) and they’ll be meeting up 1:1 with Christians and non-Christians. But on top of that…

Sarah Tippett > Membership at Unichurch & Sprout and trained by Kelly Landrigan

Scott Westwood > Membership at Unichurch & BFG and trained by Dave Allen

Matt Tyler > Mission with International Students & Sprout and trained by Sam Hilton

Pete Munday > Magnification & Sprout and trained by Greg Lee and Pete Witt

Dave Robertson > Mission at Unichurch & jPod and trained by Sam Hilton

Nick Watts > Colleges (Reality) & WBS Creche and trained by Dave Moore

Ben Danson > Maturity at Unichurch & Scripture and trained by Richard Sweatman

Claire Williams > Maturity at Unichurch & Scripture and trained by Kelly Landrigan

Please remember these guys in your prayers, as they begin to feel the weight of responsibility in being entrusted with God’s word as shepherds of God’s flock.

Check out news and other videos of our MTSers here.