<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><channel><title>ballinachurch</title><description>ballinachurch</description><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/blog</link><item><title>Community Breakfast</title><description><![CDATA[On the first and third Saturday of each month a dedicated crew of cooks, servers and helpers serve a free breakfast to anyone who comes along. Over the years this ministry has feed many of those doing it tough in Ballina for what ever reason. A few years ago this ministry expanded its reach to include a Christmas lunch ministry which sees between 140 - 180 guests who would otherwise spend the whole of Christmas day alone. Below is a video of the organisers Pete & Carol Howard and Helen McCall<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/Z__5Jt8gOCc/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/09/21/Community-Breakfast</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/09/21/Community-Breakfast</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:07:10 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>On the first and third Saturday of each month a dedicated crew of cooks, servers and helpers serve a free breakfast to anyone who comes along. Over the years this ministry has feed many of those doing it tough in Ballina for what ever reason. A few years ago this ministry expanded its reach to include a Christmas lunch ministry which sees between 140 - 180 guests who would otherwise spend the whole of Christmas day alone. </div><div>Below is a video of the organisers Pete &amp; Carol Howard and Helen McCall telling us about the joys of this ministry. </div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z__5Jt8gOCc"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>FUSE goes off!</title><description><![CDATA[Monday morning witnessed a number of weary youth stumbling out of bed shaping up for the start of another school week. The weariness did not stem from mis-spent hours fighting aliens on a computer screen or over-indulging in a Netflix marathon. This was weariness born of a weekend spent with fellow Fuellers on the annual FUSE camp. Fuel is our the name of our weekly youth group. FUSE is the name of the annual youth group camp. This year it was necessary for FUSE to be relocated to drier digs.<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_f36d1dcc7ec244ceb117b08c60d46444%7Emv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_398/9ce694_f36d1dcc7ec244ceb117b08c60d46444%7Emv2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/06/22/FUSE-goes-off</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/06/22/FUSE-goes-off</guid><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2017 07:02:56 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_f36d1dcc7ec244ceb117b08c60d46444~mv2.jpg"/><div>Monday morning witnessed a number of weary youth stumbling out of bed shaping up for the start of another school week. The weariness did not stem from mis-spent hours fighting aliens on a computer screen or over-indulging in a Netflix marathon. This was weariness born of a weekend spent with fellow Fuellers on the annual FUSE camp. </div><div>Fuel is our the name of our weekly youth group. FUSE is the name of the annual youth group camp. </div><div>This year it was necessary for FUSE to be relocated to drier digs. Rather than a rather soggy Kyogle farm the annual shenanigans were enjoyed at Camp Koinonia, Evans Head. I can confirm that the leaders and the cook certainly enjoyed the more refined amenities - real beds, water tight roofs, functioning BBQ. </div><div>The speaker this year was Jon Brown. Jon is a student at Queensland Theological College currently living in Brisbane. Jon and his wife Ange stayed on site to hang with the kids and enjoy the fun. Jon spoke on Psalm 1 and Psalm 2. We will get to meet Jon in a few weeks time when he and Ange come to experience a month of regional ministry here at Ballina Presbyterian Church. </div><div>The plan is for a presentation of videos and photos from the camp to be on show in the near future. While we wait however, why not chat with some of our Fuellers and get a first hand report. </div><div>I would like to thank all the leaders who took part in the camp: Tom Lloyd, Darren and Julie Barnwell, Kristen, Sasha Wilks, Baz Bradford and of course Holly. </div><div>Jo and I had the pleasure of spending some of the day on Saturday at the camp. The way the kids relate, their keenness to learn from the Bible and generally get involved is such an encouragement. Holly and her team have certainly maintained such a godly culture among this group, it is such and encouragement. </div><div>Well done guys, you are legends. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Compassion on a Sunday</title><description><![CDATA[On Sunday June 18, 2017 we will host Warren Spooner from Compassion Australia. Warren will be giving two different presentations, one at Church in the Morning (9:03am) and the other at Church@Night (5:30pm). Both presentations will be highlighting the work of Compassion as the agency seeks to address both the physical and spiritual poverty of people in the name of Jesus. There will be videos, stories and teaching from the Bible highlighting the call of the gospel to help the poor and needy. Join<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_431becb0fecb4ebfb39fbc8bcaae9a92%7Emv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_259/9ce694_431becb0fecb4ebfb39fbc8bcaae9a92%7Emv2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/06/11/Compassion-on-a-Sunday</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/06/11/Compassion-on-a-Sunday</guid><pubDate>Sun, 11 Jun 2017 04:50:42 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_431becb0fecb4ebfb39fbc8bcaae9a92~mv2.jpg"/><div>On Sunday June 18, 2017 we will host Warren Spooner from Compassion Australia. Warren will be giving two different presentations, one at Church in the Morning (9:03am) and the other at Church@Night (5:30pm). </div><div>Both presentations will be highlighting the work of Compassion as the agency seeks to address both the physical and spiritual poverty of people in the name of Jesus. There will be videos, stories and teaching from the Bible highlighting the call of the gospel to help the poor and needy. </div><div>Join us as we learn more about this work and maybe start to investigate how we can get involved. </div><div>See you Sunday,</div><div>Hamish </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The 2478Connect Series</title><description><![CDATA[Over the last 15 years we have used five M words to outline the pillars of discipleship. These are the 5 M's that have outlined our membership or introduction course to our church. While we have revamped the course we have maintained the M's. Over the next 5 weeks our Growth Groups will be reviewing our new version. We hope that this review will work both ways. Firstly, that it would be a great opportunity for us to review the 5 M's. Secondly, that you could give us some feed back and input into<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_089329e057ca4de3add9c59e8a83a001%7Emv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_470/9ce694_089329e057ca4de3add9c59e8a83a001%7Emv2.jpeg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/05/04/The-2478Connect-Series</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/05/04/The-2478Connect-Series</guid><pubDate>Thu, 04 May 2017 10:57:44 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Over the last 15 years we have used five M words to outline the pillars of discipleship. These are the 5 M's that have outlined our membership or introduction course to our church. While we have revamped the course we have maintained the M's. Over the next 5 weeks our Growth Groups will be reviewing our new version. We hope that this review will work both ways. Firstly, that it would be a great opportunity for us to review the 5 M's. Secondly, that you could give us some feed back and input into our new membership course. We call it The 2478Connect Series in line with Mission2478. </div><div>All five sessions are now available for download as a PDF from our Teaching page. You can click on the image below to be magically transported there instantly. Each week a hard copy for that week will be available from the info desk at the back of the church building. </div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_089329e057ca4de3add9c59e8a83a001~mv2.jpeg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Ministry Review</title><description><![CDATA[As many of you will know - I really hope that you all know - on Sunday we are having a Ministry Review Combined Service (10:30am followed by a gold coin donation BBQ lunch). What is a ministry review? Really, it is a flash name for our Annual Congregational Meeting where we receive the auditor's report and vote in a new Committee of Management. However, we have added more than just a report and a vote. We have a sermon from 1 Corinthians 9, video updates on ministries, live updates on<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_d6a6f085a095471c9df7ce33780ec2c5%7Emv2.png/v1/fill/w_609%2Ch_304/9ce694_d6a6f085a095471c9df7ce33780ec2c5%7Emv2.png"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/28/Ministry-Review</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/28/Ministry-Review</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:52:23 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>As many of you will know - I really hope that you all know - on Sunday we are having a Ministry Review Combined Service (10:30am followed by a gold coin donation BBQ lunch). What is a ministry review? Really, it is a flash name for our Annual Congregational Meeting where we receive the auditor's report and vote in a new Committee of Management. However, we have added more than just a report and a vote. We have a sermon from 1 Corinthians 9, video updates on ministries, live updates on ministries, written updates on ministries. We will also see an example of how helpful the Ministry Survey will be.</div><div>Last week we handed out hard copies and emailed links to soft copies of our 2017 Ministry Survey. So far we have 26 people who have completed the survey online. I have been told by some that they have done the paper version ready to hand in this Sunday. The aim of the survey is to get a snapshot of a few aspects of our congregation. Individually, these surveys are interesting but they aren't that helpful. However, the more that are completed the better the picture. Attached are a few grabs of how the results are displayed. Can I encourage you to be a part of this survey. It will really be helpful as we think about how to best lead and direct BPC. </div><div>Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday. </div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_d6a6f085a095471c9df7ce33780ec2c5~mv2.png"/><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_7c287c0354844ccc9b347ca55134118b~mv2.png"/><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_d3acc89f36c24d71bae04618e680c655~mv2.png"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Ministry Review 2017</title><description><![CDATA[On April 30 we will be approaching our usual Sunday gathering in an unusual manner. On Sunday April 30 we will be coming together as one gathering rather than two. On Sunday April 30 we will be meeting at 10:30am rather than 9:03am or 5:30pm. On Sunday April 30 we will be meeting to Review. Refocus. Re-budget. Re-plan. On Sunday April 30 we will be enjoying a gold coin donation BBQ lunch after our gathering. On Sunday April 23 you will receive a cloud based or paper survey. The Leadership Team<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_b868e955672d43fbaf6b3dd2800c7f34%7Emv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_288%2Ch_288/9ce694_b868e955672d43fbaf6b3dd2800c7f34%7Emv2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/21/Ministry-Review-2017</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/21/Ministry-Review-2017</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Apr 2017 04:13:21 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>On April 30 we will be approaching our usual Sunday gathering in an unusual manner. </div><div>On Sunday April 30 we will be coming together as one gathering rather than two. </div><div>On Sunday April 30 we will be meeting at 10:30am rather than 9:03am or 5:30pm. </div><div>On Sunday April 30 we will be meeting to Review. Refocus. Re-budget. Re-plan. </div><div>On Sunday April 30 we will be enjoying a gold coin donation BBQ lunch after our gathering. </div><div>On Sunday April 23 you will receive a cloud based or paper survey. The Leadership Team would really appreciate it if you could make the time to fill it out. Your responses to the 56 questions will give us a useful insight into how things are going, and how we can do things better. </div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_b868e955672d43fbaf6b3dd2800c7f34~mv2.jpg"/><div>The cloud based survey. </div><div>You will receive a link via email. Click on the link and click or type your responses. </div><div>Once you have finished you will need to click the submit button as requested. </div><div>You can do this survey on your phone, tablet, or computer. </div><div>You can also use the emailed link more than once if you would like to help another member of BPC complete the survey online (eg. someone who does not have internet available to them). </div><div>Paper survey. </div><div>I think you will need to use a pen???? </div><div>Please make every effort to be a part of our gathering on April 30 at 10:30am.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>That Dreadful Day that we call Good</title><description><![CDATA["My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"Mark 15:34<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_c5c438fe76024a06a4e9b32afc82f690%7Emv2.jpeg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/14/That-Dreadful-Day-that-we-call-Good</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/14/That-Dreadful-Day-that-we-call-Good</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Apr 2017 10:36:48 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_c5c438fe76024a06a4e9b32afc82f690~mv2.jpeg"/><div>&quot;My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?&quot;</div><div>Mark 15:34</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Hola from Loja</title><description><![CDATA[This week the Church@Night crowd had a special visitor from Ecuador. Diego was visiting the Northern Rivers and able to call in and say Hola! Diego, is a Loja local (a small city in Ecuador). He is currently studying at Sydney Missionary and Bible College in preparation to head back to his home country and pastor churches. Among other things we heard how Diego had to learn English so he could study at SMBC and among other things learn New Testament Greek! It was so encouraging to hear from Diego<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_f4aa91912bea4ee2b9f8b78d4b7bd22e%7Emv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/10/Hola-from-Loja</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/10/Hola-from-Loja</guid><pubDate>Sun, 09 Apr 2017 21:09:05 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>This week the Church@Night crowd had a special visitor from Ecuador. Diego was visiting the Northern Rivers and able to call in and say Hola! </div><div>Diego, is a Loja local (a small city in Ecuador). He is currently studying at Sydney Missionary and Bible College in preparation to head back to his home country and pastor churches. Among other things we heard how Diego had to learn English so he could study at SMBC and among other things learn New Testament Greek! </div><div>It was so encouraging to hear from Diego and to see, first-hand, some of the fruit of John &amp; Karin Wolhuis' ministry. John &amp; Karin are one of our five Mission Partners who we support financially and through prayer as well as letters and emails. John &amp; Karin were instrumental in getting Diego on the road to being equipped to grow the church in Ecuador. </div><div>If you would like more info on the work of John &amp; Karin or how to support them in their mission or Diego in his studies you could grab the Wolduis prayer card from the church building or ask me. </div><div>Maybe you'd like to be praying for Diego this week as he works to get an essay on 2 Corinthians done. </div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_f4aa91912bea4ee2b9f8b78d4b7bd22e~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Valuing Teamwork</title><description><![CDATA[This Sunday we will be looking at Colossians 4:7-18. Sometimes it's hard to know what to do with passages like this, these endings to Paul's letters. Usually, they are a list of names, most of which we don't know anything else about; references to events and activities that we are know nothing or very little about. So what do these closing verses have to teach us? Take a read, see what you reckon. One solution to finding out is to come along on Sunday! But what I will say about these passages<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/7c3be7cfbe67482d947e6192b844fed5.jpg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_417/7c3be7cfbe67482d947e6192b844fed5.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/07/Valuing-Teamwork</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/07/Valuing-Teamwork</guid><pubDate>Fri, 07 Apr 2017 09:00:17 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/7c3be7cfbe67482d947e6192b844fed5.jpg"/><div>This Sunday we will be looking at Colossians 4:7-18. Sometimes it's hard to know what to do with passages like this, these endings to Paul's letters. Usually, they are a list of names, most of which we don't know anything else about; references to events and activities that we are know nothing or very little about. So what do these closing verses have to teach us? Take a read, see what you reckon. One solution to finding out is to come along on Sunday! But what I will say about these passages here is that they show us what Paul values. And, as it turns out Paul values teamwork. So it's all about teamwork. What does that look like at BPC? </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Stories Worth Telling.</title><description><![CDATA[Old Building. New Lives. Eternal Truths. These are the words we use to describe what we are on about at BPC. We meet in an Old Building growing New Lives through the Eternal Truths of the Bible, God's story of salvation for the world through his son Jesus. In this video you'll get to hear stories from three of our church family on how they met Jesus and the difference he made in their lives. The video is old (2016) but the truths are eternal. Maybe you'd like to know more about Jesus. I'd love<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/OYLL6-_vjXU/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/03/Stories-Worth-Telling</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/03/Stories-Worth-Telling</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Apr 2017 01:36:31 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Old Building. New Lives. Eternal Truths. These are the words we use to describe what we are on about at BPC. We meet in an Old Building growing New Lives through the Eternal Truths of the Bible, God's story of salvation for the world through his son Jesus. </div><div>In this video you'll get to hear stories from three of our church family on how they met Jesus and the difference he made in their lives. The video is old (2016) but the truths are eternal. </div><div>Maybe you'd like to know more about Jesus. I'd love the opportunity to tell you. <a href="mailto:ballinachurch@gmail.com?subject=Hey Hamish, I'd love to hear more about Jesus.">Just click here and send me your details</a>. I'll be in touch. I'll even shout the coffee. </div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OYLL6-_vjXU"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Books on Prayer</title><description><![CDATA[At church yesterday we heard the Apostle Paul exhort us to "continue steadfastly in prayer .. " We will not just fall into a continued steadfastness in prayer. We need to be intentional and disciplined. I have found the books below to be a great help in being reminded of the great importance and privilege of prayer. Here are the two books I reviewed at church yesterday.BONUS MATERIAL.Here are some other books that have been helpful for me in developing my understanding of the importance of<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_b3c903e2e0bf4944abc9745ed49badc7%7Emv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_238%2Ch_356/9ce694_b3c903e2e0bf4944abc9745ed49badc7%7Emv2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/03/Books-on-Prayer</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/04/03/Books-on-Prayer</guid><pubDate>Sun, 02 Apr 2017 23:35:50 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>At church yesterday we heard the Apostle Paul exhort us to &quot;continue steadfastly in prayer .. &quot; We will not just fall into a continued steadfastness in prayer. We need to be intentional and disciplined. I have found the books below to be a great help in being reminded of the great importance and privilege of prayer. </div><div>Here are the two books I reviewed at church yesterday.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_b3c903e2e0bf4944abc9745ed49badc7~mv2.jpg"/><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_b6ca3cff12f240a480dc2fcca4cd286f~mv2.jpg"/><div>BONUS MATERIAL.</div><div>Here are some other books that have been helpful for me in developing my understanding of the importance of prayer and shaping my prayer life.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_2b5c6e0c991a48ebac12a73a2d5c4518~mv2.jpg"/><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ce694_bc39b1ba57d548d8a5714dde93ac2ce5~mv2.jpg"/><div>You can get them from <a href="http://www.koorong.com.au">Koorong</a>, <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com">Book Depository</a>, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com.au">Amazon</a>. </div><div>They come as ebooks, audible books and even in paperback and hard cover editions!!! </div><div>NOTE: I have quite a few copies of &quot;A Praying Life.&quot; </div><div>One or more could be yours for the bargain price of $10 each. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Learning to Talk</title><description><![CDATA[When our kids were young we needed to teach them how to talk. Over time they learned more words and our conversations became more in depth and our relationships grew deeper. In Colossians 4:2-6 Paul is teaching us how to talk; how to talk with God. How to talk and to grow, maybe even start in a developing relationship with God. Where are you in your conversation with God? Talking to God, talking about God takes practice and learning. This week from Colossians 4 we will hear what Paul has to say,<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/dc152ebb46a947e393504af6a4e300a9.jpg/v1/fill/w_313%2Ch_208/dc152ebb46a947e393504af6a4e300a9.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Hamish</dc:creator><link>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/03/31/Learning-to-Talk</link><guid>https://www.ballinachurch.org.au/single-post/2017/03/31/Learning-to-Talk</guid><pubDate>Fri, 31 Mar 2017 11:06:41 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/dc152ebb46a947e393504af6a4e300a9.jpg"/><div>When our kids were young we needed to teach them how to talk. Over time they learned more words and our conversations became more in depth and our relationships grew deeper. </div><div>In Colossians 4:2-6 Paul is teaching us how to talk; how to talk with God. How to talk and to grow, maybe even start in a developing relationship with God. </div><div>Where are you in your conversation with God? </div><div>Talking to God, talking about God takes practice and learning. This week from Colossians 4 we will hear what Paul has to say, what Paul has to teach us about talking with God.</div><div>Our kids are approaching adulthood now. Our conversations have developed, our relationships have developed. God’s offer is that we too can be his children with growing conversations and the joy and hope and delight that comes with such a growing relationship. </div><div>Join us this week and see what Paul has to teach us. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>