A highlight of Nett and my recent trip to London was worshipping in St Paul's cathedral. The sermon was good.. but very echoeeeeee.. as the sound reflected off a thousand different wall angles and heights, the choir beautiful and the architecture spectacular. It wasn't however, no matter how jaw dropping and sensory filling, an intimate experience with God.

It's not our buildings..old, new, large or small, nor our service orders or liturgies or policies that have most impact on people seeing God. I most often see God's Spirit dancing in the lives of His followers, as flawed as we may be, as they follow His invitation to live a grace filled life in amongst those around them. This edition has 2 stories from Lay Ministry Workers Danielle and Robyn that give a glimpse of God's Spirit dancing.

May you stop and enjoy the moments in your life or your ministry where God's Spirit 2 steps you... and whispers once more, I love you...

Danielle Robinson (right) with Maria Price. Danielle works in the Grace Redcliffe congregation as the Family Ministry Chaplain.

DROWNING IN THE SHALLOW
Although my key ministry is supporting and working with families in our church, kindergarten and primary school, as we’ve been in vacancy for coming up to 18 months now, I find myself carrying out God’s work wherever I’m needed, which is fantastic!  If you’d asked me ten years ago what I would be doing now, this would be the very last thing that would have crossed my mind!
Ten or so years ago, I began what would become a very lucrative and successful styling house.  At the peak of my business’ success I employed 12 stylist’s (hair, makeup & fashion) and I was ranked within the top 5 bridal makeup artist’s in Australia and the top makeup artist in Queensland for three years running.  We were booked 18 months ahead for weddings, doing approximately 400 per year, along with commercial photo shoots and editorials.  Ultimately I was working 12 hours a day 7 days a week to manage the bookings and ensure my stylist’s had constant work coming in.
But God works  in mysterious ways and He placed on my heart a yearning for Him and for my family.  My relationship with God was suffering because I barely made it to worship and the spiritual life of my family was non-existent because we were spending very little time together.  There wasn’t a sudden  epiphany or ‘light bulb’ moment.  I didn’t have a vision or a dream telling me it was time to stop.  There was just a pull toward God and an ache that I couldn’t fill with all the money, success and material trappings that came along with my work. 
I discussed my feelings with my husband and he was relieved.  He’d been feeling very much like a single parent on the weekends when I was doing weddings while he was running the kids to ballet and soccer, so I called my staff together and let them know I was closing down.  I ensured they all had enough work to see them through the following 12 months and decided not to sell my business as I traded under my own name.  I simply shut up shop, enrolled to study my Diploma of Theology with ALC and here I am. 
The ironic part of it is, after my years doing makeup, I’ve developed an injury in my right shoulder that would have stopped me doing makeup anyway.  God was making a way for me to continue working with people and making them feel beautiful, but this time from the inside.  Instead of focussing on the beauty on the outside, I now focus more on the soul.   Through my absence in my family’s life when I let work take over, I’m able to better see it in other families and can help them realise the importance of the bond of family and how precious those moments are.
Financially, my children struggled initially with not having ‘everything’ like they used to and I’ve had to learn to budget myself (that’s been a challenge, let me tell you!), but my only regret is that I’ll never have those years back that I lost when I was drowning in the shallow.  When I lost sight of the greatest gifts God has ever given me.  His child, my husband and my children.
I pray my story gives someone the courage to take that leap of faith and trust God to catch them.  If it’s for God, it will succeed.  Shalom & love!
Danielle Robinson

183 people identify as being in Lay Ministry across the LCA. If you work in one of the above categories...or have a category all your own!.. but are not on our roll, contact us.

As per LAMP, the national positions are identified as being in SA, inflating the SA/NT figures substantially.

Grow ministries are involved in organising this conference. Highly recommended you have a look at the details for this conference!            

Outline of the program        

Click here to register

We are currently in the process of going through old records and making a note of all of the Lay Workers who have served in the LCA over the past 50 years.When the list is completed to the best of our ability, we'll provide a link through the enews and ask for your help to fill in some of the gaps in dates and positions held! It makes for interesting reading....

An attitude of gratitude!

I sat next to a person at a meeting the other night with a very grateful heart. As those around me were complaining about the cold, rainy weather, he was speaking out how beautiful winter is. As those around were reflecting on the problems at their work or the monotony of having to go to work every day, he was sharing about the privilege of having a job; being able to help those he worked for. He had chosen to live with an attitude of gratitude and it was infectious! I want to live that way too.

Our attitude to each new day affects not only us but also those who work with us, alongside us and around us. In my role as Cafe 3:16 Mission Coordinator at St Michael’s, Hahndorf, an attitude of gratitude can make a huge difference to every new day of serving the community. I work with a large team of volunteers in my role and mix with many different people coming through the doors of the café for a coffee, a chat or a catch up. I don’t want to ever take for granted the influence I can have on the lives of those I come into contact with and the chance I have to be God’s light, life and voice to them. What a wonderful privilege that is!

I love reading Philippians. It is such a positive book. One could easily assume from Paul’s writing to the Philippians that he had thoroughly enjoyed his time there! It was in fact one of the toughest churches for Paul to get started. When Paul went to this city to start a church, he was beaten, whipped, humiliated, falsely accused, arrested, thrown into prison and even survived an earthquake. He was also asked by the city leaders to leave town! Yet Paul said to the believers, ‘Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.’ (Phil 1:3 NLT) Paul had chosen to live out and to walk in an attitude of gratitude despite his circumstances. His life attitude had an impact on those who followed in his steps.

No matter how my morning has started or progressed, I have learnt how wise it is to ask God for His help with my heart as I drive to work. It makes a huge difference to the atmosphere of the café… how I choose to walk in; how I speak to my team as they arrive; how I greet the customers who come in; how I go about my tasks, approach my responsibilities. Having an attitude of gratitude despite how I may be feeling is not always easy but it is such an important, daily choice. It starts simply by giving thanks to God for even ONE thing and you will be amazed at the blessings that can come out of it in the lives of others! You will be surprised at how many people will want what you have and even ask you how they can get it! Praise God for the opportunities He opens to share about Him through the simplicity of a grateful heart and of course, a BIG SMILE to go along with it! 

(with special thanks to Troy for the inspiration of his extra grateful heart!)

Some of you will have heard John North at our last Lay Ministry Conference at Warrambui. If you are looing for short, clear, simple and powerful daily devotions...look no further than this site. Many times this year these devotions have caught my breath. To subscribe, click this link.

May 19-21 2015

Knowing, hearing & following God in real life & ministry

....an opportunity for learning, meditating, networking...and a Port River meal & cruise!

All inclusive...$398 for shared accommodation.

(limited single rooms available at extra cost)

1 Peter 2:9-10 The Message  "But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted."

We know Lay Ministry can be extremely rewarding and we also know it can be demanding and lonely at times.

Do you need help in your ministry with any of the following areas....?

• working as a team
• developing an effective ministry plan
• gaining a support team, pray team, mentor
• understanding study options
• clarifying working conditions
• connecting with others in similar ministries
• someone to be a listening ear

as well as finishing a position well and review options......

We can and do help....contact the Lay Ministry Office