Welcome to another edition of the encourager.
It’s with some sadness and some excitement that I let you know that this will be the last edition of the enews that I send out. As from May 2nd I will be working with LCA International Mission as the Program Officer for PNG and Indonesia. I’d like to say what an inspiration and eye opener it has been for me to spend three years working with Lay Workers. I love your passion for your work and your love for Jesus. You make a remarkable difference in the lives of the people in your community. Thank you for sharing with me your roles through stories and conversations. As a group I’ve seen Jesus love and grace in action! Like most things this side of heaven, the action is an amazing mix of joy, blessings, challenges and heartache. Keep listening and observing where God is already at work in your community so that you might continue to join the work He has for you to do.

Chris Materne and the regular crew will continue the work and support the Lay Ministry department provides. Please continue to keep in contact with and support Chris, Erika, Verena and Glenn as they do work behind the scenes to support you. The work of the Formation Officers will continue on as usual. The leadership of Chris at this time will help make a smooth transition to the new Church Worker Support Department.

The Church Worker Support Department has been formed to assist congregations and agencies of the LCA support and encourage the people who undertake mission and ministry activities for the LCA.  The Church Worker Support Department will provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to the care, support and management of Pastors, Lay Workers and other Church Workers, both paid and unpaid. 

This new department is still on the drawing board and we’d encourage you to complete the survey that was recently sent to Lay Workers and other stakeholders if you haven’t already completed it.  The information gathered through these surveys, and other interviews, will be really important in helping identify the key needs for Lay Workers as the Church Worker Support Department is established..

If we can help in anyway as you work in your communities as mission & ministry encouragers, let us know.

Nevin & Chris

In the last 2 weeks the Lay Ministry survey has been sent out to all Lay Workers and Pastors. This is an opportunity to reflect on the usefulness of the support offered to Lay Workers and Pastors through the department. If you haven't taken the time to fill out the survey as yet, you can take the opportunity right now... the links are as follows....

Links for surveys below:

Lay Worker survey

Employer survey

New Lay Workers
Sandy Bowes – Youth & Family Ministry Assistant, Bundaberg St Johns Congregation, Qld
Charles Choy – Chinese Lay Worker, Perth St Johns Chinese Worship Centre, WA
Peter Crepin – Administrative Support Worker, Beenleigh Bethesda Congregation, Qld
Rosemary Davidson – Pastoral Care Worker, Albany St Pauls Congregation, WA
Melissa Doecke – Organ & Choral Music Coordinator, Box Hill St Pauls Congregation, Vic
Caitlyn Eisenmenger – BLAYZ Coordinator, Bethania Congregation, Qld
Jacob Fanning – Youth Coordinator, Rochedale Our Saviour Congregation, Qld
Phoebe Green – Instrumental Music Coordinator, Box Hill St Pauls Congregation, Vic
Chris Podlich -  Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Murrumba Downs Living Faith Congregation, Qld

Changed Role
Nevin Nitschke - Director, LCA Lay Ministry to Program Officer - Papua New Guinea/Indonesia/Scholarship/Volunteers in Mission programs, LCA International Mission

No longer in Role
Donna Albrecht – Family Worker, Warradale Faith Congregation, SA
Sam Chan – Youth Worker, Mawson Lakes Endeavour College, SA
Peter Crepin - Administrative Support Worker, Beenleigh Bethesda Congregation, Qld
James Doecke - HR Services Liaison Officer, LCA HR Services
Buay Kuedel – Sudanese Lay Worker, Gippsland Parish, Vic
Sharon Minge – Administrative Officer, LCA International Mission, SA
Rebecca Pennisi – Youth Coordinator, Rochedale Our Saviour Congregation, Qld
Erin Schneider – Moculta Immanuel & Truro Youth Counsellor, Light Pass Immanuel Parish, SA
Helen Thomson – Youth Worker, Temora Lutheran Community Church, NSW
Carol Voigt – Ministry Assistant, Nuriootpa St Petri Congregation, SA

Accreditations
Errol Werner
Erika Mills

If you would like to welcome or congratulate these people or the writers of the stories in this edition, click on their name to send an email

Hey, I’m Zach Storm and I currently work at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tuggeranong, Canberra. I have been working here since February 2015. Before moving to Canberra I lived in Sydney for three years, where I attended Hillsong International Leadership College. I studied an Advanced Diploma in Christian Ministry, majoring in pastoral and worship music.

My main duties at Good Shepherd involve helping to coordinate and lead services, and the worship music. I have been able to preach my own messages. I am one of our youth leaders and work with building our connect groups.

Since a lot of the funding for my position comes from district grants I also have responsibilities within the wider district. I serve on the Turning Point Ministries team (Camping Ministry of NSW/ACT) and regularly attend/work with organising youth camps. I lead small groups, organise and lead the worship music and have directed a camp. This is probably my favourite area to serve in as the youth of our district are hungry for more of the Holy Spirit and are fearless when it comes to stepping into unknown territory with their relationship with Him.

When I first moved up to Canberra and join Good Shepherd I felt a bit out of place. I missed my college friends, my Pastors and team leaders and my church in Sydney. I went from attending/serving at eight services a week to two. I felt less spiritually ‘fed’. I felt frustrated with how slowly things were moving in my church. It took me a long time to realise that God didn’t have me at Good Shepherd for me to move the church along, rather He was teaching me to ‘feed’ myself; to learn to rely on Jesus for my strength, to grow closer to Holy Spirit and to learn to hear His voice. I finally got the message and have a better relationship with Jesus than ever before. I love my church, I love my camping ministry team and I love my God who never leaves me and always puts me in the right place at the right time.

Jesus Christ Son of God.  Sent to us
As love radiantly visible.  Sent to us
Who forget and lose sight…and become so lost
Make us like you
Make beauty of us
Born of hope, faith and love……..And then send us

Send us where it is hardest to love
Because there is so much to hate
Send us where the lies deafen
And truth is only a whisper
Send us where the ugly blinds
And beauty is used and discarded
Send us where the pain is deepest
And hope is nearly gone
Send us to love where love is dead
And resurrection is our only hope

When we are afraid
When we are rejected
When we are weak
When we are hurting
When we are like you
Send us …. to where you already are                                         

The following is part of a letter forwarded from Bishop Henderson...

Dear Heads of Churches, Members of the NCCA Executive, State colleagues
Frequently, members of the NCCA Executive and Forum have recognized that we have not had many younger persons engaging ecumenically and taking the place of those wonderful committed people who have brought us to this point where our ecumenical relations are strong.
On quite a number of occasions in the past the Centre for Ecumenical Studies has provided opportunities for people to be informed about ecumenism and to catch the spirit of ecumenism, by holding a course on Ecumenism over five days. Sometimes this has been held in the week prior to the NCCA Triennial Forum. It has been held in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne as well as in Auckland (2013, 2015)
Rev’d Dr Ray Williamson seeks to ascertain the interest in such a course taking place this year in Sydney from 20 – 24 June. The course can be taken for credit or participants may simply audit the course. 
May I ask that you talk to members of your church who might be interested in doing this course and ask them to contact me by Friday 29 April.
With every best wish
Elizabeth

If you have an interest in this area, contact us.

God had an only Son and He made Him a missionary.
– David Livingstone

God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.    - Hudson Taylor

We can help with:

• ministry plans
• setting up prayer/support teams
• training options
• developing a ministry team
• employment agreements
• a listening ear