Dapto Anglican Church

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are currently out and about visiting homes throughout the Dapto area.

Their pitch usually begins with some comment about the mess that the world is in. The follow up line is an offer of a magazine offering hope and peace. Rarely will they identify themselves as emissaries of the Watchtower Magazine until after you have shown some positive interest.

Please beware, as their strategy thrives on the confusion and doubt they attempt to create in your own faith, They appear well grounded in the scriptures and for many Christians there is a struggle to recognise the ‘half-thrughs’ in their version of Christianity.

They are trained to expect hostility from Christians and quickly assume a martyr or persecution complex the moment you challenge or question their beliefs, founders, theology or magazine. Also they have developed reflex responses to many of the problems we legitimately raise. Usually, the experienced door knocker (the other one is typically a new recruit or trainee) will not listen to any point made against their position. The lady I spoke to on Wednesday replied; “We’ve looked into that.” I pressed her and asked had she personally looked into it, as I suggested that she couldn’t trust the leaders who had allegedly looked into it. I knew that my comment would terminate the conversation but we had already spent 30 minutes going around in circles.
Apparently the best approach to end the conversation is to offer to pray with them.

Particular issues they will raise include:

• Why can’t all you Christians get along? – I draw attention to the Rise Up Service at Win Stadium in October last year and ask why they weren’t there.
• Around Christmas time they will point out that the Bible doesn’t mention birthdays and particularly that Christmas started as a pagan ceremony – I reply that whatever its origin, that our church has Christianised the celebration in a similar way to St Paul, who Christianises Hellenic practices of his time.
• Theologically, the Jehovah’s Witnesses want to repudiate the trinity and do not believe Jesus is God (equal with the Father), they rather believe He is a god, or the son of god, who is inferior – I have found that the best verse to challenge this view is John 20:28 and Thomas’ declaration that Jesus is Lord and God. Their “bibles” mistranslate John 1:1 and it is best to avoid this argument

Generally it is best to try and love the Jehovah’s Witnesses and pray for them, but they will interpret positive reactions as you becoming potential converts.
Avoid them returning with “someone” as the new person will be a trained antagonist who will not be open to your point of view and will try to undermine every tenet of biblical Christianity wile appearing to be a lover of the Bible.

One challenge they do present to each one of us is to become more conversant with the scriptures ourselves. They prey on Christians who are not well worked out in their faith. We need to become better and better at defending our faith. The Jehovah’s Witnesses follow in a long line of heretical cults with shady founder and origins. They translate the Bible to support their view rather than employing proven translation techniques. You have to be sharp to take them on and winning the argument often only means they will go next door.
Stephen Semenchuk

Risky living has taken on a new perspective since the recent London bombings. Now travelling to work on the train could be a dangerous activity.

Christians live in a world where we are called ’strangers’ (1 Peter 1:1). Every time we let someone know about our faith and beliefs we risk rejections, ridicule and the chance we will be misunderstood. In Ephesians 6:12 our Christian witness is described as a struggle against evil powers.

We need to clearly grasp the ongoing challenge to live on the edge of comfort and security. We should take up Paul’s invitation to put on the whole armour of God. (Ephesians 6:11-18). God calls us to stand our ground and to take every opportunity to represent Him in this risky world.

This weekend 56 of our men are away in the National park. They are encouraging each other from God’s word to be warriors for Christ. Each one of us needs God’s transforming power to empower us for cutting edge Christian living. At a time when our world is feeling less secure, we need to be showing by word and action that God and His promise of eternity is unshakeable.

Stephen Semenchuk

Some key aspects of out five year plan have recently fallen into place. We saw the raising up of the future gospel workers as a priority during 2006. If Ben & Kate Boardman/s application to Moore College is successful, Dapto Anglican will have candidates for the ministry in each year of the Moore Course.

• Andrew & Cecily Paterson – 4th year
• Paul & Ingrid McPhail – 3rd year
• Naomi Ireland – 2nd year
• Ben & Kate Boardman – 1st year

We specified that we would need to replace Ben & Kate with a trained graduate to pastor the church plant into the next stage of its development. The archbishop has approved the appointment of Mike Greenwood (wife Nichole & 2 children) as an additional Assistant minister to work with our Horsley congregation.

We also applied to the Wollongong Anglican Regional Council for a grant to assist us paying our new staff member. They have committed $20,000 as a grant to Dapto Anglican Church in 2006 (with the expectation of continuing support in 2007 and 2008).

Our original 2008 vision specified a number of land and building developments. Last Sunday our Special Vestry Meeting decided to sell our Wongawilli site to finance the purchase of land from Dapto Public School (adjacent to Moombara Street) and to commence work on the redevelopment of the Ministry Centre.

It’s been a big couple of months. Praise God!

Stephen Semenchuk