Building for Eternity
Archive for March, 2009
LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER … FOLLOWS PERSEVERENCE, CHARACTER AND HOPE
3 years ago
in News
This week another celebrity couple have separated and their family is broken. The lead line in one glossy magazine says; “the fairy tale is over!”
As I read fairy tales a different picture emerges. The “happily ever after” comes following a story of great crisis, danger, perseverance and heroism. Love grows under adversity and character is developed in the participants. The hero must overcome the adversity to win the prize.
In Romans 5:3-5, Paul reminds us …
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Our world seems to promote peace and prosperity as something that follows money, success and good fortune. No wonder a world financial crisis is such a CRISIS to many!
The peace God offers, transcends understanding and is forged by perseverance—not luck.
Stephen Semenchuk
Adding to the team!
3 years ago
in News
It is with great excitement that we announce the appointment of Jim Mobbs as an Assistant Minister to start from early May this year. Jim is married to Vivienne and they are about to have their first child.
Jim has a Bachelor of Theology and a Certificate in Biblical Studies. Both attained through the Sydney Bible 
and Missionary College. He was converted through the ministry of Ray Galea and worked as Ray’s MTS Trainee for two years. He has recently been working as an Assistant Minister in the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Hobart, Tasmania under the Rev. David Jones. We are providing an important stepping stone as Jim seeks to “come home” to this Diocese and be established in fulltime ordained ministry in the Anglican Church.
His ministry will be focused in Dapto and he will work alongside Stephen. He will preach regularly throughout the parish, care for the 4.30pm Congregation, join the Men’s Ministry Team and seek to help lead our Connect Program and Outreach. Essentially Jim is taking up the position left vacant by Mike Greenwood.
We will continue to seek Peter Hutchinson’s replacement as we have now received a number of applications following the ad in the Southern Cross (including 2 from overseas).
Shane Dirks will continue to co-ordinate our Young Adults Ministry and the 7.15pm Dapto Congregation. He will now lead the Port Kembla/Warrawong Ministries on Sunday morning. (He will still preach in the morning at Dapto though less regularly).
John & Sarah Doughton will also be joining the team full time. Port Kembla have received a grant for John to be an MTS Trainee full time. He will assist Shane and therefore we will also see John helping at a number of Dapto Ministries. Sarah will be increasing her Children’s Ministry in our joint parish ventures.
Stephen Semenchuk