Building for Eternity
Linda Bell
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Posts by Linda Bell
Are you converted?
2 days ago
in General
Are you converted?
Saul was a violent zealot whose worldview drove him to systematically seek out followers of Jesus in order to imprison them. In Acts 9 he is dramatically confronted with this very Jesus on the road to Damascus – his life was never the same again. Saul was converted!
Conversion is essential for us all. Wouldn’t it be terrible if on that final day it became clear that our Christian views were only an intellectual belief, or church a social experience, or our faith a mere security blanket?
Jesus once explained this by saying,
‘No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again’ (John 3:3).
What is this new birth or conversion? It is a complete re-orientation of who we worship. No longer do we live for ourselves but for Jesus who died for us and was resurrected. This transforms our worldview, our opinions, our thinking, our behaviour and our priorities. Saul was once Christianity’s greatest opponent; he became Jesus’ most influential church planter.
Our experience is unlikely to be the same as Saul’s. Every new birth is different. For some it is a decisive moment, for others a careful decision. What matters is not the experience but the fact that God has given His Spirit to us and re-orientated our hearts to worship the risen Jesus.
Are you converted?
To view this weeks bulletin, please click on the following link 20th MAY 2012
Introducing Blake Stewart (part time hon) Children’s Ministry Trainee
4 days ago
in Bulletin
Tell us about yourself?
I live at home with my parents and brother Ryan (15). I work part time at Target and I’m completing my Bachelor of Arts at UOW – graduating in 2015 then hopefully finding a Primary Teacher position.
What do you do to relax?
Watch a good movie, drive around, sing to Christian music!
I enjoy Hillsong and Jesus Culture and dance music.
When did you make Jesus your Lord and Saviour and how did this come about?
I started coming to DAC in 2008 with my cousin, Leesa Tomlinson. That November (I was in Year 9) I went on my first youth camp. At Camp with the youth and leaders, hearing the Bible talks from Pete Gold about having a regenerated heart, made me realize that Jesus loves me! He died for me! It was an amazing and intense weekend. At school I hadn’t felt accepted and was pretty much a loner, when I came to DAC the people welcomed me with open arms and I felt really accepted.
So Blake, tell us what a typical week looks like for you.
Monday to Wednesday is Uni. Tuesday night is Growth Group. Thursday is Scripture followed by a de-brief and prayer time; then preparation for Holy-wood Children’s Ministry. Friday starts with volunteering in The Café, then a mentoring session with Keith Langridge; Mobstars for Kindy to Yr 5 kids and after that Karoleena and I do our Holy-wood Children birthday visitations. Sunday is Sondaze leading our Yr 1 children and assisting with infants; finishing up with 5pm and 7pm Services.
Share your favorite bible verse with us?
Eph 2:10 ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’.
Who supports you in your ministry?
I so appreciate my mentor, Keith Langridge. I’m encouraged by my Growth Group (run by Elise Semenchuk & Pete Gold). Mary Pickford, Karoleena Ivanov and Kaitlyn Dixon are constant supporters who guide me. Two people stand out for their impact by example and teaching. Firstly Pete Gold has challenged, taught and shared Jesus with me and continues to encourage and hold me accountable as I walk with Jesus. The other is my cousin Leesa. Leesa and I do not have Christian families so we spur each other on as we live for Jesus. Finally, my Christian friends are very important in my daily life as we support each other.
What would you like to see God do in Dapto?
A breakfast club to start up in the local primary schools; to reach out and serve the teachers and students of local schools; to see the next generation of children and youth move up into leadership positions and see God use them for His Ministry.
Smell the Roses
1 week ago
in Bulletin
Mother’s Day is one of the days each year when we take some time to appreciate one of God’s great gifts. Families are God’s idea and mothers are often the providers of the relational connection. Our modern society can obscure the things of greatest importance and blessing.
Work done at the London Eye Hospital indicates that while we have the opportunity to look at so much more of the world than our ancestors, we actually see less. As we are dazzled by bright lights and ever growing larger TV and computer screens our powers of observation are diminishing. Hearing is also an issue, as increased noise in industrial societies makes it difficult to hear certain frequencies. What about our noses? As you breath in deeply right where you are now, how many fragrances can you pick up? A lot of us have pretty well forgotten the pleasures of smell.
Our senses have been bombarded with enormous amounts of information and experts are saying that we suffer from sense fatigue. Our lives are so busy that fewer and fewer people ‘stop and smell the roses’. This translates to the spiritual realm. As we rush around doing all our work, fulfilling all our commitments, we leave less and less room to contemplate our Creator. We miss seeing the purpose, meaning and beauty He lays before each one of us. Too soon our lives will be over and we have missed out on some of the best things God has placed before us. Take time to appreciate your Mum today!
Stephen Semenchuk,
Senior Pastor.
To view this weeks bulletin, please click on the following link, 13 MAY 2012
Gift wrapping at Dapto Mall
1 week ago
in Bulletin
During the last week, 32 ladies and Scott Goode have had a great chance to wrap a few presents for people over at Dapto Mall. The idea was to wrap for Mothers Day but on the shifts that I did, we wrapped babies gifts, birthday presents for girls and even a boys present, a bit of a challenge with only pink paper!!!
But really the best part of the time was spent connecting with and chatting to our community. It was great to be able to tell people that the Mall Management purchase all the paper & ribbons while we attend to the fun of wrapping and connecting. It was great to chat with people about what they were doing for the rest of the day. We heard a few sad stories about people who were missing their Mums and others who were excited about this coming Sunday. Some of our team had opportunity to share about their relationship with Jesus.
Please join us praying for the many conversations that were had, especially about our faith, that people will ponder on what they heard. Lets also give great thanks to God that we have such a great relationship with Dapto Mall and that they continue to invite us to partner with them on some of these occasions. And as always give thanks to God for the many volunteers who happily give of their time and talents.
Lyndall