Goings on
Announcing the birth of a son for the Alexanders
Gary and Nikki Alexander (Field Staff, Kununurra) are absolutely delighted to share the news of the birth of their first child. A baby boy was born to them last Sunday - 31st July in Sydney. Named Thomas Trevor he weighed 3.6kgs and was 54cm long. They are all well. Congratulations Gary and Nikki!
From the Dusty Boots team at Broken Hill
Recently a team from the Lakes Christian College at Penrith visited Broken Hill to work with Neville Naden. You can check out the students' website with photos of their experience from the link www.thelakesdustyboots2011.webs.com
2012 - BCA Tours announced
In 2012 there are some fantastic Christian Fellowship Tour opportunities coming up.
They are announced under the Tours section of our website - http://bushchurchaid.com.au/serve/tours/
If you are interested please have a look and contact Tours at BCATours@bushchurchaid.com.au
Congratulations on your baby
Congratulations to James and Skye Coats (Field Staff - Holbrook Affiliate) on the birth of their third daughter.
James and Skye welcomed a new baby girl Hannah Kay Coats into their family at 2:17am on Tuesday the 19th of July 2011, she came in at 3.26kgs and 51cm.
Hannah will join the Coats family as a sister for Eleanor (2007) and Miriam (2009) - we wish James, Skye and family all the best and God's blessings as they adapt to having a new baby in their family.
April Bottom Scholarship
Applications are being invited for the 2012 April Bottom Scholarship, worth $8,500.
The April Bottom Fund is administered by BCA and assists one child each year from the Anglican Parish of the West Darling to undertake secondary or tertiary education outside the parish. Scholarship funds can be used towards tuition fees, text books, boarding fees, or associated expenses.
April died in 2003 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Before her death, she expressed a desire to set up a fund to assist families from the West Darling Parish region with the education of their children, especially where they needed to leave the region to achieve their educational potential.
Applications for the 2012 April Bottom Scholarship have been extended and now close on 9th September 2011. The Award recipient will be advised in October and announced in the Real Australian Summer edition.
If you are interested information and application downloads can be accessed here
http://bushchurchaid.com.au/about/april-bottom-scholarship/
The Alexander's stopped by to say G'day
We had Gary and Nikki Alexander drop into the BCA National Office in Sydney on Tuesday the 5th of July, all the way from Kununurra! They were able to share with some of the supporters who attended the monthly supporters lunch. It was great to hear all about the different ministry initiatives that Gary and Nikki have undertaken in Kununurra and the other areas that they look after. Nikki is due to have their first child very, very soon.
As they continue on down the coast to Canberra where they will take some well due time out, our prayers and support are with them.
The Ambulance Chaplain
With so much happening already it is amazing how Mike Keith can find the time to work as an Ambulance Chaplain, but that's what he has done. The opportunity arose recently and Mike was asked if he might be interested in helping out as a Chaplain with the Ambulance service in Lightning Ridge and the surrounding areas. This role will have him talking with Ambulance drivers and paramedics, along with trauma victims and their families - as you can imagine it would be a tough job working with the Ambulance service and there would be some very difficult cases so Mike has taken up this role to offer his services and Minister to those who need it. The role will involve counselling, praying with families and Ambulance people and just being there as a support person to those who need it while offering hope in the Lord. Mike has recently completed his Mental Health First Aid Certificate and also holds a current First Aid Certificate so he is well prepared for the role but would appreciate prayer and support with this new endeavour.
A New Appointment for the Briggs in Hobart
Will and Gillian Briggs will be finishing up as BCA Field Staff at the end of this month. Will has been appointed as the new Senior Associate Priest of St David’s in Hobart Cathedral where he will work to assist the Dean Richard Humphries. He is also going to work as the Research Assistant to Bishop John Harrower.
Please pray for Will, Gillian and their children as they move from Burnie to Hobart in the coming months.
Gillian will continue on as a deacon in Hobart.
Current Vacancy at Coober Pedy
BCA is seeking a gospel focussed ministry candidate for work in South Australian mining town Coober Pedy.
With a minimum commitment of two years, the right candidate will have the opportunity to build on the well established ministry in the opal mining town. A full stipend will be received, along with access to other ministry benefits offered by the Society.
The Palmers have moved from Coober Pedy to take up a strategic new role with BCA, based in Adelaide and ministering to FIFO (Fly-In-Fly-Out) miners. A locum will be at Coober Pedy until a permanent appointment can be made.
A Journey and a Dream
It started as an idea between the Anglican and Uniting Church in Strathfieldsaye, who work in conjunction with each other. They swap between churches each week with the Anglican Church hosting the service one week and the Uniting holding it the next and so on. The fifth Sunday in July (31st) is going to be a little different though! Steve Weickhardt had it on his heart to look at the church in the are and really wants to see them 'step up and become the church.' An idea came out of his discussion with the Uniting Church and a plan for a favourite hymns morning with a cooked breakfast - a time for the congregation and the churches to build and strengthen relationships.
The idea is that of a 'Journey and Dream' - The Journey looks back at the rich history of the two churches (each with over 130 years) in the area and then to Dream about how they might be guided by the Spirit and move forward in the next few years. It is a very exciting time for the church in Strathfieldsaye. Reverend Steve Weickhardt and the church in Strathfieldsaye would appreciate prayer over this period.