James Daymond has a passion for evangelism. He first joined BCA in 2017 and together with wife Brittany previously served in Mudgee and Narromine, visiting door to door and talking to locals about Jesus. Today James is the Priest-in-Charge of St Paul’s Anglican Church Cobar, and while his passion for evangelism remains, until recently he hasn’t had much chance to do regular outreach visiting. This is where BCA Nomads and farmers Greg & Liz Grosser come in.

The Grossers travelled around Australia for sixteen weeks in 2023 and finished their journey in Cobar. They were so struck by James and his passion for evangelism that they returned this year to assist with outreach visiting over a three-month period.

“We do outreach visiting a few days a week,” says Greg. “James usually meets us at about 9 in the morning and we do it until 3 in the afternoon, with a break for lunch. Yesterday was a big day. Because some other Nomads were with us in Cobar, we were able to go out in two groups. Between us we travelled nearly 900 kilometres. We were challenged as we only met one guy who was really interested, but that is what BCA is about – never too far, never too few.”

“When we visit a place with James he always opens with ‘we’re from the Anglican church in Cobar’. We then ask how long they’ve lived in the area and about their lives. We usually come around to the question of whether they’ve had any teaching from church or scripture lessons. We sometimes ask, ‘what do you think is the meaning of life?’.

The Grossers have found that people are generally very receptive. One day Liz knocked on the door of a young lady with a two-year-old and a three-month-old. “I don’t remember what I said to her, but she said, ‘I’ve been meaning to get back into reading my Bible.’ So, we had a good chat and I’ve been back a couple of times to visit.”

On another occasion James & the Grossers visited a young couple around 150 kilometres out of town. The couple told them that they had just been talking about spiritual things and the meaning of life. “What a blessing we turned up!” says Greg. “They were very interested in Christianity, and they took a Bible each.”

Apart from outreach visiting, Liz and Greg between them have been playing piano at church, helping with prayers, bible readings and leading the service. They have also helped with Scripture teaching and Greg has been doing some maintenance work. “It’s been a joy to serve in this way,” said Greg & Liz. “James is very hospitable; he cares for us pastorally and has treated us as part of the ministry team.”

“Greg and Liz have been a great blessing!” says James. “I am so grateful for their prayer, fellowship, partnership, thoughtfulness, and kindness. Greg and Liz have been used by God to enable outreach visiting to advance tremendously. They have encouraged me along the way and together we have thought through and overcome many challenges. They have also enabled all of the safe ministry requirements for this ministry to be met as I always need to have someone with me when outreach visiting. Their knowledge of the Lord and life experience, not least of all as farmers, has made a tremendous contribution as we have engaged with people.”

“I would like to encourage any Nomads to come out to help James,” says Liz. “There is no need for you to say anything, it’s just for James to have someone alongside him when he visits. You don’t have to be an evangelist, you just have to be there to encourage him, and he can share the Gospel. There’s no reason why Nomads can’t come for a week, or two weeks. It’s so good for James to be able to do his visiting and that’s how the church is going to grow.”

If you’d like to find out more about lending a hand in Cobar the Grossers would be happy to chat with you. You can email Liz at lizgrosser@gmail.com