Stories from a retired AbMinSA Pastor

Lyn and I live in Prospect SA and we have a Chinese family next door and a Muslim family from Afghanistan over the road. They are interesting people, not only because they cook delicious food but also because they have cultural differences. I have worked with Australian Aboriginal people since 2001 and there has been no lack of cultural difference. This is both a challenge and a joy. I have no idea how often I …

St James, Whyalla

We thank and praise God for another year of fellowship and being able to continue without the leadership of a pastor. Our average attendance is 14 and we alternate the meetings between Bible study and a guest speaker. The meetings are held in the church hall in warmer months and in private homes during winter. In May we held our Mother’s Day trading table at a local supermarket. Once a month we either have soup …

The journey so far …

His doctor took his driving licence away! From that time on, my wonderful, loving, physically fit husband’s behaviour changed – running away, not dressing correctly, irritable with me. David went into respite care when I went to the USA with my daughter for the birth of another great-grandchild and a permanent place was found for him when I returned home. It has been 18 months of watching him slowly losing memory of family and friends, …

Living well with Dementia

I am 67, and I was diagnosed with dementia eight years ago. I believe I am living well with dementia. God has blessed me in ways that I could never have dreamt of eight years ago. Opportunities have been opened up for me (and my husband, Timothy) to be involved on the public stage as an advocate for people living with dementia, and for dementia research, and I have had amazing experiences. This is my …

The Bible - the word of God

Bible Study – April 2020

Thanksgiving Study 1: Jesus cleanses ten lepers Opening prayer: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever! Thank you, Lord, that we can be together today studying your Word. Send us your Holy Spirit and guide our meditation and discussion. Give us thankful hearts for all your blessings. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Read Luke 17:11–19 What stands out to you as you read and hear this read today? …

The open bible for devotion

Devotion – April 2020

Patient Papa God. I’m going to call it: 2020 is the Year of Growth. At least, in my world anyway. And not the fruitful, picture-perfect, hustle-and-slay, wholesome-family-viewing kind of growth. So far, 2020 is proving herself full of the painful, earthy and hungry kind of growth that leaves me tearfully stumbling around for pen and paper to keep track of the deep work God is doing within me. A few years ago, in an old …

Trinity Women’s Fellowship, Tailem Bend

At the beginning of 2019, Trinity Women’s Fellowship, Tailem Bend became a member of the new, (SA) Mallee Parish of ten congregations from Murrayville to Karoonda. This had come about after much discussion and prayer. We had been without a pastor since 2017 when Pastor Matt Buse returned to America. In the absence of a pastor, the Ladies Fellowship used the Bible studies in the Lutheran Women magazine, with members participating to make our meetings …

A woman sits with her head on her hand, she appears to be depressed, looking for hope.

Dealing with Depression

I’m a really proud person. I don’t want to think I’m mentally ill. What I’ve realised is when you become unable to function, when you can’t work out the next step of the day, then that’s a sign, for me, of depression. Rosemary. One in seven Australians will experience depression in their lifetime. (ABS National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing). Rosemary is one of them. Rosemary’s family had a history of depression, but she …

The Lamp Lady

A report in The Times during the Crimean War gave Florence Nightingale the title, “The Lady with the Lamp”. Recognised as the “founder of modern nursing”, she has left a lasting mark on sanitation and healthcare. She was born in Florence, Italy, on 12 May 1820 to English parents. This date is now universally recognised as International Nurses Day. When she was 16, Florence announced that she felt ‘called’ to become a nurse. Her parents …

St John’s Women’s Fellowship, Unley

Our Fellowship continues to meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month from February to November. In January, our committee met and organised the program for the year. We have a membership of 21 and the attendance varies from 12 to 21. Once a year we have our meeting in a member’s home. At our April meeting, a member’s husband spoke on the meaning of Anzac to his family, and many members also shared their stories. …

Bethany Home caring for special needs in the community

I was born into a Christian family and grew up in a church in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city. I am the only child of a pastor of a conservative Pentecostal church and my mother is a full-time church worker helping in the church’s evangelistic ministry. I joined the full-time ministry focusing on social work at the age of 21 when I joined a Street Evangelism organisation, that ministered among the people living on …

President's Reflections

President’s Reflections – April, 2020

‘The Lord is my Shepherd’. Without this I am nothing … We hear these words numerous times in our worship, in either songs of praise or in our liturgy. I was asked to choose the Bible readings for my older brother’s funeral just before Christmas. I was having difficulty, so I texted my Pastor Mat for suggestions. I knew that a lot of seasonal Christians would be attending, and I wanted the service to reflect …