Dear Friends, I am writing this on Saturday, 28 July, and my mind is ...

Rev. Alan Best
<strong>Dear</strong> <strong>Friends</strong>,
I <strong>am</strong> <strong>writing</strong> <strong>this</strong> on Saturday, 28 July, and my mind is
filled with the activities of the past week. There were two
outstanding events, the first being the Memorial Service
for Rev. Neville Blackhall in Queensland.
Neville was a Congregational minister who served
churches in Engadine (1964-70) and Como/Oyster Bay
(1970-73) in NSW, Raceview (1978-89) in Queensland,
and Armadale (1989-95) in Western Australia. During his
time at Engadine and Como/Oyster Bay, Neville was a
minister of the Congregational Union of NSW. He then
joined the Fellowship of Congregational Churches in
1977, when most Congregational Churches around the
nation joined the newly formed Uniting Church in
Australia. He pastored the Raceview Church with great
distinction, during which time he served as President of
the FCC (1985-86), after which he moved to the
Armadale (non-FCC) Congregational Church. He
remained an accredited FCC Minister until his death on
19 July.
I would like to highlight two other significant aspects of
Neville’s life. First, you may have noticed a number of
‘missing’ years in his Congregational church ministry.
During those years (1973-78), Neville, his wife, Trisha,
and their f<strong>am</strong>ily, served in the Solomon Islands with the
South Seas Evangelical Mission where they joined two
CONTENTS
August, 2012
From the President 1
Pastoral Training – India 4
Bulgaria – Sliven
Australia
Christianity as True
Helping Your Pastor to Thrive
Rev. S<strong>am</strong>uel Workman
Australia
WECF – 10th Triennial
Willi<strong>am</strong> Jay (1769 – 1853)
ATTACHMENTS
Preliminary
‘Expression of Interest’ for WECF
Meeting – 2013
Accommodation Price Options for
2013
6
9
10
12
14
15
16
20
1

other Congregational missionaries, Ed and
Edna Nash (Padstow Church, NSW), and the
legacy of those years of ministry continues
today.
The second event occurred in 1986 when
Neville and Trisha travelled to England with the
Australian contingent to attend the Inaugural
Meeting of the World Evangelical
Congregational Fellowship; Neville did so as
President of our FCC churches. I <strong>am</strong> aware
that some others who were present on that
occasion have been promoted to glory and we
also honour their service and important role in
establishing our worldwide fellowship.
At Neville’s Memorial Service, I was reminded
of the wonderful legacy of the Revesby
Congregational Church (NSW) during the
years when Neville and many others (including
some a little older than them) were converted,
discipled and called into a variety of careers,
including full-time Christian service, through
which they influenced countless numbers of
people as they lived for Jesus Christ and
served Him wherever He led them.
Today, I attended a SIM (Serving In Mission)
conference titled SIMWorld. During one of the
many inspiring messages, we were reminded
of the legacy left by the founders of the Sudan
Interior Mission: Three passionate and
committed young men landed at Lagos,
Nigeria in 1893. They ranged in age from 20 to
25 years. Each man had a vision to establish a
Christian witness <strong>am</strong>ong the 60 million
unreached people living in what was then
known as the Sudan in sub-Saharan Africa.
They were told it was an impossible dre<strong>am</strong>.
Unable to interest established missions in their
vision, the three set out, following God alone.
Malaria overtook all three. Two of the men,
Walter Gowans of Toronto, Canada, and
Thomas Kent of Buffalo, New York, died of the
fever.
The third, English-born Rowland Bingh<strong>am</strong>,
returned to his home in Canada, ill, but still
determined. Bingh<strong>am</strong> made a second attempt
to reach the Sudan, but once again c<strong>am</strong>e
down with the fever and had to return home.
Unable to return to Africa himself, Bingh<strong>am</strong>
sent out a third te<strong>am</strong>. In 1902, the party
successfully established a base 500 miles
inland. From <strong>this</strong> base, the work of the Sudan
Interior Mission began in Africa. (taken from
the SIM Australia website)
But before any of these faithful, obedient men
were called by God to go to the Sudan,
another faithful person was active. During
today’s conference, we were reminded of the
mother of Walter Gowans who prayed
earnestly and persistently for the millions in the
Sudan who had never heard the Gospel – and
her son was one of those God called in answer
to those prayers. The following challenging
exchange is attributed to Rowland Bingh<strong>am</strong>: "I
visited Mrs. Gowans to take her the few
personal belongings of her son," he recalled.
"She met me with extended hand. We stood
there in silence. Then she said these words:
'Well, Mr. Bingh<strong>am</strong>, I would rather have had
Walter go out to the Sudan and die there, all
alone, than have him home today, disobeying
his Lord.'"
What a legacy Mrs. Gowans left to the world.
Today, SIM has approximately 1600
missionaries serving in 45 countries in Africa,
Asia-Pacific and South America. It is a
combined force, with a marriage of missions
that commenced in the 1980s as the Andes
Evangelical Mission and International Christian
Fellowship joined with the Sudan Interior
Mission; in 1998, Africa Evangelical Fellowship
merged with SIM.
Another of today’s speakers is a Brazilian who
now serves with SIM in Sydney where she
lives with her husband. She spoke of the
wonderful ministry of evangelical churches in
her country of birth, and as I spoke with her
later, she commented on the very significant
ministry of the Congregational Churches there.
My mind immediately went to the wonderful
legacy left by Dr. Robert and Mrs. Sarah Kalley
as they were the first Protestant missionaries
to evangelise Brazilians in Portuguese and to
establish Congregational Churches.
I write about these events because they serve
to remind us of the importance of building on
the legacy of those who have gone before us.
As individuals, churches and a worldwide
fellowship, we follow men and women who
faithfully served Christ and were enabled and
empowered by Him. We also need to be
working faithfully with the s<strong>am</strong>e enabling and
power as God builds His Church – in doing so,
we play our part in fulfilling The Great
2

Commission and leave a legacy for those who
follow us. I <strong>am</strong> reminded of the words of the
Apostle Paul who described <strong>this</strong> process in his
letter to the Corinthian Church when he wrote,
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They
are servants through whom you believed, and
each has the role the Lord has given. I planted,
Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So
then neither the one who plants nor the one
who waters is anything, but only God who
gives the growth. Now the one planting and the
one watering are one in purpose, and each will
receive his own reward according to his own
labour. For we are God’s co-workers. You are
God’s field, God’s building. According to God’s
grace that was given to me, I have laid a
foundation as a skilled master builder, and
another builds on it. But each one must be
careful how he builds on it. (1 Corinthians 3:5-
10 HCSB)
As I think about these truths and our Christian
leaders and churches, I <strong>am</strong> reminded of the
importance of concentrating on the things that
really matter. There is always a danger that we
can get caught up in attending meetings where
there is much debate and decisions are made
about all manner of things, but ultimately, very
little is achieved because they produce no
lasting action. Such meetings prove to be talkfests
that fail to promote Gospel ministry.
Over the years, I have been greatly
encouraged by our WECF Triennial Meetings
because we have concentrated on our Bible
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
OF OUR
MEMBER COUNTRIES
FCC Australia – 20 to 22 September, 2012
We w ant to pra ye r f ull y s upport each othe r,
s o please forw ard yo u r An n u al Confe rence da te s
t o the Editor.
Hour, ‘theme messages’ and ministry reports
from our worldwide f<strong>am</strong>ily. Because our
Fellowship has very limited funds, we have not
spent time debating how we should distribute
money. We have not engaged in debate over
political issues, nor have we debated exactly
how our member countries should conduct
their affairs. We have been blessed as we have
gathered around the Word of God to hear His
voice and as we have heard about the
transforming work of the Gospel around the
world.
<strong>Dear</strong> friends, I urge you to consider attending
the 10th Triennial Meeting in Australia next
year as we seek to build on the
encouragement and challenge of the previous
nine. In our evening messages, we will develop
the theme, “No Other . . . ”, that calls us to
concentrate on the things that really matter. It
is based on Acts 4:12 – “There is salvation in
no one else, for there is no other n<strong>am</strong>e under
heaven given to people, and we must be saved
by it.” (HCSB) We will develop <strong>this</strong> theme
under the headings, ‘No Other Gospel,’ ‘No
Other King,’ ‘No Other Power’ and ‘No Other
Life.’
Please download the attachments about the
2013 Meeting that come with <strong>this</strong> issue, and
consider attending, so you can be encouraged
and be an encouragement to others.
Yours in Christ,
Alan
3

It is very encouraging to see that the
churches in Manipur are growing.
However, leadership is weak and the
elders seem to have taken advantage of
it. This is a rather risky trend, but we
pray that things will improve in the near
future, as three young men complete
their theological studies and join the
church in June. By God's grace, my wife
and I, through friends here in the UK,
have supported these young men in
their theological studies at the Union
Biblical Seminary (UBS) - one Master of
Theology and two Bachelor of Divinity
students. They completed their studies
and are now serving in the church. My
wife and I are supporting two more
young men for theological studies at
UBS from June <strong>this</strong> year. Our vision and
plan has been to develop and mentor
young men and women for leadership in
the church and it is going very well. Now
that I have completed my studies, I <strong>am</strong>
hoping to get more opportunities to be
involved in the future of the Manipur
churches.
The Union Biblical Seminary (UBS) is
situated in Pune, near Bombay/Mumbai.
This is the main Evangelical College in
India where most of the evangelical
churches send their candidates. UBS is
a residential college offering Bachelor of
Divinity (4 years), Master of Divinity (4
years), Master of Theology in New
Test<strong>am</strong>ent, Old Test<strong>am</strong>ent, Ministry,
INDIA
Christian Theology, Missiology (2 Years)
and Doctor of Theology (4 to 6 years).
Degrees are offered by the Senate of
Ser<strong>am</strong>pore University, which was
founded by Willi<strong>am</strong> Carey. All our main
Evangelical Churches Association
(ECA) leaders have been trained at
UBS.
I had the privilege to serve at UBS as
the Registrar and as a lecturer from
2000 to 2006. God willing, I <strong>am</strong> going
back to teach there on my return to
India, whilst overseeing the work in
Manipur.
In June, our two new students
commenced at UBS, one for his Master
of Theology in Missiology (2012-2014)
and another for his Bachelor of Divinity
(2012-2016). The General Assembly
met in January, 2012 and granted them
study leave with pay, but their salaries
are so minimal that they hardly cover
half of their expenses. They have
entered the seminary, leaving behind
their f<strong>am</strong>ilies. They still need INR50,000,
around £700 a year or £58 a month.
Both of them are employed by ECA and
are returning to ECA upon the
completion of their studies. In fact, as
per the Assembly resolutions, ECA will
continue to pay their monthly salaries
during their studies at UBS. These
students have done all they can,
including leaving their f<strong>am</strong>ilies behind in
4

order to save money for their theological
studies but they are still unable to fully
support themselves. Since their salaries
can't cover the whole of their fees, as
the Lord leads, I <strong>am</strong> requesting prayer
and financial top-up support for these
young men. (see below, Ed.)
While in Manipur a few months ago for
the conference, (See OCW, Issue - April,
2012) we made plans for a refresher
course for our pastors. The progr<strong>am</strong>
was successfully undertaken by about
thirty-four pastors, including our new
Executive Director. One of the issues
discussed was ministry to, and <strong>am</strong>ongst,
the armed groups. One of our former
students at UBS (the one who did his
MTh), went to the c<strong>am</strong>ps and held
interviews. We will be doing a follow-up
WHAT CAN I DO?
PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER WAYS
TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF
WECF
Our Market Boys in Search of their livelihood
If you feel led to help any of our member fellowships, or
provide scholarships to assist delegates to attend the
next Triennial Meeting you may forward funds
designated for these purposes to the WECF Treasurer.
You can send your donation to:
Bill Brandon
WECF Treasurer
2354 Kimberly Court
Carlsbad, CA, 92008, USA
progr<strong>am</strong> and further study on <strong>this</strong> new,
exciting area of ministry. He was
entrusted by the General Assembly of
ECA to write a commentary on Romans
for Adult Sunday Schools. Adult Sunday
Schools are conducted on Sunday
mornings in all ECA churches. The
commentary is being used by 30,000
members of ECA. I attended one while
in Manipur and it was an <strong>am</strong>azing
experience to have a commentary in our
mother tongue.
We are trusting our plans to God’s
leading, have much to do in the future
and know greater things are waiting.
Please continue to pray with us.
L<strong>am</strong>boi Haokip
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACIOUS CONSIDERATION
5

JANUARY
January in Sliven was very cold, and because
of <strong>this</strong>, the year began with illness. My wife,
Zhani, was ill with a high fever but after her
recovery she set to <strong>writing</strong> the annual ECC
Sliven report.
I spent part of the month visiting the village of
Shiroka Laka where I met with believers and
was privileged to share the Word. Once Zhani
was well she commenced a teaching series on
‘Prayer as the Key for Revival.’
It was wonderful to have Kristina and Kathy
visit us from Scotland, (January 8 to 18) and
work in the boarding school in the village of
Radevo. ECC Sliven hosted them and
facilitated them in their work. Kristina and
Kathy were able to communicate with our
young people and attended worship meetings
in our church.
On January 17, we had had the joy of taking
our church member, Sylvia, and her newborn
baby Catherine, home from the hospital.
The life of a pastor is very varied as three
REPORT FROM SLIVEN
church cars needed an oil change and I was
the one designated to perform the task.
The end of January was very cold (-17ºC) and
that caused difficulties in the life of the church.
However, the leadership held meetings for the
membership of ECC Sliven and there was
paperwork to keep up-to-date in the office. In
some regions, church meetings had to be
cancelled because of the Arctic cold and the
heavy and dangerous traffic conditions
produced by the intense freeze.
YOUTH REPORT, ECC SLIVEN
It is encouraging that generally everybody is
striving to devote themselves to God in the
ministry and ready to accept God's will for their
lives. As far as they are able, the young people
are trying to help the church members,
especially the widows. The youth willingly join
in the town’s youth prayer meetings.
As a general problem for the youth of the
region, I need to mention the ‘loneliness,’
which leads the young to a general dejection,
bordering sometimes on depression. The
enemy uses these situations and tempts
young people, leading them to incorrect
6

decisions and actions. [These s<strong>am</strong>e problems
impact most communities and we need to
remember to pray for the young people in
Bulgaria and in our own corners of the world.
Editor]
Our teen ministry is another challenging area.
Some ladies with a heart for <strong>this</strong> ministry took it
on with enthusiasm. Every Saturday afternoon
they organise gatherings, seeking to integrate
teens into the youth group, and then into the
church. The leaders are faced with a great
difficulty as the attendance is spasmodic. The
reasons vary but, please, support the teens
with your prayers. We believe that as you
persevere you will bear fruit for the glory of
God.
FEBRUARY
The severe cold, snow and frost continued in
Bulgaria, and because of the bad weather and
the consequent risk of travel, many worship
services and church activities were cancelled.
The Annual Meeting of ECC Sliven was held
on February 19, when reports on the Work,
Ministry, Inspection Committee and Draft
Budget for 2012 were presented. They were all
passed unanimously in a warm spirit of
understanding.
On February 20, a concert, filmed by the
Bulgarian Christian Television Unit, was held in
our church. Fourteen singers from the
Netherlands performed at <strong>this</strong> time of great
spiritual enjoyment for a most appreciative
audience.
I embarked on a trip to the regions for a project
to help twenty-two poor f<strong>am</strong>ilies who are
unemployed and have no monthly income. I
met with farmers and made plans to purchase
piglets, chickens and hens. With God's help,
we expect to implement the project in March.
LIFE IN THE VILLAGE
SUNDAY SCHOOL AT ORIZARI
The Sunday school at Orizari regularly has
forty children ranging in age from 2 to 14. It is
difficult for these Romany children to speak
Bulgarian, but they are willing to learn. They
are learning Bulgarian through Bible stories
and participating in g<strong>am</strong>es and activities to help
remember them. This requires resources –
copy paper, pens, pencils, tape, l<strong>am</strong>inating
material for songs and the time to prepare
them.
We thank God that He has opened the heart of
the daughter of Ginka, the leader of the
church. She is a great Sunday School teacher's
assistant and she is only 14 years years old. In
coming years she may train as a teacher.
While her age is small, she is actively serving
in the Sunday School.
Bojanka is 11 years and lives with her
grandmother. Her mother does not care about
her and even lost Bojanka’s ID-number. As a
result, she can not attend school. Bojanka is a
bright girl, remembers poems by heart and is
willing to go to school. Because she has been
deprived of her education, she now
experiences a multitude of difficulties. Please
pray for her.
Thank God for the willingness of the young
people from the church in ECC Sliven to work
7

with teenagers in the Orizari Sunday
School. They see that many of them cannot
read or write. The desire of young people from
ECC Sliven is to assist them with their literacy,
but <strong>this</strong> will need resources.
MARCH
Early in March, my f<strong>am</strong>ily and I visited Shiroka
Laka and Smolyan where I met pastors and
believers who want to work in the Rhodope
Mountains. The roof of the house in Shiroka
Laka was bowed by the heavy snow that had
accumulated to two metres in depth. It has
been a record-breaking, snowy winter.
We bought twenty pigs and two hundred
chickens for twenty Romany f<strong>am</strong>ilies who live
in extreme poverty in the village of Orizari. It
was a great blessing for these people and will
mean they can have a small livelihood.
APRIL
From 9 to 18 April, Roger and Eileen from
England, visited us and together we had ten
Easter worship services in our congregations in
the Sliven region. Tsvete (our daughter) and
Zhani translated. (above: Roger and Tsvete)
Also, five people c<strong>am</strong>e from Germany for a two
day visit. They called into two of our churches,
greeted the believers and brought humanitarian
aid to the poor churches in the region of Sliven.
I participated in the regular meetings of the
Board of ECC Bulgaria.
The focus of our Sunday school teachers is
now on the preparation of the summer c<strong>am</strong>ps
in Kableshkovo. They work wonderfully as a
te<strong>am</strong> and are committed to investing in the
lives of the children and young people who will
attend.
PRAYER NEEDS
� Zina - our hygienist has been sick with
pneumonia and went to hospital.
� Marushka broke her leg and is at home and
experiencing pain.
� Anna’s Mum, Veska, is still sick and we
continue to pray for her healing.
� Gospodin, father of two of our church
members, is in hospital with liver cancer.
� We need electrical units for the
Kableshkovo c<strong>am</strong>p site.
� We need financial help for the poor children
we want to invite to the c<strong>am</strong>p who can’t pay the
c<strong>am</strong>p fees. Every year <strong>this</strong> support takes about
500 Euro. (see page 5, Ed.)
� We need walking sticks for the aged and
disabled.
� Georgi, 47 years old, and a deacon from
the church in Dupnitsa is in hospital in Sofia
with cancer and his kidneys are no longer
8

working. He needs Hemodialysis. He has three
children. Both Georgi and his wife are
unemployed. Their eldest son, Denis, (18 years
old) gave all his money to pay for the treatment
for his father. Georgi is in a critical condition
and needs help.
GOD BLESS YOU
Pastor Stoyan Slavchev
SESQUICENTENARY
Manly Congregational Church (Sydney) will celebrate its 150th Anniversary in September,
2012.
There will be an Anniversary Service on Sunday, 9 September, which will be led by Rev. Hon.
Fred Nile MLC (FCC President) with the speaker, Rev. Alan Best (FCC General Secretary). It
will be an opportunity to honour the past and celebrate the future of Manly Congregational
Church, which is a half-hour ferry ride from Sydney’s CBD. In earlier days, when it was a
holiday destination, it was f<strong>am</strong>ously advertised as “Manly, seven miles from Sydney and a
thousand miles from care.” While Manly is still a popular day-trip tourist destination, it is now
a densely populated, busy, commercial and urban area with an emphasis on beachside living.
The Church is very centrally located and is focussing on progr<strong>am</strong>s to present the Gospel to
the local community.
As a continuation of the celebrations, there will be a ‘Hymn-a-Thon’ on Sunday, 16
September. It will be a time for joyful music and reflection on the truth of the words found in
the rich heritage of hymnody.
1870s Today
9

BY ANDREW CARTER,
PASTOR OF THERFIELD CHAPEL, NEAR ROYSTON,
It is very easy for Christians to fall into the trap
of applying Biblical truth in a highly
individualistic way, usually confining it to issues
concerning our personal salvation. In a
revealing phrase, one of the elders I minister
alongside calls <strong>this</strong> approach, “me and God
theology.” He is getting at the tendency to think
of the Christian faith merely in terms of how it
applies to our personal relationship with God
rather than as a truth claim, a whole world and
life view. When we confine our Christian
thinking to a situation with ourselves at the
centre of the “God issue,” we soon run the risk
of affirming the secular charge that something
may be true for us, the Christian, whilst not
being true for him, the atheist. And before long,
Christianity is relegated to where the secularist
wants it to be, merely a creed that helps its
adherents; we need health and happiness and
nice feelings and a good marriage and what-do
-you-know, God helps with them all.
VALID FOR WHOM?
“Me and God theology” manifests itself in
different but related ways. I well remember
talking to a man in London about Christianity
being true. His response was both revealing
and worrying. He said, “Even if Christianity
wasn’t true, I would still believe it.” Christianity,
it seems, was something that was valid for him
because of his personal commitment to it
rather than because it corresponded to what is
ENGLAND
really there. He was falling into the trap of
thinking that since Christianity gave him good
feelings and security, it was therefore helpful to
him and worthy of being committed to. What
mattered was that it was “true” (read valid) for
him rather than it having any external authority
beyond his mind.
But “me and God theology” is seen in other
contexts as well. A few years ago my wife,
Julie, was talking to her auntie about her
mother (Julie’s grandmother) who was dying of
cancer. Julie remarked that even in death there
is hope for those who put their trust in Jesus.
Her auntie replied, “That’s nice if you have that
feeling.” The lady was doing the s<strong>am</strong>e thing as
my friend - captured by the mood of the times -
she was assuming that Christianity was
something that exists in the minds of its
followers as (in <strong>this</strong> case) a crutch to assist in
life’s difficulties. Again it is “true” for the one it
helps and Christianity is reduced to a feeling.
Finally, we encounter another species of “me
and God theology” when we hear people say
something along the lines of “I like to think of
God like x” or “I don’t like Christianity’s God; I
prefer to think of him in the following way …”
The assumption is that we define God; he’s a
God (read god) for us, made according to our
designs. The point is that God and truth, like
beauty, are in the eye of the beholder, things
we create for ourselves. We are children of the
postmodern world.
10

ABSOLUTE CLAIM
Although <strong>this</strong> is likely to horrify our society, we
believers need to teach the Gospel in such a
way that no one is left in any doubt that
Christianity is making an absolute claim about
the nature of reality. It claims to be not a truth
but the truth; only it fully explains and
interprets human existence. Either its claims
are true for all human beings regardless of
their nationality, culture or religion, or they are
true for none. What’s more, its claims would be
true even if no one in the world believed them
to be so; they are truths that exist
independently of the mind of any human being.
In <strong>this</strong> sense, we might compare Christianity to
gravity. We may stand in militant unison and
deny that gravity exists but our collective
opinion has no bearing whatsoever upon
whether it does exist. Furthermore, denying
the existence of gravity doesn’t mitigate its
effects. As we jump off a tall building, we may
confidently tell ourselves that since we don’t
believe in the law of gravity we can avoid its
effects and will not die when we land. The
simple fact is that we will die; gravity is real
whether we believe in it or not.
And so it is with the claims of Christianity. One
can deny the existence of God and the deity of
his Son and the fact that He will judge the
world, but if the Gospel is true, none of <strong>this</strong>
denial changes reality one jot. Millions of
people can believe that God is a figment of the
Christian’s imagination; but it doesn’t mean
that He is a figment of imagination, or that He
won’t judge them because they don’t believe in
Him. At <strong>this</strong> point we can see the wisdom of
Francis Schaeffer, who talked to his generation
about “the God who is there,” rather than
someone who simply exists as a figment of his
or anyone else’s imagination.
TRUE FOR ALL
Let us remember that Christianity addresses
God, heaven, hell and sin because these
things actually exist, external to my mind. If
Christianity helps us, it is because it is true; it is
not true because it helps us. Christianity is
either true for all or it is false for all. If it is true
only for you or me, then it is certainly false.
Article used with the kind permission of
Rev. Peter Beale,
Editor of Congregational Concern
Magazine of the Evangelical Fellowship
of Congregational Churches
Issue No. 204 Summer 2012
W E C F
10th Triennial Meeting
23 – 27 September, 2013
DETAILS : Pages 16 to 19
11

BY JOHN KIMBALL, CCCC DIRECTOR OF
CONFERENCE CARE AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
I recently saw a cartoon where a forest ranger
had climbed down the rope-ladder of a
helicopter to speak with a couple that were at
a remote mountain cabin that had no obvious
road. They all stood knee-deep in unkempt
vegetation and the couple had an exasperated
look on their faces.
The caption?
“Sorry to interrupt your vacation, folks, but your
congregation has called the Rangers’ Station
twenty-eight times to say they can’t find the
communion glasses.”
The only reason we can all find humor in that
cartoon is because, to some extent, we all
know that <strong>this</strong> stuff actually happens. It may
not be as radical as seeking out your pastor on
a remote island or while he’s on the table
receiving open-heart surgery (other similar
cartoons published over the years), but true
nonetheless.
For years, American denominations (including
our own) have been very concerned about the
growing trends associated with clergy burnout.
It’s real. And when you’re the pastor
experiencing it, it’s brutal. Much of the burnout
pastors face is self-inflicted, but churches
rarely take steps to hold their pastors
accountable for the personal Sabbath rhythms
required to maintain a healthy, thriving longterm
pastoral ministry. When coupled with
unrealistic expectations by many
congregations, broken (or non-existent)
Sabbath rhythms spell sure disaster. Pastoral
attrition is at an all-time high. The Praxis
Center for Church Development recently
reported that, of those who are graduating
from America’s seminaries today, less than
50% will still be in pastoral ministry within five
years. While there are many things leading us
to <strong>this</strong> worrisome reality, there is no doubt that
a lack of an authentic Sabbath is a contributing
factor.
So what are we to do? Well, our CCCC
member congregations can do a lot to help
their pastors in <strong>this</strong> regard. Here is a list of
suggestions I have recommended over the
years to address <strong>this</strong> problem. Some of these I
have learned from others, some I implemented
myself, and still others are just common sense.
Prayerfully consider these as ways to bless
your pastor, helping to maintain the critical rest
patterns needed to remain fresh in ministry.
After all, even if <strong>this</strong> list is approached from a
purely selfish standpoint, the church is the
direct beneficiary.
1.Require your pastor to take all allotted
vacation time. I cannot tell you how many
pastors I work with that do not use the
vacation time given them. Do your pastor’s
f<strong>am</strong>ily a favor and make vacation time
mandatory.
2. Expect your pastor to take at least one full
day (preferably two, like the rest of us)
completely away from work-related activities
each week. Most people get some form of
‘weekend,’ even if it doesn’t always fall on the
12

weekend. Your pastor needs the s<strong>am</strong>e kind of
break for rest and home projects. And if your
pastor’s normal day off is used for a funeral or
other church need, expect that time off to be
taken on another day.
3. Consider offering your pastor a long
weekend to spend with f<strong>am</strong>ily once each
quarter. Some of our churches have started
planning special services on the “fifth Sunday”
during months with five Sundays, allowing their
pastor to visit a different church or to make a
quick f<strong>am</strong>ily trip. If you offer <strong>this</strong>, it should not
be considered vacation time.
4. Encourage your pastor to work no more than
50 hours per week (dual income pastors may
have to increase that slightly). And as
members of the leadership and others in the
church f<strong>am</strong>ily learn their own divine design,
they can be equipped to pick up some slack.
5. Offer your pastor assistance to participate in
at least one short-term mission experience
away from the church every two to three years.
Such an investment will come back to benefit
the congregation many times over.
6. Allow your pastor to schedule at least two
personal prayer retreats per year. Pastoral
ministry is primarily a spiritual enterprise.
Giving your pastor the needed time to remain
“prayed up” for ministry is crucial. Some
pastors may need two to three days for such a
retreat because one whole day may be lost just
decompressing in order to truly engage in
prayer.
7. Do not expect your pastor to return from
vacation time for ministry needs and funerals.
This is one of the most common ways
congregations prevent their pastors (and their
f<strong>am</strong>ilies) from actually experiencing a season
of rest. Plan ahead to have a competent
minister to cover such needs.
8. Seriously consider the incredible value of
offering your pastor an extended sabbatical
time for rest, retreat and study after he has
served your church for several years.
Sabbatical plans vary greatly, but these are
usually offered every five to seven years and
may last anywhere from one to three months.
There are some great Sabbatical plans, not the
least of which is a wonderful study opportunity
with The Cheshunt Foundation at Westminster
College, C<strong>am</strong>bridge University.
9. Ask your pastor regularly how much time he
or she is taking each day to rest, exercise, pray
and play. Many pastors will squirm at <strong>this</strong>
suggestion - do it anyway.
10. Help your pastor and your church f<strong>am</strong>ily by
limiting church activities to no more than three
nights per week. Evenings are the only time
pastors can spend with their f<strong>am</strong>ilies,
especially their children. Do not take that
precious time away from them, or other
f<strong>am</strong>ilies in the church for that matter.
If you have additional ideas on how to help
your pastor to establish and maintain good
Sabbath rhythms, let us know.
Used with kind permission,
Rev. Dr. Ron H<strong>am</strong>ilton,
Conference Minister
Conservative Congregational Christian
Conference
Publication “The Foresee”
March, 2012
SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE WECF FAMILY.
EMAIL YOUR NEWS, PRAYER AND PRAISE POINTS TO:
kerrian.cartledge@hotmail.com
13

The Congregational Union of
Ireland lost one of its greatest
ministers and evangelists in the
death of Rev. S<strong>am</strong>uel Workman on
Sunday, March 18, 2012.
S<strong>am</strong>, as he was known, was wonderfully
converted as a young man in his native
Ballymena.
Later, he felt the call of God to Christian service
and entered the Faith Mission Bible College to
train for God’s work, after which he worked
very successfully with The Faith Mission.
He received a call to Donaghey Congregational
Church where he and his wife, Una, laboured
faithfully before moving to Abbots Cross
Church where he experienced a time of great
blessing. There he witnessed a church that was
dying, coming to life and filled to capacity week
by week with many souls coming to a real,
living faith in Christ.
S<strong>am</strong> had the gift of evangelism and that gift
found fuller expression when he bec<strong>am</strong>e a fulltime
evangelist. Missions were held in many
places – in churches, public buildings and large
marquees. The mission meetings were usually
crowded with people night by night, with
dozens finding Christ as Lord and Saviour
through his anointed preaching.
While he was well-known for his preaching
ability, he was also a man of prayer. He knew
how to praise God in prayer but he also knew
the great ministry of intercession as he pleaded
with God for His help and the salvation of
souls.
Probably no evangelist made a greater impact
on Ulster since the missions of W. P.
A TRIBUTE
Nicholson. S<strong>am</strong>’s preaching was plain and
straight to the point in a language that could be
understood, but in ‘power and the
demonstration of the Spirit of God.’ In most
parts of Ireland, we hear testimonies from
people who were saved through the ministry of
S<strong>am</strong> Workman.
He has ‘fought a good fight, he has finished the
course, he has kept the faith.’ There was laid
up for him a crown of righteousness which he
has now received.
Throughout the years, he was loyally supported
by his wife, Una. To her, son, David, and wife,
Brenda, we extend our deepest sympathy.
Congregationalism was largely unknown in
parts of the Province until S<strong>am</strong> Workman
began to minister here and there. He brought
Christ to many and people also bec<strong>am</strong>e aware
of Congregationalism.
We sincerely thank God for every memory of a
good pastor, great preacher, earnest pray-er
and successful soul winner. Though gone from
us, he has left many memorials behind, not
graven in wood or stone but in saved souls and
changed lives.
The King there in His beauty,
without the veil is seen,
It were a well spent journey,
though seven deaths lay between,
The L<strong>am</strong>b with His fair army doth on
Mount Zion stand
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s Land.
This article used with the kind permission of
Mrs. Mabel Shaw, Editor,
THE CONGREGATIONALIST
Summer, 2012
14

NEW CHURCH BUILDING OPENING SOON
Three years of prayer, waiting for DA
and building approvals and sacrificial
giving have reached their fruition. The
internal reconstruction is well
underway and will see the provision of
undercover car parking, a pastor’s
office, library, kitchen, toilets, foyer and
a soundproof worship hall. Conversion
of the former Presbyterian Social
Services Welfare Depot has been a
huge undertaking but the vision of what
it might become is finally being
realised.
After completing the settlement on its
new property (South Croydon, Sydney) in
June 2009, and submitting its
Development Application in August of the
s<strong>am</strong>e year, the members and adherents
of C<strong>am</strong>psie Chinese Congregational
Church are eagerly looking forward to the
completion of their new church, hopefully
by mid-August.
Please pray for:
1. The safety of the workers;
2. The reconstruction work to be
completed according to the requirements
of Council so an occupancy certificate
can be issued without delay;
3. The provision of funding to complete
all necessary work.
15

A
U
S
T
R
A
L
I
A
W E C F
10th Triennial Meeting
23 – 27 September, 2013
Wonderful Bible Teaching
Hear what is happening
around the world
Rich Fellowship
PLAN TO ATTEND
FELLOWSHIP OF
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCHES, AUSTRALIA
F<strong>am</strong>ilies are encouraged
to participate in <strong>this</strong>
WECF event.
16

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Rev. Mike Raiter
PROGRAM
SAT 21/SUN 22 Overseas delegates arrive
MON 23 SEP Afternoon – Registration of Participants
TUE 24 SEP Meeting continues
WED 25 SEP Meeting continues
THU 26 SEP Meeting continues
Evening – Triennial Meeting commences. Theme: ‘No Other’
Optional afternoon outing (Symbio Zoo/Stanwell Tops/Sea Cliff
Bridge)
Optional afternoon outing (Wollongong/Ki<strong>am</strong>a area)
FRI 27 SEP Meeting concludes (after lunch)
SAT 28 SEP Day Outing for Overseas Visitors – Sydney (Harbour Bridge,
Opera House, Ferry Trip)
SUN 29 SEP Visits by overseas visitors to FCC Churches; preaching where
appropriate
MON 30 SEP Possible trip to Canberra for overseas visitors, travelling through the
Southern Highlands and farming country to the Nation’s Capital
(determined by demand)
TUE 1 OCT Canberra trip continues, including Floriade floral festival
WED 2 OCT Canberra trip continues – afternoon return to Sydney
THU 3 OCT Overseas delegates depart for home countries, OR
Further local sightseeing, OR
Depart for other Australian destinations.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER DETAILS
17

THEME: NO OTHER . . . (Evening Sessions)
Monday - No Other Gospel
Rev. Alan Best - WECF President
Tuesday - No Other King
Rev. Dr Stephen G<strong>am</strong>mon - WECF Vice Vice-President
Vice President
Wednesday - No Other Power
Rev. Mike Plant - WECF Secretary
Thursday - No Other Life
Rev. Matthew Murray - Engadine Congregational Church, Australia
The Wollongong region offers a diversity of built environments, coastal, forest, mountain
and rural countryside.
It is <strong>this</strong> juxtaposition of mountain and beach that gives the whole South Coast region its
special character and <strong>this</strong> is clearly visible in the environment surrounding the
Wollongong Surf and Leisure Resort.
18

Wollongong Surf and Leisure Resort, south of Sydney,
is about an hour’s drive from the airport.
Several levels of accommodation are available. Please
see the attachment that outlines these options.
Initial bookings for accommodation for those who
have sent an “Expression of Interest” will be made in
September 2012.
Please prayerfully consider attending <strong>this</strong> conference
and sending an “Expression of Interest” form. A form
is attached to <strong>this</strong> email.
19

BY CYRIL ASTON
EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES (EFCC), UK
How long has your pastor been at your
church? Five, ten, twenty, thirty years? I can
pretty well guarantee that there is no pastor
within EFCC (or WECF, Ed.) who has been in
his church for 60 years.
Amazingly, Willi<strong>am</strong> Jay of Bath, was the pastor
of the s<strong>am</strong>e church for almost 62 years. Even
more astonishingly, he maintained a fresh and
effective ministry all the way through,
witnessed a steady stre<strong>am</strong> of conversions and
additions to the church, and knew a
remarkable sense of unity and oneness in the
congregation.
Jay was born on May 6, 1769, in Wiltshire, the
fourth of five children. He lived at Tisbury
during his boyhood. His parents were ordinary,
humble folk and young Willi<strong>am</strong> had a basic
education, struggling to learn to read. He loved
solitude, often wandering in the fields and
lanes, and his shyness stayed with him all his
life.
CALLED TO PREACH
He was greatly influenced by the Methodists
early on, and was converted as a boy.
Although apprenticed as a stonemason at 14,
Willi<strong>am</strong> soon felt God’s call upon him to
preach and prepare for the Christian ministry.
He began preaching in local chapels when just
16 and in 1785, began attending Rev.
Cornelius Winter’s Academy at Marlborough,
studying there for three years. Following these
studies, at the age of 21, he began his first
and only pastorate at Argyle Chapel, Bath, in
1791.
The young pastor soon began drawing many
people to the Chapel. Preaching was always
his priority. His preparation was thorough,
systematic and deeply prayerful. He always
read widely around his text, spending hours
walking in the woods meditating on it. His
sermons were plain, simple, straightforward
and practical – he aimed “low,” never
pandering to those “high and mighty” who
attended the Chapel. Unusually for his time,
his sermons were never longer than 45
minutes, and often shorter. He always
preached without notes. By 1804, the Chapel
had to be enlarged, and again in 1821.
CATHOLIC SPIRIT
The church enjoyed years of great unity. “The
dipped and sprinkled have dwelt in peace,” he
once remarked. He had a large and generous
catholic spirit towards all his fellow
evangelicals. “Our regiments retain their own
colours and officers, but fight against a
common foe and for the s<strong>am</strong>e King of glory.”
Although a convinced Calvinist, he believed
Calvinism “should leaven the whole character
of the pastor and preacher, but not be urged
dogmatically.” Wise words.
The shy Willi<strong>am</strong> married Anne Davies in 1791
and they had six children. It was a happy
20

home, with its inevitable share of sadness too.
Anne died in 1845, after 54 years of marriage.
SOUGHT AFTER
Outside of his preaching and pastoral work,
Jay was a popular and much sought after
speaker, and he travelled widely to minister.
He helped form the London Missionary Society
in 1794 and produced several editions of
sermons, <strong>writing</strong>s and daily readings that were
well received in England and the USA. He
knew scores of fellow evangelical ministers in
the country, corresponded widely and
welcomed a stre<strong>am</strong> of influential visitors to the
manse. He was a close friend of Willi<strong>am</strong>
Wilberforce, who greatly admired his
preaching. At the Jubilee celebrations of his
ministry in 1841 the hymns for the occasion
were specially composed by J<strong>am</strong>es
Montgomery.
The aged servant of the Lord preached his last
Our Congregational World is a publication of the World Evangelical Congregational
Fellowship. Its purpose is to provide articles to challenge and encourage both our corporate
and individual Christian witness, share news and keep member countries informed of WECF
happenings:
www.wecf-cong.org
The views expressed in Our Congregational World are those of the contributors and are not
necessarily those of the Editor or the Executive Committee of the WECF.
All rights are reserved to edit any article submitted for publication.
Please forward articles, news items or prayer requests for the next issue of Our
Congregational World to the Editor, Kerrian Cartledge, by Friday 21 September, 2012.
kerrian.cartledge@hotmail.com
If email access is unavailable, please forward to:
Kerrian Cartledge
23/78 Hoth<strong>am</strong> Road
Gymea NSW 2227
AUSTRALIA
sermon at the Chapel on July 25, 1852 (Psalm
53:1-2), for after that he was taken ill.
Resigning from the pastorate in October 1852,
he died at the end of 1853 at the age of 84
years.
The memorial tablet erected in his honour
admirably sums up his remarkable life: “The
wise and good and holy Willi<strong>am</strong> Jay, the great
and useful preacher of the Gospel of our
salvation.” The text underneath it says it all:
“He was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit
and of faith.” (Acts 11:24)
First published in the series,
‘Congregational Worthies’ in
Congregational Concern,
Magazine of the EFCC,
<strong>this</strong> brief biography is taken from the
WECF website
www.wecf-cong.org
Follow the Link:
We Stand on the Shoulders of Giants
21