the real australian - The Bush Church Aid Society

Editorial
During a recent visit to King Island I
enjoyed some warm soup and warmer
fellowship with the congregation at All
Saints’ Anglican Church.
I found myself chatting to Kathleen,
who has been part of church life there for
all of her nine and a bit decades. Over that
time she’s seen plenty of changes in church
and community – new arrivals and new
industries, new patterns of ministry and
opportunities for mission. But what hasn’t
changed is God’s commitment to her in
Jesus and her commitment to serving Him.
In the months to come the Council
of BCA will be engaging in a process of
reviewing the particular contribution we
make to Christ’s mission and how we
communicate it to current and potential
supporters. No doubt that review will result
in some new initiatives.
But what will not change is every bit
as important as what may. BCA remains
committed under God to carrying out its
sixfold statement of purpose, namely
• to proclaim Christ so that people may
respond to Him;
• to nurture Christians in their faith and
mission
• to strengthen local Christian communities
in their mission
• to provide services of Christian care and
advocacy
• to develop an understanding of Christ’s
mission and
• to promote active partnership throughout
the church.
In this edition of the Real Australian you
will read examples of how we are seeking
to live out this purpose. Maybe you might
use it to review your own priorities in
mission.
By the way, please pray for the people
at All Saints’ as they prepare for their
centenary later this year and give thanks
for Kathleen, who already has some ideas
for marking her own centenary, God willing.
Mark Short
National Director
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