The work in Liberia is growing at a fast pace
Sun, 28 Jun 2009 from Brisbane

It has been a little over 12 months since the Gospel came to Monrovia in Liberia West Africa. There are now 3 centres in Liberia and the Pastor - Paul Zawolo is encouraged as the Word is spreading out of the city and moving into the rural areas.

Many testimonies of healing are spoken of in their meetings.





New hall under construction.




One of the many meetings



The Children

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Inspired - Convention 2009
Fri, 12 Jun 2009 from Melbourne

Convention 2009 - an Inspired Rally. Great time, inspiring ministry, inspiring fellowship, inspiring testimonies, great music.

Convention singing

Pr Simon preaching

Great singing

Eddie is the man

Iron Sharpens Iron

Graham

Ally, we love you...

A moment of reflection in the crowd

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Sawtell Easter Camp
Sun, 03 May 2009 from Coffs Harbour

About 250 people enjoyed Sawtell Easter camp held in the Sawtell Caravan Park and hosted by the Coffs Harbour assembly.

People came from everywhere telling of the miraclous signs and wonders God is doing in their lives since being baptised and having their pentecostal experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Healings, provision, peace and contentment in a troubled world and God generally sorting their lives out - all ages and cultures.

One of the highlights was an awesome presentation by Pastor Peter Johnson called Spiritual Solutions. It went into the makeup of man and his spirit and our unfulfilled nature without God's Spirit, and then gave us the solution.

Great music and singers and thanks to those fantastic comperes who each night kept the entertainment rolling. See you all next year.

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PNG National Rally - Port Moresby
Fri, 17 Apr 2009 from Brisbane

Pastor Darcy Ryan reports: It is the start of the PNG National Rally. There are 12 Aussies and 1 Kiwi who have come to Papua New Guinea to bring support to our PNG brothers and sisters.

Items, testimonies, singing, inspired ministry, prayer and one new convert. This is only the first day of the rally.

More to come as there is another 2 days of the rally, before 7 of the Aussies are about to walk the Kokoda Track - love to see the after-walk photo.

REPORT ON DAYS TWO & THREE  (See Photos below)

Days 2 and 3 were repeats of the first day, however there were another 9 people baptised which became highlights of each day.

Visiting pastors brought the Word, testimonies and items. Overall the rally was a great success and the Church is looking forward to the future as more rallies are planned.

After the rally, the 7 saints from Australia prepared themselves for the Kokoda Track walk. I cannot report on their experiences as at this stage they are somewhere on the track.

Michael, Susan, Annette, Donna and myself headed down to beautiful Milne Bay where we had fellowship with the saints from Waga Waga and Apahuhuna.

A most enjoyable time with the meeting and refreshments afterwards. To end the day there was one more baptism with a pukpuk (crocodile) swimming close by. It was the quickest baptism I have ever seen in PNG.


Aussies and a Kiwi on stage bringing an item



Sisters feeding the visiting PNG Saints


Stage singers at the first chorus session


Six of the seven saints who will walk the Kokoda Track - Missing from Photo - Les Eakin.
(All have completed the Kokoda Track walk and are safe and sound back in Australia - they all having Bragging Rights)

DAY 2 and 3 - MILNE BAY


Sunday Communion Meeting


One of the many baptisms


Welcome to Milne Bay


Greeting at Apahuhuna


Annette and Donna wanted to ride in the back - PNG style


Apahuhuna Item




Beautiful Milne Bay

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A Scene of Absolute Devastation
Sat, 28 Feb 2009 from Melbourne

A couple of days ago, Pastor Simon Longfield had the opportunity to venture up to Kinglake with Dan and Magee, who have lost their home in the Victorian fires. He reports:

On the journey up the mountain the sight of charcoaled forests, burnt-out vehicles, twisted roofs, was sobering!

Being an ex-Kinglaker, I had a lump in my throat as we approached our old house - gulp!  Absolute devastation!

It's very still, there are no birds, no leaves rustling on the trees, no noise, no shade - it's unbelievable! 

As reported previously, the three RCI families who lost their homes, are well catered for by the community aid and the RCI family as well.

As for Dan and Magee, the pics below tell the story ... not one thing is salvageable - everything reduced to ash!

Praise the Lord they are safe and are well.  God bless these families as they re-build!

Pray for them! 

Magee surveys what is left of her kitchen

Dan finds a globe in the bathroom

Dan and Magee outside their once beautiful home

Dan's cement mixer has certainly seen better days

Magee inspects her burnt out car -
the combi in the background is their's too!

(pictures used with the permission of Dan & Magee)

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Devastating Bush Fires in Victoria, Australia
Sun, 08 Feb 2009 from Melbourne

Devastating fires have been experienced in Victoria since last weekend. Saturday 7 February was Melbourne's hottest day ever recorded (46.4 celsius or 115.5 fahrenheit) with strong gusty hot northerly winds providing what has been described as the worst fire conditions in Victoria's history since European settlement.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected within the community.

Some of you are asking for the status of Revival Centres members:

Reports so far are that 6 people (one family) in the Kinglake area are safe; although they have lost their home. An older lady in the Kinglake area has lost her unit, but is safe.

One couple in Chum Creek, near Healesville, have lost their home, but are safe themselves. The other family near Healesville are also all safe and have come through relatively unscathed - although the flames came up to their house, destroying their garden (they had already evacuated by the time of the fire). They are now back home, without power, with several near-neighbour's houses destroyed around them. 

Others in the Warburton, Hurstbridge, Diamond Creek and Whittlesea areas are also all reported as safe.

All assembly members in Bendigo are safe.

From the Morwell assembly, it is reported that assembly members in Drouin, Upper Erica, Moondarra, and Currajong are all safe, although again flames came right up to houses in some instances.

All RCI members who are CFA volunteers and who have been involved in fighting the fires are also all safe.

Also, see later report on this website.

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How to Sell a Lawnmower, In Season or Out
Mon, 02 Feb 2009 from Launceston

Saturday, January 31, 2009, Ulverstone Waterslide Day for the saints from Northern Tasmania will be a day to be remembered.
 A new name was written down in glory as Carol, (from nearby Sheffield), was baptized and fulfilled the scriptural directive: "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."

It all came about after brother John and sister Debbie (Ulverstone RCI) made a special trip out of their way to help Carol out by delivering parts to get a motor mower up-and-running again. Then, (as you do), the conversation headed towards the Lord, one thing lead to another and Carol was more than happy to attend the following Sunday meeting at Launceston and promptly received the Holy Spirit, speaking in other (unknown) tongues.



Pastors David (facing) and Fred (back-on) help Carol say "goodbye to the old man" under the waters of baptism, praise the Lord!


Sister Heather got the first of many very happy hugs while Frans and Marian look on.


"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

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2008 Tasmanian Christmas Camp, Orford
Mon, 02 Feb 2009 from Launceston

A time to remember and reflect on what the Lord has done for the folk who made the trip to Orford, Tasmania, December 2008 - January 2009.



Some of the 170-180 total brothers and sisters attending.



We were entertained and uplifted by many inspirational items from folks from many assemblies this particular year. Here are Amber, Mark and Nick



Some saints even went on a 40-minute boat ride across to Maria Island for a day trip.
(This is on the way down to the jetty).



Kerry and the girls made music to the delight of the saints.



Mark, Johnno and Brendan were hilarious with their 'interactive item'. This is how it worked: The music was played with lyrics ONCE, giving the 'willing contestants' Quentin and Micah a clue as to how to participate and then it was their turn to 'just add lyrics'. Talk about being put on the spot!



Now what camp ever went without a SUPPER!!??

The Tasmanian saints were truly blessed by the attendance of many mainland and international brothers and sisters who gladly shared testimonies, songs, day-trips, camp duties and all the associated blessings that go with these.

We hope to see many back this year!
Hebrews 10:24-25

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RCI South Island (NZ) Christmas Camp
Sun, 01 Feb 2009 from Blenheim

Praise the Lord for the opportunities we have to get together and be reminded of the huge calling that we are apart of. This year, or rather last year, the South Island assemblies of New Zealand held their Christmas camp in sunny Hanmer Springs, with brethren making the journey from the 3 local assemblies (Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin) and also from as far afield as Melbourne, Ballarat, Dubbo, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Sydney, Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington and even Fiji.

Coming together at camps always makes for an exceptional time. Meeting saints from other assemblies for the first time, as well as catching up with old faithful friends brings to life the great truth about 'iron sharpening iron'.  

With warm sunny days, a picture postcard location amongst mountains and forests, plenty of meetings and fellowship to revel in … it was a delightful time. Over the course of a week, we prayed together in the mornings, had loads of great ministry in the meetings, ate meals that filled you to bursting (thanks Rosi!), enjoyed relaxing and chatting together over good coffee, while some went mountain biking and swimming, the ladies enjoyed a high tea at a country café (thanks Emily and the Sydney girls!), while the dads looked after the kids and discussed deep and meaningful topics like … how to lose cricket without crying.

Then there was good golf and bad golf, walking, hiking, standing under waterfalls for the heroic, and of course plenty of raucous hoots of laughter from all ends of the camp! Hope to see you there next Christmas. (Photos, thanks to Abi, Emily, Amanda, Jacqui, Howie & Lynette, Kate and to anyone else whose photos we grabbed off facebook!).

Entertained by the Aussies. Was that the kangaroo song?

Dunedin lifts the roof

The dads lift the roof!!

Practice for the Kakoda trail ...

Camp cooks for the day!

The serving sisters (some of the food even ended up on our plates!)

Lean and Mean, strikes again!

Action shot! The oldies won again ......... just

Sisters Va and Voli - the Fijian contingent. BULA VINAKA!

Jesse ... Lennon? New Year's eve fancy dress

 
Youngies and younger-ies knock out a chorus

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Camp starts at Pottsville
Thu, 25 Dec 2008 from Brisbane

From north, south, east or west, people travel to Pottsville. You may well ask "where in the world is Pottsville".

Pottsville is approx 20 mins south of Tweed Head which is just over the Queensland border into NSW. It is a quiet beachside town, with a community hall and a few shops and lots of sunlight (sometimes). A perfect place to hold our Church camp.


Communion Meeting


Fellowship


One of the many items at camp

FINAL CAMP ACTIVITIES


New Year Eve's Concert


Theme "Painted Faces"



Cricket on the oval

Australian Team -  replacements in training.

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