Cooperating in Mission

Working together in God's vineyard is the call of Fresh Expressions Australia. When we work cooperatively all kinds of things can happen. Let me tell you about something that was unthinkable only 12 months ago.

In October 2006, 12 men and women from St Paul's Chatswood in the Diocese of Sydney representing the English-speaking and Chinese congregations flew into the diocese of Ballarat for 6 days intensive mission. The visit was the invitation of the rector of South Ballarat, the Revd Mark Schnerring, and at the blessing of the Bishop, the Right Revd Michael Hough.

The team partnered the parish in reaching out to their urban and semi-rural communities.

Wherever possible, Sydney and Ballarat people were paired for visitation and a range of hospitality events. The rector used the time of mission to launch a new young adults’ ministry, a men’s breakfast, and a ladies’ craft meeting. The team(s) were also trained on the job and shared extended times of prayer and debriefing. On the final Sunday, two evangelistic services were conducted and at the ‘altar call’ some 19 people ‘came forward’.

What's so fresh about this you might ask?

Only that people from the most Evangelical and Catholic dioceses in the country found ways of working together. It showed that our shared faith in Jesus means that we have more in common than we realise. It showed that if we're serious about crossing cultural boundaries in Australia today that includes even the strongest cultural boundaries within our own Church. Following our Lord out into his mission field we might find more of God's workers working together.

Do you have a story about unlikely partners finding common ground in mission?