2019-Wesley-Mission-Annual-Report - Flipbook - Page 10
Our Christian community
Faith in
action
Wesley Mission is a uniquely
shaped church: a vibrant and
diverse community of faith
representing different ages and
cultures, and all walks of life.
We’re a mission-oriented church, passionate
about growing in the likeness of Christ. That
means Word and deed are interwoven and
our congregations resource our community
services. Being part of a Wesley Mission
congregation truly means being part of what
God is doing in our communities.
So, as we thank God for the growth we’ve
experienced over the last 12 months,
particularly in the three key areas of
connection, discipleship and compassion,
we recognise this growth was achieved
by God working through the people of
Wesley Mission.
It’s the words and experiences of the people
we serve, our congregation members,
volunteers and staff that best describe how
we are growing our Word and deed mission.
Growing in connection
Growing in compassion
“I feel like God is really trying to connect the
church and community... I look at what God
is doing as trying to bring the church
together, not as a denomination… but the
church together to help people. I think
Wesley Mission can come alongside and
train churches how to do community really
well. I think it’s a strength of ours.”
“As a Word and deed ministry, the people of
Wesley Mission are motivated by the
compassion that God shows us. And we
seek to share that compassion and love in
practical ways with all the people we come
into contact with.”
The Rev Keith V Garner AM 7
5
1
Wesley Mission Superintendent/CEO
3
Joanna 1
7
Wesley Mission Chaplain
“My knitting group actually had one of the
leaders come out from Wesley Mission’s
Mums and Kids Matter and tell them about
the program. So they know firsthand what
work’s being done out there and how these
people are being helped, so it’s connecting
people. It’s connecting the Wesley School
for Seniors people with one of the programs.
And we were making blankets for people at
Wesley Edward Eagar Lodge to brighten up
their rooms.”
Cherrie 2
Wesley CityHeart congregation member, Wesley Connect
volunteer and Wesley School for Seniors instructor.
“With recent migrants from China, I guess,
the challenges that they face rather than
what we face, is settling in, and finding new
friends, and the language barrier. They can
find an answer at the Chinese congregation,
because we have been through it, we were
immigrants once.”
Leta 3
9
“Continuing the work of Jesus Christ in
Word and deed brings us back to the source
that pours into us daily with compassion,
with love, with mercy, that we have as a gift
to share. And that’s one of the things that
sets Wesley Mission apart.”
The Rev Dr Rick Dacey 8
Senior Minister Wesley Congregational Life
2
4
6
8
Growing in discipleship
“We’re seeing young people already starting to
develop this relationship and… just imagine where
they will be, like 20, 30 years down the track,
right? And they’re already doing God’s work...
they build that community and just bring more
people in.”
Jacob 4
Member of Wesley International Congregation, DIGJC leader
“I’ve been mocked, and laughed at, and shunned.
I’ve had every emotion thrown at me… I just
simply say, ‘I’ve got a deal with God that I will
stand by him’. Even if the whole world was to ever
ignore me, the whole world, I’ve still got a
relationship with him that I can share, and I want
to share.”
“Being the salt and light in the world means being
just for Christ. Just doing the things that people
won’t do, but you do it because it’s not easy,
because it is right. I’m just one grain of salt myself,
yes, but you see in a church, there are many
grains of salt, and if we all think alike, I believe we
can make a difference.”
Ken 5
Isaac
Wesley CityHeart congregation and
Wesley Connect bible study member
Member of Wesley International Congregation and
member of BlueSky
“I was surprised to encounter Christ in a
situation where I thought I was the one
helping the person, and spent some time
listening in prayer with that person who had
really complex needs. And then at the end
of the prayer, they turned around and said,
‘Well, what can I pray for you?’ And that just,
it did something. It taught me that we are
not a church helping the poor or the
marginalised. We are a community helping
community, and we all need prayer.”
Lucy 9
Coordinator Wesley Connect
6
Wesley Chinese Congregation member
10
11