A Home For Growing Disciples

Dear friends,

This Sunday we begin a five-week series on the vision we share as St Andrew’s: Growing Disciples of Jesus Christ through Belonging, Maturity and Outreach.

I’m looking forward to it. Vision can sound like a slogan or a plan for making things happen. Our confidence rests somewhere deeper: Jesus says, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). He builds through his death and resurrection, and forms a family of disciples who follow him in the way of the cross. Our part is to pray, welcome, teach, serve, give and speak of Jesus, trusting him to grow his people.

Our vision remains the same. For 2027, we are expressing it as A Home for Growing Disciples. This connects with our new hall, which is expected to be ready in early 2027. Many of us have prayed and given towards it for more than a decade. As the building nears completion, I’m excited to imagine the life Jesus may grow in and through it: people meeting, learning, sharing food, opening the Bible, praying, welcoming neighbours and helping one another grow.

Over the five weeks, we’ll explore what it means to grow and mature in Christ, belong to one another, reach out with the gospel and give generously.

This is our first year of inviting households to make an annual pledge indicating what they intend to give to St Andrew’s ministry and mission in 2027. We’re doing this as an act of discipleship and gratitude, and to help us plan ministry responsibly. There is no set amount or percentage; the invitation is to pray about what is generous and sustainable for your household. I’ll outline the process this Sunday, and a booklet will be available on 1 November. The main invitation to pledge will come on 15 November; we will receive pledges on Commitment Sunday, 22 November, when the series concludes.

There are encouraging signs of God’s work among us this year. Average Sunday attendance has grown by 9% over last year. We have welcomed families from the local community to church for the first time, new members to St Andrew’s, and seen young people commit their lives to Christ. At our Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday 7 November, our church family will have a chance to gather, hear more about what God has been doing at St Andrew’s this year, and give thanks together.

Please sign up by 30 October: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1650161

I hope you’ll join us for the series and for dinner. I’m looking forward to seeing how God will keep growing us as disciples of Jesus and using us to welcome others.

Grace and peace,
James