Those of you involved in worship services tomorrow could try to include (or suggest the inclusion) of the new Alice Springs Presbyterian Church in corporate prayers.
Pray for Keith and Jenny Bell.
Pray for the folk who’ll join them in the infancy of this work.
Pray for conversions in the community.
Why a Presbyterian Church plant in Alice Springs?
Well, my opinion is:
not because there are no Gospel affirming Christian churches already here;
not due to a spirit of competition with other denominations or churches;
not out of a sense of romance or sentiment about Presbyterian ministry which took place here in the past;
not because the Presbyterian denomination should have a presence in this town out of a sense of status; and
not because we’re doing so well everywhere else that Alice Springs is next on some sort of list.
But, rather, because:
there’s room for another church in this town (thanks to my Baptist colleague in Mount Gambier, who served as pastor of the Baptist church in Alice Springs for confirming this, if there’s any doubt);
people in remote and regional areas need Gospel ministry just as much as those in urban and suburban areas;
healthy biblical churches are involved in planting other churches (Gospel ministry is a growing activity, not maintenance);
we can best support everyone’s Gospel work in this town by having an active presence here ourselves;
there seem to be a lot of people here who need to encounter the Gospel, and the more Christians and churches doing it, the better; and
it’s a matter of obedience.
Is your church involved in a relationship with a smaller church than your own which you’re supporting as it grows?
If not, why not?
Perhaps you could enter a partnership with the Alice Springs Presbyterian Church?
Pray for them, support them, encourage them.
(Or maybe you’d like to support mgpc. We love some prayer, mentoring and encouragement too.)
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