www.rousehillchurch.com

Fresh website on the way!

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2008-07-31T09:59:53+10:00

We have been working to update and expand the website, which will be ready in August. Initially the site was created to help inform supporters and to advertise to the community. We plan to improve in those areas, with more emphasis on informing the community.

We are excited about the recent progress in the church plant, and we want the updated site to reflect that. Will be in touch!

Ben

Scripture Class Update: Confessing Your Sins

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2008-05-10T09:55:50+10:00

I just never expected to be confessing mine to 25 kindergarteners! Last week while teaching the Easter story I was trying to help my students understand that we have all done bad things. Some of them really got the idea because one asked if "even teachers do bad things?" When I assured him it was true, another piped up wanting to know, "What bad things do you do?" Which is how I came to find myself confessing to a bunch of five year olds that "sometimes I drive my car faster than I'm supposed to."

Elisabeth

We Are Moving!

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2008-04-01T10:50:58+11:00

Beginning 6 April, our worship services will be at Vinegar Hill Memorial Community Centre, located in the new Rouse Hill shopping centre. Here is a map and directions:

DIRECTIONS
Park in the Woolworths carpark.
Go up the escalator then turn back toward the Food Terrace.
Turn right to the Town Square, then turn left to centre entrance.
Take the lift or walk the stairs to Level 2 (above the library).

The centre provides two spacious meeting rooms and a children's playroom, well-equipped for our needs. We are excited about it and look forward to serving the community in new ways.

Ben

Team Update: Friends At Faith

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2008-03-25T10:35:20+11:00

Faith Baptist Church in Dundas invited the team to a Missions Dinner last week. The event was lively and full of exotic foods and fun activities. One highlight was the church's missions report, which noted about 25% of the church's income is designated toward supporting missionaries. For a small church, this was very encouraging and shows a solid commitment to supporting missions. The dinner also featured video and photo reports from missionaries. We gave a progress update concerning Rouse Hill and I spoke briefly on evangelism.

Faith Baptist has also committed to sponsoring our work in Rouse Hill. We're grateful for their help and look forward to partnering with them for the advance of the Gospel. Thank you, friends at Faith!

Ben

Crucifixion Day Service: 21 March, 10am

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2008-03-19T22:43:31+11:00

Scripture Class Update

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2008-03-04T09:15:50+11:00

I love being back in school! Actually, when I'm honest, it's really sometime around the second week of January that I start wondering how long until school starts. Already though my heart has been broken by one year one student. We were chatting about why it's important to learn about the Bible and his answer was: "So we'll be able to do what's right and God won't hate us." How sad that he thinks God would hate him. We had a short chat right then and there about how God loves us very much and even though He doesn't like it when we do bad things, He still loves us and nothing could change that. Hopefully by the end of the year all of the children will have a better understanding of how much God loves us and will want to obey Him out of love--not fear.

Elisabeth

Weber Progress Report

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2008-01-28T10:13:43+11:00

The Weber family are making progress in gathering financial support in the US. They have visited about 20 churches in the past three months, reporting to sponsors and meeting new helpers. Please pray God will provide the remaining $1500 / month needed. You can read their latest family update here.

Ben

Update From Elisabeth

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-12-26T17:34:44+11:00

Greetings to all from the USA. It's been good to be able to travel here in the midwest and catch up with various friends and family members over the last month. I am certainly missing the Sydney summer weather though! I have more travels scheduled to accomplish some work for the stateside branch of the organisation that I work for, which will keep me busy for the next month and a half. I hope everyone has had a merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year.

Elisabeth

Weber Progress Report

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-12-14T18:08:47+11:00

Here is news from the Weber family, who are currently reporting to their sponsoring churches in the US:
- They have visited 15 churches in the past two months and have received more financial support.
- Praise point: the Webers unexpectedly received a minivan for their long trips. They thank God for this timely help!
- They have a full schedule of church meetings until April. They currently need $1600 per month. Please pray God will provide what is needed.

Lord willing, the Webers will return sometime in 2008. They appreciate your prayers! To contact them, email webersdownunder (at) gmail.com.

Ben

Scripture Class Update

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-11-27T13:36:41+11:00

This is the last week of class for all of my Scripture kids. It's been such a special year, and I've enjoyed it so much. Last week we talked about the Christmas story. I think the year 4's and 6's were a bit surprised to learn just how much they didn't know! This week my year 1 classes were going to read The Legend of the Candy Cane: about how the shape can be a shepherd's staff or a J for Jesus, the red is for Christ's blood, and the white represents the purity of our heart after Christ takes away our sins at salvation. It's a great summary of both Christmas and Easter and a fun way to end the year.

Elisabeth

Weber Family Update

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-11-14T11:20:28+11:00

Click here to download the Weber family's latest prayer letter. (PDF) The Webers are currently reporting to their sponsoring churches and gathering needed financial support. They appreciate your prayers!

Ben

Update From Elisabeth

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-10-24T08:54:51+10:00

I had a wonderful time overseas. In Togo, West Africa, I was able to assist with developing some second language acquisition curriculum for use in the Christian schools. This was an adventure as I speak neither Ewe (the local language) or French (the official language)! It was a special blessing to be able to meet Harry and Bea face-to-face and see first hand the work they do training the Togolese to be teachers and helping churches start Christian schools.

In Thailand, I had the privilege of teaching at an English camp for high schoolers through adults. I taught a first year university class, the students had moderate English abilities and it was fun to see them try new phrases and words. The week was made extra special because my parents were also teachers at the camp. It was wonderful to spend some time with them since we so rarely see one another.

Elisabeth

Where Did Everybody Go?

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-10-22T22:25:33+10:00

We've been a little slack on team updates lately, so here's a brief report from this month:

After four years of service in Australia, the Weber family have returned to the US this month to report to their sponsoring churches. We worked together to pack and to help with the big move. Lord willing, they will return next year after they have gathered additional support. We'll post their monthly prayer letters here and will pray for them during their absence.

Elisabeth has just returned after travelling overseas the past couple weeks. It's been a busy season for her too! She'll provide her own update soon.

Di's parents and brother visited from New York, so we took time out for hospitality and sightseeing. They were a blessing, helping around the house and with the children. Also, I was encouraged by a ministry conference in Queensland last week.

It's a memorable month for the team, and we look forward to what God has in store.

Ben

New Photos

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-09-28T13:17:06+10:00

We've posted new photos from this month in our Photos section.

Ben

Church At The Park

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-09-21T11:03:09+10:00

This Sunday we are meeting at Rouse Hill Regional Park for worship and fellowship. Here are the details:

10-11am: Songs, Prayer, Bible Message ("Reactions To Jesus")
11:30am: Fellowship Lunch (free)

For directions, see map:

View Larger Map

2 September: Worship Services Begin

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-08-30T00:08:55+10:00

We're excited about worshiping God together, beginning this Sunday, 2 September! Here are the details:

Meeting at: Beaumont Hills Public School, The Parkway, Beaumont Hills
Time: 10-11am
Featuring:
          Sunday School for primary-age children
          Hymns and songs
          Bible message: "The Hero Who Serves" (Mark chapter 1)
          Morning tea after the service

This is our first service and we've decided on a low-key approach rather than a "grand opening." We expect community interest to grow as we continue outreach efforts. Most of all, our desire is for God to be glorified in our music and message. Thank you for your support and prayers. This is just the beginning!

Ben

Growing in Unity

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-08-29T11:25:26+10:00

One of the highlights of my week is Wednesday evening when the Kwoks, Webers, and I all get together for a meal and planning. Each week the time is filled with good fellowship, great food, and a lot of laughter. It's amazing to see how God has brought us all together from very different backgrounds and ministries to form one team.

Elisabeth

Big Push

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-08-27T05:17:18+10:00

Armed with flyers, we letterboxed in Beaumont Hills this past Saturday. About 20 friends helped to cover most of the suburb. We're letterboxing monthly as part of our outreach plan. Thanks to all who helped!

Seeing God At Work

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-08-20T21:37:41+10:00

I consider it a great privilege to be working with this new church. It is amazing to see God working and watch a church come into existence from nothing but an idea. I have greatly enjoyed working "behind the scenes" with the computer-side of our presentations and being "Aunt Elisabeth" to the kids in the group. I'm really looking forward to our first service on 2 September!

Elisabeth

Presentation at Cornerstone

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-08-20T09:31:15+10:00

This past Sunday the team presented at Cornerstone Baptist Church, Erskine Park. Several years earlier, Pastor Steve Mayo led a team to plant the church, which has become a thriving fellowship. We appreciated their commitment to God-centred, reverent worship in their Sunday meeting. The team shared the vision for ministry in the Hills District and received many helpful responses, including a generous financial gift. Thank you, Cornerstone!

See photos here. (Elisabeth is not pictured because she was working behind-the-scenes, keeping things running smoothly!)

This will be our last presentation for a while, as we introduce public worship services next month. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Ben

Scripture Class Update

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-08-17T17:56:10+10:00

This term in Scripture we have been learning about the kings and prophets of Israel and Judah. It has been so good to listen to the kids' questions and comments as we work through the various mistakes and turn-arounds in the Israelite's history. One highlight came last week after I asked them why God would protect Judah from Sennacherib when He allowed Israel to fall. One Year Four boy put it very clearly: Judah was obeying God and honouring Him in their actions and Israel wasn't. It's wonderful to see them understanding biblical truths and putting together the lessons on their own!

Elisabeth

Presentation at Faith Baptist Church, Dundas

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-08-14T15:03:15+10:00

The team was invited to Faith Baptist Church in Dundas this week. We introduced our ministry vision, Elisabeth gave a testimony of God's guidance, and Paul preached concerning "the work of the Lord" (I Corinthians 15:58). Missionary John Wickline has led Faith Baptist as pastor for over 10 years. The church is comprised of both Asian and Anglo attenders, which reflects their community. We're thankful for the opportunity to meet with them and work together for the advance of the Gospel in Sydney.

Ben

Preparing for September

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-08-08T16:22:16+10:00

This week Rachel and I began working on the curriculum that we will be using in our Sunday School classes. We have decided to start out with some materials written by New Tribes Mission in conjunction with AWANA. The material begins with who God is and then leads the children step-by-step through the Bible from Genesis through the life of Christ. Since the material was written with AWANA council times in mind, we are adjusting some of the work pages and adding a few crafts, games and other fun things. We look forward to starting Sunday School in September!

Elisabeth

Colour Club Week

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-07-26T16:16:59+10:00

Last week the team provided Colour Club, an after-school children's event at Rouse Hill Community Centre. Four students from Bob Jones University assisted and letterboxed the neighbourhoods to promote the week-long event. The children formed two teams (Paints and Pencils) and enjoyed games, crafts and Bible stories. It was great to meet other parents and make new friends.

Colour Club was also supported by various AFBC churches. Emmanuel Baptist Church and Cornerstone Baptist Church provided materials. Inner West Baptist Church provided Christian tracts and books. Fellowship hosted the BJU students and Bethesda Baptist Church gave a cash donation. Friends assisted with letterboxing. Thank you for your kind support!

See photos here.

Ben

Kwok Update

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-07-15T15:51:32+10:00

Where have the Kwoks been? Here's a brief update. From May to June, we were travelling in the US. We arrived in time for the wedding of Ben's brother to Di's sister in Albany, NY. It was a blessing to reunite with Di's family and Grace Bible Church. We also reported to several other churches which sponsor our work here. One highlight was a road trip to Greenville, SC to spend a weekend at our home church, Trinity Bible Church. The three children generally traveled well despite the lengthy trips. While the weeks seemed to fly by, we thank God for the opportunity to reconnect with friends. And we're glad to be back!

Ben

Brisbane Children's Ministries Conference

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-06-05T14:06:21+10:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to speak at a children's workers conference in Brisbane. Though there was a small turn out, those who came were keen to learn and had a lot of great questions and comments. I enjoyed getting to meet many new people, and learned a few things myself!

Elisabeth

Learning Biblical Archaeology

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-05-24T14:04:41+10:00

This week and next I have the privilege, along with about 15 other pastors and Christian leaders from Australia and New Zealand, to attend a course on Biblical Archaeology through the Asia Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS). It is fascinating to see the biblical events come alive as we understand more of the history and culture behind the writing of the Scriptures. I am praying that what I learn in this course will give me a greater passion and confidence not only as I preach, but also as I give a defence of the Scriptures to those who would try to discredit them.

Paul

Weber Family Adjustments

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-05-02T14:23:14+10:00

Congratulations to Ben and Di on their most recent addition, Lydia Jane! As for the Weber family, we are still adjusting to the arrival of Sarah Elizabeth March 15th. Rachel and I are now learning to care for five children. But it certainly is a good problem, as each member of our family is learning to do their part in keeping things going around the Weber household. It is such a great blessing to be part of a family that loves and cares for each other in such a way. We look forward to having a church family that does the same.

The Webers

Lydia Jane Kwok

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-04-25T12:09:34+10:00

Di gave birth to our baby girl Monday night. Di arrived at the hospital at 9pm and delivered the baby 30 minutes later! Lydia is healthy, her parents are well, and the boys are excited. We praise God for His faithfulness. - Ben

Learning Mercy From Samson

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-04-25T12:03:09+10:00

Recently I had the opportunity to read a paper on the life of Samson. It struck me that he did little, if anything, right according to God's laws; and yet God still used him to destroy the Philistines. I am thankful that we serve a merciful God who doesn't just give second chances, but third, fourth, and as many as we need!

Elisabeth

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www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-04-19T06:52:32+10:00

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Children: What Happened To Jesus?

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-04-16T10:02:22+10:00

Each week I have the privilege of teaching Scripture in three different primary schools. The first term of this year was spent learning about Jesus' life and death for us. The children were all very attentive and asked great questions. One of my classes, a Year 4 group, said they want to know what happened to Jesus after He rose from the dead. So we're going to be starting term two by looking at Jesus' last days on earth, the ascension, and His second coming.

Elisabeth

So When Are You Going To Start?

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-04-13T14:34:56+10:00

This is our most-frequently-asked question, which refers to starting public worship services. Worship services are certainly a vital part of the church. Yet we believe there are other vital preparations in starting a new church. These include:
1. Planning - starting a church involves much more than providing worship services! For example: what is our vision for ministry in the Hills District? What are our ministry priorities? How shall we implement our plans? Rather than assume we know these answers, we've taken time to walk through them as a team. We continue to do so.
2. Relationships - we have a great ministry team with a range of abilities. Since the first meeting in January, God is reinforcing team unity and cohesion. At the same time, we are praying for others to join us in this special preparation phase, while we gather more contacts in the community.
3. Training - Lord willing, we plan to have key church ministries in place by August. Those ministries require initial skilling, which we need to coordinate.

A 2003 survey of US church planters showed a recurring response: it takes time to start a new church! The process of planning, building relationships, and preparation is long and detailed. Here is our proposed basic timeframe for starting the church from 2007-2008. (click image to download)

As we prepare, we acknowledge that God ultimately builds His church according to His time.

If you have expressed interest in providing help (i.e. with outreach, children's ministries, worship music, or finances), we appreciate your support! Please continue to pray and we will be in touch with you soon.

If you are interested in attending worship services in August, you are welcome! But if possible, we'd like to get acquainted first. Joining a new church is a significant commitment and we want to be "on the same page" in regard to vision, values and practices. We continue to meet weekly over a meal or a cuppa, where you'd be welcome.

So...when are you going to contact us?

Ben

Preliminary Doctrinal Statement Available

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-04-05T00:54:16+10:00

We have drafted a Doctrinal Statement (PDF file) which expresses our beliefs in a basic, systematic way. The Statement will be re-submitted in fuller detail by the charter date of the church plant. If you have questions or comments, you are welcome to contact us.

Ben

Children's Ministry Training

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-04-04T08:15:05+10:00

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to present three workshops at a children's ministry training course hosted by AWANA. It was a great day and attendees ranged from AWANA workers and Scripture teachers to Sunday School Teachers and young people who are interested in becoming teachers. I really enjoyed getting to meet so many and exchanging ideas and plans with other teachers from around the Sydney region.

Elisabeth

The Prestons-Rouse Hill Connection

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-03-28T23:20:56+10:00

This past Sunday the team gave a presentation at Bethesda Baptist Church in Prestons. The Webers have assisted Bethesda in various ministries, since the church is young and growing. We (Kwoks) were first-time guests, but the most popular newcomer was the Webers' baby girl Sarah. She attracted many admirers! After the service, we mingled with the church family over refreshments.

Because Bethesda is relatively new, it's interesting to learn how God brought the church together. Pastor John Sirone planted the church in 2004 while working full-time, after years of preparation in the Word and ministry. From the outset, Pastor Sirone emphasized Bible teaching and has resisted the mainstream churches' trend toward featuring entertainment in worship. At the same time, the church is actively involved in evangelism through organized outreach and personal relationships with the community.

We were especially encouraged by the church's initiative to help sponsor our team's ministry to the Rouse Hill area. This will be a great help, as launching a new church requires initial financial support. Lord willing, we look forward to a productive partnership with Bethesda Baptist Church!

See the team with John & Thelma Sirone here.

Sarah Elisabeth Weber

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-03-17T00:57:06+11:00

Welcome to the latest member of the Weber family and the ministry team! Sarah arrived on Thursday night and is adjusting well. Parents are in good shape too! See photo here.

Prayer Request: Baby Arrival

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-03-15T01:00:04+11:00

Paul & Rachel Weber would appreciate your prayers as they expect a baby girl imminently. Imminently--as in "any day now!" We look forward to seeing the newest addition to their family very soon. Thanks for taking time to pray for them.

Why Rouse Hill?

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-03-03T15:19:33+11:00

We spent several months last year investigating areas where a new church was needed. Sydney's northwest held our interest for several reasons:
1. Growth area: Sydney continues to attract the majority of new immigrants, with around 800 new residents each week. The Baulkham Hills Shire is one of the larger and fastest growing regions of western Sydney and the state government has planned extensive development for the area, including over 60,000 new homes and a commercial centre in Rouse Hill.
2. Demographics: about a third of the Shire's population was born overseas and the most common language other than English is Cantonese. The median resident's age is mid-thirties. The workforce is generally highly educated. The two largest religious groups are Roman Catholics and Anglicans.
3. Existing churches: the Hills District features numerous churches and religious groups, including the influential Hillsong Church. However, recent religious surveys indicate that Australian churches are struggling in today's culture. Only one in four Christians surveyed believe the Bible should be taken literally. 85% of those surveyed felt their faith had grown in the past year--but only one in five credited this to their local church! About 50% of Christian teens surveyed were open to other religious viewpoints; 1 in 3 did not profess to hold strong beliefs.
4. Distance to Fellowship Baptist Church: believing that healthy churches reproduce, we sought for an area outside Blacktown yet close enough for Fellowship members to regularly assist the branch church. The Rouse Hill area meets that criterion.
5. Prayer and consultation: during our search, we continually asked God for wisdom and guidance and we consulted at length with pastors and ministry workers in various denominations. All of them encouraged us to consider outreach in the Hills, citing growing needs for evangelism and discipleship. God permitting, we will pursue opportunities to build His church here.

In The Blue Mountains

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-02-19T08:50:16+11:00

Pastor Wayne Robilliard invited us to Central Mountains Baptist Church in Hazelbrook, which we visited yesterday. Paul preached on faithfulness in sharing the Gospel and related the story of Frank Jenner, a man whom God used to impact thousands of people in Sydney through his faithful outreach.

We enjoyed a fellowship lunch after the service, making new friends and renewing acquaintances. Pastor Wayne started CMBC in 1993 and it's encouraging to see how God has blessed the church's steadfast commitment to extensive Bible teaching and evangelism. We're glad to be following in their footsteps! Click here for new photos.

First Presentation

www.rousehillchurch.com — 2007-02-12T15:17:54+11:00

This past Sunday, we visited Allowera Baptist Church in Riverstone, where we presented our vision for a new church in the Rouse Hill area. Pastor Dan Proctor is one of our advisors and is sympathetic to church planting, having led Allowera since its beginning. The congregation was friendly and asked good questions about our ministry plans. We look forward to working with them in future ministries together.