You probably won’t be able to locate Hohidiai on a map. That’s because it isn’t a place as such. Hohidiai is the name of a wonderful ministry in the North Maluku Islands of Indonesia where through the provision of education and free health care, many lives are being changed.

You can read about it all here and also get a taste for the sounds and music of this part of the world by coming to hear the Hohidiai Choir who are on tour (even to Bendigo!) with a variety of hymns, songs, traditional dances and testimonies.

You can catch them at the Kangaroo Flat Baptist Church, Church Street, Kangaroo Flat, on July 17th at 7pm. There will be a stall with traditional Indonesian items for sale and an opportunity to donate as well.

Although the 2019 Federal election results have returned the Coalition government, many in our nation are still concerned for the future of religious freedom in our nation.

Last year, representatives from Barnabas Fund held many meetings in our capital and regional cities (including Bendigo) to invite the local churches to think and pray about and act on this important issue.

The ‘Barnabas Fund 2019 update’ tour is coming to Bendigo and we are pleased to be hosting the meeting. The details are;

7pm, Tuesday night, June 18th at Bendigo (St John’s) Presbyterian Church (corner of Forest and Mackenzie Streets)

The 2019 Update plans to look at what Barnabas Fund is currently doing, re-cap on Australia’s history and foundation of freedom and discuss ways in which Christians may be strengthened against increasing difficulties each may face.

Our church family is looking forward to renewing fellowship with long term Wycliffe/APWM missionaries Alan & Faye Canavan from Townsville, Qld.  After completing a New Testament translation among the Bwanabwana speaking people of Papua New Guinea, Alan is now a translation consultant for Wycliffe throughout Australia and the Pacific, while Faye is responsible for member care in Far North Queensland. Both are Wycliffe reps in Townsville and are active members of the Willows Presbyterian Church there.

Alan and Faye will be speaking about their ministry during our worship and then again over lunch. Alan will be preaching from God’s Word. There will be a special retiring offering for their support.

No matter how much we deny it, death is never pretty. Death by crucifixion was even less so. While Mel Gibson went to extreme lengths to show us just how much Jesus suffered in his 2 hour plus movie, ‘The Passion of the Christ’, the Bible doesn’t give us that much information on what was actually involved. Of course, it mentions the nails that were driven into his hands and feet and the crown of thorns that was placed upon his head, but the most somber moment is recorded with the greatest simplicity: ‘after he had scourged Him, Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified’ (Mark 15:15).

Yet, the message of the entire Bible centres on the cross of Jesus. It tells us that if we are to appreciate Jesus’ death and its implications for us, then we must understand that he was not just a man who suffered terrible things, but that he was God’s Son who took the place of sinners. It tells us that he was the Creator of the universe who willingly allowed himself to die as he did for those who rebelled against and hated him.

That’s what it’s about. Not about how much Jesus suffered, but about who it was that suffered and that he went to the most extreme lengths to purchase salvation for those who believe in him. Romans 5:8 says ‘God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ And he did that, not to win your sympathy, but that you might believe in him and know the free gift of forgiveness to cover your sins. No, his death was anything but pretty, but to those who believe in him, it was the greatest gift from God.

This Easter, seek him.

Things are really coming together for this new venture of compassion towards the homeless in Bendigo by participating churches, service organisations and willing volunteers…and we are pleased to be a part of it.

You can read a newspaper article about it all here and have a look at the website here. Join us as we pray for God’s blessing upon it!

It’s mid-February already and many of our regular ministries are already underway (or about to begin). SMILE Playgroup began on Monday Feb 4th, ‘Welcome Wednesdays’ on Feb 6th, Sunday School on Sunday Feb 10th, Home Groups began again during last week, Men’s and Ladies’ Fellowships met this morning, our newly formed Youth Group meets this afternoon, the Ladies’ Home Group meets this Wednesday at 1:30pm, Playgroup registration day is this Friday (Feb 22nd) at 10am and our first Quarterly Prayer Gathering for the year is next Saturday (Feb 23rd) at 10am. Contact us if you would like more information about any of these regular events.

To launch our Home Groups for the year, we’re getting together for our annual ‘Home Group Launch dinner’ on Wednesday night in the Hall. The dinner is open to all from the church family, but especially those who would like to be involved in a Home Group during 2019. (If you can’t make the dinner but would like to be involved in a Home Group, please let us know!’)

Join us each Sunday as we worship our faithful God during the month of January at 10:30am!