I’ve been thinking a bit about financial stewardship and its biblical foundations. One such principle is reflected in Psalm 24:1-2, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” This undermines our sense of possession and invites us to remember that we do not truly own anything. This truth is found throughout Scripture, especially in relation to the Promised Land which was not to be permanently sold because it was the LORD’s (Lev. 25:23). There is, however, another aspect of the LORD’s ultimate ownership that is worth considering in relation to stewardship and that has to do with the LORD’s purposes in creating all things. He didn’t create the world and everything in it just to have a world to call his own but to embody his purposes in the world. That means that everything in the world is meant to be used for the LORD’s purposes. All we have is God’s but all that we have is to be used - was created to be used - to complete his plans in the world. This is where stewardship comes in. The things we have been given from his hand is, in part, to be used to complete his plans in our lives, but also in the whole world. May Mission Month is one way we are reminded of the wide purposes of God and of our role in using what has been given to us to serve them. There isn’t one right answer to exactly how much we should give. Instead, we have a standing invitation to consider how the Spirit might be prompting us to be involved. I hope and pray that this might be our desire this year as we hear about the work of our partners and seek to discern how we can steward what God has assigned to each of us.

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor 

This Weekend

Coming Up

May 14
Shire Prayer and Praise Night | 7pm @ GBC 

May 17
Alpha commences | 9:30am in Hopefield Waiting Room 

May 18

Embrace Ladies Luncheon | 11.30am | GBC 

Faith That Shapes Generations

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice…" — 2 Timothy 1:5 Mother’s Day gives us a valuable opportunity to thank God for the women whose faith, love, prayers, and quiet perseverance have helped shape our lives. In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul reminds Timothy that genuine faith was first seen in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice before taking root in him. Many of us can look back with gratitude for mothers, grandmothers, wives, and other godly women who patiently taught us, prayed for us, encouraged us, and modelled Christian faith through everyday life. Often their influence was quiet and unseen, yet God used it powerfully. We also recognise that Mother’s Day can be difficult for some. For those carrying grief, loneliness, or painful memories, we pray that you may especially know the comfort and care of the Lord today. As a church, may we honour and encourage the women among us whose faith continues to shape the next generation. Happy Mother’s Day from the Elders.

Derek Mullins | Elder

All ladies are invited to our Embrace Ladies Luncheon to be held in GBC Atrium on Monday 18th May from 11.30am to 2.00pm.
Our Special Guest Speaker is Helen Dwyer from The Eve Project which is part of Hopefield. Helen will be speaking on ‘Understanding Trauma’.

Invite your friends along to enjoy our luncheon and get to know others in the church and from the community.

You can pay here or after the service on Sunday. 

RSVP by Wednesday 13th May.

GBC is hosting the second Shire Prayer and Praise Night on Thursday 14th May at 7pm! Invite a friend or come along and connect in community, everyone is welcome!


Hisae Kobayashi and Luke Nottage are enjoying lovely spring weather living in Japan until end-October. Luke is teaching on tenured cross-appointment at UTokyo (still half-time USydney) and blessed by the diverse and non-denominational Tokyo Union Church (https://www.tokyounion.org/) Hisae is mostly living with her mother in Kyoto and blessed very nearby by His Presence Church (bilingual) with its cafe “The Bridge” (https://en.hispresencechurchkyoto.com/about-3-1). Blessings to all from Japan!

If you have something for Family News, contact office@gymeabaptist.org.au or call on 9521 4611. 

Email: jackiemartin77@icloud.com

GBC is hosting an Alpha course, commencing on 17th May!

Alpha is a great opportunity to explore faith for yourself or with a friend or relative who might be interested in asking some questions.

My invitation to you today is to start wondering… do you have questions about faith you’d like to explore, or is there someone in your world that might?  

Chat to Adam on Sunday or email adam.stewart@gymeabaptist.org.au if you have any questions!