Working Out Our Salvation Together is our theme for 2026 and I am looking forward to launching it this Sunday. The central text is taken from Philippians 2:12b, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”. In this letter Paul urges his dear friends and close ministry partners to patch up some relationships. It doesn’t appear that the relational strife has become toxic, but Paul is convinced that if they don’t sort it now - and commit themselves to Christ-like relationships - it will significantly impact their ability to bear witness to the good news of Jesus! The unity of the Philippian community of faith isn’t just a nice side project for the church but is the critical foundation of their participation in God’s plans and purposes. 
As a community of faith, I feel that this epistle (and especially the smaller section of 2:12-18) provides us a wonderful place to reflect on our “togetherness” in the work that we are being invited to do. For what was true for the believers in Philippi continues to be true for us - our “togetherness” is essential to mission. I hope you can join me as we work this part of our salvation out together - beginning this Sunday!

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor

This Weekend:

This Saturday 31st Jan is our 2026 Volunteer Launch Day kicking off at 9:00AM sharp. 

Join us this Sunday at 9:30am (online or onsite) or at 6:00pm (onsite) and stick around for a chat after!

Coming Up:

All of our GBC ministries are starting back this week!

Sunday 8 February: Annual Family Lunch + Ministry Launch (REGO ASAP!)

Monday 16th February: Embrace Luncheon 

Februrary 27 - March 1: GBC Youth Camp 

Tomorrow morning at 9:00am all volunteers are encouraged to come together for our 2026 volunteer launch! 

Saturday 31 January | 9:00–11:30am
Doors open at 8:30am for a prompt 9:00am start.

We cant wait to see you here!

Morning tea will be provided! 

We’re so excited for our First Annual GBC Family Lunch and Ministry Launch!

It’s hard to believe it’s next Sunday, it’s come around so quickly! To help us finalise catering numbers, please make sure you register this weekend.

We’ll spend 90 minutes getting to know others in the GBC faith community through games, a professionally catered lunch by Crunchy Catering, and sharing in the excitement of GBC’s vision for 2026.

This event is for all generations!

Sunday 8 February | 11:30am–1:00pm
GBC Auditorium

If you’re a dad with kids in primary school or younger (or know someone who is!), we’d love to invite you to a free five-week parenting course called Parenting for Dads. Starting Wednesday, 4 February, the course runs weekly from 5:30–7:30pm at Gymea Baptist Church. This is a unique opportunity for dads who want to invest in strengthening the core of their relationship with their kids.

Co-facilitated by Adam Stewart (GBC Associate Pastor for Community Engagement) and Keely Oste (Community Hubs Practice Lead at Hopefield), and we are super excited about the potential that this course has in shaping the foundations of your parenting thinking. 

There’ll be plenty of food and loads of opportunities to delve in to your parenting journey and consider: 

- how our past experiences impact our present attitudes as parents

- some simple yet profound tools that will further equip you to become the Dad you want to be. 

Maybe even consider bringing along a friend…

Get in touch with any questions you might have (adam.stewart@gymeabaptist.org.au), otherwise click HERE, select ‘Parenting for Dads’ and comment – ‘I’m interested’.  

Hopefield are looking for a washing machine for a client in need. If you have one please contact our offices on 9545 0299 or email details/photos to admin@hopefield.org.au

Do you know God loves you and has a plan for your life? This was the question I often asked when speaking to other students on campus, but always a good reminder to us. God made each of us unique and special. Don’t compare yourself with others. Everyone’s journey in Christ may take a different path. God uses the experiences of life to mould us, like a potter with clay, into His likeness. In one person God might be working on compassion, another it might be humility and so on.Every experience in our past, good or bad, has prepared us for some future opportunity or purpose in God’s plans. There is no curriculum for training the perfect Christian. We learn the most important lessons in the classroom of life, where our loving Heavenly Father gently refines our character, develops our gifts and teaches us His ways. For us to be the salt or light in the world, we’ll need Holy Spirit training. But know this, God loves you and has work for you to do that He has already prepared you for. It was necessary for Moses to tend sheep for forty years before He could lead the flock of Israel.(Our Marc Rader led youth ministry before he led our church!) Surrender to the preparation ‘cos God has plans for you.
Romans 8:28,  Phil 1:6, Eph 2:10 are great promises to hang on to.
My comments were prompted by my daily devotional reading from Word For Today (Vision Christian Media)

Sonia Beresford | Elder

GBC is committed to being a safe church.  Creating Safe Spaces training is facilitated by the Baptist Association and provides training to equip volunteers and ministry leaders to work with vulnerable people including children and youth.  This training ensures that we continue to stay others-focused and trustworthy. 

All are welcome to participate.  Ministry roles that include leadership roles and/or working with children or youth are required to complete this training.  The training includes two parts - Online Module and Face-to-Face Module.  The online module is to be completed prior to the Face-to-Face Module.

GBC will be hosting a Face-to-Face module training on 22 February 2026 from 12:30 - 3:30 PM.  

Cost is $15 for the online module and $25 for the face-to-face module.  Please contact Marjy Robertson if you need assistance in registering.

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

Our Thursday Zoom prayer meetings will resume this week for the year!

You’re invited to our first Embrace Ladies Luncheon for the year to be held on Monday 16th February 12noon to 2.00pm.

Due to renovations being carried out at the church our luncheon will be held at the Camilla Gardens Tea Room. This will be an opportunity for our GBC ladies to catch up and to invite friends from the community, however there will be no Guest Speaker.

This luncheon is strictly limited to 34 places so get in early and sign up with Janine after the morning service or contact her on 0405629790. The cost of the set lunch is $23 to be paid on the day.

RSVP Wednesday 11th February.