Well, it’s May Mission Month again and over the next month we’ll be hearing updates from our partners: Mother’s Heart, Baptist World Aid, TEAR Fund, and our own sent missionaries.

I wanted to take a moment to remind you of what marks a successful May Mission Month for us. First, and perhaps obviously, that we reach (or exceed) our target. This year our target is $190,000. Second, that the number of people who give to one (or more) of the projects increases. Last year we had 173 different contributions. This is an indicator of our commitment to being Big-Hearted as a community of faith. Third, that these donations and gifts are given over and above our regular offerings.

I’d like to invite you to be prayerfully attentive to which project the Holy Spirit may be inviting you to give to and that you would do so with courage and conviction.

See you Sunday!.

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor

Sun 4 May 9:30am - Guest Preacher (Karl Faase) - Encounter: On the road to Emmaus - MMM: Mother's Heart (Interview).

Sun 4 May 6:00pm - Same Message as in AM. PM Supper is back.

NEXT SUNDAY:

Sun 11 May - Encounter - MMM:Baptist World Aid Australia (Interview)

Sun 11 May - AM - KidZone Mother's Day Cake Stall  - Raising money for MMM

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

12 May - GBC Renovations Forum

18 May - Encounter - MMM:TearFund (Interview)

18 May - GBC Extraordinary Meeting - Building Renos

20-22 May - National Baptist Senior Pastor's Gathering - Hosted by GBC

25 May - Encounter - MMM (Final Week)

8 June - Donations close for MMM

You can access GBC Calendar on GBC Links - Go to the "Calendar" tab on the drop down menu in GBC Links or click here and log in.

To Members of Gymea Baptist Church,

Notice is hereby given of GBC Extraordinary Meeting to take place at GBC on 18 May 2025 at 11:15am. Onsite and online via zoom.

In accordance with the requirements of the Baptist Property Trust of NSW:

1) The Resolution has been affixed to the wall of GBC Lounge alongside the proposed renovation plans; and

2) The Resolution (or extract thereof) will be read by Marc Rader from the platform at this Sunday's Service.

RESOLUTION for the Extraordinary Church Meeting - Sunday May 18, 2025 11:15am

An important email was sent by Marc Rader to all GBC Attendees via GBC Links (17 April 2025) which included:

* proposed renovation plans of our church building (as well as existing);

* link to submit questions/comments regarding the plans;

* "save the dates" - forum on Monday 12 May and Extraordinary Church Meeting  Sunday 18 May 2025.

Please click the button below for more.

An A3 copy of the proposed renovation plans and existing plans are on display on the wall near the check in/coffee machine area.

This Sunday we'll be hearing from Mother's Heart (Cambodia). Marc Rader will be interviewing two representatives and we'll spend some time in praying for their prayer needs.

Prayer Requests from Mother's Heart Organisation (MHO):

• For Baby Boy's Recovery: Post heart surgery. 

• For caregivers and grandparents of daughters and grandchildren in our program.

• All the mothers at Mother's Heart. We especially pray for those who are pregnant and experiencing health complications. For mothers who are struggling to care for their children due to their own health issues for support and strength.

• For all the babies and children under our care that they receive nourishment and care to develop into healthy strong children.

• For our dedicated staff - for health and safety of those travelling for work.

• A specific prayer for relief from the extreme heat in Phnom Penh. Pray for cooler temperatures and for strength and well-being for everyone affected by the heat.
  
  
• We humbly ask for your continued prayers to meet our current funding shortfall. For new donors and new opportunities for sustainable support. We pray that we may continue to offer crucial care, hope, and a future to the vulnerable women and girls who need our help.

VISIT THE MMM PAGE ON GBC'S WEBSITE:

For information about ALL GBC's MMM Partner Organisations, for videos, prayer points, and How to Donate - click the button below.

KidZone is running a Cake stall at GBC on Mothers Day (Sunday 11 May) to raise money for MMM.

(Last year they raised $900 for MMM).

We need cakes to sell again this year.

Bakers - please pick up a cake container this Sunday from Leeanne Smith near the Coffee Machine.

1. Making disciples is business as usual for the church. But what are we not doing? Or perhaps more interestingly, what should we stop doing that we are doing?
2. We can encounter Jesus in different ways from reading the Bible to miraculous events. How can we navigate the mess of disciple making when it's so vast?
3. To what extent would you say Christ is present in communion?

You are invited to join us for a short but effective time of “zoom” prayer Thursday at 7:30pm. A 30 minute guided prayer led by one of our wonderful GBC Elders. You can join in using this link JOIN PRAYER ZOOM or using the Meeting ID: 919 1693 5880 Passcode: f603j2. We look forward to spending this time together in prayer.

I’d like to invite you to join me in praying for the Lord’s leading and provision for two people to join our staff team.

1. A Communication Coordinator. This is a 12 hour/week role coordinate simple, consistent, and creative messaging about the mission and ministry of Gymea Baptist Church. The position description can be found HERE. APPLICATIONS CLOSE 11:59pm 02 MAY!
   
   
2. A Community Engagement Pastor. This is a full-time role whose primary responsibilities relate to our strategic priority of community engagement. The position description is available to view by clicking HERE. APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 9 MAY

If you, or someone you know, might be interested in either of these roles, please feel free to pass the position descriptions on to them or to direct them to GBC's website/Work With Us.

Please be in prayer that the Lord will bring the right people to join us and for the Nominating Committee who will be engaged in the process of recommending the pastoral appointment.

Come and join us for our next Embrace Ladies Luncheon on Monday 12th May in GBC Atrium from 11.30am to 2.00pm.

Bring your friends and those from the community to hear our guest speaker Sue Chin who is a Clinical Counsellor with Hopefield. Sue will be speaking on “How to help those who have experienced trauma”. (Please note that this may involve discussion around issues of domestic violence.)

We also have Heather Druce, one of GBC’s frontline workers, updating us on her work.

Registration: $15 for lunch.

Register on-line (click link below) or in person - see Janine after the AM service at the tall table near coffee machine.

RSVP by Wednesday 7th May.

Men's Breakfast featuring food & coffee.  Come and hear guest speaker and author Steve Hatton, a local who discovered the importance of forgiveness and experienced the healing power of God.  Steve will be sharing his story and also have his book available to purchase. 

Matthew 22:37-39

When asked what is my favourite Bible verse, I very quickly come out with “Love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind ………. and you shall love your neighbour as yourself”

This is so very easy to say but so very hard to live. My life is like a lot of little pieces that need to be knit together. I need to spend time with God every day, I need to pray for others, I need to read the Bible and I need to worship God.

 Still other pieces need to be added to my character like love, purity, generosity, patience, courage, a forgiving heart and selflessness.

 It takes a long time to get all my pieces together.  My hope is if I continue to add pieces of God's love to my life I will somehow arrive at a more Christlike place, that I will be filled and renewed with a sense of peace and love.

However, the reality is I rarely get all the pieces together at the same time.  I fail over and over again. But our gracious God is always waiting for me to return every time I fail. I just have to keep at it.

Dear Friends,

This year Hopefield proudly celebrates 30 years of transforming lives and we are eager to celebrate with you!

Join us for our 30^th celebrations this JUNE!

We are thrilled to invite you to a special event, where we'll come together to honour the Hopefield journey, celebrate our impact, and look ahead to the future. It will be a wonderful afternoon filled with stories of hope, connection and gratitude - and we would love for you to be a part of it!

Date: Saturday June 14th

Location: Gymea Baptist Church (2-10 Tea Gardens Ave Kirrawee)

Cost: $30 - all ticket sales go directly to fund the work of Hopefield

RSVP: By May 31

To purchase tickets click on button below. 

Any questions/booking assistance please call Janet at Hopefield's office on 02 9545 0299.