A snapshot of Summer ministry

Below is just a small snapshot of what God has been doing across Australia through SU ministries and your prayerful and generous support!

East Devonport Holiday Happening

A record number of 57 children supported by an enthusiastic team of faithful volunteers from six different churches and denominations led by our incredible team leader, Ben, set out to explore “Life Under the Sea” at this year’s East Devonport Holiday Happening (EDHH) in northern Tasmania. 

Over the course of the program, one of the grandparents shared with Ben that the family has been really struggling with managing the child’s behaviour. They appreciated having a space where they knew that their kids would be cared for, while also hearing about and experiencing Jesus’s love. Ben invited this family to be involved in programs throughout the school term, and there is a good chance we will be able to do this. EDHH is closely aligned with and supported by the local Pathway Shed and we are looking forward to seeing how many of our young Holiday Happening explorers make the move towards involvement in the Pathway Shed’s regular term programs.

Ben: “We ended up having 57 kids involved, and I am looking forward to seeing how many of them make the move towards involvement in the Pathway Shed’s regular term programs.”

Growing local ministry in Portland

Some years ago, SU team member Paul felt moved to buy and restore an old caravan.  This caravan was set up on the foreshore at Portland (located in south-west Victoria) – in the midst of the Portland SUFM (Scripture Union Family Mission) and Theos world-class carnival. The caravan was emblazoned with “24/7 Prayer” stickers and became a designated public prayer space. As the week progressed, more and more people asked, “Can I come and sit in your van to talk”?  Conversations led to deep sharing, to requests for prayer and to opportunities for people to pray together with the team.

Scripture Union’s volunteers are continuing to participate in the work of sharing God’s love and good news, meeting people where they are at and inviting everyone to rediscover a relationship with the God who is love.

Sanctuary Family Retreat

Early in 2023, a conversation began between SU Australia and a newly forged not-for-profit movement known as Embrace Sanctuary Australia.  Embrace Sanctuary exists to empower families as they seek asylum and refuge in Australia, and to equip local churches and individuals to create communities of welcome and connection for people displaced from their homelands.

This conversation explored the idea of SU Australia and Embrace Sanctuary partnering to host a retreat at SU’s Coolamatong’s Farm Camp for families recently arrived in Australia.  And so, the Sanctuary Family Retreat was born and launched during the 2023/24 summer school holidays. 

A team of volunteers was formed, with 23 adults and nine children representing 10 different church communities.  A group of 53 participants came together from five different cultural communities, including eight families + couples and some single men and women.

Many of these families had been in Australia for less than 2 years, with one family arriving only 5 weeks before the retreat. Some spoke little to no English and were still in the process of finding housing and community, even as they attempted to process the diverse and complex traumas associated with fleeing their homeland and seeking haven elsewhere.

The retreat was focused on the themes of Welcome, Safety, Connection and Hope.  Songs, picture story books and people’s personal stories provided the locus for these themes to be explored and experienced together.  Over 6 days and 5 nights, the retreat community shared language, culture, meals, games, karaoke, a women-only dance night, and some fierce games of soccer and volleyball.  A theme song entitled “Welcome, we’re welcome here” was co-created in 5 languages, as well as a mural composed of calico squares drawn by every retreat participant.

One participant described the retreat as “a piece of heaven”.  Another father, watching his wife and daughters experience sailing for the first time, said with tears in his eyes, “This is freedom like we could never have experienced in our home country.”

The Sanctuary Family Retreat was both profound and challenging.  Every participant felt stretched outside of their comfort zone as they were forced to learn to do familiar things in very new ways.  And yet, this temporary community enabled every person there to discover Christ in one another, and experience God’s love in new and transforming ways.  Participants are already talking about “Next year when we come back…”.  And many more church communities are asking how they can support families arriving in Australia and facilitate future Sanctuary Retreats. With God’s provision and guidance, the hope is to grow a movement that incarnates God’s love and welcome to families in need of Sanctuary.

Sonic Boom Beach Mission 

by Steve K

God was at work through our recent Sonic Boom Beach Mission on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast this summer. A team from Sonic Boom Mission visited my home Church ahead of the week they were spending at Kings Beach, Dicky Beach and Mooloolaba Beach on the Sunshine Coast. They shared their plans and we prayed for them. The next Sunday, a different group came to share the stories of the week.

During the conversation before the service on the second week, it was discovered that a family who is now a part of our Church, has been connected this year due to their 9 year-old daughter attending this same Beach Mission in Christmas 2022. This family, who have become regular attenders at my church and have been led closer to Jesus this year. In October, we had a number of baptisms and the Dad from this family, on invitation, was baptised.

It was such a blessing to discover that the previous year’s Beach Mission has added a family to our Church family, but more than that, drawn a family into a closer walk with Jesus.

Stories and testimonies like the above were replicated many times over during our recent summer season of ministry. Keep an eye out for our first SU Australia News of the year, which will feature local stories and testimonies from your local region and across the nation. Your prayerful and financial support throughout our New Year Appeal helped make these stories possible and so much more. Thank you! To keep this great work going, visit su.org.au/give.