This time of year is a time when we get busy organising gifts, food and gathering with friends.

It’s called the silly season.

It’s a bit like the storm before the calm.

The end of the year and the dawn of the next.

I love Christmas, I love the many lunches, dinners and celebrations in the lead up to Christmas day.

I love the generosity of so many towards those who need a little love shown to them at this time.

Deep sown inside all of us is the desire to give, to give to those who need it, who may be sick or financially stretched.

As I reflect on the fact that we are created in the image of God, and that He is the greatest gift giver of all time, I understand how we feel so fulfilled when we give to those in need.

I pray that this Christmas as we remember Jesus, who came to bring hope, joy, love and peace, that we will sense His presence in all that we are doing in the lead up to Christmas day, and we get the opportunity to reach out to those who need some love this Christmas.

My granddaughter often says ‘sharing is caring.’

Let’s look for opportunities to share the love in some way that makes someone else’s Christmas a little brighter.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Love, Francine

xx

Taking advantage of the long weekend in October we went to the Sunshine Coast for the weekend. Upon arriving home on that Monday we came home to cow crap and grass all pulled from my lawn and garden. Our teenage son failed to close a gate the afternoon before we headed away so our cattle found their way from the paddock into our house yard!! To say I quickly forgave and moved on would be very far from the truth!! However a month has passed from then and the lawn and garden is looking amazing after some much needed rain. Though for that short moment I was rather annoyed that it happened – in the big scheme of things it really doesn’t matter.

As I write this my heart is burdened for my Dad and 3 sisters in our local church who are battling cancer. It is hard to understand why these loved ones are enduring these trials along with their families at this time. We have so many broken people around us – people who are barely surviving who are barely coping from day to day. As a church we are to be a light to this dark world. Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Within our communities, our churches we need to be proactive in discipling and showing Jesus in all that we do. I had the privilege of mentoring a young woman in the past couple of years and my world was enlarged by having her in my life. From spending time with her and hearing her story, my appreciation for those who have not been raised in Christian homes is to a new level that I had previously not quite understood. She said to me one day that I don’t know how to do “Christian” Family – “Christian” Marriage. Being in the church my whole life there are many things that I have taken for granted that just come naturally so to speak, because it’s just how we have always done life.

We have said to our kids for many years that there is always someone looking up to you – at church, at school. As women in our churches in our local communities there are people everywhere watching us (regardless of our age or how long we have been a Christian) there are people looking at how we handle the trials, the highs, the lows of everyday life. They are watching at how we conduct ourselves as mothers, as wives. If we want to see women around us grow and be all that they can be in God it involves us getting into their world and it may sometimes look a little messy. We can’t expect women to grow by sitting on the side lines. Our lives need to be pointing to Jesus in all that we do!!

2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” We are to be a sweet aroma to those around us because we carry the presence of God with us! Women around us need guidance, need support, need encouragement in the situations that they are in.

All of our lives at various stages can look like my garden and lawn a few weeks ago – a little undesirable, a little messy. But with Gods intervention, God’s grace, Gods mercy He can turn those things which are ugly in our lives into something so so beautiful.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”

We have no idea what God is doing in people lives -He is at work amongst many around us. We are here for purposes so much bigger than ours!! May we be intentional about being God’s light to someone’s world this day!

Lots of love and blessings

Belinda Waldock

Rain, rain and more rain!! The rain we missed out on in September, is sure being more than made up for in October !

Coming from North Queensland originally it reminded me of the monsoon/ wet season when it would rain nonstop for weeks.

Being confined to indoors during the Christmas school holidays, getting cabin fever and fighting with my sisters over board games.

After a few days of fights and giggle parties with my sisters, mum and dad would let us loose in our flooded backyard, we would slide around and get muddy, sometimes we would get in our neighbors boat and head for the shops, nothing much was able to be open though.

Driving home after the Pastors state conference was a lesson in faith and concentration. Ross and I crawled up the Bruce Highway towards Hervey Bay looking for somewhere safe to pull over, straining to see the tail lights of the car in front of us, the rain was so heavy, blinding our vision and covering the road with sheets of water. Praise God we made it home safely!

I loved the state conference this year, what a great time of powerful teaching and ministry. I love the catch up with friends we have the privilege of sharing ministry life with, some we only see once a year but it’s always fun to see them.

This year has been a roller-coaster of emotional highs and lows. On the 8th of January I was told I had three growths attached to my Thyroid and one was cancerous. What a shock! I had some symptoms and my doctor had run some tests, but the results shocked us all. The hardest thing was telling my adult children, especially telling my daughter on her birthday the 9th. Ross was due to fly to India on the 10th for two weeks ministry, thankfully he canceled to stay with me as I had to have surgery immediately. As I am a bleeder with low blood pressure I was advised to go to Brisbane to for my opp.

I was in shock at first, then cried for a day, but then came out fighting in the spirit.

This felt like we had sailed right into a huge storm, and we were being swamped and pummeled by the waves, at times I felt like Jesus wasn’t even in my boat let alone asleep in the boat!.

I learnt that storms in life come to all of us, but if we keep reaching out for His hand it is always there.

His help came in many different forms, sometimes His presence would quieten my soul and encourage my heart, a song or a scripture other times someone would visit, my beautiful family and friends would bring me hope.

But through it all God was so faithful to me, reassuring me through every stage, through His presence constantly with me, His word, a single scripture would come alive in my spirit and keep me going for days.

Isaiah 40v10

‘So do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’

I held onto scriptures like this, and at times I felt His right hand literally holding mine.

What followed the operation was more tests, new medication and my body adjusting to life without a thyroid.

I had no idea how important our thyroid is. It’s our bodies thermostat, regulating changes in our body temperature to heat and cold , it regulates our metabolic rate helping convert food into energy. It alters our mood and emotional wellbeing just to name a few things.

I am very grateful I didn’t need chemo or radium treatment, just high levels of Thyroxine and rest.

Then I felt Jesus stand up in my boat and say enough! And my life came into a great calm…. Days followed days where I rested at home. I read, wrote in my journal, talked to friends and family on the phone. I had three months of sick leave. I went to church but wasn’t leading or serving. I felt like my life was on pause, I was living in a holding pattern of the same thing day after day, I felt a bit emotionally numb.

I had made a good recovery from the surgery and the initial results where good. I was grateful for the calm following the storm, but felt like I was left holding a bucket of water and dripping wet as the sun came out again. Life went back to normal but I was still in a heightened fight for my health.

It made me think of our soldiers who return from active duty in war zones, how they must feel trying to return to normal life after being in such a heightened fight for survival. I wonder if that’s what post-traumatic stress disorder feels like.

I am very thankful that I have continued to recover and regain my strength. The test results from my specialist are all good and I praise God for this! No abnormal growths have grown back, and my thyroxine levels are balancing well.

I have a lot to be thankful for and I feel very blessed to live in our beautiful country with such great medical staff and facilities.

I have become a grandmother to our granddaughter last November, followed by our grandson in March , and another little one on the way for Tim and Lydia!!!

I have enjoyed looking after my grandchildren so much, they have given my life a new expression of love and purpose.

Praise God for His abundant blessings and provisions, for His wonderful church family, and His consistent love for us.

We are very blessed,

Much love

Spring is my absolute favourite time of the year, and this year more so than others as my wonderful number one son is marrying his gorgeous girl.

So in two weeks time I get the privilege of being the mother of the groom for the second time this year, as my very sweet, cuddly number two son, married his beautiful bride in January.

I know what you are thinking girls…that I get to purchase two new dresses in such a short period of time and yes that thought did cross my mind, but to be honest gaining two new daughters is a truly a delightful feeling.

To say this Mumma is going through a rollercoaster of emotions is not an exaggeration, but that’s what Mummas do right, we get good at letting go.

It feels like every season comes with something new to let go off and a new level of trust in our Heavenly Father that He has GOT THIS. Ha! like the fact that two days after the wedding my baby girl who is 18 leaves for Europe for three months, EEEKKK!!!!! I think that makes us temporary empty nesters, EEEKKK!!!

Psalm 62:8 tells me…

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your hearts to Him,

For God is our Refuge.

Trust in Him at all times ladies, no matter what season or stuff you may be walking through we can put our trust in Jesus. Trust in Him to guide us when in doubt, to protect us when in danger, to supply us when in want, to strengthen us for word and work.

Imagine in the story of Moses, what his mother went through, when she laid him in a basket and watched him float down the river. She knew she had to do it to save her son, but the anguish in her heart must have been enormous, but yet she trusted God.

Pour out your heart to Him, you don’t have to hold it all in and pretend you have it all together. Tell Him how your feeling, have a good cry, tell Him its not fare and your not coping with this whole letting go thing.

Often we don’t say anything because we feel like nobody understands, but the great thing about God is that He does care and He’s also a great listener. I find that when I do pour out my heart to Him, He takes away the pain, He takes away the anxiety and worry. He takes away the fear and floods me with peace.

God is a refuge for us. He is the only refuge that we need, so there is no need to go looking for other things for it is a place of safety and plenty. Amen!

Be blessed and enjoy this beautiful spring weather.

Much love

Tuppy Tomkinson

The scripture tells us that God bottles all our tears. You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8

In life things happen that are not as we planned for ourselves or our family and friends.

How many times have you asked someone, “How are you doing? How is your family, your job and personal life going?”, only to receive the standard reply, “Great, awesome, fine!”. So often behind the saving face façade is a life falling to pieces, wracked with pain and distress, or simply crying out inwardly for someone to care about what they are experiencing right now, but feel unable to share with anyone.

It is OK not to be OK all the time. Our society has become numb to the dreadful news of suicides, self-harming, eating disorders, alcohol dependency and experimental self-medication with both illicit and prescription drugs and medications. We tell ourselves, it will never happen to me or to my loved ones. However, more often than not, someone in our world will face crisis points, whether it be one of our friends, family or colleagues, or in our own life. Leaving us with the perception of when things begin to spiral out of control we feel like there will be no way forward again.

Jesus’ disciples experienced crisis during and after the crucifixion. Peter was first to state his feelings of hopelessness and despair when he told his mates “I’m going back to the nets and fishing. I can’t do this anymore.” The others said, “Wait! We are coming with you.” And these guys walked and lived their lives daily with Jesus! How could they spiral so far down in such a short time? The truth is that like us they were just ordinary people – yes, they were human! Our humanity is weak, vulnerable and insecure constantly reminding us of our frailties and inability to cope under pressure.

So many of us turn and run away from the Lord and His power to heal, forgive and minister grace to us in times of crisis. We almost take on the mentality – when all else fails, there is always prayer and Jesus. We could save ourselves much trauma and heartache if in our humanity and weakness, turned to Jesus FIRST. Jesus, the great Physician, the great Doctor to our spirit, soul and body, always shows grace and mercy, particularly at our lowest ebb.

When life happens, when you are feeling vulnerable, when your kids are running way off the rails, when your marriage is struggling and heading for breakdown, when the prognosis is terminal, when your friends cannot understand what you are experiencing, turn to Jesus. You may think, well that is obvious, but as a Senior Pastor I have seen how the most obvious is so often at the backend of our search for solutions.

The Bible tells us that “While we were still sinners, Christ loved us and died for us.” Romans 5:8

The super old chorus lyrics are as relevant today as the day they were written:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full into His wonderful face

And the things of this world will grow strangely dim

In the Light of His Glory and Grace.

When life happens remember God’s Word:

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Have an amazing month reminding yourself hourly that I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!

Love and blessings,

Ps Linda Wedrat.

Hi Ladies,

Welcome to July. Yes it is July & 2017 is certainly flying by.

I love the beginning of a new year, it's an opportunity to start afresh, to set new goals, maybe do things differently however as the days turn into weeks, the weeks into months I sometimes find myself a little off centre.

With the many hats that we wear and with life happening all around us, whether you are leading a church, a team, a family, whether you're a Pastor, a Mum, a teacher or a business owner I find that when July comes around I need to take another look at how I'm going. How am I going towards reaching my goals? Those goals that were set in January when I was feeling fresh & full of faith.

Have I got too busy? Have my goals become blurred? I'd like to take a look at 3 keys that I believe will help us achieve our goals and fulfill the God purpose for our lives.

1. Stay FOCUSED.

Stay focused on the goal.

Stay focused to the cause,

Stay focused to the call.

What is your goal?

What has God called you to do?

Are you doing it?

To fulfill the call of God upon our lives I believe we must stay focused on that one thing. For each of us that will look different. Maybe God has called you to plant a church, to start a business, you may have set yourself a goal of eating well or losing some kilos. Whatever it is, Stay Focused!

Don't allow yourself to be distracted. There are so many things that want our focus and demand our attention. Many of those things are even good things. If we are unfocused we will pick up a whole lot of stuff that we should not be doing, on the other hand if we stay focused it empowers us to say no to those things that may be great, however are not necessarily going to do us good.

Stay Focused!

2. Stay FAITHFUL.

I love this quote from Steve Kelly. "Success is about being faithful in the everyday stuff." How true this is.

Athletes win gold medals because they are faithful in the everyday stuff.

When the alarm goes off they don't roll over & go back to sleep, day after day they are faithful to getting up and training, whether rain, hail or shine!

If you & I are going to reach our goals and fulfill the God plan for our lives.

We too must stay faithful in the everyday stuff.

Stay faithful to devotions

Stay faithful in doing good

Stay faithful in kindness

Stay faithful in giving

Stay faithful in loving others

Stay faithful to what God has called you to.

There is often a huge gap between the birth of a dream & the fulfillment of that dream.

What Dream has God put in your heart?

Don't allow disappointment or discouragement cause you to give up or let go of the dream, the goal or the call.

Paul says, "But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind, I press on or strain to what is ahead."

The word strain means to make intense effort.

At times people don't achieve their goals or they don't see the fulfillment of the dream God has given them because they lose heart & give up.

One of my favorite verses found in Gal 6:9 says "Do not grow weary in doing good for in due season you will reap a harvest if you do not give up."

The key is to NOT give up.

Stay faithful to whatever God has called you to.

Stay faithful to spending time with God

Stay faithful to exercise & eating right

Stay faithfully to living a generous life

Stay faithful!

3. Stay FRESH. We are all made in Gods image. We are body soul & spirit. It's vital that we stay fresh in each of the these areas of our life.

As women we can often make sure all the people in our world are being looked after and yet neglect our own health.

We need to keep our physical body fresh, eating right & exercising regularly is beneficial for both our physical & mental health.

How about feeding your soul? This is an area we can forget about. We haven't got time for this so we just let it go. What refreshes your soul? A bush walk, a walk on the beach, a movie, shopping, a book, going for a coffee with some girlfriends. Whatever it is that refreshes you, please make time to fit it into your life, it will keep your soul fresh.

Lastly, keep your Spirit fresh. There is only one way to do this and it is to spend time with God. Nothing can take the place of one on one with our creator. We were made for relationship with God. God always wants to speak to us and He does, as we position ourselves to hear His voice to our spirit. This will enable us to keep spiritually fresh. I can't help but think of when the Israelites were in the desert and God miraculously provided manna from heaven for them to eat each day. They were not to store up the manna for the following day because God had fresh manna for His people each day. God still wants to bring us fresh bread everyday. Let's be intentional about these 3 areas of staying fresh.

As we journey through the second half of 2017 let's Stay Focused, Stay Faithful & Stay Fresh!

Michelle x

Michelle Roos

Brisbane South Women

michelle@twinrivers.org.au

Originally a Victorian girl and use to long dry summers and equally long but freezing winters, I am thankful for every day during winter that I wake up to the sun rising and shining through my lounge window – the sunny spot where Philip and I have breakfast together. We call it “the winter breakie possie”. You probably have your fav spots too where you can catch some warm rays on winter mornings. What a beautiful State we live in! We often say “we wouldn't want to live any where else!”

But many leave the comforts of home, the common and the familiar to do the uncommon and the unfamiliar. Missionaries all over the world do it because of that strange phenomenon we talked about in the last blog – “the call.”

I have the privilege again of interviewing a couple applying for a credential – or should I say reapplying for a credential. You see, they had both been credentialed pastors – in fact I had preached in their church a few times over the years. Through a series of circumstances they made the difficult choice to close the doors of their church and amalgamate with a couple of other local churches. That was then.

But this is now. And here they are reapplying. So what happened? This exquisite story makes the need for winter sun through lounge windows pale into insignificance and spotlights the beauty and warmth of what we know as “the call.”

He was born in PNG, the son of missionaries. His father was apostolic, well known, and passionate about bringing the gospel to unreached people groups. Christianity was in their blood. But when the son moved to Australia, met and married his now wife and began attending an AOG church, everything changed.

The father, having more conservative ideas disowned them. He declared that should they ever move to PNG he would disparage their names and make sure they would never earn a place among Christians there. These were harsh and impassioned words that were intended to be kept!

The couple having closed that chapter of their own church threw themselves into careers for almost a decade. Until something stirred – the call.

His father now elderly and with his health failing is unable to adequately oversee all the missions work including the building of churches and schools. The son, a qualified builder who had put down so much was now poised to pick up something that would cost him – a baton. He began his trips to PNG with no agenda except to help with the building projects. He arrived knowing the threats of the past would hang like a cloud over his present. He was not deterred.

“A person’s gift makes room for them” hangs like a banner over this story. He forgave, he worked, he loved, he returned. Then he did over and over again – and again – and again.

The people have embraced him. Communities have been transformed by him. And the call has been reignited in him.

The baton is about to be passed. Two people will leave the common and familiar to enter the uncommon and unfamiliar. What a joy to recommend credentials!

No one needs the sun’s physical warmth when you can bask in the light of stories like this one.

I am oriented to reflect on the batons I have picked up and currently run with. Am I running so well that I will make it easy for others to pick it up and fulfill their call when my time is done?

You’ll find me in my “winter breakie possie” meditating on it this week!

Love to you all – Deb

Hi every one! Welcome to winter!

Philip and I walked our lake this morning [not the Jesus type water walk] in the dark just before sunrise. We were catching up on the previous day’s happenings. It’s not easy to talk when you’re teeth are chattering, your eyes are half closed and you didn’t really wake up in a “praise the Lord” type disposition! However, I had spent the previous day in a regional meeting and conducting credential interviews. My heart was warmed in a familiar way – your heart knows when it’s own values are reflected back to it.

Story after story communicated God’s personal call to ministry in very personal ways. Sacrifices were made, obstacles hurdled, values clung to as each one in their own way told their own stories of “the call”. Some were reasonably new to ministry and for some – well they had been doing it for years and this interview was merely a formality – a validation of what they had already been laboring in.

The day reminded me that a career is something we choose; a calling is something we receive. A career is something we pursue for ourselves; a calling is something we pursue for God and others. A career will often end at a certain age and hopefully with some assets. A calling never ends.

Do you remember a specific time when you heard the “call”?

I was 12 years old when I had a dream. I dreamed that same dream many years later into my adult years at a time I thought all opportunities for its fulfillment had been lost. I was standing at the little kiosk on a platform where you stand to buy your chips and ice-creams. I was at Lake Fyans at the foot of the beautiful Grampian mountains in Victoria where dad and mum took us each school holidays. We swam, hiked the mountain ranges, fished in our little sailboat that dad made, and generally had lots of kid fun. So this place held a familiar and warm place in my heart.

In the dream, I turned around on that little kiosk platform and began to preach and unfold the love of God, and the people came. So many people came and the more they came the more I had to share. When I awoke, I so wanted to be her – the girl who could tell others about the love of God. I couldn’t remember what I had said but it was eloquent, logical and compelling. If only I could be her. But I was shy, quiet and from the country – what good thing comes out of Horsham? Yet I was touched, marked forever by that dream. Something had etched it way into my heart and psyche that would never leave. It was “the call.”

Some people have a smooth ride into the outworking of their call – mine was like taking a small ferry over the Tasman in autumn! Some people have their call nicely facilitated – mine was like convincing bouncers at a night club that I was of age! Some people are able to clear a concise pathway – mine was like slashing through the jungle! Whatever your journey to outworking the call on your life has looked like – remember it doesn't end – you have miles and miles – years and years ahead. So if you have to ride the choppy waters, or convince people you have what it takes, or slash through jungle over growth – do it because it’s not for some one it is for the One.

You already know it. So perhaps this next week, allow yourself some space to recall your call; evoke the etch; muse the ministry.

It’s amazing what a little reminisce will do for your soul.

Mine? Well as we neared the final lake stretch for home and the sun was beginning to rise, I was strangely warmed in the chill air. I had reminded myself of the call – and the One – and had moved myself into a more “praise the Lord” type disposition than when we began.

Love and prayers for you as June unfolds all its joys, surprises and opportunities.

Deb x

Ps. Deborah Candler

mail@deborahcandler.com

Danny silk teaches

From Proverbs 9:1-10

Proverbs being the book of Wisdom,

And how we need wisdom in the time we are living in.'

In the book of Proverbs chapter 9:1-10

The bible teaches us to build our Lives, Families, and Churches on seven pillars

Which are

1.Love

2.Honour

3.self control

4.Responsibility

5.truth

6.faith

7.Vision

The house of wisdom represents the Kingdom of God,

The domain where Gods reality is expressed in its perfect design,

At the centre of this kingdom is the dynamic and perfect relationship of the trinity, which sets the patten for all relationships.

The pillars that hold up this house represents the core values of kingdom life.

The core values of healthy relationships

These core values are

Love

Honour

Self-control

Responsibility

Trust

Faith

Vision

Love,

a word used to describe many of our favourite things

Sports food hobbies movies people.

In 1 Corinthians 13:13 it teaches Love is the most important thing in the universe.

he bible teaches us to build our Lives, Families, and Churches on seven pillars

Which come from the book of Proverbs.

transformed us from slaves to friends

From orphans to sons

He scooped low to bring us to His level

He use His power to make us powerful ,not powerless.

Insisting that we be equal partners in His plan to bring Heaven to earth!!

he bible teaches us to build our Lives, Families, and Churches on seven pillars

Which come from the book of Proverbs.

Honour Honour like submission, is a term that has been misused and abused, particularly in connection with marriage. People see it as something that is expected, rather than something that is given. This is backwards. When honour is expected or even demanded, it become just another word for handing the control, power, and value over to one person in the relationship. A relationship where one person has all the power is one of dishonour, not honour.

3.The pillar of Self-control

Self-control is at the core of being a powerful person.

Self control means that you can tell yourself what to do,

And you can make yourself do it.

It sounds simple enough, but telling yourself what to do and obeying yourself can be quite an accomplishment! For most of us it's a good day when we obey ourselves

In Oder to have self control we must have something we can say yes to,

We must set a goal.

4.The pillar of Responsibility

When we break the word responsibility down

We find it literally means ability to respond a response is the opposite to a reaction,

It the capacity to face any situation and make a powerful choice that are consistent with who we say we are.

It is a refusal to run away from difficulties or any part of your life or reality that you happen to dislike.

The pillar of truth many people get disillusioned and hurt when God doesn't do what they think He should have done. Because they could not predict His behaviour, they decide not to trust Him. Does that mean God is not Trustworthy? Absolutely not. If the perfect one is not trustworthy, then how can imperfect people ever be trustworthy? We have to be able to trust people even when they do things we wouldn't do or we will end up very isolated. The Pillar of faith. when we put other people in the place of God we set them up for failure. The pillar of faith is built in a relationship when we commit to keep God as our ultimate source, ultimate comforter, and ultimate authority. The result of this commitments st hat we are able govern ourself me access a boundless well of spiritual resource ( wisdom, strength, love, hope,) we must keep God centred.The pillar of Vision

The Lord makes firm the steps

of the one who delights in him;

though he may stumble, he will not fall,

for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;

but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

John and I were recently invited to a night with our creative team, John went with the males on the team and I went with the female team. The night was called ‘ Couch Time,’ needless to say it was a very relaxed evening sitting around eating all sorts of delicacies. The purpose of the night was for the team to get to know us as their pastors. We went along knowing that the team could ask any question they liked ( I privately hoped I would be able to answer their questions). Angie (our creative leader) started by asking me to tell my story. That was easy and everyone politely listened, then they were given the opportunity to ask questions. It was a little slow to begin with, many unsure of what questions would be acceptable, or even a little nervous to speak up. After a while the questions started to flow when they realised I was happy to talk to them and I wanted to get to know them. I felt like I was a teenager at a girls slumber party, we talked about all sorts of things, they wanted to know my passions, how to fit devotions into a busy life, we then talked about walking, swimming, aerobics, pilates, offence, how I became a pastor. The conversation branched off all over the place, we ended the night taking photos with each other and a genuine connection was made. Connection is not only important for those around me but also important for me. I am part of a life group in my church. This group prayed and supported me while I was managing a sick parent, they love me and would do anything for me and each other for that matter. As I am writing this I received a text message from one of my life group members. She is our youngest member, a 21 year old young mum who has connected with our group, she writes: ‘next week where would you like to go for dinner and what movie would you like to see?’ What is so amazing is that she would have never even dreamed of sending me a text message like this once. It is only through the power of connection that I have seen this young girl grow in confidence, grow in her journey with Jesus and be embraced by a group of women who love on her and accept her for who she is. Ministry is not just about programmes, vision and objectives but its is taking the time to authentically connect with individuals, Jesus modelled this as we read in the gospels. Effective leadership occurs when people feel loved, appreciated and accepted, when we as leaders take the time to connect and invest into people without an agenda.