5 Signs You're on a Tamworth Mission

For some of us this is our fourth Moore College Mission, and there are certain quirks we have come to expect. However, each year the specific location brings it’s own unique flavour. Listed below are 5 Tamworthian joys we have experienced today.

1. You wait until 3pm to go doorknocking, but it’s still over 30°C!

We set out for our second afternoon of doorknocking to face the regular array of mixed responses. Under tumultuous skies of the onsetting storm, we went from house to house (Acts 20:20) inviting people to St Peter’s and trying to share the gospel. Weeksy fired us up with a half remembered quote from Spurgeon, and a verse from Romans about evangelism (or was it Corinthians?).

2. A kid turns up to the toddlers’ group dressed as a farmer, complete with Akubra.

We helped run a carnival for the toddlers group that meets through the term time. We had a jumping castle (with a very popular slide), cars, trampolines, a ball pit, face painting, bubble machines, balloon animals and more! All followed by a puppet play teaching that Jesus rescues us from sin by dying on the cross. One of the highlights was talking to mums who were there for the first time (another highlight was watching different team members arrive at slightly different actions for the lyric “beyond my wildest dreams”).

3. If you’re late to the meeting, you can never blame it on the traffic.

In our morning meeting Keith encouraged us from 1Thessalonians that this week we are calling people to turn (ἐπιστρέφω) from idolatry to serve (δουλεύω) the Living and True God. It was a necessary reminder as we interact with people who seemingly don’t need Jesus. (I was late to the meeting, but it wasn’t my fault)

4. Your billets have bow-hunting skills

Ok, real talk. We have really been blessed by the generosity and hospitality of our billets. They’ve opened their homes to strangers and each day we have new stories of their kindness to us. My billets have shared very encouraging stories of God’s work in their lives, through difficulties and blessings. And one day as we left for our team meeting, we were shown the ‘trophies’ from their son’s bow-hunting (featured above). If it was possible to admire them any more, these trophies did the job

5. One of your mission activities involves visiting a RAAF base.

A few key representatives joined most of the Oxley Vale team to hear about the airforce and chaplaincy to the armed forces. And if that isn’t already cool enough (and it is) they also all got free aviator sunglasses.

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PLUS, there was another trip to the Hillvue breakfast club, and another women’s group to encourage on the topic of prayer, more high school scripture classes (this time at Peel High), and in the night, Keith and Sarah Condie ran a marriage enrichment night for members of the church and their friends.

There’s lots happening here in Tamworth. Please keep praying for us as we approach the halfway mark of mission.