What is the ground level circumference of Ayers Rock?
By what name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight more widely known?
What does the Scoville Scale measure?
Saturday evening saw a bunch of one1seveners, a college mission team, and at least five non-Christian guests gather to honour the memory of what life was like before you could look everything up instantaneously on Google. AKA Trivia Night! In between stretching our grey cells on the conundrums above, we were encouraged in a talk by Murray to seek the most valuable knowledge of all (and that can’t be found on Google!) – a personal faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Due to what I can only assume was a glitch in the marking procedure, my team succeeded in scooping the ignominious wooden spoon prize, which I was actually quite happy about because I needed a new wooden spoon. I’m pretty sure my teammates shared my enthusiasm too.
For our final Sunday we were privileged once again to serve the Redfern and Green Square congregations through preaching (Ed on the parable of the prodigal son and Sam A on the account of Jesus calming the storm), testimony (Sam B recalling how the witness of his brother and the compelling depths of God’s Word drew him to faith as a university student) and children’s ministry (Fi and team working with the little ones through what it means to be ‘built up in Christ’). There was a lunchtime community barbecue in Redfern Park and a church dinner at Green Square in the evening. Down to the last few minutes of mission we continued to hear stories and words of encouragement that would stay with us: from the church member who has moved into Green Square so she can reach the community more effectively, despite heightened rent costs and the extra distance she now has to travel to see her close friends; to the indigenous lady who became a Christian after a spell in prison and battles with alcohol misuse, and who now longs to take the saving news of Jesus to her family and friends.
Thanks for your interest and prayers over mission week. Once in a while (maybe when you pass through Redfern or Green Square station on the train line?) please remember to say a prayer for the ongoing ministry of one1seven. The work is slow and hard and open to discouragement, but God is using the faithful efforts of His saints to do great things in South Sydney. As Matt reminded us in one of our last team devotional times, all the sacrifices and disappointments that accompany the service of the gospel ultimately fade into insignificance in light of the glorious hope that at the last day we, along with all the redeemed, will see our Lord face to face and be satisfied with His likeness (Ps 17:15).
Together in His harvest,
The Redfern/Green Square mission team 2016.
*Answers to above: (a) 8km, (b) Elton John, (c) the heat of chillies. If you got two or more right, you can have a go with my wooden spoon.