Jamberoo (and Oak Flats): Where God controls the action

7500 people.

2 parishes.

1 really energetic Rector Jodie McNeil

NSW’s biggest theme park

“Where you control the action”

If you’re a Sydney-sider you probably know where we are right now. Being a Perth boy, I had no idea idea where I was. I had no idea there was a place called Oak Flats. I had no idea that Jamberoo water park had a massive (and successful it seems) advertising campaign with the hit line, “Where you control the action”. I hadn’t spent more than one day in Wollongong. But just because I didn’t know about this Jamberoo and Oak Flats before Moore College Mission, even though I haven’t seen the water park, or seen the picturesque river of Oak Flats. Despite my very little local knowledge of this place

God loves this place and the people in it.

His Son died for them.

oak flats square — *Pictures of the drive down. Ed: Of course I was driving and so my passenger John Khana – 2nd year – was taking the pictures*

There are many lost people here – but they are just the people who God came for. He came to seek and save the lost.

We’re a team of Moore College students, led by Lionel Windsor and Alison Blake, who have come to help out where we can with the work being done at Oak Flats and Jamberoo Anglican. Two Parishes, but thankfully one really, really energetic Rector Jodie McNeil.

Ed: did I mention he is energetic?

The first Sunday of this week involves us attending and helping out with the church service. Their motto: Real Hope. Real Jesus. And that is exactly what is being offered here.

Mitch Herps (4th Year) spoke on Mark 4:35-41 at Jamberoo Anglican. The disciples are with Jesus in the boat, and a storm is struck up. The disciples are in fear, doesn’t Jesus care about them “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And Jesus seeing their fear replies, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”. The fear the disciples had made them forget the reality of who was in front of them. Do we let fear dominate what we think of Jesus? Or do we see Jesus and have faith?

day 1 cricket — *A rare sighting of Mitch in a suit and doing his best imitation of Billy Bowden.*

At Oak Flats Anglican, we were able to attend their 10am and their 5pm service. Lionel spoke on Luke 19:1-10, showing us that Jesus, though on His way en route to Jerusalem comes across Zacchaeus. The chief tax collector, who is lost, and doomed to perish. But it is precisely for lost people who Jesus Christ came to pursue and rescue. Jesus’ great rescue on the cross was for all people; good and bad, popular or unknown, and even for one like Zacchaeus.

church night 1 — Clockwise from left; Lionel using the dramatic art of mime to demonstrate the tree Zacchaeus climbed up, Michelle sharing her testimony being interview by Jodie McNeil (also the first time he stayed still and wasn’t energetic), the Oak Flats logo; Real Hope | Real Jesus.

And this is what we hope we can do while we’re down in Oak Flats and Jamberoo, that we can come alongside the work these churches are already doing, and help them to proclaim to this place that Jesus Christ came to seek and save them. Sure, one week is a short time, we’re coming in like a sprinter who will dash just down the straight. It’ll all be over in a flash. But who knows what God will do, and so please pray that God would do His work of seeking and saving lost sinners in Jamberoo and Oak Flats.

God, in His grace, already shows us some glimpses. Jim* came up after the talk and was one of these lost people. Trying to figure out who the real Jesus is. Looking everywhere, looking earnestly, and still looking. He’s lost. And after all this looking, he was encouraged to read the thing right in front of Him. The Bible, the best historical biographies of Jesus.

Where lost people meet their Saviour Jesus who died to save the people just like Him.

Over the next week, you’re going to read stories of real life people here in the valley, stories about us Moore College students as we try our best to serve them with the Gospel, and the about the incredible work that God is doing here in Oak Flats and Jamberoo. We’re excited to be here, and we’re praying that God would be gracious and allow us to see some of the fruit he is growing here. And given the first day, and the love people have given us already, we’re looking forward to seeing what might happen.

*not his real name

Most comments below the photos are in jest.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_sidebar admin_label=”Blog sidebar – please don’t alter” orientation=”right” area=”sidebar-1″ background_layout=”light” remove_border=”off” header_font_size=”18″ body_font_size=”14″ locked=”on”] [/et_pb_sidebar][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#fffffc” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”on” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ disabled=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_post_title admin_label=”Blog title (pre-populated) DO NOT ALTER” title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”off” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”background” parallax_effect=”on” parallax_method=”off” text_orientation=”center” text_color=”dark” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”#fed835″ module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” title_all_caps=”off” meta_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” locked=”on”] [/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_sidebar admin_label=”Blog sidebar – please don’t alter” orientation=”right” area=”sidebar-1″ background_layout=”light” remove_border=”off” header_font_size=”18″ body_font_size=”14″ locked=”on”] [/et_pb_sidebar][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
Read more . . .