The Harvest is Plentiful!
This week in church we are launching our Ministry Training Appeal. We are seeking to raise more than $170,000 over the next few weeks to continue the work of raising up and training men and women of all ages for a lifetime of vocational ministry.
Christ Church St Ives has for decades been a training and sending church. We have helped train and send missionaries into the field, we have trained and sent groups of people to other churches to grow gospel ministry and we have trained and sent men and women to Moore College and Youthworks College to be prepared for ministry both in Sydney and across the world.
Our trainees this year are:
Britt Beattie - MTS
Phil Claridge - MTS
Bec Abraham - MTS
Steph Shumack - Church Traineeship
Ben Williams - Student Minister (Moore College)
John Brackenbury - Student Minister (Moore College)
Back in the day, I was the 2nd MTS Apprentice here at Christ Church and I spent more than two years reading the Bible, growing in my understanding of and competence in ministry and having a go at just about anything I could get my hands on. It was a joy and a privilege and set me up for sharing the gospel for life.
Our church has a great history of sending people like me out to serve the Kingdom of God and this weekend I will be urging you to join the work.
Right now, we have dozens of people - young and older - considering full time ministry. Our staff are currently following up 36 people who are thinking about the best way to utilise the gifts God has given them and their passion for Jesus.
Our goal is to be training 7 MTS apprentices and 2 student ministers each year - not next year and probably not the year after, but soon. We want to be intentionally gathering and guiding lots of people of all ages into full time vocational ministry.
It is an exciting prospect and one that needs your help prayerfully and financially. Pray that we can all capture the commitment and passion to train and encourage men and women for a lifetime of ministry. And then, please give financially.
This year you can support Ministry Training at Christ Church in two ways:
First, we are seeking to raise $50,000 to support our Church Trainee and Student Minister program.
Giving in this way is not tax deductible and can be done via our normal account but you must use the reference code: MTraining.
Second, we are seeking to raise $120,000 to support our MTS Apprentices
Giving in this way is tax deductible and can only be done via the MTS portal. To give in a tax deductible way for this appeal you can give to MTS directly at this site or to each trainee individually through the button below.
We are asking you to give in addition to your regular giving to support this project that seeks to send people who know the gospel and love Jesus out from Christ Church St Ives with clarity, competence, conviction and Christ-like character.
Jump on board the appeal and together, let’s prepare people to change the world with the Gospel of Jesus.
