kalamundachurchofchrist

Our History

In the beginning 6PR ran a radio session, conducted by IVAN NIXON, Minster of Bassendean Church of Christ, for the conference of Churches of Christ in WA. The session was called “The Bible Answer.” Among those who sought answers to questions were Mrs Davidson and her son Jack. The answer given led them to seek baptism and they became members of the Bassendean Church of Christ. This happened in the late 1940's. After their marriage, Mr and Mrs Ron Liddle came to live in Kalamunda. They and both their parents were members at Bassendean, Mr Liddle being Sunday School Superintendent and Church organist. But as time went by the Davidson’s experienced difficulty in getting to church at Bassendean. Among the members at Bassendean was a Mrs Main (sister-in-law of the past Principal of the College of the Bible at Glen Iris.) She was deeply concerned about the Davidsons, concerned that they were not able to have the fellowship and worship to sustain their Christian growth. She suggested to Mr Liddle that he should see if it could be arranged to hold services at Kalamunda occasionally so that their faith could be nurtured. The Liddles were very happy at Bassendean and it took some time for this suggestion to penetrate. However, she was a persistent lady and eventually Ron Liddle made some enquiries among the Churches, seeking names and addresses of members living in the Kalamunda area.

Receiving a favourable response to these enquiries Ron then arranged for a service to be held in the Kindergarten Hall in Barber Street on October 14th, 1951. At that service the following communicants living in Kalamunda were present:

Bro. C. Beazley
Sis. Beazley snr
Bro. R. Liddle
Sis. J. Liddle
Sis. Scambler
Bro. T. Jeffrey
Sis. W. Jeffrey
Sis. Doble
Sis. Maxfield

Children:

Joy Maxfield
Beth Maxfield
Dorothy Maxfield
Ian Jeffrey
Fay Liddle

Bro. L. Park, then president of the Conference of Churches of Christ in WA conducted the service.

At the conclusion of the service a short business session was held and it was decided to conduct services in the morning of the third Sunday in each month. A committee of oversight was appointed consisting of Brethren Beazley, Jeffrey and Liddle and Bro. Liddle was appointed Secretary-Treasurer. Power was given to the committee to co-opt members as the occasion arose.

Monthly services then continued until June 15th, 1952 when it was decided to set up the Lord’s Table each Sunday morning. Just prior to this date Bro. Putland was co-opted to the committee of oversight. During August 1952 it was decided to officially establish a church. Fourteen brethren and sisters signified their intention to transfer their membership and together with two sisters who had made their decisions at the Snodgrass-Pollock mission there was a nucleus of sixteen members.

On Sunday 12th October 1952 these brethren and sisters were received into fellowship by Bro. Ivan Nixon, (.then conference president) taking part in the service.

The undersigned brethren and sisters were received into fellowship establishing the church of Kalamunda:

Sis. Mrs Beazley
Bro. C. Beazley
Sis. B. Cox
Sis. J. Liddle
Bro. R. Liddle
Sis. Joy Maxfield
Sis. W. Jeffrey
Bro. T. Jeffrey
Bro. G. Putland
Sis. Mrs Putland
Sis. Mrs Davidson
Sis. Mrs Maxfield
Sis. Mrs Sanson
Sis. Mrs Bloomfield
Sis. Mrs Walker
Bro. J. Davidson

Also present at the service were -

Mr Curtis, Mrs S.H. Liddle, Mr R.M. Lidd!e, E. Robinson, E. Smyth, Mrs Curtis, L. Goodier, K. Stephenson, R.E. Goodier, G.E. Park, H. Johnson, Mrs A. Johnson, R.A. Goodier, A.D. Pyne, L.H. Park, Mrs N. Nixon, Beth Maxfield, Dorothy Maxfield, Ian Jeffrey, and Fay Liddle.

I. Nixon, L.H. Park, president at service, Ivan Nixon - Conference President.

Associate Members Roll - October 1952.

Sis. Curtis
Bro. Curtis
Sis Doble
Bro. Johnson
Sis. Johnson
Sis Smith
Bro. Price
Sis. Price
Sis. Miss Price
Sis. Linder
Bro. Linder
Sis. Mrs Arthur

Following the initial forming, the church got off to a good start and began negotiating for the services of Mr Hutson as a part time minister and on his acceptance a welcome was arranged for Friday 30th January 1953. This was a highly successful function, attended by both local and brotherhood dignitaries and following this Mr and Mrs Hutson lost no time in taking an active part in the church.

The early church owes a deep debt of gratitude to Mr and Mrs Hutson who, although engaged on a part time basis, in actual fact worked more than full time, to the great benefit of the Kalamunda church. It was largely due to the lead and inspiration given by Mr Hutson that the officers began to consider in earnest the building of a church hall in which to conduct services.

It should be mentioned here, that in the first operations of the church, the difference between the collection ,and the church expenses was met by a system of guarantors. First Mr Liddle and Mr Jeffrey and eventually expanding to include Mr Beazley and Mr Price and this system of financing the church work continued for some months until the giving equalled and then passed our commitments.

The church had received a donation of a building block for the purpose of erecting a manse but it was decided to dispose of this and the amount realised substantially increased the building fund.

Once the church was ahead of the game financially, the planning for a hall increased in tempo and after considering various possibilities finally culminated in the purchase of an Army Hut for 45 pounds.

The block we had been granted was the site of an old gravel pit and presented some problems in re-siting the hut when unloaded from the transporter. Mr Jeffrey secured a number of beams from a demolished bridge, and it was proposed to mount these on 44-gallon drums, at the approximate height to accommodate the sloping site.

Unfortunately, the Contractor had other ideas and the men of the church were faced with the task of raising a 60 foot building approximately 1 foot at one end to 5 feet at the other. Our only equipment was an hydraulic jack with a 6-inch lift and armed with this and loads of packing timber, the team began to slowly and painfully level up the building. Painfully, since the jack had a tendency to suddenly let go, resulting in numerous cracked heads and elbows, not to mention other parts of the anatomy.

Mr Liddle led a team to erect the toilet block, using second hand bricks. The brick laying went with a swing, but the hard clay into which the tank and French drain had to be sunk, proved a snag. Fortunately, Mr Beazley came to the rescue with the large bundles of gelignite and expertise in blasting made short work of that part of the job.

All hands now turned to the task of stripping the iron from the old building and proceeding to fit the skeleton out to fulfil the needs of the growing church. Mr Jeffrey was appointed supervisor and authorised to hire two carpenters for the building of the lean-to wing on the north side. This was to provide Bible School classrooms and a kitchen plus an entry hall to the Kinder-Primary rooms, leaving the men of the church free to concentrate on the main building. The church was well served in the busy bees each Saturday, both by men of the church and helpers from the metropolitan churches. Apart from the two carpenters and Mr Jeffrey no-one had much knowledge of building and the task facing the workers was, to say the least, somewhat unorthodox, but the busy bees made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in building expertise.

We were very fortunate to have Mr Liddle who handled all the electrical side of the project and the thorny administrative and financial problems, which were many and varied. Mr Liddle Senior and Mr Goodier, teamed up and undertook the building of the front porch, for this was no job for amateurs.

The ladies under Mrs Hutson turned up in force and besides supplying us with the large quantities of refreshments, put in many strenuous hours cleaning down walls for the painting and clearing away the inevitable accumulation of debris left behind by the busy-bee-ers.

One, writing of this vital experience of the infant church said -

I suppose if any of us was asked what impressed us most during this combined effort, the reply would be, first the deep spirit of friendship which pervaded the whole of the project and secondly Mr Hutson’s contribution. The building had originally been subdivided into flats and as these were demolished, there were huge piles of timber etc, which for financial reasons had to be re-cycled into the building. Mr Hutson attended every, busy bee and took upon himself the dirty and monotonous task of denailing every piece of timber likely to be of any use to the builders, a duty no one else was willing to tackle except for very short periods. Mr Hutson, who had already passed retiring age, doggedly stuck to this humble but highly important job until the supplies of salvagable material finally ran out. We started the programme in June 1957, aud it was completed and opened on Sunday 24th April, 1958 by Mrs Beazley after a whirlwind effort by all concerned, including more than thirty helpers from the metropolitan churches.

The church was particularly indebted to Mr Kevin Curtis, who as a master painter was unable to help during the day, nevertheless put in every night in the weeks before the opening, painting the interior thus saving us a great deal of labour and finance.

From now on the activities of the church spread out in all directions. Bible School with Ron Liddle as superintendent began to expand, a Youth group led by Bert Doubikin got under way, boys basketball trained by Syd King and the girls basketball under Mrs Joy Liddle became a force to be reckoned with in the basketball association.

As a result of all this it was felt that further expansion of our building was justified and coincidentally with this Tom Jeffrey and Bert Doubikin were working on a plan to finance and build a tennis court for the use of the youth work. It was decided that both this and the building of a new wing at the east end of the building should be undertaken in February 1961. and Although manpower was very short the project was successfully completed, largely through the efforts of Con Beazley, John and Bert Doubikin, and Tom Jeffrey. Mr Hutson was again well to the fore and again elected himself to the role of odd job man plus billy boy and his tea and cake were always on time.

Con Beazley took his job as building committee man very seriously and gave generously of his time and substance, the latter providing the where withal to complete the storeroom cum class room adjacent to the tennis court and enabling us to gravel and bitumenise the playing area. The ladies fellowship supported the men on every front and raised large sums to furnish the hall.

Ron Liddle was instrumental in conjuring up all the needs of the church in the way of seating and repeated this feat three times; he used this same magic in running to earth organs and pianos as well, to meet the needs of every expanding move the church made.

Furniture such as pot-plants, flower stands, lectern, communion table and hymn shelves etc, were gradually acquired and a baptistry added through the efforts of Mr Liddle Senior.

In 1965 it was decided that a manse was a must to facilitate the work of our minister and a property at 15 Railway Road was duly purchased. After extensive alterations and additions carried out almost entirely by Mr Liddle Senior, we became the possessors of a very valuable and functional home for our minister.

In 1967 we again began to burst at the seams and a further expansion was called for. This time on the south side of the building.

Again Mr Liddle Senior tackled the job and single-handed brought it to a successful conclusion. Mr. Hutson served with the church until 27th May 1962, however continued to assist the church for a number of years during the ministries of Brethren Croot and Griffiths. Later Mr and Mrs Hutson moved to a home unit at Bedford Park. Bro. D. Croot served from 3rd June 1962 until 16th January 1966. Bro. F. Griffiths served from February 1st 1966 until 29th December 1968.

During these ministries the membership of the church grew from the commencement in 1952 of 16 to 83 in 1968. During the next ten years Bro. D. Hughes ministered with the church. This was a time of vast change in the Kalamunda community. From a small village on the outskirts of Perth the shire grew in size until it has now become a major suburb.

During this time of change the membership of the church seesawed up and down year by year as members moved in and out of the community. However by the end of Bro, Hughes’ ministry (ten years) the community was becoming more stable and the membership began to climb again.

During the ministry of Bro. Croot it was discovered that the land and buildings which the members had so lovingly and carefully built would be required for a new major road development of the burgeoning Perth community. However, it was to take another fourteen years of patient and delicate negotiation before definite plans for a new church home in a different location within the shire could be made.

Late in 1976 the church secured the present land comprising three building blocks for a new manse and chapel. Brethren Barratt, Sallerman, Liddle, Shipp and Sis. Greenwood were responsible for the supervision of the building of the new properties and charged with the responsibility of decor and furnishing.

Meanwhile, we were able to sell the old manse in Railway Road Kalamunda and Bro, and Sis. Hughes moved into the vacant Baptist Manse in Lesmurdie while we were building our own manse. On 28th August 1977 the new manse in Mileti Road Lesmurdie was dedicated to the service of God and Bro. and Sis. Hughes and their family were handed the keys by Sis. Molly Way and led over the steps and under the lintel by Sis. Mrs Liddle Snr.

Now it was time to start God’s chapel. During the year of 1978 the ground was broken and the building began to take shape. Finally on 4th February, 1979 the new chapel was ready and the dedication of the building was made on that day. The last service held in the building in Spring Road was 28th January 1979.

During the period 1st January 1979 to January 1981 the church was ably served by a system of interim ministries by retired brethren from the churches throughout Australia. These brethren served for two periods of three months or more and were housed in the church manse.

Br. H. Greenwood served for two periods of three months coming from Adelaide in South Australia. Bro. G. Mathieson Snr served for one period of three months, coming from Adelaide in South Australia. Bro. Cec Robinson served for a period of three months and he came to us from Launceston in Tasmania, Bro. G. Howell served for an extended period of nine months from April to December 1980.

Our present Minister Bro. T. Hanna commenced his ministry with us on 25th January 1981and in this period to the present time the church has experienced a mushrooming growth, until the membership had grown to 132 at the end of August 1982. Such growth has made it necessary for us to lease the Shire Hall next to the chapel for an extension of the Youth work of the church.

Presently we are engaged in an investigation of community services needed in the district with a view to the church becoming a focal point for community outreach. We look forward with keen anticipation to the leading of the Holy Spirit as we seek ways to extend the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in the Kalamunda community.

Soon after the commencement of Bro. Hanna’s ministry it became obvious that there was a need for an assistant with the administrative load and finally in May 1982 Sis. J. Michael was appointed as administrative assistant to Bro, T. Hanna.

During the period from January 1969 to August 1982 we have been engaged in trying to discover a constitutional pattern that would serve the church in it’s growing role in the community. Although we have tried many models of constitutional reform we are still in the process of discovering God’s leading in this area.

The church stands at the brink of great strides forward and looks to all thinking men and women of God’s family for prayer support and succour. May God’s richest blessing attend us on our way to the realisation of His will for Kalamunda Church of Christ.

Compiled from church records by W.H. (Bill) Greenwood. 1982.

The Second Chapter

It was exciting to stand at the threshold of this period; a young and new minister, an enthusiastic and growing congregation. Where would God take us? And in what direction? In early 1982, as these questions were being asked, there seemed to be a growing conviction that God was speaking to the church about mission. If this really was God’s direction, would our ’new’ chapel complex accommodate much more growth? The board formed a committee to look at our options for expansion - not just in the area of the chapel buildings but as an overall outreach as a centre for the Kingdom of God in the community. What was to be God’s purpose for us in Kalamunda?

We elected to acquire the adjacent hall from the shire and re-develop it. As we were already using the hall for various activities, the potential disadvantages of the building were obvious. So, in early 1984, we informally approached the shire about the proposed purchase.

They agreed to sell the building for a total of $122,000 and, for the next 16 months, the purchase, renovations and financing of the vision were the subject of prayer, discussions,alterations and even more prayer. Finally, the paperwork was completed so we could begin the renovations.

While all this was happening, we were seeking the direction of God about the how, where and what of mission focus. For some time, (from May, 1983, in fact), we had struggled to support just one missionary as a ’Living Link’. Geoff Maxwell had gone from Kalamunda Church to Papua New Guinea but the church wasn’t meeting the full cost for his support. It became very obvious that, before any move was possible, God would have to renovate us. We needed a missionary vision.

The weekly playgroups expanded to three. This provided an outreach into the community. The first playgroup had started in the Spring Road building as a support network among young Christian mothers. *

It was during this time, too, that the Practical Helps Ministry developed an emergency pantry to meet needs in the local community. Later, this ministry, (Practical Helps), was to grow into a major outreach. **

In August, 1985, Rod Baines presented what the Board believed to be God’s direction for mission to the church. This was our introduction to Faith Promise Giving. Over the next 14 months, we were given various focuses on mission. This helped encourage us to make the vision ours.

It was not until early 1986 that Tom Walker was employed to make the major structural alterations to the hall. This involved adding a foyer/fellowship area and a new kitchen. The old entrance was remodelled, a baptistry built, the mezzanine cleared, with new windows added and the stairway access altered. The sound booth, with all the associated wiring to the platform area was a completely new construction. Paths, main entrance and veranda - what a transformation! Once again working bees were formed to help reduce the costs. Tradespeople were only hired where necessary.

Services continued in the chapel, with the courtyard doors being opened in hot weather and the ’sardine crush’ employed in the wet. A sense of expectancy as people came during these months meant no one minded the crush.... except when the roof leaked on their head.

The new people who came into the church stayed and grew spiritually. They were excited by all they were seeing of the work of God. Interestingly, the quite large number of overseas adoptions that took place demonstrated this. So, long before it became a politically correct thing to be, we were multi-cultural.

While the construction was in progress, the youth groups, who had been using the hall for some time, had to relocate to the gym at Kalamunda Senior High School. The Junior Christian Endeavour, under the direction of Joyce Spicer, continued to meet in the chapel building, with the intermediate youth group meeting in the kitchen. Friday nights were a cacophonic crush of kids, all competing for any available space!

The building work continued, aiming for enough to be Completed so the hall could be used for the first World Mission Week meetings, planned for October, 1986. The floor was cleared, a temporary carpet laid and the services were held in the shell. The first speaker for World Mission Week was Leroy Randall. The Christmas services were also held in the hall. Finally, on 22nd February, 1987, the Worship Centre was dedicated and we moved in officially.

Apart from some general maintenance...and some much needed landscaping, today we are in exactly the same place which opened nine years ago. So, what’s changed:

The pine trees which used to line the old fence have been felled and the fence itself has been demolished.
An extra office in the function centre with a subsequent change to the toilet and entryway.
A proper entrance to the office/reception area.
Air conditioners for the Worship Centre.
The car park has been kerbed and sealed.
The old play group play area has been planted with shrubs as have the banks at the top of the car park and the Canning Road frontage to the Worship Centre. Recently, a new canopy has been erected over the entry, off the car park, to the Worship Centre.

But a church is not a building. It is people. People who have come and gone; some to other churches, some to the mission field, some have heen called home. There are those who have remained among us, committed to the work of God in this place; the senders of the sent-out ones. These all are the great cloud of witnesses who surround us, to encourage us to look and walk forwards, following the pattern of faith they have set for us. (Heb 12:1)

In 1966-67, Frank Griffiths had asked Bettie Pendal to start Junior Christian Endeavour, which she ran until 1970. It then closed due to lack of leaders till about 1985 when Joyce Spicer ran the group for some years. Now God has raised another leader, Rob Stone, to continue this ministry.

As the work of the church increased, we needed a pastoral assistant. In 1985, Beris Booth started that job. At the A.G.M. that year, she was elected as Outreach Co-ordinator as well. Today, she still works as a pastoral assistant co-ordinating:

Pastoral Care
World Mission Week, and missionarv contact
Organisation of worship teams
Provision of resources

Thank God for the blessing, especially in the area of music, which Beris has brought to the church

A new era of growth and outreach seemed to explode with the opening of the building. At that first Faith Promise Giving service, a total pledge of $54,000 was made...and this from a church which used to struggle in this area. Within the next year we had started supporting 17 missionaries around the world.

Among those first supported were Ian and Marie Borham, in Spain. Ian spoke to us at later Mid-year Mission weekends and at a World Mission Week. We have followed the Borham’s work, visited and supported them for nine years now. The church mourned, with Marie and the children, at Ian’s death, in 1994. Two other faithful servants have been called home: Yosua Thankappan in India, (15/08/1994), and Russell Peake in Australia, (20/09/1995).

In the 10 years since W.M.W. began, 12 missionaries, some with families, have gone to the mission field from this church. Their directions have differed. For example, Jill Shanhun became a school chaplain at Walliston, Lachlan Spicer took on the role of youth worker at Boddington, Dean and Heather Smith became church planters at Quairading and Sharlene Bailey serves internationally with Teen Mission. How exciting to stop and give thanks for all who have heard and responded to God so that others may also have the chance to hear the call.

39 people have gone to study in preparation for ministry. To be part of the sending has not always been easy for it has meant saying ’good-bye’ to some dearly loved friends. Yet there is also the sense of adventure as they go. Where will God take them? Of the five students we currently support, one will finish his course this year.

In the early days, some children were brought in to attend Sunday School by a man who wore a Christian Endeavour badge. He and his wife started coming to the church and, of course, he was approached as a possible Sunday School teacher. He accepted - and Bert Doubikin, supported by his wife Thelma, served in many capacities; from Sunday School teacher to organist and finally as an elder. He died in the service of the Lord after the induction of the 13th pastor, John Thornhill. Today, his daughter, Shirley Mcllwaine, still worships with us and faithfully prepares the communion table as she has done for twenty-one years.

Around about 1960, another new family moved into the district and joined the church. The Way family is still represented by Molly who, at 86, is one of our oldest active members. We give thanks for her faithfulness and her quiet steadfast witness over many years.

Two people instrumental in the foundation of the church ate still with us today. Often behind the scenes, their reputation is for faithful work in many areas over the years. They served as basketball coach, Sunday School teachers, welcomed people, did the flower rosters, and as a Board Chairman. Will we ever look at the rose gardens without thinking of Ron and Joy Liddle?

As the church continued to grow, it was obvious that there was too much work for one minister. In 1984, a Perth Bible College student, Mark Proud, started a part-time ministry and continued full-time in 1985 after he completed his studies. Mark brought some special gifts to the church as a counsellor.

Another student intern, Dean Smith, came in mid 1986. His term was extended, in 1987, to full-time for 18 months until the end of 1988. Under the combined ministry of these three men, the work progressed, with the development of active (and very large) youth groups being a feature.

This was the start of the team ministry structure, which exists today. We have tried many different models of constitution as our original one was based on a single person ministry. After minor adjustments, in 1994, we seem to have found the right one for this church. Over the years of trials, our constitution has been a difficult issue.

The youth groups continued to grow. The senior group came back from the gym; file intermediate one, in 1989, went to Walliston primary school,(they have now ceased meeting there), and J.C.E. continues in the function centre. Over the years, file numbers have fluctuated as the population of the district has changed. We have struggled to find leaders and difficulties have arisen from the pressures of a rapidly changing society. Many of these problems are still current so new focus and dh’ection is being sought for the youth ministry.

The Sunday school has been a vibrant part of the life of the church. From the beginning, it has been one of the main areas, which God has used to reach out to the community. In those early years, we had about 120 children in Sunday school and just 20 people in the congregation!! As the district has changed, so have the numbers in Sunday School.

During the late 1980s, it was again in a growing stage and we can thank God for the many faithful servants who cared and taught over many years. There are too many to list them all but we must mention Bettie Pendal who, for over 25 years, has been involved as teacher, aide and superintendent.

Today, there are very few children in the church so the Sunday School is small. We struggle to find leaders for this vital ministry, and this is of great concern. Much prayer is needed as we ask God how to revive and lead this ministry so that all children, not just those who are from church families, can be taught the word of God.

During Tim Hanna’s ministry, the congregation grew from 130 to over 400 in attendance every Sunday. In August, 1987, Tim Hanna announced that he would be leaving at the end of 1988, to accept an appointment at Carlingford Theological College. This started the search for a new senior pastor, a matter that occupied the eldership for many months. In October; 1988, John Thornhill accepted the call, and he and his family came in January, 1989.

During 1988, Dean Smith began seeking God’s direction and felt that the time had come him to leave. Dean, Heather and their 6 children left to plant a church at Quairading. Dean and Rod Baines had been going to Quairading once or twice a week to run home fellowship groups. This had continued for about 16 months after a request from a couple whom travelled each week from Quairading to Kalamunda to attend services.

Dean’s decision meant the eldership needed to seek God about a second pastor, one who would mainly work with the youth. A student in his final year at Carlingford, Paul Sanders, (who was doing an internship at South Perth C.o.C.), was approached. After prayer and meetings, he accepted the call as youth pastor and took up his appointment on Jan., 8th, 1989.

In mid 1987, the church purchased a second manse for the use of the Hanna family. The Prouds were using the manse in Mileti Road. After the Hannas left, we held some working bees to clean and renovate the house and grounds of the Canning Road manse, before the Thornhills arrived, on Australia Day, 1989.

Theirs was to be a turhulent ministry culminating in John’s dismissal on the 4th Dec., 1990. During the first months, there was a growth in attendance to a peak of about 300 people per service. Then began a long period of decline. Eventually, the eldership, which had tried to remain separate from the turmoil, had to step in to attempt to reconcile the parties.

The 1990 A.G.M. was adjourned for 2 weeks and the church was called to pray together, daily, for God’s solution to what seemed to be an intractable situation. When the meeting was reconvened, there were fresh reports from those who had been trying to mediate. Finally, the matter came to a vote, and John’s ministry was terminated.

This was a time of deep distress and division in the church. Many more people left to attend other fellowships. Still, through all of the pain, the faithfulness of God has been revealed. This was His church and He would build it - and nothing man could do would stand against that fact. People were leaving, financial support dropped, direction seemed blurred; yet in tiny pockets God was stirring people in depths and ways they had never before dreamed.

Incredibly, at the end of 1990. we were still supporting 25 separate mission areas - which can only speak of God’s faithfulness to meet the needs of His people, materially and spiritually. In ministry, this left Mark Proud as an acting senior pastor and Paul Sanders as youth pastor, a situation which continued for the next twenty one months, till Mark resigned from the ministry in August, 1992. It was a very painful time as we tried to heal past hurts and build for the future. We were conscious that both pastors had also been hurt over the past months.

Financially, the church was in debt, payments could not be made on time and we had difficulty selling the Canning Road manse. There was also a major attempt to amend the constitution at this time - and God continued to speak about mission.

We had a growing sense of direction about specific mission to our local area. In April, 1991, Mark Proud took the R.O.C.K.S.A.L.T. concept before the Board. (Reach Out and Care Kalamunda, Salt and Light Teams.)

ROCKSALT was to be the local outreach/practical helps arm of the church; to pick up those areas of the original vision for the whole complex and to make the church a centre for the community. It would comprise of counselling, practical helps, friendship, playgroups etc...

People were eager to grasp its direction and the ROCK side expanded very quickly. Unfortunately, there were abuses here because of a lack of wisdom in screening needs: Transformers (gardening/yard tidying) died very soon because of this factor. Warm Winter Weekend, during which the church purchased firewood and delivered some free to needy families was another aspect. Migrant/refugee sponsoring and care, aged visitation, meals on wheels and food parcels were other areas of involvement. There was a thrust into more active evangelism with Bible and leaflet drops. We began men and women ministry groups.

Joy Barratt and Ruth Greenwood who undertook the collection and distribution of parcels to those in need covered the food parcels branch of Rocksalt. Joy became the facilitator as changes were made in this area, and we co-ordinated more with other agencies. We give thanks to God for her faithful ministry and praise Him for Gail Irvine who is now filling this role.

In April, 1991, Kids of the Cross was started for those aged 7 - 17. Music, dance and drama to involve the children more in ministry, both in Kalamunda and beyond. In 1995, the difficulty of functioning with such varying ages led to the formation of TAG - C., (Teenagers Accepting God’s Commission!) No one seeing the drama, ’Choices’ that this group performed during W.M.W. 1996, could doubt the power of this ministry.

After the ’Hills Play Group’s lease on the undercroft expired, the area remained vacant for some time till some concerned Christian mothers set out to examine the possibility of operating a four- year-old playgroup from the area, under the umbrella of the church. They obtained a government grant to upgrade the facilities and the playgroup re-commenced in 1992 for about three years, finally closing after changes to the education system and a declining four-year-old population made it unviable.

From 1990, the eldership had sought God’s direction for a senior pastor. In November, 1992, David Shalley accepted the call and was inducted on 4th April, 1993. To date his pastorate has been a time of healing the past hurts and of leading the church into the future. He has also taught us to look out into the community rather than inwards, to see the locality as an important mission area. One way he has done this is to encourage people to find and develop their own gifts and, thus, mature in their faith. Under his leadership also, the administration areas of the church have been improved and streamlined.

In 1992, Steve Hall started working as a Community Youth worker in the shire and schools, with church support. His was an active and vital role in bringing direction and life to the youth groups, especially the Axiom (senior) youth group. His wife, Margaret, was involved in training ‘Kids Of The Cross’. In February, 1994, as they left to take position as Youth Pastor at Kelmscott Church of Christ, we mourned the tragic loss of their youngest son, Jesse.

This year, 1996, we have grieved with Ruth Greenwood over the loss of Bill. The Greenwood family first came to Kalamunda in 1965. To partake of communion when Bill presided was to share in a very intimate experience with a man who reverenced God. In those last few precious weeks of Bill’s life, it was a privilege to be with him, see his peace and know the comfort of the God Bill loved so dearly.

Tom Jeffrey, one of our foundation members, went home this year. Tom and his wife, Wyn, were faithful members here for many years, before settling at Maida Vale in their old age. As Tom grew frailer and was unable to travel, they transferred their membership to the Foothills Church of Christ.

The Friendship Centre, (formed after Christian Women’s Fellowship group closed 1982-83), has continued with their ministry to the community. We thank God for their commitment in many areas:

Visiting the Valencia Nursing Home
Catering for various functions
Seniors Christmas Lunch
Blanket making
Fund raising for missions

The end of 1996 will see yet another change in ministry as Paul Sanders leaves to be married and takes a break from pastoral ministry. This is a matter for prayer for the elders as they seek God’s man to fill the vacant ministry position.

Forty-five years ago, Kalamunda Church of Christ was started as a ’mission’ church, to support and help local Christians grow. Throughout its history, it has been strongest when it has reached out to the community and the world. Once again, we stand on the threshold of a new era of outreach. Can we leave the past, having learned from its lessons and start a new adventure with God? Our mission speaker this year, Tim Hanna, gave us the clue about it all when he titled his messages:

“Mission: an adventure in grace.”

Compiled from church records, and personal interviews by Diana H. Bailey. September 1996

ORDER OF SERVICE 1996
9.30 a.m.
President:
D. SHALLEY
Worship Leader:
D. SHALLEY
Pianist:
L.KENNEDY
Keyboard:
T. THOMPSON
Base guitar:
R. MERRELLS Snr
Acoustic guitar:
J. MERRELLS
Flautist:
N. SHANHUN
Drummer:
T. ALBANY
Singers:
A. WELLS
M. COOK
R. MclLWAINE
A, SHALLEY
6.30 p.m.
Worship Leader:
P. ATACK

Call to worship
Song
Prayer
Kids of the Cross. "One Voice"
Worship & celebration songs
Reading
Song "I will return" written: C. Beazley
sung by R. & S. McIlwaine.
Roll call of early members
Song "Lamb of God" written: B. Greenwood
Communion
Song
Message: Des Croot
former pastor 1962-66
Closing song
Message. S. Dinnen

JUBILEE

9) Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the Day of Atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 10) And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. 11) A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ... 12) For it is the jubilee; it shall be holy unto you.
Leviticus 25

God, for His purposes, brought this assembly into being, and today we celebrate this special year in our life as part of His family. We look back over the past few years to see the changes that have occurred, but our focus must be fixed on the future. There are many signs to remind us that the time of the Lord’s return is very close, and our task is the more urgent for that reason.

God’s basic pattern for relationships is families, and this has been one of the great strengths of this church. It was concern for an isolated family which was the reason for the foundation. It was families who built the structures, families, (even to the third generation) who have been part of the continuation. And it is families who will hold the key to the future growth and equipping of those who become the harvest here. In a world as torn as this one, we need to pray the more earnestly, and care more diligently, for the families we know. It is in the spirit of family that we look at some of the highlights of the last five years.

There have been some major changes in ministry in that time. 1999 saw many of those changes: David and Audrey Shalley left us in February. From April to September there was an interim part-time ministry with Fred and Betty Anderson. Then our current Pastor Steve, and Margaret Hall, were inducted in October. And now, in September 2001, we have farewelled our youth Pastor, Matt and Rachelle Zarb and their boys.

Other celebrations we have enjoyed included the 60th Wedding Anniversary of Fritz and Louise Kriekhaus, and the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Mal and Myrtle Dix. What an inspiration it is to share these special days with family in a world where nearly every second marriage is breaking down. They stand as a testimony to the grace of God’s constancy and love for people. What a prayer challenge for those whose heart is for families.

A result of much prayer resulted in the joy of Stuart and Mioholle Davis, sister Amy (and proud grandparents Ron & Bettie Pendal) on the arrival of the very first multiple birth in our church family. Emma, Alexandra and Scott Davis arrived safely on February 10th 2000. Indeed, what a God we have, pressed down, shaken together and running out all over.

It was with sadness that we said goodbye to four people who went home to be with the Lord: Valda Jarvey who died of cancer, John Sanderson after a long illness, Ellie Willis who died very suddenly before her wedding and Ruth Greenwood after a battle with cancer. How delighted Ruth would be to see her daughter, Jan Collins, now in regular fellowship with us.

Once again netball and basketball have become an outreach, mainly through the youth. There are some very brave others who play, and some really superb oldies who support our teams most faithfully. This year the boys’ team won their grand final. Special congratulations to them as it is only their second year as a team. The netball teams, Kermits, Rubber Duckies and Sunbeams have played with varying success for some years now and are going from strength to strength. If you want to have fun, get exhausted, or just join in, then come along and be involved with any or all of these teams.

The Holiday Club is yet another outreach which involves many people over the school holidays. Jill Shanhun, as Children’s’ Pastor, had the job of organising and co-ordinating the programme for the many children who attended this year. Application forms were sent to most of the local schools, who handed them to their students. This meant that many attendees were strangers to the Gospel. Praise God, people are willing to trust us with their precious little ones and pray they will glimpse the love of Christ through this contact. Grateful thanks to all those involved as leaders, helpers or just general ’bodies on the ground’ when needed.

In the areas of youth ministry, one of the main aims that have have been highlighted is to make Christ known in the community. Many who are not regular attendees at services have been contacted through the differing branches, i.e. Sunday Night Live, State Youth Games, the High School Ministry and Crossfire group. With follow up contact to those reached we look to see the Lord’s Kingdom enlarged. The responsibility on all of us to teach these people the ways of the Lord calls for a serious commitment to prayer and discipleship.

Café church has been held several times over the past few years. Barry Crocker Jnr. was one of those who ministered one evening. Another powerful speaker was John Button, a man unjustly convicted of murder, who found God in the midst of such turmoil. A very topical seminar on drugs has also been held, which was very well attended. We are looking forward to a special Café Church night with Barry Crocker Jnr. to be held in Stirk Park in November, and pray that there will be many to hear him and that Jesus will touch their lives.

The Friendship days have started again with meetings every second Tuesday. As an outreach they have started supporting a child through Compassion Australia. Recently they had True Blue Ministry singer, Ken Schneider, and Stuart Jackson, Chaplain at Kalamunda S.H.S. A fun day was the time with Mrs Hall Snr., Steve’s mother, who certainly had some stories to tell.

The faithful team who go to Sunshine Park each month have a time of singing, the songs being chosen by the people there. A speaker, afternoon tea and fellowship are vital to this ministry which has been serving for many years now. This is an opportunity to become involved with others for the love of Christ. Many faithful people are also involved in the continuation of the Christmas Lunch for seniors from the different nursing homes. It is exhausting for the helpers, but a programme that the seniors really look forward to.

Some years ago Alpha courses were started and, with a short break, have been running ever since. Held in people’s homes, their aim is to help enquirers or new Christians learn the basics of our faith. There are people who attend from other churches, as well as from here. Currently there is a youth Alpha course, as well as a general group. Home fellowship groups continue to function. Numbers may be down, but they serve a real purpose for those who attend. The vision is to increase the number of groups and participants over the next few years.

In this edition of our history we have included lists of all the students and missionaries who have been supported from this church over the years. It is appropriate the theme of this World Mission Week is: ’Mission: at the heart of Jesus,’ for this is where our focus needs to be. To see in a concrete form the change that has occurred since the first World Mission Week in October 1986 is an enormous encouragement. It is a story of God’s faithfulness and provision in which we have been privileged to share. There is also an awesome responsibility for us to be good stewards of that which God has provided.

One speaker told us that ’God only had one Son, and He was a missionary’. It is as we have grasped the truth of this that we have come closest to what God wants. This church was founded as a mission church and has been strongest when its main outlook has been mission. Whether this is to be involved with the local basketball team, or to go into a Muslim nation is irrelevant. Mission is God’s heart, mission is why Jesus came, and it is why we have been called today.

Part of the story is to see just how we have become members of a global community through those we support in so many different countries. There are stories of triumphs and trouble from places where war, pestilence and famine are regular occurrences. All are important as part of the story of our extended family, but I have chosen to highlight just a couple at this time. One is very personal, the other is awesome. Read on, and be thrilled and encouraged. In both cases, God has privileged us to be a small part of His plan. We see a little now, and can look forward to seeing it all when we go home. God is faithful, and it is by His provision alone, that the work has gone forward. Since 1986, a grand total of $986,914 has been given by God towards the work of missions. What a mighty God we serve.

In 1997, Winston and Penny D’Sylva with Rebekka and Sarah, stayed in the manse whilst on furlough. Before they returned to India they became members here. They had left their second daughter, Neha, in India as her adoption had not been approved. It has been a long struggle for them but on Sept 6th 2001 we received this E-mail from Penny, which I quote (on the grounds that I can’t do better).

ALLELUIA!!!! SHE’S OURS!!!! Rejoice and be glad!!! WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED THE NEWS THAT WE HAVE WON THE CASE!!! YES, YES, YES, ISN’T THAT TERRIFIC!! AND YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF IT ALL.WITH US, Thank you, thank you, thank you you’ve done it...we’ve done it...HE’S DONE IT, because of His great love for us all. ALLELUIA WE LOVE YOU GUYS, BLESSINGS ON YOUR WHOLE LIVES, WOW, WOW, WOW!!

Mwai and Zionne Kamuyambeni were young Christians who had been sent to Malawi from Zambia as Church planters. God gave us the privilege, of supporting them for 31 months (July 89 - Feb 92). In that time we answered a request to get Mwai a bicycle, so that his two day walk to the farthest village from his home was eliminated. We then heard that he had been called to pastor another church in Lilongwe and that our support was no longer required. His first church had grown from none to 300 members in that time. In the following four years, Lilongwe church quadrupled in size to over 2000 members. When he left Lilongwe, he had overseen the establishment of 13 prayer houses (developing churches) and started a Bible College from which there had been thirty graduates. Mwai was then elected as Chairman of Zambezi Evangelical Conference Synod for three years. He is only 36 years old this year!

We are becoming more aware of the importance of mission to the Jewish people. There is a significant increase in the number of Jewish missions and speakers who have come here over the past few years. Remembering that the Jews are God’s chosen people, we know that God has not brought these speakers here by chance. A necessary reminder to all believers is that we are grafted into the Olive Tree that is Israel for the purpose of ’making the Jews jealous to their salvation’. This year Lawrence Hirsch, from Celebrate Messiah came and held meetings and seminars in Perth. We have been part of their ministry for nearly 5 years now. In that time God has been moving in spectacular ways. There has been two Messianic Congregations formed, 1 Hebrew/English, the other Russian. Approximately 100 Jews have come to faith in Jesus in this time. They are mainly from the immigrant Russian community who are easier to reach as they do not feel so much part of the Melbourne Jewish community. These Jews are part of the exodus from the Russian Federation we are seeing in these days. Praise God that we can be a small part of such an exciting ministry.

We have heard from Kelvin Crombie who, with his family, has now returned to Jerusalem to continue the ministry in which he is involved there. Yet another speaker came from David House Fellowship. The Exodus Foundation and the Ebenezer Emergency Fund team held seminars and showed us the way God is moving to fulfil scripture in those times. The way He has opened the gates to bring His people back to their land is a thrilling story. The exciting thing about it is He is using people like us to accomplish this. Dick Reuben spoke one Sunday. He had been scheduled to speak several times in Perth but ill health prevented him. We were very privileged that he came here. One thing he taught us was our lack of understanding of our Christian heritage in this land. We must remember that this is the land where God planted us for His purpose, and we need to boast of that fact.

Something that struck me as I thought on these things was the significance of the date of the foundation of this church. This is the season of the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of the Ingathering of the people. We are not the only church who is becoming aware of the importance of the Jewish people to God’s plan, but we have been given a special part to play at this time. What pivotal contribution do we make as the only church body, to date, who support the work of Celebrate Messiah in Australia? Why has God called us to this ministry? What is the next step He wants us to take? What more should we be doing?

The church does not exist in a vacuum, but as a part of the world. September 11th 2001 is not a date we will forget, because of the terrorist attacks on the U.S.A., The response to that tragedy will have long term implications for those involved in overseas missions. One proof of this is those who are missionaries in Eurasia have either left, or are leaving the area, ordered out by the respective governments. Those who are now on furlough have a question mark over the return to their mission field. Another result has been the tremendous upsurge in Muslim national anti-Israel rhetoric. What a sign of the times as we see the kings of the earth mounting up against God’s chosen people. The capture and trial of aid workers in Afghanistan has further demonstrated the intolerance of these countries to the word of God. There are two Western Australians involved in this desperate situation.

One of the mission groups we support is H.C.J.B. They have the vision to build the largest short wave radio station in the world near Kununurra. The land is available for them, and they have the expertise to build, but opposition is now forming. As land borders close, the need for radio to reach into those countries becomes more vital. We need to pray that this station can come to fruition, and that the Lord uses it in a mighty way. For this is ’Mission: at the heart of Jesus.’

Scripture tells us that in the Jubilee Year God’s plan was for restoration and freedom for His people and the land. Today we live in a world where freedom is being eroded, and the very basis of society is under unprecedented attack from all sides. This applies equally as much here at home as overseas. Look at the thrust to pass laws that will destroy the family for one example. This is our call to prayer. We are called as ambassadors for Christ, to take His word to all nations. As Jesus’ name is lifted higher, then the promise of the Jubilee will come:

10) And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every unto his family. 11) A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ... 12) For it is the jubilee; ii shall be holy unto you. Leviticus 25

Amen. Come Lord Jesus!

Written by Diana H. Bailey