Saturday, April 18, 2009

Maryborough

a Biblical thought...
This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. (2 Chronicles 31:20)

a Book thought...
It's easy to point out the imperfections of others, but it takes much more humility and grace to confront the faults in ourselves. (p225)
a Dave thought...
Maryborough is a town in Northern Victoria with a population around 8000. Yesterday Kylie and I had the pleasure to make our way up there to catch up with Captains Andrew & Kelly walker along with their DY Captain Simon Pickens. Over the last couple of years I have only heard positive reports about this corps and so to finally see it first hand was amazing. It must be the only corps in the territory with 5 weekly services 10.30am & 6pm Friday, as well as 9.30, 11.30 & 6pm Sunday. So with over 200 attending these congregations weekly amidst all the other programs they run is so encouraging to see.

The youth program at Maryborough, which we witnessed first hand last night, has a weekly service that is fun, interactive and biblical at 6pm in their main hall followed by a youth group 7-9pm also run every Friday. This is held in their YP hall with billiards, table tennis, board games, Wii, as well a chef to cook fresh food. There was over 40 youth there last night and this is in the middle of the school holidays! They now have over 60 of the 800 teens from the local high school connected to this thriving corps. So if you think maybe the Salvos is on the decline or short of growing youth ministries drop into Maryborough sometime, you won't be disappointed.

Just a thought.

1 comment:

salvotim said...

Praise the Lord!
Thanks for the outline of the youth program. I think we'll try something similar at Carlton corps.