Regional Ministries
Canberra Region
Nick Barber / Regional Minister - Canberra
Quick stats:
- Canberra Region Population = 500 000 Plus
- Unique region encompassing an urban centre surrounded by rural communities
In the past 12 months the ministry of the Canberra Region has continued to develop. The leadership team worked together forming a ministry charter to move towards becoming an affiliated ministry. The Canberra Region has now become an affiliated ministry of the Baptist Association as the “Canberra Region Baptist Network”. In keeping with the Association’s Gen1K goal, our vision is, “to see 30 healthy local Baptist Congregations breathing life into the Canberra Region and a generation of leaders equipped to lead the church by the year 2050.” With the groundwork established, our focus now shifts towards implementing concrete actions to realise this vision.
Efforts have continued on developing a regional ministry and training hub on a property owned by Mosaic Baptist Church. In early 2025, an investment is planned to upgrade this property to enhance its capacity and suitability for use as a training and development hub. In October 2024, David and Nicole Starling were hosted to launch a Morling Hub for individuals seeking to study through Morling College in Canberra. We hope to continue to develop further opportunities for leadership development in the region.
In 2024 we welcomed Able Church into the Baptist Family as it was provisionally approved as a Newstart Church Plant. Able Church has been worshipping together for around 2 years, originally meeting as a home church, now worshipping regularly with around 50-60 regular attenders in a local school hall. We have been excited to welcome Able Church into the family and look forward to partnering in ministry and mission together.
In February 2025 Andrew Darnell was inducted as the pastor of Cooma Baptist Church, following an effective interim ministry in 2024 by Peter Jones. We welcome Andrew to the region and look forward to supporting his ministry in Cooma, and also what he will bring to the broader region.
Central Coast Region
Phil Blair / Regional Minister - Coast Churches Network
Relationship:
We gathered together regularly as pastors and chaplains for prayer and connection during 2024. These have been times of great refreshment and solidarity, as we uplift each other, our churches, and our community to God.
Raising Leaders:
Our Emerging Leaders Program 2024 was a pilot initiative bringing together nine young adults from Erina Baptist, Green Point Baptist, and Wyong Baptist to grow in their faith and leadership. Meeting monthly, we explored a book together and engaged with special guests who shared their wisdom and experience in ministry. Beyond the learning, it has been incredible to see the deepening connections and relationships between our churches, fostering a greater sense of unity and shared mission on the Central Coast.
Reproduction:
One new church plant (Bloom Co at Ettalong) launched in September 2024 and has seen exciting growth, baptisms, and engagement with the wider community. There is a church plant from Green Point Baptist Church into the Avoca Beach area planned for March 2025. Multiple church planting opportunities are currently being explored in strategic locations such as Gosford City & Warnervale. We would appreciate prayer for God’s provision and wisdom as these opportunities are explored.
Greater West for Christ Region
Mark Chapple / Regional Minister - Greater West for Christ (GWFC)
With a year of transition behind us in 2023 we have experienced a very stable and steady year in 2024 thanks to God’s grace and a great team effort from the GWFC team and the churches across Sydney’s Greater West. There are always challenges but I can say that the leadership of our churches has been so Christlike and so humble. Many have wrestled through challenges of church health and church growth in the last 12 months and have shone like the stars.
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12:3
So much of this work is confidential and not to be paraded in an annual report but we just say thank you to our churches and their leaders.
There are some things we can talk about. We have appointed our first Generations leader in GWFC. Natalie Schroder has taken the role and is investing the children, youth and young adults of our region. A highlight is that we have copied the Central Coast’s internship programme and we have 24 young adult emerging leaders doing a 10 month programme being invested into by leaders right across our region from varying vocations alongside some occasional denominational leaders giving some input. Another highlight is Emmah Makuthi investing in the CALD space. We are seeing churches in our region transition into becoming culturally and linguistically diverse in not just congregation but leadership. A continuing high point for us is our chaplaincy and childcare community transformation not-for-profit businesses that continue to carve out discipleship pathways in our local community through our churches. We’re believing for more chaplaincies and more childcare centres in our region and beyond. A final highlight is the strategic plans around property starting to bear fruit with wonderful investments into the massive greenfield developments in the Greater West and Southwest of Sydney. Alongside this is the beginnings of church planting across the Greater West where mustard seeds are being planted and faith communities are starting to be birthed.
We continue to struggle mostly around the emerging leadership space, the evangelism space and the youth and children’s leadership space. Though there is growing hope in these areas we are crying out to God for salvations, youth and children’s leadership and another generation of church and community leadership from our fabulous Gen Z community. You can check out our website which is actually pretty up to date to contact us and know more. www.gwfc.com.au
H100 (Hunter) Region
Matt Brown / Regional Minister - Hunter
H100 continues to work toward our vision of 100 healthy churches in the Hunter. This vision sees our executive team supporting churches and individuals in planting new congregations. We also aim to rebirth any churches that see their current season draw to a close.
The great need in our region moving closer toward our goal, is to see leaders developed to plant churches, and bring ongoing health to existing churches. 2024 saw members of our executive team invest in the emerging leaders in the region. Collaborative dinners were held with key emerging leaders. Broader combined young adult training and worship nights were also an encouraging time together. These included a focus on issues such as social media among young people, and apologetics.
More broadly than just emerging leaders, each quarter pastors and leaders’ mornings saw the majority of H100 Churches represented.
In the area of Church health, a number of Church leaders participated in a Multiply group.
Consultants from our region have also been helpful in several contexts of transition in churches.
Our executive team continues to meet fortnightly for prayer and planning of ministry events.
Our executive team, and network elders of smaller council areas within the region, continue to meet with pastors and elders to support and encourage them.
Highlights for the year
New Vine Vineyards securing property.
Nine years after the Church was planted, this Church was able to secure a great property in the suburb they had been meeting in Branxton. This was achieved by the generosity of the local Church members, and the support and assistance form the H100 team, and the NSW/ACT Association ministry. We thank God for his provision.
Inaugural H100 end of year celebration dinner.
80 senior and emerging leaders gathered together at the end of the year, to give thanks for what God has done in the region. It was also an opportunity to cast vision for the year ahead. It was a very positive evening, with a significant number of attendees not previously being engaged in H100 ministries.
Hunter Alpha collective.
There was a Hunter-wide Alpha collective involving churches from a significant number of denominations. One quarter of the Hunter Alpha collective churches were from our H100 region.
West Wallsend Baptist members concluded their current ministry in 2023 in a gracious way.
They were keen to see the church rebirthed in a building that has seen church ministry for more than 110 years. We created a ‘H100 hub’ where we have team meetings and leaders’ gatherings in the building. In 2024, we invested in renovations to the property, and are ready to plant a new congregation there. There is a church planter with connections to the local community making plans for 2025.
North Coasts Region
Pete Davies / Regional Minister - Mid North & North Coast
The North Coasts Region incorporates two regions being The Mid North Coast & the North Coast region.
The Mid North Coast region extends form Tea Gardens just north of Newcastle up to Port Macquarie and Wauchope. It consists of 11 churches, configured mostly as a long thin strip running up the coast.
The last 12 months has been a fairly stable time for these churches. With Taree appointing Evan Lowndes, previously the Associate Pastor, as the new Senior Pastor. A number of the churches are showing signs of slow steady growth in both attendance, baptisms and greater outreach. I have been involved in only one conflict situation in this region over the last year, which was resolved with a healthy outcome and gave me the opportunity to engage with the church leadership team.
There is pleasing growth in the relationship and mutual support of most of the pastors in the area. A couple of pastors have significant health issues in their immediate families.
The North Coast ranges from Kempsey in the South up to Sandy Beach in the North. The number of churches in this region has risen from 5 to 6 churches, with the recent affiliation of the “Coffs Harbour Chin Immanuel Church” which is a CALD church made up of people from the Haka Chin ethnic group originally from Myanmar. They affiliated with a church of approx. 300 people. The church recently inducted a second pastor.
There are some quite encouraging ministries emerging amongst different ethnic groups around the Coffs Harbour area.
The churches in both regions seem to be fairly happy and settled in regard to their relationship with the wider Association. This year I expect that 3 Pastors from the region will attend the Regional Teams Summit, which is very encouraging.
Similar to last year, both regions operate well at a pastoral level in regard to support and gathering together, but this is yet to extend to many connections between churches.
I have recently re-trained as a Creating Safe Spaces trainer which is giving me an opportunity to engage with the rank and file of the regional churches, which is helpful in increased exposure and developing trust.
Northern Rivers Region
John Wilson / Regional Minister - Northern Rivers
Our Northern Rivers Region consists of 10 existing churches (plus church plants) in the far north of NSE (Grafton in the south to Tweed Heads to the north).
In keeping with the Association Vision of Gen1K, our vision is:
NR30:
30 healthy Baptist churches in the Northern Rivers
30 dynamic leaders trained for service.
By the year 2030
In keeping with our vision, highlights of the last twelve months are as follows:
- A number of our pastors and churches have benefited from the two year Multiply journey; a local cluster in our region joining together twice a year with other clusters around the NSW and ACT, for the purpose of networking, visioning, training and strategizing. This has helped build purpose and encouragement for these pastors and churches. Since completion of this Multiply Cluster, we are now focussing on the ‘Leadership Pipeline’ which we have committed to as a region. We have several churches who have signed up, under the supervision of Craig Corkill, and we will commence in the early part of 2025.
- We have established three church plants in our region in the last few years:
- ‘Follow’, a simple church network in the Byron Shire launched by Steve and Erica Hales, and Delhove and Rhonda Blennerhasset. This is continuing as a network in our region.
- ‘Explore’, a neighbourhood church in Lennox Head led by Paul and Janet Whiting. Due to a few challenges, this community is no longer gathering in a public space but continues to meet in private homes.
- A church plant/community gathering in Wardell, led by a team from Ballina Baptist.
Although there are several challenges, it is exciting to see some fruit after many years of enquiries and prayer. Please pray for these ministries, especially for their vulnerability and challenges.
Our region is continuing to recover and rebuild following the floods of 2022. Steve Hales has continued in his role of Flood Relief Coordinator, assisting with chaplaincy work mainly amongst the business community of Lismore. We also launched a book of flood stories in 2024, called ‘Strong Together: Stories of Courage and Community from the 2022 Northern Rivers Floods’. This was an opportunity to connect with our community and tell stories of hope and resilience. Thanks to the many people from our Association who have helped practically or financially with this project. Please pray that people would continue to find hope through this project.
With our commitment to leadership development in our vision, we have developed the following strategies as we lead into 2025:
NRB (Northern Rivers Baptists) ‘Engage’
This is an opportunity for young and emerging leaders in our region to have a ‘taste’ of formal training with a theological certificate (ThC) from Morling College in a group environment.
NRB ‘Experience’
This is an internship strategy amongst several of our churches, sharing resources, interns and ministry experiences to maximize growth and regional partnership.
As the churches of the Northern Rivers, we look forward to 2025, trusting God for the fulfilling of our vision and the building of community and Gospel fruit.
Riverina Region
David Strong / Regional Minister - Riverina
The Riverina is thankful to have experienced the grace of our Lord Jesus in several ways in 2024.
Pastor for Encouragement (Martin Staker)
Martin and Miriam continue to travel around the region bringing encouragement in Christ and preaching the Word of God wherever they go. In 2024 they completed over 35 church visits. They have been involved with Easter Outreach events at various churches as well as men’s outreach events amongst other ministries. Martin has also been running preaching training seminars and ‘sounding boards’.
Business and Administration Manager (Teresa Baker)
Teresa continues to bring her administrative expertise to our region giving a hand up to various churches that need assistance with compliance. Her time was reduced by half a day last year because of other demands she has.
Mission to the Riverina (Ron and Pam Schravemade)
Ron and Pam continue to bring the message of the gospel of Christ through the MTR ministry. They have been involved with school assemblies, holiday clubs, training events and kids’ programs and bring encouragement wherever they go.
Camps
We have been thankful to have three camps in the Riverina including a Young Adults camp at Yackandandah, a Riverina Pastors Camp at Coolbaroo, and a combined Western Districts & Riverina Pastor’s Conference and Family camp at Ridgecrest.
Riverina Convoys
In 2024 we kicked off an idea called Riverina Convoys. This is an initiative for small groups (as small as 2) to travel to another church in the Riverina to bring their greeting in Christ. The purpose is to deepen our relational unity and our joy together in our Lord.
Pastor’s Zoom and prayer
Every month the Riverina pastors gather for a zoom catch up to share what is happening in each church. On the alternate fortnight we meet for prayer because we sense that the need for prayer is very great.
Gospel Paddocks
Gospel Paddocks is a partnership initiative in the Riverina. It has been engaging with farmers in the region to release resources for the ongoing ministry of the regional team. We started to have some income from Gospel Paddocks during 2024 to help pay for our RBN staff. We have not arrived yet at our dream level of engagement, but we are excited that it has potential! [See photos of Martin with ewes sponsored by Grae and the Hunter Region!]
South Coast Region
Michael Bate / Regional Minister - South Coast
The South Coast Region is comprised of two leaders’ networks – The Illawarra Leaders Network in the north and the Shoalhaven Leaders Network in the south and these networks combine together as the South Coast Region.
The leaders’ networks are opportunities for pastors to support one another relationally, share training opportunities and new ideas, work collaboratively for the advancement of the Kingdom in the region, and hear from Baptist Association Leadership. This year we are grateful to have had the opportunity to hear from Grae McWhirter from Regional Development, Tim Burns from Church Health and Steve Bartlett the Director of Ministries. We are grateful for the support from the Association and for their investment in us and look forward to further connection in 2025.
We have continued to focus on prayer throughout 2024 with the monthly Regional Hi 5 where we have asked for a:
- key prayer point for the Association,
- key prayer point for the region,
- prayer point from the monthly highlight church,
- hotspot prayer point for an issue in the region that needs prayer, and
- prayer point from the local church for the local church.
These prayer points are prayed for regionally, but they are also integrated back into each local church’s regular rhythms of prayer.
We also took time to consider the areas that we feel the enemy would use to attack the churches locally and regionally and brainstormed proactive prayer strategies to counter these attacks. We are integrating these strategies into our regular regional prayer times. In the first quarter of 2025 we will be appointing a Regional Prayer Coordinator to maintain our focus on prayer and to further align our prayer strategies with the Associations 4 x 4 prayer initiative.
After much planning and prayer, Wollongong Baptist Church planted Calderwood Valley Baptist Church. This is the first plant in the region in quite some time and we are very excited about this positive step forward for the vision of the region. We commend Wollongong Baptist and their leadership for the step of faith they have taken with this plant into such a key growth corridor in our region. In the first quarter of 2025 we will meet with Association Multiplication staff to discuss the next steps in terms of church planting for the region. Exciting times.
We are grateful to the Association for their ongoing investment into the Regional Teams retreat which was again a great time of collaboration with other regions, learning together, challenge, and encouragement on moving forward with the goals and vision for the region.
We believe the Lord has more in store for us in 2025 and we continue to seek his face and all that he has for us in the areas of Church Health, Leadership Development and Multiplication and how those things will come together to progress the Gen 1K vision in the South Coast Region.
Transform Southern Sydney Region
Jamie Wendt / Regional Minister - Transform Southern Sydney
2024 was a year where we continued to pursue our vision to see “100 healthy churches transforming the southern suburbs of Sydney”. Transform Southern Sydney currently ministers into the 47 Churches in our region. It has been a very fruitful year seeing churches beginning to flourish and leaders being excited for ministry.
What does Transform Southern Sydney do?
We Journey by walking alongside churches and leaders into a better future.
We Equip by empowering churches and leaders to take their next steps.
We Multiply by co-labouring to create a culture of discipleship and multiplication.
Throughout 2024 we have seen a lot of great ministry with our family of churches and this is all covered in prayer! Please join us in prayer for our region.
TSS Leadership Development:
- Coaching – 35 leadership coaching sessions
- Mentoring – more than 10 leaders in local churches
- Pastor Support/Individualised training – 30 individuals via in person, zoom or phone. Sessions with each individual ranged from 1 to 4. These individuals represented 19 churches.
New Initiatives in 2024:
- Ministry Development Options document;
- Youth Leaders network formation;
- Onsite in churches Leadership Team training – Leading From Your Strengths;
- Worship Consultancies;
- Teams That Thrive online course – Rob Feeney;
- Published regular Monthly Newsletters;
- New website launched in June 2024
Tim Dyer and Luke Morgan Filming Project:
- New TSS Courses platform launched with 3 courses in late August 2024
- Online Course – Sustaining Ministry – 32 leaders have accessed
- Online Course – Beginning To Preach – 12 leaders have accessed
- Online Course – Volunteers Leadership – 2 leaders have accessed
- And we are currently producing our next course on dealing with conflict in churches (soon to be released).
TSS Church Health:
- More than 150 church health engagements
- Strategic planning in the CALD churches space in partnership with Marbz – 17 meetings. The TSS CALD space is significantly increasing in momentum. This is both at a strategic level and directly working with leaders.
Church Planting:
- It is so exciting that there are currently 5 church plants that have already begun or will begin in 2025.
In November, we had an inspiring and uplifting time with leaders from across our region, 54 attended from 22 organisations coming together for worship, sharing stories, and enjoying a meal. The conversations, connections, and reflections were truly encouraging, and we hope this spirit of unity continues as we journey forward together as a region.
One story from 2024, in particular, stands out from a pastor in our eastern suburbs:
“It began with a café owner I’d known for years, ever since my coffee runs brought me to his shop across from my old workplace. He knew about my involvement as a pastor in the church, though our conversations rarely touched on faith. Then, in May, something changed. He reached out to me, out of the blue, admitting that he was struggling with overwhelming anxiety and was desperately searching for a way to cope. He wondered if there was anything my experience with church and the spiritual could offer. I was quick to share that there was indeed a way out. He started attending church, and after just one visit, he felt an immediate sense of relief from his anxiety. Over the next few months we met weekly, diving deeper into conversations about the good news of the gospel and the power that knowing Jesus has in our lives. In September, he made a life-changing decision to commit himself to Jesus and was baptized. It’s been incredible to see the Holy Spirit working so clearly and powerfully, bringing renewal and hope right in our midst.”
Western Baptist Churches Region
Wayne Spencer / Regional Minister - Western Baptist Churches
It is a pleasure to serve in the Western Districts and to witness God at work.
Highlights of 2024
Regional Internship Program:
This year, we launched our first annual Regional Intern program, welcoming Pav as our inaugural participant. This initiative is designed to raise up leaders from within our region for pastoral ministry. Over the year, Pav will serve in four different churches, spending three months at each, learning from four pastors, experiencing different ministry contexts, and preparing for future ministry.
Annual Refresh Camp:
We gathered for our third annual Refresh Camp (Pastors’ Family Camp), which was once again a great time of encouragement for pastors and their families across the Western region, along with the pastors and their families from the Riverina Region. This event continues to be a highlight, fostering deeper connections not just among pastors, but also among their spouses and children.
New Pastors in the Region:
We are pleased to welcome two new pastors:
Matt Holloway at Bathurst Baptist
John Bomford at Cowra Baptist
It is always a blessing to see vacant positions filled, and we look forward to sharing in ministry with these new leaders.
Upcoming Conference:
In June 2025, we will be hosting our inaugural Western Baptist Churches Conference — a valuable opportunity for our churches to come together for fellowship, encouragement, and equipping for ministry.
Prayer Requests:
While we celebrate these praise points, we also ask for your prayers:
- As we welcome two new pastors, we also say farewell to others who have moved on. There are still vacant pastoral positions in our region.
- Several churches are struggling financially and are unable to afford a pastor. Please pray for provision and wisdom as they navigate this challenge.
- Changes are being considered regarding the shape of the Regional Minister role in the Western Districts. Instead of pastoring a single church while dedicating one day a week to regional responsibilities, we are exploring a more transient role — moving between churches in need, for periods ranging from a few months to longer if required. Some of these churches cannot afford pastoral support, so we trust in God’s provision for this endeavour.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
