From Joel Bain, Senior Pastor of Grace Family Church, Caymanas Estate, St Catherine, Jamaica…

Brothers & Sisters,

I just wanted to give you a brief update on our first meeting that took place just a few Sunday’s ago. God was very kind to us and we felt his presence with us! The morning was joy-filled and Christ-exalting. I preached from Luke 24:13-35. The feedback on the whole service was encouraging. People appreciated the simplicity of it and enjoyed experiencing the leadership from Sean Taylor, Sheldon Campbell, and me. Sean and Sheldon did very well.

We had a total of approximately 40 adults and a good number of children. Some of our guests were friends and family who are committed to other churches. It was wonderful to have them with us for our first service to celebrate God's faithfulness to us during these past several years of training and preparation. 

It was especially encouraging to have 3 families who live in the immediate area, 2 of whom we had not met face-to-face before, as well as a few families who live in nearby communities. One wife who lives in the area said to me, "I'm glad that you all are here." Another family from the area has committed to coming again. That was very encouraging to me, especially as I continue to lead our core team, most of whom travel from Kingston to work alongside us. The team worked willingly and diligently to set up and to serve our guests. They are a great blessing to us. Please pray that we'll care for them well during these demanding first few months.

And please pray for us as we continue. This Sunday, I kick us off a preaching series in Colossians, with Sheldon and Sean preaching in consecutive weeks after that. 

Again, we are so grateful for your partnership with us. 

Joel

Sovereign Grace Church Sydney celebrates another year of grace!

‘For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.’ - Romans 12.36

This past November, a team of 11 men and women representing 4 SG churches went to Kathmandu, Nepal. One aspect of the trip was teaching through the first of our 7 shared values, Gospel Centered Doctrine and Preaching, with a Nepalese church planting pastor (whose name is anonymous for security reasons) and several of his pastors and church leaders. While Billy Raies, Allen Dicharry, and Aaron Mayfield taught through the doctrinal aspects of our values, the other team members embodied those values for the leaders as they spent time with them, prayed with them, and encouraged them. Several of their leaders remarked that gospel-centered leadership is such a missing and needed subject in the church in Nepal. As they got to know us and we got to know them, the Lord knit our hearts together. Our time with these pastors and leaders affirmed that moving forward in partnership and understanding what that looks like in Nepal is the right direction. 

Additionally, Pastor Billy Raies and Leroy Kim taught on gospel centered marriage and parenting with another 40 leaders and pastors in the Pokhara region of Nepal. Those pastors were so encouraged that they asked if we could return and gather even more pastors to provide teaching and encouragement as well as to learn more about Sovereign Grace. While in Pokhara, the other 9 team members connected with a group of Nepalese young people for a discipleship trek in the Annapurna Region. The team sang songs together and had times of teaching and prayer. New relationships were formed and a result, folks are going back home with a greater understanding of God’s heart for the nations and the role they can play through learning, fellowship, and care. 

We are happy to report that plans are in place for strengthening our partnership with these churches as we seek to finish the mission. Those plans include continuing to go through our 7 shared values with these pastors. Please be in prayer about what part you might be able to play through praying, giving, or going.

Written by Allen Dicharry, Sovereign Grace Church Midland, Texas.

IMG_5686.jpeg

In November 2018, Dave Taylor (Lead Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Sydney and Director of Emerging Nations for Sovereign Grace ) and Eric Turbedsky (Lead Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Orange) headed over to Seoul, South Korea to spend time with Songhwan Kang (Lead Pastor of Lord’s Grace Church) and his church, Lord’s Grace Church.

Trip highlights…

• Spending time with Songhwan, Miran and Lord’s Grace Church. Such a grateful, enthusiastic and mature church.

• Meeting Barnaba, a seasoned Pastor who Songhwan is looking to bring onto his Pastoral Team. A very real answer to many years of prayer.

• Seeing the way the Church is increasingly embracing evangelism, mission and playing their part beyond their walls in humility and passion.

• Training over 18 Church Planters who have begun to gather around Songhwan. Dave & Eric were both involved in a two day training school, covering a wide array of questions on all things Church Planting and Sovereign Grace.

It is so exciting to see what God is doing in Seoul through Songhwan and Lord’s Grace Church.

Please pray for this dear Church, that grace may abound to them and that their passion for planting more Churches may only grow stronger. It is truly an honour to have Lord’s Grace Church as part of the Sovereign Grace family.