1. Cannington, WA
Just south of the Perth CBD sits Cannington Seventh-day Adventist Church. What was once a tiny old church is now a thriving, multicultural and multi-generational church that’s engaged with its community. For the past few years, Cannington has served soup and buns to the community through its ADRA Community Café. The members also run a community garden on church property and are looking to turn their church into a centre of influence.
2. Tennant Creek, NT
It’s all about relationships at this little church in the Northern Territory. Martin and Michelle Tanner, with the help of some of their church members from Tennant Creek Adventist Church, run an extra service on Sabbath in Mungkarta, an Aboriginal community about 80km away. “Martin used to drive out there in the mornings to pick them up, bring them to church and then take them home,” Michelle says. “But now, because we actually have church in the community, a lot more people come. We have really become a part of the community there.”
3. Kubin Village, Qld
This unique church is located on Moa Island, an island of the Torres Strait Islands archipelago that is located 40km north of Thursday Island. Pastor Mark Collins travels by boat from his home on Thursday Island to run church in Kubin Village, one of the two Indigenous communities on Moa Island.
4. Broken Hill, NSW
It might be an isolated mining town, but the Adventist church at Broken Hill is making a concerted effort to be active in its community. Two of the members hold concerts on a regular basis for the town, and the church’s playgroup, which has been running for many years, recently played a part in Broken Hill’s two most recent baptisms.
5. The Bay Islands, Qld
This thriving community group, located on Russell Island in Brisbane, has only been around for a few years but has already made a splash. Community outreaches include running a food ministry for those in need, serving breakfast each Friday morning to the 230 primary school students on the island, and making visitors feel welcome and included with fun programs such as a talent show that is open to the community.
6. Seeds, NSW
Located in Newcastle, this church plant is focused on helping its community flourish personally and spiritually. Plant-based workshops, a running club, and craft and chat workshops are all designed to spread the health message in ways that are fun and interactive. [pullquote]
7. Norfolk Island, NSW
The church at Norfolk Island may be small but it has a secret weapon to reach its community: its Conference (Greater Sydney) owns the TV station on the island. This means all the locals have 24/7 free-to-air access to four channels, including Hope Channel and a channel featuring sermons and health talks. “We know that a lot of people are watching as we get a lot of comments that are all positive,” says church pastor Dion Fourie. “We invite anyone we meet to programs, and we’re praying like mad for every person we know and every person we don’t.”
8. Church in the Hills, SA
“Discipleship works best in community and relationships,” says church pastor Roland Talamaivao. In a unique move, these 45 church members meet in three different houses every Sabbath, sharing a potluck meal, Bible study and discussion. Their focus is on connecting as a community and non-Christian friends say they feel more comfortable in this environment.
9. Melbourne City, Vic
As a Church, one of our biggest mission fields is the cities. The Melbourne City Adventist Church, planted by Roy and Jinha Kim, meets in the heart of the CBD each Sabbath, and runs a plethora of Bible study, small group, social and exercise events aimed at young professionals, university students and those living in the urban centre.
10. Deloraine, Tas
A few years ago, the Adventist church in the little riverside town of Deloraine acquired a new “ministry bus”. It is used to collect people for church services and to attend local markets as part of fundraising activities—and it’s still going strong. The church, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this month, is about to build a shed on church grounds to house the bus. The Deloraine youth also use it—every second Sunday they put ministry into action and do community service for locals around town.
