Power To Change

The Humble Pumpkin

~ by Suan Lee Campbell, a missionary with Church Movements Ministry

This is the story of a humble pumpkin in my backyard. It began with the awful news that we were in another snap lockdown, the last one being 2 weeks ago. I felt down and guessed that others would too. There was a big pumpkin sitting on the kitchen bench and a bag of 5 Kg. flour in the pantry. Put the two together and I began baking with a friend who lived with us. 120 pumpkin scones later, we packaged them up with a note of encouragement* for the neighbours in our street. It was one way I could connect with new neighbours and show some care. A few friends in the neighbourhood did the same for their neighbours.

“I was feeling frustrated…and I lost my new Bible!”

This is the story of two weeks, two students, one domestic tourist, a non-Christian dad, flat ear pods…and three new Christians on campus in Brisbane!

"When we opened our eyes...God opened Sam's!” Andrew, the leader of the international student ministry at QUT, met with new missionary Josh to share the gospel on campus, he was burdened. As it got closer to exams, there were fewer students around. So they prayed that God would lead them to someone whom the Holy Spirit had already prepared.

They opened their eyes, stood up and initiated with a student who was walking towards them. They discovered that Sam had been hurt by his experience of church in his home country. But, as they talked, it was evident that he did not understand the Gospel. As they shared how Sam could come into a relationship with Jesus, his eyes were opened and Sam invited Jesus into his heart. Sam has continued to meet with Andrew & Josh to learn more about his new relationship with God!

3 Great stories of how God is at work.

~ by David Evans, a missionary with Church Movements Ministry

Student prays for a sign

Do you believe that God places people in your life on purpose?

I met Andrew at a café. I was sitting down, and he walked past with a banged-up knee in a brace. He was hobbling along, and it looked quite uncomfortable. I asked him if he wanted to sit down. He thanked me but continued to stand while he waited for his order. We began chatting about how he injured his knee and what he is studying. In return, Andrew asked me what I was studying. Many students on campus ask me this same question.

I simply say, “I’m not studying. I help out with the Chaplaincy meals program here at the Uni and talk with students about life and faith related matters.” I quickly added, “I am a follower of Jesus and I like to encourage and pray with people.” I offered to pray for him and the healing of his knee.

Food Safari at Monash Uni!

The basic idea was to invite Victorian Uni students to meet together in small groups and go on food outings together. Students were given incentives as they attended these meet ups (e.g. Netflix voucher). The aim was to help incoming students get connected to the Power to Change community. Especially given the lockdown last year, we saw this as an opportunity to serve the student community and help them be connected.

The Digital team at Power to Change HQ lent their expertise to get promotion and registration working. And praise God – we saw nearly 100 people signup for the initiative!

2020 Annual Report

Our 2020 Annual Summary is here!

We are so excited to bring to you the great things God has done in spite of the COVID pandemic. Our numbers are indeed lower than last year, but we are thankful for the virtual capabilities we have developed. This included discipleship, sharing the love of Jesus and some breakthrough advertising on Instagram. Our humanitarian aid partner, GAiN, moved from working with people who were planting churches to providing relief for many in these same locations. Join us in the good news by reading our 2020 Annual Summary below!

To open the report click here, or the links above.

~ Your friends at Power to Change Australia

A Ladies Tea and a Trial

- Tim Freyer, National Strategy Director for Families, Power to Change Australia

A few years ago we started giving out Christmas cookies to the 20 neighbours in our court. Over time, we added a bit here and a bit there and this year ended up delivering biscuits to 100 houses in our neighbourhood. We were excited to have a number of really good conversations about life and even had a few spiritual conversations. We’re hoping to continue some of these conversations and see where God leads.

One of the exciting developments is that God has begun to change the culture of our neighbourhood! Through the challenges with COVID-19, God has given us an opportunity to connect more deeply with those around us. As we have prayed and joined the Lord in His work, we have had the privilege of being representatives of His presence in the lives of those around us.

Is your road a little bumpy?

- by Suan Lee Campbell - Church Movements Strategy

Would Mary and Joseph be allowed to travel if they were living in a pandemic? I’m sure they would prefer to stay in the comfort of their home, but it was essential to travel to fulfil a bigger purpose than was humanly possible.

Having gone through pregnancy, I can safely vouch for Mary’s character and understand her perspective of that Christmas advent. I know I would have whined all the way to Bethlehem of backache, need for snacks and water, ablution and, ‘It’s hot and dusty. Are we nearly there?’ to my long-suffering husband. Exhausted at the end of the journey, I would have begged anyone at the doorway of an inn to get to a bed. I guess that was why God did not choose a person like me to be Mary.

Aussies Win International #Hack Competition

An Aussie team focused on digital strategies, has taken out the top international award for the Indigitous’ annual "#HACK" weekend in early October! Indigitous is a global organization focused on helping fulfill the Great Commission by engaging and unleashing Believers into digital missions.

“#HACK2020” was this year’s event, sponsored by Indigitous, to bring groups of digital strategists from around the world together virtually to develop digital tools to help us build our faith or share the Gospel more effectively. Over the course of the weekend, 1088 volunteers, based in 141 cities across 29 countries, came together to work on 90 different real-world projects.

Stories