<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hey everyone,<div><br></div><div><i>First, apologies if you are receiving this the second time - I meant to send it to the broader 'Bulletins' list, but realise I had only included the Ministers in the address field.</i><br><div><br></div><div>Having just attended the <i>Advance Together</i> training in WA a few days ago (Sat 16th), I though I would let you know how it went...</div><div><br></div><div>We all know that training events can have varied outcomes: what works for one does not always work for another. While <i>Advance Together</i> has come about following feedback from the CRCA congregations, we may still be wondering what to expect, and whether to attend.</div><div><br></div><div>Here in Perth, <i>Advance Together</i> saw about 80 people attend. They came from all walks, represented all types of ministries and age groups: Small Group leaders, youth leaders, children's ministry people, Pastors, pastoral carers, and others who just want to see the church do good ministry.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Murray Capill</i> (Principal, RTC Geelong) started the day with a powerful sermon, encouraging and challenging us to a scriptural understanding of discipleship. It's fair to say that most were challenged by the message, and they left with a deeper appreciation for Matthew 18 and what it says about following Jesus.</div><div><br></div><div>There were also workshop/electives on Small Group ministry, Pastoral Care, Mission and Leadership. </div><div><ul class="MailOutline"><li>One woman from Gateway who is just starting a new children's ministry. She attended the Leadership elective and found it terrific. </li><li>I attended the Pastoral Care elective, and was impressed with the desire of those in the group to really do pastoral care well, and how the group grappled with the challenges of growing healthy pastoral support systems. </li><li>A young woman who attended the Small Group workshop said the workshop looked at Scriptural priorities for small group ministry, and that she was really encouraged through the discussion. </li><li>A couple attending the Mission elective were challenged to think about how they could change the way they talk with others, and look for better opportunities to share the message about Jesus. </li><li>An older man, whose congregation did not have a strong small group ministry found the discussion particularly helpful.</li></ul></div><div><br></div><div>Over the lunch break, there was a noticeable buzz of conversation. The sense of being a collaborative community seeking to grow into good ministry was palpable.</div><div><br></div><div>After lunch, people gathered into congregation specific groups and processed what the morning sessions. The Gateway group felt very positive about the day, with all workshops and all speakers being roundly appreciated. Our people left feeling better equipped for ministry. Some had connected with others involved in similar ministries in other congregations. Best of all, we had shared group discussion of the needs of our church and had identified a few things we could start doing immediately. We prayed for our church, asking God to deepen our dependence on him as we sought to develop good ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>I am not normally someone who loves giving away my Saturday. Life is busy enough. But <i>Advance Together</i> was a great day. Just to see Gateway's ministry people encouraged and feeling more enabled in their task did me good. </div><div><br></div><div>At another level, it was great how RTC, the Ministry Development Coach, the Youth Worker and Children's Worker, along with a local WA-CRCA speaker, had collaborated to deliver some excellent training.</div><div><br></div><div>Can I encourage you to get along to your own local Advance Together day? You can find all the details by <a href="http://emarketing.tubemedia.com.au/t/ViewEmailArchive/y/FC7079BB984DD8CE/C67FD2F38AC4859C/">clicking this link</a>.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for listening.</div><div><div apple-content-edited="true">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; "><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">Grace and peace,<br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; border-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; border-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-weight: normal; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#64187D" face="Calibri"><b>Dave Groenenboom</b></font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-weight: normal; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#64187D"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; "><b>Gateway Community Church</b></span></font><br><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; ">A: 63 Spencer Street, Cockburn Central, WA, 6164<br>P: 0418 383 055<br>E: <a href="mailto:dgroenenboom@crca.org.au">dgroenenboom</a><a href="mailto:psmit@crca.org.au">@crca.org.au</a> <br>W: <a href="http://www.gatewaycc.com.au/">www.gatewaycc.com.au</a></span></font></span></font></font></div></span></div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; border-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; 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