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- 1. [vn«Vvvi.i/ Mv yviyin Children's Soft Play, Parents Retreat and Cafe Provides a flexible platform for creative bridges to faith. Encourages friendship and uninterrupted conversation. Appeals to young families and carers Draws attention of Church attenders towards caring outreach. Potential of surplus funds for other ministries Gives opportunities for a wide diversity of abilities and spiritual gifts to be exercised e.g. praying, serving, training volunteers, purchasing supplies,maintenance, leadingplay groups and family nights. Tumbletown Workshop Baptist Community Services Conference "Towards Kingdom Communities" 29th Oct 2005 mmOutlineproposal Suggested 'bridges to faith' Example budget and volunteer forms
- 2. REPORT ON NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE MURWILLUMBAH BAPTIST CHURCH Murwillumbah Baptist Church found itself in an all to common dilemma. The church congregation wasageing, offerings were insufficient to support a full-time pastor, a couple of difficult experiences in the past had disheartened many and even though the buildings andmanse were all paid off - it wasdifficult to see a viable future. The Church resolved to invite How would thechurch reach out to the . _ _ . , _,, Rev 6raham Eggms from the community m an attractive way ana raise some additional funds to ailow a full-time pastor to be employed? nearby Tweed Coast Community Baptist Church to provide some interim leadership and assistance. After about six months of filling both pulpits and covering basic ministries, the Tweed Church decided to appoint Pastor Peter Knight to lead the work at Murwillumbah Baptist. Once the ministry at Murwillumbah wasready to hand over, Peter would transfer to work with the Tweed Church to plant some new outreach ministries. This led to an exciting year. A children's talk was incorporated into the morning service, two new housegroups were begun, a 'prayer for healing' service was held one Sunday evening for two seriously ill church members, 8 newScripture classes were taught, two 'Close Encounters' - a one day' kids club in school holidays were held followed by a Sausage sizzle for parents, a 10 week alpha- type course called 'Introducing Sod' washeld in the local golf club, Deacons met frequently to agree ontheir shared values, a group of teenage girls invited their friends and began a bi-monthly outing and study. A newspark of life was Turnbletown is a maze ©f cushioned tunnels, padded under 2's a huge ball pit constructed in a rooms under the church ha!!, by cafe tables, excellent Gloria Jean's coffees and light refreshments such as pies, ice creams and drinks - staffed six days a week, 9:30 til! 5:30, by volunteers from the Church. evident, encouraged by three baptisms and five new members (including a retired pastor and his wife. Rev John & 6wen Giles).
- 3. But the lack of young and middle ages wasstill a problem. How would the church reach out to the community in anattractive wayand raise some additional funds to allow a full-time pastor to be employed? Following an idea that arose during a brainstorming session between Peter Knight and Graham Eggins the idea of building a soft-play centre as a 'parents retreat' and children's play area beganto emerge. Eventually this trickle became the raging torrent of Tumbletown'. Tumbletown is a • maze of completely netted cushioned tunnels, • padded area for upto age2and • a huge ball pit constructed in rooms under the church hall. It includesa cafe serving excellent Gloria Jean's coffees andlight refreshments such as pies, ice creams and cold drinks. The Centre was quickly supported by young families from the town, as the parents were able to relax and enjoy a great coffee andsome adult conversation- while their children were safe, happy and playing independently. Children 2 years and over pay $4 to use the equipment and refreshments are sold at close to commercial rates. Everyday starts with prayer as a group of 14 committed volunteers work in teams of two to welcome parents and children, provide the refreshments andbe a friendly Christian face to young families whooften are nearly overwhelmed with modern life, children andeverything else. The volunteers being predominantly older fits well with this ministry as retirees canoffer time, energy, Christian maturity andbe a grandparent type figure -sometimes reading storybooks to children. Various Christian magazines (Christian Women, Christian Parenting, John Blanchard's tracts on SeptEveryday with prayer.... 11<& Suffering, Bible documents, Evolution) were placed on a table for some interesting reading. On visiting the facility a month after it officially opened, Mrs June Heinrich - CEO of BCS wasstruck by the opportunities it created. On the way home June Heinrich said, "Every Church should have one!". Tumbletown is ideal for: • Playgroups • Midday Evangelistic Bible study • Evening family Housegroup • All kinds of pre-evangelistic andevangelistic meetings.
- 4. BCS Seeding Grant Assistance It wasreadily obviousthat the church hadcut a number of corners in aneffort to stay within budget andwaswaiting for Tumbletown income to payfor quite a few, semi-necessary items. Air-conditioning had been installed but the electrical supply hadyet to be upgraded to allow it to be switched onat the same time as the pie warmer or dishwasher, resulting in some careful juggling on hot days. A top quality sign board with colourful logo had been donated but the church waswaiting for funds to add opening times andcontact details. Some old school tables had been cobbled together and carefully covered with table cloths but along with the steel chairs were not that comfortable. The list could go on. June Heinrich suggested that BCS could assist to bring the purchase of these items forward through it's Seeding Grants for Communityprojects appeal and so donated $5,000. This was given towards: • cafe tables andchairs • lounge chair area andcoffee table • business bureau peripherals • signage • electrical supply upgrade • advertising formal community contact meetings o "Coffee <& Toddlers" play group for young mums <& others and o "Indoor Bowling" for more elderly child minders The Church wasoverjoyed with the gift andthanked &od for His generosity. After two months opening they have, on average, tripled their breakeven point and have been blessed with great newcontacts and natural outreach possibilities. A needy town of over 15,000 people can continue to be impacted with the gospel as a wonderful newfull-time pastor with his young wife and family, Pastor Andrew & Naomi Brown, accepted a call and began their ministry there in February 2005. Whenever you are around the far north coast of NSW make sure you call in or better still, make a special trip. If youwould like aninformation pack about Tumbletown and explore the possibility of installing something similar in your Church feel free to contact Pastor Peter Knight, geter@knight.c_c or 02 6676 2063.