Oakleigh Baptist Church has been on a journey with Empowered Faith Communities (EFC) since early 2023, and we are seeing a fruitful impact on our church and local community.

Coming out of two years of lockdowns, we were faced with the reality that the landscape had changed – both inside and outside the church. Initially we focussed on understanding and uniting our church community; now vastly different to that which we had been two years prior.

We then looked to the community around us. Oakleigh BC has had a long-standing relationship with Fusion Youth & Community Organisation which continues today. Since re-opening, the church post COVID, and undertaking EFC training, we looked at how to address the growing needs in our local community including loneliness and have since introduced two new programs – a homeschooling program and a free community lunch. Volunteers from within the church are involved in these programs.
Our EFC journey and training has helped equip us to have meaningful and spiritual conversations with people who have joined these programs for practical reasons, mostly to spend time, enjoy fellowship and community.
The EFC model is based on the idea that being part of a caring, like-minded community is essential for human flourishing. Participants of EFC programs, are encouraged to share their strengths to benefit one another in a supportive, empowering and gospel-centred environment. EFC communities promote personal development and strong spiritual growth, moving away from a benevolence and charitable model to an empowered and ownership model, essential for sustainable long-term flourishing.
It is hard to find the words to describe the joy of watching a young mother of four children (with another on the way) come into relationship with our Lord Jesus. She was baptised, along with one of her twin daughters in early March this year. Both testimonies brought tears of joy and encouragement to the church family, visitors and many who joined from the programs. Her husband and whole family stood in the church as they dedicated another daughter to the Lord. Another of their children was among others baptised on Resurrection Sunday.

Alongside them, three others were also baptised. This included a gentleman who had been invited first to lunch, then to church, and then to know the Lord Jesus as Saviour.

We’ve been surprised at others who’ve come into our church family also. A young lady, visiting from Malaysia, wished to be baptised, (it wasn’t safe to be baptised where she lives, nor in her birth nation of Iran.) Another young man found our resources and worship services online. After watching for a while, he reached out and also asked to be baptised as a witness to his faith in Jesus.

There are many other stories I could share, including those who are still on a road of discovery, each of them every bit as special. At the heart of each one, is a church committed to prayer, and the knowledge that we have hope and Good News for our neighbours. 

What we’ve learned through our EFC partnership has helped us have the confidence to take the first step, and then reflect on the journey as we go. It is a journey that has led, and we believe will continue to lead, to kingdom fruitfulness.

Rev Brad Rumble, Pastor Oakleigh Baptist Church