Our Stories

Views from the Manse celebrates all women and men who have tirelessly and prayerfully supported their spouses in pastoral ministry through the years and, in the present.

We’ve had a fantastic May Mission Month, highlighting and celebrating our cross-cultural workers as they join God’s mission throughout the world.  We’re especially grateful for your partnership and encouragement during these difficult weeks and months.

Today the disruption caused by COVID-19 has cast us all into a different world beyond many of the secure familiarities of life as we have known it. This presents challenges, opportunities and temptations for individuals, families, nations – and churches. As churches venture into this disrupted world, it is good for us to remember who we are – remaining true to our identity, beliefs and values as we seek to continue living faithfully and fruitfully with God – still being the Church in our new contexts. To encourage us in this, over coming weeks, members of the BUV’s Church Health & Capacity Building Team will offer short reflections on some biblical images of the Church.
Part 1: Remember Who You Are: The Church In An Unfamiliar World by Rev David Devine
Part 2: Remember Who You Are: God's Flock by Rev Mark Wilkinson
Part 3: Remember Who You Are: The Temple of God by Rev Marc Chan
Part 4: Remember Who You Are: Family of God by Rev Meewon Yang
Part 5: Remember Who You Are: God's Field by Christine Wanstall
Part 6: Remember Who You Are: Golden Lampstand by Peter Botross
Part 7: Remember Who You Are: Bride of Christ by Vicky Dyer

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the team at Dandenong Baptist Church have adapted to the challenges of these unexpected times, and have come up with some new and creative ways to care for our members and the broader community.

When people talk about the COVID-19 pandemic, the word “unprecedented” often comes up. But for Karen Baptists who grew up in Thailand or Burma, there is a lot about the pandemic that is familiar.

Now is the time for pastors to have resilience more than ever. It’s the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, from challenges. Just like the “slinky” toy many of us had when we were growing up, resilient pastors spring back and resume their original form after stretching. They don’t give up, they endure, and they prevail in the midst of adversity. How can we ensure that we are resilient in these times?

As Baptist Pastors of the BUV, we are probably the first in the history of our Churches to lock the doors and tell people to keep away! We have all had to quickly to reinvent Church life with social distancing, closed Churches and online worship services. But the Gospel of Jesus has not been stifled at NBBC
or many of our other Churches.

When asked about his new role with Global Interaction Australia, Geoff Maddock prefers to offer an analogy rather than a title. He likens the role of State Director to that of connective tissue – connecting the movement of Victorian Baptist churches with international cross-cultural work. By extending the analogy, this is work that requires agility and connection – both of which have been forged in Geoff throughout his life.

Fifteen years ago, God called our family out of Crossway Baptist into the spiritually dry northern suburbs of Melbourne. After spending those years raising three teenage children through to adulthood and planting and growing a church in Craigieburn, Brett and I are now moving on to out next exciting adventure – to become placemakers at Mirvac’s new development in Donnybrook, Olivin

Paul Huglin has been the Senior Pastor at West Preston Baptist Church for the past nine months. His wife, Apryl, works with Baptcare as Chaplain in the Sanctuary program supporting Asylum Seekers. Paul and Apryl were attracted to the position at West Preston Baptist as they knew the church had a heart for its community. Recently, and despite the Coronavirus restrictions, an opportunity to align the church and Sanctuary has emerged.