Our Stories

Since restrictions have come in, Wodonga  District Baptist Church have been concerned for those members of their congregation with no internet access, particularly in relation to Sunday services. Albury Wodonga’s own listener-supported Christian radio station, 98.5FM The Light, is now broadcasting Wodonga Baptist’s service each Sunday.

Earlier on in the year, upon hearing about the ongoing hardships local businesses in the East Gippsland region were experiencing due to the devastating bushfires, Compassion Christian Church felt they needed to help in some small way.

Running Alpha Online is here to stay. In a matter of weeks, 190 online courses across the country have been registered with digital gatherings quickly becoming the norm. Whilst online Alpha has been explored in the past, the sudden surge in interest in Australia indicates that people are more than ready to adapt. “There is no going back. Alpha Online will remain an option even when we can meet in groups again,” says Philippa Fielding, Alpha Australia Church Relationship Lead.

Pre- COVID-19, the pastors of Kilsyth South, Wandin and Ferntree Gully Baptist churches would meet regularly, and on occasion, Kilsyth South provided preaching and musician support to Wandin. Once gathering restrictions came in, Kilsyth South were not going to let COVID-19 get in the way of being together on mission!

The Baptist pastors who are working in Bushfire affected regions are amazing people.  Not only did they have to adjust their whole lives to assist the local communities impacted by this summer’s bushfires, they have now had to swing back around to keeping their own local congregations connected and inspired during the COVID-19 crisis.  Video included.

A  substantial number of our BUV LOTE Churches consist of mostly refugees. Bear in mind that relationship and community are the main factors that glue these churches together; add to that the very limited resources and technical knowledge of how to live stream services, and you have a challenge on your hands  However, despite these difficulties, there have been some very positive results and even some churches who are thriving.

“It was a big change for me as I was under pressure to take on leadership roles in the church. Though I had been active in women’s fellowship groups and had taught in the Sunday school I had always been a shrinking violet, preferring to be part of the group and to sit and knit or chat.”

In the face of coronavirus meeting restrictions, Bacchus Marsh Baptist gave prayerful consideration as to how church should look for them. While they were grateful for the many online worship services being made available from other churches, in Pastor Jeremy Van Langenberg’s words, “we were concerned to maintain a sense of ‘us’ –   our local church community”.

Is Church essential in this COVID-19 pandemic? Absolutely!  The essential nature of church is not just about how many people come through our doors but more importantly is being a flourishing community of believers who love God, love each other and love the world (or just our neighbourhood) around us.