Abundant growth should be ‘the norm’ wherever the Spirit of the Lord is honoured and permitted to work in the lives of believers and church families according to the Father’s master plan and power. In the iron-ore rich town of Newman, situated in the remote Pilbara Region of Western Australia, Newman Community Baptist Church is such a place.

In the twenty-one days I was there recently (June 9-30) I preached on three occasions, facilitated three ½-day micro groups workshops, and met one-on-one with twenty-three key leaders of the church.

How can I be certain that the Spirit of God is working at Newman? Before our very eyes, broken lives are healing and transforming into the likeness of Christ! Single people and married couples of all ages, gender, and ethnic backgrounds are miraculously changing!

I had it coming to me–the Holy Spirit rebuked me for saying, “This is my last visit to Newman.” Having been honoured as the spiritual granddad of the church, I cannot but continue my visits to Newman until my dying breath.

Friends, travelling the long journey from the far eastern end of Australia to the far western end (5,000 km) is challenging for my old, nearly fossilised, body–together with the sacrifice of being away from my sweet Beryl. Why then am I happy to persevere in my Newman connection… not ‘throwing in the towel’ and ‘calling it a day’? Newman’s spiritually-rich, fertile soil is producing miraculous, New Testament growth… abundant growth! 

Since my last visit to the church in January, the following growth-signs are clearly evidenced:

• Forty seats have been ordered from a Perth manufacturer as the number of worshippers on Sundays has doubled!
• Plans are underway to expand the size of the church facility by 33%!
• The number of children attending Sunday School has doubled!
• Youth group members have requested that the frequency of their meetings be every two weeks, instead of each month!
• Members gathering on Radio Hill on Monday nights for praise and prayer has doubled in size!
• A group of ten leaders from the church will travel to Perth this month to attend ‘Reign Leadership Conference’!
• October (5-16th), Pastor Eli of Newman will be leading a team of six on assignment to Pastor Elijah Samuel’s church at Lagos, Nigeria… Yes, of course I’m going!
• An invitation, welcoming Pastor Elijah and his wife, Blessing, to Newman is in the pipeline for next year!
• A network of micro groups is being established to help the church family grow deeper in their relationship with God and with one another!
• Discipleship classes are in operation at the conclusion of Sunday worship services as a prerequisite for membership!
• More men are standing up to lead their families in Christ-likeness!
• Observers are becoming servers!
• Cultural barriers have come down!
• Mask-wearing is on the decrease!
• Impact of the wider Newman community is on the increase!
• Two associate pastors soon to be added to the pastoral team!
• Pastor Eli and his wife, Lu, have their sights set on undergoing three-months of leadership development with YWAM (USA) next year!
• The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are being honoured and worshipped!

The Newman church had been in a state of spiritual comatose for fifteen-years! The church now is very much alive and on-fire for the Lord. Leadership is holding fast to Paul’s testimony, recorded in the Book of Ephesians… “Now all glory to God, who is able, through the mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (3:20).

Friends, all this is happening at lowly Newman? In the five-years I’ve been involved with this church I say with conviction, “Why not!” Through faith in the one and only true God, the Creator of the Universe, much… much more can be expected by His hard-working, faithful people! The prophet Zechariah said, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” (4:10).

The surface has been scratched! God’s glorious work at Newman Community Baptist Church has only just begun!

Bill

(Eight Guest Authors are voicing God’s heart and mind on dancing-on-water.com)