What a joy it has been to see several Burnese Victorian Baptist churches acquiring new buildings recently, as each relied on God to provide a place of worship that catered for their large growth in membership.

Melbourne Matu Baptist Church had been meeting at Slovakia Pentecostal Church’s property in St Albans for many years but, in November 2021, they discovered the property was listed for auction the following month.

Church Chairman Hanlai Laithang said an online meeting was called and by faith the church agreed to purchase the property, after assistance from BUV’s Multicultural Church Consultant Rev Meewon Yang, and a loan from Baptist Financial Services (BFS).

“God started working wonderfully for the church. Glory in the highest that our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’. We give thanks to God for his love for us. Indeed, we have celebrated God’s miracles that we have enjoyed since the church was founded. The church believers all work faithfully and joyfully for the Kingdom of God. This short period of success reminds us to put Jesus Christ first always as the foundation and cornerstone, as it says in Psalm 118:21-23.”

The church has grown from around 100 people to 180 members over the past seven years since it began.

Another church that has seen enormous growth is Australia Zophei Church, which started in 2011 with 4 families of 18 members who arrived as refugees, but now has 240 members and 130 children. In 2022 Australian Zophei Church purchased land in Ravenhall in Melbourne’s west, and within just two years they constructed a new $6 million church building there, with BFS support for the mortgage.

Pastor Andrew Sawmhal said, “What a joy, and praise God that He is the Provider, and here we are! We’ve been overjoyed having the church building made possible with all the leaders and members’ generous and ongoing giving. They have freedom to use the building seven days a week and people always come and go. Having the office for pastors means they can meet people as they bring documents to sign, to read for them, assist them and pray for them.”

He said the building was already well used by other nearby churches for special occasions and as “a space for endless hospitality”. The new building has seating capacity for 400 people and boasts a ping-pong arena and two volleyball courts.

In June last year, Sion Baptist Church celebrated the opening of a new building in Derrimut. Pastor Rev Lich Truong praised God for His faithfulness and provision.

“When people face difficulty and pain, they cry out and pray. But when also overjoyed, there are tears of joy and thanksgiving. That was the state of mind of the people of Sion Church,” he said.

The church found the difficulties of gathering online during the pandemic “almost unsustainable”.

“The whole church wept and cried out in the name of the Lord. We cried out in each stage. Through each stage, we have experienced God’s presence. Together we see God’s goodness and we see God at work through the church. Sion Church was not built by materials and resources, but by vision and prayer. Praise the Lord and glory to God!”