A beautiful partnership is blossoming between Rowville Baptist Church (RBC) and Eastern Chinese Baptist Church (ECBC) as the two join forces to run a new Mainly Music program. Bringing together both English and Cantonese speaking team members, the initiative is creating opportunities for connection, shared learning and community.
The two churches have been meeting at different timeslots in RBC’s building for 30 years but, with renovations getting close to completion, they will soon meet at the same time and place, but in separate auditoriums.
“We have been organising combined Christmas services and Easter events, as well as Mainly Music, and these have all helped us to learn how we can best collaborate,” said Rowville’s Lead Pastor, Brent Allred. “It’s a great opportunity for both of our churches. It’s lovely to be part of something bigger than just ourselves.”
Last term, the churches began offering the popular music program on Thursdays, providing a fun and welcoming environment where children and their parents/carers can build connections and develop skills that support school-readiness.
While the 30-minute music session is conducted in English, morning tea provides plenty of opportunities for chatter in both English and Cantonese. “Six members of the team are from RBC and seven are from ECBC,” Brent explained. “People from both churches are serving in each area including audio, food preparation and session leading. It appeared to spontaneously work out that way, but we know God’s hand was certainly involved!”
In preparing for Mainly Music, the churches have also discovered more about one another’s gifts and different approaches to running events. The team has enjoyed sharing perspectives and making decisions together.
“The team dynamic is great,” said Brent. “Having multiple cultures involved has taken some extra effort at the start, but it has worked very well. The collaboration has enabled everyone to get to know and understand each other better, to become more relaxed around each other and to contribute more fully.”
The partnership will take another exciting step when the new building opens in the coming months. The shared facilities will include a foyer, activity rooms and an outdoor courtyard with a servery window to the kitchen. The building will also contain two auditoriums, allowing services to be held simultaneously in both English and Cantonese. Currently, the churches meet in the same building at different times, so the new arrangement will create greater opportunities for families to worship and connect in different ways.
The two churches have pooled their resources to fund the development debt-free, reflecting their shared commitment to what God is doing among them. As they settle into their new home, there may be opportunity to share other resources and collaborate in areas such as music and children’s ministries.
What a wonderful picture of churches working together, sharing their gifts and celebrating their differences. As they look towards the next chapter in their new building, RBC and ECBC are excited to see how God will continue to grow this blossoming, multicultural partnership.