Donnybrook Community Church celebrated this month with another three people who publicly declared their commitment to Christ through baptism. Senior Pastor Rev Kathryn Jensen said the baptisms were encouraging as the church plant has been coming alongside people to build community and share Christian faith organically over the past four years.
“It was a fantastic morning – hearing those genuine transformation stories has been very refreshing. Building loving relationships, providing a safe space for asking faith questions, prayer, and extending our table through food and hospitality were key in these people’s decisions to be all-in with Jesus.” One person being baptised started reading the Bible to try to disprove Christianity after a relative had become a Christian, and Jesus found him as he read. His wife was also baptised, feeling drawn to a relationship with God after seeing how God’s people at the church showed genuine love to each other. Another young person being baptised felt God calling her to rethink priorities after a period of wandering from church and faith in her youth.
The backyard baptisms took place in a backyard with an inflatable spa, as the church currently meets at the community centre in a burgeoning new suburb in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor. “Rather than a top-down approach, which creates a dependency and superiority, we believe in coming alongside our community, with Christians and non-Christians working together to restore, rebuild and renovate and make the community liveable again as Isaiah 58:12 says. It’s developing faith through conversations, openness and sharing together. This is what downward-mobility ministry looks like, and that’s what I think Jesus looks like.”
Faith conversations have arisen through organising local events like the annual Christmas carols and the cultural-diversity expos with the community and for the community. “We are creating a culture where we’re naturally sharing our faith as we plan community events. On a mixed committee of Christians and non-Christians, I talk about the big Why, and share what hope means to me, and allow everyone else to share too. People aren’t just signing up for a task, they’re signing up for a big mission of hope! One lady has told me she understands things more now, when I’m talking to her about God, and she has started praying and attending church. Another lady has started reading the bible with me regularly and shares the parables about Jesus with her grandchildren.”
DCC operates the community pantry in collaboration with Encompass Care, and works closely with Shared Cup, a not-for-profit social enterprise café. This December, the church aims to deliver Christmas hampers and host a community meal for marginalised members of the community. “We always do this in collaboration with others – by design and by necessity, out in these new areas.”
People-power has been one of the greatest challenges in starting a church plant. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few – that comes to mind often! We’re also waiting on a lot of resources in the area which has caused some to move away and some to turn inwardly as opposed to looking out for the community. Another challenge is the weekly bump-in and bump-out of meeting in a place that’s not our own. But we’re grateful for the space we have, which is more inviting and easier to find. We’re praying that in the future we’ll outgrow our facility and have the means to look at something more permanent.”
To those feeling called to serve in a church plant, Kathryn says “go for it”. “Be prepared for that slow-burn. Listen to the community with a Kingdom of God imagination – remembering that faith is like a mustard seed that’s small but spreads with an almost invasive force; and it’s a precious pearl that comes at a great cost so be prepared to count the cost. Jesus left behind the privileges of heaven and came as a humble servant, so serve the community humbly. Listen well to the community, as the voice of God will often come through them as they tell you what they need.”