Over the past six months, Dave Lovell has been building relationships with 21 Baptist church communities as he facilitates a new Regional Network Resource Hub in Victoria’s north-west, an initiative of the BUV Support Hub focused on assisting churches with innovative approaches to church planting, revitalisation, partnership development and missional engagement.
Dave is the Senior Pastor of Bendigo Baptist Church and is well-known in the area, having served there for more than 25 years. He has been released for one day a week for this role to support 14 English speaking churches, 5 Karen speaking churches and 2 missional communities. With vast distances isolating many within these rural communities, the resource hub is designed to provide on-the-ground support to churches as they seek to be on mission for Jesus.
“The past few months have been rewarding as I’ve connected with each of the churches in this region. While some are without pastors and struggling with effective mission, many of the churches are flourishing as they seek to be disciples that make other disciples of Jesus. Hundreds of years ago, God promised His people that He would do a NEW THING in their lives – ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing.’ (Isaiah 43:18-19a) I firmly believe that God is wanting to do a NEW THING in northwest Victoria as we set ourselves to being on mission for Jesus. Pray that God would lead and guide us in all our ministry endeavours; that we would see where He’s at work and join Him.”
Dave said there were many wonderful things to praise God for that are happening in the region. “Growth at Epsom/Huntly Community Church has caused them to multiply gatherings. They’re currently looking to expand their ministry footprint to another corner of Bendigo. Baptist churches, both English and Karen, are collaborating in Term 2 to host an Alpha initiative in the City of Bendigo. A young married couple were appointed to Koondrook/Barham Church and within 12 months the church has doubled in size and is impacting its local community. And although Granite Community Church has been without a pastor for a couple of years, it has seen huge growth in people’s prayer life and in relationships within the church since establishing a daily prayer ministry.”
Key goals for the Regional Network Resource Hub over the coming year include assessing local townships for new church plants; supporting 10-12 churches with preaching; coordinating Alpha in Bendigo; and providing a conference designed to equip and refresh leaders.