Cold but heart warming Perth

Our family have been in Perth for the last 10 days or so. We are here another week.

When we arrived the overnight temperature dropped close to zero. Coming from warm Cairns we had the shock of our lives. It is the first time I have seen Michael’s lips turn blue.

We are in Perth for a working holiday so to speak.

I have pulpit ministry along with some leadership training workshops. It has been nice to have the family here and I get to juggle day trips, sermon prep and some jogs around the Swan River.

I have been impressed with the ‘new’ and ‘fresh’ feeling that Perth exudes as a city. It does not seem to have the ‘weariness’ that parts of Sydney or Brisbane have. Perth is easy to navigate around and one wrong turn does not consign you to geographical purgatory.

The food is second to none with fantastic restaurants wherever you turn.

WA has some food chains that I have not seen on the East Coast, like Chicken Treat and Miami Bakehouse. Even the IGA’s are more like gourmet deli’s than just a plain old super market. You can even can get sushi there. Glory!

We are ministering to a largely Asian congregation who have settled in Perth from places such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. We have enjoyed their fellowship and have felt an immediate unity that only the Gospel can bring.

At our mid-week meeting I was talking to a young guy who has been saved only a year. He is in Perth for Uni. He told me of his desire to come to prayer meeting despite his heavy study routine. So he decided to trust the Lord, come to prayer meeting anyway and get up the next morning at 2am to hit the books again.

My brother told me of the blessing this has brought him and how the Lord still enabled him to get good marks. He said he felt like Daniel who asked the king permission to eat vegetables and after 10 days to see if he was as strong and healthy as the others in his court.

I was reminded again that whenever we are willing to take the yoke of sacrificial service the Lord blesses above all that we can ask or think.

On the teaching front, one seminar that I prepared was about moving from spiritual passivity to active ministry.

Here is the outline:-

Recognise that lasting change must happen from within the heart and often takes time;

Lead by example;

Emphasise the ‘servant’ truths of Scripture;

Teach often on ‘stewardship’ of our lives to counter the false ‘ownership’ concept;

Rally the troops around Biblical and aspirational goals with achievable plans;

Learn to delegate to maximise involvement;

Develop the men in your church;

Encourage believers to become church members and set out expectations of them.

If can think of any others I would appreciate your comments. So with those thoughts, have an active week serving our great God!

Robert Apps

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