The 29th annual Holroyd Mayoral Prayer Dinner was held on August 29, 2006 at Merrylands RSL.  Guest speaker this year was Dr Barry Chant, senior minister of Wesley International Congregation (in the City), co-founder of Tabor College - Australia's largest Christian Tertiary College.  His topic was "The Values that have shaped Australian Culture so far" - he traced the not-well-known influence of many Christians on the shaping of the "Australian Way" over the past 200 years.

Gerry Iverson - senior minister at Greystanes catholic Church, toured Western Turkey in May 2006.  Robert Riedling held things together in his absence - with lots of verbal advice from all the  'experts' who go for coffee after the weekly prayer time!

Jeremy Rensford moved with his family back to Victoria in May 2006, after serving for some nine years at Holroyd New Life Church, the high schools' SRE program, and the local churches youth community.  He will be greatly missed from the district.  A series of farewells culminated with a meal and supper hosted the by Minister's Fellowship.  And it didn't turn into a roast, either!

In February 06, the local Presbyterian community welcomed Peter and Susan Magee to their ministry team.  They spent many years in Mindanao, the Islamic dominated southern part of the Philippines.  Peter will be engaging in youth and schools ministry.

Wally served as Merrylands HS SRE coordinator for two years before moving on to new fields (roads?) of Christian ministry.

Nabil Zachary and the Arabic Presbyterian Church in Toongabbie celebrated New Year's eve 2005 and their 30th anniversary at Holroyd  New Life Church's facility.  They welcomed back their founding pastor, Rev. Elias Hammo and reflected on their journey from Punchbowl in 1975 to Toongabbie today.  They purchased the former Salvation Army facility in Targo Road in 1995, and have since expanded into two parallel congregations - one Arabic speaking, and the other (pastored by Oscar Rebolledo, originally from Chile!) for English speaking members.  God has blessed this unusual combination with a large number of young people, who are not being caught in gap between their family-background culture and that of the host Australian culture.  Like progressive churches everywhere, they strain towards the implementation of "Kingdom" culture, over and above the old and the host cultures!

Dorothy Hoddinott, Principal of Holroyd High School, addressed the Ministers' Fellowship in November 2005 on the needs of the 260 students Intensive English Course (IEC) at her school.  She highlighted many of the difficulties students from immigrant cultures face in engaging with the host culture.  The ministers looked at practical ways our local church community can assist this assimilation process.

Holroyd's incoming Mayor and Deputy Mayor attended the combined churches service at the Fellowship of Christ's facility Sunday night, October 30, 2005.  Clrs Allan Ezzy and Eddy Sarkis, both regular church attenders themselves, attended this meet, greet, and eat time, during which prayers were offered for them in their roles, by representatives of the district's youth, seniors, and ministers in attendance.

<<< Mayor Allan Ezzy with Diane Jogia (Director of Community Services, and Presbyterian representative.  <<<  Then, Deputy Mayor, Eddy Sarkis addressed the meeting. Some of the ministers with Allan and Eddy >>>

John Heslop, recently retired head of NSW Police child Protection division addressed the Sept 2005. Ministers' Fellowship on the subject of the relevance of ongoing developments in the area of child protection to churches and church leaders.

Sept 2005:  Both senior priests from Greystanes Catholic Church have been in the wars lately with health problems.  An extract from their parish website (www.olqp.org.au) follows....  Gerry (Iverson) had surgery to replace the mitral valve in his heart on Thursday morning (Sept 22).  The reports from the hospital at this early stage, as we go to press, are that the operation was successful. He will spend several days in intensive care as his body adapts to the new mitral valve.  We expect that the recovery period will mean that he is out of action for at least the next six weeks or so. So please keep him in your prayers.  (Later update: Gerry managed enough of a recovery to watch the Sydney Swans win the AFL Grand Final!).  Geoff (Dickerson) has returned from his tour of New Zealand with our seniors group. Unfortunately whilst in New Zealand he broke his left wrist whilst trying to save a lady who was falling (on an escalator). To complicate matters this injury has affected the management of his diabetes and on Wednesday morning his diabetic condition worsened and he had to be admitted to hospital.   He is progressing well in the High Dependency Unit of Blacktown hospital and we expect him home soon.  (later update: Geoff is well on the way to recovery - complete with wrist in plaster!).

The 3rd annual Festival of Hope began with a very successful (28th annual) Mayoral Prayer Dinner in August 2005.  The guest speaker was Chief Inspector Gary Raymond, one of the faces of the NSW Police for more than 30 years.  He spoke powerfully on "Faith at the Frontline", how Jesus Christ had been with him in many a difficult (and sometimes very dangerous) situation.  His anecdotes had the 130 guests enthralled and sometimes in fits of laughter!  Other senior police attended, including Paul Nolan, the incoming Holroyd Area Commander.  Fittingly, the evening was MC'd by Councillor Allan Ezzy, who recently retired from the NSW Police.  Allan founded the Dinner in 1978 after an exchange trip to the USA where he saw similar events used as a catalyst to bring church and community together more closely.  Allan has also served as Holroyd City's Mayor on 8 occasions.

Brian and Jeremy Rensford were in Zimbabwe and Mozambique for the month of June 2005 on missions' ministry.  Brian remained there for July too.  They were very appreciative of the widespread prayer support from our local Christian community in the light of the very unsettled situation there at present.

Jason and Jaeho Choi commenced pastoral responsibilities at Greystanes in June 2005.  They have ministered in Melbourne for the past six years, and have been warmly received by the Greystanes parish.

Our district's first-ever National Day of Thanksgiving Breakfast was hosted by Merrylands Baptist Church, and was well-attended,  Canberra has earmarked the Saturday prior to Pentecost Sunday as a national day to pause and reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for in Australia.  Brian Rensford addressed the gathering on the theme of humility and pain work within us a grateful heart so that we can develop a thanksgiving attitude.  Gerry Iverson MC'd, leading several in a time of "give thanks" prayers.

Guildford Arabic Baptist Church celebrated their move into the former Old Guildford Anglican facility with a celebration on their 9th anniversary as a Fellowship.  Among the official guests were local member, Joe Tripodi, and Federal member for the Hills, Alan Cadman.  A letter of congratulation was read from the PM.

Holroyd Remembers the Tsunami - Holroyd Council coordinated a reflection time, on Sunday  March 13.  at Holroyd Gardens.  Representatives from various religious faiths joined in (the context was a non-religious service).  Gerry Iverson spoke on behalf of the Christian community.

See SRE ministry webpage for details on the induction of Jenny Reed as the Ministers' Fellowship liaison officer for updating the state of SRE in our 23 local primary schools.  Jenny was prayed for at the first combined service for 2005.  She will help widen the scope of the Christian servant ministry in our district, as she works beside the many churches and leaders already active in the primary schools.   Later update - Jenny has continued to identify the schools that are functioning well in PS SRE, and those that are needing help.

In 2004 the Combined churches lent their weight to the large numbers of objections lodged with Council on a "sex-products" shop application right opposite Guildford Station.  Merrylands Catholic Church led the way, supported by leaders and members of various Guildford churches.  Wayne Botting (whose church meets less than 200m from the proposed site) addressed Council.  Brian Rensford spoke on behalf of the Ministers' Fellowship and combined churches.  Council voted down the application 12 to zero!  

Holroyd Council joined with Anglicare to host an African Communities Forum in November 2004.  Council's Ethnic Communities Development Officer, Lucy Maguire hosted the event.  Brian Rensford and Bruce Pederson attended, representing the church community.  The forum focused on the growing African presence in our district, and how best to integrate them into the local community fabric.

Philip Griffin has moved to Wahroonga Anglican Church, after serving at Wentworthville for many years.  Roger Cunningham is currently functioning as senior minister in the parish.

Jim Andresen came on board in July 2004 as replacement for the retiring (and pregnant!) Michelle Burns as SRE coordinator at Girraween HS.  He joins the SRE coordinators' team working under the auspices of the Ministers' Fellowship, to bring a clear proclamation of the good news to every HS student in our district (more details on the SRE ministry webpage).

We welcomed Nathan Killick as he moved into Woodville Anglican Parish, as senior minister, in May 2004. Nathan is accompanied by his wife,  Elizabeth, and their three children.

Brian Rensford (Holroyd New Life senior minister) was back in Zimbabwe with his wife, Elizabeth, for three weeks in May 2004.  They were away a total of 9 weeks, as they went on to the UK in missions' network ministry and to Turkey following the trail of the Seven churches of Revelation (and Gallipoli of course!).  Holroyd NLC has had a 20-year+ association with Lifeline Ministries Southern Africa, and Brian was on his 8th visit there to participate in the ministry development program.

Former Merrylands Baptist assistant minister, Ivan ... (surname suppressed by request for security reasons), has arrived in Baghdad to function as chaplain for the Australian Army.  His latest report back is an awesome insight into the way unexpected pressures draw men closer to God and one another, and how the (denominational) boundaries shrink to meaninglessness in the face of common danger and hostility.

Pendle Hill Baptist Church welcomed Mark Falson onto their pastoral staff in Feb 2004.  Mark and his wife, Cassandra, and children Erin, Lachlan, and Amy are already known to the wider Body in Holroyd through Mark's gift in praise and worship ministry.

Fellowship of Christ, led by their pastor, Peter Chan, have finally worked their way through Council red tape and moved into their new facility in Magowar Rd, Girraween, in April 2004 (official opening August 2004).

Merrylands Baptist Church opened their refurbished church facility in late October 2003.  The remodelled building is now much more user-friendly, and the church hosted an "at-home" weekend to receive visits from fellow believers.  And the cappuccino machine worked overtime!  At the end of 2003, Maria Vidal was inducted in as assistant minister after her graduation from Morling College.

Gerry Iverson and the Greystanes Catholic Church community, hosted a very successful evening of dialogue with Islamic representatives in October 2003.  Geraldine Doogue (ABC Compass presenter) chaired a panel which included among others Kayser Trad (Lebanese spokesman for the Muslim community), Sheik Hilaly (Lakemba Mosque Imam, Mufti of Australia), and Kevin Manning (Parramatta Catholic Bishop).  700 people turned up to listen!