An Introduction to Holroyd New Life Church
Holroyd NLC. originally grew out of what was known as Brent St. Mission [Five Dock] in the late 1960's. After several moves in location over the years, the Church relocated its Sunday services to the Greystanes area in 1984, at that time using the name, Western Suburbs Christian Fellowship. Since 1993, we have been known as Holroyd New Life Church.
Our Church members primarily see themselves as part of the Local Church of Jesus Christ, in the western side of Sydney. We believe Christ's Local Church consists of every born again Christian in the local area, regardless of denominational affiliation. As such, we welcome, encourage, and support [in various practical ways] interaction with fellow believers, and churches, in our own area, as well as those from other places.
We regularly receive ministry from other ministers, recognising our need for balance in church emphasis, activity, and teaching that such 'outside' ministry brings.
Our leadership is active in the Holroyd Christian Ministers' Fellowship and the combined High Schools and local district youth ministry. We are actively committed to, and involved with, other life-giving churches in our district. This was formalised in 2002 into a formal statement of accountability.
Organisationally, we believe in the government of Local Assemblies by 'Ascension Gift' Ministries, Elders, and Deacons - as they are defined in the New Testament [eg. the balance seen in Acts 15:1-4].
We believe all the ministries operative in the early church are still relevant today. Therefore, we acknowledge our need for exposure to all the 'Ascension Gift' Ministries set out in Ephesians 4:11 - Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Pastor/Teachers.
These are not necessarily contained in every Fellowship [hence our need for exposure to 'outside' ministry on a regular basis], but often are a part of the Oversight of the Local Assembly. We believe all these Ministries continue to be needed "to prepare [equip] God's people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up, UNTIL WE ALL reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" [Ephesians 4:11-3]. This is still operative today.
We also view all the various ministries listed in Acts, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12 as still being relevant today. The emphasis here is on activating the “priesthood of all believers”, rather than building a “support squad” for one or two ministries. This translates into a corporate anointing mentality, where we look for the functioning of every member in their grace gifting, contributing to the corporate life and health of our church.
We are independent in our legal structure, own an office property (freehold, praise God!) which is owned by a Property Trust, and have had unbroken access to the Greystanes Community Centre for weekend services since 1984. We have a formal, documented understanding of accountability to several other senior ministers (from various denominations) who are recognised in our district for their "body vision", and with whom we have had an ongoing relationship of working and serving together in our community.
God is a triune being -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In the centrality and eternal divinity of Jesus Christ, God's Son - our Saviour, our only Saviour. Jesus said "No man comes to the Father except through me" [John 14:6]. We affirm there is no other way to be reconciled and relate to God except through Jesus, recognising that this central truth draws Christianity into conflict with much of today's mentality of 'toleration' and 'pluralism' - the "Jesus is Lord of your personal life, but not of society" mentality...
In the inspiration and continued relevance of God's word, the Bible, to men and women today; that it is the final authority over the areas it addresses. God's word highlights... God - who He is; Man - who he was meant to be, and what he's become through sin and the Fall; Redemption - God's plan of recovery for those who turn to Him.
In baptism by immersion in water as an essential ingredient for growing up in Christ - obeying the command of Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38-9.
In being baptised in the Holy Spirit, with speaking in other tongues as the normative scriptural experience - available to all believers for the purpose of edifying and empowering their lives to be effective witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ, so fulfilling His "Great Commission".
We recognize the continued activity of the "powers of darkness", under the lordship of Satan. We understand that Jesus Christ has already defeated these powers [Colossians 2:15], but that we are also told in Ephesians 6:10-8 we are in a continual "struggle" against these demonic forces - from a position of authority "In Christ". This is particularly relevant to any Church serious about evangelising our community which, is still under the control of the "evil one" [1 John 5:19].
We celebrate communion weekly [1 Corinthians 11:26], inviting other sincere believers to participate with us. We encourage children to share in it too, with proper parental oversight and education.
We believe in the operation of the grace gifts of the Holy Spirit, in our daily lives and services; and that these gifts [as referred to in Romans 12 & 1 Corinthians 12] are still available to "each and every believer" [12:11]. This includes praying for healing for sickness, material provision, guidance, job hunting etc.
Our Assembly practises proportional giving as set out in the Bible; we differentiate between tithes and offerings - separate boxes being put out. Pastoral, office, youth, and School’s ministries are currently supported on a regular basis.
Tithes for the support of people involved in ministry. A Relief Fund and “Other Ministry” Support Fund are also maintained from our tithes. We also send 1% of our tithes into a common pool under the oversight of the Holroyd Ministers' Fellowship, which helps support our local SRE primary schools development representative.
Offerings to cover the material, operational costs of the Assembly's regular activities.
Overseas Aid is collected monthly and 100% forwarded for our mission support base in Southern Africa - Lifeline Southern Africa (Some of our leadership regularly travel there to be involved in their development programs with local churches). We also collect donations from Friends of Lifeline and forward them 100%.
We believe in the practice of anonymous giving [Matthew 6:1-4] in order that God may openly bless the sincere giver.
We practise praying consistently for the leaders of our Federal, State and Local Governments [1 Timothy 2:1-4], recognising that these men, because of their position of influence, especially need our prayers of support for continued wisdom and moral strength. They too, one day, must answer to God for their policies and conduct.
Former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, said in the 1970's - "We now live in a post-christian era in this country". We agree. As our society slides further into a moral vacuum, our Church stands for the promotion of sound moral values in society, as well as in the Church - values that don't change, as they have been given by God, once and for all, for society's ultimate benefit. We therefore have a responsibility to speak out, and positively act [with wisdom] on the issues that afflict our land.
We therefore endeavour to present, by word and lifestyle, the credibility of Jesus' way of living to our neighbourhood - through contact at work, school, playgroup, sport, over the fence, etc. etc.
We stand for the Church being a mutual aid society, where we carry one another's burdens both in prayer and practical ways [Galatians 6:10].
Our vision is primarily fourfold :
To be involved in the fulfilment of the Great Commission, beginning "at home" by being involved in the evangelising of the West of Sydney. We are told in God's word to GO and make disciples of all men - first in our own back yard! [Matthew 28:19-20 Acts 1:4-8]. Then, all the way through to overseas missions (through our involvement with Lifeline Ministries Southern Africa since 1982). We pray, give, and go!
To be a place of recovery and rebuilding for hurt and damaged people, Christian and non-Christian. We see there is great need today in the Body of Christ for "cities of refuge".
To see another generation of children and youth grow up following Christ, not falling away because they are offended by hypocrisy they might see in the lives of the previous generation of believers. Our youth and young adults groups, flawed and all, consciously endeavours to "walk the talk".
To be a serving / resource facility to other Christians and groups within the body of Christ. We believe in observable connectedness in our area.
Main Sunday Services 10 am &
6 pm
GREYSTANES COMMUNITY CENTRE
734 Merrylands Rd. Greystanes
Details of mid week activities are listed elsewhere on the website and in the weekly Bulletin. Other activities include support for Schools R/E, Pastoral help, Youth and Children's Ministry, etc. Please enquire at the Church Office for any further information.
106A Jersey Rd, Greystanes
2145
Phone (02)
9896-2514