Peter Steven
How have you seen God working in your life?
God continues to work in my life by drawing me to himself as my Father and my Friend. I know that he is Lord of all creation. I know that he is mighty to save. I can choose to believe those things without a relationship, though. God is leading me to love him more deeply, long for him more dearly, and desire him more than anything else. I continually pray to lead a life reflecting Psalm 63.
How have you seen god working in your family?
I praise God that all 7 of my children love and serve Jesus. We have 3 teenagers at home, so they are still figuring what that means as they grow into themselves and establish their own lives and priorities, but I cannot praise him enough that they are all committed followers of Jesus. That's all we've ever cared about. I've never prayed for happy kids! Not most importantly, anyway. We've only ever prayed that whatever they do, whoever they are with, they are obedient lovers of Christ.
How have you seen god working in your church?
God continues to challenge us, with many people from the community coming through the doors. This is hard work, as many come with addictions/behavioral issues/mental health struggles, etc, but this is exciting, too, as this is who we are here for!
As hinted at above, God has been leading me to be a Psalm 63 believer, so I have been calling our church to a Psalm 63 church. We are passionate believers in the great commission- to go and make disciples- but sometimes we get so focused on that, that we forget the great commandment- to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength. This is the church I want to be a part of, and this is what we are seeing happen!!
church Name
City on a Hill - Whittington
CHURCH WEBSITE
http://cityonahill.com.au
church Email
whittington@cityonahill.com.au
What is your church’s mission/Vision?
We exist as a church to know Jesus and to make him known. In our specific context, though, we are reaching into Whittington because it is a hard place. A ‘hard place’ is a community that has higher than average unemployment and crime rates, prevalent drug use and issues surrounding addictions, family and domestic violence, low education attainment, and poverty. Whittington fits all of these criteria.
Historically, churches seeking to reach these types of communities have focussed their efforts on practical ‘mercy ministries’- ministries that seek to alleviate a specific and immediate need. These efforts are not wrong. They serve their purpose in providing respite from practical suffering. However, we are convinced that the most critical and essential mercy ministry we can offer to any community, including these ‘hard places’, is the gospel of Jesus Christ taught faithfully and biblically from a local church. Put simply, Whittington needs Jesus! We want the people of Whittington to know the Jesus who offers eternal life, abundant joy, the gift of the Holy Spirit,and reconciliation with God to anyone who would entrust themselves to him. We want the people of Whittington to know freedom from sin, guilt, and shame. To be invited into God’s family, freely given a living hope and a glorious inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade. We want the people of Whittington to join in on His mission throughout the world, telling others about Jesus and inviting them to follow him. Regardless of background or skill set, to be used by Jesus in building his church.
Our vision, therefore, is to grow a thriving local church community in Whittington that is full of people going deep in their relationship with Jesus, and then reaching the lost with the good news of Jesus, calling them to experience the life and hope and relationship that they have personally known. We want the people of Whittington to know Jesus and make Jesus known.
The Steven Family