Ben Hewitt
How have you seen God working in your life?
God is good! I was born in a Christian home, where my parents had a huge impact on raising me and my siblings in the faith. We had terrific soil to put down strong healthy roots in as Christians, with a love for God, for His church and for His word fostered there. At several points in my life I've thought maybe I'm better off living with our God at the centre of my life', but each I've learned that a full and flourishing life is found only in Christ. I wandered away from God as a university student, only to be brought back by good godly Christian leaders, shepherding me back to green pastures and clear waters.
I've resisted God's call to ministry three times, but each time he has 'strangely warmed my heart' for the role he's called me into. That's true, especially of the call to plant a church - I said a very clear 'no', but He used other people to encourage me. He showed me he was with me, and he gave me a deep desire and deep conviction for this ministry. God is good! Every day there are little signs of his work in my life, be that a timely line from the scriptures, or the provision of something we've needed, or the unexpected gift of something we haven't needed. As a church planter, I feel like the Lord has gone before us, He has paved the way for another church to be planted, and He has brought people, and He is nurturing and growing this plant. God is good!
How have you seen god working in your family?
I love seeing my wife Suja and our kids grow in their love for God. Suja is a testament to God's sovereignty across the globe, giving her faith and sustaining it as she has moved from the UK to Australia, to Ireland and back again. She has a deep confidence in His goodness and grace, she knows there's nowhere outside of His presence and she's such an encouragement to me.
Our kids are growing up in the Lord, taking on the faith we've shared with them for themselves. They moved with us to Ballarat, leaving grandparents and their uncle and all they'd known to start a new chapter in their lives to start a new church - and all with smiles, embracing the adventure. I love seeing my older boys serve in church: quietly, diligently, humbly serving in unseen ways week in week out - they're on this mission with us in a big way! My daughter is a delight and brings much joy to our family. God is revealing Himself to them as they read His word and as they develop their own prayerful dependence on Him. We're praying He uses them all for His glory and their good.
How have you seen god working in your church?
We started life early in 2022 as little more than an idea, a small and uncertain group praying in a living room that God would use us to plant a new church in this city. We've seen him answer that prayer far quicker than I thought He would! He has provided people, bringing the right people at just the right time in our journey. He has provided a home for us to meet: when we outgrew our living room. He provided a community center in the heart of Ballarat, just like we prayed.
He has drawn de-churched people back into His church - using us to help them reconnect with the body of Christ after many years away for some people. God has provided some key leaders just when we've needed them, and we pray he will continue to raise up more. We're seeing His hand at work over and over again, and we shouldn't be surprised! He's building His church.
Just last year, there were moments when I'd walk through the city praying but wondering, how will this ever come together? How will we, a small and insignificant group of people, see a new church planted and thriving?' The answer is we couldn't, but God could. We've seen him take us this far, so I can't wait to see what he'll do with and through us in 5 years or 50 years!
church Name
City on a Hill: Ballarat
CHURCH WEBSITE
https://cityonahill.com.au/ballarat/
church Email
ballarat@cityonahill.com.au
What is your church’s mission/Vision?
Vision: We're part of a movement of churches committed to reaching 10 cities with the beauty, truth and relevance of Jesus, by planting 50 churches.
Mission: We exist to know Jesus and make Jesus known.
The Hewitt Family