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[ v n«Vvvi.i/ M v y viy in Children's Soft Play, Parents Retreat and Cafe Provides a flexible platform for creative bridges to faith. Encourages friendship and uninterrupted conversation. Appeals to young families and carers Draws attention of Church attenders towards caring outreach. Potential of surplus funds for other ministries Gives opportunities for a wide diversity of abilities and spiritual gifts to be exercised e.g. praying, serving, training volunteers, purchasing supplies, maintenance, leading play groups and family nights. Tumbletown Workshop Baptist Community Services Conference "Towards Kingdom Communities" 29th Oct 2005 mm Outline proposal Suggested 'bridges to faith' Example budget and volunteer forms

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Page 1: TT LinkedIn

[ v n«Vvvi.i/ M v y viy inChildren's Soft Play, Parents Retreat

and Cafe

Provides a flexible platform for creative bridges to faith.Encourages friendship and uninterrupted conversation.Appeals to young families and carersDraws attention of Church attenders towards caring outreach.Potential of surplus funds for other ministriesGives opportunities for a wide diversity of abilities and spiritualgifts to be exercised e.g. praying, serving, training volunteers,purchasing supplies, maintenance, leading play groups and familynights.

Tumbletown WorkshopBaptist Community Services Conference

"Towards Kingdom Communities" 29th Oct 2005

mmOutline proposal

Suggested 'bridges to faith'Example budget and volunteer forms

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REPORT ON NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE

MURWILLUMBAH BAPTIST CHURCH

Murwillumbah Baptist Church found itself in an all to common dilemma.

The church congregation was ageing, offerings were insufficient to support a

full-time pastor, a couple of difficult experiences in the past had disheartenedmany and even though the buildings and manse were all paid off - it was difficult

to see a viable future.

The Church resolved to inviteHow would the church reach out to the . _ _ . , _,,

Rev 6raham Eggms from thecommunity m an attractive way ana raisesome additional funds to ailow a full-time

pastor to be employed?

nearby Tweed Coast CommunityBaptist Church to provide someinterim leadership andassistance. After about six

months of filling both pulpits and covering basic ministries, the Tweed Churchdecided to appoint Pastor Peter Knight to lead the work at MurwillumbahBaptist. Once the ministry at Murwillumbah was ready to hand over, Peterwould transfer to work with the Tweed Church to plant some new outreachministries.

This led to an exciting year. A children's talk was incorporated into the morning

service, two new housegroups were begun, a 'prayer for healing' service was heldone Sunday evening for two seriously ill church members, 8 new Scriptureclasses were taught, two 'Close Encounters' - a one day' kids club in schoolholidays were held followed by a Sausage sizzle for parents, a 10 week alpha-type course called 'Introducing Sod' was held in the local golf club, Deacons metfrequently to agree on their shared values, a group of teenage girls invited theirfriends and began a bi-monthly outing and study. A new spark of life was

Turnbletown is a maze ©f cushioned tunnels, padded under 2'sa huge ball pit constructed in a rooms under the church ha!!,

by cafe tables, excellent Gloria Jean's coffees andlight refreshments such as pies, ice creams and drinks -

staffed six days a week, 9:30 til! 5:30, by volunteers from the

Church.

evident, encouraged by three baptisms and five new members (including aretired pastor and his wife. Rev John & 6wen Giles).

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But the lack of young and middle ages was still a problem. How would the churchreach out to the community in an attractive way and raise some additional fundsto allow a full-time pastor to be employed?

Following an idea that arose during a brainstorming session between PeterKnight and Graham Eggins the idea of building a soft-play centre as a 'parentsretreat' and children's play area began to emerge. Eventually this tricklebecame the raging torrent of Tumbletown'.

Tumbletown is a• maze of completely netted cushioned tunnels,• padded area for up to age 2 and• a huge ball pit constructed in rooms under the church hall.

It includes a cafe serving excellent Gloria Jean's coffees and lightrefreshments such as pies, ice creams and cold drinks. The Centre was quicklysupported by young families from the town, as the parents were able to relaxand enjoy a great coffee and some adult conversation - while their childrenwere safe, happy and playing independently. Children 2 years and over pay $4 touse the equipment and refreshments are sold at close to commercial rates.

Everyday starts with prayer as a group of 14 committed volunteers work inteams of two to welcome parents and children, provide the refreshments and bea friendly Christian face to young families who often are nearly overwhelmedwith modern life, children and everything else. The volunteers beingpredominantly older fits well with this ministry as retirees can offer time,energy, Christian maturity and be a grandparent type figure - sometimesreading storybooks to children.

Various Christian magazines (Christian Women,Christian Parenting, John Blanchard's tracts on SeptEveryday with

prayer.... 11 <& Suffering, Bible documents, Evolution) wereplaced on a table for some interesting reading.

On visiting the facility a month after it officially opened, Mrs June Heinrich -CEO of BCS was struck by the opportunities it created. On the way home JuneHeinrich said, "Every Church should have one!". Tumbletown is ideal for:

• Playgroups• Midday Evangelistic Bible study• Evening family Housegroup• All kinds of pre-evangelistic and evangelistic meetings.

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BCS Seeding Grant Assistance

It was readily obvious that the church had cut a number of corners in an effortto stay within budget and was waiting for Tumbletown income to pay for quite afew, semi-necessary items. Air-conditioning had been installed but theelectrical supply had yet to be upgraded to allow it to be switched on at thesame time as the pie warmer or dishwasher, resulting in some careful juggling onhot days. A top quality sign board with colourful logo had been donated but thechurch was waiting for funds to add opening times and contact details. Someold school tables had been cobbled together and carefully covered with tablecloths but along with the steel chairs were not that comfortable. The list couldgo on. June Heinrich suggested that BCS could assist to bring the purchase ofthese items forward through it's Seeding Grants for Community projects appealand so donated $5,000. This was given towards:

• cafe tables and chairs• lounge chair area and coffee table• business bureau peripherals• signage• electrical supply upgrade• advertising formal community contact meetings

o "Coffee <& Toddlers" play group for young mums <& others ando "Indoor Bowling" for more elderly child minders

The Church was overjoyed with the gift and thanked &od for His generosity.After two months opening they have, on average, tripled their breakeven pointand have been blessed with great new contacts and natural outreachpossibilities. A needy town of over 15,000 people can continue to be impactedwith the gospel as a wonderful new full-time pastor with his young wife andfamily, Pastor Andrew & Naomi Brown, accepted a call and began their ministrythere in February 2005.

Whenever you are around the far north coast of NSW make sure you call in orbetter still, make a special trip. If you would like an information pack aboutTumbletown and explore the possibility of installing something similar in yourChurch feel free to contact Pastor Peter Knight, [email protected]_c or 02 66762063.

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