When I was asked to write a blog post about the internship experience and I looked back over the past three years as the City North Pastoral Intern I was amazed at how much I’ve learnt and how much experience I have gained in so many different ministry areas. To give a full run down in a short blog is impossible but I feel the key element that should be mentioned is that practical ministry experience is vital in testing your call and finding your place within a full time ministry role.

In that light the internship was the core element of my time at Bible College. Theological study is fantastic (and important for those wanting to be ministers) but the practical outworking of the internship is what gave that study tangible meaning for everyday ministry opportunities.

To have come out of the I.T industry and start college was a huge change for me, but I was immediately seeing the worth of the study as the internship had me teaching R.E at Wavell High School, running senior cafes, building relationships with high school students, as well as expanding my music ministry from simply drumming to worship leading and singing. Jesus was able to reveal a teaching gift to me through the opportunities to lead lounge groups, lead communion and preach. In this past year (2011) I found that planning and running youth events, mentoring leaders and students, preaching the Gospel to them and finding practical illustrations to constantly be an example of Jesus to our fantastic group of youthies is what drove me to complete my academic studies.

By far the part of the internship I enjoyed the most and gained the most wisdom from were the weekly mentoring sessions with Pastor Murray. Each week we would spend about 90 minutes in his office, usually Murray would share stories and examples from his vast experience in different ministry areas – or we would discuss methods and articles that he had found particularly helpful. These times, as well as the interaction with Pastor Joe or Pastor Dave, are where the internship at City North really assists in finding a base for how I might do ministry in the future.

The internship may not look the same for everyone, different people have different gifts, but I found that the congregation at City North were always so supportive of every new element I tried, that whoever is the next intern and whatever they do, I am sure that they will feel as greatly blessed as I do now.

Thank You

Dean

At our AGM in November the church affirmed Jonny Lush into the role of elder. We are very excited to see what the Lord might do in and through him as he serves in this role.  We thought it would be great to let you know a little bit more about him and commend him to you.

Jonny was born and raised in Sydney, the second of three boys, in a Christian family.  His parents were actively involved in the local evangelical Anglican church which Jonny attended till after his marriage.  Though he attended church and youth group, it wasn’t until he was 20 that he realized that he wasn’t a Christian and came into a personal relationship with Christ.

After leaving school he completed a two year aeronautics course and then trained as a pilot.  Because work was hard to get as a young pilot at that time, he commenced a carpentry apprenticeship and subsequently qualified in this trade.

In 1996 he met Liz and they were married the following year.  For 5 years they were actively involved together in ministry at their church……youth work, discipling teenagers, and leading music.  In 2003 they moved to Queensland.  Over that time they have grown their family to four children  -  Isabella, Sophia, Isaac and Samuel.

Over the past 6-7 years they have been attending City North where they have served in many different roles.  For Jonny this has meant heading up Chileramps for most of its existence, discipling young men, and helping in the music area.  For Liz it has been helping lead the Tuesday Womens Bible study, Women of Purpose, and teaching/discipling teenage girls and young women.  Together they enjoy a hospitality ministry.

Last year they moved to live on the campus of Crossway College where Jonny holds the position of Property and Construction Manager.  They are busily involved in the life of the college and the interaction they have with the students and staff there.

Jonny has a love for Christ and for the local church.  His gospel witness outside of church is clear and unambiguous.  His passions are discipling young men and helping/leading in music ministry.   Together with Liz we believe they will have a strong and positive influence through this new role.  If you don’t know Jonny and Liz make sure you get to know them and look for ways to support them as they take this next step in their journey as a family.

Last week in our evening series, Sexual Healing, we looked at the topic of sexual assault.

I wish this was a topic we did not have to address, but the reality is we are sinners living in a sinful world and many Australians are sexually assaulted each year. Australian statistics indicate that as many as 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men are sexually assaulted from age 15. This is a shocking reality and therefore highlights the need for us as a church to address this topic, especially when we believe the Bible offers hope for those who have been victims of sexual assault.

I thought I would share, by way of this blog post, an excellent resource for working though what the Bible has to say on this topic. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb’s book Rid of my Disgrace expertly addresses the topic of sexual assault from a Biblical perspective. The book sets out to address what the gospel has to say to the victims of sexual assault and shows that “the gospel applies grace to disgrace and redeems what is destroyed,” that “one-way love heals and replaces the destruction caused by one-way violence.”

Here is a video you can watch with the authors: