"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
- Ephesians 5:1-2
Ahoy Church,
I'm seeing non-stop interest in, or at least openness to, Jesus as I've never seen before.
- Today, someone I see most weeks, said, "Hey Dan, there's something I wanted to tell you. I went to church on Sunday..."
- Last week, I met a lovely guy who I later learned was famous from an overseas TV show. In the US, some of the men he was on TV with would pray with/over him. He'd never seen that before. "I really appreciated being prayed for", he said.
- Last week, I was talking with a great new friend about the books we were reading. He said, "I've been reading through the Bible. I got stuck in the OT, so I've started reading Matthew. The Sermon on the Mount is wonderful, isn't it!"
- A mate who has been learning about faith in Jesus messaged me late Friday night. He sent through a YouTube video he'd enjoyed, featuring a prominent Christian discussing the return of Jesus and the 'end times'.
- Recently, someone I've met in cafes spoke with their spouse about our conversation about God, aliens (!) and the supernatural. They replied, "I've been meaning to talk to you about something. I want to explore faith. I'd love to meet that guy and chat."
What's our role to play in a world where people are opening up to faith in Jesus?
I'm re-reading a book at the moment from 1948 by Jacques Ellul, a French Anarchist-Philosopher writing amidst a period of great chaos, change and social division (Presence in the Modern World). With so much going on socially and politically, he was trying to find a "Christian" way forward. He observed that while he couldn't stop people from sinning, neither could he justify retreating from being "in the world". Rather, he personally concluded that his main job was to be Salt and Light in the world through lives that would point people to a greater reality.
This reminds me of the power of simple habits, disciplines, or (as we often call them) rhythms. As Martine shared on Sunday, she has habits throughout her day that keep her heart and mind close to God and his purpose for each day.
As a church, we are keen to champion each of us into our own rhythms that help us live lives that point to the greater reality of God's presence and purposes in the world. If you don't have any habits that help you live a Salty, Light-filled life, why not ask another Jesus-follower how they do it?!
It will likely be that whatever they share with you somehow relates to one of the three simple rhythms we encourage everyone to foster: getting to KNOW Jesus, INVITING people into our lives, and GATHERING to encourage each other. It's in each of these rhythms that a salty, light-filled life develops.
If you are keen to grow your skills in relating to others, please join me in the Emotionally Healthy Relationships course that we're running in Term 3 (see below).
Much love and see many of you this Friday!
Dan
PS. Don't forget to register for camp if you haven't already. If you need financial assistance, hit REPLY and let me know.
What's the Plan for Church Camp?
Cobb & Co
1484 Noosa Rd, Tandur QLD 4570, Australia
I was stoked to hear that we have approximately 18 groups booked (two cabins, the rest camping)! We're going to have a great time.
Important Info
- It's a great family campsite, but please supervise your own kids at all times!
- Day trippers are welcome!
- FIRES: BYO wood or buy onsite.
- BYO Firepit OR
- Use the BBQ's and fire pit some of us are happy to share
- There are multiple, big communal fire pits around the camp grounds.
- FOOD: BYO. There is a great cafe and shop onsite. Basic food, ICE, sweets etc.
- MARQUEE: We will setup our large tent for communal shelter, games, meals.
- SWIMMING: It'll be cool, but bring your togs if you want to!
- CHURCH: We'll do a simple church gathering and probably some informal worship led by someone with a guitar.
- SMORES: We'll bring a bunch of marshmallows and biscuits to make some smores...but if you're really keen it may be good to BYO so we don't run short!
- EQUIPMENT: If you are in need of any camping equipment, let us know! It'll be most likely someone will have spares of whatever you need :)
They've put us all in one area called the "George Palmer Camp", circled in red on the map below. It's across from a great Pirate Ship playground. Once you check-in they'll point you in the right direction
Everyone is free to come and go as they please, and there's no "formal" program. However, we'll create some moments to share throughout the weekend!
Friday
- Arrive + set up
- Explore
- Make your own dinner
- Marshmallows / SMORES around the fire!
Saturday
- Make your own breakfast: Brad + Dan cooking extra Bacon + Eggs burgers. First in best dressed.
- Explore the playgrounds, swim in the Billabong, play cricket or footy
- Make your own Lunch
- Explore Billabong, the local area, or play Putt-Putt: $15 ages 6+, $10 ages <5
- Make your own dinner
- All-In Games Night (Coastal Youth Crew to organise)
- Campfire
Sunday
- Make your own breakfast
- Camp Church: Worship, sharing, prayer
- Pack up slowly (no hard checkout)
- Kids trying to "help" pack up? Putt-Putt: $15 ages 6+, $10 ages <5
- Clean-up campsite
- Make your own lunch
- Drive home
Directions to Camp [Coming from Caloundra]
1484 Noosa Rd, Tandur QLD 4570, Australia
- Take Exit 253 and head towards Cooran, along Traveston Road
- Turn left onto Tandur-Traveston Road
- Follow Tandur-Traveston Road to the T intersection at the end and turn right onto Tandur Road
- Follow Tandur Road to the next T intersection and turn right onto Noosa Road
- Cobb & Co is the first property on the right after the bridge
See you Friday!
Dan
One-Offs
ABIDE Women's Conference - 21-23 August, QCCC Mapleton
The very first Women's Collective is coming to QCCC, Mapleton from 21–23 August 2026. Join with women from every church, every generation, and every walk of life come together in unity – to worship Jesus wholeheartedly, to grow deeply in faith, and to be inspired to live out His compassion and justice toward those in need across the globe.Registrations are now open and places are already filling quickly.
To learn more and register, visit: Abide – The Women's Collective Registration Page or email abide.registrations@gmail.com
Learn to live the love of Jesus
Emotionally Healthy Relationships (EHR) is half of the bigger Emotionally Healthy Discipleship (EHD) course that helps us learn to love God and others to our full capacity.
In the 8 week EHR course, Pete and Geri Scazzero help to unpack core biblical principles to guide into an experience of lasting below the surface transformation in your capacity to lovingly relate to those around you.
If you have had, or continue to have, barriers in your key relationships in life, join us as we allow God to break through our mindsets and behaviours that are limiting our ability to love others like Jesus has called us to.
This is an actual course, with prayer and devotional readings 5 x days/wk as well as a chapter of a book to read each week. Come prepared to listen, learn and share.
When? Term 3
Where? Renee's house in Kings Beach
How Much? $45 for all the materials. REPLY now if you need financial assistance.
Who? Contact Katie Smith - 0412 500 940
Coming Up
June - 9am [Home] + 3pm [Moffat]
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
Jun 19-21 Church Camp @ Cobb & Co; Home Church; No Beach Church
Jun 22 EHD: "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" Ends
Jun 28 Sunday Gatherings: Home, Beach
July - 9am [Home] + 3pm [Moffat]
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
Jul 05 Monthly Gathering: Communion, Worship
Jul 12 Sunday Gatherings: Home + Beach
Jul 19 Sunday Gatherings: Home + Beach
Jul 20 EHD: "Emotionally Healthy Relationships" Begins [Ends Sep07]
Jul 26 Sunday Gatherings: Home + Beach
September - 9am [Home] + 3pm [Moffat]
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
Sep 07 EHD: "Emotionally Healthy Relationships" Ends
Our Mission
To help people find and follow Jesus.
Our Vision
Fully Alive through faith in Jesus. To see vision come to life, we developed FAM, our Fully Alive Model. Ideally, you can work through FAM with someone else.
Our Rhythms
Get to Know Jesus: how are you getting to know Jesus this week?
Invite people into your life: who can you intentionally open up your life to?
Gather and get involved: who can you connect, listen, share, or pray with this weekend?
Giving Up, In, and Out
Our church follows the same simple pattern of giving that we encourage each other individually: UP, IN, and OUT.
Giving UP
As a church, we give 2.5% to our denomination to support what's happening in churches like ours statewide and show appreciation for all the support they provide. We encourage each follower to consider giving "up" to support their local church - in this case ours :)
Giving IN
We give to personal/family needs within our church from our $5,000 Giving Kitty. Please alert us if you know someone with genuine needs that you're unable to meet out of your own resources.
Giving OUT
This term, we are encouraging our church to give to the family who visit us each year from the country where they share Jesus. We'll give to them as a church, and we encourage you to give to them too.
BSB: 923100
Account #: 37443010
REF: KyleG GIFT
** FYI: Our balance is about to be reduced significantly due to sponsoring our young adults for the 2026 Project 11 Program.
Last month's giving: $10,856
Last month's expenses: $12,540
Balance: $68,090
Giving in : Oct 23-Apr 26: $5,000
Giving out : Oct 23-Apr 26: $20,293
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." - Proverbs 19:17
If you would like to support what we are doing and our giving to those in need, you can get started giving to Open Road to meet the needs of our church or get in touch with any questions you may have.
Keen to know more?
Subscribe: At the bottom of every page you can subscribe to our newsletter.
Updates: View a list of all our weekly updates.
