"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."
- Matthew 6:1
Ahoy Church,
Thanks for joining us last Sunday to connect, worship, pray, and encourage each other!
Please remember to BOOK FOR CAMP if you haven't yet! See below for details
Below, we continue our series on "giving", and it just so happens that this week, when I share about "giving out", we received a lovely letter from Gulf Christian College in Normanton, showing appreciation to our church for a donation to their music program. It's an example of not just what you're contributing to through Open Road, but of the kinds of opportunities available for you to give to directly.
This is the first year we've taken time to share our simple model for giving up, in, and out. To get the big-picture context on some of what we think about money (it's really not complicated), read our first email in our series on giving up, in, and out.
What do we mean by giving "out"?
Very simply, together, we want to prayerfully consider if there are people beyond our community that God is calling us to support.
The first Christians often took time to gather together finances to meet the needs of Christians in other parts of the world. This was a way of not only supporting their attempts to share Jesus with others, but to live out Jesus command, "to love one another as I have loved you". Giving to those beyond us is a sign that we see them as deeply loved members of our spiritual family.
For our church
From time to time, we have supported local and overseas mission projects. We've given to people and projects who have been a part of our church, or are trusted by our church. One project is an Aussie church plant in a low-socioeconomic neighbourhoodthat we want to support. Another is a faith-based support group that requested sponsorship for a single dad in one of their programs. Recently, Caleb Baker rang us to recommend we donate to the Gulf Christian College music program he is helping to launch in Normanton. The other three projects are overseas, some in cities that we can't mention, to avoid putting the missionaries at risk.
For people in our church
We realise that not everyone in our church will be with us for their lifetime. Hence, we want to encourage each of you to make "giving out" a practice you can take with you wherever you go. While we will consider opportunities as a church, it is individuals who can make a huge difference over a lifetime. So, why not ask God if there are any people or projects He is prompting you to support financially?
With so many needs in the world, it's hard to know where to start. So, in 2026, we are going to highlight one person or project each term that you could consider "giving out" to. We trust them and the work they're doing, and encourage you to consider giving to them directly.
Much love and see you Sunday,
Dan
Emotionally Healthy Discipleship - Term 2
In Term 2, Renee, Matt McClymont, Megan, Diana, Katie and Noah are leading the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality course, which is the first part of the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship program.
The course will run on Monday nights from 27 April to 22 June, with a one-week gap for the Labour/May Day weekend. We are holding an Information Evening on Monday,, 30th March for all those who want to check it out. Details below.
The courses help you learn to cultivate a deeper love for Jesus. In the 8-week course, Pete and Geri Scazzero help to unpack core biblical principles to guide you into an experience of lasting below-the-surface transformation in your relationship with Jesus.
The estimated cost is $70 for the book, workbook and daily devotional (contact Dan or Renee if finances are a challenge).
To Register please contact Katie Smith E: katie@ksidesign.com.au or M: 0412 500 940
1-Hour Information Evening - Monday 30th March
To find out more, join us Monday 30 March 6.45 arrival for a 7pm start.
Peter & Renee’s home, 3/6 Burgess St Kings Beach.
If interested in attending, please speak to Renee or contact Katie
M: 0412 500 940
E: katie@ksidesign.com.au
Additional info in last week's email update.
Church Camp @ Cobb & Co
We've finally found a great location for our next church camp! We're thinking sometime mid-year, potentially June 19-21 (a week before school terms finishes). If these dates do/don't suit you, please hit REPLY and let us know!
- Cabins, Glamping, and Camping - check!
- Open fires - check!
- Big billabong to swim in - check!
- <1hr drive from Caloundra - check!
- Recently bought by Qld Baptists QCCC ministry - bonus!
Coming Up
March - 9am [Home] + 4pm [Moffat]
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
Mar 08 Home + Moffat Gatherings
Mar 15 Home + Moffat Gatherings + Baptisms
Mar 22 Home + Moffat Gatherings
Mar 29 Home + Moffat Gatherings
April - 9am [Home] + 4pm [Moffat]
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
Apr 05 Home Gathering + Monthly Worship [Easter Long W/end]
Apr 12 Home + Moffat Gatherings
Apr 19 Home + Moffat Gatherings + Baptisms
Apr 25 Anzac Day
Apr 26 Home + Moffat Gatherings
Apr 27 EHD: "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" Launches (till June 22nd)
May - 9am [Home] + 4pm [Moffat]
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
May 03 Home Gathering + Monthly Worship
May 10 Home + Moffat Gatherings
May 17 Home + Moffat Gatherings + Baptisms
May 24 Home + Moffat Gatherings
May 31 Home + Moffat Gatherings
June - 9am [Home] + 4pm [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
Jun 22 EHD: "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" Ends
Church Camp!
We are planning a church camp at Cobb & Co around mid-year. Stay tuned.
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
We encourage giving to several Christian projects beyond our church and local community: individual missionaries in Africa and Mongolia, an aid project in Cambodia, a local community non-profit called Sprout, and a church plant in Walkervale (Bundaberg). We'll give to them as a church, and we encourage you to give to them too.
Last month's giving: $10,157
Last month's expenses: $19,773
Balance: $74,754
Giving in : Oct 23-Feb 26: $5,000
Giving out : Oct 23-Feb 26: $18,293
"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.
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Updates: View a list of all our weekly updates.
