Realising a mission possible

It just jumped out and hit me. I was attending a conference for pastors and church workers in Melbourne in May 2016. LCA Church Planting Mentor and Mission Facilitator Dean Eaton was presenting. I heard him describe the role of lay evangelist and I thought, ‘We have just the person and certainly the opportunity’.

I moved to Hobart at the beginning of 2016 to be pastor of the St Peter’s Lutheran congregation. The church had recently moved onto the Eastside Lutheran College campus, which presents greater mission possibilities. A huge shed had been erected and then fitted out, with the result being a very inviting worship environment for the 60 or so people who gather each Sunday, as well as for school’s chapel services. But how could we connect with the families around us and the wider community?

Enter Mal Hall. He had been baptised a Lutheran due to his mother’s and grandmother’s influence, but never attended church due to his father’s atheism. However, Mal became a convert a little more than two years ago and felt called to the ministry. He has since hungrily devoured God’s word and undertaken various courses. It was a joy to see his wife and youngest daughter baptised recently.

I watched the way Mal related and built relationships with students on campus and adults alike, and as Dean spoke I thought, ‘Bingo! We have our lay evangelist’. He just ticked all the boxes.

Mal will put together a team to aid him in connecting with the unchurched with the aim of sharing Christ and to help prepare people to transition into the worship community. This will take creativity and especially dependence on the Holy Spirit’s work and guidance.

We are thankful for the $25,000 mission stimulus grant awarded us by the LCA for this important venture, and we ask that you pray for Mal, our congregation and our community as we strive to reach out and share the gospel in this way.

Pastor Mike Steicke shepherds the flock at St Peter’s Lutheran Church, Hobart.

Is God calling you?

Mal Hall is one of many new lay evangelists being mentored by Dean Eaton. If you or your congregation are interested in evangelism training, contact him at dean.eaton@staging.lca.org.au

Board for Local Mission

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