Commissioners James and Jan Condon open new building at Port Stephens
Territorial Commanders Commissioners James and Jan Condon, Port Stephens Corp Officers Majors Pam & Colin Robinson, and Newcastle and Central NSW Divisional Commander Major Gavin Watts outside the church building. (Photo by Alice Fean).
THE Easter weekend was a ‘new beginning’ for the Port Stephens Corps as Commissioners James and Jan Condon opened their new Ministry and Mission Centre.
Port Stephens Corps Officers Majors Col and Pam Robinson give all praise to God for the new Ministry and Mission Centre.
“We are grateful to God for the way he has gone before us, opening doors so that Port Stephens Salvation Army can have this new Ministry and Mission Centre. There is a great sense of expectation that God will do far more then we can comprehend in the days to come,” says Major Col Robinson.
Good Friday was the first service conducted in the new church home, with around 75 people attending. Then, before Easter Sunday, Commissioner James Condon officially opened the building. The service that followed saw 120 people almost fill the new church, with seven new adherents being enrolled. Newcastle and Central NSW Divisional Commander Gavin Watts also attended the opening.
A visit from Commissioner James Condon during Red Shield in 2011 was the beginning of a long, prayer-filled journey to the opening that took place last weekend. After many trials, the church finally secured the property in December 2011. The two acre block of land contains an old truck shed that had been converted into a church by the previous owners; a house, and a pool. It gives the corps, that had previously been renting a space to hold their weekly meetings, a place to call home.
People from the church community as well as the local community, have been working from mid January up until the day before Good Friday to make sure the church was ready for its opening.
“We would like to thank all those who have assisted in any way from headquarters to tradesmen to soldiers and friends of our corps and Maitland corps who helped in anyway. All glory to God,” says Major Col Robinson.
There will be a Community Open Day after the Red Shield Appeal this year with rides, stalls, and kids’activities. The corps is hoping to use the Red Shield Appeal as an outreach to invite people along to the Open Day.
Report by Nathalia Rickwood
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