It was 1978 - 8 years since we had left Australia for the adventure of a lifetime. Something so deeply rooted within our spirit it became virtually unmoveable and unshakable.
Whilst those years hold possibly the greatest memories of our entire life, little did we realise that such an awesome opportunity and privilege could also carry with it entrapment.
We were here, back in the country of our birth, but our hearts were still back there in Papua New Guinea and the precious people that GOD had allowed us to love and minister to. Any black person we saw, anywhere we went, was a constant reminder and a real pull upon our heart. Not only were we battling with the culture shock of trying to resettle we were also plagued with this constant tearing at our heart, missions, missions, missions and black people wherever we went and whenever missions was mentioned.
GOD had to work a miracle in us to remove the "call" which HE so graciously did as it was well beyond our ability to do so.
FAITH CENTRE was a fellowship on The North Shore of Sydney that had sprung up during our time in Papua New Guinea and as it was located convenient to us we commenced attending. It was this small fellowship of 200+ that pioneered the ACE Christian Home Schooling under much intimidation and threats from Govt. and Local Council but praise GOD these Governmental adversaries all buckled in under the mighty power of prayer.
Though FAITH CENTRE was "seemingly small & insignificant" it somehow had an amazingly good universal reputation and consistently would receive visitors worldwide.
I recall on one of those occasions I asked a visitor what was it that had gained us such a worldwide reputation and the response was LOVE they said there was so much LOVE present in the place......not that we were consciously aware of it.. I suppose it was a just a matter of fact thing that we were not really conscious of.
We were most fortunate to have had such a remarkable Shepherd and I use that word intentionally as both He and his wife were not self seeking in any way. This gentleman took the low profile as he mentored young men to be aspiring teachers and preachers and in actual fact it took some time for Gloria and me to work out who actually was the pastor of the fellowship.
This couple David and Ann Jackson took this fellowship of believers through some very difficult times and brought them through triumphantly.
Once through the hoop then the congregation expressed their appreciation and showering love upon them were able to purchase for David and Ann a New vehicle to replace the beatup VW Beetle they used to transport the family of 5. Some time later we all pitched in and brought them their first home.
That was the nature of FAITH CENTRE and its folk.
Of course our journey hasn't finished there... GREEN BUT KEEN carries a continuing never ending journey.
There is more to The Story.......if you care to Go back to TOP of the Page and click on ....... GREEN BUT KEEN or any of the other Headers ..............Useful Tools can be found under Titbits Header
To Be Continued.