BCA Connect in North Sydney

Members of Christ Church Lavender Bay recently heard a first-hand account of the joys and challenges of ministry in country New South Wales. The event was a special BCA (Bush Church Aid) Connect evening on Thursday, 7 May in North Sydney, held at St Thomas’ Memorial Hall, with members from churches around the area turning up to hear how the Gospel is spread and shared in rural Australia. Paul Sampson of BCA’s NSW/ACT Regional Office chaired the event, and James Boardman, Rector of rural Kelso parish, adjacent to Bathurst, was the featured speaker. James gave a lively account of the challenges of doing God’s work in a parish that had lacked a minister for years. BCA provided the funding that gave the parish this vigorous new boost. James Boardman moved there with his wife Charly, a specialist in ministry to young children,  and they brought their own children, Elijah, Joshua and Hannah. Listeners heard from James  about community events they set about organising – even a ‘graveyard tour’, which proved very popular, as Holy Trinity Kelso was the first church established west of the Blue Mountains, and among the graves on church grounds was that of a ‘First Fleeter’. James and Charly arranged children’s events, held services and organised social gatherings and were encouraged to see their congregation steadily growing. Their story shows how God sets big challenges for his people, yet gives them guidance, energy and encouragement as they reach out in love with His Gospel.

Photo caption: James Boardman, left, and Paul Sampson

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