Barney's Men’s Missional Community aims to provide a space that is safe to discuss deep spiritual issues and personal struggles and celebrate achievements as well as discussing current events.

We aim to foster both personal and spiritual growth through a supportive environment where questions can be asked without worrying about condemnation or being thought less of.

The Men’s MC creates a network that is supportive and can be called on for company or assistance when needed.

The Saturday morning BBQ provides an informal relaxed environment where anyone (regular church attender, Christians disconnected from church or non-Christians) can come along and enjoy good food and good company. This is held during spring summer and autumn at the Heritage Forest and at Barney's during late autumn and winter.

If you would like to know more or become involved, please speak to Stefan or Jamie.

Please be praying for the Men’s MC in the next little while, particularly in the following ways:

• for Stefan as he leads the group
• that people feel supported and cared for when they come along
• opportunities to invite men to the Saturday BBQ
• for growth and understanding of the gospel for all who attend

News...

from Andy Goodacre

Andy will be away for December and January, and explains more below:

I (Andy) will be taking long service leave during from 24th November until 2 February this year. The standard arrangements in the Anglican Church in Australia are that after 10 years of service, ministers are entitled to take 10 weeks of long service leave, in order to have some good rest and set us up for further ministry. Back in August, I reached the 10 year mark (2 years in Geelong and 8 years here at Barney's) and so will be taking this leave in December and January. I have decided to take the first half by myself, for quiet rest, reflection and reading, as well as enjoying the outdoors. I am looking forward to having some good time off and returning refreshed for the new year. 

This will be from 24th November until Christmas. Liz, Olivia, Caitlin and myself will then be taking family holiday from Christmas until late January.I am looking forward to having some good time off and returning refreshed for the new year.

Our Sunday gatherings will continue as normal up until 23rd December, when we will have our Christmas celebration.

January at Barney's always looks a little different to the rest of the year, and there will be more details about that in our December newsletter. 

In the meantime, I leave our community in the capable hands of our Ministry Equippers Team; Liz, Gabi, Stefan and Emily, as well as the many of you who support them. Please be praying for them in December as they keep things going with a reduced team.

I am really thankful that I am able to take this time away, and hope and pray it will set me up for another decade of ministry. I would really appreciate your prayers too, particularly that the rest I have will be both restorative and re-creating, that I will have plenty of space for reading, praying and listening to God, and that our family time in January will be fun and fruitful.

from Christoph Ochs

Christoph has some exciting stuff bubbling away, and shares his story with you here:

“So, I have been talking to the bishop for quite some time. Now, why would I be doing something so silly? Well, I have been exploring the idea of getting ordained, which is a fancy way of saying that I want to be more involved in church, really. Just a few weeks ago Staci and I were invited to a series of interviews with Bishop Richard and some of the other church leaders to discuss if and why that might be a good idea for us, and to be honest, we had a great time (never thought I would say that about long meetings). We actually realised that we are both very excited about what is going on in church, at Barneys but also beyond, and we really want to be part of this going forward in the future.

“In fact, I think the Anglican Church in Tassie is on the brink of ‘ omething.' A few months ago I was impressed when Richard went on his tour of the state to confess and lament all the messes and sins of the past, and I’d like to think that something shifted. He was taking spiritual ownership, and I remember when he came to Barney’s, I was thinking to myself, “here is something to get behind.”

“I am actually really encouraged about the momentum we already have, and I pray that we at Barney's can “yeast” some of this into other communities and churches around us?

“Wouldn’t it be awesome if what we have; this love for one another, this salvation we have in Jesus, could also be experienced in other churches in Tassie and by those who still do not know God? 

“These days I am often humming an old 90s worship song to myself. It’s called “Father of Creation” and we recently sang it in church. It asks God to “Let Your glory fall in this room, Let it go forth from here to the nations… The world has yet to see, The full release of Your promise, The church in victory.” I for my part am ready to see the church in victory, for His glory to come down hard and go forth and touch every part of this island. I won’t be content until I see more of this during my lifetime here in Tassie. So, yeah, I am moved and stoked about what the future holds!”

Please be praying for Christoph and Staci as they move forward with this new season. Christoph’s ordination will likely be in Hobart early next year; details TBC.

from Michael Kyalo

Michael was a part of our Barney’s community for a number of years while he was studying at the AMC. He is now serving another tour as an engineer on the Logos Hope ship, with Operation Mobilisation. He has sent an update which you can read on the Barney’s website here.