Christmas At Highfields

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

For some years now, our congregation has been praying for local mission and more passion for the lost. But first God had to teach us to remain in Him and to love Him first, because apart from Him we can do nothing. Then at the start of the year God placed a man into our congregation.

Dave Challenor was a drug dealer in a rough bikie gang, whom God has called to repentance and to follow Him. God has blessed Dave with the gift of evangelism. Dave, who puts his faith in God to provide for all of his needs, spends all of his time ministering to the lost and broken people of Toowoomba, and he brings them to Living Grace, where God continues to bring forgiveness and the love of Jesus into their lives. Many people have and are being saved through this ministry. Praise Be to God!

God has stretched Living Grace members, firstly to love Dave (that part was easy) and support him spiritually and physically, and secondly to support all the people whom he is bringing off the streets into our church. Much support is needed for this ministry through prayer, leaders, bibles, clothes, food, money, discipleship and mentoring new Christians, shelter, transport, and work to rebuild self esteem to name some of the many needs. It is amazing to see what God is doing in the lives of these people and in the lives of members of our congregation as we are challenged and stretched to help Dave do God’s work in reaching the lost and broken with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

God has provided through the generosity of the Lutheran church at Highfields the use of their manse for Dave to live in and provide shelter for some of those without homes and also the use of their hall, which is used for meals and fellowship on Thursday nights. Each Thursday night Dave and the increasing number of others round up from 30 to 70 people God has put into Dave’s path through the evangelism ministry.

The evening starts with a meal which is being provided and served by Living Grace members in partnership with other local Christians, then followed with spiritual fellowship and food, challenging people to leave their past behind and follow Jesus. Many people have received Jesus into their lives and the challenge is now for us to minister and disciple each one in their faith walk.

Recently it was time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and it was decided to have a Christmas Party. One of the small groups within the Living Grace family organized what needed to be done and with the assistance of many others there was food, decorations, drinks, lollies and presents organized to celebrate Jesus’ birthday as well as celebrating the new friendships formed over the previous months. It was overwhelming that so many people gave up their time and dug deep into their pockets to give to enable a group of people (less fortunate than most) to celebrate at one of the holiest times of the year.

The hall was decorated and a Christmas tree was erected and presents were placed at the foot which was to be one of the many highlights of the evening. When the final count came there were 70 people present for a meal in a very special celebration. After the main meal one living grace member shared what Jesus meant to him and how we can follow and grow in his forgiveness and love.

Then presents were given to the children and everyone in the house was also presented with a gift. Through the generosity of Living Grace we were able to present Dave with gifts of equipment to aid in food preparation, a bible to replace the one he gave away, plus one more surprise gift in a box. Many may now see Dave carrying a teddy bear (Hephzibah) around church and in fact everywhere, this was another gift to Dave on that special night.

God put on the heart of one Living Grace member to give this teddy bear which he has had for some years to Dave with the words: “To a man with a big smile, to a man with a big heart, to a man with a big mission, to a man with a big bear hug, how much can a man bear? This gift is for you when we are not there” The look on Dave’s face said it all and Dave named the teddy bear Hephzibah, “the Lord delights in you.”

For those in the hall that night it was special. You could feel the love you could feel the friendship and most of all you could feel the presence of God. May God Bless all who were involved and Praise be to God! From Peter Rudolph.