Narangba Baptist Church

From Scripture Union Qld

Dear Friend,

With a change of Prime Minister and a  federal election looming, it is time once again to advise your local MP of your support of school chaplaincy.

The government will not commit itself to extended funding until they receive a departmental review of the program. We have now been informed that this will not be released before the election. We are asking for a recommitment from the government during the election campaign.

The opposition has agreed to extend the program for a further three years beyond 2011 but with no increase in funding. This is in fact a negative step as it does not take into account inflation and salary rises.

The Greens do not support funding of school chaplaincy.

I believe that the email campaign we led last year directly resulted in the funding being extended until the end of 2011. Now is the time to let local MPs know that this is still an issue that is very close to our hearts and the welfare of our children.

Please take a few moments to send an email right now by going to http://www.support.schoolchaplaincy.org.au/

The process is very clear and easy to follow.

We would also appreciate you sending this link to all your networks.

Thanks for your support of school chaplaincy.

Tim Mander

CEO Scripture Union Queensland

A SEASON OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION

A SEASON OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION

The calling of the Federal Election to be held on Saturday 21st August activates a season where all Australians are asked to consider the kind of Government they want for our nation.  It is the ultimate privilege citizens have in a democratic society to exercise their vote for their preferred choice.
As Christians we of course have the right and responsibility to personally seek the Lord as to which party and candidates will best form a Government of righteousness and justice with a heart open to fulfil the will and purposes of God for our nation, and to vote accordingly.
As members of the Body of Christ we also have a corporate responsibility to undergird the decision process of the people, as well as through our prayers, impact the election campaign itself, by calling on the Holy Spirit to hover over our nation during these next 5 weeks guiding and determining the outcomes for our nation that will best serve His purposes for our future.     
We therefore call members of our national network to a season of 5 weeks of daily prayer and voluntary fasting for our nation and for the election process, as the Lord leads.  We also invite other prayer networks across the nation to freely use our material within their own networks and invite all Churches to publish each week in full or edited form, the prayer points we will be issuing so that their members can also share in this season of national prayer.    
Today we release the material for Week 1 of the prayer initiative. On Tuesday of each week, commencing next Tuesday, we will issue prayer points and bible readings weekly so that Churches have time to re-produce them in their weekly notices for the following Sunday so that all who wish to participate in this season of prayer are able to do so. 

We acknowledge the work of a number of leaders and intercessors within the Australian Prayer Network who have put this season of prayer together at short notice. Thank you for your efforts.

An opportunity exists for a full time Personal Assistant to support the Director of Administrative Services of Queensland Baptists. This is a key role for the successful operation of the Queensland Baptist Services Group. The position requires a highly organised Personal Assistant with outstanding administrative and organisational skills.
The person fulfilling this role will have a demonstrated understanding of the need for confidentiality in all areas of work, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a professional manner in dealing with people at all levels inside and outside the organisation, the ability to prioritise tasks and create and maintain church files. The person must be able to work with minimal supervision. An open commitment to the Christian faith is essential for the successful applicant as well as an understanding and empathy with the values of Queensland Baptists.
For more information or a detailed position description, please contact Helen Holdsworth on 3354 5618, or alternatively email to dapa@qb.com.au.
Applications will close on MONDAY 19th JULY 2010.

May 29^th is National Thanksgiving Day.  This is a nationwide day designed to thank those who work in our community often unrecognized. Each year the community is given a suggested list of people to thank, this year it is small business. However, I believe this Day would be a great day for us to ‘get involved’ and say thank you to the teaching staff in our local schools.

Narangba Baptist is uniquely positioned with 4 schools in our town. I believe that we as a church have always had a heart for chaplaincy and this would give us opportunity to link with our 4 local chaplains in the schools where they work; Deb Smith at Jinibara, Narelle at Narangba Primary, Rachel C. at Narangba Valley Primary and  Steve at Narangba Valley High. 

What I am proposing is that we present 2 large baskets of goodies to each school either on the Friday before Thanksgiving Day or on the following Wednesday, to fit in with our chaplains.  I would drop off the baskets and the chaplains would deliver them around to the staff saying thank you for the great job they do.

The baskets would contain Thank you ribbons and cards (purchased by the church from Koorong) and then goodies like yummy biscuits, tea and coffee bags, cakes, slices, muffins, fruit and all things that are yummy for morning tea break.

What you can do to be apart of this:

• Donate teabags, coffee bags
• Write a thank you card (There will be some there at church the next two Sundays)
• Donate biscuits, cakes etc.
• Donate Fruit
• Home bake some goodies, I can freeze them or collect them the day before delivery to schools.
• Help in delivery to schools and collection of home baked goodies

Baskets for donations will be at church this Sunday 23rd and the following Sunday 30^th May.

I am very encouraged that we can be involved in a day that is supported nationally by churches, community organizations, our Federal and State Politicians.

Let us spur one another on to do good,

Blessings,

Deb Hobbs

My name is Wendy Francis. The purpose of my email is to present to you a petition that I would be grateful if you would consider supporting, both personally and also within your organisation. The petition is requesting that outdoor advertising be G rated. If you have ever been offended by a billboard or an advertisement on a bus or other outside medium, then I urge you to support this campaign. If you are concerned for your children or your grandchildren, then I urge you to support this campaign. Innocence is a wonderful virtue. I do not believe the Advertising Standards Board is exercising any care to protect our children, and their innocence is being denied.

Experts agree that the inappropriate sexualisation of children in Australia is of increasing concern. Public spaces are used by the general public, including children. Therefore outdoor advertising should be suitable for a general audience. Currently, highly sexualized images/messages disallowed on TV until late at night are imposed on the general public with no ‘off’ button. Parents are not being given the right to decide what is appropriate for their children’s viewing.

I believe that Advertising needs to be appropriate to both the Audience and timeslot. The outdoor Audience is general. Children inhabit the outdoors – we encourage them to do this. Therefore advertising that is not allowed on TV until late at night should not be in the outdoors.

Although a hard copy of the petition can be downloaded from my website, this petition is also able to be signed ‘electronically’. The link to the hard copy and online petition can be found at www.wendy4senate.com/petition

This petition has been approved by the Clerk of the Senate and will be presented to the Senate by Senator Russell Trood.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, for further information or if you would like me to come and speak to you about this campaign.

This campaign is supported by the following organisations–

National Civic Council www.newsweekly.com.au/aboutncc.html
Australian Family Association www.family.org.au/
Collective Shout www.collectiveshout.org
Qld Bioethics Centre bne.catholic.net.au/qbc/
Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia www.wesleyan.org.au
Baptist Union of Australia www.baptist.org.au/
Body Matters www.bodymatters.com.au/
Braveheartswww.bravehearts.org.au/
Family Voice www.fava.org.au/
Fatherhood Foundation www.fathersonline.org/aboutUs.html
Kids First Parent Association of Australia www.kidsfirstaustralia.com

Helpful Resources:

Kids Free 2B Kids website: www.kf2bk.com/
“Does my bum look big in this ad? Body image and the media”, by Lisa Cox www.wombatbooks.com.au/inthisad.html
Say No For Kids website: www.sayno4kids.com/blog/

Please use this opportunity to: Forward to a Friend

Wendy Francis
Lead Senate Candidate
PO Box 357, Aspley Qld 4034
Tel 07 3352 6555 Fax 07 3352 6540
Mob 0421 085 860
Email wendyfrancis@qld-familyfirst.org.au
Web www.qld-familyfirst.org.au

The National Director of Australian Baptist Ministries, Rev Dr Brian Winslade, has signed a petition calling for an end to the display of pornographic publications in places where minors can view them such as milk bars, service stations, newsagents and supermarkets.

The petition to protect children from exposure to pornography was initiated by Say No 4 Kids, a community group unaffiliated with any religious, political or vested interest group. 

Say No 4 Kids was created by concerned parents in a bid to change display laws relating to pornography, so that children and young teens were not confronted with inappropriate, highly sexualised imagery in public places.

“This community initiative has my support and I have added my name to the petition,” Dr Winslade said.  “It’s not about so-called wowser politics or the construction of a nanny state.  It’s about children’s self esteem and well-being.  It’s about the protection of children who should not be subjected to inappropriate advertising and product placement.”

“I would encourage all Australians to consider signing the petition.  It’s certainly something I believe all Baptists should support.”

Signatories to the petition indicated that they strongly opposed the law that allowed pornographic material to be placed in front of children, urged amendment of the law, and called for protection of children from exposure to all pornographic publications by ensuring that such material was placed out of children’s access and view.

Organisers said they planned to present the petition to the Standing Committee of Attorneys General (SCAG) Censorship Ministers.

For more information go to http://www.sayno4kids.com

To sign the online petition go to http://www.gopetition.com.au/online/29705.html

Media contact National Director Brian Winslade 0407 547 402  or  Rod Benson 0412 421 678

SU Qld, a Christian inter church agency providing pastoral care and education programs to school communities, invites applications for Chaplain at Caboolture East State School  for 4 days/week, and Tullawong State High School for 5 days/week starting in early Term 2, 2010.

More information and apply online at www.apply.su-chaplain.com

Closing Dates: early April