Saturday, February 2 (continued) - Following the meeting at the Jesus Centre, I was driven to the home of Mathew Kuruvilla, pastor of Parkside Church in Edensor Park, a community in southwest Sydney. Mathew and his wife, Savi, came from New Zealand, are of Indian descent, and have served the people of Parkside since 1989. I will stay in their home for the next two nights.
After gettiing acquainted and sensitive to jet-lag, they suggest I nap which at that moment, I am thrilled to do!
Later that evening, they take me out for dinner at - wherelse? - Outback Steakhouse where I see, but avoid the the temptation to endulge in the Kangaroo dish:-) After dinner, or tea as they say in Australia, and since we're in the neighborhood, we drive over to Hillsong Church. The Saturday evening service has long since concluded and the doors are locked. Nevertheless, I get a sense of the place - new sanctuary and wedding chapel, etc. Unfortunately, Darlene Zschech is nowhere in site and, by the way, it is pronounced, check.
Sunday, February 3 - On Sunday morning, I share the Biblical Mandate of the Multi-ethnic Church at Parkside. Like Mosaic, the flags that fly in the sanctuary represent the various nations represented in the congregation, at present some 45 or more. And from appearances, some 8-10 of these are on the worship team that morning! Later, I will meet people from Russia, Armenia, Iraq, Iran and China among others. As we depart for lunch, Mathew expresses an appreciation for the scriptural moorings of the multi-ethnic vision I have proclaimed. Like David Boyd, Mathew is a pioneer who has has been pursuing the dream for the past nineteen years within his own congregation and, too, is well-known in this regard among the Presbyterians, and Anglicans of new South Wales and within his own denomination, the Baptist Union of Australia. We begin to discuss the possibility of conducting a Mosaic Global Network Conference in Sydney in February of 2009.
That afternoon, Mathew, Savi and their 23 year-old son, Jason, take me into Sydney for lunch and we dine along the river, in the shadow of the world-renown Sydney Opera House. Designed by Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect, and Ove Arup & Partners, the Sydney Opera House is one of the world's most distinctive 20th century buildings, and one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world. Here is also the Sydney Harbor Bridge, site of what is widely believed to be the world's best and largest fireworks display on New Year's Eve annually. Across the bridge, I can see the amusement park featured at the end of the movie, Mission Impossible. It's been overcast and sprinkling all afternoon, but I take enough pictures to say I was there!
That evening, it's back to the Jesus Centre in Cabramatta where I speak of Pauls' prescription for the multi-ethnic church from the book of Ephesians. The crowd is larger than expected and energized. Again, more nationalities in the room that I can count genuinely reflect John's vision as recorded in Revelation 7:9, 10, in which "... a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and ... cry(ing) out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'" Yes, here I experience "earth, as it is in heaven," and count it an honor simply to be a part of it all, the coming integration of the local church for the sake of the Gospel.
I spend the night at the Kuruvilla's and in the morning, board the two hour flight to Cairns to be with my sister, Jean.
What a great experience! Continuing in prayer for you & the trip.
Posted by: RC | February 07, 2008 at 11:20 AM