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This is my Uniting Church

Townsville Central City Mission

November 21, 2023

In this new regular series we're excited to be telling some stories of our local congregations and communities of faith - the beating heart of the Uniting Church!  Find our growing hub of stories here.
 

We’re heading north this week to the provincial city of Townsville. There we meet Townsville Central City Mission and Pastor Lorne Anderson. Townsville is the land of the Wulgurukaba and Bindal people.

"One wide-ranging group of volunteers faithfully go to one of our local parks each week to provide food to those who might be doing it rough."

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Describe your church community

Townsville Central is a collection of people of various ages and backgrounds all striving to walk and work with Jesus Christ. Whether that is learning what that means for young families, those at school, professionals, or retirees, we are all supporting each other to live faithful to our mission as we wrestle to live lives worthy of the calling that we have received.

What’s one thing that makes your community unique?

It has been a blessing to see the enduring faithfulness that this congregation has had in God and each other. Many attendees have faithfully served for decades and because of this have incredibly deep relationships and together offer welcoming hospitality to visitors and new attendees.

Where do you see God at work in your community?

People really want to be faithful to the mission of God. One example has been a wide-ranging group of volunteers faithfully going to one of our local parks each week to provide food to those who might be doing it rough. What started as groups of friends coming together to serve has now become a weekly presence of hospitality that has lasted over a year.

What are the intercultural and/or intergenerational aspects?

There are a number of elder congregation members who have intentionally connected with the young children in our congregation. They warmly welcome them each Sunday and get them to help set up the morning tea, arrange flowers, and even ensure that our emergency food relief pantry is stocked up. It is gorgeous to see the children being welcomed into the pathways of faith-applied that the generations before them have walked.

What are some of the challenges you are facing?

Of course finances are always stretched. It is costly to maintain and upgrade a building that has over 100 years of history and ensure it stays fit-for-purpose. Also, with the wide range of activities, hobbies, and sporting events on the weekends it can be tricky to maintain momentum and consistency with discipleship building and community growth.

What can the rest of the church pray for you and your community?

Please pray that we would faithfully shepherd and steward the facilities, resources, and people whom God has entrusted into our care. We are always striving to live and love well so please pray that we might be able to do this boldly and sustainably in our congregation and community!