Lake Illawarra Community Church

A young church plant in a marginalised community, seeking to reach the disadvantaged with the hope of the good news.

We meet each Wednesday evening (during school term) 6:30pm-8:30pm at 69 Benaud Cres Warilla.

 

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“What impressed me about Jesus as I read about him, was that he took people who were completely broken and made them whole again, this was an important thing to learn about Jesus because I knew that I wasn’t living a good life and I knew I desperately needed the type of healing that Jesus was offering”.

Kate and John Delezio

John Delezio

John Delezio had a massive career change in his 40s: after owning a successful business, he decided to do an MTS Blue Collar apprenticeship and study at Vocational Bible College.

After his formal training, John was ordained as an Anglican minister and spent five years at Church @the Peak in South West Sydney continuing to be trained as a church planter.

In January 2023, John and his wife Kate were invited to start working and serving the community of Warilla North with the hope of getting to know and build trust with the people who live in that community.

By November that same year, John and Kate, along with a small group of Christians from the community, opened the doors of Lake Illawarra Community Church. It now has a weekly Wednesday evening service.

Please pray that God continues to help John build relationships and trust that lead to Gospel conversations as he serves at the local op shop, the local food bank, the weekly cheese toastie event, as well as in the Warilla North public school each week as the SRE teacher and a volunteer at the homework club on Thursdays.

Please also pray for Jaedon Scott who is working alongside John to reach the many youth who live in the area and who don’t know Jesus yet.

This ministry is a team effort and would not be possible without the prayers and financial support of many. Would you consider joining the LICC team by praying and giving? Sign up below.

Jaedon Scott Picture

Jaedon Scott

Jaedon has been working alongside John Delezio as the Lake Illawarra Community Church has started up over the last year. He has a strong desire to see young people introduced to Jesus and to grow in their love and knowledge of Him, so that they in turn can introduce others to Him. Jaedon is involved in various other ministries to young people including the Youthworks Year 13 program, running youth group at a different church, as well as teaching High School Scripture in his local area. He is employed for 1 day per week at LICC and uses this time to make connections with the youth in that community. He does this by getting involved in programs in the community centre and running youth group alongside church on Wednesday nights.

Although this is tough ground and Jaedon has sometimes felt out of his depth, he has been encouraged to see how God has been at work as he has walked alongside kids who often come from tricky backgrounds, and where relationships and trust building take time. Last year, Jaedon volunteered at the community centre serving cheese toasties, and after 4 months of making connections with young people there, some of them finally started to come along to the Wednesday night church and youth service, and bring their parents and siblings along too! Praise God for these families and for Jaedon’s perseverance in loving and serving this community.

Like John, Jaedon relies on the generosity of God’s people (in prayer and finances) in order to be set aside to do this ministry – would you prayerfully consider investing in this kingdom work with your prayers and financial support?

 

Some encouragements from Warilla North: New Church Plant

Some Encouragements from Warilla North