SWS Church Plant 2027
Who?
Michael (Mick) and Kathryn (Kat) Bullen, together with their 3 daughters, Sophie (9), Emma (7) and Laura (2), have been serving for the past 9 years in Campbelltown Anglican Churches, with Mick as an Assistant Minister on staff.
Mick grew up attending church in a 1980’s Western Sydney church plant at Minchinbury Anglican church. This experience, and the time they have had as a family at Campbelltown has underscored the sprawling needs of the Western suburbs and the particular need to plant more churches.
What?
Mick and Kat are looking to plant a Sydney Anglican church, partnering with several Anglican parishes right across Sydney in various ways. They are also partnering with the Evangelism and New Churches (ENC) arm of the Sydney diocese and Reach Australia (RA).
To start with, the Bullens will be joining Grace Anglican Church in Camden Valley as an assistant minister doing a “Church planting residency”.
Where?
God willing, the Bullens would love to plant a church into the growth corridor of south-west Sydney around the Badgerys Creek airport. The area, ranging from Orchard Hills in the north, to Oran Park and Leppington in the South, is estimated to grow by 800,000 people by 2050.
Mick and Kat are hoping to plant within the southern part of this development. There are 4 potential locations that are being explored for planting into in the coming years. They are on the map below (however the precise locations may change over the course of time, as suburb development plans and land acquisitions continue).
When?
The Bullens’ current timeline includes starting a church planting residency in 2025, starting to get a team together mid to late 2026, with the hope of launching in 2027.
How can we partner together?
Mick and Kat would love for you to consider partnering with them in one of 3 ways:
1. Would you consider becoming a prayer partner with us and pray fervently that God might powerfully reach many people in this new area, with the good news of Jesus?
It is God who changes hearts and calls people into his kingdom. The first and most powerful action that we Christians take in mission is to pray that God might be using our meagre efforts to bring people into his glorious kingdom. He is the one who saves.
So will you join us in prayer? Pray regularly and personally that God may be saving many people in and around this SWS high growth area.
2. Would you join us in seeking to reach people in the newly developed SWS growth corridor in 2027/2028?
If you would be keen to find out more information about joining Mick and Kat in planting a church in this growth area, they would love to meet you and speak with you further! They will begin establishing their planting team during 2026, but would love to make contact with people who might be keen to join them on this mission, even now.
3. Would you consider financially supporting this ministry in its infancy?
Like most church plants, they will be relying on the generosity of those outside the parish to help set up the work of the gospel for the future of this church plant. They hope that you might be able to partner with them.
In being financially transparent, it is estimated that they will need to raise a total of $115,000 each year (covering minister stipend, housing, superannuation and insurances), for the next 5 years to support the church planting residency.
They are thankful to partner with a number of organisations and churches who are supporting them in this endeavour – ENC, RA, several Sydney Anglican parishes and Grace Anglican church. However, they are still looking to raise $35,000 each year from individuals who are personally willing to support this church plant.
Would you be willing to partner with them as a financial supporter, helping them to grow this church plant over the next 5 years?