December Update from Phil Wheeler

Evangelism and New Churches exists to see more people in more places effectively proclaiming Christ in partnership with the parishes and organisations of the Diocese to see the lost in Sydney and beyond find life and hope in Jesus.

ENC’s aims are to sharpen the evangelistic efforts and effectiveness of each of our existing parishes and organisations, flex with the changing city to see new churches, congregations and ministries begin across the city and find the right people.

Within this vision we want to see churches planted across the city.  Church planting is only one strategy in the work of evangelism in our city. There are multiple locations where we need new churches in Sydney as the city grows and changes rapidly.  ENC can assist parishes with their plans to plant and we are aware of several parishes looking to plant new churches and look forward to hearing news of these in 2023.  ENC is directly involved in two church plants in 2023: 

One is at Box Hill where two existing parishes (Rouse Hill and Pitt Town) are working with ENC and the Growth Corporation to plant in the area where in due course tens of thousands of people will live – a possible site has been identified as well as interviews held for a lead pastor. There is a keen group of members from the two churches meeting and praying for this venture.

The other is in Wollongong where the ENC church plant at Albion Park Rail is planting into the nearby suburb of Warrilla North. While there are many strong and active churches in the Wollongong region, every area has demographics and people groups who are not strongly represented in our churches. Neil Scott will be partnering with John Delezio and a small team to bring Christ into unreached areas and people groups in the suburb and, by God’s grace, see a church established in 2023.  

ENC has seen several churches transition from church plant to formal parish within the Diocese. On 1 November Hope Leppington became a Provisional Parish in the Diocese. Ian Barnett has been appointed Locum until a Rector is appointed in the new year and Marty Robinson has joined the pastoral team after completing studies at Moore and a time as assistant minister at Yagoona Anglican. Hope continues to see many newcomers arriving as the suburb grows. Please give thanks with us for this transition to become a parish in the diocese and for the continued growth.

We continue to rejoice in news from Grace City Waterloo. They transitioned from ENC to be a Recognised Parish in the Diocese in 2021.  They recently baptised 5 new members and report continued growth reaching Waterloo and surrounds with the good news of salvation in Jesus. Please pray for Tim Clemens and the team at GC.

Please pray for all these ministries and for still more evangelism and planting in the years ahead

– Phil Wheeler, Director of ENC