Dear BPCWAians, you may not know this, but every year, we have a student outreach program in Singapore. BPCWA organises and leads this to help Singapore students who wish to come to Australia to study. We call this the Australia Pre-departure Briefings.
The aim. These talks are aimed at helping Christians who are coming to Australia to study (full time and exchange programs), to work, or to stay. The purpose is to help them find a Biblical and sound church to attend. This is so that they will continue to grow in Christ and not be waylaid when they are away from their home church. One can backslide, be led into erroneous doctrines, or get into the wrong company of friends. We understand many parents’ concerns, and also the individual Christian’s fears in this respect. Having people who are familiar with Australia to point them to the right church to worship where they can have godly fellowships are a relief to many. We do this for those going especially to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. This is because we know we can safely recommend which particular BP Churches in these states that they can attend.
The event. This program is conducted over 2 Sundays. This year, it was on the 8th Jan (12:30 pm-1:30 pm) and 15th Jan (4:30 pm – 5:30 pm). We are given the kind permission to use the premises of Calvary Pandan BP Church every year. The different time slots allow for people who may not be able to attend a particular one due to the worship times in their own churches. By December, I would send out announcements to the various like minded BP Churches in Singapore to put in their bulletins so that their worshipers would know about these briefings. Some would invite their friends too. At the same time, I also write to our affiliated Australian BP Church Pastors to request that they provide a representative. This person would be someone who has attended their churches before and who could help in Singapore during the event. Students or working people who are from Brisbane BPC, Bethel BPC, BPCWA, Sydney BPC churches that are present in Singapore during the event are most helpful in providing firsthand information during these talks. We then obtain the contacts of these who are coming, so that the respective churches can follow up on them when they are in Australia.
The content. The slide presentation and QnA sessions answer location specific questions students may have. For example, how to get to church, and what are the times of church worships, prayer meetings, and fellowships. Also, we give specific names of who to contact when they arrive at their state, and if they require pickup to church, and what possible arrangements are available for them initially. Other information include banking, mobile plans, the public transport system, and of course, importantly, where to get Chinese groceries for cooking. We also let them know what to expect in terms of safety and security, and cost of living.
The role you can play here. Why do I tell you about all these? So that you can inform your friends in Singapore too, if you know of any coming to Australia. And also because it is a program that God has enabled BPCWA to be useful in helping concerned parents and worried students, and because you can play a part in it too. This has pointed students and their friends to safe pastures the moment they arrive in Perth. Many will be bombarded by all sorts of Christian organisations the moment they land. But the program is totally successful for the Lord only if we do our part when they arrive in BPCWA after the talk. We will need to engage them actively. Make them feel welcome. Show genuine Christian care and concern to Christ’s Blood bought children. They can feel lost and alone. God put them in our midst for us to do our part. You can volunteer to help out in transport for them – we need many more to be part of the transport ministry. You can host them in your homes for a comfort meal and for special occasions. You can take them to Chinese grocery shops and show them where they can buy things that they need. You can help them transport bulky items they buy, or help them to move into their accommodations.
But above all, we do all this for a spiritual purpose – you must encourage them to come for worship and fellowships. You can make them feel welcome instead of alienated. At the event, we paint BPCWA as a church that is interested in their spiritual welfare. We can all do our part to make it so for the Lord’s children away from their homes in a foreign land. If you were a parent, you would be appreciative of someone caring for your child who is away from home too. It is easy to want to have our own rest and recreation time. But our Lord says, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matt 25:40.
The University Outreach Ministry is one where most worshippers, old and young, working or students, can serve in some way or other, and we hope that many of you will consider helping out in areas where you can assist.
Yours in our Lord’s service
Pastor