Big Weekend Part II

On Saturday afternoon, I went to the Darnell Room within the St John's Cathedral complex to attend the GFS Annual General Meeting.

If you haven't heard of GFS before now, I'd recommend taking a minute to research who they are and what they do. GFS is an organisation with a very long history of excellent children's ministry. Their most obvious presence in recent times has been in the form of kids' clubs under the banner of KidsPlus+, and there are several KidsPlus+ groups alive and well within the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, including those at Kenmore, Bundaberg and Logan.

They have also become increasingly well-known recently for their extremely generous provision of financial grants to parishes carrying out youth or children's ministry of virtually any kind (not just KidsPlus+ groups). I was happy to attend the AGM to pass on my thanks personally to GFS for their amazing support of so many YCF ministries. Their grants have lifted the spirits of many of us working in the field!

Claye, Lesley B, Aaron.

A huge and unexpected bonus from being at the AGM was hearing from Bronwen Healy, the founder of the Hope Foundation, a Christian charity with an audacious and astounding mission. Bronwen spoke to acknowledge the support of GFS for her Foundation and to explain some of the ongoing challenges she is facing.


Lesley B giving Bronwen a cheque...with feeling!

I hear Bronwen's testimony is pretty powerful, and I can believe it based on her few words here. Wow.

Another great moment was hearing from two Formation students (i.e. "student priests" if you like), Claye and Aaron, who are the beneficiaries of more grants from GFS to assist them in their studies.  Thanks GFS and well done, guys!

And even then, the weekend wasn't over!  On Sunday night, I joined the teens and young adults of Kenmore parish with their great clergy the Rev. Bev Bell and the Rev. Vince Conway for their regular U-Nite service. Always great music and input: the next meeting will be a Bible Study on 14 April and the next U-Nite service will be Sunday 28 April: a sausage sizzle at 5pm followed by the service at 6.  You would be most welcome to come along from wherever you are!