I thoroughly enjoyed the week! I was encouraged by...
- Joining in with 2,000+ fellow saints at KCC Katoomba!
Honestly so amazing witnessness so many who are so involved & engaged in both local church + global mission ministry - and in particular the amount of older saints - which is not something I get to see too much at my own local church. - Being encouraged and challenged by M workers about God's work in the global context - so awesome hearing how God saves and transforms people. Growing in my understanding of their work and struggles too, which I reckon will help me in thinking about how I partner with M workers myself.
- Discovered some worship songs which I'll be adding to my playlists. I also enjoyed nicely mic'd up acoustic drums which I don't often get to experience 🙂
- Running into various old friends and familiar faces from my UNSW CBS days and elsewhere (sometimes unexpectedly). Yay for friendships across the wider church network.
Chatting to other Christians is generally encouraging 🙂 - Some good chats too throughout the week.
Summer School (well, this whole summer break) was also quite the change up from my usual routine of sitting in front of a computer all day all week!
Reflections
“a world that knows Jesus.”
- If you're not a 'Goer' then you are a 'Sender'
- (Ed Grudier also preached on this at church camp last year - search 'Ed Grudier' on SWEC talks)
- Rather than asking e.g. 'how does global missions fit into [e.g.] youth ministry', think 'how does youth ministry fit into the bigger picture of God's work in the world'
- Morning talks - Book of Galatians.
- The true gospel is so rich! The goal of the work: For Christ to be formed in you
- The priority of preaching the gospel - and the true gospel alone, without compromise.
- Evening talks - Jesus' Parables in Matthew
Pro-Tip: *Read* the Airbnb listing properly
The Airbnb stay I booked didn't actually have any cooktops! Rather it was only a kitchenette equipped with just a microwave and toaster... oops.
We bought a portable gas stove from the Big W and a pack of gas canisters from Kmart 😂
Other Interesting Things
Katoomba has crazy weather. It was a very wet and foggy week 🌧️☔
We didn't do any trails this time - only several easy lookouts during the afternoons. The Blue Mountains has so many trails to discover!
- e.g. Have you heard of Narrow Neck Trail plateau in Katoomba?
"At its narrowest point, the cliffs fall away on either side of the trail..."!? - The Gully (Catalina Park) is the largest Aboriginal Place in NSW (at least in 2002).
Prior to that it was a 2km motor racing circuit, and earlier a tourist park in the 1950's!?
From what my travel companions have been saying, it sounds like we'll be planning to return in Summer School 2025, with hopefully more to join us 🙂