tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768060284188872933.post5267591122603633487..comments2008-10-09T11:14:57.898-05:00Douglas Brackbillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442780798709280765noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768060284188872933.post-51439534071010741592008-10-09T03:21:00.000-05:002008-10-09T03:21:00.000-05:00Hi Doug,<BR/><BR/>Great little article on living up to the name we wear.<BR/><BR/>I'm one of the little dots down in the right hand corner of your ClustrMaps Visitor Locations - thats right, I'm in Australia. :)<BR/><BR/>I've poured through your posts and heard your cry to preach the word to the lost and edify the saved. I would like to bring to your attention the plight of churches of Christ in Australia. We are DESPARATELY in need of sound, gospel preachers. Churches here are small, there about 2000 Christians in about 75 churches in the whole nation. <BR/><BR/>I believe you would be welcomed with open arms if you visited us here and considered the great things God could do through your service to Him.<BR/><BR/>Now I know Australia is a long way from Tennessee. Having been to the States three times, I can speak from experience of enduring 18 hours of flying from Sydney to Chicago, for example. And I also know that you have a family, most of whom are probably still in school. Plus you and your wife are still of working age. These must all be considered in such a change of location. <BR/><BR/>A preacher who has experienced the exact same change is Kent Hartman, who lectures at Oklahoma Christian University and comes to Australia every year, after living here with his family for 17 years to plant a church and mature it. I would recommend you contact him if you would like to know more about Australia and the church here, from an American's perspective.<BR/><BR/>But for now, I will leave you with this fact. Sydney has about 4.5 million people. There are about 300 Christians on the northern side of Sydney, out of approximately 1.5 million people. <B>On the southern side of Sydney, there are about 3 million people, and only 3 churches of about 150 Christians. <I>Thats 0.005%</I>. Clearly, we need help.</B> We need more Christians to come and help us to reach the lost. And we need more preachers to build up existing churches to grow and welcome more into the body of Christ.<BR/><BR/>My email address is stephen.males@gmail.com. I hope you will consider us and get in touch soon.<BR/><BR/>Peace, love and God's infinite blessings be upon you and your family.<BR/><BR/>For Him,<BR/>Stephen Males.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04058429175888328314noreply@blogger.com