Toongabbie Anglican Church Blog

Weekly Blurb

The Next Generation

Sunday 27 July, 2008 · Posted by Raj Gupta

It is exciting to be involved in the training of the next generation of Gospel ministers. The Bible says: ‘the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others’ (2 Timothy 2:2). If we fail to train the next generation of Gospel ministers, then there will be no Gospel for the next generation.

One way our church is involved is with our student ministers. During the week, they each study full time at Moore College and on Sundays we have the privilege of their involvement. They serve among us, and they learn from us. Part of the student minister system is to use the opportunity to see how different churches operate. Personally, I have learnt a great deal from being at different churches. A student minister would normally remain at one church for two years.

Garry and Gail Dibley joined our church at the start of last year (2007), and their two years at TAC will come to an end in December. Since they arrived they have had a servant heart. Garry shouldered a load above and beyond most when our church was in between ministers. He also helped me settle in when I arrived last year, as he continued to accept abnormally high responsibilities. His leading and preaching has helped us all. And of course, his Kids Spots have been both entertaining and helped even adults understand the Bible. We will miss Garry and Gail as they leave us, and I know they would appreciate your prayers as they seek a new church to join in a similar capacity.

The sadness of their departure will be mixed with joy as we welcome a new student minister and his family. Ben Pakula is married to Stacie, and they have recently had their first child, Eli. He will commence, God willing, at Moore College next year. They currently live in Wollongong, where Ben is doing MTS at St Michael’s Cathedral. Ben has also released 2 children’s Christian CD’s.

I have every confidence that Ben and Stacie will be another blessing to our church, though this will not replace the sadness of Garry and Gail’s departure from TAC. There are still many months to go, but I hope you will find an opportunity to thank them personally for their work among us.

Raj

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