Speech in the ACT Assembly
2 April 2009
Madam Assistant Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a group of people who are working hard for the community of Belconnen.
Churches play a vital role in uniting our communities and performing much needed care and out-reach work.
Churches and other community groups deliver welfare services that not only do Governments not provide, but often Governments could not provide, even if buckets of money were thrown at the issues. There can be no price or budget allocation, for genuine care, friendship and fellowship that so many churches provide to those in need of support in our community.
‘On The Move’ is a joint venture of a number of Belconnen Churches and Scripture Union to meet and care for people who they would otherwise not come across. For whatever reason, many people can not make more formal church services but still want to have contact with a church in some form. Through ‘On The Move’ these people will be able to meet with people from local churches in a more informal setting.
From yesterday (Wednesday 1 April) through to tomorrow (Friday 3 April) at Margaret Timpson Park opposite Belconnen Mall, ‘On the Move’ will be set up with tents, barbeques, tables and chairs to pray together and have a lunch time barbeque with passers by in Belconnen.
I look forward to meeting the ‘On the Move’ participants when I visit at lunchtime tomorrow.
There are many churches that support this initiative and without their commitment, ‘On the Move’ would not go ahead:
- Belconnen Baptist Church
- Belconnen Community Church
- Canberra International Church
- Canberra Christian Chinese Church
- Capital Bible Church, Hawker
- Christ Church Anglican, Hawker
- Crossroads Christian Church
- Holy Cross Lutheran, Belconnen
- NationsHeart Christian Community
- North Belconnen Baptist Church
- St James Anglican, Holt
- St Paul’s Ginninderra Anglican, Spence
I apologise if I have missed any churches.
In addition to those churches, Scripture Union ACT, Youth With a Mission, and the CLC Christian Book World also support the initiative.
I understand that Rev Michael Bain from St Paul’s Ginninderra Anglican Church, and Tim O’Neill, a local doctor, were crucial in bringing the team together and special thanks should go to them.
Once again, I thank the members of these churches for their selfless dedication to the initiative and I wish them well.
