Ocean Forest Lutheran Fellowship

As part of our mission of Living to Share Jesus we have formed a mission partnership with Ocean Forest Lutheran Fellowship in Dalyellup, Western Australia.

Over the next three years we will join in supporting this new Church Planting Mission in prayer, support and finances to enable the spread of the Gospel in the fastest growing area of Australia

If you would like to financially support this venture, send your gifts to the St. Peter's Lutheran Church and mark it 'Mission Project' and we will forward that money to our brothers and sisters in the West.

A LUTHERAN MISSION IN THE WEST

In the late 1990s in The WA District of the LCA there was a desperate need for renewal and a clear vision for a second Lutheran School to be established in Western Australia. These two things were the seeds for what the Lord has brought to fruition in 2004.

The South West region of WA has been steadily booming in industry, population and education for the last 5-10 years, and yet the Lutheran congregation in its main regional port city, Bunbury, was at the point of death. The last resident Pastor left the Bunbury manse in 1992 and the St Mark's congregation survived for the decade following on interim/part-time ministry. The worshipping community got down to an average attendance of 4-5 people in 2002/03.

An hour and a half north along highway one in the southern suburbs of Perth, Living Waters Lutheran College opened its doors with around 60 students in 1996. No one expected the rapid growth of the new school. Living Waters is now a K -12 college of 1000 students.

From the cries of people who desperately wanted the Lord to do something new in WA's largest regional city and the vision born by what a Lutheran school could bring to the church's mission came the vision to establish WA's second Lutheran college in Bunbury.

After starting with 52 students and 5 staff on day one of 2004, day one of 2005 has begun with 158 students and 20 staff. The St Mark's congregation has died a dignified death and the Lord has brought new fruit from that death with the establishment of Ocean Forest Lutheran Fellowship which meets on the college campus in Dalyellup.

Dalyellup is a booming sea-side residential development overseen by Satterley corporation. It is 5 km's south of the city of Bunbury on the beach among the Tuart tree forest. There are around 3000 residents here at the moment, 54% of whom are under the age of 18. It is predicted that by 2010, around 10,000-12,500 people will live here. It is also predicted that within that time, Ocean Forest Lutheran College will have a student population of around 700-800 students (K-12).

At the moment, and for the next 3-4 years, Ocean Forest will be the only middle and senior education facility in Dalyellup. It is currently theonly Christian congregation in Dalyellup. We have between 35 and 80 people (including 20-25 kids under 10 years old) who gather on a Sunday morning for worship in one of the transportable classrooms. Our average worshipping attendance in 2004 was 42 and our average weekly giving was $520.00. We have some financial reserves from the sale of the old St Mark's church building and after building a new manse in Dalyellup. In the current situation, those funds will come to an end by 2007. These first few years are crucial for the long-term viability of the mission.

At the moment 90% of the students at the college and their associated families are non-church. Most of the people under 40 have no direct memory or link to the biblical story and to who Jesus is and what he is doing. It seems to us that the Lord has answered his people's prayers and provided a mission field within reach of his church for many years to come. Our call is to fulfill his call depending on him for everything.

Our most pressing need in this huge mission is people - people to do mission within the college and among college families and in the community in general. We need people to lead ministry within the congregation, pastorally care and evangelise the students, pastorally care, teach and support the staff (80% of who are not Lutheran), and connect and build relationships with non-church people in the local community! There is a need to have other people working in all areas to make the most of the many opportunities for mission and care the Lord gives us everyday. Some of this can be done in conjunction with the local shire and the Satterley Corporation who do fund community activities and staff. But only we can bring the gospel to lost people and there are plenty of them around here!

Any financial support the Lord provides needs to go to employing staff to work in all of these spheres, with the work among the students and families of the college being the top priority. If we can relate to the kids and support them and their families, we will have many opportunities to tell them about Jesus and help them find a place in the faith and life of the church. That is what we long to see happening here!

We thank God that he has given us you at St Peters to us as partners in this vital mission work.

Pastor Adrian Kitson and the members of Ocean Forest Lutheran Fellowship