On Circumcision, Sprinkling and Washings (Immersion).

In the first century AD, Rome was occupying Judea, so the threat of national annihilation always seemed looming. There was a sense among Judeans therefore that the 'kingdom' promised to Israel had to come and come soon.

There was little separation of religion and politics in those days. So there were various religious/political groups within Israel, each claiming to know the right way to please God, the right way to respond to the political crisis, and how best to facilitate the coming of the kingdom of God. Each of these groups were vying for the support of the Jewish public.

There were the Herodians, who thought the way to go was to make a deal with Rome, and build the emblems of kingdom.

The Pharisees felt the Herodians were compromising on standards. Only the pious could enter the kingdom of God, they felt. So they went around policing behaviours, thinking a more pious Israel could help speed-up the arrival of God's kingdom.

Many of the Zealots believed that armed-struggle was the way to go.

But it was the temple priests who seemed to be holding the sway.

They had Scribes and lawyers, each with their own opinions, to contend with though.

And some people, such as the community at Qumran (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found), felt the Temple-system had become too corrupt. They saw themselves as a true Israel within Israel, and were striving to qualify to enter Messiah's kingdom when He would come. They practised a ceremonial washing (immersion in water) which initiated a person into their community. They had regulations about how pure and how deep the water had to be. They may have been Sadducees, but that's not certain.

They weren't the only group practising 'washings' (immersing in water). Excavations show the Jerusalem Temple itself had an immersion pool. Ancient synagogues also had immersion pools. And modern synagogues still have them too: it's called Mikveh. (The Surfers Paradise Synagogue recently had a new one built.) Each first-century religious/political group within Judea claimed to have the right slant on the 'kingdom' - what it might look like; how it should come about; and who in Israel might qualify to enter it - and they 'washed' (immersed) recruits.

Jewish Mikveh

(The question of 'free will' versus 'sovereignty', for first century Jews, was about whether God would bring about Israel's kingdom all on His own when He's good and ready, or whether they had to do something about it - such as be more pious; and if so, in what way; and even about should they take up arms.)

The practise of washing (immersing) was considered by Jews to be what Moses meant in the Torah by 'washings'. In the Torah, 'washings' was distinct from 'sprinkling'; and distinct also from circumcision - each of which were prescribed for different people at different times and for different purposes, not for the same purpose. They weren't interchangeable or replaceable.

So John's baptism fit right into that. John (the Baptist) was one who practised 'washing' (immersing, baptising). Like many in his day, John gave his own unique slant on the issues of 'kingdom'. He demanded repentance. It was a baptism of repentance. He warned that not all ethnic Jews would qualify to enter the kingdom. John even identified the Messiah for Israel: Jesus of Nazareth. John's ministry and impact had been prophesied (by Isaiah and Malachi).

John wasn't presenting his 'washing' (baptism) as an optional alternative to circumcision. Messing with the Torah like that would not have done, for any of his Jewish audience. Circumcision was circumcision, while 'washing' (immersing) was washing (and sprinkling was sprinkling). Circumcision was for eight-day old boys - sprinkling in the Torah was for set-purposes also (and never for babies) - washings were for another purpose, and John's baptism came in the vogue of washings. It wasn't a new circumcision for babies. It was about repentance. Repentance was a conscious decision.

It was the counsel of God. It was to be submitted to. Being baptised fulfilled all righteousness.

The Epistle to the Hebrews spoke about the foundational doctrine of baptisms (washings). Christian baptism, after Jesus' death and resurrection, in the Name of Jesus - in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost - was in the same style as John's (which had been a 'washing', an immersion, for conscious deciders - not a new infant-circumcision). Baptism into Christ was for both the circumcised, and the uncircumcised.

And uncircumcised believers didn't need to become circumcised - because they'd been 'circumcised' with the true circumcision without hands - by putting away their old identity and taking on their new identity in Christ. Baptism in water is involved with that.

But the provision for babies was that Paul said they were 'sanctified' by a believing parent. So was an unbelieving spouse. Without baptism. And without circumcision. So was an unbelieving spouse. So it wasn't about salvation one way or the other. It was just meaning that the relationship was okay.

Moses asked God not to wipe out his name from the book of life. A person's name is in the book, to begin with. Children's angels always behold the face of the Father.  

And although there had been a number of different Jewish groups practising 'washings' (immersing) there was only one Christian baptism (washing, immersion) - irrespective of who had done the baptising, whether Peter, Paul or Apollos or whoever. The Church wasn't divided. Just as there was only one Holy Spirit, even though each member of the body had different gifts. Jesus is Lord of all.

In the early Church it was unthinkable that anyone who had come to believe in Jesus would not also get baptised in water. It was also expected that everyone would also receive the Spirit. All three experiences were considered as a package deal. However, the three were also distinguishable, and didn't always happen in the same order, or even on the same day.

The Samaritans for example, believed and were baptised by Philip first, and received the Spirit later when the Apostles laid hands on them. Cornelius' household on the other hand heard the Word and the Spirit fell on them while Peter was still speaking, before they'd even been baptised. Peter knew they'd received the Spirit, because he heard them speaking with tongues. So Peter knew there was no reason to withhold baptism from them (seeing they were obviously acceptable to God despite not being circumcised, because God only gives His Spirit to those who obey Him). Luke mentioning the Samaritans and the Gentiles receiving the Spirit, made the point that God had accepted them just as He had accepted Jewish believers in Jesus.

Since it was common practise for everyone who believed, to also get baptised, and to also receive the Spirit, when Paul was tackling other important issues of his day, he could refer to each of those experiences almost as a unit, even somewhat interchangeably - because almost everyone he was writing to had had all three experiences. Everyone he was writing to, who had had one of the experiences, had also had all three experiences. That's how it was meant to be: and it's just how it was, in the early Church. Anything else would have been unthinkable. Paul wasn't in the first instance directly addressing the question of whether or not they're interchangeable or always happen together. So he didn't need to use terms which expressed that distinction. Although if you asked him - or asked Peter - of course they would say both that they are distinct experiences and also that all three experiences ideally were meant to be received as a package.

Paul asking the disciples at Ephesus whether they received the Spirit when they believed, showed that Paul detected there was something lacking in them; and he expected it was normative for disciples to receive the Spirit. When they said they hadn't even heard about a Holy Spirit, Paul then asked what baptism they'd been baptised with. That shows that Paul expected the Holy Spirit to normally be mentioned during Christian Baptism. That shows that Paul didn't expect the name of Jesus only to be used. It also shows that mentioning the Holy Spirit at baptism was meant to include actually receiving the Spirit, if believers hadn't already received Him.

Even the term 'born of the Spirit' is like this. We are also born 'of water'. It doesn't mean we get born again twice. It just means that the initial moment of believing; and getting baptised, were considered part and parcel - and in the early Church believers always had both experiences.

Same with washing away sins. Our sins are washed away when we believe - yet Ananias also told Saul to be baptised, washing away his sins.

The word 'baptism' in Paul's letters, always would have evoked thoughts of water-baptism, in Paul's readers. Yet some of what Paul said, must also be true to some extent at least of believers who haven't been baptised in water yet (like Cornelius' household, because they'd received the Spirit before being baptised in water).

The book of Acts describes the baptism with the Holy Spirit as 'receiving' the Spirit. That's not to deny that believers who haven't received the Spirit yet, don't already have the Spirit with them in some way. Jesus breathed on the disciples after His resurrection and said "Receive the Spirit" - yet there was still a sense in which the Spirit was "not yet given for Jesus was not yet glorified".

That's why Peter could say that baptism "saves us". Peter could say that, because all believers also got baptised. And baptism is part of it. But if you asked Peter whether a person who hadn't been baptised yet could be 'saved' - he probably would have answered Yes - because he'd seen God give the Spirit to Cornelius's believing but as-yet unbaptised household. But that question wasn't an issue of Peter's in his Epistle.

The New Testament can speak broadly like this, because they wren't answering the questions we have today. They were addressing different concerns. But the evidence is also there in Acts and elsewhere, that the three different components can be identified separately. The Apostles weren't immediately concerned with whether or not a believer has attained to this or that experience in the Christian life without yet having experienced one or another of the three components - because everyone just did. Yet we can still answer our question - our issue - based on information they gave (in the New Testament).

Everything we will ever need, has already been provided for us by God, through the substitutionary death, burial, and victorious resurrection (the ascension, glorification and seating - and the fact of the soon-coming) of Jesus Christ. Jesus' death and resurrection was our real Passover - Israel's real exodus from exile (from sin and death).

That's already been achieved - repenting and believing the announcement of that, makes a person just in the sight of God, a child of God, born of the Spirit, receiving the Spirit in some sense, destined for glory. Receiving the Spirit in the greater sense of being baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit is possible because of that. And getting baptised in water, either before or after being baptised with the Spirit, fulfils the righteousness that came through believing: it's all part of washing away our sins and being born of water; identifying with the true Passover and Exodus and coming into resurrection and our eternal inheritance.  

Early CLC Ipswich (Catalyst Church) History - Remarks by Evan Heading

Asked about the Friday night meeting that was held at Percy and June Mole's home in Coal Street at Bundamba; and about the timing of Christian Life Centre Ipswich beginning above the UFS Dispensary, Evan wrote:

"Actually it was a prayer meeting and sometimes Bible study to begin with. John Van Kempen took me along one time and that's how I got to become a part of it. A fellow named Bob Knight, Laury Carsons, John Van Kempen, Percy and myself were the members. It was from this prayer meeting that the desire to have something more came from and that was what a lot of prayer went into. A cell group then started at Percy's place from memory and that's around the time your dad came on the scene and a second cell group started with your dad as the leader. It was after probably a year or so that we started the Sunday service above the UFS dispensary."

But the meeting at my dad's place - Bruce and Lynette Edwards's place - wasn't officially a cell group of Christian Life Centre Brisbane. My parents were still attending their evangelical, mainline denominational home-church when they started their home-meetings - it was just a home-meeting for anyone seeking deeper fellowship in the Spirit.

When the decision was made to launch CLC Ipswich, in rented premises above the UFS Dispensary however, a number of those who were attending Bruce and Lynette Edwards's home-meeting did soon start attending CLC Ipswich and made it their home-church - just as a number of those who had been attending the home-meeting at Percy and June Mole's home-meeting were part of the new church.

Letter from Percy Mole

I once asked Percy Mole to write a history of CLC Ipswich as he saw it. This was his reply, written several years ago now.

To John Beloved:

Greetings in the grace and love of Him whom God hath made both Lord and Christ, "Our Lord Jesus Christ".

I am somewhat in fear and trembling re your request concerning CLC Ipswich - as there is so much background as expected in God's dealings with us individually, as you have also experienced - so I must condense as much as possible and endeavour to leave out the I's and me's and concentrate on the He's and Him's - our Saviour.

Saved in my early teens (Eudlo) near Nambour - never had any real fellowship until after the War discharge 1946.  Two years of severe dermatitis from Army life in the tropics - unable to work, and with a young wife and two boys - through circumstances - we housed in mum's garage, Holmes Street North Ipswich - entered Q.G.R. North Ipswich shops - March 1948 - eventually moving upstairs after Mum's boarder moved out - next door was brother Frank Martin - who I could hear playing piano and singing hymns and choruses to the dislike of his family but he was unstoppable!   He by bike went each Sunday into Ipswich and went by train to the Apostolic Assembly - Valley, Brisbane established by my life-changing and dearest friend and a spiritual father - Pastor Bill Hawkins - this is the foundation of all that was to be laid in my life, that eventuated with the intro to CLC later on.  Pastor Bill gave me my first platform/ministry opportunities - as I also went weekly by train (sometimes walking to the station - no buses) in company with Tom Morris (Dave's father), Frank Martin and Percy Spall when we prayed and sang our way to and fro - glory days.  I had by God's grace, been accepted as an elder apt to teach - after Pastor Hawkings was transferred to Burnie Tasmania - my acceptance by the people as to ministry was more honoured than the new Pastor and of course - no-one benefits from such a situation.  I and my two young boys went to Burnie, where I was speaker at the Christmas convention 1955.  After being redundant in Brisbane Pastor Herschell who began an AOG work Ipswich post-war - begged of me to gather with him at Ipswich - after similar experience with this pastor and some who followed - I refused to lead a breakaway group on two occasions - one at what was to become the AOG Robertson Road.  Outcome = the 60s I had a wilderness experience for a decade - until God dealt with a heavy hand upon me - a lot of consequences of my lapse needed correction (excuse my non-detailing of events) - but I knew God was giving me a final call in His mercy and based on the Scripture - Ephesians 3 - in particular verses 8-10.

In the early 70s I renewed fellowship with the AOG Pastor Alcorn this time June my wife supported me - for the first time.  Pastor Alcorn, I honour as one who never showed any envy to me of the acceptability of my ministry and wanted me to be his assistant - giving me a free hand with all bible studies and most of the morning meetings.  It was around this time that Pastor Hawkins returned to Queensland and joined with Pastor Chandler - CLC. 

I am unsure of the exact sequences - but through Friday night prayer meetings in our home Bundamba - I came into contact with John van Kempen and some others who went to CLC Brisbane from Ipswich.  This laid the seed thought of why not a local fellowship for the Ipswich folk - what stands out in my memory very clearly as a very important event at that time - it was meeting your Dad and Mum at the CLC Brisbane - I still hold that, that was an encouragement to me, that a fellowship would begin in Ipswich, by His grace and enablement. 

After Pastor Alcorn invited me into partnership I had told him I'd pray about it - end result in the back room no 5 Coal Street Bundamba - an inner voice said - you will not fulfill your calling in the place - hence I have never accepted any of the pastoral ministries offer me, as I understood that office was not for me.  Pastor Chandler never had a vision for Ipswich and did not want any draining of Ipswich folk from Brisbane - but God has prevailed - I attended monthly meets in Brisbane and though holding no "office", was accepted there by such as Pastor Klimionoch - Taylor - Lewis - etc, which was good grounding for me and kept me in touch - with Pastor Hawkings - John McEwen - Sid Bunny etc.  Home meetings begun no 5 Coal Street and the Carsons, van Kempens - Hilton Ireland and other - eventually a visit from Pastor Chandler and Hawkings agree to start fellowship in Ipswich resulted.  Pastor Chandler was concerned with the finance side and it was when Brother Ron Edwards and others promised some $4000 the Pastor Chandler - said - "It looks like Ipswich is a goer".

John - in 1974 I was declared unemployable with back and other problems being boarded out in 1976 - but this gave me time and opportunity to seek the Lord for the help and support needed to establish a work for Him - this is where the Edwards families and others - step up as the Joshuas of the time to lead the pilgrims into God's promised and provided provisions.

I feel I have said too much from "me" and how can I say enough about Him - Later Pastor Alcorn said, "Percy - I was against you doing what you did - but now I say - I could not have accomplished what has been accomplished at Brassall."  Your dad played a major role in what was the foundation - now others are responsible before God of building upon it - may all the lives touched in those time stand steadfast - enduring to the end - built up and growing ever in His grace and knowledge.

John I know not how to start and where and when and how to end this attempt to reply to your request.

I am settled in my spirit and assured from what I understand of the prophetic Scriptures - that the time zone for Christ's return is near 2028.  Regardless, the key to holding fast is in personal daily prayer/reading and seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit - Charlotte and I have almost seven years up (end September).  And since 1974 - via Pastor Bill's daily Bible reading programme, has enabled me - with June - now Charlotte to read through the Old Testament once a year and the New Testament twice and being the words of Living Word - ever new - fresh - inspiring and precious.  I have had attacks of pancreas trouble since 2004 and have just been in hospital again and scheduled for a gall operation September 24 St Andrews - at 84 I am not relishing it.  I will write out a couple of items which - are relevant both to me personally as well as in general - I treasure your letter and its blessed encouragement to me - as dew upon the mown grass and as the balm of Gilead and ointment poured forth.

Stand fast dear brother and still be standing when the final bell of the end round sounds and He will raise your hand in sharing the victory and the blessedness of the unborn ages to come - what a privilege what a joy divine - partakers of the Divine Nature to be of His Body - His Church - there is no excelling - for those who in His image rise -

Love in Christ Jesus.

Percy

(August 11th Charlotte is in UK 'till 16th, with family)

Early Christian Life Centre (Catalyst Church) Ipswich - Some Historical Notes

The following isn't a complete narrative - it isn't a settled history: these are only notes - a collection of facts. 

To some extent, history can be a matter of perspective.  And I'm yet to discuss with certain people who were involved with these events, to hear their reflections and perspective.

I was also only 11 or 12 years old or even younger when some of the earliest of the following events took place. But I've confirmed as many details as I can, with as many people as I can. So I'm as sure as I can be that all of the following-details are correct.  

_____

The church was planted in 1978

                                               _____

In the second half of the1970s, Percy Mole felt a renewing of his personal spiritual life. As a result, Percy began a regular Friday night prayer meeting in his home, at Coal Street, Bundamba, together with his wife June.

The prayer meeting was attended by the likes of Bob Knight, Lawry Carson and John and Pat van Kempen. And John and Pat invited their friend Evan Heading along. 

And others also attended gatherings at Percy and June's place - like the young Greg Siddans and his parents. 

The meeting also sometimes doubled as a bit of a Bible Study, Evan said - though it was mainly a prayer meeting.

Percy's longtime friend Bill Hawkins (a former Apostolic Church minister) had become an Elder at Christian Life Centre (CLC), Brisbane in those days, according to Pastor Peter Cotter. So, through Percy's friendship with Bill Hawkins, Percy came to be interested in attending meetings at CLC Brisbane.

Some of those who attended Percy's prayer group often therefore travelled to CLC Brisbane with Percy on Sundays.

CLC was pastored by Trevor Chandler. Trevor was a leader in the Charismatic Renewal. CLC's Sunday meetings began at 3 in the afternoon, in those days - so that many who belonged to other churches and who were interested in Charismatic Renewal could attend after having attended their own churches in the morning.  

Since a number were traveling from Ipswich to Brisbane with Percy, Percy said he had the seed-thought:

"Why not a local fellowship for the Ipswich folk".

Much of the prayer at Percy's Friday night prayer meeting therefore became about that: they were praying for a fellowship to start in Ipswich, according to Evan Heading.

Around the same time, several attendees of Silkstone Baptist Church had become increasingly hungry for the move of the Holy Spirit. Some of them were also traveling to Brisbane to attend the meetings at CLC, including: Bruce and Lynette Edwards and their family (who had recently returned from missionary-work in Japan); Mrs Thelma Atwell; and Risie Wilkins; and their families, and others.

It was at CLC Brisbane that Percy first met Bruce and Lynette. Percy later said he felt that meeting Bruce and Lynette at CLC Brisbane was important, as it was an encouragement to him that a church would indeed be launched in Ipswich.

Bruce and Lynette made inquiries about attending Percy and June's Friday night prayer meeting at Bundamba - but Lynette reflects that when they did so she got the impression the group was a bit 'closed'. (If that impression was correct, I imagine it probably had less to do with Percy and June themselves and perhaps more to do with one or two of the others who were attending the meeting.)

So the Edwards's never became part of Percy's prayer-meeting at Bundamba. (And as we shall see, CLC was soon to launch in Ipswich anyway.)

In those days other charismatic home meetings were also held across Ipswich. For example, Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International meetings were held in the home of Trevor and Margaret Kucks. Trevor previously attended Raceview Congregational Church, and had subsequently become involved with a number of Charismatic events in the city.

Thus various Ipswich-folk were occasionally or regularly visiting CLC in Brisbane on Sunday afternoons. Some of them, such as Percy and June, had made CLC Brisbane their home-church - whilst others, such as the Silkstone Baptists, remained in their churches, at first. 

Over a period of time Percy was talking to the church-leaders at CLC Brisbane about the idea of opening a church-fellowship in Ipswich, Percy said.

The next step towards seeing a fellowship start for the folk in Ipswich, Percy said, was that further to his Friday-night prayer-meeting, he and June also started a midweek home-meeting which from the very start was officially affiliated with CLC Brisbane as part of the Brisbane church's weekly program. 

Hilton Ireland was another person of interest with regard to the Charismatic renewal in Ipswich who attended that CLC-affiliated home-meeting, at Percy and June's home at Bundamba.  

CLC Ipswich Begins Above the UFS Dispensary in East Street, Ipswich

 

I'm not yet sure of the details of the discussions which went-on between Percy and the Elders of CLC Brisbane about launching a church in Ipswich. But Percy recalled that at first Pastor Trevor Chandler seemed reluctant about starting a CLC-church in Ipswich. Trevor was concerned about the financial cost of it, and he also didn't want adherents to be drawn away from attending the meetings in Brisbane, Percy said. 

But eventually Pastor Chandler and Bill Hawkins visited the Ipswich folk. Percy said a donation of some four-thousand dollars was promised by Ron Edwards and others, after which Trevor said, "Looks like Ipswich is a go-er". (But I'm personally not yet sure whether that detail belongs at this point in the story or later after the Ipswich-church had well-and-truly started and was already considering purchasing a property at Brassall.) 

Nevertheless Percy said that soon after Trevor and Bill met the Ipswich folk, a decision was reached: premises were rented above the UFS Dispensary on East Street, and Sunday morning services began. Christian Life Centre (CLC) Ipswich was launched. This was at least as early as 1978. 

(Evan Heading and Hank van der Steen have both suggested that this may even have been as early as 1977, though they felt unclear about that.) But at the very latest, it was in 1978 that Christian Life Centre Ipswich was started, with Sunday-morning services in rented premises.

Many of those who had been attending the meetings at Percy and June's home therefore became the earliest attendees of CLC Ipswich, including: Percy and June Mole themselves; their son Des and Heather Mole; Lawry Carson; Evan Heading; most-likely also John and Pat van Kempen (I would imagine - though Lynette Edwards said they wouldn't yet have been married then); and others; and their families. 

Not all who had been attending Percy's meetings joined the new church though. Hilton Ireland, for example, stayed at Pring Street Assemblies of God (although Hilton did join CLC Ipswich years later).  

Bruce and Lynette Edwards also held a home meeting in their home at Prunda Parade, Raceview - and some of their Silkston-Baptist friends who had been travelling to CLC Brisbane joined CLC Ipswich as soon as it began, or as soon as they had heard it had begun, or soon afterwards - like Thelma Atwell, and others, possibly Rissie Wilkins and Harold and Joy Manttan and their families. (I'm not sure whether the Edwards' home meeting began while Bruce and Lyn were still attending Silkstone Baptist Church, or only after they'd left Silkstone and had begun attending and belonging to CLC Ipswich.)

The Edwards' home had a particularly large lounge room, and on one extraordinary occasion I remember approximately 50 people attended, including at least one of the Elders of CLC Brisbane although the meeting was only informally in fellowship with CLC Brisbane.

As soon as CLC Ipswich started, a number of Bruce and Lynette Edwards's friends from Silkstone Baptist Church who had been traveling to CLC Brisbane on Sunday afternoons, became early adherents of CLC Ipswich - even before Bruce and Lynette themselves came to belong to CLC Ipswich. Some of those folk included Mrs Thelma Atwell; Rissie Wilkins; Joy Manttan; and their families; and others. 

Joy Manttan said that her family attended "from the beginning". She recalls that this was a full year or more before the church moved to Haig Street at Brassall, in her mind at least.  

It was another month, or possibly longer, before Bruce and Lynette Edwards eventually joined the folk who had already made CLC Ipswich their home-church.

Bruce and Lynette Edwards wished to remain loyal to Silkstone Baptist Church as long as they could - but some of the church's leaders, due to their non-Charismatic stance, were making it increasingly untenable for them to stay. 

Lynette was Silkstone's church-pianist and choir-director though - so she and Bruce determined to stay at Silkstone until she'd honoured her commitment to play for the church's Christmas production a few weeks later that year (or perhaps it was a month, or maybe even a couple of months later). But then as soon as that obligation was fulfilled, Bruce and Lynette Edwards, together with their family made Christian Life Centre Ipswich their home-church. That was in December 1978, according to Lynette.

Lynette recalls that there were 17 people in attendance that Sunday morning. From their very first Sunday morning at CLC Ipswich and onwards, Lynette became the church pianist, joining Des Mole (and I think Laury Carson, if I remember correctly) on guitar. Lynette can't remember whether the figure of 17 included children or not. Mr and Mrs Siddens were there that first Sunday the Edwards's attended, but never again, according to Lynette. Mrs Siddens was a pianist, but somehow Lynette was asked to play and ended-up playing every Sunday.

The song-leading, and the ministry of the Word, were shared by Percy Mole and Bruce Edwards, and others. Elders from CLC Brisbane, and a missionary of theirs, also took turns travelling to Ipswich to minister in the church, including Pastor Trevor Chandler; Hank and Lany van der Steen; Vince Esterman; missionary Peter Clyburn; and Jim Christian.

Mrs Thelma Atwell (who had belonged to Silkston Baptist) had been eagerly reaching-out door-knocking. One lady she met was Diana, and her children Doreen and Les - and they started attending church. 

Another friend of Thelma's was Judy Bognar. Judy received the baptism with the Holy Spirit in Bruce and Lynette Edwards's home at Raceview one night in June 1979. (I remember it was the eve of the night when Skylab re-entered the earth).

Judy's husband Steve (Eugene) drove his wife Judy to the home-meetings in my parents' home. He wouldn't let her go by herself because he said he couldn't trust her, he said. He wouldn't come inside the meeting, because he was a Baptist, he said. He stayed outside sitting in his car the whole time, sometimes smoking a pipe. 

Eventually one day Steve did venture inside the home-meeting, but I remember on that first occasion he was quite guarded or even somewhat antagonistic, arguing against Charismatic distinctives. 

Lynette Edwards said 27 people attended their home meeting. 

Steve (who later wished to be called by his name Eugene) did end-up getting filled with the Holy Spirit - and later became a song-leader at CLC Ipswich; and then he and his wife Judy - quite the soul-winner and facilitator in her own right - became associate Pastors at CLC Ipswich; and then later moved to the Gold Coast to become Senior Pastors of Gold Coast Christian Community, a church which by then had become affiliated with Christian Life Churches International [CLCI]; until they retired from pastoring and focused on local and international ministry and mentoring, including to the nation of Hungary.

The presence of God in the meetings above the UFS Dispensary in Ipswich was intense. The Word of God was taught profoundly; signs and wonders manifested in the meetings, such as tongues, and interpretation, and prophesying - and demons were cast out; often some people were unable to stand in the glory of God; and there was salvation. One of Laury's daughters Tracy gave her life to the Lord had to be carried to the car by her father after the meeting. There was great joy in the singing.

Baptismal services were held in Ron and Syliva Edwards's swimming pool, on Blackstone Road at Silkstone. Jan Lingard and others, including later Norman Hart, were baptised. (Phillip Mützelburg, an associate Pastor at CLC Brisbane, attended one of those baptismal events at Ron and Sylvia Edwards's place.)

As mentioned above, Trevor Chandler was somewhat reluctant at first about a fellowship starting in Ipswich, according to Percy: Trevor didn't want anything to drain people away from attending the meetings in Brisbane, and preferred that the folk who were traveling from Ipswich continued to do so. But after Ron Edwards and others at some point in this story promised some four thousand dollars, Trevor Chandler allegedly said, "Looks like Ipswich is a goer", according to Percy.

CLC Ipswich Purchases its First Property on the Corner of Vogel Road and Haig Street, Brassall

After meeting above the UFS Dispensary in Ipswich for approximately a year at least (and possibly for a significantly longer time than that, some have suggested, as stated above, although I'm not sure about that), it was decided to purchase premises on the corner of Vogel Rd and Haig St, at Brassall. Sunday afternoon and evening services then transferred to the church's own purchased-property, in the latter part of 1979.

Once at Haig Street, the ministry continued to be shared by Percy Mole and Bruce Edwards, and occasionally also by Trevor Chandler and others who visited from Brisbane; and on at least one occasion there was a visiting minister. 

I was saved at Haig Street, the night that guest ministered, which was Sunday night the 16th of December, 1979, at the age of 12.

That morning Mrs Pat van Kempen had challenged us children to make a confession for Christ. Then at night a guest ministered. The guest-minister was visiting from interstate, likely from Victoria, Percy recalled, but last I asked Percy, he couldn't be certain of his name. But it was actually Percy Mole who led me in the prayer of salvation.

One Sunday while Bruce and Lynette Edwards and family drove past the Ipswich swimming pool on their way to church, Bruce's mother Marion Edwards remarked at all the 'Sunday worshipers' at the swimming pool. Bruce Edwards spoke-out by faith that one day there would also be as many people attending CLC Ipswich - and I laid up those words in my heart.

Souls got saved; and the church continued to grow. Despite the growth in attendance, Percy Mole didn't feel led to assert a Senior-Pastor role in the church. The role was also offered to Bruce Edwards, but he didn't feel led to take-on that specific role either. 

So an opportunity was there for Vince and Denise Esterman who, at the time, were youth pastors at Brisbane CLC, and newlyweds - to fill the role. Vince and Denise accepted the position, and moved from Brisbane to Ipswich. 

Thus CLC Ipswich - after having already seen sustained growth; and after having already purchased property; and after having already existed in two locations for longer than a whole year (or possibly even longer) - finally had its first official Senior Pastor, from very early in 1980, I thought (although I'm wondering now whether Vince may not have actually started preaching regularly there in the last couple of weeks of 1979: I'm yet to check that question out). 

After Vince and Denise arrived the church continued to grow - quite spectacularly. Souls were saved, demons were cast out, and many were filled with the Spirit. For a short time Pastor Vince even held Saturday-night deliverance meetings.

The Elders of CLC Ipswich continued sharing much of the ministry, as before, with Vince. Missionary Beryl Akers was one who also visited to minister on one occasion. And other visiting ministers also came.

Vince and Denise soon formed a church youth-group. The first youth activity was to attend a concert by Charles and Paula Slagle at CLC Brisbane. That night, Bruce and Lynette Edwards's eldest son (my brother Peter); and a friend from Bremer State High School, named Dean - responded to an altar-call, and were saved. 

On the same night, I (the second son of Bruce and Lynette) was filled with the Spirit and spoke with tongues, when Pastor Trevor Chandler laid hands on me. 

At the youth activity probably the following weekend - a meal at Vince and Denise's home in Ipswich - Dean was filled with the Spirit and saw a vision, when Pastor Vince laid hands on him. 

John and Pat van Kempen were soon appointed as the first youth-leaders.

Some of we youth who belonged to CLC Ipswich began reaching-out at our high-school, including Peter and John Edwards, Les and Doreen Munn, Dean Biddle, and Ian Taberham, and others. As a result, Scott Beattie was one of those from Bremer High School who started attending CLC at Haig Street, and attending Bruce and Lynette's home-meeting at Raceview.

For a while Pastor Vince used to pick some of us up from school one afternoon a week, and take us back to his house for afternoon snacks then minister to us and inspire us. 

Peter and John Edwards, and Scott Beattie, were baptised by Vince Esterman and by Bruce Edwards, during a church picnic at Bell's property on ANZAC Day 1980; and on other occasions many others were baptised.

Other early attendees of the church included Rod and Meryl Jones, and their large family. And later Paul Ferris, and others.

Some of the above-mentioned youth started a lunchtime outreach meeting at school. Scott Donald was one of the many who got saved in that meeting.

Vince led a regular street-outreach on Thursday nights at the Ipswich Centre, through which Graham Frost was saved, and others. Several church-members participated in the outreach, including we youth, and Evan Heading and sometimes Julie Atwell, and others.

Peter Edwards was ordained as a deacon, along with other ordinations that took place. 

The Haig Street Building is Extended 

As the church continued to grow, it was decided to raise the existing single-level sanctuary and office building, to build a new, large, ground-level auditorium underneath. During the six-week interim when construction was taking place, the church met at the Greyhound Racing track clubhouse at the Ipswich Showgrounds. It was an exciting time for the church, and one Sunday there was a notable demonstration of the power of God.

Once the building-extension was completed and meetings were resumed at Haig Street, the momentum of the church's growth didn't wane but only continued. Pastor Vince honed his focus on evangelism. 

One day when Vince was door-knocking, he met Robert and Judy, who soon came to the Lord, and others. 

Vince formed the church into a soul-winning machine! 

Sunday afternoons were believers' meetings with worship, communion, the Word and the Holy Spirit; while Sunday nights were praise, items, salvation and ministry-nights.

Among the many enthusiastic and active members of the church was Darren Bennett, who reached out to students at Gatton University, and who later married Dorothy.

Bruce and Lynette Edwards' home-meeting became so large, it was decided that those who were coming from Amberley would begin meeting at Steve Judy and Steve Bognar's place. Other new weekly home-groups began too. Once a month all the home-groups combined for a midweek prayer and praise night with fasting, at the church.

The Holy Spirit moved during the praise and worship on Sundays, and in altar-call ministry. 

Neighbours used to sit on their verandahs enjoying the sound of the music. 

Musicians and song-leaders in the church included Lynette and Bruce Edwards (music-directors, song-leading, piano, and sometimes lap steel), Scott Beattie (organ, guitars), Des Mole (guitar), Scott Donald (drums), Don Johnston (drums), Greg Manttan (drums); Ron Edwards (song-leading), Steve [Eugene] Bognar (song-leading), Vince Esterman (trombone), Peter Edwards (trumpet), later John Edwards (trombone), sometimes Jill Edwards (trumpet), and others; and tambourine-playing ladies; and Lynette formed a choir.

"An Exciting Church with a Difference" became the slogan of the church. And it really was.

A vision was perceived in my heart, that CLC Ipswich's influence would spread beyond Ipswich, to towns surrounding Ipswich, and to Papua New Guinea, and north, including to Japan, and wider to the nations. We were soon to see that come to pass.

Vince organised a three-weekend outreach at Gatton, Qld. The first two Saturday nights, no-one responded for salvation. Vince sought the Lord. And on the third and last Saturday night, 14 people responded to the altar-call for salvation. Hal Oxley spoke at one of the meetings. 

Vince followed the crusade up by going to Gatton for fortnightly Tuesday night meetings; and eventually CLC Gatton was launched with Sunday services. 

Eventually Paul and Doreen Ferris were sent as Pastors of the Gatton church. Demons were cast out; property was purchased and developed; and the church grew significantly.

Suttons Foundry 

In anticipation of continued growth, CLC Ipswich purchased more vacant, uncleared land in Brassall. 

Then as the need for larger premises became all the more obvious, one day Pastor Vince, looking out from his church-office window, saw the buildings of the old Suttons Foundry - and with characteristic bravé, Vince perceived a thought. It was decided to make a bid to purchase the Foundry.

The vacant land which the church had previously bought was sold and used for a bridging-loan to purchase the Suttons property. A large task lay ahead in order to prepare the no-longer used structures for use by the church.

But well before the church ever began services at the Foundry, Vince, and Denise, always a pioneer - like an apostle - after some six years of leading the church, announced that they were leaving Ipswich to live in France as Evangelists. And it was decided that John and Coby Pasterkamp would become the new Senior Pastors.

John and Coby were Dutch missionaries. They had been involved in evangelism and Charismatic Renewal in Australia for some three years, before pioneering a work in Papua New Guinea. Their work in Papua New Guinea had been adopted by the CLC movement. Missionaries and pastors associated with CLC Brisbane had gone out to Papua New Guinea as missionaries and as visiting ministers. The works were supported by CLC Brisbane and Ipswich. John and Coby had later also become missionaries to Japan; and were in demand as speakers internationally.)

So John and Coby moved to Ipswich, with their three sons Mark, Stephen and Daniel. Over a three-week period the Senior-leadership was transferred from Vince and Denise to John and Coby. Pastor Trevor Chandler officiated at the ordination of John and Coby to the role, which took place while the church's home was still at Haig Street.

The task of overseeing the preparation of the Sutton's property - carrying-out pastor Vince's vision for the property - and transitioning the church from Haig Street to its new location of the Foundry therefore fell to Pastor John and Coby, as by that stage Vince and Denise had left for France. 

It was no mean task. Over the next couple of months Church-attendees volunteered their skills and labour - notably builders Robert Clark and Bruce Edwards, and many others.

The property was soon ready. The church-property on Haig Street was sold; the transition was carried-out successfully: CLC Ipswich became established in its new (and still-current) location at Suttons Foundry.

With John and Coby as pastors, the church continued to grow. The Word of God was taught wonderfully; signs and wonders continued to occur, including demons being cast out. The Elders and deacons also continued to share in the ministry.

Many who joined the church said they joined the church because of the music. Congregational singing was audible: the congregation and musicians responded spontaneously to the waves of the Spirit. The music, and the presence of God, drew people of all ages.

City-wide crusades were organised or co-hosted by John Pasterkamp and CLC Ipswich. Large combined-churches early morning prayer meetings were held across the city. Including a citywide crusade with Frank Houston; and a citywide crusade with Bill Newman. 

Derek Prince also visited the church and taught prophetically and cast out demons. Street outreaches continued, organised by groups of young people from a number of different churches. And people got filled with the Holy Spirit.

The crowd attending CLC at Suttons Foundry was such that the Elders had to consider running multiple services on Sunday mornings. 

The crowd at church easily rivalled the crowd at Ipswich swimming pool - and I remembered the words of faith that my father had spoken several years beforehand, that the church would grow to such an extent.

A number of missionaries were sent out: to Japan (Scott and Kay Beattie), China (Scott Donald, who later married Tracy), and other nations. Bruce Edwards travelled to Japan with John Pasterkamp. (And later returned for nine months, teaching in a Bible College, as we shall see.)

Not only CLC Brassall, but other Charismatic churches across South East Queensland also were on quite a roll, by the mid to late 1980s. It was a tremendous time of growth. Momentum was picking-up citywide, and really all across South East Queensland.

Yet as wonderful as the move of God was during the Charismatic Renewal, there was still a sense of a greater manifestation of the Spirit - a greater glory - coming. There was a sense that something even more spectacularly-supernatural than the Charismatic Renewal should come. And the people eagerly yearned for it.

John and Coby Pasterkamp then moved from Ipswich and took up the pastorate of Gold Coast Christian Community, at Burleigh (and then later moved back to the Netherlands where John continued in Senior ministry roles, and national roles, and international ministry, and is now with the Lord). Phillip and Mandy Mützelburg, who were associate Pastors at CLC Brisbane moved to Ipswich, with their two children Carl and Betsy, to become the next Senior Pastors of CLC Ipswich.

At Pastor Phillip's direction, the name of the church was changed to Heritage City Community Church. The facilities were improved. The naturally-lit, airy sanctuary was modernised into a state-of-the-art theatre-type auditorium with improved sound-systems and lighting.

In a brilliant move by Pastor Phillip, the congregation were invited to donate in order to purchase vacant land adjoining the Suttons property. The congregation responded readily, and the land was promptly purchased.

Phillip decided to disassociate the church from Christian Life Churches International (CLCI).

The vision of being a missionary-sending church continued to come to pass, with a number more going out on mission, both overseas and locally, both longterm, midterm and short-term, including missions to China and Thailand (led or co-led by Pastor Phillip); Bruce and Lynette Edwards were also sent to Japan for some nine months, then returned to Ipswich (and eventually were sent to become Elders at Surfers Paradise Assembly of God; and Senior Pastors of the Gold Coast Japanese Church, which they pastored for some 23 years, until they retired from the Japanese church and picked-up a Bible-Teaching ministry at Reedy Creek Baptist Church, which they continue to the present-day). Others also went to Japan, and other places, including Vince and Denise to the Renuion Islands (planning to return to Australia as a base, in November this year 2020).

I am also one of those who was sent out by the Elders of the Brassall church and went traveling from that time, throughout surrounding townships, interstate, and overseas including to the Philippines, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea and other nations. It was while I was away on those travels, that my parents Bruce and Lynette were sent to the Gold Coast. So when I returned from overseas, the Lord led me to make Surfers Paradise Assembly of God (later named Surfcity Church, then now Presence Church) my home-base, from where I continued for some time to travel.

Therefore I'm not a qualified eyewitness of the details of events that transpired at the Brassall church from that moment onwards. 

But I am a witness that in the mid-90s the Spirit was poured out upon churches worldwide with fresh joy. Just as participants in the Charismatic Renewal had foreseen and longed for, greater glory was poured out congregation-wide in churches all over the world. And this move also touched the church at Brassall, for a time. 

Even children began effortlessly functioning in the Spirit. In many places there was joy, laughter, dancing, visions, prophesying, tongues, interpretation, confession of sin, repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness, deliverance from demons, giving, and people feeling called and released into ministry and missions. Many churches, including the church at Brassall for at least some period of time, held extended, special Holy Ghost meetings as well as experiencing the move of the Holy Spirit in the regular Sunday services.

This fulfilled a vision which had been in many hearts since Charismatic Renewal days.

Phillip reconciled with Trevor Chandler and with CLCI. And soon afterwards he oversaw the dissolving of Christian Life Churches International (CLCI), and the forming of a new organisation Acts 2 Alliance (A2A) of which he became the inaugural President.

When Phillip and Mandy retired as Senior Pastors, their son Carl - always good person since his youth - and his wife Jessica became the Senior Pastors of the Brassall church.

The church's name was changed to Catalyst Church.

The adjoining land which the church had purchased was subdivided into residential blocks for sale. Income from this project helped fund a further, modern redevelopment of some of the church-facilities.

With Carl and Jessica as Senior Pastors, the church continues at the Suttons site, as a prominent church in the city of Ipswich. 

Pastor Carl announced that he will be resigning as lead pastor; and in April 2024 Mark Wilson shall be inducted as the new lead pastor. 

Much fruit continues to be borne both at the church, and in every place wherever everyone who has ever belonged to the church at any phase of its history were sent. Each person taking the Spirit's flame.

All that the Holy Spirit showed us in advance, has come to pass: nothing failed of all that He showed us.

And there's more to come! 

And you are part of it.

To God be all the glory.

'Gentleness' in Cebuano

A Cebuano word for 'gentle' could be malumo - tender.

Another Look at Ezekiel 44

It's popularly asserted by many modern 'End Times' teachers that Ezekiel 44:1,2 was fulfilled when Muslims some hundreds of years ago closed an East-facing gate at the site of the ancient Temple, to prevent the Messiah from entering in by it; and that it will remain closed until the Messiah finally returns, re-opens it, and enters in by it. 

All of that is so confidently asserted like it's clearly stated in Bible Prophecy, and like we're seeing End Times prophecy fulfilled today before our very eyes.

But have a think about it: see if you think the popular scenario is really that clear in the Scripture after all:

EZEKIEL 44:1,2
1 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
2 Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; BECAUSE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, HATH ENTERED IN BY IT, THEREFORE IT SHALL BE SHUT.

Verse 2 actually said that the gate was closed 'because' the Lord 'hath' entered in by it. 

So the order of events was: first, the Lord entered in by the gate; and then secondly, after that - because the Lord had entered by it - the gate was closed. 

Not the other way around. It didn't say the gate would be closed first, and then the Lord would eventually come and re-open it and enter. 

So, doesn't the popular modern idea seem to reverse the order of events stated in the Prophecy?

Plus, the Prophecy said that seeing the Lord had entered and the gate was closed, it would not be opened. But the currently existing gate in Jerusalem has been closed and re-opened, and then closed again and reopened yet again, numerous times already in history. So the history of the existing gate doesn't seem to match the Prophecy anyway!

And the Prophecy seemed to imply that the reason the gate was closed, was because the ancient Jews had been too flippant about who they'd been allowing to come into the House of the Lord.

Nevertheless, at the same time, despite the gate being closed, Temple-procedures would continue, only with Zadokite priests having precedence over non-Zadokites - pure Zadokites, who'd never married anyone other than virgin, non-widowed, Levite, ethnic Jews. Physical as well as heart-circumcision would be a requirement; blood as well as bread-offerings would be offered - for sin (not just for a memorial). All of that was to go on, despite the gate having been closed, Ezekiel said.

And according to historical sources there actually did emerge, during the inter-Testament period, a dynasty of Zadokite priests/princes in the land of Israel, and the services around the altar were resumed and continued, as prophesied. 

But none of that is happening right now around the existing gate in Jerusalem. It isn't even possible for it to happen again, since evidence for a pure, unmixed Levitical line doesn't exist as required by the Torah, let alone evidence for a pure Zadokite line as required by the Prophecy. And even if it was possible, it would neither be necessary nor valid this side of the New Covenant! 

And is it even the same gate anyway. Ezekiel was prophesying before the second temple was built or completed - and it was destroyed again in AD70 - not one stone was left standing on top of another - exactly as prophesied by our Lord Jesus and by the prophet Daniel. 

But as for the existing gate, it isn't known with certainly that it existed as part of the Biblical second temple structure at all. One theory is that the existing structure was likely built hundreds of years after the destruction of the Biblical temple, by Justinian; another is that it was built even later still - hundreds of years later. We don't know.

So, do you think the scenario which is being so confidently asserted by many modern End Times teachers is really that clear after all in the Prophecy?

There is another way we could think about this chapter. Perhaps many of its visionary-details were likely 'fulfilled' at a time when the Old Covenant still stood. 

The underlying message of the Prophecy then would have been to explain the reason for the plight the ethnic Jews and their temple had found themselves in, and would find themselves in again; it provided instruction to those of the captivity to get on with rebuilding the temple; it explained, and warned again that the coming of the Lord to His temple wouldn't necessarily mean all would be well, not even for Levites - because God ultimately looks for true worshipers. 

The Lord Jesus seemed to act-out or amplify that warning when He cleased the Temple. And how true all those warnings played-out - for the Temple; for the temple-priesthood system; and for ethnic Jews who didn't believe - within that generation! 

But Jesus had first explained that the time was coming and had come when it would no longer be a requirement to worship in Jerusalem: because the Father was looking for true worshipers who worship Him instead in spirit and in truth. 

But if we instead assert that a modernday 'gate' to a replica 'temple' in Jerusalem is the subject of Ezekiel's Prophecy, we are in affect implying that making pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and reverting back under the Levitical priesthood and offering sacrifices, is still a requirement, or will be in future. And there are factions of people, even Christians, who are promoting that idea. But that's not gospel.

The good news is that through the death and resurrection of Jesus from the dead God has made the New Covenant; and He has made us those true worshipers, in Christ, Whom He seeks. 

All the Bible's promises, shadows, covenants and prophecies were always pointing to when God would come in Christ. That's now been inaugurated by Jesus, though we still wait for His second coming. 

Meanwhile, instead of looking for repeat fulfilments of Ezekiel's prophecy, or making proselytes to Judaism, the Spirit and the bride invite all - non-Israelis and Israelis alike - to come and drink freely of the waters of eternal life! 

So that's just another possible way to think about Ezekiel 44. But what would I know.