As we count down to the official launch of Thrive Ministries, Pastor Hung shares with us how Thrive Ministries is the maturation of the English service of Hội Thánh Tin Lành Việt Nam Úc Châu, The Vietnamese Evangelical Church in Australia. This church was formed to support a small number of Christian refugees of the Vietnam war who settled in Australia. In the almost 40 years since then God has blessed His disciples, even as they grew and wandered from location to location, always committed to gathering in His name to worship. While their descendants have grown up in Australia, the church continues to welcome Vietnamese people emigrating to Australia.
Pastor James shares with us the great opportunity and burden of doing God's will of making "disciples of all nations" and welcoming English speaking people to our church. Noting the challenges of changing with the times, we are encouraged to "marry the mission and date the methods". In other words, we must strive to fulfil God's will with the most effective means appropriate for our times and circumstances.
Guided by Scripture, the congregation is called to live to love (John 13:25), live to grow (Ephesians 4:15) and live to build (Ephesians 4:12). With the power of God's love, we are called upon to grow His kingdom on earth so that sinners, for whom Jesus died on the cross, may come to salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen.