Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalms 133:1
This year’s Victoria-Tasmania Conference camp themed “United” took place for the first time in Tasmania, Australia’s sixth state. Brethren from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and even Western Australia came to be part of this blessed event.
Now Tasmania is truly something different; if one has never been there, it is hard to imagine it: nevertheless I’ll try to picture it for you.
Imagine you are sitting in an aeroplane flying over the Tasman Sea with your destination Hobart, and you look out of the window, and see this island approaching. The distant spot draws closer, and you notice it’s beautiful hills rolling up and down. You see the earthen & green colours of the fields, forests & meadows, the blue of rivers and lakes blending in as if placed there by the brush of a painter. As soon as you exit the aeroplane, fresh air from the mountains and sea greets you with its pleasantness.
Thursday, the 9th of April, before the official start of our camp (Friday the 10th to Monday the 13th) a couple of families and members find themselves busy, working together in preparation for the kitchen at our brother Lance Smith’s place in Claremont. What a lovely elderly couple! Not only did they open their house to numerous guests, who took over the kitchen, bathroom, living room, as well as every spot in the house, but they also blessed us with the stories of their amazing life experiences and miraculous interventions of our Lord. Picture young and old chatting, laughing and working with their hands, peeling cooked potatoes, and onions, forming Arancini-balls, and at times listening to our brother and guest speaker Pastor David Zic sharing experiences from his ministry. Truly I’d say for those gathered there, the Camp had already started!
On Friday after settling in our venue, Brother David shared with us the first message entitled “United in Faith” and presented to us the importance of being perfectly forgiving as our Father in heaven is (Matthew 5:48). Conviction settled upon us, as upon the disciples that we need more faith: “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).
Over the next couple of days, we studied about what it really takes to be united.
How the Holy Spirit works to unite us and mould our spirit.
How unity in truth guides us to the law of God and converts us in return (Psalm 19:7).
Drawing closer to God, draws us closer to one another. Being united to Jesus involves unity in love and unity in service for the Master. If these are missing in our lives, then we shall question if after encountering Jesus, we have walked away as the young rich ruler did once upon a time. Our church doesn’t just need members; it needs Jesus’ disciples!
The truths we learned, the presentations we heard and the conversations we had passed so quickly, that I wish we didn’t have to part again. Not yet, but one day in the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus there will be no parting anymore, no more goodbyes. Until then we shall work and share the light of the Gospel to the world.
Being in these meetings turned out to be a great blessing, and I’ll cherish these memories imagining that they must have been close to what the church felt in the days of Apostle Paul, when hungering and thirsting after the Word of God made us forget our physical needs. We didn’t want to miss one moment of the uplifting presentations and conversations. Thankfully we had no Eutychus fall from the window (Acts 20:9).
On Sabbath afternoon and Sunday morning our visitors from Tasmania and the mainland, probably about 2 families and a couple of individuals, had the opportunity to ask important Questions in a Q&A Session. Br. David presented the answers to us always drawing rich treasures from the Scriptures and Pen of Inspiration, yet time was too short to present all that is of great importance. Great interest was aroused and our young people, members and visitors are strongly encouraged to take up the opportunity and get rightly trained, acquiring the needed foundation to become useful tools in the hands of God.
This is possible by attending one of our missionary training programs around the world, such as USA, Europe, or right here in Australia.
The time is short; the kingdom is approaching and we must not stop now, but with new energy labour in unity for the hope that is before us! “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2. Peter 3:9)
Grace will soon be exhausted. Jesus will return!
You who have experienced the saving Grace of God,
What will you do about it?
~ Michael Postolache
