About Us
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The Journey UC Vision The Journey UC Mission Phrases one hears around The Journey UC
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The Journey UC Values Living Passionately Deeper Spiritually Generous Community |
| The Journey Uniting Church History In 1986 Synod invited Modbury U. C. to outreach in Golden Grove. Rev Brant Jones along with some key leaders took up the challenge. At the same time a group of staff, parents & friends had begun worshipping together in the newly built Pedare Christian College. It started in a home on Father’s day 1986. Pedare Uniting became an official congregation in July 1987. Generous Community was initially apparent in key people double- tithing and leaders volunteering countless hours to establish the church. Paid staff working simultaneously in the church and schools resulted in fruitful evangelism and growth. Homes in Golden Grove, fewer than 500 then, were visited twice a year. Windscreens were washed, prepaid newspapers handed out on Father’s Day, community BBQ’s, outdoor services, drama performances and garden maintenance offered – all free gifts with no strings attached, from a church with a heart to engage with the community. Energy, enthusiasm and involvement were high. That value of generous community still inspires us. Recently sponsorship of a family from Sudan, shoeboxes of gifts for overseas children and Christmas Hampers for Australian families are ongoing expressions of that generous heart. Passionate Living produced innovative opportunities for people to hear the Gospel in culturally relevant ways. The first youth group ministered to younger teens from the Church family and grew steadily. Later SK8 church and Easter Camp ministered to hundreds of young people and many came to faith. Pedare was unique in the Uniting Church with a high proportion of young people involved. Cafe Pedare, now Cafe Aroma, was established to help people connect. Pedare’s passion for short and long term mission impacted locally through Beach Mission, YWAM, Schools Ministry and more recently cross culturally in Port Augusta. Overseas missionaries worked in Africa, Cambodia, China, East Timor and India. Pedare Children have been long term supporters of three handicapped Cambodian orphans through their own offerings and the ”Empty Christmas Tree appeal”. In 2006, a team of leaders were commissioned to start a faith community in Elizabeth Downs. Going Deeper Spiritually was first evident through high involvement in small groups (called FISH groups, for Fellowship In Someone’s Home). Indeed most activities including office administration, playgroups and youth groups happened in someone’s home. In 1992 the Church outgrew the staffroom and moved to the Golden Grove Arts & Recreation centre for morning services before returning to lease the new office and chapel facilities at the college in 1999. Clearer structures to support and develop the vision and pastorally care for people became necessary as 300 + people worshipped weekly . Small groups flourished and began to include short term interest groups as well as traditional Bible study groups. The teaching in Alpha, Discovering Spiritual Gifts and Careforce Lifekeys have supported many on their faith journeys. Prayer vigils, retreats, prayer meetings of various styles and opportunities for prayer ministry over the years have contributed towards a growing culture of prayer. We learned a lot about Grace by growing, changing and facing challenges together in Christ. We survived the Uniting Church Sexuality Issue that shook us to our evangelical roots. As the church moved into its second decade, debate arose over the way forward. In 1999 a review by SYNOD helped identify the strengths and weaknesses of the congregation and necessary steps to enable it to be the light on the hill it was called to be. Pedare Uniting Church was found to be an exciting church, a new paradigm reflecting an emergent world rather than the settled world of previous generations. The nurture of children, youth and fellowship in homes as well as the work in schools was celebrated. The review suggested some changes but also strongly encouraged us to continue pursuing new ways of being the church. Several years on we acknowledge the sacrificial contributions of all past and present faithful souls who have helped position us for God’s promise of a bright future for this faith community we now call The Journey Uniting Church. The Journey is grateful for both long term and shorter term ministry from gifted leaders in both paid and volunteer capacities. Many of our elders and key volunteers have ministered for a long time at Pedare /The Journey. Individuals and families have given much to see God’s kingdom grow and to continually act on what God was saying, sometimes at great personal cost. The story continues in you. People living passionately, going deeper spiritually and living in generous community have forged a culture of hearing God’s voice and daring to risk in faith. That’s us – welcome to the Journey. |
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Frameworks Worship God personally during the week in God’s word, prayer, reflecting on your experience and loving those around you. WORD outline and scripture readings 2 Community Invest fortnightly in a Journey group as you share in food, God’s word, life experience, mission, prayer and care. Groups 3 Mission Engage in global mission to see God’s grace and justice revealed in people’s lives – especially the poor – through Uniting World Mission, sponsorship, supporting Journey missionaries, supporting refugees and organisations committed to church planting, community development and advocacy. Uniting World and Cross Cultural Mission |
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Some bits that are handy to know! The Uniting Church is an Australian Christian movement. The Uniting Church SA seeks to transform lives and communities in a positive way. In South Australia we are part of a network of churches called 3Dnet. 3D Net exists to build relevant congregations that are evangelistically effective and fruitful in their life and ministry. |
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What we believe The Journey Uniting Church's beliefs are based on the Bible as the inspired Word of God and the final authority in life and faith. |
Reading the Bible - Bible Gateway
The Journey believe the Bible is God's word to us. The best thing to produce faith is God's Word. Its not that we understand everything in it - far from it. Many of us have found however, that when we read the Bible regularly, hear preaching based upon it and write, reflect and pray in response to it that, God speaks and reveals who he is and how we can participate with him. This is a link to a great website committed to helping you read the Bible. Let us know how you get along!