The Five Marks of Mission

To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
To teach, baptize and nurture new believers.
To respond to human need by loving service.
To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind, and to pursue peace and reconciliation.
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth. 

The St. Paul’s community seeks to live out the Five Marks of Mission as best we can, using our time, talents and treasure, all of which are the generous gift of God.

Our buildings host the newly created Community Chaplaincy Hub, involving:

  • Minis Tree - caring for people living on the streets of Bendigo and the disadvantaged population.

  • THRIVE: Karen - Karen community chaplaincy offering accompaniment and support for older individuals who struggle to access community health services.

  • HIVE - providing targeted, one-to-one educational support for children from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

  • Hospital chaplains - at St. John of God and Bendigo Health Hospital, making a difference for patience in the way they experience care.

  • Access to sporting and music opportunities - serving as an access point for disadvantaged families to participate in sporting and music programs, fostering community involvement and personal development for children and youth.

Members of the congregations make a weekly grocery collection for those doing it tough in the community, and provide a toiletries collection to the university chaplaincy. They are also involved on an individual basis with the many groups in Bendigo concerned with issues of social justice, including: Rural Australians for Refugees, Red Cross, Food Share, Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Chaplains, school chaplaincy, Landcare.

A percentage of the financial offerings given each week is set aside for specific support beyond Bendigo. Recent donations have included: support for micro-enterprises in the Thai refugee camps for Karen refugee families; Rochester flood relief; small farm recovery in South Sudan after damaging floods.

Other involvement includes: the Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees; 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence; NAIDOC week; Victorian Council of Churches; Bendigo Interfaith Council.

For more information about St Paul's mission activities contact the Dean or the Parish Office:
03 5443 5061
office@stpaulsbendigo.org.au


Our projects in Myanmar (Burma)

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The Myanmar Education program is diverse, offering community training, seminars and support for schools. In 2016 the Church of the Province of Myanmar (CPM) held a "Community Work Training" course, organised by the Anglican Young People's Association in Yangon. This six-week course was designed to assist young people in gaining practical life-skills and general knowledge, equipping them to go on to lead productive and rewarding lives. A total of 15 youths attended, including 10 girls and 5 boys along with numerous teachers and guest speakers from prominent religious and secular institutions. The subjects covered in the course included English, Anglican Spirituality, Public Speaking, Management, Gender Awareness and much more. The students were also invited to attend the various Anglican churches around Yangon City on Sundays and given the opportunity to go on excursions around the city centre. As many of the youths were from small rural communities in Myanmar, this experience helped to broaden their perspective on life, stimulating positive ideas for what they might like to do in the future.  St Paul’s has chosen to donate towards this project and build skills for the young people of Myanmar. To support this ABM project at St Paul's, place your donation in the offertory plate in an envelope marked "Myanmar."
Donations to the above projects are tax deductible.


Child Nutrition, Al Ahli Arab Hospital

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In 2016, ABM and its generous supporters continued to support the Child Nutrition Program run by ABM's partner, the Al Ahli Arab Hospital (a medical facility of the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem). The Child Nutrition Program seeks to build the health supplements of these children and provide support to families struggling to cope. Throughout the course of three months, the children are given a complete medical assessment by an expert paediatrician and a program of nutritional supplements is developed. The hospital provides the necessary supplements and monitors the children for signs of improvement.In speaking of the benefits of this program, Dr. Julianne Stewart, ABM's Programs Director has stated the following. The importance of this Child Nutrition progam, not only for the vital supplements it provides to needy children, but also in the support given to mothers in health education, cannot be under-estimated. It is, indeed, expressing the love of Christ to those who need it most.
Please support this program at St. Paul's by placing your donation in the offertory plate in an envelope marked "Child Nutrition".
Donations to this program are tax deductible.


Deepening Young People's Faith in Dogura Diocese, PNG

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This 12 month program helps reconnect young people in PNG to their communities. Many young people are affected by drugs and turn to anti-social activities as they suffer from boredom in remote areas. The Church tells ABM that many young people return to pre-Christian belief and practices and that sorcery and witchcraft are being used in the villages. This project aims to deepen their Christian faith through fellowship, bible study, participation in worship and work in community. It also works to help these young people to understand that they belong to a family, church and a village.The program combines teaching, fellowship and community activities and in 2017 will run for at least 2-3 days per week plus involvement in Sunday worship. It will be co-ordinated by a group of young people with a concern and interest in doing something for other youth. By giving to this new project you will allow young people in PNG to understand the Bible and the Anglican tradition, as well as equipping them to contribute to the well-being of self, family, church and village.
To support this ABM project at St Paul's, place your donation in the offertory plate in an envelope marked Dogura, PNG."
Donations to this program are tax deductible.