I have things to be thankful for, and things to look forward to. 

I am so thankful for the Alpha dinner this week. Around twenty attended, and it was wonderful to meet the friends, family and neighbours who came because people at The Grove invited them. Thank you also to the Hill’s and the Hockey’s families for cooking and serving the meal. There was an obvious sense of God’s love and presence among us throughout the evening. Let’s pray Jesus really blesses lives through this Alpha series. 

I am also thankful for Scott and Sandy McClintock who have started eight weeks well deserved leave. Scott and Sandy work as honorarium staff members and have poured out their lives to bless The Grove over a number of years now. I still remember after Scott sold a couple of IT businesses, that he starting volunteering part time during the week for the church. Then the pandemic hit and the building project was in full flight. Scott’s skills and availability were God’s provision to lead us in building our technical infrastructure, and mobilizing our live stream services. Sandy has also been a faithful support to our office and ministry needs thorough many acts of service behind the scenes, serving with a generous and loving heart. We praise God for this amazing couple and pray they have a deeply refreshing holiday. 

There are also three things I am looking forward to this week. 

The first is my wife Leanne is flying home this Thursday after six weeks! I have missed her so much, but am glad she had the opportunity to spend time with our daughter Christie, who works as a Midwife in the UAE. The second is our eldest daughter Gemma is due to give birth to their third child sometime this week. We give thanks to the Lord for this wonderful blessing and the joy of being grandparents again! 

The third thing I am looking forward to is the QB conference on the Gold Coast. Henry and I are going on Tuesday and Wednesday, and it will be a great opportunity to not only hear some excellent speakers, but to network with other QLD Baptist church leaders. The conference is called Multiply, and we pray God would speak to us and reveal his wisdom for our lives, leadership and the church. There is a growing expectation across our movement that the Holy Spirit will multiply his work in QLD churches through making disciples, sending workers into the harvest field and planting new churches. 

Please pray for us, and the QB movement as a whole. 

Thankful and expectant, Marty