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10.30am LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (An Assembly of the Apostolic Church Australia). Gleeson Cr Harlaxton

1. Number of people:
* 19 people 30 Nov 2014.
* 20 people 2 Nov 2014. (& 13 people at Sunday night & 30 people Tueday night sermon & 60 people Tuesday's dinner.)
* 20 people 7 Sep 2014.
* 20 people 25 Jly 2010.
* 9 people in 15 Aug 04.
*Numbers dropped by 80% during Ps Garry Connolly's reign.
2. Number of chairs: 60 chairs on 25 Jly 2010. 96 on 15 Aug 04.
*3. Type of person: Very rare to get an aboriginal church successfully working. Minority 25% congregation white 25 July 2010 and similar 7 Sep 2014 . Mat Budden was part aboriginal and his New Caledonian wife Mrs L Budden from New Caledonia.
* In 2004, outreaches to the aboriginal community and others following "Mrs Loft" who got some people saved and spirit filled at Toomela Mission. "Mr Loft" has evangelised street people in Acacia Ridge.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Lower 15 Aug 04 - 7 Sep 2014.
5. Amount of kids: Seven on 7 Sep 2014. Four on 15 Aug 04.
6. Ages of people: (4 x 6-8yo; 3 x 60yo on 15 Aug 04).
7. 50% are men 15 Aug 04.
8. Weekly offering published: Between 2004 and 2010 the building has had 2 reverse cycle air conditioners and in winter some friends also said how wonderful the heat was.)
9. Lateness of people getting to church: 4 arrived 11am 7 Sep 2014. 1 adult and 3 small children arrived at end of sermon on 15 Aug 04.
*10. Any other interesting information: The church building was still functioning in 25 July 2010 till Dec 2014. The church building at 40-42 Gleeson Crescent Toowoomba was going to go up for sale early 2004. They originally bought the building from the Salvation Army. However, when Ps Ralph Bleakley left and then announced the potential sale in 1 Feb 2004, two home groups were formed for the next 3 months but by May 2004 they returned to Gleeson Cr and were told by the Apostolic head office that there would be a limit of 5 years they could use the church. (This was extended to 5 more years to Dec 2014 where Pastor Matt Budden had to vacate church and find his own building. Making it one of the biggest mid-week meetings, 50 - 70 people were coming Tuesday nights for free dinner and about 30 stayed for service with free groceries after service and 200 - 600 saved over a 7 year period till Dec 2014 and many healed and almost all involved on Sunday help with Tuesday nights. Doctors said this 1 lady would die in 2 weeks. Got prayer and came out of hospice as lived for 10 months and going.) This church started originally in Newtown Primary in 1987 and then went to Gleeson Cr which totaled 27 years until 8 Feb 2014. They had intended to sell the 3 blocks of land for $170,000 in March 2004. (Value in 2015 would be roughly $300,000. ) $30,-$40,000 was to go back to the Apostolic church as this had been the debt on the property. The remainder will stay within the local community for whoever wants to start another church. Equipment also kept. ($28,000 of this debt was paid 2005 - 2013 so nothing owed.) The church had 40 - 50 people at one stage. Ps Garry Connolly began pastoring there (See Agape church for his position in 2003/2004), he took some of the members by starting another church in the Red Cross Hall (This had some 5 people in it. See the file "arcclos" for "Archive of Closed Churches" then the entry "Lighthouse Christian Church NEW APOSTOLIC" - it did not materialise into anything.
** In 2004, the Harlaxton work dropped down from 40-50 to ten people and never recovered from then until the sale of the building said an Apostolic Pastor. Two other parishioners also said "This church used to be really full!", said in 2004.
11. Time there AND date of visit: 25 July 2010 (10.40am - 1pm). 15 Aug 04 9.20am - 11.45am; 1 Feb 2004 9.30am- noon 16 Sep 01, 9 people. 2000, 5 visits. (On first Feb 2004 I told an Apostolic Pastor I didn't choose to come but had asked God and the service was chosen by lot (from the 150 services available) and he said "Well then it is timely then as I'm going to announce the sale of the church this morning.") But obviously by 2010 the church had not been sold.
12. Length of service: 1.5 - 2 hours.
13. This and other service times: 10.30am, 6pm (14 people on 19 Oct 2014 at 6pm, Sometimes 6.30pm - dependant on seasons).
* COULD GET $50 BOX OF FREE GROCERIES from 2009 to 2014. Plus a free hot dinner 6pm. Then when preaching stops they hand out groceries. The food is near the use by date and was from FoodBank in Woolloongabba, Brisbane. Any charity could get food there. Mat Budden would pick up food each Tuesday. Dinner was yellow chicken, BBQ chicken, sausages, macoroni and mince, Sausage Roll. 9 boys half played outside during sermon but 26 heard the sermon thus total 35 people. (Over 46 people on 16 Sep 2014. 30 heard sermon. Over 42 people for dinner 30 Sep 2014 and over 19 for church, another 1 - 2 saved.) Night finished at 8.45PM. Most were unchurched aboriginal kids which would make it one of the most significant outreaches in Toowoomba to the people who need it the most.
14. Preacher: leader- Mat Budden was the full time preacher at LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN CHURCH Toowoomba inducted about Feb 2007 to Dec 2014 (assistant Pastor from about Oct 2005 being there 9 years total) and was originally from Orange NSW and had done tent ministry throughout rural NSW. Mat Budden was head of New Life Tent Ministries and would set up tent and preach in 30 towns in 17 week periods over a 6.5 year period. Had also ministered in Narrabri N.S.W. Matthew & Lilley Budden were there 25 July 2010. Pastor Mat Budden did outreaches in Moree, New South Wales with Australian Indigenous Christian Ministries with Peter Walker. (A.I.C.M.) (Associated with Fred Nile) and Moree Aboriginals regularly fellowship with Mat Budden. In 7 Sep 2014, Ps Mat Budden was talking to Crosslinks and Margaret Court to keep same people and change denomination which will , in effect, seed another church in Toowoomba in 2015. Mat Budden was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2011. Mat Budden said "I would never be able to preach without God. Unless I was drunk or especially had speed." Mat Budden said "I should have been killed in a car accident in 1994." Mat said 30 Nov 14 "I used to make $1200 a day from 3 men who sold drugs for me." Mat Budden said in 2014 "I have 5 male grand children." (1 minute after birth a female grandchild was deceased.) CHURCH HAD AIR CONDITIONING ON SO inside temperature was 20.6 Celsius at 8pm but it was 20.3 degrees at 10pm outside 30 Nov 14 and 2 Dec 2014.

PASTOR GAVE NAME CHANGE 11/11/14. He could be calling it "He’s a Great God International" or Haggai. It came from Haggai "Why do you build your panelled houses when your temple lies in ruins?" And "To look at the glory of the (Holy Spirit ) like the old temple glory."
* First mention of name "Haggai Family Fellowship" 22 Nov 2014 and they left Harlaxton building 21 Dec 2014. First mention of building venue change to congregation 10.30am 23 Nov 2014. Since none are die hard Apostolics, not one person expressed disinterest, 10 were favourable so 95% predicted to leave if Apostolic Leaders do not waver. Mat resigned Apostolic credentials Oct 2014. First proper service of "Haggai Family Fellowship" 7 Dec 2014 10.30am Sunday at Stephen and Ruthven Sts.

* Ps Karel Timmer was the assistant preacher with Ps Mat Budden in 2014 at Lighthouse Christian Church, Toowoomba, Karel Timmer was founding COC Pastor at Kingaroy, saved at COC West End. Stayed in Australia from age 3 in Holland. (son died.) Pals with Merve Westbrook, ex Dalby, N.T. Has house Maryborough and rented in Toowoomba to help lay preach with Ps Mat Budden. Ps Karel Timmer left Toowoomba Dec 2014 for his hometown Maryborough.
* Ray Polley partly preached 25 July 2010 as he has done for over 10 years but he also attended Range Christian Fellowship earlier on Sunday mornings in 2010 but not by 2013. (Was Ps Ralph Bleakley (59yo in 04) when there was 9people until 8 Feb 04 - his involvement began very early. Former Ps Vince Nuggins. Former Pastor Garry Connolly. Former leader- Ray Polley, pre-2001. Dennis Whale was also involved here once (ex COC) (Hospital chaplaincy)
15. Feeling of building: Hall was quite old, an ex Salvation Army hall.
*16. Estimate style of belief: Charismatic. Mat Budden was full immersion baptised in a river, never was paid in ministry (2015).
* One elderly lady said she occasionally gives a few hundred dollars to Far East Broadcasting Commission. FEBC sent her a letter thanking her for a combined giving total of $18,000 since she began giving in 1981.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel north along Ruthven St, go past North St and the railway bridge, take 2nd left, 1st right.

APOSTOLIC. Lighthouse Christian Church NEW APOSTOLIC at Red Cross Hall. See file called "Closed."

6pm LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (An Assembly of the Apostolic Church Australia). Gleeson Cr Harlaxton

1. 13 people on 30 Nov 2014. (95% different people to Sunday morning.) Ps Mat Budden had this service for about 7 years.

THIS TRADITIONAL APOSTOLIC CHURCH IS HUGE IN THE WORLD.

9.30am NEW APOSTOLIC Gostwyck off West near James Sts.
1. 83 people on 28 Nov 2010. (Due to Bishop John Green speaking)
* 21 people on 2 July 00.
2. * 120 seats in brand new church
* Was 56 seats in old hall on 2 July 00.
3. Traditionalists.
4. S.E.S: Middle.
5. 4 kids on 2 July 00.
6. All.
7. 8 men, 9 women on 2 July 00.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. 3 were late on 2/7/00.
10. Any other interesting information: A healthy 12 people were non-Caucasian. Hymns used in books. Shoulders shown and no hats on women but men some in suits, 5 people obese on 28 Nov 2010. No hats on women but men in suits on 2 July 00.
11. Time spent there: 10.35am - 11.20am on 28 Nov 2010. 10.15-10.30am 2 July 00.
12. Length of service: 9.30am - 11.10am or 1hr 40 mins on 28 Nov 2010.
13. This and other service times: 9.30am on 28 Nov 2010. Was 10.30am only on 2 July 00.
14. Preacher: The preacher for the Toowoomba New Apostolic Church is Evangelist "Reo Uys" who is originally from Zimbabwe and Reo Uys is the Rector of the Congregation. Bishop John Green preached mostly on the 28 Nov 2010. The order of rank with the New Apostolic Church is Bishop to Apostle to District Apostle.
15. Squeaky clean, cold, stayed 2/7/00. In 2000 this was a very old small hall in a back street of Toowoomba. On 18 Jly 2010 a brand new church building had emerged in Gostwyck St with perhaps more land and the old dowdy plain church hall gone from my last visit in 2000.
*16. Bishop John Green is the most senior leader of the New Apostolic Church denomination in Australia including nearby islands. Bishop John Green was originally a Presbyterian till the age of 19. Bishop John Green is in his late 50's in 2010 and had worked as an engineer all his working life without getting a church salary. There is only one Bishop in Australia. (All clergy in the New Apostolic Church including Bishop John Green do not receive a church salary or stipend.) The day I visited just happened to be the day Bishop John Green was preaching. Others had come from other churches in the territory in South East Corner of Queensland. Bishop John Green said "In a convention of 1500 people I would call 70% of the people by name." Bishop John Green said "I found the travelling and preaching over 2 years invigorating." Bishop John Green said "(New Apostolic Church) does not use liquid in the Lord's supper and for food quality reasons there are (specially prepared) wafers with 3 drops of liquid that you can see on each wafer." (Personally, I have never seen this before in any other denomination.)
* The Geddes St "Queensland" Apostolics are a breakaway from them. World membership 5.5 million though not big here in 2/7/00. In 2010 this denomination was said to have 10 - 11 million members with 60- 70,000 congregations , said Bishop John Green. All 3 levels of clergy were dressed in dark blue suits.
* There is a pool table in the food area.

17. Dress code: Collared shirts or suits for men.
18. How to get there: Off West St between Hill St and James St.

THE BELOW CHURCH IS A SPLIT OFF FROM THE ABOVE CHURCH.

***A FASCINATING STORY. ON ENTERING THIS CHURCH I WAS ASKED "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM...."

10am APOSTOLIC Church of Queensland. Address: Geddes & Erbacher Sts
***1. # of people: In 2010, there were same amount of people, 64. 38 women sat on the left side of the church, 42 men on right in 2000.
2. Chairs: About 140 chairs.
3. Type of person: Conservative.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Middle.
5. Kids: Quite a few in 2000. In 2010 I saw one 10 yo but the rest were likely in Sunday School which is why I would estimate numbers are steady or growing due to children growing up.
6. Ages: 3p 60-70yo; Mostly 23-48yo in 2000. In 15 Aug 2010, were same.
7. Men:50% 8. Offering: Not given.
9. Late arrivals: 0 (Due to strictness.)
***10. Interesting info:
In 2010, I returned to this church to do update. I came in mid-way through preaching. I was looking in foyer and in one minute one leader grabbed my elbow for 1/2 a second and stood 2 metres from me. Then two more men stood around me. Unabated, I counted the people and came to 64. I waved goodbye as I was quite sure I was going to get physically thrown out.
In 2000, I got there on time, I approached the church I heard a loud small bell ring being pulled by a deacon. I came into the church and the Door Steward stood in front, blocking me from entering and gave me this introduction. He said "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?!" I said ".....I want to go to.... church?" He slowly stood aside. He accompanied me, pointed to the male side of the church, and sat next to me with another deacon on the other side of me. The women on the left had all dresses and mostly hats. All the men were dressed in dark blue suits. I was wearing a casual jacket. The colour? Bright yellow. I planned to stay 5 minutes but I couldn't move. I remember thinking "Now I wonder if I should have communion." Suddenly all the children left. Fleetingly I thought "This is where they spare the children and the rest of us die." The children went to the foyer and waited for a long time and then followed the last adult, me, to receive the blood representing wine and the bread. I slowly approached the altar. The rest of the people had not seen me. The more I got to the front the more I could feel their eyes on me. I kneeled down and drank the alcoholised wine. I turned around and half the people were looking at me. I walked down the aisle way of highly polished pine pews of this very clean and square brick church. I heard a sermon and the preacher publicly said "we absolutely must forgive those of the congregation who commit grave sins." It came to the end of the service where they all gathered in the hall and talked to each other. Except me. After quite some time a middle management leader approached me. I talked briefly and soon left having put a bewildering experience of church behind me.
11. Date & Time spent: 15 Aug 2010 for 3 mins. 10am-11.45am about 2000- 2001.
12. When service finished.-
13. This & other service times:- 10am.
**14. Preacher: No paid leaders, only 2 "Priests" who were also married to their wives.
15. Feeling: Cold, not welcoming, loving of themselves.
**16. Their belief: One of the leaders told me "You may have seen our state headquarters, it's the steeple church half way to Brisbane in the country by the side of the Warrego Highway (on the main Brisbane to Toowoomba Highway). There are several churches throughout Qld. We are in many continents. We regularly meet in Brisbane. I'm an Architect. The northern half of Qld do not seat either side but when they come here they do. We believe we are the best church as we originate from the apostles (indirectly) but we DO believe there can be other Christians who may be able to get saved." The Priest from the pulpit said "If it be thy will they will be healed. Hurting by rumouring is not fit and proper." They pronounce "Apostle", "aposTle" not "aposle" with an emphasis on the "T" like "a-poss-Till".
** When you go to another city, you have to present the next church a note from the church you left.