"DISCOVER CHURCH" - A 100,000 word web site.
AN INTERESTING WORLD RESEARCH STUDY OF EVERY CHURCH IN ONE SAMPLE CITY, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE INFORMATION ABOUT CHURCH.
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*** - Three asterisks means it's the most important sentence to read.
** - Means it's quite important.
* - Means it's interesting.
CHRISTADELPHIAN ECCLESIA. See "Non-traditional churches".
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 25.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 35.
3. Type of person: 3 blue collar workers, Single older mothers with older children, invalid pensioners, unemployed.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Lower.
5. Amount of kids: About 8.
6. Ages of people: 8yo to 60yo.
7. % are men.
8. Weekly offering published: No offering taken, only a small donation box for coffee.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: Service only got under way at 8pm.
10. Any other interesting information: It's like a gathering place and it's got street people and everyone laughs and contributes and eats cake and sips tea... 25 people sit on 7 old cheap sofas and chairs. They pay NO rent on the building as the landlord has much spare office space and he likes anything religious - which is 2 small areas in a run down office area of the city centre. There is no pastor. He pushes things back onto Jesus. The talk is very "real." One lady said she cried for 3 years when she separated. One guy got saved 2 weeks ago and he had a miserable week and he told us! One prophet was raving about his revelations which was accepted. One 30yo guy said "I was addicted to the nightclub scene after my wife left, but now... God is healing me." All at "The Cellar." At the end of the night a lady approached me and said "Can I talk to you?" I doubted her sincerity. She said "I just feel God is saying to you that ... well.. you see, God took me completely out of church and showed me incredible things, ... all those denominations...well, let's just say it's a different spirit there. Most churches are copies of Synagogues and most Pastors are Pharisees." .
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 16 July 2004 7.10pm - 11pm.
12. Length of service: 1 hr 45mins to 3hr 30mins! Some people came at 8pm and left at 9.45pm. Some came at 7.30pm and left at 11pm.
13. This and other service times: 7.30pm Friday.
14. Preacher: Alan Maxwell. (non-paid, works fixing houses) Been operating since 2001, originally from Alan's home. In Margaret and Hume Sts since early 2004.
15. Feeling of building: This gathering is held in the bottom floor at the back of a 6 story 45yo building of offices in the CBD on the north west corner at Hume and Margaret Sts. (Not the old TAFE corner, not the Copas Newnham corner, not the Queens Pk corner but the other corner) The 2 room sizes are approximately 6 metres x 6 metres (20 feet x 20 feet and 6 metres x 2 metres 40cm (20 feet x 8 feet). Plus a hallway with 2nd door.
16. Estimate style of belief: Charismatic with a dash of Toronto Blessing. See the file "arcclos" and "The Basement" for Alan Maxwell's background.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel north along Hume St, cross Margaret St. Turn the 1st left (west) at Church Lane then 10 metres down Church Lane turn into a car park with a high brick fence. There is a large building. The unsigned doors are at the very north wall at the ground floor.
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 21.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 225 chairs. (144 plastic, 80 wood.).
*3. Type of person: This group are mainly from Hong Kong which means their main language is Cantonese and not Mandarin. All the sermon and songs are in Cantonese. However, all can speak English. Some from this church go to South Baptist on Sunday's.
4. Socio-Economic Status: High to small business.
5. Amount of kids: 1.
6. Ages of people: 2 at 25yo; mostly 40- 60yo.
7. 30% are men. 6 men out of 20 women.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
*9. Lateness of people getting to church: Pastor was late coming from Brisbane. He travels up once a month from the Toowong Baptist Church where he pastors a Chinese church. They have 2 services there, one in Cantonese for the older people 9am Sunday morning with 50 people. The 10.30am service on Sunday morning is in English and is attended by the children of the Chinese community with 70-80 people.
10. Any other interesting information: -.
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 22 Feb 03 2pm- 4.30pm.
12. Length of service: 1 hr 30 m.
13. This and other service times: This service is only on the 4th Saturday of the month at 2pm. However, there is a bible study held 2 weeks later on the Monday night. This service has 15 people and is held in the prayer room at South Baptist at 8pm.
14. Preacher: Rev Im Lam.
15. Feeling of building: Warm, friendly.
16. Estimate style of belief: They said they were a part of the Baptist Union. However, they do not have a name for their church.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casually smart.
18. How to get there: Travel to Alderley St and between Hume and Ramsay is Geddes St which comes to a T section, turn down Geddes and the church is 50 metres on the left. Park on the big grassed area.
19. ACCEPTANCE IN CHURCH AS A VISITOR: Good.
20. People who talked to me after the service: Heaps.
21. Length of time they talked: 2mins- 60mins.
22. How soon do visitors get talked to after service?: After 3 mins.
23. HOW MUCH CHURCH IS OPEN TO WIDER CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Very.
*24. Unusual things about worship: The songs are in Cantonese.
25. EMPHASIS OF MINISTRY: Reaching out to all Chinese.
*26. Famous business people: Yat Lowe goes here. (He has had a TV repair business in Toowoomba since before 1980.) I asked him if was a Christian and he said "Well, I am searching actually."
***27. Famous people: A lecturer in Mechanical/ Surveying from USQ goes there. Harry Ku said "I have not been long a Christian. I have been at USQ for 9 years. In our Engineering department there are 6 Indian staff. I found out that in the last 2 positions advertised for lecturers, only 30 people applied and not one Australian had applied."
28. KNOWABLE SONGS: None. Overhead has Chinese characters.
29. Quality of sound system/ loudness: .
*30. Quality of preaching generally: Sermon in Cantonese but for a track which was said in English. (I had told the Pastor and others how I would prefer them to not preach in English for me which they would have been inclined to do.)
32. Enjoyment/ lightness of preaching: Light.
34. Amount of home groups: One. 8pm Mondays.
35. How to access home groups: See Ps Im Lam.
*37. Intention to build: Toowong Baptist was originally an Aussie church but now it's all Chinese. Which could happen here.
38. Estimate percentage church owned / rented?: They give an offering to South Baptist.
42. Have sister churches where? Toowong Baptist.
43. Sunday School availability: No.
57. Pastor receive stipend? Yes
59. Qualifications of Pastor: Masters. An ordained Minister from "Macau Bible Institute". He came from China to work in Australia as their Pastor.
*(Former name "The Faith Centre" from 4th Av.)
1. Number of people: 17. (When Pat Morgan preached and sung - 33 people 28 Nov 04. Based at Dunamis in Brisbane.)
2. Number of chairs: 60.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Lower.
5. Amount of kids: Four.
6. Ages of people: Mostly 30yo-50yo.
7. 50% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
**10. Any other interesting information: This Pastor or church originally split from the old "Trinity Revival" with Ps Keith Davie, Union St (not to be confused with the "The Revival Fellowship" on MacGregor St who believe you've got to speak in tongues basically in order to be saved.) This church is now joined with Ps Trevor Chandler's CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTRE INTERNATIONAL at New Farm Brisbane.
11. Time there AND date of visit: 2/9/01 10.20am - 12.15pm.
12. Length of service: 2 hours 30 mins.
13. This and other service times: 9.30am.
*14. Preacher: Ps Geoff Hass. He had worked 20 years in the Navy.
15. Feeling of building: ok.
16. Estimate style of belief: Charismatic. Toronto blessing.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel along James into Tor turn left into Rob St.
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTRE Gatton (As this is not in Toowoomba, see web page "Brisbane/ Other churches")
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. See "Non-traditional churches".
1. # of people: 198. (148 on 6 June 04)
2. Available chairs: 380 (Have fitted 330 + 40 kids in special service.)
3. Type of person: Typically extraverted by nature.
4. Socio- Economic Status: Working, professionals.
5. Kids: 28 kids stay in church with 38 extra kids with 6 teachers in Children's Church.
6. Ages: 0-80. Mostly under 60yo.
7. Men: 50%
8. Offering: -
** On the last service shared with Rangeville Community Church, COC raised $40,000 in one month for the Asian Boxing Day 2004 Tsunami appeal. Les Holmes has helped Manna Ministries before in Sri Lanka and India and he had booked a flight In Nov 2004 for Feb 2005. "Global Care" is COC's aid agency in which 100% of the offering is going directly to Manna Ministries which has their Aid care arm.
**(Statistics from the Queensland Government say that COC are the most giving of all the churches.)
9. Late arrivals: some.
**10. Interesting info: **The founder of COC Clark Taylor fell into adultery and resigned in 1989 after which he did USA ministry, married and divorced 2 other women and late 2000 he was reunited with his original wife Anne and was given a word "If he truly repents God will give him another 5 years of ministry." This church as of 2001 started in Corina Brisbane with "3-400" people (see Brisbane church file).
*11. Date & Time spent: (My personal background is COC and I went to church here in Toowoomba up to 9 meetings a week from 1980 till 1990.)
12. When service finished. Allow 2 hours.
13. This & other service times: 10am, 6pm. (Service time was 9.30am until Rangeville moved to 8am.)
14. Preacher: Jonathon & Kathi Oastler are Senior Pastors as of Jan 08+. (Were Pastors at AOG Spring St 2005) Les Holmes preaches around world like he used to and is assistant pastor. UPDATED JULY 2008.
(It has been said very original meetings began in Gatton under Ps Webster which were bought up to Toowoomba. Things gathered momentum under Pastor Nigel McNeil who started in Groom Pk Hall with meetings then organised the building of the first church at current address circa 1979, (In 2004 an itinerate evangelist in USA) [who once served under Ps Kindha Greening in New Zealand. Ps Greening has worked at Kings Church AOG on Gold Coast.]) At Toowoomba the next Pastor after Nigel McNeil was David Patterson, then Ivan Nosworthy (Ivan then travelled around Australia in a caravan with his wife Loraine on full salary with COC Brisbane for 7 years doing itinerate Pastoring. In 2004 Ivan is semi-retired often Pastoring while other COC Pastors go on long service leave etc...) After Ivan came David Blair. David ran "Recovery Ministries" (counselling programs) from a downtown office before becoming Senior Pastor at Vision Community Church after Keith Peilicaan resigned in 2004.) Les Holmes was at MT EVELYN Victoria raising up a church which outgrew it’s building 3 times in 1978 but is originally from Toowoomba. Peter & Cassie Pelicaan. Peter plays band at Fibbers Saturday nites as of July 2008 still. Peter & Cassie separated Easter 08 (Unconfirmed but apparently due to Cassie asking Peter to choose her or ministry.) Peter at COC from Nov 2007 as Youth Pastor and Chaplain at school.
**15. Feeling: Generally warm, COC has not enjoyed the growth of their counter part Assembly of God. Many people leave COC for AOG but almost never the other way around. One Pastor publicly said in 2000 "If your here in church and not reaching out to the unsaved your wasting time."
** Pastors and leaders all throughout this denomination are well known to act the tyrant. Even resorting to publicly scolding people for first time offences with no warning, with no time given between the acceptable 3 warnings which the government and Scripture teach. As an example, not one but three bus drivers with spouses and children have left not just Christian Outreach Centre Toowoomba but all churches all together for over an 8 year period each due to high work loads and what is essentially bullying by leaders. In many other cases, the wives stay and the husband does not go to any church.
16. Their belief: Charismatic/ Pentecostal. Little room for Toronto blessing now.
17. Dress code: Very casual to very smart.
18. How to get there: Travel South towards Kmart along Hume St passing Church of Christ, is on the next corner of Spring St.
1. # of people: 65.
2. Available chairs: 380 (Have fitted 330 + 40 kids in special service.)
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio- Economic Status: -.
5. Kids: Many.
6. Ages: 10-60. Mostly under 60yo.
7. Men: 50%
8. Offering: -.
9. Late arrivals: some.
10. Interesting info: -.
11. Date & Time spent: 7/10/01 6.40-50pm.
12. When service finished. 1hr 30m.
13. This & other service times: 6pm, 10am. ( 77 people 7/10/01 )
14. Preacher: Jonathon & Kathi Oastler are Senior Pastors as of Jan 08+. Les Holmes preaches around world like he used to and is assistant pastor. UPDATED JULY 2008.
15. Feeling: Generally good.
16. Their belief: Fully charismatic/ Pentecostal. Little room for Toronto blessing area.
17. Dress code: Very casual to very smart.
18. How to get there: Travel South towards Kmart along Hume St passing Church of Christ, is on the next corner of Spring St.
1. # of people: 26.
2. Available chairs: 70 (Could fit 700 as it was a basketball stadium.)
3. Type of person: Met a cleaner, boner, pensioner etc..
4. Socio- Economic Status: Working.
5. Kids: 9 children. Kid's Church available.
6. Ages: 0-60. Mostly young families.
7. Men: -.
8. Offering: -
9. Late arrivals: -.
**10. Interesting info: This CHRISTIAN OUTREACH CENTRE OPENED 18 July 2004. By Shane and Sue Cunningham, pastors at a COC on the Sunshine Coast (they were formerly members of the Toowoomba main COC.) They have founded Wilsonton COC as an annexe off their church. Kevin & Tracey Philippa are pastoring it. Les Holmes has been appointed district chairman. Only a few people transferred. Started mid July 2004.
** COC has a vision of 1000 churches by 2011.
** Home schooling in Toowoomba is very popular. 400 people in Toowoomba use the ACA system alone. There are several home school types.
** AT MANY ABATTOIRS MUSLIM PRIESTS DEDICATE THE MEAT TO ALLAH. Including Beef City near Toowoomba a Middle Eastern Muslim Priest is specifically employed to dedicate the butchered animals to Allah. He is involved as the beast is killed and before the blood is let out. The employing of Muslims for this practice happens in Australian abattoirs generally and it goes back further than 30 years. (Editors note: The bible says to not eat meat sacrificed to idols. The Acts of the Apostles 15:29 says "That ye abstain from meats offered to idols..." Christian Pastors in specialist practice believe this carries a curse to Australian abattoirs as a whole and site this as the reason for the crushing demise of the Australian abattoir industry and the demise will greatly increase until this practice ceases."
**THE CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION BELIEVES LISTENERS WANT SECULAR MUSIC. Toowoomba's only Christian Radio station "The Light" was founded after the broadcast authorities received an all time record number of letters in requests for a licence. Apparently, the new manager at The Light wants to change the format to play secular music. (Current 29 Aug 2004)
11. Date & Time spent: 29 Aug 2004 8.45am - midday.
12. When service finished. Allow 2 hours. From 9.30am - 11.15am. Plus coffee time.
13. This & other service times: 9.30am.
14. Preacher: Ps Kevin & Tracey Philippa
**15. Feeling: Warm anticipative feeling. Kevin Philippa fellowshipped originally from Trinity Revival (Ps Keith Davie). It's very rare that people clap after a preacher gives a sermon which was the case.
16. Their belief: Charismatic/ Pentecostal.
17. Dress code: Quite casual.
18. Go west along Bridge St from city, go past Wilsonton Primary School, turn north into Beryl St. Turn 1st right, travel 10 metres, note large metal basketball stadium with Wilsonton sign, plenty of parking.
1. # of people: 66
2. Empty chairs: 155 chairs.
*3. Type of person: Lots of Dutch people. (Their original name was "Dutch Reformed.") (Ps Keith Pelicaan from Vision came from this church.)
4. Socio- Economic Status: Teacher COC, J Moes the Builder.
5. Kids: Heaps! Twenty seven.
6. Ages: All.
7. Men: No more or less.
8. Offering: $1206 last week and doing it tough apparently.
9. Late arrivals: -.
**10. Interesting info: A manse (House for pastor) is on the property with a small primary school (Presbyterian Reformed Christian School) joined to church which apparently is quite independent from the church. 11. Time spent: 8.50am-11.25am
12. When service finished. 10.50am.
13. This & other service times: 9am and 5pm where 1/3 rd of morning meet.
14. Preacher: Rev Tony van Drimmelen.
15. Feeling: Good.
16. Their belief: Not Charismatic, fundamentalists in a dry way.
17. Dress code: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel towards the show grounds along Glenvale Rd, turn left into Boundry.
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