Melbourne University OCF
Reach Out, Build Up, Send Back

Scripture reading: Acts 8:30-31

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

The Word of the gospel is the primary way that can bring a seeking soul closer to the Redeemer.

Hong Kong

Population: 7,333,000
Religion: Chinese/Buddhist 66.13%, Non-religious/other 22.05%, Muslim 1.5%, Hindu 0.25%, Christian 10.05%

Hong Kong has a land area of only 1042 square km. There are three main regions: Hong Kong Island, the mainland Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories/Lantau Island.

Challenges for Prayer:

• Pray for the ongoing working out of ‘One Country Two Systems’. The people of Hong Kong continue to desire greater autonomy, including full and direct election of its leaders.
• The Christian community grew rapidly in the 1960s, but growth has slowed because of emigration and a high dropout rate among young adults.
• There is increasing opportunity for ministry among Mainland Chinese in Hong Kong as well as ministry across the border to the southern provinces of China.
• Pray for godly leaders and Christian leadership training, with students committing their lives to holiness and missions as well as theology and pastoral work.
• There are many Christians from Hong Kong now serving abroad, often with Western-based mission societies.
• Pray for the Hong Kong Church’s interest in mission to grow, unhindered by fears for the future, with churches looking to China, Asia and beyond.
• Pray for the less-reached sections of the community:

o    Blue-collar industrial workers
o    Wealthy businessmen
o    Immigrants from Mainland China, many of whom live in crowded settlements on boats in the harbour.
o    People in the farming and fishing industries
o    The Muslim and Indian minorities.

• Student ministries, which show dynamic growth through programmes in evangelism and Bible teaching. For the many students studying abroad, where the conversion rate is high, and for the influence of Christian graduates on society.

OCF Canberra

President: Willy Febrianto Kurniawan
Theme: Colossians 2:6-7
Campus: Australia National University

Attendance:

2004: 25
2005: 20
2006: 25
2007: 35
2008: 35-40

Description:

OCF Canberra is made up primarily of Malaysians and Singaporeans, although we currently also have members from other countries like Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia. Despite such diverse nationalities and cultures, we are thankful that God’s love knows no boundaries, and that we can relate with one another easily and readily.

Over the past few years, our centre has seen a general increase not only in attendance, but also in the number of people who have stepped out to serve in areas like worship or bible study leading. However, this year many of our old and more senior members will be graduating and may leave Canberra. So this year, we are praying for God to rise up new leaders and new people to step out to serve in OCF, and that the current committee will be obedient to God’s will as it passes on the torch.

In addition, as the centre grows for the past few years, it appears that they are clique being formed. The committee has tried many new things to minimize these by introducing more social event. Praise God that it slowly working out. We would also to thank God for Ps Dom Fiocco who is willing to be our new OCF Canberra advisor and Ps Lyn Thow for his wealth of wisdom and guiding OCF Canberra for the past few years.

Praise God For:

• The conclusion of the first half of the Romans bibles study, and the positive impact it has on both the leaders and members in terms of their spiritual growth and development.
• God faithfulness in making OCF Annual Camp 2008 a successful one as well as the servant heart of the Camp Committee.
• The increase in the number of people that have stepped up to serve and lead, and also for the discipling and guidance that the older leaders have given to the newer ones to help them grow
• Our new OCF advisor.

Please Pray For:

• For this year and following year’s committee, that God will continue to provide strong guidance and wisdom for them as well keeping them in unity.
• That the committee will not rely on human strength or wisdom, and to recognize that God should be the source of all our strength and hope. This is especially important as this year, we might see the departure of several key people in the OCF Canberra structure due to graduation or work, and as a result, we need to trust that God will provide for us throughout this period.
• The upcoming AGM, as we conclude the year for OCF and appoint the committee for 2009.
• The upcoming semester, that God will provide wisdom to the new committee in deciding on which book to study so that our members’ need will be met.
• For our upcoming evangelistic E-nite event, as well as our Market Day ‘recruitment’ booth.
• For Ps Dom Fiocco and Ps Lyn Thow, that God watch their health and always be with them