As I review the 2025 ministry reports, it is evident that God is definitely at work across all our congregations. The updates from our Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, English, and Children’s and Youth ministries offer beautiful vignettes that evidence how we are actively living out our strategic vision. For there is much to celebrate in God’s goodness in the past year. And importantly, reflecting on the year just gone also influences our planning for the future. By seeing where God has grown us, we can begin discerning where He may be leading us next.
We have been prayerfully working according to our strategic vision:
“We seek to make disciples in Jesus’ name everywhere in Eastwood and Ermington (and a little more) so that together we may become mature in Him.”
A. Our Strategic Vision in Action
Here is a snapshot of our progress toward our shared strategic vision.
1. “To Make Disciples...”
The heartbeat of our vision is for all people turning to Jesus in faith. This past year, we have seen tremendous fruitfulness in evangelism and the welcoming of new believers, which encourages us to expand these efforts in the coming year.
- Baptisms and New Christians: The Mandarin congregation celebrated a joyful harvest with 12 adults and 5 children/youth baptised, alongside 3 youth confirmations. Similarly, the Cantonese congregation celebrated the infant baptism of Elijah, a beautiful reminder of God’s covenant grace. Furthermore, we saw 14 youth take ownership of their faith at the Combined Confirmation and Baptism service, including one student who committed their life to Jesus at the KYCK conference earlier in the year. Added to this, amongst the English congregations, there were a number of adults who gave their lives to Jesus.
- Outreach & Courses: To facilitate this growth, we have implemented specific structures. The English congregation piloted the ‘Hope Explored’ course to begin vital conversations about life and Jesus. The Mandarin ministry added an extra ‘Foundations of Faith’ class to their adult Sunday school to help newcomers systematically understand gospel truths. Additionally, the Ping Pong Social Club continues to expand, bringing more players from our wider community closer to our Cantonese congregation.
- Welcoming New Members: God is bringing people to us. The Mandarin congregation saw a 14% increase in attendance. The Cantonese congregation has welcomed new visitors and two young families who are settling in. The Korean congregation, while smaller, has embraced a spirit of inclusion, warmly welcoming Helena, a lived example of mutual care within the body of Christ. This growth is also evident in our youth ministry, Amplify. We saw steady growth throughout the year, averaging 35 youth in Term 4 and peaking at 45 students on our biggest night! It has become a warm, welcoming community where youth are actively inviting their friends to find belonging in God's family.
2. “...In Eastwood and Ermington (and a little more)”
Our vision is to be the light of Christ in our local neighbourhood. In 2025, we renewed our presence in our local community, establishing a strong foundation for future engagement.
- Public Witness: A major highlight of 2025 was the joint Christmas carolling event outside Eastwood Mall, where the Mandarin and Korean congregations united to proclaim the gospel in a public space. This successful collaboration attracted many passersby and built valuable community connections.
- School & Community Engagement: In Ermington, St Mark’s continues to be a ‘light to the world’ through a positive relationship with Ermington West Public School for SRE classes. Furthermore, our collective Children’s ministry is actively teaching SRE in four local schools, including Eastwood and Rydalmere East.
- Practical Service: At Ermington, the redevelopment of the toilet block and equipment shed serves as practical infrastructure to support our growing ministry and physical presence in that suburb. Our younger members are also stepping up to serve; many of our youth from Years 7-12 took on various volunteer roles to run our July holiday kids program, VKP, blessing our local families. And on New Year’s Eve, a number from St Phils served at a BBQ to support police officers as they headed out for duties during the festivities.
3. “...Together We Might Become Mature”
We are not just growing numerically, but also in depth. The ‘maturity’ aspect of our vision is being realised through intentional discipleship and structural changes that foster unity. These steps toward maturity are exactly what will sustain our future ministries.
- Systematic Discipleship
- Children: The Children’s Ministry is now operating under the clear mission of seeing children ‘Known, Shown, and Grown’. This includes actively training the next generation of leaders through the ‘Toast’ Sunday afternoon group and taking students to the Youthworks LIT Camp to grow their leadership skills.
- Youth & Young Adults (YA): We are heavily investing in the spiritual maturity of our young people. To kick off 2026, 40 students attended the 'Full On Utopia' summer camp to study 1 Thessalonians and learn about living life in light of eternity. Furthermore, the English congregation is prioritising the vital transition from youth to adulthood. For example, leaders like Micah took hands-on roles to support our large Year 12 cohort in their transition, launching new YA growth groups for 2026. This is evidenced by 18-20 YAs meeting at the Rector’s house weekly for bible study, prayer, and to share a meal.
- Adults: The Mandarin ministry continues its three-stage Adult Sunday school program (Exploration, Foundation, Deepening) to equip believers at every stage of their faith journey.
- Growth Groups continue to be the engine room of spiritual growth in our church.Each week, many from St Phils and St Marks meet in homes to pray together, study God’s word, and encourage one another, both practically and spiritually. We are so thankful to God for the faithful leadership of and attendance to these groups over the years.
- Unity and Integration
- Aligning our Time: A significant strategic move was the Korean congregation changing its service time to 9:30 am. This alignment with the English and Mandarin-speaking congregations allows families to participate more fully in the wider church life, particularly in the children’s ministry.
- Cross-Congregation Partnership: We are observing increased collaboration, highlighted by the St Mark’s parish-wide partnership with St Phil’s and our joint carolling efforts between St Phil’s congregations. This is further evidenced by the growing number of meals that include multiple congregations.
- Deepening Fellowship: Across all ministries, there is a push for deeper connection. The English congregation moved their supper location to encourage better mixing and conversation, while the Cantonese congregation is seeing steady growth in prayer meetings and Bible study groups. We are also blessed to see our youth maturing into young adults who are keen to serve their younger brothers and sisters, with several new leaders stepping up to serve at Amplify in 2026.
B. With Gratitude for Our Teams
Whether it is making new disciples, reaching our local neighbourhoods, or growing deeper in maturity, a strategic vision is only words on a page until it is lived out by God’s people. The growth, maturity, and community impact we have seen this past year are the beautiful result of countless hours of unseen hard work, prayer, and dedication from our teams. I want to take this opportunity to honour the people who labour so faithfully among us.
It is a privilege to serve alongside our ministry staff. While we have experienced some transitions this past year - farewelling Kian as SPICE relocated closer to the rail and metro lines, Cathy as she took up a new role with Bruce at Castle Hill, Alec in finishing MTS and took a youth minister role, and Sharon as she stepped back to support her husband’s health - our team continues to work incredibly hard in service of Christ and this church.Even after only one year, I am deeply encouraged by their pastoral care, competence, and steady commitment to equipping our church family. Their willingness to serve sacrificially, navigating both the joys and challenges of ministry with humility, is a true testament to their love for God’s people. I also want to extend my deepest thanks to the families and households of our staff team. They give so much of themselves to our shared life; their patience, support, and unseen contributions make them an invaluable part of our church family.
Beyond our staff, the heartbeat of our church relies on the sacrificial service of so many dedicated individuals. To our Growth Group leaders, Youth and Children’s leaders, and the countless volunteers who pour their time and energy into making every ministry run smoothly across the week and on Sundays: thank you. Your faithful dedication to discipling, teaching, and caring for God's people is what allows our church to function as a true spiritual home.
We are deeply grateful to our Parish Council (PC) for their wise guidance and careful management of our church’s resources and strategic direction. In particular, we want to acknowledge Yvonne Hall for her dedicated and godly leadership over many years with the PC. Alongside them, our wardens - Lee Beeston, Mike Lum, and Chris Stretton - continue to carry a significant administrative and operational load. They oversee the complex intersection of finances, property, and the many and varied Church needs with unwavering integrity and a clear gospel focus, enabling our ministries to truly thrive.
The physical stewardship of our church is essential, and we are fortunate to have a dedicated team that ensures our spaces reflect our commitment to the community. We are grateful for David Mayes’ generous expertise (as a retired architect), which has significantly improved our buildings. Additionally, we appreciate the hard work of David Smith, Greg Burke, and the maintenance team. From mowing lawns to essential repairs, they keep our sites functional, safe, and welcoming. Finally, my sincere thanks to Allan Beeston, who expertly manages our property contracts and licenses. His careful stewardship of these agreements and his thoughtful care for our tenants provide both excellent community connection and essential ongoing support for our church.
C. Looking Forward: The Year Ahead
We are stepping into 2026 with incredible momentum. God is using our collective efforts to change lives, expand our reach, and deepen our faith.
Now is not the time to get comfortable. God is already moving in the hearts of our neighbours and the next generation - let’s meet them there. With the Lord leading the way, let’s step forward with an unwavering focus on our mission: to make disciples in Jesus’ name everywhere in Eastwood and Ermington (and a little more) so that, together, we may become mature in Him.
