October 2009 saw around 300 disciples meet together in Melbourne for the annual conference with representatives from the Australian churches of Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra as well as from New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Hampton Roads Church (Virginia, USA). The overwhelming unity between the Australian and South Pacific churches is definitely a sign of the continuing growth and mutual encouragement happening in this side of the world.
Having keynote lessons from Alex Hernandez (Fiji), John Hancell (Brisbane) and Mike Fontenot (Hampton Roads) the church truly felt the call to the renewed vision of sacrificial evangelism that Christ exemplified. With the passage from 1st Corinthians as their guide, the speakers helped the disciples leave invigorated and reminded of the mission to reach the lost “by all possible means.”
The Teen ministry went to a local mall to hang out during Saturday afternoon and was so encouraged by the conference that they began to evangelise that day. The Singles ministry had an amazing “Sunset Surprise” that involved the entire Singles ministry going out and fellowshipping throughout the afternoon and evening. The Campuses from all over Australia got a chance to reunite after the last time seeing each other at the Australian Campus Retreat in May.
A highlight at the Sunday Service was the appointing of Mike Vassallo, Louie Arcilla, and Peter Boardman as the elders of the Melbourne church by elder and evangelist, Mike Fontenot with his fellow elder from Hampton Roads, Bill Throne present. The Melbourne church is very excited about the elders’ appointment and the way the church is growing internally and in the greater region of the South pacific.
Mike Vassallo converted in 1983 and studied with by Mike Fontenot and come February 2010 will have been in the ministry 25 years was appointed evangelist in 1991, serves as the Melbourne Church of Christ’s lead evangelist along with his wife Caron. Louie and Noemi Arcilla converted in Brisbane in the mid 90s oversee the Teens ministry, supporting teen parents and teens. Peter and Gayle also converted in 1983, and have served in the ministry from 1995 formerly an elder couple in the Sydney church have also served in Fiji and Auckland (New Zealand).
