CHURCH PLANTING IN AUSTRALIA
OCTOBER 2000
Dear Prayer
Partners,
Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a
strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."
As most of you know the Olympics
were held in Sydney. In promoting the Olympics the Torch was relayed through
various towns and cities of Australia with special events planned for each town
and city. Dubbo's big evening was 1 September with a gathering of ten thousand
at Apex Oval. As this was a once in a lifetime opportunity we planned to stand
outside the gates of Apex Oval and hand out tracts. As we prepared to do this we
were approached by a gatekeeper who asked what we were doing? David told her we
were going to distribute Christian literature. The gatekeeper said she would
have to make a call, which she did. After the call she came and said we could
not distribute the literature. David didn't press the issue but packed up and
went to the other gate where Pam was. While he was there he asked the lady who
organized the event why we could not hand out the literature and was told that
all literature had to be approved by the Olympic Committee. David did not press
the issue then but 11 September he wrote a letter to the Dubbo Mayor. That
letter is as follows.
Dear Mayor,
There is a matter that concerns me
in regards to the Torch Relay at Apex Oval. Knowing this event would draw a
large crowd and as a minister of the gospel I saw the event as an opportunity to
further the gospel. We were able to obtain several thousand pieces of gospel
literature for distribution. My plan was to have a couple of people stand
outside the gates at Apex Oval and hand a piece of literature to those going
inside. If someone did not want the literature we would not force it on him or
her. When we arrived outside the Wingewarra gates we were confronted (outside
the gate) and asked what we were doing. I told the person we were going to
distribute Christian literature. The person then said she would have to make a
call. After making the call the person returned and said we could not distribute
the literature. I did not press the issue and did not distribute any literature
that evening. I then drove to the Cobra Street gate where I had left my wife.
Kim Chandler was at the Cobra Street gate and told me only literature approved
by the Olympic Committee could be distributed. Since the 1 September incident I
have telephoned the police seeking information on the legality of handing out
Christian literature on public property. The policeman to whom I spoke said he
believed we had the liberty to do so but told me to check further with the
Chamber Magistrate. I telephoned the Magistrate's office and was told they would
have to research the issue and for me to telephone Dubbo City Council. I
telephoned Council and was informed the person who knows the legality of
the issue (as far as the Dubbo City Council is concerned) is on holiday for a
fortnight. The person to whom I spoke took my telephone number and said I would
receive an answer in a fortnight if not sooner.
I
am disappointed we were not
allowed to distribute Christian literature outside the gates at Apex Oval as
that was a unique opportunity. Australia is a great country with certain
liberties of which you would assume one to be the liberty to distribute
Christian literature on public property as long as people were not forced to
receive the literature or those handing out the literature did not make a
nuisance of themselves."
What a run around. We will inform
you of the Mayor and the gentleman at Dubbo Council's reply if and when we
receive them. Also in relation to the Olympics we purchased one thousand tracts
on Mr. Eternity, Arthur Stace. The background of this tract is interesting. In
celebrating the entering of the year 2000 the word "Eternity" was
emblazoned on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This word had been written over 500,000
times throughout Sydney and its suburbs (this was before young people knew about
graffiti) by Mr. Stace who was saved from a life of sin 6 August 1930 and then
challenged to serve the Lord by Baptist evangelist John Ridley 14 November 1930.
The text Ridley preached was Isaiah 57:15 and was titled "Echoes of
Eternity." Thus far three hundred and forty thousand of these tracts have
been printed and distributed throughout Australia. Pray God will use this unique
Australian tract to reach the unsaved in Dubbo and Gilgandra. The cost of these
tracts was $217. If you would like to help in the cost of these tracts please
send your gift to Mr. Charles Weinberg, Evangel Baptist, 14836 N. Ashdale Ave.,
Dale City, VA 22193 and designate it for Mr. Eternity tracts. Please pray for
Ben and Kathy Bird. Ben is an aboriginal pastor of an independent Baptist church
in Brisbane. His wife is a sister to Phyllis Morgan (Abel's wife). Ben has a
burden for Dubbo but if the Lord led him here he desires to minister as my
assistant and Western Plains Baptist Fellowship. I have talked with Ben on the
telephone and sent him our doctrinal statement. Pray with us that God's will be
known and obeyed. This year is going by very quickly. Are you prepared for
eternity? Isaiah 57:15 "For thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place,
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of
the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Thank you for your faithful support
in prayers and finances. God's best.
Your Missionaries to Australia,
David and Pam Bennett 
