The World Views survey was a hit on Monday and Tuesday at the Ashfield shops. Our team had heaps of conversations with people about what they think of the world, and were able to discuss with them how we see the world through the lens of the cross. The people who stopped to chat had various views and religions, and some hadn't thought much about issues of morality or if there is a God etc. Our team members had some really meaningful conversations with the people who stopped, and I found it great to be able to listen to how other people are thinking about the world we live in. We had 2 ways to live fliers in different languages, invites to the Open Week activities and over the two days gave out forty free New Testaments to the people we spoke to who wanted a Bible. Praise God that so many people gave us their time and were intrigued to stop and talk with us, and we were able to share of his love for all people with them.

While this was happening, some of our team stayed at the church building as it's open to the public all week, and some visited Trinity Grammar again to learn more about being a school Chaplain. Also, four of our guys were invited to a weekly Bible study with the Friendship Group who meet at Summer Hill Anglican Church. The members were studying Romans 3:1-20, and discussing how we shouldn't just keep on sinning just because God's grace is limitless. Some of the members shared their testimonies and it was a great encouragement to our team members to see the members faithfully meeting together and living their lives for God.

On Tuesday afternoon some team members went to the park near the Summer Hill shops and handed out invites and balloons and chat to the families who were around. The guys had carefully attached one balloon to an invitation in the church building, but as soon as they had gone outside the whole bunch tangled up and it became more like a dread lock of balloons than a bunch!

The 'True Fulfillment' women's event on Tuesday night was great! Our group was about 35 women. We met at the church building and enjoyed yummy cheese and some apple and rose iced tea, then we wandered down to Muse cafe in Summer Hill. Loren Becroft from our team, who is a 4th year student at Moore College, gave an excellent short talk from Mark on how Jesus healed the paralytic man, but that he first healed his sins as that was his biggest problem. We considered the idea that true fulfillment isn't found in the nice things that God gives us in the world, but it's found in Jesus healing our sin through dying and rising again for us. Then came as much cake and dessert as we wanted, great coffee and lots of chatting!

We have had today (Wednesday) off, but we have lots more in store for Thursday. Some of our team members have been sick this week, so hopefully they would have been able to rest up today and be rearing to go for tomorrow.

If you're in the Summer Hill area and you've always wondered how much we can know from history about who Jesus was and what he did, come along to the Christ Files event on tomorrow evening - 7:45pm, free, in the church building, coffee and chocolates will be served. See you there!

Cheers
Anna - Open Week Blogger