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NATIONAL NEWSLETTER - 14^th June 2007    -   posted 15/06/2007

 Growing Families Australia - from the National Directors

 

 

 

Hi again everyone!

Yes, you are getting a flood of newsletters just now. There is so much to share as everyone is passing on what God is laying on their hearts, so we have felt it best to share it a little bit at a time - Couchtime talking points or bedtime stories! There are many families with unique situations which call for added wisdom, support and encouragement. For instance: families with multiply births; premature births; blended families; children with disabilities; single parents; and in this newsletter, a special feature for those who are isolated and hence don't have the privilege of a unique community around them. For those in small towns and isolated places, Belinda Letchford shares the following:

“Over the Easter weekend at the GFA Family Camp we experienced the Growing Families Community. As we talked to each other, and from the meetings up the front, we heard different aspects and expressions of that community. As Bill and Joan were talking about the GFA Community at the Camp, I was struck by the fact that we actually have a like-hearted community in Kununurra - though it "looks" very different from what you hear about happening in Perth.

Our physical location is different, the people groups are different, relationship and lifestyles are different. As I listened I felt to get in touch with the families who are in small towns - removed from the big "happening" places, and encourage you that you can belong to, or even create, a like-hearted community around you. Peter and I come from a small town of 6000, and to my mind it is a fairly disjointed community with different people groups. Our intention, as we make connections around us, is with our focus on growing Kingdom kids and being connected with heart relationships. At the previous GFA Conference someone spoke on how character leads to respect, respect leads to trust, trust builds relationship and when you have relationships with people, you have influence in their lives. This has been our story. Our experience has been by showing friendship, by having an open house and a serving attitude that people are drawn to your family.

Just as those of us in isolated and/or small communities look at the big communities and maybe try to emulate what we see, it would also be easy to look at what happens in Kununurra and set your goals from that.

Our support, both for us and for the kids, may look like a church group, where everyone in the congregation is Growing Kids savvy, or it may look like a homeschool group, or there may be a circle of people who have done all the courses but these things don't define our support community. Relationship - friendship and hospitality - has been the basis of what we have here. There are people who homeschool and people who don't, there have been times when a family has drawn back from direct contact with the GFA material - but not from relationships, and in reality there have been times when our like-hearted friends have not been Christians, and yet we belong to a support community.

I encourage you all to see the relationships you have around you - and trust God for the building of more!

I don't know what connecting with you all will actually look like and yet I wanted you to know that there is no model for a like-hearted, relationship connected community, except that we live like Jesus. When you have that type of relationship model in your mind, you will connect with people, and you will find yourself supporting others and eventually others supporting you! So if you would like to have an email group happening where we can encourage each other, ask questions, or whatever... please pass your email onto me and we will stay in touch.”

Belinda and Peter Letchford Ph: 08 9169 1572
cosmobelinda@bigpond.com Mob. 0408 691 000

If you have a unique situation and you would like to share with others in similar situations, please do share your heart with us.

    Joan

    

On behalf of Bill & Joan Grosser

GFA National Directors,  13th June, 2007