Epping Baptist Church

Welcome to the EBC web site – thanks for taking a look. I guess you have clicked on to find out a bit more – so here goes! I was born and brought up in the UK in Stratford upon Avon, attending Warwick Baptist Church. It is there I made a commitment to Christ. First, at five years old I wanted to be Jesus' special friend, then later at around 11 years old at a Youth with Mission event at my home Church. Whilst at secondary school I was baptised and grew in my faith – it was tough going at times, often being the only Christian.

I trained as a chef, working on Park Lane, London, before working for almost 5 years as a bank clerk. I then travelled a bit before working as a youth worker, and coffee shop manager, back in Warwick. I headed down to London again, this time to train to be a Baptist Minister at Spurgeon’s College. Four years later and loads of essays, assignments and experiences later I was offered the post of associate minister in Abingdon Baptist church. At my Induction ‘I’ became ‘we’ as Roslyn and I announced our engagement.

Roslyn (born and brought up in Concord, Sydney) and I had three happy years at Abingdon, before moving down the road 45 Kms to Thatcham. Almost ten years later and three wonderful children later (when they sleep through the night!) we moved to Epping Baptist Church.

EBC is a great place to be and after three years we feel very much at home. As we continue to realise the potential for Christ here, can I encourage you to come along and visit. Regularly, we have a welcome meal where a family opens their home for any who are new to EBC, offering us a chance to get to know one another. Taking a look round the site will only show you so much – please come and see for yourself.

In Christ

Andrew

Senior Pastor

G’day Andy here...

I’ve been a Sydney boy all my life and count it a blessing to now be working for God in his local church. I grew up in Castle Hill where at the age of nine I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. In 1997 as a youth leader at Cherrybrook Community Baptist, I had an awesome opportunity to help lead a short-term mission trip to Mexico and the U.S. which involved our Senior High Youth. The time away was life-changing and I returned to Mexico in 1998 for another short-term mission. It was during these times away I first felt God’s call on my life to seriously consider theological study and the call to fulltime ministry. I commenced studying at Morling College in 2000.

In 2001 I married my beautiful wife Claire, whilst also becoming Student Pastor of Blakehurst Baptist Church before eventually becoming Associate Pastor. In 2006 I received a call to become Lead Pastor of Chester Hill Baptist where I spent close to five wonderful years ministering. During my ministry at CHBC, Claire and I welcomed the arrival of our three beautiful children. During the second half of 2010 God again led me to follow his call to accept the position of Associate Pastor – Youth and Young Adults at Epping Baptist Church.

I feel very honoured and am excited about the ministry, opportunities and challenges and what God has in store for EBC. Claire and I and the kids are discovering what an amazing place EBC is. If you happen to be of High School or Young Adult age, we have a range of activities and regular ministries you may like to be involved in. If you’d like to know more or if you have questions regarding our Youth and Young Adult ministries why not give me a call at the Church or come along to any of our regular Sunday services to see for yourself what EBC is all about.

Rev Beth Jackson began the position of Associate Pastor- Children and Families in August 2012 after relocating to Sydney in January 2012. Beth came to Australia from the UK with her husband, Darrell, a lecturer at Morling College, and their two children, Kai and Karys.

Beth grew up in the USA and moved to the UK after university following God’s call into mission work. She then trained as a Baptist minister at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague, Czech Republic, and Bristol Baptist College, UK. She has worked in various pastoral roles in churches, but most recently served for 5 fulfilling years as sole pastor of Lydbrook Baptist Church in Gloucestershire before following God’s nudge to Sydney.

Beth says, “I am excited to be working with the children and young families at EBC. I see so many opportunities for connecting families to Jesus and to one another here at EBC and look with anticipation at what God is going to do amongst us here.”

I was born in Melbourne but spent most of my school and university days living in our beautiful National Capital! After a few early years of family connection with a Catholic Church we stopped going to Church and I really had no knowledge, interest or involvement with Christianity until Year 9.  I went on a camp in the school holidays that included a short devotional and discussion time each day. It was there that I started to first consider the claims of Christ. I didn’t make a decision that week but I went home and couldn’t stop thinking about all that I had heard. So about two weeks later I found the little red Gideon Bible I had been given in year 7, I read the prayer at the back, signed my name, and I remember thinking “I’m not sure what this thing is all about, but I know I want in.” I started going to a youth group in the following weeks and the rest, so to speak, is history.

After completing a Bachelor of Commerce at the ANU I spent a year in Canada volunteering with an organisation called Young Life, which taught me a lot about ministry with teenagers. I moved to Sydney in 2001 and have been employed in youth ministry and scripture teaching in the local area ever since. I also studied part time for a number of years and graduated from Morling College with a Bachelor of Ministry in 2009.

In 2006 I began as the Schools Worker at Cheltenham Girls’ High School, which has since developed to include the role of Chaplain. I thoroughly enjoy my role at the school and the opportunity I have to engage with a wide range of staff and students and to encourage them in matters of life and faith.

Other key things you should know: I love coffee, AFL and the TV show Survivor!

G’day . I’m excited about being part of Epping Baptist Church as their schools worker at Epping  Boys High School. I strongly believe my desire to better understand what makes the universe tick and why we are here was God’s way of bringing me to Him. People often ask how I reconcile my scientific interests with my faith. For me the answer is increasingly obvious. In short, the more I discover about creation and its intricacies, its complexity and its beauty, the more I am convinced that it was no fluke.

I have taught High School PDHPE for the last 5 years and it was teaching that led me to become more interested in student welfare. This,in turn lead me to the role I will start this year as Chaplain at Epping Boys High School.

I have always been obsessed with sport and as a result have been lucky enough to have played semi-professional soccer since 2005. I am currently playing for the Northern Tigers based out of Asquith. I also have a grade cricket upbringing as well as various levels of training and interests in many other sports. I think the coolest sporting experience I have been part of was a soccer tour of the UK when I was 17 playing against Manchester Utd, Manchester City, Everton and Nottingham Forrest amongst others. If you want to talk sport, I’m your man!

I am extremely excited about this year and hopefully many more as Chaplain at Epping Boys High School. It will be a big change coming from predominately teaching all girls High Schools but I think I will be able to quickly adjust to the testosterone.