A season of planting and growing

Small group ministry is the heart of the work that’s begun in Australia. From small group leader training to groups that meet in homes in different cities, the theme of our work to reach this large continent has been to start small.

Take our Melbourne group. Our two Aussie leaders, Tom and Ann Belcher, have returned to Australia by way of Hope Lutheran Church in Toronto, which played an integral part in their faith formation. Now they meet weekly with four other people for Bible study, prayer, singing, and fellowship in their homes. Their group is growing slowly as they invite friends to join.

The Melbourne group

In Brisbane, we have spent the last year getting to know our community. We offer English classes to immigrants at two different local libraries, one of which has basically adopted our program as their own. Through these classes we can connect with people from all over the world—Colombia, Iraq, China, Japan, France, and Taiwan, just to name a few!

To develop deeper relationships with our students, we offer several social activities throughout the month such as hiking, cultural festivals, game days, and holiday parties. These larger gatherings lead to one-on-one interaction or opportunities in smaller settings, such as dinner in our home, coffee in local cafes, or private English tutoring. God has blessed our efforts with many opportunities for personal gospel presentations. As a result of all this, we have started some small group Bible studies, sometimes at the request of the students themselves.

Our experience has taught us that there are seasons in ministry. Seasons of plowing, planting, growing, pulling weeds, and harvesting. By God’s grace, we seem to be in a season of planting and growing. But we know that just as Jesus taught us in the parable of the sower, not all seeds we plant will produce a fruitful crop. There will be heavy stones to unlodge and razor-sharp thorns to uproot. Realizing that hardships and persecution are inevitable gives us a deep appreciation for this season. It is a gift—each baptism, each profession of faith, each student who receives his or her instruction with joy and gratitude. We wish you could have witnessed the sheer delight of our Colombian friend when we introduced her to Academia Cristo and she heard Missionary Nixon Vivar welcoming her to study the Bible in Spanish! We do not take these experiences for granted. We wish you could hear our new sister in the faith thank God for being her faithful Father every day. We wish you could see how the leaders grow in facilitating studies, addressing challenges, and modeling their faith. It’s a great season!

Leader meeting

One way we prepare for every season is through our weekly prayer time, established by former Asia-Oceania Team Leader Dr. Steve Witte. We pray for all the ministries, local leaders, churches, small groups, missionaries, and families in Asia-Oceania. Another way we prepare is by developing resources for small groups and training for leaders in cultivating character and preparing solid Bible studies. There is a special emphasis on reaching those who are not native English speakers and/or are brand new to Christianity.

Small groups. English classes. Seasons. You are our partners in all of these efforts. We appreciate your ongoing prayers, offerings, and local efforts that move the mission forward!

Written by Matt Doebler, world missionary on the Asia-Oceania Team

P.S. – If you would be interested in volunteering in Australia through a Mission Journeys trip in Fall 2026, visit wels.net/mission-journeys-volunteer-opportunity-in-brisbane-australia/ to learn more.