A new church is opening across the street from the Burwood North Metro station to bring life in Jesus to the locals of Concord and Burwood.
Jesus called us to go and make disciples of him and teach them his commands. Church planting is a clear implication of Jesus’ commission.
St James Croydon has been richly blessed by God and we’re resolved to overflow with joy, growth and impact. The Burwood North Church Plant is a key expression of this overflow of God’s abundance.
Please pray and consider if you might join the planting team to serve in the exciting local opportunity before us.
Around the Burwood North Church Plant site will grow a medium to high-rise residential and business precinct, with a multitude of people from various nations living, working, and moving around us. The Burwood North neighbourhood is already richly multicultural: 71% of residents were born overseas compared to 39% for greater Sydney. The council is also planning affordable housing as part of the urban renewal that will surround the coming Metro.
We plan to open a new church with the biblical convictions and ethos of St James Croydon. The growing, multicultural context leads us to begin with several months of listening and learning about how we might best present and enjoy the gospel as a church. The next step will be using these insights to design our service and activities so that we might best engage our neighbours with the good news.
Blake Hatton is our planting team leader. Blake has served in multiple church planting projects, most recently leading a team to open an evening congregation and then a morning toddlers and parents church with Bondi Anglican Church. Blake is married to Sarah and they have Herb (13), Adelaide (11) and Juniper (7). Blake will be the minister for the team and the new congregation. There will be ongoing connection with the St James staff team.
We’re looking for 40+ Christian adults to join a team who will pray and work together to open up a new church. We want to reflect a balance of ages, stages and backgrounds. We will cater for children, and Christians from other churches are welcome.
We don’t know yet – the idea is to first explore how the gospel makes sense and engages our Burwood North neighbours. The outcome will be a fresh expression but not radically different to regular contemporary churches of Sydney.
Yes, from February, July 2025
we’ll meet on Sundays to gather for a simple church service and do our launch preparation work. This will not be publicly advertised until we have learned, trained and planned for a new, fresh expression of church together.
The plant is an ongoing part of the parish. It will be under the leadership of our Senior Minister, Alan Lukabyo and share the staff team. There will be some differences in things like outreach and engaging the local neighbourhood, music and service design but many things will be shared like explore courses, leadership training, prayer meetings, youth group & kids club.
We’ve got a huge vision, to see our church overflowing, not just in number, but also in our love for Jesus and one another. We’d love for you to be a part of it.
In keeping with this vision we’re excited to have amalgamated with St Luke’s Concord-Burwood.
© Copyright 2023 St James Anglican Church Croydon. ABN: 75 015 431 790.
