Next Steps

Hi,


Thank you very much for taking the time to prayerfully read this updated letter containing information about the planting of Grace Reformed Baptist Church.

This document is designed to provide the most recent introductory information about our church plant.

Below you will find current plans for the plant, aiming also to present a variety of ways through which those being led by the Lord could become involved.

We have been meeting since February 2022, first at Mango Hill, but more recently we moved to the Performing Arts Centre at the North Lakes State College after we outgrew our previous hall. We currently have around 100 attendees at most Sunday services.

General information about the plant:

- Location: North Lakes, Queensland.
- Activities: Sunday services (9:30am Sunday morning), prayer meetings (prior to
services and during the week), local outreaches (including street evangelism),
fellowship gatherings, small groups, among other things.
- Denominational affiliation: To be confirmed.

The steps we have taken so far are:

- Assembled a Pastoral Support Team and employed a full-time planting Pastor.
- Started church meetings, men's ministry and Bible study, women's Bible study, youth group, young adults, outreach ministry, food hamper ministry, among other ministries.
- We are in the final stages of completing our constitution document and application to become an Incorporated not-for-profit.

We are regularly:

- Devoting ourselves to the Word of God and prayer, corporately and individually.
- Implementing simple, biblical, multi-generational, and family-oriented activities.
- Embracing a Spirit led and empowered evangelistic lifestyle in favour of the lost.
- Having all members of the body eagerly desiring and serving based on their spiritual
gifts for the building up of the body.
- Developing biblical Christian fellowship.
- Renouncing pragmatism and a program driven approach to church.

The primary theological Christian beliefs which will be present in the constitution of Grace Reformed Baptist Church will be based on the following:

1. The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 138:2)

2. The existence of One Sovereign, Almighty God in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; John 10:30; John 4:24)

3. The deity, incarnation, and virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, the Second Person in the Holy Trinity. (Matthew 1:18-19; Hebrews 1:2-3; 1:8; Philippians 2:5-11)

4. Man was created in the image of God by God in an original state of innocence. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 1:31)

5. The fallen, sinful, and lost state of all people. (Romans 3:23; 5:12; Isaiah 64:6)

6. The salvation of people from the penal consequences (justification), the ongoing power
(sanctification), and, in the future, presence (glorification) of sin through the perfect obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ, His atoning death, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His unchanging priesthood. (Colossians 1:20-22; I Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 7:24-25; Romans 8:34)

7. The immediate work of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration of people, in their sanctification, and in their preservation to the heavenly kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 15:26; 16:7; and 16:13; 1 John 2:20-27; Romans 8:27).

8. The necessity, in order to obtain salvation, of repentance towards God, and of living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 3:24-25; Titus 3:5; Acts 20:21).

9. The two ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ to be observed by the church, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-8; I Corinthians 11:23-34)

10. The resurrection of the dead, and the final judgement of all people by the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 5:28-29; John 10:27-29; Revelation 20:11-15)

11. The personal and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church and with His Church to reign. (I Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

When it comes to the most important secondary issues of theology, those will not be present in the constitution of the church and a diversity among the people welcomed into membership in the church can be expected and will be respected. Having said that, those in position of leadership in the church will be expected to uphold and teach the following secondary theological points:

- Reformed approach to general theological matters (especially soteriology).
- Continuationism (not to be confused with Pentecostal or charismatic teachings on this issue).
- Complementarianism.
- Scriptural elder led congregationalism (Elders and deacons).
- Appreciation for historical Baptist distinctives.
 There are many ways a person can choose to be involved in this church plant. Initially, the
opportunities for involvement available are:
- Prayer partners and people with an evangelistic heart.
- General volunteers and attenders.
- Financial supporters.

Once again, I would like to thank you for your willingness to seek the Lord about this opportunity. I would also like to mention that this document doesn’t carry with it any expectations whatsoever. Whatever way you decide to contribute to this gospel project, if any, is totally between you and the Lord. But, if you feel the Lord leading you in this direction and would like to find out more about Grace Reformed Baptist Church, I will be looking forward to hearing from you. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me if, after reading this document, you have any follow up questions.

Blessings,
Ps. Giuliano Bordoni

pastor@churchgrace.org

0452231285