Helensvale Baptist Church

Below is a description of the journey of Helensvale Baptist Church since the beginning:

In 1983 a Christian family had the desire to reach out to the people of Helensvale with the love of God and His message of salvation. A Baptist Fellowship commenced in their home, then moved to a primary school classroom, and then later to the community hall. A church in Brisbane supported and encouraged them, supplying a speaker each week as well as financial assistance.

The first pastor, Russell Hinds with his wife, Kaye, was called in May, 1985. At his induction both he and the church family were encouraged to seek and to give only their best for God. God is a Great King, and He deserves great (first-rate) service and faithful service. HBC became more visible in the community as it put this challenge into action. The rugby league club, a senior citizens group, an annual community fun run and monthly markets were commenced. Through these outreaches plus dinners for women, the surrounding community saw the love of God in action and His message of salvation as a reality in people's lives. Many people from the community committed their lives to Christ during the 8 years of Russell's ministry.

A strong foundation had been laid, and with Russell's and Kaye's move to the USA, we welcomed David and Jill Snell in 1993. Timothy Meyers and his wife, Kathryn, joined the team the following year, and Timothy was then appointed Senior Pastor in 1995. During Timothy's ministry there was a strong emphasis on Bible teaching and excellence in worship and creative ministries. Outreach and evangelism occurred through the impact of Bill Joukhadar's ministry of encouragement and training in the use of Christianity Explained and Friendship Evangelism.

The vacant Helensvale Nursing Home on the block adjacent to the church was purchased in 1994. After a very creative "makeover" it became the Young Discoverers Child Care Centre - a ministry that continues to impact many families from the surrounding communities. In 1997 Compassion Connection Ltd, a counselling and social care network was birthed out of HBC, which has now grown into a separate organization providing qualified counselling – including specialist counselling to children and youth, missionary profiling, emergency relief, and recovery groups.

With Timothy's appointment in 1999 as director of Pioneers Australia, another pastor was needed to share with him the oversight, teaching and pastoral care of the church family. It was then we welcomed Andrew and Karin Lind. Andrew was called as Ministry Team Leader. Andrew's gifting and vision was towards pastoral care nurturing and encouragement, and these qualities were reflected in his ministry over the subsequent 3 years.

The church was experiencing some difficultly and pain. Andrew suffered some significant stress and illness and resigned from his role of Ministry Team Leader in early 2002. The grief and confusion around the church was evident as numbers dropped. As we embarked on the search for a new Ministry Team Leader over 50 members of the church met to pray once a month crying out to God to lead us forward.  At the same time God was working on the hearts of Matt and Robyn Hunt in Sydney and in November 2002 Matt began in the role.

God’s worked through Matt’s leadership to see HBC’s strong community commitment reinvigorated. As people began using their gifts such things as an ever- strengthening Young Discoverers, Kids Hope School mentoring and working alongside SU in School chaplaincy deepened in their impact. Some began to form a new HBC Ministry Team Staff, others used their gifts in a volunteer capacity. It was This heart of serving the community and working with others was further reflected in 2009 by a church commitment to the cell-driven model of church as Home groups became LIFE Groups, and when Crossroads, a ministry serving the adults with disabilities, began at HBC in partnership with Newlife Uniting Church, Robina.

However these activities reflected something deeper God brought to us soon after Matt’s arrival. In 2003 we affirmed HBC’s core values in ten statements that underlined God’s leadership of the church, a commitment to grow in love for one another, and a continued dedication to sharing the gospel with those around us so that they could see, hear, and respond to the Lord Jesus Christ. The impact of these core values was mirrored by the Lind family returning to the HBC community in late 2004, and a renewed commitment to evangelism in word and demonstration under the Lord Jesus’ leadership. It is wonderfully encouraging to see that what God had begun at the church’s inception, continues to be the heartbeat of HBC.