1981 HISTORY - JIREH CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

Visits to the beach and informal BBQ’s were undertaken during the Christmas-January period. Sue Franklin provided hospitality for Lan Tsu’s family while she was in hospital.
The community rejoiced with Lynda Jones as she acquired a job in Queensland. This was a real answer to prayer.
Petra and Lyn Masters were guests of the King family and shared some of the ‘happenings’ on Eyre Peninsula.
Peter and Marilyn Brown returned from their overseas trip. They moved into 29 Sydenham Road, Norwood. A special tea was held to celebrate their return. They had travelled overseas in 1980 for 9 months, backpacking around the UK, Ireland and Europe. Their itinerary included visits to Christian communities focussed on healing and spiritual care. Marilyn retained her previous job while Peter remained open to what the Lord was calling him on to next.
Plans for the 59 Sydenham Road extensions were submitted again for quotes from builders.
Some of the young married couples from Jireh attended a series of marriage studies organised by Simon Lathlean from St. Barthlomew’s Anglican Church. These proved very popular.
Tom and Debbie Ryan returned from holidaying in Tasmania.
Chris Roll was appointed Treasurer of “Spirit of Life” Church, a local church where his family was attending. Some from Jireh visited the “Spirit of Life” Church tent meeting at Norwood Primary School with the Van Milt family as guest speakers.
In February, a special gathering was held for Lynda Jone’s farewell.
A number of girls indicate their desire to join Jireh Community - Cecelia, Margaret, Rebecca and Helen.
Tom and Debbie Ryan announced that they were expecting their first child.
Randy Leigh Graetz was born on the 24th February 1981.
A Lenten Study Group commenced in the Harris household.
Trevor Harris applied to go part-time with his work at the S.A. Public Buildings Department (PBD).
A stirring of the Spirit was experienced especially amongst the women of Jireh and Cherie Fellowes received the gift of ‘tongues’. A number of spontaneous prayer meetings happened as a fruit of this ‘stirring’.
Jim Burrow started a higher qualification Trainee Physician’s course in medicine.
The month of March saw some significant events in the life of Jireh Community:
- Involvement at the Gray Street Kindergarten continued with Sue Franklin as Treasurer and Maureen Harris on the committee.
- Bronwyn Tupper received the gift of ‘tongues’ and had a bigger smile.
- Peter King gave a talk to the Mitcham Rotary Club on “The Hope of our Lord”.
- Maureen Harris commenced as a “Know Your Bible” study leader.
- The three story cubby house being being built by Mal Graetz is open for partial use for the kids.
- Kathy Haskard indicates a desire to live in the community after returning from holidays in Tasmania.
- Jack and Edith are offered two houses in Norwood for purchase.
A meeting of some Jireh members in March resolved that 55 Sydenham Road, should be “claimed for the Lord”. Peter King signs a ‘faith contract’ on behalf of the group. The community began fervent prayer for the Lord to provide the money. A scripture included “…when the city shall be rebuilt …. to the Corner Gate”. Jeremiah 31:38. The house had a gate on the corner of Sydenham Road and Fisher Street.
Jack McNicol celebrated his 80th birthday with a special community meal in the Bezalel shed. Jack, whose full birth name was John Clure McNicol was born on the 24th March 1901. He went on to live to the ripe old age of 99. He died on the 3rd May 2000. His wife Edith Agnes McNicol, was born on the 18th December 1912. She died on the 16th March 1994.
A ‘community meeting’ was held at the Fellowes’ house at 9 Wood Street, Norwood.
Aylwyn Franklin celebrates his 5th birthday in April with a “United Nations” feel to the party hosted by Sue. He commences school at Norwood Primary.
Chris and Helen McNicol were busy preparing material for the Christian Community Radio production.
Cherie Fellowes was baptised and confirmed at St. Bart’s Anglican Church. Des Fellowes and Marilyn Brown were also confirmed.
Easter was celebrated.
Mal and Jenny Graetz participated in a protest against the Smithfield military communications base. On Easter Thursday, 16th March 1981, Mal walked about 30 Km with a small group carrying a wooden cross from Adelaide CBD to Smithfield. There were times of prayer for our city and nation along the route. That ‘Maundy Thursday’ evening, the Graetz family celebrated their first Judaeo-Christian Passover Meal outdoors next to the Smithfield communications base and participated in an all night prayer vigil. This night corresponded to the ‘Last Supper’ and Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest. Randy was only 4 weeks old at the time when his family camped out overnight. This experience of the Graetz family gave rise to a number of Judeo-Christian Passover Meals at Jireh Christian Community in the following years.
A Jireh men’s meeting was held for sharing with each other and to discuss outreach in the area. A women’s informal gathering was held. Another meeting was held to discuss the financing of the 55 Sydenham Road house.
Jireh Community experienced a month of 'spiritual warfare' in May. There was counselling, late nights, and pressures in marriages and families. Saturday the 9th of May was set aside as a day of prayer and fasting. The time was divided into three segments:
1. Prayer for Jireh members and relationships.
2. Prayer for physical resources, houses - including purchase of 55 Sydenham Road.
3. Prayer for the City of Norwood, the Nation and the World.
This was followed by a praise time with the children.
Peter King gave an account of answered prayer to the 55 Sydenham Road property:
Psalms 127:1 "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep".
This scripture in Psalms above gave me the assurance that God was in control of this building’s movement into the Community’s ownership. I knew that this house was coming up for sale, but I wondered how to get involved. I was resting at home when a knock on the door was the real estate person coming in to see if we wanted to be involved. He simply offered it to the community, its price and set a date for the transaction. I had to sign a form stating our intention to buy.
This three bedroom home was on the corner of Sydenham Road and Fisher Street and was purchased showing the amazing provision of God. We held the belief that God was leading us into the purchase of the property and by now the property prices had risen sharply and we were uncertain about how such a purchase would occur. Its price was $53,000 and we could only muster $10,000 amongst ourselves. We had a month to make the purchase and after 4 weeks nothing was added to our pool of funds. So we called a day of prayer and fasting on the Saturday before the Monday when we had to make the full payment. Nothing seemed to be happening through the day but at 5 pm roughly, one of the girls asked me to take her to the airport to meet her sister who was flying into Adelaide from Canberra for a visit. While we were at the airport a couple [Peter Bradley and Kathy Carawa] came running in our direction from 100 metres or more away. They were an engaged couple moving towards Church of Christ ministry and they believed that God had told them to trust us with their savings. On the spot they offered $8000 and $7000 towards the purchase. I was amazed again at God’s provision. But that was not all; by the time we arrived home with the sister all the finances were promised. On the Monday of settlement we went to the agent with the full amount required.
Chris and Helen McNicol purchased a house with a ‘renovation challenge’ at 9 Stepney Street in Stepney, an adjacent suburb to Norwood.
Debbie Sue King was born - a third child for Peter and Liz.
Ruth Jackson was interested in joining the community. Trevor Parry and his daughters visit Jireh community.
A farewell meal was held for John and Loreen, Sally-Anne and Peter Noble before they returned to Queensland.
Bronwyn Tupper’s parents offer to buy 24 Gray Street, the house where Mal and Jenny Graetz were living.
Mal Graetz and other Jireh men renovated Sue Franklin’s bedroom, installing a new outside-view window, replacing the wooden floor and painting the room. A community working bee was held to clean up and paint the back section of the cottage. Sue, Mandy and Aylwyn stayed with the Graetz family while renovations were done.
Jireh people participated in the Charles Widdowson Mission in the St. Bart’s parish. Some neighbourhood women were invited to hear Alice Widdowson speak at the Harris home. Alice shared about salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit. There were prayers for healing and some in Jireh community received personal counselling.
Lee Roll took on a part time job. Kathy Haskard goes on a trip to Marree, about 600Km north of Adelaide. Margo Heidenreich from Manoah Community leases a property near the Roll’s house as a Pottery Studio.
Settlement on the purchase of 55 Sydenham Road was made in June with the generosity of a number of people contributing gifts and loans. There was great excitement over answered prayer despite the pressures and uncertainties leading up to the settlement - 'lessons of faith'.
Peter King recounts:
Once this property was settled it went into immediate use, housing clergy from Africa who were on a short term ministry period at St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church. Once the clergy moved on with their work, the property was utilised by Malcolm and Jenny Graetz. Malcolm wanted to work full time in the community, with at least one day per week in the ‘Rainbow Club’ children’s ministry. This worked well with the community which was growing quickly. Malcolm was a good organiser and a handy musician so he did lots of work around the community interacting with lots of ministry.
The Graetz family moved to 55 Sydenham Road. The same day they moved out of 24 Gray Street, the Wen family (Vietnamese refugees) shifted in. There was a hive of activity with helpers from Jireh and St. Barts. Two weeks later the Wen family relocated to another more suitable house.
Bronwyn Tupper and Caroline Warry move into the 24 Gray Street house. Bronwyn’s parents, Robert and Jean Tupper, who were from Canberra, purchased the 22-24 Gray Street property after the Graetz’s moved out.
Ruth Jackson moves in with the Harris family. Lynda Jones visits from Queensland and stays with Kathy Haskard.
Chris McNicol has a live broadcast with Christian Community Radio (CCR).
Jack and Edith put their house at Tongala in Victoria on the market to sell.
Mal Graetz was ‘assaulted’ by his neighbour ‘Barney’ just before they shifted house. Mal’s reflection on this ‘unnerving episode’:
Barney was an interesting person. One minute he could be so welcoming and show you his prize belongings in his run-down house, and, the next moment he could be dishing out abusive language to neighbours or passers-by. This particular afternoon I decided to mow the small back lawn and the shared driveway. He came out with a pick axe and threatened me, putting a ding in my lawnmower. He then pushed me over a picket fence and held me there giving me verbal abuse. None of the passer-by’s came to my rescue! It did upset me and some in the community suggested I should report this ‘assault’ to the police. Trevor Harris arranged a meeting with the three of us and we resolved the unnerving episode. It happened that Barney was listening to the horse races and this triggered his reactionary behaviour. Lesson learnt: Consult my neighbour if I was to make a loud noise at close quarters.
Sharon and Rebecca Harris, Sony Roll, Michelle King and Mandy Franklin have their first Calisthenics concert.
Mark Andrew Fellowes was born, a second child for Des and Cherie.
Mal Graetz is given access to a builders yard on Fisher Street, next to the Scout Hall, to store his business materials.
Jireh Community had many visitors in June. Single people were looking for accommodation. There were opportunities to witness to people in the neighbourhood.
In October, Bronwyn Tupper celebrated her 21st birthday in the community. She was studying at the Adelaide University Conservatorium of Music, majoring in cello. She was part of the music worship group in Jireh.
Mazhar and Christine Mallouhi and their boys Tarek and Faris visited Jireh Community in November. They were missionaries to the Middle East. Maureen Harris was a second cousin to Christine Mallouhi who was married to Mazhar, a Syrian Arab. He had a testimony of conversion to the Christian faith but still related strongly to Islamic-Arabic culture.
The Mallouhi’s had the opportunity to share with people from Jireh and St. Barthlomew’s Church about their work. [see PHOTOS 1981]
Trevor recalls some of the comments from Mazhar after the 1981 and subsequent visits to Jireh Community:
One I remember clearly was his comment that,
It would be difficult for him to live in our Anglo-Saxon community.
When quizzed on this Mazhar replied:
Anglo’s keep a lot of their emotions internally and are not always honest when they are upset. It is called the “English disease” in some countries. They fume and fester under a brave face. He said in Arabic culture you let it out when it happens – then afterward sit and enjoy making peace over a cup of coffee. “Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath” is the biblical injunction!
Another observation Mazhar made was:
Anglo’s are unemotional when shopping. They drift around stores but make no emotional contact with the seller. In Arabic culture it is common to barter and interact – and after a good sale enjoy a tea or coffee. Communities are healthier if they let off steam regularly and learn to resolve their differences quickly.
The other comment that surprised Trevor was:
Christians in the West did not take seriously their responsibility to ensure marriageable women found a husband after the age of about 25-30 years.
Trevor comment, “We have enjoyed keeping contact with them over the years and to see how God uses their giftings to witness in the Middle East.”
The Wikipedia site gives a more comprehensive overview of Mazhar’s work.
https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11716457#
Mazhar Mallouhi, a well-known novelist in the Middle East, comes from a family that traces their lineage from the Prophet Muhammad. Coming from a Muslim background, when Mallouhi decided to follow the teachings of Christ, he left Islam and its religious culture, at the encouragement of the Christian Church, and became culturally "Christian". Yet, from the beginning he struggled with this “foreign” identity, always sensing himself an outsider to Christianity and at the same time ostracised from his own Muslim community. Mallouhi’s life has been a journey toward again becoming an insider in Islamic circles.
Now Mallouhi, said to be respected by Muslim authorities as a "Muslim follower of Christ,” has become is a powerful force for peace and healing between Muslims and Christians throughout the Middle East and North Africa and an influential voice for the teachings of Christ within the Arab Muslim world. He has also greatly influenced Western circles, being a well-known figure to many Christian leaders focused on the Middle East and Islamic world. Mallouhi advocates a peaceful and sacrificial approach among Muslims, which is non-confrontational in nature, and focused on relationship. His approach is best described as one that "wages peace on Muslims" and seeks to build on the commonalities between the Christian and Muslim faiths.
Mazhar had published three novels at the time of his visit to Jireh community:
“The Traveler” - first published in 1963
"The Fugitive” - first published in 1964
“Lost in the City” - first published in 1967
All published by Arabic Literature Mission (ALM) and now published by Dar Al Oil (Beirut, Lebanon)
The Norwood Christmas pageant was held on Saturday the 28th November.
In the lead up to the pageant, Jireh Community sought the support of the local churches to have a combined “Christian Witness Procession”.
Here are some excerpts from an “On Being” article published in 1986, written by Anne Bartlett:
In the first year [1981] Jireh Community put together a circular to the local churches asking them to make a united ecumenical witness to the fact that there were Christians in the area. About 50 people turned up to the first working bee to construct an enormous 6 metre fish [from timber and material]. Placards were made, tracts were prepared and the theme on the day was ‘celebration’.
Over 100 local Christians turned up to hold the numerous banners, hand out flyers, and carry the large fish structure. The Bezalel workshop on the King’s property again came a busy hub for construction of banners and props for the pageant. (see PHOTOS 1981)
