Regular Jesus Centre meetings were suspended over January and visits were made to local churches on Sunday mornings. Several beach picnics were organised.

 

David Williams moved in with the Harris family.

 

Trevor Harris attended the AFES National Conference at Ridley College in Melbourne, Victoria.

 

Tom Ryan helped Mal Graetz in his gardening business.

 

Planning commenced for additions to the King’s house. Geoff Coombe offers to help with the plans. An excerpt from Graetz Feb. 1979 newsletter:

We are at present planning to build a second storey on Peter and Liz King’s house (our neighbours) so that we can live on a more permanent way close to the others in the group. It’s a bit of a hindrance renting places as it limits the usage of the properties. We desire that we can share and expose our lives to other brothers and sisters here so that we can all grow together in love.

 

In February a BBQ was held on the King’s property for graduates of “Graduates Fellowship”.

 

Discussions were had about the group becoming incorporated and the Jesus Centre adopting a new name.

 

Peter Brown and Marilyn Hooper were married at St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church on Sat. 24th February.

 

Helen Warry moved in with Debbie Brown in Gray Street.

 

Work began on the shed cupboards on the King’s property.

 

Early morning prayer times recommenced in March.

 

Trevor Harris’s father passes away and it is a difficult time for Trevor amidst work and community responsibilities. 

 

The Law Cell Group of the Evangelical Union (EU) is held at the ‘community shed’ on the King’s property. By this time the shed had been named “Bezalel Workshop”. Bezalel in the Old Testament was a skilled worker set apart by God to work on the tabernacle of Moses, the account recorded in Exodus 31:1-5:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.”

 

The community supported the ‘Leighton Ford Crusade’ in Adelaide during March and distributed tracts and invitations in the neighbourhood. At that time, Leighton Ford came under the banner of the ‘Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’ (BGEA). Two people living in the neighbourhood and linked with the Jesus Centre made decisions for Christ at the crusade.

 

In April, Peter King organised an agricultural 'Field Day' on the property attended by 30 people. Trevor and Peter continued to fit out the shed with shelving and cupboard benches. Mal completed the front brick paving footpath on the Harris property.

 

Mid 1979, the cottage at 68 Fisher St. became available for rent. Sue Franklin and her 2 children, Aylwyn and Mandy shifted in to be closer to the Jesus Cente Community.

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A picnic was held at Belair National Park with members of the Adelaide Evangelical Union.

 

Early winter colds and the flu infiltrated the community.

 

Geoff Coombe submitted preliminary plans for the double storey extensions on the King’s house.

 

A proposal was made to send Debbie Brown to Africa to work with ‘Emmanuel Tract Fellowship’.

 

Sarah Louise Graetz was born on the 1st May, 3 weeks overdue. This was the first child for Mal and Jenny Graetz. Sue Franklin’s son Aylwyn started kindergarten.

 

A Brother ‘daisy-wheel’ electric typewriter was purchased for use in the community. The IBM golfball electronic typewriter that was purchased in the mid 1970’s had been donated to New Creation Teaching Ministry.

 

A Bezalel Workshop financial account was opened.

 

Studies on the Book of Thessalonians were given during May.

 

Peter Leafe leaves after living a few months in the community.

 

In June, a Jesus Centre group travelled to Coonalpyn for a mission at the Uniting Church. A special night attended by over 60 young people is held.

 

“JIREH CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY” is put forward as a new name for the Jesus Centre.

 

Chris McNicol moved in with Tom Ryan. The Jesus Centre supported Chris with expenses and accommodation so he could work on a radio programme and the “Work and the Gospel” project. Linda Jones moved in with Debbie Brown and Helen Warry.

 

Ruth and Brian Fagan show slides on their missionary work with Church Missionary Society (CMS) in Tanzania.

 

A series of Bible Studies on ‘sexuality’ are given.

 

Helen Warry taught dance at the Norwood Gray St. Kindergarten.

 

A revived interest in ‘Prayer Cells’ occurred during the month of June.

 

The elders discussed the possibility of ‘incorporation’. There was a suggestion of an Anglican-Baptist-Uniting Church affiliation.

 

David Williams moved in with the Fagan family at the St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church rectory.

 

Trevor and Maureen were delighted at the birth of their son Matthew in July. Rebecca Harris started at kindergarten.

 

Spontaneous prayer meetings are held in the community.

 

Some of the Jesus Centre group were involved in the Graduates Fellowship seminar on 'sexuality'.

 

A farewell on the 28th July was given for Debbie Brown as she headed off to White River, South Africa to assist with the mission work with ‘Emmanuel Tract Fellowship’.

 

A ‘corporate’ community meeting was held in August and it was agreed not to pursue the matter of ‘incorporation’ any further.

 

Audrey Potter gave a talk to the community on the work of "Emmanuel Tract Fellowship".

 

Some of the women attended the “Know Your Bible" (KYB) study at St. Bart’s Church.

 

Jesus Centre people attend the musical called “The Witness” held in Adelaide from the 15th-17th August. “The Witness” told the story of Jesus and the early church through the eyes and words of the disciple and apostle Peter. Peter was played by the well known Australian gospel singer Robert Colman.

 

Chris McNicol initiated ‘vocational meetings’ leading up to the “Work and The Gospel” conference.

 

The Jesus Centre sponsored and organised “Living in Christian Community” sessions on Saturday 22 September.  The afternoon at the YWCA in North Adelaide involved “Servants of Christ”, “House of the Rock” and “Manoah” Christian communities. About 150 people attended the event, sharing the joys and tribulations of community life. There was honest sharing focussed on lessons that had been learnt. 

 

Mr. Hoskins spoke to the Jesus Centre group on the work of the ‘United Nations’.

 

In the September school holidays, the Graetz family flew to Tasmania to spend time with Jenny’s brother and his family.

 

Jack and Edith McNicol visited the group in October and showed further interest in joining the community.

 

A community picnic was held at the Belair National Park tennis courts.

 

Maureen Neeson moves in as a guest of Linda Jones. Chris Baletti visits the group.

 

There were some pressures developing in the community which affected the prayer life of the group.

 

Les and Joan Knowling from Islington Uniting Church share their testimony with the group.

 

In November a combined elder’s meeting was held at ‘Manoah Christian Community’ with representatives from each of the communities that met in September, sharing further experiences of community life.

 

Trevor continues work on the 59 Sydenham Road house plans that Geoff Coombe had started.

 

A play area for the community kids is developed under the large fig tree in the Harris front yard by Mal Graetz.

 

The King family have a holiday in Victoria and stay with Jack and Edith McNicol.

 

Trevor Harris resigns the position of Chairman of the Graduates Fellowship.

 

The group attends the Norwood Pageant late in November.

 

Jesus Centre people door knocked the neighbourhood and invited people to the Christmas Celebration which was to be held in the Gray Street Kindergarten. The group at this stage was going under the banner of “Jireh Christian Community” in the Christmas Celebration publication.

 

The Neighbourhood Christmas Celebration was held on Sunday 2nd December attended by about 50 people. A community tea was held at 5.30pm followed by carols, entertainment and a Christmas message. The presentation was held on the front lawn with special items by Phil Jeffries from Servants of Christ Community. From the door knock it seemed that people were interested in the idea of a Christmas celebration, but only 10 people from the neighbourhood joined in. 

 

Tom Ryan gets a job at Ceilbuild in Norwood, a company focussed on ceilings and wall partitions.

 

Barb and Liz from “God’s Squad Melbourne” were guests of the household at 24 Gray Street. Jeff Kahn also stayed for a short time.

 

John and Judy Potter spoke to the group on their work in the African mission field. They reported on Debbie Brown’s work in South Africa.

 

There was a refreshing of relationships in the community and a December ‘corporate’ meeting was held to review the year’s activities and financial matters.

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