In January, the community suspended its regular Sunday meetings to enable attendance at local churches - these included Kent Town Uniting Church, the Australasian Church, the Salvation Army and St. Bartholomew’s Anglican.

 

A ‘corporate’ community meeting was held and the following was agreed:

1.  The name ADELAIDE JESUS CENTRE be replaced with JIREH CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

It was not unanimous, but the overall agreement was that the group had changed in recent years and a new phase was beginning.

2.  The Sunday morning House Worship be terminated, and all members be encouraged to attend a local church for Sunday worship.

3. The Thursday night meetings would be the focus for community worship and fellowship.

 

A number of people expressed the desire to relate more closely both to St. Bartholomew’s Church (St. Bart’s) as well as Jireh Community.

 

Many of the Jireh Community members commenced regular attendance of St. Bart’s Anglican Church. Most felt welcomed and excited at forming new relationships with the believers there. A flow of the Spirit is evident as we get closer to “like spirited” people. The children attend Bart’s Club.

 

Chris McNicol and Helen Warry attended the National Christian Dance Conference in Sydney.

 

Des from Melbourne was a guest of Tom Ryan and Mal and Jenny Graetz at their 22 Gray St. home. Jeff Kahn moved into 25 Gray St. as a guest. 

 

Peter and Marilyn Brown indicated a desire to travel overseas. 

 

Jireh Community conducted a service at Woodville North Baptist Church with Peter King preaching.

 

Several informal activities and BBQs were held over January.

 

In February, a group from Jireh Community attended David Williams 21st Party at Meningie and conducted a Sunday morning service at the Meningie Uniting Church at which Peter King preached. 

 

Jireh Community participated in the Norwood regional, ecumenical Lenten Bible Studies. The theme was “The Lord’s Prayer”. Trevor and Maureen Harris sponsored one of the house meetings. These proved to be a good way of finding other local Christians. The women discussed the possibility of a neighbourhood Women’s Bible Study. In the meantime some attended the “Know Your Bible” (KYB) group at St. Barts. 

 

The Emmanuel Tract Fellowship (ETF) support team met at the King’s house with John Potter addressing the group. 

 

Mal Graetz was very busy in the community gardens. 

 

Chris McNicol & Helen Warry announced their plans to marry. 

 

Jack & Edith McNicol applied for the position as ‘caretaker’ at Kent Town Uniting Church.

 

Sharon Harris commenced school at Norwood Primary. 

Aylwyn Franklin, Michele King and Rebecca Harris started at the Gray Street Kindergarten. The women offered to be involved on the kindy committee - a real opportunity for service. Maureen was elected President, Lee Roll became Secretary, Sue Franklin was the Treasurer, Liz King became a committee member. 

 

Preparation was made towards holding a St. Bart’s Parish Camp. 

 

Rev. ‘Mac’ McDonald and his wife from Kent Town Uniting Church visit the community to understand more of its operations. They indicate a desire to cooperate more in the future. 

 

Thursday night Jireh gatherings consolidated around a format of: 

6.50pm Communal Tea, 7.30pm Free Time, 8.00 Children’s Activity, 8.15 Creche, 8.30-10.00 Prayer, Bible Study and Worship.

 

In March, Peter and Marilyn Brown departed for their overseas trip to the United Kingdom and Europe. Jireh held a farewell dinner in the King’s shed.

 

Trevor Harris took an elective at Adelaide Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) Commencement Camp and led a weekly lunchtime cell group at Adelaide Uni. 

 

Jireh people attended a teaching Mission Week in March at Kent Town Uniting Church led by Rev. Colin Urqhart. His teaching on the authority of the Kingdom stimulated faith and blessed many. 

 

This was followed by a St. Bart’s Parish Mission lead by Rev. Charles Widdowson two weeks later. The community door-knocked the neighbourhood and gave invites to a special community meeting at which Charles spoke. Around 30 attended to hear the talk on revival in the Philippines and God’s total love commitment to us. His visit generated much discussion and prayer. 

 

Before Charles Widdowson departed, Peter King and Trevor Harris asked him to pray over them. He prayed that the community would be involved and used in “a renewal of the parish.... with the local churches.... a renewal not only of gifts.... but of God’s wholeness.... a healing work of body, soul and spirit.... of relationships and reconciliation”.

 

Prayer meetings commenced at 7.30am Tuesday mornings at 25 Gray Street. 

 

Jim Burrows moved into the King’s house. He was studying to be a medical doctor at Adelaide University. 

 

Jack and Edith McNicol moved into the cottage at Kent Town Uniting Church, taking up their role as ‘caretakers’ of the church property.

 

Jireh Community were hosts for “Resurrection Band” who were on tour from Chicago. They had a rock’n’roll concert at Hartley College Auditorium on the 29th March. Richard Berry under the Solsound Promotions banner had invited the Christian rock band to Adelaide. In 1977, Mal & Jenny Graetz had stayed at  the band’s community named “Jesus People USA” (JPUSA) in Chicago when on their tour of the USA visiting Christian communities. Glen and Wendy Kaiser and other band members were some of the key leaders at the JPUSA community. Jireh members showed the band members hospitality, provided accommodation and introduced them to Australian Rules Football and Aussie food.

 

Lee Roll invited Jireh people to celebrate Chris Roll’s birthday. The Rolls lived next to the French Polisher at 49 Gray Street.  Lee felt that she was a growing part of the community life.

 

A welcome home night was held for Debbie Brown as she returned from her time in Africa with Emmanuel Tract Fellowship (Malawi and South Africa). 

 

Tom Ryan and Debbie Brown announced their plans to be married. 

 

The St. Bart’s Parish Camp, held on the Anzac Weekend was a good time of fun and fellowship. It was a ‘getting-to-know-you’ between members of Jireh Community and the St. Bart’s church members. The teaching by Grant Thorpe on ‘Relationships’ was an encouragement to many. A number of people, including John and Loreen Noble indicated an interest in Jireh Community.

 

Paul Webster who lived on Sydenham Rd. was ‘converted’ at the Good Friday service. Chris Roll shows interest in salvation.

 

Chris McNicol was busy organizing the “Work and the Gospel” Conference during April. 

 

The women are active in ministry at the local kindy, inviting other mothers back to their community houses to chat. 

 

Jireh Community organized a combined picnic with Manoah Community, House of the Rock and Servants of Christ - its sister communities. It was held at Scott Creek 0val on the 19th April. This was a followup to a well attended session on “Living in Christian Community” in Sept. 1979.

 

A Tuesday Night prayer meeting was reconvened at Sue Franklin’s house during May. 

 

Lynda Jones parents visited the community and Anne Daughtry is a guest of the Harris family. 

 

Around 20-35 attended the Thursday Night community meetings. There was a steady flow of visitors from St. Bart’s.

 

A second ‘corporate’ community meeting was held on the 17th May. Discussion focused on “Work and the Gospel”, the emerging role of the Jireh Community within local churches, and its internal group life.

 

A St. Bart’s Camp Reunion was held in June. Discussions were centred on some needs at St. Bart’s with a common interest in Christian clusters and closer relating. 

 

A special meeting was held to discuss Sue Franklin’s rented cottage at 68 Fisher Street, Norwood that had been put up for auction. A suggestion was put forward that it be purchased by Jireh Community. A lot of discussion and prayer was offered up regarding this proposal. 

 

Bronwyn Tupper moved into 25 Gray St. with other girls. 

 

Thursday meetings were growing in times of praise. 

 

A special bird adopts the Community - the arrival of a white dove. It was perceived as a sign of the Spirit.

 

A number of Jireh people were involved in the ’Work and the Gospel’ Conference on 28th June. 

 

Brian Polkinghorne from ‘Burra Unemployed Project’ stayed with the Kings. 

 

Rev. Trebilcock from Pt. Pirie Uniting Church called in to discuss community in local church situations.

 

In July, the Graetz and King families and several others contributed financially to purchase ‘Sue’s house’. The cottage at 68 Fisher St. was called the “House of Praise”.

Purchase date: 14/7/1980

Purchase price: $22,500

Title owners: 3/4 Peter & Elizabeth King, 1/4 Malcolm & Jennifer Graetz

 

Some of the “God’s Squad” from Melbourne who were on mission at Adelaide University were guests of Jireh Community. 

 

The Adelaide Evangelical Union held its A.G.M. at the Community.

 

Maureen and Trevor Harris and Tom Ryan became confirmed members at St. Bart’s Church. 

 

Trevor was appointed coordinator for those interested in buying houses from the Woodroofe’s Estate. “Woodroofe” was a soft drink bottling company based on Sydenham Road.

 

Jireh Community assisted in the collection for the local Salvation Army’s ‘Red Shield Appeal’. 

 

Malcolm and Jenny Graetz organized a special ‘Music Night’ at the local Kindergarden. 

 

Tom Ryan gets a job at a local factory.

 

An outbreak of ringworms and conjunctivitis put pressure on the mothers’ relationships. The isolation of children was difficult. These incidents highlighted the need for guidelines for community health expectations.

 

Chris and Lee Roll were greatly blessed in their spiritual walk and were baptized by immersion at Sturt St. Christian Revival Crusade (CRC). This generated much excitement in the community. 

 

Chris and Lee renovated Sue Franklin’s bathroom in August when she was on holidays - a real labour of love. Mal commences building a three storey cubby house in Sue’s backyard, next to Bezalel Workshop. 

 

The Woods family joined us while on furlough from missionary activity. 

 

Jack and Edith considered selling their house in Victoria.

 

Maureen and Liz were involved in hosting Vietnamese refugee families. 

 

Some Jireh members attended the dedication of accommodation units at our sister community Manoah, located in Upper Sturt in the Adelaide Hills. 

 

Des Fellowes starts attending Thursday Jireh meetings.

 

Chris and Helen get married on the 7th September 1980 at Nuriootpa Uniting Church. They rented an ‘early settlement’ house at 110 Sydenham Road, near Kensington Road. 

 

Housing became a matter of much prayer for different people showing interest in the community. 

 

John Noble is very ill. John was the chaplain at the Anglican St. Peter’s College which was near to Jireh Community. John and Sally Noble and their two kids, Sally-Anne and Peter were from Queensland.

 

Debbie Brown gets a job after her return from Africa. 

 

Des and Cherie Fellowes announced plans to renew their marriage vows. The community rejoiced at what God had done bringing them back together.

 

There was a variety of happenings in October:

-  A fancy dress mock wedding was held at the kindergarten for Tom Ryan and Debbie Brown with community people and friends. Tom and Debbie were married at St. Bart’s Anglican Church on the 25th October. They moved into the 25 Gray Street house. 

 

-  Bronwyn Tupper and Lynda Jones moved into 27 Gray Street. Kathy Haskard was invited to live with them. 

 

-  The community assisted in providing living essentials and the moving in of the Nguyen refugee Vietnamese family. The community hosted a Vietnamese afternoon and meal. 

 

-  Jim Burrows was offered a Physicians job at Royal Adelaide Hospital. 

 

-  Peter and Liz King visit Coonalpyn and have opportunity for Christian ministry. 

 

-  Lynda Jones and Bronwyn Tupper are busy with their study. Lynda developed contacts with St. Lukes Anglican Church at Whitmore Square in the city. 

 

-  Mara and Eugene Moreau start attending on Thursday nights.

 

-  Trevor completes the plans for the two story addition on the King’s house at 59 Sydenham Rd. and sends them out to tender. 

 

-  A general tiredness prevails in the community. Sick children, busy activities, not enough sleep, etc. is reflected in the meetings.

 

A fourth ‘corporate’ meeting was held in November. 

 

Married couples with children also had a good discussion night, sharing the joys and tribulations of community life. A time of honest sharing and repentance was refreshing. 

 

Lee Roll is miraculously saved from an accident in Sue’s car. Chris Roll organized a replacement vehicle.

 

Community members assisted in a Kindergarten working bee. 

 

Des and Cherie Fellowes renewed their marriage vows at St. Bart’s Church on the 22nd November. [see group photo in front of church PHOTOS 1980]

 

Thursday meetings flowed in prayer and sharing. There was a steady trickle of new faces. 

 

An outbreak of Chicken Pox virus occurred amongst the children in the community. 

 

Lynda Jones was bridesmaid at Andrew Fagan and Suzie’s wedding which was held at St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church.

 

A Jireh ‘corporate’ meeting was held on the 6th December to reflect the activities in 1980 and to give thanks to God. The community prepared for Christmas.

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