List of Jireh Christian Community members recorded by Trevor Harris (possibly early 1984):

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BOBROWSKI Rosemary & daughter Michelle

BOND Sue

BLANEY Peter & Francie - Malcolm, Andrew, Emma & John. Connected with Jireh-St. Bart’s mid Oct. 1982

BROWN Peter & Marilyn; Peter arrived Oct. 1976; Marilyn arrived Dec.1977-Jan 1978  

BURROW Jim

BYERLEY Jeff & Leonie - Michael, Mark, Trevor & Cathy; Moved to 9 Wood St., Norwood 5/5/82

CLEZY Kathy

DAUGHTRY Anne & daughter Helen  (son Steve).

DAVIDS Julie & Grant​

DeGRAAF Rohan  - arrived August 1983 and departed Dec. 1984

ELLYATT David - his mum Judy.

FELLOWES Des & Cherie - Amy, Mark & Leah; Des arrived April 1980; Cherie arrived August 1980

GAYNOR Helen

GRAETZ Mal & Jenny - Sarah, Randy & Jeremy

HARRIS Trevor & Maureen - Sharon, Rebecca & Matthew  

HOGG Josie - Amanda & Annabel

KING Peter & Liz - Michelle, Joshua & Debbie; Peter & Liz connected while Jesus Centre was in Nth. Adelaide.

KING John & Judy - Steve & Jackie;  Lived at 68 Fisher St. January-June1984

LEAFE Peter & Margaret - departed Jan 1985

McNICOL Snr. Jack & Edith 

McNICOL Chris & Helen  - Helen (nee Warry) arrived Feb. 1979

MAY Kayt (Katherine) 

O’KEEFE Karen

PITTAWAY Alec

ROLL Chris & Lee - Sonny & Luke; Lived in Gray St.

RYAN Tom & Debbie

Danny

WAINIGOLO Joshua & Raijeli, Janet and Kellera.  - arrived early 1985

 

In January 1984, Peter King’s brother John, his wife Judy, and their kids Steve and Jackie shifted into the 68 Fisher St. cottage after Sue Franklin departed. They stayed there for 6 months while their new house was being built in the Adelaide Hills. John showed Mal Graetz how to lay bricks at the 62 Fisher St. house.

 

Theme of the Thursday gathering on the 9th Feb. was: “Make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”.

 

The suggestion of the purchase of the builder’s shed and property next to the Scout hall arose. It was envisaged that it become a park jointly used by the scouts, ‘school for difficult kids’ adjacent and Jireh community. Sale price was around $50,000.

 

On Tuesday 21st February, 44 Cub scouts and 7 Cub leaders visited Jireh Community for a BBQ held on the lawns by the shed.

 

Peter King celebrated his 40th birthday with friends and family on his back lawn.

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On Saturday 18th February, Peter King hosted workmates from the Department of Agriculture and farmers to a gathering in his backyard. Jireh people and some of their families also attended to help out with catering and hospitality.

 

Themes for Thursday gatherings:

23 Feb. “Reasons why churches level off”

No foundations; no direction; authority not based on relationships; those in authority cease to share their hearts; inflexible structures; prolonged discouragement; 'slave’ mentality; failure to bring discipline. 

 

30 Feb. “Kingdom Principles”

Holy Spirit is exceptionally active and unconfined; be all encompassing-minded; our security is in God; make room for the new - dismantle the old; rivers of Living Water; the same Spirit that gave us the Scriptures.

 

Peter King was investigating the setting up of a “Rainbow Club” at Norwood Primary School. A 30 minute programme during a lunch time once a week. The principal, Don Drake encouraged Peter to write to the school committee with a proposal.

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A meeting was held at the King’s house on 29th February for people interested in supporting the Bible Club at Norwood Primary School. It was attended by Jenny Graetz, Maureen Harris, Betty Forward, Ian Robertson, Peter & Liz King, Kayt May and Jeff Byerley. It was suggested that people be elected to School Council at the upcoming AGM on the 12th March to help support the proposed “Rainbow Club” lunchtime programme. Rowena Dunk was elected chairperson of the Norwood School Council AGM. Peter King, Maureen Harris and Leonie Byerley were elected as council members.

 

A performance of “Spirit” was attended by people from Jireh on Sat. 10th March at Thornton High School. It was an event held during the Adelaide Festival of Arts.

 

Some of the issues for prayer printed on the Elders notes 13 March 1984:

• Prayer and fasting for use of houses in community. 

• Developers trying to purchase the Norwood Scout Hall to develop this with units adjacent.

• There were unresolved sicknesses for Liz, Mal, Cherie & Jeremy.

• Josie indicated she wanted to leave Jireh for personal reasons.

 

A cricket match between Jireh Community and Shiloh Community was held at the St. Peter’s College Oval on Saturday 17th March from 10.30am to 4.30pm. The two groups shared a BBQ lunch.

 

On Sunday 18th March, Karen O’Keefe, Helen Gainer and Kayt May held a ‘house warming’ in their backyard at Gray Street.

 

Notes from Jireh Newsletter for May 1984:

• good attendance on Thursday night gatherings and excitement at what God was doing. Growth in musical talent and learning new songs.

• good reports of new insights and experience of worship with Chris McNicol and Peter & Marilyn Brown attending a “Music Praise Seminar”.

• Kayt May and Marilyn Brown attended a "Sacred Dance Group” session.

• the “Peppertree Park Proposal” was with the Norwood Council. A court case was held with the Judge ruling that Council’s consent for developer’s building proposal was invalid. The developer (Fisher Development Co.) was submitting a new proposal. Trevor Harris sent another letter to Council urging it to consider negotiating again with the developer, with the suggestion of Council providing $10,000 in compensation.

• a reminder to follow up with visitors to community and to connect with Jireh people in their homes outside of meeting times.

• prayer for expectant mums - Cherie Fellowes, Helen McNicol & Debbie Ryan.

• “Allelon Community" from Tea Tree Gully visited Jireh on Thursday 31st March. Their contact person was John McKay.

 

A Jireh Community meeting held on Sat. 2nd June 1984 was attended by Peter & Marilyn Brown, Des & Cherie Fellowes, Chris & Lee Roll, Kate May, Helen Gainer, Karen O’Keefe, Maureen & Trevor Harris, Peter & Liz King, Mal & Jenny Graetz, Jeff Byerley, Josie Hogg, Peter & Francie Blaney, Chris & Helen McNicol.

 

Some of the issues raised and discussed:

• there was a Pastoral Care overview, getting feedback from Jireh people. People trying to connect with others to pray in smaller groups. Josie was not coping well, especially knowing that she had to shift house in a couple weeks. 

• ongoing leadership issues, people being supported by Jireh and/or St. Bart’s. Practicalities of emerging leadership.

• the broadening of the Stepney housing cluster with Chris & Helen McNicol.

• building projects and finances. People outside observing a lot of building projects on the go taking priority. There were ‘expectations’ on Jireh people to assist in individual projects.

• full support for ‘breaking of bread’ in community gatherings.

 

From Thursday 13th June, the Thursday evening community gatherings were normally held in the Fisher Street Scout Hall. Volunteers were appointed for set up and clean up of hall. A shared tea at 6.30pm. Two creche workers rostered to bed down the younger kids at 7.45pm. The grade 3 and older children encouraged to attend the ‘worship’ time from 7.45-8.30pm and then bedded down.

 

Cherie gave birth to Leah Ruth Fellowes in June.

 

On Thursday, 14th June, John Potter gave an inspirational talk on “ministering to one other”. An interpretation was given, “Come and sit at my feet” says the Lord, “I will reward you with my love”. 

 

On the same night (14/6/84) Trevor Harris spoke at the Bible College of South Australia (BCSA) on the life of Jireh Community. A number of students were very interested in what was happening.

 

Elders notes from 21st June 1984: 

There was an exhortation to actively minister as servants of each other in our corporate life. The greatest are those serving the Lord. The best ministers are those open to God and able to do His will. God wants to multiply our ministry. Let us listen to what the Spirit is saying to our community as we share our lives in the ‘abundance of His grace’.

 

Josie, Amanda & Annabel Hogg moved in with the Harris family on Sat. 16th June. This was  for a couple weeks until suitable accomodation arose.

 

Larry Norman Concert held on 22nd June at Thebarton Concert Hall.

 

Community farewell for Jim Burrow on Thursday 28th June. Jim left Jireh to take up hospital position in Darwin.

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Elder’s notes from 26th July 1984:

• Josie Hogg and girls shifted into 68 Fisher St. house until she found a house to purchase.

• Anne Daughtry was looking for a place to stay or rent for 6 months.

• the Fellowes looking to move into their new home at 62 Fisher St. by the end of August.

• the Fellowes’ house at 45 Gray St. was offered to Peter and Marilyn Brown to consider for purchase.

• a combined “Christian Communities” Night was planned for Wed. 15th August to be held at the Norwood Scout Hall.

 

Amy Grant Concert held on Monday 30th July at Apollo Stadium.

Leon Patillo Concert held on Tues 18th September.

 

The Elder’s meeting minutes from 16th October 1984 indicated that Jireh Community had been divided up into 3 smaller groups. There were about 60 adults and children in Jireh at the time. 

 

These groups would meet fortnightly, alternating with the larger group gathering:

GROUP 1  Blaney family, Peter & Marilyn Brown, King family, Ryan family, Kathy Clezy, David Ellyatt, Merri & Brady.

GROUP 2  Byerley family, Graetz family, McNicol Jnr. family, Peter & Margaret Leafe, Michelle, Anne Daughtry, Kayt May, Alec Pittaway, Rohan DeGraaf.

GROUP 3  Fellowes family, Harris family, Hogg family, Rosemary Bobrowski, Helen Gainer, Danny

 

Peter King notified Jireh community that he was taking long service leave for 14 months with the intention of renovating their home. Peter and Liz wanted the project to be supported by the community. They had a scripture from Proverbs 24: 27 which had encouraged them to proceed with the venture. "Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house." Trevor Harris worked on plans for the renovations with a starting date in mind of early December 1984.

 

Mal Graetz celebrated his 30th Birthday in the Scout Hall on Sat. 27th October. 

The promotional brochure stated: 

CLASSIFIED AD. Would you like to spend a night in adult company? Why not enjoy a dinner inspired by the ‘Coffin-carryin’ caterer? This evening is strictly for those who are young-at-heart. Never mind the age. Supplementing the guest artists will be a ‘Fair Dose’ of Mal’s favourite rock-n-roll numbers so bring your hearing aid. Sorry, your Johnson’s cottonwool balls may be more appropriate. ‘Slide’ along and reminisce of days gone by…..

Mal & Rohan redecorated Mal’s gardening tool box  to resemble a coffin - painted black with gold handles along with some gold artwork by Rohan. It was used in a skit. The song “The Needle and the Damage Done” by Neil Young was playing as the coffin entered the hall with pallbearers. The skit progressed with “Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus” by Larry Norman playing, offering hope in Jesus as the body emerged from the coffin.

 

On the 2nd November 1984, Peter and Marilyn Brown signed the house contract with Des and Cherie Fellowes on 45 Gray Street.

 

Elder’s meeting notes from 26th November 1984:

• the full time employment of Mal Graetz was being considered. Peter King proposed that Mal Graetz be employed to work on the King’s house plus Rainbow Club, Thursday night music and other community activities. Peter estimated that the cost of his building would be around $35,000 and $15,000 would be needed to employ Mal for 2 years.

• reflection on communion in meetings. Do we want this to continue into 1985?

• a community ‘Open Day’ planned for December.

• evaluate the change to 3 smaller groups. What has God been saying to us in this time? Do we continue this format into 1985?

• Jack & Edith McNicol’s 50th wedding anniversary coming up in December. Helen and Edith asking for support from the community.

• a scaled down Christmas event due to the Open Day and wedding anniversary celebrations.

• a growing desire for some ‘community’ meetings to be more socially orientated.

 

In November, the Fellowes shifted to their newly renovated home at 62 Fisher Street.

Peter and Marilyn Brown shifted to their newly purchased home at 45 Gray Street.

 

The Norwood Pageant was held on Sat. 24th November. The donkey and camels were included which were popular with the onlookers. The combined local churches joined together to include their nativity entry. The donkey and camels were included which were popular with the onlookers.

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A Jireh Community Open Day was held on Sunday 2nd December. Lunch was held in the King’s shed followed by a short talk about Jireh Community. People were then able to visit various homes in the community to see first hand any of the building renovations and to ask questions about how people were living and relating to each other in Jireh and to other churches.

 

Jack and Edith’s 50th Wedding Anniversary was held in St. Bartholomew’s Church Hall on Wednesday 19th December. Jireh and St. Bart’s people helped to make the evening a great celebration.