Josie Tanner and Kent Truehl arrived in Adelaide in January 1985 to prepare for their wedding in March. Kent reflects, During these two months was my first time to meet members of the Jireh Community. I remember the picnic in the park seeing and learning about cricket for the first time. I also remember a day at the beach where I got to teach and play some American Football with some of you. 

 

A “Rainbow Club” meeting was held on the 6th February. It was agreed that:

- A Rainbow Club run on Monday lunchtimes for Reception to Year 3’s.

- An after school club for Years 4-7 begin after Easter.

- A half day seminar be held the week before Easter to present to the whole school the significance of Easter.

The team running the lunchtime club in Term 1 was run by Maureen Harris, Gerry Holmes, Jenny Graetz, Liz King, Anne Lathlean and Glenda Maglica.

 

On the 28th March, Josie & Kent shared their experiences in YWAM with Jireh Community at a Thursday night gathering. 

A later account* from Kent of their coming together:

We met when we they did our second training school with YWAM Los Angeles which was the ‘School of Evangelism' that started in September 1982….. “She [Josie] caught my attention from the first day of class. Besides being very good looking, I found her full of energy, well organised, fast paced, and fun. I also found her care and love for people, her delightful disposition, and her resolute commitment to God and missions very attractive. We seemed a good match, yet the details of how ‘us’ could possibly eventuate seemed too complex. For starters I was American and she was Australian. To complicate matters further, her US Visa expired, resulting in a move to Hong Kong, while I remained in Los Angeles."

* from the book “RIVER PEOPLE” published in 2016 - quoting the opening paragraph.

 

The first Jireh “Community Business & Evaluation” meeting was held on 2nd March 1985. 

Present: Brown’s, McNicol’s, Graetz’s, Blaney’s, Harris’, Byerley’s, Fellowes, Rohan DeGraaf, Debbie Ryan, Josie Truhel, David Ellyatt, Jim Burrow, Helen Gainer.

• Planning for Passover Meal

• Suggestion for Jireh Community holiday every 2 years

• Financial support of missionaries - Josie & Kent Truhel and Christine & Mazhar Mallouhi.

• Proposal to buy stacking chairs for shed. Cost of $16.50 per chair.

• Unrest about building projects in community.

• Small groups to resume again.

 

House groups resumed on the 7th March.

 

Josie Tanner was married to Kent Truhel on the 9th March at Parkside Baptist Church. After one week of honeymoon at Victor Harbor, Josie and Kent returned to Los Angeles to be on the staff of the new missions programme they were starting with their YWAM team in LA called “Applied Cross-Cultural Training”.

 

On Saturday 16th March, a cricket match was held with Shiloh Community.

 

Elder’s meeting notes 25th March 1985:

A decision to divide Jireh giving fund - ⅓ to overseas missions, ⅓ to Jireh Community needs and ⅓ to local ministry (eg schools outreach, pageant etc). Jim Burrow encouraged people in their giving.

 

Excerpts from Mal Graetz’s notes dated March 1985:

Jireh Community cannot stay stationary in its present form.

My belief is that God will send out ‘missionaries’ from us - especially those in [current] leadership.

I do not feel that we [Graetz’s] will live in our present situation in the long term…

…it is essential that other leadership be encouraged and raised up to carry on the work in the existing Jireh group.

I believe that the eldership of Jireh should be in more constant contact with St. Bart’s leadership. St. Bart’s and Jireh have become inseparable as far as I can perceive in the Spirit and it would spell disaster if either group rejected or withdrew from each other.

…many in Jireh see Trevor Harris, Peter King and Mal Graetz and their wives as ‘the community’ (inner circle) by which the ongoing existence is guaranteed. If we were removed it would be doubtful whether Jireh could exist except maybe under the oversight from St. Bart’s.

….are we propping up community ideals when many of us don’t believe in them….I see little evidence of a commitment to a ‘community-orientated life’.

On the issue of finances: Those who complain most about money seem to be the most hung up about possessions and material things. Those who are givers mostly do it without complaining and cheerfully, and in good faith trust those who are handling it.

On the issue of building: The building projects have been blown all out of proportion. Because of the financial outlay, it is essential for us to have some order in our building projects. When God inspires a project, let’s back it.

 

Elder’s Notes for April 1985 included:

- An after school Rainbow Club was proposed.

- Elders to meet with Rev. Brian Fagan regarding Jireh’s relationship with St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church.

- A successful working bee was held at Chris & Helen McNicol’s property at Stepney.

 

On the 1st April, a Rainbow Club Easter Seminar was held at Norwood Primary School. Preps to Grade 3 had a session from 9.30am-10.30am and Grades 4-7 had a session from 11.30am-12.30pm. The “Easter Story” was presented through ‘3 Corner Jack’ band, a drama, and tap dancing. There was a talk by Bill Lutton from the Presbyterian Church. A questionnaire completed by teachers indicated widespread approval of the material presented and its acceptance by the children.

 

An after school Rainbow Club for Years 4-7 commenced the week after Easter on Mondays in the School Community Room. This began with about 6 children attending. The group, led by Peter King and Mal Graetz, was assisted by Tim and Maggie Kidd, Steve Daughtry and Jo Turner.

 

A Jireh Passover-Easter celebration was held in the Scout Hall on Thursday 4th April. A collection was made on the night to aid famine relief through World Vision. 

 

A second Jireh “Community Business & Evaluation” meeting was held on the 4th May.

- Liz King retired as Treasurer. She presented a detailed financial statement.

- Peter King suggested we have a more ordered system of giving to support more needy people relating to Jireh Community.

- The question of Mal Graetz’s time spent in the community - needed more definition.

- More order in the process of tools being accessed by community people. Basic tools needed for each household. Need for an assets manager. An inventory of tools suggested. More explanation of how to use certain tools.

- The Fellowes to take on Treasurer role for Jireh.

- Still issues with discipline of children during Thursday night gatherings.

 

The elders of Jireh, Trevor Harris, Peter King and Mal Graetz met with Rev. Geoffrey Bingham at his home in Coromandel Valley on the 7th May 1985 to seek his wisdom about the life of Jireh Community. 

In summary Geoff advised, “Don’t proceed without unity. Clarify your leadership. Recognize your calling and aim for the mark. Tighten up your organisation and give it discipline.”

 

Elders Notes from this meeting:

The purpose of meeting with Geoff Bingham was to discuss the differences in approach to handling community needs and to discern future development of the community.

The following points summarised the emphasis of the evening.

 

1. God’s purpose for Jireh - vision.

Geoff asked us “What had God shown Jireh?”

1. New Testament style living. (Acts 2-5) There are four main attributes to be present at Jireh:

• Everything in common - the people were of one heart and soul (4:32) and shared their resources.

• Worshipping together.

• Breaking bread together in each other’s homes.

• Demonstrating with great power, testimony to the resurrection.

 

2. Non-denominational.

There is only one Jesus and only one church. The world sees denominations as factions and divisions. These are artificial barriers. The Lord is calling people to unity. 

• No denominational ties. The community is not called to wear any hat. All its members are encouraged to belong to another local congregation of believers. 

• The community is church and has elders pastors etc but needs full integration with other local groups. Some people will regard the community as their sole place of worship but the community will encourage them to also develop ties with other churches.

• Charismatic. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are actively sought after for a building of the body. These are evident in worship (singing or speaking in tongues, prophecy, wisdom, discernment etc) in counselling (wisdom, discernment) and physical construction of the community (building, finance) to name but a few areas.

 

3. Laboratory of Relationships.

Australian churches are very weak because Christians relate rather superficially (eg Sunday 11 to 12.30), and find it hard to speak to each other. God has called us to enormous sharing involving:

• Sharing of physical resources - our trades, skills etc 

• Eldership of all encompassing nature. No distinction is made between physical and spiritual (ie house cleaning and building and worship both physical and spiritual.) 

• Repentance, forgiveness and restoration are expected to be a continual experience. Differences are expected to be sorted out immediately they occur. A daily practice.

 

4. Community.

Jireh is to have strong, local neighbourhood development - a group of believers in every street. This allows the local people to identify with Christians and see what they do and how they live. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” John 13:35

This contrasts much with the widespread travelling of Christians who may be neighbours but not know each other and may travel in opposite directions for miles to their respective meeting places. Where we live we love. The community is to be involved locally. Examples include schools, pageants, councils, clubs etc.

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5. Prophecies and Scriptures.

Over the years strong guidelines for our development have been given by the Holy Spirit. A community at Norwood was visioned in the Jesus Centre group at North Adelaide in 1974. ‘Jireh' is a suffix of Jehovah (Genesis 22:14), ensures us that God will provide all our needs both physical (eg houses) and spiritual (eg eternal life). The Lord is our Builder Psalm 127 v1-2 “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain…”. God demands that He builds and that we rest - that we proceed without tension. Peter King and Trevor Harris praying with Charles Widdowson were shown that God wants Jireh to be a catalyst for the renewing of local congregations in Norwood.

 

2. Handling Differences of Opinion

During the course of the evening it became apparent that most of our difficulties had been generated by one procedural mistake! The correct procedure should be “Resolve what is God’s intention for us before beginning any work”.   

 

Some examples for us:

1. Building projects.

Everyone to take full responsibility and organise and pay for his/her own work [Trevor]. 

Set up a building ministry team to plan, construct and finance [Peter]. 

Geoff emphasised that we should have retreated somewhere until unity was achieved. 

Another example:

Should we renovate only the back of the Fellowes’ house or half of it or all of it. We gravitated to full renovation. This made planning difficult and life hectic for Des and Cherie.

 

2. Local Churches.

Our involvement in local churches should be planned more and not a process of osmosis. Peter commented that he thought it was unhealthy for Jireh people to be ‘controlling’ St. Bartholomew’s Church eg. wardens, Sunday school teachers, creche, local preachers, song leaders, Know Your Bible leaders, editors of parish magazine etc. Each has followed the other into St. Barts rather than Jesus telling us to become “an Anglican community”. Hogging positions in local churches prevents other people from maturing.

 

3. Identifying Roles

Geoff felt there was an important step to be taken to clarify the positions of the elders. In a brief discussion we agreed that Trevor was the overall leader. Geoff therefore called him ‘Pastor.' When we said that Mal was a ‘deacon’, Geoff was horrified and said Mal was an elder. This is a community responsibility to clarify the positions of people serving. 

Note: the apostles served at the tables (diakonos) and appointed seven others eg Stephen (a miracle worker) and Philip (an evangelist) in their place at the tables.

 

4. Tighten Our Ranks

Geoff told us to recognise clearly our calling and put it into practice - aim straight at the target God has given us. He did not expect us to seek the covering of other local churches as though we couldn't hear from God ourselves or for them to be advisers on our development. Our relationships should be based on brotherly [sisterly] love and mutual upbuilding.

In conclusion, Geoff offered his home as a place for us to retreat and seek the Lord. He offered to meet again with us to continue to focus our attention on the issue.

 

In School Term 2, the Junior and Upper Primary Rainbow Club groups continued to run on Mondays in June. Up to 15 children, some who didn’t have a church background, attended the after school club. Due to a shortage of leaders, it was decided to discontinue this group after Term 2. A suggestion was made to hold this group on a Sunday morning.

 

John Potter sent a letter to Jireh elders on the 3 June 1985. An extract:

As a brother, I feel simply to say that, while Jireh has demonstrated excellent principles of community in terms of moving with the spirit, it has tended to move backwards according to the pattern of Ephesus [losing your first love]. It seems that you have just held your ground over the past seven years but this may be because the Lord has been preparing most of your troops and elders. It takes time to build families with very young people. 

When he was visiting, John shared with us Exodus 15, “The Song of the Redeemed.”

 

There was an elder’s retreat in June to work on their relationships, revisit the calling of Jireh Community and our relationship with St. Bart’s Church.

 

On the 20 June 1985, Naomi Morton shared a word while visiting:

My people, oh my people, how many times I would call you as a hen calls her chicks to come under my covering body for protection but you would not. I have called you to walk along my paths, to do my ways, and to see my face. Call upon me, come under my wings for covering. I desire for you, my people, not to stay grovelling among the dirt or on the ground, but to soar with me in the heavenlies, to rise up on eagles’ wings and reach heights that you never knew were for you. Do not be content with the mediocre or the ‘norm’ but strive to place yourself in my arms and let me carry you on my wings to my Father's throne. Do not fear the future. I have all in my control. Stay close to my heart beat and learn of me. Then and only then, will I open up new horizons to you.

 

On the 6th July, a third Jireh “Community Business & Evaluation” meeting was held to address eldership issues, building ministry, relating to St. Bart’s Church, the vision of Jireh community and the ongoing use of 68 Fisher St. Still asking the question - “Are we a Church?”

 

Peter Blaney wrote a letter to the elders on the 7th July urging them to sort out the relationship with Jireh Community and St. Bart’s Church. “We need some initiative on these issues, not just comments.” 

The letter was mostly positive and encouraging: 

Thank you all three of you for the help, fellowship and love you have shared with me and my family over the years. We have been encouraged by you and your example and it has meant a great deal to us. I hope we can build skills and structures we need in community to grow and develop the group. God has presented us with the challenge through our situation and I think we can grow and learn from what he is teaching us. Regards and best wishes.

 

Peter and Wilma (Willemina) York, who were from Melbourne, stayed in the 68 Fisher street cottage during July. They were part of “Grazed Knee Theatrics” who were performing the “Regardless” theatre show in Adelaide during the International Year of Youth (IYY) 1985. This event was organised by Fusion Australia. Jireh helped support this project by making accommodation available for artists.

 

The main points from Jireh Newsletter dated 30th July 1985:

- Peter King requested that his family move to 68 Fisher Street from the 5th July after the Yorks departed. This was in order to speed up the internal renovations at 59 Sydenham Road.

- Peter and Wilma York had an open house on Sunday 4th August to farewell Jireh Community people.

- An anonymous gift of $5,000 was given for distribution for needs inside and outside of Jireh.

- Mal suggested that the community have a few sessions focussing on parent-children relationships based on the booklet “Children - Fun or Frenzy?” by Al & Pat Fabrizio.

 

The Graetz family and Helen Gainer travelled by car to attend the “Canberra Gathering 1985” from the 31st August to the 1st September 1985. They joined 1,300 young people on the “march of witness” which ended in a gathering on the lawns at ‘Old’ Parliament House. Following the gathering which included speakers and music, the participants encircled the New Parliament House construction site to pray for the nation. They also attended the all night “Dusk to Dawn Festival” in the Bruce Indoor Stadium which had a variety of speakers and performing artists. The Canberra Gathering was coordinated by Fusion Australia in conjunction with “The International Year of Youth” programme in 1985. (see reports in Fusion’s National Bulletin November 1985) The “Grazed Knee Theatrics” group was also involved in the Gathering and week of mission in Canberra (see photos 1985)

 

The Graetz family did some sightseeing on the journey back to South Australia and joined the Jireh Camp at Barmera before returning to Norwood. At the time, Jenny Graetz was 7 months into her fourth pregnancy.

 

The Jireh Family Camp was held at Camp Kedron, the Lutheran campsite at Lake Bonney, Barmera between Saturday 7th to Thursday 12th September in the school holidays. The location in the Riverland was 3 hours from Norwood. There was a bonfire and concert on the first night. There was fishing, crabbing and boating at Katarapko Creek with a bush campfire. The Monday was spent at the ‘monumental’ Monash playground followed by a visit to the “Big Orange” and a river cruise on the “Mary Ann”.

The Jireh group visited the Renmark Snake and reptile Zoo on Tuesday followed by a picnic lunch at the River Murray Lock 5 sandbar. On Wednesday there was a visit to the Loxton Historic Village and Rilli Wildlife Reserve. On return to the Barmera campsite that day, it was discovered that one of the Byerley lads had been left behind! Fortunately, Jeff went back and found his lost son.

There was a Thanksgiving service on the Thursday before packing up and returning home to Adelaide. A great programme complied by Trevor Harris. Trevor grew up as a lad in Berri.

 

The Junior Rainbow Club continued to run throughout Term 3 at Norwood Primary School. Cherie Fellowes, Julie Davids and Rajieli Wainigolo joined the team.

 

A proposal was spelled out (4/10/1985) for Mal Graetz to register a business name under “Firm Foundation Enterprises”. This would help with taxation issues - being defined as a ‘contractor’ rather than an ‘employee’. It was also proposed that if Jireh wanted to support Mal for a specified time each week, this period of employment would come under the direct oversight of the eldership to clarify what his responsibilities would be. 

This would include: organisation of and maintenance of Bezalel equipment and facilities, children's ministry in the schools, visitation and social help within the neighbourhood, attending gatherings and meetings which could benefit Jireh community as a whole. If Jireh as a whole wanted to support and finance a building project(s), the eldership could approach the “business” and negotiate terms of work on that project. Otherwise it would be up to individual households to organise building procedures.

 

Some points from Jireh Community October 1985 elders notes:

- After a meeting with St. Bart’s leaders, the elders agreed we needed to come to terms with our own identity.

- House groups were in varying degrees of success with leadership issues for some.

- The morning weekday prayer group at the King’s place was going well.

- The Jireh men who met with John Potter had a good time of sharing and teaching.

- A farewell was given for Chris and Lee Roll who were spending time in the USA.

- John Potter attended the Community Meeting on the 24th October speaking on “The Vision and Calling - some thoughts for Jireh”.

- There was a group of people who wanted to relate more to Jireh Community - Julie and Grant Davids, Joshua & Raijieli Wainigolo, Ann & Helen Daughtry, Jo Turner and David Burrow were interested in living closer.

 

On the 28th October, Josie and Kent Truhel returned to Adelaide because Josephine’s mother (June Tanner), was dying of cancer. June died while Josie was in flight to Australia. Josie and Kent stayed in her mother’s house and helped ready it for sale.

 

Jonathan Charly Graetz was born on the 31st October at the Queen Victoria Hospital. The top floors of the hospital overlooked the Grand Prix racing track so visitors were restricted.

 

Jireh held its 4th “Community Business & Evaluation” meeting.

 

Singer-musician Larry Norman had a concert at Thebarton Town Hall on the 22nd November.

 

Trevor Harris started building work on the back of his home. The extension was for a new laundry, bathroom and a spare bedroom.

 

In December, the Rainbow Club group on behalf of the churches in Norwood presented a Christmas seminar to the students at Norwood Primary School. It included an Australian Christmas musical adapted from Leigh Newton’s “Christmas in the Scrub”. Other Christians apart from the local team were invited to assist. There was Nigel Wittwer, Leigh Newton, and, Alan Bailey and Rob George from “Open Air Campaigners” ministry. Local kindergartens were invited, which drew another 40 children to the two presentations.

 

The Gray Street Kindergarten hosted a Family night in December. (see photo below)

 

The cottage at 68 Fisher street was vacated in December by the King family and Josie and Kent Truhel took up residence in the community cottage from Christmas 1985 until late February 1986.

Kent reflects:

This is when I did the 40 day fast for God’s direction that I wrote about in the book “RIVER PEOPLE - Taking God’s Love and Transforming Power to the Amazon” (see Chapter 15, Pages 70-73). 

The housing was a huge help to us financially. It was a blessing to be a part of the Christian community during this time. We made many lifelong friends in those few months - in particular the McNicol, the Fellowes, the Graetz, the King and the Harris families.​​