Chris McNicol's Journey
Chris came from Victoria in 1973 to study music at the Adelaide University Conservatorium. He had a Christian background and a Christian experience when he was 8 or 10 but had ‘backslidden’.
In 1973 Chris was confronted with people sharing the gospel with him on several occasions. He had the opportunity to share with Trevor Harris about the faith at the end of that year. Those events helped him to come back to the Lord. He made contact with the Adelaide Jesus Centre at Malvern and a bit later got involved with the street ministry at the ‘One Way Drop Inn’ on Melbourne Street, North Adelaide. On one occasion he stayed in the Jesus House in Malvern with Frank Eames when some of the residents were away.
A year later he felt the Lord wanted him to connect with the Methodist (Uniting Church) at Islington. He still kept in contact with the Jesus Centre.
In 1974, while Chris was studying music full time at Adelaide University, Don Priest invited him to replace him as pianist in the band ‘Kerygma’. Chris was a bit unsure if Christians could play rock music, but he was persuaded to join the band. “Kerygma” was a Greek word used in the New Testament for “proclamation”. The group changed it’s name to “Strike-a-Light” in 1975-76.
Chris completed his music degree and then did further study in philosophy and logic with his greater interest in apologetics. In 1977, he left the band. In 1978 he got involved in Radio 5UV, University radio. Having connected with Tony Murphy and Phil Jeffries, they were all involved with a ‘student magazine’ radio programme.
Chris was drawn to issues to do with ‘the Gospel’. Around that time, “Pilgrims Papers” were being written by Chester Schultz. Dante Rocissano had written some material previously which had connected with this, and it also inspired Chris to write. He gave some of this material to Chester Schultz. “Pilgrims Papers” became his project at that time and it gave Chris the opportunity to take up a different role in editing and assisting with the publication of the papers. He was living with Rod and Vivi Boucher at that time in 1978.
In 1979, Chris stayed with Phil Jeffries for about a month and then reconnected with Trevor Harris and the Jesus Centre. He moved in with Mal and Jenny Graetz and Tom Ryan at 22 Gray Street, Norwood. The Community supported him with accommodation and there was some financial contribution to his living expenses. He continued with some writing and also the radio work.
The Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) had a number of interest groups which linked to Graduates Fellowship (GF). Trevor Harris from Graduates Fellowship wanted to explore more of the Christian witness in the work place. The ministry of ‘Work & the Gospel’ sought to extend the thinking from a Christian perspective. Six areas were explored: Non-paid Workers, Labourers, the Arts & Media, the Professions, Business and Politics.
Early in 1980, Graham Wright who was chairman of “Christian Community Radio”, invited Chris to become a member. The radio ministry seemed to offer opportunities for the Gospel. Chris’s involvement in this ministry seemed to take over from his previous activities with ‘Work & the Gospel.’ He became a member of the Christian Community Radio Board of Management and the first full time worker for the group broadcasting on 5UV and 5PBA FM.
Chris met Helen Warry at the Uniting Church Easter Camp at Mt. Barker in 1978. At that time Chris was living with the Boucher family at Malvern. Chris and Helen were married on the 7th September 1980 at Nuriootpa Uniting Church and initially lived at 110 Sydenham Road, Norwood in an old ‘early settlement house’.
In 1978 Chris had a head on motorbike collision and was given an insurance payout. This virtually paid for the purchase of their house at Stepney in 1981. It was the first farm house built in Stepney and was in much need of repair. Chris and Helen renovated the existing house and built a mud-brick extension of six rooms on the back. They shifted in to this house in April 1982. Helen celebrated her 21st birthday in October 1982.
After 1984 they regularly attended St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church along with quite a few others from Jireh Christian Community (renamed from ‘Jesus Centre’ in Jan. 1980). There had previously been an ongoing debate over whether Jireh was a church or not, and how the group related to local churches in the area. After Chris and Helen left St. Bart’s Church they went on to ‘King’s Community Church’ for a time. It was a Baptist Church with strong ‘pentecostal-charismatic’ leanings. This Church had some similarity with Jesus Centre-Jireh, in that it had an openness for all to contribute - a “round table”.
A number of things came to a head in 1984. Chris suffered a major emotional breakdown, with 7 years of a ‘wilderness’ experience. Then rather wonderfully, he was called back into Christian ministry. He was able to work with the ‘Noarlunga Farm Project’, which was established through Graham Thompson and Marshall-Thompson Homes. After the first year it came under the authority structure of Fusion Adelaide South. This allowed Chris and Helen to make the move to McLaren Vale at the start of 1993. They had outgrown their Stepney house after Lucy, child number five arrived. Chris was able to complete a Grad. Diploma of Education in 1991 and took up the position as the Training Officer at Noarlunga Farm.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT CHRIS’S PARENTS
Back in 1973 Jack and Edith McNicol bought a house in Prospect, Adelaide. Chris lived there while he was studying for his music degree. His parents would come over from time to time to visit him. Jack was converted after attending a Christian Revival Crusade (CRC) meeting with evangelist Harry Greenwood, while he was speaking in Adelaide. He was formerly a ‘lapsed’ Seventh Day Adventist. But after this experience, he became an ‘active’ Christian.
In 1981, Peter King introduced Jack and Edith to the caretakers job at Kent Town Uniting Church. This came with accommodation in the church cottage. They moved to Adelaide from their home in Tongala, Victoria and become part of Jireh Community. While acting as caretakers of Kent Town UC, they bought the house at 47 Gray Street which was next to Des and Cherie Fellowes home. They renovated it with help from a builder friend and moved there in October 1982. Jack and Edith were quite involved with Jireh Community in the years to come.
