Mal Graetz’s Reflections
Part of my story is covered in the 1971-72 History of the JESUS CENTRE.
I was introduced to the “Jesus Movement” by John Smith in 1971 through a TRUTH Jesus Paper from the USA. I had been introduced to the 1960s Counterculture through contemporary music. “The Beatles” band from the UK stole the radio airwaves and influenced my thinking.
I had contact with “Charismatic” and “Pentecostal” people in my mid teens while living in the country town of Renmark, South Australia.
In my last years of high school, I had attended several Christian Easter Camps at Mt. Barker which had a “deeper life” and “end times” focus. It was at the 1972 Easter Camp that I met Jenny (Jennifer) Riemann. She was attending with a few of her youth group from Hillcrest Baptist Church. My connection with Jenny and her family continued after the camp as I was then living in Adelaide.
Jenny and I were close friends leading up to our engagement in January 1973 and were both involved in the formation days of the Jesus Centre.
Our marriage in January 1976 was supported by the Jesus Centre group that was then operating out of North Adelaide. I had lived in the ‘Jesus House’ at 134 Melbourne Street for 2 years.
I valued the time working with Gordon Fry as ‘pastor’ of the Jesus Centre. He was a few years older than most of us who were in our late teens and early 20s. Most of the ‘influential’ Jesus Movement leaders in Australia at that time were in their late 20’s and early 30s. This brought some wisdom and life experience to us younger ones.
For me the freshness of younger leadership in the church and contemporary ‘Jesus music’ was encouraging. The experience of living in community brought new opportunities for Christian ministry amongst those around us who were searching for meaning in life.
Looking back on those Jesus Centre and Jireh Community days in the 1970s and 80s, I was encouraged by the meaningful relationships that were established and the depth of Christian community that we were privileged to experience. Although there were ‘fallouts’ in some relationships, (as there are in most church groups), I believe that in the end many of us were moved on to other situations to serve God.
While living in Jireh Community in Norwood, we re-connected with Fusion Australia. An Elizabeth base in the northern suburbs of Adelaide was being established in 1985. This provided opportunities to connect with the wider church across Adelaide and Australia, especially with the Easter programmes and the National Gatherings in Canberra leading up to the Bicentennial Year in 1988.
The connection with Steve Daughtry and Gerry Holmes in the mid 1980’s was a calalyst for them to develop their God given musical gifts within the Jireh Community, Fusion and further abroad. Steve went on to establish “Company of Sinners” Christian theatre group in 1993 which performed to ten of thousands of young people over the next decade. Gerry currently works with a few of us on the SONGS-of-faith-hope-and-love music website, featuring Christian songs from the late 20th century.
I am grateful to God for the 15+ years of the Jesus Centre-Jireh era. A special thanks to Trevor Harris who was a mentor to me over many years. I was privileged to accompany him in more recent years on three of his Middle East trips researching Biblical sites. We still enjoy catching up and reflecting on life.