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DIRECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT |
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For the Ministry Year January 2000 to December 2000 The year 2000 had been anticipated with great expectation and speculation by many. CCG Ministries (and others), however, did not suffer massive Y2K problems or other serious setbacks. The doom and gloom some had predicted did not envelope us. As we look back over the year we have seen many positive developments and reasons for encouragement.We are thankful to God, and His people, for supporting us through the achievements of the year 2000. Through our Ministry Centre facilities at 50 Carcoola Street, Nollamara, we were able to more effectively continue our efforts at supporting families facing crises through religious conflict and confusion, informing the community, assisting and counselling individuals, equipping and educating Christians and churches, around Australia and in Asia. While the dreaded doom and gloom predicted before 2000 did not eventuate - tragedy did come to religious seekers. In March 2000 the horrifying murders of members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God in Uganda shocked us - and the rest of the world. While no accurate final figure was arrived at (and official government statements greatly understated the death), it seems certain that over 1,000 people died in this extreme religious fringe group that was predominantly a Roman Catholic breakaway group. We were saddened by this enormous tragedy, and all the more so by the lack of media interest or concern around the world. When the Jonestown tragedy occurred in the jungles of Guyana in November 1978, and 913 people died because of the dictates of Jim Jones, the media around the world kept a focus on the tragedy for many months. How could it have happened? Why had it happened in our enlightened age? Why hadn’t people listened to those who sounded warnings long before the deaths? How could it be prevented? Could we learn lessons from that tragedy? The Jonestown tragedy was, in many ways, the catalyst that led to the founding of CCG Ministries. This was developed as a Christian counter cult ministry focussing on truth, compassion and balance in its efforts to assist individuals, families, churches and the community deal with religious extremes and manipulation - and in a small way, contribute to reducing potential for such tragedies as Jonestown. In our 1999 report we noted that media had largely lost interest in religious cultic activities, unless it was extreme and sensational. This was most evident with the coverage given to the Ugandan tragedy involving members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandment of God. While the world media gave months of, often in-depth, coverage to the Jonestown tragedy in 1978, the world media basically stopped reporting on the Ugandan tragedy after about a fortnight, with only a few sporadic updates provided in subsequent months. The pain and suffering brought to families and relatives in Uganda in relation to the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God was extremely real. The lack of media coverage and world concern did not lessen their grief, hurt and anger. As 2000 continued on so did the conflict and confusion brought by cultic groups, religious extremes and religious manipulation. Around the world, children and adults died because of teachings against the use of conventional medicines or the belief that God does not approve of doctors and modern medication. Marriages were broken, families divided, relationships shattered through the negative impact of religious extremes, leader domination, control and manipulation. Individuals were left spiritually and emotionally scarred and fragile through their negative religious experiences. For some of those confused and hurting people, we were able to be there to provide understanding, assistance, counselling, information, and more. Those who received our limited help expressed their gratitude and appreciation. After 21 years in an often controversial area of outreach and service, we see a continuing, and perhaps even greater, need for our Ministry, even in the face of increasing apathy, and look forward to the challenges of the new year ahead. OUR MINISTRY CENTRE Our Ministry Centre at 50 Carcoola Street, is an enormous asset. Visitors to our Centre, whether local or from further afield, have all expressed their admiration for the Centre’s facilities and development. Many people have expressed their initial impression that the building (a former Aboriginal hostel) had been purpose built for us. During the past year the accommodation quarters were fully utilised by David van Leen as our live-in caretaker. During this period David was a member of the pastoral ministry team at the Kingsley Church of Christ. His presence in our Centre provided additional security on the property, and he also assisted with cleaning and watering the gardens. The renovated and completed Banfield Seminar Room was used for lectures and seminars during the year. The room and the adjoining closed-in garage were also used for a number of book and garage sales held during the year. Books have been set up on permanent display, in the enclosed garage area, for perusal and purchase during weekdays throughout the year The outside storage shed and workroom was painted and has been utilised throughout the past year. A retaining wall and levelled grassed area was also developed between the Banfield Seminar Room and the outdoor shed. Maintenance work on our Centre building, and in the yard and gardens, has been overseen, and much of it actually done, by our honorary property manager, Eric Banfield,. During the past year he continued to serve as a back-up assistant to our treasurer, and ensured that all the financial records were kept accurate and up to date on the computer. We continue to be extremely grateful for all his hard work and consistent support. PERSONNEL CCG Ministries continued to be guided and led during the 2000 ministry year by the Board of Management. We were led by Rob Furlong (Churches of Christ) as Chairman, and Ray Dorn (Brethren) as Vice-Chairman. Glynis Turpin (Baptist) continued as Board Secretary, Peter Emmens (Anglican) as Treasurer, myself (Adrian van Leen – Churches of Christ) as Director; and Board members were: Lorrie van Leen (Churches of Christ), George and Christine O'Neil (Churches of Christ) and Lester Sutton (Churches of Christ). Following the resignation of Dr Pauline Yeo in December 1999, after serving on the Board since 1988, Lester Sutton, Minister of the Scarborough Church of Christ, joined our Board in early 2000. Dr George O’Neil, one of our long serving Board members, was honoured earlier in 2000 as the Western Australian of the Year. George was again giving recognition for his work with heroin addicts through his naltrexone treatment programme on Western Australia’s Foundation Day (June 1) and was named as Citizen of the Year, jointly with WA’s Chief Justice, David Malcolm, in the Professions category of the Awards. Board Chairman, Rob Furlong, was recognised in his pastoral and outreach ministry at the Thornlie Church of Christ, with an invitation to attend the Amsterdam 2000 evangelism conference, which ran from July 29 to August 6. Amsterdam 2000, at which participation was by invitation only, was a nine-day conference for some 10,000 evangelists and church leaders from more than 185 countries and territories, speaking at least 25 different languages. Approximately 75 percent of those invited to Amsterdam 2000 were from developing nations. The conference, sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, followed earlier BGEA-sponsored conferences designed to equip and encourage those directly involved in evangelistic preaching and ministry. During the year our Board Secretary, Glenys Turpin, was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her twenty years of service to the Girls Brigade. The encouragement and leadership of Board members, and their support of staff and volunteers, has been a vital and appreciated part of CCG Ministries Inc. We again gratefully acknowledge the guidance and help of the Board in working through significant ministry decisions and directions during the past year. Our volunteer team has been vital to the effectiveness of CCG Ministries. Individuals, with varied and mixed skills, and a genuine willingness to serve, have worked as a team to carry out a great deal of the work of the Ministry. Many of the routine, but important, task in the office were carried out, without complaint, by our volunteers. Their contributions during 2000 have been greatly valued and deeply appreciated. Our 2000 team of regular volunteers were Jim and Nancy Fairbairn, Mona Morey, Eve Morgan, Mary Reid, Margery Renwick and Sue Zambra. These volunteers were involved in a wide range of office and library related activities. Sue Tate and Lisa Saul (in New South Wales) also assisted for part of the year with word processing and compilation of articles for our magazine, TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. Ill-health led to Lisa being unable to continue using her journalistic skills to help our Ministry. We have continued to appreciate special computer assistance given by Allen Browne (from 98.5 SONSHINE FM) during 2000, as well as David Edwards (from WA Bible College) for ongoing assistance with setting up our new computer library programme and assistance in the transfer of data from to old programme to the new one.. During 2000 our staff team consisted of my wife, Lorrie, and I working full-time. Tracy Taylor returned to some part-time work following her maternity leave. Lorrie van Leen continued to be responsible for the general maintenance of the office - answering all telephone calls, dealing with visitors, handling all written correspondence. She has also organised our volunteers; done some counselling; read, sorted and marked articles, periodicals and other information received, for filing or further attention; has done much of the filing; handled daily finances and banking; and tried to ensure the Director knew what was in his diary and on the daily programme. Due to insufficient funds, Lorrie has continued to provide her services voluntarily with no remuneration. She has continued to serve as an active Board member, stand-in minute secretary (in any absence of the Board Secretary), and ensured supper was provided for Board meetings. Once again, CCG Ministries continues to owe her a significant debt of gratitude. The Year 2000 continued to be a busy and active a year for me as Director. After considerable work and investigation of legal requirements and options, it was decided that CCG Ministries would not be involved in the GST. While this meant some loss (of previous sales tax exemptions which we could only claim if we collected GST) the administrative workload was less in 2000 than it otherwise might have been. Speaking commitments during 2000 continued to involve preparation, presentation, and travelling around Western Australia, as well as again visiting Singapore [2x] and Myanmar (Burma). Research, investigating new groups and issues, reading, and related library work and use of the Internet, plus writing for various publications, editing and writing most of the articles for our magazine, TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, as well as numerous speaking and teaching commitments, were all part of my responsibilities during 2000. Preparation of information and materials; consultation with students and others; providing help and information for other organisations as well as churches, families and individuals; answering inquiries; counselling, and some other administrative work all continued to be additional aspects of my role and activities as Director. It all meant a fairly busy workload for the year. COUNSELLING AND INQUIRIES We have continued to receive inquiries dealing with a wide range of personalities, practices, programmes and groups during 2000. There has also been an increase of numerous promoters of courses and products promising everything from good health and increased wealth, to spiritual solutions to all of life’s many complex problems. Along with all the promoters are the ‘best sellers’ - books endorsing or presenting similar claims. Many of these have left individuals out of pocket and confused - often emotionally and spiritually. Families have been affected - even fractured as a result. Worldwide the Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - LDS) have been increasing their activities - especially their efforts to present a Christian image of themselves, and their temple building programme. In Australia two temples were completed in the States of Victoria and South Australia, with plans initiated for opening two more in Western Australia and Queensland. This has increased inquiries and concerns about their activities and beliefs. We have also continued to receive inquiries and requests for help and information about other groups as different and diverse as the Jehovah's Witnesses and Scientology, as well as the occult in its many different forms - especially witchcraft, and in particular teenage witchcraft. Requests for help and information during 2000 came from around Australia, Asia, and elsewhere. While we continued to find that many inquirers were referred to us by friends and relatives who were aware of our Ministry, or who had themselves been previously helped by us, an increasing number of inquiries came through email - a number as the result of hitting our Internet website. Others were referred to us by the media, churches, welfare agencies, consumer groups, government departments, police, lawyers, community advisory and library information services. As in previous years, we continued to exchange information with other organisations and individuals around Australia, in Britain, and in the United States during 2000. In a number of cases some of these organisations, especially some of the overseas ones, also referred people to us. An increasing amount of information has been shared with us through emails and Internet downloads. The Internet has become an important tool, in addition to our reference library and other information sources, for our research and information gathering and sharing. During 2000, as in previous years, new groups and issues (also known groups either not in our files or previously included within other groups/files), not all necessarily cultic in nature, have been brought to our attention, or had inquiries made about them, and new files, or sub files, opened for them. A number of these were legitimate Christian groups either newly commenced, or newly brought to our attention for good reasons, or simply because little was known about them. These include groups and issues such as: Attleboro group; Each year we endeavour to record and list the various groups about which we receive inquiries, and also the frequency of such inquiries. Sometimes the volume of inquiries and other pressures lead to failure to record details of all inquiries, but we are able to gain a fair approximation of the groups/issues, and the number of inquiries made - through personal visits, telephone calls, correspondence and email. The following indicative listing (actually a little short of the true total number of inquiries, and therefore not a complete and exhaustive listing) categorises groups/topics according to the approximate number of inquiries received: 1 - 10 Aboriginal
Issues/Spirituality; 11 - 20 Baha’is; 21 - 30 Occult - Witchcraft; 1,000+ Cults - general. The preceding listing of groups, topics and people are indicative of the wide and diverse range of inquiries received by CCG Ministries. We emphasise that our listing does NOT mean that we consider or classify every group, topic or person mentioned as cultic, occultic or extreme. While the preceding listing shows something of the great diversity of inquiries received by CCG Ministries, it does not reveal the amount of time in dealing with inquiries - either initially when first received, or when we endeavour to find accurate information enabling us to give appropriate responses. A good number of these inquiries require research and investigation before we can give any helpful reply or pass on any information. In some instances we have not been able to respond as adequately as we might have liked, because we were unable to find out a great deal, if anything, about some groups, issues, practices or personalities. However, even in such instances a file is opened with the hope that perhaps at some later stage, we might be able to find and add important and helpful information to such files. This work, along with our general ongoing research, with the addition of information forwarded to us from around the world, keeps us adding to our large collection of files, and enables us to be better informed. There were times, during 2000, when we were encouraged to learn that our advice, and the information we shared with people during crisis intervention, had been helpful to them. One of our major aims is to assist and empower people to cope and more adequately deal with the situations brought about by cultic, and similar, involvement. Though our resources, and especially time, were sometimes stretched to the limit (and sometimes beyond), we endeavoured to help some find reconciliation, and others to discover a new faith and freedom from manipulation and controlling personalities and groups. A number of media (and other) students were helped with interviews and information for assignments during the year, including discussions with young leaders/interns from Youth Dimensions from interstate. THE WRITTEN WORD While we were able to publish six bi-monthly issues of our major magazine, TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, in 2000, we were unable to find help in improving the overall layout and presentation of the magazine. This had been a hope and anticipation that did not come to fruition. We continued to receive expressions of appreciation and commendation for much of the content, we also received expressions of disappointment about the appearance and presentation of the magazine. We were only able to produce three separate issues of our supporters' news letter, PIM UPDATE, during the year. A twenty-page booklet, The Mormon Message Examined, was finally completed, printed and published in early 2000. Copies have been selling well in Australia and Singapore during the year. Work was begun on another booklet and sometime during 2001 it is hoped to publish a similar sized booklet on the New Age Movement. THE SPOKEN WORD Lectures, talks, sermons and seminars are part of the speaking commitments that continue to be a significant part of our Ministries’ preventative education programme. Most of these speaking engagements are carried out, by me as Director, at numerous venues - churches, youth groups, community groups, colleges and seminaries, high schools, and others - involving me in travelling around the Perth metropolitan area, W.A. country centres, and overseas in my teaching/speaking role. The following list of meeting venues does not indicate the full nature of the speaking engagements. Neither time (involved in travel or preparation, or actual speaking time) nor the topic, is listed. In some cases the actual speaking time was 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour, but in most cases 1 1/2 to 2 or even 3 hours was the actual presentation time. Some sessions may vary between 3-8 hours, possibly involving a whole morning or afternoon, or a whole day. Sometimes, colleges and schools want one or two period sessions, others want a series of all-morning or all-day lectures as part of special module or programme. Hence there is a variety of time involved at different colleges. The numbers given after some listed venues indicate the number of specific occasions (generally on different days) on which I spoke at that venue. The mention of the denomination and venue could include speaking at church services, study groups, men’s, women’s or youth groups. Unless otherwise indicated, groups mentioned are in Western Australia. Denomination/Church:- Anglican Riverton Anglican Church; Assemblies of God Harvest Force AG Church (Sing) Baptist Bunbury Baptist Church; Eaton Baptist Church [2x]; Kachin Baptist Church [3x] (Myanmar); Maida Vale Baptist Church [2x]; Morley Baptist Church [3x]; Mt Pleasant Baptist Church. Brethren North Perth Christian Assembly; Bethesda Bukit Arang Church [2x] (Sing). Churches of Christ Dunsborough Church of Christ; Foot Hills Church of Christ; Fremantle Church of Christ; Subiaco Church of Christ; Wembley Church of Christ; Scarborough Church of Christ. Foursquare Churches Highway Foursquare Church, Beechboro; Lutheran Queenstown Lutheran Church [3x] (sing). Methodist Barker Road Methodist Church [2x] (Sing); Telok Ayer Methodist Chinese Church [3x] (Sing); Presbyterian Amazing Grace Presbyterian Church (Sing); Bethany Trinity Presbyterian Church (Sing); Singapore Life Church [3x] (Sing). Uniting Church Aldersyde Uniting Church; Brookton Uniting Church; Pingelly Uniting Church. Westminster Presbyterian Maida Vale. Other:- Bago PALE (Pastors and Leaders) Conference [4 days] (Myanmar); The Churches Commision on Education - Chaplains’ PD Day; Fellowship of Evangelical Students (Sing); Glen Forrest Evangelical Church; Overseas Christian Fellowship - Perth; Pyin Oo Lwin PALE (Pastors and Leaders) Conference [4 days] (Myanmar); Singapore Youth For Christ (Sing). Educational:- Anglo-Chinese School [2x] (Sing); Kalamunda Senior High School; Lake Joondalup Baptist College; Methodist Girls School (Sing); Newman College [3x]; Riverview Church Bible College [2x]; St Mark’s College [2x]; St Stephen’s School; Swan View Senior High School; Trinity Theological College; Winthrop Baptist College [2x]. The year 2000 saw the completion of a five-year commitment of teaching and ministry in Myanmar (Burma) in helping and encouraging Christian pastors and leaders. This commitment involved me as Director in visiting that country once each year, and in this past year that included not only sharing with people in Yangon and Bago, but travelling up country to Mandalay and then Pyin Oo Lwin. A return visit was requested and confirmed for 2001. A firm invitation was also received from Singapore Youth For Christ to be one of the participant speakers at their Bible TRAIL programme in July 2001. 2000 saw CCG Ministries, in partnership with several churches (Thornlie and Scarborough Churches of Christ, and Perth Chinese Christian Church) positively involved in presenting a Christian alternative at the Perth New Age expo in November. The responses from participating Christians, and from visitors to our stand provided enthusiastic encouragement to be involved in a similar venture in 2001. CCG Ministries Training Institute Courses:- During the year we conducted three Saturday seminars for chaplains, teachers and others, on Witchcraft, the Occult and Young People. These were well supported and accepted. The seminars were promoted through the chaplains’ newsletter sent out from the Churches Commission on Education. Our Friday Friends Evening seminar series in the second half of the year were also well supported, with one youth group making the fortnightly programmes part of their regular activities. A number of other courses offered during the year received no response and were unable to proceed. Radio Teaching Ministry The Sonshine FM 98.5 series of 25-minutes teaching programmes, commenced in August 1999 continued throughout 2000. By the end of last year 59 programmes had been completed and aired on the Monday evening teaching segment. The programmes were several series on different themes, including: Signs of the Times; Why Christians Are Vulnerable to Cults; Voices From the East; the New Age Movement; the Human Potential Movement; the Occult; Young People and the Occult; Western Pseudo-Christian groups; The problem with Extreme Christian Fringe Groups [based on our book by the same title]; Travellers Beware; Seeking Acceptance and Approval; Finding Order and Direction in Life; Discovering Significance; Is there Instant Happiness?; The Bible - Its Use and Misuse this latter series will continue into 2001 for quite some time. This radio teaching ministry has enabled me to clearly mention our Ministry and encourage people to ‘Take A Closer Look’ at a variety of cult related issues. Some very positive feedback has been received on this part of our ministry outreach. RESOURCES AND SUPPORT The Library During the year we were again grateful for book donations from retired ministers, many other people, and also deceased estates, for our reference library. We have also appreciated the many financial contributions for our library. Our very extensive reference library remains one of the Ministry’s major resources. The library has been used by a variety of people, the greater number being students. Jim and Nancy Fairbairn, regular volunteer workers, continued their work of sorting books and maintaining the library, and entering details of books on the computer throughout the past year. The computer work has been difficult as our old library programme became outdated and corrupted, requiring a new programme and the transfer of date from the old. That proved difficult but David Edwards worked with Jim to overcome the obstacles. We have appreciated their efforts at making the library even more useable. Book and Garage Sales This past year we were able to hold the three major book and garage sales at our Centre. We also set up a permanent booksale area where second-hand books could be perused and purchased at any time between major book and garage sales. We received books and many household items from many different people, including retirees moving to smaller accommodation during the year. We have greatly appreciated these diverse contributions to the saleable content of our sales. The three major book and garage sales, plus the ongoing sale of second hand books and various items raised over $2,250 for our general funds. Our Internet Web Page Our Internet Website has continued to attract interest with people from around the world contacting the site. Connections to our site have predominantly come from Australia, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, the USA and Malaysia - but also ranging from Britain to Hong Kong, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to Cyprus, Finland to France, Iceland to Ireland, Netherlands to Norway, Spain to Switzerland and elsewhere. Over 4,500 have connected to our site since it went online in April 1999. We’ve appreciated the efforts of our webmaster, Pepper Lim, in Malaysia, for the overall production and maintenance of the site. Keeping the site updated has not always been easy and is an added part of the overall workload. FINANCIAL & RELATED MATTERS With the introduction of the GST and other Taxation changes our Ministry registered for an Australian Business Number (74 279 321 918), and received our official endorsement as an income tax exempt charity. We opted not to collect GST after careful examination of all relevant issues and consultation with varying people who understood the issues involved, including the Taxation Office. This also meant the loss of being able to claim back tax on some items purchased - but it was decided that the complexities involved in the GST, when we qualified to be GST exempt, would not have been balanced out by the small savings we would have made. We were also endorsed for our continued status as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) for our Training Institute Building Fund and our Public Library Fund. Whether the Taxation changes, especially the GST, were responsible we were unable to determine, but in the second half of the year our financial support decreased to the point where some wages were not able to be fully paid. A special appeal by our Chairman, Rob Furlong, brought a positive response from in the closing weeks of the year and were a very real encouragement to all at CCG Ministries. Payments to repay building fund loans were able to be adequately maintained, and some large donations even allowed us to reduce the capital of one of our loans during the year. THE FUTURE The year 2000 brought some real faith challenges and some exciting highlights - especially in people helped through their cult related conflicts and difficulties. I believe 2001 will see even more highlights in outreach and development. The coming year will see a greater awareness of our Ministry and its resources and facilities, and an increased use of those facilities. There will continue to be exciting opportunities for skilled volunteer workers and full-time (missionary funded) staff to serve God in specialised Ministry activities. We will be working to improve our presentation and circulation of information through the Internet and our printed material. Increased outreach through courses, classes, meetings at our Centre, as well as in churches and community groups, will provide greater preventative education for those in need and increased exposure of our Ministry in the churches and community. We will also continue our teaching and equipping ministry in Myanmar [Burma] in 2001, and possibly beyond, and actively continue our involvement in Singapore. As much as possible we will continue involvement in supporting, and encouraging others to support, Grace Home, an orphanage in Myanmar with centres at Yangon, Bago and Toungoo. We gratefully acknowledge God’s past faithfulness, and thank God’s people for their support and encouragement. We look forward to 2001 and all it will hold for us, with confident hope and assurance as we move forward in God’s will and power. W.A. van Leen, Director. |
Copyright © CCG Ministries -
W.A. van Leen, Director.
