Date 30 March 2006
Prepared by Lyn Cochrane
Quest Melbourne ‘More than Gold’

The Christian Community serving and sharing through the Commonwealth Games experience.

Drawing on previous experiences the model developed for Melbourne was about local churches connecting in their communities. The lead up to the games focussed on vision casting and resourcing local churches to ‘own the mission’. The difference for Melbourne was that Quest was not formed to be a large organisation or to develop large scale events, but that if outreach was to occur then it would happen through the churches of Melbourne & Victoria.  The role of Quest was also to bring a connectedness for the many organisations—for the churches & para church organisations to work in unity.

With the influx of people intent on sharing the occasion by serving on mission teams, every effort was made to connect them back into local church settings and provide support for activities locally. There were also opportunities of service and one to one evangelism through a range of activities. Teams came from YWAM, Operation Mobilisation, Salvation Army, City Life, Seventh Day Adventists, Churches of Christ and a number of individuals who gave up their holidays to be a part of this amazing experience. There were over 350 full time people on mission teams.

Fusion and Awakening partnered with Quest and there are some exciting reports of the many activities undertaken by Fusion and in particular the country areas where their teams developed excellent relationships with local authorities and became involved in official live site activities—partnerships that will pave the way for churches to be called on again, well into the future.

It should also be noted at this point that not all Churches partnered with Quest, there were many churches undertaking special activities and mission outreaches within their own resources.

More than Gold
The Mission started with Prayer & Praise.

The first gathering with over 300 people in attendance was a prayer & praise night at Bethany International church at Southbank on the Monday night prior to the games starting.. This was a night for all teams to come together and offer prayers and to hear a little of the vision and journey of Quest. Music support was from Hope Generation Worship band and was compared by Paul Cameron.

2 day ‘Bootcamp’

Training included evangelism training as well as practical workshops—face painting , balloon sculpting, magic tricks, and specialist workshops for particular ministry areas. 240 people attended the training with another 90 people at fusion training.

Prayer room

For 10 days the prayer room at Swanston St Church of Christ offered a quiet support place for all team members. Each team was rostered for a prayer shift.  Two very special ladies made themselves available each day and were most supportive of teams coming in—providing refreshments and support. The back wall of the room became a focus as teams added their prayers to the wall in writing and in art. It was the place for teams to realise they were not doing this alone as they connected with people from other teams. This also became the place for teams to also replenish their resource supplies.

Opening ceremony Celebrations

It was straight from training out into the community to be involved at a number of churches for big screen festivals. Other teams began to find their way into the city and onto trains where they could join in the festivities and do one to one evangelism with the people they met. One team found themselves down on the Yarra tying balloons and drawing a crowd and taking the opportunity to share the gospel with people.

Creative arts performances

120 people were signed up to perform in a range of places and times. The three larger churches of Melbourne became stages on their front steps—with a variety of creative arts groups doing free outdoor public performances.

St Paul's cathedral, Swanston St Church of Christ & Scots Church were key areas for 15 concerts. Mission teams supported with people being available to speak to the waiting crowds and distribute literature. In all there were 50 creative arts programmes during the time of the games. A member of the visiting official delegation from Delhi – host of the next Commonwealth games approached the arts committee to talk to them about ways of partnering and assisting in the lead up to 2010 games. A meeting is to follow.

Children's Hospital

For 2 hours each day Christian Artists were supplied to perform in the starlight room and entertain sick kids & their families. This was televised across the hospital on their internal television network.

Sports clinics

14 sports clinics at 4 Melbourne churches were supported by the teams with visiting athletes providing coaching. Clinics included Hockey, Soccer, cricket & Basketball. There is indication of 25- 30 new families connected to local churches through this outreach.

Nursing Home visits

The artist were also provided for three nursing home concerts during the games.

Supporting the Homeless & Disadvantaged.

614 Life centre in Bourke St extended their hours to 10 hours every day during the games to provide a games experience for the people who have become displaced during the games. Teams were able to go in and assist the staff that operate the centre and artists also provided a number of shows. Some service components were added with teams doing cleaning and stacking of food shelves. There were also programmes operating at St Kilda Bridge & Brunswick Breakfast programme as well as the night soup run

Stitches carnivals

5 programmes to kids from the high rise estates entertained over 2 thousand of kids during the games period. Over 500 kids attended one programme alone and up to 350 at each of the other venues in Carlton, Collinwood, Flemington, Richmond & Fitzroy. Hundred of kids stayed after the games time to hear the gospel story. Stitches a programme that currently operates out of Richmond with a particular ministry area to kids in the High rises. With the help of mission teams the carnivals were played out like a mini Commonwealth Games.

Cranbourne skate Shed

Operated by the Salvation Army, teams were rostered each day to go in and ‘connect with kids’ and support the staff there. The shed is the largest indoor skate Park in the southern hemisphere and each day during the holidays hundreds of kids come and skate. Teams were able to go in and hangout with kids, building a rapport with kids and sharing the gospel.

Forest Hill shopping centre

The Bible Society held a 6 day stall in the forecourt to distribute gospels and New Testaments. Mission teams provide face painting & balloon sculpting to entertain kids and allow talk time with parents—this was an effective outreach with thousands of pieces of Christian literature being distributed. Many of the local churches assisted in the Gospel distribution and the presence of the teams helped to draw the crowds.

Spectator evangelism & trains Ministry

Teams were encouraged to catch public transport and had times when they intentionally caught trains to interact with people. There were also rostered time to wander through the city and engage with people. Some teams took the opportunity to visit the ‘Aboriginal camp’ in the Kings park and play games with kids.

Ecumenical events

2 events sponsored by the Seventh Day Adventist church in partnership with others were - Youth rally at St Paul’s Cathedral with over 1000 people in attendance. A 50 piece orchestra from over Australia were assembled for this service which was televised through the Christian Television Network to 120 countries. An 8 voice singing group sent their angelic tones reverberating through the halls of this magnificent cathedral.

An outdoor Festival in Clifton park Brunswick was attended by up to 2 thousand people and featured a number of creative arts groups including Rocfish, Island Breeze and Sons of Korah. 1450 sausages were given away during the course of the afternoon which also included all the events provided by fusion for an open crowd festival.

RocFish concerts

Thousands of kids attended concerts in City and country venues with 7 concerts over the week.  300+ at Werribee, 150+ at Echuca 550+ at Wangaratta , 200+ at Box Hill as well as the outdoor festival and Sunday services. The group is a Christian ‘high 5’ type group and uses interactive music to reach out to children with the gospel. Teams supported each of these events painting faces and tying balloons for kids and distributing gospels & kids magazines

Kids Games in Maryborough

Up to 100 kids and 55 leaders worked together for a very successful kids games program for the 5 days of the second week of the games. Kids games combines sports, games and bible teaching in a programme that is developing around the world. There was good local support and 5 churches partnered together to build this event. The local YMCA provided their facilities free of charge and the local Mayor & his wife attended the closing ceremony. The world Championship water bucket relay was practiced each day with a final being held on the last day.

Radio 2K+

An international radio station from the UK mobilised 12 reporters and circulated the city and venues to gather clips of athletes and events to upload via the web for Christian radio. Many of their clips were featured on Light Fm as well as a number of other stations and direct links to many international stations. The teams also offered gospels and new testaments to the people interviewed. Quest was able to provide transport & support for this team during their 2 week stay..

Sports focussed services

Support was given to a number of churches to sources athletes and materials for sports focussed services, meetings & dinners

Resources

The resources produced for the games included -

- interactive pocket guide: 40,000 produced - 32,000 distributed

- Kidzone 15,000 produced: 14,200 distributed

- More Than Gold Pins: 2,000 produced - 2,000 distributed

The Bible Society produced Marks Gospels &  New Testaments - new editions featuring aussie athletes. Twenty five thousand of these were distributed during the games.

Lyn Cochrane
Quest, More than Gold
www.questmelbourne.org

PS: Church of Hope also distributed 40,000 tracts during the Games.

Your Sport is Your Mission