On the 1st of January 2018 we crossed the Tooleybuc Bridge and left our life long home of NSW.
With a combination of excitement and anxiety, we were cautiously optimistic about the possibilities of what Adelaide might hold for us. As the landscape changed to unfamiliar gum trees and brown paddocks that lined the roads, we crossed the Adelaide hills and descended into our new home. Unsure as to whether we would fit in, or to what our lives would look like.
We’ve now been ‘on the ground’ in South Australia for a month, and slowly the dust is starting to settle. From our very first day, where the dreaded red line on the GPS was merely a traffic light we had to stop for, we’ve instantly felt at home in the familiar yet different environment.
As a lover of structure, the town planning in this place is phenomenal!
A clean grid of roads that run east/west and north/south; it’s very hard to get lost. Once you have learned the major roads, it’s impossible to drive in any direction with out hitting something you know.
Finding our place in a new community…
Adelaide is a place where the town shuts down for a bike race, in a strange yet enticing expression of community. People say hello as you walk past them in the street, a pleasant change from the earphone brigade we have been used to.
The old favourites at the shops aren’t there, but new and exciting delights meet us. From Fruchocs to Farmer’s union iced coffee, we have a lot to learn. You can’t drive in any direction for five minutes without hitting a major shopping centre.
Our yellow number plates stick out like a sore thumb, you can feel the eyes screaming, “you’re not from around here, are you?” But the people of Adelaide are friendly and welcoming and we are feeling more comfortable every day.
We’ve just had our first Sunday with church, and instantly felt connected.
This community of believers, who are committed to growth, will be a pleasure to serve with and along side. So far I have been to 5 of the 6 congregations within the Adelaide charge, and although small in number, the members of this church have a clear love for Jesus, a desire to make his name known, and a willingness to make significant changes for the sake of kingdom growth. It is so exciting to be a part of this church family, with our eyes fixed firmly on Jesus.
This is the city of Churches, but sadly many of them are empty.
Beautiful old buildings, that are nothing more than a hollow shell of what used to be a thriving gospel ministry.
It is our hope and prayer that God would work powerfully through Jesus’ disciples here in Adelaide, across denominations, to grow his kingdom. Not so that the nice old building might be full again, but so the life saving grace of the only possible saviour, Jesus, might be known and embraced by everyone here in Adelaide.
We’re all about Jesus, we’d love EVERYONE in Adelaide to be the same.
Davo Gunning
Lead Pastor Adelaide