{"id":10363,"date":"2022-11-21T06:03:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T04:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/sydney-church-of-christ-celebrates-40th-anniversay\/"},"modified":"2023-06-02T06:55:45","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T04:55:45","slug":"sydney-church-of-christ-celebrates-40th-anniversay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/sydney-church-of-christ-celebrates-40th-anniversay\/","title":{"rendered":"Sydney Church of Christ Celebrates 40th Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts<\/em>. &#8211; Psalm 145:4 (NIV)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In January 1982, Mike and Tess Fontenot, and Gerry and Jeannie Fredrick packed up their lives and their children and moved from the US to plant a church in Sydney, Australia. Church services made up of four disciples (and many children) were not smooth sailing. Gerry would do the welcome, communion, and song leading, Mike would preach, and Tess and Jeannie would try to prevent the kids from interfering too much.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last month, the&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/sydneychurchofchrist.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sydney Church of Christ<\/a> celebrated the 40th anniversary of that planting with a service of about 500 people praising God for his good works and his faithfulness. This service looked quite different to those early ones \u2013 much more variety in line up, children safely tucked away in kids\u2019 kingdom \u2013 but one thing remained the same. Mike Fontenot preached to the church he had built and led by the grace of God, in his final sermon on ministry staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mike preached Ephesians 3, reminding us of the glory of suffering for Christ, urging the church to strengthen the inner man as Paul describes, and encouraging us that God is working for his glory in Sydney. Will and Chelsea Thorne, who now lead the Sydney Church, gave Mike and Tess a gift on behalf of all the members \u2013 a bench with a plaque inscribed with Daniel 12:3 \u2013 \u201cThose who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.\u201d The church has been so blessed by Mike and Tess\u2019s leadership to righteousness, and we praise God for their love and service to us.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/MikeFontenot.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n      \n           Other memorable moments included video tributes sent from early members who live overseas, and the lineup made up of disciples converted in the 80s in Sydney, reminiscing about raising their families and spreading the gospel together 40 years ago. Peter and Gayle Boardman, who were converted in 1983, opened the service. Their story exemplified the theme of the service, \u201cGeneration to Generation,\u201d as Peter\u2019s mother, both their daughters and two of their grandchildren have all since made Jesus Lord. All the members from the first \u201cBring Your Neighbor\u201d service was asked to come on stage and were honored for their continuing faith and service over the last four decades. We are so blessed in Sydney to have such a faithful backbone of the church made up of older Christians such as these.\n          \n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Boardmans.png?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the service, we celebrated with food, live music, face painting, and fellowship. The end of 2022 marks an exciting time for the Sydney Church, with over 400 members and 15 people on staff. Will and Chelsea Thorne lead the church and the North Region, Steven, and Melanie Darvodelsky lead the West Region, and Howard Cheng and Sara Hancell lead the South Region.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are also so excited for Ben and Brooke Mey to plant the Newcastle Church of Christ at the end of this year with a great team of disciples from the Sydney Church. Praise God for his kindness and mercy, congratulations Mike and Tess on your retirement, and thank you Sydney Church for your love, perseverance, and faith over the last 40 years. We are looking forward to the next 40!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/sydney_fellowship.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sydney Church of Christ celebrates its 40th anniversary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":10982,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[71],"tags":[52,61],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-10363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-australia","tag-missions"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/sydney40th.jpg?fit=936%2C624&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"dtadmin","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/dtadmin\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-2H9","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3088,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/sydney-church-of-christ-toolbox-series\/","url_meta":{"origin":10363,"position":0},"title":"Sydney Church of Christ &quot;Toolbox&quot; Series","author":"dtadmin","date":"April 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Sydney Church of Christ have created a new YouTube \u2018Toolbox Series\u2019 covering topics such as prayer, peace, bible study and evangelism during self isolation. Keep yourself spiritually connected and fed by watching these videos every Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm. AEST","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/SydneyChurchofChrist.png?fit=700%2C241&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/SydneyChurchofChrist.png?fit=700%2C241&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/SydneyChurchofChrist.png?fit=700%2C241&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/SydneyChurchofChrist.png?fit=700%2C241&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31507,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/denver-church-40th-anniversary-this-december\/","url_meta":{"origin":10363,"position":1},"title":"Denver Church 40th Anniversary this December","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"October 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"On Sunday, December 13, our church family will gather for a special 40th Anniversary Christmas Service.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMAG0185-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMAG0185-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMAG0185-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMAG0185-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMAG0185-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4103,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/you-are-invited-to-the-40th-anniversary-celebration-of-the-boston-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":10363,"position":2},"title":"You are Invited to the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Boston Church","author":"dtadmin","date":"August 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"God has always been into celebrations as we see throughout Scriptures! The Boston Church of Christ invites everyone to join us in celebrating September 7-8, 2019 what God has done, is doing and will do in the future.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/generation_2_generation_bcoc_40th_anniversary.jpg?fit=807%2C468&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/generation_2_generation_bcoc_40th_anniversary.jpg?fit=807%2C468&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/generation_2_generation_bcoc_40th_anniversary.jpg?fit=807%2C468&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/generation_2_generation_bcoc_40th_anniversary.jpg?fit=807%2C468&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10462,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/london-church-celebrates-40th-anniversary\/","url_meta":{"origin":10363,"position":3},"title":"London Church Celebrates 40th Anniversary","author":"dtadmin","date":"October 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The London Church had an amazing time celebrating its 40th anniversary from September 10-11, 2022, as they focused on remembrance, renewal, and rededication. With participants joining in-person and online from all over the world it truly was a time of refreshment and reconnection.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/DSC_9568.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/DSC_9568.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/DSC_9568.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/DSC_9568.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23005,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/climb-conference-small-church-international-church-of-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":10363,"position":4},"title":"Climb Conference Lessons Available","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"February 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Over 200 disciples gathered in Dallas, Texas, on November 30th-December 3rd for the Climb Small Church Leadership Conference","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Leadership&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Leadership","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/leadership\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ClimbSpeakers.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ClimbSpeakers.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ClimbSpeakers.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ClimbSpeakers.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ClimbSpeakers.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1924,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/london-church-40th-anniversary-celebration-this-september\/","url_meta":{"origin":10363,"position":5},"title":"London Church 40th Anniversary Celebration this September","author":"dtadmin","date":"July 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The London Church turns 40 this year! We will be celebrating this on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September 2022. In the past 40 years God has done great things amongst us and taught us many lessons. We\u2019ve also seen God stir many hearts and inspire both the new and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Londonbridge.jpeg?fit=700%2C546&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Londonbridge.jpeg?fit=700%2C546&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Londonbridge.jpeg?fit=700%2C546&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Londonbridge.jpeg?fit=700%2C546&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/sydney40th.jpg?fit=936%2C624&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10363"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10363\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10363"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=10363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}