Bob Kauflin and David Zimmer in Australia
This past month, we had the incredible privilege of having Bob Kauflin and David Zimmer from Sovereign Grace Music out in Australia!
It was a time of great encouragement as we got to enjoy the Gospel partnership that exists between our family of churches, whilst also being served so generously by both Bob and David.
Here are some ways that they blessed us in their time out here in Australia:
Band Training Morning
Our bands from both Parramatta and Wahroonga churches enjoyed a wonderful training morning with Bob and David where we were able to receive some hands-on training, teaching and fellowship. We walked away with an increased desire to keep the Gospel central in all we do and just a deep gratitude for the wealth of wisdom both Bob and David so generously shared with us!
2. Gathering Around the Gospel Concert
On one of the Saturday evenings, both of our Sovereign Grace Churches gathered along with many friends of our churches for the Gathering Around the Gospel Concert with Bob Kauflin. It was a night filled with triumphant praise, prayer and fellowship as Bob led us in worship under the common banner of the Gospel. Scripture was read, prayed and sung throughout the evening, making for a wonderful time of exalting our great King Jesus.
3. Time with Pastoral Team and Leaders
Bob and David also spent a day with some of the Pastoral Teams of both Sovereign Grace Churches, and also spent an evening with leaders and their wives from both churches. It was an extremely edifying time where we were reminded to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3), not just in regards to our ministry or leadership positions, but in all of life.
4. Worship Matters Intensive
One of the main events of Bob and David’s trip was to hold the first ever Worship Matters Intensive, Australia! The Intensive was intended for worship leaders from all across Sydney, but we also ended up having applicants fly in from Perth, the Philippines and Japan!
It was a tremendous time of encouragement, teaching, building up and the equipping of saints for the work of ministry for each of their church contexts.
To read a more detailed recap of the Intensive, you can head to a stand-alone post here.
5. Sunday Gatherings at Wahroonga and Parramatta
For us, the icing on the cake of Bob and David’s trip was having them join and lead us in our Sunday gatherings whilst they were here. Concerts and intensives and training events are all a great means of grace, but there is nothing quite like meeting with the gathered local church to worship our great King and Saviour Jesus with Gospel-driven unity.
Bob and David visited both Sovereign Grace Wahroonga and Parramatta on separate Sundays and led us in singing, followed by a message from Bob on the reasons for why we sing.
You can listen to these messages here:
Sovereign Grace Wahroonga: Praise Fit For A King (Apple) or Praise Fit For A King (Spotify)
Sovereign Grace Parramatta: The Reason Why We Sing (Apple) or The Reason Why We Sing (Spotify)
We are so grateful to Bob and David for giving up their time and resources to be with us here in Australia and for their hearts to serve and build up the body of Christ. And ultimately, we thank the Lord for the way in which He is building His church - how scandalous it is that we get to be a part of it!