With 6850 residents and 45 percent who claimed no church affiliation or religion in the 2021 Census, the regional town of Strathfieldsaye is a huge mission field.

When BCA-supported Field Staff Rob & Michelle Edwards began ministry in Strathfieldsaye, there was just one service at 9:30am which was traditional and the average age of the congregation was 73. Rob & Michelle wanted to do something that was more family-focused for their growing community.

Not only did the Census show a distinct lack of church affiliation, it also showed that the average age in Strathfieldsaye was 36, with 31 percent of people aged 19 and below.

“We were lucky to have six kids at our 9.30am service and three of those kids were our boys!” says Rob. “So, we thought, ‘what can we do to try and bridge that gap?’”.

Rob & Michelle started planting a seed for an afternoon service.

“In November 2022, we invited people to come along to share our vision,” explains Rob. “I was expecting 25 people but 48 people came, which was pretty amazing.”

4 pm church started off as fortnightly with the aim being to make church as engaging as possible for both adults and kids. Sometimes that involves using videos, visuals or even a version of messy church.

“At first we had regular services on the first and third Sundays, but in Term 4 of 2024, we changed things up a bit by also meeting on the second and fourth Sundays. Another couple led the adults in watching a video and then a discussion time, and I’d take the teens out and lead a Bible study which was great for those who were preparing for baptism,” says Rob. “We had nine teenagers who were baptised at the end of 2024!”

When there is a fifth Sunday, a combined service is held at 11 am followed by lunch. “It’s important to try and bring the congregations together,” says Rob. “Otherwise, these groups of faithful people wouldn’t worship together.”

The afternoon service is made up of Christians who are new to the area and have found a place that supports them and their kids. “We are all praying that it will only keep growing. If everyone came each week, we’d have about 50 people, but most Sundays arvo church averages in the mid-30s.”

In encouraging news, both services have been slowly growing. “One lady new to the area came on Christmas Eve, she’s really keen and has returned each Sunday since,” says Rob. “And another lady has been to the first two services of the year. God is at work.”
Rob changed things up a bit in 2025, with the first, second and third Sundays being a normal afternoon church service, and the fourth Sunday a social gathering and time of fellowship. “People bring something to share for afternoon tea and the kids hang out together and play games. This time of fellowship is so important as you get to have conversations you just can’t have on the other Sundays.”

The young people of the church have really thrived thanks to the 4 pm gathering. Not only were those nine young people baptised, four young people were confirmed last year. A youth group has formed out of the service, and this year Rob is looking to start a regular youth Bible study and train the young adults up so they can lead youth group.

“One of our young adults organised for us to be involved in Operation Christmas Child last year,” says Rob. “One Sunday after church we all packed gifts into shoe boxes to send into Samaritan’s Purse. It was great to see this young lady take the initiative and organise this.”

The church also looks to reach out into the community. One weekend they held a community barbecue. “We had just one person from the community attend,” says Rob. “But what encouraged me was that it showed where the heart of our church is – 25 church members came! I thought what can we do with that? What are our church members passionate about? What are their gifts? What’s within the realms of possibility? So we are currently organising a pop-up shop that we will hold later this year”

Please pray for Rob, Michelle and Strathfieldsaye Community Church; that their congregations would continue to grow and that their outreach into the community will bear fruit for God’s Kingdom.