The

“My, how time flies!” How many times have you said that? And as Christmas looms, it turns into, “Where has the year gone?” But here’s one that might surprise you; we’re now a quarter of the way through the century. My goodness – how the century flies! 

Just 25 years ago our headlines were dominated by Y2K panic and the Sydney Olympics. For me, my boys were toddlers, and I was preaching in a country town of 500 people. And at BCA, a fresh-faced Brian Roberts had just started as National Director, and the BCA Nomads ministry was taking off.

So, 25 years on, it’s worth asking: what might the next 25 look like for BCA? I’m no prophet (or the son of one), but I’m sure of two things that won’t change: First, there’s still no other name but Jesus by which we can be saved; And second, people across rural, regional, and remote Australia will still need to hear that Good News.

But who will the next 25 gospel workers be? I may not know their names yet, but I know their ‘type’. Some will be the ‘been there, done that’ crowd – seasoned ministers returning to the bush with experience and passion. Some will be the ‘getting there’ group – young gospel workers and new graduates taking their first steps into regional mission. And some are the ‘no ideas’ – those who don’t yet realise God is calling them but will one day feel His nudge toward bush ministry.

And just as there’ll be a mix of people, there’ll be a mix of opportunities in the next 25 partnerships or locations, there are:

• Indigenous ministries where we long to see more Indigenous people serving.
• more opportunities in places where evangelical leadership is being established.
• entirely new regions or places BCA has not partnered with for decades and where we have been absent for too long.

It is because of those next 25 Field Staff and ministry opportunities that we are launching our Next 25 Appeal. This is an invitation to invest deeply in the bush for the sake of the Gospel. It’s like planting a tree whose shade you may never sit under.

To those already giving, thank you. You are truly going the distance. You are impacting the eternal destiny of many.

It has been 25 years of faithfulness at the beginning of the 21st century. May the Next 25 find us just as faithful in going the distance to share Jesus with the bush.