Matthews – January 2011

Caroline’s Doctors Appt

We wanted to update you on Caroline’s doctor’s appt. with the pediatric cardiologist. If you remember last year, Caroline had been diagnosed with a development of tissue on one of the valves of her heart. It causes a slight leakage or murmur in her heart. The specialists at the time stated there was no concern at that time and we would need to come in for an evaluation each year. If there is any growth, she would need to have surgery.

Come to find out this condition only occurs in approx. 2% of people and usually needs surgery. Our cardiologist has had to operate on all of her patients that have this condition in the past.

It has been a year since Caroline was diagnosed with this condition. She has not had any ill effects since the diagnosis. She was a champion at the doctor this week. After looking at her heart, the cardiologist saw no growth in the tissue and did not see the need for surgery at this time. Caroline even said, “I like going to the doctor, ” as we left the office. What a trooper. We will need to go back for another evaluation in 12 months. Thanks for your prayers.

School

A big day for all on Monday, all of the kids start school at the Australian Christian College (Colleges are the schools prior to University in Australia) Yes, our school year starts in January, after summer in Australia. Quite an adjustment from homeschooling for Cathy and the kids. Please be praying they all adjust well to the transition.

Panel + Series

City Bible Forum is changing the format for the Forums for 2011. It is exciting changes, but not without its challenges. We would appreciate your prayers for it. Details about City Bible Forum at www.citybibleforum.org

Format: Each month the Forum would begin with a Talking Point issue. We would have a panel of 3-4 ‘experts’ on the various topics. Then from the panel, the following weeks would be a series answering many of the discussion points from a Biblical perspective.

eg: Imagine series: Panel discussion would utilise the lyrics from the John Lennon song and discuss the idea Imagine there was no religion, God, heaven or hell… Then Al Stewart would do a series for three weeks on the Biblical perspective of these implications based in the New Testament. Our panelists are Dr. John Dickson (biblical historian), Jane Caro (Writer/Athiest) & Dr Tanveer Ahmed (Writer /Clinical Psychiatrist/ Moderate Muslim).

Panel format: Three to four individuals would be willing to discuss their view on the topic. It is not a debate, but an interactive discussion with a moderator and the audience. We would have key people set in the audience who have a specific view on this topic to set in motion the conversation. We are following the model of SBS ‘INSIGHT’ for the format. Time: 1:10-1:50 (Wednesdays and Thursdays) First week of each month.

Panelists: We would like the panel to be a mix of differing view points. We have a mixed audience of approximately 200+ each week. The experts we are contacting are not desiring to recruit for their own cause, but willing to intellectually discuss their view with an audience and others in a panel atmosphere.

Panel and series topics: Imagine no religion, Crossing Over: Is there anything after this life?, Why do we do what we do? Analysing the Human Condition, 2012 and end times: A look at the book of Revelation and others. All will follow with a series based on a biblical perspective of the topic.

We would appreciate your prayers for this format change and that many non-Christians would come to hear the panel and the series.

Thanks for your support and prayers.

The adventure continues…

The Matthews Family

Our Story…His Story

Russ Matthews
AM Service

Podcast: Download (Duration: 41:40 — 19.1MB)

Matthews – September 2010

Our hero… (and a bit more)

While we are on furlough, our friend Andrew is visiting from Australia. During the visit, we have taken the opportunity to do some tourist things in Iowa. One thing that we decided to do was to go on a tour of the State Capital Building in Des Moines. I will be honest, it was great. We encourage anyone to take the tour, it is an amazing building with fascinating history. The person who made the tour enjoyable and educational was our tour guide, Peg.

Peg was passionate, excited and knowledgeable of all areas of the building. Also, she gave credit to the architects, financiers and builders by name. One gentleman she referred to throughout the tour was, Robert Finkbune. She would even state his name with the title of ‘Our Hero, Robert Finkbine.’ His name was memorable, because she acknowledged him at least ten times with the same title, ‘Our Hero, Robert Finkbine.’ The realisation that hit me was I grew up in Iowa, I had been to the Capital Building many times, but I had never heard his name before that day. Yet, Peg shared his name as a noted historical figure that should never be forgotten. To my shame, by the next day, I had forgotten his name and had to call the tour company to get the information. ‘A Hero of Iowa, but one who was easily forgotten.’

Even with all of the new education of Iowa history, the challenge Peg gave me was in her communication style. She said she gives the tour numerous times a day, month & year. Yet, I would assume that she would be just as passionate about the building and her ‘Hero, Robert Finkbine.’ Peg challenged me to communicate with the same level of passion about ’Our Hero, Jesus Christ.’ We have the privilege of talking with many people every day, month and year about Jesus, but do I share with the same enthusiasm & passion as Peg did about Mr. Finkbine? Do any of us? It was a good challenge during a time like furlough. I would pray we would communicate with this message passionately, even on our most exhausting days.

Robert Finkbine died in 1901 and he did leave leave a legacy. Interesting, as I study history and the Bible, the Finkbine legacy will eventually fade and will be a blip on your local Wikipedia page. A vapour that will eventually be forgotten.

Yet, our ‘Hero, Jesus’ lives on. His legacy will never die. We do live to share about ‘Our Hero, Jesus, Our Saviour, Our Lord, & Our King.’ He is the one who we serve and desire to share with anyone who will listen, His saving message. I hope I can be as passionate, excited and knowledgeable about all he has done, is dong and will do for us all. Praise His name.

Thanks for the challenge Peg.

A bit more…

Praises:

1) We have had supporters increase their support and new support come in during our time here.

2) The visit from Andrew has been a blessing for us from ‘home.’ We needed the Australian infusion into our lives to spur us on for the coming month.

3) An offer for computers to be sent to Australia. We are still waiting on assistance with the shipping.

We have had for some specifics on our prayer requests:

-$200 monthly increase for support – This is due to a change in our schooling situation for 2011 and some adjustments in support from specific churches.

- Shipping of 2-3 computers to Australia

- We still are praying for 4 new laptops for city ministry (Mac or PC)

-1 new laptop & 1 new desktop for family needs – Ours are in need of replacing at home

-Direction and funding with church plant in Sydney; we have the opportunity for new church plants in 2011 – Our goal is to raise $5000 for this fund.

-Funds for furlough – This has been a bit more expensive than we realised, but the Lord has provided in his mighty way

-We would like to purchase a small vehicle to assist in travel needs for future ministry. (ex. Toyota Corrolla)

That is it for now, but there will be more to come. Thank you for your prayers and support.

The adventure continues…

The Matthews family

Matthews – June 2010

Why Australian Citizenship? Top five questions asked in Australia

We became citizens of Australia on Tuesday 29 June, 2010. We will be dual citizens of Australia and the US. Many have asked why we went to the effort. We were permanent residents and did not have to become citizens to do work here in Sydney. It is a valid question, but all it does is open a series of other questions that will lead to the answer of the ‘Why’ of citizenship. So I will leave it to answering some of the top questions asked by people who hear our ‘funny’ accent. We get asked these questions weekly and, yes, they do asked very bluntly.

Question 1: Are you Canadian?
Cathy & I grew up in Maryland & Iowa and we do have a ‘softer accent’ than our friends from other areas of the US, but that is not where the question is based. Most Australians experience this,when asking someone from the North America about their accent. Canadians get quite offended if asked if they are from the US and Americans do not get offended either way. Americans just tend to be louder and verbose in their clarification of their country of origin. So, the safe call for most Australians is to ask ‘Are you from Canada?’

Question 2: What are you doing here?
Ah, the beauty of the accent. We are able to get into a gospel conversation without even having to ask any questions ourselves. We do not call ourselves missionaries here (sounds too Mormon-like), but as ‘ministry workers’ we get to share the reason for living here and the work we do in Sydney. We are able to share the name of Jesus and the work He can have in the lives of the people we come in contact with in the city. What a gift this silly accent provides for us to share the Gospel. God has a plan.

Question 3: Which country do you like more?
A very wise woman gave us advice on how to steer this potentially loaded question out of dangerous waters. The standard and genuine answer to this question would be, “Which do I like more? How do you choose? It is like picking which of our children I love more. I love all of our children equally for their unique qualities and unconditionally.” The same could be said about Australia & the US. We love them both equally.

Question 4: When are you leaving?
Finally, the answer to the question of our citizenship. Depending on how people respond to the first three questions, we could take this question in different ways. Generally, it is in reference that Americans do not immigrate. Americans represent the smallest immigrant population in Australia. Most Aussies are used to their American friends moving back to the US eventually. Our answer can now be, we are citizens. We are ‘all in’ and committed to being here as long as the Lord wants us to be here. If you study James’ epistle, it is foolish to commit beyond the will of God. So, if he wants us here for the rest of our days, we are committed to being here. Also, it does communicate commitment to our friends in Australia. We love this country and look forward to seeing how the Lord will use us here, even to the end of our days.

Question 5: How do you like our football?
Australia is a sport crazy nation and it has four codes of football. Rugby, Rugby League, Australian Rules Football & Soccer. This question is another potential challenge, depending on the state you are living. First pitfall for most Americans is to rave about NFL. There are pockets of people who like grid iron, but generally the only time people care about NFL is around Super Bowl time. Our response comes from a love for two of the codes, they are more exciting and faster than NFL. We started as Rugby League fans (Rabbitohs are my team – I will tell you that story someday) which is a NSW and Queensland code. Then Josh started playing AFL two years ago and we all have become hooked. So, we cheer for Josh’s team, the Southwest Tigers and for the professional team, the Sydney Swans. Like food, sport is a great way to reach into the hearts of people and see what they are most passionate about, then we can begin to share about the passion in our lives, Jesus Christ. Also, it is great fun to watch the various codes of footy. Go Rabbitohs, So Swans, Go God. Not necessarily in that order.

There are more things to share, but I will leave that to another day.

Hope this answers the questions about our citizenship in Australia & a fun cultural education.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi,Oi, Oi! (If you do not understand the cheer, ask us about it when we come to a church near you.)

The ‘Aussie’ adventure continues…

Russ, Cathy, Becca, Hope, Joshua & Caroline

Matthews – June 2010

Further questions about furlough

We have had questions a few things for furlough.
*We will be in Iowa from 13 August to 5 November. This is the time we will need a van.
*We have a housesitter while we are away.
*If you want to send money to ABWE for our trip, mark it as ‘furlough’ money.

Thanks for the prayers and questions…
Russ

Matthews – June 2010

Quick furlough update

Thank you for all of your prayers, things are getting close and final preparations are underway.

Praises: We had a generous gift given to us to pay for a van to travel across from Maryland to Iowa. Thanks!

We will be sworn in as Australian Citizens on 29 June.

Prayer requests:
A van while we are in Iowa (13 August – 5 November)

Australian Passports get processed prior to leaving

Funds for our travels across US.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support. We are looking forward to seeing our friends & family in the US.

The adventure continues…
Russ Matthews

New Design for MatthewsDownUnder.com

Our missionaries to Australia, Russ and Cathy Matthews have launched a new website design. You can visit it at www.matthewsdownunder.com. It was designed by Josh Byers from our Lakeside church plant.