PROFILE OF AN SRI INSTRUCTOR On the 25th Sep, we posted an appeal by SRI Volunteers at Appin Park PS, to try to woo back the kids who opted out under MD141. One of the volunteers named was David Lloyd. We have been familiar with David Lloyd for some time before this. This school - and others in the Wangaratta area where David Lloyd delivers SRI - have all chosen to continue with the program, dispute the opt-in rate being very low. David Lloyd has some influence in Wangaratta...but who is he? He is the Pastor at the Wangaratta Wesleyan Methodist Church. wesleyanwangaratta.org.au/?page_id=10 The Wesleyan Methodist Church is one of the more evangelical of the 12 churches who support ACCESS Ministries. Here he talks about his mission in schools during his sermons: There is another group of people out there in our community who I’m particularly passionate about reaching and that is the children who have no real opportunity to learn what all of us have had the privilege of learning. Who will tell them? I believe we have an ongoing responsibility as a church to minister to children within our walls and beyond our walls. Working in Primary schools as a chaplain and teaching CRE gives you a realistic view of where children stand spiritually. In the 12 years that I’ve taught CRE in grade 5/6 classes I would say the average of children who are from active Christian families is about 1-2 in a class of 25. Out of that 25 maybe another 3-4 would have spasmodic church contact but most likely not enough to convince them it is a good lifestyle to pursue. So who will tell these children about Jesus? Where are these precious kids going to finds the keys to the kingdom of God? There is a great and desperate need to develop ministries that teach today’s children about Jesus. CRE does a great job and we constantly need more teachers but we need more than CRE. The work of OAC Ministries and other similar para-church organisations that tell the gospel so clearly at schools and caravan parks are effective but follow up is difficult. and makes it clear why he is there: Many of the decisions we make in the life of the church will have differing opinions but there is one thing that unites us all and that is our mission. Our mission is simple and it has not changed in 2,000 years; according to Jesus himself we are to, ‘go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’ What a beautiful mission we have! What a wonderful way of uniting us together as we forge ahead and do our part in fulfilling the Great Commission. This mission that Jesus gave to us is not optional; we are mandated by the creator of the universe to fulfill his mission. If you call yourself a Christian, a follower of Jesus then this is your mission, this is your goal in life and this is what should motivate you every day of the week. He also hosts SRI volunteer training each year at his church, in conjunction with OAC Ministries and ACCESS. But...most disturbing of all, is the fact that he runs a kids program in Wangaratta called Park the Kids. He advertises this school holiday activity as a way for parents to offload their kids during school holidays, in the local park, to do crafts and games. And he advertises this to parents in school newsletters. See attached, notices for Park the Kids as they appear in school newsletters. We are more than a little concerned that parents are not being informed that this is an event where their children will be evangelized (while away from their parents). It is promoted as a secular activity to parents - and DOES NOT disclose any religious content or intention. Sounds good on the surface. What busy parent wouldnt be in favour of dropping their kids at the local park for some fun activities so they can have some free time for themselves? Why not? Because the whole purpose of Park the Kids is to get the poor, unchurched children of Wangaratta into the reach of David Lloyd - particularly when their parents are not around. If you have any doubt about the intent of Park the Kids, this is what he has to say: What an opportunity we have to minister to children today! Just this morning we have mentioned a number of them. Camping ministry, teaching CRE, supporting OAC Ministry then there are ministry to children more directly linked to our church like Park the kids which is coming up in a couple of months in the second week of the coming school holidays. What a great idea. How can a church get parents to willingly hand over their kids for a few hours? Easy - just set up a circus themed school holiday activity in the local park (dont host it at the church), make it free and easy for the parents. And whatever you do, dont let on that it is religious. Oh, and get the public schools to advertise it for you. Not surprisingly - it works. So, look out all you parents in sleepy Wangaratta - you have a predator in your midst, who wants unsupervised access to your children.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 06:25:59 +0000
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