REACH ILLAWARRA
(recorded here in an attempt to show part of the history of combined church activity in the Illawarra)

The Vision as originally conceived (but, in the end was not implemented)...

For some time now, there has been a growing sense in the Illawarra that the Church of Jesus Christ needs to be praying and working together more if it is to express the fullness of its life in Christ and see God glorified in the region. A number of ministers have been meeting together monthly for prayer. There have been combined prayer nights to pray for the Illawarra.

So the Illawarra Pastors' Network and the Illawarra Prayer Network have been praying for people of vision and with a city heart to be raised up to give leadership to that will focus on the region.

"Reach Illawarra" is a step along the way, with a team of leaders, called together by Scott Hanzy, beginning to look at how we, as the Church of the Illawarra, can better influence the region for the Kingdom of God.

Vision:
"To see the gospel of Christ becoming a significant influence in every level of community life in the Illawarra."

Mission:
"Facilitating the role of the churches in the Illawarra community."

Strategies:
Reach Illawarra will seek to strengthen relationships between all the churches of the Illawarra. It will further develop a citywide prayer movement, and promote positive relationships between people in the churches and in the various institutions and centres of influence in the region. These include government, media, education, youth, health, industry, business, law, sport, arts, welfare, amongst others.

Reach Illawarra Team:
Leader: Ps Scott Hanzy, Gateway City Church; with David Bartlett (Illawarra Pastors Network); Jeff Stacey (Illawarra Prayer Network) and others as needs arise.



Note:
The Rise Up Illawarra events arose from this initial concept, and in particular, from Scott Hanzy’s reaching out to the Lord Mayor of Wollongong as part of the “Government Centre of Influence”.

The original concept from Reach Illawarra was that it would become an ‘umbrella’ for combined church activity in the region, with an advisory board consisting of the leaders of churches (which, as it turned out, ultimately became the Rise Up Illawarra Inc. Board) and who would be a liaison body relating to the Council and other authorities as required.