One of my favourite pictures of Jesus, is that of Him riding on a donkey. Why did He ride on a donkey? He made a particular point of asking His disciples to go and find the particular colt (a donkeys foal) for the job. And not only that, but this colt and its mother were known by Jesus to already be in a nearby village waiting. They were there by heavenly design for the moment when the King of kings would require them.

Talk about God paying attention to the little things. Can you imagine... God planning and shaping the circumstances in this village for a donkey and her colt to be there at the right time. He saw the birth of this colt, and indeed the birth of its mother in the years previous. And He fashioned history around this donkey and its colt and planted the picture of it in the mind of Zechariah the prophet who wrote about the event roughly 500 years before it happened!

.and why? Why did God write history in this way? Why did He want Jesus to ride on a donkeys colt into Jerusalem? Well I cant say that I have THE answer. But I can think of a few possibilities.

In religious culture through history, donkeys were portrayed as symbols of service, suffering, peace, and humility, as well as also being associated with the theme of wisdom (at least according to Wikipedia). In Exodus 13, the Lord gives a rule to His people, that every first born male (including the livestock) belongs to the Lord (v12) in order to remember how God brought them out of Egypt (v16). (in other words, they had to be killed.) However, a lamb could be sacrificed to redeem that first born and donkeys are specifically mentioned here. Redeem with a lamb every first-born donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.

That first born donkey is doomed according to the law. It needs a lamb to be redeemed.

Skipping forward a couple of books in the Bible, to Numbers 22, we see how God uses animals in His wonderful, mysterious plans. When Balaam the prophet was going a reckless way on his trusty donkey, the angel of the Lord appeared in his path blocking the way. Balaam could not see it. Only the donkey. And so the donkey dug his heals in, deviated from the road, even laid down and refused to walk while receiving impatient beatings from Balaam, as he could still not see the angel. So God allowed the donkey to speak so Balaam could understand him (v28). He basically said Why are you beating me? Im your donkey you know Ive never behaved like this before. Think about it buddy! And then Balaam saw the angel, and obeyed the Lord.

Of course we know well, that God used a donkey to carry the Lord Jesus while in His mothers womb on the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. And thirty-odd years later, we read of another donkey, a colt, who had not yet been given any task to do. (Luke 19) He was too young to work and so he was inexperienced, and kept in the pen all day long, never yet been ridden by anyone. Jesus, coming back into Jerusalem, knew that this donkey was there, ready for Him. He sent two of his disciples to the village to find this donkey, tied up there. They were instructed to untie the donkey, and simply say to anyone who asked them why they were untying it that the Lord needs it. (v29-31)

The disciples did this and found the little donkey just as Jesus said they would. The donkey was brought to Jesus, cloaks were laid on his back, and Jesus King of kings sat down on him.

In doing this, Jesus was, as they say, making a statement. Zechariah the prophet who saw this moment by the power of the Holy Spirit wrote: Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey riding on a donkeys colt. And Matthew quotes this again in his recount the fulfillment of prophesy.

Not only is His entrance into Jerusalem a declaration of His humility, lowliness, and servanthood, it also tells of His role as Redeemer. In riding this young, lowly little colt, Jesus takes on the characteristics of everything this animal represents just like the stable and the manger help us to remember that He is meek, gentle, and stoops low, behaving as a servant. He bends to reach those who cant stand, He comforts the broken, He washes feet, keeps company with sinners, He gives His life to redeem undeserving asses like us.

Behold our King!

While horses are a symbol of war, donkeys are a symbol of peace. Jesus reminded us, all the time with the way He lived His earthly life, that Christianity is not about power. Any group or religion that gives power to its leaders cannot be trusted. For where there is power, there is corruption. Interestingly, the philosopher Agrippa placed Christian apostles on a level with donkeys/asses. He said, It is clear as day that no other animal is in a better position than the ass to receive the divine. If you do not look to the ass, you will be no position to receive the divine mysteries. He was really onto something there, but of course it was Jesus first who said things like Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth (Matt 5:5) and So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (Matt 20:16). Our friend the little colt, because he was so lowly, so humble before God, so undeserving of carrying a King, he was the perfect choice for doing just that!

At some point Jesus becomes the Lamb. And we must be like the donkey. Humble, lowly servants. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. We get to live, because He died. But while Jesus lowered Himself, we must remember, He was also raised! The Lamb who redeemed us is now sitting on the throne victorious!

We, are forever His, in freedom and in victory with Him. So can you see it? Can you see who He is and how He comes to us? Can you see who you are? And can you do it?

by Cynthia Lagadan

Thank you so much Burnside Family Church for your warm welcome during my six Sundays of worshiping with you. I was beyond blessed every Sunday. The Christmas service was extra special as I was able to bring along my goddaughter who came to visit me from Perth. She was very much encouraged and strengthened. I had the best Christmas in South Australia.

My ministry is in the area of intercessory prayer and I belong to a core group of an intercessory army. I enjoyed my worshipful prayer walks around Ken’s beautiful neighbourhood. As I was praying for Burnside Family Church, the Lord lead me to two specific verses to declare over this church. Isaiah 54:17 and Romans 12:21:

“No weapon formed against Burnside Family Church shall prosper. Burnside Family Church will not be overcome by evil but Burnside Family Church will overcome evil with good.”

Simple and powerful. There is power in declaring/ proclaiming. I believe a crucial word here is “overcome”. We are called to be overcomers and not defeated. Burnside Family Church is called to move from victory unto victory, from strength to strength, from glory to glory. In Jesus name. Amen and amen. This is my prayer for you brothers and sisters at Burnside Family Church. I fully join you in trusting for God’s provision for a pastor of His own choosing and leading.

I had a wonderful and productive six weeks’ stay. It was very therapeutic to not only share a portion of care to Ken but also to have a lengthy break from my normal job. I am now bracing myself to shift back to winter mood after the warmth of summer.

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.

Before coming to Adelaide I prayed that I would not miss what God wanted me to see and that I would not miss what God wanted me to hear while in Adelaide. This trip was highly special – a trip of a life time. The children’s ministry at Burnside is something that strongly stood out to me while I was there. I go to a church where there are no little children. The majority of people are senior citizens. (Before I came to Adelaide there was a new addition to the church; one young couple with two toddlers.) I also work in a nursing home, and I live in a neighbourhood with mostly retirees. So no little children before my eyes.

Interestingly enough, the first Sunday service at Burnside had children’s involvement. It was Kid’s Club Sunday where the focus was on the twenty-third Psalm, - The Lord Is My Shepherd.  I was fascinated with the children and their clay works. I saw these little children not only as the future builders in His kingdom but I also saw them as already now kingdom builders as little as they are.

It remains interesting that on the last Sunday (even if I was not there physically), while watching intently online I was captured at once by the fact that the biggest chunk of the communion message (given by Steve Chapman) was geared towards children. It was followed by Laura’s joyful pounding announcement about Kids Church. I say amen and amen because if we don’t prepare these kids, then who will? Technology will take over. In response, I pray that the anointing over the children and teachers be protected from being snatched by the enemy. Because those that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age. (Ps 92:12-14) It is amazing grace that little children don’t stay little children forever, but they will soon be young men and young women, then become fathers and mothers.

This is what the Lord has laid in my heart. Overall I consider this six week Adelaide visit as the grandest vacation I have ever had so far. I remember Ken saying in his email before I came that I would be happy to meet his Burnside Family Church. He was right. I am beyond glad. I will always remember my very first welcome at the Christmas banquet two days after I arrived. It was funny listening to Let It Snow in a Summer land. I came to bless the weak, but in return I was blessed even more. It will take days to count them one by one.

To God be the glory, great things He has done and great things He is doing and great things He will do in 2023. We don’t put our hope in the new year but our Hope is in the One who makes all things new. Amen.

(Cynthia was a fellow missionary with Ken Clezy in Yemen.)

Friday 24th February 2023 marks the 10th Anniversary of the merger of two churches into one church, which is now known as Burnside Family Church. The two were: Grace Community Church, meeting in a rented school hall in Kensington, and planted in 2001 by Pastor Alf and Alison Chehade and Nev and Bron Langman; and Burnside Christian Church, which had opened its doors on Christmas Day, 1864 in the old church opposite our present red brick building. 

The merger took place principally because the two churches were both operating in a limited capacity due to certain events that diminished their effectiveness. They were functioning reasonably well, but some felt both could have been doing better. In mid 2012, one of the Elders from Burnside, John Foley, made an appointment to see me at my house. There, he floated the idea that if the two churches merged, their effectiveness in the community might lift significantly. An interesting proposition. A bold idea.

There would be much to consider and pray about. Grace was a Pentecostal church, whereas Burnside was regarded as Evangelical. Could their doctrinal stances be aligned?

Constitutionally, each church had different forms of governance, and each form was dear to the heart of each congregation. A merger would mean Grace would have to close its doors and “move in” with Burnside. Both churches had significant Missionary Giving programs. What do we do with those programs? And most importantly, what was the mind of God on this merger issue? If we missed His will on this, it would mean the death of Grace Community Church and a backward step in the witness of Burnside Christian Church.

The idea was passed on to the leadership of both churches and it was agreed that we would meet and discuss the concept. The Elderships of both churches began to meet to explore these significant issues, where we would be looking for red lights. Both leaderships consulted respected colleagues and were advised that most church mergers notoriously “failed”. Would this one be any different?

Both Leaderships began to inform their respective congregations about the discussions and to keep them up to date on the various issues. One significant thing working in our favour was that we had been acting together for some time on combined events such as monthly prayer breakfasts, the annual Norwood Pageant, and school outreaches. These had given us an opportunity to observe each other playing out our Christian witness. We continued to meet as Elderships, looking for those red lights, and seeking the mind of God on this most important move. The lights seemed to be green rather than red. We began to feel increasingly, that any issues of doctrine and practice could be met and addressed by love and goodwill.

It was proposed that Grace personnel might conduct and take the lead on 7 Sunday services at Burnside, a fortnight apart, giving everyone an opportunity to see what the future might look like. Each congregation was looking for that red light. It did not come. We seemed to have received the message from God that the proposed merger was His will. Both church bodies sensed that we should go ahead.

Grace conducted its final service on what was its 12th Anniversary. We packed up our goods and equipment on a hot Sunday afternoon and moved it all up to storage in the old original Burnside church.

In a reasonably short time, we sensed that we were no longer two, but had become one. Grace, love, goodwill, and a sense of common purpose permeated the air. The issue of what to name the new church had been a small bump in the road, but in the end, was easily and smoothly resolved.

Since then, as one church ‘family’, Burnside Family Church has enjoyed many special times, made further positive impacts on its surrounding community, and developed many strong relationships. It has supported several local and overseas missions and partnered with other churches in regular prayer events. It has seen the launch of some specialty community activities, such as GoodGames, Burn’xercise, Conversation English, Korean, French and Tamil Services, and BFPlaygroup to name just a few. We have celebrated together, camped together, prayed together and been ‘socially distant’ together. It has been a wonderful place to come to church and as many have said in recent times, the best is yet to come.

Happy 10th Birthday to Burnside Family Church.

If you’re like me, you may find the difference between the tempestuous stormy sea of December and the still, quiet waters of January an interesting contrast. Maybe for some people, because of their professions, they’re not too different, but for most of us, January seems to be the calm after the storm. Or as I often call it, the dead month.

The end of the year and all the busy preparations that come with it mount up so fast, we barely have time to notice where we are and who we’re with. One weekend after the next of work dinners, kid’s breakups, school concerts, assemblies, Christmas lunches, and “hey it’s holidays now, we need to catch up with friends”, and “oh dear it’s Christmas in a week, I need to go shopping!”

Then after the festivities (and hopefully we’ve been able to remember Jesus in all of it), we come to a time of rest. Even for those whose jobs continue throughout the season, there is still the absence of school runs, through-the-week church events and other regular commitments. And I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s a huge sigh of relief!

We all need to rest at some stage. And we know that God created the world this way and set up the system – working hard and being productive… and then resting. He did this by setting out the pattern of a week in His creation project, and commanding that we keep one day holy – the Sabbath, for rest, reflection and worship.

For many of us, January can feel like a big, long Sabbath. Sure, we still have responsibilities, and we have to get things done, but there is a feeling of release from running around the little hamster wheel all year. So praise the Lord for January!

It strikes me that in Psalm 23 (as we heard all about at our recent ‘Kid’s Club Sunday’), David the Psalmist says that God makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. The word “makes” there is what stands out to me. Sometimes we must be made to rest. When being productive, it’s hard to know when to stop, (or we don’t want to). When we get on a roll with our work, we want to accomplish and accomplish until there’s nothing left – except there’s never nothing left, there is always work to be done, so in our foolishness, we could just go and go and go, but…

God makes use lie down. The shepherd knows when the sheep require green pastures. However, sheep will not lie down if they are afraid or anxious, if they’re hungry, or if there’s a problem among them.  And just like sheep, it’s hard for us to rest when we have pressures or difficulties, or when we’re worried about something. But God leads us to a place where we can rest. He guides us as well as making us lie down. Jesus said in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Not only does God make us rest, but He gives us the means to be able to rest, through His supernatural peace that transcends all understanding (Phil 4:7) He knows what we need, when we need it.

So if this is a quieter-than-usual month for you, consider January your green pasture. Your still waters. Use it as a time to reflect, to breathe in God’s peace, and to grow closer to Him. Ask Him to show you His love and care, and use the quietness to listen to His reply. Let the green pastures and still waters restore you and revive you. Verse 3 of the Psalm says He restores my soul. Now, this doesn’t only have to happen in January of course! But I feel like this is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of Who our shepherd is, and that He comforts us, provides for us, cares for us and restores us.

Perhaps I will stop calling January the dead month, and start calling it the alive month. The living month! As God restores life and energy where it had before been dwindling.

Praise God for January, and for the coming year.