Our public launch

On Sunday 25 August, we opened our doors to the public, and we praise God for all the people who came along to support us! It was amazing to see so many faces from so many different backgrounds and various stages of life. 

During the service, we looked at the parable of the prodigal son, and we were reminded that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Together, we prayed that Cornerstone would be a place where we see people who are lost ‘come home’ to Jesus. We handed out Connect Cards at the end of the service, and there were lots of people who asked to be followed up. They said they were interested in doing our Meet Jesus course, joining the church, or meeting up with someone. We’re so excited to see those people come back.

After the service, we welcomed everyone to join us for morning tea out on the lawn. We had a coffee van as well, and many people stayed around to chat for a long time. Our launch team of fifty were buzzing with energy and stayed around till the very end to pack up and pray together. Here are some reflections on the day from our launch team:

‘I think my favourite thing about launch day was actually processing the Connect Cards over the following week. There were so many heartfelt notes scribbled on there by Christian family, friends, and strangers telling us of their joy in seeing this new church born, and assuring us of their prayers. It was a great reminder that we belong to the broader family of God and that a win for one is a win for all when the mission is sharing the love and hope of Jesus.’

— Aimee

‘What I found most encouraging was seeing so many people from all walks of life, different cultures, and ages and stages come along to Cornerstone Anglican Church Box Hill and support our public launch! It was amazing looking out at everyone during the morning tea, seeing the launch team dispersed throughout the large crowd, and witnessing so many smiles on so many faces.’

— Jordy

‘I was super encouraged from the launch to meet all the people that had been invited along by other people on the launch team. To see the fruit of everyone’s boldness and compassion all in the one room was something I was thankful for. Also, I was thankful to God for the way he had worked in the lives of so many of the people that joined us so that they could come along and meet Jesus. ’

— Daniel

‘On the public launch day, I had the privilege of leading the 2-4 year old age group. There were many aspects of the day that encouraged me, but what stood out most was how welcoming the children were to the newcomers in Cornerstone Kids. It was heartwarming to see everyone playing together so harmoniously and eagerly sharing their toys. The children who come each week answered questions from our Bible reading and shared their knowledge of who Jesus is. It showed me how valuable kids ministry is, even at a young age, as they are truly sponges to foundational teaching from the Bible. We then gathered for a time of prayer, thanking God for bringing us together for the launch and praying for the weeks ahead. It was truly inspiring to hear the children pray for their friends from school and family members to join us at Cornerstone. It was a beautiful reminder of how God has already placed these loving prayers in their young hearts.’

— Alice

‘There were so many encouraging aspects about the public launch. One of the most encouraging parts for me was seeing people from all different cultures, backgrounds, ages, socioeconomic groups, and genders being united under Christ and lifting his name up. It is such a great reminder that God is the one who saves and he brings unity among his people regardless of backgrounds. I am so thankful to God for the people he is preparing and saving from the sea of houses and beyond. ’

— Romy

‘It was such a joyous day. It was something we had been looking forward to and working towards for some time. I was encouraged by the many people that came, the gospel that was preached clearly, the many hands that God used to make it happen, and the way in which God has been growing this church ever since.’

— Sally

‘Launch day on August 25 was filled with excitement, nerves, and a powerful sense of purpose as months of preparation and prayer culminated in a day that reflected God’s mission to build His church. Encouraged by a team member’s message the afternoon before, which reminded us that planting a new church was an expression of Jesus’ plan in Matthew 16:18, I felt deeply aware that this wasn’t just a new venture or a personal mission, but another step in growing God’s kingdom. Throughout the day, God’s presence was evident in every detail, as everyone came together, using their unique gifts to serve and support the launch. This experience of the body of Christ in action, working as one for His glory, created a lasting memory that I believe will continue to inspire us as we build this church for God’s kingdom.’

— Hannah

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