Jessie was baptised at Cornerstone@North, after coming to faith, and accepting Jesus as her Saviour and Lord. We rejoice with her, even as the angels rejoice in heaven over the repentance of one sinner.
She had come to Australia as a medical researcher, being a PHD in infectious diseases. Having stayed for about 18 months, she has recently returned to her home country to be reunited with her family.
We pray that God will watch over her and keep her in His loving care. Please keep in touch, Jessie! It has been wonderful to share in your joy of salvation
See Video below for her testimony and pictures in the next blog entry
Jessie's Baptism from Lyn Tang on Vimeo.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Cornerstone Presbyterian Church 15th Anniversary 1st March 2009
Last Sunday, 1st March 2009; we (the congregations of Cornerstone@ Concord and Cornerstone@North came together in a spirit of unity and love to give thanks and praise to our Almighty and Faithful God!!
He has preseved, held and sustained us for the last 15 years and we are humbled and grateful for His bountiful blessings and goodness to us!
It was a wonderful time of celebration and rejoicing, as we gathered together as ONE, to reflect on the goodness of God to us, over the last 15 years!!
The history of Cornerstone as foretold and summarised by CS Tang, our Senior Pastor; is as follows:
About 16 years agao, a group of people met to study and discuss church planting. The group was led by a young assistance pastor, Rev CS Tang; who had himself completed a 3 year stint of church planting in Sydney South West.
After a year o
r so, with much prayer and with the blessing of the sending church, Cornerstone was formed with a launch group of about 30 adults. Humanly speaking, it was a risky thing to do. They had very little to start with.
Everybody made sacrifices to get it off the ground. They were a group of very ordinary Christians.
There was no reason why this group should succeed, when many before them had failed.
Statistics in those days said that 80% of church plants never reached viability, and 95% of them would never generate another church, even after reaching viability.
The temptation for many in such situations was to resort to shameful means to attract people into the church. But, somehow Cornerstone not only survived. It had grown!!
About 10 years after the launch of Cornerstone@Concord, a second congregation was planted-Cornerstone@North; again, with a small launch group.
The third church plant is crucial. Among missiologists, a second church plant means that Cornerstone has "succeeded in church planting".
A third church plant, however means that Cornerstone is no longer just a church plant, but a church planting movement.
Cornestone is not the biggest. It is not the most cutting edged. It does not even have the best programes. There are most definitely many other better churches in Sydney.
But somehow, by the grace and purpose of God, he has blessed us and given Cornerstone a special place in the gospel landscape in our land and beyond.
We are so grateful to God for His awesome Grace, and for looking upon us with favour. For without Him, we can achieve nothing, and all we do would be futile and in vain.
We pray that the Lord will continue to go before us, as we look to Him; in the planting of more congregations; and as we look forward to the acquisition of a Ministry Centre.
**Photos courtesy of Luan
He has preseved, held and sustained us for the last 15 years and we are humbled and grateful for His bountiful blessings and goodness to us!
It was a wonderful time of celebration and rejoicing, as we gathered together as ONE, to reflect on the goodness of God to us, over the last 15 years!!
The history of Cornerstone as foretold and summarised by CS Tang, our Senior Pastor; is as follows:
About 16 years agao, a group of people met to study and discuss church planting. The group was led by a young assistance pastor, Rev CS Tang; who had himself completed a 3 year stint of church planting in Sydney South West.
After a year o
r so, with much prayer and with the blessing of the sending church, Cornerstone was formed with a launch group of about 30 adults. Humanly speaking, it was a risky thing to do. They had very little to start with.
Everybody made sacrifices to get it off the ground. They were a group of very ordinary Christians.
There was no reason why this group should succeed, when many before them had failed.
Statistics in those days said that 80% of church plants never reached viability, and 95% of them would never generate another church, even after reaching viability.
The temptation for many in such situations was to resort to shameful means to attract people into the church. But, somehow Cornerstone not only survived. It had grown!!
Over the years, many have come to know Jesus, as a result of its ministries.
Almost everyone who has persevered with us, have grown.
Others, have also come on board to strengthen the gospel work here.
Many of the children who have come out with the launching group, are now leaders in various ministries
Almost everyone who has persevered with us, have grown.
Others, have also come on board to strengthen the gospel work here.
Many of the children who have come out with the launching group, are now leaders in various ministries
About 10 years after the launch of Cornerstone@Concord, a second congregation was planted-Cornerstone@North; again, with a small launch group.
In 2006, we
called an associate pastor-Rev Powell to join the pastoral team
Cornerstone is n
ow in the process of planning for a third plant.
It has outreach ministries to reach the lost, not only in Sydney, but overseas also.Myanmar and Thailand
To the question how such things could happen from such insignificant beginning with such an unpromising bunch, Rev CS Tang always answers – “God’s grace – to show his strength through weak and ordinary Christians for his glory, so no one can boast. Cornerstone has always been and will always be a church plant movement for the ‘C-Team."
called an associate pastor-Rev Powell to join the pastoral team
Cornerstone is n
ow in the process of planning for a third plant.
It has outreach ministries to reach the lost, not only in Sydney, but overseas also.
To the question how such things could happen from such insignificant beginning with such an unpromising bunch, Rev CS Tang always answers – “God’s grace – to show his strength through weak and ordinary Christians for his glory, so no one can boast. Cornerstone has always been and will always be a church plant movement for the ‘C-Team."
The third church plant is crucial. Among missiologists, a second church plant means that Cornerstone has "succeeded in church planting".
A third church plant, however means that Cornerstone is no longer just a church plant, but a church planting movement.
Cornestone is not the biggest. It is not the most cutting edged. It does not even have the best programes. There are most definitely many other better churches in Sydney.
But somehow, by the grace and purpose of God, he has blessed us and given Cornerstone a special place in the gospel landscape in our land and beyond.
We are so grateful to God for His awesome Grace, and for looking upon us with favour. For without Him, we can achieve nothing, and all we do would be futile and in vain.
We pray that the Lord will continue to go before us, as we look to Him; in the planting of more congregations; and as we look forward to the acquisition of a Ministry Centre.
However, all of these are not important, if God's name is not glorified and people are not being saved.
We therefore pray that our priorities and direction will be aligned to the will of God, and that we would be faithful stewards and obedient servants, and be bent on loving and serving God.
We therefore pray that our priorities and direction will be aligned to the will of God, and that we would be faithful stewards and obedient servants, and be bent on loving and serving God.
"Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowlege of God. How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out. Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen" (Romans 11:33-36)
**Photos courtesy of Luan
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