By KATH GANNAWAY
PASTOR Chris Wilson is the first to admit that following in the footsteps of retired River Valley Church pastor Andy Bennett is a big ask.
But, he’s up for it, and he is happy in the knowledge that he has strong building blocks on which to carry on the work of the church in the Millgrove community.
The church is unique, he says, in that it was community driven.
“When Andy was doing the chaplaincy at the primary school, he found a lot of kids were coming to school without food,” he explained.
“The connection was built with the school families and they basically said ‘you start a church and we will come to it’, and they did.”
Some of the program run from the River Valley Centre, a central meeting place in the heart of Millgrove, are the Careworks Emergency Relief Service, the Good Tucker community lunch and free bread on Tuesdays, counselling services, access to technology, a youth group, help with resumes and interview practice to activities such as a walking group, chronic illness support and craft groups.
Just a couple of months into the job, Pastor Chris’s aim is to continue to grow River Valley’s connection with the community, and its ability to build a stronger community.
The strong foundation he is building on include the ‘church’ that’s not just a church.
When River Valley reached the point where they wanted a church of their own, they looked at how they could fulfil the congregation need, and the needs of the wider community.
The result was a hall in the school grounds which is church on Sunday and used by the school and other groups at other times.
The headquarters is another inspired idea, according to Pastor Chris.
“I think it was an absolutely visionary idea of the church having a community interface that is not a church building,” he said.
“It’s a place where people, any people, can talk, chat, get help and be part of a supportive community,” he said.
River Valley Centre, at 3039 Warburton Highway, in Millgrove, is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 2pm for anyone wanting information on what they are about, and what they offer the community.
Tuesday Tucker, on 2 August, will be a special opportunity to get to know the new Pastor.
If it’s needed, “how’s your band going” would be a good conversation starter.
