Pastor welcomed to Rose City
Rose City Baptist Church’s new Pastor Brenton Honeychurch was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the support he received when entering the ministry.
The congregation welcomed their new pastor and his wife Olga to the church in January.
The couple’s journey to Benalla started some 30 years earlier when Pastor Honeychurch was a policeman in a small South Australian town.
He had shared with a man why he was leaving the town and the police force, with the call of God to study the Bible and then serve.
"I was unsure how this person would respond as I had reported him for numerous drug and car offences and I had once transported him to the Adelaide Gaol,“Pastor Honeychurch said.
“This man’s enthusiastic response was ‘Hey man, follow that dream.’
“What a contrast to some church people who said ‘how are you going to support your wife and four small children?’ as the study time was undertaken without financial support.”
Since leaving the police force Pastor Honeychurch has led ministries in Manjimup WA, Gawler, SA, and for the past 22 years, the South West Baptist Church in Adelaide.
“In my last year at South West, I had dealings with a man similar to the one 30 years earlier,” he said. “This man was suffering heavily from the effects of his drug taking, but in a lucid moment called out to Christ to rescue him from his helpless position.
“The change was immediate, but the following battle had its ups and downs with the ups slowly becoming predominant.
“Ironically, not long after accepting Christ as His Saviour, he was sent to jail for his past actions.
“This was probably a blessing in disguise as it began a time of drying out, and changing his environment.
“He has had 10 months in a rehabilitation centre, needed to cleanse his body from the effects of drugs, and create new thinking patterns — he is now a new and joy filled man.
“Such is the joy of serving Christ to see God working in lives for our 30 years.”
Both Brenton and Olga are looking forward with anticipation of what’s in store for them in the years to come as they minister at the Rose City Baptist Church and within the Benalla Community.
• Morning Service at 11am.
• Evening service (time can vary).
• All ages Sunday school.
• The Joy Club (A primary aged youth club) Friday’s at 5pm.
• Teens and young adults meetings on Sunday mornings (times vary).
● The Rose City Baptist Church is at 93 Thomas St.