Whether your church community can dedicate one, two or four weeks, there are quality resources to for all ages to get involved.
Alongsiders [Key Video]
WATCh alongsiders
Video with captions >>
This is the key video video for the Alongsiders series. It is the entry point for the full resource, designed to open the conversation on what being an alongsider means for you and your faith community... wherever you are.
In this video, sit down with intercultural team members Rours, Reaksmey and Paul as they explore what they are learning about being alongsiders. And then, take a moment to consider what being an alongsider means for you. How is God calling you to step out and live as an alongsider?
How to use this video
This video can be used as a discussion prompter for churches and small groups. It's our prayer that your faith community takes this piece, and uses it to spark a new conversation about how you are individually and collectively living as alongsiders.
As a church (or small group), watch the Alongsiders video during your service, and then invite people to form small discussion groups. Use the PPT slides or printable PDF to share the questions.
Questions:
- What do you think it means to be an alongsider?
- What does this look like in your life?
- What are you learning about being an alongsider? Choose one word each to reflect on: love / patience / prayer / openness / partnership / time / hope / humility / peace
- How is God calling you to step and journey with others? Is there anything holding you back?
Extended Conversation
Reaksmey, Rours and Paul had lots more stories and reflections to share! So we also recorded an 30 minute extended version of their conversation as a Missioning podcast episode.
Special Thanks
Thank you to everyone who made this short film possible: Rours, Reaksmey, Paul, Beck, Gerry, Jemimah, Dema, Phil, Lena, Teagan, Scott and Susan.
Extra special thanks to
Baptist Financial Services Australia LTD (BFS) for sponsoring this video.
The Alongsiders video has been produced by Thick Black Frames.
Pastor's and Leader's Guide
The Pastor's and Leader's Guide has been developed as a launching pad for leaders explore the key themes of the Alongsiders series with churches and small groups.
Each theme has an
introdution of the theme and scriptures, key
takeaways, mission
stories to use as illustrations,
questions for small groups and a
prayer. It can be used as a four week series or as standalone sessions.
It can be printed on A4 pages and then folded in half to create an A5 booklet.
leader's guide
leader's guide - For printing
Theme 1: People of prayer
Scriptures: Mark 1:35–39, Colossians 4:2–6 and 2 Chronicles 7:14
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video
Key Points:
- Prayer empowers us for mission
- Prayer opens doors for the Gospel
- We are empowered by the Spirit
Mission Stories:
- Daz and Bee, South East Asia
- Liz and Glenn, Thailand
Theme 2: people of peace
Scriptures: Acts 16:11–15, Matthew 5:9 and James 3:13–18
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video
Key Points:
- Peacemakers seek people of peace
- Peacemakers are called the children of God
- Peacemakers show the wisdom of heaven
Mission Stories:
- Sally, Mozambique
- Bob, Western Australia
Theme 3: people of love
Scriptures: 1 John 3:16–18, 1 Thessalonians 5:11–19 and 1 Timothy 2:1–7
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video
Key Points:
- We are people of love in our words and actions
- We are people of love in our encouragement and support
- We are people of love in our prayers and thanksgiving
Mission Stories:
- Joyce and Jean-Claude, Malawi
- Citywide Baptist Church, Tasmania
Theme 4: People who partner
Scripture: Philippians 1:3–8, John 13:34–35 and Matthew 28:18–20
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video
Key Points:
- We are people who partner in the Gospel
- We are people who partner in love
- We are people who partner in the Great Commission
Mission Stories:
- John, Victoria
- Leisha, Victoria
Filmed Sermons
Intercultural Team Update Videos
Each year, our wonderful, passionate intercultural team members produce short video updates for you and your church. Be encouraged by stories, reflections and updates from the team members you partner with.
Some videos relate to one of the four key Alongsiders themes. You will see these identified by a theme number after the team member's name. These story or reflection videos can be used as illustrations in sermons or as standalone pieces.
Mozambique Team
People of Love - Sally, Mozambique
Person of Peace - Kath, Mozambique
Partnering with God - Kath, Mozambique
Scott and Bek's Update - Mozambique
Bible Translation Project Update - Tobias and Heather, Mozambique
Malawi Team
Jean-Claude and Joyce's Update - Malawi
Sarah and Gunther's Update - Malawi
Gary and Shirley's Update - Malawi
David and Susie's Update - Malawi from Baptist Mission Australia on Vimeo.
Reflection on Being Poor in Spirit - Tim and Melanie, Malawi
The Next Generation - Tim, Malawi
Silk Road Area Team
Videos from the Silk Road Area team are password protected. Please contact our team to access the password.
Peacemakers - Mel, Silk Road Area
Eliza and David's Update - Silk Road Area
People of Prayer - David and Eliza, Silk Road Area
Suzanne's Update - Silk Road Area
Ben and Petra's Update - Silk Road Area
Thailand Team
Liz and Glenn's Update - Thailand
Testimony of Peace - Muana, Thailand
Muana and Villy's Update - Thailand
Jit and Jan's Update - Thailand
Partners in God's Mission - Dema, Thailand
Margaret's Update - Thailand
Cambodia Team
Rours and Reaksmey's Update - Cambodia
Luke and Rachel's Update - Cambodia from Baptist Mission Australia on Vimeo.
Therapy for Children with Disabilities Project Update - Rachel and Luke
(Captions) Catherine and KimLean - Cambodia from Baptist Mission Australia on Vimeo.
Posture of Prayer - Deb and Rob, Cambodia
Dreaming Big - Deb, Cambodia
Tristan and Megan's Update - Cambodia
South East Asia Team
Videos from the South East Asia team are password protected. Please contact our team to access the password.
Mike's Update - South East Asia
Cafe Project Update - Daz and Bee, South East Asia
Pat and Joy's Update - South East Asia
Kate's Update - South East Asia
Ministry Update - South East Asia
Dave and Caz's Update - South East Asia
Ally's Update - South East Asia
Ando's Update - South East Asia
Max and Ezzie's Update - South East Asia
South Asia Team
Videos from the South East Asia team are password protected. Please contact our team to access the password.
Lisa's Update - South Asia
Ryan and Suzie's Update - South Asia
Anthony and Jacqueline's Update - South Asia
Fiona's Update - South Asia
Phil's Update - South Asia
Outback Australia Team
Outback Australia Team Update
Mat and Shannon's Update - Outback Australia
Beth and Danny's Update - Outback Australia
Chris and Mal's Update - Outback Australia
Urban & Regional Australia Team
Paul and Naomi's Update - Urban & Regional Australia
Daniel's Update - Urban & Regional Australia
India
R and B's Update - India
Thematic Videos
Missioning Podcast
Across the Alongsiders series, host Nathan Reid (Baptist Mission Australia Mission Coach) talks to people in Australia and around the world who are stepping out and living as alongsiders.
You can listen now to the four episodes:
Episode 1: People of Prayer
Listen here >>
Guests: Daz and Bee, South East Asia
In this conversation, Bee and Daz share about their experience of prayer, how this has evolved since moving to South East Asia five years ago and how God is shaping them - day by day - to be people of prayer. They share vulnerably about challenges they have experienced and what God taught them about prayer during those seasons.
Episode 2: People of Peace
Listen here >>
Guests: Cam and Kath, Mozambique
Cam and Kath have been serving with our team in Mozambique among the Yawo people for ten years. And in conversation with Nathan Reid, they share stories of how God has gone before them and placed people of peace in their lives - opening Kingdom opportunities in communities.
Episode 3: People of Love
Listen now >>
Guests: Steve Hales, Lismore Baptist Church & Petra, Silk Road Area
Petra and Steve serve in very different contexts, but they both live out of the conviction that to be an alongsider is to be someone who shares God's love in relevant, active and genuine ways.
Episode 4: People who Partner
Listen now >>
Guests: Suzanne, Silk Road Area & Marbuen Diaz, Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT
In this thought provoking episode, Nathan, Suzanne and Marbz explore a range of questions about partnership, power and working together. Suzanne is preparing to head to the Silk Road Area, joining our intercultural team. And Marbz works at the Baptist Association of Churches in NSW & ACT and has many years experience partnering with community development projects and other organisations.
..............
Introductory Episode: Being Alongsiders
In addition to the full Missioning series with Nathan, this episode gives an overview of the Alongsiders theme. It's an extended version of a four minute video we have produced as the key video for the Alongsiders series
(you can watch that video here >>)
In this episode, sit down with intercultural team members Rours, Reaksmey and Paul as they explore what it means to be an alongsider. Paul shares from his experiences serving in Central Asia and Australia. And Reaksmey and Rours share stories from their years in Brisbane, where they are living as they prepare to join the Baptist Mission Australia team in Cambodia.
Listen here >>
Watch here >>
Children's Resource [primary school ages]
The Alongsiders Children's Resource is a four session curriculum for primary aged children. The aim of this resource is for kids to learn from Jesus’ example of loving all people and to explore how we can all live as alongsiders.
Through the sessions, children will explore stories of Jesus in the Bible, as well as discover what it means for them and how they can be a part of God’s mission. This is achieved through games, activities, Bible stories, discussion questions, videos and prayer.
Children's RESOURCE
Children's RESOURCE - FOR PRINTING
Session 1: Recharged and Ready!
Session 2: Peace People
Session 3: Sharing the Love
Session 4: Better Together
A special thank you to Carol Cleasby from Thornleigh Community Baptist Church for writing sessions one and two of this resource. Thank you Carol!
Kid's Videos
Videos for kids, from kids!
Chris, Ornella, Venerande and Isabella live with their parents Joyce and Jean-Claude in Malawi. What's their life like?! In
this video, they share all!
What is like growing up in Malawi? - Chris, Ornella, Venerande and Isabella tell all!
Josiah and Levi, two of Bek and Scott's children, love having fun with their friends in Mozambique. In this video, they share how they live alongside their friends.
How We Live Alongside Our Friends - Josiah and Levi, Mozambique
Video with captions >>
Youth Resource [secondary school ages]
This
Alongsiders Youth Resource has been designed as a single 1.5-2 hour youth group session.
It is based around four interactive prayer stations that correlate to the four key themes of the Alongsiders series - prayer, peace, love and partnership. Each prayer station also has a corresponding extension activity that can be done by youth individually throughout May and beyond.
Through the prayer stations and the extension activities, youth will be encouraged to lift their eyes to what God is doing both globally and locally.
Youth Resource
YOUTH RESOURCE - For printing
Printables
There are PDFs to be printed for each of the prayer stations.
If this is an issue for your group due to access or cost, please let us know. Baptist Mission Australia can print all the elements and mail them to you.
Station One: People of Prayer
Station Two: People of Peace
Station Three: People of Love
Station Four: People who Partner
The Alongsiders Youth Resource has been written by Rachel Stevens, Baptist Mission Australia’s Next Generation Specialist. Rachel is passionate about engaging with young people as they explore who God is and who He has made them to be.