What If We Lost the Building?

This week, Scott, Olivia and I spent three days at the Wollongong Regional Clergy Conference, held—funnily enough—at Waterslea in Nowra, the same place we’ll be heading for our parish weekend away in just a few weeks.

We were blessed by two thoughtful speakers: Tim Dwyer, a church health consultant, and Jay Behan, Bishop of the Confessing Anglicans in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Jay shared stories from Christchurch—where literal earthquakes forced some churches to close permanently because their buildings were condemned. In some cases, those churches never reopened. The building was gone… and with it, the ministry.

He also spoke about the cost his movement bore when they parted ways with the institutional Anglican church over issues of human sexuality. In many cases, they lost access to their buildings. They had to find new spaces, gather in school halls or lounge rooms, and start from scratch. Some churches declined. Others, against the odds, flourished.

Jay framed it as a diagnostic question for them, but I couldn’t shake it—it cut through for me. It left me wondering: What would happen to Gymea if there was an earthquake, and we lost 131 Gymea Bay Road? Would we survive and thrive—or would we quietly fade away?

How much of our identity is tied to our building… and how much to our mission?

We say we love Jesus.

We say we love each other.

We say we love Gymea.

All true—but buildings make that easy. Real mission, the kind that reaches the people around us with the love, forgiveness, and hope of Jesus, isn’t tied to any one location. It’s in the streets, homes, cafés, and parks of our suburb. And if we’re not white hot on that mission—praying, opening our lives, voicing the gospel, extending invitations—then losing a building could undo us.

That’s why our local mission strategy is built around those three loves:We love Jesus. We love each other. We love Gymea. And our acronym for mission—L.O.V.E.—reminds us to:

• Lift our non-Christian friends and family in prayer

• Open our lives to them

• Voice the gospel

• Extend an invitation

Jay’s question challenged me—and I hope it challenges you too.

Could I ask each of you: would you make this part of your weekly rhythm? In your life group, in your own prayer time, would you lift your friends and family who don’t yet know Jesus? Maybe they live under your roof. Maybe they’re neighbours, school mates, or colleagues. Pray that your life would shine with salt and light. That your words would be gracious and true. That God would use your small, faithful actions to awaken others from sleep—or even from death to life.

Because only Jesus’ blood can cover our sins.Only his cross can bear our guilt.Only his Spirit can bring the spiritually dead to life.

Let’s be a church that doesn’t just gather in a building but goes with the gospel.

Let’s be ready—whatever happens—to keep loving Gymea in Jesus’ name.

Grace and peace,

Dave