Phill - Our new Rural Chaplain!

New Rural Chaplain -Phill  Matthews

I am the new Rural Chaplain my name is Phillip Matthews, I prefer Phill; I started as a Rural Chaplain based in Narrabri this month. Big thanks to the folks of Narrabri for making us so welcome.

 So who am I?

I was born in the North East of England. I came to Australia with my family in 1968 when I was 16.

My wife, Lyn, and I have 2 children, and 5 wonderful grandchildren (2 boys & 3 girls) and they all live in the Campbelltown area. We also have a faithful dog, BJ, a Blue healer cross who chose us on a holiday to Forster 9 years ago.

Pre-church I worked as a stockman on piggeries did tractor driving and fencing/clearing. I owned a trucking company, mainly selling soft drinks and a bit of general carrying. This was in the Young district. I returned to Sydney to take up Youth Work in the Campbelltown suburb of Claymore in a Community Youth Centre, then I became the co-ordinator of a Youth refuge sponsored by the Uniting Church, from 1986-1996.

In this time I took on “tent-maker ministry” in Claymore as part of “Parish on the Way”, made up of 2 house based churches. In 1996 I moved into fulltime ministry with “Parish on the Way” and with Airds High School as South West Community Youth Worker, as Chaplains had been stopped in public schools. (They came back in 3 months after I finished this ministry in 2006). This time was split between community ministry and youth work. We had a Dept of Housing house as our base and church. We ran a Kids club of 18 children, Youth group with varying numbers, plus did 8 camps a year and 4 school conferences, as well as Baptisms and weddings, most in the great outdoors.

I have been working with a joint Placement on the Mid North Coast at Nabiac and Hallidays Point Uniting Churches for 7 years. This was a mixture of Rural and Coastal communities, the latter with a high tourist turnover and retirement villages. Also for the last the 4 years I have been the Southern Zone Presbytery Minister for the Mid North Coast; this had me working with a number of Congregations seeking their way forward in these exciting times. I did mission planning Pastor Assessments and trained to present Safe Church workshops as well as the normal Presbytery business of  PRC Standing Committee .

  I have been in ministry since 1974 – as youth group leader, elder, a Partner in Mission, a Lay Pastor; then I became a Minister of the Word in 2008 through the transition process. This was an affirming move by the Synod and my presbyteries.  I have been in churches in Blacktown - Lalor Park, Yeoval, Young, Campbelltown, Claymore, Rosemeadow, Airds High school and Nabiac - Hallidays Point .

Why am I a Rural Chaplain?

As Paul Creek read out the profile at ACOMP (of which I was also a member), I heard the call of God to this placement. I spoke to Lyn in the break and she affirmed it sounded like my kind of placement, and she was willing to go if called.  Over the next months, in conversations with the RMU, JNC members, Dorothy Creek and Julie Greig, the Rural Chaplain, my understanding and also call were affirmed.

On the job- Phill and Julie deep in discussion with UnitingCare Community Development officer,Corrina.

I have a love for hearing people’s stories and walking with those on the margins of community and the church. I believe in building links with church and community. I have had, over many years, come to see my gift in connecting with people in real ways and connecting the gospel to those who feel they do not fit in the mould of the main stream churches. This has been affirmed in many ways .

My background has given me many gifts and experiences that I believe equip me for this role. I love to travel and Lyn and I are used to being in different places, often for a couple of weeks at a time.  So with that, and my background in Rural and Community work, the wisdom of the RMU and a good GPS ( God Prayer Service ) I look forward to meeting the challenges and  to building some good friendships and strong networks.  I will be inducted into the placement on 23^rd March at Narrabri UCA at 2pm.

 Oh yes, I love “real” Coffee, so you will probably find me checking out the local coffee shops in your area.  

What am I not good at? Using punctuation and spelling. But I do ask for help (yes, I asked this time)

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Shalom

Rev Phill Matthews

Rural Chaplain  0418627875

 0267922971 madpom52 @gmail.com

* Julie and Sue welcome Phill to the work of the Rural Chaplain and look forward to working with him. Sue especially, is looking forward to some coffee times! (We don't let Julie have coffee. She's too active as it is!- No -just joking!)