Over the past year we have been reviewing how we best serve our churches across the nation.
Our desire is to strengthen mutual relationships with local churches. We want to cheer on and support local mission, while also building tailored global mission partnerships.
Many of you will know Melanie Downes from her long and passionate service with Baptist Mission Australia in Malawi, alongside Tim, Clayton and Jarred. Melanie is a passionate follower of Jesus, a gifted mission leader and storyteller and a great ambassador for Baptist Mission Australia.
Melanie and Tim are entering into a new cycle of their ministry, which will see them spend six months in Malawi and six months in Australia on an annual basis. As part of these new arrangements, I am delighted that Melanie has accepted our invitation to serve as Baptist Mission Australia’s Queensland Church Relationships Manager.
Melanie will serve in this role on a hybrid basis when in Malawi, still making regular contact with churches, pastors, mission teams and supporters. She will be supported by other national team members, including a new national church relationship manager role. When back in Queensland, Mel will connect with churches and leaders across the State and come alongside people exploring mission service.
Aligned with our commitment to good stewardship and sustainability, Melanie will serve in this role as a supported intercultural team member. And so, support of Melanie and Tim will not only enable the good news of Jesus to be shared in Malawi but will enable new global mission partnerships to be developed in Queensland.
I look forward to seeing how God’s Spirit uses Melanie in this new role as we strengthen mission partnership with Queensland Baptists. Please join me in praying for Melanie as she steps into the new role.
