About

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Our Journey So Far

Over twelve years ago, Jesus took a handful of families and led them into unfamiliar places. Among many prayers, conversations, questions and soul searching, the journey began with surrender. We slowly and reluctantly surrendered our lifetime of ideas around who we are and what Jesus wants us to do as His Church. Gradually we stepped into the unknown as people of faith saying, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!”

This unknown was a period of time letting go of unnecessary church activity, re-connecting with Jesus, and expressing his life as the church simply and organically. In among all this, we realised that Jesus wants to shape his Church according to His Kingdom purposes rather than us shaping His Kingdom according our church agenda! 

The journey has been bumpy, vulnerable and the results unexpected. We hoped for ‘rapidly multiplying churches discipling new believers’. We have experienced deeper personal faith in Jesus, rich community relationships with an intentional presence in the world to express His love.  

The emphasis of our lives is living as God’s family which rises and falls on relationships of love and service. Practically, we meet in many different configurations often in homes, eating, praying, worshipping and encouraging each other to live for Jesus and our neighbour where we have been planted. Some of us call our church gatherings ‘mission meetings’. Whatever the case, we are far from ‘getting it right’ but we trust that Jesus will always be the centre and the destination.

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Values We Cherish

Holding to the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the following values are important to us as a community:

The truth of God as our loving heavenly Father.

The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our life and faith.

The supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in us to transform us into the image of God and do His work.

The authority of God’s word in the Bible.

Authentic Christ-centred relationships.

Expressing life primarily as family.

The body of Christ means we all participate in Jesus work.

The Kingdom of God shapes the shape and work of the church.

‘Loving the Lord our God with all our heart soul and strength and loving our neighbour as ourselves’ (Matthew 22:36-39).

Living lives as a servant of all, born out of love from our Father.

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Meet the Team

Meet some of the team that serves the StarfishOZ community.

Joppich Family

Craig & Taya and Family

Craig, Taya, Brooke, Ethan, Eamon and Abigail have been planted in Valley View Adelaide. They find rich significance in the life of family. This starts at home but includes those that God has chosen them to journey with in His church. They are committed to the church finding its foundation in Christ and helping others navigate the realities of life with faith in Jesus.

Woodley Family

Nick & Renee and Family

Nick, Renee, Trinity, Levente, Israel, Aravis, Corazin and Malachi live in the south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. As a family they have long given themselves to their local community simply as people with an open door and a listening ear. Their desire is to make known the love of the Father so people can walk confidently in His love

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Friends & Partnerships

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

As a community, we relate to the following friends and partners:

Peter & Julie Steicke, Incredibly Loved

Craig & Lorna Kirkby, A Better Future Now

Oikos Australia

Neil & Dana Gamble, Fathers Hand Ministries

Tony & Marylyn Fitzgerald, Church of the Nations International