CCEC
Our Youth groups are
part of the ministry of Central Coast Evangelical Church.
http://www.ccec.com.au
Who are we?
We are simply a typical bunch of people who in many ways have nothing
particularly 'special' about the: At times we rejoice and at times we hurt
or are disappointed. We struggle with many of life's difficult issues just
like others around us.
However, there is one thing that sets us apart - as Christians, we all
share the most profound experience imaginable - God has forgiven us of our
wrong doings on the basis of Jesus' death on the cross, in our place, two
thousand years ago!
This forgiveness enabled us to lead a new life in Christ and has
established us as a part of God's family, now and into eternity.
Extraordinary! All we do when we meet as a church grows out of this
reality. It is truly life changing. It is a message we long to share. Why
not join us?
Andrew Heard
Minister
For more information: Email: pastor@ccec.com.au
Or Phone our church office on 4367-2100, 9am to 12 noon, Monday to Friday.
http://www.ccec.com.au
How CCEC began:
The founding Pastor - Andrew Heard - speaks of having something of a
vision back in 1988. In hindsight it could be seen as prophetic, but in
reality he thinks it can be put down to youthful enthusiasm. While
holidaying on the New South Wales Central Coast, he and his wife Cathie,
were reading the local paper. It spoke of the staggering growth rate of
the Central Coast (around 5% p.a.). it didn't take much insight to realise
the area would have massive needs for new evangelistic churches in the
years to come.
All those years ago Andrew and Cathie even marked out the spot for the
church - just near Erina Fair. Today the church is not quite there, but
it's at least in the same suburb!
The church itself began in Feb 1996.
While Andrew was assistant minister at Gladesville he and Cathie and
another couple travelled to the coast and began a Bible study group in a
house at Ourimbah. At the 1st meeting 17 people came - 8 of whom Andrew
knew before hand & had encouraged to join up with the aim of
being partners in establishing the church. The others were people who one
way or another had heard about the venture.
From the beginning the church started with a very clear goal - to
establish a Bible teaching ministry that would put a fire in people's
hearts for gospel work. The group therefore met regularly to look at the
Bible. At first they met fortnightly at Ourimbah. They did that for
3 months. Average attendance was around 17. Eventually however there was a
need to make the meetings more assessable to strangers and so the group
moved to a class room at Erina High school. This was also where Sunday
meetings were going to be held.
In August 1996 CCEC had it's first Sunday morning church service.
At that first service 45 adults came, 12 of whom probably shouldn't be
counted since they were young people from Gladesville come to run the
children's ministry! They helped enormously however and continued with the
new church for four months. This enabled church to not only run a parallel
children's ministry but meet regularly around the word with those who
become the core.
In effect the church started with around 30 Central Coast people. Now, in
the year 2001, we average 350 adults on Sunday
mornings
(with over 200 kids looked after in 8 Sunday school classes). We also have
a night
service with
around 150 adults on any given night. We have a Friday night youth
program, seniors
group, mid
week women's
ministry, a
men's ministry, a growing school's Scripture ministry, a small group
network with around 350 people, provision for caring for the
disadvantaged, etc.
We have come a long way! God has been incredibly gracious.
In all the news about growth it needs to be said, the ministry has been no
different to any other Bible based work. The church has given itself to
proclaiming Christ from the Scriptures, urging people to live in light of
that word and praying for God to work. There have been no new techniques
used except what God's people have always given themselves to - prayer and
the word.
We pray God will continue to bless the proclamation of his word -
everywhere.
http://www.ccec.com.au
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