Church bulletin:
After much prayer, deliberation, discussion and work, the merger of SDRBC and KBCC becomes a reality today – December 7, 2025. The journey began at the end of 2021 and at the end of two years of Covid inconveniences. Southern Districts had long been praying for a place to call home. Kogarah Bay had been praying for the rejuvenation of a work which had dwindled. Providence brought us together and what God began nearly four years ago, He has now completed.
It is a reminder that our prayers are often answered in unexpected ways. For Southern Districts, amalgamating with a Congregational church is not what we would have envisaged. But as the opportunity presented itself, we were forced to ask the question – why not? Would we dismiss what could be a great blessing simply because it’s not what we expected? The longer we were at Kogarah Bay the more it felt like home; the more we were endeared to the Kogarah Bay people; the more we felt a burden to help. It is also a reminder that we must be prepared to think outside the box. If God’s ways are not our ways, does it not indicate that cherished ideals and desired outcomes will be challenged? We cannot allow ourselves to be enslaved by the narrowness of our own small minds.
As the two groups become one and a new day dawns –
Let us be thankful for the past. Praise God for the history of both congregations – for all those who went before preaching the Word, teaching Sunday school, running youth groups, conducting outreach, for the many relationships which were formed. It is a combined total of around 120 years of ministry. Praise God for the believers who bought this plot of land and erected a building for Christian worship. By God’s grace their labours were not only beneficial in times past, we benefit from them today.
Let us embrace the present. With the completion of the merger we can pause and take a breath. But we cannot become complacent as though the work is behind us. The church will not flourish if we are presumptuous and idle. We must be a praying church. We must be a Bible focused church applying the truth. We must be a church which fosters a culture of friendship and fellowship. We must be an outward looking church concerned for the unconverted and helping Christians in other contexts. We must use this building for the glory of God.
Let us look to the future. The new church represents a new beginning. That new beginning brings the call for more leaders. In the coming years the old guard will pass the baton on to the next generation. We are blessed to have a good number of younger men and women who are serious about the faith. These are the ones who will move Kogarah Bay Bible Church forward. Now is the time to pray for them. Now is the time for them to step up (some already are). The wheels of transition must begin to roll.
Praise God for what He has done. Truly God is good and does good. His work is perfect and all His ways are just. Righteous and upright is He. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask and think……. AMEN and AMEN!