QB Annual Report 2025

QB BOARD CHAIR

“Christ

alone is our Good Shepherd.” With confidence we declare, “Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue us all the days of our lives” (Psalm 23:6). These words have continued to ring true throughout 2025. I give grateful thanks to God for his loving-kindness and covenant faithfulness poured out upon the QB Movement during a year marked by both opportunity and uncertainty. In seasons of change, our security rests not in structures or strategies, but in the eternal Word of God and the unfailing faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

PRAISE TO GOD FOR FAITHFUL GOVERNANCE

Having stepped into the role of Chair over the past twelve months, I have gained a deepened appreciation for the calling and responsibility of Board service. Our QB Board members have been a genuine blessing. I gladly testify to their diligence, wisdom, and faithfulness in providing safe, effective, and prayerful governance for our Movement.

I thank God for their willingness to undertake demanding work, often unseen, in service of our churches and ministries. They have demonstrated a strong commitment to spiritual unity, prayerful discernment, and courageous faith as they have navigated complex matters together. It is a privilege to serve alongside such devoted leaders.

QB LEADERSHIP

This year, Assembly endorsed the reappointment of Jason Elsmore as Director of the Movement for a further three-year term. Following an extensive review of the role, Jason’s visionary leadership, strategic capacity, and effectiveness were clearly affirmed. I thank Jason for engaging in a patient, prayerful, and discerning process, and I count it a privilege to partner with him in the work God has entrusted to us.

Jason is well supported by Stewart Pieper (Director of Church Services) and Quintin Hickling (Director of Operations). Together they form a cohesive and highly effective leadership team, providing strategic oversight and practical support across the QB Movement. I am grateful to Stewart and Quintin for their adaptability in implementing the new leadership structure, for their care of substantial staff teams, and for their willingness to address emerging challenges with wisdom and resolve.

I also congratulate the entire QB Services staff team on the successful hosting of the Baptist World Congress. This was a significant achievement and a strong witness to our Movement’s capacity, hospitality, and collaborative spirit.

MAJOR DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS

In April, the Annual Assembly formally endorsed the plan for the separate incorporation of Carinity. Substantial work continues to progress this decision, and I sincerely thank the members of the Carinity Incorporation Working Group for their extraordinary investment of time, expertise, and mental energy in this complex undertaking.

The legal and regulatory landscape has continued to evolve, particularly following the Supreme Court decision regarding Prescare. Our shared ambition remains to secure a long-term solution that ensures Carinity’s ability to continue its vital ministry within the most appropriate and sustainable regulatory framework.

Assembly also approved the recommendations of the Member Contribution Working Group. This work addresses the declining proportion of church contributions to the QB budget and represents an important step toward long-term financial sustainability. I thank Mark Mackay and all those who served on this working group. I commend the many churches who faithfully contribute through BapShare and encourage all churches to prayerfully consider their responsibility— and opportunity—to support and strengthen the QB Movement in the year ahead.

In 2025 we also reached the conclusion of the 2020–2025 Strategic Plan. Looking forward, the Board

endorsed Vision 33 for implementation and expressed its appreciation to all who contributed to the development of this eight-year vision for the future of the QB Movement.

QB BOARD DEVELOPMENTS

During the year, the Board invited each Charter Group Chair and Head to attend a Board meeting to present updates and respond to questions. This initiative has strengthened communication, understanding, and trust between the Board and the Charter Groups.

The Board also established a regular pattern of monthly in-person reporting by Kevin Griffiths (CEO, Carinity) and selected members of the Carinity senior management team. This has enhanced governance effectiveness, supporting robust clinical, operational, and financial oversight. In addition, three Board members were permanently appointed to the Carinity Charter Council.

The QB Board Governance Review Working Group gathered feedback from stakeholders across the Movement and sought advice from legal experts in corporate governance. At the Board retreat in August, members engaged in extended and thoughtful discussion regarding options for future governance arrangements.

We also celebrated the securing of philanthropic funding for the development of a QB Leadership Development Pipeline, following significant effort by Jason Elsmore. This investment represents an important step in nurturing future leaders for our churches and ministries.

In support of our governance responsibilities, Baplink facilitated Board training in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing. The Board has continued to review and implement updated policies, including the endorsement of the QB Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Bullying Prevention Plan, contributing to safe, healthy, and accountable workplace culture.

APPRECIATION AND THANKS

I extend heartfelt thanks to the Chairs and Councils who serve with such diligence and wisdom:

• Sheryl Lanham (Chair) and the Baplink Management Committee

• Richard Wray, upon his retirement, and James Tan (Chair) and the Carinity Council

• Todd Langford (Chair) and the Christian Education Charter Group

• Chris Johnson (Chair) and the Queensland Conference and Camping Centres Council

The Board also greatly appreciates the work of the Financial Services Committee, chaired by Mark Hodgson, and the Ministerial Services Committee, chaired by Peter Cosgrove.

I thank every member of the Operations Support team for their often unseen but invaluable support. Finally, I express our collective gratitude to the QB Team, our services, and our churches, whose faithfulness and partnership continue to shape and sustain the QB Movement.

BOARD MEMBERS 2025

The Board Members at the start of 2025 were:

Rev Richard Cathie

Bundaberg Baptist Church

Rev Stephen Hendrick

Stafford Heights Baptist Church

(completed term at Assembly 2025)

Mr James Tan

Gateway Baptist Church

Mr Michael Gilliver

Lifepoint Church

Dr Narelle Dart

Bracken Ridge Baptist

Mrs Linda Monteith

Coral Coast Christian Church

Rev Lorraine Pfeffer

Ashgrove Baptist Church

Mr Nicholas Rees

Bridgeman Baptist Community Church

Rev Stewart Pieper

Director of QB Church Services, Gateway Baptist Church

Mrs Aliesha Christensen

Toowoomba Community Baptist Church

Rev Scott Jones

Mackay Baptist Church

Pastor Jason Elsmore

Director of QB Movement, Gateway Baptist Church

Mr Quintin Hickling

Director of Operations & QB Secretary, Bridgeman Baptist Church

My thanks to Stephen who has contributed much to our board and QB Movement.

New members of the Board since Assembly 2025:

Rev Nathan Harris

THANKS TO GOD

Above all, we give thanks to God, our Good Shepherd, whose goodness and faithfulness continue to pursue us.

Richard Cathie

- QB Board Chair

GOD IS ON THE MOVE

DIRECTOR OF QB MOVEMENT

I am filled with gratitude at all that God has done across the QB Movement over the last year, marked by incredible stories of faith, unity, and transformation. One of the most encouraging celebrations has been the significant number of baptisms reported throughout our churches. For the first time in our 170 year history, we baptised over 1000 new believers in a year – 1112 to be exact! Each one a powerful testimony of a life changed by the gospel and a sign that God is moving in our nation and the fields are ripe for harvest.

“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest”

John 4:35

The ONE PRAYER gathering in June at Bridgeman Baptist was a night where over 800 people attended in person and many others online, to pray together as one for a mighty harvest in Queensland. It was a night filled with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, as young and old from many different churches cried out to God in unity and faith. The night finished with a challenge to respond to the call of God to serve Him in vocational ministry. Watching people of all ages and from many different churches stream to the front in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s prompting was an encouraging sign for the future. I am looking forward to seeing the next wave of pastors and mission workers receive training at our Malyon Campus of Morling College, and Malyon Vocational Training in the years ahead.

I am greatly encouraged by what I see God doing in the next generation at State Youth Camp, Project 11 and in our Queensland Baptist schools. Seeing young people from around our Movement gather at QCCC to grow in their faith and learn how to lead like Jesus, fills my heart

with hope for the future. I encourage every church and charter group in our Movement to keep seeking God on how He is calling you to reach the next generation with the gospel and raise tomorrow’s leaders. God is moving in the next generation, but Queensland Baptist churches are still on average ten years older than our population.

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

Throughout the year we focused on our priority of “Biblical Authority”, with a goal to see every believer in our Movement, engaging with the Word of God every day. A curated Bible reading plan was developed, and a series of online public lectures from gifted Bible scholars and teachers was organised to help people go deeper in their understanding of God’s Word. “Fan the Flame” was a devotional resource spanning Easter to Pentecost, reading through the book of Acts together. Many contributors from across our Movement recorded wonderful devotions reflecting on the way God moved in the past, and the Spirit fanned into a flame a boldness to share the gospel in our time.

BAPTIST WORLD CONGRESS

In 2025 we had the once-in-a-lifetime privilege of hosting the Baptist World Congress in Brisbane. We were joined by over 4000 people from 130 nations, who belong to our global Baptist family. Hearing people from so many different nations sing, pray and read scripture in their first language, was a small taste of the joy and beauty of heaven. Despite our many differences in church style and expression, there was a unity in our pursuit of an Acts 2 Vision for the church, and many new relationships were formed in our big Baptist family.

I am so grateful for the way the QB family served our global family at Congress. It was a mammoth task to host an international event, and every volunteer served with grace, love and generous hospitality. The QB Operations team were redeployed for the week, and the Congress could not have happened without their efforts to go above and beyond to serve. Special thanks to Andie Eames (BWC Australian Coordinator); Stewart Pieper (Director of Church Services); Quintin Hickling (Director of Operations) and Bronwyn Burgess (Operations Manager) who formed the key organising committee for Congress.

BETTER TOGETHER

We are blessed with a wonderful QB staff who are deeply committed to serving our Movement and a QB Board that blesses us with wisdom and discernment, as we all seek to serve God’s eternal purposes in a constantly changing world. There have been many changes that have been navigated on your behalf in the last year and many ways that we have all been blessed by the ministries that our QB team lead. We truly are all much better together than trying to serve alone. I want to thank every church who has contributed to our BapShare budget and encourage us all to be generous in the coming year, to ensure that we can continue to bless your ministry. It was a joy to honour Stephen Hendrick at our Annual Assembly, for the many ways he blessed our Movement with his humble and wise leadership as Board Chair.

REGIONAL MINISTERS

Metro West

Matt Anstey

Darling Downs

Dave Paroz

Rural & Remote

Steve Ballin

Metro South East

Paul Curtis

Sunshine Coast

Dan Harding

Metro Central

Ian Hussey

Metro North

Dave Paroz

Gold Coast

Dave Quak / Steve Twible

Central Queensland

Ian Aylward / John Gallagher

North Queensland

Garry Wynn

Wide Bay Burnett

Keith Stevenson

Far North Queensland

John Wyte / Murray Lawrence

Ethnic & CALD

Emil Rahimov

ADF Chaplains

Karen Haynes

Women

Tracey Valentine

Church Planting

Steve Meharg

DIRECTOR OF QB MOVEMENT

REGIONAL GATHERINGS

Our Regional Gatherings in October each year are always an encouraging time to gather and pray together. It was particularly encouraging in 2025 to gather with almost 500 people representing 112 churches across all 12 regions – our biggest regional gatherings to date! It was wonderful to have so many Carinity chaplains join us in person, and to meet with our Australian Defence Forces chaplains for an online gathering. In every gathering, we heard story after story of revitalisation in churches and renewed collaboration across our churches and charter groups, resulting in much Kingdom fruit. I encourage everyone to make these gatherings a priority in your calendar, so that your testimony of God’s faithfulness can encourage others to continue to be faithful in their area of ministry.

VISION 33

After much prayer and collaboration across our churches and charter groups in 2025, Vision 33 has been developed. Vision 33 is a picture of how we believe God has called us to serve Him together over the next eight years and what we believe He will do in our midst in that time. Teams have been and will be established to implement Vision 33, and I encourage you to be asking the Lord how you can be involved to see His vision

become a reality.

Many thanks to Baplink for their generous investment into the development of Vision 33 and for their faithful service and ongoing investment to support ministry throughout Queensland.

God has been so faithful to our Movement over many years. In March, I had the privilege of joining with Toowoomba Community Baptist Church to celebrate their 150th anniversary of faithful ministry and in November at Stafford Heights for their 55 year celebration. Both occasions were filled with testimonies of both unexpected blessing and unforeseen challenges, but God was faithful to sustain them in every season. I am confident that He will continue to be faithful as we step out in faith to plant new churches and ministries over the next eight years.

Finally, I am deeply grateful for the QB Board and delegates for the affirmation at the November Special Assembly for me to continue as the Director of the Queensland Baptist Movement for another three years. My passion for the local church and my hope in the gospel has grown significantly as I have served in this role over the last five years. I have witnessed sacrificial giving, Christlike compassion and faithful service in communities throughout our state, that is making a Kingdom difference. In a Movement of 226 churches in voluntary association, and a breadth of ministries led by our charter groups, there will always be many challenges and competing priorities. The growth I am most encouraged by over the last five years though is a growing desire for unity, a growing dependence on the power of prayer, and a growing confidence to share the gospel and see lives and communities transformed by the love and power of Jesus. I am looking forward to serving Him together and cheering you on for the next three years.

- Director of the QB Movement

DIRECTOR OF QB CHURCH SERVICES

THEME FOR 2025 – BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

This past year we emphasised Biblical Authority as the final of our five QB Movement Vision Priorities which were established in 2019. As I reflect on the vital importance of Scripture for our life and practice as followers of Jesus, I am reminded of the words of Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. This verse reminds us that God’s Word is our guiding light—not always illuminating the whole journey but faithfully showing the next step. In moments where decisions have needed wisdom, His Word has helped provide clarity. When challenges arose, it offered encouragement, assurance and hope. As we reflect on the previous year, we can appreciate how our commitment to the word of God has shaped the ministry of our Charter Groups and service arms, informed our strategies, and sustained our hearts. Just as a lamp lights the immediate path, God’s Word has helped us walk faithfully, one step at a time, trusting Him for what is before us and for what lies ahead.

KEY INITIATIVES AND RESOURCES

With the priority of Biblical Authority in mind, our strategic goal of the year was to inspire every QB church member to engage with the Bible daily. Three strategic initiatives developed by the Church Support Group and implemented with the vital assistance of our amazing QB Operations Team were:

Engaging the Bible Daily: a resource distributed across the Movement, to all ages and stages, that provided easy access to a diverse array of devotionals, Bible reading plans and self-study resources to suit various needs and seasons of life.

Fan the Flame: This was a seven-week devotion series run between Easter and Pentecost that featured contributions from a diverse group of leaders, including QB pastors, emerging leaders, and representatives from our service groups and training arms. This resource was well received, with 321 individuals subscribing to the weekly devotional email, over 6000 visits to the Fan the Flame Website and more than 900 file downloads recorded by May.

Online Public Lectures: Four online presentations across the year saw participation from 213 people who benefitted from the input of eminent biblical scholars and Christian thinkers on contemporary issues. Thanks to Dr Mike Bird, Rev Dan Paterson, Dr Tim MacBride and Dr Brian Rosner for generously giving their time to expound on God’s Word and share with us! The resources that the QB Team have published over recent times, with John Sweetman being the biggest contributor, have not just been utilised within our Movement or within our State. There have been almost 30,000 downloads of QB resources published through You Version across 164 countries and territories around the world!

Transition from DoS to DoCS Role

In September 2024, I was appointed as Director of Church Services, a role that has enabled me to take a more focused approach in leading the Church Support Leadership Group (CSLG). This team includes David Elvery (Pastoral Services), Mark Westhuyzen (Church Health and CoRM), Stephen Meharg (Local Mission), Maddie Mandall (P11), Emil Rahimov (CALD Churches) and Bronwyn Burgess (Operations Manager), with Andrew McCafferty joining us this year as QB Leadership Development Manager.

The highly capable Quintin Hickling has excelled as Director of QB Operations, overseeing QB Operations and Charter Groups — except for Carinity, which continues under my responsibility. Over the past twelve months, we have successfully transitioned to this new structure, with both Quintin and I reporting to Jason Elsmore and forming the Executive Leadership Team. I am deeply thankful to God for raising up Jason as Director of the QB Movement; the growth we are experiencing bears testimony to his visionary leadership. I am delighted that Jason was reappointed as QB DoM by Special Assembly in November for a further three-year term.

This year, I also assumed overall oversight of the Regional Ministers, supported by the capable leadership of Mark Westhuyzen, who has expanded his Church Health role to include the Coordinator of Regional Ministers (CoRM)

function. Our Movement is blessed by 18 competent, qualified, and dedicated men and women serving as Regional Ministers.

QB

BOARD AND GOVERNANCE

It has been a privilege to work alongside the dedicated, capable and godly men and women who provide governance oversight for the QB Movement as they serve on the QB Board. Under the leadership of Board Chair, Richard Cathie, the Board have not just focused on ‘business as usual’ matters but have given attention to visioning processes, policy development, risk management, continuous improvement and implementing a framework for best Governance practice. I have had the privilege of contributing to a range of Board Working Groups, Subcommittees and Charter Groups, including:

• Carinity Council

• Financial Services

• Ministerial Services

• Carinity Incorporation Working Group

• QB Governance Review Working Group

• Vision 33 Strategic Pillars – Thriving Churches Working Group

I am thankful for the many volunteers from the Movement who give of their time and talents to serve on QB Charter Groups, Committees and Working Groups.

Baptist World Congress

In July 2025 Queensland Baptists had the extraordinary privilege of hosting the 23rd Baptist World Congress in partnership with the Baptist World Alliance. Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, we welcomed approximately 3,500 registered delegates from 132 nations—it was an inspiring picture of the global Baptist family coming together in unity, worship, and mission.

Delegates from overseas, across Australia, and within our own QB movement consistently shared how profoundly impacted they were by the hospitality, spiritual depth, and cultural richness of the event. I heard positive comments from overseas delegates, national leaders, and our own QB people about how deeply they were impacted. One international leader called it “a glimpse of heaven on earth.” Another interstate delegate described it as, “a spiritually immersive experience, unlike any conference I’ve attended.” And one local attendee told me, “I don’t care where the next World Baptist Congress is, I will be going!”

With around 300 volunteers giving generously of their time and energy, the Congress was more than an international event; it became a lived expression of Christ’s body in action. On behalf of Queensland Baptists, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every individual who committed to volunteer for this historic occasion. Your willingness to serve is a testament to the heart of our faith and the generosity of spirit that binds us together as the body of Christ. I am grateful for the hard work of Quintin Hickling and Bronwyn Burgess who worked with me on the Congress Local Arrangements Committee (LAC). We are all especially grateful for Andie Eames who as the LAC Administrator worked tirelessly to effectively coordinate all of the diverse and complex moving parts that went into this major event and made it the success that it was.

Vision 33

Reflecting back to Psalm 119, God’s illuminating Word provides ‘light to our feet’ with guidance in more immediate matters before us but also acts as a ‘lamp for our path’. In this way God’s word helps guide us to move in the direction of His preferred future for us. It is with faith-filled expectation that we look forward to seeing God’s work multiplied across our Movement as we look forward to 2033 with a focus on the strategic pillars of Thriving Churches, Tomorrow’s Leaders, Faithful Stewardship and Together in Mission.

- Director of QB Church Services

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

In our daily work across Queensland Baptists, from the operational support, property management, financial stewardship, the financial facilities provided by Baplink, the hospitality and care shown through QCCC, and the nurturing of young minds in Christian Education Services, we all share a common calling: to enable and strengthen the work of local churches and ministries across Queensland. It’s easy to view what we do as separate functions, but each part contributes to the same mission.

Every decision, every process improvement, and every act of support builds pathways for others to encounter the love and hope of Christ. That is why our work matters. Though the tasks may vary, the purpose stays the same—to serve people in a way that reflects the heart of Jesus and advances His kingdom.

As Matthew 25:40 reminds us, when we serve “the least of these,” we are serving Him. This truth gives meaning to what we do, turning routine duties into acts of worship and ordinary efforts into expressions of faith. Whether we work in finance, operations, education, or one of our charter groups, we become part of the wider story God is writing through QB. What may look like purely operational work from the outside is, in truth, ministry work of eternal value.

are called. Of our more than 220 churches, as of November 2025, we have 88 churches involved in various stages of this critical process. I would encourage all our members to engage with QB in this constitution review to ensure that we are able to continue to service our communities.

From the start of 2025, we continued to embed the operations team in the new structure. This included Howard Smith being appointed as a member of the Financial Services Committee (FSC) in his capacity of Manager: Finance. We experienced some challenges finding staff to fill vacancies within the operations team. We are thankful for those who have now joined the team. Once again we ended the year with a vacancy in the Operations Support team.

A key focus this year has been on QB property asset utilisation. We continue to make progress into the better utilisation of the QB Centre, and improvements in other assets held across the state. We have not only been able to get several underutilised sites to at least pay their own way, but more importantly serve as homes for ministry and community outreach.

We have also invested significantly in the welfare of our own QB office staff across the year, with the engagement of HR consultants, who conducted several facilitated workshops, the implementation of new procedures, and the start of a project to implement HR software (Employment Hero). Thank you Bronwyn Burgess for your efforts toward everything HR. We are committed to continued investment into the wellbeing of our valued staff.

We continued across the year with the project to review all our churches’ constitutions. In a world focused today on compliance and governance, QB would like to ensure that all our churches have these essentials in place to be able to better focus on the mission to which they

With the changes to labour legislation, staff appointed by assembly who are not called under “Spiritual Appointment” are now deemed to be full time employees. To balance our constitutional requirement, we implemented a 360° Review on both the Director of Baplink and the Director of QCCC, who are approaching their 5-year term since last appointed by Assembly. Both reviews proved very informative and reiterated that both these employees remain highly engaged and effective in their roles.

With the adoption of Vero voting software, we were able to host our Special Assembly in late November for Jason Elsmore’s reappointment as the DoM. The meeting was held both in person and virtually across Queensland. It was a blessing to have 1/3 of our total membership participate in the vote. This was an exceptional turnout for a Special Assembly thanks to the advancement in technology making it possible.

The National Redress Scheme continues to run financially very tight. With 35 more claims since my last report, we have a total 127, with only 68 finalised across Carinity and QB. With 59 still pending, the sufficiency of contributions made by group members to the scheme remains highly uncertain to maintain the balance between contributions and payments against claims. It would be amiss if I did not include in my report the Baptist World Congress. It was a wonderful time of worship and deep connection with fellow delegates from across the world. We were blessed to be able to support hosting the event with more than 300 awesome volunteers. I would like however to honour those employees who served at the event. For your unwavering commitment to make this possible, and for the very very long hours over many days, you helped make the event seamless. Thank you! You know who you are.

Finance

The overall QB deficit was $4,000 for the full financial year to June 2025. This is a significant improvement over the budgeted deficit of $143 000. This positive $139 000 outcome against the budget was achieved with revenue being over budget by $20,000 and significant cost control reducing expenses resulting in $119 000 above budget variance. Looking deeper into the revenue, the QB Centre had a $60,000 deficit to budget (vacancies in 1st six months now filled), but was offset by other positive over budget items, including $45,000 in grants. A noticeable exception to the positive expense trend was the significant over budget spend on property costs specifically related to the ageing Gaythorne facility.

Looking ahead to June 2026, we are forecasting a breakeven performance driven by some improvements in revenue and further cost management.

Work has continued to engage our churches on their contributions to QB. There has been a small uplift to church participation with 61% now contributing. However the engagement in the surveys to establish the baseline for contributions has been disappointing with only 73 churches completing the survey. This combined with lack of internal resources to now engage the churches individually is making this a challenge.

When we look back on what we’ve done and achieved, may we not just measure outcomes but recognise the people and lives behind them—those silently strengthened because of faithful service. Our mission as QB isn’t carried forward by one person, one department, one church or one charter group in our movement, but by all of us working together under God’s purpose.

So, as we continue in the new year, let’s keep our focus on the One we ultimately serve. In every email, project, and partnership, may we hear the quiet echo of those words:

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Quintin Hickling

- Director of Operations

BAPLINK

SUPPORTING VISION, STRENGTHENING STEWARDSHIP

As the treasury and financial services ministry to Queensland Baptists, Baplink has had another busy year of Supporting Vision (Nehemiah 2:4-8) and Strengthening Stewardship (Luke 14:28) of the QB Movement and its affiliates. Here are some of the Baplink team’s achievements and stories from our churches:

Approved over

$11 million in loans to churches for FY2024/2025

This is only achievable with the input from the Baplink loans team - Sylvia, Nigel & Chris.

Upgraded Ultracs (transaction system) and introduced SMS One-Time-Password for transactions via BAPNET.

Provided outstanding support to the churches throughout the year. This included Sarah’s translation work to assist our culturally & linguistically diverse customers, and Steve providing a steady anchor for our operations. The team are incredible.

Updated the Credit Risk Management Framework to improve our assessment, monitoring and management of credit risk within our operations and loan portfolio.

Successfully completed the KYC Refresh project (by Andrea), keeping Baplink compliant while navigating complex requirements and managing other critical project work.

Carried out an independent review of Baplink’s Anti-Money Laundering & CounterTerrorism Financing programme to improve our compliance with legal requirements.

Created a Liquidity Risk Management Framework that forms the basis upon which Baplink identifies, measures, monitors, reports, and controls or mitigates liquidity risk within its operations.

QUEENSLAND CHIN CHRISTIAN CHURCH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

We are refugee immigrants from Myanmar (Burma) since 2007. Currently, there are 300 people in our congregation, including children. By God’s grace, with the help of Rev. Emil Rahimov (QB) and Baplink, God heard our sincere prayer for the church and answered us in a very special way, and we acquired the land close to our residential area miraculously in 2021. We are grateful to QB and Baplink for helping us achieve our goal in purchasing the land and church construction. We started the construction work and laid down the foundational cornerstone on the 15th of November 2025, and it is under construction. We pray and are hopeful that God will help us accomplish the work in time, as He has already begun. We humbly request that all of you uphold us in your sincere prayers for our Church construction. God bless you all.

Rev. Mang Bik Cung

UNITED MATU BAPTIST CHURCH BUILDING PURCHASE

The United Matu Baptist Church was established through the merger of two congregations. Previously, the Matu church community in Brisbane was divided into two churches: the Uniting Church and the Baptist Church. In 2018, the leaders and pastors of both congregations held several meetings with the shared vision of uniting as one church, in order to strengthen both spiritual and physical ministries. However, this initial effort was not successful. In 2023, by God’s grace, the Lord worked in the hearts of the church leaders and pastors. During this time, three churches came together to jointly celebrate Christmas and New Year, after which a steering committee was formally established. After extensive discussions, prayer, and planning, the churches were successfully combined into one congregation under the name United Matu Baptist Church. The foundational theme for this transition was taken from Galatians 3:28, affirming our oneness in Christ. As a result of this unity, God has graciously blessed the church with its own property through the assistance and guidance of our Queensland Baptists Rev Emil Rahimov. Last December 2025, the building was approved as a place of worship and we praise God for that. Additionally, the United Matu Baptist Church is actively engaged in mission work and supports orphan ministry in Myanmar. We look forward to continuing spiritual and physical growth in the future, relying on God’s guidance and provision.

Rev Chhan Him

FEEDBACK FROM CHURCHES ON SETTING UP XERO

One of Baplink’s various services is to assist churches in setting up and using Xero to manage their accounting and payroll functions, with more than 180 churches benefiting from Baplink’s support. The team continues to be grateful and encouraged by the positive feedback received:

We decided to change from Reckon 2 to Xero at the beginning of 2025. Shane’s training and continued support was invaluable. Shane was always just a phone call away with support and encouragement. Chelsea has also been of great support checking reimbursement calculations for me. Changing to Xero knowing I would be supported each step of the way has given me confidence and saved a lot of time and frustration for me as Treasurer of a growing and changing church.

Treasurer of Highfields Baptist Church

In October, we transitioned our point-of-sale software from one system to another, and at the same time moved from MYOB to Xero. This was a huge undertaking for us and was made so much easier and less stressful with the help of Shane and Chelsea from Baplink. Chelsea and Shane set up our accounts in Xero; provided us with forms to fill in to import our bank feeds; helped us to connect our accounts to our new software and set up payroll; and spent hours training myself as manager to pay bills, reconcile accounts, and more! Baplink has been a huge blessing to us, and I’m very grateful for their assistance, and the continued help they provide.

Living

Word Bookstore (a ministry of Rockhampton Baptist)

The Baplink team are highly talented and professional, it is a blessing to be part of this team. The commitment to the call for us to serve QB churches is undoubted. Baplink is thankful to the Baplink Management Council (BMC) for their support and protection of the Baplink team. I make special reference to Sheryl Lanham who has finished her time as Chair of BMC. Sheryl was outstanding in her leadership and her unwavering support of the team and we will miss her.

Robert Chapman

- Director of Baplink

CARINITY

A Year of Growth, Connection and Reform

The 2025 calendar year was an important chapter in Carinity’s journey of care and connection to our communities. As an outreach of Queensland Baptists, our mission remains deeply rooted in faith and service. This year we strengthened those foundations while expanding our impact across Queensland.

DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH QUEENSLAND BAPTISTS AND CHURCHES

Carinity’s connection with Queensland Baptists is central to our identity, and in 2025 we took significant steps to reinforce the partnership.

In April, the Queensland Baptist Assembly voted to support the separate incorporation of Carinity — a milestone that reflects a shared vision for the future. The decision will ensure Carinity’s governance structure remains robust, transparent and compliant with the requirements of our many regulators.

Beyond governance, Carinity worked closely with Baptist churches to deliver practical support and community engagement initiatives. Our renewed commitment to, and investment in, our Missions and Chaplaincy team delivered many opportunities for Carinity and QB churches to partner in ministry and volunteer involvement.

A shining example of such partnerships occurred in Rockhampton, where a single community Chaplain is now serving not only the local church, but also Carinity’s aged care home, our in-home services for the elderly and our youth community services. Opportunities such as this to work together to deliver God’s word to such a broad range of people is a true blessing and a model we hope to replicate further in the future.

MISSIONAL IMPACT

Several cooperative initiatives delivered tangible missional outcomes. On the Gold Coast, a Crosslife Church program addressing problem gambling — funded by Carinity’s Collaborative Community Projects — has achieved outstanding results. The provision of a chaplain at Club Helensvale has reduced gambling harm, led three people to follow Jesus, and connected others with church communities. Crosslife’s new social worker is now seeing clients from the Club at their Helensvale offices.

Faith journeys flourished among Carinity residents. A resident at Carinity Cedarbrook aged care was baptised at Liberti church, and a Wishart Gardens retirement village resident was baptised in the community pavilion.

Our ministry to Prisons continues to thrive, through an outstanding team of volunteer chaplains. Throughout the year we have continued to explore the expansion of Alpha into prisons

These partnerships have enriched those we serve, our staff, and strengthened bonds with both the Baptist family and broader community.

IMPROVED SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS, STUDENTS, AND CLIENTS

Our commitment to excellence in care was evident across all service areas in 2025.

In Aged Care, Carinity homes continued to achieve high compliance ratings under the Aged Care Quality Standards. Reflecting our dedication to safety, dignity, and wellbeing, we invested in staff training, technology upgrades, enhanced clinical care and more engaging lifestyle programs for residents.

In education, Carinity schools expanded our wellbeing programs to support students’ mental health and resilience. Initiatives such as peer mentoring and community engagement projects provided students with holistic learning experiences that prepare them for life beyond the classroom.

Community and disability services staff worked tirelessly to ensure clients received personalised care that respected their independence and choice. A limited number of new packages being released in the lead-up to the new Aged Care Act restricted the number of new seniors we could provide inhome care for. However, improvements such as the establishment of Consumer Advisory Bodies for home care clients ensured that the voices of those we serve remain central to our decision-making.

AGED CARE REFORM

A new Aged Care Act, hailed as being a generational change to the way Australia provides care for the elderly, was implemented on 1 November 2025. Our project teams on the frontline and head office worked tirelessly to ensure we were prepared for the reform. Their efforts have been well-rewarded, with the transition to the new Act being relatively smooth for Carinity and those we serve considering the breadth of activities that were required.

While the new Act is very much focused on improving care outcomes for the elderly, it is pleasing to note that changes to the way residential care is funded will relieve some of the financial pressures that aged care providers have been facing for a number of years.

LOOKING AHEAD

As we enter the new year, we look forward to new opportunities from God to make a real difference to the lives of those we are called to care for. We thank everyone involved in the broader QB movement for your prayers and practical support this past year and look forward to building even stronger relationships in 2026.

Kevin Griffiths

- Chief Executive Officer

75

Baptist churches partnered with Carinity in ministry and volunteer initiatives.

968 young people received an education across our six school campuses.

4,034

residents and clients received care and support across Carinity’s aged care, home care, and retirement village services.

MALYON VOCATIONAL TRAINING

STRETCHING INTO NEW TERRITORY

Malyon Vocational Training has had a stretching year. Not the comfortable kind of stretching, but the kind that comes when God opens doors faster than you expected and invites you to step through them.

SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT IS HAPPENING

We started the year with 148 students. After graduating some and enrolling more in Semester 2 we finished the year with 188 students enrolled. We celebrated 99 graduates throughout the year, men and women now equipped and sent out into ministry across Queensland and beyond.

Our English as an Additional Language stream of the Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology (CMT) has continued to grow, reaching full capacity at 72 students. We started a waiting list because the training rooms were at capacity. It’s a good problem to have - people don’t usually queue up for theological training.

students

ENCOURAGING MILESTONES

This year we celebrated our first Church Planting stream graduate. We’re grateful that we’ve been able to develop a pathway that allows graduate church planters to add to their qualification to become registered pastors with Queensland Baptists.

Our Chaplaincy training also saw renewed interest as more people felt called to serve in aged care facilities, hospitals, and prisons. We’re thankful to work alongside Carinity in this important ministry. And we’ve had the privilege of continuing to equip QCCC staff through Outdoor Leadership qualifications, training those who serve young people in transformative outdoor settings.

BEHIND THE SCENES

In 2025 our Course Coordinators navigated a substantial regulatory overhaul. The Government’s new Standards for RTOs came into effect on July 1st, requiring a complete revision of our Quality Management System. I appreciate the dedication of the MVT team who simultaneously implemented the changes while managing large student numbers and their regular training loads.

WHY VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR MINISTRY MATTERS

Over the past decade we’ve demonstrated that vocational training offers a credible and Biblical pathway to ministry. Our competency-based approach is shaped by the guiding question, “Are our graduates ready to serve?” and not solely “Can they pass an exam?” This vocational approach also helps reduce financial barriers to study, accommodates diverse learners online and in person and focuses on demonstrated readiness for ministry alongside spiritual formation.

We’re grateful to be part of a growing movement that’s rediscovering the value of hands-on, practical preparation for gospel work.

WHAT’S NEXT?

God has opened doors we didn’t expect. We now have campuses in Adelaide and Victoria and new collaborations with several Christian schools in Queensland. Baptist churches and organisations in Australia and beyond have expressed interest in what we’re doing, which is both humbling and challenging. The opportunities are there

graduates

courses across 3 levels of qualifications – Cert III, Cert IV and Diploma 7

and they’re bigger than our capacity. So our prayer is simply that God would give us wisdom to steward these opportunities well, staying true to our calling without overextending beyond what we can faithfully manage.

THE REAL POWER BEHIND THE GROWTH

Paul wrote to the Ephesians that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). Looking back on 2025, we see His fingerprints everywhere. Student numbers in our ministry and chaplaincy courses exceeded our projections, opportunities we hadn’t planned for emerged and graduates began serving in a variety of contexts.

WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING

“After joining the Dip CMT I found myself deeply challenged. The practical approach opened new ways to serve. I really appreciated the trainer’s feedback and how it all tied back to the gospel and ministry application.”

“This was a great module to begin my church plant journey. Thank you for providing such practical and contextualised feedback for my learning!”

“This course has been very good, not easy, but it sure has filled in a lot of gaps for me in becoming a Chaplain.”

The stretch we’ve experienced this year has occurred not because we’re exceptionally capable but because God is at work using a team of passionate, skilled trainers, courses developed by practitioners, willing students and supportive churches to accomplish His extraordinary purposes.

As we move into 2026, we do so with humility and holy expectation. We’re training and equipping God’s people

for His mission and if this year taught us anything, it’s that when we’re faithful in doing that, He accomplishes immeasurably more through them than we could ever orchestrate ourselves.

And so the stretch continues. May His kingdom come, and may MVT continue to play our part.

Christine Thomas

- CEO Malyon Vocational Training

QB CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SERVICES

The purpose of QBCES is to work with QB schools to be flourishing centers of Christian education, care and witness.

This is achieved by supporting the leadership of QB schools and building networks across the wider movement.

In 2025, this was achieved through the following initiatives:

• Our Term 2 Connect Day at QB Gaythorne coincided with QB’s monthly staff gathering. This was a great opportunity for school representatives to meet each other, QB staff and other ministry partners (QCCC, Carinity, Baplink etc.)

• Online “Share and Prayer” events were facilitated to support school principals.

• Information packs were provided to schools to promote the collaboration opportunities across the movement.

• Baptist World Aid conducted professional development sessions for our school leaders and inspired them to develop a broader understanding of mission.

GOOD NEWS STORIES

All our schools are investing in building programs, but the greater celebrations are the impact that Christian schools are having on our students and families.

Hillcrest Christian College

Hillcrest Christian College opened the 2025 year with the largest enrolment in college history of nearly 2300 students. The Reedy Creek campus is nearly full, and the Virtual Learning Community continues to provide a lower cost Christian Education alternative to families seeking something different.

A director of the mission group, Crossroads Foundation based in Hong Kong, visited Hillcrest and ran a poverty simulation with staff. This had a truly profound impact on many staff, and the ideal of service has now become a constant discussion point for the rest of the year. Hillcrest students are already serving in the local community, far north Queensland and overseas.

Bayside Christian College

Bayside Christian College is shining a light in Hervey Bay. Hervey Bay had the lowest identification level as “Christian” in the last census, and faces all the typical problems of regional, and coastal communities. The school’s low fees and strong reputation for care create a safe place for people who are hurting, vulnerable, or in need — many of whom would never consider stepping into a church.

At Bayside, students are being shown the love of Jesus. One story from Bayside that stands out from 2025 is that of a parent who said that her daughter had “brought Jesus home from school” and she was moved to “get right with God”.

Carinity Education

Carinity schools experienced strong enrolment growth in 2025. In Townsville the school has grown to over 130 students in Primary and 110 in the Secondary school. Carinity’s special assistance schools (Brisbane, Hervey Bay, Gladstone and Rockhampton) are bursting at the seams. It is sad to hear of such large numbers on their waiting lists as this means there are young people disengaging from learning without places that can accommodate their needs.

Some exciting developments are the increasing partnerships with local Baptist churches. After over twelve months of being without a Chaplain in Rockhampton, a partnership with the Rockhampton Baptist Church enabled the appointment of a part-time Youth Pastor at the church and a part-time Chaplain for our Rockhampton schools to form a full-time position.

In 2025, the Gateway Neighbours van has visited to bless Carinity Southside students and their families each month. This ministry has enabled school staff and church members to build relationship with their school community, meaning that they are reaching individuals who have previously expressed an unwillingness to have anything to do with the church. The school is witnessing staff and students requesting bibles and attending prayer meetings at the school.

PRAYER AND PRAISE POINTS

• Pray that principals, teachers, and support staff will be filled with wisdom, discernment, and strength so that our students can flourish academically, socially, and spiritually.

• Ask for God’s protection over every student — for their physical safety, emotional wellbeing, and spiritual growth. Pray that they would experience a strong sense of belonging and purpose within their school communities.

• Pray that classrooms will be places where learning is guided by truth, compassion, creativity, and God’s love. May teachers feel empowered to integrate faith authentically into their practice.

I wish to extend a special thanks to all our educators, leaders, and students who make our vision a reality.

God bless.

Mark Rasi

- Coordinator of QB Christian Education Services

BAYSIDE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Bayside Christian College has endured a season of tremendous challenge, but we have remained faithful to our Mission, and God has been actively working in our community to not only sustain us but to uplift and encourage us. In 2 Corinthians 12: 9–10, Paul tells us God’s grace is sufficient for us all:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This has been true and revealed to us time and time again throughout 2025. By every metric the school has improved significantly when compared to previous years. With God’s grace, we achieved significant strategic outcomes that will provide a foundation for the school to thrive for many seasons to come (God willing).

Governance

The Board has been blessed with two new Directors – Brenda Newland and Tony Case, who bring much experience in strategy and the skills needed for governance. We are thankful to God for their service and that of the other Directors of our Board.

Enrolments

Student numbers have continued to grow in 2025, with the College now supporting 640 students K-12. This represents a growth of 54% since 2022. There are a number of factors that are driving this increase including:

• Improved reputation of the school in both operation, outcomes, and culture. This has included students transferring from the local Anglican school in search of a deeper Christian experience, as well as increased enrolments driven by the school’s strong reputation for care.

• The Barracudas Rugby League program.

• General population growth in the city.

• Decline in the culture, safety and outcomes in the city’s public schools.

• Significant reduction in departures / churn.

Land Purchase

Bayside has faced a long-term strategic risk in that it simply does not have enough land to operate a K-12 school. The torn relationship that once existed is no more, and through the Board Chair (Brad Douglas) and Senior Pastor (Tim Eyschen) significant trust has now developed, and to a point that, Bayside Christian College has been permitted to purchase the land and building from Fraser Coast Baptist Church. This has been a significant walk of faith by the Fraser Coast Baptist Church, and a commitment for both entities to work collaboratively in their separate Missions.

Masterplan

With land agreement in place, and the improved financials, the school is now in a position to begin executing the master plan for the school site. This is one of the most exciting and strategically significant developments in the school’s history.

The first stage requires much of the foundational infrastructure to be put in place (utilities, parking etc) and so comes with some added complexity and cost. The benefits to the school are massive:

• Provide needed classroom spaces for organic growth as saturated lower grades progress to late senior school.

• First step in rebuilding faith in the community that the school is committed to providing facilities to maximise education aspirations.

• Stop churn of student’s leaving in late senior school, and the associated cost in terms of finance and culture.

• Provide significant exposure on one of the main roads in the town.

• Relieve congestion on the existing entrance/street.

The College submitted an application for Federal Funding and was granted $5.25M towards building costs and $570K towards carpark construction. This represents a significant contribution to the total project costs, and with the strong support from Westpac, we will finance the remaining costs.

Financial Position

The College is in the very best financial position in over a decade, as demonstrated by the following figures.

Barracudas Rugby League Program

The program has achieved numerous championship wins across the Fraser Coast and Central QLD regions, and has specific partnerships with the NRL Dolphins, World Gym and the Hervey Bay Seagulls Rugby League Club.

The College has achieved further recognition with 4 players being selected in various Australian representative teams, and a total of 8 players now selected with NRL Club Development programs. More information on the Barracudas may be found at https://barracudas.bayside.qld.edu.au/

The most wonderful attribute of this program is that it provides young people who would otherwise not attend a Christian school, the opportunity to learn about God’s love for them and to be exposed to the Gospels. There is no doubt that this program is changing lives.

Brian Grimes

- Principal / CEO

HILLCREST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Hillcrest Christian College opened the 2025 year with the largest enrolments in the College’s history at nearly 2,300 students. The Reedy Creek campus was nearing full capacity, and the Virtual Learning Community continued to provide a lower cost Christian Education alternative for families seeking something different. Off the back of the highest academic achievement by students in College history in 2024, the staff arrived back at work invigorated to continue to build upon the incredible successes of the 2024 College year. With the theme of “Build” to define the year, Hillcrest started amid three significant building projects, The Dam Wall, The Innovation Building and planning the new Village Yard Christian School. The weather in the first half of the year proved disastrous with the Innovation Building project suffering significant delays and the anticipated 6-week Dam Wall project nearing 6 months to complete, however it is now being used every day.

Achievements and Updates in 2025

The Innovation Building made slow and steady progress with the final floor being poured by the year’s end. The challenges of building right in the middle of the school were significant, and we were truly blessed to have a team of committed staff, and a supportive parent body who tolerated reduced access and egress issues which construction produced. The project is some six months behind schedule, however, the sheer size and scope of this project has become apparent. We thank God that our enrolments continued to grow through this season and we are excited to see how this space will provide incredible opportunities for our students. The enhancements the completion of this project will bring to the College include;

• A new technology precinct

• A new arts and media area

• Presentation rooms

• A fully equipped student cafeteria

• Meeting rooms

• Heavy machinery areas

• Direct access to the Well Deck – the home of our Wellbeing area

From a learning perspective, our students have continued to thrive in all ways. The College musical production was amazing; the sporting results continued to exceed expectations and academically our students thrived in all measures. Quality Christian staff are applying for almost every job, and God continues to make a way in various situations throughout our College, touching the lives of staff, students and families. We feel truly blessed.

The future plans for Village Yard Christian School continue to take shape as we move towards final approvals. The body of work that has been completed in the development of this school has been incredible, as staff and others become truly invested into the success of this model. The launch of this project received national press status and from that exposure nearly 700 families, which equates to over 1000 students including siblings, submitted expressions of interest to attend the new school. We are praying Village Yard will open its doors at the start of the 2027 school year.

We had DJ, the CEO of Hong Kong based mission group Crossroads Foundation, come and run a poverty simulation with staff during the mid-year PD (personal development) time. This had a truly profound impact on many staff, and the ideal of service has now become a constant discussion point ever since. Our students are already serving in the local community, far north Queensland and overseas, and we aspire to build this further into our culture with service being the central theme for 2026.

HILLCREST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

2,300+ STUDENTS ~500 STAFF

700 FAMILIES (OVER 1000 STUDENTS) SUBMITTED AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PROPOSED VILLAGE YARD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

PRAYER POINT

Praying for opportunities for our community (students, staff and families) to serve.

As we completed the year the areas of prayer we feel should be highlighted include:

• The completion of the current building works so the school can return to normal.

• The growth of the VLC learning program. This is a unique opportunity to reach out locally and internationally to preach the wonderful news of Jesus.

• The planning and development of the Village Yard Christian School. This new model of learning could become the method through which we can reach thousands of students with the Christian message.

• The planning and development of a sports precinct project, which is quietly taking shape in the background, and holds the potential to be one of the most significant undertakings our College has pursued in the past half century.

• The College continues to remain aligned with its Vision and Mission.

• The incredible leadership of the College Board by Jame Lewis. Without his extraordinary leadership much of the above would never be achieved.

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Hillcrest Christian College continues to thrive thanks to the prayers and dedication we receive from QB.

Blessings,

Jeff Davis - Executive Head of College

QUEENSLAND CONFERENCE AND CAMPING CENTRES (QCCC)

As 2025 draws to a close, the story of QCCC is once again the story of God’s faithfulness expressed through people: interns learning to lead, school communities encountering values-based formation, young adults discovering purpose, and churches finding renewed pathways for discipleship. While our operational strength continues to underpin the ministry, this past year has been defined by spiritual formation, leadership development, and a deepening missional contribution to Queensland Baptists.

At the heart of our ministry remains our commitment to intentional discipleship. Across CAMPFIRE, CAMPLIFE, and the Real Life programs, young adults have continued to grow in maturity, confidence, and Christlike character. This year, all five second-year CAMPFIRE interns graduated - a milestone for the program and a sign of its strength. These young leaders have become central to the delivery of sequential Outdoor Education programs, Survival Camps, Real Life Workshops, and residential ministry experiences. Their influence is increasingly

visible: students speak of them as mentors, schools identify their spiritual maturity as a distinctive, and partner organisations regularly affirm their professionalism and credibility. Through residential community life, cross-cultural mission, and hands-on ministry, these interns are being shaped into leaders who will serve Queensland Baptists and the wider church for decades.

Leadership formation extended beyond Mapleton and Tamborine this year. QCCC hosted and helped shape some of the state’s most strategic ministry events: Scripture Union’s Training Week for 265 emerging leaders, the Seventh Day Adventist State Youth Camp, the Queensland Musically Outstanding Students Camp, and Salvation Army, ACC, Churches of Christ, Wesleyan Methodist and many church youth retreats. These gatherings demonstrate growing trust in QCCC as a ministry partner - not just a venue - and affirm the central role Christian camping continues to play in raising the next generation of ministry-minded Christians.

Our Outdoor Education programs continue to be one of QCCC’s most powerful ministry platforms. First-time schools frequently comment on the spiritual quality, maturity, and strength of our staff. Long-term clients regularly describe QCCC as a place where they “just love it” and where “you make it so easy.” With increasing numbers of high schools seeking multi-year sequential programs, QCCC is shaping the formation of students from Year 7 through to Year 11 through values-based programming grounded in Christian principles. At Mapleton, we have continued to articulate our Outdoor Education philosophy, drawing together the biblical foundations of the R1202 Hand and the cultural depth offered through Triballink’s leadership. At Tamborine, Vertec Adventures has begun designing a Rites of Passage program to deepen the spiritual and developmental impact for upper secondary students.

This year also saw a strengthening of our partnerships, many of which have become central to QCCC’s missional identity. Triballink continues to enrich our programs with cultural knowledge, connection to Country, and a perspective that consistently points beyond Creation to the Creator. Vertec Adventures has supported the Christian ethos of Outdoor Education at Brisbane and Tamborine. Mount Tamborine Conference Centre continues its long-standing ministry legacy. Project 11 and other partners have strengthened pathways for leadership, discipleship, and vocational ministry across the QB movement. These relationships demand cultural understanding, care, and trust - but they multiply impact far beyond the capacity of any single ministry.

One of the year’s most compelling good news stories came through the Third Culture Kids Camp in Cambodia. A team of QCCC interns and staff facilitated a week-long camp for the children of missionaries serving across Asia - young people who often live without stable peer communities. Our interns modelled resilience, compassion, and spiritual leadership in a cross-cultural environment, offering these students both joy and deep encouragement. Their ministry provided a rare space of belonging and helped catalyse several significant spiritual breakthroughs.

QCCC also continued to invest heavily in supporting QB ministries and strengthening the movement’s future. More than $200,000 was contributed to subsidise youth camps, ministry gatherings, women’s conferences, and regional leadership events. Our Bapshare payments again exceeded $300,000, supporting the work of QB’s Head Office. Under Vision 33, QCCC’s ministry naturally aligns with the priorities of Thriving Churches, Tomorrow’s Leaders, Together in Mission, and Faithful Stewardship. Our internship programs embody Tomorrow’s Leaders; our partnerships with schools and parachurch organisations strengthen Together in Mission; our support of state youth camps speaks to Thriving Churches; and our long-term financial sustainability continues to exemplify Faithful Stewardship.

In December 2025 the QB Board endorsed the purchase of Cobb and Co Nine Mile Camping Grounds – the most significant expansion of QCCC’s ministry footprint in more than twenty years.

This decision followed seven months of due diligence, financial modelling, and ministry planning, and reflects Queensland Baptists’ strong commitment to investing in long-term, generationally impactful ministry through Christian Camping. QCCC will take ownership in early 2026.

The transition will be the major strategic initiative of the year, positioning Cobb and Co as QCCC’s next major site and the new home for our flagship Survival and Creation Care programs. Its scale, natural setting and proximity to the Sunshine Coast provide a remarkable platform for school camps, leadership formation, family experiences, and new partnerships across the QB movement.

The acquisition aligns directly with Vision 33 – creating space for thriving intergenerational communities, expanding pathways for young leaders, strengthening mission-focused collaboration, and providing churches with an affordable, easy-to-organise camping venue that naturally fosters community, discipleship, and outreach. This is a milestone investment by Queensland Baptists in the future of camping ministry, strengthening our capacity to serve tens of thousands of people each year in Christ-centred environments. As Queensland’s largest Christian camping ministry and one of the nation’s largest, QCCC remains a gospelshaped ministry of Queensland Baptists - serving schools, churches, families, and young people across the state. Our purpose remains unchanged: to disciple, to equip, and to serve, creating sacred spaces where faith can grow and lives can be transformed.

307,191

MEALS SERVED AND

719

GROUPS HOSTED ACROSS QCCC SITES IN 2025.

45,820

PEOPLE HOSTED AT QCCC VENUES IN 2025.

MORE THAN

$200,000

INVESTED IN MINISTRY SUPPORT, SUBSIDISING QB AND PARTNER MINISTRY EVENTS.

Pray that QCCC continues to raise up young leaders whose lives reflect Christ and whose ministry strengthens the future of the Queensland Baptists Movement.

- QCCC Director Andrew Grant

LOCAL MISSIONS

It has been a great year in the Director of Local Mission department. We have seen growth and development in the key areas of Evangelism, Church Planting and Leadership Development. I am personally feeling more confident and clearer in my role and how to move forward. I am very excited about the next eight years as we move toward achieving Vision 33.

In church planting we have seen several new plants. Three plants were existing churches that have chosen to join the Baptist movement (Charleville, Fernvale, Ipswich). Each has their own story, but they are excited to be part of our movement. We also had a simple church plant in Buderim with a big vision for a different kind of church. We had a rural church plant, Barcaldine, thanks to the excellent leadership of Steve Ballin in Longreach. There are also churches preparing to plant in early 2026 (Kruger Parade is launching a campus in Springfield). Kruger Parade has a heart for their region and are looking for opportunities to serve and revitalise Baptist churches that want to partner in the Gospel in the west. So there was a good amount of planting preparation and strategising.

Another big development this year has been the vision for church planting and revitalisation being adopted by larger churches. Bridgeman Baptist Community Church has made multiplication their vision and set apart Pastor Nathan Harris to lead that charge. They will be making leadership development and training a key strategy for their church moving forward. Also, Lifepoint Church at Rothwell are preparing to plant a new church in West Caboolture in early 2027, but are also building into their vision a plan to plant/revitalise annually from then on. They are setting aside

funds for coaching and professional development to ensure it happens! I was also excited to hear that Riverlife, under the new leadership of Jo Leutton has a heart to serve their region in this way as well. This heart for resourcing our movement clearly fits with the Vision 33 Hub church goals/strategy. I have also been working with the team to establish training for planting in our new Leadership Hub churches starting in 2026.

I have been moving around many churches and young adults conferences to preach and teach on evangelism and leadership. Our continued partnership with ALPHA is bearing fruit also. As you know Baptists are the largest users of ALPHA in Australia. Our QLD numbers continue to grow which is great news (2023 – 239, 2024 - 224, 2025 – 273). As I have moved around churches and preached I am constantly hearing good news stories about conversions through ALPHA.

My favourite part of the year is always spending time at Young Adult gatherings to inspire and call on the next generation to consider evangelism and church planting. It was a privilege to participate at Sent, P11, State Youth Camp and Arise Conferences to fire up our up-and-coming planters.

Steve Meharg

- Director of Local Missions

QB LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

emerging leaders equipped through Project 11 2025

emerging leaders from 500 QB churches equipped through Project 11 from 2022-2025! 60 almost

Project 11 ran for its fourth year in 2025 and we saw 78 emerging leaders from 19 QB churches equipped and developed. It’s encouraging to see a handful of new churches engage each year as they identify emerging leaders with potential in their midst and seek to invest in them. A blessing of Project 11 has been not just seeing emerging leaders equipped and developed, but also churches equipped in developing leaders and making this a value and regular rhythm in their context. We continue to see the mentors build deep relationships with their Project 11 emerging leaders and creatively shepherd them deeper in faith and into new opportunities to develop their leadership. To date we’ve had almost 500 emerging leaders equipped through Project 11. Out of these leaders we’ve seen pastors called for our Movement, many have stepped into great ministry responsibility, and all have learnt about the potential they have to influence others for the Kingdom and how they can shepherd that in their workplaces and communities for the glory of God.

The Project 11 Summit was held in November at QCCC Mapleton. The summit weekend is all about celebrating the journey the emerging leaders have been on, learn more about leadership together and discern what God is saying to them about next steps, and send them out in power to serve His kingdom. An unexpected highlight of the weekend was losing power during the first song of our Saturday night session. The cohort didn’t miss a beat, they continued to sing and praise, and everyone gathered at the front of the hall for a time of acoustic worship. It is clear to me that this generation of emerging leaders do not just hunger for authenticity but exemplify it. When all the bells and whistles are stripped away, they surrender immediately into the holiness of that moment, rest with their saviour Jesus, in worship of Him. Every year I grow increasingly assured that this generation of emerging leaders deeply value Scripture and obedience to God, but they also deeply love His presence and Spirit. The future of the church is in humble, loving and faithful hands that are open to God in surrender.

It was a great joy and privilege for me to serve our movement through additional projects and opportunities through 2025. In January I facilitated the running of State Youth Camp as the interim Youth & Young Adults Ministry leader before Ben Dainton stepped into the role. I also facilitated the bringing together of our ‘Fan the Flame’ Devotional series.

It was a blessing to see over 300 people engage directly through our movement by subscribing to the daily email delivery of the devotionals, but the delivery of this series through the YouVersion app has allowed us to reach almost 2000 people globally. I’m so grateful for the authors of these devotions and Jonathan Lamprecht (QB Engagement & Communications Coordinator) for his hard work.

It was also a great joy to coordinate our One Prayer Gathering during QB Prayer Week in June. This night of prayer, held in person in Brisbane and streamed across our state, was a great moment of unity and faith for our movement. And it’s also been a joy to partner with Mark Westhuyzen to facilitate our QB Worship & Creative Network. We have a wonderful steering group of worship pastors from our movement that pulled together a training and networking event in September which blessed around 150 creatives both in person and online across our state.

As I head into a season of parental leave in 2026, I am filled with great hope and expectation that our movement is full of servant hearted leaders wanting to grow and emerging leaders just beginning to step into the calling God has on their lives. Through Vision 33 our goal is to see 100 new pastors raised up for our movement and 500 emerging leaders equipped each year. I am confident that by following God’s leading this is something we can realise together and see more Kingdom fruit than we could ask or imagine!

churches empowered to train and equip emerging leaders throughout 2025

Every year I grow increasingly assured that this generation of emerging leaders deeply value Scripture and obedience to God, but they also deeply love his presence and Spirit. The future of the church is in humble, loving and faithful hands that are open to God in surrender.

Maddy Mandall

- Leadership Development Manager

Fan the Flame devotions accessed by over 300 through daily email subscription and almost 2000 globally through the YouVersion bible app

CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE (CALD)

A Highlight: The Baptist World Congress in Brisbane

One of the most excellent and memorable events of 2025 was the 23rd Baptist World Congress, hosted right here in Brisbane. This global gathering brought together thousands of Baptists from over 130 countries for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, and service under the theme “Living the Good News.” It was a powerful time of unity and inspiration for our movement and CALD services. Our CALD volunteers participated actively, contributing their gifts and energy. Several of our pastors led seminars and sessions in various languages, sharing wisdom and encouraging delegates from around the world. It was also a great opportunity for many CALD churches to reconnect with brothers and sisters from the countries they came from, fostering deep connections and renewed encouragement. We thank God for using this historic event in Brisbane to strengthen our global family!

2025 was another year of God’s abundant goodness and favour. Across our movement in Ethnic (CALD) services, we witnessed a growing number of people committing their lives to Christ, getting baptised and being discipled in deepening faith.

CALD churches continue to adapt and innovate to reach second and subsequent generations, influence the broader community, and implement effective strategies. Many now run Alpha courses (some translated into their own languages), implement English-language services (monthly or weekly evenings), provide simultaneous translations, and conduct Sunday schools and youth groups in English. Tangible outcomes include newcomers from outside original communities joining fellowships, such as Evangelical Baptist Church (Zomi) with youth-led monthly English services and Bethel Romanian Baptist Church’s weekly evening English services.

Leadership development remains vital. The CALD stream at Malyon Vocational Training has grown to over 70 students – leaders and emerging leaders. We celebrated another graduation with 19 graduates from diverse generations, ages, and cultural backgrounds, directly shaping the next generation of QB leaders.

By God’s grace, new churches joined the QB family, including an Ethiopian church, reflecting our growing diversity. Supported by Baplink, two churches successfully settled venues in 2025. In my role, I assisted with visioning, capacity building, compliance, and leadership mentoring – enabling churches to acquire loans and property for greater gospel impact. Myanmar Christian Church runs kids’ camps every school holiday, while Vietnam Grace Church expands church planting to Cairns through a self-sustaining bakery business.

GOOD NEWS STORY

Vietnam Grace Church’s journey stands out as a powerful example. Not only did they generously host our Multicultural Christmas Carols Night (drawing many to hear the message of Jesus), but they have now launched a churchplanting initiative in Cairns. By starting a bakery as a self-sustaining ministry strategy, they create employment, build community relationships, and fund ongoing outreach. This creative approach demonstrates how CALD churches can extend their ministry beyond ethnicity, touching lives in new regions and seeing the gospel multiply.

Our annual prayer week, area gathering (close to 90 CALD pastors and leaders), and Assembly continue to unite and equip us. I thank the Lord for our bi-vocational CALD pastors and the increasing support toward full-time ministry.

On a personal note, I praise God for receiving the Lifetime Multicultural Achiever Personal Award from Hon Fiona Simpson in 2025. I remain humbled to serve on the Queensland Police Multicultural Advisory Board and value exchanges with NZ counterpart Tim Palmer and Australian Baptist Ministers’ network colleagues.

I sincerely thank QB leadership at all levels for their tremendous help, support, and open hearts toward CALD services. They truly see the importance of this ministry and assist in every way possible – with guidance, resources, encouragement, and partnership. Their commitment makes this work joyful and effective.

Please continue to pray for CALD churches and their communities as we move forward in faith.

Emil Rahimov

- Director for CALD Services

PASTORAL SERVICES

THANKS

Every year sees its ups, downs, challenges and triumphs for each of us. 2025 was no different and we see this broad range of circumstances as we walk with churches and pastors through their ministry lives. We give praise to God who sustains and who has done many great things in our midst.

A big thank you to my Pastoral Services Team and the broader operations team for keeping the wheels moving and supporting the work of Pastoral Services. The increased collaboration across departments has continued again this year and I enjoy working with a wonderful team at QB.

To Chen Kumar, thank you for holding so many pieces of information together despite working with a crippled data management system and for picking up the pieces that I regularly drop.

Thanks also to Ian Aylward, our Professional Standards Officer (PSO) who has kept calm in the face of pressure and shown grace when faced with the ugly side of ministry.

And thanks also to Emily Banks, our Safe Spaces Coordinator who is shouldering the huge task of reacting to new legislative changes that once again require a new approach to Child Safety in our churches.

I also commend the work of the Ministerial Services Committee, chaired by Peter Cossgrove, and thank the entire committee (Stewart Pieper, Warren Kerscher, Emil Rahimov, Tracy Valentine, Jodi Traves, Shane Greenhalgh, Peter Clarke, Jo Leutton, David Elvery) and everyone involved in registration interviews, pastoral reviews, ministry supervision, the New Pastor’s Conference, and oversight teams. Your contributions bless our Movement and support our pastors.

ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES FOR PASTORS AND CHURCHES

Each year, we focus on developing key resources to support our movement. This year’s focus has been:

• Governance Framework Resources: Continued development of these resources.

• Updating Safe Spaces Resources: The new Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme legislation has meant that a re-write of our policies and resources is required. We are thankful that we have received 2 financial grants from the Queensland Family and Child Commission to assist with this work and the subsequent training that will be needed for our churches in 2026. More information to come in 2026.

• Local Church Constitution Resources: Supporting churches to update their constitutions.

• Code of Conduct & EIRG Guidelines Updates: New versions were released in 2025.

• Recognition of Ministry Workers Accreditation: Working on resources and documentation ready for a 2026 rollout.

Praying for God to raise up pastors to lead his churches throughout our state.

Candidates in application phase (New & Transfers)

Registered Pastors

PASTORAL COHORTS – SUPPORTING PASTORS

This year, 18 participants, including 4 denominational transfers, joined our New Pastor’s Conference.

In 2025, we continued the cohorts for new solo/senior pastors and experienced associate pastors. These continue to be important places for formation and building ministry networks.

STRONGER CHURCHES ROADSHOW

Our Stronger Churches training initiative continued with a series of online forums this year, tackling relevant topics for churches such as HR, Finance, Governance and general Administration.

Thanks to all those who attended, we look forward to continuing this initiative in 2026.

PASTORAL SUPERVISION

We only have 1 more year left in our 4 year transition plan that introduces Pastoral Supervision into our QB Pastoral support system. Feedback continues to be positive about the ongoing benefit of this supervision.

PASTORAL TRANSITIONS

We continue to be in desperate need for pastors in our churches. While the total number of vacancies has not changed significantly, there is still a pressing need for experienced Senior Pastors to lead our churches. Please join us in prayer for these needs.

PASTORAL SUMMARIES

In regards to registration processes in 2025, we have been even busier.

• 35 (up from 26) Candidates are currently completing their Registration to become QB Ministers

• 17 (up from 14) Pastoral Candidates completed their registration processes and were registered for the first time.

• 10 pastors completed their first 2 years of supervised ministry formation.

• 4 Pastors are in the process of transferring their credentials to QB with 11 completing this process.

• 2 Pastors had their registration with QB reinstated after spending time in other ministry.

• 1 Pastor was approved for ordination

• 18 Pastors applied for and were granted a Marriage Celebrants Licence

Below is a summary of some of the Pastoral Statistics as they stand at the end of 2025

It has been a privilege to work with so many of our pastors and church leadership teams. We recognise that we are partners in the gospel and we desire to see each of you remain healthy, vibrant and effective in your ministry calling for God’s glory and the church’s benefit. May God richly bless you all as you continue to serve Him.

David Elvery

- Director of Pastoral Services

QB CHURCH HEALTH

I praise God for the growing desire across the state for QB churches and ministries to bless each other and work together for gospel renewal, church revitalization, and kingdom impact.

A HEART AFTER GOD

Across the QB family of churches there is a growing desire and intentionality to pursue health, vitality and kingdom fruit. One such example is Coral Coast Christian Church in Bargara, part of the Wide Bay Region. The Bargara area is growing rapidly with new residential developments on what seems like every corner. The church building is located right in the heart of this growth. The congregation is growing rapidly too.

Desiring to see an even greater kingdom impact, Pastor Phil Montieth and the leadership asked me to facilitate a church development weekend for the leaders and congregation. During that time more than 60 members of the congregation met together to explore how the neighbourhood and region is changing and what it means for the church. They explored needs of the community and how the Gospel may best be contextualized to reach this growing community. The church also worked through how the church is changing and growing and how understanding the dynamics of size can help them make the necessary changes to “the way they do church” to continue to grow and prosper. It was a wonderful weekend which culminated in a special Bundaberg combined churches services at Bundaberg Baptist Church.

2025 saw an increasing openness for churches declining, aging, or struggling to seek support to revitalize towards becoming a thriving church – healthy, sustainable, fruitful, and missional. There is also a wonderful and growing heart in our larger churches with health and strength to support and strengthen other churches in their region. One of the church health directors from another associated state has coined the phrase “blesser and blesser rather than bigger and bigger” which captures this desire to work together to see a thriving church in reach of every Queenslander. I personally visited 41 churches throughout 2025. This may have been preaching, attending an elders meeting, facilitating a review, mediating a conflict, training a staff team or governance group, inducting a new pastor, and many other things.

16

CHURCHES INVOLVED IN QB FACILITATED CHURCH HEALTH PROCESSES

41

QB CHURCHES VISITED

CONSULTANCIES

Alongside this steady stream of church engagements, phone calls and emails, 2025 saw 15 significant church consultations across QB Churches.

• 3 Full Church Reviews. A thorough and holistic process exploring strengths and weaknesses of a church through group interviews, various surveys/ assessment tools, documentation/finances review, and a number of other inputs. The review also provides high impact recommendations to help the church move forward towards fruit and health.

• 3 Intentional Interim Ministry Processes. A 12-24 month strategic process led by an interim pastor to help a church make sense of its past, rediscover its identity, sharpen its leadership and governance, and discern God’s leading for the future before calling a new pastor.

• 10 Targeted Consultancies. These targeted consultancies have covered varied themes such as growth and development, leadership and governance, visioning processes, change management and conflict, ministry team training, systemic issues.

WORKING TOGETHER

Throughout 2025 I served on the Church Support Leadership Group and the QB Services Leadership Team as well as facilitated the “thriving churches” strategic pillar working group as part of our QB vision process. As well as these teams I coordinate what we’ve dubbed the Generations Team. The Gen Team is composed of Sally Contessi (Kids and Families), Ben Dainton (QB Youth and Young Adults), Maddy Mandall (Leadership Manager), and Emily Banks (Safe Spaces). The team encourages and supports each other across their ministry areas and have worked closely on projects like P11, State Youth Camp, Safe Spaces Training, and Baptist World Congress Next-Gen summit.

NETWORKS & COHORTS

I lead or participated in a number of networks and cohorts across 2025.

• Australian Baptist Ministries Church Health Network – I lead a working group to being the development of a National Church Revitalization Framework which was presented at the Trans-Pacific Baptist Leaders Gathering in Darwin in August 2024.

• Governance framework – resources and training for governance leaders. Thanks to David Elvery for steering our team.

• QB Stronger Churches Roadshow - training and support to pastors, administrators and governance leaders on a wide variety of relevant subjects.

• New Pastors Conference – David Elvery and I facilitated the New Pastors Conference.

• 2 Cohorts for new solo/senior pastors and experienced associate pastors – with David Elvery.

150 WORSHIP & CREATIVE TEAM MEMBERS EQUIPPED AND ENCOURAGED THROUGH OUR QB WORSHIP & CREATIVE NETWORK GATHERINGS

REGIONAL MINISTERS

Our Regional Ministers (RM) continue to play a vital role in equipping, supporting and encouraging QB pastors and churches across the QB Movement. 2025 saw some transitions in a number of regions as Phil Greenbury concluded after 5 years and Dan Harding was appointed as interim RM for the Sunshine Coast. Dave Quak concluded as Gold Coast RM and Steve Twible was appointed as interim. Ian Aylward concluded as Central Qld RM and John Gallagher was appointed as interim. In Far Northern Qld, John Whyte concluded after serving 5 years upon his retirement and Murray Lawrence was appointed as interim RM. We are so grateful to God for the provision of gifted and faithful women and men to serve as Regional Ministers across the QB Movement. The Regional Ministers Retreat in April was a wonderful time of fellowship, celebration and equipping. For the Regional Ministers, two main aspects to their roles are support and growth. The support aspect is focused on encouragement and care, wisdom and prayer, and walking alongside pastors and church leaders in their region. The growth aspect of the role is focused on coaching, resourcing, encouragement, and sometimes challenge to help pastors and leaders grow in their capacity and impact as leaders as well as helping churches and ministries thrive. Our heart is that our Regional Ministers will love, care, support, and prayer, as well as resource, strategize, and catalyse ministry growth and fruit. To that end our retreat focused on building a coaching paradigm for our RMs, equipping them with strategies and frameworks to help pastors and churches achieve their ministry goals. I want to thank John Whyte for his faithful and diligent leadership over the last five years.

- Director of Church Health Mark Westhuyzen

QB KIDS & FAMILIES

The QB Kids & Families team is proud to be working alongside so many churches in our movement who are working so hard to see a generation of young people raised to know and love Jesus for life. The current statistics from the best Christian research we have tells us that around 50% (some data stating the number is as high as 72%) of young people who grow up in our churches will leave by the time they are university age. (https://cra.org.au/why-young-people-are-leaving-thechurch/) (https://www.ncls.org.au/articles/getting-olderand-younger-at-church/)

Add to this that our national Baptist average age is 48, while the average Australian age is 38. It would seem that not only are we growing older as a movement, but also losing those we have spent time trying to reach through our Sunday schools and kids ministries over the years.

As a result, many of our churches are reaching out for support to ask how they can ‘grow young’ again and reverse this statistic, and we are so excited to partner with them and talk about how churches can be tapping into what some are referring to as the ‘quiet revival’ of young people (18-34 year olds) turning afresh to the church (https://catholicleader.com.au/news/australia/ new-mccrindle-report-shows-young-christians-arehighly-motivated-believers/), as well as reconsider their current methods of discipling children and young people. We have seen more recent NCLS survey results tell us that where there are young people engaged in our church communities, that they are our most frequent service attenders (https://www.ncls.org.au/ articles/young-people-most-frequent-attenders-atreligious-services/)

We know that this generation of young people is about authenticity of faith and living out their convictions – so when they believe in what the gospel is about and catch the vision of a passionate local church – look out!

To this end, the QB Kids team has poured efforts into helping church families think innovatively and with fresh enthusiasm about their ministries with young people this year.

BAPTIST WORLD CONGRESS

Many of our churches came together to build a team that ran a children’s congress program for the duration of Baptist World Congress in July. Around 60 children from different countries and regions around Australia came together and worshipped, played and enjoyed visits from Dan Warlow (our favourite kids’ musician!), Quizworx and Lost Sheep (Baptist SA) ministries too.

We are so grateful for every leader who so wholeheartedly invested in this ministry to our global Baptist family, and especially to Miranda Smith from Crosslife Baptist, who led the team over the four daysplus the leaders who joined us from Gateway, Riverlife, Forest Lake, Bridgeman Downs, North-East, Stafford Heights, and Open Road Baptist churches. It was such a great week and wonderful to be a part of this once-ina-lifetime event.

RESOURCE CREATION: FAN THE FLAME

In collaboration with the wider QB Services team, this year we created children & family resources to align with the ‘Fan the Flame’ devotional series journeying through the book of Acts. The QB Kids team had a particular focus of reaching the many new families we see coming to our churches who have no faith background at all – or very little church experience in their family lives.

We intentionally created resources that focused on the basics of following Jesus together as a family – a kids’ church curriculum, as well as creating a short podcast series called ‘Families Following Jesus’ that aligned with the curriculum. We especially loved having kids join us for this project and speak into each 10-minute episode on how their families follow Jesus together. We hope that this resource continues to bless churches and families as it is used over the coming years.

NETWORKING EVENT

This year we hosted a networking event in Brisbane for our local South-East Queensland churches to come together as kids & family ministry leaders. We themed the event around meeting the needs of children who are neurodivergent or have additional needs, as we know this is a significant topic for so many of our church teams. We hosted a panel of expert professionals, mums and kids’ ministry leaders who spoke on this area. The event was recorded and shared around with our QB Kids network and we had great feedback that not only was this resource very needed, but high quality content too – and we are so grateful to those who came and shared with us on the day. Special thanks to Jess Hood and Gateway Baptist who hosted the event. .

VISITS, TRAININGS & PARTNERSHIPS

As usual, a big priority for our QB Kids & Generations team is to meet with and equip our many church teams across the state. In addition to many local Brisbane coffees, zoom chats, and joining in on Sunday services around our SE QLD corner, QB Kids was able to visit

church families in Longreach, Winton, Hervey Bay – for Foster Care Sunday, Toowoomba (for Amplify Conference-meeting leaders there from Warwick & Gatton too!), Sunshine Coast, as well as Atherton and Cairns during the October Regional Tour. We also took part in the National Baptist Gathering in Sydney as per our annual meetings, and partnered with Morling College to participate in their children & family ministry subject.

Additionally, we enjoyed contributing to Project 11 Conference, State Youth Camp and the New Pastors Conference and Prayer week throughout the year. We continue to partner with the QCMN network (Queensland Children’s Ministry Network) and Amplify Conference, an interdenominational network where we collaborate with other churches, denominations & para-church organisations such as Scripture Union and others so we can champion the ministries of RI and school Chaplains among others.

We look forward to continuing to help our big QB family to ‘grow young’ in 2026 and beyond.

- QB Kids and Families Team Leader

QB YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS

A NEW CHAPTER

Stepping into the role of Youth and Young Adults Team Leader has been a journey of listening, discovering and witnessing the incredible ways the Spirit is moving among our next generation of leaders. My first year has been dedicated to building relationships and understanding the unique heartbeat of our community. While transitions always come with a learning curve, the warm welcome I’ve received has made it clear that we are a community ready to grow, challenge, and support one another.

GLOBAL CONNECTION: BAPTIST WORLD CONGRESS

One of the absolute highlights of this past year was our involvement in the Baptist World Congress. Specifically, seeing our youth engage with the international community through the teens program was a special experience.

It wasn’t just about the sessions; it was incredible to see youth from around the globe connecting and praying for each other. Young people had the opportunity to rub shoulders with peers from across the world, realizing that their faith isn’t a solitary journey but part of the global kingdom. Watching them engage in worship and dialogue with teens from different continents really was a once in a lifetime experience. It reminded us all that while our contexts may differ, the mission remains the same: to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a complex world.

REACHING OUT: NEXT GEN LEADER TRAINING IN ATHERTON

A priority of 2025 was reaching our regional churches. I was privileged to be able to get out to Longreach and cheer on the amazing church and youth ministry they have there. Longreach Baptist is the only youth ministry in Longreach and they are making a profound impact in their town. Sally Contessi, Emily Banks and I were also able to head up to Atherton Tablelands where we were able to run our Next Gen Leader training.

The energy in the Tablelands was fantastic with great turnout and engagement; churches hungry to impact the next generation for Jesus.

Seeing these leaders of young people in Atherton realize their own potential was a personal highlight for me. It reaffirmed my commitment to ensuring that our

“Team Leader” role isn’t just about the metropolitan hub, but about serving the entire breadth of our region.

LOOKING AHEAD

As I reflect on the past year, I am struck by the resilience and passion of our young adults. We are not just “preparing” for the future; we are witnessing the church of today in action.

Whether it’s on the global stage of Congress or a local hall in the Tablelands, the goal remains: to empower our youth and young adults to lead with courage, humility, and a deep-seated love for their communities.

Thank you for the privilege of serving in this capacity. I look forward to what we will build together in the year to come.

Ben Dainton

QB Y&YA Ministry Team Leader

BAPTIST CHURCH ARCHIVES

Volunteer Team: David Parker, De Facto Archivist

Anne Cameron

Our team for the year has comprised Anne Cameron and David Parker (de facto Archivist), supported by Bill Hughes until his retirement in October 2025 after 18 years of exceptional service. We extend our sincere gratitude to Bill for his remarkable contributions to our Archives.

EQUIPMENT, DOCUMENTS AND PROCESSES

Early in 2025, some well-worn equipment was replaced including our photocopier, and computers which were running on the old Windows 10 system. There is still some bedding-down to do.

During the year, we received digitised news-magazines from Victoria, now providing additional coverage extending back to the mid-19th century. New acquisitions include historic badges and medals, plus fascinating vintage gramophone recordings of Baptist preaching and music.

The Annual Transfer of documents from QB organisations remains our most important activity, representing one of the key aspects of our constitutional mandate. These ongoing transfers ensure that the records documenting the work of Baptist entities are properly preserved in a safe and secure environment and are accessible for reference and research in controlled conditions into the future. We urge departments to assist in forwarding their new material promptly at the end of the year so we can keep up to date with a minimum of effort.

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS

Our Archives team undertook significant research projects this year, producing important historical documents. Bill Hughes completed his final masterpiece: a comprehensive 140-page history of the work of Queensland Baptist Home Mission established over nearly 100 years (available on request $20 posted). He also produced a detailed study of Rev Wm Poole, the notable minister of South Brisbane Baptist Church (1880-1910).

Historical research was completed on the early Gayndah church (1860s) with Rev RR Wilson, and the ‘unknown’ period of the Maryborough church (1863-1883) with Rev WT Godson—resurrecting the stories of these important pioneers. Also of interest from this period was an analysis of Christian church leadership in Brisbane during Queensland’s formative 1860s. Another study was completed on the longest-serving secretaries of the Baptist Union of Queensland, as well as a complete documentation of interim ministry practices in Queensland from earliest times to the present. We thank the Baptist Historical Society of Queensland for their assistance in making these documents available to a wide readership.

Anne Cameron undertook a major update of the ‘Historical Record’—the organisational history of the Baptist denomination— documenting the complex personnel and structural changes which have taken place in recent years.

Our photography collection continues to grow, but needs much more attention than it has received in recent years. A dedicated honorary curator is needed.

OPEN DAY AND TOURS

The Archives hosted a memorable Open Day on 9 July 2025 as part of the 23rd Baptist World Alliance Congress (Brisbane, 7-12 July), which was arranged at very short notice when it proved not possible to organise a much more comprehensive national heritage presence at the event. The Open Day featured a guided tour of the Archives, displays of documents and artefacts and a presentation on Queensland Baptist history. Both BWA Heritage Commission members and the local Baptists attended to make it a successful occasion. For this occasion, we also updated the ‘Tour of Baptist Brisbane’ (originally published in 1983) and added a walking tour of the CBD. We also updated our supplement to the 2005 history Pressing on with the Gospel, extending coverage through the last 20 significant years—both publications are available on request.

We hosted the Baplink staff team for a guided tour of the Archives, which was greatly appreciated. We encourage all departments and churches to arrange visits; please contact us for details.

We acknowledge the valuable practical and moral support of the Baptist Historical Society of Queensland and its members whose backing has contributed significantly to our work. Some of the publications and other activities and acquisitions have been possible only through this assistance.

The Archives stands as an integral part of the QB organisation as custodian of Baptist records - denominational, local church and personal/family. Accordingly, we serve both immediate needs and so that future generations will have the materials to understand their spiritual and organizational heritage.

BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND

O God, we have clearly heard; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in ancient times. Ps 44:1 (NET)

Even when I am old and grey, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power. Ps 71:18 (NET)

Preserve, Protect, Publish our Heritage

WHAT ARE WE?

The Baptist Historical Society of Queensland (BHSQ) was established in 1984 by interested volunteers. It aims to promote interest in the history and heritage of Baptists in Queensland and welcomes anyone with such interests.

It is important that we not forget the past. The Israelites were urged to remember God’s dealings with them through festivals such as the Passover. Every time that we celebrate Communion, we hear the words from Jesus, “…Do this in remembrance of me.” I Cor 11: 25b (NET)

When we remember the past, we can rejoice in the blessings that our gracious God has poured out upon us as well as those times of pain and anguish when things have gone wrong and we have needed correction. It has been said that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

WHO ARE WE?

Officers for 2025 were Chair/President, Mr E Kopittke, Treasurer, Miss H Colegrove, Secretary, Mrs N. Kidd, Web-master, Mr I McQuay, Forum editor (acting), Mrs S. McQuay Publications Officer, Mrs R Kopittke and Mr I. T. Boyle (Honorary Auditor). Three meetings were held during the year – 22 February, 14 June and 8 November.

FORUM

Queensland Baptist Forum, the Journal of the Society, is published three times per year and sent to BHSQ members, in either digital or paper form. It contains a variety of interesting articles, mainly on historical subjects, but also on other matters such as Baptist principles.

The accompanying table lists the articles contained in the three issues of Forum published in 2025.

ISSUE DATE

CONTENTS

Wynnum Baptist—Lindum-Mere Heather Gray

Pioneering Church Leaders in Queensland’s First Decade, part 3 David Parker

No 120 March 2025

ANZAC: Leitch Family Bob Rogers

Carinity celebrates 75 years Lee Oliver

Open Day Eric Kopittke

WD Grimes David Parker

No 121 July 2025

Rosalie Baptist Church—140 years G Warren Nunn

Interim Ministry (part 1) David Parker

Book: Queensland for Christ

Book: The Founders of the Wharf Street - City Tabernacle Baptist Church

Annual Report Eric Kopittke

Appreciation: Bill Hughes David Parker

G H Buzacott David Parker

No 122 November 2025

Interim Ministry (part 2) David Parker

Cairns Baptist Relocates

FRIENDS OF BAPTIST HERITAGE QUEENSLAND

The Friends of Baptist Heritage Queensland (FBHQ) Facebook page has a rapidly growing following. See https://www.facebook.com/groups/878493442730886.

The posting of historic photographs of churches or groups of people has led to the posting of stories of blessings that people experienced. We welcome the posting of such historic photographs and memories since two of the Society’s objectives are “To encourage the collating and recording of Baptist history” and “To foster interest in Baptist history at the local church level.”

WEBSITE

The Baptist Historical Society of Queensland website, bhsq.org continues to receive hits from around the world. On the site, information is provided about both the Historical Society and the Baptist Church Archives Queensland. Visits to the old website will be redirected automatically, as will links from the QB website. We thank Ian McQuay for his work in maintaining the website.

THE FUTURE

Is there a role for BHSQ in the future? After all, there are those who say we must ignore the past and look only to the future. However, the Bible has so many instances where God calls on His people to remember His great goodness to them. Looking forward and recalling the past – both are important. We forget the past at our peril. BHSQ has an ongoing role as we remember God’s work in the past and look forward to the future.

An invitation to join the society is extended to anyone who has an interest in Baptist history and heritage here in Queensland. Members have a wide variety of backgrounds – do not be put off joining just because you are not an historian! Meetings in 2026 are scheduled for 21 February, 20 June, and 14 November (AGM) all at 2:00 p.m. at the Queensland Baptist Archives, 53 Prospect Road, Gaythorne, Queensland 4051. All are welcomeplease bring a plate.

Eric Kopittke

- President, BHSQ

BAPTIST WORLD AID

Message from Melissa Lipsett, Baptist World Aid CEO

It’s a joy to share how Queensland Baptists have helped fight poverty and bring dignity, hope, and transformation to communities around the world this year. Thank you— your generosity, prayer, and advocacy honours God and continues to strengthen the work of our local Christian Partners in some of the world’s most disadvantaged places.

It has been a big year in Queensland, with highlights including connecting our Baptist partners from Lebanon, Ukraine and the Pacific with church leaders at the 2025 Baptist Congress in July, and welcoming Rev Robbie Townsend to the Baptist World Aid team in Queensland. In a year of overlapping crises—conflict, displacement, economic hardship, and disasters—your faithfulness has meant families could receive food, shelter, education support, training, and hope. Together, with supporters across Australia, we reached 816,591 people across 57 projects in 18 countries.

Your ongoing commitment reminds us that we are truly better together. Thank you for standing with us as we partner with Christians globally to address poverty and injustice—bearing witness to God’s love in practical, sustainable, and transformative ways.

Because of Jesus,

- Chief Executive Officer Melissa Lipsett

- Church & Partnerships Manager, QLD John Mansfield

Sarin’s New Confidence

Cambodia

At just 11 years old, Sarin has already seen more difficulty than many of her peers. Living in Cambodia, she and her younger brother often stay with their grandmother— who lives with a disability—when their parents travel to Thailand for work. The separation and financial instability placed great strain on the family. School often felt overwhelming. Sarin was shy, struggled with reading, and her classmates teased her for her spelling.

Everything changed when Sarin joined the community project run by our local Christian Partner. With support from staff and volunteers, Sarin’s reading improved, her confidence grew, and her natural leadership began

IMPACT SUMMARY: QUEENSLAND’S GENEROSITY

Last year, Queensland Baptists played a meaningful role in enabling a global impact—with 2,231 churches and individuals collectively contributing $2,196,090 to the work of Baptist World Aid, and taking up 69 new Child Sponsorships. Thank you! We’re deeply grateful for your continued engagement, giving, and advocacy—all of which help our Partners and the communities they serve.

Thanks to you and supporters across Australia:

• 816,591 people were supported across 18 countries.

• New and strengthened church-based community development approaches continued developing across the Asia–Pacific region, equipping churches to lead practical, holistic community transformation.

• We responded to humanitarian crises in the Middle East, Myanmar, Lebanon, Sudan, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—providing food, shelter, medical care, as well as long-term recovery support.

CHILD SPONSORSHIP

• Child Sponsorship continued to set strong

to shine. Today, she leads younger children in literacy workshops at Child Club, and dreams of becoming a doctor, saying ‘I want to help my family with medical expenses.’

Sarin’s mother, Dat, joined a local Self Help Group where she learned financial management skills and became a strong advocate for education for both her children.

‘I’m going to try my best to support my children through school,’ she said.

Sarin’s story is a wonderful example of children discovering their God-given potential through local, community-led development.

safeguarding standards by protecting children’s identities until after sign up, and this new approach saw our Sponsorship community across Australia grow.

• Independent research revealed that each Sponsorship impacts over 35 people, including caregivers and community members.

ADVOCACY & JUSTICE

Queensland supporters and churches advocated for change through:

• Safer World For All, which helped secure a maintained commitment to Australia’s foreign aid budget in a global climate of reduced aid spending.

• Our Ethical Fashion Report continued to drive industry improvement, with 63 per cent of companies improving their supply chain practices.

• Stand With Myanmar—in collaboration with Baptist Mission Australia and every Baptist State Office— continued to support communities in Myanmar, advocating for targeted and compassionate policy responses.

• Advocacy coalitions including Be Slavery Free, and the Baptist Advocacy Roundtable.

With the support of Queensland Baptists, in 2025 together we:

816,591 people

57 projects

18 countries with transformative programs

PLEASE THANK GOD FOR MOVING CHURCHES TO GIVE IN RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR WORLDWIDE NEIGHBOURS AND PRAY FOR CONTINUED GROWTH IN CHURCH PARTNERSHIP AND CHILD SPONSORSHIP ACROSS QUEENSLAND.

300+ Baptist churches partner with Baptist World Aid to fight poverty and injustice

2,231

Queensland individuals and churches support Baptist World Aid’s partners around the world

THANK YOU, QUEENSLAND BAPTISTS

Thank you to Queensland Baptists, pastors, churches, families, and supporters who continue to work in partnership with Baptist World Aid.

Together with our Christian Partners and the communities they serve, we’re helping to build a better world where all people can experience the fullness of life God intends. Reached across in saw saw

Queensland Baptists Celebrate!

New Member Church

Beacon Gospel Baptist Church

Liberti Church Gold Coast

Name Changes

Agape Zomi Christian Church (formerly Agape Missions Church)

Cairns South Baptist Church Inc (formerly Mulgrave Community Baptist Church)

Associated Church

Lakeside Community Church

Yungaburra (A campus of Atherton Baptist Church)

Sarina Baptist Church (A campus of Mackay Baptist Church)

Merged Churches

Mosaic Baptist Church merged with Liberti Church Gold Coast

Ministers Ordained

Jabin Mills, Beenleigh Baptist Church

Neil Champion, Lifepointe Baptist Church Reinstatement of

Credentials

Aaron Smart, Yandina Baptist Church

Mark Hockey, North Pine Baptist Church

Newly Registered Ministers

Lah Doh Moo, Australian Burmese Christian Fellowship

Pamela Watkins, Crosslife – a Baptist Church

Thah Kim, Zomi Baptist Church of Brisbane

Ashleigh Davey, Windsor Road Baptist Church

Ethan Poznaks, Fairfield Baptist Church Townsville

Nathan Licandro Caloundra CityLife Baptist Church

Zac Sweetman, Life Point Christian Church

Kathryn Paroz, Connect Baptist Church

Jonothan Harris, Bridgeman Baptist Community Church

Robert Flodine, Longreach Baptist Church

Karleigh Vaschina, Bridgeman Baptist Community Church

Sara Millard, Bridgeman Baptist Community Church

Daniel Gordon, Biloela District Baptist Church

Barry Barnard, Acacia Ridge District Baptist Church

Ryan King, Lifehouse Christian Church

Russell Kernick, Gympie Baptist Church

James Adcock, Silkstone Baptist Church

Ministers Transferring Credentials

Jonathan Sharma, Moranbah Christian Fellowship

Philip Hamilton, Carinity

Derek Schiller, Mundubbera Baptist Church

James Oosterveen, City North Baptist Church

Silvio Fernando Moura Filho, Bridgeman Baptist Community Church

Lian Hang Tuang, Agape Zomi Christian Church

William Forgeard, Coolum Beach Baptist Church

Daniel Pappas, Meridan Community Church

Roydon Burns, Mount Isa Baptist Church

Nicholas Gilmour, Goodlife Community Baptist Church

Verity Gilmour, Goodlife Community Baptist Church