The First Australian Wide West Coast Conference

In the providence of God, history was made for the Australian International Missionary Society. Up until the year 2001 the International Missionary Society had no representatives in West Australia. But providentially through the mighty power of prayer and God’s ordained way of shaking His people, a company of 8 people was formed. At the end of that year a pioneer group of 4 traveled the continent (four day journey) to attend their first Australian IMS conference and since then more have traveled east for the year-end conference.

Much joy in fellowship has occurred between the members and new believers. Slowly a desire grew in the hearts of the West Australians that the Eastern States folk come to the West. So it was that history was made on the 17th April 2003 when the members came together for the long weekend at the Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp, Orange Grove for the first Australia wide Western Australian Field Conference.

Some members were able to fly across the continent while the church van loaded with 9 passengers left Sydney early on Sunday morning. After traveling 48 hours, with only fuel stops they arrived very early Tuesday morning giving Br John Thiel a surprise by knocking on his door before he was even out of bed.

Consequently all but 3 members from the east were able to join us in prayer meeting 2 days before the camp began. We sensed the Lord’s hand gathering us early to prepare us for the camp with the message from Lamentations. “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow…” thus it was an indication the Lord had more in store for us than we were expecting. The conference began with a message from the Lord not to harden our hearts but to look for the Day Star and He began by showing us how to recognize the Day Star from all the other stars around about clamoring for our attention.

We could hear the Lord speaking to us through the morning and evening worships and the prayerfully selected special items of song and poetry and I’m sure all received conviction in some form or another.

Bros. Jerry Eaton, John Thiel and Glen Higgins were used mightily of the Lord in presenting a series of studies based on 2 Peter 1:19 The Day Star Arising in Your Heart

The Friday evening study showed us how the Day Star arises out of darkness, in our blackest hour, in the darkness of our hearts the day star is there unconsciously at first but slowly arising and, providing we do not say no to Jesus, He arises brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.

The Sabbath began in a very special way. The Lord brought to us the true personal application of the birth of the Son of God. The shepherds and wise men were looking for that Special Star spoken in the prophecies and as they walked in the light of that prophecy they came to a place where they saw the glory of God in reality. We understood with new meaning how the Christmas story, so hackneyed in today’s society can be an actual reality in our hearts. In consequence of this study we sang two of those special songs that are most often reserved for the festive season with new meaning and appreciation. The Divine service emphasized the importance of defining the darkness and calling people out into His marvelous light. This is the mission of the fourth angel. To call all to “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

On Sabbath afternoon the Young People’s meeting also focusing on the Day Star Arising in our hearts. Sr. Ariadne gave a talk on astronomy and we learned that the heathen, although he does not know God, can know the story of salvation by studying the stars. Sr. Jodyne talked about the shooting star. We discovered that the tail of light that flows from the shooting star is its outer crust burning up as it comes into the earth’s atmosphere. She likened the shooting star to the Christian that is shining because his “outer crust of self is being burned up and purged by the truth of the word. The Christian is allowing the fire of the Holy Spirit to consume his sinful ways, causing the beauty of the love of Jesus to shine forth.

We could see the Lord tailor made in every worship and study, as each had its own unique beauty and powerful message.

The subtle seductive ways Satan uses to unconsciously creep in amongst us was exposed on Sabbath evening in the study, Sing a New Song. We praise the Lord for this, at first, seemingly offensive message, for now we are wiser and will be able to experience deeper victories in His name. Praise the Lord for His great mercy upon us in bringing these points to our attention. He is truly working for our salvation, not willing that any of us should perish.

To close off a beautiful Sabbath day many of us, especially the less tired ones, gathered round an outdoor camp fire and talked and sang under the evening stars.

Throughout the weekend we could sense the Lord working on our hearts with a two edged sword, cutting and healing as He went amongst us. In His divine intervention, He was showing us our sins, developing patience, love and forbearance amongst us and bringing us into oneness of mind with Him. What more could we ask for? This is truly the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Sunday morning was the highlight of the weekend. After a powerful study entitled The Baptism of Jesus in You, Sr. Thy (Tee) Chey publicly declared her love for the Lord and her purpose to walk the narrow road Jesus did by being baptized. She referred to this experience as being both her funeral and birth.

Since our inception here in the West in March 2001 we have had a baptism every 6 months and Sr. Thy is the 19th West Australian member to be written in the books of Heaven.
Her Baptism was followed by her acceptance into the fellowship of the family of God and a very moving time of testimonies. Once again we recognized the outpouring of the Spirit of God working powerfully amongst us.

With the morning over the Holy Spirit had more work still to do amongst us through the “Commemoration of the New Day” which was of course the Lord’s Supper. Gathering round the Lord’s Table in the outdoors made the occasion even more memorable. We praise Him for the healing and growth this spiritual union brought us.

Following communion many of us enjoyed ourselves down by the water’s edge either canoeing on the tranquil waters or on the jetty basking in the stillness of the late afternoon.
Our evening meeting on Sunday brought a deeper relevance of the Prophecy in Revelation chapter 13 and we could see more clearly the role of the two horned beast and the subtle deceptions that we are about to face.

Monday morning saw us again up early in prayer bands and morning exercises. Although the camp was coining to a close the messages certainly did not wind down.

Our experience throughout the camp was likened to the daystar arising, at first it is dark then we identify the day star and with it the gentle and slow approach of dawn, the dawn continues until we see the sun rising and still there is more brightness to come.

The last study on Monday brought together all we had studied and gave us hope especially as we realized even when we were in darkness the Day star was still there, we just did not comprehend it. But as the dawning of His presence has come to us we are to follow that Star. We are not just to sit and gaze up at it. Like the shepherds and the wise men we are to follow the Star.

We were entreated by the Lord to determine with all our hearts to dig and search for Him as hidden treasure, to focus on the beautiful character of Jesus and look past the hellish shadow of Satan which is gossip and the subtle downgrading of people around us. This hellish shadow causes us to lose sight of the beautiful morning star. If we persevere and look to Jesus irrespective of what others are doing around us the Day star will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day and we will shine as stars in the firmament.

“As the mind dwells upon Christ, the character is molded after the divine similitude. The thoughts are pervaded with a sense of His goodness, His love. We contemplate His character, and thus He is in all our thoughts. His love encloses us. If we gaze even a moment upon the sun in its meridian glory, when we turn away our eyes, the image of the sun will appear in everything upon which we look. Thus it is when we behold Jesus; everything we look upon reflects His image, the Sun of Righteousness. We cannot see anything else, or talk of anything else. His image is imprinted upon the eye of the soul and affects every portion of our daily life, softening and subduing our whole nature. By beholding, we are conformed to the divine similitude, even the likeness of Christ. To all with whom we associate we reflect the bright and cheerful beams of His righteousness. We have become transformed in character; for heart, soul, mind, are irradiated by the reflection of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” TM 388-9

The final quote inspired us to go forward under the influence of the Holy Spirit, exalting the standard of righteousness, warning those around us of the coming judgment and sharing the gospel of salvation. “The messengers of Heaven are to be seen running to and fro, seeking in every possible way to warn the people of the coming judgments, and presenting the glad tidings of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The standard of righteousness is to be exalted. The Spirit of God is moving upon men’s hearts, and those who respond to its influence will become lights in the world. Everywhere they are seen going forth to communicate to others the light they have received as they did after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. And as they let their light shine, they receive more and more of the Spirit’s power. The earth is lighted with the glory of God.” RH July 16 1985

All too soon the camp came to a close and after a very delicious lunch which was very representative of all the meals we said our farewells and headed home, praising the Lord for a wonderful weekend and reflecting upon all that the Lord had done amongst us.
Amen