ROSLYN McAllan is selfdeprecating, to the point of modesty, when asked to talk about her role within the church run by her pastor husband David.
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Waving it off with a simple “I help here and there”.
It is not even close as a description of the real Roslyn, the one who met her husband-to-be in a youth group romance against the backdrop of the Southport Church of Christ on the Gold Coast in the ’80s.
Now, 35 years later, they are parents to four grown-up children and loving grandparents to eight.
But their family is so much more than flesh and blood. The word community could easily be replaced by family within the church. Roslyn and David are the confidants, counsellors and friends of many they know.
So, does she do a little more than help here and there?
Yes, she does. She helps David, she helps the congregation and she helps the church’s wider pastoral agenda.
But wait, there’s more. From organising the Sunday service, to assisting different conferences and fortnightly meetings, and leading a women’s bible study group, Roslyn has helped build the community within Echuca’s Community Church.
For the past decade she has also helped organise a Christian women’s conference in the twin towns.
“The conference helps connect women from different Christian communities in the region and gives them the chance to come together,” she said.
“David and I were approached by Anna, a member of the church, asking us to help shape the event.
“We knew it was a way to build connection and to help create an involvement with others across all the churches of the region.”
You might think as the group grows the connection becomes somewhat frayed – and you would be wrong.
As a couple, she and David have discovered building relationships and friendships within a church came almost naturally to them both.
“Every two weeks we meet in members’ homes and spend time studying prayer, fellowship, and finding out what’s going on in each other’s lives,” she said.
“It’s really a way to build community, feel connected and part of a group; and support one another through hard times.
“Death in the family, loss of a loved one, marital problems and financial hardships – particularly with farmers out here – are some of the things we face in the group.”
There have also been painful life lessons for the McAllans as well as their congregation.
Through the course of their time at the church, the extended family has been confronted with its own heart breaking moments.
“Our granddaughter and son-inlaw’s father were killed in a car accident five years ago,” Roslyn said.
“Everyone experiences these things differently, but it certainly brings to the fore what you believe about God; his relationship with you, your life on Earth, your future, and the concept of heaven and salvation.
“The rubber really hits the road; it’s not so abstract anymore when you lose someone.
“We believe Charlotte is in heaven, and she is safe with God.”
With the loss of a loved one, it may seem reasonable to question your faith, but this wasn’t how Roslyn saw it.
“It’s not a perfect world. It is a world that is filled with sin and people’s desires and imperfections, but this points us towards God, who is perfect, and I know now there is a perfect future for us in heaven.
“I never for a moment thought I was wrong, or doubted the reality of God, salvation, Jesus, or the life I lead,” she said.
“I think if anything it reinforced my belief and drove me to God for strength and comfort and to keep going and allow his strength to carry me through grief.”
Roslyn said it was about coming to terms with grief in the same way everyone else must come to terms with it, by working it through her world view.
Although some wounds never heal, the love and support the family continues to receive from the community makes a world of difference.
“It’s a funny kind of work, investing a lot into people's lives,” she said.
“There is a lot of heart and a lot of energy in it.
“It’s a long process helping people grow their faith, but it’s really encouraging to see people biblically deal with issues and grow as individuals.”
With a little help, here and there.
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