summer 09-10

hope
magazine
Conten
Hope Magazine Summer 09-10 FORWARD
nts
1 Front 2-3 Contents 4-5 Editors Note 6-7
Reflections - Out Of The Cave, Courageous
& Brave 8-11 News - On a Mission 12-
13 Resources 14-17 About Face - Onward
& Upward 18-19 Notebook - Room for a
King 20-21 A Word In Season - Forward
With Hope 22-25 This Way Up - Looking
For a Dream Job 26-27 Kidspot - When I
Grow Up / Kids Corner 28-29 Lifestyle -
Fast Forward 30-33 Lifestyle - A Summer
Christmas With Jonathan Gunawan 34
Building Fund 35 Events 36 Back

hope magazine .com.au

 Editor’s Note
As we launch this new issue of
Hope Magazine, we are not only
hope magazine
entering the holiday season, but
we are also preparing for the New Executive Director
Year 2010. 2009, for many of us, Rev. Dr. Aileen Gunawan
has been full of challenges and
victories, trials as well as joyous Editor
times. However regardless of what Ps. Dr. David Gunawan
has happened in 2009, we cannot
change any of it. We have to learn Sub-Editor
from our mistakes and rejoice in the Karen Tong
blessings God has lavished on us.
Writers
What we can influence however, is Karen Tong
what kind of year 2010 will be. My May Wong
prayer is that 2010 will be your best Dr. Allison Tong
year yet! As 2009 comes to a close,
let us all move FORWARD in life, Art Director
taking steps towards the glorious Jonathan Gunawan
Hope we have through Jesus.
Design
Jonathan Gunawan
Stella Lim

Web Production
Victor Tran

Photography
Jonathan Gunawan
Ps. Dr. David Gunawan Stella Lim

contactus@hopemagazine.com.au
+61 2 9634 1408
www.hopemissioncentre.com

The Centre Head Office

3/27 Daking St 56 Delaney Drive
North Parramatta Baulkham Hills
NSW 2151 Sydney, NSW 2153
Australia Australia
 THANKS
Hope Magazine would like to thank Smiggle, Koorong and
Billabong for their generous donation in contribution to the gift
packs and prizes that were distributed at Hope Church Camp.
Reflections
Have you ever found yourself hiding away in the darknes
and isolation instead of walking in the light of victory
Ps Dr David Gunawan encourages us to leave our ‘cave’ beh
move forward into the great future that awaits.
E lijah was a mighty man
of God. He experienced
the power of God time and
time again, and was used by
God to do miraculous things.
Yet after a supernatural
victory at Mount Carmel,
having called down fire from
heaven and showing up
the prophets of Baal, Elijah
faced a grim reality; one
which rocked him to his core.
Although Elijah had just
witnessed a powerful display
of God’s hand, Queen
Jezebel having heard what
had happened, threatened
to kill Elijah. With barely any
time to celebrate the glorious
victory, Elijah found himself
going from ‘hero’ to ‘zero’ in
a matter of moments. In fear,
Elijah runs away and hides
himself in a cave.
We are all still human.
Though God is on our side
and we may experience His
miraculous power in our
lives, there will always be
06 | hope magazine summer 09-10
circumstances where we
have to choose whether or
not we will move forward.
Especially after moments
of great victory and
revelation, we are extremely
susceptible to challenges as
we come to the realisation
that we have to face reality.
Like Elijah, after a spiritual
high, we must settle back
into the realities of life, with
ever-increasing workloads,
people who hurt and scheme
against us, and difficult
circumstances. In these
situations, what do we do?
Do we take a stand and
continue to move forward,
trusting that the Lord God
who delivered us in the past
will do so again? Or do we
cower in fear and retreat to a
cave of isolation, where we
hide our heart and our true
feelings?
The reality is no matter what
victories the Lord has given
you in the past, each new
ss of fear
and faith?
hind and
challenge presents its own
set of problems. Each time
these challenges arise, we
have the choice to either
continue to trust God and
move forward by faith, or
we can shrink back into
our caves of isolation. In
the cave, we wallow in our
sorrows, and each moment
that ticks away gnaws at
whatever self-esteem we
have left. If we remain in
this posture for too long,
it can have devastating
results for our lives and for
those around us.
What should we do
then? In 1 Kings 19, God
presents to us a solution in
the same way he presented
it to Elijah – a still small
voice. Amongst the chaos
and confusion in life, God
has given us the Holy
Spirit to speak to us and
convict us, to prompt us
and guide us. Many times
this voice is masked by the
surrounding calamity, but if
we will just stop and listen,
we will receive direction
and assurance that will
bring us to a whole new
level. As long as we are
still struggling and fighting
by ourselves, we will not
live in the fullness that God
intends for us. But when
we take time to wait on the
Lord and listen to what He
has to say each day, the
thirst in our souls will be
quenched and He will fill
the hunger of your heart.
Having heard the still
small voice, Elijah moved
towards the exit of the cave
and eventually received
enough to get himself out
of the cave and moving
forward towards an even
greater future. God wants
each and everyone of
us to get out of the cave
of isolation and into the
vast, wonderful world He
has created. There is so
much that He has planned
for us and if we will just
simply listen to His Word
and trust Him, we will find
ourselves moving forward
into the great plans He
has destined for us. Had
Elijah stayed in the cave,
his story would have ended
there, but because he
chose to arise and get out
of the cave, he met Elisha,
who latter became his
disciple and carried on the
prophetic legacy, receiving
a double portion of Elijah’s
anointing.
We will never know the true
extent of our perseverance.
Never give up. Continue to
journey with the Lord and
move forward one step at a
time. The generations may
thank you, and the world
may never be the same
again because of your
resilience and faith in God’s
Word.
hope magazine summer 09-10 | 07
News

08 | hope magazine summer 09-10

 With a population of over 240
million, Indonesia is the fifth
most populous country on this
earth and home to the world’s
largest Muslim population. It
is also the nation at the centre
By Karen Tong
of Hope Church’s overseas
missions efforts led by Rev
Samuel Gunawan.

T heir eyes were glued to the scenes framed

by murky windows. The dusty blue van
crept through the jam-packed highways of
Jakarta on its own unique course, with utter
disregard for lane markings and traffic signals.

“That’s five people on one bike – it’s a whole

family on one bike!” Jenny Phillips exclaimed.
Darren Tsai had his camera out, ready to
capture any other extraordinary sights from the
back seat of the van – people hanging out of
buses, hopping on and off as they pleased; or
maybe a person trying to sell newspapers to
the van’s occupants. “The moment I stepped
into the country, it was like a completely
different world,” Darren says.

In July 2009, Jenny and Darren went on a

short missions trip to Indonesia led by Rev
Samuel Gunawan. They were asked to
prepare a short testimony to share at the
church services and meetings they would
attend. Darren was apprehensive at first and
was nervous about having to speak to a large
crowd. “When I was called up, I had a surge
of confidence and it was no problem at all,”
Darren says.

At another church, the mission team was

unexpectedly called upon to present an
impromptu musical item. Jenny felt completely
out of her comfort zone and did not want to
sing. “But after a few minutes I was like this
is for God,” Jenny says, “so we ended up
 performing and after it I was like ‘I
cannot believe I just did that’.”
“No matter what situation
News
I am going through, I will
rely on God and He will
continue to bless my life.”
– Jenny
Both Jenny and Darren agree that the
trip was a life-changing experience.
They left Sydney with a heart
motivated to encourage and bless
fellow believers in Indonesia, and
returned to Sydney realizing that they
themselves had been encouraged
and blessed.
While waiting for the blue van to
arrive and ferry them from their
church accommodation to their next
destination, Jenny was encouraged
as she observed a group of Sunday
School children. “Just how much
they participated in the activities,
answering questions, and singing
as loud as they can during worship,”
Jenny says.
Seeing the Christians in Indonesia
passionately worship and serve God,
no matter what their circumstances,
has caused Jenny to grow spiritually.
“I saw all these people who have
a heart for God just worship Him
with all they had and it was an
encouragement to see how much
passion and faith they have,” Jenny
says.
Darren was particularly moved by the
kindness, humility and generosity of
the Pastor whose hosted Jenny and
Darren during the missions trip. “She
took care of us and served us and
made sure we felt at home,” Darren
says, “that really inspired me to serve
others.”
The experience has also taught
Jenny to be more appreciative of the
things that she has. It has also helped
her to change her perspective on God
and life. “No matter what situation I
am going through, I will rely on God
and He will continue to bless my life.”
Darren agrees, saying that he has
learned to treasure the comforts he
enjoys at home in Sydney. “I have
not showered with a bucket before,”
Darren says of the ‘showerheads’ in
Indonesia which were comprised of
buckets of freezing water. “All this
made me appreciate the house I
currently live in,” Darren says. “This
trip has helped me know how much
God has blessed me and that I have
so much which I take for granted.”
Just two months later, in September
2009, Rev Samuel Gunawan returned
to Indonesia with his family – Rev Dr
Aileen Gunawan, Dr David Gunawan
and Ev Jonathan Gunawan – to
speak at a Christian leaders camp in
Indonesia.
“This trip has helped me
know how much God has
blessed me” – Darren
“The thing that really struck me first
was that we are really blessed with
opportunities we have in Australia,”
Dr David says, “freedom to worship,
the amount of resources …”
Dr David was the main speaker at
the camp where he encouraged,
taught and blessed many Indonesian
pastors and youth leaders with insights
into the Word. He also ministered to
many people and prayed for them. Dr
David says, “It’s important that in the
moment, you obey God – you never
know how a prayer is going to impact
people.”

“What they don’t have

in material wealth is
certainly made up for
in zeal and hunger for
God.” – Ps. Dr. David
Some of the Church leaders who
attended the camp in Indonesia said
they would start saving their money
in order to come to Australia for
Hope Church Camp 2010. “It’s quite
phenomenal that they would even
consider that - it would be similar to
trying to save up for a car here,” Dr
David says.

Just like Jenny and Darren, Dr David

was himself encouraged by the
passion for God displayed by the
Indonesian Christians they had met.
“What they don’t have in material
wealth is certainly made up for in zeal
and hunger for God,” Dr David says,
“because when there is a greater
reliance on our own capabilities,
wisdom and understanding, and when
you don’t have a when you think your
wisdom suffices, you don’t seek God’s
wisdom.”
Resources

Sermon CD series - ONE (4 CDs, $10)

“So they might be one heart and mind with us” –
Jesus (John 17:21 The Message)

The very heartbeat of God is that we might be

one with Him. But how can we become one
with our Creator? Psalm 1 teaches us that we
must be like a tree - as resilient as a palm and
as majestic as the cedars of Lebanon, through
meditating on His Word day and night. We
must not be like the chaff that is easily blown
by the wind, bending towards the way of the
wicked. We must harness the power to produce
good fruit in our lives, and enjoy the cultivation
process between sowing the seed and reaping
the harvest. Finally, we must walk in the very
steps of God and follow the way of the righteous.
Then, we will be made one with Him.
By Ps. Dr. David Gunawan
More series available NOW: Passion for the
House, the Designer Collection, the Jesus
Journey and the Desert is No Dessert.
Passion for the Ho

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4. Generosity
Sermon
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12 | hope magazine summer 09-10

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 10th Anniversary Coffee Table Book
10: The Journey Continues (Coffee Table Book, $25)

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Magazine’s Tenth Anniversary commemorative
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The Hope Pack (The Hope Pack, $20)

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Get deeper into the Word of God with daily devotional studies of
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Please email us at contactus@hopemagazine.com.au if you would like to place an order,

or purchase any of these items at our Hope Church services every Sunday, 10 am at 3/27
Daking St North Parramatta.
About Face

Have you ever made

that you knew would
future? Do you rem
doubts and fears
overcome in order
step of faith and mov

14 | hope magazine summer 09-10

 “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his
steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)

When we stand at the crossroads of choice we ask

ourselves, “where do we go next?” One of the most
difficult things we have to do in life is to make decisions.
Serena Lim and Jim Yip share their stories of making
life-changing decisions: the challenges they faced, and
the faith and courage it took to overcome all obstacles in
order to move forward in their lives. In their stories, one
By Karen Tong thing is evident – the Lord has surely directed their steps.

e a decision - Serena’s Story

d affect your
member the
H aving just graduated
from her Bachelor of
Science degree, majoring
after, Serena was offered
a place at two educational
institutions and has now
s you had to in Psychology, Serena Lim commenced her Masters
was keen to pursue one degree in Education.
to take that of two options: to follow a
career path Having taken
ve forward? towards “Whatever you plan that first
becoming an to do, commit it to step of faith,
educational Serena has
psychologist, God – He will guide her eyes firmly
or to continue you to what is best.” set ahead as
studying. Serena Lim she continues
She sought to walk in
advice from God’s plan
Rev Samuel Gunawan, who for her life. There are still
encouraged her to study challenges that she faces
further if possible, and her as she honestly admits,
older sister, Stephanie “I’ve been struggling with
Tang, who helped Serena the notion of whether I
identify her talents. In the am able to complete my
meantime, Serena was masters because of the high
still applying for jobs and standard.” However, just a
was successful in gaining few weeks after Serena said
a position that involved this, she received the results
teaching physical education of her first assignments –
to primary school students. she had received ‘mastery’,
the highest level of
“Through that, God used achievement. She shared
specific events that touched this testimony with Hope
my heart and gave me Church and gave all the
peace when thinking about glory to God.
pursing a career as a
teacher,” Serena says, “I “Whatever you plan to do,
applied for a Masters in commit it to God,” Serena
Teaching for Primary, and says, “He will guide you to
asked God to open the door what is best.”
if it was His will.” Not long
About Face
- Jim’s Story

J im Yip knew that he

wanted to become
a doctor. The question
years, is well on his way
to becoming a doctor. He
has also become engaged
was, which medical to Beryl. Once in Sydney,
school would he apply one of the main struggles
for? It became a decision for the couple was finding
of staying in his home a Church that both Jim
state of Brisbane, or and Beryl to become a
moving to Sydney, “I had part of. “Beryl and I spent
pretty much grown up more than half a year
in Brisbane all my life looking for a church which
so moving to another was passionate about God
state was definitely quite and would help us grow
intimidating,” Jim says. together spiritually,” Jim
says. “When I had almost
There were given up, God
many things “Have faith and be led us to Hope
to consider calm in the situa- Church.” Both
as he wrote
out a pros
tion. But most of Jim and Beryl
sing in the
and cons all, don’t forget to Hope Church
list, asked pray.” Jim Yip choir and
for advice, serve God in
and prayed more than other areas of ministry.
ever before. The ultimate They are also both
factor in Jim’s decision involved in the Church’s
to move to Sydney was discipleship program
to be with his girlfriend, and are growing in their
Beryl Marlborough. relationship with God.
“Beryl was of course
the main reason behind When facing tough
the decision, as we had decisions, Jim advises,
been in a long distance “Have faith and be calm
relationship for almost a in the situation. Slow
year by then,” Jim says. down for a moment and
“The main motivation was think about the decision
definitely love.” With that, carefully, taking into
Jim put the University of account the advice of your
Sydney down as his first family, friends and pastors.
choice and told God that It is amazing how God can
everything was now in His speak through all these
hands. people in your life. But
most of all, don’t forget to
Jim has now lived in pray.”
Sydney for over two
Notebook
There was no room in the inn for the King of
Kings. There was no room for the Saviour of
the world. This Christmas, is there room in your
heart for Jesus?
Joseph and Mary
“Joseph,” his wife called gently, “why
don’t we rest a while?”
She had never seen him so weary
before as he dragged his lead-like
feet across the rocky paths, up the
cobblestone lanes, and down the
dark alleyways of Bethlehem. All day
they had searched for a room to stay
the night. He was so confident that
an innkeeper would see his pregnant
wife and take pity on them. If not, a
friend or a relative might be willing to
take them in – just for one night. But
the census had brought everyone
back to the city and every room was
occupied.
“There’s just one last place at the
top of the hill,” Joseph replied,
not slowing his urgent pace. “The
innkeeper knows my grandfather
and he will surely make room for us.”
Joseph could not turn to face his wife
for fear that his eyes would reveal he
had no faith in that promise. So he
did not see that Mary too had doubts.
Nor could he see her pain – the baby
was on its way. But she kept silent.
“Almighty God,” she prayed quietly,
“please let there be room for us.”
18 | hope magazine summer 09-10
By Karen Tong
Mary trusted that God would take
care of them as she remembered
the parting words of the angel nine
months ago, “For with God nothing
will be impossible.”
The Innkeeper
“No, there’s just no room here,” the
innkeeper said, shooing Joseph away
with both hands. But Joseph was
desperate, he persisted asking again,
“Please sir, we will take anything, my
wife is pregnant and is close to giving
birth. We will take anything.”
The innkeeper caught sight of the
heavily pregnant woman. She did
look ready to give birth but there was
nothing he could do, he justified to
himself.
“Alright, Alright,” the innkeeper said
as an idea formed in his mind. “What
if I put the couple in the barn? That’s
a room right? And I could charge
them for staying there, even though
it’s not one of my motel rooms -
right?” he thought to himself. It was
a sure-fire, profit-making solution.
“Follow me,” the innkeeper said.
The Shepherds
Joseph lay against a haystack,
rocking a crying Jesus. Mary was
fast asleep on the ground near the
manger, where Joseph eventually lay
the baby Jesus down to sleep again.
“Excuse me,” a gruff voice called
quietly to Joseph in the dark. A faint
glow from the lamp he was holding
illuminated the man’s face enough to
reveal the innkeeper. “Yes?” Joseph
replied.
“There’s some shepherds here to see
you,” the innkeeper said. Shepherds?
Joseph was confused – he did
not know any shepherds and was
certainly not expecting any shepherds
at this hour of night.
“They seem a little out of their minds
if you ask me,” warned the innkeeper,
“they keep saying that there’s a baby
they want to see who is the ‘Saviour’
– I think they called him “Christ the
Lord” or something? Rubbish if you
ask me but anyway, there’s a baby
here in the manger so I thought I
might humour them …”
Mary had awoken and heard the
words of the innkeeper.
“… Some of the shepherds are
singing too – ‘Glory to God in the
highest’ – at the top of their lungs …”
the innkeeper continued.
Could it be that God had sent these
shepherds to see their Baby Jesus?
She knew in her heart the things God
has spoken to her through the angel
Gabriel, and Joseph knew too – but
who were these shepherds?
“Yes, sir, please let the shepherds
come to us,” Mary said.
33 years later
“Do you remember that baby that was
born here? It was a while ago, 30 odd
years perhaps. He was crucified you
know, nailed to a cross and buried
three days ago,” the innkeeper’s wife
had begun an excited rant, rallying
against the ignorance of her husband.
He nodded, pretending not to care
too much – only just enough for his
wife to finish her story.
“Well, some of his disciples went to
his tomb and lo and behold – he was
gone! Some of them – you know, his
disciples – they’ve seen him!” the
innkeeper’s wife was increasing in
volume. “It’s amazing you know, this
man. They call him the Saviour King,
the Lord of Lords, the Son of God –
imagine that, the Saviour of the world
was born in our barn! And spent the
first days of his life lying in a manger!
Would you believe …”
The innkeeper stopped what he was
doing and sat down at the table. With
his wife’s voice babbling away in the
background, the innkeeper recalled
the day that he wanted to turned
Joseph away. Could it really be that
this Baby really was the Saviour?
That He died and rose again on the
third day? Could it be, the innkeeper
wondered, that I did not make room
‘‘
for the Saviour King?
And she brought forth
her firstborn Son, and
wrapped Him in swaddling
cloths, and laid Him in a
manger, because there was
no room for them in the
inn. Luke 2:7
A Word In Season
T aking a step forward requires
energy and boldness. It seems
funny making this statement. We take
steps everyday without consciously
thinking about it. It has become a part
of us and it is considered a natural
thing. In fact it is abnormal if you are
not able to take a step.
What I am talking about has to do
with the unseen step that we take in
the spiritual realm. Our faith in God
who is unseen, requires a step of
faith. To place our faith in God for Him
to heal us, or God to provide for us
in times of lack, for God to protect us
in times of calamity, all these exert
a lot of our inner strength. To pull all
our spiritual muscles together to be
strong enough to stand up within us,
takes energy and boldness. At times
we may be tempted to think, ‘What if
God is not there for us? What if God
cannot help us?’ These ‘what ifs’ are
basically hope and faith killers.
20 | hope magazine summer 09-10
We are all spiritual beings encased
in this physical body called the flesh.
God has breathed His breath into us.
We are alive and moving because
God’s Spirit is in us. “In Christ we
live and move and have our being”.
When the breath of God in us
expires, we die. Many do not realise
that everyday that we are alive, God
desires that we take another step in
our journey with Him.
Taking up the challenge to live for
God and entrust everything into His
Hands can be a scary experience for
some. It means that we do not have
total control of our own lives. We are
people who depend a lot on sight,
and not being able to see makes us
feel insecure and difficult to take a
step of faith.
Our hope is in a God who is real, who
created the universe, who fashioned
us as human beings with His own
hands. We are considered so very
 Entrusting God with everything can be a challenge - there is so
much uncertainty in the world it’s easy to feel insecure and fearful.
Rev Dr Aileen Gunawan urges us to walk by faith and not by sight,
stepping forward in the security of the hope we have in Christ.

special that God should handle us.
In fact we were made with clay, an
earthen vessel with no value, but
because of His special breath and
touch on our lives we have now
become very special.
Everyday as we take little steps
toward Him, we become stronger
and bolder. Every part of our spiritual
muscles are being stretched and
pulled, hence producing an inner
strength. In order for us to move
forward we need to have faith and
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ‘Hope
does not disappoint us.’ There are
many things that disappoint us in this
world but the great assurance from
God is that He will never disappoint
us. What a wonderful promise and
assurance.
Lord Jesus Christ for everything. We
need to find things to give thanks to
God for, because we if we do not, we
are in fact taking things for granted.
To take things for granted is to be
ungrateful. May be we have never
thought of it that way. When we do
not give thanks we are saying ‘I
deserved it anyway, God did not help
me, I had to work for it.’ When we give
thanks we are indeed saying that we
are acknowledging God. Constantly
recognising that God is the One
who gives, protects, provides, and
watches us, will lead us to receive
more blessings because God is
pleased when His children know and
appreciate Him.
Step into year 2010 with Hope, for
God is always with you!

It is always a good time to take God’s blessings,

inventory of our lives at the end of
the year. In fact it is important to Rev. Dr. Aileen Gunawan
reflect and give thanks to our good
This Way Up

In the current financial

climate, your dream
job may seem out
of reach. Don’t give
up! Theresa Teo, a
trainer for Hope Within
Reach’s Discover Your
Dream Job program,
shares how you can
become successful
career-wise and obtain
the job of your dreams.

22 | hope magazine summer 09-10

 By Karen Tong
In January 2009, Tourism
Queensland launched a worldwide
competition to win the “best job in
the world”. The job involved lazing
about a tropical island off the coast
of Queensland - and a $150,000
pay packet. Sound ideal? Well, it
did to hundreds of thousands of
eager applicants who rushed to the
competition website, causing it to
crash. Out of 34,000 applicants, there
could only be one winner – a 34-year-
old man from the UK.
‘‘
Are you looking for the “best job in
the world”?
Don’t try to fit a job,
’’
. find a job that fits
you.
A new study using the Human
Development Index – which
measures life expectancy, education
and GDP – shows that Australia is the
second happiest nation in the world.
However, Australia scored poorly on
the level of job satisfaction.
Maybe you’re staying put in your
current job because it offers stability
as the world pulls itself out of the
global financial crisis. Or maybe
you’ve lost your job and you’re keen
to return to the workforce. Perhaps
you’re content with your job and
you’re looking to upskill. Whatever
situation you find yourself in, here are
some helpful tips here that will see
you on your way to career success.
 Identify your dream job
This Way Up
Here are some pointers from Theresa
that will help you identify your dream
job and take steps to making the
dream a reality:
1. Don’t try to fit a job, find a job that not enough experience, whereas a
fits you. Look at who you are, identify
your strengths and consider your
personality. Remember, you have
something to offer to a company.
‘‘
2. Customise your cover letter and
resume. Employers are interested
in those who can help them solve
specific
problem.
Focus on how
the company
Focus on what you have To the older job
can benefit by and be strategic in your
hiring you.
job application.
3. Have the
right attitude.
Don’t just wait
and do nothing
– start by strategising what you want
to do today. Who are you going
to apply to and in which industry?
Where can you get the lead?
4. Pray. Before you get started,
during your job seeking, and after
you’re finished for the day – don’t
forget to submit everything to God
in prayer. Allow God to guide you to
your dream job.
Identify the challenges
There are three common challenges
that people will face when they are
looking for a new job, Theresa says,
“age, experience and competition.”
Whether you’re a fresh school leaver, company,” Theresa continues, “If you
a senior job seeker, a mid-career
change job seeker or a new migrant,
there are many age-related problems
that you might face. The key, says
Theresa, is to “focus on what you
have and be strategic in your job
application.”
Young school leavers might have a
lot of enthusiasm and creativity but
senior job seeker may have too much
experience. In order to overcome
this, Theresa gives this advice to
school leavers: “work experience or
an internship is the best way to gain
experience. Ideally you should be
paid but if you are not, look at it this
way the company is ‘spending’ time
to teach you and
give you relevant
’’
experience.”
seekers, Theresa
says, “You have
a wealth of
experience – ask
yourself how you
can use your past
experience to
help the company resolves issues.”
For other job seekers, Theresa
advises, “tease out your experience
and highlight it accordingly in the
resume and cover letter.”
Finally, to get the edge on your
competition, try seeking internal
referral or write to companies to
ask for an information interview.
“Thousands of people send resumes
through the internet but wonder
why there is no response from the
employers – of course, you have
thousands of ‘competitors’ looking
at the same job advertisement,”
Theresa says. “Internal referral is
a good way of gaining entry to the
do not have such contacts, write to
the companies of your interest and
ask for an information interview.”
Looking to upskill
If you’re content with your job but
you are looking for new challenges
to improve your performance, or
grow in your career, then take up
the opportunity to study further and
upskill. However, Theresa says it’s
important to take a strategic approach
and not just jump into a full-time
degree. Theresa gives these three
steps:
1. Look at your personal and
professional goals. Will a short
course or another degree further your
career? In what ways will it add value
to your personal and professional
life? Keep a constant watch in your
career the changing needs of the
industry and then look into the right
Last words of
advice …
Life is full of challenges
but a winning attitude will
help you pull through the
many barriers that are
set before you. Believe in
yourself. Find support and
friends who can support
you positively. Be strategic.
Be confident. Be bold. Be
focused. You have what it
takes discover and obtain
the job of your dreams!

‘‘
courses to take.

2. Decide how you want to upskill.

Everyone needs to be a continuous
learner as the world is constantly

’’
changing by the day. The skills You have what it takes
we have today may be obsolete discover and obtain the job
tomorrow. If you can afford to support
yourself financially throughout the of your dreams!
course duration, you may consider
taking it full time. Part-time study is
tough but it is not impossible.

3. Be flexible. Our life stages

change over the years. Be strategic
in your planning and yet flexible.
Once you have committed in an
upskill program, be committed and
dedicated to see it through. Don’t give
up even if it is difficult.
 WHEN I GROW
Kidspot
I want to be a fireman! A teacher! An actress!
Dr. Allison Tong asks HopeKids: “What do you
want to be when you grow up?”
I want to be a teacher. A teacher
teaches children to help them
learn and use what they learn
for their future. (Khodee Lu,
Lighthouse)
I want to be a nurse so I can
help people. (Joanne Ewe,
Lighthouse)
I want to be a news reporter
for newspapers because its
fun writing about things. (Paris
Robas, Lighthouse)
I would like to be an artist.
(J’wan Roberts, Lighthouse)
I want to be a travel journalist
because I get the chance to
travel and I like writing. I like
airplanes and I like to see
places, for example Antarctica
and Switzerland. (Christine
Teng, Lighthouse)
I want to be an author because I
think I have a good imagination
and I have lots of stories, and I
like to write. (Jasmine Locano,
Lighthouse)
I want to be a doctor so I
can help people that are
sick. (Vivienne Nguyen,
Lighthouse)
I want to be a mathematician
because I’m good at maths.
26 | hope magazine summer 09-10
UP...
Also, I want to be a lawyer. A
lawyer judges who is right and
who is wrong, who is guilty or
not. (Reuel Loh, Lighthouse)
I want to be a teacher because
my mum said its good. (Rei
Loh, God’s Tots)
I want to be a teacher. (Aniwa
Hata, God’s Tots)
I want to be a mechanic, or an
architect. A mechanic because
they fix cars and put stuff in
cars, and an architect because
you can design houses and
it would be fun. (Joseph
Locano, Junior Ark)
I want to be an engineer
because I’m good at fixing
things. (Rosh Loh, Junior Ark)
I want to be a builder and an
astronaut. When I was three,
I built this thing like a robot.
I want to be an astronaut
because I’m learning about
space, and I want to learn
more about space and visit
other places. I want to try and
go to Pluto, but if I can’t go to
Pluto, I’ll go to Jupiter. (Dresin
Roberts, Junior Ark)
I want to be a gym instructor,
because it’s about exercise.
(Tapui, Junior Ark)
 KiDs Can you find your way

Corner
through these summer
mazes?

Who are Hope Kids?

Fact Box

Hope Kids is the children’s program run by Hope Church every Sunday
from 10am during the Hope Church Worship Service. There are three age
groups – God’s Tots for preschoolers, Junior Ark for Kindergarteners to
year 3, and Lighthouse for years 4 to 6 students. Kids participate in fun and
engaging games and activities that help them develop their relationship with
God and encourage friendships with each other.
Lifestyle

Take a look into the future of fashion and accessories

By May Wong

Whether you’re Make a bold and Watch time fly This Metallic Video For all y
walking down bright statement as the Flying Watch with OLED lovers, t
the street or with this funky Alarm Clock gets Screen will keep Cup Pow
hanging out Scrolling LED Belt you out of bed you entertained Inverter
with your mates, Buckle II. instead of hitting everywhere that your car
this Personal the snooze you go with a full- holder a
Soundtrack Shirt button. colour screen for you, and
with an in-built playing videos or electron
speaker will viewing images. recharg
ensure you live drive.
life loud!

28 | hope magazine summer 09-10

 What does the future
of technology hold?
Will there be Bluetooth
Wireless Technology
built into the fabric
of our shirts? Will
we be able to make
a call or send a text
by pressing a jacket
button? Maybe we’ll
wear pants with in-built
air-conditioning and a
personal, mechanical
leg massage? To sum
up the possibilities –
one word – limitless.

you coffee The multi- When your phone Step it up and Plug these iPod
the Coffee tasking Bluetooth rings or an SMS/ challenge Video Goggles
wer Handsfree text message yourself to onto your iPod
r fits into Sunglasses keeps is received, the solve the mind- and watch your
r cup your eyes protected Bluetooth Watch blowing V-Cube favourite movies
and allows while you answer with Caller ID 7 Supercube. and tv shows
d your the phone. alerts you with a Sorry, no right before your
nics, to discreet vibrating screwdrivers eyes.
ge as you sensation - mute permitted.
your phone’s
ringing tone or
reject a call at the
touch of a button.

Hope Magazine would like to thank Think Geek (www.thinkgeek.com)

for generously donating all the products featured in ‘Fast Forward’.
 Home is where the heart is as each
Christmas brings the family together
to celebrate with carols, presents
and an abundance of food.
Lifestyle

30 | hope magazine summer 09-10

HM: What are your plans for Christmas Day?

JG: Celebrating with family, singing lots of

carols, playing games, opening presents one
at a time, hot food and cool drinks!

HM: What does Christmas mean to you?

JG: Christmas means celebration! Like any

birthday occasion where we celebrate the birth
of a life we celebrate the birth of Jesus. To me
it means acknowledging the wonderful birth of
Jesus, which took place two thousand years
ago.

HM: How do you move forward into the New

Year?

JG: The New Year’s resolution is always a

good start, but the most important thing for me
is knowing that a new year means a new start
and a new beginning. It allows me to place a
new perspective in life and life to come. If you
enter the new year with a new attitude, you will
see new things happen!

5 Full rack of pork ribs

Smokey barbeque sauce 400g
Worcestershire sauce 400g
2 garlics, finely chopped
Serves 5

Boil the ribs in water for 1 hour. To

make the sauce, combine the bbq,
worcestershire sauce and garlic; mix well.
Place the ribs onto a plate and brush
over with sauce; coat well. Marinate and
set aside for 15 minutes. Heat up the
barbeque on medium heat and grill. Baste
on any remaining marinade. Cook each
side for 10 minutes or until lightly brown.
Lifestyle

Pizza base
Tomato paste
Tasty cheese
Shaved parmesan cheese
1 garlic, finely chopped

Spoon over the tomato sauce

and sprinkle generously with
cheese, parmesan and garlic.
Place in oven at 180 degrees
celcius for 10-15 minutes.
 1 kg uncooked fresh prawns,
peeled and deveined
Garlic butter
5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Fresh parsley, finely chopped

Peel and butterfly prawns along

the back side. Heat up a pan on
low-medium heat and melt the
garlic butter. Add chopped garlic
to the pan until golden brown.
Throw in the prawns and cook
each side for 1 minute. Once
prawns are cooked, drizzle the
sauce over the prawns and serve
with fresh parsley.

Fresh orange juice

Soda water
Ice

In a tall glass, pour ¾ orange juice

and ¼ soda water. Serve with ice.
 Building Fund
We all rise to the challenge to achieve great things if given a spark of hope.
When an individual is empowered to change, a family rejoices in hope.
When families change, a city is transformed.

Hope Mission Centre (HMC) was established in 1999 in Parramatta by Rev. Samuel
Gunawan and Rev. Dr. Aileen Gunawan, both filled with a deep desire to touch and
transform lives with the message of hope.

Today, Hope Mission Centre is a multi-faceted, vibrant organisation with over

50 volunteers who share the same mission and passion to serve the community.
We offer numerous programs and services that strengthen, support and assist the
community, give purpose to youth, and restore family values.

As we progress day by day with our untiring work, we are inundated with calls and
requests for support – physical, financial, spiritual, and emotional. In order for us to
carry out our work effectively and efficiently, we need a building of our own.

You can get involved by making a tax-deductible donation towards the purchase
of the building, which costs AUD 800,000. Together, we can bring about social
transformation in our neighbourhood, in our community, and in our world.

God bless you and your generosity.

All tax-deductible donations toward the Building Fund can be made by

cheque: or direct deposit:

Hope Mission Centre Inc. Building Fund Hope Mission Centre Inc. Building Fund

Mail to: Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Hope Mission Centre Branch: Stockland Mall, Baulkham Hills
56 Delaney Drive BSB No.: 06 2336
Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Account No.: 1008 7884

34 | hope magazine summer 09-10

To r e g i s t e r f o r t h e a c t i v i t e s , f i l l t h e a t t a c h e d f o r m
and send in to Hope Mission Centre.
For more details, contact
E l a i n e Te n g a t 0 4 3 7 6 9 7 6 6 9 .
Children under 8 years old
must be accompanied by an adult.

hope magazine .com.au

hope
magazine