Baptcare provides assistance to Baptist congregations who are responding to identified need in their community, including poverty and disadvantage, through its Ignite program.
Baptcare supports Baptist congregational community engagement through five related strategies:
- Providing information and resources, including biblical and practical overviews, to undertake community development work.
- Consulting with congregations and helping them work through the major steps of community development and social enterprise planning.
- Providing Community Engagement Grants.
- Providing leadership to the broader Christian community on issues of social justice and advocacy through seminars, conferences and networking.
- Where appropriate, providing ongoing support to some congregation initiatives through formal Congregation Partnerships.
If you represent a Victorian or Tasmania Baptist church and would like to know more about how Baptcare can directly support you to support your community, please contact Baptcare’s Community Engagement and Advocacy Officer on 9831 7222.
Ignite partner churches
West Preston Baptist Church
West Preston Baptist Church is running a facilitated children's playgroup to support women with Post Natal Depression. This includes group counselling services undertaken by a trained counsellor. Post Natal Depression (PND) affects about 15 percent of mothers. Psychological treatments have generally been found to be the most effective way of treating PND, and can help by identifying and changing negative thoughts and feelings, and encouraging involvement in activities. Group counseling helps women with Post Natal Depression to learn that they are not alone in their experiences, and allows women to learn from the experiences of others.
If you would like to give to this project, visit our online donation form and look for the ‘West Preston Baptist Church Project’ in the appeal menu.
Westgate Baptist Community
Westgate Baptist Community is running the ‘Par Mawi’ Refugee Women's Support Group. This involves women and children from Chin, Karen and Karenni communities living in Melbourne’s west. The purpose of the group is to decrease the risks associated with social isolation and the challenges involved in transitioning to life in a new country. Two supported playgroups offer opportunities for social connection as well as a safe environment in which to develop confidence and capacities to navigate systems and resources essential to adjusting to life in Australia.
If you would like to give to this project, visit our online donation form and look for the ‘Westgate Baptist Church Project’ in the appeal menu.