Report written by Rev. Melinda McMahon, Rector of Southlakes Anglican Church and National Director of SOMA Australia.
In the last weeks of November, Rev. Andrew Allan-Johns the Chair of SOMA International visited Australia. Starting with a meet and greet with Rev. Graeme and Rev. Susan Liersch, Ministers of the parish of Wonthaggi/Inverloch in
Victoria. Then travelled to Newcastle to spend some time with the saints of Southlakes Anglican Church. As soon as he stepped off the plane in Newcastle, we drove up to the home of John Wyndham in Port Macquarie.
Some may not be aware, John is a pioneer of SOMA Australia and the author of SOMA’s historic book “From Everywhere to Everywhere”. (A book which is available for purchase from SOMA’s website). We spent a delightful morning discussing various aspects of John’s account of the formation of SOMA. John shared his prayers as he ‘passes on the mantle of anointing’ to the new SOMA teams and gave us many of the contacts he had established with SOMA supporters around the world.
We then returned to Newcastle, Andrew was able to spend time with the saints in my own church, Southlakes Anglican, during which he preached at both our traditional service and more charismatic evening service we call, “Encountering God’s Power and Presence.”
During the traditional service, I interviewed Rev. Andrew on some of the new initiatives SOMA International is introducing and next year’s mission to Tanzania (more on this below). Then Rev. Andrew preached from the first chapter of Ephesians on the church’s calling to demonstrate the kingdom of God through the ministry of healing. Rev. Andrew had several words of knowledge for healing for those present, which was a new experience for some. His visit inspired many of my parishioners to become more interested in SOMA, and encouraged me as I navigate the terrain of encouraging my somewhat traditional congregation to venture bravely towards Charismatic renewal.