Breakfast Club
Ashburton Baptist funds and serves a free breakfast every Thursday morning for students at Ashwood College as a part of our high schools ministry. This ministry endeavours to promote healthy eating habits, while helping to improve students’ concentration and learning capacity through access to a nutritious breakfast.
Prayers and Squares
Ashburton Prayers and Squares group 808 is a small group of women who came together in August 2008 to make a quilt as an expression of love and prayer for a member of the congregation who was in great need. We are part of Prayers and Squares worldwide, which is an interfaith outreach ministry that combines the gift of prayer with the gift of a hand-tied quilt.
Home Groups
There is a place in a small group for you. Small groups are a basic building block in the life of our church. Faith development and mutual care are the basis of each group. At Ashburton we have several groups of all ages levels and are always looking to expand these groups.
Home groups provide an opportunity to build relationships in a church community; to strengthen faith through prayer, biblical reflection and sharing experiences of living faith; and to provide care and support in times of need.
If you are interested please contact Cynthia Parry at the church office.
Student House
The Ashburton Baptist Church Student House has been established to provide accommodation for tertiary students who are moving to Melbourne from the country to study.
Thursday Morning Group
The Thursday Morning Group Meets from 10:30am on most Thursdays to catch up over a cup of tea or coffee in the Church cafe. At 11am we move into the lounge for a time of focussed sharing. This often involves a guest speaker from the church or wider community.
The group is held in high regard by those who participate for the friendship and fellowship that it offers both in times of joy and times of struggle. All are welcome and you don't have to be a regular member, feel free to drop in whenever you can.
Ashburton Baptist Community Services Inc (ABCSI)
ABCSI is a not-for-profit charity organisation sponsored by the church with the broad objective of providing benevolent services to the community. It holds DGR status from Australian Taxation Office, which allows donors to claim an income tax deduction for gifts to ABCSI. ABCSI supports and maintains responsibility for the work of the Community Care Group and for the church’s involvement with the local Asylum Seeker Support Group.
Prayer Works
Ashburton Baptist has a prayer ministry that extends beyond the prayer life of individuals within the church. Currently, the main elements of PrayerWorks at ABC are Pre-Service Prayer, a Prayer Tree, PrayerCare, and Prayers and Squares.
Pre-Service prayer takes place each week in the WellSpring Chapel, 20 mins prior to the morning service. The focus of prayer during this time is to open the church community’s activities to the presence and power of God.
Community Life and Care
The Community Life and Care (CLAC) Ministry Team seeks to ensure that Ashburton Baptist is an hospitable place where there is "room" for everyone whether they are newcomers or long-time members of the community.
The team meets weekly with the senior pastor to share information and insights that endeavour to maintain a sense of belonging and being cared for. This may be through visits, phone calls, help with transport or a warm meal.