A Full Circle!

By Alan Shinkfield

What unbelievable events take place and the great results obtained when doctrines are forgotten and God's will is undertaken by individual Christians, united under the banner of Jesus Christ Son of God, Saviour of the World! You may ask, is this story true? But what you must consider is that to God all things are possible, as he works through true believers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Oct 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514441039

Alan Shinkfield

The author has for sixty-eight years been associated with the Christian Church and has held eldership and executive positions in different denominations. He has also worked as a volunteer in various faith organisations. God has led him along various pathways and has granted him the great gift of life experiences. It is his firm belief that the Christian people of the world unit, accepting God as the Creator, Jesus Christ our Saviour, and the Holy Spirit as our promised earthly leader and strength.

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Copyright © 2015 by Alan Shinkfield.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This is a book of Religious Reflection. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locals is entirely coincidental.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International VersionR. NIVR. Copyright C 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblical]

The Message quotation, Copyright 2002 Eugene H. Peterson All Rights Reserved.

Rev. date: 12/16/2019

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Contents

Why This Book? Notes from the Author!

Some History of the Church on Valley Street, Beulah!

The First Arc! Unbelievable!

The Second Arc!

The Rebirth of the Valley Street Church!

The Third Arc! Showers of Blessings!

This Book is

Dedicated To

William Carey a British Baptist Missionary to India,

Inspired this book by his words,

‘EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD;

ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD.’

Amongst his translations of Scripture, he was also attributed in establishing a free to all, offering Degrees University at Serampore in India.

He translated the Bible into the Bengali, Oriyr, Assamese, Arabic, Hindi and Sanskrit languages.

Born in England on the 17th., of August 1761 he died on June 9th.,1834 and had spent 41 years in India without a furlough.

The William Carey Christian School opened on the 9th., February 1984 and can be found in Prestons South West Sydney, Australia.

Why This Book? Notes from the Author!

On Tuesday the 19th., of May 2015, I received a letter from a Mr. Ronald Simpson of a town called Beulah asking me to meet with their Church Management and consider writing their story. It revolves around David and Sonya Somerville and their work in the vacant church building and their outreach to the community.

Someone in the Christian Community had read my first published book. ‘Christianity-The Simple Made Impossible.’ This person had drawn a parallel between my opinions in the book and the preaching and beliefs of David Somerville.

My wife and I being retired, after prayerful consideration, decided to travel to Beulah, find the facts, examine the events, and if so led we would commit to writing the story on the sole condition that the church management and congregation would have the final editing, and if approved would, precede to publication.

We heard a story so unbelievable and yet understandable when one accepts the enormous power of God to change people’s hearts especially when every action is governed by faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

In so many ways the Somerville’s experiences were similar to ours, and we felt that writing the story, being in accordance with our own walk with God, that wisdom had been granted to us through the Holy Spirit, to touch hearts and change lives through this inspiring story.

The prayers and this account of events, show that when God is in complete charge and relied upon nothing can stop the advance of the Christian Faith. Our prayers are for the complete change in the attitudes of ordinary people throughout all towns and cities in the world.

We have both learnt that we may spread and preach the word of God to no avail, but to do as our Master Jesus Christ did, can and will change the world. In life we have found that the smallest spark can ignite giant fires, so this blessing we leave with you, the reader.

"May the spark of goodness, love and compassion ignite a flame of Holiness that will touch the hearts and souls of everyone you meet. AMEN!

Some History of the Church on Valley Street, Beulah!

Written by Ronald (Gus) Simpson.

I was born in the township of Beulah on the 8th., of March 1955. I met my wife Elsie, when she came to work at the local restaurant as a cook in 1976. We were married in Beulah in 1976, I was 21 and Elsie 19. We had three children, the eldest a boy, Ronald Junior who followed my trade and became a master builder. Our two girls, Margaret and Eleanor, as nurses eventually moved to major cities to complete their studies.

Building and the allied trades and businesses had prospered well, with money from tourism and short term travellers, boosting the cash flow into the town. This in turn confirmed that real estate and therefore the building industry was buoyant, the future of the town seemed to be assured.

In the mid 1900’s land sales dropped, people in the electrical, building plumbing and painting trades suddenly found themselves in a recession. It was at this time that the management team of our local privately owned bank, Clifford and Olivier Sharp, called all business and trades people to an urgent meeting. Being a very astute banking and finance couple the Sharps could see that this decline in the financial position, could effect the future progress in the town of Beulah.

Seeing such a decline in the flow of money into the town, my wife and I had decided to sell our home and move to a major city to find and establish a secure future for our family. At the Sharps meeting the first and most important point raised was that through this everyone would be effected, and that something had to be agreed upon to stimulate the town’s cash flow and persevere its long term survival. The next question to be answered was what could and should be done.

As Clifford’s father had preceded him in the management of the bank, and with the family’s long standing association with the church, which had since its first worship meeting met in the assembly hall at the local state primary school, had now a rather healthy bank balance. This balance in 1980 over $250,000. The Sharps realised what the present financial income of Beulah was, and internal projects were needed that covered all businesses and trades.

After consultation and review of options open, one suggestion was put forward that would keep the trades people in work and a cash flow in the town, this money would flow onto trade suppliers, retail stores and benefit the whole community. The proposal was to build a church building and a house that would be used as a manse for clergy when appointed.

I saw the opportunity to remain in Beulah and spoke for the suggestion. The tradespeople were asked to consult with each other, submit designs and costs for the whole project. They were informed that weekly wages would be paid directly through the bank on the Church’s account. It was emphasised that cost should be kept to the minimum as the funding was limited.

When decision time came all but two of the established tradespeople accepted the deal, these two sold up their properties and in so doing suffered a financial loss, and went about starting over in larger cities. Although the weekly wage was below our earning capacity, it was sufficient to provide for the necessities, and there were benefits for the bank, business, tradespeople and indeed the whole town of Beulah.

This was intended to extend the life of the town until the recession ran its course and save the town from an exodus of experienced business people and long term inhabitants. The building project costs were estimated at $250,000 as we knew that was the budget figure.

It was a very reasonable cost for what was to be achieved. The town survived, struggled and with the cooperation of the whole community has become a close knit, caring and compassionate society. Sometimes hardship brings out the best in people as they combine as a whole group not just as individuals.

It was from these trials that Beulah accepted and was prepared for the rebirth of the Valley Street Church. A prayer group was formed and many personal prayers extended as the search for a God inspired leader was begun. The story that follows proves that when true believers pray, love and compassion and the will of the Father, all is conquered.

The letter was signed, R. Gus Simpson.

The First Arc!

Unbelievable!

It is well known that a circle is made up of four identical arcs, once completed it has no end, as it is with a Christian’s life, once begun, the umbilical cord from God will never be broken by Him, and life becomes eternal.

David and Sonya Somerville are two ordinary people who in their childhood lived in opposite ends of the world, yet such was God’s plan for them that would see Sonya and her parents migrate to the very city in which David lived. They courted, were engaged and married whilst still in their early twenties.

Now both were in their eighties, some of their children are grandparents themselves. Now free from their responsibilities of parenthood, they have settled into a quiet relaxing style of life in a seaside village called Eden. They, however still are not free from the burdens of life in this world of worry and strife.

As practising Christians they are truly seeking on earth the promise of peace which passes all understanding. But trials and tribulations still persist, a large family scattered throughout Australia and lack of communication causes heart aches and concern. They both have faced health problems together and with God’s assistance have been able to overcome these with confidence, this is the reward for those who trust in the One God who is able to overcome all the stresses and problems facing all families today.

David was active in Christian service and worked in various administration and worship sections of various denominations, he also worked with faith organisations as a labourer. It was whilst working in these places he learnt about the power to provide the needs to all that truly trust in Him, the God who never fails our faith.

Although, in the earlier days Sonya was not a practising Christian, she supported David through his preaching trips throughout the Victorian metropolitan and country churches. She later accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour and was baptised. As time went on their love for each other continued to grow and after sixty or more years of their union, they are still inseparable. They have proven willing and have accepted openings for