13/12/2024

In the midst of Covid lockdowns, the staff team at Berwick Anglican Church took part in an online conference, through which they were challenged by a speaker to find something good in a difficult season. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if your church planted a church out of this?”, the speaker then asked. 

“When the three of us heard that line, we looked at each other and we just knew. That was going to be us”. This is how Reece Kelly, now Senior Pastor of Proclaim Anglican Church in Clyde North, remembers God leading him to launch a new church in the south-east growth corridor.

The Clyde and Clyde North area is home to around 70,000 people, and that’s a number that’s set to grow significantly in the coming years. Despite this, there are no church buildings in sight. That’s about to change, with the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne securing land this year for a new shared place of worship in Clyde North for  Casey Dinka Church and Proclaim. 

But for Reece and his team, the vision goes far beyond bricks and mortar - it’s about a legacy being created for the gospel to be lived out and shared for years to come.

“Our area is unfortunately leading the country in some domestic violence measures as well as issues relating from mental health… There’s a lot of work to be done, but we want to ultimately show people the hope that comes through Christ”. 

From a small team of 20 gathered during the COVID lockdowns, Proclaim Anglican Church has grown into a thriving and burgeoning congregation ready to make a long-term impact in a developing area. They are looking forward to a permanent home in a new church building and establishing themselves as a lasting presence in the community.

Church planting is hard, and you don’t always know how things are going to go. But for Reece, one thing is clear: “God’s plans are much bigger than mine. He has provided so much more than I thought was possible, so now I am learning to pray, ‘God, help me to see the vision you see’”.

The Melbourne Anglican Foundation is proud to be supporting Proclaim Anglican Church in bringing hope and renewal to Clyde North. Our aim is to see flourishing churches sharing our hope in God throughout Melbourne and beyond. By working closely with the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, we are helping our fast-growing, vibrant and multicultural community to share Christ’s love.