On Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, Living Waters Anglican Church brings together the Anglican congregations of St Peter’s Ocean Grove and All Saints’ Barwon Heads. With a long Anglican history in these coastal communities, the parish is now experiencing a season of remarkable renewal - with people coming to faith, baptisms taking place, new ministries emerging and a growing sense that God is doing something fresh.
The Venerable Liz Rankin is quick to give the credit away: “The church is growing, people are coming to faith, there are baptisms. I put growth down only to God.”
Liz describes this season as an invitation to be courageous - to step out of the comfortable boat and onto the waves with Jesus. Inspired by the Archbishop Ric Thorpe’s vision for renewal and revitalisation, the parish has learned to ask not simply, “What should the church do?” but, “What is God doing, and how can we join Him?”
That mindset has opened unexpected doors. A ten-year vision was developed, but “stuff is happening quicker than the plan!” In just two years, the parish has established Crossroads Café - a relaxed, relational and welcoming space where church and community meet. Operating several days each week, the café now attracts more than 30 regular community clients, supported by volunteers and an employed café manager.
For Carmela, the café manager, this is much more than serving coffee. “I love this space because I’m actually connecting with the community that are a little bit wary of coming into a church atmosphere.” Conversations become opportunities to listen, pray and build relationships. People experiencing loneliness or financial hardship are welcomed, sometimes receiving food or coffee for free. “I love Jesus and I just want to spread his love to everyone.”
Long-term volunteer Alison has seen the transformation firsthand. “We’re just growing and flourishing. It’s wonderful to have this café here… people from the community can come through and just be at ease.”
The parish is also exploring new ministry among families and different generations, strengthening its Wednesday morning service, monthly evening worship and leadership development. Its vision extends beyond Ocean Grove, with hopes to revitalise the Barwon Heads congregation and raise new leaders - but Liz recognises that the two communities are distinct. “The Barwon River is the great divide. We need deep listening.”
Courage does not mean doing everything alone. Living Waters has discovered the strength of a supportive team - people willing to pray, take risks, have a go, learn from what happens and encourage one another. A local pastors’ network provides another layer of prayer, Bible reading and mutual support.
There are still challenges: limited volunteers, financial pressures, building needs and the challenge of caring for people who feel uncomfortable with change. Yet the parish is choosing expectancy over fear.
For Liz, one post-it note, stuck permanently to her desk, captures the heart of it: “Seek what God is doing. Join Him - and with it comes ease.”
A small Melbourne Anglican Foundation grant helped make that first courageous step possible. “It gave us the ability to step out and start,” Liz says. “From that start, it’s grown into probably even more than we expected. But we wouldn’t have stepped out unless we were able to have that small grant.”
Living Waters is discovering that courage is contagious. When Christians stand side-by-side, listen for the Spirit, take faithful risks and keep their focus on Jesus rather than simply on the institution of church, something beautiful can happen.
The invitation is simple: get out of the boat. Step onto the waves with Jesus. And see what God will do.
