Christmas in Australia: ‘God honors my wildest dreams!’

Christmas in Dandenong, Australia, looks a lot different from the holiday in Michigan, where CMF team member Abby Weller is from, but she says it’s still her favorite time of year.

“Although we have sun, 100-degree days, beach time and barbeques, the annual party I throw to thank our children and youth ministry volunteers now ‘says Christmas’ to me,” said Abby.

“This year, as I looked around at the 20 volunteers sitting with me, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmingly grateful For God’s goodness in His provision of these people,” she said.

Five years ago, when Abby first went to Australia to serve young people, there was a real need for partners who wanted to see lives transformed.

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that when God brought Dandenong Baptist Church into my life that He would bring people and opportunities, through the local university, to partner with us,” said Abby. “I have seen my team of three grow to a team of 25 people who give up their time and energy to see transformation in the lives of children and youth in our community.”

The volunteers were especially busy in December, as they welcomed more than 350 people from the community to the church for its Christmas celebration.

“Watching our students and volunteers engage families from the community was an exciting moment for me,” said Abby. “It reminded me how blessed I am to have such an incredible team who not only love and support our youth, but me, as well.”