We are people committed to following Jesus together. We are people from many different backgrounds who gather together each week to celebrate and worship. As a Baptist church we believe that our purpose is to encourage people in their faith in Jesus, to work together to bring hope to our world, and to show love for all people. We believe that Jesus is the best news ever and so we are trying to be good news to our community in practical and meaningful ways.  We'd love to have you join us in that.

For us community is about much more than 90 minutes on Sunday mornings. There's something on at our church every day of the week. We host a men's shed. We run a playtime for parents and preschoolers on a Tuesday morning. We run a girls brigade on Wednesdays and a kid's club on Fridays. We have several groups for senior citizens and we run a large craft group on Fridays mornings. Check out our events calendar for more info. 

We are also committed to seeing people grow in following Jesus and so we run a number of connect groups through the week where people find support, teaching and friendship. 

We run a counselling service as well as run courses on relationships, money management and other life issues. See our events page for more info. 

We are part of the Baptist Churches in Australia and operate under the leadership of the Baptist Union of NSW & ACT. You can find out more about about the Baptist movement here: http://www.nswactbaptists.org.au

 
What We Believe:

About God: God is the loving creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

About Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead on the third day to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and is preparing an eternal home with his Father for all those who follow him. He will return again in all his glory as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and take all his followers to be with himself. Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; John 14:1-14, Acts 2:29-32, Ephesians 4:8-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

About The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Spirit gives every believer gifts for the building up of the church. The Christian seeks to live in his will daily. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1

About People: People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. We are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although people are created in God’s image, we are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin." This attitude separates us from God. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2

About Eternity: People were created to exist forever. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the guarantee that we will be resurrected. When Christ returns, those who believe in him will be raised in a new and glorified body to eternal life with God. Those who have rejected Christ will be raised to judgement for their sins and will be separate from God in eternity. Revelation 20 & 21; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10; John 3:16; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:31-46

About Salvation: Salvation is a gift from God. People can never make up for their sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can people be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into their life by faith and submits to his lordship. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

About Eternal Security: Because God gives a person eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

About The Bible: The Bible is God’s word to all people. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 12:6, 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5

About Believers Baptism: Baptism by immersion is an ordinance given by Jesus Christ that symbolises his death, burial, and resurrection. It is a public declaration that the believer has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. Baptism does not save, but shows the world that the believer has already been saved. While baptism is not required for salvation, it is a biblical command and demonstrates the believers love and obedience to Christ. Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Matthew 28:19-20

About Communion: Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us and to symbolise the new covenant. The elements of bread and wine are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation. Rather, it is a testament of a believer’s faith in the atoning work of the cross. Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

Reconciliation in Conflict
Download our document "When We Have Differences" to see how we deal with the conflicts that arise in our lives.

Our Purpose (why we exist):
Encouraging faith in Jesus, bringing hope to our world and showing love for each other

Our Values (the way we do things) For us:
Living for Christ means loving all people
Putting others first means making new friends
Mission means being good news to our community
Obedience means changing everything as God directs
Growth means greater freedom, hope and peace
Honouring Jesus means supporting and developing leaders
Trusting Jesus means taking risks and trying new things

Our Vision (what we see as God's plan for our church):
A people transformed by the reality of the resurrection of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit
A church that shares everything, loves everyone, sees miracles and enjoys the favour of all
A church that invites people into a wholehearted and passionate life of worship
A church that asks our community how we can help, listens to the response and then acts to make a difference
A church that empowers, encourages and equips people to live together as fully devoted followers of Jesus
A church that fully reflects the diversity of our local area

Lead Pastor David Gilchrist with Margy Gilchrist

Email David
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As a boy, David loved to pretend he was a church Pastor, and played church! Now God has led David to actually be a Pastor of Ettalong Baptist Church. David loves the Lord, and loves the Lord’s church. He counts it a huge privilege to share the love of Christ with the people of “The Peninsula.” Before being a Pastor, David was a horticulturalist, working for large nursery in the Blue Mountains. He has also served in churches in Eastwood (in Sydney) and in Bega (on the Far South Coast of NSW). David is married to Margy and they have two children, Lizzie and Joseph.

Youth Pastor Johnny Sharpe with Jodie Sharpe

Email Johnny
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Johnny joined Ettalong Baptist Church in 2016. He has been working with young people for many years, and is passionate about seeing them grow and mature to be all they were made to be. Johnny is a deep thinker and wants to work out what it means to follow Jesus every day in all of life. Before he figured out he was a pastor, he worked as an English teacher, a writer/actor, a Math’s tutor and a rock-climbing instructor! Johnny is married to Jodie, and he loves friends, music, sport, movies, bad jokes, games, milkshakes and coffee.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Sunday Services:

9:00am Family

This is a relaxed worship service that runs for 90 minutes, with contemporary music and teaching time. 

Kid's Church runs for Preschoolers and K-6 during the service
This is a time for Bible lessons, singing, craft, games and lots more fun.

18 months to 5 years old - meet from 9am in the Hill Hall adjacent to the church building.
Kinder to Year 6 at School - children join in the 9am service for singing and leave to attend their own program in the Lower Hall at approximately 9.15am

5:00pm Youth and Young Adults

This is an interactive, conversational and contemplative gathering.

We meet every week for worship, learning and dinner, to connect with God and one another.

We meet in the Hill Hall adjacent to the church building.

Contact Johnny Sharpe 0450 955 811 for details

Please download our church bulletin from the list below: