“Transforming Life Through Jesus.”
Our Vision for 2021-2025
“To be a family of wholehearted people becoming unmistakably like Jesus going out of our way to
boldly demonstrate God’s goodness every day, wherever we are.”
Our Values
Overflow Church was founded as Medowie Baptist Community Church in 1978 as a church plant
from Raymond Terrace Baptist Church. It has moved locations from where it began, and has
been at Waropara Road since 1991 where we built the building we currently meet in.
Overflow was led for the last twenty years by Pastor Christine McRae, who has recently stepped
down from the Team Leader position, but remains an active part of the church community. Chris
was one of the first Baptist female senior pastors in NSW, and having women in leadership is
important for Overflow. Chris established a team of volunteers and staff called the Key
Leadership Team that contributes to the leadership of the church.
We meet on Sunday at 9:30 am, with services going to roughly 11.15 with fellowship continuing
over a great morning tea afterward. Services typically consist of worship, discussion, teaching,
announcements, and ministry time.
Overflow is an intergenerational church, welcoming people of all ages. The oldest congregational
member is 92, and the youngest is not yet 1 year old. Overflow values the voices and giftings of
all people, of all ages. We do not put an emphasis on numbers, but have roughly 100 regular
attendees.
Medowie is a growing community of about 15,000 people. There are currently four schools in
Medowie: two primary schools, a Christian school, and a Catholic school. Medowie has a growing
shopping village with both a Coles and a Woolworths, as well as a few fast food shops and a cafe.
There are several gyms and churches in Medowie. We are located about 10 minutes from a RAAF
base and an airport. The major age groups, according to the latest census data, are 5-14 and 45-
54. There has been a lot of development recently for retirement villages due to the aging
population. More information can be found at the 2021 Medowie Community Profile.
Overflow is committed to the dynamic headship of Jesus Christ. We believe in and seek Jesus to
actively lead His Church. Overflow practices a deliberate stance on the centrality of the Grace of
God and its implications to both the Church and the individuals therein.
Overflow views itself as a Renewal Baptist Church in that we are actively pursuing the full
expression of all the ministry of the Holy Spirit as found in the New Testament including healing,
speaking in tongues, the prophetic, other spiritual gifts, and miracles. We are continuously open
to and seeking the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.
Overflow actively encourages its members to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit, and to
become instruments of God’s love, power, and authority.
Overflow intentionally chooses relationship over religion, mercy over judgment, and freedom
over law.
Overflow is passionate about worshipping God, and our expression of worship includes, but is
not limited to singing, music, dancing and visual art. Overflow’s corporate worship style may be
described as God-focused and Spirit-led; contemporary, experiential, expressive, interactive,
informal, and musical.
The purpose of the Board is to ensure the church meets its legislative and fiduciary
responsibilities and to support and encourage the Team Leader, while holding the Team Leader
accountable for the day-to-day operation of the church. The composition and operation of the
Board is detailed in the church Constitution.
Team Leader | Vacant | |
Acting Team Leader | Brad Fewster | Full Time |
Assistant to Team Leader | Jim McIntyre | 2 days per week |
Administration | Nicky Palmer | 3 days per week |
Youth Coordinator and School Engagement | Zak Feacher | 1.5 days per week |
Safe Churches Administration | Vanessa Cork | 1 day per week |
Outreach and Overflow Care | Jo Nelson | 1 day per week |
Prophet | Brian Schumacher | 1.5 days per week |
Newstart Church Plant Leader | Jen Sumpton | 0.5 days per week |
Key Leadership Team
The Key Leadership Team, or KLT as it is commonly called is a team of volunteers and the staff of
Overflow that meet once a month for connection, leadership development, and envisioning as
they lead and contribute to various aspects of church life.
The 2021-2025 vision has been broken into three sections; Flourishing as Family, Outreaching as
Overflow, and Developing as Disciples. Each vision section has a Vision Priority Team Leader
who leads a team of volunteers. Those teams collaborate to create our vision priorities for the
year, which are how we are seeking to outwork those parts of the vision that year. The teams then contribute to outworking those priorities under the Vision Priority Team Leader for their respective teams.
The Creative Team coordinates worship, and the aspects that surround the facilitation of
worship such as audio, and media. On a Sunday morning, worship is often led by a lead
worshipper, and one or two others. Although the songs are preselected and practiced, our lead
worshippers remain open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and vary the worship accordingly.
Overflow Youth Ministry runs on Friday nights in the church hall. Destiny Kids (Sunday School
for primary school-aged children) and Cubs (child-minding for babies and preschoolers) both
run on a Sunday morning during the church service. There is also a once-a-month teaching
activity with the church Prophet for the youth during the church service.
Connect Groups meet weekly to build deep relationships, and to discuss, explore, and journey
through content together.
There is not a formal Women’s ministry currently, but there is an informal group of women who
meet regularly for a meal.
On the first Saturday of the month a breakfast event is hosted for the men. This event often
includes an encouragement, and opportunities for connection.
The School of Revival is an unaccredited supernatural ministry training school. It’s focused on
growing students in their identity, and helping them look more like Jesus, and more like
themselves. The school is headed by Jim and Katherine McIntyre, and uses curriculum they
developed through connection with Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. The school is in
recess for 2023, and may relaunch under the new Team Leader.
A cohort of Overflow people including the former Team Leader and current Acting Team Leader
have been trained in BDC under the coaching of Crossway Baptist Church. Building Discipleship
Culture is a ministry approach to discipling people towards Jesus.
Overflow Care is a separate, registered charitable organisation, with its own Board &
Constitution, which aims to work cooperatively with Overflow Church under a shared MOU.
Through partnerships with external ministry providers such as Christians Against Poverty, it
offers training in financial literacy; assists people who are looking for jobs by teaching goal
development, resume writing, and interview skills. Overflow Care’s primary function is to
outreach into the community.
Medowie Christian School was formed in 1995 as an annex to Hunter Christian School in
Newcastle, in partnership with Overflow church (then Medowie Baptist Community Church). In
2021 the school became owned and managed by Christian Education Ministries with a
representative from Overflow Church being appointed to the school Board.
Medowie Gymnastics is a private business leasing Overflow facilities. It teaches both recreational
and competitive gymnastics to children.
The Hive is a private NDIS business hiring Overflow facilities, and is run independently to the
church. It is an NDIS-supported social group that meets 5 days per week for various social,
athletic, and life skills activities.
The onsite cafe is a private business, but does aim to help the church achieve its purpose by
creating a community space for connection. The business operates 5 mornings per week during
the school term, and Sunday mornings before church. The Bean, in conjunction with the fenced
playground, has become a local hub for community connection between parents from the school
and gymnastics, school staff, church staff, medical staff, and members of the public.
The Medical Centre is located in a separate building on the church property. The special purpose
facilities were an initiative of the church to help meet the need for General Practice doctors in
the Medowie area. The Medical Centre is a private business leasing the Overflow facilities, that
has been operating independently since January 2000.
A community space complete with picnic tables, a playground, two electric barbecues, two
woodfired pizza ovens, and a lawn area. The barbecues and pizza ovens are free to hire by
booking through the office.
An open-to-the-public garden that is managed by the Hive.