Beneath Melbourne’s northern skies stands the Northern Community Church of Christ. It is more than just a building. It is a hub of community and a testament to faith.
Northern Community Church of Christ’s story began long before its establishment in 1999. Its roots trace back to a remarkable event in 1911. Imagine 1,000 people watching 150 volunteers construct a church in a single day. Carpenters, plumbers, and painters worked tirelessly from dawn till late at night. The local Fire Brigade provided light. The next day, the first service was held in the new building.
In the mid-1990s, four Churches of Christ congregations decided to unite. They wanted to achieve more together than they could separately. This led to the formation of Northern Community Church of Christ. Its first service was held on November 7, 1999.
In 2003, the church launched CareWorks. It was their community services arm. In 2004, they moved to their current location on High Street. CareWorks became an independent organization in 2018. It had its own governance and finances.
David Toscano leads the Ministry Team. He joined Northern in 2017. David was drawn to the church’s community work. He moved to Melbourne with his wife Mary. They brought their Weimaraner Cara.
Samantha Barlow is a Pastor and the CareWorks Executive Officer. She joined Northern in March 2020. Samantha has a passion for pastoral ministry. She is married to Gregory. They have a daughter named Elizabeth.
Northern Community Church of Christ is affiliated with Churches of Christ Vic/Tas. This organization seeks to transform culture with Jesus’ message. Northern affirms the beliefs and values of Churches of Christ.
Northern is committed to several key principles. They follow Jesus and are transformed by the Spirit. The church enters broken situations to bring hope. They care for the poor. They support those held captive by their past. They strive to be a blessing locally and globally. The Northern Community Church of Christ brings glory to God through their actions.
The church values community, spirituality, and compassion. They meet every Sunday at 10 am. The service lasts about an hour. People can join in person or online. The church is relaxed. Everyone is welcome to come as they are.
Northern Community Church of Christ also offers Life Groups and Kids Church. They host coffee meetups. They provide volunteering opportunities. There’s something for everyone.
Northern values children. They see helping kids grow in faith as a partnership. This is between families and the church. The church provides care and support. They run a Saturday Playgroup for preschoolers.
Northern Community Church of Christ has a generous heart. They deeply care for their community. This led to CareWorks’ creation in 2003. CareWorks provided practical support to those in need. They ran an Op Shop and a Community Meals Program. They offered food relief and mobile laundry services. They also had a sewing workshop. Due to funding issues, these vital services have now concluded. The church looks forward to future opportunities to serve.
Northern Community Church of Christ continues to explore how to best serve their community. They are considering redeveloping their site. They want to be a blessing to those around them. They trust that God will guide them. They believe that with God’s help, they can achieve the seemingly impossible.