Media Release - 16th Nov 2009

A CHURCH IN THE CITY SEEKS TO BECOME TOWNSVILLE'S SPIRITUAL HEART WITH ITS FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON MISSION.

A launch celebration on Sunday 28 November at 9am and name change from Townsville Central Uniting Church to Townsville Central City Mission will signal the desire of the faithful there to open the building's doors with a fresh, outward looking perspective.

Richard Hosking, a Pastor of the TCCM, "We believe God has called us to reclaim our place as a missional church reaching out to the heart of the city of Townsville. There is an increasing residential population in the CBD who may not yet feel welcome to step through the doors of a church, or know there are places for spiritual enquiry and solace within walking distance from home."

The Church has strong mission roots having established the Blue Nursing Service, The Garden Settlement, and in later years Christine Court & Galilee Units. From humble beginnings in 1876 where Townsville's first Methodist minister the Reverend W.B. Mather together with a small number of Methodists who had been worshipping within the Court House built a small church on the corner of Wills & Stokes Streets. Many thousands of Christians have grown their faith and enjoyed strong lasting friendships on this site over the last 140 years.

Since his arrival in 2003 Reverend Craig Mischewski has been passionate to build the confidence of church members to step out in faith and reclaim the Mission status. Current mission outreach includes:

• Living Waters, a counselling and healing ministry
• Mt View Haven which was seeded by TCCM, brings the satisfaction of productive gardening to all including the homeless
• Prison Support sends Chaplains into prisons and cares for the broader prison community including children of inmates
• Food packages are available
• Stable on the Strand, Townsville’s Christmas Festival gives our people opportunity to work with the other churches to present the Christmas story and offer hospitality
• Mission abroad sees people being challenged to work full or part time anywhere in the world where there is human need (we currently have an 18 year old young woman doing mission work in Mexico)

Richard Hosking, "The church 'reaching out' to the needy doesn't just pertain to the poor. We all experience times of need. The role of everyone at Townsville Central City Mission is to make it known that God loves every person in our city."