Sonia found herself as a mother of three children in a relationship of domestic violence. She could see the patterns of abuse so clearly in those around her, but struggled to know what to do for herself. Escaping the abuse took a long time, and some help from an unexpected ally. Now Sonia is convicted that anger, hate and hurt only eat you up. She is now an outspoken advocate around issues of family and domestic violence. For Sonia, the only way is God’s love.

Dave grew up believing he would be in the army, joining the officer core as he went through uni. But when Dave turned up at a work training session and found it was just him and Alana, he immediately knew she was special and his life took a very different turn! His wife Alana never stopped praying or believing, and after a lot of time spent researching and asking questions, Dave decided he was going to let Jesus into his life. From that point on he has experienced himself being transformed; as a husband, dad and friend.

In 1981 Sandy graduated from the Victorian Police Force at the age of twenty-one. At that time women could only work in the women’s division. The general public assumed female police officers didn’t have the same authorities as males. With equal opportunity laws more women entered the police force, but not all the guys appreciated this change. Female police officers were not issued hand cuffs, or firearms. They were given a short trudgen and a handbag, and were told that if they needed to restrain a crook, to remove their pantyhose and tie them up.

A transfer from Melbourne to Bendigo in 1983 found Sandy working in ‘community policing’ with a focus on child and sexual abuse. Country policing meant that if you were the first person on the scene, you did the job. And with this ‘can-do’ mentality the small team in Bendigo became pioneers in policing family and domestic violence and abuse. They instigated domestic violence investigations as we know them today, Sandy did the very first intervention order in Australia, and another officer started a program for male offenders. They convened a national conference to discuss the lack of laws addressing family and domestic violence. The office also devised a kit for women who needed to or had escaped family violence. This kit was later funded by the Federal Government for all of Australia.

Sandy sustained faith throughout the incredible pressures and challenges of her policing career. God was always with her, tapping her on the shoulder, or guiding and protecting her in her times of greatest need.

Early on in life Kane found substances that would soothe his troubled mind and soul. But the drugs led to living on the streets of Melbourne and crime that led to stints in jail. For years nothing else mattered except the drugs which hid the self-loathing and Kane’s ultimate desire to be part of a loving family.

But it felt like God still had a plan for Kane, and when he ended up in hospital in Bendigo it was a doctor there who helped him to see what God saw; someone who was worthy. Someone who was still loved. This was the spark that ignited a flame in Kane, and in the years that followed he would come to have faith that he was loved by God and could find an expression of that love in the church.

Faye grew up curious about spiritual things. So when her mum suggested she go and speak to Mrs Robinson, the local spiritualist, Faye felt perhaps she had found her people. Faye was told she was very psychic. But when the visions changed, and Faye saw a sword and shield, a load of bread, and a door to Jesus, Mrs Robinson’s explanations seemed inadequate. It was an unexpected word from a speaker at one of their meetings that led Faye to the truth, and changed the trajectory of her life from that point on.

When Jess moved from Melbourne to Bendigo she didn’t realise it would be the beginning of such an isolating period of her life. Becoming a mum at the same time as she had moved away from community and a job, not knowing anyone in her new home. For two years she felt hugely isolated, and lonely. But all it took was an invitation from a stranger at a playgroup to change things. While it took six months for Jess to accept that invitation, it eventually led to her going to church and attending an Alpha course. Through these years Jess was brought to the difficult realisation that her will power and strength of character were not enough to absorb all the hits she kept taking. On her own she was inadequate to handle the chaos waters that had come. How was she to carry it all? And how could Christianity possibly help her?

Lena grew up in Gippsland and trained to be a nurse. When her husband bought their new family home in Echuca, she started a new life there. Lena soon found herself with five daughters under the age of five, but when she approached her Catholic Priest for dispensation to use a contraceptive, he said no. This led Lena to walk into the local Anglican church to see if perhaps she could find the support she needed there.

Her whole life Lena has heeded the call to show compassion and care to those in need. Her lifelong devotion to visiting and caring for those in hospitals and residential aged care saw her awarded an Order of Australia. She continues this ministry to this day, sustained by the belief that God is with her in every moment, no matter where she is.

John was born in Colchester in Essex, England in 1934. After an administrative mix up his father was posted to Singapore in the second world war, and the family went to live in the now infamous Changi prison. This very unorthodox childhood didn’t stop John from getting up to some typical mischief; making the most of the regular downpours to slide down the city’s storm water drains with the centipedes and out into the sea.

But in 1942 when the bombing started they had to be evacuated, and John together with his five siblings and mother were stowed in the hold of a ship as they made the perilous ten-day journey to Freemantle in Western Australia. The family finally settled in Sailors Falls, near Daylesford, where John met his wife to be. They were married at Christ Church, Daylesford on the18th of April 1953, and their family has been an integral part of the church for the 73 years since.