Support connection

By KATH GANNAWAY
A SURVEY by Healesville Community Church has revealed a need to support families and to create a sense of belonging within the Badger Creek community.
A new program, CONNECT, to be launched on Sunday, 7 August, is aimed at meeting those needs.
Pastor David Lloyd who conducted the survey said many families needed support such as parenting skills, playgroups and family activities.
He said among the responses he received were concerns including a lack of activities for teenagers and playground equipment which is substandard for the needs of the community.
“But one of the most interesting findings of the survey was the community’s desire for a sense of belonging, friendship and support,” Mr Lloyd said.
He said the church was committed to serving the needs of the Badger Creek community but needed to identify what those needs were.
“We want to be a church that is in the community, caring for the people, so we aim to develop our programs around the needs that have been identified.” The church runs two playgroups and two primary school children’s programs but the new CONNECT program is aimed at people of all ages, offering food, fun and friendship.
“One of the primary needs of people are relationships that offer trust, care and support with a sense of belonging to a wider community,” Mr Lloyd said.
“Yet this is the very thing that is lacking in our individualistic, fastmoving society.”
CONNECT will be launched on Sunday at 4.30pm in the Badger Creek Primary School gymnasium.
For further information contact the Healesville Community Church office on 5962 4265.