ADM’s 6th Annual Funding Event Major Grantees Announced

– 16 September 2021

Pitchers and attendees gathered together via a video conference meeting for this year’s online Annual Funding Event.

ADM has awarded grants to 18 Christian women who pitched for funding for their growing ministries and gospel-shaped initiatives at the 2021 Annual Funding Event.

Jeri Jones Sparks is the Director of The Good News Course, a new evangelistic video course for first-generation migrants to hear the gospel in their heart language and with cultural resonance. The first two language projects of the Good News Course aim to reach two prominent culture groups who speak Thamizl and Hindustani, and who are significantly represented in Australia’s migrant populations from South Asia.

Rebecca Choi is working alongside the Minister in the Anglican Parish of Blayney in Central West NSW to revitalise the local church service and to engage local families and young people with the good news of the gospel through relevant contemporary ministry. Rebecca wants to see the local church in regional NSW grow and flourish so that God may be glorified, and to see local families’ lives changed by the gospel for years to come.  

Associate Professor Megan Best is drawing on her extensive experience in palliative medicine and medical ethics to write a new book that offers a Christ-centred, biblically-based perspective to those wrestling with the ethics, theology, and pastoral care issues for Christians at the end of life.

“Each grantee has demonstrated exceptional gifts, a heart to serve their communities and a desire to see our world engaged with the good news of Jesus. It’s a joy to be able to encourage them in this way.”

— Rev. Jo Gibbs, CEO of Anglican Deaconess Ministries

These are just some of the ministries and initiatives which were awarded funding at Anglican Deaconess Ministries’ (ADM’s) 2021 Annual Funding Event.

ADM’s Annual Funding Event provides Christian women with the funding, feedback and networks they need to develop and grow their ministries and gospel shaped initiatives. Christian women from across Australia applied to pitch their ministries and initiatives across four funding categories this year, and 18 finalists were invited to present their 5-minute pitches for funding at the event on September 1.

This year’s pitching categories welcomed ministries and initiatives at a range of stages, and included the Growing Ministry, Growing Initiative, and Established Ministry or Initiative funding categories. Thanks to a gift from a generous donor, an additional $10, 000 in funding was also made available this year specifically for book projects. In addition to major grants, $1,000 was awarded to each finalist who pitched at the event.

Kamina Wust (top left) pitches her project to the panel: to write a book that provides an accessible resource for preachers and teachers wrestling with the Song of Songs.

This year, our Annual Funding Event was held online via zoom, and finalists pitched their initiatives and ministries live to an online audience.

ADM CEO Rev. Jo Gibbs said “Annual Funding Event is part of ADM’s ongoing commitment to support and encourage Christian women across Australia. Each grantee has demonstrated exceptional gifts, a heart to serve their communities and a desire to see our world engaged with the good news of Jesus. It’s a joy to be able to encourage them in this way”.

ADM’s Annual Funding Event continues to support and encourage Christian women as they grow ministries and initiatives that serve Christ in a range of spheres – in church-based ministries, in mercy and justice work, and in engaging our sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus.

2021 Annual Funding Event Major Grantees

Growing Ministry

Rebecca Choi received $4,000 in funding for a new ministry to contemporise the church service in the Anglican Parish of Blayney, and to reach out to families in Blayney and Millthorpe and give the local community a fresh vision of what church can look like.

Rebecca is a Lay Stipendiary Worker in the Anglican Parish of Blayney, NSW and is commencing the process of ordination to Deacon later this year. 

Sharon Kirk received $1,750 to record Understanding Christian Care, a biblically based, practical online pastoral care course to equip lay Christians with skills and tools in pastoral care.

Sharon is Trainer and Discipler of Women at the Anglican Cathedral of Armidale, and holds a Masters of Divinity through Ridley College. 

Sally Phelps received $1,750 to establish an Intergenerational Play Morning to create community connections for the largely senior congregation at St John’s Anglican Church, Forbes.

Sally is a Stipendiary Licenced Lay Minister and Joint Team Leader in the Parish of Forbes, NSW. She holds a Diploma of Ministry through SMBC.

Growing Initiative

Emma Argall received $3,500 to develop a new online resource to support young people in learning about consent and respectful relationships, and to help fill current gaps in healthy sex education in schools.

Emma teaches English, History, Christian Studies and Studies of Religion at Mountains Christian College, Blackheath, and holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Teaching through the University of Sydney.

Fiona Isaacs received $2,000 for funding to continue producing Abiding, an Australian devotional magazine to help Australian Christians read the Bible with fresh eyes, and apply it to their minds, hearts and lives.

Fiona is Head of Religious Education and Chaplain at Kambala, and is currently completing a Doctorate of Ministry through Fuller Theological Seminary. She also holds a Masters of Arts in Theology and Ministry (Fuller Theological Seminary).

Alaina Frost received $2,000 for funding to grow SQUAD Camp, a Christian Rite of Passage camp for young women run through Scripture Union South Australia. 

Alaina is a ministry coordinator with Scripture Union South Australia, and holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy through the University of South Australia and a Diploma of Ministry (BCSA/Morling/YouthWorks).  

Book Category

Associate Professor Megan Best received $5,000 to write a book to resource and equip Christians with a strong biblical foundation for confidently engaging with current ethical challenges associated with the end of life.

Megan is a Research Associate with the Institute for Ethics and Society at the University of Notre Dame, Australia, and has taught medical ethics at tertiary level for more than thirty years. 

Kamina Wust received $3,000 to write a book that provides an accessible resource for preachers and teachers wrestling with the Song of Songs, and which helps to address common tricky interpretative questions about the Song.

Kamina is a freelance writer and adjunct tutor of Biblical Hebrew (Moore Theological College) and Old Testament (online at Ridley College). She is currently completing her PhD on the Song of Songs through Moore Theological College. 

Lisa Neale received $2,000 towards assembling a book of encouraging evangelical devotions for regular communal use by educators in Australian Christian schools. The book will include contributions from school chaplains, Christian principals, family pastors and other Christian writers addressing important aspects of teacher, student and community wellbeing.

Lisa is a freelance editor, proofreader and writer with experience across technical, legal and theological publications, fundraising communications, educational resources and fiction. She holds a Graduate Diploma of Education (Macquarie University) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons I), English Literature (University of Sydney). 

Established Ministry or Initiative

Jeri Jones Sparks received $18,000 to produce, edit and market the first two language projects of The Good News Course, an evangelistic video course for first-generation migrants that uses culturally appropriate and honouring methodology to present the gospel.

Jeri is Director of The Good News Course and Assistant Minister for Reaching the Lost (Outreach & Mission) at St James Anglican, Croydon. She holds an Advanced Diploma of Bible Mission and Ministry from Moore Theological College.

Josie Wild received $8,500 in funding to grow Olive Tree Health, an initiative bringing together exercise-based physiotherapy, neuroscience and trauma-sensitive principles to support women living with complex trauma due to intimate partner abuse.

Josie is the founder of Olive Tree Health and a physiotherapist at Physiocise. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy and a Master of Public Health through the University of Sydney.  

Rebecca Kellahan and Hailey McQueen received $8,500 towards finalising the script for a new dramatised production of the Mr. Eternity story from Clock and Spiel Productions. The new production aims to inspire reflections and conversations about legacy, the impact of our lives, where we go after we die, and what we’ll leave behind.

Rebecca a Co-Producer and Co-Production Manager for Clock and Spiel Productions, and Production Manager at Excelsia College. She holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Theatre Practice).

Hailey is the Co-Founder of Clock and Spiel Productions, and has had a long acting career in short films and theatre productions. She holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art and a Grad Dip Ed in Drama and History.

Read more about ADM’s Annual Funding Event program and the women who pitched at this year’s event.

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