Our Town Has 100 People. Our Church Has 120 People!
By: Ben McEachen
Rosedale isn’t the kind of place you’d expect to find a rapidly growing church, but God’s moving in regional Australia.
The regional Queensland town of Rosedale is about 30 kilometres inland from Bundaberg.
Dave and Shelly Drage lead Power Community Church in Rosedale. Across the Rosedale district, Dave estimates the population to be about 300 people.
With around 100 people in the town itself, it’s surprising to find around 120 people are connected with Power Community Church.
“Yeah, the math doesn’t work out real well, does it?” Dave shared.
From Acoustic Guitar to a Growing Congregation
Five years ago, a 100-year-old chapel stood waiting in Rosedale when Dave and Shelly arrived with a sense of calling, not a master plan.
“We came here from up in the Gulf Country,” Dave said.
“There was nothing, but God said, ‘Buy this little place and open up the doors and see what I’ll do.’
“And so, we did that.”
“We started with my wife, myself, and an acoustic guitar. We opened up the doors one Sunday and just said, ‘Look, we’re here and we’ll see what [God will] do.”
What followed has been steady, organic growth without marketing campaigns or big-city resources.
“For the most part, we just get out of the way and let Jesus do what he does best.”
“We just kept it simple and kept it Jesus focused,” Dave said.
“He’s just done some very special and amazing things.”
Today, a typical Sunday sees between 60 to 80 people gathering, filling the small heritage-listed building to capacity.
“The little church only fits about 60 or 70 people. So, yeah, if everyone comes on the one day, we’re in strife.”
Lives Totally Changed by Knowing Jesus
For Dave, the real story isn’t the numbers.
“People’s lives are completely turned upside down and changed,” Dave said about the impact of Jesus on Rosedale. More than 80 per cent of those attending the church are new believers – “That’s the exciting part.”
“Marriages [have been] put back together, people have been receiving healing, physical, spiritual and emotional,” Dave said.
Church life now stretches well beyond a Sunday service. What began as a basic morning tea has grown into something much deeper, as people stay, learn and share their lives.
“That morning tea no longer cut it because people didn’t want to go home,” Dave said.
“So we’ve turned it into lunch.
“And then people were still wanting more… because most of them are new believers, they’re wanting to be equipped, they’re wanting to know how to pray for people… so we do what we call ‘Sunday Extra’.”
Come to Country Australia and Revive Churches
Dave doesn’t believe Rosedale is unique. Rather, it is an example of what can happen when someone says “Yes” to regional or remote Australia.
“There’s so many [country church buildings] for sale and they’re being made into AirBNBs, houses and shops.
“We’re here and we’re on the shoulders of people’s prayers over the last 100 years.
“They built these churches and we’re seeing the fruit of those prayers. We’re seeing God encounter and empower the surrounding community today.
“I guess God just really gave us a heart for [knowing] these are churches, and He wants His church to be His church.”
Dave points directly to Bible colleges and urban churches as key partners in renewing regional communities.
“If I had the money, I’d buy every single one of them,” Dave said.
“And I’d be in the Bible colleges, in the local churches saying, ‘Come on guys, God’s called you to ministry’ Not everyone’s called to the Gold Coast. Let’s go out and open these up and make communities again.”
It’s a simple vision, grounded in faith and action rather than strategy.
“For the most part, we just get out of the way and let Jesus do what he does best,” Dave said.
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
About the Author: Ben hosts Mornings on Hope 103.2 and the ‘Money: Faith & Finance’ podcast.
Feature image: Canva
