Monbulk Christian Fellowship Church has welcomed a familiar face back into its fold, with Adrian Turner stepping into the role of intentional interim pastor.
Mr Turner, who brings with him over 45 years of pastoral experience, is no stranger to the church, in fact, his journey in ministry began at Monbulk Christian Fellowship in 1982, when he and his wife helped plant the church out of a house meeting.
Now, four decades later, he has returned to help guide the congregation through a period of transition.
“I’m currently the intentional interim pastor,” Mr Turner said.
“It’s usually a 12-month sort of contract, and my role is to work with the leadership and the congregation to assess where the church is at, why it’s there, and how to move forward.”
Mr Turner was approached around three months ago by Bev, one of the church elders, while he was serving in a similar role at another church, what began as an invitation to preach led to a broader conversation about the future of Monbulk Christian Fellowship.
“I suggested rather than just come and preach once or twice, they consider having an intentional interim for a set period,” he said.
“That led to a meeting with the elders where I presented what the role would look like. I take them through a five-step process as a team.”
Returning to the church he helped build has been a deeply personal experience.
“It feels like coming home,” Mr Turner said.
“There’s a great bunch of people here. I’ve got a vested interest in how this congregation goes. This building wasn’t here when I left, so it’s great to see the development that’s taken place since.”
Mr Turner’s role is not just about leadership, it’s also about helping the church reflect on its own history and chart a purposeful course forward.
“What are the lessons we can learn from our past?” he said.
“There have been good times and bad, and we’ve had different kinds of leaders. Part of my job is helping the congregation figure out the kind of leader they need next.”
While the role is interim, Mr Turner is focused on laying strong foundations for the future.
“My hope is to rebuild a sense of hope within the congregation, that there is a definite future God has for Monbulk Christian Fellowship and for the broader Monbulk community,” he said.
“If at the end of 12 months there’s a vital, energetic, forward-looking group of people saying, ‘Let’s take this on with Jesus,’ then that’ll be great.”
Over the years, Mr Turner has seen both highlights and challenges in ministry, but said it’s the personal relationships that leave the greatest mark.
“The most satisfying thing is seeing people who’ve been broken through life experience find healing, and blossom into the person they were intended to be,” he said.
As Monbulk Christian Fellowship embarks on this new chapter, Mr Turner’s goal remains clear.
“One goal would be to see this congregation completely whole again, confident, alive and engaging with the community,” he said.
“It’s not about Bible-bashing, it’s about building relationships and revealing the love of God through the way we live our lives.”
For Mr Turner, returning to where it all began has brought a sense of fulfilment.
“Forty years ago, we started with a little house meeting, it’s grown so much. It’s pleasing to see people grab hold of a vision and exciting to be part of what’s next,” he said.
