Different Gifts, Different Service | Pam Neale-Justins

Ever wondered how your unique gifts could be a blessing to others in mission and ministry? In our new series we feature the many faces across our Church who are serving where they are, with what God has given them. We hope that it will be a blessing and an inspiration. 

Meet Pam Neale-Justins

Current ministry

Chairperson of Blacktown Uniting Church.

Tell us a bit about you

My name is Pam Neale-Justins. I have been a member of Blacktown Uniting Church since 1992. I initially trained as a teacher and then worked as a clinical counsellor / professional supervisor for 37 years  (a profession I deeply valued) and on retirement, I wondered what the next chapter of my life might hold. Is there life after 70? Just two months later (after encouragement from our then minister, Rev Laurel Barr), I was elected as Chairperson of Blacktown Uniting Church.

This was certainly not something I had anticipated, but it is a ministry, supported by wonderful congregation members, leaders, and two ministers along the way, that I have greatly valued. I believe that one of my gifts from God is ‘the gift of help’…and I enjoy the varied nature of what this brings to the life of our Congregation.

The past 4 years have been full and rich and exciting, including of course, the challenges of COVID, the retirement of Rev Laurel, being without a minister for a time, the coming together of Blacktown and Grantham Heights congregations as one, and the welcoming of our new minister, Rev Dr Raymond Joso.

What do you love about being involved in this ministry/church?

As a part of this role I have been involved with a wonderful team, in a ‘Coming Together’ with Grantham Heights Uniting Church. This was a three-year journey. We are now Blacktown Regional Uniting Church, one Congregation with two centers and four worshipping services (including Tongan and Fijian Language services). We gather together for Communion, and on fifth Sundays for a big celebration, all four worshipping services, together. We are growing in numbers, enthusiasm and learning to live out our discipleship in the community. We are growing as an intercultural and intergenerational community; this is such a joyous time.

This role has had such a variety of different experiences, including dressing up as a bee (quite a stretch for my introverted personality type!), to launch our ‘Theme for 2024’ from Being & Doing Church: A Uniting Church Perspective edited by Rev Dr Chris Walker. Having recently been accredited, I have had the joy and privilege of presiding over baptisms - so far no one has cried (although as a grandma to 12 and a great-grandmother to 3, it will be absolutely fine when someone does!).

As a local lay preacher, I enjoy leading worship and the process of providing a take-home symbol that captures the essence of the service’s theme (some in our congregation have quite a collection of these symbols - feathers, angels, hearts, hands, stars, candles, sheep, etc.). I have really enjoyed being part of the team, led by Rev Raymond Joso, that compiled a comprehensive mission aspirations document. This was based on significant input from our Congregation and representatives from local Community organisations including the Renal Specialist from Blacktown Hospital, Lifeline, Uniting, UME, Sydney Alliance, our local Christian School, and other denominations and social justice groups.

Recently, we have commenced a regular Badminton gathering (the “Madminions’) with participants aged from 16 to 70. The younger ones are occasionally surprised that some of the oldies have been able to match them in the rallies! Rev Raymond is a most encouraging coach! I have greatly enjoyed hearing of the laughter, new friendships, good connections and conversations on the sidelines between games.

What do you find most challenging?

One of the challenges for our congregation in the midst of ‘change and growth’ is to hold the complexity of ‘we’re moving ahead too fast’ together with ‘we’re not moving ahead fast enough’. We are encouraged by the words of the writer to Hebrews  – Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. (Heb12:1b, 2)

I am blessed to have a loving, supportive, wise husband and family that form a solid ‘cheer squad’ of support for me, in my role. I’m really looking forward to the outworking of our Mission plan, as a member of a Congregation that is open to God’s leading in complex, (possibly challenging), but definitely exciting times.

We'd love to tell your story

We would love to tell the story of your ministry in your Congregation. Simply get in touch and we'll send you some questions.

If you are interested in telling us your story, simply send an email to contactus@nswact.uca.org.au.