BRISBANE Lions player Simon Black shared the limelight with Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby at the inaugural Archbishop’s Dinner for NET Ministries on April 18.
The dinner, at Restaurant II in the City, attracted a big crowd from the archdiocesan and business community.
Speaking from personal experience, Black, the winner of the prestigious Brownlow Medal in 2002, shared some hard-won lessons about teamwork as part of the Lions AFL team, which took a once struggling club to a three-year in a row premiership winning streak.
Archbishop Bathersby began the evening with a recollection of his own faith journey.
‘I have as much peace and joy in my Christianity now than I have ever had,’ he told diners.
NET Ministries director Shayne Bennett followed up Simon’s theme, drawing parallels with the commitment required from the teams of 40 young people currently volunteering a year of their life to serve with NET Ministries.
He spoke about the pressing need to bring the Church to young people rather than waiting around for them to return to it.
Mr Bennett also mentioned the upcoming launch of a NET team travelling to minister in Uganda later in the year.
He said he would ‘make a place for Simon on a NET team if ever the desire arose’.
The dinner included a handball passing competition, complete with personal coaching from Black, and a live auction of Black’s AFL memorabilia.
Proceeds from the night will go towards boosting the work of NET Ministries in schools and parishes around Australia as well as supporting the outreach to Uganda beginning in August.
For more information about NET Ministries phone (07) 3397 9666.
