By Josh Gibbon
The delightful cacophony of clinking plates and glasses, laughter, and conversation among almost 300 attendees at Kingsway Care’s Gala Dinner would, at a moment’s notice, give way to pin-drop silence.
Across the evening on 18 June, the room repeatedly leaned in to listen to voices of the unheard: people whose lives had been marked by homelessness, crisis and pain, but also by restoration, courage and hope.
These still, poignant moments commanded the hearts in the room. Some stories were marked by tears and long pauses as speakers mustered the courage to keep sharing. As they concluded, the captivated stillness broke in spontaneous applause as all were moved by the resilience of these individuals and families.
As I took this all in, I couldn’t help but marvel at the diversity and unity of this crowd, gathering to make a difference.
Dressed up for the occasion, some in SeeChange Op Shop outfits, people from across the St George and Sutherland Shire shared dinner and participated in silent auctions in the ballroom of Club Central Hurstville. The gathering included church members from at least six local churches (three from our network), Georges River Council members (including Mayor Elise Borg), representatives of local sponsoring businesses (including Club Central), Kingsway Care team members, and current and former temporary housing guests.
Pastor Nathan Bridgewater MC’d the evening.
After cracking a few jokes to get the night started, Nathan Bridgewater, MC and pastor of Revitalise Church in Caringbah, gave the gathering a clear call: “Tonight we are here to be generous!”
And generous they were. Through the silent auction, event donations, prior pledges and early fundraising from runners in the Sutherland 2 Surf, Kingsway Care has so far raised $79,579 of their $100,000 target.
Help Kingsway Care meet their target, and donate now.
Brook Stewart, General Manager of Kingsway Care.
Brook Stewart, General Manager of Kingsway Care and former Pastor of SeeChange Community Church, shared a compelling message about responding to the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
He said, “Tonight we’ve seen. We’ve heard the stories. We’ve met the people. We’ve listened to the voices. And as one songwriter put it: ‘Now that I have seen, I am responsible.’
“There’s an old saying that it is more blessed to give than to receive,” Brook continued. “Giving isn’t ultimately about the reward we receive. It’s about the impact experienced by the person who receives it.
“The cost of not giving is rarely carried by the person who keeps their money. It’s carried by the person who needed the help. And that’s why tonight matters.”
From left to right: David Bentley (elder), Tanwin and Angie Tanoto (pastors), and Ragaie Selwains (Soul Food volunteer) from Hurstville Church of Christ.
Tanwin Tanoto, Pastor of Hurstville Church of Christ, which has partnered with Kingsway Care’s Platform 9 temporary housing service to offer a monthly community meal at their church, called Soul Food, shared, “It has been a privilege to partner and serve our community together with Platform 9.
“We have had many conversations about Jesus with the guests over the years. And I have seen spiritual fruit through this partnership, with people coming to church either for the first time or coming back to church after many years.
“One lady gave her life to Jesus and got baptised late last year! It is amazing how God is working in and through this partnership. I really appreciate Platform 9 and the work of all their staff.”
In between courses, former guests of Platform 9, Kingsway Care’s temporary and crisis accommodation service, took the microphone to share their stories.
One by one, we heard unique stories, with a resounding common theme: “I was hopeless. By a miracle, I found Platform 9, and for the first time in a long time, I was listened to, believed in, and given a safe place to call home.”
We heard from a mother whose daughter needed a place to turn her life around after experiencing domestic violence and addiction; a woman facing homelessness later in life after suffering a brain injury from domestic violence; and a middle-aged father who lost his job and family and found himself on the streets.
Each spoke to the new life, hope, and future they now walk in, thanks to Platform 9’s team. Some had also found Christian community and shared how their lives changed through encountering Jesus.
At last year’s Kingsway Care Gala Dinner, I had the privilege of witnessing a very special moment.
A young waiter working for the club that evening, perhaps 20 years old, approached Brook and me as we were chatting after the event.
He interrupted us and said to Brook, “Excuse me. I was listening tonight, and I have to ask: is this about Platform 9? I stayed at Platform 9 as a boy with my brother and mum. I remember you. Platform 9 saved us. It completely changed our lives.”
This year, he and his brother were at a front row table, dressed in three-piece suits. His younger brother took the stage and delivered the most eloquent and impactful message of the evening.
He shared his experience as a teenager facing homelessness with his mother and brother, finding refuge and support at Platform 9. He revealed how his own pain as a lost and hurt teenager caused him to inflict pain on others around him – he joked that the Kingsway Care team knew what he was talking about from his time with them.
He was thrown out of school after school, until, through a specialised music program, he met a teacher who listened and tried to understand him, seeing him for who he really was – a young man with great potential, who carried deep pain and just needed someone to believe in him.
Brook congratulating the young man on his speech.
Years later, he stood on stage before us, dressed sharply, commanding the attention of the room and delivering a captivating speech and poem from the perspective of children affected by homelessness.
As he concluded, the room rose in a standing ovation. He walked off the stage and embraced his older brother.
I don’t think anyone in the ballroom that evening could deny they were moved by the way lives have been tangibly changed through this ministry. Kingsway Care meets people in some of their most vulnerable moments with the generous grace and love of Christ, offering not just a roof, but a safe home.
As I left, I reflected on the beauty of people from all walks of life gathering to be part of an answer to homelessness. Perhaps the hope we experienced during this dinner offers a glimpse of the restorative future we all long for, where pain, injustice and homelessness are finally eclipsed by eternal hope and home.
To support the vital work of Kingsway Care and help them reach their $100,000 target, head here to donate. All donations are fully tax deductible.
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