Church Planting at Ripley

by Rev Ralph Mayhew, Mission Accompanying Team

Deeply committing itself to church planting, Bremer Brisbane Presbytery had purchased three houses in the Riley community.  Asking God to provide a church planting team, to live in those houses and reach the community of Ripley with the Gospel.  God has answered those prayers.

At the start of this year Jon and Maree joined Robbie and Steph to occupy two of the houses and orientate their lives around this exciting mission field.  Church plants aren’t often done this way, but the innovative approach Bremer Brisbane Presbytery has taken allows for three missional hubs in which disciples can be grown to become the church that engages Ripley.

On 7^th March, 2026, Uniting Ripley was officially commissioned, as the third house became home to Shayna and Matt.  A young couple who felt convicted to join in the work of God in Ripley.

As a new faith community, Uniting Ripley exists to “help people encounter God, follow Jesus, and make Christ known.”

While still in its infancy, Uniting Ripley has already seen God at work.  Doors have opened to connect with community engagement planners, leading to an invitation to co-host a local Easter egg hunt - creating space to serve and build relationships within the community.

While still in its early foundational stage, Uniting Ripley is witnessing the beginnings of something significant: a church not built on programs first, but on presence, relationships, and the faithful witness of ordinary people committed to living on mission together.