In March 1996
the Lord spoke to Graham, saying that he would be finishing secular
work. Eighteen months later this came to pass when, in September
1997, he was retrenched with a great sense of peace and anticipation.
This concluded many years working in a large communications company
where his wide ranging duties included commercial and technical
disciplines, concluding as manager of a large computer network.
There was no sense of retirement in this process; rather he knew
that the Lord was freeing him so that he might have more time available
for ministry. The teaching sessions for which these notes form
the base, are just one of the many outcomes of Graham's ministry.
During over 40 years in
secular work the Lord had opened up to Graham many opportunities
both locally and overseas for a wide range of ministries. But
it is in one particular aspect that Graham has a special burden.
He believes that God was so delighted with the relationship
in the Trinity that He created man in His image. He sees relationship
as the passion of God's heart and the primary issue of Christianity.
Consequently his principal ministry is in the area of relationship
- God and Man. He has ministered in many areas this ministry
always being based on relationship: God and Man, and the impact
of this on relationships between His people.
His work includes counselling,
training and ministering in meetings and seminars. Areas of
ministry in his home State (South Australia) and elsewhere
in Australia have included membership of the Board of a major
church, counselling, leadership training, responsibility for
many Home Fellowship groups and lecturing. Opportunity also
has arisen to serve in both administration and eldership of
many small churches as they were becoming established.
For many years Graham has
lectured regularly in a local, full time, Bible college (World
Changers College of Ministry) as well as ministering in various
churches and denominations. He found a valued role as a spiritual
father to many pastors, leaders and youth.
Starting in 1978, he has
taken teams from local churches on short-term missions trips
to other countries including Indonesia, Ukraine and Estonia.
These trips have included conference speaking, training of
leaders and pastors and teaching in Bible schools as well as
preaching in churches.
He has visited Indonesia
many times, ministering in camps, conventions, churches, Bible
Schools and seminars. In addition, he has had a significant
involvement with the Indonesian Christian community especially
Indonesian students while they are studying in Adelaide in
South Australia and after their return to Indonesia.
Prior to his first mission
trip to Russia in 1974, Graham had a burden for the former
Soviet Union. This continues, but it was not until March 1996
that the Lord opened the opportunity for him to return. On
this trip he ministered in Bible colleges, in churches and
seminars in the Ukraine, as well as in Estonia. Returning to
Eastern Europe on subsequent occasions his work included teaching
in the Church Planting Institute (CPI) program, the Ukrainian
Evangelical Theological Seminary , at the Praise Bible College
Ukraine and the Estonian Piiblikool as well as other Bible
training schools and colleges. |
