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FAQ About Ruach
What's your relationship with other churches?
Are you Pentecostal? Charismatic? Evangelical?
How do you cater for Youth & Children?
Is Ruach mainly for families with kids?
We’d like to have our baby baptised or christened. Do you do that?
A few people have a problem with this one! Ruach is pronounced 'roo-ark'.
The name 'Ruach' is a Hebrew word found in the Bible. It means breath of God and is used in reference to the Holy Spirit. It is an active, powerful word that speaks of life and new things coming into being.
Yes and no. Most of our churches meet weekly in homes and some of them do meet on a Sunday. These small group churches then gather together for a combined Celebration Service at a community venue once or twice a month. Celebration Services are usually held on a Sunday.
What's your relationship with other churches?
We believe we are just one expression of the Christian church and we love to work in conjunction with other churches. Where ever possible we are an active part of the local Minister's Association (or equivalent) and interdenominational activities.
We are funded through voluntary financial gifts from members. We are a 'not for profit' entity and receive no government funding.
We believe that the best way to live is by putting our trust in God and doing things his way. In Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Bible we believe we have what it takes to make it possible. Basically, we believe the truths embodied in the historic orthodox creeds of the Christian Church. For more information click here.
Are you Pentecostal? Charismatic? Evangelical?
We don't think these sort of labels are a particularly helpful way of describing our church and community so would prefer not to use them. If pushed we'd say we are evangelical (emphasising the teaching and authority of the Bible) and charismatic (believing that the way the Holy Spirit worked in the first century Christian Church ought to still be experienced today.)
Let's find out if we are compatible first! Ruach has registered wedding celebrants in Sydney who would be delighted to talk to you about performing a Christian marriage ceremony in the location of your choice. Please contact us to arrange a time for a chat.
How do you cater for Youth and Children?
Young people are valued members of our church. Click here for more information
Is Ruach mainly for families with kids?
No. While we are very family friendly, we believe it is most important to be a family. Ruach includes singles of all ages and stages, couples without kids, older people, people with disabilities, those whose partner and/or kids aren’t interested in coming along and, of course one or two parent families with kids.
We’d like to have our baby baptised or christened. Do you do that?
Yes, we can, but we would like to talk to you first to understand exactly what it is you are looking for. We also can help you with a dedication or thanksgiving event to celebrate the birth of your child if that is more appropriate. Please contact us.
We’d like to do something to celebrate the birth of our new baby but we don’t want to baptise them. Is that possible?
Yes, we’d love to help you with a dedication or thanksgiving event tailored to your family to celebrate the birth of your child. Please contact us.
Legal Governance
Ruach Ministries Limited is a not for profit company registered under the Corporations Act 2001 as a public company limited by guarantee. It is also registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), the independent national regulator of charities. A Board of Directors is responsible for the legal and financial governance of the company and ministry, including compliance with the Corporations Act, ASIC and ACNC requirements. Board members are active members of the church. They are appointed on the basis of their skills, understanding and experience in organization management and administration.
Operational Governance
A team of Elders provides spiritual, pastoral and operational oversight of the local church and its ministry. Part of their role is to ensure that the mission and values of the church are lived out. Elders are appointed on the basis that they are recognised as spiritually mature leaders within the church community and are committed to the vision, health and growth of Ruach under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What We Do
House Church
House churches are our basic unit of church. In these groups we worship God, pray, encourage one another to apply what we learn in the Bible, share the joys and struggles of life, and put our faith into action to serve people beyond our own group.
House churches come in many shapes and sizes, and meet at a variety of times and locations. Ruach looks a little bit different in each geographical area, but at any given time you are likely to find we have groups that:
- Meet at different times - on week nights, weekends and during the day.
- Are demographically diverse – intergenerational with lots, few or no kids, youth specific, gender specific, or a mix of men and women.
- Are comprised of people who are at different stages of their faith journey and different stages of life.
- Meet in a variety of locations – in homes, retirement villages, offices, or cafés. Perhaps even in the park or at the beach.
Celebration Services
House churches come together regularly for a Celebration Service to celebrate and share what God is doing in the life of the church. These are also times of worship, teaching and prayer for needs.
Visitors are welcome. If you do not already know people in Ruach you may find Celebration an easier first contact point than visiting a house church.
Life Events
Life is worth celebrating! We love to help people mark significant life events such as marriage, the birth or adoption of a child, or entering into the Christian faith. It is also a privilege to help honour a person at the end of their life through a funeral or memorial service and to assist their loved ones through the grieving process. Contact us to discuss how we can assist you.
Ruach also facilitates various courses to equip people for life, such as marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, and parenting.
Partnerships
Working with others in our communities and beyond significantly shapes who we are and what we do.
Ruach is actively involved in a range of formal and informal partnerships with people and ministries within Australia and overseas.
Ruach members have been instrumental in taking steps to alleviate poverty and bring about transformation in various parts of the world.
For more information on Ruach's partnerships click here.
