Inspire Church

Inspire Church is a Pentecostal Christian church affiliated with Australian Christian Churches, the Assemblies of God in Australia. It is located in Hoxton Park, in the City of Liverpool, in the Greater Western Sydney region, Australia. The main building consists of an auditorium which can seat approximately 1,000 people. The senior pastors, Chairperson and joint CEOs are Brendan and Melissa McMartin,[1] who were appointed after the NSW Police charged Senior Pastor John McMartin with Assault with an Act of Indecency in November 2020.[2][3]

Inspire Church
Worship in 2011
CountryAustralia
DenominationAustralian Christian Churches
Weekly attendanceonline
Websiteinspirechurch.com
History
Founded1982
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Brendan and Melissa McMartin

History
Inspire Church Liverpool.

The church was founded in 1982, with Pastors John and Carol McMartin as Liverpool Christian Life Centre.[4][5]

In 2007, the attendance was 4,500 people.[6] On August 31, 2008 Liverpool Christian Life Centre changed their name to Inspire Church.

In 2012, the attendance was 5,000 people, making Inspire Church one of the largest ACC Churches in Australia at the time. [7]

In late 2020, John McMartin stepped aside from his role after being charged by police. His son, Brenton McMartin, formerly pastor of the church's Wagga Wagga campus, and his wife Melissa were appointed as Senior Pastors.[8]

Indecent assault allegations

On 26 November 2020, police from the Liverpool Area Command of the NSW Police, cautioned, detained and arrested John McMartin, and charged him with Assault with an Act of Indecency.[9][10] In documents tendered by Police, it is accused that McMartin put his hands down a then 18-year old parishioner's pants, and squeezed her breasts at his Pleasure Point home in January 2013. McMartin appeared before Liverpool Local Court on 16 December.[11] McMartin faced court again on 27th January 2021 and the case has been scheduled for October 2021.[12] He has pleaded "Not Guilty".

In 2014, McMartin had given a deposition[13] and testimony[14] to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse[15] in his role as the NSW State President of the Australian Christian Churches (formerly the Assemblies of God), in relation to the denomination's responses to the pedophilia of ministers, including Frank Houston.

Inspire community

Inspire Community, (formerly Vantage Community Services) is a non-profit organisation.[16] The C.E.O. of Inspire Community was Mick Agius.[17] Inspire Community Services' centers are places that people can go to for help, support and also counseling.[18] Brendan McMartin is now chairperson of the services.[19]

Inspire College

Inspire College, (formerly Sydney Training Institute) is an initiative of Inspire Church, located 40 minutes from Sydney CBD.[20] The aim of the institute is to equip leaders for service in the church through a intern program.[21][22] The College is registered with VETAB and its courses are nationally accredited. The colleges longstanding principal is Adam Boyse.[23] [24] Brendan McMartin is now the chairperson of the college.[25]

See also

References
  1. McMartin, Brendan. "New Election". ACNC. Australian Government. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  2. ACNC, Board. "Inspire Board". ACNC. Australian Government. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  3. Police, NSW. "Charge". Judcom. NSW Government. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  4. Linda Morris, Pentecostal revolution in the suburbs, smh.com.au, Australia, 28 June 2007
  5. Liverpoolchampion.com.au, Preachers celebrate 30 years, liverpoolchampion.com.au, Australia, September 25, 2012
  6. Linda Morris, Pentecostal revolution in the suburbs, smh.com.au, Australia, 28 June 2007
  7. Liverpoolchampion.com.au, Preachers celebrate 30 years, liverpoolchampion.com.au, Australia, September 25, 2012
  8. Sandeman, John (1 January 2021). "Sydney's Inspire Church Pastor Faces Indecent Assault Charge". Eternity News. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  9. with Act of Indencey, Assault. "Charge". Judcom. NSW Government. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  10. "Dailytelegraph.com.au -- Inspire Church head John McMartin in indecent assault case". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  11. "Dailytelegraph.com.au -- Local Court List for December 16th, 2020". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  12. "TV Pentecostal pastor pleads not guilty to indecent assault of teenager at his Sydney home". www.abc.net.au. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  13. https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/STAT.0362.001.0001_R.pdf
  14. https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/file-list/Case%20Study%2018%20-%20Witness%20list%20-%20Australian%20Christian%20Churches%20-%20Sydney.pdf
  15. Commission, Royal. "Institutions". RCIICSB. Australian Government. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  16. Liverpoolchampion.com.au, Preachers celebrate 30 years, liverpoolchampion.com.au, Australia, September 25, 2012
  17. Agius, Mick. "CEO". Linkedin. Mick Agius. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  18. Community, Inspire. "Inspire Community". Inspire Community. Inspire Community. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  19. McMartin, Brendan. "Chairperson and CEO". ACNC. Australian Government. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  20. Liverpoolchampion.com.au, Preachers celebrate 30 years, liverpoolchampion.com.au, Australia, September 25, 2012
  21. Asoka, Kaavya. "Interns". Guardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  22. 12 -24 months, Internship. "Serve". ABC. ABC. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  23. Boyse, Adam. "Principal". Inspire College. Inspire College. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  24. Nationally Recognised Training, Australian Skills Quality Authority. "RTO's training and assessment". asqa.gov.au. Australian Government. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  25. CEO, Inspire College. "Chairperson". ACNC. Australian Government. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
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