Good Shepherd Deakin
A new Church for Central Canberra launching in February 2024
Good Shepherd is preparing to plant a new Church in Deakin
We love our Bush Capital! We love its natural beauty, its pleasant neighbourhoods, and its vibrant culture. And we love its people. That’s why we want to plant a new Church, to help more people in Canberra know, love and live for Jesus. Through his life, death, and resurrection, we believe that Jesus offers what our city most truly desires: hope that comes from a new and eternal life, joy from authentic community, and rest which flows from being at peace with God. We are a community of Jesus’ followers who want to share this good news with Canberra.
Maybe you are curious about Jesus or want to reconnect with him. Maybe you’ve just moved to Canberra and want to invest in a Christian Community. Maybe you are a follower of Jesus who wants to grow in your faith and help build his Kingdom. No matter who you are, if God might be prompting you to be part of Good Shepherd Deakin, we would love to meet you and hope you will join us planting a new Church for central Canberra.
“I believe God is moving to plant a new community of his people in central Canberra, and trust that he is at work to use this community to call many people in our city back to himself. I want help build a movement of gospel centred, Bible focused, Jesus followers who will join God in this mission. If you too want to invest in this planting of a new Church, join us!”
Ben Soderlund, Church Planter
Our Story So Far
Canberra, and central Canberra in particular, is one of the least churched areas in Australia. At present, there are no Christian Churches that regularly meet within the inner Canberra suburb of Deakin. The suburb’s only Church, St Luke’s Deakin, closed in 2016. Deakin borders Parliament House and is the location of the official residence of the Prime Minister in Canberra, The Lodge. That the suburb of our Prime Minister is now without a local Christian witness is a potent symbol of the Church’s post‑Christendom decline in Australia.
However, the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn is building a new Early Learning Centre (ELC) on the disused site of St Luke’s Deakin, including multi-purpose facilities for Christians to use for worship. So the new site will be a Christian preschool during the week, providing an excellent opportunity to connect with families who live and work in the Deakin area, and a home for Good Shepherd Deakin on the weekend, a new Church with the best Sunday School rooms in the city!
Our sending Church, Good Shepherd Anglican Church, is located in Deakin’s neighbouring suburb of Curtin. Good Shepherd was actually planted by the people of St Luke’s Deakin back in the 1960s. And in a demonstration of God’s providence and kindness, Good Shepherd will now plant a new Church into the ELC that is being built on the old St Luke’s Deakin site.
Over 2023, through holding regular Prayer and Planning Services, we will assemble a team from the existing Good Shepherd congregations and other interested people, to together discern God’s will for the Good Shepherd Deakin and form the launch team of the new Church, for a start in February 2024.
Visit our pre-Launch Services at our Temporary Home: St Mark’s
While our new facilities in Deakin are under construction, Good Shepherd is pleased to partner with the St Mark’s National Theological Centre in Barton, which is hosting our new congregation for Sunday worship in 2023 and 2024.
Everybody is welcome to come to our friendly gatherings! During 2023 we meet on the 4th Sunday of every month. Our Prayer and Planning Services start at 11am in the Durie Room at St Mark’s. (Weekly Services will start after our official launch in February 2024.)
St Mark’s is located at 15 Blackall Street in Barton. Once you arrive, follow the signs and look out for our welcomers to find the Durie Room. You are welcome to use the free parking available in the St Mark’s car parks.
Before our Services, we have community time from 10:30am, which is a great chance to grab a coffee and get to know others. After the Service, we enjoy a light lunch together.
St Mark's National Theological Centre
15 Blackall St, Barton ACT 2600
Stay in contact and support us in prayer
We need your prayers! Sign up to our mailing list to receive regular updates and our monthly prayer email, and pray with us that God would bless the Church Plant and that though it many people would come to know Jesus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I expect at one of your pre-launch Services?
During 2023 we are holding “Prayer and Planning Services”. In a sense these meetings are like any other Church Service, we gather together to build friendships, hear from God through bible teaching, sing together, pray together and share in the Lord’s Supper together. However, these Prayer and Planning Services are a little less structured than a ‘normal’ Church Service, and also include group discussion and prayer to help us bond as a team and plan for the launch of the Good Shepherd Deakin in 2024.
Can I just show up on a Sunday?
You sure can! Our pre-launch services are open to anybody who might be interested in joining Good Shepherd Deakin. No need to let us know you’re coming, but if you do let us know we can save you a seat, and make a plan to connect with you before or after our gathering.
Can Children come?
Yes! We love children and want to involve them in the praying and planning for the new Church! There is a Children’s program as part of all our pre-launch Services.
How long do the Services go for?
We start our Services at 11 am, and they run for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. If you like, come early at 10:30am to grab a coffee. We also have lunch after the Service for which you are welcome to stay.
What is your Church’s Vision?
Good Shepherd Deakin, like our mother Church, Good Shepherd in Curtin, exists to help all people know, love and live for Jesus.