Doing life even in a blessed country like Australia still has its challenges, unexpected turns and
disappointments. At Northside Christian Church we are committed to helping people establish a quality of
life that is both fulfilling and fruitful. We consider it our responsibility to connect people with God, to stand with them in their dark moments, to encourage them through their challenges and to give Biblical counsel during
times of uncertainty.

Leading this important ministry are Pastor Gary Canham and his wife Gay. Their heart is to see every 
person in our Church embraced and integrated into the Church Family. At Northside everyone is important
to us because they are special to God. We approach this challenge in two ways:-

Connect Groups
In a large church like ours it is so easy to get lost in the crowd. For that reason we have established Connect Groups. These are groups of people who meet in homes on a regular basis. Here they are able to form friendships, support one another and grow in their faith
together.

It is not unusual to hear of Groups rallying around one of their own who has fallen sick, lost their job or
suffered a family tragedy. Of course there are the good times as well. Engagements, weddings, new babies
and special birthdays are regularly celebrated in these Groups. For most people their Connect Group
becomes their family.

Pastoral Care Team
There are some people who because of family reasons or work commitments are unable to attend a
Connect Group. We have a team of committed people who do their best to support, encourage and to be
available in times of need.  This team includes Raff & Jackie Marcucci who have served at Northside for
many years.

We arrange hospital visits, visits to the sick and lonely plus practical help where it is needed.
We are there to provide a listening ear, a word of comfort or some Godly advice when appropriate and confidentiality is absolutely respected. For in-depth counseling we also have some excellent contacts
when a referral is needed.

In conclusion, we are convinced that people really matter to God irrespective of age, background or
persuasion. As a Church we are passionate about caring for the physical, emotional and spiritual health
of every person that the Lord brings across our path.