Order614 is a group of passionate Christians who, for 1 year, will live and work together to connect and journey with the forgotten people in the city of Melbourne.
Order614 is not a place for soft, comfortable Christianity. It's about getting out on the fringes of society, and getting our hands dirty with some of the most broken and hurting people of the city.
Order614 will give you the opportunity to do life with, the homeless, mentally ill, prostitutes, transsexuals, abandoned children and refugees.
You will be stretched, challenged, overwhelmed and exhausted; but you will see Jesus working in you and through you to change the lives of some very broken people. It will be life changing.
You will be equipped and trained with a Certificate IV in urban mission, and with constant support from experienced and passionate leaders.
Order 614 arose, plainly and simply, from need!
In 2003 a small group of Christians came together in central Melbourne, led by Salvation Army officers Brendan and Sandra Nottle with a vision inspired by the prophet Isaiah and his words from 61:4 - 'They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated by generations'.
The team was involved in opening a community centre - 'The Life Centre', re-established a meals program, began night street outreach and created a Sunday church welcoming to those they met 'on the street'. On the day of opening, the Life Centre saw over 200 people come through the doors. The night time street outreach was regularly visiting up to 30 people per night in squats, parks and lanes.
The meals program very quickly grew to 700 meals per week. Over 500 food parcels were requested in week one and the team was getting around 150 requests for 'Emergency Relief' each week. As well as this, the Sunday church service had over 100 attendees each Sunday, most of them very broken, hurting people. It was obvious help was desperately needed.
At the same time, there were many young Christians, un-satisfied with continually hearing about Jesus and what He stands for but not having the opportunity to live it. order614 was created to provide an army of workers, sold out to fighting poverty and injustice. It would provide passionate Christians the opportunity to live their faith.
Order614 is a missional order amongst the poor that is based on others such as the Franciscan, Jesuit and Benedictine Orders, to name a few.
It is an amazing opportunity for those, "living in the land of bland", those that are just simply going through the motions of life, who are desperately wanting to move from leading an ordinary life, to leading an extraordinary one.
Order 614 is now entering its fourth year...
