By Georgia FreeFriday 23 Dec 2022Finding HopePodcastsReading Time: 3 minutes
Marty Beckett has his hands full. He’s the pastor of the Rock Community Centre in Penrith and the CEO of Christ Mission Possible – a charity which provides food and housing solutions for people in need across Western Sydney.
But Marty’s life hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows – far from it. Yet, his outlook on life isn’t defined by circumstance but something far greater.
A legalistic upbringing
Marty grew up in a family of nine and was brought up in The New Testament Church of God, which Marty found quite restrictive.
“It was very performance oriented, which was really hard,” Marty told the Finding Hope podcast.
“The church back then felt very fake to me.”
Marty found a disconnect between his parents’ actions at church and home, which was challenging to reconcile, especially as a teenager.
“I think that’s why a lot of young people fall away from the church,” he said.
“Often, they aren’t seeing that consistency in their home lives.”
As pastor of the Rock Community Centre, Marty has now created what he believes is a more authentic representation of a church community.
“We are human beings,” Marty said.
“We stuff up, we make mistakes, but ultimately I just want to be real.”
Serving Western Sydney
Christ Mission Possible was founded in 2006 by Abraham and Allison Akkary, who cooked for about 100 people weekly in Mt Druitt, out of a kitchen in their home.
Abraham and Allison attended Marty’s church, so the church began to support and volunteer with them. Before long, the organisation was part of the church’s identity.
“Over the years, Christ Mission Possible just meshed into The Rock Community Centre,” Marty said.
“You couldn’t remove us from each other.”
Eventually, Marty took over as CEO of Christ Mission Possible and, steadily, the organisation grew to support tens of thousands of people a week with food and housing solutions.
Through the Brown Paper Bag program, 2500 lunches are distributed to school children every week, who would otherwise go without food.
Through the Brown Paper Bag program, 2500 lunches are distributed to school children every week, who would otherwise go without food.
Free food hampers are given to those in need each day, and the organisation has expanded to provide crisis accommodation for those experiencing homelessness.
“For about 15 years, we’ve been working with Housing NSW to get people off the street, into lovely accommodation and, eventually, help them into their own home,” Marty said.
A growing problem
Homelessness continues to be a growing crisis in NSW, and, with the cost-of-living pressures, Marty has seen more people than ever need crisis accommodation – including families with kids, who haven’t previously been in trouble.
“People’s lives are teetering on the edge. One more interest rate rise… it really is that serious,” Marty said.
“People are sleeping in cars or on the garage floor of a friend.
“And I think that people are becoming more aware that they, but by the grace of God, could be that person.”
Looking outward
Marty admitted that he used to be materialistic, looking forward to each new iPhone release. But now, his heart is filled with greater desires.
“Doing this kind of work makes you more aware of what you do,” Marty said.
“You start to ask yourself ‘do I need this?’
“We’re taught to protect what we’ve got, protect your family, protect your life. But this work has changed me.”
Listen to Marty’s full conversation on Finding Hope in the player above.
For more information and ways to support those in need in Western Sydney, visit the Christ Mission Possible website.