The distrustful and subsequently obstructive church-pastors of “Gateway Church” in Melbourne, Australia, were so concerned about my casual invitation to talk and have a coffee with a woman in their church that the church demanded that I must have a coffee and chat with their pastor; indicating that Christian relationships between singles of opposite genders is objectionable to the church’s purpose.

(http://gateway.asn.au)

Only once did I visit this Gateway Church at a Sunday “service”, and only once did I visit their small mid-week “Life Group”. At the Sunday service I initiated a conversation with a young woman together with her aunt and talked with them for some time. Later at the church’s small mid-week Life Group, the same young woman was present, although I did not recognise her then. At the conclusion of the mid-week Life Group meeting which I attended, the same young woman initiated a brief conversation with me, and since she approached me in a manner that indicated that she had met me before, and since I did not recognise her, I asked her “Have you met me before?” She then reminded me that we had spoken with each other at a Sunday church meeting. I subsequently excused myself for not recognising her immediately, as I meet a lot of new people every week in street evangelism in Melbourne and cannot remember everyone, and also as she looked quite different that evening compared to the earlier Sunday meeting. The young woman then appeared to be in a hurry and scurried off somewhere. I too left the Life Group meeting shortly thereafter. When I had bicycled home, I sent off an email to the Life Group leader confirming that I did want to have a coffee and talk further with that young woman, and extending my gratitude to the group leader for hosting the mid-week meeting in a home.

Three days later, the Gateway Church sent an email to me expressing that the Gateway Church had concerns regarding me, and demanding to have a discussion with me prior to my further attendance of mid-week Life Groups. Consequently, I demanded that the Gateway Church must explain their thoughts and concerns prior to I accepting to have a discussion with them.

As expected from all the superficial, secretive, false and cowardly churches, the Gateway Church absolutely refused to explain their thoughts and concerns in the open, and therefore the Gateway Church refused any further communication with me.

I am absolutely innocent in relation to all excommunications from churches.

The complete dialogue with “Gateway Church” in Melbourne is read chronologically from the bottom upwards, beneath:

---------------------

Gateway Church,

The past week, your church has persistently refused to explain or answer my questions to your church. You need to explain yourself.

You chose to express yourself in an email to me where your thoughts need to be explained. You also hinted in your email that you have set a condition for me to participate in further Life Groups, as you want to meet and discuss the purpose of Life Groups prior to the next Life Group meeting.

You have some explaining to do before I would want to sit and chat with you.

Explain, and answer my questions to you as per my email sent to you yesterday, March 21.

“Please explain the logic of your thoughts. I have not requested any personal details from anyone. I have given permission to the leader of one of your groups to inform one of the attendants of that group that I want to talk and get to know that person. Explain the rationale of your words "[We] cannot pass on people’s personal details without their permission".

Also you write "She [the leader of one of your groups] has also advised me that you have emailed her regarding catching up with one of the ladies in the Group. We have some concerns about this ..." Explain your concern.

You declared your purpose with Life Groups with this statement "Life Groups are about ‘groups’ of people getting together for encouragement, fun, community & Spiritual growth." And in the following sentence you state "I would like to meet with you to discuss the purpose of Life Groups." You have already stated your purpose of Life Groups, so what do need to discuss. I have no need to discuss anything with you. I therefore presume that there is not so much something that you want to discuss, but there is rather something that you want to say to me. So please say it. If there is something that you wanted to ask, then ask.

Please explain the above mentioned statements, and also answer: 1) What do you want to say to me? 2) What do you want?”

Regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Gateway Church,

The past week, your church has persistently refused to explain or answer my questions to your church. You need to explain yourself.

You chose to express yourself in an email to me where your thoughts need to be explained. You also hinted in your email that you have set a condition for me to participate in further Life Groups, as you want to meet and discuss the purpose of Life Groups prior to the next Life Group meeting.

You have some explaining to do before I would want to sit and chat with you.

Explain, and answer my questions to you as per my email sent to you yesterday, March 21.

“Please explain the logic of your thoughts. I have not requested any personal details from anyone. I have given permission to the leader of one of your groups to inform one of the attendants of that group that I want to talk and get to know that person. Explain the rationale of your words "[We] cannot pass on people’s personal details without their permission".

Also you write "She [the leader of one of your groups] has also advised me that you have emailed her regarding catching up with one of the ladies in the Group. We have some concerns about this ..." Explain your concern.

You declared your purpose with Life Groups with this statement "Life Groups are about ‘groups’ of people getting together for encouragement, fun, community & Spiritual growth." And in the following sentence you state "I would like to meet with you to discuss the purpose of Life Groups." You have already stated your purpose of Life Groups, so what do need to discuss. I have no need to discuss anything with you. I therefore presume that there is not so much something that you want to discuss, but there is rather something that you want to say to me. So please say it. If there is something that you wanted to ask, then ask.

Please explain the above mentioned statements, and also answer: 1) What do you want to say to me? 2) What do you want?”

Regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Reminder 3: In reference to my previous letters, March 22, 23 & 25, I expect that your Gateway Church will respond promptly.

Reminder 2: In reference to my previous letters, March 22 & 23, I expect that your Gateway Church will respond promptly.

In reference to my previous letter, March 22, I expect that your Gateway Church will respond promptly.

Gateway Church,

No, I am not interested to have coffee with you at this stage. First, you need to explain yourself.

You chose to express yourself in an email to me where your thoughts need to be explained. You also hint in your email that you have set a condition for me to participate in further Life Groups, as you want to meet and discuss the purpose of Life Groups prior to the next Life Group meeting.

You have some explaining to do before I would want to sit and chat with you.

Explain, and answer my questions to you as per my email sent to you yesterday, March 21.

“Please explain the logic of your thoughts. I have not requested any personal details from anyone. I have given permission to the leader of one of your groups to inform one of the attendants of that group that I want to talk and get to know that person. Explain the rationale of your words "[We] cannot pass on people’s personal details without their permission".

Also you write "She [the leader of one of your groups] has also advised me that you have emailed her regarding catching up with one of the ladies in the Group. We have some concerns about this ..." Explain your concern.

You declared your purpose with Life Groups with this statement "Life Groups are about ‘groups’ of people getting together for encouragement, fun, community & Spiritual growth." And in the following sentence you state "I would like to meet with you to discuss the purpose of Life Groups." You have already stated your purpose of Life Groups, so what do need to discuss. I have no need to discuss anything with you. I therefore presume that there is not so much something that you want to discuss, but there is rather something that you want to say to me. So please say it. If there is something that you wanted to ask, then ask.

Please explain the above mentioned statements, and also answer: 1) What do you want to say to me? 2) What do you want?”

Regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Hi Torsten

I would be happy to meet with you for a coffee. If you would like to catch up feel free to ring me on 0416019934.

Email is a limiting form of communication.

Kind Regards, Adrian

Hello Adrian,

Please explain the logic of your thoughts. I have not requested any personal details from anyone. I have given permission to the leader of one of your groups to inform one of the attendants of that group that I want to talk and get to know that person. Explain the rationale of your words "[We] cannot pass on people’s personal details without their permission".

Also you write "She [the leader of of of your groups] has also advised me that you have emailed her regarding catching up with one of the ladies in the Group. We have some concerns about this ..." Explain your concern.

You declared your purpose with Life Groups with this statement "Life Groups are about ‘groups’ of people getting together for encouragement, fun, community & Spiritual growth." And in the following sentence you state "I would like to meet with you to discuss the purpose of Life Groups." You have already stated your purpose of Life Groups, so what do need to discuss. I have no need to discuss anything with you. I therefore presume that there is not so much something that you want to discuss, but there is rather something that you want to say to me. So please say it. If there is something that you wanted to ask, then ask.

Please explain the above mentioned statements, and also answer: 1) What do you want to say to me? 2) What do you want?

Regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Hi Torsten

Sarah has advised me that you attended ‘Life Group’ on Monday night.

She has also advised me that you have emailed her regarding catching up with one of the ladies in the Group.

We have some concerns about this, and cannot pass on people’s personal details without their permission.

Life Groups are about ‘groups’ of people getting together for encouragement, fun, community & Spiritual growth.

I would like to meet with you to discuss the purpose of Life Groups before the Group next meets.

Please contact me on 0416019934 to organise a time and date.

Regards, Adrian

Hi Sarah Wilson!

Thanks for being good and inviting me to your home tonight for the study-group. It was friendly. Thanks!

I wanted to chat with Kath, but she sort of just ran off. I spoke with her in church, but I didn't recognize her right away in the group as she was wearing something black in the group, and she was wearing a red dress at church. My apology for that. Please tell her that I want to talk with her and get to know her, and have a cup of coffee together. You can also just forward this email to her.

Very best regards,

Torsten Nenzen

torsten@nenzen.net

Hi Sarah Wilson!

I should be there before 7:30pm.

I'll text you if the door is locked or something like that, from this number +46 707 77 77 54.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Hello Torsten,

I am not sure if you received my first email as I noted there were two different email addresses on your correspondence with Adrian.

Kind Regards

Sarah Wilson

Hi Torsten,

My name is Sarah, I am the life group leader for the group that meets in Seaford on Monday nights. As we are doing a series with the whole church at the moment we are meeting every Monday night. When the series concludes it will be fortnightly. The group is a mixture of married and single people in the age range of mid 20's to mid 30's.

We meet at [street number] Nepean Hwy Seaford at 7:30pm. It is approximately 15 minutes walk from Kananook Train Station (walk up McCulloch St to Nepean Hwy, turn left and I am a couple of hundred metres towards Frankston on the left hand side. If the door is closed you will need to ring my mobile to access the building – [mobile number] as the intercom is currently out of order. I am on the second level - the only unit with cream coloured security shutters. It is also an easy bike ride from Carrum.

We look forward to having you in our group, please do not hesitate to contact me on [mobile number] if you have any questions

Kind Regards

Sarah Wilson

Hi Adrian Brand!

Thanks.

Yes, please provide my contact details to Sarah Wilson. Please let her understand that I would need the two minimum information from her, preferably by email: location, and time.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzén

Hi Torsten

The Group leaders name is Sarah Wilson.

Her mobile number is [mobile number].

Or I can ask her to contact you if that is a better option?

Regards, Adrian Brand

Hi Adrian!

Thanks for the info.

My identifying age bracket: 30-40. So the 25-35 age group is the best fit.

My location: Carrum.

Transportation: I use public transport and bicycle.

Monday nights at Seaford for the 25-35 sounds almost right. If I feel overage, which I usually don't, then I'll let you know and inquire of a different group.

What time on Monday, where, and what is the contact info for the leader?

Best regards,

Torsten

Hi Torsten

We have quite a few Life Groups at Gateway. I need a bit more information:

What is your age & location please?

We run a number of groups for the 18 – 25 age bracket which are for guys & girls which meet on Wednesday nights in varying people’s homes.

The next age group is a 25 – 35 age group for guys/girls which meets on a Monday night in Seaford.

We also have a ‘mens’ group which meets on Wednesday nights and has varying ages from 25 – 60.

We then have other groups which meet on a couple nights of the week, depending on your availability.

Wednesday is the most popular night for groups as it is midweek.

Maybe we could catch up at church this Sunday?

Regards, Adrian

Hi Adrian!

Thanks for contacting me.

I don't know what there is to discuss. You are welcome to text me a very short message on my mobile number if there is something very urgent. But if your message is something lengthy, then please send an email.

It's very simple: I seek opportunities to meet and communicate with other Christian singles. Life Groups seem logical.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Hi Torsten

Thank-you for your email. I also received an Life Group enquiry card today.

Is it possible for me to contact you by phone to discuss the options you are looking for.

I can contact you or my mobile number is 0416019934.

If this a problem email me on admin@vadacafe.org.au

Thanks, Adrian

Gateway Church,

Hi.

I am a Christian single man visiting here in Melbourne for several months to begin with. While I am here in Melbourne, I seek a Christian community where I also might find opportunities to fellowship, socialise, meet and talk with other Christian singles.

Are there opportunities in your congregation where also single Christians can meet and communicate - and build relationships?

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzén

Email: torsten@nenzen.net

Text messages: +46 707 77 77 54

Skype: blessisrael