Fred and Betty Evans' Website

I first met Pastor Bill Rosas when I was invited to preach at the Christmas Convention in the Katherine Show Grounds in the Northern Territory of Australia in the late 1980s.

It was a convention for aboriginal territorians who came from near and far to celebrate Christmas together.

I will never forget it for two reasons.

-The sweltering humid summer heat.

-The incredible manifestation of the Holy Spirit upon the people.

Bill Rosas was the pastor and I remember being so impressed by this humble servant of God who not only gave us loving hospitality but enthusiastically embraced the outpouring of the Spirit.

Bill Rosas passed away 30th February 2019 and we honour the memory of this man of God.

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Bill Rosas received his initial Bible training under the ministry of one of the pioneers of the Assemblies of God movement in Australia , Pastor Will Enticknap.

Madge Rosas from North Queensland graduated from the Assemblies Commonwealth Bible College in 1949. 

Bill & Madge Rosas felt the call of God to minister in the Northern Territory.

They first travelled to the Northern Territory in 1967 and was part of a core group of pentecostals including the Peter Morgan family, Grants and Clarks from North Queensland.

They started the 1st AOG church in the home of Bob & Amy Randall in Stuart Park, Darwin.

Later the new church group relocated to the CWA Hall in the City.

In 1971 Elizabeth Power joined the group after graduating from CBC in 1970 and became it’s 1st Pastor.

Bernie & Desley Henaway also assisted in the early days of the Darwin Church.

Late in 1974 the church relocated to the Nightcliff Community Centre which was wiped out by Cyclone Tracy.

After the devastation of Cyclone Tracy the Darwin Church of which Bill Rosas was a stalwart & core member, eventually purchased land at Dalwood Crescent under the leadership of Pastor John & Chris Cullen.

The Assembly of God Church in Darwin is located there to this day.

During the building of the Darwin Church, Ps Bill Rosas began visiting Katherine and commenced planting a church there.

He supported himself by working for the Northern Territory Electricity Commission. (NTEC)

In 1978 Ps Bill Rosas started the 1st Pentecostal Church in Katherine.

Ps Tommy Evans officiated at the official opening and 12 people were baptised.

Ps Wagel Tapau became the interim pastor of the church (7 years) until Ps Bill Rosas was able to take over as Senior Pastor.

In 1985 Ps Bill Rosas moved to Katherine to live and was Senior Pastor of the church until he retired from full time ministry.

Of his time in ministry in Katherine Ps Bill Rosas pays special tribute to Libby Yasso (nee Power), CBC graduate, a pastor in her own right.

Libby brought her family back to the Territory and assisted Ps Rosas in the work at Katherine for 11 years before returning to Qld.

The new Katherine church building was built in 2013 by Ps Des Hall and is currently under the leadership of Pastors Andrew & Jenny McAllan. 

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday 12th March 2019 commencing at 9:30am

Venue: Heritage Christian Church 116 Casaurina Street Katherine East. Ph.08 8972 1191

Ps Bill Rosas passed away on 30th February 2019. We honour him!

The Katherine Times published an article about the Funeral service which can be accessed on the following link:

The Funeral of Ps Bill Rosas

Tributes to Pastor Rosas:

Pastor Tim Spoor.

I have known Pastor Bill Rosas for at least 70 Years.

When he left Pinnacle Pocket to go and live in Mt. Garnett we all missed him and his family. He built his own two story home there and lived in it for many years.

The next thing we heard is that they had moved to Darwin.

They became founding members of the Assembly of God in Darwin. It was in Darwin when my former brother-in-law Pastor Gavin Dennien put Pastor Bill in the position of assistant Pastor.

He later moved to Katherine to look after the sheep [As he called them] It was there he lived out his life for his Lord.

Even after his beautiful wife Madge went to be with her Lord, Pastor Bill kept plugging away tending his father’s sheep.

For the past 70 years I have kept in contact [from time to time] with this great humble man of God.

He will surely be missed by all of us.

We offer our prayers and condolences to all members of his family. God bless and keep you all. If any one would like to read this out at the funeral on my behalf that would be good.

Bill McLeod

A beautiful man and an inspiration to all who had the pleasure to meet him truely one of nature’s gentlemen my heart felt condolences to the Roses Clan.

From the Mcleods.

Doreen Sharman (Ps Denis Sharman)

Pastor Bill Rosas and his wife Madge were our Assistant Pastors when we first went to Darwin in December 1984.

His love for God, family and people always shone his life.

He then moved to Katherine to Pastor in his own right. He was Uncle Bill to so many, as well as Ps Bill.

My love, prayers and condolences to his family.

Christine Cullen (Ps John Cullen)

When we were Pastoring in Darwin in 1972 this amazing man, along with his lovely wife were pillars in the Church.

Bill was always so very supportive and loyal – reliable, humble, gentle. His love for the Lord shone from his eyes.

Tim Edwards

Our condolences to the family.

Our love and condolences to the Rosas Family.

Uncle Bill was a great father to fathers and great blessing to NT will be missed by all.

Darryl Lingwoodock

 

 

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