Hope for the Illawarra
“In my time in ministry, I have encountered many people who, while acknowledging Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” feel impossibly ill-equipped, and so are reluctant to do so.
In fact, many of these people further claim that they lack any ability whatsoever to evangelise, presuming the work of evangelism is for those whom God has so gifted. Yet what is apparent is that God typically calls people to himself through the patient, prayerful and consistent sharing of the gospel by regular Christians, despite how prepared they may or may not feel. Having said that, it should be our constant desire to better equip Christians for evangelism to grow their confidence in sharing the gospel with others.
Some of the key ways this can happen is through the encouragement of other believers, through training and equipping one another, but also by engaging with those who have a gift for communicating the gospel clearly and winsomely. Listening to someone who is gifted with communicating the gospel can be an encouragement for Christians, but it can also provide us with a great opportunity to invite someone to hear the gospel taught with clarity and faithfulness.
This was precisely what the churches in the Illawarra were offered when Christian broadcasting organisation Leading the Way invited them to participate in a mass-scale mission campaign, which would culminate in evangelistic outreach events at which Dr Michael Youssef would speak. It was an offer that was gladly accepted. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Ella Leach shares some wonderful encouragement from Hope for Illawarra.
Photo via SydneyAnglicans.net.
ACL Synod Dinner 2025 audio
If you missed the panel discussion at the ACL Synod Dinner on 15ht September, with the topic of Hope from the Coal Face, the audio recording is available here:
Our panel speakers:
The Rev Canon Bruce Morrison has been the Senior Minister at St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Parramatta for over twenty years.
The Rev Jason McPhail is the Assistant Minister at St John’s, Keiraville International Church.
Mrs Wendy Potts is the Anglicare Sydney Learning Consultant – Evangelism.
Jason McPhail and Wendy Potts contributed to the recent Hope for the Illawarra Mission.
100 Ministry Stories from Moore College — Dani Treweek
Moore College has published the latest video in its 100 Ministry Stories.
Veronica Hoyt, Director of the Priscilla & Aquila Centre, speaks with Dani Treweek.
Most encouraging.
– Watch here.
See also:
Singleness book wins Christian book of the year
The real meaning of singleness
100 Ministry Stories from Moore College — Grahame and Patty Scarratt
Moore College has published another video in its 100 Ministry Stories.
Peter Jensen speaks with Grahame and Patty Scarratt.
“From surveying in NSW to serving in Chile, Grahame and Patty Scarratt’s journey has been marked by a deep love for God’s word. What began at Moore College grew into decades of ministry across Latin America—most significantly the translation and teaching of the Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) and the beginnings of MOCLAM.
Through their work, countless pastors and church members gained access to solid biblical training in their own language, shaping the Anglican Church in Chile and beyond. Even after returning to Australia, the Scarratts continued publishing and supporting resources so that more people might know and teach the Scriptures.”
– Watch here. (And Grahame has a challenge for churches in Sydney.)
Related –
Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) from Moore College.
Reading as Rebellion
“Everyone agrees. We live in an age of vanishing readers – a digital desert where sustained attention has evaporated and the next generation risks losing its imaginative inheritance.
But we can still read! some say. Sure, we read snippets here and there wherever we scroll online, and we dip into an occasional article or post on a sports page or in a political forum. But reading a book, going about it the old-fashioned way, where you give yourself over to a thoughtful and sustained argument that unfolds over several chapters, or where you lose yourself in a novel alive with beauty and subtlety – this practice appears less and less common for all ages, but especially the young. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Trevin Wax has encouragement and a challenge for us all.
The Hardest Thing for Christians to Do
“What’s the hardest thing for Christians to do?
To tidy up and do things around the church? To ‘bring a plate’ for after-church fellowship? To tithe? (two or three other tithers + you = no more financial problems for your church!) To believe that Christ is coming again? To have assurance of salvation? To live in personal relationship with Christ?
No. Christians can do all these things fairly easily.
The hardest thing for Christians to do is …”
– Read on to discover what Bob Thomas, retired Presbyterian minister, sees as the hardest thing for Christians to do. At AP.
Evangelism – A Priority in Your Parish? — Neil Prott
From our archives:
“There is nothing more wonderful we can do for anyone than introduce them to Jesus Christ.
However, this is not reflected in the programme of many parishes today.
No doubt there are numerous reasons for the current state of affairs. Our analysis should take in the Scriptural factors as well as the obvious ones. …”
– The late Neil Prott wrote this article for ACL News back in 1989.
(We gave thanks for Neil when he was called home in April 2022.)
Evangelism and the Local Church
From AP, the Australian Presbyterian journal, Mark Powell speaks with Dave Jensen –
“Dave Jensen talks about his amazing conversion to faith in Jesus as well as why he is passionate about seeing others come to faith in Jesus.
Dave’s ministry now is helping local churches be equipped to share the Gospel with others.”
– Watch here.
Preaching’s Big Umbrella
“Apostle Paul unfolds a big umbrella over the work of the pastor/teacher in 1 Corinthians 1.23,24: ‘But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God’.
This begs the question for every preacher: Am I preaching Christ in all the fullness of His Person and Work to all-comers, sceptics and saved, sinners and saints, in the face of all opposition and all acceptation? …”
– The Expository Preaching Trust features this post from Bob Thomas, retired Presbyterian minister and, for many years, the Editor of New Life.
(Bob shared his experience of ‘church union’ in The Crisis of 77.)
Reaching Out in Difficult Situations
“Timothy has been given a tough assignment — he has been designated to supervise the churches in the regions of Ephesus. He is to proclaim the gospel positively; he is to correct the damage done by the false teachers; and he is to lay down patterns of proper congregational life. …”
– From our archives – a 1988 talk given by Bishop Dudley Foord.
Training for body and soul
“The Apostle Paul was probably a sports fan. He often used sporting illustrations… Fight the good fight of faith. Run the race. Wrestle in prayer. …”
– With the Sydney Marathon coming up this weekend, Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant reflects on the training that’s important for eternity.
Image: The thin blue line laid down for the Marathon during the Sydney Olympics in 2000 (at Sydney Road, North Strathfield).
How to keep going when the knives are out at church?
From The Pastor’s Heart this week –
“The call to ministry is a call to lay down your life for others, but how do we create a well-thought-out roadmap toward pastoral perseverance – when there are external and/or internal difficulties?
How do we approach congregational conflict, criticism, unrealistic expectations or personal health, financial and family stress?
Why is pastoral friendship not optional, but essential?
Today on The Pastor’s Heart, there’s advice for pastors who feel isolated and are feeling like quitting.
Brian Croft leads Practical Shepherding in Louisville Kentucky.
Matthew Spandler Davison also lives in Louisville, serves with Practical Shepherding, and as an executive director of 20 Schemes, Church in Hard Places in Scotland as well as the preaching pastor for Redeemer Fellowship in Bardstown, Kentucky.”
How to improve our preaching – with David Cook and Robin Sydserff
From The Pastor’s Heart –
“Today our focus on The Pastor’s Heart is on how to preach for transformation for real changes in people’s lives.
Two men with a lifetime’s passion for preaching — Robin Sydserff, Director of the Proclamation Trust and David Cook, former Principal of Sydney Missionary and Bible College and a long-time preaching mentor – now with the Expository Preaching Trust.
We start by looking at how Christian leaders the UK and Australia influenced preaching patterns overseas.
We look at preaching that has led to record enrolments at Bible Colleges, the purpose of preaching, the life and relationships of the preacher, training preachers and what patience is needed in preaching growth.”
Related –
Perseverance and Endurance in Ministry
Phillip Jensen speaks about Perseverance and Endurance in Ministry.
Audio recording – 38 minutes.
Witness when the Vibe shifts
“Have you heard the vibe has shifted? Whether you call it a quiet revival, the surprising rebirth in belief in God, or something more modest, it appears there is a new sense of openness towards Christianity.
Christians may have felt increasingly sidelined in the recent past, but now, at least in some circles, we are being given a hearing where we weren’t before. Something of this phenomenon has been reflected in my own local experience. There has been a steady trickle of young people who are seeking answers to big questions and are willing to listen to what their Christian friends have to say. Perhaps you have seen the same in your own context.
That raises the question, how should we conduct ourselves when we feel we are finally given a hearing? …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Pat O’Keefe, a member of the team at St. Mark’s Northbridge, points us to the encouraging example of the Apostle Paul’s witness.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…