Albert Mohler on the Ukraine crisis

In his The Briefing for Monday 28th February 2022, Albert Mohler tackles what’s happening in Ukraine.

He provides an interesting and disturbing analysis, emphasising the importance of a Christian worldview.

Listen here.

Growing Gospel Workers

“Dear fellow-workers in ministry,

We face a pressing concern. In twenty years’ time, who will be the ministers of our churches or leading youth and children’s ministries? Who will be serving overseas as missionaries? Who will be our chaplains in schools, hospitals, prisons, universities, defence force, aged care, and sporting bodies? Who will be our church planters, here or abroad? …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Peter Adam addresses a pressing concern.

When Bec and Anton Visited Church (a Parable)

“‘This is it,’ she said. ‘Quick, turn left!’”

Bec had spotted the parking sign for Hope Church and was pointing at it as her husband turned on the indicator and started to turn.

As they drove slowly into the carpark she started to feel her stomach churn. She hadn’t been to church since she was a child more than 20 years earlier. …”

– Published last year – but with Easter fast approaching – here’s encouragement from Steven Kryger at Communicate Jesus.

Sunday morning Encouragement

After September 11 2001, Colin Buchanan wrote a song he has sung over and over again: The Lord is King. Always relevant.

And read Psalm 2.

“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.” – Psalm 2:10

New Registrar for Moore College

From Moore College:

“It is with great joy and in eager anticipation that the Governing Board of Moore Theological College has appointed Dr Paul Yeates to replace Rhonda Barry in the position of Registrar. …”

– Story here.

To Stay and Serve: Why we didn’t flee Ukraine

“In recent weeks, nearly all the missionaries have been told to leave Ukraine. Western nations evacuated their embassies and citizens. Traffic in the capital of Kyiv is disappearing. Where did the people go? Oligarchs, businessmen, and those who can afford it are leaving, saving their families from potential war. Should we do the same?…

How should the church respond when there is a growing threat of war? When there is constant fear in society? I’m convinced that if the church is not relevant at a time of crisis, then it is not relevant in a time of peace.”

– At The Gospel Coalition, Vasyl Ostryi explains why he and his family are planning on staying.

A prayer for Ukraine

From Archbishop Kanishka Raffel via SydneyAnglicans.net tonight –

The world is dismayed, though perhaps not surprised, to find that Russia has illegally invaded Ukraine in an act of unprovoked and unjustified aggression. We fear that the toll on the brave people of Ukraine will be heartrending and dreadful.  The world has had to engage in defensive action to protect the innocent and to contain aggressors in the past.

We must pray for the government and people of Ukraine, the people of Russia who live under an authoritarian regime, for the leaders of the world that they will respond with wisdom and courage and for the restraint of evil and the restoration of peace, with justice.

Psalm 10 says “Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.”

And so we ask –

Sovereign Lord, you observe all those who dwell on earth. Have mercy we pray on those who now suffer the miseries of a war not of their own making. Have compassion on the wounded and dying; comfort the broken-hearted; confound the hatred and madness of those who make war; guide our rulers, bring war to an end, bring peace across the world.  Unite us all under the reign of your Son, the Prince of Peace, before whose judgement seat the rulers of the world will give account, and in whose name we pray. Amen.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel,
Sydney, February 24, 2022.

Archbishop of Perth Responds to Concerns over Ordination

“The Archbishop of Perth has today released a statement in response to growing concerns about tonight’s ordination and the appointment of a new precentor at the Cathedral. The statement is reproduced below …

davidould.net understands that conservatives in the diocese are not placated by this message…”

– Read the latest at davidould.net.

Colleague Critiquing

“In 2019, Dr. William S Dobbie, Professor of Public Policy of the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, MA, USA, visited Australia to speak to the Independent School’s Association.

Dr. Dobbie spoke about the factors which encourage academic progress in students in middle teenage High Schools in the US.

A prominent factor was the availability of experienced colleagues to observe and give feedback to younger, newer teachers. Colleague feedback according to Dobbie was the best use of extra funding for education and did more to accelerate academic progress in students than many other more expensive options. …”

– At The Expository Preaching Trust, David Cook has further opportunities for growth and encouragement.

2022 — Year of 5fish

We’ve previously mentioned the Australian-produced 5fish app and website for sharing the news of Jesus in thousands of languages.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the app, GRN (Global Recordings Network) is calling 2022 “the year of 5fish” to help get the word out about these wonderful tools.

They are also looking for help in increasing the user interface translations from 19 to over 40. (The page linked above has a list of the user interface translations needed. Can you help?)

The 5fish app is a terrific resource to have on your device.

Archbishop of Perth Set to Proceed with Ordination that will “Split the Diocese”

“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, is set to proceed with an ordination later this week that, according to sources in the diocese, is set to ‘split the diocese’.

On the evening of Thursday 24 February 2022 Archbishop Goldsworthy will preside over the ordination at St George’s Cathedral where four candidates will be made deacon. …”

– David Ould has the story.

Photo: Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy, courtesy Diocese of Perth.

Sydney Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on the future

“Sydney Anglican Archbishop Kanishka Raffel spells out the future mission challenges in Sydney and the future of the National Anglican Church in Australia.

We canvass some of the issues Archbishop Raffel might have broached in his first Presidential address, had the ‘Synod in the Greenfields’ (scheduled for this Saturday 26 February 2022) not been postponed due to the Omicron outbreak.

Archbishop Raffel speaks frankly about the  Greenfields challenge, indigenous issues, multiculturalism, the national church and the current religious freedom debate. …”

– The latest Pastor’s Heart.

“He had lost control of his life to Jesus Christ”

“When Archbishop Kanishka Raffel came to Australia in 1972 as a small child, his home faith was Buddhism. The story of how he came to believe in Jesus has now been told on video, which is available for playing in churches or to pass on to friends.

The Archbishop’s story has been told in print and on radio, but he was moved to record a video version after a request from Anglican Chinese churches. He talks about how he became interested in studying Buddhism as a teenager and also asked Christians about their faith. …”

– Watch and download this encouraging testimony at SydneyAnglicans.net.

From around the Anglican Church of Australia

A few items of interest from around the Anglican Church of Australia –

The Idea of Duty – Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Mark Short.

“As I write this column people across the world are preparing to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the seventieth anniversary of her accession to the throne. My only encounter with royalty came at a distance. Our family were in England during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and she came to our city as part of the celebrations. The day of her visit I lined up in on the footpath with our younger son on my shoulders. From that vantage point he saw her: I did but see her lemon-yellow hat passing by. …”

Sesquicentenary of St Stephen’s Fitzgerald’s Valley – Blayney Chronicle.

“Sitting atop a hill in the picturesque Fitzgerald’s Valley between Blayney and Bathurst is an Anglican Church that is unique in the Bathurst parish.

Built in 1871 by the settlers who moved into the valley in the 1800s, St Stephen’s Anglican Church is an operating church that commands one of the best views in the central west. …”

Rod Bower, author of politically charged church billboard, leaves Central Coast – ABC News.

“Father Bower is moving onto his new role as Director of Mission for the Diocese of Newcastle, based at Lake Macquarie, where he will shape and ‘pass the baton of social justice”’ onto the next generation of priests. …”

Eighteen ordained at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney

“From twenty-something college graduates to an experienced Aboriginal Pastor, the 18 candidates for ordination at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday, Feb 19, 2022, shared both excitement and a sense of privilege and responsibility as they made their vows…”

– Encouraging news from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.

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