Gafcon Theological Educators Network meeting

Prayer update from Gafcon (published on Thursday):

“We give thanks for today’s gathering of international theological leaders at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia, under the leadership of The Revd Canon Dr Bill Salier, coordinator of the Gafcon Theological Educators Network.

The event gathered theological leaders from across the globe, including The Rt Revd Canon Dr Ashley Null (Bishop of North Africa, Wittenberg Center for Reformation Studies), Dr Jake Griesel (George Whitefield College, South Africa), The Revd Canon Dr Mark Thompson and The Revd Dr Mark Earngey (Moore Theological College), The Revd David Clancey (Bishopdale Theological College, New Zealand) and The Revd Peter Blair (London School of Theology), as well as other key members of the Anglican academic world.

Pray that the Lord will bring great fruit from the discussion about the importance of Reformation studies for the good of the Gafcon movement, as together we seek to guard God’s gospel by growing orthodox leaders through the strengthening of seminaries across the world.”

– Source: Gafcon. And a reminder to pray for and support clear, faithful theological education throughout the Anglican Communion.

Should you share the gospel with your Catholic friends?

“It is a question that seems to arise time and again and year after year: How should Protestants relate to Roman Catholics? Are Catholics faithful brothers and sisters in the Lord? Are they misguided members of an alternative denomination? Are they followers of an entirely different faith that preaches an entirely different gospel? How should we relate to our Catholic friends and family members? And,, if given the opportunity to speak about what matters most, what should we tell them?

Leonardo De Chirico lives and ministers in a unique context …”

– Tim Challies reviews Leonardo De Chirico book Tell Your Catholic Friend.

“De Chirico’s book is meant to equip Protestants to speak truth to their Catholic friends, and I believe it does so effectively. It will give readers confidence in their knowledge of Catholic doctrine and practical instruction in how to speak truth in a way that faithfully represents Scripture.“

Related:

What’s the Deal with Catholic Experience and Sacraments? – the latest video from Certainty4Eternity –

The Great Commission became his Ambition

“While his name has faded from our collective memory, Adoniram Judson Jr. (1788–1850) was one of the most famous men of his century.

In the eyes of the world, Judson seemed destined for greatness. He excelled at nearly everything he did, advancing in Latin, rhetoric, and mathematics so quickly that he entered the College of Rhode Island (later Brown University) at the age of sixteen. During his senior year of college, Judson launched his own school while still managing to graduate as valedictorian.

He revered the great men of history, but his ‘burning ambition’ (as he put it) was to surpass them. One day, Judson believed, his name would shine.

He was right. But when it did, it wasn’t his story he told. …“

– At Desiring God, Ryan Griffith reminds us of Adoniram Judson, pioneer missionary to Burma.

Image adapted from one in The Life of Adoniram Judson, Volume 3, 1883, by Edward Judson.

Bathurst Winter 2025 Newsletter

The Winter 2025 edition of the Bathurst Diocese Newsletter is now up on their website.

Plenty to pray about, including –

“Grenfell – you’re invited to join many in welcoming the Rev’d Steve and Mrs Clenda Wockner as we commission Steve as their new minister – Sat 23 Aug, 11am.”

– Download the newsletter for your interest – and your prayers.

GSFA Centenary Greeting to Angola

As the Anglican Church in Angola gives thanks on its centenary, Archbishop Dr Justin Badi sends greetings from the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches –

“Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Anglican Church in Angola

Grace and peace to you as you celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Anglican Church in Angola. On behalf of the Primates of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), we assure you of our prayers on this historic day. …”

– Read his message here.

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.

Beyond the Crisis: Global Perspectives on a training culture for the next generation

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“A training culture for the next generation:  Healthy Churches producing new ministers for the next generation.

Across the world, the number of candidates putting themselves forward for gospel ministry is in decline. Many churches are feeling the pinch – struggling to find leaders and often looking elsewhere to fill ministry gaps.

Yet healthy churches don’t just maintain ministry; they reproduce it. They raise up and send out the next generation of gospel workers.

This week in Sydney, a group of evangelical movement leaders from across the globe have gathered to sharpen one another in this task: creating a culture of training that will multiply gospel workers for the decades ahead.

The shift they are calling for is from passively plotting decline to actively asking, What are we going to do?—and then taking decisive steps toward it.

We’re joined this afternoon by three of those symposium participants.

From the UK, Robin Sydserff of the Proclamation Trust.

From Santiago, Chile, Matt Pope – pastor and trainer of pastors in five Latin American countries, formerly of St Ebbe’s in Oxford.

And from Cleveland, Ohio, Marty Sweeney – pastor for training at Old North Church and long-time champion of multiplying ministry apprentices.”

– Watch or listen here.

The Faith of Satan — Know your enemy

From Phillip Jensen:

“Two words commonly misunderstood today are ‘faith’ and ‘Satan’. In this week’s episode, Peter and I pursue our understanding of faith and Satan’s contribution in undermining it.

Once again, can we encourage you to mention the weekly podcast to friends, colleagues, and neighbours? I hope you will enjoy this episode.”

– Listen at Two Ways News.

Donison Down Under Tour — November 2025

A prayer point from Gafcon –

“We pray for the upcoming November visit to Australia and New Zealand by our General Secretary, The Rt Revd Paul Donison, as he presents the ‘Gafcon Global Vision’ events, and visits key leaders in the two countries.

Bishop Paul will be speaking at free evening events this November in Melbourne (Tuesday 18th), Hobart (Wednesday 19th), Perth (Thursday 20th), Adelaide (Friday 21st), Sydney (Wednesday 26th), Brisbane (Friday 28th), and Christchurch (Saturday 29th).

Pray that this two-week visit will energise and inspire Aussies and Kiwis as they hear important updates about our movement, and that it will help grow their Gafcon Global Vision as they hear of the many opportunities to partner with brothers and sisters around the world in generous fellowship.”

– Prayer point and photo: Gafcon. Might be good to pop in your calendar.

More prayer points and stories from Gafcon here.

‘He is Able’ – Yes, He is!

“Let’s think about one of the most beautiful verses in the whole Bible – Hebrews 7.25: Jesus is able to save to the utmost all who come to the Father through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. …”

– Bob Thomas shares Christ-focussed encouragement at The Australian Presbyterian.

Peter Williams speaks with apologist Wes Huff

From Tyndale House:

“Peter Williams interviews apologist Wes Huff about how he became a Christian, the Bible research he has been working on, and why he still believes Scripture is reliable.”

– Watch here. (Many younger people, in the US in particular, are hearing from Wes Huff, and he will be speaking in Queensland next month.)

The Case for Pew Bibles

These days, how many of our churches use pew Bibles?

This article at Mere Orthodoxy makes a good argument for doing so –

“Is something lost when we depend on digital media for our Scripture consumption? Is projecting the Scripture passage onto the screen adequate for whole-person and whole-church discipleship and mission, or can a case be made that pew Bibles are an essential part of making God’s Word accessible for all?

…

Pew Bibles empower the people in the hearing and heeding of God’s Word since they place the revelation of God in their hands with no impediment and with the endorsement to see for themselves. As the pastor speaks the Word of God, the people may follow along; they are both physically and metaphorically on the same page.

The presence of pew Bibles is certainly not the only way to accomplish this, but a church that actively and intentionally places the Word of God before the people signals the leadership’s subservience to the Word.”

– Read it all here. (Link via challies.com.)

Enrolments in Bible Colleges

Some historical perspective and a challenge from David Cook:

“Moore College and SMBC experienced record enrolments in 1960, 1969 and 1980.

I was part of the student enrolment in SMBC in 1969, we had 35 men enrolled in our year compared to 7 men in the year before.

What had happened?

Billy Graham had conducted campaigns in Sydney in 1959, 1968 and 1979.

There is a direct relationship between lively, faithful, engaging Bible preaching and people both being saved and people offering themselves to train for ministry.

Here in Sydney in my own denomination, J. Graham Miller’s ministry at Hurstville Presbyterian was the catalyst God used to call numbers of men into training in the late 1970s,  Phillip Jensen at Uni of NSW was similarly used of God.

Men and women would be changed by such preaching and would be so challenged that they gave serious prayerful consideration as to make such ministry their life’s vocation. …”

– Do read it all – at The Expository Preaching Trust.

And see the end of his article for some fine aids for preachers.

See also:

Daily Bread’s Journey Through.

On Graham Miller’s Method for “Personal Daily Bible Study”.

Image: David as a guest preacher at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.

Moore College Sunday

It’s not too late to pray for Moore College!

“Moore College Sunday is officially held annually on the first Sunday of August. If you can’t hold Moore College Sunday on this day, that’s OK. We value your prayers and support of our College, and will have resources available for the rest of the year!”

– Details here.

Confident Prayer

“What do you think of prayer? Do you pray regularly? And if you do, do you pray with confidence? Can God, whom we call ‘Father’, be trusted to hear our prayers and answer them?

In Luke chapter 11, verses 9 and 10, Jesus says: “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

On either side of these words Jesus answers two questions we might have about prayer: Does God always listen to us? Does he always have our very best interests at heart? His answer is found in two metaphors that sit on either side of his words in verses 9 and 10. …”

– John Mason shares encouragement for prayer at The Anglican Connection.

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