How you can help N. Iraq right now
From Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn:
Dear Friends and colleagues,
Having read my letter to the Prime Minister of Australia, a great many people are asking how they might take action.
1. Do please pray for an end to the violence – resources for prayer and giving are here. This is a good link if you are living in the northern hemisphere.
2. The Bible Society has launched an appeal. You can give here.
3. Through your own email contacts and social media outlets ensure local leaders and politicians and are apprised of what is in fact taking place. This link really should go viral.
4. The most recent statement of the Archbishop of Canterbury is also worth circulating widely.
5. For those who wanted an electronic link to my letter (to on-send to local leaders and politicians) it is here.
6. Finally – a note from Archbishop Mouneer – expressing his thankfulness for our interest and prayer. You are at liberty to circulate widely.
My dear Bishop Stuart,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I cannot tell you how much your prayers and encouragement means to me and to the Christians in the Middle East especially at this very difficult time.
Please continue to pray for us, as we will be praying that God will strengthen you.
May the Lord bless you!
+Mouneer
The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis
Bishop of the Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa
President Bishop of the Episcopal / Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East
Diocesan & Provincial Offices. 5 Michel Lutfallah Street, Zamalek, Cairo 11211
Website: http://www.dioceseofegypt.org
A Christian response to the distressing news
“I awoke on Friday morning to the news of Christians fleeing for their lives in Iraq. Over the last couple of months in Iraq, there has been mounting pressure on Christians to convert to Islam. Now, whole Christian townships have been conquered and the people are fleeing to seek Kurdish protection.
In a world riddled by war, revolutions, violence and ever increasing numbers of displaced refugees it’s strange how distressing I found Friday’s news. It’s not simply because the people are Christians, though no doubt that’s part of it. I suspect my distress is that we are being plunged into the kind of war that we do not want to have and that we have eschewed – a religious war.
As I write, I am still struggling to come to a considered response to this terrible news. Here, in point form, are some things that go towards working out an appropriate Christian response.…”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen sets down some helpful thoughts – and calls for prayer.
See also: Murder of Iraqi Christians – second appeal for prayer from Archbishop Glenn Davies.
An Invitation from God
Part of the “Jesus Brings” initiative.
Are Christian Missionaries narcissistic idiots? (Quick answer: No)
“In Ann Coulter’s view, Kent Brantly should never have gone to Africa in the first place. He should have spent his time and energies saving America…”
– Albert Mohler responds to an opinion piece by columnist Ann Coulter. While the context is US-based, the command of Christ is the same.
Looming Famine in South Sudan
Anglican Aid’s David Mansfield writes:
“Anglican Aid has entered a partnership with the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan (ECSS&S) to support a project to assist communities prepare for an expected famine during the summer of 2014/15.
The expected famine is due to the inability of displaced people to plant crops.
While emergency food security will be provided by other agencies, the Church in South Sudan is assisting through a Peace Dividends Project to assist people to plant crops to provide longer term food security.…
Anglican Aid [is] suggesting people forgo a meal out and contribute the money to support South Sudan.”
Donations may be made online or by phoning 02 92841406. (Click the image for a larger version.)
How do we lose sight of the basics?
At the recent NEXUS Conference, Richard Chin spoke on how ‘gospel DNA’ can be distorted and corrupted in our ministries. His wide-ranging talk is well worth watching. See the video here.
Moore College Sunday 2014 — Watch the video
Moore College wants to encourage you to pray for the college, and they’re going to great lengths to solicit your prayers!
See their Moore College Sunday website and watch the video. (Moore College Sunday in 2014 is this weekend, Sunday August 3rd.)
5 things you can do to help Iraq’s persecuted Christian
“If you’re like us, you’ve probably felt outrage and despair reading about the situation in Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul.
Islamic militants have taken over the ancient city (traditionally called Nineveh and featured in the story of Jonah) to establish an Islamic state. In the process, they’ve demanded Christians leave, convert or die. It’s resulted in the city emptying of Christians whose families have lived there for thousands of years. They are now sheltering in mosques, churches, refuge camps in Kurdish cities without their belongings.
So far away from the situation, it’s easy to feel helpless. But there are some things you CAN do. Here’s 5 things you can do to help Iraq’s persecuted Christians…”
– Read the list of ideas at The Bible Society.
Oak Hill Commentary — Summer 2014
The Summer 2014 edition Oak Hill’s Commentary magazine is now out (just in time to enjoy during the British heatwave).
New KCC app
Katoomba Christian Convention has released an app for iOS, Android and Windows phones – to stream audio of talks, to keep up to date with coming events, and to ‘participate in our conventions’.
Available via this link.
Irenaeus on Polycarp, a disciple of John
“Here is a delightful page from the early church that you will surely enjoy.
First, the quick background. Irenaeus (c. 130-200) was a disciple of Polycarp (died c. 155), who, in turn, was a disciple of the apostle John…”
– from Books at a Glance.
Credo Magazine — George Whitefield at 300
“In a day when ears itch and truth is shown the back door, what could be more needed than men who actually preach the Word? George Whitefield (1714-1770) was one of those men.”
– The latest Credo magazine looks at George Whitefield, three hundred years after his birth.
NEXUS Conference 2014 talks
The talks from the 2014 NEXUS Conference are being posted on their website – see them here. Most encouraging.
Celebrating one giant leap for the gospel
St. John’s Cathedral at Parramatta is celebrating 200 years since Samuel Marsden’s first Mission to New Zealand at their 10:00am service on Sunday 20th July. David Pettett will be the guest speaker. (PDF flyer.)
As well, the book Launching Marsden’s Mission, edited by Peter Bolt and David Pettett, will be launched.
(Contributors include Greg Anderson, Peter Bolt, Malcolm Falloon, Michael Gladwin, Meredith Lake, Simon Manchester, Malcolm Prentis, David Pettett and Craig Schwarze.)
The Christian origins of NAIDOC week
“This week is NAIDOC week across Australia, celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. What many don’t realise is that it was Aboriginal Christians that started NAIDOC week. Specifically, it was the initiative of an Aboriginal Christian, William Cooper, who asked the churches to start praying for aborigines on what would become known as ‘Aboriginies Sunday.’…”
– Dominic Steele writes at The Briefing.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…