Bathurst Diocese Strategic Plan

You may have watched Bishop Mark Calder’s keynote address from the Bathurst Diocesan Conference held on 30 July 2022.

He spoke about the Strategic Plan for the Diocese.

Here it is in one-page – Sharing Jesus for Life! (PDF file.)

Grace Flows in Tanzania — Anglican Aid

Here’s an encouraging video from Anglican Aid.

Darwin’s Garden of Eden

Here’s a recent addition to Nungalinya College in Darwin: The Garden of Eden Art trail tells the story of Creation and the Fall –

“The pathway through the garden depicts the greek letters Alpha and Omega. You might like to ponder … Revelation 21 as you enjoy your walk through the Garden of Eden.”

In the above video, College Principal Ben van Gelderen speaks about the garden at its opening in April 2022.

It’s a good reminder to pray for the students and staff of this unique college.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel at Geraldton Cathedral’s Diamond Jubilee

Last week Archbishop Kanishka Raffel travelled to Geraldton in Western Australia for the Cathedral’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

He was welcomed to speak at the celebration service by Acting Dean David Seccombe.

Encouraging and a great reminder to pray for the progress of the gospel in the North West.

Helping Grandparents win grandchildren to Christ — with Ian Barnett

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“How can Christian grandparents be more intentional about their faith and leave a lasting legacy of faith in their grandkids and peers?

How do we as pastors, minister to those older than us encouraging them and How can they minister to their grandkids, whether or not their kids are Christian?

Ian Barnett is the former senior pastor of Figtree Anglican Church in Wollongong, and is the founder of the Australian National Grandparent Conference, which is happening in September.”

– Watch or listen here.

Praying for Bathurst’s Strategic Plan

“Sharing Jesus for Life” is the catchphrase  of the Bathurst Diocese Strategic Plan to be launched at the diocesan conference in two weeks.

It’d be good to pray for all attending the conference, and for Bishop Mark Calder as he leads it.

Eager to preach the Gospel — Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on Romans 1:8-17

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel spoke at Moore College chapel this morning.

He spoke from Romans 1:8-17. Very encouraging.

Single Minded 2022

The Single Minded Conference for 2022 is coming up soon –

“We live in a world which says our bodies exist for pleasure and self-expression, and that this must be pursued at all costs. But the Bible tells us that our bodies have been made for holiness and self-control, and that rejecting this comes at great cost.

Such conflicting messages can leave us feeling that the world says nothing but “Yes!” to our bodies, while God says nothing but “No!”.

But is that true? Is ‘No’ really all that God has to say about our bodies?

Join us for Single Minded 2022 as Sam Allberry helps us explore what it means for us to have been created with bodies, what it looks like to have a body that belongs to the Lord in a world of confusion, and how God’s word helps us to live this out in our everyday lives.”

– Learn more, and Register, at the link.

Freedom and joy

“I have recently been reading the account of a Christian minister who, upon arriving in his new parish some time in the nineteenth century, found that there was little joy in that church and a tremendous lack of assurance. The people he spoke to could not be sure that they were the objects of God’s love in Christ.

Whenever he preached, whatever he preached, they seemed to hear only a demand that they should be what they were called to be. Even the invitation to put their trust in Jesus was heard to be simply one more thing they must do. The Christian life was, for them, burdensome, punctuated by doubts about whether they were really Christian at all. Freedom, confidence and joy seemed a million miles away from their experience.

Yet the Bible’s picture of those who come to Jesus is one of being freed and released, of having burdens lifted, new life given, life to the full enjoyed. …”

– Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson shares wonderful encouragement at SydneyAnglicans.net. Also in the current Southern Cross magazine.

How do you find a good church?

In the latest Q&A video from Moore College, Lionel Windsor, Jane Tooher, Dan Wu, and Chase Kuhn talk about church. Good to share and to provoke discussion.

What I learned from 35 years of running evangelistic courses

“In the 1980s the thinking was that, given the reduced level of biblical literacy, non-believers needed more than a one-off presentation to properly appreciate the gospel. Perhaps in the 1950s, when non-believers still had a fairly good Bible knowledge, a one-off presentation could be effective. …

Things have moved on since the 1980s.”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Stephen Liggins points to the different context in which we share the gospel today – as well as some ideas which may help.

Southern Cross July-August 2022

The Diocese of Sydney’s magazine, Southern Cross, for July-August 2022 will be available in parishes this weekend.

It’s also available for download. Grab your copy now.

Speaking Appropriately

“Rev. Thomas Scott was a clueless Anglican minister located near to Olney, where John Newton pastored.

Scott was clearly not a Christian as this stage, and in 1775 had said that God would not condemn a sincere Socinian (one who only believed that Jesus was a great man). In reply, Newton pointed to Matthew 7:7-8 and John 7:16-17.

Scott was spoiling for a fight, but Newton replied with great patience and kindness to him, and by 1758 Scott was attending Newton’s mid-week meetings, and writing The Force of Truth, which is the story of his conversion. …”

– Peter Barnes, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, has some wise words concerning our speech.

Dealing with Difficult People in the Church

In a recent sermon in Chapel at Southern Seminary, Dr Rob Plummer turns to the letter of 3 John for wisdom and encouragement in the face of difficult people in the church.

This sermon may resonate with many, but it also lifts our eyes to the Lord Jesus. Most encouraging.

(Dr. Plummer also runs Daily Dose of Greek.)

Eight ways to help build the church

“We should continue in prayer for the conversion of many. Expect God to bring many into his kingdom. Continue to ask God to do what he said he would do. We need Christian communities that are both different from the culture but confidently outward focussed. …”

– What can we do to help build Christ’s church? Bishop Peter Hayward has some encouragement for us at SydneyAnglicans.net. (Also in the May-June 2022 issue of Southern Cross.)

Photo: Bishop Peter Hayward at last year’s one-day Synod in Sydney.

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