Outprinting the Prosperity Gospel in Southern Africa

“Seven years ago, Tommie van der Walt went to his elders with an idea.

‘I wanted to train pastors,’ he said. He especially wanted to train pastors in impoverished and underresourced areas. And he wanted to do it, in large part, by using books.

It sounds like the beginning of a great plan. Van der Walt lives in Africa, which is overrun with syncretism and the prosperity gospel. The need to train pastors is obvious.

But relying on books wasn’t as intuitive. First, getting books to Africa is prohibitively expensive. The shipping takes months. And if you do manage to get books there, Africa’s oral tradition and lower literacy ratesmean they’re likely to sit unread.

Not only that, but somebody else had beaten him to it.

‘Guys like Joel Osteen pay for imports or for printing,’ van der Walt said. It’s a financial strategy: ‘They pay for their resources to be dirt cheap, because they know if you read their books or see them on TV, you’ll give them money.’

It’s working—over the last 10 years, the prevalence of the prosperity gospel has been ‘getting worse,’ says pastor and TGC Africa Council member Conrad Mbewe. ‘One reason is that there is very little antidote for it.’…”

– A fascinating story of God’s grace at work – from Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra at The Gospel Coalition.

Photo: Gospel Coalition.

Alternative Anglican Ordinations: seven South African deacons

Law and Religion UK introduces a guest post on recent events in London:

“Seven lay ministers from dioceses across the Church of England were ordained in May 2025 by a visiting Anglican bishop from South Africa.

In this guest post, Andrew Atherstone provides the first report of this event, based on interviews with several of the leading participants.

‘On Wednesday 21 May 2025, the Archbishop of York received notification from the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH SA) of their plans to ordain “missionary clergy” for ministry in England.

“A group of churches from various Church of England dioceses”, declared Bishop Martin Morrison from Gauteng, “have approached us with a request: that we consider ordaining a number of emerging leaders, all of whom are appropriately selected and theologically trained.” Following the commendation of the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) in December 2023 by the Church of England’s House of Bishops, these young leaders found themselves unable “in good conscience” to pursue ordination through the normal channels, and their congregations were deeply concerned that “no clear or lasting pastoral provision has yet been made”, especially in terms of “legal and permanent structural protections or future ministry pathways”.

Therefore, Bishop Morrison explained to the Archbishop, REACH SA had decided to accede to their request for ordination. He emphasised: “This decision has been made with the aim of sustaining and advancing faithful Anglican evangelical witness and to ensure we do not lose a generation of gifted gospel workers to ordained ministry.”

Morrison’s letter was copied to the Bishop of London (in the absence of an Archbishop of Canterbury) and to the Bishop of Leicester (lead bishop of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) project until his sudden resignation in early June). …’ ”

– Read the full report here. (Paragraph breaks added for clarity.)

NSW Budget Pathetic on Pokies Harm

“It’s time to put airbags on pokies!

Today’s NSW Budget is pathetically weak on gambling harm.

In fact, NSW tax revenue from pokies in pubs and clubs will reach a record level – $2.6 billion in the next financial year! That’s rising by 6% per annum – faster than the inflation rate.

This comes off the back of NSW residents who lose over $24 million every day on poker machines — more than $1 million an hour! …”

– Here’s this week’s media release from the Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant.

Photo: Wesley Mission’s Stuart Cameron and Anglican Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant in 2022, courtesy SydneyAnglicans.net.

Double the number of reformed evangelicals in Australia over twenty years

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“In a bold move, a meeting of movement leaders from across Australian Reformed Evangelicalism has resolved to work together to see their numbers double over twenty years, through seeing sinners saved.

Leaders gathered for a mini summit organised by The Gospel Coalition Australia at Sydney’s Moore Theological College last week.

Gospel Coalition Australia Chair Rory Shiner says given the unparalleled theological and missional unity between the different organisations there’s a significant window of opportunity to work productively together for God’s glory.

They agreed to work towards an effective target of growing five percent per year through conversion growth. …”

– Rory Shiner, Sarah Kuswadi, Andrew Heard and Gary Millar join Dominic Steele.

Watch or listen here.

Church of England responds to House of Commons votes

“There have been two instances this week of votes in the House of Commons on issues where members have been free to vote in line with their personal opinions. The Church of England has issued press releases in each case.

First, a change to the law on abortion was approved …

Second, MPs in the House of Commons voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, with 314 votes in favour and 291 against, a majority of 23.”

– from Thinking Anglicans. Not a good time for the not-yet-born, the old, or the very ill in England.

Gafcon Sunday 2025 Preparations

From Gafcon:

“Pray that the celebration of Gafcon Sunday on June 29th 2025 will a joyful day of thanksgiving for the movement and ministry of Gafcon, as we long to see the Bible at the heart of the Anglican Communion.

Pray that the two-minute video will be played in churches around the world so that the Gafcon family will be encouraged to grow in their participation in our shared mission, and that this will help strengthen the understanding of the four key purposes of Gafcon.

Pray also that churches and individuals will be stirred up to give generously to Gafcon, to provide for our urgent need of funds as we continue and develop our ministry of guarding God’s gospel, to his great glory.”

Here’s the two-minute video.

And this page might be helpful in explaining what Gafcon is about.

Australian Presbyterian Overseas Work

It’s easy to live in an Anglican bubble. In this article, Kevin Murray, National Director of Australian Presbyterian World Mission, gives a taste of what our Presbyterian brothers and sisters are doing –

“From time to time I’m asked to speak at a church missions dinner and over the course of 30-45 minutes I take those present on a whirlwind tour of just some of the things that we do as a church overseas. Afterwards someone will approach me and say ‘I had no idea we are doing so much!’

Here’s a small sample from some of our Partner Churches…”

– Read it at AP, The Australian Presbyterian.

Prayer for Peace in the Middle East

From Gafcon:

“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ within our Gafcon family,

I bring you greetings in the mighty name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

We are grieved by the escalating violence between Israel and Iran.

With heavy hearts, we watch as this conflict brings death, destruction, and unspeakable suffering to the innocent.

Each of those killed or wounded—Israeli, Iranian, or others caught in this conflict—are made in the image of God. Reports of civilian casualties, including children, drive us to our knees in lament and prayer.

I ask you to join me in prayer.  

Pray for this conflict to cease. Pray for the protection of the innocent.  Pray for the wounded and for the bereaved. And pray that the Lord will raise up peacemakers in our time.  

For, our Lord Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). We must all be voices for peace in a world that too often chooses the way of violence.

As we pray for Israel and Iran, let us also remember the long-suffering people of Sudan, Eastern Congo, Ukraine, and all others who are suffering in this moment.

Even now, we do not lose hope.

For, Jesus Christ was born into a world torn by conflict. Through the cross, he reconciled not only humanity to God but enemies to one another: “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).

In this season of Pentecost, may the Holy Spirit rekindle in us the ministry of reconciliation and prayer—for the sake of a world in need.

The Most Reverend Dr. Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda
Bishop of Gasabo
Monday, 16th June 2025.”

– via e- mail.

Bishop of Leicester steps down as lead on Living in Love and Faith

“The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, has announced that he is stepping down as lead bishop for the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.

On Facebook on Friday afternoon, he wrote that he was doing so ‘with a very heavy heart’. He was ‘hugely grateful to the staff team that I have worked with over the last 18 months and similarly the Working Group members who have given hours of their time to seek an agreed way forward in the Church of England on matters of sexuality, relationships, and marriage. I hope it may yet be possible to reach such an agreement, but I don’t think that can happen under my leadership.’…”

– Report from Church Times.

Image from an October 2024 (now deleted) video by Bishop Snow.

75 Years of Church Society

In the latest Church Society podcast with Ros Clarke:

“Church Society is celebrating 75 years since its formation from the Church Association and the National Church League in 1950.

In this episode of the podcast, we hear from Andrew Atherstone, Gerald Bray and Lee Gatiss about the history of Church Society before 1950, in the past 75 years, and into the present day.”

– Listen here. 35 minutes.

Church of Uganda celebrates Archbishop Janani Luwum’s legacy

From NTV Uganda –

“Forty-eight years ago, Archbishop Janani Luwum was reportedly assassinated on the orders of the former President Iddi Amin Dada.

Luwum was at the time the leader of the Church of Uganda. But his legacy lives on after Uganda declared the 16 of February a public holiday to celebrate the life of Luwum. Daniel Kibet brings us the tales from the Northern Uganda Diocese of the Anglican Church, where Luwum once served as the bishop, and how people there remember him.”

– The 5 minute report includes comments from Moore College graduate Bishop Alfred Olwa.

Joint statement on the NSW floods

Joint statement on the NSW floods

Our hearts ache for the people of the Mid-North, Hunter and other areas of New South Wales suffering in the current flood crisis.

We pray for the tireless work of emergency workers and first responders as they guard and save lives. May God give them strength and endurance. We cry out to God for families grieving the loss of loved ones, homes and businesses. May they find comfort and hope.

We give thanks for the countless acts of neighbourliness, kindness and help, and for the resilience of these communities.

As Anglicare, Samaritans and local churches gear up for the recovery operation ahead, may God bless their efforts to share the love and compassion of Christ with a hurting community.

May those who suffer cling to the hope of restoration through the God who makes all things new.

The Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of NSW

The Right Reverend Dr Peter Stuart, Bishop of Newcastle

The Right Reverend Dr Murray Harvey, Bishop of Grafton

23 May 2025.

– via SydneyAnglicans.net

Ashley Null consecrated as the second Anglican Bishop of North Africa

“On Sunday 11th May, the world-renowned Thomas Cranmer scholar, the Rev Canon Dr John Ashley Null, was consecrated as the second Anglican Bishop of North Africa in a joyful service at St George’s Tunis …”

– Report from Charles Raven at the GSFA website.

(Gafcon photo.)

Notice of the Anglican Church League’s 2025 Annual General Meeting

The ACL gives notice and warmly invites its members to attend the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Date: 6.00 pm, Thursday 12th June, 2025.

Location: T.C. Hammond Room, Moore Theological College, 1 King Street, Newtown NSW (enter via Carillon Avenue).

Come and hear Dr. Mark Thompson, Moore Theological College Principal & ACL Vice President on –

“The night the Diocese, the College and the ACL all almost imploded.”

The agenda for the meeting, including positions that need to be filled by election, is available by clicking the image below.

The list of current Council members can be found here.

Need to renew your ACL membership? (Due by 6:00pm 12th June). Please use this link.

Download the agenda here.

The vision of the ACL is to advance the reformed and evangelical character of the Anglican Church of Australia, particularly in the Diocese of Sydney.

Authentic Anglicanism

What is an Anglican? How is Anglicanism being stretched out of shape to be unrecognisable? Sydney’s Doctrine Commission has produced a report on authentic Anglicanism and the following is an abridged version, with some language simplified for general reading.

“ ‘Anglicanism’ is the label attached to a form of Christian corporate life that traces its theological convictions and ecclesiastical practice to the New Testament, with an especially formative period during the English Reformation.

Its congregations are part of the ‘one holy catholic and apostolic church’ confessed in the ecumenical creeds, yet they share distinctives that mark them out from other communions and denominations. …”

– Dr Mark Thompson writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.

(Mark is Chairman of the Sydney Doctrine Commission.)

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