Prisoners seek Prayer

From the Diocese of North West Australia:

“Inmates at Greenough Prison are turning to the chaplain for prayer and encouragement.

Geraldton Assistant Minister Mal Walker has begun filling in as prison chaplain two days a week and says the experience has shown him God’s immense love for people.…”

– This and other matters for prayer and thanksgiving on the website of the DNWA.

17,000 turn out for Franklin Graham event in London

“Thousands of people turned up for a free Franklin Graham event in London on Saturday night, exceeding the venue’s capacity.

Some 15,000 people joined the event inside, filling the ExCel Centre to capacity…”

– Report from Christian Today.

Photo: Franklin Graham, via the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

In uncertain times – the message of Hope everyone needs to hear

“Here’s 3 minutes from this weekend’s message. Given the USA’s intervention in the Israel–Iran conflict, I suspect some will find this helpful to hear today. A reminder that even in global uncertainty, Christ remains supreme — and our hope is secure in him.”

– Bishop of Bathurst Diocese, Mark Calder, shares this excerpt from the coming weekend’s message.

Whatever your views about aspects of the current conflict, and whatever might have happened by the time you see this, Bishop Calder brings us back to what is the most important message of all.

See it on Facebook – or watch the full message here.

Hope for Troubled Times

“Can we help our broken and divided world find hope and peace? Or has the voice of God’s people been silenced? …

In his Letter to God’s People in Colossae, Paul the Apostle writes of the hope that has awakened their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for one another. He reminds them that this hope is found in God’s good news which is itself grounded in the truth.

What is more, he observes that not only were God’s people in Colossae growing in their faith, love and hope, but God’s good news was bearing fruit and growing in the whole world. …”

– At the Anglican Connection, John Mason shares his ‘Word on Wednesday’ with Hope for Troubled Times.

There’s also a link to John’s new book, The Jesus Story: Seven Signs.

Sally’s Conversion

“My minister has just completed an expository sermon series on Judges which compelled me to find ways to tell my salvation story in more detail. I totally relate to Judges 21:25. Past public testimonies have avoided that salvation was related to having two abortions. Australia has developed such horrendous Australian abortion laws which are unbearable for me, so I needed to ‘come out’. …

I grew up in Hobart, with middle-class parents and two younger siblings, all of whom held a secular 20th century worldview. My parents were nominal Anglicans, educated at private schools, occasionally attending church at Christmas and Easter, and also for special events. …”

– Sally Trethewey shares her story of the Lord’s amazing kindness  – at AP, the online Presbyterian journal.

(Many of our readers will recall Sally’s lovely 1993 album The Perfect View, distributed by St Matthias Press.)

How to face dying with joy and confidence — rather than fear and dread

Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder shares this message in his HOPE25 series.

He speaks from John 11:17-45. He also mentions Titus 3:5.

Good to watch, even better to share.

Have your heart warmed for global mission

We’ve previously mentioned the work of Dr Tim Keesee, founder of Frontline Missions, and his Dispatches from the Front documentaries.

“Dispatches from the Front is a series of documentary films that highlight the marvellous extent, diversity, and unity of Christ’s Kingdom in our world. The journal format of each episode underscores the daily unfolding of God’s activity on the ‘frontlines,’ bringing viewers up-close with sights and sounds from distant corners of the Kingdom.”

While the films are still available on DVD format (remember that?), in the video linked above, Tim Keesee explains that the videos are now available to stream at no charge.

These would be ideal to show in a home group.

Go to frontlinemissions.info/dispatches and scroll down to click on each title.

Under “Add DVD to cart”, there’s now the option to “Stream for Free”.

John Piper writes:

“Beware of watching these Dispatches films if you don’t like being moved and inspired and shaken out of the ruts of your life. My wife and I were riveted in watching the frontline reports of God’s work as recorded in the Dispatches from the Front series. This is the sort of information that builds faith in the present providence of God over His mission and stirs up action for the sake of lost and hurting people near and far.”

There’s also a companion book by Tim Keesee – “Dispatches from the Front: Stories of Gospel Advance in the World’s Difficult Places” available from Reformers Books.

The Gift of Rebirth into a Living Hope

“The Buddhist faith in which I was raised teaches rebirth. The Christian faith into which, by God’s grace, I was rescued, teaches that you must be born again.

It might sound like these two faiths have something in common, but in fact, this is not so. …”

– At the Moore College website, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel reflects on the living hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Bishop Richard Condie — Hope for the hopeless — Luke 8:40-56

The Diocese of Bathurst is running HOPE25, with some special messages after Easter.

The Bishop of Tasmania, Richard Condie, begins the series by preaching from Luke 8:40-56. His topic? Hope for the Hopeless.

Very good to watch and share.

Coming sermons:

The Failure of Resurrection Apologetics What exactly do we believe in?

From Phillip Jensen:

“In this episode of Two Ways News, we’re looking at the resurrection both from a historical and a theological point of view.

History and argumentation have great merit, and yet a defective presupposition that leaves us unsatisfied. Yet prophetic history not only satisfies our knowledge of historical events but also explains their meaning and purpose. Jesus said that without Moses and the prophets, people will not believe even if someone rises from the dead. This has been demonstrated over the centuries and in our age today. …”

– Peter and Phillip Jensen discuss the meaning of the Resurrection.

Don’t sleep through Easter — the Resurrection of Jesus is a bolt from the blue

Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel preached at this morning’s Easter Day service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. He spoke from 1 Corinthians 15:12-22.

– Watch here.

We should not forget the meaning of Easter

“Is the Easter story becoming a myth? You might well think so, if we judge by the recent English Heritage booklet for children, which asserts that ‘Easter started as a celebration of spring’ for ‘honouring the goddess Eostre’.

It’s not difficult to find similar material. Walking through the Canary Wharf shopping centre last weekend, I found the ‘Easter Tree of Life’, a ‘place for reflection and gratitude’ where you can ‘add a leaf to the branches sharing your future wishes [or] cherished memories’. …”

– David Frost, a former foreign policy advisor in the British government, writes a thought-provoking piece in The Telegraph. Worth reading and sharing. Perhaps a good conversation-starter.

Thanks to Julian Mann in the UK for the link!

Three short Good Friday reflections from Luke 23 — Bishop Mark Calder

Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, shares three short reflections from Luke 23 for Good Friday.

See Luke chapter 23 (ESV).

1. He has done nothing to deserve death.Luke 23:2-25.
2. Today, you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:32-43.
3. Surely this was a righteous man. Luke 23:44-47.

Easter Disruption

“The world of strategic planning includes reference to ‘disruptor events’. Chat GPT defines this as: ‘a significant occurrence or incident that dramatically changes the normal course of operations, behaviour, or expectations within a system, industry, or society’. Covid-19 was a good example.

By any reckoning, the events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection constitute the prime disruptor in human history. …”

– David Burke, Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, shares his Easter message.

Photo courtesy Christ College Sydney.

The Living Hope of Easter

An Easter message from the Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council:

“This Easter, we celebrate the cornerstone of our faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not merely a story of the past, but a powerful declaration of life, salvation, and hope for today and the days to come.

When we think of Easter, we think of resurrection—a promise fulfilled, a Saviour risen, and a future secured. As 1 Peter 1:3 declares, through Christ’s resurrection, we are given a living hope.

This hope is not a wishful thought but a confident expectation rooted in God’s unchanging promises.

Hope, for the believer, is more than optimism. It is a deep trust that no matter how long the night, dawn will surely break. It is looking toward the Son—Jesus—with hearts full of anticipation, knowing he will act, redeem, and restore.

This hope connects to three powerful truths.

Firstly, hope relates to salvation. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Without Easter, life is without meaning or direction. But because he is risen, we have access to forgiveness, a relationship with God, and eternal life.

Secondly, hope looks to the future. It stretches our faith and gives us strength to persevere. Even in the darkest valleys, hope whispers that God is working, that better days are coming, and that his promises will be fulfilled.

Thirdly, hope transforms us. It builds patience, anchors our souls, inspires prayer, and fills us with peace. Without hope, life falls into despair. With hope, we rise with confidence.

So this Easter, remember: Christ is our hope.

May the resurrection ignite in you a renewed joy and faith. In every hardship and trial, hold fast—because Easter proclaims that hope lives.

He is risen. He is our living hope. Amen!

The Most Rev’d Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Maundy Thursday, 17th April 2025.”

– Source: Gafcon.

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