How I came to know Jesus – Pip Taylor
“I became a Christian at age 13. I was a kid who had sat in church and felt I knew God. Each year on my family camping holiday, a beach mission team showed up and invited us to their program to hear about God. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Pip Taylor shares how she was saved.
Sandy Grant to be Dean of Sydney
“The Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, has appointed Canon Sandy Grant, of St Michael’s Cathedral Wollongong, to be the new Dean of Sydney.
He will be the 13th Dean of Sydney, a post with a history stretching back to 1858 when William Macquarie Cowper was appointed as the first Dean.
Canon Grant has been the Senior Minister of St Michael’s in Wollongong since 2004 and will take up his ministry at Sydney’s St Andrew’s Cathedral in December. …”
– Read the news from SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Election of Archbishop Mowll: A Decision with Consequence
“The Conservative Evangelicalism which permeates the diocese of Sydney today has not always characterised the diocesan leadership. Although Sydney may always have had an Evangelical flavour, in the early 20th century the leadership of the diocese represented a more liberal emphasis.
The election of H.W.K. Mowll as Archbishop (1933-1958) changed the trajectory of the diocese toward a more conservative theological position. The significance of Mowll’s leadership was not merely a result of his duration in office, but rather the growth, innovation and theological consolidation which he instigated. …”
– Dr. Ed Loane, Warden of St. Paul’s College, University of Sydney, reflects on a turning point for the Diocese of Sydney.
This Mortal Coil: Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel
On ABC Radio’s This Mortal Coil, 13 June 2021, new Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, is invited to tell his story.
“We don’t have anything else to offer apart from Jesus.”
Listen here, 40 minutes – and be encouraged to share widely.
(Thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net for the link. Image: The Pastor’s Heart.)
The Gospel Coalition Australia interviews Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
Akos Balogh from The Gospel Coalition Australia recently spoke with Kanishka Raffel about his new role – and asks the new Archbishop how we can pray for him.
Dr Colin Bale made Emeritus member of Moore College Faculty
“At the end of this semester, Dr Colin Bale will retire from the Moore College faculty. Dr Bale was appointed to the faculty in 1999 and has served as head of the Church History department, Academic Dean, and Vice Principal. During some of that time he worked on his PhD at Sydney University in the area of Australian history, and more particularly the lessons to be learned from the gravestone inscriptions of those who fell in the First World War.
Dr Bale has made a remarkable contribution to the life and health of Moore College. In recognition of this, the Governing Board of the College has unanimously agreed to appoint him as an Emeritus Faculty member upon his retirement. With this appointment, he will join the likes of Dr Paul Barnett, Dr Peter Jensen, Dr Peter O’Brien, Dr David Peterson, and Dr Barry Webb. …”
– Read it all at the Moore College website.
John Blanchard, evangelist, called home
“Well known Christian author, evangelist, and Christian apologist, John Blanchard has died. …
Blanchard’s books have long been a mainstay within evangelical circles. Several years ago, it was estimated that his booklet, Ultimate Questions had sold in excess of 14,000,000 copies. It has been translated into over 60 languages.”
– English Churchman has the news.
See also this tribute from Evangelical Magazine:
“His overwhelming burden was that the Lord would raise up a new generation of young people willing to be called into full-time Christian service.”
An online version of Ultimate Questions can be found here.
The booklet is available locally from Reformers Bookshop in a variety of languages.
Photo: Banner of Truth.
Judging the Macquaries — with Peter Adam
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“In reconciliation week we turn our attention to Colonial Australia and a new book out from John Harris, ‘Judging the Macquaries’ – with Peter Adam.
The Black Lives Matter movement is bringing the characters of powerful people in colonial times into sharp focus, particularly their attitudes and actions towards slavery and indigenous peoples.
Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie are among those being scrutinised and reassessed.
John Harris paints a more spiritually positive picture of Governor Lachlan Macquarie than had previously been understood. His wife Elizabeth Macquarie was a clear evangelical. Lachlan Macquarie’s Christian faith causes him to stand out in significant policy areas from the dominant views of the time: in his attitudes, behaviour and policies relating to both convicts and indigenous persons.”
No higher title than ‘child of God’
“There was a knock at the cathedral door just moments after the afternoon rehearsal for the consecration and inauguration of Kanishka Raffel.
The door was opened by the Archbishop-elect himself. ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’ he said to person at the door, one of the many people in difficulties who take shelter around the Cathedral.
‘Do you take sugar?’ the about-to-be Archbishop said as he went off to make the coffee himself.
It seemed fitting that only four hours later, before the Governor-General, politicians and leaders of other religious denominations, he was giving a sermon urging humility before the cross of Jesus. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell has this story on last night’s service of Consecration and Inauguration.
You can watch the entire service here – or click this link to go straight to the Bible reading by Mrs Cailey Raffel and then Archbishop Raffel’s sermon.
Photos by Russell Powell (click for full images):
Dean of Sydney Kanishka Raffel, about to enter the Cathedral for the Service of Consecration and Inauguration. By Russell Powell
Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel. By Russell Powell.
Watch the Consecration and Inauguration of Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
The Consecration and Inauguration of Kanishka Raffel as Archbishop of Sydney was streamed live from St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney from 7:00pm AEST on Friday 28th May.
A most encouraging and Christ-honouring occasion.
The Order of Service may be downloaded at this link.
The heart of Sydney’s new Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
Most encouraging and worth sharing widely.
And please do continue to uphold Kanishka and Cailey in prayer ahead of the Inauguration on Friday at 7:00pmAEST.
George Whitefield College gives thanks for Dr. John Newby
George Whitefield College in Capetown gives thanks to the Lord for former Vice Principal The Rev. Dr. John Newby, who was called home earlier this month.
Photo: John Newby and then Principal Broughton Knox.
See also this tribute from REACH South Africa.
Kanishka Raffel with Richard Glover on ABC Radio Sydney
Updated with a direct link to the interview.
Richard Glover on ABC Radio Sydney interviewed newly elected Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel on Monday 10th May 2021.
The interview can be heard at this link.
Image from the Cathedral video stream, 09 May 2021.
Hear the back story of Sydney’s new Archbishop
“In the days after Kanishka Raffel’s election as Sydney’s new Archbishop, his face has been on the major TV news, he has been questioned by the Sydney Morning Herald and now an in-depth interview with ABC Radio.
While Channel Nine News drew comparisons with the first leader of Anglicans in Sydney, Bishop Broughton, the main news on Channel Seven featured the Dean of Sydney speaking about his election last Thursday. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell gives a roundup of media coverage of the Archbishop’s election, including a transcript of Kanishka’s interview with Richard Glover on ABC Radio Sydney yesterday.
Image: Wesley Mission.
Moore College welcomes Kanishka & Cailey Raffel
“Moore College welcomes the election of the new Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel.
Kanishka is married to Cailey and they have two adult daughters, Hannah and Lucy.
He is a graduate of the College having studied here from 1992–1995. While exercising a powerfully effective ministry at St Matthew’s Wanniassa in Canberra (1996–99) and St Matthews’ Shenton Park in Perth (1999–2015), he completed a MA (Theol) from the College as well (2010). Since returning to Sydney as Dean of Sydney in 2016, Kanishka and Cailey have been frequent visitors to the College. …”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…