Call to continue gospel vision at Thanksgiving Service for Mike Ovey
“All Souls, Langham Place was packed on Monday 13th March as hundreds of men and women, young and old, gathered to worship God and give thanks for the life and ministry of Mike Ovey, the dearly loved former Principal of Oak Hill College, who died on 7th January aged 58.
Hugh Palmer led the service, featuring hymns with All Souls’ trademark uplifting music. Current students at Oak Hill read the opening biblical sentences; there were four outstanding tributes to Mike and a sermon based on Philippians 1:21, ‘for me, to live is Christ, to die is gain’.
All the speakers emphasised how Mike Ovey combined robust love for truth with compassion for people.”
– Anglican Mainstream’s Andrew Symes reflects on the Thanksgiving Service for Mike Ovey.
Mike Ovey thanksgiving service — screening at St Thomas’ North Sydney tonight
Moore College Principal Mark Thompson shares:
“The memorial service is being held in London on Monday 13 March at 2:30pm GMT [i.e. early Tuesday morning, Australian time]. We are going to show it at St Thomas’ North Sydney on Tuesday 14 March at 7:30pm. …
those who would like to gather with Ana Ovey at St Thomas’ and participate in the service in this delayed fashion (sing the hymns, pray the prayers, and listen to the sermon by Peter Jensen) would be more than welcome.
There will be a light supper provided (though we have little idea of how many people will be able to come, we will try to provide enough). We would like to send a photograph to Heather Ovey of those gathered if all are willing. Parking is available at St Thomas’.”
Interview with Bishop Glenn Lyons of South Africa
“The history of fellowship between the Australian Church Record and REACH-SA (formerly the Church of England in South Africa) stretches a long way back.
When the ACR publicly supported the installation of Bishop Fred Morris as the first Presiding Bishop of REACH-SA, our South African brothers and sisters responded by writing: ‘We place on record sincere appreciation of the warm-hearted support that we have enjoyed from … the Australian Church Record.’ (Church News, November 1955).
In the context of that special bond of fellowship, Mark Earngey was pleased to recently interview Glenn Lyons, the current Presiding Bishop of REACH-SA.”
– Read it at The Australian Church Record.
(Photo: Bishop Glenn Lyons with Bishop Jomo Mchunu at George Whitefield College.)
From Strength to Strength — A Life of Marcus Loane — reviewed
In the Autumn 2017 issue of Australian Presbyterian, Bruce Murray briefly reviews From Strength to Strength – A Life of Marcus Loane, by ACL Emeritus Vice-President Canon Allan M. Blanch.
“Together with a good supply of appropriate photographs, this book gives an excellent coverage not only to Loane’s life but also to the history of the Anglican Church in Australia.”
It’s on page 21 of this 7MB PDF file.
The book was launched in October 2015. Copies are available through the publisher.
Change of roles for Tim Keller
“Later this year, Redeemer Presbyterian will no longer be a multisite megachurch in Manhattan, and Tim Keller will no longer be its senior pastor. …
This move does not mean retirement for Manhattan’s most popular evangelical pastor and apologist; instead, Keller will work full-time teaching in a partner program with Reformed Theological Seminary and working with Redeemer’s City to City church planting network. …”
– Story from Christianity Today.
New Deacons for Sydney
SydneyAnglicans.net has published a list of those ordained as deacons on Saturday, 18th February, 2017. Good to pray for them all.
Update: Photo of the Ordination, courtesy of SydneyAnglicans.net.
With thanksgiving for Michael John Ovey — by Mark Thompson
“It has taken a little while to write this thanksgiving to God for the life of my dear friend Mike Ovey. I have indeed written tributes for other publications, news items, editorials, etc. But this is the one I knew I wanted to write and it has taken longer. This one is much more personal.
The reason for the delay is deep grief and a profound sense of loss. Another friend used the word ‘ambush’ to describe how grief can burst upon you unexpectedly and without notice. …”
– Dr. Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore College, has written this moving tribute to Mike Ovey, who was called home to be with Christ a month ago.
Update from Oak Hill College:
A service of thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Mike Ovey will be held on Monday 13 March 2017, at 2pm, at All Soul’s, Langham Place, London W1B 3DA. All are welcome to attend. Download the service invitation here.
(Photo: Oak Hill College.)
Audio of the Thanksgiving Service for Mike Ovey
Audio of the Thanksgiving Service for Mike Ovey (held yesterday, 23rd January 2017) has now been posted to the website of the Enfield Evangelical Free Church.
It runs for 86 minutes and includes hymns, readings, appreciations, the sermon, and prayers.
(Photo courtesy Oak Hill College.)
Update: Oak Hill College shares more about the service.
Dr Mike Ovey Obituary by Chris Green
At Ministry Nuts and Bolts, Chris Green, former Vice Principal of Oak Hill College, shares his obituary of Mike Ovey written for Church Times.
“In 1995, after a happy curacy with Andrew Cornes, the young family moved to Moore College, Sydney, with Mike as a junior lecturer in doctrine, and working on his MTh: Truth in John’s Gospel. This was seminal, both in experiencing doctrinally deep theological education, and coming under the influence of his life-long mentor…”
Archbishop of Sydney’s Statement on resignation of Premier Mike Baird
Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney, 19th January, 2017. Public Statement on the resignation of Premier Mike Baird.
With the unexpected resignation of Mike Baird as Premier, the State has lost an outstanding leader.
A man of principle and of mature Christian faith, Mike Baird has ‘made the difference’ that he intended to make when he entered politics a decade ago.
His bold agenda for improving the infrastructure of our cities and our transport networks will stand the State in good stead for the next half century. His willingness to eschew short term political gain in order to do the right thing for the citizens of NSW is a model for political leaders from all sides.
Yet leadership of this calibre naturally attracts its critics, especially when powerful minorities are challenged and chastened as to their genuine concern for the common good, rather than their own sectional interests.
For Mike Baird, his commitment to his family is both serious and important, not a smokescreen for a resignation due to other reasons. Mike Baird is trustworthy and while I am personally sorry to see him leave the office of Premier, I thank God for the impact he has made over the past ten years, and especially the last three years as Premier.
May God raise up more leaders like Mike, a person of transparency and genuine concern for the long term good of the citizens of NSW.
Archbishop Glenn Davies.
– Media Release. See also this story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Funeral of Mike Ovey set for Monday 23 January
“The funeral of Mike Ovey will be held at Enfield Evangelical Free Church on Monday 23 January 2017 at 1.00pm. This will be a chance for Mike’s family, close friends, colleagues and local community to celebrate his life.
We are aware that a much larger group, including former students and the wider church network, will want to give thanks for Mike’s life and work. A wider thanksgiving service will take place at a larger venue in the coming months. Details to follow.”
– Read the full notice from Oak Hill College.
Upon the Death of a Grandson
“When we cease to rage against death, we have given up on life. Death is the horrible reality of our life that screams: “There’s something wrong with the world!” We try to hide that scream; silence it with distractions, pretend it’s not happening with anti-aging creams, and rationalise its existence with meaningless platitudes. We question the sanity of those who want to die but there is no greater madness than thinking we can avoid death. …”
– Phillip Jensen shares his reflections on the heartbreaking loss of a grandson.
Update: Phillip has also published the text of his sermon from Nathan’s funeral.
Oak Hill College and church leaders pay tribute to Mike Ovey
“The Oak Hill College community has been in shock and mourning since the news broke on Sunday morning that our greatly-loved Principal, Mike Ovey, had unexpectedly collapsed and died at home on Saturday night. …
Several evangelical leaders have paid tribute to Mike in the days since he died. …”
– From Oak Hill College.
Image: Screenshot from a sermon by Mike Ovey on Acts 20:17-38 at an Ordination service at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, March 2015.
Interview with William Taylor
David Ould has interviewed William Taylor, who is speaking at the NSW CMS Summer School, meeting this week at Katoomba.
He explains Summer School to those unfamiliar with it, speaks about the need for reform in the Church of England, and reflects on the terrible loss, this week, of Mike Ovey.
30 minutes. Listen here.
By faith we let them go
“The outpouring of grief over the death of our Principal Mike Ovey has been extraordinary. So much has been said. So much is still to be said. So much could be said.
Mike was my dear friend and brother, my boss and co-conspirator, my mentor and inspiration. I just wanted to say a few personal words which I know reflect the thoughts of our community at Oak Hill College. …”
– At the Oak Hill College blog, faculty member Dan Strange shares some thoughts and a meditation from C.H. Spurgeon.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…