First Ordination for Diocese of the Southern Cross

Posted on November 18, 2025 
Filed under Diocese of the Southern Cross, GAFCON Comments Off on First Ordination for Diocese of the Southern Cross

A Prayer Update from Gafcon:

“We give thanks to God for a joyful milestone in the life of the Diocese of the Southern Cross, as the Rt Revd Dr Glenn Davies, Interim Bishop, and Gafcon Guarantor and Primates’ Council Advisor, presided over the first ordination of a deacon in the diocese.

Congratulations to the Revd Mekyal Keira, ordained as a Deacon in the Church of God and appointed Pastor of Kush Southern Cross Anglican Church in Western Australia, the eighth congregation in this growing diocese, launched this weekend.

We also rejoice that Alezabeth Kurundi was authorised as a Lay Minister in this new church. Praise God for His faithfulness in raising up new leaders to guard His gospel and serve His people across Australia.”

– Source.

See also:

Kush Southern Cross Anglican Church Facebook page.

“We’re an English-Arabic speaking church in the Diocese of the Southern Cross in Perth, Western Australia.”  (They meet at 160 Dampier Avenue, Kallaroo WA 6025.)

“For 67 years she served her Lord and his church alongside her husband”

Posted on November 17, 2025 
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“Mrs Pam Goodhew, the wife of former Archbishop Harry Goodhew, has died of cancer.

Mrs Goodhew, who was 90, passed away on Friday 15th November while in palliative care at Piper House in Dapto. …”

– Russell Powell shares the news at SydneyAnglicans.net.

We join many in thanking the Lord for Pam Goodhew.

Annette Anderson to be Anglican Dean at Nungalinya College, Darwin

Posted on November 17, 2025 
Filed under Australian dioceses, People Comments Off on Annette Anderson to be Anglican Dean at Nungalinya College, Darwin

“We are delighted to share that Annette Anderson will be taking up the position of Anglican Dean at Nungalinya College from Monday 10 November 2025.

Annette faithfully served as a CMS missionary from 1995 -2006 in both Darwin and Numbulwar and is no stranger to Nungalinya College, having worked there as a valued teacher since 2015. The 11 years she has dedicated to the college has provided Annette with a deep knowledge of the courses, students, and churches they come from.

Annette will serve all the remote Aboriginal Anglican parishes in the Northern Territory, facilitating the next generation of Church Leaders and Lay people to travel to Nungalinya where she will continue to support them during their studies.

Annette is married to Bishop Greg Anderson and has four children.

Please join us in congratulating Mrs Annette Anderson and upholding her in our prayers.”

– From the Diocese of the Northern Territory.

And a good reminder to give thanks for, and to pray for, the ministry of Nungalinya College.

When the Lights Came On: An Appreciation of Graeme Goldsworthy

Posted on November 16, 2025 
Filed under Moore College, People, Theology Comments Off on When the Lights Came On: An Appreciation of Graeme Goldsworthy

Scott Polender in the USA writes to share his deep appreciation for Graeme Goldsworthy and his unfolding of Biblical Theology:

“Many of us can remember the moment when the lights came on. We were already believers, familiar with the stories, the commandments, and the promises, but suddenly everything connected. The many pieces of Scripture formed a single picture centered on Jesus Christ. It was nothing less than a revolution in how we saw the Bible and, in a sense, how we saw everything else. Once the story, like a jigsaw puzzle, lay in pieces, all edges and fragments. Then someone flipped the box over, and the picture on the package brought it all together. Once you’ve seen it, you can’t go back. …

For many years, Graeme Goldsworthy taught Old Testament, Biblical Theology, and Hermeneutics at Moore Theological College in Sydney. Building on the foundations laid by Broughton Knox and Donald Robinson, and working alongside contemporaries such as William Dumbrell and Barry Webb, he gave biblical theology a distinctive voice and a reach that stretched across the globe.

In the years since his retirement, he has continued to write, mentor younger pastors and Christians, and to preach and lecture.”

– Read the whole article at Christ Over All.

Very encouraging, and a good opportunity to recommend Graeme Goldsworthy’s books to a new generation.

Related:

Graeme Goldsworthy on Biblical Theology – with Nancy Guthrie, podcast at The Gospel Coalition.

Base photo: Graeme Goldsworthy speaking at City On A Hill Brisbane, February 2018.

Southern Cross November-December 2025

Posted on November 15, 2025 
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Southern Cross November-December 2025

The latest copy of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now available.

If you don’t see a copy in your local church, you can read it online.

State Funeral for John Laws

Posted on November 15, 2025 
Filed under for your prayers, People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on State Funeral for John Laws

The State Funeral for John Laws CBE will be held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Wednesday 19th November at 1:30pm.

Good to keep all involved in your prayers.

Livestream at this link.

Living and Speaking of Christ in a Secular Age

Posted on November 14, 2025 
Filed under Encouragement, Moore College, Resources Comments Off on Living and Speaking of Christ in a Secular Age

From Moore College:

“If you have ever felt like your life is a set of non-overlapping bubbles, work here, sport there, church on Sundays, neighbours somewhere else, you are not alone. Josh and Susannah Apieczonek reflected that this kind of compartmentalisation has become sadly normal in Western life. It is not how we were made to live, but it has quietly shaped how we see the world. This is one reason many Christians feel held back from sharing the gospel: our worlds rarely intersect, our schedules are full, and our instincts are shaped by a culture that prizes the here and now over the eternal. …”

– Sarah Bingham shares highlights from a talk by Josh & Susannah Apieczonek.

She explains,

“Josh and Susannah Apieczonek have long been connected to Moore College. Josh, now the incoming Head of Mission and Lecturer in Mission, completed a Bachelor of Divinity and Diploma of Ministry in 2004, and Susannah studied at the College in 2008. Before moving to France, Josh taught Christian Studies and served as a chaplain at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Sydney.

Together, they have spent the past decade serving with CMS in Lyon, France, in student and church ministry, particularly among university students and in church planting. …”

– Read it all here.

J. C. Ryle, “the Prince of Tract Writers”

Posted on November 13, 2025 
Filed under History, People Comments Off on J. C. Ryle, “the Prince of Tract Writers”

“John Charles Ryle (1816–1900) was one of the most popular theological writers of the Victorian period, and the most prominent evangelical clergyman in the Church of England.

His ministry almost exactly spanned the reign of Queen Victoria – he was converted to Christ in 1837, just a few months after the young Queen’s accession to the British throne, and died at the dawn of the new century in 1900, just a few months before the monarch’s own death. …”

– Crossway has published this article adapted from Andrew Atherstone’s Ryle on the Christian Life: Growing in Grace. 

Riding the young adult revival

Posted on November 12, 2025 
Filed under Apologetics, Culture wars, Evangelism Comments Off on Riding the young adult revival

From The Pastor’s heart –

“Something is happening. In England the data shows a quiet revival. In France a new evangelical church is opening every ten days. But what about here in Australia?

Among young adults we’re hearing stories of renewed interest in Jesus, fresh conversions and surprising openness. Is this a cultural phenomenon or is it something deeper?  And how do we ride the wave?

We talk about ground level experiences, the big picture, the influence of politics, and the five percent conversion growth goal for Sydney Anglican churches.

We’re joined by three frontline evangelists:

• Dave Jensen from Sydney Anglican Evangelism and New Churches
• Sam Mahdavi from Wollongong Baptist Church
• Pre Shunmugam from MBM Rooty Hill in multicultural Western Sydney.”

– Watch here.

Very helpful discussion, including opinions on how much the church should link into politics and current events, such as the murder of Charlie Kirk. Take the time to listen.

Related:

Alive. Not an Event. A Rescue Mission.

Reflecting Christ’s Love

Posted on November 12, 2025 
Filed under Moore College, Resources Comments Off on Reflecting Christ’s Love

“Here at Moore, we want to be as helpful as we can in preparing students who are married to love their spouses well and to invest in their marriages—for the good of their families and for the good of the church. This love needs to be nurtured and informed.

While this is true for every marriage, there are some additional pressures, expectations and joys that come to married couples in Christian ministry. …”

– Simon and Margie Gillham share how important it is to support married couples among the student body at Moore College.

The World Awash with Sin and Judgement

Posted on November 11, 2025 
Filed under Theology Comments Off on The World Awash with Sin and Judgement

From Phillip Jensen:

“After the genealogy of Genesis 5, we have finally left Adam and Eve. But then as we merge into chapter 6, we find Adam’s baleful influence dominating the landscape.

This week’s episode of Two Ways News does not seek to answer the many questions people ask about the flood, but to pay attention to the central message of sin and judgement.

Your temptation may now be to skip this episode, but that is because of sin and judgement! So as the old hymn has it, ‘yield not to temptation’.”

– Hear Phillip and Peter Jensen at Two Ways News.

Aged Care, VAD, Religious Freedom and s 109

Posted on November 11, 2025 
Filed under Culture wars, NSW Comments Off on Aged Care, VAD, Religious Freedom and s 109

“Should a religious aged care provider be able to operate in accordance with its religious convictions?

This issue is being debated in NSW at the moment in the context of the law allowing “voluntary assisted dying”.

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022 (NSW) allows persons with a terminal illness to choose death, which can be self-administered or administered by a health professional. Many health professionals have religious convictions which mean that they find the procedures for persons to choose death morally unacceptable. They do not wish to be involved in the process.

Under the legislation there is a right for individual health professionals to conscientiously object to the procedures, and to decline to be involved: see sections 9, 21 and 32. Faith-based hospitals may also decline to be involved in VAD procedures. However, at the moment faith-based aged care facilities are obliged to allow medical practitioners onto their premises to administer VAD. …”

– Associate Professor Neil Foster writes at Law and Religion Australia.

Related:

Contact your MP – via Freedom for Faith.

Antisemitic slurs must be rejected

Posted on November 10, 2025 
Filed under Announcement, NSW, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Antisemitic slurs must be rejected

Here is a media release from the Diocese of Sydney:

Antisemitic slurs must be rejected

The rally staged outside the New South Wales Parliament on Saturday has rightly drawn condemnation from across the community – particularly as it occurred on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 pogrom against Germany’s Jewish community.

The black-uniformed protestors, carrying banners with the slogan ‘Abolish the Jewish Lobby,’ were clearly intent on spreading fear and antisemitism.

Authorities must investigate whether Saturday’s neo-Nazi rally in Sydney breached laws against inciting racial hatred.

Christians are defenders of free speech. We prize the freedom to declare ‘the praises of Him who called (us) out of darkness into his wonderful light’.

This includes defending the freedom of others to disagree with us, and even to mock the truth we proclaim.

But speech that incites hatred is illegal in New South Wales.

Antisemitism has traded in lies, hate and violence for centuries. When it appears in modern day Australia it must be named, resisted and rejected.

Antisemitism—whether from the far left or far right—has no place in Australian society.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
10 November 2025.

– from SydneyAnglicans.net.

The “eye-opener” of disability

Posted on November 10, 2025 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on The “eye-opener” of disability

“When you see provisions for people with disability at your church, do you ever put yourself in the shoes of the person who will use them?

Or do you just assume that the hearing loop has a practical set-up for visitors, the news sheets and overheads can be read by everyone, and no-stairs access into the church means that those with physical impairments can get around easily? …”

– Very helpful article by Judy Adamson at SydneyAnglicans.net – with practical suggestions.

How to Present Your Sermon Really Well

Posted on November 9, 2025 
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on How to Present Your Sermon Really Well

“Like every skill worth doing, good preaching requires sustained study, effort, practice, self-evaluation, and a determination to improve and master the skill.

Good delivery must come not as a replacement for, but as the culmination of the certain basic convictions about preaching:

That preaching is central to Christian worship, growth, and evangelism;

That preaching must be Christ-focussed;

That the preacher must be a godly Christian growing in Christ;

That the sermon must expository and carefully prepared. …”

– Agree or disagree with details, Campbell Markham writes to encourage and help preachers do what is vitally important. At AP.

Related:

The Preacher Responding To Criticism – Bob Thomas writes at The Expository Preaching Trust…

“Criticism of our preaching falls into three categories: ‘mindless’ criticism and therefore not worth worrying about except to try graciously to correct; negative criticism but worth swallowing our pride, taking notice of and responding to; and positive criticism, so thankfully received as it spurs us on to greater endeavour.”

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