Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Posted on November 8, 2025
Filed under for your prayers, GAFCON Comments Off on Prayer for the Persecuted Church
From Gafcon:
“This Sunday marks the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Across the world, faithful Anglicans and other believers face hardship and danger for the name of Jesus. Yet they remain steadfast, trusting that the Lord is their refuge and strength, and that nothing can silence His gospel.
As the global Gafcon fellowship, we stand with them in love and prayer. We thank God for their courage as they continue to guard God’s gospel in the face of pressure and persecution. Their witness reminds us that the Word of God is not chained, and that His Church endures by His power alone.
Pray that the Lord will uphold His persecuted people with faith, endurance, and peace. May their steadfast hope inspire us all to proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations, whatever the cost.”
Image: Last year’s World Watch List from Open Doors.
How God works in our hearts
Posted on November 7, 2025
Filed under Theology Comments Off on How God works in our hearts
“God works in many ways to bring His people to Himself.
Sometimes He works over a long period of time, such as with those people who grow up in a Christian home, where ‘Christ is the Head of the house, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener at every conversation’. They’ve been dedicated to God as covenant children and day by day, year by year, they grow into Christ.
Sometimes God brings people to Himself with a sudden flash of enlightenment, as with Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus.
Sometimes God brings people to Himself by bringing them to their senses in the far country, as with the Prodigal Son who went through a troubled and strugglesome journey.
Often He brings them to Himself after ongoing prayer for them by His people.
But all these ways have much in common, as Paul sets before us in Ephesians 3.14-20. …”
– Bob Thomas shares this encouragement at AP, the Presbyterian journal.
An honourable approach to dishonourable laws
Posted on November 7, 2025
Filed under Culture wars, NSW Comments Off on An honourable approach to dishonourable laws
“Australian Christians face increasing challenges in balancing our obligations to civil authority and God’s word. The question of when to obey God rather than government has become one of the most significant issues confronting the modern church. What the government does is one thing; how the church responds is another.
We must tread carefully, courageously, and biblically, remembering that it is in the Christian DNA to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Taking up the cross must at least include a willingness to suffer under the hand of an unjust government, laws, or abuses of those laws, as we seek the salvation and good of others and live for God’s glory. If Jesus was willing to die, we must at least be willing to go to jail. …”
– The Australian Church Record highlights this article by Andrew Barry, first published in their 2025 Synod Journal.
Image: Menai Anglican Church.
Since God so loved us – Sandy Grant and Rob Elder
Posted on November 6, 2025
Filed under for your prayers, Moore College, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Since God so loved us – Sandy Grant and Rob Elder
“St Andrew’s Cathedral has always played a significant role in Sydney caring for the needs of the surrounding community. During and after World War II (1940-1947), approximately 3.5 million meals were given to active and returning soldiers in temporary Nissen huts erected on Cathedral grounds – the combined efforts of approximately 900 volunteers working for the Church of England National Emergency Fund (CENEF).
Over the last couple of decades, like many other church communities, the Cathedral has offered free English classes to serve the needs of overseas migrants and visitors. Bible reading is included as part of the approach – very appropriately, since the Bible and its message is so influential on our language, laws and culture.
Most recently, we have been especially delighted with the impact of Reverend Rob Elder on our ministry. Rob, a Moore College graduate, was appointed Community Chaplain at the start of 2024, and his position is funded by the Myfanwy Peters Estate for the relief of the needy in CBD of Sydney. …”
– Learn about and pray for this important ministry. Via the Moore College website.
Melbourne Diocese plans 30 new churches, 30 revitalisations by 2030
Posted on November 6, 2025
Filed under Australian dioceses, Evangelism Comments Off on Melbourne Diocese plans 30 new churches, 30 revitalisations by 2030
From The Melbourne Anglican:
“The Melbourne diocese has a vision to plant 30 new churches and revitalise 30 existing ones by 2030 as growth corridors expand without an Anglican presence to serve them.
The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne Church Planting vision and strategy was officially launched at a Melbourne Anglican Foundation fundraising event on Thursday, 23 October. …”
Image: Archbishop-Elect Ric Thorpe at The Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication in the United Kingdom. Although this Melbourne plan predates the new Archbishop’s arrival, it aligns closely with what he has been working to do in London.
(Archbishop Thorpe will be installed at St Paul’s Cathedral on Advent Sunday 30 November 2025.)
Anglican Heroes: J. C. Ryle — Church Society podcast
Posted on November 5, 2025
Filed under History, People Comments Off on Anglican Heroes: J. C. Ryle — Church Society podcast
From Church Society:
“Andrew Atherstone talks to Ros Clarke about the life, ministry and legacy of J. C. Ryle, the first Bishop of Liverpool.”
– Listen here.
Related:
His Sermons Roused a Sleeping Church – article by John Piper.
Evangelical Religion — Bishop J.C. Ryle.
Why were our Reformers burned? — Bishop J.C. Ryle (republished by Church Society in 2017).
Church music in a culture obsessed with self expression – with Alanna Glover
Posted on November 5, 2025
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Church music in a culture obsessed with self expression – with Alanna Glover
From The Pastor’s Heart –
“What does healthy, joyful, word-shaped congregational singing look like in a culture obsessed with self-expression?
We are shaped more than we realise by the culture around us. And today one of the most powerful cultural forces pressing on our churches is expressive individualism — the idea that the authentic self must be expressed and affirmed.
But what happens when this cultural air we breathe seeps into our church music? When sincerity becomes more important than truth, when the band is excellent yet the congregation is silent, and when singing shifts from ‘we proclaim Christ together’ to ‘I express what I feel’?
If we do not address this, we risk disengaged congregations, weakened church identity and a missed opportunity for deep spiritual formation that comes as we sing God’s word to one another.
Alanna Glover — longtime church music leader, former member of Garage Hymnal, ten years with Emu Music, songwriter, trainer and theologian — has just completed significant research on expressive individualism and congregational singing in evangelical churches.”
– Watch here. (Emphasis added.)
Seeing God at Work — Unearthing genealogical treasure
Posted on November 4, 2025
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on Seeing God at Work — Unearthing genealogical treasure
From Phillip Jensen:
“This week in Two Ways News, we continue the theme of family. Having dealt with the family of Cain in chapter 4, we turn to the new family of Adam. In this family, God’s word enables us to see the Lord’s plans for salvation, hinted at in Genesis 3:15 and worked out in Noah.
We don’t often have sermons on genealogies, but hopefully this episode will help us see their importance.”
– hear the latest podcast with Peter and Phillip Jensen at Two Ways News.
Moore College Style Guide: Music Video
Posted on November 4, 2025
Filed under Moore College, Resources Comments Off on Moore College Style Guide: Music Video
A bit of fun from the 2025 Moore College Review and Dr. Lionel Windsor.
Even if it’s not your style, you might learn something!
Adelaide bids fond farewell to Archbishop Geoff Smith
Posted on November 3, 2025
Filed under Australian dioceses, People Comments Off on Adelaide bids fond farewell to Archbishop Geoff Smith
“The Anglican Diocese of Adelaide on Saturday 1 November bid a very fond farewell to the Most Reverend Geoffrey Smith, who has served as Archbishop for more than eight years. …”
— Report and photo from the Adelaide Diocese Guardian.
Doubtless, members of the Diocese of Adelaide would crave your prayers as they move to elect a new Archbishop to lead the diocese.
Photo: Archbishop Geoff Smith greets the Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson.
Jesus’ hardest words – John 6:22-71
Posted on November 3, 2025
Filed under Good News, Moore College Comments Off on Jesus’ hardest words – John 6:22-71
Moore Theological College Principal Dr Mark Thompson spoke in College chapel on Friday (31 October 2025 – Reformation Day) as part of a series from the Gospel According to John.
Feeling weary? Let down? Needing encouragement? Here is food for the soul.
Jesus’ words are “a monumental comfort to us“.
– Watch here.
Anglican Aid — In fellowship with GAFCON
Posted on November 3, 2025
Filed under GAFCON, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Anglican Aid — In fellowship with GAFCON
From The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid:
“Anglican Aid gives thanks to God for the gospel faithfulness of the leadership of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), following their recent statement regarding the future of the Anglican Communion. This announcement is a declaration that the Anglican Communion would not centre around a person or an office, but rest on a single foundation: the Word of God.
As the overseas aid, development, and ministry support agency of the Sydney Anglican Diocese, Anglican Aid is committed to resourcing churches in the world’s poorest countries with faithful servants trained in the word of God. We are building and resourcing theological colleges and supporting the training of over 2,500 people for various ministries. Anglican Aid longs to see the word of God faithfully proclaimed to the nations. …”
Photo: Anglican Aid CEO Tim Swan with Archbishop Ande from the Anglican Church of Congo.
Love in action: Praying for Moore College
Posted on November 2, 2025
Filed under Moore College Comments Off on Love in action: Praying for Moore College
“Over many decades, a group of godly women has been meeting regularly in Newtown to pray together. They pray for the College and its students, faculty and staff, and their prayers are a labour of love, creating deep bonds of fellowship, as these women unite in their desire to see Christ’s gospel proclaimed throughout our world, with the College resourced to play a critical role in that.
In the 1940s, this group was known as the Women’s Auxiliary and it originally helped furnish student rooms. A number of the doors in what is now John Chapman House still have Women’s Auxiliary plaques on them.
But with the growth of the College, the practical needs of the students became the responsibility of administration staff. So in the 1990s, the group was rebranded by Christine Jensen as the ‘Prayer and Support Group’ and it shifted to focusing solely on prayer support for the College. …”
– Kathryn Thompson shares much encouragement to pray for Moore College – with links to sign up for the Moore College Prayer Bulletin.
Image from Moore College footage from the 1940s possibly showing a gathering of the Women’s Auxiliary.
Bathurst Newsletter: All Saints 2025
Posted on November 1, 2025
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Bathurst Newsletter: All Saints 2025
“All Saints’ – because we are ALL Saints!”
The latest Bathurst Diocesan Newsletter is available on their website.
Reformation Revisited — Gafcon Australia
Posted on October 31, 2025
Filed under Anglican Communion, GAFCON Australia Comments Off on Reformation Revisited — Gafcon Australia
Here’s an announcement from the Board of Gafcon Australia, 31 October 2025 (Reformation Day):
“Dear brothers and sisters,
On 16 October the Gafcon Primates Council released a statement about the Global Anglican Communion. In this statement, they announced a ‘reordering of the Anglican Communion’ centred on the Bible. As the Gafcon Australia Board, we welcome this announcement and look forward to working with our brothers and sisters around the world to reorder the Communion.
Gafcon has been calling the Instruments of Communion (the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Meeting) to repent of their drift from historic, biblical Christian teaching since 2008. In the absence of such repentance and in light of the continued direction of the Canterbury Communion, they have decided that it is time for decisive action.
The Gafcon Primates Council have now officially rejected the Instruments of Communion …
The Anglican Church of Australia remains ‘in Communion’ with the See of Canterbury by virtue of our Constitution. That can only be changed by the General Synod with the agreement of three quarters of all the Dioceses, including all five Metropolitan Dioceses.
That is unlikely to occur in the near future. However, our ‘fellowship’ with Canterbury and other Anglican Churches has been seriously impaired for some time. …”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…