Federal “Hate Crimes” Legislation

Posted on January 16, 2026 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on Federal “Hate Crimes” Legislation

Freedom for Faith have added more to their web page of concerns about the proposed Federal Hate Crimes legislation, including the above video from Mike Southon, Executive Director of Freedom for Faith.

If you have concerns about the proposed legislation, this would be a very good time to urgently contact your Federal Member of Parliament – and also to share that page with others.

A bursary to attend the Rome Scholars and Leaders Network 2026?

Posted on January 16, 2026 
Filed under Evangelism, Resources Comments Off on A bursary to attend the Rome Scholars and Leaders Network 2026?

The Rome Scholars and Leaders Network 2026 is an invitation-only gathering designed to create a context for evangelical scholars and leaders:

Certainty4Eternity is offering 1 x $3000 bursary in 2026 for Christian Educators and Leaders who can, or intend to, make a significant contribution to Roman Catholic Evangelism and Discipleship in Sydney and beyond.

– Details from Mark Gilbert at Certainty4Eternity.

“Coalition condemns hate speech laws as ‘unsalvageable’”

Posted on January 15, 2026 
Filed under Australia, Culture wars Comments Off on “Coalition condemns hate speech laws as ‘unsalvageable’”

From a Canberra Times article – mainly on political opposition to the Federal Government’s proposed “hate speech” laws –

“Religious leaders have urged the government to halt and rewrite the laws, saying it may open people up to prosecution over past remarks in its current form.

Anglican Bishop Michael Stead said the reform created a ‘minefield of definitions’ about hate and the bill included a retrospective element in relation to banned groups.

Dr Stead told a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday the bill could be expanded to claim Christian teaching caused serious harm, leading to a Christian organisation being listed as a hate group. …”

– Read the full report here.

See also:

“The Federal Government has released its draft Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill.

We need legislation to combat antisemitism and racial hate, but this rushed bill has significant risks to religious freedom.

The legislation was released on the January 12, submissions were due on the 15th, and voting is expected on January 22. In this timeframe it is impossible to get careful analysis of the legislation and its possible impacts. …”

– Freedom for Faith encourages readers to contact their Federal Member of Parliament with some urgency.

Young People are turning to the Bible

Posted on January 15, 2026 
Filed under Encouragement, Opinion Comments Off on Young People are turning to the Bible

Murray Campbell writes:

“Search is on for meaning and for hope.

Last year reports from the UK and USA suggested that the Bible is becoming more popular than ever. Indeed, a huge resurgence in Bible sales is taking place, especially among the U25s. These whispers are growing louder, with The Guardian reporting yesterday,

‘Sales of the good book reached a record high in the UK in 2025, increasing by 134% since 2019 – the highest since records began – according to industry research. Last year, total sales of Bibles in the UK reached £6.3m, £3.61m up on 2019 sales.

Leading the charge is young people. Only 4% of 18- to 24-year-olds said they attended church monthly in 2018, but in 2024 that number rose to 16% – the largest increase of any age demographic.’…”

– Read here.

The Window of the Heart

Posted on January 14, 2026 
Filed under Edification Comments Off on The Window of the Heart

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:3)

“One of the most remarkable capacities of the human mind is the capacity to direct its own attention to something it chooses.

We can pause and say to our minds, ‘Think about this, and not that.’ We can focus our attention on an idea or a picture or a problem or a hope. …”

– Encouragement from John Piper in his devotional for today.

Memorial Service for Neil Cameron

Posted on January 14, 2026 
Filed under People Comments Off on Memorial Service for Neil Cameron

A Memorial Service Neil Cameron was held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney yesterday (13th January 2026).

Many give thanks to the Lord for Neil.

A video recording of the full service can be seen here.

Photo: Neil Cameron, circa 1999, from an Anglican Church League publication.

 

‘Keep Your Armour Bright’

Posted on January 14, 2026 
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on ‘Keep Your Armour Bright’

“As an 81 year old slave of Christ who strives to be non emeritum sed retractum (not retired but retreaded) I’m an inveterate attender of Ministers’ Conferences, whether it involves travelling to the opposite end of the Earth or more locally to those conducted by the Expository Preaching Trust, to sit at the feet of greatly gifted godly teachers and enjoy warm fellowship with others ‘of like precious faith’.

Charles Wesley wrote: ‘To keep your armour bright, attend with constant care; still walking in your Captain’s sight and watching unto prayer,’ and attendance at such conferences is a great way of doing this, taking in spiritual refreshment ourselves so that we will go back to our posts better equipped to ‘refresh the hearts of the saints’ there. …”

– Bob Thomas shares this encouragement at The Expository Preaching Trust.

Trauma and devastation after Philip Yancey’s adultery

Posted on January 14, 2026 
Filed under for your prayers, Resources Comments Off on Trauma and devastation after Philip Yancey’s adultery

From The Pastor’s Heart, the first episode of 2026 “and not the episode we had planned”:

“How should Christians react to news one of our heroes has engaged in an eight year sinful affair with a married woman?

• How should churches respond when leaders fall?

• Why do accountability structures fail?

• How do we speak of grace without minimising harm?

• What does faithfulness look like for pastors, churches and ordinary believers in moments like this?…”

– A most sobering discussion with strong exhortations at the end.
Watch or listen here.

God is the Ruler of the Nations

Posted on January 14, 2026 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on God is the Ruler of the Nations

From Phillip Jensen –

“Dear friends,

As we start off another year, we are still conscious of how troubled our world is. Wars and rumours of wars continue to fill our news media. When will mankind ever come to peace? … not until the Lord returns! It may look as if God has lost control of the world as nations war against each other, but that is a failure to understand God’s purpose in creating and appointing the nations. Paul, in his speech in Athens, speaks of God’s ongoing rule of the world through his rule of the nations.

Yours,

Phillip.”

– Listen to Phillip and Peter Jensen discuss at Two Ways News.

Anglican Aid’s 2026 Prayer Diary

Posted on January 13, 2026 
Filed under for your prayers, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Anglican Aid’s 2026 Prayer Diary

Anglican Aid’s Prayer Diary for 2026 is now available for download.

Tim Swan, CEO of Anglican Aid, writes,

“Our 2026 Prayer Diary includes 31 days of prayers and prayer points for a range of partners providing emergency aid and relief, ministry training, food security, clean water, education, and more.”

– Read his full letter, and download the Prayer Diary, at Anglican Aid’s website. There’s also an option to request printed copies.

John Piper on his 80th birthday

Posted on January 13, 2026 
Filed under People Comments Off on John Piper on his 80th birthday

“In July of 1980, 34-year-old John Piper preached his first sermon as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church on the eastern edge of downtown Minneapolis.

Surveying a sea of gray hair, he retained traces of South Carolina lilt in his tenor voice as he said, ‘I have nothing of abiding worth to say to you. But God does. And of that Word I hope and pray that I never tire of speaking. The life of the church depends on it.’ …”

– At Christianity Today, Justin Taylor thanks God for John Piper, who has just turned 80.

Link thanks to Tim Challies. Image: The Gospel Coalition.

Just two weeks until Launch 2026

Posted on January 12, 2026 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Just two weeks until Launch 2026

Launch 2026, the camp for school leavers, is just two weeks away –

“Launch is the camp for school leavers keen to live for Jesus, where you will

  • Meet others who have just finished school
  • Listen to great Bible talks from Phillip Jensen
  • Equip yourself for University/TAFE alongside leaders and staff-workers

Our leaders are an awesome group of young women and men just a few years ahead of you! They are keen to help you work out what it means to align your priorities to God’s in this next phase of your life whilst having a fantastic time meeting others doing the same thing. Launch camp truly is the best investment you can make to think through how to live for Jesus!

Your Launch registration payment includes accommodation and all meals.

There will be a bookstall on camp so bring some extra money to take home some good reading :)…”

– See the link for more details and registration.

Phillip Jensen asks us all to uphold the camp in our prayers – and to encourage school leavers to attend. As of today (12 January), registration is still open. Phillip writes,

“So far, we have 128 school leavers and 47 leaders registered, and we expect many more to come in the next 2 weeks. Praise God!

Thank you for your prayers for Launch so far. We would appreciate your continued prayers and help in spreading the word to any school leavers you may know to encourage even more school leavers to register. Launch will help them consider what it means to live for Jesus and start their post-school journey with the right gospel mindset.”

Churchgoers vow to stop donating to collection plates if cash goes towards slavery reparations

Posted on January 12, 2026 
Filed under Church of England Comments Off on Churchgoers vow to stop donating to collection plates if cash goes towards slavery reparations

“Six in 10 Anglican churchgoers would divert their donations elsewhere if Church [of England] funds were allocated to slavery reparations, a new study has found. …”

– Report from GBNews.

Helping churches fight back against porn

Posted on January 12, 2026 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Helping churches fight back against porn

“Twelve years of research into the devastating impact of pornography has led to a landmark initiative offering Christians, and churches, solutions – not shame.

Headed up by the Rev Dr Marshall Ballantine-Jones, Resist Ministries has been established to counter a problem affecting ‘enormous numbers’ of Christians. …”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell reports on an important ministry which has now been granted charity status.

The story includes the video above and a link to Resist Ministries’ website.

15 Books to Read over Summer

Posted on January 11, 2026 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on 15 Books to Read over Summer

From Tara Sing at SydneyAnglicans.net –

“What a year it was for book reviews! In the past 12 months, we’ve featured 15 books, sharing what we loved about them and what was helpful for growing in godliness. I haven’t calculated the number of pages or words we’ve read, but it would be a lot!

Here’s a short summary of all the books we think are worth popping into your luggage as you head off on holidays, or checking out as you browse summer conference bookstalls. …”

– See the list here.

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