Trauma and devastation after Philip Yancey’s adultery
Posted on January 14, 2026
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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
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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
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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
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“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
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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
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“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. …”
Helping churches fight back against porn
Posted on January 12, 2026
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“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
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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. …”
Gafcon: G26 Bursaries Needed
Posted on January 11, 2026
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A prayer request from Gafcon:
“As we look ahead to the G26 Bishops Conference in Abuja, Nigeria in March, let us commit ourselves afresh to prayer for God’s financial provision. Pray that the Lord would supply the resources needed to fund additional bursaries, so that bishops are not prevented from attending because of cost.
Pray especially for bishops from the Global South, many of whom are deeply committed to biblical faithfulness but lack the means to fund their travel. Ask that no voice is missing from this historic gathering due to limited finances.
Pray that God would stir generosity among his people—individuals, churches, and partners—to give sacrificially and joyfully. Give thanks for what has already been provided, and ask that the remaining need would be met in full, for the strengthening of Christ’s Church worldwide.
Please give at www.gafcon.org/G26Bursary.”
Source: Gafcon.
Hillsong: mega church in mega property deal
Posted on January 10, 2026
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“Hillsong’s sprawling campus in NorWest Sydney is being made to pay its way as a proposal for a huge $1bn development is lodged.
Some 900 units are planned for the site, plus commercial buildings are planned for the site, which benefits from being opposite the Norwest metro station.…’’
– Thanks to John Sandeman for the story.
Image: OpenStreetMap.
China’s crackdown on underground churches intensifies with new arrests
Posted on January 9, 2026
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“An influential Protestant church in China says prominent leaders have been arrested in what appears to be a growing crackdown on the underground church movement.
Nine people were detained on Tuesday after police raided their homes and the church office in Chengdu, in central China, the Early Rain Covenant Church said. Five had been released by Wednesday.
More than 1,000 miles away in Wenzhou, authorities began demolishing the Yayang Church building…”
– Report from BBC News.
Illustration: Autograph book entry, probably by a student studying at SMBC.
Andrew and Anne Campbell — 100 Ministry Stories from Moore College
Posted on January 8, 2026
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From Moore Theological College, here is the latest in their “100 Ministry Stories’ videos.
This interview with Andrew and Anne Campbell is a real cause for thanksgiving to the Lord. Andrew was called home late last year.
“Andrew Campbell, a long time Presbyterian minister, trained at Moore College from 1975 – 1977. Andrew, now in glory with our Lord and Saviour, has left both an example and a legacy of service.
Together with his wife Anne, the Campbells shared their love of Christ and the gift of grace in a variety of parishes.
In the earlier days their mission to the youth of Sydney was a focus and passion, but from Mt Druitt God took them to regional Australia where they have served together until late in 2025.
Please pray for the churches of Gyra and Glen Innes where the Campbells have been serving most recently. Please pray that God will raise up willing workers for the harvest to serve remote regional centres, to look after God’s people in the country. That was Andrew’s heart, a reflection of the heart of our Lord and Saviour.
This interview was recorded when Andrew and Anne visited Moore College for their 50th Alumni Reunion in mid-2025.”
– Watch here – and to be moved to give thanks and to pray.
Archbishop of Sydney supports calls for a national inquiry into the Bondi Massacre
Posted on January 7, 2026
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Here’s a Media Statement from the Archbishop of Sydney:
Media Statement
“This act of evil … deserves the most thorough investigation and response”
The terrorist attack on Jewish Australians celebrating Chanukah at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, has produced an outpouring of grief, prayer and support for our fellow Australians in the Jewish community.
This act of evil is an extraordinary event in our history, which has ongoing impacts for all Australians, and therefore deserves the most thorough investigation and response.
Since the attack, the solidarity of communities of faith with the Australian Jewish community has demonstrated our unanimity that all Australians, whatever their faith or cultural background, are entitled to live free from the threat of violence. Our own Christian response is informed by the biblical commands to ‘live peaceably with all, as far as it depends on you’ and to ‘overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:18, 21).
I commend the State and Federal governments for their actions so far, including the announcement of the Richardson Review into the performance of Australia’s federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies. It will be important to identify any gaps or obstacles to the effective discharge of their duties that may exist.
However, we must go further. I urge our national government to acknowledge the voice of those directly impacted – the families of the victims and the survivors of the attack – and to heed their calls for a national inquiry.
The attack at Bondi represents the culmination of a period of rising antisemitism across the nation, including the firebombing of places of worship, education and commerce, as well graffiti attacks, and destruction of property including in residential areas.
Antisemitism, with its long, tragic and unique history is a threat to all Australians because it suggests that one part of the community is less entitled to the safety and respect that should be enjoyed by all and protected by all.
A national inquiry is an appropriate and essential part of a comprehensive response and recognises the singular and ignominious place that this horrific event now holds in our national life. The lives of 15 innocent Australians demand nothing less.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
7 January 2026.
– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net
Image: Archbishop Raffel at the Great Synagogue in Sydney, 18 December 2025.
Church’s net zero crackdown forces parish to rip out new boilers
Posted on January 6, 2026
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“The Church of England has ordered a parish to rip out new gas boilers because they are not ‘sustainable’.
Christ Church Chineham, in Basingstoke, Hants, spent £18,200 last year replacing two failing gas boilers, with the new ones expected to last for at least two decades.
But the parish will now be forced to remove the system and pay for an eco-friendly replacement after a church court ruled it had not ‘adequately explored more sustainable options’ before installing them. …”
– Report from The Telegraph, via Anglican Mainstream.
God is Not Needy — He upholds the Universe
Posted on January 6, 2026
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From Phillip Jensen –
“Our second episode of our summer series on Paul’s evangelism in Athens points to the enormously important doctrine of God’s sufficiency and our dependence.
I hope during this holiday time, for our Southern Hemisphere subscribers, you are having a great time to reflect on God’s goodness. For our Northern Hemisphere subscribers, we wish you well as you lurch into winter.”
– Peter and Phillip turn to one of the passages Peter really loves and unpack some of the implications of Paul’s words at the Areopagus in Acts 17.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…