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Fearless evangelisim in a post-Christian world
Article supplied. Australia has a distinctly Christian heritage, but today, mention Jesus in a Queensland school and you could find yourself in hot water. The latest Census data shows a steady decline in the number of people professing a Christian faith and in an increasingly pluralistic society, it’s no wonder Christians are fearful about fulfilling the Great Commission. Helen Devenish is a Street Evangelist in Hobart, reaching dozens of locals every week with the gospel message, simply by starting conversations in her local coffee shop,...
read moreDeep Leadership
Article by Dr Nick Hawkes. Multi-award winning author Nick Hawkes introduces his latest book ‘Deep Leadership’, available through CBMC International (SA). A survey by Deloittes of 3,300 organisations from 106 countries has identified “leadership” to be the most pressing issue of our time. Global companies have rated it as their number one concern for three years in a row. It seems that little progress is being made in what has become a perennial challenge. In business, politics, education and the church, the cry is the same:...
read moreA Renewed Humanity, Renewing the World
Article by Joanna Hubbard. What does a renewed humanity or world look like? One of the beautiful images of renewal I see in scripture is in Psalm 85 “Heaven and earth coming together in a rich and fruitful embrace: grace and truth will meet at last, justice and peace will kiss each other; truth will spring up from the earth, and justice look down from heaven.” Here we see creation and created renewed and thriving and good. It speaks of life flourishing in very botanical terms; fruitful and springing up. It speaks of repaired and renewed...
read moreCross-cultural friendship sparks new hope
The visas and tickets to Australia had arrived. Years before, Alireza and Shannaz had lost their family, their friends, their country and their much-loved careers when they were forced to flee Iran. Since then, they had been living in an unstable limbo in Turkey. But now they held the tickets to a new life in their hands. “Ah!” cried Ali. “It is finished!” But of course it wasn’t. For the third time they had to learn a new language. They were often lost and confused, and grief for their lost loved ones was an ache that never left. “For a...
read moreHe’s being your Mum
By Deborah Robertson. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4) I can’t remember exactly where I was last week when I realised that “that” feeling had gone. “That” feeling would overwhelm me especially when I was having a wonderful time with my son. “That” feeling was profound sorrow. I think we were at the kitchen table… It was at the same kitchen table about eight years before that I couldn’t take it anymore. It was breakfast and my son was enjoying his cereal when I looked across at him and was overwhelmed...
read moreCan you see eternity?
By Wendy Rush. I saw eternity and you weren’t there and I wept I couldn’t bear the thought of living my forever without you Your smile, your laughter, your joy Would have been my joy always. I saw your life, your struggles, your heartache And I longed to reach out, to hold you and ease your pain To heal your broken heart And put your life back together. I saw what could be your future A life of purpose, of indescribable joy and hope A special, unique, important path laid out before you If you would choose it. I saw a deep...
read moreMobilising help and support ‘When Disaster Strikes’
Article by Wendy Rush. Tracey Butter was at home with her husband on Wednesday 25 November 2015 when a catastrophic bushfire threatened their property. Now referred to as ‘the Pinery fire’ the bushfire primarily affected the Lower Mid North and west Barossa Valley regions in South Australia. At least 86,000 hectares of scrub and farmland were devastated during the fires which burned from 25 November to 2 December 2015. 91 houses were destroyed or badly damaged and two people tragically lost their lives while another 90 people were...
read moreSanctuary Corner: An Oasis of Hope in Outback SA
In South Australia’s mid-north, a quiet revolution is happening as a result of the collaboration of a number of churches, and the care of individuals for those who are struggling. Article by Felicity Squires. Sanctuary Corner Café and Gifts is a small, unobtrusive store in the Ellen Centre carpark, so much so that the occasional customer will exclaim, “I didn’t even know this was here!” You could be forgiven for thinking that the advertising team needs to step it up if newcomers are still surprised at its existence after two years of...
read moreBringing Carols back into our neighbourhoods
By Astrid Priest. Christmas is wonderful, it is really wonder-full; a virgin mother, a baby born in a stable, shepherds hearing the news from angels and wise men travelling from afar to visit this new born King – this is how God makes something special. There is no wonder so many carols were written celebrating what happened that first Christmas. Christmas deserves to be celebrated for its real meaning. The gift of eternal hope wrapped in the tiny baby of Jesus. We should be singing this from the roof tops! Carols by Streetlight is an...
read moreLoving well: building life giving and life-long relationships
By Peter McHugh Raised a catholic, becoming an altar boy around the age of 9 or 10 and wanting to be a priest, my awareness of a spiritual world was present from an early age. As a teenager I embraced my hormones and discovered the opposite sex. Around this time I also discovered that my intellect was capable of challenging ideas I previously accepted without question. Increasingly “the church” seemed restrictive and irrelevant and so I abandoned the development of my spirituality and embraced the hedonistic lifestyle of the 70s. University...
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