Ministry
Cold but heart warming Perth
Our family have been in Perth for the last 10 days or so. We are here another week. When we arrived the overnight temperature dropped close to zero. Coming from warm Cairns we had the shock of our lives. It is the first time I have seen Michael’s lips turn blue. We are in Perth for [...]
Are associations important?
Unreliable internet access, travel, and the normal busyness have thwarted my every attempt at a proper post today. What better time to empty out my links folder? 7,500 online shoppers unknowingly sold their souls: Fox News. This puts our financial woes in perspective. James Steinbach’s got a brilliant post on Associations (and why they might [...]
Deputation: Special Ministry Preparation
I have seen many missionary presentations, but there is one that will always stand out to me. One Sunday night, Di and I visited a church where a missionary family was presenting their mission. They had almost finished deputation and were departing for their field. Their message and testimonies were polished. They shared the blessings [...]
When you’re the broken arm in the body of Christ
Teaching, cleaning, painting, singing… life is busy in the body of Christ. But what about when it isn’t? What about when you can’t teach and you can’t clean? You’re too weary to paint and you’re too empty to sing? I think we generally find it easy enough to minister in the body. We are part [...]
Three Errors in Establishing Church Ministries
A good friend and mentor taught this personal life lesson to me. NO VISION, NO ABILITY TO EXECUTE “We’ve tried it before.” “That won’t work here.” “I’m too busy.” It can be very disheartening to meet people who have no vision for God’s work and no heart to see it accomplished. The Ephesians were partly [...]
Entertaining soldiers unawares
We had a special blessing yesterday. Two young American soldiers visited our church. They were on leave from many months serving in Iraq. They left the hell of the deserts of ancient Babylon to find some relief in Cairns. They found our church on the web and wanted to come. They had not been able [...]
iPads.. in a ministry context
Chances are (if you’re reading this blog) you know about the launch of the Apple iPad. Perhaps you’re curious about its potential for use in a ministry context? Perhaps you have a strong opinion (for or against) based on your technological preference? I own one. Here are my initial thoughts: The iPad makes your research [...]
Let Your Lantana Shine
“…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 Each month, volunteers from our church spend a Saturday morning working in bushland near Rouse Hill. We are part of the local council’s Bushcare program, which includes [...]
God Blesses Your Work For The Gospel
“He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.” I Corinthians chapter 3, verse 8 In church culture, it seems that the one who actually leads a person to Christ is the one who gets the most credit. In God’s eyes, the one who [...]
That’s just the end of my introduction…
The first time I had the opportunity to “teach” Bible in a public setting was at the age of fourteen. I had 10 minutes in a children’s Sunday School class to talk about David & Goliath. As a lifelong church attendee, I drew on a wealth of pulpit rhetoric to deliver a passionate talk with [...]
The Gospel At Work: City Bible Forum
Sydney tourists can see a 360-degree panorama of the city from Sydney Tower (also known as Centrepoint Tower). It’s a great way to visualise Sydney, home to four million residents. From that perspective, you can also sense the challenge of Jesus’ great commission. How can we reach more of the city — and our nation [...]
Apologetics Resources
I first realised the need for apologetics during a mission team trip in New York. I was 18 and enthusiastically witnessing to an elderly man in a park, when he challenged the Bible’s reliability with an issue I had not considered. We soon ended the conversation and I was left to wonder, “What should I [...]
