Sower Magazine: Winter 2021 by Bible Society Australia

Sower.

WINTER 2021 BIBLE SOCIETY AUSTRALIA.

OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

s I write this, the team at Bible Society is working feverishly on the End of Financial Year Appeal, focussing on Bible Society’s missional work at home. Many of you are passionate about our Indigenous translation work, for instance. As I am! The Bible Translation process outlined in our Autumn Sower demonstrates the complexity and biblical thoroughness of the work. In this Sower, you will read about projects our Remote Indigenous Ministry Support (RIMS) team is undertaking alongside different Aboriginal communities and other translation partners. Earlier this year, a group of Christian leaders in the not-for-profit, church and education areas came together at our national Parliament House to discuss a Church Community Restoration Project with the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and other politicians. This enabled an impromptu meeting with the Minister for Indigenous Affairs (and Nyoongar man) Ken Wyatt. We had the privilege of presenting Minister Wyatt with a copy of the Book of Ruth in Nyoongar, along with Our Mob, God’s Story, and to talk with him about how we can best partner with Government in serving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I pray that your heart will be moved as you read in this Sower about the people at the centre of our projects: how some of our Bible Society partners have been impacted by COVID-19; the delight of parents as they sign up their new offspring for a Toddler Bible through our ‘Bibles for Bubs’ program; and the work of school chaplains as they help young students understand this big, complex world. Thank you for your prayer and financial support. Your commitment is helping us honour our commitments to our project partners in Opening The Bible to all people, both here in Australia and overseas. “...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8, NIV

GOD BLESS,

Grant Thomson

CEO, BIBLE SOCIETY AUSTRALIA

BIBLE SOCIETY AUSTRALIA

“I pray that your heart will be moved as you read this Sower...”

OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

Open The Bible At Home

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ - Galatians 5:14, NIV

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First Nations

Two translators share their personal stories of what it is like to bring God’s word into their own heart languages – for the first time.

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ore than half of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Christians.* Only one Indigenous language in Australia, Kriol, has a full Bible translation.

“Once you put your mind to it, you can really translate anything into Adnyamathanha,” says Lily, who grew up speaking it with her parents. A regular at church “from Sunday School up”, Lily feels a sense of pride about being able to put Christian resources into her people’s own words.

Let that sink in. The vast majority of First Nations brothers and sisters in Christ do not have God’s word in their heart language. That’s a precious gift so many of us simply take for granted. While about 22 Indigenous languages have, at least, one complete Old or New Testament book, there are about 120 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia today.

“I didn’t think it would be easy like that; well, I find it easy anyway to translate anything. I do my best. I travel by the grace of the Lord and that’s how I’m getting that work done. I believe that by faith you can do anything, especially keeping the language going.” “It’s very important to me. I don’t want to lose the Adnyamathanha language.”

Bridging this gap in access to Scripture is why Bible Society Australia remains intent on backing translations in Indigenous languages. Like you, we see the importance of this to identity and culture, as well as the eternal value of Opening the Bible to all people. Recently, the Adnyamathanha people – from the area now known as the northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia – had a breakthrough. Not only was a hymn book of church songs published in Adnyamathanha for the first time (‘Tyurtya Udiapinha’) but so was a children’s book and CD, God’s Story for the Outback.

According to the 2006 Census, only 107 people spoke Adnyamathanha at home. But the number of First Peoples who identify as Adnyamathanha is much higher. Lily hopes God’s Story for the Outback is one positive way for the next generation to do two things at once – nurture the words of Lily’s heart language, and also be changed by words of God.

Critical to both was sole translator Lily Neville. After surprising herself years ago about how she could translate the Lord’s Prayer into her heart language, Lily hopes to inspire others to translate more and more.

“Now, my little ones – the grand kids – can read it and learn. I know there are a couple of them on the road to doing the Adnyamathanha language. I’m thinking positive that they will get involved in this.”

“I would like them to get the knowledge and understanding and pleasure out of reading this book,” Lily says of a book about “Jesus’ story”. “I really was excited to get this published.”

cont. page 8

OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

from page 7

“I believe that by faith you can do anything, especially keeping the language going.” - Lily Neville

More translation work is coming Lily’s way, now she is known for doing it. The hardest thing for Lily is she is alone. Translating by herself. Not that she dwells on that. Having done the song book and kids book, Lily is confident in her skills. Language is often the barrier keeping our First Nations peoples from Opening The Bible. That’s why Indigenous communities around Australia are proactively helping with translation, so as to speed the work of receiving God’s word in their heart languages. Pitjantjatjara translator, Katrina, says: “We are translating it so others can have a true understanding of the Scriptures.” More than 20 projects this year need support so we can reach remote communities. It’s part of Bible Society’s special ask for 200,000 Scripture resources to Open The Bible at Home in 2021. Please give Australians the opportunity to do this, and pray as hearts are prepared to receive God’s abiding love.

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Galatians 5:14 (NIV)

Please pray •Pray for great awareness and support for providing the Bible in more Indigenous languages • Pray for the teams working on 20+ translation, recording, printing and distribution projects this year • Ask the Lord to bless the witness of Indigenous Christians within their communities and beyond

*2016 Australian Census

Masterclass

Meet Maddie and Abigail, two high school students who have had their faith impacted by Bible Society’s Masterclass. cont. page 9

OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

Maddie Maddie’s faith and Masterclass

addie grew up in a Christian home and her heart has always been consumed with sharing God with her friends. “I was at a church camp before I started year 7 with a friend who was not a Christian, and I remember really caring that she listened and understood about who God is. It was that time I realised how much I cared, how convicted I was that I was sinful, and that I need God; that’s where my faith became my own.” Maddie’s faith has grown throughout high school as she has kept asking questions. A student at St Luke’s Grammar school on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Maddie is just one young person blessed during the past three years by Bible Society Australia’s Masterclass events. Held annually for years 9-12 students, Masterclass explores contemporary issues from a biblical perspective – in-person and, last year, online. Masterclass also includes a popular Q&A session, giving students the freedom to ask our panel of speakers searching questions about the Christian faith.

In 2018 Maddie attended her first Masterclass and was overwhelmed and encouraged. “It was so cool, how many people were there. A massive, massive hall full of ... students from all over Sydney were there. My Christian CRU group at school is pretty small, so stepping out of that and seeing so many Christians was so encouraging.” Like other Christian teens, Maddie is in a

minority at school, and as she says, “Being in the minority is hard, no matter who you are or where you are.” While her friends ask her questions about her faith and are open to conversations, Maddie says her challenge is “being bold and speaking out of the minority; urging those around me to listen to me beyond what they hear in our school’s weekly chapel service.” The best memory of Masterclass, for Maddie, was the year a friend who was seeking to know more about God attended. The talks that year included one on science and God, sex and Christianity as well as a Q&A session which allowed students to ask questions anonymously through an app. Maddie says, “I remember talking to my friend afterwards. She said that she hadn’t spent a day diving into those big ideas ever ... Masterclass was the first time she had heard these ideas expressed in this way - it was different to chapel at school. She came away so keen and excited by that.” “We want answers to our questions. We want to hear these talks. But not only that; our friends want answers too. That’s what I’ve taken away from Masterclass; as much as I want to hear these things, they are really important to take back to our friends.”

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Abigail

iving out your faith as a Christian teenager in high school is not easy. Thankfully, for year 12 student Abigail, she is well supported by her family, including her grandmother Cathryn, a Bible Society supporter. In 2019, Abigail’s grandmother heard from Bible Society Australia about Masterclass, which had been expanded to include regional areas, including Orange, New South Wales, where Abigail lives. Bible Society Australia is committed to Open The Bible with all people, everywhere. At home, this happens across Australia, in our church communities, within our families – and for our youth. As soon as Cathryn discovered Masterclass, the very next thing she did was contact her granddaughter. Abigail says, “I thought, ‘Oh that sounds cool!’, so I signed up for it.” Abigail believed in God from childhood but found herself with a lot of questions about him by the time she was in her first year of high school. “I didn’t really know whether I actually believed in God’s existence as much anymore. That’s not to say I completely rejected Christianity; I just had a lot of questions.” It wasn’t until the following year, at a Christian camp for youth, that Abigail properly realised “God was everything he said he was in the Bible, and that he did send Jesus to die for my sins.” One year later, when she was in Year 9, she really

understood how to live as a Christian: “That’s when I learned what giving my entire life to God looked like, as opposed to simply believing in him. And I’ve tried since then to actually live out my faith, rather than just believing.” This decision proved to be challenging, day to day. Abigail says, “Because I go to a public school, being a Christian is something almost unheard of. People don’t know what Christianity is anymore, so I find that they tend to have a lot of misconceptions about it, and about what I believe. Which can be really hard.” Abigail found Masterclass to be enormously encouraging; just by turning up! Before any of the talks were even delivered, the day was worthwhile for her. “I went by myself, since no one from my school was attending. But it was encouraging to see how many other Christian kids there are in my town. I saw kids who I know from other contexts, and I realised that I’m not on my own.” That realisation, as well as feeling more equipped by teaching “on how to live out your faith in a situation where no one else is doing that” was what Abigail took away from the day.

Bibles for Bubs

Thousands of Aussie Babies Opening The Bible at Home

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When a surprise parcel arrived last June, Sam couldn’t quite believe what was inside: a colourful new children’s Bible, packed with 140 stories made for young children — and loads of stickers. “It was just beautiful, and our kids loved it,” said Sam. “They were stoked to be able to have a story read to them every night from the book.” Unknown to him, Sam’s wife had signed up for Bible Society Australia’s Bibles For Bubs program, after seeing an ad on Instagram. Each year, Bible Society Australia sends more than 2,000 children’s Bibles as a gift to families to celebrate their baby’s first birthday. For the next five years, these growing bubs also receive hand-written birthday cards from Bible Society, culminating in another Bible for their primary school years. The Bibles for Bubs program aims to encourage Bible engagement in families with their littlest members. With the gift of an age-appropriate Bible, it is hoped that children will learn to love the Bible from their earliest days. Each year, a parent guide is included with the birthday cards, with simple ideas for activities and songs – to further encourage families to keep reading God’s word and make it a key part of everyday life. Since the program began in 2018, more than 10,000 children’s Bibles have been delivered to children and their families across Australia. “Every year parents write to us thanking us

for the gift of the Bible for their beloved little ones, and tell us how well it has been received,” said Belinda Faulks, Project and Relationship Manager at Bible Society Australia. The hard work behind Belinda and her team’s efforts is not lost on Sam Buckley. “It’s a simple [program], but it’s also not simple,” he said. “Someone has to put in the work. It was really significant for us. The love and creativity that has been poured into this has blessed us. And even more so that it’s been sent free of cost. I can’t believe that is what you are all about. Thank you!” Stella also responded to the gift, saying, “My boys absolutely LOVED their storybook Bible! Especially how the stories are simply worded with many beautiful illustrations. It is perfect for these very young children. For the children to have access to a Bible version like this is so valuable in their ability to start listening to the Bible stories. It’s certainly something that I didn’t have growing up, so this has been incredibly special.” Registrations for babies born in 2020 are now closed. If you, or someone you know, is having a baby this year, fill in our expression of interest form at biblesociety.org.au/bubs to receive an email alert when registrations open for 2021 babies.

Please, will you give to Open The Bible at Home?

$40

$88

$120

can help translate and Open The Bible for Indigenous Christians.

can provide eight children’s Bibles for public school Scripture classes.

can help equip a chaplain serving in prisons, hospitals or similar areas with Bible resources.

PLEASE GIVE NOW

Use the DONATION FORM on the back page, call 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537) or visit biblesociety.org.au/sow

OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

What does Australia really believe? IS THERE MORE TO LIFE THAN WHAT WE SEE OR TOUCH? Do you believe in ghosts?

Do you believe in miracles?

Do you believe in angels?

Do you believe in a higher power/God?

Do you believe you have a soul?

Australians are most united in the idea that we have or are souls — that we are more than the stuff of which our bodies are made. Overall, 69.7 per cent of respondents said they either believed in or were open to the existence of the soul. About 14.7 per cent were unsure, 5.7 per cent thought it unlikely, and 9.9 per cent said they do not believe it exists. There is clearly something important to 21st Century Australians about the soul, because belief in, or openness to, it persists at higher rates than for associated concepts like God (57.9 per cent) or life after death (59.6 per cent).

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The Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) teamed up with McCrindle Research to take the pulse of Australians on spiritual matters. Surveying 1000 people from across the country – about half identified as Christians; 30 per cent were “nones”, and almost 14 per cent had spiritual beliefs – the survey wanted to go beyond news headlines or social media outrage. To find out what Australians actually think about Christianity and related stuff, people were asked their view on spiritual realities (such as belief in ghosts, miracles and a higher power/God). They were also asked if there is more to life than what we see or touch, whether Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and if Christians have had a positive or negative impact in areas including politics, media and education.

YOUTH BELIEFS 32%

39%

44%

49%

37%

42%

48%

I am open to the possibility that this exists.

33% 24%

23%

26%

28%

10% 8%

Soul.

God.

3% 6%

16%

4% 3%

Meaning.

23%

20%

Angels.

Miracles.

Ghosts.

22%

21%

5% 4%

Life after death.

28%

23%

I believe this exists.

I am unsure if this exists.

16%

I think it’s unlikely that this exists.

I believe this does not exist.

You might be surprised to learn that the youngest age group — 18-26-year-olds —expressed the most openness to the non-material. About 49 per cent said they believe in the soul, and 48 per cent believe in life after death. In both cases, another 28 per cent were open to the possibility. By contrast, the oldest age bracket (76+) were much more sceptical: a full 40 per cent said they do not believe in ghosts, and 28 per cent dismissed the possibility of life after death.

OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

DID JESUS RISE FROM THE DEAD?

When asked for their view on the claim that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, 23.6 per cent said they are certain it happened. Almost 16 per cent are certain it didn’t. Others thought it possible (19.7 per cent) or unlikely (12.8 per cent). But the most popular answer, at 28.3 per cent, was “I don’t know”. There’s a humility to that.

If you wish to support our work through CPX visit: publicchristianity.org/sower

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IS CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?

Given the current climate, it’s most unexpected that there was no category here in which the negative outweighed the positive. At opposite ends of the spectrum were politics and charity. But while suspicions of self-interest cling persistently to those in public service, it is much easier for the general public to believe that charity workers are genuinely in it for the good of others. The heavy involvement of Christian organisations in service provision in Australia is a potent illustration of what it means to do good deeds which win over the watching world, even though “they accuse you of doing wrong” (1 Peter 2:12). 58 per cent of Australians think the impact of Christians on education has been a good thing, while the lowest rate of approval in this survey came when asked about the media: only 39.4 per cent thought Christian influence was very or somewhat positive in that area. For better and/or for worse, Christians are having an impact on Australian life. The culture is different because we are here – a strong reminder to continue to sow wisely and well, in whatever patches of ground we occupy.

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OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

Help reach Australians with God’s word, by all means possible. Your support provided more than 200,000 Scripture portions to help Open The Bible over 18* months. Please help share the joy, comfort and guidance of the Scriptures by Opening The Bible to all here at home.

biblesociety.org.au/sow

* July 2019 – Dec 2020

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OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

Pray with us

hank God for the wonderful opportunities in front of us to reach out with His word, and Open The Bible with all people, everywhere. Please pray for the work in our own country. Ask God that people in remote areas would be blessed by the translation and distribution of God’s word in heart languages.

Pray for the future of Australia, for the next generation, that they would be impacted by the message of God’s love, as the Bible is opened with them. Pray too for Bible Society work around the world, that God would bring healing and hope as the Bible is opened with people facing trauma, violence, poverty, illness and natural disasters.

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Pray for COVID resilience around the world Pray for Bible Societies battling COVID-19. Pray for good health and safety for staff and their families, and for help to come quickly: vaccines, emergency supplies, and financial support.

Pray for Indigenous work Pray for Bible translation and distribution among remote and Indigenous people in our country. Pray the work would be well supported and resourced, and lives would be transformed by the message of God’s love.

Pray for Vanuatu

Pray for Youth Bible Engagement

Please pray for the workshops which are being planned to confront the impact of domestic violence in Vanuatu. Pray that the distribution of Scripture materials will bring spiritual help and hope to those who receive them.

Please lift up to God young people who trust in him. Pray they would know him better, trust him more, and walk with him all their days. Pray for Bibles in schools, for school chaplains and SRE volunteers – and for Masterclass – that many would be enriched through them.

Pray for Syria

Pray for Bibles for Bubs

Pray that war, violence and sanctions would come to an end and the Syrian people would be able to live in peace. Pray for those training, leading and participating in the trauma healing project, that they would know God’s love and healing.

Pray for precious growing minds and hearts, that they would be nurtured into a growing faith in God as his word is read to them from their earliest days. Thank God for Bibles for Bubs, and for those receiving God’s word through this project.

DOWNLOAD OUR MONTHLY PRAYER GUIDE: BIBLESOCIETY.ORG.AU/PRAY

OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

How Bible Societies survived COVID-19 The whole world continues to feel the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Bible Societies in other countries face existing and continuing social, economic and political challenges on top of the pandemic. Yet even during a global crisis, good news emerges, about how God has been using his people to serve his purposes, worldwide.

PAKISTAN

SOUTH AFRICA

In the midst of the COVID crisis, the Beacon of Light literacy classes were continued - with safety precautions - in slums, urban areas, villages and among brick kiln workers due to popular demand. Despite the challenges, the people were desperate to use their time to learn. Almost 6,300 students enrolled in 330 classes last year, and more than 5,000 students were still able to graduate.

During the pandemic lockdowns, World Hope Ministries communicated with prisoners through the postal system. Bibles in different languages and formats were sent to inmates and, in some cases, reached their families as well. Despite the pandemic in 2020, 2,644 Bibles were distributed; almost 1,500 inmates applied to do the Biblical Discipleship course; and more than 1,100 enrolled to facilitate the course.

CHINA Despite being the first country impacted by the COVID crisis, China’s Bible Society Partnership still reports some positive news from 2020, with 73,080 copies of the Bibles distributed for free around the country.

IRAQ Despite the total lockdown, Bible Society Iraq was granted permission to continue to distribute relief packages to refugees and other displaced people. In 2020, 2,400 families received relief packages and 2,000 children received a Christmas gift of pyjamas and a Bible.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA The COVID crisis in PNG has only escalated into 2021, with just under 11,000 (officially diagnosed) infections and many more people sick in a population of 10 million and only 5,000 health workers. However, the revision of the Tok Pisin Bible continues to progress, with 2020 spent finding translation consultants. This year has already seen the first drafts of three books, and the team continues to work to review the text of other books. There are also plans for the new members of the revision team to undergo training in translation and technology and for new translation consultants to be brought in this year.

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EGYPT

NICARAGUA

Despite lengthy lockdowns and restrictions on classes, the Literacy program in Egypt had 900 graduates last year. They were each given a large print New Testament as a graduation gift. The literacy course also held training sessions for facilitators: 25 sessions with new facilitators and 22 with current facilitators. Work was also completed on a new literacy resource for children who have no basic skills.

Work continues, in the midst of the pandemic, as Bible Society volunteers share the word of God with children with cancer and their families. Thankfully, the hospital authorities have kept the doors open to the work. Even with reduced visits in 2020 (to protect both the children and volunteers), 96,000 Scriptures were distributed in waiting rooms, and a further 4,109 Bibles were distributed to children, their parents and medical staff in the paediatric oncology ward.

LEBANON

ARAB-ISRAEL

In response to the COVID crisis and the Beirut port explosion last August, Bible Society Lebanon has been supported by partner Bible Societies, boosting the team’s morale.

The Arab-Israeli Bible Society (AIBS) adapted to the pandemic by creating new programs to reach families and youth. Last year, a series of workshops was run at churches and schools for youth and families covering topics such as dealing with anxiety. Alongside these workshops, thousands of Bibles, magazines and Bible resources were distributed. This includes over 100 devotions that were posted on Facebook during the lockdown to continue engagement within the Arab-Israeli community.

8,435 Bibles, New Testaments and Scriptures have been distributed for free (and a further 2,955 highly subsidised) to families whose homes were damaged in the explosion. A bookshop in Beirut and the Bible Society Centre have also been rebuilt.

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OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

Syria

A letter to you from Bible Society in Syria, written for Easter celebrations, 2021.

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One year ago, we didn’t believe we’d still be here! We had just been through the lowest point in the history of the Bible Society in Syria. At that time, we ‘cried out to you from the bottom of our hearts’. This was followed by the ‘shock’ of our lives when Syria was ‘closed down’. It had never happened, even during the hottest exchanges of violence in our civil war! That ‘God is Good’ is something we have experienced this year, even with its horrendous and relentless challenges. The shocks have shaken us more than the nine years of this terrible war, when we have been through months of shelling, sieges for months and even years, and killings so brutal it makes you doubt in the goodness of humanity. As we are finalising the work on the Bible House Resource Centre in Damascus, we are rejoicing that an effort which has taken more than ten years, is about to become reality. There is such a joy in our hearts thinking this centre will be used in so many ways ... not only for the richness of the Bible, but also to bring people together for Bible Conferences, Trauma Healing Seminars, Conflict-Solving Workshops, Family Seminars and Sunday-School Teachers’ Training. Remember that you are not the only ones who have been isolated ... It’s wonderful to know that we are all following in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ who told us to go to ‘all peoples everywhere’, and he’s promised us that ‘He will be with us until the end of the age’. In Him, George

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OPEN THE BIBLE AT HOME

Watch now

Bible at Home on YouTube

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Watch all the videos from our recent Pitjantjatjara translation workshop that took place in Ernabella, South Australia. Hear God’s word in Pitjantjatjara, interviews with Indigenous translators and learn more about the translation process from our expert team.

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Faith Stories

Yvonne’s tale of surprise at reading the Bible is part of an Eternity series of testimonies, compiled by Naomi Reed.

“I was born in the 1970s, in mainland China. I was lucky. It was before the onechild policy, so I had siblings. My father was a businessman, driven by creating wealth. It was his security. He had a very poor background, so he was diligent in making money. But it was also the time of the Communist Party, so making wealth was illegal. The communist philosophy is that everyone should be equal. One year, my father was taken to

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gaol for operating a business. It added to the insecurity we all felt.” “Then, in 1990, China opened up and the economy changed. That’s when I became part of the family business, intent on establishing my own kingdom. It was the most important thing – security. I had to rely on myself. “At the same time, my parents practised ancestor worship. They wanted fortune and good luck, so they often went to the temple to pray for prosperity. But I wasn’t keen on religion. ‘Buddhism is for the fool and Christianity is for the weak.’ I also assumed that Christianity was for the Westerners and I wasn’t interested in it. “When I was 25, I moved out of home. One day, I went to the library to find something to read. I found a book with a black cover, titled ‘Old Testament and New Testament’. I had never heard of it, so I opened the book and started reading. I read a story about Jacob wrestling with God. I thought it was Greek mythology, so I borrowed it. In China, you pay money [per] day to borrow a book, and put down a deposit. “I read the book as a novel. I didn’t understand much of it, but I liked the stories and wisdom literature. The Psalms touched my heart. At the end of the month, I hadn’t finished reading it, but I had to return it. I was tempted to keep it. I had to pay more money but, when I got to the library, the boss said, ‘You’ve been reading the Bible! I shouldn’t charge you to read the Bible.’ “He gave me my money back. I was surprised. I didn’t know I was reading the Bible! “I said, ‘I haven’t finished reading it. Where can I buy a copy?’ He said, ‘You should go to the local church. They will have a Bible.’

“The following Sunday, I went to the local Christian church. Someone gave me a hymn book. I can still remember the words of the first hymn. It was called, ‘Come home, come home.’ I sang along and it felt like a song from heaven. I was crying. It felt like someone was calling me home ... “When the service finished, I didn’t know what to do. The old lady next to me went forward to pray, so I copied her. I listened to her prayers. She was praying for other people. It was so beautiful and urgent. I had never heard a prayer like that. At the Buddhist temple, we only ever prayed for wealth for our family. So I said to God, ‘Wow, if you are real, I want you to be my God.’ “That was the beginning. I kept going back to church. I purchased a Bible and I read it all. I understood it, step by step and I started my journey of knowing Christ. “Now, 20 years later, I’m a pastor in a Mandarin-speaking church. Jesus is so real to me! And his words in the Bible are so precious to me! I want to proclaim his word! Looking back, I didn’t know much when I first responded to God. But we don’t always have a full concept of God when we respond. “I knew I was loved by God. And I’ve been through many hard times. But God has brought me into a ‘spacious place’ (Psalm 118:5). I’ve had to find my true security in Jesus. I’ve learned to rely on him, not myself. And my favourite verse is Isaiah 43:1, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’” READ MORE FAITH STORIES: ETERNITYNEWS.COM.AU/FAITH-STORIES

The Unforced Rhythms Of Grace The Bible mentions rest 275 times, so God must think it is very important and also want us to enjoy it. Rest is a good thing; it heals, it restores, it renews. So, how can we rest in Jesus? Susannah McFarlane is the Head of Publishing for Bible Society Australia.

Day 1 ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’ (Isaiah 30:15) Too often that’s what we do: we ‘have none of ’ rest. We say there’s too much to do, too little time and too much to worry about. We put it off until we almost fall over. At least, that’s what I do. I am terrible at resting, even when I know I need to and even when I want to.

with him. Jesus knew the importance of resting with his Father. The Gospels show him often taking time out, taking time alone to refresh and regroup with his Father, and calling his disciples to do the same. And he calls to us today. I find it hard to hear that invitation, let alone reply to it, as I push on in a world that says busy is best and the person working the longest hours wins. What time could you intentionally set aside to spend time with God?

Day 3

How are you at resting, really resting? How can you, in quietness and trust, find your strength in God?

‘He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be Still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.’ (Mark 4:39)

Day 2

I love how this verse says, ‘it was completely calm’. Not just settled down a little but ‘completely calm’. Yet, like those waves rising up and crashing down, I can get caught up, thrashing around in the storms of life, and need to be commanded to be still. I forget much too easily that if I am in Christ, I don’t have to sort everything out, fix everything – and everyone. I need help to stop, to walk away from the action and be quiet, be still and know that God

‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy ... On it you shall not do any work ...’ (Exodus 20:8,10a) ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened...’ (Matthew 11:28a) God tells us to follow his lead and rest on the Sabbath. But it’s not any kind of rest, it’s turning from the work of the world and resting in him,

is God and let him do his thing in sorting out the storms in my life. In what areas of your life do you most need to stop, be still, and let God sort out the storms?

Day 4 ‘Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’ (Mathew 11:29) It’s such a relief when someone sees us struggling and asks, “Hey, can I do that for you? Can I show you another, easier way?” A yoke is a shaped wooden crosspiece bound to the necks of a pair of oxen that enables them to pull together, to literally lighten the load. It makes things, especially heavy things, so much easier to carry. I used to think all this yoke-taking was a giving in, a giving up – now I see it’s much more a ‘getting’. Jesus is, very patiently, giving me that other, better way – and all I have to do is follow. So much less exhausting. Are you also sometimes straining and striving rather than just following? What might you let go of ?

Day 5 ‘... You will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’’ (Matthew 11:29b-30) Eugene Peterson beautifully paraphrased these words of Jesus in The Message: “... Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you ...” The ‘unforced rhythms of grace’. These are some of my favourite words of paraphrased Scripture. The ease of living in Jesus’ slipstream of grace; to, literally, go with the flow. And all we need to do is to follow. When he says, “This the way, walk in it,” we just walk in it. And all is well, even during a storm. I’d love to tell you that this is how I live all the time, but it isn’t, at least not yet. But, when I have paused to spend time with him, to ask before I leap, things have gone much better, felt much lighter; paths have straightened, storms have calmed. How can you rest in Jesus more, in the ‘unforced rhythms of grace’?