The Advocate - October 2020

WA’S BAPTIST NEWSPAPER

theadvocate.tv

IN CONVERSATION Associate Pastor at Lesmurdie Baptist Church, Josh Thomas talks about pastoring through the COVID-19 season. PAGE 12 >>

OCTOBER 2020

“… one biblical teaching could benefit everyone: the secret of contentment, a state that rises above personal circumstances.” BARNEY ZWARTZ PAGE 13 >>

4 Happier campers New facilities installed at Busselton Camping Centre during COVID-19 >>

7 Translation record Photo: Copyright: MERATH

The Bible has been translated into its 700th language >>

Some of the damage from the deadly explosion that rocked Beirut on 4 August 2020, causing extensive injuries to locals.

Response to Beirut crisis On 4 August, a large explosion devastated the Port of Beirut killing more than 200 people, injuring over 6,000 and displacing around 300,000 people including 80,000 children.

Baptist World Aid Australia is responding through its Christian partner on the ground, Middle East Revive and Thrive (MERATH), which despite reporting some property damage and distress, remains safe in the wake of the explosion.

“Until this, we thought we had been through it all,” said Nabil Costa, Executive Director of the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development, of which MERATH is a part.

“Since September [we have had] forest fires, a financial crisis, bankruptcies, unemployment, refugee crisis, revolution in Lebanon, COVID-19,” Mr Costa said.

“But again, over all this, we were surprised by this explosion.”

Baptist World Aid’s response so far has included the provision of relief in the immediate wake of the disaster, including emergency food, water and shelter for families who are now facing homelessness, along with health care and COVID-19 support when hospitals in Beirut are either destroyed or already overwhelmed by casualties.

Once these urgent needs have been met, Baptist World Aid will continue providing assistance through ongoing livelihood support for vulnerable families and refugees.

However, with winter fast approaching and hundreds of

thousands left homeless by the blast, Baptist World Aid CEO, John Hickey said needs will remain urgent for some time.

“We are very conscious that this huge disaster will have a massive knock-on effect on the people of Lebanon … particularly the most vulnerable, including refugee groups,” Mr Hickey said.

“The health system is now in a critical state, food supplies are badly impacted, essential infrastructure is destroyed or badly damaged – meaning supply chains for important recovery items will be completely disrupted.”

Baptist World Aid has committed to sending a minimum of $150,000 to support MERATH’s immediate and long-term response to this disaster.

“There will be significant and growing needs to address in the coming weeks, and we are thankful we have such strong

local partners to collaborate with to bring direct assistance to people suffering in Lebanon,” Mr Hickey said.

Despite the unprecedented challenges facing Lebanon and his team, Mr Costa shared these faith-filled words: “I feel now, we are as if on a ship, caught by a storm. I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but I trust that the Lord will lead us to land on a safe shore.”

“Meanwhile, during this difficult trip, we are burdened.

We promised Him to take care of the people who are with us on this ship.”

“Our eyes are on Him. Our hands are on the plough. Our team is doing great and creative work.”

To donate or learn more about Baptist World Aid’s response to the ongoing crisis in Lebanon, visit baptistworldaid.org.au/ beirut-explosion

14 Singer’s big gig Perth local, Chelsea Cullen voices the songs in Helen Reddy movie >>

Committed to being honest, transparent and above reproach.

BAPTIST CHURCHES WESTERN AUSTRALIA

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my view OCTOBER 2020

When the truth doesn’t cut it I was right and he was wrong. That was that. The whole way home I was stewing. How did I let him have the last word? If only I stood my ground, then I could have proven to him that he was wrong in his thinking.

Ben Good Ben Good is normally involved in gospel sharing amongst the Yawo people in Lichinga, Mozambique, with Global Interaction. However, he is currently in Perth on home assignment with his family.

My arguments were rock solid.

Need proof from Scripture? I had it – chapter and verse. If only we had more time to finish the discussion. But as I kept replaying the conversation over and over in my mind, I knew.

I could hear it in his parting words. I had hurt him.

In that moment, I had become one of those people who puts truth and love on opposing poles and then chooses truth.

I felt terrible. Though that’s not entirely true. I felt conflicted.

I’ve been reflecting recently on assertiveness. It’s a quality

I lack. I’m a peacemaker, a conflict avoider. I’ve been working on that area of my personality; trying in appropriate ways to be more assertive, to say what I think and to do what is right even if it might cost me.

But then, in this case, I went too far. My assertiveness became meanness. And my counter argument became the only argument. I gave my friend no room to move. I was being hurtful and belittling.

But I couldn’t let him win. I was conflicted.

Then the Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Corinth came to mind. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

[1 Corinthians 13:1 NET] Paul goes on to say, “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude …”

[1 Corinthians 13:4-5a NET] Love was all the things I wasn’t doing. I was doing something else, but it wasn’t loving.

Truth and love aren’t mutually exclusive, nor is love

and being right. But I took love out of the equation, rather than put it in competition with the truth and let it lose. Truth is important, absolutely. But as Paul says best, “Everything you do should be done in love.”

[1 Corinthians 16:14 NET] Yes, even being right.

Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s someone I need to apologise to.

Life through googly eyes Earlier in the year my son was given a board game called Googly Eyes.

You might have seen it – it’s basically played the same way you would play Pictionary.

Liz Black Liz Black and her family serve with Global Interaction, working with the Ethnic Thai people in Northern Thailand.

One player is given an object or action to draw while the other players try to guess what it is. But before you start drawing, you put on a huge pair of glasses with lenses of all different shapes and colours making it impossible to see clearly through them.

As a family we decided to play. It looked fun! Except when it came to my turn, as I put on the glasses, I thought to myself, how am I ever going to be able to draw with these things on?

Let’s be honest, I’m not much of an artist without the glasses.

The timer started and I did my

best to even find the edges of the paper. I started to panic inside; this was stressful, how could I draw anything?

Recently I have been reflecting on how 2020 has felt a bit like a game of Googly Eyes. In January, we were playing Pictionary as we made plans for the year. But at some point (around March) we were all forced to put on the hazy, coloured lenses. As life changed around us, plans became wiggly lines running off the page. Just like in the game, making any real plans

this year has been stressful and even caused a bit of panic. For our family, we are longing to return to Thailand to continue our work with Global Interaction. While it’s still possible, it’s definitely a lot more complicated than ever before.

During the game, I sat there with the pencil in my hand, wondering, who would ever think up such an idea? This was not fun. Then I could hear my sons laughing, cheering me on.

I realised that I had a choice.

With their high-pitched squeals

of encouragement, I decided to embrace it and play along.

Just before the timer ran out, one of them yells out, “Book!”

Miraculously, somehow, he had figured it out!

In the same way, as we navigate our way through this time, we can choose to listen to the encouraging words of our Heavenly Father. For there is no doubt that He can clearly see the bigger picture.

On doubt and probability …

The title of my latest book, Why Christianity is Probably True, has resulted in more discussion than the actual content of the book. Probably because lots of people have read the book’s title, but not that many have read the book.

Dr Brian Harris Dr Brian Harris is the Principal of Vose Seminary and Pastor at Large for the Carey Group.

The responses have been interesting.

Some like the title, relating to the modesty of the claim and to the idea that we build our lives on probability. After all, you can’t be sure that you won’t be hit by a bus on your way to work, but you probably embark on the journey anyway.

Some are a little annoyed with me. Probably doesn’t do it for them. They feel that I have introduced some doubt into what for them is a long-settled question. “Christianity is true,” they proclaim, “there is no need

for wavering – it’s true and that is that.”

It’s an interesting stance for someone who has been called to a life of faith. After all, the enemy of faith is not doubt, but certainty. If you are certain, faith is surplus to requirements.

You know because you know – and therefore faith can be abandoned. By contrast, if you journey with doubt, the reason your journey continues is because your faith rises above those doubts and puts them in a wider perspective.

Faith brings doubt under

control and reminds us of moments of clarity – times when the presence of God was sufficiently tangible to soften our niggling uncertainties.

This is not to suggest that there are not good reasons to believe in God. Belief seems to be hardwired into our existence. Almost every people group throughout history has believed in some version of God. Indeed, those who believe in God don’t really need to defend their belief – they stand in continuity with the overwhelming majority

of people from all times and all places. The explanation is required from those who deny what is self-evident to most – that only a Godsized explanation is large enough to understand the wonder of our universe. Most instinctively recognise that there is something more, or as CS Lewis famously put it: “If I find within myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”

But now I am giving you a tiny taste of the book. And you probably wanted that?

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OCTOBER 2020

Road back to the mission field While most of us are not planning holidays overseas just yet, a handful of Global Interaction’s intercultural workers stuck in Perth cannot wait to get on a plane and go home. felt loved that the Blacks were thinking of them, while unable to be present in person.

Like the Goods, the Blacks have made the most of their extended stay in Perth. They have spent time on the family farm, enjoyed a beach holiday with family and the nostalgic taste of meat pies, sausage rolls and donuts.

It turns out no matter where in the world we are, life is very rarely predictable.

Photo: Supplied

Ben and Sam Good, serving in Mozambique along with their three children, arrived in Perth in December for a six-month period of home assignment.

Home assignment is taken every three years and incorporates times of rest, training and connecting with partners to tell stories and raise funds for ministry.

While home assignment began in typical fashion for the Good family, it all changed in March with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With churches closed and social gatherings restricted, they turned to producing videos and connecting online with churches and supporters. They also realised that they were in for an extended stay in Perth before they could return home.

Ben and Sam joked that they are accustomed to uncertainty in Mozambique and were looking forward to ‘smooth sailing’ while in Australia.

“How mistaken we were,” they said.

“It turns out no matter where in the world we are, life is very rarely predictable.”

“We have had to relearn to be content and to rely on God in all circumstances.”

However, the extended stay in Perth has afforded some great opportunities. Their children will see through a year of school in Australia, Ben will complete some extra study at Vose Seminary and there has been extra time for friends and family.

Glenn and Liz Black, serving in Thailand with their three children, began home assignment in March with a period of quarantine. After months of video creating and online connection, they were excited to reconnect with supporters in churches in person.

“There is nothing like the encouragement you receive from a smile and a ‘thanks for sharing’ that you get in the foyer of the church,” they said.

“We have felt so loved hearing from many people who share that they pray for us regularly.”

“Every single church we visit we come away truly blessed.”

The uncertainty of the season has been the greatest challenge.

It has also been difficult to be away from friends in Thailand.

An online messaging app has helped them stay in touch with friends and team members.

Recently some team members attended a neighbour’s funeral on behalf of the Blacks and presented a gift. Their neighbours expressed they

Global Interaction intercultural worker Sally Pim sharing with Pastor Mark Edwards at Inglewood Community Church.

Sally Pim, serving in Mozambique, has walked a similar road. After arriving in March, she quarantined in Esperance with family.

Despite the challenges of connecting with churches, she is very grateful for the generosity she has experienced.

“I’ve been so encouraged by the creativity of churches in finding different ways to connect me in with their communities during this season,” Sally said.

“I’ve been blown away by people’s generosity during this season.”

“Thankfully most churches are meeting face-to-face now, and I’ve been enjoying visiting home groups and events in person.”

The road home for Sally and the Black and Good families is tricky but looking more hopeful each day.

Global Interaction WA State Director, Dan McGrechan explained that they need to raise their full support, secure a reliable and affordable plane ticket and fulfil requirements to enter their country.

“There are many obstacles, but God is faithful. Personally, I have been praying that God would provide a way home for them every time I hear a plane go overhead. Perhaps others might join me in this prayer.”

The Blacks hope to return to Thailand in October, Sally to Mozambique in November, and the Goods to Mozambique in early January.

If you would like to support Global Interaction’s intercultural workers, contact wa@globalinteraction.org.au

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news OCTOBER 2020

Even happier campers Baptist Churches Western Australia Head of Campsites, Ross Daniels said while they were difficult days for staff, he was grateful that most had been eligible for the Federal Government’s JobKeeper Payment scheme.

Following the easing of restrictions in Western Australia, including the intrastate borders being reopened, the sites have seen a positive improvement in bookings.

Ross said campsite managers had excelled in meeting all the necessary COVID-19 requirements as well as Departments of Health and Education guidelines and compliance requirements.

“Over the three facilities, we have up to 40 staff all doing incredible work and bringing their best every day,” he said.

Ross, who has overseen the campsites for more than ten years, continues to be amazed at faith-based camps and the lifelong impact they have.

“They provide such rich and positive memories, and it’s great to meet with campers who reflect on these precious experiences,” he said.

“When you stay at a Baptist Camping Centre, it is our hope that you will have the chance to

separate from the daily routine, enjoying getting away together and being surrounded by some of the most amazing locations in Western Australia.”

All three sites have been focusing on areas of improvement and looking to give a greater camper experience. Over the past year, the Serpentine, Busselton and Kennedy (Albany) sites continued to invest in their properties, with major work taking place at Busselton during the pandemic that allowed for little impact on bookings.

Ross and Busselton Manager, Andrew Collins have overseen the installation of new ablution facilities at Busselton – the largest financial investment on a site since the Serpentine gymnasium was built in 1997.

The new facilities, located on Busselton’s Site B, include 13 new showers and toilets that incorporate accessible spaces for people with disabilities.

Andrew also sourced a shipping container of bunk beds, manufactured to Australian standards, to replace ageing stock at the three sites.

Serpentine continues to cater for large group bookings and school camps, with overwhelmingly positive

Photo: Ross Daniels

COVID-19 has had a substantial financial impact on the Baptist Churches Western Australia’s camping ministry due to the cancellations of large groups and school camps since March of this year.

The new ablution facilities installed at the Busselton Camping Centre in July were among improvements made to Baptist Camping Centres during the COVID-19 restrictions.

responses received from satisfaction surveys regarding catering and customer service.

Prior to Christmas, the Serpentine Facilities Manager, Marc Marion oversaw a revamp of the dining hall, with a full repaint in vibrant colours.

“Our facilities are mature, but we are so blessed to have them,” Ross said.

“We value the ongoing support of our Baptist churches and know camping experiences are a key way we serve our churches and help

them strengthen their faith communities.”

For more information, visit baptistcampingcentres.org

Baptistcare chefs pioneering change

From old favourites packed with flavour, to new taste sensations and breakfast buffets, their dishes are delighting residents while changing the face of food in aged care.

Baptistcare’s innovative new approach to cooking for people in residential care is being driven by its Canadian-born Executive Chef, Todd Cheavins who has cooked for celebrities and royalty including Pink, Oprah, Pippa Middleton and the King of Malaysia while working in luxury hotels around the world.

Mr Cheavins said Baptistcare’s new menus were a far cry from the “over-cooked vegetables, tough meat and bland food” so often associated with aged care.

“We’re thinking about different flavours, textures, colours and presentation. That’s where the focus is,” he said.

Over the past 12 months, Mr Cheavins has hand-picked a team of head chefs who bring experience from some of the world’s top hotels and restaurants, including Crown Casino, The Ritz-Carlton Perth, JW Marriott Mumbai and The Westin Singapore, as well as the Brunei Royal Family.

“We’re emphasising choice and selection, and making meals an enjoyable time,” Mr Cheavins said.

“Yes, food needs to be nutritious and tailored to residents’ needs, but it also plays a critical role in evoking lovely memories.”

“I’ve had my time working for top hotels and cooking for celebrities. Now I want to bring the love and passion to aged care and allow other chefs to bring their love and passion into Baptistcare kitchens too.”

Photo: Baptistcare

A team of five-star chefs is bringing fine dining to Baptistcare residential care facilities across Perth and regional Western Australia as part of a radical new approach to cooking for aged-care residents.

Baptistcare’s five-star chef team, Shishir More, Wesley Chong, Todd Cheavins, Raj Thiruvathipuram, John Locke and Chinmay Dandekar, are bringing major changes to aged care menus.

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OCTOBER 2020

Fires ravage Pacific Northwest The fires cover around 20,000 square kilometres in 12 states, over three times the size of metropolitan Perth.

In an interview with the television program This Week, Democrat of Oregon, Senator Jeff Merkley said that he drove 600 miles up and down the state, but never escaped the smoke.

“We have thousands of people who have lost their homes. I could have never envisioned this,” he said.

In an interview with Baptist Press, an elder at East Side Baptist Church in Oregon, Len Arney said the church had opened its doors to anyone who needed shelter, with the church car park being used by people in campervans, escaping the fire fronts.

“We’ve had forest fires – we just haven’t had one like this,” the lifelong resident said.

Len shared that East Side had used its clothing closet to provide clothes to evacuees. The church also partnerede with One Hope Lane County, a network of pastors, ministry leaders, churches and local businesses, to help provide support, including chaplaincy services.

East Side’s response was being mirrored by churches elsewhere in Oregon, as well as in Washington, which is also battling fires.

Northwest Baptist Convention Executive Director, Randy Adams said some churches were partnering with other organisations, such as the Red Cross, to provide meals or offer their facilities as staging areas. Disaster relief chaplains have been sent out to minister to affected communities in both states.

“It’s part of a really tough year for our country,” Randy said.

“But our churches here are extremely resilient, and they’re willing to help each other out.”

“One thing I’ve noticed is a lot of reaching out to places and churches that are impacted most.

Our pastors pull together during a time like this.”

Len said he had never experienced anything like this.

“Layer it on top of the whole coronavirus thing, and it’s just been crazy.” “[But], it will come back. It’s amazing how it renews itself, and it’ll grow back.”

The immediate concern is quenching the fires across the state.

“We don’t often need to pray for rain [in the Pacific Northwest], but that would be a godsend,” Len said, also noting that forecasts for the next week included possible rain.

Author – Matthew Chapman Pacific Northwest states in the US have been battling close to 100 wildfires, blanketing much of the west coast in smoke. Captured on 10 September, this Copernicus Sentinel-3 image shows the extent of the smoke plume.

Pledge to end COVID-19 In July, Baptist World Aid Australia joined the campaign to End COVID For All, inviting its supporters to sign the pledge and do the same.

Photo: Eternity

End COVID For All is a shared initiative, backed by more than 200 health, faith and civil society organisations that, like Baptist World Aid Australia, support the assistance of vulnerable nations across the world.

It recognises that while Australia has one of the world’s

best healthcare systems, many of its global neighbours are ill-equipped to deal with the current pandemic.

By signing the pledge, Australians are demonstrating their desire to see the government provide vital COVID-19 support to vulnerable nations.

Baptist World Aid’s End COVID For All spokesperson, Vanessa Miller said politicians were motivated to act by the voices of their constituents.

“The hope of this campaign is that it will continue to illustrate to our nation’s decision makers that there is a movement of people, across all sectors and

A movement of Australians are backing the campaign End COVID For All.

Photo: European Space Agency

It has been described as the worst fire season on record. Thirty-three people are confirmed dead, countless are reported as missing and 500,000 have been ordered to evacuate as 100 wildfires sweep across the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

walks of life, who really care about this issue,” she said.

So far, more than 24,950 Australians have signed the pledge, including a number of high-profile Australians such as former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Carrie Bickmore, Tim Costello and Adam Liaw, who have also thrown their support behind the campaign.

To sign the pledge, visit baptistworldaid.org.au/ end-covid-for-all

Reimagining the future As is the scenario for church and ministry leaders across the world, COVID-19 provided Yvette Cherry an opportunity to reassess her approach in supporting West Australian women in pastoral and ministry leadership.

Yvette, the Women’s Leadership Pastor at Baptist Churches Western Australia, said that at the end of 2019, she had created a ministry plan full of events.

“I was so confident in it I printed and laminated it and stuck it inside the front of my 2020 diary,” she said.

Yvette laughed at how irrelevant those plans became and excited about some of the learning that has come out of the opportunity to reflect, pray, process change and set a new course.

During this time of discernment, the careful decision was made to discontinue the annual women’s event Fresh Conference.

She said while it was a brilliant event, which attracted many people and raised more than $1 million for Baptist World Aid Australia, both founding director Karen Wilson and Yvette felt that God was calling them to minister to Baptist leaders in new ways.

In 2020 and beyond, Yvette’s focus will shift to

more intimate gatherings, greater empowerment of local ministers and leaders, and deeper connections in one-toone, peer group and retreatstyle settings.

“God seems to be inviting us to reimagine the future,” Yvette said.

“I sense that He is calling us to work more closely and specifically with emerging female leaders as they continue to step into their giftedness to lead.”

“The big conference space is exciting and we loved what we did there, but in this new season, the powerful conversations, the catalytic moments and the authentic connections … it feels like they’re happening in the less glamorous spaces; the small groups, the gathering of the few, the intentional raising up of leaders for the future …”

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Engagement beyond reproach

“Social media platforms have made it possible for people to stay connected, and youth and young adult leaders in Western Australia have done excellent work in stepping into social media spaces, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, in a way that has been missionally meaningful while maintaining a ministry practice that is safe and accountable,” Ed said.

He noted the importance for ministers to the iGeneration (born 1997 to 2012) to be current in the ways they communicate.

Carey Baptist Church Youth Pastor, Ben O’Reilly said he

found youth were far more comfortable speaking online than face to face.

“With the recent example of an emergency warning from the Government eSafety Commission, in light of horrifying content trending between platforms, would it not be wiser to avoid engagement in most social media altogether?,” Ed asked.

“Like any other ministry, pastors do not shy away from the dark side of life,” Ed shared.

“In fact, Jesus’ example was to be amongst the people who were considered sinners and relegated to the fringes of society.”

Ed said that there was a call to wade into the mess and complexity of life, whilst being grounded on the solid rock of Christ and the accountability of the church community.

“Ministry to people via social media is no different,” he said.

Ben O’Reilly shared that the way he and his team managed the challenge was through engaging healthily – by channelling all online questions through their youth group social media channel, which has at least three administrators for accountability.

“If the conversation goes for longer than four sentences, we shift from online conversation and initiate a face-to-face conversation with at least two leaders,” he said.

“We want to be above reproach but still engage with youth in the platforms they choose to occupy.”

Ed shared that a focus for the BCWA Next Generations ministry was encouraging ongoing, thoughtful discussion at a whole of church level, to bridge the gap between the way churches communicate online while ensuring the safeguards required for healthy ministry are in place.

“Our BCWA Safe Church training now includes a special highlight on online ministry, the key being that all regular Safe Church practices still apply to ministry online,” he said.

If you would like to discuss how your church is engaging with social media, particularly in the Next Generations space, please contact Ed Devine at the Baptist Ministry Centre, or visit nextgenbaptistwa.com.au/ ministrycovid19

Image: Ed Devine

At no other time in history have church leaders been called on to use online technology and social media than in the current COVID-19 season, according to Baptist Churches Western Australia (BCWA) Next Generations Pastor, Ed Devine.

A guideline to ministering safely online.

Zoom app supports churches The rapid pivot in video conferencing was thrust upon many organisations, including churches, due to the impact of COVID-19 and the requirement for social distancing and working from home.

When you consider the size of our State, this new technology has enabled us to better resource churches ...

75-inch touch screen to interact with pastors and ministry leaders throughout the State.

BCWA Church and Leaders Pastor, Michael Bullard said it was good timing with the installation of the new equipment prior to the pandemic.

“When you consider the size of our State, this new technology has enabled us to better resource churches and helped alleviate the need for pastors and ministry leaders to travel vast distances to meet with us and one another,” he said.

Michael said the technology had been essential in the implementation of Safe Church training, with over 400 participants registered to take part in online Safe Church training since the pandemic started.

Photo: Chris Montgomery/Unsplash

In the months prior to restrictions being implemented, Baptist Churches Western Australia (BCWA) staff were investigating video conferencing with the aim of using it to resource churches in areas such as the Safe Church ministry.

Author – Matthew Chapman Due to a grant made available from a Perth-based Christian trust, a Zoom room was installed at the Baptist Ministry Centre, allowing staff to use 4K 360-degree cameras and a

Baptist Churches Western Australia staff have used video conferencing to resource churches.

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OCTOBER 2020

Course delivered in new way Traditionally held in person, the annual intercultural mission course was held online for the first time to great effect in order to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.

Strategic Mission Week aims to equip people who are preparing to serve in overseas mission and provides church leaders with a better understanding of effective mission practice, locally and globally.

It covers a range of topics including biblical theology, contextualisation and sustainable development.

Global Interaction WA State Director, Dan McGrechan said moving online enabled overseas intercultural workers in nine countries to participate and facilitate sessions. It also allowed people from rural areas of Australia to participate without the need to travel.

The strength of the content makes this my favourite Christian conference I’ve participated in.

teach children in Mozambique and Global Interaction alumni.

Current intercultural workers Glenn and Liz Black, Sally Pim and Ben Good joined participants and shared their rich experiences of intercultural mission.

Dan, who was involved in planning and facilitating the week, said like most people during this season, Global Interaction had to explore doing things differently.

“We were amazed at the number of registrations, quality of online training presented and high level of engagement from participants,” he said.

“The success of this week has fundamentally shifted how we will run courses going forward.”

Dan said feedback from participants included the following: “The strength of the content makes this my favourite Christian conference I’ve participated in.”

“Global Interaction has a superb team of people.”

“I really enjoyed Strategic Mission Week. It gave me further insight on the life of a missionary; the sacrifice, the joy, the hope, and the love for God’s people by these beautiful missionaries, whether it’s here in Australia or overseas. My husband and I hope to join this group of people in the not-too-distant future.”

To view sessions from Strategic Mission Week, visit at globalinteraction.org.au.

The Baptist Ministry Centre in Perth hosted a hub for people to participate in person, promoting rich discussion and engagement among participants.

Participants included church pastors, young adults exploring mission, teachers preparing to

To register your interest for the 2021 course (5 to 9 July), email wa@globalinteraction.org.au

Photo: John Davis

During July, Global Interaction trained more than 110 participants in an adapted version of its Strategic Mission Week course.

West Australians participating via Zoom in this year’s Strategic Mission Week course run by Global Interaction in July.

Bible translation hits 700 The Bible has been translated into its 700th language. The milestone is indicative of the acceleration that is happening in the work of Bible translation to the extent that it is impossible to say which translation was actually the 700th, as several launches of physical and online Bibles were happening at the same time.

Wycliffe Bible Translators Executive Director, James Poole said it was exciting news and represented the tremendous work that Bible translators were doing across the world.

“Every time we hear of the Bible being translated into another language, we know that means that for the first time the people in that language group can fully access the complete picture of God’s story,” James said.

“It’s good to take a step back and realise what this 700th Bible means: 5.7 billion people who speak 700 languages now have the Bible in the language that speaks to them best. That is a

remarkable figure and continues to grow.”

“However, there are still about 1.5 billion people – that’s roughly one in five – who do not have the Bible in their language.”

“That’s an injustice that Bible translation teams worldwide continue to work to put right.”

Although there cannot be certainty which was actually the 700th translation, there have been several dedications recently that might have been the 700th that sum up the joy and celebration that comes with a newly translated Bible.

The Ellomwe Bible was launched in Malawi with

hundreds of people dancing and singing in celebration.

Senior Chief Nazombe, who received a copy of the new Bible on behalf of the Ellomwe community, said: “I am grateful to God that I can witness this in my lifetime.”

James said it is amazing that there is so much Bible translation going on that the 700th Bible could not be pinpointed.

“We live in exciting times, when the vision that all people will be able to read or hear God’s Word in their language is becoming a reality,” he said.

Briefs

Each year, many thousands of dollars are raised from the sale of used stamps for the work of Global Interaction. Instead of throwing stamps on envelopes away, Global Interaction asks people to place them in a box in church foyers, send them to the Global Interaction State Office at PO Box 57, Burswood WA 6100 or drop them in to the Baptist Ministry Centre at 21 Rowe Avenue, Rivervale. Please leave five millimetres of the envelope around the stamp.

Pastoral changes Pastor Alex Huggett has been appointed as the Lead Pastor at Bentley Baptist Church.

Pastor Rick Fletcher has been appointed as the Pastor at Ellenbrook Baptist Church.

Photo: Bible Society of Malawi

Stamps for Global Interaction

Chiringa villagers marching through the streets with a representation of their newly translated Ellomwe Bible.

8

feature OCTOBER 2020

BWA Women President announced Global Leadership Network Australia CEO, Karen Wilson will serve as President of the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department (BWA Women) for the 2020 to 2025 term.

BWA Women hosted an Officer Installation and Commissioning Service on 16 July via an online platform following the postponement of the quinquennial Global Conference of Baptist Women due to COVID-19.

The ceremony commemorated the five years of committed service by Ksenija Magda, of Croatia, as President and Kathryn James, of the USA, as Secretary-Treasurer during the 2015 to 2020 term. The service included prayers of thanks to God as well as thanks to the leaders for their faithful work.

After the commemoration the new officers were installed, including Karen and Sherrie Cherdak, of the USA, who will serve as Secretary-Treasurer.

Karen, whose husband is Baptist Churches Western Australia’s Director of Ministries, Pastor Mark Wilson said she was excited to be part of what God is doing amongst women across our world.

“It will be a privilege to stand alongside our Continental Union Presidents as we work together as a team,” she said.

“I believe God is calling us to occupy new spaces, to stand together, to encourage each other and champion one another forward.”

“We all have an amazing opportunity in front of us to be part of this global movement which is having a significant impact.”

Karen has a strong passion to see people lead well and to be equipped and grow into their full potential. She has always had a love for working with people from all walks of life and feels called to amplify the voices of the marginalised, having spent several years working in countries across the world.

Sherrie brings with her a background as a bookkeeper and has already been serving BWA Women in that role. This enables her to begin her role as Secretary-Treasurer with a solid understanding of the inner workings of the organisation.

Interim Executive Director of BWA Women, Moreen Sharp welcomed Karen and Sherrie with great enthusiasm to the team.

“We know they will fit well into the organisation and have much to offer Baptist women around the world,” Moreen remarked.

“Their expertise and wisdom have already been very evident and their input, skills and leadership will have a marked influence as we move into the future together.”

Baptist World Alliance General Secretary, Dr Elijah Brown said BWA Women remained a vital part of BWA life and ministry.

“It is with enthusiasm that we celebrate the commissioning of Karen and Sherrie as new officers. It’s an honour to serve alongside these strategic and godly leaders,” he said.

“I call on all Baptists to pray for them in this season of commissioning and that the Holy Spirit would continue to flow through them and through BWA Women for the glory of the Lord.”

As part of the commissioning service, Dr Brown prayed the following prayer over the two newly appointed officers.

To view the commissioning service, visit youtu.be/BEhw31WKCl0 Author – Merritt Johnston

feature OCTOBER 2020

A prayer of blessing In your leadership, you are continuing a strong biblical tradition of women who have advanced the Kingdom of God. May you lead in the spirit and power of: Shiphrah and Puah, midwives for justice who brought forward life Rahab who provided refuge for strangers Ruth who embraced isolation and risk to provide care Hannah whose prayer and sacrifice set in motion Kingdom initiatives that impacted generations Huldah who was trusted to provide theological reflection and insight into the ways of the Lord Esther whose bravery prevented a genocide Elisabeth who sensed the Holy Spirit in ways her husband, a professional priest, did not and who helped raise a voice in the wilderness calling for national repentance Mary whose willing availability changed the contours of history and who at a personal level embraced uncertainty and constant adjustment in deepening recognition of Jesus and the mission of God Mary Magdalene and the other Mary commissioned as the first evangelists with the transformative declaration that Jesus is risen Mary the mother of Mark who likely owned the home that hosted the Last Supper, the home where Jesus greeted the disciples after his resurrection, the home where the disciples reflected on Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a Pentecostal outpouring needed again today that every language and people group in the world may declare the praises of Jesus Christ Priscilla who along with her husband Aquila modelled missional church planting Junia who was well known to the apostles for her leadership and suffered the indignity of imprisonment for her faith in order to live as an apostle for Jesus Christ.

First and foremost, may you lead and serve with the spirit and mind of Jesus Christ.

You are gifted, empowered, and called to serve for the glory of Jesus. We listen, we learn, and we serve alongside you. God bless you and continue to use you as President and Secretary-Treasurer of BWA Women.

Voiced by Baptist World Alliance General Secretary, Dr Elijah Brown on the day of commissioning of BWA Women President, Karen Wilson and Secretary-Treasurer, Sherrie Cherdak, 16 July 2020.

9

10 world news OCTOBER 2020

Speaking out on slavery survivors. These new resources … expand on our efforts to offer those who have suffered the shelter and support they need to begin a new and better life.”

The grants will go to 73 organisations to provide six to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims, including rental, utilities or related expenses, such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grants will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counselling.

In 2018, the OVC in conjunction with stakeholders launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. The centre has identified that human trafficking offences were among the most difficult crimes to identify and that the scope of human trafficking victimisation may be much greater than the limited data reflects.

In highlighting the abhorrent information around trafficking, Bethany posted: “END IT. This is so devastatingly sad and sickening. Slavery is clearly alive and thriving.”

Author – Matthew Chapman

International Briefs Co-founder of Mission Aviation Fellowship passes Stuart King, the co-founder of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in the United Kingdom, has passed away aged 98. Stuart served as a Royal Air Force engineer during World War II and following the war, dedicated his life to using light aircraft to share the gospel in the remotest part of the world.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby said: “Stuart’s tremendous contribution to the founding of MAF has had a profound impact on the ministry of many people across the world and in the Anglican Communion.”

Megachurch pastor told to obey rules A Californian megachurch pastored by John MacArthur, has been ordered to stop

Christian surfer Bethany Hamilton highlights the scourge of human trafficking that is at historic highs.

holding indoor services following a court ruling.

The church has been disregarding public health officials’ orders since early August, with the Senior Pastor telling his church “there is no pandemic”.

“While the court is mindful that there is no substitute for indoor worship in the ‘spiritual refuge’ of a sanctuary, the court cannot ignore the County Health Order and does not dictate a ban on worship,” Judge Mitchell Beckloff said.

Baptist Churches Western Australia recommends that churches follow the guidance and instructions of State and Federal Governments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo: SibRapid/Shutterstock

Bethany was made famous by a shark attack in Hawaii in 2003 in which she lost her arm at the shoulder. Using her large social media following, she spoke out against the abuse that is prevalent in society, sharing information reported by Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), a non-profit organisation dedicated to fighting human trafficking.

In one of a number of social media posts, she shared that there were 30 million slaves worldwide – 10 million of these are children.

According to OUR, there are more people enslaved today than any other time in history, even when slavery was legal.

At the same time as Bethany was taking to social media highlighting the devastating effects of trafficking, the United States Department of Justice, through the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) announced it was awarding more than $35 million in grant funding to providers for housing victims of human trafficking.

“Human trafficking is a barbaric criminal enterprise that subjects its victims to unspeakable cruelty and deprives them of the most basic of human needs, none more essential than a safe place to live,” United States Attorney General, William Barr said.

“The Department of Justice has fought aggressively to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking

Photo: Mary Ernsdorf

Christian surfer Bethany Hamilton has spoken out against the effects of human trafficking, sharing that it is time to bring an end to the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world.

North Korea being impacted by ‘ghost disease’ while denying it’s impacting the population.

North Korea’s ‘ghost disease’ North Korean officials report the authoritarian state has largely avoided the COVID-19 outbreak, but experts say it is improbable to avoid higher case numbers due to the extensive border it shares with China.

Now stories are starting to corroborate what experts believe and what North Koreans are calling the ‘ghost disease’.

Brother Simon*, who works through a network in China as an Open Doors coordinator for ministry among North Koreans, said people can be sick without knowing it.

“They are usually malnourished already. Then suddenly they die quickly. Some even just fall dead on the ground,” Brother Simon said.

“It’s an invisible killer.”

Like most countries, North Korea has taken measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 but this has meant that little food is getting into the country, either legally or on the black market.

“Even at the best of times, survival can be extremely difficult in North Korea,” Brother Simon said.

“Many marketplaces have closed down, even though the population is completely dependent on the black markets.”

“But even if they are open, there’s little food you can buy.

And prices have quadrupled. It will cost you many months’ salary to buy a kilo of rice.”

He shared that his team has food, medicines, winter clothes and other necessary goods ready for North Korean Christians.

“But first God needs to open the door,” he said.

“Once people are able to come out of the country, we can give them the means to survive.”

“Recently we’ve had a window of opportunity to do a little relief.

We’re waiting for the next one.” * Name has been changed for security reasons.

Author – Matthew Chapman

world news 11 OCTOBER 2020

Church finances sea rescue

This ship has to be out there, because European states do not intend, nor do they manage, to rescue people in the Mediterranean.

In an interview with the German newspaper Rheinische Post, the head of the EKD, Heinrich Bedford-Strohm explained that it sought to support this privately-funded rescue operation in the Mediterranean while a permanent solution for government-funded operations with a clear mandate was not in place.

Mr Bedford-Strohm acknowledged that the rescue ship did not solve the issues surrounding fair asylum procedures and migration politics in Europe, but was intended as “urgent emergency assistance” in absence of political consensus on the issues.

“One does not let any single human drown. Period!”

Mr Bedford-Strohm said during a ceremony to send off the

An association led by the Evangelical Church in Germany has sent the Sea-Watch 4 to the central Mediterranean to rescue migrants at risk of drowning.

Sea-Watch 4 on its first rescue mission.

“This ship has to be out there, because European states do not intend, nor do they manage, to rescue people in the Mediterranean.”

According to Sea-Watch, privately funded rescue ships are currently the only rescue ships in the Mediterranean since the discontinuation of all government-funded rescue operations, such as the Italian Operation Mare Nostrum.

Operation Mare Nostrum was initiated in 2013, when two boats sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa, drowning more than 370 migrants. However, it was discontinued a year later despite having contributed to the rescue of about 150,000 migrants.

Sea-Watch spokesperson Mattea Weihe told The Guardian that while the Sea-Watch 4 was desperately needed in the central Mediterranean, it was more than just a “rescue asset”.

“It is a huge 60.8-metre sign of solidarity, sent by over 500 organisations, of civil society, with the church in the front row. It demonstrates that civil society, in Europe, disagrees with the fact that governments choose to let people drown,” Ms Weihe said.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Missing Migrants Project has recorded more than 550 deaths of migrants by drowning in the Mediterranean this year alone.

According to IOM, more than 20,000 migrants have died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea since 2014.

Author – Ramona Humphreys

Survey confirms thousands of conversions in Iran

Photo: Borna Mirahmadian/Shutterstock

Nine days after setting off on its first mission in August, the ship had already rescued 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe from North Africa by boat.

The ship, a 60.8 metrelong former research vessel, was purchased for 1.5 million euros by the United4Rescue, an association led by the Evangelical Church in Germany and backed by more than 500 individual churches and organisations.

Operated by the advocacy group Sea-Watch in cooperation with Médecins Sans Frontières, the ship seeks to save as many people as possible from drowning in the absence of governmentfunded rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

Photo: Sea-Watch

In the absence of government-funded rescue operations, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has led an initiative to fund a ship with the mission to rescue migrants at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean Sea.

A recent secular survey by a Dutch research group has added weight to Christian reports of widespread growth of Christianity in Iran.

A secular survey adds weight to Christian reports of widespread growth of Christianity in Iran.

A recent survey of 50,000 Iranians by a Netherlands-based research group found that 1.5 percent of participants identified as Christian.

The target population of the survey included literate Iranians over the age of 20, 90 percent

residing in Iran. Extrapolating the survey results over Iran’s population of approximately 50 million literate adults, the findings suggest an estimated number of at least 750,000 Iranian believers.

It is the first time that secular research has added weight to reports by Christian advocacy groups who have been observing a surge of conversions in Iran for years.

The survey was conducted by the Group for Analyzing and

Measuring Attitudes in Iran led

by Assistant Professor at Tilburg University, Ammar Maleki and Assistant Professor at Utrecht University, Pooyan Tamimi Arab.

According to Open Doors Australia, Christians in Iran face intense government persecution. The country ranks ninth on the Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of the 50 most dangerous countries to follow Jesus.

Author – Ramona Humphreys

12 in conversation OCTOBER 2020

Pastoring in the COVID-19 landscape The Advocate caught up with Josh recently to have a conversation about how he has looked after these responsibilities, especially through this COVID-19 season.

Josh, as you reflect on 2020 and the challenges that we have faced, what are your initial reflections? How have you found this season being a husband, father and pastor?

My initial reflection is to acknowledge that, while we share the same COVID-19 laws throughout Western Australia, we have experienced this epidemic in different ways. I am blessed to have maintained my job, avoided serious illness, and alongside my wife used the time to reshape some of our rhythms as a family unit. So, I reflect that while this period has been tiring, it has been comparatively easier than for our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. As a husband, father and pastor, the changes to what was normal have been intense and led to many realisations – mostly to do with my capacity, my limits, and how to rely on others more.

What sort of conversations did you find yourself having with your children and Marnél about this season?

Marnél and I took each week at a time. The conversations started with ‘Is it really going to be that bad?’, progressed to ‘What can we do under these restrictions?’, and finally rested around ‘Whatever we need to do, we can do it!’.

The conversations that hit the hardest were with our four year old daughter, Azaliah. She had just started kindy and was getting into a groove when ‘the sickness’, as she called it, sent her back home.

Talking with her and our son, Ezra, about why we could not go on the rides at the shops, why they can’t play at playgrounds, hug their friends, or return to the normal weekly schedule, were all difficult and sobering.

Lesmurdie Baptist Church moved quickly towards an online model for its services and recently moved back to both physical and online services.

What do you think the postCOVID Lesmurdie church will look like in the future?

I think that Lesmurdie Baptist Church will look decentralised for a while. At the time of writing, the Phase 5 plan has been pushed back again and with

Phase 4 restrictions we cannot accommodate the whole church family in person on our site.

Though, many have chosen to remain online for a host of reasons so we may not get the whole church family in person for a while anyway. To the casual observer it seems chaotic, but relationships act as a network that keep us strong through life groups, midweek programs, Sunday services both in person and online, and friendships.

All of this exists to best express as a local church that Jesus is awesome, and you should get to know Him some more. My instinct is that this style of one church with many entry points is here to stay at Lesmurdie Baptist Church. This excites and scares me because while it is nice to see everyone in person, it is healthier that more people are able to connect.

Having transitioned to different service options for gatherings in person and now having a digital congregation/community that you engage with each week, how is that all managed?

During this season we went from our normal two services, morning and night, to two morning services. We have now altered to one service in the morning. We have streamed three times a day the recording of the morning service, two of those being hosted and one being something you could watch but not comment or request prayer on. We manage all this by making sure anything we do in person has been thought through for the person watching at home.

Our aim is that the online service is not a poor cousin to the gatherings in person, as many who watch online in our church community do so for many reasons. We treat people who watch online as every bit as engaged as the people in the pew, so to speak. This takes volunteers, an administrative workload and prayer. To top it off there is a lot of communication, conversations, surveys and social media posts to keep people in the loop.

What are the challenges you have found in ministering to an online community?

The biggest challenge has been content. We know how to chat, pray for people, organise catch-ups, and provide support online. We have transitioned to

Photo: Pexels/Kaboompics.com

As a young adult in his late 20s, Josh Thomas wears the hat of being a husband to Marnél, father to three young children along with being the Associate Pastor at Lesmurdie Baptist Church.

Associate Pastor at Lesmurdie Baptist Church, Josh Thomas talks about pastoring through COVID-19 while being a husband to Marnél and their children Azaliah, Zoelle and Ezra.

this years ago with email, text, Facebook and other social media.

We know how to connect with people online, that is already normal. What was not normal for us was the production of content to engage and helpfully nourish the online community.

Learning to share content that was helpful, produce content that we could use in person and online, and ask for help from other churches so we could use their content, was a big learning curve. I remember at Easter on Thursday night working on my 2013 MacBook Air, which was struggling as I frantically put together the Good Friday service with all the different elements.

I texted our lead pastor at 11.59pm, “Getting to render 30 seconds before midnight! Hope it is all there when I wake up.” Then at 7.36am Good Friday, “All uploaded and ready to go. See you at 9.20am.”

Nothing raises the stress quite like over 180 people relying on you and your outdated laptop to produce a service. So, the biggest challenge to ministering to an online community has been blessing them with the content and resources that we are used to giving people who turn up in person to our programs and services. I must have missed Filmmaking 101 and Marketing for Dummies at seminary.

In the early stages, as you provided pastoral care to your community, were there recurring themes coming up in your conversations with church members?

There were some key themes that kept coming out, fear, hope, stress, loss. On top of this there

was a lot of worry for family over in the eastern states and overseas as well. While the pastoral chatter was occasionally blessed with an individual realising how awesome Jesus has been and how hopeful the future seems with some newly gained perspective, a lot of the chats were more unsure in nature.

The fear and stress of not knowing what was next for us here in Perth, how bad would it actually be. The lament at losing contact with family members, old habits, the old normal way of living. One thing that surprised me a bit was how many people were unhappy with the 1.5m social distancing, the loss of human contact from close church family was a real problem for some people.

How did you stay in ‘pastoral’ touch with your parishioners and give support?

The work of Karen Siggins, Lesmurdie Baptist Church’s lead pastor, in establishing a healthy pastoral care team meant that keeping in contact looked like being a team player. Between our pastoral care team, the church was divided so that every person on our church books was connected to a member of the team. Pastoral care then took the form of email, phone calls, snail mail (the power of a person receiving a physical letter is incredible) and Zoom hangouts, and when restrictions eased some one-on-one catch-ups.

Our ministries also connected with their people through social media and snail mail, which was great. Regular pastoral updates from the team allowed Karen and I to ensure the people of Lesmurdie Baptist Church received the support they needed. From this

we could support though prayer, provide references to other agencies, listen, distribute food hampers and spend time with people.

Are there some final words you would like to share with readers of The Advocate?

This was a tiring season of change. For many workforces this was a season of learning new things while juggling what was already normal and facing uncertainty. A lot of people are tired, stressed and anxious. And rightly so. As a husband I felt this time has given me and Marnél a chance to re-evaluate. As a dad, this time has given me some cool opportunities to hang out with my kids in different situations and try new things together. As a pastor this season saw me realise my limits, crash for a few days, and re-emerge the other side with a different strategy to facing life.

I cannot imagine what readers have personally gone through.

I hope they are stronger, have a deeper relationship with Jesus, rely more on the work of the Holy Spirit and see the Heavenly Father’s heart for them. As I say to my children each night before they go to sleep; ‘God made you, Jesus loves you, and the Spirit is with you. Go get some rest.’

growth 13 OCTOBER 2020

This week, I bought a newspaper and a takeaway coffee for the first time in two months.

As I sat on a park bench, it was like the good old days, ‘Before-COVID’.

I felt giddy emerging into my new-found freedom, like someone feasting after a fast. Thank you, I said. Gratitude for small things has come easily recently.

But the coffee had too much milk in it and the newspaper too much bile. As I sat there reading about the lifting of restrictions, and the people who are ignoring them, and the anger people feel about this, I was taken back to something I’d almost forgotten – the old paradigm of a nation stuck in shouty, binary positions, divisions that, for a few months at least, seemed to have been replaced by a kind of unity, even a vision for a different kind of world.

This is a significant, possibly dangerous moment for all of us. As we slowly emerge from lockdown and return to what passes for normal life, whilst still trying to take the thing that put us there seriously. I feel no nostalgia for the deprivations of lockdown; give me the company of friends, the

miracle of human presence any day. I’ve had the virus and have lost friends to it. People have lost jobs.

People have lost lives.

And yet, in the midst of suffering, many have spoken of noticing things for the first time: the silent skies, the empty roads, the five different kinds of birdsong heard at dusk. Fresh air.

The neighbour of ten years who brought you groceries when you were sick and whose name you now know. Glimpses of things that were either lost or impossible to see before all this; glimpses of a better world.

As we re-emerge it would be a shame to go back to the old settings, to miss the opportunity, to forget the things that this great stopping of the world has shown us, to forget the good we’ve glimpsed. A better world is not found in utopian visions. Those are illusions. No, it is found here.

In the world we’ve been given. As the French poet Paul Éluard said: “There is another world and it is in this one.” Sometimes, like the Psalmist, we just have to be still in order to see it.

Outside I hear planes again.

Cars swoosh down our road. And someone is drilling the wall the other side of my study. To record this, I’m going to have to get in a

Photo: Shutterstock

Glimpses

cupboard to find the silence I need. The world is getting noisier again, and we’re going to have to work hard not to let the volume drown out that ‘still small voice’ that’s been telling us what we always suspected: that there is a world better than this.

Rhidian Brook is an awardwinning writer of fiction, television drama and film and regularly presents BBC Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’.

Author – Rhidian Brook

Finding contentment is the secret to lockdown

Even if not, one biblical teaching could benefit everyone: the secret of contentment, a state that rises above personal circumstances.

Part of the Christian understanding shares a widespread philosophicalreligious perspective and part is uniquely Christian.

The shared part was aptly summarised by Rudyard Kipling, who wrote of meeting “Triumph and Disaster, and treat[ing] those two impostors just the same”.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul tells the Philippian Christians that he has learned to be content in all circumstances, humble or prosperous, hungry or satisfied. His secret is reliance on God. In the first letter to Timothy, the author says: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with

that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires … for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil …

[Instead,] pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” [1 Timothy 6:610a, 11b NIV] Some 1,000 years earlier, in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, ascribed to King Solomon, he prayed God “give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread”.

[Proverbs 30:8b NIV] If he had too much, he might disown God (precisely what happened); if he had too little he might steal and dishonour God. This quest for simplicity as a key to contentment is common to many philosophies.

Paul’s uniquely Christian insight, in total contradiction of the Roman Empire’s values, was in the paradoxical claim that God reveals His power in human weakness. He told the

Photo: Ben White/Unsplash

Almost everyone agrees that lockdown in Melbourne is much harder second time around and that COVID fatigue is taking a toll. Christian faith should – theoretically – help in the form of consolation, acceptance, optimism and renewed motivation to love our neighbours.

Corinthians: “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

[2 Corinthians 12:10 NASB] The Christian worldview is stuffed with paradox: believers are to conquer by yielding; we find rest under a yoke; we reign by serving; we are exalted when we are humble; we become wise

by being fools for Christ’s sake; we are made free by becoming servants; we live by dying to self. To glory in weakness may still seem counterintuitive 2,000 years later, but it is intensely liberating.

In lockdown, achieving contentment, as always, is easier said than done but far from impossible. Focus not on what we are lacking but on what we have. Compare ourselves not with

those who have more but those who have less. And enjoy the small pleasures every day brings.

Author – Barney Zwartz Barney Zwartz is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Public Christianity. This article was originally published in The Age and republished with permission.

14 arts OCTOBER 2020

Gettys global in song

Editor: Managing Editor: Production:

Creative: Advertising: Distribution: Editorial deadline:

Matthew Chapman Andrew Sculthorpe Alissa Cass Kate Chesson Vanessa Klomp Peter Ion Sally Phu Sally Phu 5th of each month

Keith and Kristyn Getty’s annual worship music conference, Sing! Global, was the most watched global worship event so far this year.

in, the hope we proclaim to every corner of the world.”

Access to the conference, including online concerts, behind the scenes and artist interviews will be available online for 90 days after the event.

Keith and Kristyn are modern hymn writers. Keith was the first church musician of the modern era to be awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II, for services to music and hymn writing.

Author – John Igglesden

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Bold step for Perth singer Perth singer/songwriter, Chelsea Cullen has had her praises sung following the release of the biographical movie I Am Woman, in which she voices the songs of ’80s singer, Helen Reddy.

Chelsea sings ten of the 11 songs on the movie soundtrack, with the last song performed by Helen Reddy’s granddaughter.

Chelsea was recently interviewed by Sky News host, Alan Jones in which she described working on the movie as “a big gig”.

“I auditioned over two years ago and spent the first year flying back and forth from Sydney,” she said.

“My trips there consisted of massive studio days, lots of singing and sleeping like a log in hotels … it feels strange finally having the film out after such a process, very surreal!”

Chelsea attends Providence City, a church in Wembley, with her husband Sam where they both serve on the music team.

Photo: Chelsea Cullen

Sing! Global was the most watched global worship event so far this year, streamed across the world in six languages to an estimated 250,000 people. It is in part supported by Christian Healthcare Ministries, a Christian not-for-profit who provides opportunities for Christians to financially assist those in need with healthcare.

The four-day online event, from 30 August to 2 September, featured more than 100 speakers and artists including John Lennox, Andrew Peterson, Conrad Mbewe, David Platt, Bill Gaither and John Piper.

Keith said the theme of this year’s conference was the centrality of God’s Word in the singing of God’s people.

“I’m not sure we have ever had such anticipation for an event like we have for this year’s Sing! Global conference,” he said.

“I think we will look back in 30 years at this moment in history as one of the most unique opportunities to sing of the beauty and riches of our Lord, and cry out together as part of His global church.”

Kristyn added: “As we have shared in the same global crisis of 2020, we are more mindful of one another.”

“As God’s church all over the world, we want to embrace this particular moment, using every facility of technology and innovation available to us to more greatly illuminate the gospel hope we sing and share

Photo: Jersey Road PR

Christian hymn writers, Keith and Kristyn Getty have just completed their annual music worship conference, now known as Sing! Global.

Author – John Igglesden Perth singer/songwriter Chelsea Cullen voices the songs of Helen Reddy in the biographical movie, I Am Woman.

coffee break 15 OCTOBER 2020

Little books challenge thinking

Book of the year puts Christianity on trial

Dr Natasha Moore, author of the 2020 Australian Christian Book of the Year, released a new book the day after her award was announced.

For the Love of God: How the church is better and worse than you ever imagined, published by the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) has been awarded the SparkLit 2020 Australian Christian Book of the Year.

person who might even be described as ‘your enemy’.

“The literal meaning of the word compassion is to suffer with,” Costello said.

“It means caring enough for someone to share in their suffering – to join them in it.

It is costly.”

He also reminds us that all people can both demonstrate compassion and receive compassion.

“Human frailty and vulnerability are universal,” Costello said.

“It must be a two-way street.”

The little books, easily read in an afternoon, are packed with references to philosophers, academics, Chicken Little, social justice campaigners, killer jellyfish and even, a morality tale or two.

The publication is an honest response to the question: “Would the world be better off without Christianity?”

Written by Dr Natasha Moore, with contributors John Dickson, Simon Smart and Justine Toh, this book accompanies a series of documentary films released in 2019 by CPX. The judges commentary included: “this bold yet balanced appraisal of the impact of Christianity examines both the best and worst of what Christians have done over two millennia. Dr Moore and her collaborators confront the failure of those who claimed to follow Christ but were responsible for the Crusades, the Inquisition and the abuse of children.”

The books are available from Koorong bookstores.

... I’ve become very much convinced that the influence of Jesus has been much for the better ...

Photo: Acorn Press

The first two imprints of the Re:CONSIDERING series, published by Acorn Press, are The Pleasures of Pessimism

by Dr Natasha Moore and The Cost of Compassion by Rev. Tim Costello AO. Dr Moore and Rev. Costello are both part of Centre for Public Christianity (CPX), which seeks to engage the public with a clear, balanced and surprising picture of the Christian faith.

Dr Moore believes there is a need to bring into focus some of the currents that we are swimming in, often without even noticing that the current or the water temperature have changed. These little books are aimed at challenging the reader’s thinking.

To reconsider. Maybe even to ask questions about whether these currents represent how to do life together or whether to change streams.

Dr Moore believes that ‘cultural pessimism’ has crept into the predominant thinking of our society. As she has written, “Once we stop recognising ourselves as bound together in a common future, we lose much of the power we have to shape that future.”

“What is required, then – and what an enervating pessimism makes all the more difficult – is the constant renewal of energies for tasks that must be performed fresh in each generation, and repeatedly within each generation. Which means that what is required is the resistance of apathy, and the constant renewal of patience, and of hope.”

Like Dr Moore, Rev. Costello is not a pessimist. He has seen the best and worst of people, and for him, a world without compassion is a world that has totally lost its humanity. The Cost of Compassion seeks to challenge readers about their own definition of compassion and what is the cost for becoming more compassionate.

Rev. Costello acknowledges his own contradictions when it comes to compassion. The ‘disease’ as he walks past a person begging on the street. The complexity of showing compassion to a

“The ease with which Christians through the ages have ignored both the teaching of Jesus and the dissenting voices of contemporary prophets is a caution. The authors also show how – when they obey Jesus – Christians have contributed to what is beautiful and beneficial in culture and society.”

In an interview with Hope 103.2FM in Sydney, Dr Moore reflected that in looking at the best and worst impacts of the church

throughout the centuries, she found that “the good outweighs the bad”, has grossly oversimplified the matter.

“One of the things that I want people to take away is that the ‘balance sheet’ isn’t the best way to approach this question,” she said.

“To the extent that it’s a meaningful question, I’ve become very much convinced that the influence of Jesus has been much for the better – but I just think that if you’re someone who’s suffered at the hands of the church or of Christians, it doesn’t cancel that out.”

The judges chose from a short list of ten books. The list of authors included former World Vision CEO and Baptist Minister Tim Costello’s memoir A Lot with a Little. In his writing, Costello traces his journey from a personal evangelical piety to his advocacy for the oppressed and leadership of World Vision.

Dr John Dickson’s book, Is Jesus History?, was also short-listed. Dr Dickson employed the same archaeological and literary methods used for the recovery of other historical figures to demonstrate that believing in the historical Jesus and the biblical record of what He said and did as being reasonable.

Associate Professor Stuart Piggin and Professor Robert Lindner were on the list again for their book Attending to the National Soul, which is the follow-up volume to their 2019 winner The Fountain of Public Prosperity: Evangelical Christians in Australian History 1740-1914.

For the full list of the shortlisted books, visit sparklit.org

Two new books by Dr Natasha Moore and Rev. Tim Costello AO aim to challenge readers’ thinking.

Photo: SparkLit

Q: What kind of car does Jesus drive?

A: A Christler Australian Christian Book of the Year winner, For the Love of God, questions whether the world would be better off without Christianity.

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16 sport OCTOBER 2020

Without Jesus, I wouldn’t be who I am Mention the name Evander Holyfield and the first few things that may come to most people’s minds are: boxing champion, the ear-biting incident with Mike Tyson or maybe even headlines from tabloids that pick apart the four-time heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

Him the best way I know how,” he said.

Over the years, Holyfield has shared how his faith in Jesus Christ has never failed him. He wants to share this message with other men to encourage them to be open and truthful about their faith, too. So, Christian Headlines asked him why he believes people should come to Promise Keepers – an evangelical parachurch organisation created for men to encourage one another through fellowship and prayer.

“Men should come together being able to open up and being able to be truthful … because you have to be truthful to overcome things,” he responded.

Holyfield said he never gets tired of people asking questions about the infamous ear-biting incident during a boxing match with Mike Tyson. He uses it as an opportunity to share a pertinent part of the gospel. Simply, “God wants you to forgive”. He is steady in his conviction that “I wouldn’t be who I am if I hadn’t been through what I’ve been through”.

Author – Maina Mwaura

Photo: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

However, there is far more than what meets the eye when it comes to Evander Holyfield; he is nothing short of ‘the real deal’.

Born in Atmore, Alabama before his family moved and called Atlanta, Georgia home, Holyfield – also nicknamed ‘The Warrior’ – overcame many obstacles in his life to which he gives all the glory to God. When Christian Headlines asked him why he’s decided to be so outspoken about his faith, Holyfield didn’t have to think twice.

“Because, without Jesus, I wouldn’t be who I am,” he responded.

Holyfield went on to credit his mother and grandmother for showing him tough love and always encouraging him to call on the name of Jesus.

“They [his grandmother and mother] kept reminding me, ‘you’ve got to ask Jesus to help you,’” he recalled.

His faith in God and having a family that demonstrated the example of relying on Jesus set the foundation in his life that enabled him to not only overcome obstacles and adversity, but to stay positive.

No matter what obstacles he has encountered – not even his ten losses that he refers to as ‘setbacks’ – Holyfield insists that he tried to stay positive because God should be reflected in his actions.

“I have a purpose to represent God and I’ve got to represent

Maina Mwaura is a contributor for christianheadlines.com. This article was originally published on 5 March 2020 and is kindly republished with permission.

Boxing champion Evander Holyfield shares how his faith defines him.

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