Guess who’s coming to church?
Russell Powell
The congregation of St Thomas’, North Sydney was told only days before that they would have the King and Queen as special guests for their Sunday morning family service.
Strict security had to be in place for the opening engagement of Charles III’s first visit to Australia as King.
It has been 18 years since a reigning monarch visited a Sydney church. The Queen first attended St Andrew’s Cathedral in 1954 on her first tour of Australia, and then visited several times, including in 1992 and 2006.
It’s understood King Charles specifically requested the
opportunity to attend church during the visit, and planning for the event took several weeks.
“We want to honour the King, absolutely,” rector the Rev Micky Mantle said on radio the day after the service, “[but] I wanted it to be real church for us as a church family. We kept to the same passage that we were
preaching on in Acts, and we kept on doing our normal things
“He wouldn’t want us to treat him like some alien. He’s a real human being, flesh and blood. He’s a man who’s facing the trials that we all face... He’s like us in some ways, and so we’re all humbled to the same level, really, before the Lord.
The cutest curtsy ever: the King and Queen are greeted by children from Sunday school as they arrive at St Thomas’, North Sydney.
cover: the King and Queen at St Thomas’, North Sydney.
Speakers:
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“And that’s the great thing about the King of England and his mother, they are people who really hear the gospel, the offer of Christ, all the time. They’ve got hundreds of thousands of people, maybe millions, praying for them through the Anglican Prayer Book. So it’s a special experience for us to have him join us, to hear God’s word, to encourage each other [and] to sing hymns of truth.”
Because of security issues it wasn’t possible to make the event public until just beforehand, and St Thomas’, close to Admiralty House where the King and Queen were staying, was chosen for the monarch to attend a “normal” service.
Yet while the 10am family service would normally have had a kids’ spot and other elements, this time it became somewhat more formal, with the children standing in a line to greet the King and Queen on arrival.
The children then presented a bouquet of flowers to the Queen, while Mrs Ellie Mantle gave the couple a rugby ball, a cricket ball and a stuffed koala as presents for Prince William’s children George, Charlotte and Louis.
“Sir, on the occasion of your 17th visit to Australia, and your first as reigning Sovereign, we want to assure you of our warm welcome, and our prayers for you and the Royal Family, for your good health and happy reign,” said Archbishop Raffel in his official welcome.
“MOST VALUABLE THING THIS WORLD AFFORDS”
Although a variation of the normal Sunday service, it was not without a historic tone.
The First Fleet Bible and Book of Common Prayer, brought to Australia in January 1788 by the first chaplain to the colony, the Rev Richard Johnson, lay open on a table at the front of the
A busy morning: (clockwise from top left) Extra security at the church; preparing to sing; greeting wellwishers after the srvice.
All smiles: the Queen and King chat with Sunday School children.
church. They were used in the colony’s first services and today are in the custody of St Philip’s, Church Hill.
“Many members of the Royal Family have signed both books since 1920, when the then Prince of Wales, later His Majesty King Edward VIII, signed it on his visit to Australia,” the Archbishop said. “It was signed by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of honoured and affectionate memory on the occasion of her visit to Australia in 1954, the first visit of a reigning monarch to these shores.
“We are grateful to Their Majesties for graciously agreeing to inscribe the Fleet Bible at the conclusion of the service, representing as it does a significant part of the history of this Church and nation, and containing within it in the words used at Their Majesties’ coronation: ‘the most valuable thing this world affords’.”
The Archbishop also mentioned the church cornerstone, which was laid in 1881 in the presence of 15-year-old Prince George – later George V –the King’s great-grandfather.
The congregation, including the King and Queen, sang as their opening hymn, “Rejoice the Lord is King”. With a service theme of “The good news about Jesus”, Archbishop Raffel spoke from Acts 8: the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.
“The gospel makes its way through the God-directed ministry of ordinary Christians,” he said. “That is what Philip is. Not an apostle, not a prophet –a man filled with the Holy Spirit and mature. That should be a great encouragement to ordinary Christians like us.”
After the service, the King and Queen emerged to greet hundreds of people on the church lawns and officially begin their tour. SC
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Royal link: The King signs the Book of Common Prayer brought to Sydney in 1788 as the Queen, Archbishop and Church Hill rector the Rev Justin Moffatt look on.
Synod votes on faithful governance
Judy Adamson
After two years of work, a mountain of feedback and the best part of three days’ discussion at this year’s Synod, members have passed a new diocesan governance policy.
The deputy chairman of the governance policy review committee, former CEO of Anglicare Greg Hammond, explained to those present that the goal of the committee had been to strengthen the Diocese’s schools, colleges, welfare and aid organisations – and other groups covered by the policy – “to enable them and their governors and CEOs to pursue gospel priorities, their mission and purpose, doing so consistently with the doctrine of the Diocese”.
He added that since the adoption of the Diocese’s first policy a decade earlier, practices and governance had evolved considerably.
As a result, “the [new] policy and governance standards not only reflect contemporary governance thinking and practice, they have also been framed having regard to the reality that our organisations are not-for-profit entities, charities, religious institutions, and Anglican – in particular, Sydney Anglican – in character”.
The new policy covers nearly all diocesan organisations and schools, with a new nomination process for governors, principals and CEOs to confirm their faith before appointment or election. Key statements such as the doctrine of the Diocese will also be made more accessible by being placed on the Sydney Anglicans website.
In addition, after feedback from members last year, the
review committee split the old policy in two, creating one governance policy for parishes and another for organisations and schools.
Three appendices have been added to define the four levels of organisations and schools, outline the governance standards applicable to each, and provide a statement and commitment for elected or appointed governors and leaders to sign.
Bishop Chris Edwards, the chairman of the committee, told Synod members that the statement included a “commitment to ensure the purposes of the organisation will be pursued in a manner which is consistent with the doctrine of the Diocese.
“That’s a significant change. It’s important to understand the rigour of this statement.
Because now we’re asking people who lead and govern organisations to stick with our doctrine – to not only commit to using their powers in line with their constitution, the law, and in accordance with our ordinances, but also in accord with the governance standards [in the policy].”
He added that if the conscience or beliefs of a governor or leader changed so they could no longer agree with the statement or abide by the commitment they had made, an undertaking was now included so they could resign from their position.
“UNNECESSARY OBSTACLE”
Synod agreed on its first day of sitting that elected or appointed leaders should sign a statement of personal faith.*
There was then considerable
debate over whether this statement should also include a clause confirming the biblical stance that marriage is between a man and a woman.
The Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, said that although many of those present – including himself – had much-loved family or friends involved in same-sex relationships, it was important to speak for the addition of this paragraph.
He called marriage between a man and a woman a “fundamental Anglican doctrine”, that was so central to the biblical narrative it appeared in the first and last pages of the Bible –and was considered important enough to include in the current version of the governance policy.
“While sympathising with the difficulty of aggressive voices of opposition, [man-woman marriage is] not a disputable matter for biblical Christians,” he said, adding: “It’s perfectly possible to love those with whom we disagree.”
The principal of Oran Park Anglican College, Naomi Wilkins, was one of those who spoke against the inclusion of the marriage clause, saying its addition to the policy five years before had been done without any consultation with diocesan school or organisational leaders.
Once this consultation had been done, she said, their clear message was that the governance policy was not the
place for such a statement.
“As principals and leaders in Anglican schools, we share a common understanding of the gospel’s power to transform lives, but we are also united in saying this clause doesn’t help,” she said.
“It is a stumbling block in our mission, not a stepping stone... it alienates those who might otherwise be open to the gospel and sows seeds of mistrust where there should be love and understanding.
“We are for the gospel... We are not asking to compromise on faith. We are asking to remove an unnecessary obstacle so we can continue to serve our communities effectively, show Christ’s love and lead students and their families towards him.”
Synod voted not to include the clause on biblical marriage in the statement of personal faith. However, following this decision, a motion was passed confirming biblical marriage was “in keeping with the teaching of Scripture, the Book of Common Prayer and previous resolutions of this Synod and of the General Synod”. SC
*Another vote decided the personal statement of faith need not be signed by the small proportion of governors not appointed by the Diocese (who are usually appointed by old boys and girls of Anglican schools), unless they were willing to do so. These people will, however, be required to sign the commitment to organisational faithfulness.
For the gospel: Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, and principal of Oran Park Anglican College, Naomi Wilkins, argue for different points of the policy.
Synod’s
“We have Indigenous churches that are struggling… we have a responsibility”
“We need to have a structured plan to Indigenous ministries, otherwise we will never have a genuine effect in the Diocese… my dream is that not only will we impact this Diocese, we will impact this nation.”
With those words, the leader of Macarthur Indigenous Church, the Rev Michael Duckett, urged Sydney’s Anglican Synod to support the appointment of the first Director of Indigenous Ministry.
The Rev Nigel Fortescue, who partnered with Mr Duckett in the strengthening of Indigenous ministry in the southwest, earlier moved the motion to establish the position in line with recommendations from the Indigenous Peoples Ministry Committee.
Said Mr Fortescue: “My observation is that there are grand complexities that make Indigenous gatherings and Indigenous leadership critical. Indigenous leadership is crucial to Indigenous mission.”
In his address at the start of Synod, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel expressed his support.
“It is fair to say that nonAboriginal Australia has little understanding of Aboriginal culture and is ill-equipped to make judgments about how the gospel variously critiques, confronts, confirms, or transforms Indigenous culture,” he said. “The appointment of a person to this position allows us to become learners and listeners as well as partners in gospel ministry with Indigenous brothers and sisters.”
Indigenous Synod delegate Larissa Minniecon told Synod members during the debate that Aboriginal leadership was at capacity already.
“St John’s [in Glebe] and
[Broadway] in Barney’s is hosting, has the privilege of doing, a double funeral of two Indigenous people that passed away in our community,” she said. “It was because of our leadership that they chose us.
“We are preaching the gospel to over 2000 Indigenous people on Wednesday. We go through ‘Sorry business’ so many times that our pastors are at capacity trying to do and develop leadership within. So this is why we are asking for this Director of Indigenous Ministry.”
Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of the motion after Mr Duckett made an impassioned speech.
“We have the biggest population of Aboriginal people in the Sydney Diocese and we have a responsibility to minister to them properly in a structured way,” he said.
“We haven’t done that yet. We have Indigenous churches that are struggling. They need the support, the mechanisms of support, the future plans of support, of how we do that.
“When we take a serious effort to minister to the most disadvantaged people group in this country, starting here,
I guarantee you it will impact this nation. I invite you, each one of you, to be a part of this.”
While the position has now been approved, the first director is yet to be appointed.
After the historic vote,
Archbishop Raffel thanked the Synod. “I think it’s fair to say that the history of the engagement between the Anglican Church in Sydney and the Indigenous people of this place is, as Nigel alluded in his speech, a complicated one. But in my own brief and limited experience, it is one that is characterised from both ends, as it were, by a great desire to see the Lord Jesus honoured in the lived unity of his people.
“I’ve been heartened, too, by the desire of this Synod – and previous synods led by previous Archbishops – to take this journey, though we don’t really know what we’re setting out on. But we have a God who leads us and I find that tremendously humbling, and I give great thanks to God for it.” SC
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“I invite you... to be a part of this ”: the Rev Michael Duckett.
A call for a whole-of-church response to attendance figures.
“We
are not silos or solos”
Russell Powell
When the Rev Geoff Bates got up to address Synod, the first thing he did was thank God for a bounceback in church attendance after COVID-19.
But as chairman of the Sydney Diocese Attendance Committee, Mr Bates – the rector of Quakers Hill – then made an impassioned plea to members in the face of attendance figures that have fallen behind population growth in the past decade.
Attendance by adults in Sydney Anglican churches declined 6.7 per cent between 2013 and 2023. Numbers at 189 church centres declined, while 110 centres grew.
“We need not to be embarrassed or competitive with our numbers,” Mr Bates
said. “We all need to talk about this, friends. We need to move out of each of our small corners and learn from each other and support each other.
“We are not silos or solos. We all have something to offer others and we need to learn from those around us. So, let’s all take the first step… start talking, which is what we’re doing tonight.”
Mr Bates called on “missionaries, regional councils, training colleges, diocesan organisations – and that includes schools and Anglicare, senior ministers, parishes and bishops – to refocus their efforts on how we can align to the purposes of contributing to seeing sinners saved
and growing the number of newcomers in our local churches and collaborating together.”
Earlier, the Rev Dominic Steele from Village Church, Annandale had outlined data the committee had used to come to its recommendations, saying the number of newcomers was a particular concern: “12.4 per cent of our membership called themselves new in 2001 – that is down to 5.4 per cent in 2021,” he said.
“The key ways to see a collective rise in the number of adults in our churches is, one, to see that rise in the number of kids coming to faith and growing up to become Christian adults but, two, to see the increase in the number of adults professing faith in Christ.”
The Synod voted to ask parishes and mission areas in the Diocese to “prayerfully consider the data and recommendations of the report, to decide on appropriate steps to take”, asking Standing Committee to do the same and bring a report to the Synod in 2025.
On the final night, Synod voted in favour of a related motion, moved by the Rev Zac Veron of Bayside parish, requesting that parishes and the Standing Committee also consider “how parishes might be encouraged to strategically allocate financial, property and human resources so that ministry to children and youth is prioritised, even over other important ministries, for the future health of our churches”. SC
Refocus efforts: the Rev Geoff Bates speaks at Synod.
A call for seatbelts on sports betting
Tara Sing
Australians lose $25 billion annually on legal gambling –the largest per capita losses worldwide, according to recent government estimates. Dean Sandy Grant of St Andrew’s Cathedral wants urgent action taken to minimise harm.
Along with the Rev David Yung, rector of St Paul’s, Kogarah, he moved two motions at Synod calling for NSW poker machine reform and national online gambling reform, urging Federal and State governments to implement harm reduction measures in both spaces.
“Consistent with the last few years, Synod agreed to call both the State Parliament and the Federal Government to implement meaningful
harm-reduction reforms on poker machines at the state level and on the advertising and marketing of sports betting on the television and streaming services,” Dean Grant said.
“Online gambling is the most rapidly rising form of gambling in Australia. The advertising and marketing normalises it to our children and our vulnerable people. It’s got many features that are almost as addictive as the poker machines and that’s why we need reform at state level and federal level.”
Dean Grant, in a conversation with the Rev Michael Duckett from Macarthur Indigenous Church, also discussed the impact gambling has on the Indigenous community.
“It’s a disaster,” Mr Duckett said. “Any gambling source, [my people think] hopefully they can make a win. They will do that when they haven’t got any money; they’re still hoping to make some money. All I see on TV is ads. I can’t even watch football without seeing ads. And they finish by saying, ‘Gamble wisely’. Well, don’t gamble –that’s the wise thing you can say.”
Dean Grant urged Christians
to take action by writing to their local members of parliament.
“[Write to] State level about the pokies and Federal level about online advertising of gambling, because it’s a bipartisan issue,” he said. “We need both Liberal and Labor, and Green and teal, whatever they are, to keep the pressure on for the best possible reforms. It’s like putting airbags on pokies and seatbelts on sports betting.” SC
Synod’s ongoing push for gambling reform.
A yarn about gambling: Dean Sandy Grant and the Rev Michael Duckett.
Sussex Inlet celebrates
Tucked in from the coast, a three-hour drive south of Sydney, is a town of almost 5000 people and a herd of kangaroos. At Synod in September, the saints of Sussex Inlet celebrated gaining full parish status – some even travelling up to Sydney to witness the event in person
The Rev Marty Davis, senior minister of St Mark’s, said this was a joyous occasion for the whole parish.
“For those who’ve been at the church for a long time, things ebb and flow but we’ve seen growth over the years. We’re in a position now to stand on our own.”
PLAYTIME BECOMES A PATHWAY TO FAITH
Mr Davis shared about some of the people God has brought into the congregation over recent years.
“Bron is a mum of young kids, and moved to Sussex Inlet with her family about five years ago,” he said. “She came along to our playtime group, and Bron and I struck up a good rapport. She had an interest in doing triathlons – I’ve done a number of triathlons, so we had a common interest.
“She said this was different for her – she had come from a
Catholic upbringing and never felt any real connection with the priests.
“Not long after, Bron started coming to church with her kids. During COVID, Bron, along with my wife Viv, did an Alpha course online with the Bridge Church. Viv continued to encourage and disciple her, and she also joined a women’s Bible study.
“Last year, Bron put up her hand to co-ordinate playtime. She appreciated the role playtime had in introducing her to church community and to Christ, and wanted to see this ministry continue.
“Last year, we were only getting one or two families regularly to playtime. This year, with the backing of prayer and renewed energy, we have had contact with 20 families and one has started coming to church as well. It’s great to see green shoots.”
A JOURNEY TO JESUS
“John is a larger-than-life character in his late 70s. He was brought up in the church but wandered away in his late teens. He’d been a well-seasoned traveller and man of the world, but I take it there was a seed planted in his earlier years.
“He was a regular at men’s breakfast, accepted an invitation to the Alpha group and has been
part of that group now for 2½ years. There has been more than one occasion when John has been in tears in church because he understands how deep God’s love is and how rich his grace.
“John loves to open his Bible and has joined a Bible study group. He has also appreciated the way people have prayed for him. He told me that he would publicly like to thank the members of his congregation for their prayer for him. John’s journey to Jesus is a story some 60 years in the making.”
PRAYER
Mr Davis praised God for the way he has worked in the lives of his congregation and brought newcomers into their gathering.
“But I want to add, we know there are many challenges before us – challenges familiar to most of us,” he said.
“We especially long to see more kids, youth and young families become part of our church and disciples of Jesus. We are thankful to God for having sustained us over many years and [we are] also excited to see some growth.”
• Give thanks for the people God he has brought to St Mark’s, Sussex Inlet and the beginnings of growth
• Thank God for the way he has graciously sustained the church, for the faithful saints and their partnership in the gospel
Pray that God will help church members make an impact for the gospel in their community
• Pray that kids, youth and young families in the area will hear the good news of Jesus
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Praising God: Sussex Inlet rector the Rev Marty Davis.
The perseverance of All Saints
Since 1874, All Saints’, Woollahra has been a gathering place for “saints and not-sosaints”, and God has not stopped working in the lives of those who are there.
At this year’s Synod, as part of a new initiative to hear the stories of parishes in each region of the Diocese, rector the Rev Marcelo Morbelli spoke of seeing God grow the church in faithful perseverance over the years, especially through times of hardship. Even when the numbers are small, God is at work in his people and his goodness shines brightly.
“Doreen has been part of All Saints’ since 1938,” Mr Morbelli said. “She has sat under every rector that All Saints’ has ever had, except for the very first.
“She’s a deaconess and she’s been a tremendous friend and a source of wisdom and history, and she’s in palliative care at the moment. But she’s very clear about where she’s going. And she’s ready to be home with the Lord.
“I remember a few months ago, when I called her ‘sister’, she said to me, ‘I’ve become used to you calling me “sister”. I had a lot of difficulty with that at first. But I really do feel like a part of the family’.”
Mr Morbelli shared another story of a message he received from a young man who had been attending a Christianity Explained course at Woollahra, and sent him the following email:
As you know, Simon [Manchester] once told me that I would have to make a choice at some point. A choice regarding my faith. And I wanted to tell you that I made that choice not too long ago. You see, I was exhausted after a long day of work. I was quite irritated at people and the world and needed some time to think and reflect. So I went home and found some peace. And in that low, yet quiet moment, I decided to acknowledge my sin and mistakes, and choose to place my complete faith in Jesus Christ.
“Isn’t God good?” Mr Morbelli said to Synod members. It’s not just spiritual growth for which the congregation of Woollahra gives thanks.
All Saints’ has been able to start Bible studies and a new children’s program, known as Small Saints, for the youngsters now attending the morning congregation. This has been a source of joy to the church – seeing little ones grow and
delighting in God’s word together.
Mr Morbelli is so encouraged by all that God is doing in the parish. “The Lord has provided
PRAY
new members, new families and offertory to sustain the work. We long to see all of this and more continue to happen in the life of this church.” SC
Give thanks for the faithfulness of those who have been at All Saints’ for many years
• Praise God for recent newcomers who have expressed interest and faith in Jesus
• Praise God for the Small Saints, and pray they will grow up with a deep love and trust in Jesus their Saviour
God’s goodness to the parish of Woollahra.
“The Lord has provided”: Woollahra rector the Rev Marcelo Morbelli.
130 years of partnership between Sydney and Tanzania
Tara Sing
It starts and ends with hearty applause; it’s everyone’s favourite hour of Synod. Mission Hour never fails to lift everyone’s eyes above the issues of our own city and focus on the goodness of God on display around the world.
It’s a space dedicated to hearing from gospel partners and praying and praising together for all that God is doing.
This year Synod celebrated 130 years of partnership between the Anglican Diocese of Sydney and the Anglican Church of Tanzania, a fellowship that dates back to 1893.
“We have sent about 400 missionaries to Tanzania,” said the Rev Canon Peter Sholl, international director of the Church Missionary Society Australia, adding: “About 250 of those have been from NSW.”
OVER 100 YEARS AGO…
CMS UK has been present in East Africa since the late 1840s. However, in 1892, CMS Australia became independent of CMS UK, and the following year sent Ernest and Elizabeth Doulton, the first Australian missionaries to East Africa.
There were just over 4200 Christians recorded in this part of Africa prior to World War I. They and their teachers were the foundation of the Anglican Church on this part of the continent.
Shortly after World War I, the number of African Christians had almost doubled to 7000 and, in 1924, the first two local clergy were ordained. At this point, CMS Australia was given special responsibility for the
Ministry: (top) Kagera Christian Theological College; (middle) Ernest & Elizabeth Doulton; Bishop Chambers, congregants and Tanganyika’s first clergy, Haruni Mbega and Andrea Mwaka; (bottom) joy at the opening of the Tarime Preschool.
work in what was then known as Tanganyika, and in 1927 the Diocese of Central Tanganyika was formed. The CMS council unanimously chose as the diocese’s first bishop the Rev George Chambers – rector of Dulwich Hill, vice-principal of Moore College and founder of Trinity Grammar School.
Bishop Chambers left for Africa when he was 50 years old, and stayed for 20 years. When he arrived, there were only two
African clergy; when he left there were 35 local clergy and 77 missionaries – 52 of whom were Australian.
The intention of CMS was always to establish an indigenous church in Tanganyika that would be selfgoverning, self-supporting and self-extending. Over the decades missionaries served in schools, training colleges, hospitals, churches and theological colleges, partnering with the
local church. As African bishops, clergy and heads of institutions were elected, CMS worked in consultation with them and still does today.
MANY PROJECTS, ONE PARTNERSHIP
Today there are 28 dioceses in the Anglican Church of Tanzania – 27 in Tanzania and one in Zanzibar. There are multiple schools and Bible colleges, plus Anglican Aid projects that
Synod’s Mission Hour.
include supporting theological students, improving the lives of those with disabilities, educating children and training women.
Bishop Mwita Akiri of the Diocese of Tarime addressed Synod members via video, expressing thankfulness for the trust between the dioceses, and for the many ways Sydney has been making a difference to communities in his area.
“We know Sydney Anglicans can walk together with us to a destination – which will get us to heaven and become citizens of the kingdom of God here on earth and in the life to come,” he said. “We hope that within the turmoil [of the global Anglican Church], Sydney Diocese can become a pair who can walk with us and we can walk together, share the gospel and stand firm for the gospel.
“Despite the fact that poverty keeps people down… I see that people are joyful, people can live with very little, people can make sacrifices for others. [Through support from Sydney] you are making people who feel that God doesn’t love them, see that God loves them… You are helping bishops like myself train leaders to be able to train pastors and evangelists. You are making a difference! I pray you continue to do this. Please do not give up.”
Canon Sholl prayed the partnership would continue and richly bless Sydney and Tanzania. “We don’t want the 130 years to not be 131 or more,” he said. “Pray for the Tanzanian church… it’s really spectacular growth and we want to pray for that, and pray that it would keep growing.” SC
“Our
God is faithful”: Sadleir gives thanks
Tara Sing
Joy overflowed on the first night of Synod in what was a highlight of the session – the reclassification of St Mark’s, Sadleir as a full parish for the first time in its history. Synod representatives gathered around parishioners, who had travelled from Sydney’s southwest to attend the presentation, laying hands on them in prayer for the future of the church.
The Rev Dave Morgan, Sadleir’s senior minister, spoke with delight about the many ways God has sustained the parish since 1963. “Over that time there have been a whole host of brothers and sisters who, in various ways, have been very generous in supporting the ministry of the gospel in our local community,” he said.
Five kilometres south of Liverpool, Sadleir is in the heart of a marginalised community.
The parish’s longestserving member and Synod representative, Norma Esler, shared in a video for Synod representatives her reflections on seeing the neighbourhood around her change.
“The area was built as six suburbs [of] housing commission,” she said. “People lost jobs, families broke up, there was a lot of dysfunctional families in the area and the church reflected that. Now it has taken on a much more multicultural flavour. You name a people group, and they’re here!”
Parish administrator Erin Bennett added in the video that the congregation has a real gospel heart, and is enthusiastic for God’s work despite many challenges.
“Maybe they’re single parents, maybe for some reason they’re not able to work so their ability to be able to give, it is not as great as some people in other areas,” she said.
“They’re really excited about mission here but they’re not able to support to a great capacity, so we’re really thankful when the Diocese is able to send resources out to our area to help support the ministry here... I’m excited to see what God will continue to do here in the future.”
Mr Morgan marvelled at the way God had provided for his church over the years. “How is it, given the significant challenges of our context, that there is a church in Sadleir 60 years after it was planted? How is it that there are white-collar, blue-collar and no-collar people engaging in genuine relationships with one another across cultural differences? How is it that really exciting things are currently
PRAYER
happening with kids’ ministry?
“Well, the challenges are big, and we’re thankful for the various people who support us through them in different ways. But Jesus is much bigger than any of those challenges.
“Our God is faithful. He always has been. He always will be. Synod, please pray that God will continue to sustain a church that holds out the life-saving gospel of Jesus within the marginalised community surrounding Sadleir.”
Looking to the future, St Mark’s has plans to employ a children’s minister and build a preschool, and members long to continue doing the good work of sharing the gospel.
“I’d like this place to be a place of hope where people in the community can come and find their hope in Jesus,” Miss Esler said. “A place where we give a hand up to people rather than a hand out. We help give people a hand up.” SC
• Give thanks for the way God has sustained Sadleir for more than 60 years
• Praise God for the generosity of many who have blessed Sadleir with resources, time and finances to help the ministry
• Pray that building the preschool will happen smoothly and many local families will be blessed through it
• Pray that St Mark’s will indeed be a place of hope for many in southwestern Sydney
Delight
Marvelling at God’s goodness : Sadleir rector the Rev Dave Morgan.
New Nepalese fellowship for growing community
Tara Sing
When our neighbourhood shifts, our ministry needs to shift as well. This is the attitude of St George’s, Hurstville, whose members have witnessed a huge increase of Nepalese people moving into their area in recent years.
“A few years ago, Hurstville was a predominantly Chinese area,” says rector the Rev Brian Tung. “But I noticed that more and more Nepali are moving in. There are more Nepali coming into Hurstville now than Chinese. I saw the possibility and potential for Nepali ministry… it has to start somewhere by someone.”
As Mr Tung was praying and pondering how to reach his new neighbours with the gospel, Bijaya and Kate Shrestha were also praying for ways they could serve. Mr Shrestha is a Nepalese Christian who came to know Jesus from a Hindu background and spent many years in Nepal serving the church. Mrs
Shrestha also served on the mission field in Nepal for many years.
The couple could see the need for more Nepali ministry in Sydney, given the large number of Nepalese moving into the country, and felt convicted to use their gifts and experience to serve this community.
As of 2021, there were almost 60,000 people born in Nepal living in Sydney. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Nepalese people now account for 15 per cent of Hurstville’s population (Chinese people account for 47 per cent).
Less than 3 per cent of the Nepalese in greater Sydney identify as Christian.
While there are already existing Nepalese ministries in Sydney – including a Nepalese congregation at St Luke’s, Liverpool and a Nepalese Bible study at St Paul’s, Canterbury –there is a growing need for more.
Mr and Mrs Shrestha have
established a Nepali gathering in Hurstville, in partnership with Evangelism and New Churches.
“So far it’s a small fellowship,” Mr Shrestha says. “Every week there are seven to 12 people coming. Every week we are just reading the Bible, praying, singing Nepali songs.”
Mr Tung says he is consistently praying for ministry to Nepalese people. “We’re literally praying every day. It’s hard work and very challenging. Nepali are extremely time poor, so we can’t do ministry in the same way. Most of them work two or three jobs. Going to church on a
PRAYER
Sunday morning is not possible. “We are praying that there are open doors... to overcome significant obstacles, like the challenges that Nepali face when they’re in Australia. We pray that somehow it will be overcome so they can hear the gospel and be committed to Christian fellowship on a regular basis.”
Mrs Shrestha adds: “Nepali need to hear [the gospel] and be discipled in their heart language. Please pray that God would raise up a team to work with us who are committed to seeing the gospel go out among Nepali people.” SC
• Give thanks for the different ways churches serve the Nepalese community in Sydney
• Pray for the new Nepalese fellowship in Hurstville, that it may connect and share the gospel with many Nepali people
• Pray that challenges and barriers may be overcome for the Nepali people so they can hear God’s word and join regular Christian fellowship
• Pray for a team of people to serve the Nepali community and share the gospel
Nepali need to hear about Jesus: Kate Shrestha (centre) enjoys fellowship at the Nepali Women’s Conference.
Hurstville ready to welcome Nepali residents.
Anglicare
Anglicare extends further west
Six years after expanding Anglicare Sydney’s services to the Diocese of Armidale, Anglicare has begun serving the Diocese of Bathurst as Anglicare Central West.
“We took a service in Armidale that was fairly small, that was fairly limited, and we’ve grown it tenfold since then,” Anglicare chief executive Simon Miller told the ABC.
“So, tenfold customers, tenfold staff and we’ve really made an impact into each and every corner of that diocese. When we spoke to the Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, we said, ‘We’d love to be able to partner with you to do the same thing in the Central West’.”
The joint announcement with Bishop Calder was also conveyed to the Sydney Synod on its first day of sitting.
“The need for community
Mr Miller told Synod members that Anglicare Sydney was “delighted” to welcome the Central West team, and that a local regional manager would be recruited soon to help lead the growth of services in the region.
services in the Bathurst Diocese is great, and it is our desire to see a strong, flourishing and expanded service of care to the community,” Mr Miller said.
Bishop Calder was thankful for the support the region has received during its partnership with Anglicare NSW South, West & ACT, and added: “We’re so thankful to God for this exciting opportunity to establish
Anglicare Central West. We are looking forward to seeing how the work grows and develops, especially around parish partnerships. We want to do better at loving and serving our communities and sharing with them the hope Jesus brings.
“We launched Anglicare Central West at our synod on Saturday, and there was great excitement in the room!”
Anglicare Central West will seek to strengthen partnerships with local churches and grow opportunities to provide services such as food and financial assistance, emergency relief, foster care, counselling and mental health services. Among its first areas of focus will be prison chaplaincy in the Bathurst Correctional Centre.
Mr Miller also noted that Anglicare Sydney was “not stopping there”, as it will continue to seek new avenues of service and support to regional communities in need in other parts of NSW.
“Watch this space!” he said. SC
“Great excitement”: (L-R) Anglicare Sydney’s CEO Simon Miller and chief executive Community and Mission the Rev Dr Andrew Ford, with Bishop Calder.
What life is like for ministry kids
Judy Adamson
Have you ever thought what it must be like to be the child of a parish minister – to always be in the public eye, to regularly feature in sermons, and to always be “known” as part of a ministry family?
Clinical psychologist Valerie Ling, who leads the Centre for Effective Serving, was prompted to think about this further after undertaking an Australian clergy wellbeing survey last year. These results showed that, among other things, a little over a third of clergy had seriously considered quitting in the previous year, with the top three reasons being stress, loneliness and the impact the job was having on their family.
Mrs Ling also read The Pastor’s Kid: What it’s Like and How to Help by Barnabas Piper – son of famous pastor John Piper –and noted that “he was talking about a lot of the things that we see in the [psychology] practice, and I thought, ‘I wonder if there are some universal things that ministry kids experience?’” she says.
“So, in the interest of supporting ministry families –and from what we knew of what was happening with clergy – we thought, ‘Let’s see how kids are
Dr Amelia Haines
doing and make sure we can get in early’.”
This led to the Australian Ministry Kids’ Wellbeing Survey, which was open to ministry kids from Year 3 to Year 12.
Most participants were aged 10 to 14, and their three main denominations were Anglican (40 per cent), Presbyterian (23 per cent) and Baptist (9 per cent).
In many ways, the children’s results mirrored those of the clergy. Two-thirds of them regarded being a ministry kid as a positive and had plenty of good things to say about it –from the community they had at church, to cultural exposure and a positive impact on their own faith.
Almost two-thirds felt their parents understood them well; these children also felt less concern about being different to their peers, and more connected to the ministry community.
LIFE IN THE FISHBOWL
However, just like their clergy parent/s, about one-third of ministry children reported a much more negative experience.
Forty-four per cent of respondents felt some level of loneliness, particularly younger children. Loneliness was also
Dr Amelia Haines
Dr Amelia Haines
Dr Amelia Haines
Dr Amelia Haines
Dr Amelia Haines
linked to lower mental health, although thankfully only 15 per cent were outside the normal range for symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.
Close to 40 per cent felt they didn’t have enough time with one or both of their parents. The effect of moving more often also weighed heavily on them, and the loss of friendships as a result – particularly those whose families were in crosscultural ministry.
The social impact of being “on” all the time as ministry kids was a major issue, whether in terms of being “mini workers” or just being visible – and potentially judged if they didn’t act a certain way.
Mrs Ling says The Pastor’s Kid talks about how ministry children can have higher expectations placed on them than others, “and it doesn’t matter where you are – you could be at the supermarket, the school, the car park – it doesn’t leave you. The challenges of growing up in a fishbowl.
“Some of the comments from the kids [in the survey] – they were so angry... they just want to be treated as normal kids, and they can have mixed responses at times to being in ministry.”
What is great or not so good about being a ministry kid?
30 = access to community
25 = frequent moves
20 = unique opportunities
17 = positive impact on faith
15 = I don’t know/no answer
14 = negative impact on emotions
13 = involuntary involvement in ministry
13 = parenting irregular hours
Source: Australian Ministry Kids Wellbeing Survey, 2024
One of the children described their experience on the issue this way: “The expectation of my church family on me to be perfect”.
Mrs Ling observes that a good deal of thought goes into the needs of ministry workers, and sometimes their spouses, “but there’s nothing about the kids... The sort of adverse experience you have in childhood can actually have a lasting impact.
“We do have a responsibility when we hire and take on ministry families that we are taking care of everybody”.
Her message to church members is to think carefully about how they relate to an entire ministry family.
Dr Amelia Haines
M.B.B.S (Syd), M. Hlth Sc. (Sexual Health) Grad. Cert. Psychiatric Medicine
M.B.B.S (Syd), M. Hlth Sc. (Sexual Health) Grad. Cert. Psychiatric Medicine
M.B.B.S (Syd), M. Hlth Sc. (Sexual Health) Grad. Cert. Psychiatric Medicine
M.B.B.S (Syd), M. Hlth Sc. (Sexual Health) Grad. Cert. Psychiatric Medicine
M.B.B.S (Syd), M. Hlth Sc. (Sexual Health) Grad. Cert. Psychiatric Medicine
M.B.B.S (Syd), M. Hlth Sc. (Sexual Health) Grad. Cert. Psychiatric Medicine
M.B.B.S (Syd), M. Hlth Sc. (Sexual Health) Grad. Cert. Psychiatric Medicine
MEDIATOR
MEDIATOR
MEDIATOR
MEDIATOR
MENTAL HEALTH, SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST
MEDIATOR
MENTAL HEALTH, SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST
MEDIATOR
MENTAL HEALTH, SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST
MEDIATOR
MENTAL HEALTH, SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST
MENTAL HEALTH, SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST
www.ameliahaines.com.au
MENTAL HEALTH, SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST
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MENTAL HEALTH, SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST
www.ameliahaines.com.au
www.ameliahaines.com.au
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“Don’t forget that the way you treat ministry workers has a direct impact on the kids!” she says. “The legacy of your care is not just for the parents – it goes straight through to the kids, their thoughts and feelings about Jesus, and thoughts about ministry and serving him in the future.” SC
Valerie Ling hosts the Clergy Wellbeing Down Under Podcast. This season focuses on the ministry kids’ wellbeing survey.
“We should not say ‘No’ to the stranger”
Russell Powell
“I was preparing for the prayer meeting and suddenly a car arrived to the front of the school, and a man from our town came down and he had a family of eight members in the car. He said this family had been in the street for two days. No food, no water, nothing. They were sleeping on the road.”
The Rev Emil Bourizk and his wife Reem explain how their school, supported by the Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid, has become a temporary refuge for children and families fleeing the war in Lebanon.
The Good Shepherd School, in North Lebanon, provides free education for 350 Syrian refugee children. It follows the Lebanese curriculum and teaches Bible stories and songs to the kids. Their families also receive assistance such as food hampers, blankets, medicine and soap.
But the conflict in South Lebanon has led to an emergency.
“When the war started… the people started fleeing the war
“Pray for peace”:
from the south, coming mainly to the north,” Pastor Bourizk says in a video message to Anglican Aid supporters. “We are witnesses of many horrible things, but we thank God because also we are witnesses of beautiful things happening. We are receiving as much as we can of those families fleeing.”
Adds Reem Bourizk: “Recently there were bombardments here nearby our village. So the situation is a little bit critical.
“We know that we should not say ‘No’ to the stranger. We are receiving them even in our place with our own kids and family
[the Bourizks have six children]. Pray for us for wisdom and for protection. Just pray, because we cannot say ‘No’.”
Pastor Bourizk explains that the family rescued from the road is now staying at the school. “We restarted, slowly teaching, Bible teaching, and it is a big blessing. These people, I think they would never have this opportunity if they stayed in their house.”
Mrs Bourizk, who is Tunisian, says, “I came from a very peaceful country. I [have] never been in a war before. For me the images, the scene I see, it’s horrible, and seeing
kids sleeping in the street… It’s really above our imagination or sometimes above what we can handle emotionally. So, please pray for peace again for people to go back home. For people to receive the word of the Lord and to receive the gift of salvation, and to know that their Lord is there for them... Nothing is happening by coincidence, but pray that God’s plan will be fulfilled for them and for us.”
The Bourizks have bought mattresses and basic items to provide for all the new arrivals, and their influence has spread to the village, too. The couple tells of their habit of worshipping at night in front of their home.
“Because of the many people coming to our village and to our own place, we are making it regularly every day,” Mrs Bourizk says. “Because we heard from them that it is so peaceful to hear the prayer, the worship. Some of them started to participate and it is giving them peace.” SC
To support the ministry of the Bourizks, go to anglicanaid.org.au/ projects/good-shepherd-school/
The human toll: Residential buildings in Beirut destroyed by recent airstrikes. photo : UNICEF/al Mussawir – Ramzi Haidar
Reem and Emil Bourizk talk to Anglican Aid supporters.
See the Lord’s hand at work for the future
Kanishka Raffel
Iwas privileged last month to spend an afternoon watching our prayers being answered.
It is a constant prayer point of our Diocese to ask the Lord to raise up workers for the harvest field. In my recent Synod address (see SC , Sept-Oct), I said that if we were to succeed in establishing one new church for every 30,000 people in greenfields areas, we would need far more men and women training for ministry than are currently in our system. I asked for every parish to be intentionally prayerful about sending or supporting at least one suitable person to train for full-time ministry at Moore College or Youthworks College in the next three years.
It was in answer to a more long-standing prayer, but prayer nevertheless, that in October I was able to spend a day with nearly 150 younger people, mostly in their twenties, who gathered for a weekend of teaching, discussion, prayer and structured conversation about how to spend their whole lives serving Jesus.
We shouldn’t think that the life of the disciple of Christ is anything other than a life wholly devoted to the Lord and his kingdom. The Bible doesn’t contemplate a division between “fulltime” service and “ordinary” Christians. Rather, all those who are followers of the Lord do so full time and everything we have and do is to serve the cause of Christ.
There was plenty of encouragement to be prayerfully intentional about serving in the context of the local church over the course of life. Our churches can fulfil their local mission only because of the countless “ordinary” Christians who give, pray, serve, teach, welcome, offer hospitality, evangelise and disciple, as well as serve in stewardship and governance roles like parish council.
Some are set aside by the fellowship to serve specifically in formal ministries of word and prayer. It was with this in sight that I met with these young people.
Making the decision to serve in this way for your whole life is rightly a matter to consider in fellowship with others: those who have nurtured you in faith; those who have the opportunity to observe your growth in godly character, mature Christian
conviction and giftedness to serve the body of Christ and the mission of the Lord; especially, married couples must prayerfully approach such decisions together.
It was very encouraging to find such a fellowship doing just this and to see God’s hand at work. Along with those giving consideration to the shape of their future service of the Lord, there were also senior ministers from the churches attended by the delegates, and current Moore College students, on hand to offer prayerful support and the testimony of their own experience.
So, as well as praying for the men and women considering long-term, full-time ministry, I ask you to keep our college in your prayers. The significance of Moore College to the ministry of the gospel in the Diocese of Sydney would be hard to overstate.
It is true that it is my requirement that candidates for ordination complete four years of study at Moore College. Very occasionally, clergy are licensed for ministry in the Diocese who have not completed their undergraduate theology degree at Moore, but only on condition that they undertake further study at the college. Yet the real significance of the college’s role in the life of our Diocese is not simply a matter of the Archbishop’s ordination policy. Rather, it is the convictions and commitment of the college that are crucial.
In seeking to provide theological education we aim not merely at informing and educating, but transforming and equipping. Our theological education is for ministry. For that reason, our student body is as diverse as the servants whom the Lord is raising up –men and women, marrieds and individuals, students from many nations and cultural backgrounds, and from many Christian denominations.
We seek to create a community of discipleship, not just a place of study, and we have a preference for as many students as possible, and faculty members, to live in community with one another.
Over the course of 20 years of Anglican Church ministry outside the Diocese of Sydney I have learned not to take for granted Moore College’s deep reverence for the truth, trustworthiness and authority of the Scriptures, and its matching commitment to the usefulness and sufficiency of God’s word for
Raising
the ministry entrusted to his church. Happily, around Australia, Moore College graduates are serving or influencing other centres of theological education that share such commitments.
I am deeply thankful to the Lord for our college, for those contemplating study leading to full-time service and for those “ordinary” Christians who support them, as well as fulfilling their own ministry calling in parishes and beyond.
I wish you all could have such encounters as I had with the answered prayers of the saints in Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. To see the Lord at work in his people is a precious thing. SC
A diocesan Day of Prayer for Mission has been called for May 4, 2025. Please save the date.
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MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR STUDENTS IN YEARS 3-11 IN 2026
Other scholarships include:
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• 2026 First Nation (from Kindergarten)
What is our spiritual legacy?
Archie Poulos
You can often tell things about people by the words they use. For example, a person’s name often ties them to an age group. Phrases they know and use also show this – “Pin or sign?” only makes sense to people over a certain age. Likewise, the importance of the concept of legacy matters to older people and holds little interest for young people.
Legacy is what we leave behind for the next generation. Over generations, several of our diocesan heroes have stated their goal as to “leave the Diocese more evangelical than they found it”. After World War II, many significant building projects were undertaken because of the great need for new churches in new areas, but the
common mantra was not about today’s needs. It was, “Let’s build something for future generations”.
Legacy is, therefore, a view to a long-term horizon rather than an immediate one. It makes sense that because young people tend to operate with an immediate horizon that legacy concerns are diminished.
Of course, the world we live in expects us to live only in the immediate. Andrew Root (writer of The Congregation in the Secular Age) says our social media and digital world shapes us to want immediate outcomes and instant gratification. He says there is no longer space even for what he calls “sacred time”, where you can
Moore College
sit in church and meditate in wonder on God. Church now has to be full of sensory stimulation and the meeting of my – and my family’s – needs. Legacy, in this world, is a foreign word.
The desire for legacy is praiseworthy and biblical. It is generous to forego something in the present for the benefit of those not yet born. The Scriptures speak of one generation’s responsibility to shape and provide for the next, especially in telling and trusting in the praiseworthy works of God (Psalm 78:4, 2 Timothy 2:2).
But legacy has a downside. It can, and sometimes does, inhibit change where it is beneficial. It can create a posture of “This is what we have always done, so don’t question it”. The question of protecting and preserving what is, or changing our ways, should always be addressed.
STABILITY OR CHANGE?
This question is sometimes assumed to have different answers based on your age. But it is not that simple. Your disposition and the timeframe horizons you work within also come into play. So, what is the best way to act?
From Genesis to Revelation, there is no doubt that God is eternal and everlasting. This is why he can be trusted with every aspect of life (Ex 3:14-15; Heb 13:8; Ps 41:13, 90:2, 106:48; Heb 7:21; Jam 1:17). But the Scriptures expect people to change, and change fundamentally and deeply, under the power of God’s Spirit. This is the weight of the word repentance.
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul proclaims that Christians are changed from one degree of glory into another as we behold the face of God in Christ. We have a glorious, unchanging Lord who calls us to constant change. How do we hold the two together?
This is further complicated because our sovereign God sometimes works in us with immediate effect, and at other times uses lifelong exposure to his word and people to transform us. He operates with multiple time horizons, and he chooses to do work differently with different people.
What is the impact on the structure of church life? Should we change nothing because God is unchanging? Or should we constantly change and risk losing God-given blessings in the search for novelty to enhance immediate effect?
STABLE CORE AND DISRUPTIVE EDGE
Secular management analyst Professor Alex Hill asked in his book Centennials, “What enables companies to exist and thrive after a century?” His conclusions resonate with what God says (after all, God’s ways are best for everyone). Hill says legacy and growth are achieved by having two components: a stable core and a disruptive edge, and both can and should coexist.
For Christians, our stable core lies in God and what he has established. God is sovereign, God is good, God is wise, he speaks the truth to our lost world in his word. Jesus is the only and necessary hope for every person, and God works to transform people through His Spirit.
These are things we must believe, rejoice in and live out. You could add to this the perpetuation of that core: teach the next generation, and generations beyond that, and generously be open and giving of your resources to others.
The disruptive edge might involve seeking input and wisdom from sources other than those who act as you do and belong to your tribe. This calls for discernment to evaluate their ways, motives and presuppositions as well as your own.
Additionally, you could be open to unexpected insights and
opportunities, and be willing to courageously explore how you might engage with them. This probably involves spending time just chatting with others about anything, as insights often derive from these conversations even if they seem inefficient at the time.
LEGACY
Jesus set his eyes on heaven (Heb 12:2). The apostle Paul had eternal and heavenly horizons. He set his sights on what is unseen and eternal (2 Cor 4:16-18), and both call all who follow to do likewise. We must all have this heavenly horizon. And God gives the honour to his children to be involved in what he is doing by influencing generations to come and people who do not yet know him.
This calls us to legacy thinking and acting. It is Christian to ask, “What can I provide to see the gospel widen and deepen in future generations?” And yet we must learn about promoting and using disruptive edges. God gives the changes and variety of events and seasons (Ecc 3:1-8), encouraging us not to rest and rely on only one way of operating.
Managing change is difficult. It takes courage and requires wisdom. So, each of us should ask the Lord for this wisdom, which he grants without finding fault (Jam 1:5). Leaving in place and growing what should be left for future generations – and modifying how we function to promote the gospel in the present day – is an exciting journey we all share.
The Rev Dr Archie Poulos is head of the ministry department at Moore College and director of the Centre for Ministry Development.
The struggles of mid-life – a buffet for a 50-year-old
Chris Edwards
The Lausanne Movement has just celebrated its 50th anniversary in Korea with the Fourth International Congress on World Evangelisation. Mark Thompson and I were privileged to attend alongside a number of others from Sydney, Australia and Oceania: celebrating this moment, recalling the movement’s history and assessing its impact.
In 1974, the first congress was held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The driving forces behind it were Billy Graham and John Stott. Sydney’s Bishop Jack Dain served as the executive chairman of the congress, so the Diocese of Sydney has been significantly involved in the Lausanne Movement from the start.
From its beginnings, the movement has been about evangelism and mission. At the first Congress, Ralph Winter introduced the term “unreached people groups” and called on churches to give them priority in our evangelistic efforts. Billy Graham identified three challenges that called for a fresh zeal for evangelism and mission: “the loss of the authority of the message of the gospel; the preoccupation with social and political problems; and the equal preoccupation with organisational unity”. Graham’s observations show amazing insight and his call to give fresh attention to the Great Commission in the light of them is something we need to hear and heed today.
Other voices in that first congress, including Samuel Escobar, Rene Padilla and even Bishop Dain, sought to emphasise the importance of social engagement and responsibility alongside the preaching of the gospel. Our concern for our neighbours is spiritual but more than spiritual. In the spirit of James 2:15-16 we know that men and women are lost without the salvation found only in Christ, but they also live in a world of tangible physical need that we cannot simply ignore. The two belong together, even if it is only the preaching of the gospel that sees people saved for eternity.
It is fair to say there has been a resultant tension within the movement between those who endorse phrases such as “the
whole gospel for the whole world” and others who warn about the danger of confusing the gospel of Christ crucified and risen with its consequences in a way that can end up minimising or even obscuring the gospel itself. Nevertheless, largely thanks to the Lausanne Covenant, the landmark document prepared at the first congress (largely under the influence of John Stott, chairman of the theology working group), the Great Commission has remained at the centre of the movement’s message.
The fourth congress, held in September in Seoul, follows the second, held in Manila in 1989, and the third, in 2010 in Cape Town. The theme of Lausanne IV was “Let the churches declare and display Christ together”.
Our experience of the conference was mixed. I have been describing the week as a seven-day all-you-can-eat spiritual buffet. I couldn’t get enough of some dishes while others provided only a little nourishment.
There is little doubt Lausanne has been a significant force within the Christian world for half a century. However, in the past 25 years, it has also faced challenges that give pause for thought.
Despite strong pronouncements at each congress and various other regional consultations, there is a lingering perception that Lausanne has not translated its theological and missiological insights into widespread, practical impact. The movement excels at articulating a vision, but its ability to spur tangible action at the grassroots level seems to fall short. Many churches are not fully engaged with Lausanne’s goals or are unaware of its initiatives.
I believe an opportunity was missed by the conveners of this year’s congress when many church leaders were not invited to attend. Instead, room was made for Christian representatives of business, especially from the technology sector, and from parachurch organisations. Another lost opportunity was to encourage buy-in in the congress statement. Instead, delegates were presented with a pre-packaged and finalised statement as they arrived in Seoul.
Leading up to the congress there was a lot of social media criticising Lausanne for not keeping pace with the evolving landscape of social issues, such as racial justice, climate change, economic inequality and gender rights. I fear the executive leaders may have listened a little too much to this sort of criticism and referred too little to Billy Graham’s three clear warnings from 50 years ago. While they spoke of maintaining the movement’s primary focus on evangelism and discipleship, speakers continued the confusion that was so concerning in Cape Town 14 years ago, where social justice, climate care, equality and affirmative action were presented as part of “the whole gospel” and our “holistic mission”.
As might be expected, one of the most powerful contributions was provided by the Rev Canon Vaughan Roberts from St Ebbe’s in Oxford. Vaughan’s grace and gentleness on the issue of human identity and sexuality was a talking point throughout the week. His appeal to 1 Corinthians 5 (to remind us that we have no business judging the world and we should be vitally concerned about discipline within the church), his own testimony about an identity found in Christ and not in our sexual nature, and his memorable outline that summarised the issues magnificently, all made it a very edifying presentation. He was applauded by the 5000-strong audience at every point, saying that God is for sex, sex is for marriage, marriage is for life, and life is for Christ.
Another stirring moment was when we heard from Will Graham, Billy Graham’s grandson. He called on the congress to recommit to the Lausanne Covenant that was established on the authority of God’s word.
“The necessity of proclamation evangelism is as great today as ever,” Will said. “Even though we’re living in a world that at every turn is working to cancel Christ and the Bible in order to exalt itself, we must say, ‘Not on our watch!… It’s not the time to give up. It’s not the time to retreat. It’s not a time to turn inward… Now is the time to stand boldly for Jesus Christ, to preach Christ
unashamedly and in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Evangelism is not the only work of the church, Will said, but we must never neglect persuasive preaching, personal soul-winning and the necessity of proclaiming the Good News.
Moments like these are unique opportunities to speak with people from all over the world, and the congress provided great opportunities to meet and share with people about the mission of our Diocese and our college.
Mark Thompson had fruitful conversations with people from Pakistan, India and Argentina, who all wanted to send students to Moore College, despite the importance of theological education for global mission being a noticeable omission from the program. I spent some time with representatives from Mongolia, Finland, Myanmar and Nigeria, who were keen to learn about doing evangelism through parish ministry. Sadly, it seems, this is becoming a less common way of reaching people. What a privilege and joy to speak of what we have seen God do here at home. Who knows what opportunities might spring from such conversations?
Such moments also provide great reminders of how we must never neglect to remember brothers and sisters in other places who face persecution for their faith in Christ. It was sobering and exhilarating to hear an Iranian pastor, having served years in prison for his faith, say, “Persecution is part of the story, not the end of the story”. It was echoed by Dr Patrick Fung, the Global Ambassador for OMF International, who added: “Persecution never kills the church but a compromised gospel will”.
So, our Diocese has been involved in the movement from the beginning and, I believe, still has an opportunity to influence it for good in the future. But that will mean getting alongside the leadership of the movement and not neglecting it.
The Rt Rev Chris Edwards is Bishop of the Northern Region in the Sydney Diocese.
The all-nations challenge
God’s people everywhere need to reach out to all cultures with the gospel. Peter Lin spoke on the Great Commission at the Satya conference in September.
You’d be hard pressed to find a church anywhere in our Diocese – and there are more than 300 of them – that don’t want to reach their community with the message of Jesus. And you would be hard pressed to find any church in our Diocese that is not engaged in some way with sharing Jesus in its community. Some will do it better than others, but everyone’s trying and everyone thinks we should do it.
We are trying to share Jesus in the community because Jesus says to us, in Matthew 28, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, therefore go and make disciples of your own nation.
Satya exists to reach people from South Asia. Now I know that’s broader than just Indian but, just for the sake of some numbers, I’m going to talk about people from India for a moment.
I think you would already know that there are now more people in Australia who were born in India than were born in China. In Australia now we have about 850,000 people born in India to about 670,000 born in China (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2023).
In Sydney, in the area that the Diocese covers, there are actually still more Chinese than Indian people but, on current trajectories, people from India will overtake in the not-too-distant future. So, the Satya network must reach all these people from India. There are other countries, of course, but because the command of Jesus is to go and make disciples of your own nation, you must do it.
Hopefully, you’re feeling a little bit uncomfortable about my Bible teaching ability – or at least my ability to read – because Jesus does not say go and make disciples of your own nation, does he? No, Jesus says go and make disciples of all nations.
So, the question is, who is that directed towards? Who is supposed to reach all nations? Is that command just for the Anglo Aussies? Is it saying, all the other nationalities, you just reach your own people but you Aussies go and reach all nations, because that’s your responsibility? Is that command that Jesus gives just to Bolivians, Koreans, Vietnamese or Chileans, or is that command directed at all Christian people to make disciples of all nations?
Here in our Diocese we collectively want to reach all nations because pretty much all the nations are here. Again, according to the ABS, there are more than 300 ethnicities in Australia from over 200 countries.
We know, don’t we, from the book of Acts, that God determines the times and places of people that they might seek God. I take it, then, that God has brought all these people from around the world here so that they might know Jesus.
They might not know they’re here to know Jesus but God has brought them here so that they might know Jesus. So, the question is, who is supposed to tell them? Is someone else supposed to tell them? We are all given the responsibility as Christian people to reach all nations, and guess what? We don’t even have to go anywhere to do that. We can stay here and reach all nations!
Talking points
NEIGHBOURS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE
Now, I am not saying Satya should not reach South Asian people nor am I saying it shouldn’t have a focus on South Asian people. Please keep doing it. They are coming and they are coming faster than anybody else.
I am the chairman of what we call the Archbishop’s Chinese Ministry Advisory Board. We want to reach the Chinese here in Sydney. However, Matthew 28 compels us to reach out to more than just those we are focusing on. It compels us to reach all nations who live and work and study around us and, as a Diocese, that is what we want. We want all people to reach all people.
Furthermore, for you as South Asian Christians, God has spread you all around the Diocese. That means God has spread you out among all the nations. Now, it is true that there are concentrations of Indian people and South Asian people. But if you look at the interactive maps showing where these concentrations are, you will see that Indian and Chinese people like to live next to each other!
We know that wherever you live, God has put all these nations around you because he wants someone to tell them about the Lord Jesus. I figure if God wanted someone else to tell them about Jesus, he would have sent them to somebody else. But no, he sent them to you and he has sent them to me.
The fact is, our “Anglo” Anglican churches have not done well in reaching the nations that are here. Of course, there are a few exceptions but on the whole that is the case. I say the Anglo church has failed not as a judgement or a condemnation but actually as a challenge to us. You, as Satya, or us as the Chinese Ministry Advisory Board, haven’t even come close to reaching our own nations. So before we judge or condemn the Anglo church for failing, we’ve got to look at ourselves.
There could be an argument that we just go out there and try to reach our own nation. Satya, you just worry about preaching Jesus to South Asians and I just worry about preaching to the Chinese, the Vietnamese focus on reaching the Vietnamese, and so forth. But no, that’s not Jesus’ command to reach all nations. So, the question is, what are we doing to reach all nations? Because Matthew 28 is as much for us as it is for the “Aussie” churches and the Aussie Christians. They may have failed but maybe we need to take up the responsibility.
IT’S ALREADY HAPPENING
I think perhaps we are more well placed to reach the nations than our Anglo brothers and sisters. We, as Chinese and South Asians, “get” each other in a way that Westerners just don’t understand. That’s not a criticism, but it is a challenge for us. Maybe our responsibility is greater to reach all the nations, not just our own? If you think about it, if Chinese are also reaching South Asians and South Asians are also reaching Chinese and we’re both helping each other reach each other, isn’t that wonderful?
This is already happening. Hurstville Anglican Church, which is mainly Chinese, has just begun a Nepalese ministry (see page 14). That’s just a picture of how we can work together for the sake of Christ in this Diocese.
For those of you who are Australian-born Indian or Australianborn Sri Lankan, Australian-born South Asian – or you might have come when you were very young and have done most of your education here in Australia – you’re similar to me. I’m what they call an ABC, an Australian-born-Chinese. The Asians call me an Aussie and the Aussies call me an Asian, and I used to hate that because as I grew up I never fit in anywhere. But now I love it because, as people who straddle both cultures, we are best placed to bridge not just the two cultures that we inhabit but all cultures. We swap in and out every day and don’t even think about it.
Do we as South Asians and Asians bear greater responsibility to reach not only our nations but all the nations here? We reach all nations because that’s God’s intention for the Church. The all-nations Church is what brings him glory. That is what the Church is to be and will be.
That beautiful picture in Revelation is a picture of God’s people gathered around him and gathered around his Son. This is the heavenly, final, eternal Church and you see people from every tribe, language, people and nation. It does not say some nations. It does not say most nations. It says all nations, tribes, languages and peoples. SC
Bishop Lin addresses the Satya conference.
The Rt Rev Peter Lin is Bishop of the South Western Region in the Sydney Diocese.
All nations to all: Conversations within and across cultures at the Satya conference. photos: Polly Butterworth Photography
Christ my rock
Marlene Short
The loneliness and the need.
As I meet, listen and talk with folk, I see over and over how people are living very differently now compared to earlier in their lives. I have found this so interesting as these things are shared with me.
Some people have lived the same way all their lives and never see change, except for growing old. Some, since leaving parents, have always lived alone. They have never had others in their life and – at some time later – had to care for ageing parents. Now, as they age themselves, they can find life extremely difficult; no one to share their pain, to express how they are feeling about such a dramatic, lonely change.
Many having been in a marriage relationship for a long time and now see loved ones moving slowly, and themselves ill as well. Some have been married but now, because of the death of a loved one, are battling a new loneliness. This new role sometimes excludes them from invitations with couples who they shared their lives with before. No longer being part of a couple has separated them – they are expected to spend time with others who have also suffered loss or are on their own.
Still others are married but their families have moved to a distant state. There can be no help from these family members if needed, they rarely see grandchildren and they are excluded from family activities.
At times, our lives take one of these new roads. Mine began at the death of my husband. It’s a road I’m adjusting to, with the Lord’s strength and help, and I’ve become more aware of the Holy Spirit working in my life as I have become bolder in sharing with
others who have also lost loved ones.
A couple of years back, after my husband died, I travelled to Lighting Ridge with Bush Church Aid. I learned so much from this trip. Seeing the mines deep in the earth gave me a glimpse of how dark some lives are without the Lord. Knowing that those digging for gems are hitting rock to find a treasure, and that the treasure sometimes brings disappointment and sometimes joy.
As I explain this to those I speak to, it leads me to say how our lives can be very difficult and sad. Yet, as the miners keep digging, they are rewarded with a small, shiny light in the rock. I see that gem as each of us. I see the Lord as our rock. Strong, never to be shaken or moved, he is the foundation that we are to build on.
As a gem is brought to the surface, the owner of that gem can see the dirt in his treasure. The same way the Lord sees the dirt of our sin in us. So, that gem needs refining.
How is this done? The same way that the Lord refines us. He chips away, bit by bit. At times it is painful, knowing he is bringing out the beautiful colour we may have lost – or never known because we have ignored him.
With the death of my husband I’ve been able to share this with many people. Because I know Christ is my rock, and I am his gem. He is constantly chipping away in my life each day so I will come out bright and shiny when I finally meet him.
I pray for those I meet. I pray that they will call on him for peace and comfort each time the Lord chips away a little bit more to expose them shining for Christ.
Mrs Marlene Short is a member of Winmalee Anglican Church.
Jamberoo to Gafcon
The Rev Jodie McNeill and his wife Mandy had no intention of leaving the parish of Jamberoo. At all. But God had other ideas. “We were chatting about how much we love our church and how it’s a platform from which we can serve others within our parish and outside our parish –and therefore there was nothing that would make us want to leave,” Mr McNeill recalls. “But then Mandy said, ‘Except maybe if something came up with Gafcon”. Six days later we got a phone call!”
The call was to ask if Mr McNeill would be willing to have his name put forward to be considered as a potential replacement for Canon Daniel
VACANT PARISHES
List of parishes and provisional parishes, vacant or becoming vacant, as at October 16, 2024:
Asquith/Mt Colah/Mt Kuring-gai
• Bankstown**
• Belmore with McCallums Hill and Clemton Park
• Cooks River**
• Cremorne
• Dapto
• Darling Street**
• Glebe*
• Greenwich Helensburgh and Stanwell Park Jamberoo Lawson** Liverpool South** Newport Oatley** Paddington Regents Park*
• RiverwoodPunchbowl Rosemeadow* St John’s Park South Coogee Turramurra South
* denotes provisional parishes or Archbishop’s appointments ** right of nomination suspended/on hold
Willis (who was retiring) as the global operations manager of Gafcon.
“God’s got a great sense of humour!” says Mandy McNeill. “We talked to a few trusted friends, because we really love the ministry here and felt a deep desire to stay, but we also recognised the importance of Gafcon and the role. And so, we prayed and prayed and prayed, and people kept saying, ‘You’ve got to do it’.”
The couple has always been passionate about Gafcon’s mission – and conscious of the enormous needs in so many places that the organisation supports. They were also aware of the value of continuing to have an Australian as part of the core leadership team.
Says Mrs McNeill: “It’s a really unique job in terms of skill set, requiring management, theological acumen/ discernment, business skills and the ability for cross-cultural diplomacy... and God wired Jodie like that.”
While he will remain the rector of Jamberoo until the end of the year, Mr McNeill has already added the Gafcon role two days a week. “Am I crazy?” he asks with a laugh. “Often my staff meeting is at 10 o’clock on
Monday nights, because those in it are from all over the world.”
The couple is excited about the change and what it represents, but also tremendously sad to be leaving Jamberoo. It has grown in many ways since Mr McNeill took over responsibility for the parish in 2015 while he was rector of Oak Flats, before serving the family there fulltime from about six years ago.
“The Lord is doing big things in our little place!” Mr McNeill says. “There were tears the week we announced [I was leaving] – it was sad, but happy-sad. Many people said when they found out, ‘Of course you’re going to Gafcon, but it’s earlier than we expected’, and we said, ‘Us too!’”
Mrs McNeill says Jamberoo has been “such a significant place for us and our kids... they’ve loved it here and the parish has been amazing with our family, cared for our kids and loved us, so it’s a pretty amazing place. They also love the ministry of Gafcon so, even though they’re sad, they’re very supportive. So, we’re very thankful.”
While it hurts to leave the ministry and people of Jamberoo, Mr McNeill says the church is “ready for the next phase... and we trust that God will provide
the right man to lead and join the team. God is sovereign. He’ll be different and he’ll be great.”
The Rev Craig Langstaff became rector of Shoalhaven Heads on October 14, moving from an assistant minister’s position at West Wollongong. After 13 years as rector of Cooks River, the Rev Andrew Bruce was inducted as rector of St Barnabas’, Westmead on October 22.
Oatley rector since 2009, the Rev Craig Olliffe , will become rector of Holy Trinity, Baulkham Hills on November 7.
The Rev Alan Lam will become rector of Lugarno on November 18, after seven years as an assistant minister in the parish of Hurstville.
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VALE
The Rev Graham Errington died on August 23, aged 73.
Born James Graham Errington on April 14, 1951 in Yorkshire, England, his family spent some of his early years in Malaya and Sierra Leone before, in 1957, his parents decided to migrate to Australia.
The family lived in Adelaide and regional Victoria before settling in NSW – first in Wollongong, and then Blakehurst, where Mr Errington and his brother learned about and accepted Jesus at the local Anglican church. After studying science at university, he became a high school teacher in Kiama, while his wife Lesley taught primary school in nearby Berry.
Mr Errington began doing the Preliminary Theological Certificate at Christ Church, Kiama, and by 1979 had decided his future lay in full-time
The family spent the next four years in Fairfield, where Mr Errington was assistant minister, before moving to Macquarie Fields. They sought to strengthen and grow the church community through initiatives like a “parish summer holiday”, camping for many years as a group on the South Coast – which was not only affordable for a congregation where many lived in housing commission, but helped build strong relationships.
back to the Illawarra as rector of Oak Flats. He “retired” at the end of 2011, taking up a number of part-time assistant roles over subsequent years in the parishes of Bomaderry, Gerringong and Jamberoo.
Even after officially finishing work in 2018, he remained the honorary senior assistant minister at Jamberoo, involved in everything from preaching and pastoral visits to enthusiastic drumming at the morning service.
Rector the Rev Jodie McNeill, who preached at the funeral, said that at the last staff meeting Mr Errington attended, five weeks before his death, “I asked Graham to tell us how we could pray for him. And he said, ‘To live is Christ and to die is gain’ [Philippians 1:21]. Ever since his cancer returned in the last two years, this has been his prayer...
Basing his sermon on Mr Errington’s last pastoral letter to congregation members, Mr McNeill spoke of Mr Errington’s desire for everyone to be prepared for heaven.
“If you think it’s about performance, then you’ve failed before you’ve begun,” Mr McNeill said. “Here’s how Graham put it: ‘The gospel clearly states that we cannot enter heaven by trying to be good. We all have sins in our lives’. The only way you can share Graham’s certainty for eternity is if your sins are wiped away... And it’s only because Jesus died as our substitute that your sins can be removed.
“You’ll never get a clearer call to follow Christ. That’s what Graham wanted you to do... [He] ended his final pastoral letter with these words: ‘I want to ask you, are you prepared for
CHRISTMAS with intention
The point of Christmas
Judy Adamson
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Rated G
Given our society’s propensity to create vastly inappropriate films for release at Christmas, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a rare beast. It not only focuses on what we should be celebrating at this time of year, but does so in a manner that is accessible, often hilarious and also thought provoking.
Directed by Dallas Jenkins, who created popular Netflix series
The Chosen about Jesus’ ministry, the film is based on a 1970s children’s book of the same name (released in Australia as The Worst Kids in the World), which is set in a small town that has one claim to fame: an annual Christmas pageant.
The town also has a claim to infamy: the Herdmans – a family of six kids whose behaviour frightens, or at least intimidates, everyone in town. From stealing to fighting to smoking cigars, these kids do the lot, and no one knows how to deal with them.
Our story is told through the eyes of Beth (Molly Belle Wright), who, early on in the film, desperately asks God in her nightly prayers to send the Herdmans to a desert island. Her brother Charlie, in a kind of Sunday school “show and tell” at church, tells the congregation that the best thing about church is that the Herdmans aren’t there. Ouch.
Then the unthinkable happens: they rock up to Sunday school, because Charlie had boasted to one of the Herdman kids about all the food at church. He, of course, was blissfully unaware of how inviting this was to children who have very little, whose dad has scarpered and whose mum works so many jobs to make ends meet that no one in town knows her.
Here is where the film comes into its own. We’ve had the “awful kid” tropes to set the scene, and now things get interesting. Because the Herdmans decide they want to play the central roles in
the Christmas pageant – the eldest, Imogene, is surprisingly determined to be “baby Jesus’ mum” – and at the first rehearsal it’s clear none of them have heard the biblical story of Christmas before.
They begin to ask questions. Lots of questions. This is eye-opening for the other children, not to mention us as viewers, as we may have heard the story of Jesus’ birth more times than we can count and never give the details in it a second thought.
What must it like for someone who doesn’t know the Christmas story? Who doesn’t understand what a manger is, why the innkeeper wouldn’t make room for a pregnant woman, or why the wise men brought such unusual gifts? And what’s with angels turning up to talk to people, or King Herod wanting to kill Jesus? Not to mention pictures that show Mary and Jesus looking so white and clean, as though they lived in a palace and she went through no hardships or difficulty to bring him into the world.
The Herdmans are hungry to know more, and while many townspeople are dead against the idea of them being in the pageant, Beth’s mother Grace (Judy Greer), who is running the event, is equally determined to let them stay. Because she’s remembered something the others seem to have forgotten: Jesus came for the Herdmans, too.
And there’s the challenge. You can’t watch this without considering what “Herdmans” you might have in your lives. People who are different, or difficult, and who don’t understand what it means to know and love Jesus. Will we show the favouritism and unloving attitudes displayed in James 2 – treat such people poorly or turn them away? Or will we show our faith by what we do?
The original book isn’t explicitly Christian, but it hasn’t taken much to make it so. The story then, as now, is officially for kids, but also has plenty of food for thought for adults who want to live in a Christ-honouring way. We want to be patient and forgiving with open hearts, yet often we can be unkind, unthinking or judgmental when we focus on ourselves or choose what’s easy over what’s best.
It’s not hard to see where the film is going, and some of the characterisations, especially of disapproving adults, are pretty one-dimensional. Importantly, however, the Herdman children are not. As the story unfolds, we gradually see glimpses that help explain why they are the way they are.
There are also some very good performances, particularly from Molly Belle Wright as Beth and Beatrice Schneider as Imogene. You’ll be hard pressed not to tear up in places – and give thanks for the true wonder of Christmas. SC
Adopted twice
Matt Redmond from Soul Revival Church shares how his own adoption, and being adopted into God’s family, inspired him to write a book to ensure no child would forget who they are.
Ialways knew I was adopted. Growing up, my parents were open about it – they had fostered children before adopting my sister and me.
On my shelf, I kept a book titled You Are Adopted. Whenever I had questions about my identity, I would pull it off the shelf and read it, trying to make sense of my place in the world. I remember many tearful moments with my Mum and Dad, asking, “Why didn’t my birth parents want me? Who am I? Where do I fit in?”
When I was 11, I was adopted again – into God’s family. It was at a beach mission at Burrill Lake, where I heard of our need to be reconciled with God. The message was simple but profound: I wasn’t friends with God, and to be friends with him, I needed to be friends with Jesus. That changed everything for me. I knew I was loved by my adoptive parents, but now I understood that God loved me, too. That day I became part of a much bigger family.
A few years later, I decided to be confirmed. Our minister, wanting my family to understand the decision I was making, offered to go through Christianity Explained with all of us. It was during a study of Ephesians 2 that things really clicked for Mum and Dad. They began to understand the gospel was about grace, not about what we could do to earn God’s favour. We were all confirmed together, which was an incredible moment of unity and faith for us as a family.
Being adopted has given me a unique perspective on my relationship with God. I sometimes imagine a king under siege from an enemy. He could choose to save his villagers by inviting them into the courtyard; those he especially wants to care for might be invited into the keep or into his home. God has done all these things and more. While vanquishing his enemy, he brought us into his family.
As someone who is adopted, I feel like I understand this more deeply. God didn’t just rescue me from sin – he brought me close, where he is our Father, we are his children, and Jesus is my brother.
THE STORY I WANT EVERY CHILD TO HEAR
This understanding of adoption – both earthly and spiritual –helped inspire my children’s book, The Forgetful Prince. Originally shared as a story I made up at bedtime and later wrote down as a legacy piece for my son, my wife and I realised that the themes were universal. The story follows a boy named Atticus who has forgotten he is a prince. Along the way, he meets some whimsical animals who help him remember who he truly is.
One of my favourite characters in the book is the owl, who reminds Atticus he is part of a bigger kingdom. It’s a reminder of hope for our future, that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. Then there’s the chameleon, who tells Atticus, “You weren’t made to skulk and blend in”. This is a reminder that, as Christians, we are called to live confidently and let our light shine in the world.
The animals represent the kind of friends we all need in our Christian walk – people who will guide us back to the truth of the gospel, reminding us of our true identity and who we are in God’s eyes. I am grateful for the people who have done that with me over the years.
Writing The Forgetful Prince was deeply personal. It wasn’t just crafting a story for children – it was about offering the comfort I found in my own adoption journey. While I was comforted by the knowledge that I was loved by my adoptive parents, it was God’s love for me that brought a profound sense of peace and joy beyond anything I had experienced before. I want this book to do the same for children, to help them find comfort in knowing who they are as God’s children and to live boldly as Christians.
My wife Lauren created beautiful watercolour paintings to illustrate the book, and we delight in seeing children engage with the story by recreating its pictures themselves.
In our family, we also use the book’s themes as a springboard for conversations about faith and identity. My kids know I’m
A journey of family, faith and The Forgetful Prince.
adopted, and it gives them a unique perspective on God’s love and what it means to be part of his family.
We often reference the book during dinner conversations or in casual moments. I’ll say something like, “Remember what the chameleon said about not blending in? You can do that at school by shining your light”. It’s become a tool for us to remind our kids of who they are in Christ.
I hope The Forgetful Prince will become that kind of book for other families as well. I want it to be the book that children pull off the shelf when they need a reminder of who they truly are, just like I used to pull You Are Adopted off the shelf as a kid. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the noise and confusion of life, but we all need reminders of the simplicity of the gospel: that we are loved, we are chosen, and we are part of God’s family.
Ultimately, the book is about grace. It’s about coming to our heavenly Father, who is always ready to welcome us with open arms. We may have forgotten who we are or are struggling to understand our place in the world, but God is always ready to remind us that we belong to him. That’s the message I want The Forgetful Prince to carry into the hearts of every child and family who reads it. We are adopted into God’s family, and that is a beautiful reality – a story we should never forget! SC
The Forgetful Prince is available through www.youthworksmedia.net and other Christian bookstores. You can learn more about the book and download free resources at www.theforgetfulprince.com
on Earth