Life 4 Kids’ Dorothy Gardiner shares important truths re hurting kids…John sits with his shoulders slumped, head bent, tears streaming down his face and with a voice filled with pain says, ‘The day my dad left my whole world fell apart and I can’t put it back together.’ (more…)
EASTER – WHY SEEK THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?
Ron Edmondson, passionate church leader, reflects on Luke 24: 5-8, ‘And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you.”’ (more…)
Inspirational author Carol Round brings Easter encouragements …‘Jesus and his disciples came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John along with him. He began to feel despair and was anxious. He said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert”’ (Mark 14:32-34 CEB). (more…)
Maureen McQuillan recalls last month’s memorable baptism of a converted Muslim:Ali, a converted Muslim from Iran, had recently expressed his desire to follow his Saviour Jesus through the waters of baptism.
A humble and most sincere man who loves the Lord Jesus and doesn’t hesitate to share his faith in Christ, Ali had this wish fulfilled in a most magnificent, heart-touching water baptism service last month at the Barrabool Hills, Highton congregation of Moolap and Barrabool Hills Baptist Church, Geelong, Victoria. (more…)
IMPROVEMENT IS NECESSARY TO THRIVE
Dick Hardy, pastoral leadership consultant, writes:
Organisations that continually improve realise that continual improvement is necessary to thrive. Think about it – every computer and smartphone user experiences this on a regular basis. You can hardly go a week without needing to install another update for your apps or devices.
‘I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me’ (Matthew 25:35-36 Msge).
Mark Ellis (with Michael Ashcraft, Special to ASSIST News Service) brings this incredible testimony.When gang initiates shot musician Marcus Stanley eight times one night in 2004 on a Baltimore street, he feared that if he lived, his music career was over. (more…)
Becoming a Christian at age 15 my pastors gave me all the support and encouragement I needed to grow in my relationship with God – and to figure out his calling on my life.
A youth leader at 18, I attended a large youth conference resulting in my ambition to replicate that conference in our church so we could also do something great. I didn’t realise that God wants us to get his vision and dream for our place, rather than copy other ministries. (more…)
Tait Berge encourages people who live with disabilities to be involved in their local church as he shares from his heart.People who live with disabilities cannot expect others to accept them if they don’t accept themselves. One way to do that is to remember you were made in God’s image, and another is to find a couple of life verses to help you.
Whether you have a disability or are a parent, sibling or friend of someone with a disability, God loves you! He knew you before you were born and designed your body (Psalm 139:13-16). You’re perfect just the way you are. You didn’t do anything to cause your disability. That’s the most important idea you can take away from this article. (more…)
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW TO WORK THE CROWD!
Dick Hardy, pastoral leadership consultant, writes:
It is important for pastors and church leaders to know how to work a crowd.
Oh my goodness! You now think I have slipped a cog. How in the world can anyone in ministry possibly think about ‘working the crowd’? That is so phoney. Further, it must be as far away from godliness as one can get. What’s up with that? (more…)
Connecting with You! 