Stories

We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the power of our testimony (Rev 12:11). We pray that our stories of transformation will encourage and energise you in your transformation journey with Christ; individually and in your spheres of influence.

Creating hope, purpose & value for people that don’t have it – Winter Appeal 2019

Jul 4, 2019 | Articles

It’s become very cold in NSW and the ACT this last month as Winter really sets in. It’s even colder for the thousands of people, especially families, who are currently homeless. The leading cause of homelessness in NSW is domestic violence (24%) forcing...

How might a ‘Bokim’ awakening challenge our culture of contempt?

Jul 3, 2019 | Articles

In so many ways, our nation is being rent and buffeted by divergent world-views and hostile agendas regardless of our political orientations, religious views, race, identity and cultural backgrounds. It’s hard to pinpoint what’s beneath so much turbulence,...

Synchronicity…

Jun 5, 2019 | Articles

The analytical psychologist Carl Jung first introduced the idea of ‘Synchronicity’ in psychoanalysis as: events that are ‘meaningful coincidences’ that occur without causal relationship but seem to be meaningfully related. Sometimes in life, things seem to...

Fresh Hope Discernment Team

Jun 4, 2019 | Articles

Are you finding it difficult to see the next step in your vocation? Not sure which option or direction is the wisest? Do you have multiple options for the future, and they all seem good? The Fresh Hope discernment team is a group of skilled discerners who...

The next round of Mission & Ministry Grants are now open!

May 15, 2019 | Articles

The Mission & Ministry Grants Assessment Committee is pleased to report $58,000 matching fund grants were awarded to the following nine Fresh Hope churches in the first round of M&M Grants: Asquith Church of ChristCoast Community ChurchDubbo Church...

SRE Sunday is almost here!

May 15, 2019 | Articles

What is SRE Sunday?SRE Sunday is a day to celebrate and acknowledge the great work of SRE teachers in our local schools across New South Wales. It is also an opportunity to invite and inform our community about Christian SRE and its importance in schools...

Fresh Hope Engage Winter Appeal

May 14, 2019 | Articles

Homelessness is a growing issue in NSW. The causes of homelessness are varied and often complicated, but every homeless man, woman or child is loved by God and as a Christian movement, by caring for them we have a great opportunity to show the love of...

Single Touch Payroll (STP) has arrived for small employers – effective from 1 July 2019

May 14, 2019 | Articles

What is single touch payroll?Parliament has recently passed legislation to extend Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting to include all small employers (those with fewer than 20 employees) from 1 July 2019. Single Touch Payroll enables employers to...

The Wonder of Luminescence

May 14, 2019 | Articles

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Churches, I was recently intrigued by this photo of the ‘Ghost Fungus’ (Omphalotus Nidiformis) – a bioluminescent wonder that pops up in Australia’s temperate forests each autumn. The mushroom’s glow is caused by the same...

Engaging with Homelessness

Apr 15, 2019 | Articles

Recently I visited Tweed Heads Church of Christ to facilitate a pastoral care training course. During my visit Pastor John Latta took me on a tour with a difference of the local community. We visited several caravan parks (some condemned but still...

Ethos captured by the ‘GYRE’

Apr 15, 2019 | Articles

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Churches,Some of you will be aware that I enjoy researching lighthouses, visiting and photographing their unique properties and admiring their locations and positional properties. The photo here (which I didn’t take) is of the...

All faith SRE launches “Year of Values” as new survey shows huge support for scripture classes

Apr 15, 2019 | Articles

Faith leaders have claimed 2019 as ‘the year of values’, and launched a video highlighting the mental health and multicultural benefits of special religious education (SRE) while revealing massive public support for the program. Landmark research by one...

A Pilgrims Way

Apr 15, 2019 | Articles

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls." – Jeremiah 6:16 For the past 12 months I have been talking to ministering people in our movement –...

Basic Pastoral Care for Churches

Mar 6, 2019 | Articles

This year, Fresh Hope Engage is excited to launch a new course entitled “Basic Pastoral Care for Churches”. The aim of this course is to equip church members with the formation and basic skills needed to provide pastoral care to their community....

Be on your guard – allowing culture to colonise God’s church…

Mar 6, 2019 | Articles

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Churches, As Western culture continues to experience turbulence in many sectors, there is an ever-present danger that we might allow culture to colonise the biblical functionality of both church practice and leadership. The...