Stories

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....

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...

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Churches,Welcome to 2019. We are expecting an exciting year as we seek to value-add the mission of our movement together for the Kingdom.  Each year we gather as a part of the broader Fresh Hope Movement to mutually encourage...

In his excellent research into Young Adults engagement with church, David Kinnaman makes an interesting observation saying, “even though the childhood and early adolescent years are the time during which the spiritual and moral compasses are calibrated,...

The Fresh Hope Engage NSW Drought Appeal has raised $26,393 as at the end of November 2018. The funds have been distributed through local churches of Christ to assist individual families in need and to bless local communities: $20,000 Dubbo Church of...

The third round of the Volunteer Pastoral Carers training program successfully graduated on Wed 28 November in Coffs Harbour. 11 volunteers were celebrated by members from the Mission & Ministry agency, Fresh Hope Care, local church pastors and family...

Four times in the Christmas narrative we find the phrase ‘Do not be afraid’. An angel of Lord appears to Zechariah, a Jewish Priest and the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:13); to Mary the mother of Jesus via the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:30); to Joseph,...

For many Australians, Christmas is a season filled with joy and celebration. Unfortunately, this isn’t true for many people around the world who are affected by poverty or disaster. Leah almost lost everything – she had to leave her home in Ambae, a small...

On Thursday 22nd November, a special celebration of SRE in NSW public schools was held at NSW Parliament. The event was used to showcase the wonderful benefits of Special Religious Education in our schools – something only possible because of the many...

Defence Chaplaincy As we approach Remembrance Day it is an appropriate time to reflect upon the value of Defence Force Chaplaincy. Churches of Christ have a long and illustrious history in this sphere of ministry. When war led to the formation of the First...

Lismore (Northern Rivers) Church Of Christ Thanksgiving Service - October 21st On Sunday 21st October Ken & Alison Bond joined the Lismore (Northern Rivers) church community to celebrate a service of thanksgiving. The gathering included 24 adults and 6...

Pastoral Care Volunteers Graduation Last week, we celebrated 8 volunteers as they graduated from the Pastoral Carer’s training program held in Bateman’s Bay. The evening was celebrated by the Mission & Ministry agency, Fresh Hope Care, local church...

Pioneering & Mission – I still believe It has been 6 months since we put the flag in the ground at Collective for another pioneering push, inviting us to imitate the passion for Kingdom innovation that our forebears in Churches of Christ had.  Our...

Recently I came across this quote in a blog by Stephen W. Smith that resonated deeply as I reflected on what our role is in raising and releasing spiritual leaders. “An unholy convergence of factors creates this Perfect Storm; the storm that threatens the...