Welcome to The Pastors’ Pen – an update for life at Southern Cross.

A week can be a long time, can’t it?

This week started with horrific events in a nearby town. A heavy week for those who knew those young lives so tragically affected. 

James was able to spend time on Thursday with youth and young adults that had been affected to debrief and pray.

On Wednesday, I spent the day in Sydney as a member of the Northern Rivers Presbytery commission to meet with Bible college students to help them consider serving in our district in years to come.

Then this Friday, June 3, is our annual training for Vision Coordinators with Jono Andrews who is assisting us to lead with hearts resting in the deep love of God. Jono will stay for an additional day to provide training for ministers and elders of the Northern Rivers. 

So as this long and complicated week comes to a close please consider praying for our nearby town as it mourns. Also pray for our region that in the years to come, young faithful leaders might come and join us in partnership to proclaim the deep love of God to this needy region.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8

SP

Welcome to The Pastors’ Pen… An update for life at Southern Cross.

In a few days we’ll have our Food for Thought Sunday!

How did your Food for Thought go? Our Gospel Community shared a counter meal together at a local club. But more important than the meal, have you been able to pray that our family and friends who don’t know Jesus might be able to see that Jesus is not bad for you (as our culture seems to be advocating). Rather, He is great for you! Offering you salvation, identity, contentment and deep satisfaction.

But don’t be too worried if your friend or neighbour can’t come, Jesus can sort something out! What about inviting them to read John’s gospel with you through Word One to One? Watch this video to stimulate your thinking and praying!

Sadly, Phil has been unwell in Sydney, but is still eager to join us. If his health does not improve, we will aim to pre-record the Bible talk and postpone the Equip night until Term 4.

Remember we are heading to John 14 on Sunday.  Our family read it around the breakfast table this week. You might like to pre-read it too, so you are better prepared to answer questions of friends and family that may come up.

Listen to this potent and intriguing little conversation from John 14:

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

SP

Welcome to The Pastors’ Pen—a written update for life at Southern Cross.

This week, James, Matt, Sue and I spent a couple of days at the Reach Australia conference.

It was an excellent time of Bible teaching and thoughtful seminars on how we can effectively and enthusiastically reach Australia for Christ.

A question we kept getting from Christian leaders around the country was: How is Lismore?

It’s hard to know how to answer, really, isn’t it?. It depends. Our physical city still lies broken. Many many are still without their broken homes.

So we are excited to be able to host Tim Dyer and his wife Merran this weekend as they guide us on how we respond to this brokenness and how we can continue to minister to beautiful local people whose lives are still so shattered.

So join us at Lismore High School from 2:30pm-4pm this Sunday for the seminar with Tim and Merran.

Also, please continue to pray for our ‘Food for Thought Week’ next week, that in the midst of the brokenness, people might still hear that Jesus is not bad for them!… but a stable, secure and safe place to find inconceivable hope and joy.

This is our hope both now and forever:

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3-4

SP