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Investing in our Young People

07/04/2016 / Ben

Statistics show how significant the childhood and teenage years are for making commitments to Jesus. According to the 2011 National Church Life Survey, 76% of Sydney Anglicans became Christians before the age of 20, and 44% did so during their teenage years (10-19). It is absolutely critical that we invest a great deal of our energy and resources into children’s and youth ministry in order to grow as a Church community.

Our Wilton Kings Kids (primary school) program continues to grow and improve thanks to Carol’s leadership, our creche is meeting under a gazebo (need to work out a winter plan!), and our Youth Bible study is about to begin once the Youth come back from KYCK. Pray for our young people, that they would ‘trust in the Lord with all their heart’ and that parents would guide them wisely through their tender years.

in Christ, Ben

God is at Work

30/03/2016 / Ben

Phil turned to me after our Easter Sunday service at St Marks last week and declared, ‘This is an historic occasion!’ It was the first time he has seen the mezzanine at St Marks needing to be used on a Sunday. It is so exciting to see God at work gathering his people and building his Church in our midst. Both our Churches have seen significant growth in attendance already this year. All this is an answer to many faithful years of prayer for the growth of the gospel – let’s continue those prayers and continue the work of living for and proclaiming the good news of our Saviour Jesus.

Last Thursday a small subcommittee of our parish council began meeting to consider our options for future growth – focusing particularly on how to develop our Wilton Church site. Please be praying for wisdom and God’s leading in this process, we will endeavour to keep you informed and involved. If you have ideas or want to discuss this further please contact: Peter F, Glenn A, Milton L or myself.

Yours in Christ, Ben

Joy from Sadness

24/03/2016 / Ben

Easter begins with bad news. Can you imagine the grief of Jesus’ disciples as he died and darkness came over the whole land on that first Friday. The same darkness and grief of death hangs over Brussels today, as it does in many places around the world and indeed in many of our own lives. Death is a great enemy all of us must face one day and its shadow stretches back across our lives menacingly. Jesus death is different. Jesus dies in our place, he dies to conquer death and he proves it by being raised to life in the joy of Easter Day! In 1 Corinthians 15:54 we read that ‘death has been swallowed up in victory’. If we will confess our sins and place our trust in Jesus then we can have confidence that he has removed the ‘sting’ of death. Jesus forgives our sin and promises the joy of resurrection life!

Wishing you a happy and joyous Easter, Ben

The Greatest Love

18/03/2016 / Ben

I’m looking forward to Church this Palm Sunday. Everybody needs to be loved, to belong, to know we matter to somebody. This week we’ll see the great agony and suffering that Jesus endured out of love for us. He was abandoned, betrayed, and condemned to be crucified. His ‘soul was overwhelmed to the point of death’ and yet he willingly walked on towards his own death by crucifixion, so that you and I can have forgiveness and life as we trust in Him. The love and forgiveness of Jesus is the great news we declare to our friends, family and community this Easter. John 15:12 – ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’

in Christ, Ben

Easter Invitation Challenge

09/03/2016 / Ben

It’s only two weeks now until Easter. This is the most significant event on the Christian calendar and possibly the easiest time of year to invite friends or family to come to Church. Today, I want you to pause and pray for three friends or family who don’t know Jesus yet. Pray that you would have the opportunity to share why Easter is important to you, and invite them to join you at Church this Easter. Then take three or more of our Easter postcards and invite them. The goal isn’t to grow our Church – but to help people find salvation in Jesus. Coming to our Church (or a different one) is a means to this end!

Here’s a link to our Easter service times on the website, and on facebook (Wilton), the St Mark’s facebook event is coming…

Yours in Christ, Ben