I remember the first time I walked into a prison. The starkness of the metal barriers; the churning of my stomach; the rigid security checks; the stares of the prisoners; the drabness of everything. I’ve become accustomed to it now, but this morning I get to accompany a new trainee...
These days it seems that being ‘evangelical’ is back in vogue. But what exactly does that mean? Everyone wants to claim it, to the point that now many Christians from a broad range of theological backgrounds and beliefs label themselves by it, and it often seems to have different connotations...
When my wife and I started having kids I thought, ‘Right, I’ll only let them see the good side of me.’ Well, it hasn’t worked. I just can’t keep it up. They’re around me too much. Maybe if they only saw me once a week I could pull it off....
When I was a kid, my Dad was a doctor. So he would often go visiting people in hospitals and, if we were in the car, he’d take us with him. I remember walking through hospital wards at all sorts of hours, and there were big scary signs up -...
This week's top ten ministry work opportunities include being a graphic designer in Nepal, a pastor at a Chinese church in Sydney, a finance officer in Switzerland and a church-planter in Portugal...
A popular phrase that is currently high on my ‘makes me want to punch a wall’ list is: “I don’t have to like them, I just have to love them.” This is the attitude of many people when it comes to their fellow Christians. But I would love nothing more...
Christians are often at pains to point out that, contrary to popular perception, Christian faith is not blind but rather rests on a solid foundation of evidence and reason. Yet there is a place for blind faith in some measure, for didn’t Jesus say to Thomas “Blessed are those who...
At a recent event we revealed that, from July 1, the college will be continuing its vital work of equipping students for ministry and mission under the new name ‘Brisbane School of Theology’. Spontaneous applause greeted the unveiling of the new name: without exception the students, alumni and supporters present...
