From Tuesday 1 – Thursday 3 May, 2012, the Sydney Missionary and Bible College is running a conference on engaging with followers of Islam.

From the Conference brochure “There are burkas in the headlines and provocative billboards on Sydney’s streets. But what do they mean? Islam can often seem foreign and confusing. The gap between Muslims and Christians sometimes seems too wide to cross.

But what is Islam? How can we understand it? It is not just a concept or set of beliefs. It is the faith of more than a billion people. Many of us have colleagues, neighbours, or friends who are Muslims. What do they think? What are their aspirations? How do they see the world?

This conference will examine these questions. We will explore the variety within Islam, its cultural expressions, and how Muslims understand Christian beliefs and practices. By surveying a range of approaches to engaging followers of Islam with the gospel, this conference will help you bridge the gap and clearly share the good news with Muslims.

We look forward to seeing you.

Richard Hibbert
Director, SMBC School of Cross Cultural Mission

For more details and to download a brochure click here.

Nate and Marjorie Saint

Last Sunday was the 56th anniversary of the deaths of the missionary martyrs to Ecuador: Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Peter Fleming, Ed McCully, and Roger Youderian.

Take the time to listen to a remarkable talk “Sovereignty, Suffering and the Work of Missions” by Steve Saint, son of Nate Saint, delivered at a Desiring God conference as he reflects upon both the deaths of the five men and subsequent events. You won’t regret listening to it!

Tim Challies has a post on the effects of these deaths at his blog. If you don’t know of Tim Challies, his blog is worth adding to your regular subscription list.

Kevin Murray

Sometimes we’re tempted to think that the gospel was somehow more effective in the days of the Apostles but not in our day. We look at people who are living lives that are far away from God and we think “Nothing could change him!”. But when we do that we’re forgetting the power of the Word of God. By His Spirit God can do whatever he wants in a person’s life — think of the Apostle Paul, think of yourself!

I was recently shown the following excerpt from a book “Midst Volcanic Fires” written by Maurice Frater, a missionary to the New Hebrides [Vanuatu] in the early 20th Century:

Daily experiences soon made us recognize that the old Gospel was as potent and as true to its transforming record in the New Hebrides as it was in the Apostolic age. The classic story of Paul’s conversion was being paralleled in the history of our own converts. In the village adjoining the mission station a native teacher was proclaiming the Gospel of peace and love to a group of his fellow-islanders. A notorious man, the chief of the district, and a terror to the neighbourhood, was passing by. He was a bold, hardened leader in all iniquity. He paused and listened, and that wondrous message reached his heart. Toa, the intrepid warrior, there and then embraced Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. The heathen chief who would yield to no power on his native island yielded himself to God. A new affection filled his heart, and it produced one of the most wonderful changes that could take place in a human life. Once Toa had a passion for skulls, now he had a passion for souls.

Ever afterwards, Toa proved himself a valiant soldier and a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. But, perhaps, the most impressive evidence of the change which the Gospel has wrought upon him and his fellow-villagers is the appearance of the public square where, in heathen days, they had their iniquitous feasts and revelled in their hateful dances. It is now covered with a lawn of beautiful green grass ; and in the centre of the square, where once stood the altar of stones for the sacrifices, there now stands a Christian church.

But what about today? Follow this link http://www.christianpost.com/news/african-warlord-who-killed-20000-people-repents-now-christian-evangelist-65550/ to read the story of a former African warlord, who became a Christian in 1996.

The gospel still works — not just for tribal chiefs or African warlords but for ordinary people who need to hear of the extraordinary grace of God.

Kevin Murray

We take for granted the ease with which can walk into a bookshop and buy a Bible. For we in Australia Bibles are relatively inexpensive. But imagine that when you wanted to buy a Bible you had to go to say Adelaide or Canberra. That’s what it’s like for many of the people of Vanuatu. Vanuatu is a chain of 83 islands and one of the biggest hurdles the nation faces is distance and lack of affordable transport. In September I interviewed Pastor Laliman Kalso from Ambrym and asked him about the availability of the Bible is in Vanuatu.

Thank you to everyone who made a donation to our “New Testaments for Vanuatu” appeal. We collected over $22,000 and we are now in the process of working with our partners and the Bible Society to commence printing as soon as possible.

You can download an audio version of the interview by right-clicking on the link below.

Kevin Murray

Pastor Laliman

John Piper explains how a pastor can motivate people to be involved in world evangelisation by pointing to the character of God.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-pastors-role-in-world-evangelization?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DGBlog+%28DG+Blog%29

One of our missionaries, Rachael Connor in Vanuatu, writes about a part of Australian history that is not well known.
http://storiansmol.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackbirding-what-news-wont-tell-you.html

Today the Youthparters 2012 team left for Port Vila, Vanuatu before travelling on to Liro, Paama Island. But what is Youthpartners like? What  are the challenges? How will the people of Paama receive this?

I took the opportunity to interview Len Newton, one of the leaders of Youthpartners 2012, to ask him everything you ever wanted to know about Youthpartners 2012.

Kevin Murray

Today is Day One of Youthpartners 2012. Youthpartners is a Mission Partners project where a team from Australia travels to Vanuatu to work on a building project.

The Church on Paama Island needs a building to use for offices, a meeting place and as a focal point for the Presbytery. Like our previous projects this will take a few years to complete.

Today begins with the team assembling for one and a half days of training before departure on Friday. Please pray for team unity and safety.

Here is an update from Rob Duncanson on the Foundational Synod of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Timor Leste — a significant development.

http://bondiatl.wordpress.com

How does following Jesus translate into the global village?

What is God doing in the world? How do reformed Christians relate to global themes of Christian unity, justice, mission and church renewal?

These are among the issues in focus at an international conference being held at Presbyterian Theological Centre (PTC) in Burwood, Sydney next April.

The conference builds on a Sydney Board meeting of the World Reformed Fellowship (WRF). (More information on the WRF is available at: http://www.wrfnet.org.) Several global leaders from the WRF Board are coming early to share in the PTC conference and local church ministry.

The conference will be held over Friday April 20 and Saturday April 21 2012. Both days are open to all-comers.The Friday conference should be of particular interest to church leaders and Saturday to the broader Christian public. The schedule includes keynote addresses and breakout seminars on more specialised topics.

The conference should be a great time of vision- expanding fellowship, encouragement and learning. What a great opportunity for local people to gain global vision, enrichment, enlivenment and fellowship!

More details will be available early in 2012. Enquiries can be sent to the conference organiser, David Burke (dburke@ptcsydney.org).