Graham Tour About To Get Under Way

Transcription

1 FREE FOR YOU ON REQUEST TO: TELLING THE GREAT WORKS OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY 1 February 2019 Vol 81 No 13 Free On Request: office@nlife.com.au Graham Tour About To Get Under Way Open Doors 2019 World Watch List Billy Graham s son and successor, Franklin Graham, is about to tour Australia to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Billy Graham s 1959 Crusade. Meetings will be held in Perth (9 February at RAC Arena [Perth Arena]); Darwin (13 February at Darwin Convention Centre); Melbourne (16 February at Melbourne Arena [Hisense Arena]); Brisbane (18 February at Riverstage); Adelaide (20 February at Titanium Security Arena); Sydney (23 and 24 February at International Convention Centre Theatre). Further details are available by calling or at GrahamTour.com.au Tell the people the full message of this new life Acts 5.20b

2 VOLUME 81 NUMBER 13 ISSUE DATE: 1 February 2019 FILE NO: NL ISSN: FOUNDER: Eric J. Daley ( ) EDITOR: Rev Bob Thomas Phone: editor@nlife.com.au Postal Address: PO Box 457 Mitcham VIC 3132 OFFICE MANAGER: Rachael Maskell Phone: office@nlife.com.au WEB-SITE: SUBSCRIPTION: Free On Request ACCEPTANCE OF ADVERTISING DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. NEW LIFE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ADVERTISING DEEMED UNSUITABLE. PUBLISHED BY: New Life Australia Ltd ABN: NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS: New Life is archived by the National Library of Australia. It is assumed that contributors agree with this arrangement and so are willing to be published on this basis. TELLING THE GREAT WORKS OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY 2019 A Year Of Challenge The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God s invisible qualities His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools Romans The Apostle Paul makes a bold claim here, with far-reaching and dire consequences. Because the Scriptures are God s breathed-out, revealed truth, Paul is not just putting up a possible scenario for our critical appraisal and assessment he is telling us the reality of how the God who made Man in His own likeness and image (Genesis 1.26,27) actually sees things and deals with them. Modern scientific man might be able to manipulate the data and close his mind to the evidence in order to free himself from accountability to his Maker, but his efforts won t stack up on the day of Judgment. God not only designed us in such a way that He can communicate truth to us in a meaningful way, but He designed Creation in such a way as to clearly declare His glory (cf Psalm ). It is our sinful hearts that short-circuit this carefully designed mechanism and stop us from seeing what ought to be quite obvious (2 Corinthians 4.4). The really sad thing is that, once we have succeeded in eliminating God from our thinking, we become fools and the remainder of Romans 1 spells out in very accurate detail the mess the world has got itself into as a consequence of its deliberate, resolute blindness in the face of the overwhelming evidence. This situation is now quite hopeless apart from the power of the Gospel! The truth of Romans is what makes Paul s lead-in statement so wonderful and encouraging: I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power [ dynamite ] of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Or, as he wrote to the Christian believers in Corinth: God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4.6). Let us never be ashamed of this Gospel and its eye-opening, life-changing, hope-giving power! Rev Bruce Christian, Bulli, NSW Welcome Back To New Life For 2019! We would normally resume on 15 February, but two things have led us to resume on 1 February: Franklin Graham s Grand Tour, commencing on 9 February (see program on Page One), and the large amount of news which has accumulated over the summer break. So do sit back and enjoy the read. We certainly enjoy bringing it to you. NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Two

3 ANOTHER YEAR... ANOTHER CHALLENGE FROM GOD Belgrave Heights Convention A Time For Family, Fellowship, Prayer, Praise And Spiritual Growth It s always a joy to end the old year and welcome the new surrounded by God s family as we share in prayer, Bible Study and Christian fellowship. Both speakers at the Belgrave Heights Summer Convention, with their wives (David and Maxine Cook, John and Alison Risbridger) are old friends of the convention. They fitted perfectly into the relaxed family atmosphere and were always ready with smiles as well as encouraging remarks for anyone who crossed their path. David Cook was Principal of Sydney Missionary And Bible College for 26 years. He continues a worldwide ministry to churches and conventions and contributes regularly to New Life. BHC welcomed David for his eighth visit. He spoke from the book of Acts, challenging us to Journey Forward in our Christian life. What is God up to? Acts shows our need of God s Spirit, so that everything we do gives glory to God. God s purpose is to glorify Himself by saving people David and Maxine Cook through hearing and believing the Gospel of His Son, as it is carried by His Spirit, through Spirit-empowered people to the ends of the Earth. Religious fakes fail and their doctrine disappears but God s purpose is always fulfilled. The Gospel will reach its goal, empowered by the Spirit through the ministry of His people. 1. HISTORICAL FIRSTS (ACTS 2 4). First Century Christianity can be pictured as we walk through the catacombs in Rome. Then compare that with the lavish Roman church above ground in Rome today! We need to return to the precedent, the prototype. a. The First Sermon ( ). On the Day of Pentecost 15 language groups heard the Gospel in their own dialect. Greek was the universal language, but God speaks in all languages. There is no distinction between gender, race, age or social standing as we see the fulfilment of Joel The coming of the Spirit authenticates Jesus as the Lord who died and rose again. b. The First Church ( ). Three thousand believed and were baptized when Peter called on people to repent and follow Jesus. The doctrine of the church tells us who we are and shows our identity. The first church had everything in common. They shared the Gospel, shared with each other, and shared with their neighbours. They were open on the Godward side, which is almost unheard of today, said J.B. Phillips. c. The First Miracle (3.1 10). A completely crippled man was carried daily into the Temple to beg. Peter and John had no money to give him, but they said, Rise up and walk. Instantaneously the lame man was healed physically and spiritually. Peter and John gave God all the glory. d. The First Opposition (4.1 22). Opposition came from the religious leaders as they questioned Peter and John. They stated boldly that all they did was done in the power of the risen Jesus. Peter and John respected the leaders, but did not comply with their reasoning. e. The First Prayer ( ). As a result of this the church prayed and quoted Psalm 2. It is no longer David, but Jesus who is under threat. (Continued on Page 4) We re Encouraged! One Of Australia s Major Mission Agencies has advised us they send each edition of New Life around to everyone in the office and the members of their National Council. Who Can YOU Forward New Life To? NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Three Isaiah 6.8 Send me, Lord! PLEASE NOTE: New Life comes to you as a PDF file. You are free to FORWARD it to anyone you feel would like to read it. You may also PRINT it in whole or in part for individual or church use.

4 ANOTHER YEAR... ANOTHER CHALLENGE FROM GOD f. The First Prayer ( ). As a result of this the church prayed and quoted Psalm 2. It is no longer David, but Jesus who is under threat. The church is never given a command from God without His explanation of why we need to obey Him. In obedience we must go into all the world preaching, to tell people they need to repent and be baptized. Following the Apostles example, we need to go and share Christ with our community. World leaders will always be hostile to the Gospel. But we need to keep on being foolish in their eyes because God has given us amazing freedom and salvation. 2. GOD, THE EVANGELIST (ACTS 8 10). Now there were about 5,000 in the church and God cared for each one of them. a. The Disappointed Outcast ( Eunuchs were disbarred from worshipping in the Temple. So the Ethiopian had bought the scroll of Isaiah to read on his way home. Philip, the deacon, had a divine encounter as he met the Ethiopian on the desert road. He was able to explain the Gospel using the passage from Isaiah that the Ethiopian was reading. We are all outcasts, living in sin. Isaiah speaks prophetically of Jesus. Philip was preaching the Gospel; ready to serve and speak. b. The Persecuting Insider (9.1 20). Not an outsider, but a Pharisee is now spoken to by Jesus. God sent another man on a divine encounter; Ananias helped Saul. Later the religious, racial and prejudiced Jews raised their voices against Paul (22.21). When Paul was before Governor Festus, he interrupted Paul s defence at the mention of the resurrection. The secular mind is always antagonistic when challenged with the bodily resurrection of Jesus. c. An Ordinary Man (Chapter10). The centurion, Cornelius, was devoted to God, and generous. Peter had grown up believing all non-jews were unclean. When God sent him to the centurion s home, Peter was given a vision of clean and unclean food that God told him to eat. The only clean people are those who come to Jesus, regardless of their diet. Cornelius was a good man, but he needed to find salvation through Christ. Beware of believing the 21st Century lie! ( Just be good and God will be merciful. ) Cornelius was not saved by his life-style. The only contribution any of us can make to our salvation is to bring our sin to the Lord in repentance. It is God s grace alone that saves us. This is the Gospel shunned by many today, even in the church. 3. ENCOUNTERING A PROBLEM (15.1 5). The Church Council at Jerusalem was confronted with the question: Do Gentile believers need to obey the Mosaic Law? Peter s task after he was released from prison was to speak at the debate Peter s last words as recorded in Acts were: It is through grace we are saved (15.11). By faith in Jesus alone is the way to be justified. Salvation is not a reward for obedience. But believers need to keep in step with the Spirit. The decision ( ) is encapsulated in Galatians 2.20, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. As a result, my purpose is to live by faith in the Son of God; my principle is the fact that He loved me and gave Himself for me; therefore the pattern of my life must be Christlikeness ( ). 4. TWO IRONIC EVENTS a. Missionary Split ( ). Paul took Silas with him on his second missionary journey, as he saw John Mark as a deserter. But Barnabas, the encourager, gave Mark another chance and took him on a different route. Thus the Gospel went out in two different directions. Timothy. (16.1-5) Paul and Silas encountered Timothy in Lystra. His father was Greek and his mother was Jewish, so Paul circumcised him. Paul was a reed in non-essentials, but an iron pillar in essentials, comments John Newton. It is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. Grace does not discriminate. We are all one in Christ although we may be totally different culturally, socially or economically. Jesus plus nothing equals everything; Jesus plus everything equals nothing. (Continued on Page 14) PASTORAL VACANCY PASTORAL VACANCY Ulverstone Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia (Tas) is looking for a full-time pastor with a commitment to the Reformed tradition. For more information please contact: Andres Miranda or Ian Hamilton Web site: NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Four

5 HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE... With Stan Hunt Hope Rising In Land Of The Rising Sun Hope is peeking over the horizon in the land of the rising sun. Three Japanese unreached people groups have been adopted by Asian Access after they were identified at the recent Finishing The Task conference. Pastor Joshua Hari, with Asian Access, says he had thought Japan was one linguistic people group. He was surprised to learn there are three groups totalling more than 80,000 people living in Okinawa, a Japanese prefecture comprising more than 150 islands in the East China Sea. Until now there have been no efforts to make Christ known in these communities. Asian Access, and their partners in Japan are going to do whatever it takes to start engaging these groups with the Gospel. And they re going to do it in two years or less. Japan is the largest unevangelized nation completely open to missionaries. Mission Network News Good News From Turkey Iranian refugees in Turkey are converting from Islam to Christianity in such numbers that churches can't keep up with the demand, according to a report from Christian Headlines. Sebnem Akcapar, a sociology professor at Istanbul's Koç University, says small churches of 20 to 30 families are now seeing growth of up to 100 families. A member of a congregation in Denizli, Turkey, (who can t be named for security reasons) says Iran s extremism is pushing citizens away from Islam. They are in search of God, he says, but they want to find another path because they're discontent and don t see any hope in Islam. Rick Robinson of the United Pentecostal Church in Denizli says churches are struggling to keep up with the number of converts. Christian Headlines You Can Reach For The Sky With MAF For Christians ready to take a leap of faith and commit their talents to the mission field, Mission Aviation Fellowship could be the right fit. MAF is currently hiring aircraft mechanics, pilots, field IT support specialists, and teachers to join their team. As an aviation ministry, MAF partners with other ministries and organizations to reach isolated people with aid, resources, and the hope of the Gospel. Crissie Rask with MAF says in the day-to-day, this looks like medical evacuations, transporting food and supplies, flying indigenous pastors, and more. Anyone interested in learning about the opportunities should visit the website MAF.org/serve Compassion Reaches Another Milestone Compassion International has reached a major milestone, now supporting two million children. It took the ministry 56 years to reach one million children in their program, and only 11 more years to reach two million. Children are supported in four areas critical to development: spiritual, physical, social, and economic. Compassion has announced a celebration of the occasion in its 25 country offices. Compassion President and CEO Santiago Jimmy Mellado says the celebration is about the commitment of the staff and thousands of volunteers who are providing life-changing care for these children, and their supporters around the world who enable them to do so. He says that in the grand scheme of things two million is a drop in the bucket, as there are one billion children living in poverty. The Compassion program operates through more than 7,000 local churches. MNN Syrian Pastor Hanging In There A pastor who has stayed in the Syrian city of Aleppo throughout the conflict is hopeful for the future despite the devastation. Open Doors reports that the pastor has been leading a reconciliation ministry in Aleppo and says he can see signs of life coming back to the city. He says that although the damage is huge, the city is beginning to rebuild everything. The pastor told Christian Today that his church is playing a role in improving relationships between the rebels and supporters of the regime. Making the relationship stable is the only path to reconciliation, he says. When you solve the relationship you have a stable society and that's what we are helping to do. Open Doors is working with the church and other partners to provide aid, including food and medicine, to around 12,000 families in Syria each month. Christian Today NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Five

6 MATTERS FOR PRAYER: UGANDA: Minority Christians Under Pressure According to Uganda's 2014 census, Christians make up 84.5% of the population and Muslims 13.7%. On 24 December, the Washington Times published an article with the following headline: Ugandan Christians Live In Fear Of Minority Muslims On Quest For Conversions'. However, the WT headline is misleading, for the pressure and persecution described in the article is taking place in Uganda's Eastern Region where Uganda's Muslims are concentrated and where Christians are a minority. The WT article retells the story of 12-year-old Emmanuel Nyaiti (Morning Star News, October 2018) who was walking home through predominantly Muslim Kaderuna Sub-County, Budaka District, at around 9pm when he was ambushed by four Muslims eager to force him to convert to Islam. For resisting, Nyaiti was beaten, strangled and left for dead. Nyaiti's father, Kauta Yokosofat, a member of Kiryolo Church of Uganda, had previously been warned that if he did not convert to Islam his family would be forced to leave the village. When Nyaiti did not arrive home, his father gathered some neighbours and set out in search. He eventually found his son unconscious and half-dead in a cassava plantation. The attack sent shock-waves through the vulnerable, minority Christian community. Today, unprecedented numbers of Ugandan Muslims are rejecting Islam and embracing life in Jesus Christ. Eager to retain their influence and eliminate 'fitna' (the strife that comes from doubting Islam), local imams are leading efforts to crush Christian witness in Eastern Region. Deborah Gimbo of Budaka Town, Budaka District, meets for prayer with two other Christian women three evenings a week. On the afternoon of 20 December, four Muslims burst into her home as she was praying alone. They warned her to stop praying aloud in Jesus' name. When Gimbo refused, the intruders beat her with sticks until neighbours came to the rescue and took the battered and bleeding woman to hospital. Gimbo, who was discharged two days later, told MSN that 'a local sheikh (teacher) had instructed the assailants that people who pray in Jesus' name should be fought and pressured until they accept only worship of Allah, or else be killed.' Previously, on 10 October, Muslims in neighbouring Kibuku District tore down a church building established by Pastor Mustafa Waseke for his congregation of converts from Islam. Pastor Waseke told MSN that the Muslims, led by an imam, razed the building while shouting, 'Allah Akbar [Allah is the greatest], away with this church and Pastor Mustafa Waseke. No more prayers in this place, or else you will all lose your lives.' A secret believer has since informed Waseke that Muslims are plotting to kill him and his family. Pastor Waseke told MSN, 'I am at a crossroads of not knowing what to do. My church members are scattered like sheep without a shepherd... Please pray for us.' Muhamud Gusolo of Masaba village, Sironko District, Eastern Region, abandoned Islam and put his faith in Christ in late In October 2018 he started hosting evening Bible study and worship in his home, meeting with other former Muslims. First, his father denounced, disowned and disinherited him. Then, on 7 December, a Muslim mob, led by a mosque leader, destroyed his banana plantation. With his livelihood destroyed and his life in danger, Gusolo decided to leave the village; his wife, however, was too afraid to join him. Having lost his home, wife and six children; his parents, inheritance and livelihood; Gusolo (28) appealed to the local authorities for help. 'This,' he says, 'this has fallen on deaf ears.' Uganda is a majority Christian country with a secular constitution that guarantees religious freedom. However, Uganda is also Africa's most decentralised country and its roughly 130 districts are largely self-governing. If the central government does not enforce the law nationwide and insist that all districts abide by the constitution, then Uganda will eventually end up like Nigeria where Muslim-majority regions observe Sharia law in defiance of the constitution to the detriment of national unity, human rights in general and Christian liberty and security in particular. Elizabeth Kendal is the author of Turn Back The Battle: Isaiah Speaks To Christians Today (Deror Books, Melbourne, Australia, Dec 2012) which offers a Biblical response to persecution and existential threat; and After Saturday Comes Sunday: Understanding The Christian Crisis In The Middle East (Wipf and Stock, Eugene, OR, USA, June 2016). See NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Six PLEASE PRAY THE LORD TO: bless the persecuted and threatened Church in Uganda's Muslim-dominated Eastern Region; may the believers have divine wisdom and grace as they navigate a deteriorating situation; may the Lord be their fortress and deliverer, comforter and provider. 'But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.' (Psalm 3.3) give President Yoweri Museveni and Uganda's central government the conviction and courage to resist the Islamisation of the Eastern Region and insist that the supremacy of the constitution be recognised uniformly across all Uganda's districts. awaken Uganda's majority Christians to the plight of their suffering brothers and sisters in Muslim-dominated Eastern Region; may their hearts break as they see through Christ's eyes and realise the pain in the heart of God; may they fall to their knees as one for the sake of their persecuted brethren.

7 FROM ALL QUARTERS New Life Of Jesus Series To Climax At Easter A new TV mini series that follows the life of Jesus as both a man and the Messiah will be released in March by The History Channel. The program called Jesus: His Life is set to be an eightpart series that show s Jesus life starting with His virgin birth and ending with His resurrection. The episodes will show Jesus life through the perspective of friends, family, and followers including, Joseph, Mary, John the Baptist, Peter, Judas, Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate and Mary Magdalene. The series will be a mix of dramatization and interviews with prominent Biblical scholars, preachers and historians. It will end with Jesus death and resurrection just before Easter. The Christian Post Franklin Graham Springs To Defend VP After Lady Gaga Calls Mike Pence 'Worst Representation' Of Christianity After news broke that the US Vice President s wife, Karen Pence, would be working for a private Christian school that requires its students and staff to believe that marriage is between one man and one woman, the singer known as Lady Gaga criticized Pence during a Las Vegas concert, saying: And to Mike Pence, who thinks it s acceptable that his wife work at a school that bans LGBTQ, you are wrong. You say we should not discriminate against Christianity; you are the worst representation of what it means to be a Christian. She continued, I am a Christian woman and what I know about Christianity is that we bear no prejudice and everybody is welcome. So you can take all that disgrace Mr Pence and you can look yourself in the mirror and you ll find it right there. Graham responded on Facebook, writing, Lady Gaga, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, may be a very talented singer and actress, but her comments about VP Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence are misguided and unfortunate. As Christians, following Christ means following the teachings of God s Word. The Bible makes it clear that homosexuality is a sin among many others and they all have a cost. We are to seek to live our lives in obedience to His Word. He set the rules, not us; He is the one who defined sin, and out of His love and mercy, He provided a remedy for sin all sin through repentance and faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. I know Vice President Mike Pence and Mrs Pence, and to me, the way they conduct their lives and exhibit their faith make them the best kind of Christian. What a blessing they are to our nation, he concluded. Kayla Koslosky, Christian Headlines NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Seven

8 FAITH NEWS FROM OVERSEAS... With Stan Hunt FEBC Gives Wings To The Word Throughout The World The Far East Broadcasting Company has launched a distribution of its free missionary radios to people groups so far unreached with the Gospel. The Christian broadcaster plans to give away 15,000 of its radios this year to people in remote, unreached parts of Asia FEBC President and CEO Ed Cannon says that many people in these areas have no way of hearing the message without a radio. He says it's frustrating, like having life-giving water that people so desperately need, but no cups to pour it into. FEBC's effort underscores the ongoing importance of traditional radio, as almost two-thirds of the world's population has no internet access because of geographical or political restrictions. Communities in Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand will be among the first to receive the missionary radios this year. Some four billion people live within broadcast range of FEBC's 149 stations around the world. Christian Newswire Big Leap Forward For Bible Translations For The Deaf An estimated 160,000 people will be able to experience the New Testament in their own sign languages for the first time thanks to this year s Passion Conference in the USA. Donations from the 40,000 students at Passion 2019 raised nearly a half-million dollars for Bible translations. Christianity Today reports the money will go toward translating the Gospel stories for the deaf in 16 countries. Though there are an estimated 400 different sign languages, none have a full Bible translation, and just 2% of deaf people around the world have access to the Gospels in their sign languages. Once translators have gone through the process of scriptural exegesis, consultation, and review, sign language translations are typically recorded on video so that the deaf can watch, learn, and share the stories in their communities. Sign languages have been considered the final frontier for Bible translation, according to Wycliffe Bible Translators. Christianity Today Visual Commentary On Scripture Gives New Meaning To Term Illuminated Bible A new $2 million web project aims to cover every book in the Bible using works of historic and modern art to reflect the message of passages. Launched by King's College London, Visual Commentary On Scripture offers users a new way to visually digest the Bible. Each passage of Scripture included in the VCS will have three accompanying works of art. 100 passages have been completed in the project which is expected to take five years or more. King s College Professor of Christianity and the arts Ben Quash says visual language is a new kind of currency among young people on social media. He says if churches want to communicate the Gospel to young people they need to take images seriously. The website, thevcs.org is funded by billionaire philanthropists Roberta and Howard Ahmanson. The Christian Post NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Eight Using The Sun To Tell Of The Son Solar-powered Navigator audio devices are reaching young people for Christ around the world. The audio players are loaded with the entire Bible and teaching from Leading The Way Founder and President Michael Youssef. Leading The Way has distributed more than 120,000 Navigators in dozens of languages, impacting countless lives for Christ. Dr Youssef told ASSIST News many people are coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through the Navigator, even in the most desperate, war-torn, and remote areas of this world. He says from India to Indonesia and across Africa, there are many villages where people will sit around a tree and listen to the Navigator. They bring their neighbours to sit with them to listen to the Gospel, he says. Leading The Way plans to give away 100,000 more Navigators over the next seven years as part of their Vision 2025 strategy. ASSIST News Service Read: The Objective Evidence For The Christian Faith Read: The Objective Evidence For The Christian Faith by David Holden at

9 FAITH NEWS FROM AROUND AUSTRALIA... With STAN HUNT A Cup Of Warm Coffee In The Name Of Christ Brings Warmth, Welcome And Love Coffee chaplaincy has expanded across the Sunshine Coast of Queensland to include ministry at the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital. A small team of church members in Nambour started the Coffee Chaplaincy venture, after learning how many people experience mental illness at some point in their lives. Since inception, they have served approximately 40,000 free cups of coffee to people within mental health services on the Sunshine Coast. Team Leader Kevin Hamer says the real story is that 40,000 moments of warmth, welcome and love have been given to people. He told the Churches of Christ Networking Magazine that Coffee Chaplains bring love and light to those who are experiencing a sense of darkness. There are now 56 Coffee Chaplain volunteers from various churches serving in nine teams across three locations. The Churches of Christ in Queensland provides the volunteer framework for this ministry. Churches of Christ, Queensland, Networking Magazine Uniting Church Confirms Decision On Same Sex Marriages The same sex marriage saga that has been ongoing in the Uniting Church since the 15th Assembly last July has finally come to an end. The South Australian Synod has voted against enacting Clause 39 of the UCA Constitution in regard to Resolution 64 from the 15th Assembly, with 49% in favour, 51% against, with a threshold requirement of 66.6%. Voting on a request for Assembly to seek concurrence on their decision was over 50%, but it also missed the two thirds requirement. This was the last of many meetings across the nation on this issue and so Resolution 64 is now the official position of the Uniting Church and no other appeals can be lodged. Resolution 64 of the 15th General Assembly gave approval for same-sex marriages to be held within the Uniting Church. Since the Assembly opponents of the resolution have been trying to have it overturned but were unable to gather sufficient support to achieve their aim. Under UCA rules, if enough presbyteries had demanded more consultation within six months of the July meeting, the decision would have had to have been suspended. Some other state branches of the church had already voted in favour of more consultation, leaving the decision of the SA synod the deciding factor in whether the church would suspend same-sex marriages. Australian Prayer Network THANKS TO OUR DONORS New Life Thanks All Who Make Donations From Time To Time. Your Generosity Enables Us To Continue This Ministry. Please See Our Ad On P. 12 For Details About How You Can Help. Furnished Room And Bathroom Available In Heathmont, Vic. *Ideal For Student* Rent $140 p.w. + Bills Shared With Two Others. Phone Margaret VISITING MELBOURNE? You re welcome at The Faith Factory: ST KILDA: Cnr Alma Rd/Barkly St. Every Sunday 11am & 5pm; Living Stones Korean Presbyterian Church. Every Sunday 1pm; BALACLAVA: Cnr Hotham St/Denman Rd. Every Sunday 9.30am. Rev Paul Lee (03) You re Welcome At The Faith Factory A Friendly, Caring, Bible-Believing Christian Fellowship NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Nine

10 GOOD NEWS FROM ABROAD Wings Of Hope Takes Off In Sri Lanka I realised how special I am through what the teacher shared about me and the craft I did. No one wished me for my birthday, not even my parents. But today everyone wished me Happy Birthday which made me very happy. I am very happy today because all my friends are here at my birthday party. These are a few of the happy comments made by the children at Wings Of Hope in Sri Lanka who enjoyed a special event last year to celebrate their birthdays. Thirty five children from the Bedaganne slum were treated to a grand birthday party just for them with party games and birthday cake, blowing-out the candles and singing Happy Birthday. The children loved it and this year they were especially thrilled with their photograph and gifts to take home. Most of the children come from broken homes and their families struggle financially and cannot afford to celebrate a birthday. In some families birthdays are not even talked about. Birthday Bounce at Wings Of Hope gives an opportunity for every child to be celebrated in a special way. Every child is recognised not because of their background or present circumstance but because of who they are, says Rebecca Alexander, CEO, Wings Of Hope. To learn more about the work of Wings Of Hope in Sri Lanka, sponsor a child or make a donation, visit Mukti s website at Karen Coombs NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Ten

11 PERSECUTION WATCH UK Gov t Commissions Review Of Persecution Britain has commissioned an independent review into the persecution of Christians. 215 million Christians worldwide faced persecution over the year, and on average, 250 Christians were killed every month for their faith., according to a report from Christian Today. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has asked Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro to look at how the British government can better respond to the plight of persecuted Christians around the world. Mr Hunt says they want to find practical steps to support followers of Christianity that has been subject to a dramatic rise in violence worldwide. We can and must do more, he says. The review will map Christian persecution in key countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, analyse British support and recommend a comprehensive policy response. Christian Today WORLDWIDE: High Levels Of Persecution One in every nine Christians in the world experiences high levels of persecution for their faith. According to the 2019 Open Doors World Watch List there is a disturbing trend in the world s two most populous countries, India and China. As each is home to more than a billion people, even an incremental rise in persecution has an outsized impact in these countries. China jumps 16 spots on the Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer most, from number 43 to 27, while India enters the top 10 list for the first time. Across the 50 countries on the List, it is estimated that more than 245 million Christians now experience high, very high or extreme persecution, an increase from 215 million in In its 27th year, the List is the world s most definitive assessment of religious persecution based upon in-depth, analysis. Mission Network News IRAN: Two Christians Refuse Judges Offer To Renounce Faith, Sent Back To Jail Two Iranian Christians this month refused to renounce their faith in court in exchange for freedom and were sent back to jail and told to await a verdict. Saheb Fadaie and Fatemeh Bakhteri were asked on 15 January by their respective judges, Hassan Babaee and Ahmad Zargar, to renounce their faith, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a UK-based organization which supports religious freedom around the world. However, the two would not deny Christ during the court hearing in Tehran. They were subsequently told to expect a verdict in the appeal against their conviction... within the next few days, CSW reported. Fadai and Bakhteri are charged with spreading propaganda NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Eleven against the regime, which reportedly involved discussing Christian doctrines in a house church regarding the ascendancy of Christ and the ultimate authority of [the] Bible, CSW said. The doctrines were interpreted as being attacks on Islam, sources told the organization. Fadaie already was serving a 10-year sentence for acting against national security by promoting Zionist Christianity and running house churches, according to World Watch Monitor. He was arrested in 2016 along with Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi and Yasser Mossayebzadeh. Michael Foust, Christian Headlines IRAQ: Christians Rejoice At Christmas The much-persecuted Christian population in Iraq celebrated Christmas Day after it was declared a national holiday. CBN News reports that the Iraqi Government announced prior to Christmas that 25 December would be celebrated officially across the Muslim-majority nation. Previously the date was marked as a religious break and was only to be celebrated by the Christian community. Happy Christmas to our Christian citizens, and to all who are celebrating around the world, the government tweeted. For the nation s Christians the announcement came as a welcome gift, and thousands flocked to churches for the celebrations. Commentators say that for a Muslim-majority country with a dark past of Islamic extremism, a governmentmandated celebration of Christ s birth is an unprecedented moment of civil progress. Christian leaders were delighted at the government s official recognition of Christmas, particularly as 95% of the Iraqi population is Muslim and followers of Jesus remain marginalized in many areas. CBN Christian World News

12 NEW LIFE ADVERTISING Can You Help Us? New Life Needs To Update Its Equipment And Computer Programs. Donations To Help Us Achieve This Would Be Most Appreciated. If You Can Join Us In Improving The Ministry Of New Life, Please Send Donations To: New Life Australia Ltd, PO Box 457, Mitcham 3132 or By Direct Deposit To: Account: New Life Australia Ltd. Bank: Westpac. BSB: Account Number: Elizabeth Kendal s New Book... War! Destruction! Violent Persecution! Martyrdom! Forced Displacement! For hundreds of thousands of now destitute Christian families, this is the new reality. Yet contrary to all appearances, God is at work in the Middle East. Kendal s book is a godsend to anyone who is at a loss to understand what lies behind the suffering in the Middle East. Drawing on authoritative voices from the region, her clear-eyed analysis untangles the conflicts with the heart and insight of a prophet. Jeff M. Sellers, Editor, Persecution News Service, Morning Star News. For more information go to: Glorious Things A Protestant s Guide To London Revised! Updated! Illustrated! Now Available As An e-book! Glorious Things will help visitors to London arrive well prepared to make the most of their time there. The guided tours will take you to places like Westminster Abbey and St Paul s Cathedral, but Glorious Things will take you to important sites linked to our Protestant heritage. COST: $10 for the PDF version, with the right to print two hard copies. PAYMENT OPTIONS: 1. Cheque for $10 payable to New Life Australia. Mail to: PO Box 457, Mitcham Vic (Please include a letter with your name and address so that we can the PDF to you.) 2. Direct deposit $10 to Bank: Westpac; A/c name: New Life Australia Ltd BSB: ; A/c No: (Please also notify us by ). We re Counting On YOU! YOUR Donations Keep Us Going! Through the generous donations of members of the New Life family, New Life is now available free on request by to everyone, everywhere, who wants to receive it. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION: By Cheque To: New Life, PO Box 457, Mitcham 3132 Vic. (Please make cheques out to: New Life Australia Ltd.) By Direct Deposit To: Account Name: New Life Australia Ltd. Bank: Westpac. BSB: Account Number: (Please office@nlife.com.au when you direct deposit). From Our Web Site: ( using the Make A Donation button. NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Twelve

13 JOURNEY THROUGH JOHN with David Cook When Our Need Brings Us To Jesus (Read John ) Jesus leaves Samaria and heads north to Galilee. He is welcomed on the same basis as He was in John These people had seen His signs in Jerusalem (v.45). He comes again to Cana and is visited by a royal official either a man of royal blood or a high official of Herod s court (v.46). This man has a sick son who is close to death and he begs Jesus to come down to Capernaum. Nothing undermines self sufficiency as thoroughly as the threat of death hanging over our children. There are two words repeated throughout this section. The first is believe. In Greek, words are positioned for emphasis at the beginning or end of a clause, such as in verses 48 and 53: Jesus says people won t believe without a sign (v.48). However, this official believes without having seen a sign. Jesus tells him to go, as his son will live. The man believes and departs (v.50). Unlike Jairus (Mark 5.35), who was met by men with the news that his daughter was dead, this man hears from his servants that his son lives. When the man finds out that it was 1 pm, the same time that Jesus declared his son would live, he and his household his family and servants all believe (v.53). The other word repeated, and likewise placed for emphasis, is live (vv.50,51,53). Jesus gives the water of life (John 4.14). Now, without any direct contact with the young man, He returns him to healthy life. The One through whom all things were made (John 1.3) simply speaks the word, as He did in John 2.8. He spoke and it was so. The healing was not gradual, but instant and complete: Yesterday, at one in the afternoon (v.52). His powerful word of creation is irresistible. The incident begins with a boy near death. He is restored to healthy life, but spiritual life comes to FOR REFLECTION: Consider your own salvation story. How did God meet you where you are? How might the extravagant grace (free, unmerited favour) of God affect your reaching out to others, including the Samaritans in your life? Write their names down and commit them to the Lord in prayer. SEEN ON FACEBOOK: the official and his household. It is belief, faith, confidence in Jesus, which links them to Jesus the life-giver, so he and his entire household believed (v.53). The rich have needs as well as the poor. The young can fall ill to the point of death, as do the old. J.C. Ryle writes: Affliction is one of God s medicines... Health is a great blessing, but sanctified disease is a greater... losses and crosses are better for us, if they lead us to Christ. The fishermen of chapter 1, the self-righteous Pharisee of chapter 3, and 29, the fallen woman of chapter 4 are now joined by a nobleman from the royal court. From the greatest to the least, all approach Jesus as paupers. Hymn writer A.M. Toplady describes the only manner in which we can come to Him: Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Your cross I cling. Reprinted from Our Daily Bread Journey Through Series Journey Through John by David Cook (Copyright 2017) published by Discovery House. Used with permission of Discovery House. All rights reserved. For further enquiries please visit: journeythrough.org or australia@odb.org NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Thirteen

14 ANOTHER YEAR... ANOTHER CHALLENGE FROM GOD b. The Five City Tour (16 18). We need to know who we support on the mission field and ensure their doctrine is Biblical. Christian mission must be Gospel-focused mission; Spirit-filled people doing everything to advance God s ministry. I never get away from Jesus and Him crucified, wrote David Brainerd. On the first night of every crusade Billy Graham always preached on John It is a great mistake to think that the Gospel changes in different circumstances with different people. Philippi ( ), was a town of research. Mark Antony avenged the death of Caesar here. There was no synagogue as there were so few Jews in this Roman colony. But a few devout women met by the river on the Sabbath where Paul met them and led Lydia, a prominent business woman to Christ. Thessalonica (17.1-9) was a town of trade. This town had a synagogue so Paul began speaking there as was his custom. Some of the Jews and many God-fearing Greeks believed him as he explained and proved from Scripture that Jesus was the Christ. But many of the Jews stirred up trouble, so Paul and Silas escaped during the night. Berea ( ) was a town of investigation. They received the Gospel with great interest and examined the Scriptures to check that Paul was speaking the truth. Some believed and were saved. Athens ( ) was a town of philosophy. Paul stood in the meeting of the Areopagus (the council) and praised the Athenians for being so religious. But then he pointed out the altar to The Unknown God. God the Creator made all things. You don t build for Him. He builds for you. He determines times and places. Paul even quoted their own poets who said, We are all God s offspring. Stop ignoring God. Flee to Jesus because the Day of Judgment is coming. Death was not the end for Jesus, or for anyone. Judges depend on witnesses in court. God provides legal proof of the resurrection. Corinth ( ) was a town of debauchery. Paul s method was to reason, persuade and teach. God opened some hearts, although there was persistent opposition. But God said, Do not be afraid for I am with you. There is no greater fallacy than believing in a different gospel. The key note of Acts is joy; joyous abundant power to witness to God s saving grace. 5. THE NOURISHING WORD (Acts ) Pastors are physicians to the soul. We see the pattern of apostolic ministry at Ephesus that we should be experiencing and encouraging in churches today. Ephesus was Paul s last church plant. God enabled Paul to do extraordinary miracles at Ephesus ( ) and the church was planted. The next chapters list ten of Paul s co-workers who carried on the ministry. At Ephesus Paul emphasized the things that the Ephesian elders were to carry on and implement when he called them to Miletus for his final farewell. There was much weeping as the men realized this was the last time they would see their beloved pastor. He charged them to... Declare everything I have said... Testify to the Gospel of God s grace... Preach the Word... Proclaim the whole will of God. Paul s strategy was that the Word of God is to be at the centre of preaching. Paul knew the elders were returning to persecution at Ephesus with the silversmiths encouraging the worship of Artemis. In this world we will have trouble. But God s Word is unstoppable. In threatening times we need to rely on the Word of grace that will lead us to maturity. We must read the Bible daily. Be aware of the lure of social media that encourages mindless Christianity. In his tribute to his father, Ned Graham said Dad was FAT: Faithful, Approachable, Teachable. The wise person is a teachable person. Paul was singleminded; focused on finishing the race and completing the task God gave to him. Paul strikes us as a man with uncommon strength of will, writes F.F. Bruce. He was self-effacing. His work was to draw men to God. Like Paul, we need to watch ourselves so that we too can watch and help others. Paul was sincere. Everyone knew how he had lived. Barbie Prout (Mrs D.P. ) Next Issue: John Risbridger And Inspiring Talk Phone: listen@96three.com.au NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Fourteen WHO CAN YOU INVITE TO SIGN UP FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO NEW LIFE?

15 NEW LIFE EXTRA Honour To Whom Honour Is Due Mr Neville John COX, of West Pennant Hills NSW has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community through a range of organisations. Much of his service has been with the Churches of Christ and various Christian organisations: Chairman, Focus on the Family Australia, since Chairman, Titus Foundation, current. Regional Director Australasia, Focus on the Family Global Outreach, since Chairman, Family First NSW, Director, Excelsia College, since Chairman, Sydney Prayer Breakfast, since Chairman, Inter-Church Commission on Religious Education In Schools New South Wales Inc, Member, Special Religious Education Consultative Committee, New South Wales Department of Education, current. Chairman, John Mallison Ministries, Chairman, Christian Super, since Board Member, since Chair, Investment Committee, current. President/Chairman, NSW Conference Executive, Churches of Christ Director, Chairman, Australian College of Ministries, since Ramon Williams AHOK: FREE AT LAST The Christian former governor of Jakarta in Indonesia, Basuki Purnama, known as Ahok, has been released from prison after serving time for insulting the Quran. Ahok was jailed in May 2017 following his comment that political rivals were deceiving people by using a verse in the Quran to say Muslims should not be led by a non-muslim. Later, an incorrectly subtitled video of the comments went viral, eventually leading to his defeat at the polls and his imprisonment on charges of blasphemy. In a letter to his supporters this week, Ahok asked people not to hold a parade to welcome him home from prison for the sake of public order. He has said he is very thankful to God for allowing him to spend time in prison. Ahok is widely popular among progressive Indonesians, who fear his imprisonment indicates growing intolerance in the country. Christian Today World s Longest Bible? A 1.6 kilometre long illustrated Bible is on display at the Museum Of The Bible in Washington, D.C. Martin Wiedmann found the creation, pleated like an accordion, in his father s attic. Willy Wiedmann had made the book in his art gallery in Germany over 16 years, working in almost complete obscurity. 500 volunteers have held up the work, called a concertina book, along the Elbe River in Germany, looking for a Guinness World Record, but Guinness has no category for longest as opposed to largest illustrated Bible. Martin told the Religion News Service he can t prove it is the longest illustrated Bible, but he hasn t found a longer one. He says his father could hardly have imagined his mile-long Bible would be shown to audiences across the globe. Martin has spent $30,000 digitising his father s illustrations and commissioned an app to display the work for free. Religion News To Keep Up With Franklin Graham s Grand Tour 2019 Go To: GrahamTour.com.au TURN BACK THE BATTLE: Isaiah Speaks To Christians Today. With persecution escalating globally, Elizabeth Kendal calls us to revisit the prophecy of Isaiah, maintaining that Isaiah 1-39 provides an unambiguous treatise on how God's people are to respond to persecution, suffering and existential threat. For purchasing options, visit: NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Fifteen

16 NEW LIFE EXTRA Almost 4,600 Accept Jesus During Amazing Love Fest in Thailand At Franklin Graham's Amazing Love Festival in Thailand, nearly 4,600 received Christ and were set free. The 23,000-plus souls fixed their attention on Franklin as he explained that no-one can have peace with God until their sins have been forgiven. Although most people may seem happy in The Land Of Smiles, underneath their rich fabrics and deep traditions, there's more than what meets the eye. On the final night of the two day Amazing Love Festival in Bangkok, Franklin Graham shared how every human has a soul. There are many of you here tonight, he said, who are in danger of losing your soul, well aware that 95% of the country does not claim Jesus as Lord. Speaking from Luke 19, he shared about Jesus' invitation to all people, including Zacchaeus, a corrupt public official who overcame obstacles to see Christ. Jesus is the only One in history to take all our sins. No [other] person or religion has ever done that, Franklin said. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Surrounded by a culture that harnesses respect for authority and thinks of Buddhism as a way of life, many in the audience took Franklin's words to heart: Jesus Christ came to take all the spirits. He has the power over all the darkness. The Holy Spirit is able to overcome any other spirit in the world. The Bible says God alone has the ability to rescue people from their wrongdoings something other religions don't offer. Come quickly to Jesus tonight, Franklin said as the floor flooded with masses of people responding to the Gospel, be set free. And thousands were freed indeed, enlightened not by their own self-awakening, but by the saving grace of Christ. Moving with anticipation, those responding to the Gospel message gathered in front of the stage to meet with prayer volunteers, who also offered them materials to help them grow in their faith. Lizzy Long, BGEA via Breaking Christian News For Further Reading: Every fortnight New Life receives more material than we are able to include in the current issue due to the exigencies of space. For the most part these are articles which exceed the space available in their particular category. Others are longer than the usual run of articles we publish. Still others, though worthy, are judged to be of interest to only a small proportion of readers, generally because they are more technical than the articles we choose for publication. However, we believe that such articles would be of sufficient interest to enough of our readers to refer them to the websites where they can be accessed. The following items come into this category as we go to publication of this issue: Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin (Elizabeth Kendal) owner rlpb@hub.xc.org God s Grace Over Australia (Graham MacLennan) apn@ausprayernet.org.au Why The PM s Comments About Religion Risk Confusing People (Akos Balogh) no reply@thegospelcoalition.org.au African Enterprise News From The Field (Ben Campbell) ae@aeint.org Lausanne Global Analysis communications@lausanne.org Crossway: A Five Day Devotional: Don t Waste Your Life (John Piper) communications@crossway.org Renewing Your Mind (R.C. Sproul) daily@renewingyourmind.org Destitute And Abused Christian Widows In Pakistan Need Help bfaustralia@barnabasfund.org Our Good Opinion Of Ourselves (Maurice Roberts) NEW LIFE 1 February 2019 Page Sixteen Photo: via BillyGraham.org