When you pick up your device each morning, what’s the first thing that you read?

It’s tempting to immediately check the news headlines, or your emails and messages, or to catch up on the latest in social media.

But do you give time to reading God’s word?

I’ve got an app called YouVersion and it has some excellent reading plans that help me to read a small chunk of the Bible each day as I wake up.

It’s just one of many times when I come into contact with God in his word, but it’s a good routine, knowing that the first thing I usually read is something that God is saying to me in the Bible.

If you’re not already reading the Bible each day then it might seem like a difficult habit to begin, until you realise that all you need to do is just start reading something!

Even if you were to begin with one, single verse a day, then that would be a great place to begin.

Another way to read the Bible is to do it with a friend or two—like our daily Zoom prayer meeting at 7am each morning (except Sundays) which you can join by typing into your browser zoom.jamberooanglican.com 

I’ve found this to be a wonderful blessing as I slow down and listen to a brother or sister in Christ read out God’s word in an authentic human voice, as they minister to me as Christ’s ambassador.

But no matter what you end up doing, just start something!

We get so much information each day, it makes complete sense to be hearing God’s word in the midst of the noise, for only his word is a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path.

JODIE McNEILL

The most-senior Anglican in Papua New Guinea, Archbishop Nathan Ingen, chose to attend our church as part of his visit to churches in the Sydney region.

Archbishop Nathan is the Primate of all of Papua New Guinea, the leader and spokesperson for the three million Anglicans scattered over hundreds of remote communities.

During an interview at last week’s 4pm service, Archbishop Nathan identified three challenges of his role, namely, “finances, training pastors, and reaching remote communities.”

Although he was invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury to attend last week’s Primate’s Meeting in Rome, he chose instead to accept the invitation of the Archbishop of Sydney to nurture the partnership his Diocese shares with like-minded, gospel-centred Anglicans, in fellowship with Gafcon Global Anglicans.

Archbishop Nathan is a rural clergyman, serving as a bishop in the Diocese of Apro Rongo, in a place he describes as “on the top of a mountain” in the highlands of PNG.

In his country, the church provides 98% of health and education services, bringing practical care to a country that lacks many of the everyday necessities that are taken for granted in Australia.

Close to his heart is the recruitment and training of pastors, and Archbishop Nathan remains deeply thankful for the financial partnership provided by churches in the Sydney Diocese, such as Jamberoo Anglican.

At present they are building a theological college in the highlands of PNG, and they are seeking additional funds to set up another ministry training facility in Alotau, near Milne Bay, on the East Coast.

We are thankful for our partnership with Anglicans throughout the world through the Gafcon network, and pray that Archbishop Nathan might continue to lead his province and diocese in gospel ministry to the glory of God.