In a few weeks’ time I’m heading to Fiji on a three-and-a-half-week, short-term mission trip… and I’d love you to partner with me.

As our group prepared for this trip, we wrestled with just why we’re going.

In the end, we came up with a concise and reasoned answer to this question, which has helped us as we plan for our journey:

‘Our purpose is to partner physically and spiritually with Fiji, as humble learners, to mutually support growth in a relationship with Jesus.”

Whilst it’s a short-term mission, we also know that it’s long-term in focus.

That’s because 2023 is the 13th year that Year 13 has been to Fiji, and every year our group intentionally returns to the same places and connects with the same people.

This means we can support the ministries already happening on the ground in Fiji, rather than fostering any kind of ‘saviour complex’ that can easily be associated with short-term missions.

Our aim is to support, disciple, encourage, train and equip.

We do that as we purposefully link with Christians who are already doing the hard yards on the ground throughout the year, and who make use of our mission team to help boost their work during the time we’re present.

But the purpose of our trip isn’t just about what we’ll do or what impact we’ll have in our 24 days in Fiji.

The trip will help us learn valuable lessons about God and His world, in deep and meaningful ways.

If you’re willing and able, would you consider visiting www.year13.net/student-fundraising to help me raise funds towards this trip? I’ve raised $1400, but still need another $2100.

Most importantly, please pray for us as we prepare to share our lives together in relationship with one another… putting people above programs.

JACK VIDILINI

During our ministry trip to Tanzania, Mandy, Barbara and I had many opportunities to speak with locals about the differences between their life in East Africa and ours in Australia.

As I shared with a local Christian, he asked me whether we had donkeys.

When I told him that we only really have donkeys as pets, he asked me what we used to transport things around the farm and into town.

I told him about our tractors, utes, and trucks… and it was soon obvious that we lived in very different worlds.

Then I talked about the clean running water in my home, and our reliable supply of electricity… not to mention our multiple flushing toilets!

Though we are all equal and precious in God’s sight, not all Christians have the same wealth and ‘standard’ of living.

Yet, the size of a person’s house or bank account does not determine their level of satisfaction and contentment.

For as we experienced the singing and laughter of the Tanzanians, we saw deep joy and happiness amongst those who had far less money than us.

It was a fresh challenge for us to share our wealth with those who are in need… especially those who crave the basics of food, shelter, and education.

As we travelled in Tanzania, we witnessed first hand a number of special projects run by our friends at Anglican Aid… including schools that help protect vulnerable young girls as they face physical harm.

We were challenged afresh to share some of our wealth with those who are in great need of financial support… even though they have a satisfaction and joy that is coveted in the West.

Is this a good time for you to reflect upon your generosity with Christian brothers and sisters in need?

Why not visit Anglican Aid (www.anglicanaid.org.au) and see how you can let grace flow?

JODIE McNEILL

(photo credit: Jeff Attaway via Flickr)

Sometimes it’s easy to reduce our idea of God so that it fits comfortably in our brains.

It’s somewhat understandable, because our brains cannot fully comprehend all of God’s characteristics. It’s why we need to consistently read the Bible to remind ourselves that God is bigger and better than we could ever imagine.

One aspect of God’s character that is easy to underestimate is his power.

There’s so much that could be said about his power, but I think the story of the Exodus is a great glimpse into the unstoppable, irresistible power of God.

God’s people were enslaved by Egypt, the great superpower at the time. They cried out to God for deliverance from their oppression, and the Lord heard them.

Pharaoh, the dictator of Egypt, stubbornly refused God’s decree to let his people go.

God gave Pharoah chance after chance to submit to him, and displayed his power through 10 plagues.

Eventually, Pharoah, the powerful man in the world at the time, had no choice but to acknowledge God’s overwhelming power.

Proverbs 21:1 says The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

It’s easy to look at today’s world and worry for the future of our country, our churches and our families.

But God is still on the throne.

Which is why Paul confidently writes in Romans 8:38-39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus is powerful. Powerful enough that he defeated death for us.

Powerful enough for us to boldly proclaim his word.

Next time you talk to God, why not praise him for his power over evil, tyranny, death, and everything else in creation?

Because he deserves everlasting praise.

BRAD VIDILINI

The most controversial thing about Easter is not that Jesus died… but that he came back to life.

That’s why our Easter campaign this year is called ‘Open Day,’ as we highlight Jesus’ open grave… for he is risen, hallelujah!

Many people are not open to the resurrection of Jesus because it seems so unusual—after all, how many times have you gone to a funeral to have the dead body rise from the grave?

Yet, the resurrection is the very thing that makes Easter valuable.

For, if Jesus only died and stayed dead, then the life of Jesus would offer us little more than an impossibly-difficult character to try and imitate.

Plus, when we are unable to keep Jesus’ impossible standard of perfection, we’d be crushed by our failure.

But worst of all, without the open grave, all of the promises of Jesus would fail.

For he made it clear that he would be betrayed, be killed, “but three days later he will rise from the dead.” (Mark 9:31).

What’s more, as the Apostle Paul observed:

“…if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19)

We must be open to the truth about the open grave, for it is only by Jesus rising from the dead that we can have any real hope in eternity.

If the grave is not open, then neither is heaven.

That’s why this Easter we’re encouraging people to be open to the idea that Jesus’ grave was open… and that people would be open to the idea of following the risen and living Jesus.

Jesus’ grave is open… are you?

JODIE McNEILL

At our AGM this week I shared six, draft strategies to help our church pray to our sovereign Lord, equip people for ministry, and proclaim Christ faithfully, so that each person in our village, valley and region might know how to follow Jesus and why it matters.

Firstly, we want to increase our prayerfulness by multiplying prayer meetings (like our Zoom daily prayer) and by raising the engagement with PrayerMate as an online tool for sharing the mission prayers of our church.

Secondly, we want to help every member to grow in their ministry skills by completing a Personal Ministry Profile, which identifies ways each of you has served in the past, the skills and training you’ve received, and your passions and convictions about service and training in the future.

Thirdly, we want to create tailored training courses that will be delivered online and in-person, so that we can help you grow in your knowledge of God and your ministry skills, so that you can be better-equipped and mobilised for service. 

Fourthly, as we look to ministry in our village, valley, region, and beyond, we want to identify more opportunities to minister so that we can engage everyone in our mission and encourage everyone to feel utilised in our church mission.

Fifthly, we want to inspire and equip every member of our church to be a relational evangelist who is active in being Christ’s ambassador with the ‘flock’ the Lord has given you in your home, workplace, school, sporting team, community group, or wherever the Lord has placed you. 

Sixthly, and finally, we want to see every member of church part of an active Growth Group, even if attending it is difficult, so that all of us can feel connected with others, encouraged in our prayers, and strengthened in our relational evangelism.

Let’s pray that God strengthens and resources us so that we might actively pursue these strategies to his praise and glory.

JODIE McNEILL

(photo credit: Acabashi via Flickr. com)