ABOUT US

 

Sight Magazine is an editorially independent, Australian-based website covering local and global news and issues from a Christian perspective.


Our mission is simple - "to open the eyes" of people not only in Australia but around the globe to how Jesus Christ is actively moving among his church today and to encourage Christians from all denominations to share how God is moving in their midst.


DAVID ADAMS, editor

 

A freelance journalist, David has written for national news publications in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Married to Linda with two wonderful children - Kyle and Clare - David lives in Geelong, Victoria.


LLOYD HARKNESS, associate editor

 

Lloyd is a teacher and father of four.


JAMES CROOK, webmaster/columnist

 

James is a freelance web designer and developer who also teaches multimedia part-time at a local Tafe. He enjoys writing restaurant reviews, doing techie things with Sight and also contributing the occasional article. For more info see the website of his Geelong website-design business Chocolate Chip multimedia.


ANN WOJCZUK, graphic artist/blogger

 

Ann is your average human being, who loves Jesus, and is interested in everyone and just about everything. She is happily married with two kids and sometimes gets to do web art for Sight.

 

      ACTIVE CONTRIBUTORS/COLUMNISTS

KRIS BATHER

 

Kris lives in Perth and in a constant state of amazement. God and pop culture are two of his passions and he makes sure not to separate the two. He also loves coffee, chocloate, cheap XBOX 360 games and free
food. He has worked as a DJ on community radio, sold mobile phones when they were bricks and has generally made a fool of himself to make others laugh in his various short films. The former comics books editor at Infuze, Kris also writes for Broken Frontier and is the creator of Extra Sequential, a new free on-line mag devoted to the wonders of comics. He likes to think that he is the geekiest person in the room. Usually, he's right.

 

CHOE BRERETON

 

Choe is a biological scientist by trade who has worked in forensics and more recently with many of the top scientists in the field of HIV research. Her writing career sprouted wings after she kicked science to the curb in August 2006 and fast-tracked a diploma in creative writing. She has since written for a number of publications. Married and living in New South Wales, she hopes to soon embark on a masters degree in journalism or communications. For every good thing that she has, she gives all glory to God.

 

CHRISSI ELLANKOON

 

Chrissi has recently discovered the secret joy of writing. She is passionate about seeing people equipped in order achieve the potential that God has placed in them. She is also actively invovled in a young adult ministry focused on 26-35 year olds and is also enjoying a career in the financial industry.


MAL FLETCHER

 

Mal is a TV and radio broadcaster, social commentator and author whose books have been translated into five languages. He is also an internationally acclaimed speaker and lecturer who equips leaders and major organisations to deal with change in a proactive way. He appears regularly in various media and speaks to audiences around the world. Mal is the founder/director of Next Wave International, a Christian mission to Europe, based in London. His EDGES TV programmes are seen around the world. For much more, constantly updated material, go to nextwaveonline.com and edges.tv.


NICK HODGSON

 

Nick is a 1990 Chiropractic graduate of the Phillip Institute of
Technology (now RMIT University). He has been practicing full-time in Ocean Grove for the last fifteen years and runs the longest established and largest natural health practice on the Bellarine Peninsula. Nick is a Fellow of the Holder Research Institute (F.H.R.I.), and is a member of the Chiropractors' Association of Australia (CAA) and the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA), and sits on the WCA's International Board of Governors, and the WCA Council on Addictions and Compulsive Disorders. Nick has also been actively involved in leadership roles at the Ocean Grove Baptist Church; leading small study groups including Alpha, singing in the worship team, and coordinating the church-wide "40 Days of Purpose" spiritual growth campaign.


SALLY HOLT

 

Sally has been a journalist for over 20 years, working in both print and radio. Married with three adult children, she is now a communications writer for the university sector and has recently completed a Masters degree in Professional Communication.


ADAM KELSALL

 

A former youth worker at Youth For Christ, Adam is studying youth work and doing a masters in wilderness therapy. He is passionate about communication and the fuzziness between what we say and what people hear. Adam likes climbing rocks and eating food provided by multinational burger and sandwich chains.

 

KARYN MARKWELL

 

Karyn is the proprietor of Markwell Publishing (www.markwellpublishing.com) and specialises in writing and editing for Christian and Jewish clients. She has a deep love for Israel and the Jewish people based on God's Word and she speaks Hebrew. When she's not in Israel, she lives in Brisbane with her husband and two cats.

 

JUSTIN MICHAEL

 

Justin fills a number of roles - his current fulltime gig is as a music director/worship pastor at Kardinia Christian Church in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Justin performs with the Aussie band Compliments of Gus - check www.complimentsofgus.com - and somehow, has found himself doing solo stuff - www.justinmichael.com - as well as singing with the Melbourne Gospel Choir over the past few years. He is married to the very beautiful Jodi and they have a spectacular little man named Noah who keeps them busy. Justin says it's fun being a muso and that it’s crazy being all of the above things, but he wouldn’t have it any other way!

 

JOY NICHOLAS

 

Joy Nicholas was born and raised in Bangladesh to American missionary parents who worked closely with Australians. After years of being fed Vegemite sandwiches and Minties, Joy now believes she is Australian - at least a little. She now lives in America, though, where Vegemite is tragically difficult to come by. She enjoys writing, music, travel, and (most of all) spending time with her husband and three daughters. You can read more of her writing at caspara.blogspot.com.


CHRIS PIPER

 

Chris originally hails from England so has that Tony Blair-type accent, and met his wife, Marilyn (who is a Geelong gal) in Somalia. He teaches part time at Deakin University on their graduate International & Community Development program, and also runs his own overseas aid consultancy, TorqAid. Chris & Marilyn live in Torquay, and have four children.'


DEAN RANKINE

 

Dean has been branded a heretic but he's trying not to take it personally. He likes Indian food, coffee and watching kung-fu movies. His dislikes include making small talk, roller-blading and being eaten by sharks. He works part-time as a community development worker with a needle and syringe program and part-time as a cartoonist. His comics have been published worldwide. You can see more of his work at HOLY COW! Christian Comics.

 

JIM REIHER

 

Jim is a husband, a father of four, and a grandfather to seven under the age of nine. Since finishing high school in 1974, he has been an ambulance officer (four years), a high school teacher (eight years), and a Bible college lecturer (13 years: five years at Harvest Bible College in Melbourne, and eight years at Tabor, Victoria). Jim has teaches church history and New Testament studies. He began the Berwick campus for Tabor, Victoria, and lectured there and in the Ringwood North campus from 2000 to 2007. He currently works for Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH) - a missional urban group in Springvale, Noble Park and Dandenong, (as well as Sydney and Bangkok) that seek to live with and work with the most poor and marginalised in the community. He is actively involved in politics, and stood as a candidate in the 2004 Federal Election, and more recently in the 2006 Victorian State election. Jim is also a keen writer with published books including The Eye of the Needle: Discipleship and Wealth (UNOH publishing); and Women, Leadership and the Church (Acorn Press). And later this year his commentary on the epistle of James will be out. It is called James: Pacifist and Advocate for the Poor (UNOH Publishing). Jim has a Bachelor of Arts, with a double major in history, a Diploma in Education, and a Masters in Theology with honours.


PHIL SMITH

 

Phil is a graduate in journalism and media from Central Queensland University. An award-winning journalist, he has filed radio and television stories from throughout South East Asia, Australia's "Top End" and the South Pacific. His credits include an ABC TV documentary on the rebuilding of East Timor. He hosts the ANZAC Day telecast from Brisbane each year. As a recipient of the Prince of Wales Award, Phil worked in San Francisco as Associate Producer at KGO, the top rating talk station in the US. The owner of Spun Yarns, Phil has covered matters of faith and Christian events for a wide range of faith-based and secular media, including the History Makers radio programme. As a guest speaker, Phil can draw on experiences as a Squadron Leader in the RAAF Specialist Reserve. He has served as a Peace Keeper in East Timor and Bougainville. He's also been operational in Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Indonesia. His stories include aircraft carriers and the Aceh tsunami, providing insight for teens to management teams. Married to Kayleen and father of Rebeccah and Jessica, Phil is involved with his local community through Pine Rivers Uniting Church. He lives near Lake Samsonvale and is writing an eco-thriller under the working title Slick. Phil's website is www.philsmith.com.au.


RUSSELL STUBBINGS

 

Russell is a church planter, teacher, and Bible college lecturer with a keen interest in exploring the place and function of the church, as a missional yet Biblically faithful entity, in contemporary society. Russell is beginning studies in the counselling field in an effort to be more effective as a pastor and develop a life coaching approach from a Christian perspective. He enjoys all things sporting and has had extensive involvement in the coaching field. Possibly his greatest achievement has been maintaining his sanity whilst raising teenage children with his wife Rhonda, to whom he has been happily married for 20 years.

 

CORAL VASS

 

Coral has a background in journalism and media. She currently lives in Tokyo Japan with her husband Tim and their four children.

 

NILS VON KALM

 

Nils is a born-and-bred Melbournite with a passion for making the Gospel relevant to the everyday person. Married to Nell, he has an honours degree in sociology as well as an accounting degree. During the week he works as a grant coordinator at World Vision. Currently a deacon at St Martin's Community Church in Collingwood, Nils regularly writes articles for the church bulletin and preaches occasionally. An avid reader, Nils' interests are early Christianity, the person of Jesus, the question of God and apologetics, and communicating how Jesus and the Gospels relate to every aspect of life. He has recently launched his own website called Soul Thoughts.


BRUCE C. WEARNE

 

A doctoral graduate from LaTrobe University (1986), Bruce lives and works from Point Lonsdale. He is currently working on a Christian sociological study of what it means to walk, as part of what it means to live as those who follow Jesus in this world. He thus also does a lot of walking along the coast to stimulate his research which also includes theoretical sociology and the production of stories explaining Christian life for children which are composed to be read with profit by their parents. He is married to a social policy researcher and has two grown up sons.


SIU FUNG WU

 

Originally from Hong Kong, Siu Fung has been in Melbourne since 1989. He was a pastor, and is a visiting lecturer at two theological colleges. Siu Fung studied computer science, economics and transport planning, and worked in IT for years. But his passion is the Bible and its relevance to the world today. After completing a degree at a Pentecostal college, he went to an Anglican college in England to do an MPhil in Biblical studies. Having grown up in a working class family, Siu Fung knows first hand what it means to be poor and powerless. He works part time as global education officer at World Vision, and seeks to encourage the church to embody the Gospel in
every sphere of life.


FORMER CONTRIBUTORS

TANYA BENNETTS

 

Tanya’s background, predominantly in the NGO sector, ranges from communications, marketing and PR through to sponsorship and fundraising, in both Australia and South Africa with organisations such as the Heart Foundation of Australia, World Vision South Africa and the Cancer Association of South Africa. She has an incredible passion for people and currently works full time for a multi-national corporation. Tanya, her husband Grant and their two children, Bryce and Kendra, live in Johannesburg, South Africa.


GAVIN BOX

 

Gavin is a journalist based in Geelong, Australia. He and wife Jenny have two young children.  At 40, he says his wife and children keep him young, although his receding hairline begs to differ.


JO HOPPING

 

Jo enjoys living vicariously through other people’s adventures while editing manuscripts and other bits of paper. Married to Rod, they have four daughters who keep the ‘mountain of wonder’ topped up in the laundry and spend too much time chasing their overgrown German Shepherd puppy out of the neighbour’s yard. Luckily there’s lots of space for shouting at him in their paddock on the Sunshine Coast. Grammatically-challenged readers can contact her via www.editonline.com.au.

 

JOE MONTAGUE

 

Joe is an internationally published writer and photographer whose work has appeared in Europe, Australia and the United States. His articles and reviews regularly appear in Christian publications and mainstream music magazines. He currently resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Joe’s writing is dedicated to the memory of his late son Kent Montague who died suddenly at the age of 18. Joe is also the publisher of Riveting Riffs, www.rivetingriffs.com.



 

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THIS WEEK ON FACEBOOK:

Join us for a discussion about what is means to be a hero in today's society. What do you think being a hero means? Is it about fame? What is is about? Who are your heroes?

 

 

THEY SAID IT

 

 

“The accounts of women and children being hacked to death with knives and machetes would sicken anyone. However this is clearly a cycle of violence that will be repeated unless the international community - including Australia - takes greater action."

- Jim Wallace, Australian Christian Lobby managing director, speaking in reference to the killings of as many as 500 Christians in Jos, Nigeria, in early March. For previous 'They said it'... | more... |

 

 

THIS WEEK ON THE WEB

 

 

19th February, 2010

Take a virtual journey along Russia's famed Trans-Siberian railway with a new 'virtual train journey' on Google. Simply follow the link to get started...

For previous 'This week on the web'... | more... |

 

 

DID YOU KNOW? NEWS BRIEFS

 

 

THE STATISTIC

Number of assassination attempts made on Cuban leader Fidel Castro

638

Source: As reported in The Guardian newspaper, quoting makers of a Cuban documentary, on 11th March, 2010

| more... |

• Four in five people believe internet access is a fundamental right... | more... |

• Unfriendly nuclear powers and terrorism still top Australians' 'greatest threats' list... | more... |

• Australians among highest per capita users of cannabis... | more... |

| MORE NEWS BRIEFS... |

 

WORLDVIEW

 

 

SALVATION ARMY CHAMPIONS MORAL CASE FOR "ROBIN HOOD TAX"

The poor are becoming poorer and the rich need to step in and redress the balance, the Salvation Army said this week, during a debate in London.
      The comments came as a representative spoke up for the Robin Hood Tax campaign during a discussion at the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).

     Keynote speaker Professor Jeffrey Sachs international economist and author of The End of Poverty, actor Bill Nighy, fellow campaigner and screenwriter Richard Curtis, and Dr Clare Melamed, head of policy co-ordination Action Aid were joined by Major Ivor Telfer, The Salvation Army’s secretary for programme for the UK and Ireland territory. Alan Beattie, World Trade editor at the Financial Times, chaired the event.

     A report from Ekklesia...  | more... |

 

 

THE WORD EXPLAINED

 

 Wordle

Pantheism

Hope

Determinism


| more... |

 

BLOGS

 


WORK TO EAT OR EAT TO WORK?; NUCLEAR-PROOF REAL ESTATE; AND RISE OF THE KANGATARIANS

It sounds like an ideal job. A UK-based company has reportedly advertised a position for someone to eat - and more than they usually would. Proactol Ltd, which makes a weight loss product, says the successful candidate will be paid £23,000 a year to eat 16 per cent more calories a week than they usually do while introducing its weight loss product in their diet at the same time.

DAVID ADAMS writes about the odder side of life... | more... |

 

THE COMMUNITY OF THE FORGIVEN

I love the idea of the church being a community of the forgiven. The truth which is bandied about - and which I used to see on bumper stickers - of Christians being ‘not perfect, just forgiven’ makes me cringe because it is so often seen as an excuse for our own hypocrisy. At the same time however, there is a freedom and attractiveness about the fact that we can be part of a community that genuinely cares. Larry Crabb calls it the safest place on earth and that’s exactly what the church is called to be.

 NILS VON KALM'S blog on faith, life and how it all might fit together...  | more... |

 

ANCIENT ROAD DISCOVERED IN JERUSALEM

Upon entering Jerusalem’s Old City through the Jaffa Gate, you are enveloped in the bustling and colorful David Street, lined with souvenirs shops and local shopkeepers. Now, an archaeological dig has confirmed that this very street has been on the map, literally, for 1,500 years.

   The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the find earlier this month. At the time, the thoroughfare was 4.5 meters below the current street level. The road dates from the time when Jerusalem became a Christian city in the Byzantine era. While other locations on the Madaba Map have been discovered, the road had remained hidden until now.

NICOLE JANSEZIAN, of Travelujah, reports for Assist News Service... | more... |

 

HOW NICE...

I occasionally throw a question out on Facebook to prompt some discussion so thought I'd send it out through the blog too. It may seem a little 'unChristian', perhaps provocative. But I've just been thinking....

Question: Do I have to be 'nice' 'cos I am a 'Christian'? Can I be honest and respectful and bold? Or do I have to be 'nice'? I don't like nice...It's like a dead fish handshake.

My anti-nice sentiment at the moment is actually springing out of the fact that I have been disappointed to experience, in Christian community, and even in the wider community, an avoidance of direct commentary or activism on areas of our society and communication that are destructive or anti-Christ.

ANN WOJCZUK's blog about life, the universe and possibly everything...  | more... |

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Latest Your Say comments

 

Comment left by James
Hey Tim: when I read the story of Jesus feeding...

Comment left by Siu Fung
I wholeheartedly believe in proclaiming the lif...

Comment left by Tim
yeah, I'm all for letting people walk on our fe...

Comment left by Tim
yeaaahh...i dunno ? I don't want to come across...

Comment left by Siu Fung
Great article! "When I drive to church in inner...

Comment left by tim
Hi all ! interesting comments from you all; I a...


 

SPOTLIGHT

 

 

One year after Cyclone Nargis devastated communities in Burma (Myanmar), how is the recovery progressing?

 

Mia Marina, of World Vision, answers...

| more...|


 

SIGHT PODCASTING

 

 

WEEKLY UPDATE:

24th September, 2008: Hear DAVID ADAMS speaking to GURYEL ALI, of 96.3 Rhema FM in Geelong, talking about some of the stories featured on Sight...  | more... |

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