9th May, 2005

Pete Hunt is the media contact for the Christian Surfers competition, the Jesus Pro Am.

"There were many highlights of this year’s Jesus Pro Am: the incredible surfing, the great weather and waves that God blessed the event with (despite the forecast), the inspiring work of all the Christian Surfers crew and local church members, and more. However, probably the biggest highlight of the Jesus Pro Am for me was witnessing the name of Jesus proclaimed so boldly at my local beach, Cronulla. Cronulla is a very secular place at the best of times and to see even the ‘Jesus Pro Am’ banner or the Christian Surfers logos on the many tents at the event is a great thing. But the event went further. There was the win-a-surfboard competition, where entrants had to look up various verses from the Surfers Bible and then answer important questions about who the Bible says Jesus is and then who they thought he is. There were also the event commentators, who on regular occasions during their commentary explained to all within reach of the loud speakers who Jesus is and what He means to us as Christians. There was also the church service in the park behind the beach held on the Sunday by the Beachside Vineyard Christian Fellowship. And finally there was the Gospel presentation given by ‘Mousey’ during the presentation at the conclusion of the event, where the strong crowd of locals and competitors heard who Jesus is and what He has done for them through His death and resurrection. The Jesus Pro Am was truly a blessing for Cronulla."

Click here for an image gallery from the Jesus Pro Am...

For more information on Christian Surfers or the Jesus Pro Am, visit www.christiansurfers.org.au.

13th April, 2005

Brian Pickering is the national co-ordinator of the National Day of Thanksgiving, held on 14th May.

"This is the second year of the National Day of Thanksgiving. The increased profile and understanding of the purpose of the day has this year resulted in the (Federal) Opposition joining with the Government in encouraging participation of all Australians in this day of celebration of our Christian heritage and values. Also many more church leaders are recognising the opportunity this day gives for the church to reconnect with the community it seeks to serve and are encouraging greater participation by local congregations and individuals. The secular media is beginning to understand and appreciate the purpose of the day and so this year some 80 per cent of the free-to-air television channels will be carrying promotion material for the day. Each year the focus of the National Day of Thanksgiving will change. This year the focus is on thanking those employed in the fields of education and health care so through special morning teas, community breakfasts and in other informal ways, those who serve our communities in these areas will receive the thanks of the church and people of our nation. This year we are also holding a night of celebration and worship with participating communities asked to hold two hours of celebration under the banner of  'Australia Worships' on the Saturday night."
 
For more information about how you or your church can take part in the National Day of Thanksgiving, visit www.thanksgiving.org.au.

14th March, 2005

Rod Hopping is co-founder of film distribution business Heritage HM which is partnering with Polyphony Entertainment in releasing Luther across Australia and New Zealand.

"This film brings to life the true story of someone who has impacted every part of life for a Christian. Too often we don't know our history and therefore we miss being able to fully appreciate the real value of having things like the Word of God in our own language. Martin Luther was a man who lived a radical life and who quite literally laid down all that he had for a cause he passionately believed in. After reading the New Testament Martin discovered a God of love and compassion - not the kind of God he was taught about as a monk. Salvation was being sold by the church in those days meaning that the common man had to fork out considerable money to be 'saved'. Luther preached the Gospel message - loud and clear - and simple. The average man and woman in the streets heard it for the first time and responded to God's heart for them. Obviously this stirred things within the church and the rest, as they say, is history. Christians in 2005 will see a man of passion and uncompromising commitment to reaching the lost. The unsaved will watch this movie and see the Gospel presented on the big screen. It's not often opportunities like this arrive at the local cinema."

Luther is on general release. Visit www.lutherthemovie.com.au for more information about the movie or to find out how your church or group can support Samaritan's Purse tsunami fund-raising efforts through organising a Luther movie event.

27th February, 2005

Jane Mackie is the Australian Children's Prayer Network co-ordinator

"The Children’s Prayer Network is part of a movement of God which has been sweeping the globe over the past 10 years or more, perhaps in an 'underground' way, but nevertheless with increasing impetus. In Australia, our first children’s prayer group began in Sydney in February 1995, and the network was officially launched in July that year at the national AD2000 Movement conference, following my involvement at the Global Consultation on World Evangelisation held in Seoul, Korea - where I had been asked to lead a team working with 38 children from eight different countries who were attending as praying delegates. Since 1995 representatives of the Children’s Prayer Network have travelled to 20 countries, and all over Australia, sharing the vision and the model we have developed. Thousands of children worldwide have heard the message that children can pray, and children can minister; that they don’t have to wait until they are grown up to have a meaningful relationship with the Lord, and that He wants them to use the gifts He has given them to pray, worship and serve Him now. The network children run their own weekly prayers groups, as well as rallies, workshops, prayer and worship events and conferences. The network also offers leadership training, largely conducted by teenage leaders."

The Children's Prayer Network is offering 100 free places for Australian Aboriginal children or youth to attend its April 2005 Convention "It's Time!" being held at Merroo Christian Centre, Kurrajong, NSW from 18th to 22nd April. For further information, visit http://surf.to/kidspray.

2nd February , 2005

Steve Weir is vice-president of Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific

"Habitat for Humanity International has a target to help some 25,000 affected families in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand - to move them out of temporary shelter, such as relief camps, and back into decent, permanent homes. We are currently raising US$25 million to fund this two-year operation. We are already ‘in action’: the first homes are being rebuilt in Batticaloa and Galle in Sri Lanka. Our approach is to help families build new homes - mainly 'core' dwellings comprising one or two rooms with a proper roof and floor, and space to expand at a later date. Exact sizes, designs and materials will vary in each country. In Indonesia, for example, we expect to erect steel-based homes from materials supplied by an industrial corporate supporter. All the transitional homes will be supplied free of charge. To reach out to more people, more quickly, we are establishing a network of 'disaster response technical centres'. The first should open this month. These building and training centres are staffed by engineers, architects and site supervisors as well as specialists in managing volunteers, and will provide building expertise, and low-cost materials, to families, Habitat affiliates and partners. Currently, our plans call for six centres in India, three or four in Indonesia, two in Thailand and four in Sri Lanka.  We are thus swiftly moving from assessment to planning to implementation. It's going to be a long process. In the coming weeks, we expect our first teams of construction specialist volunteers to be heading to disaster areas. Habitat’s regular international volunteer teams will be needed in the months to come."

For further information, visit www.hfhap.org.

20th January, 2005

Stewart Mills is the co-ordinator of Jubilee Australia

"The gap between the world's rich and poor has never been wider. Malnutrition, AIDS, conflict and illiteracy are a daily reality for millions. This year is one of unprecedented opportunity; it is the year to say 'enough is enough', and campaign for urgent and meaningful change for two-thirds world justice including increased aid, fairer trade, and an end to unjust and illegitimate debts. Over the next 12 months a series of landmark meetings are taking place where world leaders can finally stop 33,000 people dying needlessly every day just because they're poor. The first of these will be the G7 finance ministers meeting in February. In response the international civil society, such as the UK's 'Make Poverty History Campaign' have called for supporters to fax G7 political leaders as a way to show the international feeling towards the silent killer that is global poverty. Jubilee Australia has supported this call. By faxing G7 leaders now, we will ensure our voice is heard and the leaders at the G8 summit in Scotland in July will give their utmost attention to poverty in Africa and the two-thirds world."

For further information, see www.jubileeaustralia.org

6th January, 2005

Bernard Boerma is the chief executive of Catholic welfare agency, Centacare.

"In essence, it’s all about providing information, options and support to women and their families who may be contemplating an abortion and who contact the service for assistance. The program will be available to assist all women living across Sydney, including those who feel that they have no one to turn to for help. Our specialist professional counsellors will tailor the assistance they provide, in a compassionate and non-judgmental way, to best meet the woman’s needs. Whether it is counselling, or information on financial assistance, housing or spiritual support, we believe that we can meet most of the needs of those who seek our assistance. The program complements the family, women and youth support services currently offered by Centacare and is similar to church-based programs operating in New Zealand and Scotland. The program was launched by Cardinal Pell on 28th December, 2004. In addition to the professional support and counselling services to be provided for women and their families, we are able to provide a referral service to other specialist welfare and health agencies."

The contact line for the Catholic Pregnancy Support Program is (02) 930-5366.

15th December, 2004

Reverend Howard Langmead is the minister of St John’s Anglican Church West Brunswick, Melbourne, a stand-up comedian, and a media commentator.

" As Christmas becomes increasingly secular, Christians need to take the initiative in injecting joy and meaning into the festivities. Last Christmas when I saw children lining up to have their photos taken with Santa I thought, 'Why should Santa get all the action? This is Jesus’ birthday.' I imagined children having their photos taken with Jesus to celebrate his birth and decided to see if I could organise that. I talked with Gavin Hansford, a professional photographer who attends my church, who agreed that it was an outreach opportunity. We wanted it in the heart of the city and the staff at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, were more than willing to let us in. Their aim is to encourage people who rush past the cathedral to enter and reflect on the meaning of Christmas. A simple nativity scene is set up in the cathedral. Parishioners of St John’s West Brunswick have made costumes so that children can choose to be in the scene as Mary, Joseph, an angel, shepherd or wise person. Nativity Photos will be at the cathedral from the 15th to the 18th of December from 12 noon to 3pm, and on Sunday 19th December, after the 3pm children’s carol service. No Santa costumes allowed. It’s about Jesus and the celebration of his birth.

For more information visit www.howardlangmead.com.au

1st December , 2004

Tony Whittaker is co-ordinator for IE Day and the editor of Web Evangelism Guide (www.web-evangelism.com).

"The growth of the internet over the last ten years has been incredible. There will soon be one billion web users around the world. There are many thousands of Christian websites, but the vast majority of these are written only for Christians. Very few are designed to reach out effectively to non-Christians. Yet the potential is enormous. So the Internet Evangelism Coalition (an umbrella group of outreach ministries) has initiated an international focus day on Sunday 24th April 2005, called ‘Internet Evangelism Day’. This is purely a ‘web evangelism awareness day’ - there is no fund-raising element. The hope is that churches and other Christian groups will create a short program within a church service or other meeting on or near 24 April. The IE Day site offers downloadable materials for this purpose: five-minute video testimony of Kristi who found God online, short drama script, PowerPoint presentations, discussion questions, and many helpful links. The team hope for a range of outcomes. High on their list is to enable churches to create effective websites which can reach out into the community, rather than just be an online noticeboard for members. It's an exciting challenge. The potential of the web is enormous.”

The Internet Evangelism Day website is at www.InternetEvangelismDay.com.

Images courtesy of IE Day. The index page image is not of Tony Whittaker but for illustrative purposes only.

29th October, 2004

Margaret Piper is the executive director of the Refugee Council of Australia.

“There’s no simple answer to that question. The commitment that Australia has had to resettlement is something that is to be commended - it’s a very important contribution that we make to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Not only are we committed to taking numbers of people who need resettlement but we are also working with the UNHCR to improve the ways of identifying especially vulnerable refugees whose only option is resettlement. When refugees come to this country, we have in place settlement services which are as good as, if not better than, any that exist anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, however, our response is not balanced. When you look at the financial contribution we make to assist refugees in countries of first asylum, there is a lot more we can do. One of the problems with Australia’s aid program is that it is heavily biased towards Asia and the Pacific whereas the largest numbers of refugees are in Africa. But the areas where policy is most seriously flawed is in relation to people coming to seek our protection - asylum seekers. The policy of interception of boats at sea, the redirection to islands of the Pacific, our policy of mandatory, non-reviewable detention of asylum seekers on-shore and also the use of temporary protection visas for refugees who have arrived without going through immigration formalities all fall seriously short of the commitment that we should be making to refugees and all cause considerable hardship and anguish for people who by definition have been victims of persecution in their own countries.”

This week was Refugee Week. For more information of refugees and Australia's response, visit www.refugeecouncil.org.au

6th October, 2004

Vikki Davidson is World Vision's cause promotions officer.

"One Big Village is a major new initiative launched by World Vision allowing Australians to learn about the different ways in which we as individuals are connected to people in developing countries. It explores the idea that ‘something you do or don’t do today will change the course of someone else’s life’. The central component of this campaign is a website which enables people to explore how the decisions, actions and attitudes of people in places like Australia impact on billions of the world’s poorest people. The One Big Village website offers fresh perspectives on issues in our world in concise, understandable and engaging ways. Topics such as HIV/AIDS; why people stay hungry; the relationship between fuel consumption and rain patterns; the challenges facing women and girls; the changing structures of society are just some areas that can be explored on the site as well as issues like spiritual poverty, matching faith with action, and the challenge the HIV/AIDS presents for religious leaders. It also helps explain how you can take part in shaping our world for everyone, even people you’ll never meet. Watch, listen and explore hundreds of stories, audio or video clips containing expert knowledge or first hand accounts. As well as this the website offers a ‘get involved’ section, providing information on how Australians can take action and help people in developing communities."

For more information visit www.onebigvillage.com.au

17th September, 2004

John Dalziel is the communications director for the Salvation Army Australia's southern territory.

"The Salvation Army has recently published the results of a nationwide research study conducted by Roy Morgan Research which shows that five million Australians regularly consume between six and 30 alcoholic drinks in a session. Even more worrying is the 500,000 who consume between 17 and 30 drinks in a single evening. The research told us that 27 per cent of all males aged 14-24 drink between 11 and 30 standard alcoholic drinks in a single session on at least a monthly basis and often every weekend. There is an impression given that if you want to celebrate or have a good time you have to consume large amounts of alcohol. We see this especially at footy finals time and sports stars and media commentators are the chief offenders in promoting this myth and young men especially are very impressed by such prominent people. We have therefore called on footy legends like David Parkin (former Carlton AFL coach) and Shane Woewodin (Collingwood Footy star) to promote the responsible use of alcohol. In David’s case it is not drinking at all, in Shane’s case it is ensuring that he never consumes more than 2 drinks in the first hour and then one drink an hour after that."

For more information about alcohol and its effects, visit www.salvationarmy.org.au/alcohol.

10th September, 2004

Gary Speckman is the national team leader of Athletes in Action (AIA), a ministry of Campus Crusde for Christ Australia. He kept a blog of how God was moving at the Olympic Games drawing primarily on reports from AIA chaplains working in Athens.

"The most memorable moment for me from the Athens Olympics was whenever I downloaded a new personal report on the Christian presence and activity 'behind the scenes'. It didn't take long for me to see God's mighty hand at work in the lives of thousands of people. I was receiving reports from six or seven workers including three official chaplains. I remember thinking 'Others need to hear these great stories too. How can I multiply the blessing?'. Having just received an invitation to view the blog site of one of the chaplains, I set up my own blog and collected the stories there as an electronic testimonial. I was especially encouraged to hear how the Lord continues to use a special (revised) sports edition of the Jesus movie, this time on DVD. World-class Christian athletes share their testimonies as an introduction to the classic Jesus film (with an evangelistic appeal at the end). Distributed in Athens, thousands of DVDs have already found their way into homes around the world. Studies show that each DVD will be viewed by at least 50 people in underdeveloped countries - sometimes viewed over and over again by a family or individual!"

To view Gary Speckman's blog 'Speckman's Scratchings', visit our links page www.sightmagazine.com.au/links.htm

3rd September, 2004

Warwick Marsh is a former recipient of the New South Wales 'Fatherhood of the Year' award and founder of the Fatherhood Foundation.

“To be a mediocre father is easier because all you have to do is make love to a woman and have a baby, but to be a great father is probably the hardest possible thing you can do. It requires great sacrifice, great determination, great focus and a great effort. I think all of us human beings are naturally selfish and we have to overcome that selfishness through the power of love. Of course, the author of love is our Father in heaven. Love comes from God. Love came to this earth through Jesus Christ and so manhood and Christ’s likeness are synonymous. If we want to find ourselves we have to find Jesus Christ who died and made a way for us. The greatest thing a man can do for his children is love his wife and that resonates in (the Biblical book of) Ephesians where it says a man should love his wife as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her. In many ways, it’s one of the hardest things to do - for some strange reason - for us men. But if we can do that and if we can love our children, we can change our families for the better through the power of love.”

Father's Day is celebrated on 5th September in Australia. For more information about the Fatherhood Foundation, visit www.fatherhood.org.au

5th August, 2004

Patrick McClure, AO, is the chief executive officer of Mission Australia, a non-denominational Christian organisation with the aim of empowering and supporting disadvantaged and isolated individuals, families and communities

"Homelessness will not be diminished without the combined greater efforts of governments, businesses and the Australian community. We must look for a new way forward, tailoring services that recognise the unique needs of each homeless person. We also have to do more than rely on governments or corporate philanthropy alone to help solve the problem. We must all play a role. An example is Mission Australia’s decision to embark on the major redevelopment of Campbell House, its flagship men’s homeless service in inner-city Sydney, into five, eight-bed, self-contained apartments for young, first-time, homeless men who will be able to receive intensive case management. In the area of government support for homeless people, the issue of affordable housing looms large with social housing stocks falling from 6.1 per cent of total housing in 1996 to 5.1 per cent in 2003. Australia’s businesses must also play a role. Providing targeted and innovative housing support does not come cheap and there is a growing role for corporations forming partnerships with organisations like Mission Australia to get these programs up and running. Finally, the broader community can always play a role – regular monthly donations to charities like Mission Australia allows us to plan ahead, safe in the knowledge that our services will not be threatened by lack of funds. Homelessness can happen to anyone, at any time, from any walk of life. We need to make sure that our community has the facilities to help these people. Continuing on the current path can no longer be an option."

This week was National Homeless Persons' Week. To find out more about the work of Mission Australia, go to www.missionaustralia.com.au.

29th July, 2004

Jim Wallace is the executive chairman of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL)

"The Australian Christian Lobby is concerned to see family strengthened and recongnised by government for the critical building block that it is in our society. It is also wanting to see our governments continue to hold out ideals before our young and the nation at large. With so many casualties of broken relationship, there is no ideal more important than that of marriage. Marriage is an ideal in commitment. The fact that many fail doesn't lessen the importance of that ideal and the need for it. It is a commitment that creates stability for children and particularly in an aging population, the promise of companionship and love in old age. Unfortunately the worldwide attack on it by the homosexual lobby is aimed not at obtaining marriage as we celebrate it, but on infiltrating it so that it can be changed to reflect the standards of their lifestyle. Particularly in the rejection on monogamy and life long commitment. We need to demand that this very aggressive lobby show some of the tolerance of other people's values and institutions that it has for so long demanded of everyone else. However as they are unlikely to show such consideration, we must have the definition of marriage protected by ensuring that our legislation defines it as being between and a man and a woman."

To find out about making a submission to the Senate Inquiry or for more information, see www.acl.org.au

19th July, 2004

James Thomson is the national education and advocacy officer for the National Council of Churches in Australia's refugees program

"Last week’s Federal Government announcement to allow refugees on temporary visas to apply for migration visas was heralded as 'throwing a lifeline' to the 9,000 plus refugees with these three-year visas. But it begged the question: why are recognised refugees, who by definition were forced to flee and cannot return home, no longer granted permanent residence as in other countries? Had they done something wrong? For the Government the answer is ‘yes’. Despite international law stating that refugees are permitted to flee across borders without visas, Australian law is designed to punish refugees arriving without visas to deter others. First, every man, woman and child is placed in detention and then they are denied permanent visas and given only temporary ones. While the ‘lifeline’ will help some – namely, Afghans providing labour in vital rural industries – it is not a lifeline for all. Meanwhile, the harsh laws are still in place. Recognised refugees released from detention are still denied permanent visas, family reunion and settlement services. After their three-year visas expire, they must still re-prove that they are refugees, and if they fail they be deported back to the countries they fled. The result is not a solution. It simply prolongs the misery of being forcibly uprooted. Refugees continue to fear being deported and they find it almost impossible to settle and integrate or even recover from trauma and torture and the effects of long-term detention. Refugees should be allowed to get on with their lives and that starts when they are certain of the future."

For more information, see the Refugee and Migrant Sunday Education Kit on our website: www.ncca.org.au/cws/refugees

5th July, 2004

Trevor Suitor is a founder of Men of Integrity

“These billboards are designed to give a stronger voice to Jesus through a simple yet powerful Christian message: ‘Jesus is the Answer’. This campaign aims to reach the majority of hard to get people with time-poor fast-paced lives. Outdoor advertising is seen and remembered by a greater proportion of 16 to 44 year olds. Especially low media consumption youth audiences, time-poor executives, management, professionals, white-collar commuters and shoppers of both sexes. It is perfect for reaching people on the go providing a continuous presence 24 hours, seven days a week with an ever-changing audience. Men of Integrity’s aim is to present Jesus as the answer in an ever-increasingly demanding and self- centred life. You best serve man by showing him that God remembers and cares about him. Jesus is the door to love without conditions. ‘Jesus is the Answer’ billboards will give people the reminder, invitation and open door to come home to Him. So those who feel lonely, judged, separated, suffering with fear may know Jesus’ compassion and unconditional love for them. ‘Jesus is the Answer’ billboards are a living prayer, promise and sign post to salvation.”

www.menofintegrity.org.au
The ministry is seeking prayer and donations.
You can contact Men of Integrity on (02) 6583 3799 or email admin@menofintegrity.org.au

25th June, 2004

Fr Richard Leonard is the director of the Australian Catholic Film Office (ACFO)

“The ACFO does several things for the Catholic community and the wider film Australian film industry in Australia. It provides consumer information (reviews) about films and videos for the Catholic press and on the Bishops website at www.catholic.org.au. It participates in debates regarding legislation covering film classification and censorship. It represents Australia to the international Catholic media bodies. A member of the office staff participates on the human rights and interfaith juries at the Melbourne and Brisbane International Film Festivals each year. It convenes an annual jury to select its 'Australian Film of the Year'. It provides educational seminars on the interface between gospel, cinema and culture for all sectors within the Catholic community, but especially for Catholic education. The director is available for the pastoral care of Catholics employed in the Australian film industry.”

www.catholic.org.au/filmreviews/index.asp

18th June, 2004

Andrew Hewett is the executive director of

Oxfam Community Aid Abroad

“The scale of the challenge facing us in Darfur and Chad is immense. People have fled their homes with nothing and are struggling to survive in desperately harsh desert conditions. There are currently 150,000 to 200,000 Sudanese people seeking refuge in Chad. They are part of a vast crisis sparked by the conflict in Darfur which is now affecting more than two million people. Rich-country governments must come through with a much greater injection of cash to help aid agencies save lives. We welcome the Australian Government’s recent decision to offer further assistance in addition to the $5 million they released earlier for humanitarian assistance to help meet the immediate needs of the internally displaced in the Darfur region of Sudan. This aid is made all the more timely given that humanitarian access will be rendered extremely difficult as the rainy season approaches. It’s very telling that in the first three months of the 2003 Iraq appeal, donors mobilised nearly US$2 billion, whereas the UN’s appeal for the whole of Sudan has received less than US$200 million – not even a third of what the UN have asked for. No-one’s pretending that international humanitarian aid is the only thing that’s needed to end this crisis. But if we are going to save lives, aid is needed and it’s needed now.”

www.oxfam.org.au

4th June, 2004

Ten Australian D-Day veterans are receiving France's highesty military decoration, the Legion of Honour, in recognition of the more than 2,500 Australians who took part in missions in the air, at sea and on land as part of D-Day operations during World  War II. Four of the veterans will be presented with the medals at a ceremony in France. Charles Turner, an 84-year-old from St John's Park in New South Wales, is among them.

Enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941, Charles was called up for service in July 1942 and after training in Australia and Canada, was sent to Britain where he served as the navigator in the crew of a Dakota transport aircraft in 575 Squadron RAF. On 5 June, 1944, his squadron was briefed to drop paratroopers over Normandy in the early hours of D-Day.

“The mess was full of English, Americans, New Zealanders, Aussies and Canadians who were serving as aircrew, paratroops, glider personnel, ground staff and aircraft maintenance. We were all mates – knowing the huge job in front of us all to make the landing a success,” he recalls.

The Dakota carrying Charles and his crew arrived over the drop zone just after midnight on the 6th June, carrying the first wave of paratroops who went into battle ahead of the main amphibious landing.

Although their passage over the drop zone was reasonably smooth, Charles’ crew experienced some obstacles. The enemy had destroyed an Allied homing beacon and they could not locate one of the nominated places to drop the paratroops. The pilot took the initiative not to take the paratroops home and they searched the area to find another beacon. He was later commended for his initiative.

A number of aircraft were shot down that night, but Charles’ crew managed to return safely to base.

Later, on the evening of D-Day, after the invasion force was ashore, Charles and his crew again took off for Normandy, towing a glider carrying more airborne troops and supplies.

He recalls that “the volume of aircraft over the channel gave the impression one could step from aircraft to aircraft all the way to France”.

The above was compiled with information supplied by the Federal Government's Department of Veterans' Affairs.

28th May, 2004

Sue Allen is the National 24 Hour Watch Prayer Co-ordinator
with the Australian Prayer Network

"I am really excited about the National Day of Thanksgiving. It is the first time the nation has been called to give thanks to God. It is a great opportunity for the church to acknowledge our Christian heritage. Many churches are connecting with their communities in a very positive way as they celebrate this day. I believe this will change the perception of the church in our community. In my own church we sold over 1,000 thanksgiving cards which we were encouraged to send to those in our community who serve us, such as our local members of parliament, our police, firebrigade, S.E.S. and ambulance services. I will be spending the day at a barbecue luncheon held by our church home group, to which our non-Christian neighbours have been invited. In the evening I will be attending a night of prayer and thanksgiving held by the Festival of Light, here in Sydney. On Sunday our church will be holding a big celebration service. I believe that the National Day of Thanksgiving will become a very important part of the Christian calendar in the years to come."

The National Day of Thanksgiving will be held on 29th May, 2004. For further details, see www.thanksgiving.org.au

13th May, 2004

Chris Varney is a 16-year-old student from Wantirna College in Melbourne, Victoria, who went on a World Vision Australia Qantas Study Tour to Tanzania earlier this year.

"My recent trip to Tanzania has totally opened my eyes and completely changed my perspective on life. I am participating in the 40 Hour Famine again to help free those living in the chains of poverty. I believe that young people hold the key to freeing the world from hunger and its devastating impact. We can all make a difference and do something real to help."

The World Vision 40 Hour Famine starts at 8pm on Friday, 14th May and runs until noon on Sunday, 16th May. For more information, phone the 40 Hour Famine hotline on 13 32 40 or visit www.40hourfamine.com

7th May, 2004

Anne Hill, project coordinator - Your Child's Early Years,

Focus on the Family Australia

"I see myself fortunate to have a positive relationship with my mum. She has always given me unconditional love and shared with me her time and talents. I value implicitly her fine character and example and know that it is this about her that has helped me to form my own sense of values and godliness. As a child she offered security and protection. As an adult, the protector relationship takes on a new dimension and I am able to reciprocate her love and care. It is a delight to me to see her in her role as grandparent and how this gives pleasure to her, me and my children."

Focus on the Family Australia is a national not-for-profit organisation that provides education and support to families - www.families.org.au

2nd April, 2004

Primate of the Anglican Church in Australia, Archbishop
Peter Carnley

"Lent is a time for preparation, during which we are encouraged to reflect prayerfully on the significance of Christ's own trials and his preparation for death on the Cross. Throughout the last two millenia of human history, it has been a time to contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus and the wonder of his Resurrection. It is an opportunity to use those events to encourage us in our unceasing spiritual quest."