In the final episode of the HOPE 25 podcast, hosts Michael Calder and Christy Capper speak with Archbishop Geoffrey Smith, reflecting on the journey of HOPE 25 and discussing key highlights, community engagement, and the importance of prayer and discipleship. They emphasise the need for ongoing encouragement in evangelism and the significance of hope in uncertain times. The conversation highlights the collaborative efforts of churches across Australia and the positive impact of shared faith experiences. As they conclude, they express gratitude for the journey and the community that has been built through HOPE 25.
In this episode of the HOPE25 podcast, host Christy Capper and guest Kimbalee Hodges discuss the critical importance of follow-up in church settings. They explore various strategies for engaging newcomers, balancing enthusiasm, and utilising technology to enhance communication. The conversation emphasises the need for discernment in understanding visitor dynamics and the role of personal connections in fostering community. They also share innovative approaches to church events and the power of invitation in ministry.
In this episode of the Hope25 podcast, Christy Capper speaks with Bishop Hans Christensen about his journey as a bishop and school chaplain, his passion for pilgrimage, and the upcoming Pilgrimage of Hope. They discuss the significance of walking with intent, the importance of hope in today's world, and practical ways to share hope within schools and communities. Bishop Hans emphasises the need for connection, action, and the transformative power of community engagement in fostering hope among youth.
To find out more about the Walk of Hope, you can head to www.anglischools.edu.au/walkofhope
In this episode of the Hope 25 podcast, hosts Michael Calder and Christy Capper welcome Marlee Knight to discuss the significance of one-to-one Bible reading as a method for sharing faith. They explore Marlee's background in university ministry, the impact of personal Bible reading on faith growth, and practical tips for inviting others to engage with the Bible. The conversation emphasises the accessibility of sharing Jesus in everyday settings, the importance of understanding individual needs, and the role of community in faith journeys. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to utilise the resources available through HOPE 25.
In this episode of the HOPE 25 podcast, hosts Michael Calder and Christy Capper engage with guests Dane Courtney, Rhys Bezzant, and Elizabeth Smith to explore the significance of liturgy in church services, particularly during the Easter season. They discuss the role of liturgy in worship, its emotional impact, and how it can enhance the church's mission. The conversation also covers practical advice for creating services for HOPE 25, the importance of seasonal variations in liturgy, and resources available for church leaders.
General Synod Liturgy and Worship page: https://anglican.org.au/our-work/liturgy-worship/
In this conversation, Reverend Dr. Graeme Goldsworthy discusses the concept of biblical theology, focusing on the theme of hope throughout the Bible. He explores how hope is defined in a biblical context, contrasting it with secular interpretations. The discussion covers the historical narrative from the fall of humanity to the promises made to Abraham, the experiences of the Israelites in exile, and the fulfillment of hope through Jesus Christ. Goldsworthy emphasizes that Christian hope is rooted in God's promises and is a certainty for believers, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Personal reflections on the lived experience of hope are also shared, highlighting the transformative power of faith.
In this episode of the HOPE25 podcast, hosts Christy Capper and Michael Calder discuss the essential steps for churches to engage in outreach during the HOPE25 initiative effectively. This is an episode to use in a small group or parish council planning session for Hope25. Listen to the episode and pause after each step to consider the discussion questions below.
1. Establish a Working Group
· Who should be in this group?
· What kind of gifts and demographics would behelpful?
· Who do you want to ask within your parish?
2. Pray for Renewal
· How can we encourage people in our parish topray?
· How can we incorporate prayers for Hope25 in ourintercessions?
· Is a special prayer meeting something that wouldwork well for your parish?
3. Discern who you’re trying to reach
· Who are the people who may be on the fringes ofour church?
· Who are those that God is laying on our heartsto reach?
· Who are the people around us in our localcommunity?
4. Building Relationships with those you’retrying to reach
· Who has God already brought into our lives?
· How can we build relationships with our community?
· How can we practice hospitality as a church andas individuals?
5. Refocus the welcoming lens of your church
· How is the virtual front door of your churchdoing? Do you need to update your website?
· Can visitors easily find their way into thechurch? Is parking and church entry straightforward, accessible and signposted?
· Are your physical notice boards up to date andattractive to the eye?
· Is your church clean and well cared for?
· Do your welcomers need some training?
· Is it easy to find the toilets if they areneeded during the service?
· Can people easily find morning tea (do they knowit is on)?
· Are there people at morning tea that visitorscan easily talk to, or do people only talk to those they know?
· How easily can a visitor break into groups andbecome part of the church?
6. Invest in training for evangelism
· Have a look through the training options on theHope25 website. What might work for your parish?
· If you don’t have much time, what conversationscould you encourage or one-off discussions could you have to help people feelequipped?
7. Practice Compelling Invitations
· How do you feel about the idea that one in threeAussies would say yes to an invitation to church?
· How can you encourage people to practiceinviting people to church?
· What would it look like for your church tobecome more invitational?
· Can you make flyers for church events so that youhave something to give to those you invite?
8. Plan your event
· Do any ideas from the How-to guides on theHope25 website appeal to you for your parish context?
· What type of thing might you be able to adaptfor your context?
· Use the How-to guides to help you think throughsome of the troubleshooting for planning events.
In this episode of the Hope25 podcast, host Christy Capper speaks with Kimberly Hodges, a minister in the Diocese of Newcastle. They discuss Kimberly's journey into ministry, her experiences with faith and spirituality, and the impact of personal loss on her beliefs. The conversation also explores the Hope 25 initiative, focusing on community engagement and innovative approaches to evangelism. Kimberly shares her hopes for the future of Hope 25 and the importance of authentic faith sharing within the community.
In this episode of the HOPE 25 podcast, hosts Michael and Christy engage with guests Jack and Susan from the Gippsland Diocese. They discuss their involvement in the HOPE 25 initiative, the importance of community engagement, and the various strategies being implemented to share hope and faith within their parishes. The conversation highlights the significance of training in storytelling, prayer initiatives, and the collective vision for HOPE 25 to restore hope in their communities.
In this episode of the Hope 25 podcast Christy and Michael engage with Bishop Paul Barker from the Diocese of Melbourne. We discuss Bishop Paul's journey in faith, his role in the HOPE25 team in Melbourne, and the importance of understanding Christian hope. The conversation also covers the Lenten studies designed to encourage community engagement and outreach, as well as sharing inspiring stories of faith from various parishes. Bishop Paul expresses his hopes for the future of the initiative and the church's outreach efforts.
In this episode of the HOPE 25 podcast, hosts Michael Calder and Christy Capper welcome Geoff Folland, the National Director of Power to Change Australia. They discuss the importance of evangelism, reframing it as a personal journey rather than a daunting task. Geoff shares insights from his extensive experience in campus ministry and emphasises the need for training and resources to equip individuals for effective evangelism. The conversation also touches on cultural shifts in Australia post-COVID, the significance of creating welcoming spaces in churches, and the upcoming animated Jesus film initiative to engage communities with the story of Jesus.
In this episode of the HOPE 25 podcast, hosts Michael Calder and Christy Capper engage with Al James, a youth ministry advisor, discussing the challenges and opportunities in youth ministry today. They explore the importance of evangelism, the role of community, and the significance of relationships in nurturing faith among young people. Al emphasises the need for a gospel-shaped community and the slow, relational journey to faith, highlighting that every church has a youth ministry, regardless of formal programs. The conversation encourages intentional discipleship and empowering youth to take ownership of their faith and evangelism efforts.
In this episode of the HOPE25 podcast, Christy Capper engages with Sarah Dulley, Kim Hodges, Brett Watterson and Mike Wilkinson at Diocesan Leaders Conference in Newcastle to discuss what HOPE25 is looking like for them locally. The conversation explores the diverse ways communities are preparing for HOPE25, the importance of building connections within regional areas, and the reactions of church leaders to the initiative. The leaders share their hopes for empowering congregations, enhancing community engagement, and fostering confidence in sharing their faith. The discussion emphasises the significance of being outward-focused and the potential for renewal within both local and national contexts.
Keywords: HOPE25, community engagement, church initiatives, regional communities, faith sharing, church leadership, hope in Jesus, parish projects, church community, empowerment
In this conversation, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell discusses the topics of spirituality, evangelism, catechesis, and discipleship. He emphasizes the importance of journeying with people and creating spaces for them to ask questions and explore their faith. He also highlights the role of the church in providing nurture and support for those on their faith journey.
Keywords
spirituality, evangelism, catechesis, discipleship, journey, church, nurture, faith, Emmaus course, Pilgrim course
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:21 Focus on Spirituality, Evangelism, Catechesis, and Discipleship
02:56 Personal Faith Journey
04:15 God as the Evangelist
06:00 Journey and Pilgrimage in Evangelism
08:45 Creating Spaces for Questions and Exploration
11:09 The Role of the Church in Nurturing Faith
12:57 The Emmaus and Pilgrim Courses as Resources
14:56 Evangelism as a Collective Effort
21:09 Anglo-Catholicism and Evangelism
23:42 Metaphors of Pregnancy and Birth in Evangelism
27:15 Conclusion and Encouragement
In this conversation, Cathy Ross discusses the concept of hospitality and its role in mission and the church. She highlights the importance of viewing the church as a household of God and creating spaces of welcome and hospitality. Cathy emphasises the need for the church to be attentive, listen, and learn from others, rather than just offering hospitality. She also explores the subversive nature of hospitality and its potential to break down barriers and challenge power dynamics. The conversation touches on the impact of loneliness and the role of missional hospitality in engaging people and welcoming them into church communities.
Authors mentioned
Christine Pohl, Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition
Cathy Ross, Mission on the Road to Emmaus
Emmanuel Katongole, Born from Lament
Stephen Bevans, Constants in Context and Models of Contextual Theology
In this conversation, Christy Capper interviews Julie-Anne Laird about evangelism and talking to people about faith. Julie-Anne shares her background and journey in ministry, particularly in student ministry, and how she discovered her gift of evangelism. They discuss the importance of living out one's faith authentically and openly and the role of the local church in reaching out to non-Christians. Julie-Anne provides tips for starting conversations about faith, including prayer, being present with non-Christian friends, and being prepared to answer tricky questions. She emphasises the beauty of the journey of faith and the importance of recognising what God is already doing in people's lives.
Summary: In this episode of the HOPE25 podcast, host Michael Calder interviews Karl Faase, CEO of Olive Tree Media, about the history of Christianity in Australia and its impact on shaping Australian culture. They discuss how Christianity first came to Australia, the response of the First Nations people to the hope of Jesus, and the role of faith in shaping Australian culture. Karl shares stories of everyday Australians who have had faith in Jesus and the lessons we can learn from the history of Christianity in Australia. He also highlights the resources available from Olive Tree Media to help parishes reach out with the hope of Jesus in their communities.
Anne Van Gent discusses her book 'Restoring the Story: The Good News of Atonement' and explores different models of atonement. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the backstory and context of these models to fully grasp their meaning. Van Gent also highlights the power of storytelling and how it can help us connect with others and better understand the central mystery of Jesus' atonement. She encourages listeners to be open to different understandings of atonement and to focus on the foundation of our faith in Jesus rather than specific doctrines.
Check out Anne's book here
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:25 Restoring the Story: The Good News of Atonement
09:41 Exploring Different Models of Atonement
25:10 Embracing Different Perspectives on Atonement
26:10 Focusing on the Foundation of Our Faith in Jesus
Mark McCrindle, a social researcher, discusses Australian culture and attitudes towards Christianity. He highlights the changing context and rising uncertainty in Australia, including economic challenges, loneliness, and mental health issues. Despite these challenges, there is still a sense of optimism and a desire for hope among Australians. McCrindle emphasizes the opportunity for the church to share a message of hope that goes beyond the temporal and offers something more trustworthy and secure. He dispels the notion that Australians despise Christianity, highlighting that the majority of Australians either identify with a religion or consider themselves spiritual. He also addresses the belief blockers for people, including hypocrisy, authoritarianism, and a sense of not belonging. However, he notes that there is warmth and support towards the local church and positive perceptions of Jesus. McCrindle encourages the church to be invitational, share personal stories of transformation, and extend warm invitations to others.
The conversation with Archbishop Geoff Smith revolves around the HOPE25 project and the importance of evangelism in the Anglican Church in Australia. The Archbishop shares his personal background and role as the Primate of the Anglican Church in Australia. He expresses excitement about HOPE25 as a national project that will unite the church and provide resources and training for evangelism. The conversation highlights the need to move beyond stereotypes of evangelism and empower people to share their faith naturally. The Archbishop hopes that more people will hear the good news of Jesus and that the church will become better equipped and more confident in sharing their faith.