Anglican Archbishops or Bishops get to set their agenda out at their Synods (church parliaments). This year Archbishop Kanishka Raffel made it clear to the Sydney Synod that his agenda is people: “People matter” was his refrain, and in between welcoming a new Bishop of Wollongong, and celebrating 170 years of Moore College and Anglicare, and setting out priorities such as Sydney’s large Aboriginal community, antisemitism, and church growth, he told stories, lots of stories. Lots of stories of people coming to know Jesus as their saviour, which are worth retelling. So we will.
“Last year’s resolution of Synod, embracing the prayerful goal of 5 per cent growth by conversion, invited churches to have regard to the 31% of the population born overseas, and to engage with these people in culturally responsive and cross-cultural ways.
“Let me share with you some stories of individuals from just one church in Western Sydney that has sought to do this. I’ll share a few stories, and I’m grateful to all the rectors who share these with me across this address.
Lucy (I’ve changed the names). Lucy walked into church and asked about Sunday services. She only spoke Mandarin, so a staff member used Google Translate to explain that services have AI translation and prayed for her. Lucy began to attend services and took part in a Chinese enquirers course with a Mandarin-speaking church member. Lucy confessed faith in Christ and was baptised before returning to her home country.
“A few years back, Mia said she found Buddhism an unsatisfying answer for her life. A friend invited her to church. Mia and her husband Sebastian joined a course, and while Mia had given up on Buddhism, she and Sebastian were still not sure what they thought about Jesus. They kept coming regularly to church, and 12 months later, they both said that over the course of that time, they’d made a commitment to Jesus.
“Steven saw the church’s enquirers course promoted online and contacted them. He grew up in a Sikh household but was on a faith journey. He came to church for a couple of weeks prior to the course and then attended the course. He made a profession of faith in Jesus and is planning to be baptised, but continues to wrestle with the impact of his decision on his wider family.
“One church, four individuals, four or five cultural and religious backgrounds. People matter to God. One gospel, one savior, one Lord.”
…
“I am immensely grateful for the more than 1,840 teachers of SRE [volunteer teaching “scripture” in public schools] across our diocese, including 110 senior ministers.
“In the Wollongong region, a year five girl from a non-churchgoing family was attending SRE and the church’s midweek kids club. She decided to come to church by herself with permission from her parents. Now she’s invited another friend of hers to join her on Friday and Sunday.
“In the South West region, a boy who did not attend SRE was invited by his Christian friend to the church youth group. He’s being baptised later this year, and he’s asked the minister for an invitation to youth group for a non-Christian school friend.
“In the South Sydney region, a mother heard about SRE while visiting a church. She signed her son up online, thanks Mum, and he started attending year seven SRE. He got interested, so he started attending the lunchtime group, then youth group, and has now become a Christian and has invited his friends to youth group.
“McCrindle Research have identified that there is a greater openness to spiritual conversations among Gen Z than among other generations, including Gen X and the Boomers. McCrindle have also confirmed the insight that among Gen Z, young men seem to be more open to such conversations than young women.
“In the South West, two young men checked out different religions online. Dissatisfied with what they found, they started to read the Bible together, and after reading the Bible by themselves for some time, they decided they’d become Christians. So they turned up at one of our churches and asked to be baptised. Six months later, they were.
“At a church in the South Sydney region, three young men turned up together wanting to know about Jesus. They’ve been coming consistently for several months.
“In the Northern region, a young man joined one of our churches after becoming a Christian through the ministry of his Anglican school. After a few weeks, he told the senior minister he had four friends who would like to meet with him and talk about Jesus.
“The minister arranged for them to come to his house for dinner. When the day arrived, the young man rang the minister not to cancel, but to ask if it would be okay if he brought 10 friends instead.
“Let me share a story of one Anglican school partnering with local churches and seeking to proclaim Christ to the student body all year. Every year, year seven and year 11 have a Christian Studies assessment involving visiting a local church and writing a reflection. Many of our schools do this.
“At this school, 700 students take part and 15 Anglican churches, along with some others. One student, let’s call her Amelia, attended church for the first time as part of the assessment task. She liked it, so she went back the next week of her own accord. By the end of the year, she was regularly attending and had become a Christian. She volunteered to serve in the kids ministry and completed all the training, and throughout her final year of high school, she served at kids church in the morning and attended church in the evening. Her mum agreed to come along with her to church, and she’s been plying the school chaplain with her questions on the sidelines of Saturday sport.”
….
“People matter to God.
“For many, it is the very last thing that they imagine might be true. A truck driver in his 50s turned up at one of our churches in Western Sydney. He was struck by the authentic and relational way in which church members led in public prayer and the way the Bible spoke to real life. He joined a course and found God’s grace towards him in Jesus refreshing and compelling. He’s now assured in his faith and sings with joy.
“A man in his 20s with learning needs came to a church in the Wollongong region wanting to join a Bible study. The church worked with Youthworks’ Accessibility Ministry Advisor to create a supportive environment. Six months later, the whole group have been blessed, and the young man has requested to be baptised.
“A Middle Eastern woman started to attend English classes at a church in the northern region. The Everyday English team gave her a Bible in her heart language. She started to attend the Easy English Bible study and church services using the Sunflower Translation app. One of the ministers suggested that she connect with a congregation that speaks her language at a different Anglican church in a different region. Last month, she was baptised and continues attending English classes at the first church and services in her own language at the other church. Both churches are praying for her family to come to know Christ, too.
“A newly married couple with only a vague religious background in their youth came to a church in the northern region feeling dissatisfied with the world, but finding it hard to understand the Bible. The church had prayed regularly for many years that the Lord would save their neighbours, so when this couple arrived, they received a warm welcome. Over eight months, they read through the gospel with a MTS [Ministry Training Strategy] apprentice, as well as attending church and reading their Bibles. Along the way, they both confessed faith in Christ. He is now preparing for confirmation. She is preparing for baptism.
Why am I telling you these stories? Because they are beautiful. Because they are just a glimpse of what God is doing among us. Because I can’t think of anything that should occupy our time more than praising God, who is building his church by the proclamation of the gospel of his Son.
“Sins forgiven, souls saved, lives transformed, prayers answered, eternity fulfilled, the day of the Lord brought near.
“People matter to God. Heaven rejoices in one sinner who People matter to God. Heaven rejoices in one sinner who repents, and heaven resounds to the sound of 10,000 times 10,000 angels who sing, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. By his blood, he ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and nation. Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb.’
“‘Therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘go, making disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always to the very end of the age.’
“Amen.”