The two criminals also being crucified at the same time, the bored soldiers loitering around the execution site, and the crowds who swung by to see the spectacle, had no idea that anything of importance had been accomplished.

It looked very much like another dead Jew on a Roman cross. Nothing to write home about. But God was at work preparing for a new era, unlike anything the world had seen before. The resurrection of Jesus Christ began a new era when all people can meet God, one-on-one!

It doesn’t matter if this Easter feels spectacular or fairly uninspiring, be assured that every moment you give thought to Jesus Christ, every time you honour Him and seek Him, every day you turn your heart again towards Him, He is accomplishing His purpose in you.

You are the reason He became a man, suffered and died on a cross. He loves you that much, even if it doesn’t feel that way to you.

Perhaps the greatest words in history, “It is finished,” were spoken by Jesus Christ as He was dying on the cross. What He finished enables you to have the opportunity to know God and His mercy, forgiveness and love. Forever.

This Easter, I invite you to explore what Jesus finished and how it can be the start of something that will change your life forever.

Rev. Mark Wilson
National Ministries Director
Australian Baptist Ministries

The post Easter Message 2024 appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.

The post Standing in Prayer for Israel and the Palestinian Territories appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.

We welcome the intention of the Commonwealth Government to hold a referendum on the Voice to Parliament. This represents a historic occasion for our nation in the creation of a more just future. It is our hope that it will be very widely supported across our Parliament, across our churches and across our nation.

In the Baptist way of being church it is the responsibility of every local church to seek the mind of Christ for its life and mission. Consequently, we speak as leaders of State Baptist Associations and Baptist National Ministries, meeting together as the National Council of Australian Baptist Ministries, not on behalf of our churches but to our churches. We urge every local Baptist church and affiliated Baptist agencies across Australia to engage with the Uluru Statement from the Heart and take up its generous invitation.

In view of the impending referendum, we urge Baptist churches and affiliated Baptist agencies to make space in their 2023 calendar to familiarize themselves with the Uluru Statement, to be prayerful about the issues it raises, to facilitate informed discussion on the proposal for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and to map out how they will take up the invitation from First Nations sisters and brothers to walk together towards a just future.

To assist churches and affiliated agencies in this we have established a webpage at ajustcause.org.au/first-nations that links to resources they may find helpful.

Statement issued 1st September 2022

The post Uluru Statement from the Heart – Statement by ABM National Council appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.

Yet take another, longer look at Jesus on the Cross and you will also see a very powerful victory. Jesus was innocent of the crimes he was executed for. In fact, he was innocent full stop. Being nailed to a cross outside Jerusalem was not a mistake … it was the plan. God’s plan to pay the price and make a way for you and me to have a personal relationship with God. Forever.

And so, we see the power in the seemingly powerless circumstances of a truly innocent man

— innocent of everything — being executed on my behalf and your behalf.

God has done the work. He has made the way. The gift of eternal relationship with God is being offered with out-stretched arms. The choice is yours.

You do not have to earn it … it is not for sale. You do not have to get prepared … he wants to meet you just as you are. There is nothing between you and God except your willingness to accept His gift.

But all this could not have happened if Jesus — the truly innocent man — did not die on a cross and then rise to life again three days later.

That is why we celebrate Easter.

Reverend Mark Wilson

National Ministries Director Australian Baptist Ministries

The post Power Through Powerlessness appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.

APBF Myanmar statement

PRAYER REQUEST

We invite you to join us as we lift our voices as one asking for justice and peace to prevail in this hurting nation.
We pray especially for the people as they struggle with the economic crisis and the uncertainty that is before them.
For those who are on the streets and raising their voice against the injustice.
For the increasing COVID cases as well as the testing interruptions due to Health Workers being in the forefront of civil disobedience.
For Children and the young people who have their education disrupted.
For the tensions that seem to be rising amongst the ethnic groups, that there will be no more bloodshed.
Pray for people to not get discouraged and look at the history but to remain in hope as they trust in God to do the impossible and restore the situation.

APBAid has been in touch with our Baptist partners in Myanmar. APBaid will continue to monitor the situation and hope to do some relief work.

The post APBF Statement in Solidarity with the people of Myanmar! appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.

The post 𝗕𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA – January 29, 2021) As the number of COVID-19 cases surpasses the 100 million mark, the Baptist World Alliance is issuing a call to Baptists around the world to stand together in combatting this global pandemic. Members of the Baptist World Alliance Forum for Aid and Development (BFAD), an international network of more than 25 aid agencies, have collaborated on a statement outlining key calls to action.

“We acknowledge the solidarity shared by the millions of Baptists and non-Baptists alike in the face of the suffering caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. As we move into 2021, we also recognize our responsibility to participate in the solution to this crisis,” said Rachel Conway-Doel, BFAD Facilitator.

The four-fold action plan includes:

1. Calling for the cooperation of governments to support systems of coordinated mass vaccination and enhance access to vaccinations through aid and economic innovations;
2. Urging Baptists globally to participate in enabling global vaccination;
3. Repudiating unhelpful narratives associated with mass vaccination and asking Baptists and all people of goodwill to do so as well; and
4. Issuing a clarion call for just access to available COVID-19 vaccines globally, including six specific steps of justice necessary for equitable global access and a shared solidarity in addressing a global pandemic.

“We stand together both in prayerful lament for the many who have been impacted by this disease but also in hopeful expectation that we can make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable by choosing equity and justice at this crucial time,” said Elijah Brown, BWA General Secretary.

Baptists worldwide are invited to join this advocacy movement by signing a petition calling for equitable distribution of the vaccine by February 10, 2021. Already signed by global Baptist leaders from every region, the petition will be sent to government leaders.

To learn more about this initiative or to sign the petition, click here.

To find out more about BFAD, whose members have mobilized more than $1.5 million USD in COVID-19 aid and relief over the last year, visit BaptistWorld.org/bfad.

The post Baptist World Alliance Calls for Equitable Distribution of Vaccines appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.

Our time TOGETHER will include:

• Daily sessions with worship, fellowship, prayer, and spiritual challenge led by global Baptist leaders.
• An easy-access virtual platform with the ability to facilitate networking and community building by region and/or ministry focus
• Virtual roundtables focused on worship, mission, aid, religious freedom, and transformational leadership
• Multilingual opportunities for engagement
• 3 powerful pre-conferences including the “Life” Global Conference of Baptist Women, Youth Leadership Conference, and “Together with the Persecuted” Religious Freedom Summit
• A powerful opportunity for Baptists worldwide to stand together at this critical time across borders, languages, and ethnicities

Help make history TOGETHER by joining us online July 7-10 for what we anticipate will be the most globally diverse gathering of Baptists in 400 years! Visit https://bwa2021.org/register/ for more information

Click on the image to watch an invite from BWA General Secretary Rev Elijah Brown

The post Baptist World Congress 2021 appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.

Monday, 25 January 2021 in your timezone
7.30 pm AEDT — ACT, Vic, NSW, Tas
6.30 pm AEST — Qld
7:00 pm ACDT — SA
6:00 pm ACST — NT
4:30 pm AWST — WA

For more information on how to be involved check the Common Grace website – https://www.commongrace.org.au/tunein

The post #Changetheheart event 25 January 2021 appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.

2020 has seen a global health crisis unlike any in our life time — one that is killing people, spreading human suffering, and upending people’s lives. But this is much more than a health crisis. It is a human, economic and social crisis.

It is no wonder that almost nine in ten Australians (88%) are excited to close the door on 2020 and start 2021 according to McCrindle research.  Many have lost the source of their confidence in 2020 and hope has been shattered. As industries have shut down, jobs have been lost, and health has been compromised, many people are experiencing the shattering of the things in which they put their hope.

Can Christmas 2020 help restore that lost hope?

The global crisis accentuates that we really need this Christmas because it gives us the opportunity to remind ourselves of where hope can be restored.

The Christmas story as it unfolds in the Bible is associated with family connection. Jesus’ birth is a local family event. The shepherds on the Bethlehem hills discovered the newborn baby in the simplest of family scenes. Christmas is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of family; an opportunity to commit to working to strengthen families and not weaken them. Let’s especially remember families in difficult circumstances because of COVID-19, our neighbours, sole-parent, unemployed and refugee families. As well as families in isolated indigenous communities, drought affected rural areas and those still recovering from the tragic bushfires of 2019/20. The strengthening of our family bonds and community connection can restore hope.

Christmas reaffirms the value of giving over and against getting. The Bible narratives of the first Christmas record that the wise men came bearing gifts for this newborn baby, who would change the course of human history. Everyone needs to be reassured that others are really interested in them and gifts give tangible expression to this basic need.  Could we work together as a nation to bring hope to the less well-off in our world by being more generous in our support through disaster relief and development aid?

Christmas ultimately provides the opportunity to restore hope by focusing on our own personal spirituality and well-being. Christmas marks the intervention of the eternal creator God into the personal history of every one of us.  Eugene Peterson in the Message Bible puts it simply: “And this sublime Word (God himself) became flesh and blood and moved into our neighbourhood.” God with us and for us.

As we enter into Christmas celebrations this year let’s take up God’s invitation to accept His gift of Jesus as the conduit to restore hope in situations where hope has been shattered.

Rev Keith Jobberns
National Ministries Director
Australian Baptist Ministries

The post 2020 Christmas Message appeared first on Australian Baptist Ministries.