The fear of the Lord, the heart of ministry
If God appeared to you in a dream and said he would give you whatever you asked in your role as a minister of the gospel, what would you ask for?
Charisma? Better teaching skills? Evangelistic boldness? Creativity in ministry? Or perhaps some of your more pragmatic needs like more money, better spaces, more quality resources and leaders?
Ministry Culture: Thought, taught, caught
A healthy culture helps us achieve our gospel and discipleship goals. It must be continually nurtured and developed as we heed Paul’s call in Romans 12 to ‘not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’
Culture is more than a set of behaviours; it reflects our shared identity and values—whether intentionally cultivated or left to grow on its own.
A healthy group culture is thoughtfully considered, taught through example, and then caught by those in your group.
The importance of sharing ‘good news’ stories
Why share good news stories? Because they help people to not only hear how God is at work but to also see God at work.
When we share the good news stories from our ministries, we encourage and strengthen our leaders, promote ministry, invite partnership and build unity.
How God uses people with disability to serve the church
I have a younger brother called Ben, who is kind and caring. He was born with an intellectual disability, Downs Syndrome. Ben enjoys being around people, so his ministry in his church is one of love and care for other people— helping them feel welcome and that they belong.
How can your church recognise the gifts that people with disability contribute and put them to use?
Tips for effective SRE negotiations with schools
As an SRE Coordinator there are many joys to the role – you get to see the impact that SRE is having on students across many classes and often, across many schools. However, there are also aspects of the coordinator role that can be challenging. One of these is negotiating effectively with schools, especially when they propose scheduling changes.
Learning with God at Youthworks
Our Christian brothers and sisters in the global south often humble me with their enthusiasm and their deep devotion to Christ. At the same time, they often lack the opportunity to study the Bible deeply and so to grow in the knowledge of God’s word.
How different is our situation. We have the facilities for study and for training in ministry at places like Youthworks College, which allows those who minister to and train youth and children to deepen their knowledge of God through his word, which is essential for the task.
Making the most of large and small group learning
Think back to the best training experience you’ve ever had. Was it in a big room buzzing with energy and ideas? Or was it in a small circle where you had time to talk, try, and get feedback?
The size of the group strongly shapes what is possible, what works well, and what simply won’t land. Great trainers don’t fight against the size of the room—they design intentionally for it. Let’s explore the differences between training various sized groups and how to make the most of these differences.
Adapting ministry training to age and experience
The most effective ministry training pays attention not only to content but also to the age and experience level of the leaders you are equipping. Different groups learn differently, have different expectations, and respond differently.
When we recognise these differences, we can design training that genuinely serves every leader in the room—whether they are 16 and just starting out, 45 with decades of church experience or 60 and stepping into children’s ministry for the first time.
Navigating the social media ban
In December 2025, the social media landscape in Australia changed for young people, when the government introduced new restrictions that represent a significant cultural shift in how young people remain socially connected with each other.
Here are some suggestions for ministry workers to disciple young people, their leaders and families through these changes.
Becoming a reflective practitioner: Growing in the habit of reflection
At its heart, reflective practice is the disciplined habit of thinking carefully about our experiences, attitudes, and actions in order to learn, grow, adapt, and change.
Reflective practice is not just a professional tool. For the Christian teacher or ministry leader, it is a discipline — one that helps us listen to God, learn from experience, and grow in wisdom.
SRE Good News - November 2025
Check out all the SRE Good News from the November edition of our SRE Impact Newsletter.
Christmas gift ideas for your SRE students
The end of the year is fast approaching – and many SRE teachers are thinking about what small gift can help families remember Jesus at Christmas time.
Here is a selection of Christmas booklets and items that are approved for use in SRE and would make great gifts for SRE students.
The three non-negotiables of children’s ministry
What are the most important things in your children’s ministry? If you had to strip away everything else, what are the indispensable elements of a faithful ministry to children? And are these the things that are given the most time and attention?
Here’s what I believe are the top three non-negotiables of any faithful children’s ministry.
The faithful examples of two SRE teachers
As another year of SRE draws to a close, I’ve been particularly encouraged by two SRE teachers whose stories give us a glimpse into the ministry that happens in our public schools. Their examples remind us that God delights to use ordinary faithfulness for his purposes.
Three things I wish I’d known about training children’s ministry leaders
Running an after-school kids program was definitely a highlight of my first ministry role. A growing leadership team was also a joy but working out how to train and support them was an area I never felt confident in. Here are three things I wish I’d known back then about training children’s ministry leaders.
Walk worthily of your calling according to Ephesians
The modern notion of ‘calling’ is essentially an individualistic and self-focused concept concerned with self-realisation and self-fulfilment.
To consider divine calling as each person’s unique way of life or career is quite problematic, at least from Paul’s perspective. In Ephesians the concept of ‘calling’ cannot be more different.
Leadership Skills: three ways to listen more deeply
One of the most valuable tools in a ministry team leader’s toolbox isn’t just the ability to speak clearly—it’s the ability to listen deeply. Because when leaders fail to listen, communication breaks down. And when communication breaks down, teams struggle.
Deep listening is crucial for fostering relationships, building rapport, and establishing trust. It’s a key tool that can strengthen your leadership and communication in ministry. I’d like to share three practical ways we can listen more deeply.
SRE Good News - September 2025
Check out all the SRE Good News from the September edition of our SRE Impact Newsletter.
Perfectly known, perfectly loved
Along with the struggle to be authentic, post-modern culture and young people are suspicious of institutions and people who have any kind of power, which can be used to silence or oppress minorities and stop them expressing their authentic selves. I am sure many of you have had the experience of teaching about these issues and sensing that the listeners think you are being judgmental and oppressive.
More than meets the eye: reading the Psalms with young people
The Psalms teach us how to pray when all is as it should be (psalms of orientation), when life is hard (psalms of disorientation), and when we find ourselves on the other side of trouble (psalms of reorientation).
As I have taught the Psalms to young people and adults working with young people, I have become convinced that the Psalms are so much more than an invitation for us to speak honestly to God.