In his presidential address launching our Synod, Archbishop Raffel left us with a question: ‘Will you help the crowds to see Jesus?’
Kanishka encouraged us: “The task before us, without neglecting what compassion requires, is bringing the life and hope and grace of the gospel of the Lord Jesus to the 6 million or so individuals that inhabit Greater Sydney and the Illawarra.”
Compassion means we don’t ignore the pressing and felt needs of those around us. As churches and diocesan organisations like Anglicare, we’re committed to practical assistance of those in need. But we don’t stop there.
“But Jesus said to the paralysed man who was brought to him by his four excellent friends, ‘son, your sins are forgiven’. In doing so, he taught that beyond our visible and felt needs are our deepest needs – our need for reconciliation with God, forgiveness, freedom from the chains of the world, the flesh and the devil, rescue from God’s just judgement on sin, and hope in this world and the next.”
In inviting us to help the crowds see Jesus, Kanishka wasn’t calling us to anything new. That’s always been our concern at St Michael’s. It’s calling us to commit afresh and find fresh ways.
There are 2 particular opportunities that we’d love you (our church family) to prayerfully engage with. They flow on from the 5 focus areas that our staff and Parish Council (PC) have previously identified to ‘help the crowd see Jesus’:
1. Hope for the Illawarra
On the weekend of March 28-29th 2025, churches across the Illawarra are hosting gospel outreach events at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre. Our staff and PC have recognised our need for congregational growth and planting new congregations. Growth can be uncomfortable, but we need to grow for the sake of the lost and the glory of God. At the initiative of Michael Youssef (based in America, Moore College trained, ordained in St Michael’s), churches are coming together with the plan to fill the Entertainment centre 3 times. There will be a youth event on Friday 28th (Dave Jensen speaking), a children’s and families event on the Saturday morning, and a celebration event on Saturday night with Dr Michael Youssef. We hope to fill it with our friends and family, coming at our invitation to see Jesus. You can find out more at Hope For The Illawarra | Leading The Way and Local Churches. Now is the time to pray for a great work of God.
2. Bellambi and Anglicare
We’re blessed to have a wide diversity of people from many backgrounds in our parish. In planning the 5 focus areas, we recognised the need to build on connections and create new ones, to better reach the marginalised. To help those whom Christ has a great heart for, to know Him, trust Him and receive His love. Possibilities are being explored with Anglicare about how we might see that happen in the marginalised sub-community of Bellambi. Again, now is the time to pray for God to bless plans and bring them to fruition.
We’re privileged to know the life, hope and grace of the Lord Jesus’ gospel. May He work through us to bring it to others.
In Him,
Mark Smith
Senior Minister | Congregational Pastor 8am & 7pm
