Solar Bibles shine God’s word

Chris Webb explains how to use the solar-powered Bible

People who can’t read can hear God’s word with MegaVoice

Solar-powered audio Bibles are reaching Kimberley Aboriginal people with the gospel.

Thanks to donations and grants, Rev Chris Webb at Broome People’s Church is able to sell the MegaVoice Bibles at a subsidised price that is affordable for locals. He’s had so many requests that he’s run out of supplies.

Chris says the audio device is great for isolated communities — easy to use, durable, charged using a small attached solar panel and available in a variety of languages. People who struggle to read or have failing eyesight can hear and study God’s word no matter where they live.

“People listen to their MegaVoice when they have trouble sleeping or are anxious about something. It really helps calm their fears as they hear God's word in audio form,” said Chris.

“A young woman bought a MegaVoice for her dying grandmother. The old lady had tears in her eyes when she first listened to the Scriptures played through the MegaVoice placed beside her on the pillow.”

For Chris, the MegaVoice helps facilitate Bible studies with church members or at the local drug and alcohol rehab centre.

“My current approach is to show a Global Recordings flip chart picture and play the Bible story on MegaVoice before we chat about the text. This method seems really effective for people who are not so confident at reading. 

One of our church leaders who cannot read usually takes a back seat in book-based Bible study. However, when we are using the MegaVoice he actively leads other men in discussing the Bible story we are listening to.

“The MegaVoice is a non-threatening medium for him and many others to engage with God’s word.”

Chris was thankful to recently receive a $2000 grant from Mother’s Union Australia and $1000 from CMS to make available dozens more subsidised audio Bibles.

Hope in pain & death

“I pray constantly as I am listening to people - for the opportunity & courage to bring the gospel to each person”

Prayer and privilege - two words that describe the life of Geraldton Hospital Chaplain Jeremy Rice.

Jeremy provides providing pastoral care and home visits to hundreds of patients, their families and staff each year.

“It’s such a privilege to be with people at this time in their life. Suddenly they have an accident or a diagnosis with a bleak outlook. They come to a crossroads and everything is different.

“As a Chaplain I have a precious opportunity to speak with people about the hope of the gospel and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.”

His role in a public hospital requires great sensitivity and he is guided by the teaching in 1 Peter 3:15, ‘But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.’

“I pray constantly as I’m listening to people. So often I feel weak, cowardly and inadequate to the task. I ask God to give me the opportunity and courage to bring the gospel to each situation and I pray that I won’t make a mess of it.

“It’s amazing the conversations that open up. I look to find a point of contact by exploring how a person makes sense of life, what gives their life meaning and what they most value.”

Jeremy has seen God at work in the lives of the dying: a professed atheist joining in prayer each visit; a self-reliant man claiming Jesus’ forgiveness and salvation for the first time; and the joy of sharing the Scriptures, prayer and fellowship with dying Christian patients and their family.

“Support can involve listening and talking generally or discussing deeper issues like ‘Why is this happening?’ and ‘Where is God in all this?’ Conversations can be about Jesus, healing, hope and may involve reading the Bible and praying with patients. Others don’t want a bar of talk about God but they might still want to talk.

“My aim is to listen well and to combine truth and love in my words, manner and actions — doing all to the glory of God.”

Onslow hungry for God's word

Christians in Onslow are hungry to learn more about God’s word, grow in their faith and encourage others to follow Jesus, according to Minister Simon Roberts.

In June Simon, with his wife Alison, held the first service for 15 years in St Nicholas Anglican church – making the eight-hour round trip from their base at Exmouth.

“Our plan is to visit Onslow each month to encourage gospel growth among the saints there.

“While the church was closed, the believers were doing a great job of supporting and encouraging one another, and Alison and I pray we can assist them to do this more and more.”

Simon says many are fairly new Christians and haven’t had the opportunity to be trained in how to read, understand and apply the Bible, but they are hungry to know more.

“It has been a great delight in Onslow to see the believers’ enthusiasm to learn from God’s word and their appreciation for the Christian ministry we can provide.

“We plan to run training sessions on the big picture of the Bible during our visits and using online technology in between times.

“We’ll look at how the Bible fits together, how to understand the Bible and how to apply it to our lives.

“Our aim is also to support the small groups that meet week to week by training group leaders so they will grow in their confidence in understanding the scriptures and leading group discussion.”

Please pray for the growth of the gospel in Onslow and the partnership with Exmouth Anglican Community Church. Pray we can make the most of opportunities and that people would continue to hunger and thirst for God’s word. 

Prisoners do business with God

“This is the best thing I have ever read,” said a prisoner in remote Western Australia after learning that Jesus died for his sins.

He was stunned to read Romans 5:8 and find that: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Our chaplain in Wickham, Matt Warth, visits Roebourne Prison weekly to hold a regular Bible study for up to 24 guys and says it is the highlight of his week.

Last year we spent 12 months going through Mark’s gospel. Mark is not a big book nor a hard book but the guys wanted to really understand it and so we studied it at a good and consistent pace.

‘’I tell them they are here to do business with God, not business with God through Matt. “And the power of God’s Word is amazing. There is one young man who has undergone such a remarkable transformation in attitude and outlook that even his acquaintance can‘t believe he’s the same guy.

“Sure, the discipline of prison has helped him, but as he has sought to understand God’s word, the Spirit has changed him.”

After release, Matt says, the prisoners tend to keep their distance. However, recently a fellow asked if he could visit and ”talk Bible” together.

“It is so encouraging to see God at work drawing people to his son Jesus. The guys usually come to Bible study the first time because it’s held in the only airconditioned room in the prison.

”But then they keep coming and happily spend up to two hours each time reading the Bible. ”It blows them away to learn that no matter what they have done, God forgives and loves them unconditionally.”

Brigade outreach

At the Geraldton Boys Brigade young people are learning habits to form a solid foundation for a life of faithfulness to Jesus.

Brigade Captain Eion Simmons praises the program which helps boys and young men develop Christian maturity, balanced personal growth, leadership skills and community service.

“One of the strengths of Brigade is its practicality. Kids learn skills such as how to read the Bible for themselves, camping, bush survival, cooking and debating.”

“We don’t have a Girls Brigade at Geraldton Cathedral, but girls are able to join the primary school age sections of the company,” Eion says.

Brigade is an outreach which attracts children from non-Christian families as well as from a range of other churches in Geraldton.

“Our programs encourage kids to develop habits that are part of true Christian manliness, such as obedience, reverence, discipline and selflessness.”

Programs are on hold but will begin again once Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.

Training key to long term mission

We reached a big milestone this year, when a second young couple joined the North West Ministry Training Program.

Matt Morrison, (with wife Leonie), began as Assistant Minister at Dongara parish, having committed to spend four years getting equipped here before moving to lead a remote church.

Bishop Gary Nelson said the training program was vital to the future of Anglican Bible-based ministry in the North West.

“This program is an important strategy to overcome the problem of sustainability — finding and recruiting ministers who will stay in the North West and serve Jesus long term.”

Gary said that last year Brendan Hurley (with wife Laura) began their training based at St George’s Bluff Point with Revd Paul Spackman.

“We aim to equip ministers with skills and resilience so they can thrive amid the isolation, transient populations and sometimes harsh environment.

“It is very significant to have homegrown ministers for this missionary setting, so that when they move to lead a parish they can hit the ground running.

“The North West is a strategic place for making disciples from all nations, whether it be among young workforce graduates, international seafarers, mine workers or Aboriginal communities.”

“In God’s goodness, we have another excellent young family keen to begin training next year and we are praying that God will raise up the support to make this possible.”

Live Stream Church a lifeline

North West Live: A Lifeline for isolated believers

“Church is like taking a beautiful spiritual drink in your work swing”

Covid-19 has produced a blessing for Christians in towns like Paraburdoo, which hasn’t found a minister willing to serve there.

The Diocese launched North West Live so isolated and remote believers can join church online via Zoom each Sunday at 10am.

Young Paraburdoo local, Reece Gordon, who only became a Christian four years ago, agrees.

“I cannot say how blessed I feel to be able to tune in every Sunday. ”Bishop Gary’s Sermon, the Scripture readings, prayers and worship songs are so uplifting to hear.

“I am amazed how the Lord has blessed us with this wonderful way to fellowship across the great expanse of the North West.”

Haulpak driver Alyse Anderson says online Christian encouragement is so helpful in mining towns. “Working in the mines is a bit like learning to live in exile. The guys have a unique, colourful language and don’t mind discussing absolutely anything in mixed company. God is just a swear word.

“Church is like taking a beautiful spiritual drink in the middle of your work swing.”

Outreach priority for young ministers

Brendan Hurley (R) ministers with Paul Spackman at St George’s Bluff Point

At St George’s Bluff Point, Assistant Minister Brendan Hurley is focussed on helping more people worship Jesus with their whole lives.

Brendan says the church is growing and this year added a new Sunday Night Church at 6pm to reach out to young people.

“We don’t just want a full building. We want to see the gospel change lives and this means we want to see conversions of unbelievers and increased maturity in Christians.”

Matt and Leonie are the new ministry couple at Dongara Anglican church

At a recent Parish Council Development Day, members of the church in Dongara agreed to work on strengths, as well as areas for improvement - one of which is evangelism.

Their aim is to see their church grow. New Assistant Minister Matt Morrison was thrilled to have this commitment to evangelism to shape each part of the 2020 ministry plan so people can be encouraged and equipped in this area. “Especially in these troubling times with Coronavirus, we put our trust in God and we have a message of hope that we want to share with family and friends,” Matt said.