Heaven on Earth: crossing over into life beyond life
Wendy Rush interviews LifeWell Conference keynote speaker Sy Rogers about the conference theme ‘Heaven on Earth’. Many of us are brought up to believe in Heaven as a place that we go to when we die. How can we experience Heaven on Earth? SR: The Hebrew concept of Heaven is not so much a ‘place’, as it is a state of being: the word for Heaven means ‘Expansion’. Related to this, a proverb I really like sums up...
SA’s longest serving school Chaplain still passionate about serving his community
By Cathy Moore. Sam Thomson has been living in the Blackwood Hills area in South Australia his whole life. He was 6 years old when his mother passed away, and being the eldest of three, he helped bring up his younger brothers while his father was at work and supporting the family. Sam saw the wonders and intricacies of the natural world around him, the trees and animals, and enjoyed being outdoors. When confronted as a teenager by...
Inequality and the power of imagining a different world
By Elenie Poulos. Original article written for Wesley Mission Brisbane for Anti-Poverty Week October 2015. Inequality is a growing problem in Australia. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening and it’s happening quickly. The latest report on inequality from the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), A Nation Divided, shows that the richest 10% of Australians hold 45% of all wealth (income plus property, shares,...
Broken and Beautiful
Adelaide singer and songwriter Kylie Brice shares her very personal journey and explains why music is an essential part of who she is. Music has always played an important role in my life. I started regularly writing songs when I was in my early teens, but I was very self-conscious about my voice so I rarely sang my songs to anybody else. It wasn’t until I was in my early twenties when I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and...
Ancient Stories, Timeless Faith
On Saturday 20 June 2015 hundreds of people gathered together at the Adelaide West Uniting Church to witness a landmark celebration. Rev Denise Champion, an Adnyamathanha (Flinders Ranges) woman, was the first Aboriginal woman to be ordained into Christian ministry in any denomination in South Australia. Denise talks to RISE about her journey, her culture and her passion for reconciliation. Interview by Belinda Taylor. Article by...
A story of courage, hope and the power of transforming love
Khadija Gbla has experienced the horror of civil war, the danger and uncertainty of fleeing her homeland as a refugee, and the pain and trauma of female genital mutilation. But for this remarkable young woman her pain is now her purpose as she works towards helping and protecting others. This article includes a description of female genital mutilation (FGM). Interview by Belinda Taylor. Article by Wendy Rush. Khadija Gbla was born...
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