SWAC and its members in the news

New Senior Pastor announced.

Posted 28 June 2010

Rev. Steve Young will begin as SWAC Senior Pastor in January 2011…

News from Lindsay and Lyn Whybrow in Hillston.

Posted 23 June 2010

A large slab of the year seems to have disappeared…

Speak Out Against Persecution: June 2010 update.

Posted 24 June 2010

The latest SOAP update features news of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Burma and China…

New children's pastor.

Posted 30 May 2010

Laura Fox has been appointed children's pastor…

Keiran Sampson newsletter.

Posted 24 May 2010

Wow its May already and quite a few things have happened since the last newsletter…

Locum pastor appointed.

Posted 17 May 2010

The Rev. David Reay has been appointed part time as pastor over the 8am Christ Church and 9.45am Springwood congregations…

Speak Out Against Persecution: March 2010 update.

Posted 11 May 2010

The latest SOAP update features news of China, Iraq, Turkey and Nigeria …

Isesomo elected Bishop, Visit to Congo report, urgent prayer request.

Posted 16 April 2010

Read about Isesomo' election, read Josh Maule's report about the trip to Congo in January …

Farewell to Graham and Jane Crew.

21 Mar 2010

Last night, some 200 people joined together in the Factory to say goodbye…

Lindsay and Lyn Whybrow in Hillston.

25 Feb 2010

Lindsay and Lyn serve as lay pastors of Hillston Anglican Church in the Riverina, 110 km north west of Griffith, 580 km west of Springwood…

Aussie team currently visiting Congo.

Posted 22 Jan 2010

The team have less than a week left in Congo. Please continue to pray for their protection and strength to make the most of the days left there.…

Brass for Africa founder returns to DR Congo.

Posted 31 Dec 2009

On Monday 28 December, 2009, BFA founder Graham Toulmin led a team back to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The team includes SWAC member and journalist Josh Maule, 4 dental students and long term BFA friends & supporters Andy & Anne Marie Dodd…

Countryserve Newsletter December 2009.

Posted 27 Dec 2009

New initiatives are needed… and working. Independent evangelical churches are reaching many people who have no
church background. Men who never go to church are regulars at shed meetings and men’s breakfasts…

Thembalethu Ministries Newsletter Sep-Oct2009.

Posted 3 Nov 2009

Spring is here with us brightening our spirits laden with the challenges of the ministry. We joyfully salute all our friends, supporters and donors for enthusiastically walking all the way with us…

Speak Out Against Persecution: October update.

Posted 23 October 2009

The latest SOAP update features news of India, Bangladesh, China, Somalia, Iran, Indonesia…

Church goes green.

Blue Mtns Gazette 21 Oct 2009

Springwood-Winmalee Anglican Church (SWAC) will save 96,0000 litres of water each year when it installs rainwater tanks at two of its main buildings. Read more…

Isesomo returns from preaching tour.

12 Oct 2009

The trip was too long…we preached…we distributed bibles…we crossed the Congo river to Congo-Brazzaville where most of the christians are refugees from Rwanda. Read more…

Whybrows at Hillston: news update and prayer requests.

21 Sep 2009

Visit to Ivanhoe, diocesan conference, latest news from Hillston. Read more…

Changes at SWAC.

13 Sep 2009

Senior Pastor Graham Crew announces that he will leave Springwood-Winmalee and move to Gymea in March 2010. Read more…

Thembalethu Ministries Newsletter Jun-Aug2009.

Posted 5 Sep 2009

Thembalethu Ministriues are greatly indebted to all supporters who continue partnering with us in our outreach to the homeless…

Keiran's Kapers #2.

Posted August 2009

Hello and welcome to another edition of Keirans Kapers. And boy has it been the busiest 4 months of my life!…

Boys2Men Ministries.

Posted August 2009

Creating and supporting great Gospel ministry to Boys and Men…

Speak Out Against Persecution: June update.

Posted 14 August 2009

The latest SOAP update features news of Somalia, Eritrea, Vietnam, China, Pakistan, Burma and Sri Lanka…

SWAC visit to Melville Union Church.

Posted 13 August 2009

SWAC pastor Graham Crew will visit our partner church in Johannesburg South Africa…

Brass for Africa update.

Posted 13 August 2009

Aussie money helps evangelism to DRC soldiers; new archbishop consecration…

Introducing Charles Niyungeko.

Posted 21 June 2009

Charles Niyungeko is studying at Carlile College in Kenya, supported by Overseas Council. Overseas Council is a SWAC link mission in 2009…

Even Prisoners Deserve to Hear of Jesus Love!.

Posted 17 June 2009

Photos and news from Isesomo about recent preaching to prisoners in DRC…

Greetings from Zambia from Team Sampson.

15 June 2009

Well Robert Spackman, Michael and Aaron Sampson have all arrived safely in Zambia. We are all tired little Vegemites and the power has gone out so I thought I would throw a little document whilst the laptop battery still had charge in it…

Keiran Sampson.

Posted 30 April 2009

The latest information from Keiran Sampson studying the Mission Aviation Course in Melbourne…

CountryServe Newsletter April 2009 .

28 April 2009

April 2009 Newsletter from Neil & June Prott…

Evangelism among soldiers.

Posted 15 April 2009

Photos from Isesomo…

Ministry moves in April: Mission man moves on.

Sydney Anglicans 10 April 2009

Les Gray, mission executive for the Sydney Diocese, finishes up on April 3…

Church lends support to Burmese orphans.

Blue Mountains Gazette 8 April 2009

Members of Springwood/Winmalee Anglican Church are busy preparing for their annual garage sale which raises much-needed money for orphans in Burma…

News from Isesomo: prayer needs.

Posted 3 April 2009

Isesomo writes about recent and upcoming activites, asks for our prayer support…

Keiran's Kapers #1.

Posted 22 March 2009

Keiran Sampson (WNC) is currently studying at the Mission Aviation Course run jointly by the Bible College of Victoria & Mission Aviation Fellowship. Read his first newsletter [PDF]…

Solicitor joins Federal bench.

Blue Mountains Gazette 11 February 2009

Longtime Springwood resident and SWAC member David Dunkley has swapped life as a local solicitor for the demanding role of Federal Magistrate after being appointed to the bench late last year…

Big Day In: Connect 09 launch.

10 February 2009

Listen to or watch Archbishop Peter Jensen talk on A Great City and a Great God at the Big Day In, the launch of Connect 09…

Speak Out Against Persecution: February update.

6 February 2009

News about persecution of Christians in Uganda/Congo, India, Iraq, Gaza, Bangladesh…

Homegrown heroes.

Penrith Press 27 January 2009

Two letters on the end of their names now symbolise Graham and Wendy Toulmin's decades of service to international humanitarian aid…

Graham and Wendy Toulmin honoured in Australia Day awards.

Brass for Africa 26 January 2009

Graham and Wendy Toulmin are jointly awarded Member of the Order of Australia for dental health services and pastoral care to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo…

Toulmins trumpeted with Aussie Honour.

Sydney Anglicans 26 January 2009

In an unusual move, Wendy and Graham Toulmin have been jointly awarded the Member of Order of Australia, recognising over 20 years of services provided to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).…

Keiran Sampson flying to mission course.

23 January 2009

Join us at Winmalee Anglican Church building to commission Keiran commencing the Mission Aviation Course…

Lower Blue Mountains Neighbourhood Survey: final results.

19 January 2009

Our church is seeking to better understand and connect more with our community. This is the final summary of the survey of religious & spiritual views…

Update from Goma.

10 December 2008

On 30 November, Malcolm and Elizabeth Richards report that life in Goma is returning to normal. But Pastor Desire Mukanirwa Kadorho was organising the distribution of food—beans and maize flour—to the internally displaced persons…

Lower Blue Mountains Neighbourhood Survey.

28 November 2008

Our church is seeking to better understand and connect more with our community. This is a summary so far of the survey of religious & spiritual views. If you would like to take part in the survey then just download it from this site and email it back to us…

Gunfire cleared the brain.

22 November 2008

This is a brief account of the Langham Preaching training programme in Goma, the centre of unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as told by Muhindo Isesomo, and two Langham facilitators, Gordon Woolard and Mike McGowan. The training began on Monday, and so did the gunfire…

Humanitarian crisis in DR Congo.

12 November 2008

Horrible images of Congolese fleeing villages and Goma in North Kivu Province, Eastern Congo, by fear of being killed by Rwandese troops and militias led by Laurent Nkunda…

Andrew in Africa--Matching words with actions.

12 December 2008 update

A common topic of debate in Christian circles is 'evangelism and social action'…

Andrew Robinson wins silver; Sydneyanglicans win website gold.

Southern Cross November 2008

SWAC's Andrew Robinson and Sydneyanglicans' Jeremy Halcrow won silver for "Why Aussie men hate church" in the top writing category – Best Feature. Sydneyanglicans.net has won gold for the best website at the 2008 Australasian Religious Press (ARPA) Awards…

New model for women a work in progress.

Southern Cross November 2008

Vicki Brasington has been Springwood-Winmalee Anglican Church’s paid women’s and outreach pastor for the past 10 years…

Andrew in Africa--Summer comes at last.

10 October 2008 update

Last night was the rain poured down on my tin roof…

FeNaClNG in Karratha.

04 August 2008 update

I'm sitting in Les Gaulton's office with a nice breeeze blowing in from the south, and the temp will be a sunny 27 again today…

Gone FeNaClNG!

29 July 2008 update

Tomorrow a team from SWAC heads to Karratha in WA for a week of mission, including the annual FeNaClNG festival…

Andrew in Africa--Full immersion or sprinkling?

17 July 2008 update

Getting wet at winter conference…

Connect prayer proves powerful.

6 June 2008 sydneyanglicans.net

As part of Connect 09 strategy, Winmalee's senior assistant minister, the Rev Rob Powell and his family have already.…

Mountains man heads for hills.

2 July 2008 sydneyanglicans.net

Mountains church planter Craig Schafer will face a new challenge in the coming week as he makes the Hills his home.…

Andrew Schmidt new pastor in 2009.

9 November 2008

Pastor of Arvo Church and Valley Heights Community Church 2009…

Lindsay and Lyn Whybrow in Hillston: latest news.

6 November 2008

Lindsay and Lyn moved to Hillston in February 2007 to assist in the ministry to the Anglican church…

Andrew Robinson wins silver; Sydneyanglicans win website gold.

Southern Cross November 2008

New model for women a work in progress.

Southern Cross November 2008

Vicki Brasington has been Springwood-Winmalee Anglican Church’s paid women’s and outreach pastor for the past 10 years…

Andrew in Africa--Summer comes at last.

10 October 2008 update

Last night was the rain poured down on my tin roof…

FeNaClNG in Karratha.

04 August 2008 update

I'm sitting in Les Gaulton's office with a nice breeeze blowing in from the south, and the temp will be a sunny 27 again today…

Gone FeNaClNG!

29 July 2008 update

Tomorrow a team from SWAC heads to Karratha in WA for a week of mission, including the annual FeNaClNG festival…

Andrew in Africa--Full immersion or sprinkling?

17 July 2008 update

Getting wet at winter conference…

Mountains man heads for hills.

2 July 2008 sydneyanglicans.net

Mountains church planter Craig Schafer will face a new challenge in the coming week as he makes the Hills vhis home.…

Connect prayer proves powerful.

6 June 2008 sydneyanglicans.net

As part of Connect 09 strategy, Winmalee rector, the Rev Rob Powell and his family have already seen a child from their street come to church after praying for their neighbours over dinner…

Andrew in Africa--winter in Jozi.

5 June 2008 update

I woke up this morning and I couldn't see the Brixton tower at all. It was like someone had photoshopped it out of the sky…

Meet our street champions.

12 May 2008 Sydney Anglicans

Springwood Anglican Church has become the first parish in Sydney to launch a "Street Champions" scheme…

No fair share.

5 May 2008 Southern Cross

There is evidence that a church-based fair trade movement is germinating in Sydney, thanks to two other former CMS missionaries, Grant and Mignonne Murray, who operate the Fairtrade online store Tribes and Nations…

Craig Schafer appointed Senior Pastor at Pennant Hills.

2 May 2008

Craig Schafer has accepted the Archbishop of Sydney's offer to be the next Senior Pastor of St Mark's Pennant Hills. His last Sunday with us will be 29th June…

Zimbabwe asks Anglicans for prayer.

25 Apr 2008 Your Sydney Anglicans

As a World Day of Prayer for Zimbabwe was announced, Sydney Anglican Andrew Robinson spoke to a Zimbabwean student…

Seniors recognition awards 2008.

17 Apr 2008 Blue Mountains City Council

Congratulations to Audrey Simpson, Kath Hammond, Marlene Short and John Cawley who were recent recipients of the BMCC Seniors Week Awards in recognition of their contributions to the wellbeing of Seniors in our Community…

Jumble sales supports orphans.

16 Apr 2008 Blue Mountains Gazette

When Betty Russell heard a talk by a Burmese Orphanage worker and Springwood Anglican Church in 2001 she was spurred into action.…

Kiwis serve country NSW.

2 April 2008

Four New Zealand farmers found about CountryServe on our website. They are now in Australia to visit and support farmers in country NSW…

Andrew Robinson on Load-shedding, Zuma, Zim and racism.

1 April 2008 update

Well, I'm back in South Africa and life is just as hectic as it ever was…

Good Friday Celebration 2008.

21 Mar 2008

Over 500 people from all Springwood-Winmalee-Valley Heights congregations joined together in the Ministry Centre to celebrate Good Friday 2008 and to remember Jesus' great gift to humankind.…

Preachers Clubs Undergo Training in Francophone Africa?

January 2008 Langham Partnership

Muhindo Isesomo, country coordinator for the DR Congo, has realized firsthand the unique needs for the pastors in this area. The political unrest and lack of transportation have made it difficult to organize any training other than that conducted locally, by local pastors.…

No time for long term mission?.

8 January 2008 your.sydney.anglicans.net

Genuine Christians are always going to look a little weird. It's not normal to spend your hard-earned cash on or your precious time…

Diary of a ministry trainee — #12.

6 December 2007 Southern Cross

My (wonderful) year in the eye of a storm
It's summer again in Jo'burg. The streets of the northern suburbs are awash today with fragments of leaves, pummeled ruthlessly from the trees in yesterday's hailstorm.

Diary of a ministry trainee — #11.

12 November 2007 Southern Cross

A question that's big in South Africa at the moment is this: which language should we do our Christianity in?

Diary of a ministry trainee — #10.

15 October 2007 Southern Cross

On fire. Not for the gospel. Just on fire
I was very surprised to arrive home this week to find that my house had burnt down…

Diary of a ministry trainee — #9.

17 September 2007 Southern Cross

"So, you're a missionary then?" People often asked me this question back in Australia, and I was never quite sure how to answer. It's…

Finding out who Jesus would vote for.

5 September 2007 Blue Mountains Gazette

It's a general rule for Aussie blokes at a barbecue that you don't talk about religion or politics…

Diary of a ministry trainee — #8.

1 September 2007 Southern Cross

I recently spent a week on holiday with some friends near the little town of Port St Johns. We visited the local Anglican Church of the Epiphany on the Sunday. There was a noticeable absence of men…

Song soothes dry drought.

30 Aug 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

Sydney Anglicans eschew hip hop. Are we right to avoid its crude and criminally inspired lyrics, or is it a sign that we're not reaching a large subculture within our community? Springwood Anglican Jesse Gardiner shares his insight…

What I know about missing the beat—Jesse Gardiner.

27 Aug 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

So Quiet— Steve Morrison.

1 Aug 2007 Southern Cross

Former SWAC member Steve Morrison is well known in local circles, both as an Anglican minister as well as an accomplished Jazz musician…

Diary of a ministry trainee — August.

30 July 2007 Southern Cross

Often because South Africa seems quite similar to Australia on the surface — glittering shopping malls, freeways, detached houses, gum trees and barbecues — you forget how different it is…

Diary of a ministry trainee — July.

1 July 2007 Southern Cross

I have given myself a new title: job creator. Well, attempted job creator…

Investing for the future.

11 June 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

Stuart Brooking from Winmalee writes: The high costs of raising up missionaries means mission-minded Westerners might be better staying home and funding overseas theological…

Diary of a ministry trainee — June.

1 June 2007 Southern Cross

Just the other day I was arrested. Arrested, handcuffed, and locked in a cell…

Diary of a ministry trainee #4 — May.

1 May 2007 Southern Cross

It's rainy and dark and I've just walked home after dropping my friend Dave on the Kingsway to get a taxi home…

Fair trade fortnight challenges churches.

26 Apr 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

When Fair Trade fortnight begins this Sunday the challenge will be laid down for Christians to think about who produces their coffee,…

Debating Dawkins' Delusion.

9 Apr 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

As Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion tops sales lists worldwide, and questions about the existence of God and the relevance of Christianity re-emerge on society's agenda, Sydney Anglicans are boldly responding to criticisms of the truth of the gospel. But are staged debates the best way to convince non-believers of Christian truths? Are non-believers actually listening to the Christian response? Are Christians answering the right questions?

Diary of a ministry trainee #3.

27 Mar 2007 Southern Cross

Three mornings a week at 8am I stumble through the gate into the churchyard and walk into the Johannesburg Bible College.

Schools breathe life into Mission.

25 Mar 2007 Southern Cross

Churches run in partnership with Anglican school plants are growing fast by exclusively drawing on an unchurched population. Can a parish plant a school-based church without at least an equal partnership with the host school? An experimental church run by Springwood-Winmalee Anglican Church is testing the boundaries of the existing strategy.

Mountains offers drought assistance.

9 Mar 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

A retired clergyman and 35 Springwood-Winmalee Anglicans will leave for the country today to visit drought-affected families in Forbes.

The new (but somewhat greyer) face of ministry.

27 Feb 2007 Southern Cross

A radical new layer of ministry called the 'permanent diaconate' meant a few more grey hairs were spotted at this year's bumper ordination service. Geoff Robson and Jeremy Halcrow explain.

A little goes a long way.

27 Feb 2007 Penrith Press

It might have been one too many tough men crying in front of him. Whatever it was, Springwood Winmalee Anglican Church minister Neil Prott "couldn't keep witnessing the pain out there without doing something about it'".

Why church musos are brassed off.

24 Feb 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

Graham Toulmin writes: In the last 10 years or so, my wife Wendy and I, with nearly 40 years involvement in Christian music, have noticed that, more and more young and not so young players of transposing* instruments ( that is trumpets, saxes, clarinets etc) have stopped taking part in church services. They have not dropped out of church but just disappeared from the music teams of all the congregations in our church. Southern Cross posed the question, 'why is this so?'

Comfort for farmers.

22 Feb 2007 Penrith Press

Springwood Winmalee Anglican Church will distribute food parcels and pastoral care to drought-stricken farmers in the Parkes region through Operation Countryserve 2007
View photo.

Diary of a ministry trainee #2.

12 Feb 2007 Southern Cross

Andrew Robinson reflects on his first week of short-term mission in Johannesburg - the trees, the kids, the gun-safes.

Diary of a ministry trainee #1.

29 Jan 2007 Southern Cross

Andrew Robinson is writing a monthly column about his experience with Melville Union Church in Johannesburg

Five reasons men hate church.

29 Jan 2007 Southern Cross

Springwood's Fatherhood Project is one approach to make church relevant to men

Fresh starts in ministry for 2007.

22 Jan 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

Neil Atwood moves to Springwood after 30 years full time lay ministry

Mission trips: holy holidays?.

15 Jan 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

Are short term missions just holy holidays?

Premium coffee and prostitutes help CMS.

2 Jan 2007 your.sydneyanglicans.net

About Grant and Mignonne Murray's fair trade coffee at 2007 CMS Summer School

Carols done mountains style.

26 Dec 2006 your.sydneyanglicans.net

Springwood community carols reached out to 500 people on a wet December 2006 day

Gen Y gives up beach for God.

7 Nov 2006 your.sydneyanglicans.net

Record numbers of young people are expected to give up lazy days at the beach this summer to train for Christian ministry. Anglican Youthworks has booked out both of the Youthworks' campsites by the Shoalhaven River from January 22-27 for its annual Leaders in Training (LiT) conference. Lillian Wright, 15, from Springwood…

The frontline in Congo's AIDS war .

1 Aug 2006 Southern Cross

Widespread gang rape as part of the DRC's civil war has intensified the AIDS pandemic and left the Anglican Church as the last hope.

Medicos shine light on Congo's heart of darkness .

17 Jul 2006 your.sydneyanglicans.net

Two Congolese medical workers attending a Christian conference have shared how they daily deal with pack rape and murder as their homeland suffers through the ravages of civil war.

Go home. your kids need you! .

24 Jul 2006 your.sydneyanglicans.net

Hard-working dad, Peter Morison, admits that he has been 'shaken up' by Bible-based workshops on how to be a better father run by his church, Springwood Anglican. "It's shaken me up a bit to think about the time I spend with my kids," he says. "It was said that if…

Spirituality day inspires theft and faith .

22 Nov 2005 your.sydneyanglicans.net

It is clear Springwood Anglican's Spirituality Day, inspired by the popularity of Mind/Body/Spirit events with the Mountains community, has tapped a raw nerve with many locals. So much so that the beautiful banner promoting a day of massage therapy, aromatherapy, women's health and jewellery-making, was stolen from the middle of…

Missos bring ethics to the back pocket .

8 September 2005 your.sydneyanglicans.net

From their garage in Springwood, two former CMS missionaries hope to transform the way Australians shop. This month, Grant and Mignonne Murray, who spent six years living and working in rural Tanzania, are launching a fair-trade company called Tribes & Nations. "Firstly we want to educate people about being 'fair'…

Beautiful wheels keep missionaries moving.

31 January 2004 Southern Cross

David Burn and 'Missionary Motors' are helping to provide the crucial motorised support for missionaries to conduct the local arm of their ministry.…