The following end times scholars: Chris White, Charles Cooper, Alan Hultberg, David Rosenthal, Ryan Habbena, and Alan Kurschner unite to produce this excellent video – Seven Pretribulation Problems and the Prewrath Rapture. You can watch this film as a whole or in parts. The individual parts pages below also have written transcripts available on https://7pretribproblems.com/7-problems/
You need to settle this issue so that you are prepared for the coming tribulation which will occur before Jesus returns to rule and reign on this earth with a “rod of iron”. God set up the nation of Israel to be His nation on earth to accomplish His purposes. During the Millennial reign of Jesus from a completely restored/restructured Jerusalem, God’s purposes for Israel will be finally realised. Satan is bound in the Abyss during Jesus 1000 year reign so it is reasonable to assume that there will be a great harvest of souls during this period. Sadly, at the end of the thousand years Satan is released from the Abyss and Scripture reveals that he is still able to get an enormous army to come against Jesus and the resurrected saints who are ruling and reigning with Him. The fact that we are told Jesus needs to rule and reign with a “rod of iron” tells us that people will still rebel against Jesus ruling according God’s commandments.
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10
Over 100 prominent evangelical leaders who attended the fourth night of the Republican National Convention where President Trump accepted the party’s nomination for a second term were met with fiery threats from rioters while leaving the White House grounds, and even attendees — including older adults and those with disabilities that were also reportedly attacked as well.
Jesus told us that in the last days before His return to earth to rule and reign with a rod of iron. “ because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12
Democrat supporters. The party of empathy. Throwing two middle fingers in the face of an old lady walking
Freedom advocate and founder of the KAIROS Company who also attended the speech told The Christian Post that he experienced the riots firsthand. “Violent provocateurs waited for us (and others) outside the White House gates in the city’s jurisdiction, at nearly midnight,” Moore recalled.
“Rather than succeeding at intimidating us with their vicious threats of violence, expletives, blasphemous slogans, hatred, and intolerance they simply proved the very points the president made in his speech. I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. What’s awful is that the very thing this does is take away the voice of peaceful protesters, whom we want to hear.”
We are never too old to be a true disciple of Christ, i.e. a disciple who makes more disciples. Listen to the amazing testimony of this Dutch couple who are now living the Christian life and bringing others to Christ. They are excited about what God is doing and will do each day. They are energised, happy, joyful and could not go back to the old church life that they lived for 44 years. You will be challenged by their testimony and hopefully it will cause you to follow their lead and connect with the The Last Reformation (TLR).
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, a rising star in the Republican party, claimed during an interview with CBN’s David Brody that during conference calls with fellow governors around the country she heard a palpable fear that she believes controlled and clouded much of their subsequent decision making. At the 3:05 minute mark in the below clip, Noem addresses a question about the lock downs we’ve seen around the country and explained why she refused to do so in South Dakota.
“We’ve done better than virtually any other state in the nation,” Noem said in defense of her approach, which was criticized by proponents of stricter measures. Measures, she believes, were not based on fear rather than rational or constitutional decision making.
Noem explained to Brody. “I was shocked and amazed at how fear controlled people and how emotional that they were.
To me it indicated that in this country we’ve lost faith. And the steadfast promise of God’s faithfulness in our life every day has real consequences. If you don’t have that in your life then your emotions and fear can control you and make you not have the discernment and wisdom you need in a time of crisis.”
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:26-28
In my capacity as the 8th Prime Minister of our Nation, people of Papua New Guinea– today I, JAMES MARAPE stand here before God and his people with an overarching thought which permeates my spirit “THAT A NATION WHO FEARS THE LORD GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, SHALL BE BLESSED”.
In my heart, I know that the event of this day marks, not just a National Occasion in our National Calendar but a GRAND OCCASION. I emphasize – It is a grand occasion, because, today marks a day on which our Nation invokes the Creator of all things, to intervene in our National affairs.
OUR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND DEPENDENCE SPEAKS OF US ACKNOWLEDGING GOD OF ISRAEL AS OUR STRENGTH AGAINST OUR ENEMIES, SOURCE OF SUSTENANCE AND ORIGIN OF OUR VERY EXISTENCE. Therefore, the value of this occasion is far too greater than every other occasion on our National Calendar.
My brothers and sisters, this day is different in that it is not a National Public Holiday – rather it is a solemn day of our people coming together in unison, to BOW BEFORE GOD IN HUMILITY AND PRAYER, seeking His forgiveness, love and direction in a turbulent time of confusion, fear and panic. As leaders in the public domain, occasions and event are our norms – BUT, I do not take such as event of this VALUE and greatness today, lightly.
Today, the Nation of Papua New Guinea rises in one voice, reaffirming our deepest convictions regarding fundamental issues which matter most to us as a Nation.
Prime Minister James Marape leading church leaders in greeting the crowd at the Sir John Guise Stadium on Aug 26 for National Day of Prayer and Repentance address.
As you all know – we have declared our intension to “Take Back our Nation and make it the richest Christian Nation on Earth”. The occasion today is GRAND because I stand here with this vision – seeking God’s wisdom, His strength and direction that He may establish His eternal will and purpose for us as a Nation just as He prayed – THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH OR IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
Brothers and Sisters, this DAY must not be confused with our TRADITIONAL DAYS OF WORSHIP.This is the NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND REPENTANCE – declared and gazetted by the Government of Papua New Guinea, therefore, I, as the Prime Minister of our Nation– stand here today, not as an invited Guest to a Church meeting. Rather, I stand here today as the Chief Executing Officer of the Government of Papua New Guinea, Paying Homage and Tribute to the King of the Universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, invoking His unmerited Favour and Grace upon my Government for the sake of His Name and for the sake of His own People of this blessed nation.
So, I stand to Offer to our KING, the Highest Order of Protocol by leading and officiating this Prayer Occasion with a higher purpose to cause the People of our Land to come with me to stand before our God in Solemn Prayer and declaration of our collective faith without fear, intimidation and shame.
I stand today before our God, to call on our mothers, our fathers, our sisters and our brothers, our girls and our boys including our substances and our possessions, our visitors and friends from other Nations, to pause for a moment with me, to acknowledge THE MOST HIGH GOD OF THE UNIVERSE – the God of Israel, who is now our GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Distinguished worshippers, brothers and sisters,
I take this occasion as a Servant of the Most High God, appointed and mandated by Grace, in His season and timing, to be His Mouth Piece and His Instrument, to unleash a message that is un-quenchably burning and fiercely yearning in the heart of every genuine Citizen of our Land. I must state from the outset, that I have ONE BUSINESS that I must complete, for which I had made it vehemently clear on the day I took Office as the Prime Minister.
For this reason, I was born and raised, and for which I am prepared to sacrifice and forego everything that the World could Offer – And it is the message of our unshakable, inerasable heritage, crafted by the Hand of God, meticulously and miraculously, giving us our NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, our very IDENTITY and our priceless gift of NATIONAL UNITY.
The National Day of Prayer IS THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT of our National Calendar, which symbolizes this special blend of National Sovereignty, under which 864 known language groups of our Land are gloriously WOVEN into ONE UNITED PEOPLE, ONE NATION. We truly are the Unite Nation on Earth – the United Tribes of Paradisia.
Ladies and Gentlemen – listen to my words attentively and carefully. I came today to discuss without any apology, the very spirit of our Sovereign State, the very being of our Nationhood. We are not just another collection of people aggregated into particular geographical location, demarcated by a political boundary. We are put here by design, not by fluke or by an evolutionary chance.
This is what I have come to announce and discuss with you on this solemn occasion. The message is very simple and clear, yet so deeply profound, that it is impossible to be resisted, stopped or destroyed. The World would desire so much to know “how such a difficult and diverse people, trapped in rugged terrains and scattered atolls, could be brought together as one people.
How could any Leader possibly carve a Nation out of an extremely fragmented tribal People? What really was the undercurrent power that worked day and night to aggregate a greatly diverse people into one Nation? What power indeed colonized our people and created a Modern PNG?
Today, I came to discuss these questions and reaffirm the answer. The Answer that I came to deliver today is coded wonderfully in these few words that I have thoughtfully selected: IT WAS OUR COLONIAL MASTERS THAT GAVE US INDEPENDENCE, (and we thank God for them) BUT – LISTEN TO ME – IT WAS THE WORD OF GOD THAT MADE US, IT WAS THE BIBLE THAT MADE PAPUA NEW GUINEA – IT WAS GOD WHO GAVE US OUR IDENTITY AND ESTABLISHED OUR NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND OUR MODERN HISTORY.
Therefore, today we came together to reaffirm our faith and declare in unison, that our nationhood hangs entirely and safely on our Faith in God as our Creator, Jesus Christ as God’s only Begotten Son and our Saviour and the Bible as the infallible Word of God, which are the fundamentals of our common Christian Faith, that made us who we are. We came today to trumpet this message through out our Land and “shout again for the whole World to hear” who we are. We are here with this intend and purpose.
I am overly delighted today to know that the Preamble to our Constitution acknowledges the “GUIDING HAND OF GOD” who led this Nation of a thousand tribes, 864 known different languages and cultures to be stitched into one independent Sovereign State.
Lest we forget, this Solemn Occasion today tells the story of how a greatly fragmented nation on Earth with a 1000 tribes, was meticulously woven into One Single Nation! Our Nation is one of the last “Wonders of the World” – so greatly divided geographically, culturally and linguistically, yet so miraculously stitched into One People. This is out timeless gift from the Lord through the work of the early Missionaries.
Therefore, LEST WE FORGET, this occasion today also marks a solemn moment to reflect on the selfless sacrifices that the earlier Missionaries and our pioneering converts made – to give us our National Identity and our Unity that is solidly founded on the Word of God.
It was the work of the early missionaries and the early converts with the Word of God in their hands, who made the biggest and profound difference in our modern history. The missionaries and our local pioneering Church Leaders with the Message of Salvation, Love, and Forgiveness, were the frontiers and undercurrent power that worked tirelessly day and night making untold sacrifices.
It was the work of the early Christian Churches that laid the Foundation for our Unification well before we were given Independence in1975. Today, we came together to remind ourselves, that this is an inerasable part of our national history which transcends our diversity and inspires our shared history as one people.
The early political parties such as PANGU Pati undoubtedly rode on the waves that were created by the Power of the Gospel, to unite our Nation. It is therefore fitting also that the PANGU PATI, which led the fragmented Nation into independence, riding on that wave, will yet again, after 40 years, under my leadership, consolidate the true and timeless Foundation of our National Sovereignty, our Identity and our Unity.
Today, we came together to reflect on the Power that made us. Many of us are products of the early Missionaries. If not all, a vast majority of learned Papua New Guineans today were impacted by the Church and the Church-run Schools one way or another. All our founding leaders were trained, coached and mentored by early Missionaries. Many current leaders are sons of either missionaries or Pastors or church workers. One of them is standing before you today to speak to you.
We are here today, also to remind ourselves of work of our Founding Fathers who, under the guiding Hand of God thoughtfully constructed our Constitution, directed the citizens of this Nation to “GUARD AND PASS ON TO THOSE WHO COME AFTER US OUR “NOBLE TRADITIONS” AND THE “CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES” THAT ARE OURS”.
Drawing from, and giving effect to, the Moral Foundation laid in the Preamble of our Constitution, the Founder Father of our Nation, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, officially dedicated our Nation to God on this Day, in 2007, and declared it a “National Day of Prayer. On this occasion, as the 8th Prime Minister of PNG, I want to pay special tribute to our Founding Father for laying the Foundation correct, for the succeeding generations to build on.
On this note, I must also acknowledge the significant event which took place on 31st of July 2015. On that day, our leaders on the Floor of Parliament, unanimously passed a Motion to place the Antique 400 King James Bible in the Chamber of our National Parliament. My predecessor, Hon. Peter O’Neil declared the BIBLE the “NATIONAL TREASURE” of Papua New Guinea.
Honourable Peter O’Neill, willingly accepted the Antique Bible before a sea of People at Jackson Airport on 27th April 2015 and further directed the Bible to be placed in Parliament by a motion, introduced by the Governor of Southern Highlands, Honourable William Powi, representing the Prime Minster, for which, I pay tribute, on behalf of the People of Papua New Guinea.
This action is of historical significant, reaffirming our collective and undeniable resolve as a full-pledged Christian Nation on Earth. It is a symbolic act which recognizes PNG as a Bible believing nation. It is a symbolic act which acknowledges the great work of missionaries in uniting the country into one Nation through the preaching of the Bible.
It is a significant symbolic act that will go down in history and long remembered for many generations to come because the Bible stand above all development models and belief systems as the source of our Nation Identity and our National Unity. It signifies our resolve that the Principles of the Bible must influence policies for long term development of our Nation as reflected in Strategic Pillar 6 of our Vision 2050.
If there is ONE task yet to be executed on our National Journey: that is to formalize our resolve by an Act of Parliament to DECLARE PNG A CHRISTIAN NATION and protect the Bible as a symbol of our Christian faith and our National Treasure. It is my commitment today to work with the Church and our People to ensure that we achieve this goal.
To this end, today, I announce to the Nation that my Cabinet has approved a Law to go before Parliament to OFFICIALLY DECLARE “PNG A CHRISTIAN NATION”.
God’s People of Papua New Guinea, I request you today to join me in acknowledging God’s Grace and his faithfulness upon our Nation, by ensuring that this Law is passed on the Floor of Parliament.
Drawing from the strength of the Christian Church and the declarations of the former Prime Ministers, I stand today, to commit myself to this one cause – to introduce this Law on the Floor of Parliament to capture and protect the historical heritage of our Faith, and to declare that we shall always seek God’s guidance for our development and direction. I represent our collective view that Papua New Guinea is made up of a thousand nations within a nation.
We are culturally and linguistically diverse. The natural divisions are obvious. The risk of disintegration is real. Unless we, as a nation, can quickly identify and embrace a common ideology as the basis of our National Unity for our common good, we are threatened by dangerous external forces and competing ideas that are detrimental to our Christian heritage which is the source of our democratic strength.
PNG as a member of the global community, is open to competing ideas that have the potential to destroy our unity, our identity, our Christian values and Constitutional democracy. How can we craft a thousand tribes into a single nation? What will be the basis to unite this nation – the common ideal? I have a moral duty to protect that which is near and dear to the very fabric our people’s survival as a Nation. You and I are presented with a moral responsibility to build this nation on the sure Principles of the Word of God as the historical roots of our National Unity as it provides the only common ideals.
Therefore, let us all as a united and peaceful Papua New Guinea, as one people, take heed to God’s Word and act accordingly as leaders and citizens to keep proclaiming our well founded motto: “One Nation and One People” founded solidly on the sure Word of God. This is the undeniable truth about us and our proud and the lasting legacy to pass on to the next generation.
In Conclusion:
Today, I am privileged to also announce that, after this program, we will proceed to the Boulevard in front of the National Parliament to Launched a Monument called National Identify and Unity Pillar, that symbolically captures the history of our journey to sovereignty and nationhood, which I have just explained.
The fundament truth that I have echoed today, must be inscribed on every monument and tablet, lest we forget. It must be written in every book and institutionalized in every school curriculum. This truth, our heritage, must be preached, taught and passed on from one generation to another. It must be heralded from the Mountain to the sea….it must be trumpeted again and again for the whole to hear, lest we forget the power that made our Modern Papua New Guinea.
Therefore, the UNITY PILLAR, which I will officiate the LAUNCHING CEREMONY shortly after this program, is a physical embodiment of our sacred and precious national history, which must be practically represented and declared, for ourselves and for the whole world to know that we are a Christian Nation. I am compelled by our short but yet a profound history, to begin the process of rebuilding and restoring our nation founded on CHRIST the Solid Rock. The Foundation Stone of the Unity Pillar has been cut out of a precious gem Stone known as Jasper, which is described in the Book of Revelation Chapter 21 and Verse 19, as First Foundation Stone of the walls of the City of New Jerusalem.
Ladies and Gentlemen, on this precious germ stone, symbolically representing our National Foundation, shall be written the timeless Words from the First Book of Corinthians Chapter 3 Verse 11 which shall read: “FOR OTHER FOUNDATIONS CAN NO MAN LAY THAN THAT IS LAID, WHICH IS CHRIST JESUS”. This is the sum total – the consummation of our short historical journey and direction that we must take into the future.
Brothers and sisters, as we leave this place, with this message of our National Identity and Unity, which provides the justification for declaring PNG a Christian Nation, May the Lord bless and keep us. May His Face shine on us and give us His Peace. May the Lord of the Bible, who united us and gave us our National Identity as a Christian Nation, strengthen our Faith against all forces of darkness. May our heart continue to glow and radiate the SPIRIT OF UNITY though the love of God, His life, His Vision and His Direction for PNG — and that the World may know that God has given no other Name under heaven, by who humanity shall be saved EXCEPT CHRIST and HIM ALONE. This this End, I vow to commit myself. Amen.
David Wood, who himself has an amazing testimony, check it out on my previous post titled “Only God Can Convert a Psychopath”, does a great job interviewing a Muslim and a Muslim convert. It was good to see and hear this Muslim convert, Sam Shamoun who is well conversed with both the Bible and the Quran.
This section starts with Dr. Shuaib Sayyed (speaker for the Islamic Research Foundation and Peace TV) faces Sam Shamoun as they address Dr. Sayyed’s arguments for the prophet-hood of Muhammad.
The 2020 Republican National Convention was planned around the theme “Land of Opportunity,” but it was faith in God, religious freedom and the pro-life movement that stole the spotlight.
When we the people elected Donald Trump. The people of faith suddenly had a fierce advocate in the White House,” Cissie Graham Lynch added. “He appointed judges who respect the First Amendment. He supported religious beliefs in court. He ensured that religious ministries would not be forced to violate their beliefs. He reversed the policies that placed our little girls at risk,” she continued. “And on the world stage, President Trump became the first president to talk about the importance of religious freedom at the United Nations, giving hope to people around the world,” Lynch said. “In America, we have not experienced physical persecution even though the left has tried to silence us.”
The convention also highlighted the need for the protection of the unborn. Pro-life advocate Abby Johnson told her personal story about how she worked in a Planned Parenthood clinic, rising to the job of abortion clinic director. Her story is told in a book and a movie titled “Unplanned.”
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7).
Sadly, many churches are turning away from the true gospel of repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Saviour, They have compromised with the world’s values – gay marriage, even acceptance of transgender leaders. There are many who deny Jesus is the only way to inherit eternal life.
The following Scriptures describe their fate.
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2 Peter 2:1-2).
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:13-15).
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (2 Peter 3:7)
The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; but you, O LORD, are on high forever. For behold, your enemies, O LORD, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. (Psalms 92:6-9)
“The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked He will destroy.” (Psalms 145:20)
“But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.” (Psalms 37:20)
Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. but transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.” (Psalms 37:37-38)
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:7-9)
WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT
God’s Word is truth: we will all stand before Jesus Christ and be judged for what we have done with our lives on earth. Even the saved, who are raised in the first resurrection, rewards will be given to those who have served faithfully. The unsaved will be raised at the second resurrection and face Jesus Christ at the White Throne Judgement. Their fate is in the Lake of Fire where punishment and eventual destruction, as the above Scriptures describe, is their end.
“Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime.”
Those were the words of Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who spoke during the opening night of the 2020 Republican National Convention.
The senator was referring to his grandfather, who would have turned 99 years old Tuesday. Growing up, Scott said, his granddad “had to cross the street if a white person was coming,” adding, “He suffered the indignity of being forced out of school as a third-grader to pick cotton and he never learned to read or write.”
Yet,” Scott continued, “he lived long enough to see his grandson become the first African-American to be elected to both the United States House and the United States Senate in the history of this country. Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime, and that’s why I believe the next American century can be better than the last.”
In a time of such racial unrest in the U.S., Scott’s words were a strong reminder of how far the country has progressed.
He also called on listeners to find the good news, rather than dwelling on the negatives so often put on display by the national news media.
“We live in a world that only wants you to believe in the bad news, racially, economically, and culturally,” Scott said. “The truth is, our nation’s arch always bends back toward fairness. We’re not fully where we want to be, but I thank God Almighty we are not where we used to be. We are always striving to be better. When we stumble — and we will — we pick ourselves back up, and try again.” “We don’t give in to cancel culture or the radical and factually baseless belief that things are worse today than in the 1860s or the 1960s,” he continued. “We have work to do, but I believe in the goodness of America, the promise that all men and all women are created equal, and if you’re watching tonight, I’m betting you do, too.”
Researchers have found Australians say they have been praying more during the COVID-19 crisis, suggesting the pandemic has led many to reassess their priorities in life.
Social researcher Mark McCrindle surveyed 1002 people between July 24 and 28 and found more than a third (35 per cent) said they were praying more and 41 per cent were thinking about God more. A quarter said they were reading the Bible more.
Nearly a half (47 per cent) said they had thought more about their mortality and the meaning of life.
“The research is showing that this COVID situation has rattled Australians and got them thinking about the big purpose of life,” Mr McCrindle said. “It’s got them re-prioritising their life.”
Charles Sturt University Associate Professor Ruth Powell, who studies Australian spirituality said she was not surprised by the survey results. Her own research as director of the National Church Life Survey has shown a third of Australians pray or meditate “in normal times”.
“In this context when a proportion say I think I am praying more …. it’s not surprising if it has been heightened at this time,” she said.“What we know from our own research is that Australians are already moderately religious or spiritual.“It’s often in times of crisis that you do go to the big spiritual questions.”
Macquarie University Professor Marion Maddox, an authority on the intersection of religion and politics, said it was not surprising many people would be thinking more about their spirituality and mortality during an existential crisis.
“The bushfires would have had similar effects of making people think about the meaning and purpose of life or …. questions about environmental concerns and our relationship to the human world,” she said.
“It’s at the same time that churches and places of collective worship are closing, so people aren’t able to gather and do their spiritual reflection as easily together. They can do it online, but it’s not quite the same.”
Anglican Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead said he has received anecdotal feedback that parishioners were reading the Bible and praying more.
“The enforced slow down and isolation of the COVID restrictions have meant that people have been forced to step off the treadmill and realise there is more to life than the endless grind of work and pursuit of material ends,” he said. “It has given people an opportunity to reflect more deeply on what is the ultimate meaning of life and hence to dig into spiritual resources to help answer those kind of questions.
“There is a degree where we are all thinking about our own mortality now and that is forcing a reconnection back to God.”
The Stringer family is no exception, their story is encouraging.
The Stringer family have been praying more during the coronavirus pandemic. Andrew, Lucy, William, Katie and Eleanor – CREDIT: STEVEN SIEWERT. .
Katie Stringer from Leichhardt in Sydney Australia, a teacher and mother of three children aged from 6 to 13, said she and her family had been praying more at home together during the pandemic. They read passages from the Bible during family meals and in the car during school drop-off. Mrs Stringer said the closure of their local Anglican church forced them to “assess their spiritual connection”. “It reminded us our faith is also our responsibility and not just the responsibility of the minister in our church,” she said. “We needed to be proactive in talking to God.”
Catastrophes: Bring them on Lord; if it means people turn back to you.
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 