After 5 years in detention, escaping drug smugglers in Asia and torture in Iran, Christian refugee Amir Mesrinejad tells Southern Cross his amazing story.

As Sydneysiders enjoy the benefits of Labour Day four Sydney Anglicans are weighing into the debate over what effects the proposed industrial relations reforms may have on the lives of Australian Christians and critiquing the coverage that Southern Cross has given to the issue so far.

With Hurricane Katrina fast approaching, holidaying Sydney Anglican Emma Hardwick was bundled into the back of emergency transport and pointed in the direction of the Louisiana Superdome. She had no idea of the hellish conditions she would have to endure for the next five days.

Even before the Diocesan Mission began in 2002, Toongabbie Anglican Church (TAC) has been looking for a way forward - but now is not the time, and this is not the place.

St Michael's Cathedral's decision to build an international hotel on surplus land looks set to pay big dividends, with rental income to pay for costly church repairs and free up funds for new ministries.

Lay training to help evangelism push.

It is no surprise that Rolf and Bonnie Lepelaar are returning as missionaries to Cambodia this month after serving there from 1996 to 2001.

JOSEPH SMITH speaks to Jonathan Aitken, the high-flying British MP, who went to jail and found God.

Hurricane Katrina has proved the effectiveness of faith-based organisations in responding to wide-spread disasters.

The Rector of St Paul’s, Wahroonga, the Rev David Reay admits that the suburb has the reputation of being a wealthy upper north shore locale, but he says that the area varies demographically.

Working with animals may still be a no-no, but working with kids has been a huge success for James Cogswell who helped the Kids Plus kids at St Aidan’s, Annandale make the film The Wise and Foolish Builders which went on to win the ‘Bright Spark Award’ at the Ignite Film Festival last month.

The unexpected death of youth leader James Coulter left no simple answers.

A new feature that informs Christians of those suffering for the gospel around the world.

Let’s follow Don Carson’s lead and steal the best ministry gems from the ‘emerging church’.

Christians must use all three weapons at their disposal – defence, attack and attraction – if they are to speak to a very wary secular culture, argues DR GREG CLARKE, the director for the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education (CASE).

Could relationships in the Anglican Communion be worse?

Our political life is being driven by a rumour-hungry media says Margaret Rodgers.

It is 450 years since Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley died. GORDON CHENG explains why they matter to us today.

What church hasn’t been adversely affected by Sunday sport and Sunday trading? But these are so entrenched, that talk of resisting the Government’s new industrial relations (IR) laws on the basis that Sunday is sacred just seems like rehashing an argument we lost years ago.

Dave Yung has mastered the art of ‘flow’. By ‘flow’ I mean the ability to almost seemlessly move people from gentle first contact to faith in Christ, to discipling, to active involvement in outreach and ministry. Dave is the innovative ‘International Pastor’ at tiny Peninsula Church (PCC) in Pyrmont, where I was previously senior pastor. With risk of grossly over-simplifying what is often a tortuous process, I want to lay out how Dave (with intent) has employed the concept of ‘flow’.

So, John Sandeman in a recent Southern Cross suggests we are defensive about failure, that there should be more stories of failure and more on how not to do things… No problemo there, John. The only question is… how much time have you got?

One of the most important resources we have is our human resources. And I don’t just mean volunteer time. I also mean our intellectual resources. As society changes, so we must ‘reinvent’ our ministry methods. In earlier days the church bell would ring and people would come. That no longer works. We still need to do the same things, but reinvent the ‘how’. We need to invite people to church. We need to reach children. We need to teach the Bible. The question always is, ‘how’?

Your topic may well be taboo... But if you preach the word of God properly, then you will deliver a message that is appropriate both to the Christians and non-Christians in your audience.

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about Jesus. I know that you expect that I am always doing that – and so I am. But the invitation to give the Boyer Lectures on the ABC has given me opportunity for extra reflection.

Jane Austen’s novels have been read and loved for generations. Although a shrewd observer or social mores and manners, Austen is probably best known among readers for her deft handling of love and relationships. And love is something we never seem to tire of. While each of her novels are admired and esteemed, Pride and Prejudice is viewed by many as the pinnacle of her career. Witty and wry, this novel is rich in subtlety and humour.

Every now and then you come across a television series where the impact seems larger than the sum of its parts. Write down what is happening and it doesn’t seem like much. But on the small screen it makes for compelling viewing. Seinfeld is one example; Grey's Anatomy is another. The ingredient that makes all the difference is the nebulous ‘connection’ with the audience. Can the viewer relate?

Holiness is one of those topics it’s easy to make people feel guilty about (the other two are prayer and daily Bible reading…!) Because it’s so easy to make Christians feel guilty about holiness, it’s also tempting to offer quick solutions. I’m sure anyone could publish a book titled “ten practical steps to sure-fire holiness”, and the Christian public would gobble it up.