Imagine for a moment that a landmass the size of the Eastern Suburbs was dropped into the middle of the rural outskirts of Sydney. Then imagine the entire population went with it. According to a new report launched at the 2003 session of Synod last month, this is the picture of the population tidal wave that is set to sweep past ill-prepared churches unless urgent measures are taken to meet the anticipated population boom.

A true blue Aussie singer/songwriter born in Ireland? Liz Hogarth caught up with Colin Buchanan, one of Australia's biggest country music stars – a man who is also on a much bigger mission.

Janice Whittingham offers some tips on how to choose between the abundance of materials and courses available for Scripture and Sunday School teachers.

Whether for your own children or for teaching a Sunday School or Scripture class, sometimes you might need to write your own lessons. Stephanie Carmichael provides some basic tips

As a mother of young children, I know the importance of spending time each day with my children around God's Word and praying to him. Christian parents everywhere struggle with trying to develop a devotional life for their children. Parents are looking for materials that provide opportunity to read the Bible and discuss what it says while still being helpful, fun and motivating. Some families choose to do a Bible reading together over a meal, while others have the children completing their own Bible time and then discussing it together later. Whatever your preference, some new resources for families are very practical and adaptable.

I heard a comment recently that's had me thinking about the relationship between family and ministry. The remark was made by a frustrated mother bemoaning her lack of time for ministry because she was so busy ‘with the children'. But is there necessarily a distinction? Isn't caring for one's children and raising them to know Jesus a type of ministry? Aren't there plenty of opportunities for ministry in family life?

They say that charity begins at home. Well, the same is true for mission. Our first priority in mission is our family.

Great and greatly used by God they know it to be, but even experienced Christians can feel bogged or lost on their way through Romans. If I was about to travel through an area where this might happen, I'd want a sure-footed guide who knew it well. That is just what Paul Barnett proves to be in this, his most recent book. With so many commentaries on Romans, what does this one have to offer?