Five years of brutal civil war, hundreds of thousands of Christians forced to flee their homes, and almost no churches to meet in around most of the country. Far from ideal circumstances in which to be working in Christian ministry, but these are the challenges faced daily by Bishop Masimango Katanda, Archdeacon Muhindo Isesomo, and the Anglican Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Zewar Mohammed Ishmael, a former Muslim living and working in Northern Iraq, was killed in February when he refused to deny his faith in Jesus Christ.

The Rev Professor James Haire, National President of the Uniting Church in Australia, has been appointed Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.

As part of the International Year of Freshwater, the Archbishop's Overseas Relief and Aid Fund (ORAF) has joined the national ‘Water Matters‘ campaign.

Dr John Best, who spent six years in the Wallabies' inner sanctum, told GEOFF ROBSON the 2003 Rugby World Cup is a time of opportunity for sports ministry in Australia.

I am strongly of the opinion that fashion has gone too far in its efforts to bring young moneyed buyers into the orbit of designer labels. Though Southern Cross has never indulged in a Fashion Page I think it’s time for us to carry at least one column of comment about the world of fashion and in particular, fashion advertising.

How do we evangelise when the reputation of the Church is in disarray and the Bible’s message is dismissed as irrelevant?

Rico Tice says it can take 18 months of prayer and hard work, if not more, to even get a non-Christian friend to the ‘starting line' for one church event.