Why our churches need a radical change in mindset when it comes to the nature of Christian ministry.

As a child I remember Mum getting me to take my younger brothers' Christmas presents around to our auntie's house to be hidden and collected on Christmas Eve. Mum would also often hide our presents in our house. Most times we found them and we gradually perfected the art of unwrapping them, playing with them, then re-wrapping so that Mum would not find out. We actually thought that we could outwit our Mum!

As a child I remember Mum getting me to take my younger brothers' Christmas presents around to our auntie's house to be hidden and collected on Christmas Eve. Mum would also often hide our presents in our house. Most times we found them and we gradually perfected the art of unwrapping them, playing with them, then re-wrapping so that Mum would not find out. We actually thought that we could outwit our Mum!

This December the congregations from Bexley and Bexley North Provisional Parish will combine their services for the first time with St James', Carlton. The amalgamation of the two churches is a historic moment, but it is even more so for those present who will hear echoes of an almost forgotten event that changed the course of the region almost 100 years ago.

One hundred sit-ups. Sixty push-ups. Running two-and-a-half kilometres in ten minutes, and at least six chin-ups. Not exactly the normal requirements for a pastor and Bible teacher. And we haven't even mentioned jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet! Meet the Rev Tim Booker, the latest recruit into the ranks of chaplains to the Australian Defence Force, and a man who will soon be doing all of the above on a regular basis.

One hundred sit-ups. Sixty push-ups. Running two-and-a-half kilometres in ten minutes, and at least six chin-ups. Not exactly the normal requirements for a pastor and Bible teacher. And we haven't even mentioned jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet! Meet the Rev Tim Booker, the latest recruit into the ranks of chaplains to the Australian Defence Force, and a man who will soon be doing all of the above on a regular basis.

Margaret Fuller is program manager for Anglicare Counselling in the Illawarra. She has 30 years’ experience in the social work and counselling field. In recent years Margaret has witnessed a significant increase in the number of people seeking help for depression. Here are some tips she offers to those of us struggling to know how to help a friend or family member showing signs of depression.

Cathy McKay was diagnosed with depression last year. But as she looks back over her life she realises that depression set in much earlier.