“Christians are seen as overly serious people who are easily offended. There's something wrong with that.” So says the Rev Michael Jensen, lecturer in theology at Moore College and passionate advocate for the place of joy and humour in the Christian life.

After 27 years Anglican Marriage Encounter will be holding its last marriage enrichment weekend next month. Introduced to Australia in 1977, the program was designed to build up marriages and churches and was the pioneer marriage enrichment program in Australia.

Planet Giants, the new take on children's ministry at St Paul's, Menai, is having a local and an international impact for the gospel.

Stephen Tan, fresh off the plane from Singapore, was hand picked by the Rev David Gilmour, rector of St John's, Campsie, to lead the church's Mandarin congregation. “We could not find someone in Australia who was theologically qualified, who could teach the Bible faithfully and speak Mandarin, so we went international,” Mr Gilmour explains.

I have always been aware that reading my Bible and prayer were vital for my growth and maturity as a Christian. The Way was a book that we all read and carefully studied in youth fellowship groups. Scripture Union Notes helped me keep up Bible reading, especially because they were dated and friends were keen to talk about the readings. I have always found prayer to be the area of struggle.

I have always been aware that reading my Bible and prayer were vital for my growth and maturity as a Christian. The Way was a book that we all read and carefully studied in youth fellowship groups. Scripture Union Notes helped me keep up Bible reading, especially because they were dated and friends were keen to talk about the readings. I have always found prayer to be the area of struggle.

“Life is better here,” says Sophie Rajdev, as he pushes his daughter on the swings at the park across from his Liverpool flat. It is a windy, humid Sunday, his one day off in a long working week. That morning, his family, wife Pinky, a high school economics teacher, and daughter Jesswy, had been to church at St Anne's, Hammondville, where they have become committed members of the Indian Sub Continent congregation.

We should be thankful for the democratic blessings we enjoy, but we should not take them for granted.