The Northern Region recently appointed its first ever full-time Chinese pastor, Mr Hooi Wan Cheng. Mr Cheng previously lived in Auckland for 16 years where he oversaw a Chinese church that grew from 30 people into two churches with more than 500 people.

David Reay would not say shock jocks battling it out in Sydney's tough world of radio have a new competitor, but he acknowledges that steps are being taken to influence listeners to community radio in the Northern Region.

Scholars are thrilled at the announcement that the Moore Theological College Library has received two significant donations dating from the early centuries of the church.

Last month I attended a very moving and inspiring event in the Chapter House of St Andrew's Cathedral. It was the occasion of the launch of Bishop John Reid's biography of Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane – an interesting book about a great and distinguished churchman and Australian. The NSW Premier, Bob Carr paid Sir Marcus and Bishop Reid the singular compliment of attending and launching the book.

The French government has officially banned high school students from attending or running Bible studies at school.

Key Australian charities have come out in support of recommendations made by the Senate committee that federal, state and territory governments develop a national strategy to tackle poverty and called for a new anti-poverty unit reporting directly to the Prime Minister.

Rare and remarkable Bibles found their way to Australia in the past 216 years, and some outstanding examples are now on display at the Newcastle City Library.

As The Passion of the Christ continues to strike a chord with filmgoers, churches across Sydney have taken opportunities to capitalise on the sudden interest in Jesus.