Last week, the Church of the Gold Coast came together to worship God, pray, and fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ, united in our calling to serve Him across our city. At the Annual Mayor’s Christian Prayer Breakfast, we set aside our denominational distinctives and ministry preferences to gather
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9/11 – A Personal Reflection and Current Conviction What follows is a deeply personal account of an experience surrounding the events of 9/11 and the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. I share this with a degree of trepidation and caution, recognising that aspects of my experience raise
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Following on from the theme I began in the PIFA August newsletter, let us explore another aspect of St Augustine’s contrast between the City of God and the City of Man: The City of God Builds Community, Not Radical Individualism. Put simply, the City of Man says, “I belong to
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“By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted.” Proverbs 11:11 In a recent article by Apostle Joseph Mattera he made the following statement (paraphrased) “The City you build is determined by the God you serve and worship…. The City of Man relies on coercion, control and political machinery.
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The purpose of this article is to present proven strategies I employ in my sphere of influence which is the Gold Coast City Council where I have worked for almost 4 ½ years as Councillor Adviser – Pastoral Care. Please be encouraged to share with people you know who are
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Sue Baynes Councillor Advisor – Pastoral Care, Gold Coast City Council Gold Coast City Council governs a large local government area in SE QLD with 14 elected councillors and a Mayor, Tom Tate, responsible to the community of over 700,000 people. Our city population balloons to way over 1 million
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There are stories whose impact is so immense that they linger long after the words have faded. At the Gold Coast Holocaust Remembrance Day gathering, I heard two such stories, accounts that have stayed with me, stirring both grief and responsibility. The first was shared by Riekje East who spoke
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What would reality look like the day after Friday if Jesus had refused the Cross? This question rose deep in my spirit as I once again reflected on the Easter story and the message of the Cross. It is almost unimaginable and yet at any point between the Garden of
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A Trumpet Call for Lent. March 2026 Pastor Sue Baines. “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.” — Isaiah 58:1 As we enter the season of Lent, Isaiah 58 confronts
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The Invitation Back to God’s Rhythm A personal reflection In my early thirties, I walked through a long and painful season of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My days were chaotic and often out of my control. My mind felt confused, my body deeply compromised, and the exhaustion seemed endless. But God…
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