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In a world bent on guaranteeing security and shielding people from pain, God's Spirit into the world sends us in the opposite direction, not as masochists nor as messiahs, but simply as friends of Jesus and, consequently, of others.   Ruth yearns to see peace and justice embrace in the beautiful and broken world we call home. A wife of one and mother of many, theologian, missiologist, educator, and story-teller, she has been involved in leadership development and theological education for integral mission in her native Latin America for several decades. She lives with her husband, James, in Costa Rica as a member of Casa Adobe, an intentional Christian Community with deep concern for right living in relation to the whole of creation (www.casaadobe.org). Her studies include a Bachelors in Education (Argentina), an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies (Wheaton College), and a PhD in Theology (Boston University).   Find out more about The Justice Conference Australia here: www.thejusticeconference.com.au

Western culture tell us that we need to amass personal power and influence. In Jesus, we see an example of someone who shared his power with others and who calls his followers to live differently to the world. Join Ruth Padilla DeBorst, Brooke Prentis and Joel McKerrow as they discuss how we can follow Jesus by relinquishing power in our own lives and how we can recognise and build healthy ways of sharing and shifting power in our every day.   Brooke Prentis is an Aboriginal Christian Leader from the Wakka Wakka peoples, the CEO of Common Grace, Coordinator of the Grasstree Gathering, also a scholar, writer and much sought after voice on indigenenous and justice issues impacting Australia. Find a list of Theological Resources from Common Grace, including Brooke's papers here.   Ruth Padilla De Borst is a theologian, missioligest, educator and storyteller. She's been involved in leadership development and theological education for Integral Mission in her native Latin America for several decades.   Joel McKerrow is an award winning writer, speaker, educator, creativity specialist and one of Australia’s most successful, internationally touring, performance poets. He is also the Artist Ambassador for Tearfund Australia and launched his lasted book "Woven, a faith for the dissatisfied" at the 2019 Justice Conference.  

Elise is joined by Stephen Kerr the Executive Director of CMA Standards Council and Karen Naylor, Board Member of CMA, to talk about the importance of good governance, leadership and management in building trust and efficiency in Christian organisations.   Find out more about The Justice Conference Australia here   This interview was recorded early in December 2019

Jo Herbert James has a MA from Kings College London focused on the impact of consumerism and individualism on the western church, on the planet and on the environment. She is one of the most compelling voices on why that's important to us as Christians and the Church to address waste. She speaks at the Melbourne 2019 conference on the importance of lament.   For further resources mentioned in this episode please refer to Tearfund rubbish campaign. You'll find more information on The Justice Conference Australia here.

Sojourner's Rev. Adam Taylor speaks on the importance of public discipleship, advocacy rooted in faith and community organisation for transforming systems towards justice.

Welcome to the podcast where we're looking at what it means to be Christians living out a life of justice and compassion in this broken world. Today we're bringing you the closing talk from The Justice Conference Australia 2019.   Rev Carolyn Francis been a pastoral leader in the Baptist Union of Victoria for 15 years. She was the Senior Pastor at St Kilda Baptist Church and is currently the Pastor for Teaching and Worship at Collins St Baptist Church. Carolyn is a passionate advocate for social justice with a particular interest in women's issues and homelessness. She believes the gospel needs to be good news for everyone, particularly those at the margins.  

Welcome to the podcast where we're looking at what it means to be Christians living out a life of justice in these COVID19 times. Today we're bringing you a new voice the The Justice Conference Australia community. Natasha Michaels is a Belardung woman and Director and Program Manager of Moorditj Keila, an Aboriginal Community Group based in Manning, South Perth about a 20 min drive from the city. For more information on their work please visit their website, you will also find their mission statement below. The podcast is hosted by Elise Mason and bought to you by The Justice Conference Australia.    Moorditj Keila Vision and Mission Statement Moorditj Keila (Happy Healthy Dolphin) was given its name by traditional owners for the area. The dolphin is significant to Aboriginal people for the Canning and Swan River areas adjacent to the City of South Perth. Moorditj Keila runs programs for the benefit of the Community. Moorditj Keila (MK) is an Aboriginal organisation underpinned by Christian values including justice, compassion, generosity, charity, inclusion, honesty and love. Moorditj Keila acknowledges the Whadjuk people as the traditional owners of the land on which our buildings stand and recognises Elders, both past and present. Background Moorditj Keila was established in 2002 and incorporated in 2012. Founded by a Noongar Yorga Dena Gower and her husband Garry Gower, Moorditj Keila Inc has been the focus of their years since, to where we are now.  We are governed by a voluntary Board of passionate, committed and skilled individuals and we operate mainly through the efforts of our volunteers and supporters at present. Our Vision Is to provide support and opportunity to Aboriginal people in the greater South Perth area. To develop the capacity of the Aboriginal community in partnership with the broader community, to empower individuals and families to build a community of trust, engagement and participation, for the mutual benefit of all.  Our Mission To relieve the poverty, misfortune, helplessness, distress or disadvantage of Indigenous persons living within the regions of the Association’s activities.  To provide relevant programs in Indigenous sports, health, education, housing, employment and training, and to close the gap in Indigenous social and economic disadvantage via grassroots community capacity building and coordination. To provide caring and supportive services based on Christian Biblical principles as modelled in the life of Jesus. To provide a safe haven and to transform lives and build family capacity, working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. 

Welcome to the podcast where we're looking at what it means to be Christians living out a life of justice in these COVID19 times. Today we're bringing you a new voice to The Justice Conference Australia community. Christine Sine is the founder and facilitator of Godspace, which grew out of her passion for creative spirituality, gardening and sustainability. She also co-founded Mustard Seed Associates, with her husband Tom Sine, from which they have now retired and is the author of The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting in God. Christine is sharing her wisdom on ways in which we can relax, refocus and regain our trust in God. For more information on The Justice Conference Australia, head to our website.

In this series we're looking at what it means to be Christians living out a life of justice in these COVID19 times. Today we're joined by Andrew Gardener, pastor at The Vine church in Hong Kong. In this episode Andrew references this article by NT Wright. Go to our website to find out more about The Justice Conference Australia.

Welcome back to our limited edition COVID19 series where we discuss what it means to be Christians living out a life of justice in these times.  In Australia it's been another week of self isolating wherever possible. While the virus hasn't taken hold here in the same way it has other nations our communities are reeling from significant job and income losses across multiple sectors. That's why we're stoked bring you insights from Rosie Kendall today. Rosie is passionate about the Church and justice. She's worked at Christians Against Poverty (CAP) both in Australia and the UK since 2007 and has been serving as the CEO of CAP Australia for nearly 3 years. She has a practical understanding of what financial hardship means for our communities but also a deep hope and faith in the church and it's ability to speak life amongst the current realities.  As one would expect, Rosie is coming to us from her own isolation and you'll hear the comforting sounds of family life going on around her. Find more info on The Justice Conference Australia here

'When All You Can Do Is Pray' Brooke Prentis brings an insightful teaching on prayer with action in the midst of suffering and injustice.   In this episode Brooke references the following: 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV version) Luke 11:1-11 (NIV version) Matthew 6 (NIV version) Common Grace Article: The Only Thing I Could Do Was Pray    The Common Grace website is a great resource for other ways to take action for Aboriginal justice https://www.commongrace.org.au/aboriginal_campaigns   You can watch further teaching from Brooke on Rethinking Reconciliation (with reference to 2 Chronicles 7:14) on youtube  and read Prayers written by Brooke here: commongrace.org.au/an_aboriginal_prayer_for_truth_and_hope commongrace.org.au/aboriginal_blessing   Follow Brooke  Twitter handle @bprentis Facebook and Instagram @brookeprentisgrasstree Common Grace on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @commongraceaus  Website www.commongrace.org.au Find out more about Grasstree Gathering here or watch their 2018 video on youtube  

Dr Krish Kandiah was keynote speaker at our 2018 conference. You can find our all about his books, podcasts and speaking engagements here   How can you rise to the challenge of showing hospitality while social distancing? There are so many creative idea's out there, here's just a few. Be sure to always check the current social distancing regulations for your area first. 1. Drop a note with your phone number off to neighbours (with very clean hands), introduce yourself if you haven't met yet and let them know they can text or call if they need help. 2. Call those in your network you think might be struggling. While social media is very active right now that's not the same as a phone call from a friend or relative. 3. If you have access to extra supplies leave a care package at the door of a friend or a neighbour, some flowers from your garden or a bar of soap. It will make people smile. 4. Remember those isolating alone, set up a time to call and have a virtual cup of tea together. Maybe you'd like to both read the same book and compare notes.   While many individuals are self isolating to limit the spread and pressure on our health care systems there are still organisations and volunteers working to support those most vulnerable. Like many sectors, the not-for-profit sector will be dramatically impacted by the coronavirus. If you are able to provide financial assistance, however small or large, it will be greatly appreciated as it is now, more than ever, we need these organisations to assist the most vulnerable among us. Here's just a few of the organisations you may want to consider supporting.   Conference host TEAR Australia continues to support local organisations abroad as they face particularly challenging circumstances in fighting this battle.   Conference partners, The Salvation Army are adapting to meet the growing needs of our community and we'll be hearing from CAP(Christians Against Poverty) in a few episodes as they continue their work assisting individuals and families fighting debt. ADRA is yet another conference partner serving communities through meals, counselling and care packages.   The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre also continues to provide an essential service to our vulnerable refugee community.

At The Justice Conference we've paused our anticipated scheduled release of last year's conference talks to bring your reflections on a Christian response to the current pandemic. Joel McKerrow, well renown performance poet, educator and friend of the conference kicks us off with the first episode of this mini season with personal stories on how the virus has impacted him, and how it is causing him to continue to engage with his privileged position in society. He leads us to a place of hope and calls us to continue caring for our communities.   The episode concludes with a Prayer for a Pandemic by Cameron Bellm May we who are merely inconvenienced Remember those whose lives are at stake. May we who have no risk factors Remember those most vulnerable. May we who have the luxury of working from home Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close Remember those who have no options. May we who have to cancel our trips Remember those that have no safe place to go. May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market Remember those who have no margin at all. May we who settle in for a quarantine at home Remember those who have no home. As fear grips our country, let us choose love. During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen.

By popular demand we're bringing you a bonus episode from the 2019 Melbourne conference. This collaboration between guest artists Joel McKerrow and Fatai closed the conference, summarising some of our learnings in a beautiful spoken word and musical performance.

Dr Michael Frost is one of the leading voice in the missional church movement. His books are required reading in colleges and seminaries around the world. He is the author or editor of sixteen theological books including The Shaping of Things to Come, Exiles, The Road to Missional and Surprise the World. Michael is a co-founder to the Forge Mission Training Network and the founder of the missional Christian community, smallboardbigsea, based in Manly in Sydney's north.   Get your 2019 tickets here: www.thejusticeconference.com.au

The Justice Conference Australia's co-creators SEED talk to Julie Somerville about the intersection of faith and vocation and her personal journey to bring justice to her work in the legal space. Julie is principal mediator at R3 Resolutions’, a Nationally Accredited Mediator with 25 years’ experience as a litigator and negotiator. She has helped hundreds of people resolve disputes. Julie is well recognised for her ability to provide clarity to complex situations but with a level of empathy and warmth that is unique SEED is a community of redemptive change makers - designers, entrepreneurs, innovators and cultural creatives. People and organisations seeking tangible positive change in the communities, workplaces and cultures where God has placed us. Check out their website to see the courses, events and training they offer to both individuals and organisations to help develop and implement your ideas.   Remember to get your 2019 Melbourne conference tickets here

Joel McKerrow interviews Jo Herbert-James, an upcoming speaker for The Justice Conference 2019, on how justice has shaped her theology and Christian life.  Buy tickets to The Justice Conference Australia 2019 Sign the Rubbish Campaign   Jo Herbert-James works for Tearfund in the UK as their Theology and Networks Manager, focused on Environmental & Economic Sustainability. She is also Director of The Justice Conference, UK. She has an MA in Theology in Ministry from King's College London and has focused her studies on the impact of consumerism and individualism on the western church, the planet and the lives of people in poverty.  She is passionate about a holistic & practical approach to faith and theology and seeks to live it out in her own life, including journeying towards a zero waste lifestyle. After their zero waste wedding in April, Jo and her husband Pete live in central London.

We're excited to announce a new partnership between The Justice Conference and Alphacrucis College in which we will be offering a Graduate Certificate of Arts with a focus on justice. It's a great opportunity to develop a theology of justice to underpin thoughtfully engagement in public life. The course is set to kick off in Semester 1, 2020. Jump on The Justice Conference study page to learn more. Saver tickets for The Justice Conference 2019, Melbourne end this month (September) so be sure to get your tickets now. Jacqueline Service is a Lecturer in Theology at Alphacrucis College, Sydney, Australia. She completed her doctoral research on the award of a full scholarship through the Centre for Public and Contextual Theology (PaCT), Charles Sturt University (CSU), Canberra. For her thesis, she received one of the highest academic honours - the Higher Degree by Research University Medal. She is currently a Trustee for the International Anglican Order of the Cross and has been actively involved various Board memberships and church ministries over many years. Alongside these undertakings, she worked as a lawyer in Commercial and Government Legal Practice, and, for over a decade, at the Australian Government’s Agency for International Development (AusAID) managing, reviewing and designing aid programs across the Pacific and South West Asia. During her time with AusAID she worked in Suva as the First Secretary for Development Cooperation, responsible for implementing the Australian Government’s bilateral aid program in Fiji. Her work involved managing key partnerships with the Fiji Government, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and various United Nations agencies. Jacqueline has a B.A. Intercultural Studies (Missiology); Bachelor of Laws (with Honors); Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice; a Master of Theology (with Distinction), and a PhD specialising in the intersection of trinitarian theology and international aid and development. Dr Service’s most recent publication is entitled, “Divine Self-Enrichment and Human Well-Being: A Systematic Theological Inquiry, with Special Reference to Development and Humanitarian Aid”. She is passionate about bringing the transformative reality of the gospel into practical expression for the realisation of the divine good for creation. She is also a parent of three beautiful children and a enjoys a good red, gooey cheeses, hazelnut chocolate and high-heeled shoes.

This week we bring you a section of the most recent Justice Conference Australia event, in partnership with Micah Australia, we presented Living Justice in Sydney in July 2019. Following an inspiring talk by Christine Cain, Micah’s Beck Wilesmith sat down with Christine and Nick Caine, Tim Costello and Richenda Vermeulen to discuss some practicalities of being a change maker. Please note: This episode includes general references to human trafficking, which may be distressing for some. Please seek help if needed, talk to a trusted friend or family member or call LifeLine on 13 11 14.   Christine and Nick Caine are founders of the global anti-trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign. Tim Costello is executive director of Micah Australia Richenda Vermeulen is CEO and  founder of Ntegrity   Buy Tickets to The Justice Conference 2019 See the The Justice Conference 2019 Lineup  

'Confronting our Consumerism' is a popular workshop led by Gershon Nimbalker at the 2017 Melbourne conference. He delves into some of the driving forces behind financial decisions and how those decisions impact the world's poor.  This episode also celebrates the launch of TEAR Australia's Rubbish Campaign. A new report 'No Time to Waste' has found one person dies every 30 seconds in developing countries from diseases caused by plastic pollution and rubbish. This internationally coordinated call to action requires us to work together asking Coca-Cola, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever to take responsibility for their plastic waste in poorer countries. TEAR Australia are asking for the following commitments to transform the lives of millions of people living in poverty. Report - by 2020 on the number of units of single use items you sell. Reduce - commit to halve the number of these products by 2025. Recycle - by 2022, ensure one single-use plastic item is collected for everyone you sell. Restore - work with waste pickets to provide employment with dignity. About Gershon At the time of recording Gershon was the Advocacy Manager at Baptist World Aid Australia and chair of Stop the Traffik's Australian working group. Working as project coordinator and one of the lead authors of the Australian Fashion Report and Electronics Industry Trends reports, world-leading research that examines the practices of corporations around the world to mitigate the risk of slavery and exploitation, he is well qualified to talk to this topic. Gershon also has degrees in Business and Commerce and a Masters in Social Change and Development with merit from Newcastle University. He is passionate about working with the Church to live out its call to Justice.