Rowland Croucher
Bob and Muriel: Could Your Church Reach Them?
Bob and Muriel are real people. They are in their early fifties, the parents of several adult children. There are a number of grand children one of whom died recently after alleged physical abuse by a de facto son-in-law. There is a daughter in her early twenties living at home. She is an unmarried mother […]
The Church as a Camp Fire
Any mention of “boiling the billy” quickly recalls the image of the camp fire, of the drovers and their dogs, of great herds of cattle toiling along the endless stock routes of the inland, of an era which is almost past. See the curling smoke drifting carelessly skyward into the orange glow of another day […]
Those Erratic Church Attendances: What’s Going On?
No, it’s not just happening at your place. Wherever you look attendances at morning worship services are in a state of high fluctuation. While it may vary from church to church, the best guess is that up to one third of a congregation may be missing from your average Sunday service. The reasons for this […]
Put Your Hand Up If You Are Drowning
We’ve all met the hyperactive pastor who claims to read three books a week minimum (why get out of bed in the morning?), listens to half a dozen cassettes every other day (do they ever talk to their partner or kids?), reads all their magazines (I don’t open all of mine let alone read them), […]
Christian Missionaries: setting the record straight
Dear Geraldine [the presenter] July 20, 2010 My name is Rowan Forster. I was an Australian Broadcasting Corporation employee for almost 30 years from 1978-2007. My roles included radio and television news reporter, current affairs presenter with Radio Australia, sports presenter, AFL football commentator, and for seven years, morning newsreader on 774 ABC Melbourne (formerly […]
Don’t Look Now, But They’re Just Like You!
No, not your kids. Or your other rellies. It’s your congregation . Those folks who call your church their home. The ones who are so able to bring great joy and great drama all in the one hit. They are getting more like you every day. The longer you are with them, the more they […]
How the (Australian) Preferential Voting System Works
May the least loathed win MUNGO MACCALLUM July 20, 2010 Preferential voting gives everyone an opportunity to vent their spleen. In a month, most of us will make our way to polling booths to indulge in a strange ritual known as preferential voting. The system is not unique to Australia; some form of the preference […]
Those Church Splits: We Need a Better Way
It is every pastor’s nightmare. Much worse than losing the plot in the middle of the sermon, or forgetting the Christian name of the blushing bride who wonders why you have pulled up in the middle of the vows, or dropping someone mid plunge in the baptistry. It makes the debate over who should have […]
He’s Not Here; He’s on Long Service Leave
Yes, there’s no doubt about it. The Lord is out of town. On leave. It must be another seventh day for Him. Taking a well earned package in some celestial resort. It comes as no surprise. He has had His hands full lately: troubled people, communities, nations. Why do you think He is on LSL, […]
Did You See Jesus at Church Last Sunday?
What do you mean, did I see Him? You know, was He there? Well, of course, He was. That’s what worship is all about. We come together to worship Him, to be in His presence. How do we know we are in His Presence? Because there’s a real feeling of love, you know acceptance, of […]
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