Blog Category: Leadership
Allowing Ourselves To Experience Vulnerability For Personal Growth
Vulnerability is a difficult thing to master. Yet, it is in vulnerability that we cultivate courage within ourselves. I personally don’t like being vulnerable. There’s a creepy sense of transparency that makes me really uncomfortable. The shame of not being good enough or the dread of being judged by others is why I have avoided public speaking for…
Jesus Christ The Risen Lord Transforming Lives Today
Jesus died and rose from the dead at Easter offering himself as atonement for man’s sins. We often focus only on the death of Jesus at Easter, and while this is important, we can sometimes forget that 3 days later Jesus rose from the dead. In so doing Jesus conquered death and provided us all…
Parenting For Love Driven Obedience From Our Kids
In What do I do when my kids are driving me crazy? Allyson Evans, explains that there are ways that work to teach and discipline our children, and ways that don’t work. Allison points out that we need to pay particular attention not to lose the child’s heart in the process. What do I…
The Passover – What it means to Christians Today
The Passover leading up to Easter is the beginning of Christian’s ‘Holy Week.’ Traditionally the Passover is celebrated by families of Jewish faith all over the world to commemorate the deliverance of Israel who lived in Goshen, Egypt as slaves under the hands of Pharaoh. The families gather on Passover to share a meal known as…
Congratulations on the Bible Society’s 200 Years!
Marking one of the biggest events in Australian Christian History is the union of Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies and Pastor Brian Houston the Global Senior Leader of Hillsong to share a stage in celebration of The Bicentenary of The Bible Society this Sunday, March 5. Formed in 1817 The Bible Society is Australia’s longest living organisation. The…
Senior Pastor Tommy Nelson Talks About His Depression in Detail
Senior Pastor Tommy Nelson Talks About His Depression in Detail Senior Pastor Tommy Nelson of Denton Bible Church talks about his experience with depression describing it as a black hole that hijacked him. His joy was gone and he had lost the ability to do the things he once loved. During his bout of depression…
A Biblical Perspective On Mental Illness & The Role Of The Church
The bible is the greatest resource a Christian can possess for spiritual growth. According to the bible, after the fall of man, all human beings are affected by sin. We use to live in the perfect human and spiritual condition in the presence of God which the bible discribes as, “The Garden of Eden.” Sin separates…
Extending Grace To Those With Mental Health Problems
Mental health problems can affect people from any nation, profession or faith. One in five persons will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. Many of us are impacted by a mental illness. An article recently published by Finder.com.au titled, “Mental Health Problems Plague Australia’s Entertainment Industry” revealed that a study conducted by Entertainment…
Look After Yourself & Say ‘No’ Confidently
Most of us want to be helpful to others, but being that person who everyone calls on for help can be exhausting. Our first and foremost responsibility is to ourselves. By taking care of our own health we become enabled to help others. Our inability to say, “no” can have dire consequences on our mental…
The Strength of a Father’s Love – Daddy’s Here
Our journey through foster care has been a revelation of a gospel for the inglorious moments of life. We had not intended to care for children with special needs when we began this journey, but it would seem that God has had much for us to learn. Recently, our family has once again grown by one—a tiny…
New Beginnings: School’s Over – Now What?
You have been working towards this day for what feels like your whole life – and here it is! You may have imagined what it would be like; waking up on that first morning – no rushing, the guilt-free feeling of removing those study notes from the walls, the stress slipping away and you can…
The Need For Mental Health Support Within The Church
Recently ‘Christianity Today’ addressed a very important topic on; ‘The Christian Struggle with Mental Illness’ showing that many Christians who are directly affected by a mental illness aren’t talking about it. Most that aren’t directly impacted with a mental health problem have a family member or know someone who is. Churches need to be the community’s ‘go…
Canberra Open Day 2016
Canberra is having an open day this Saturday 10th of December 2016. If you’d like to find out more about aifc’s accredited Counselling courses commencing in 2017, come along to the aifc Open Day in Canberra where you can talk to tutors and students who will be there to answer your enquiries. When and Where…
LIONS ROAR – by Chris Thomas
I don’t have experience with lions. But I know if I were walking through the bushland of Africa, unprotected by fence or guide, and heard that unmistakable sound—I’d be terrified. I live in a part of the world isolated from such terrors, but Australia has its own apex predators to worry about. Granted, most of…
Transforming Communities Through Kindness
Recently at an aifc conference we heard from various speakers. Josh Wilkins, founder and CEO of One Voice spoke to us about being kind to the homeless, stating that there’s a large number of youth on the streets who are there by no choice of their own. Video – Not My choice Video – Mobile Shower…
Betrayals That Ruin Relationships Without Infidelity.
According to the Gottman Institute there are ‘3 betrayals that ruin Relationships (that are not Infidelity)’ What is infidelity? Infidelity is considered the worst betrayal by a partner. Cheating sexually on a partner is infidelity. Whether the partner has an affair, or a one off sexual encounter it is a huge violation of trust. However there…
Using Food And Exercise To Combat Depression
The most common mental health illness in Australia is depression with one in five people having experienced it. People with depression feel worthless, unmotivated, overwhelmed and sad. Medicine and Therapy are very beneficial to helping patients with depression. However, a good diet coupled with regular exercise plays a vital role in promoting good mental health.…
Dr. Gary Smalley
World Renowned marriage and relationship expert and public speaker Gary Smalley who authored award winning and best-selling books on family relationships and marriage from a Christian perspective, has gone to meet our Heavenly Father on March 6 2016, aged 75. He was married 52 years to Norma and had three children, Kari, Greg and Michael.…
The Co-Dependent Rescuer & Enabler
It can start with a well intentioned desire to help, but co-dependent relationships become dysfunctional helping relationships that occur when a person rescues, enables or supports another’s bad behaviour, immaturity, procrastination, underachievement, addiction or poor mental or physical health. The co-dependent often feels compelled to solve other people’s problems and more often than not end up…
Finding The Right Christian Counsellor
Choosing the right counsellor can be a daunting experience if we don’t know what to look for. Just because a person can refer to themselves as a ‘counsellor’ doesn’t mean that the counsellor is trained. People who call themselves ‘A professional counsellor’ must possess the training, the skills & the accredited credentials. Most Christians go…
Attitudes For Christian Counselling Are Changing Within The Church
Author of, “The Purpose Driven Life” and mega church pastor Rick Warren who founded Saddleback Church with his wife Kay in 1980, told CNN that he hoped to reduce stigma about mental illness after the tragic death of their son. Matthew Warren, who reportedly had a personality disorder, sadly took his own life on April…
The Impact Of Stress On The Mind & Body
Stress is linked with a series of physical problems that can come about after impacting on a person’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Nichole Howson Interview About Her Bipolar Disorder
In an interview with aifc, Nichole Howson tells us about how she coped with bipolar disorder when growing up with her family, how her bipolar affected her relationships and how managing her Bipolar Disorder with treatment and counselling has helped her immensely. Nichole is a Christian woman who manages her own business and runs ‘Defying…
Mentally Preparing Your Kids for the First Day of School
In the midst of new uniforms, checking booklists, filling the lunchboxes, and finally getting everybody to their classrooms, here is something to consider. Your child’s mindset is their most important asset. We all have a mindset. Which one we choose will determine how we cope with school and with life. A fixed mindset says, it’s…
