Do We Really Believe the World Needs Jesus?
I was once speaking with Aunty Jean, an Indigenous leader, about racial tensions in Australia, and with deep conviction she said, “The only thing that can bring us together is the cross!”
But this week my Italian barber said the opposite: “Religion causes wars — and excuse me if this is offensive — but it’s all make-believe, like Santa Claus.”
Two passionately different views on whether this world needs Jesus.
And there are many other opinions too. So what do you think?
Do we really believe the world needs Jesus?
You know my answer! I’m the Mission Director at Christ Church, so it probably goes without saying. But I’m only here because, years ago, someone stood up at the AGM and said, “We should employ a minister who can lead us in mission,” and the whole room agreed.
We are a church that believes the world needs Jesus.
That conviction shapes what we do. We send missionaries around the world to share Christ. We run local mission events and courses for people of every background to explore Jesus. We pray, give, welcome and serve because we believe the good news of Jesus is for all people.
And that’s exactly what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Timothy 2.
Paul writes that “all people” need our prayers and that God desires “all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Why? “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
A full church building is not “all people.” Even the whole of Australia is not “all people.” God’s vision is far bigger — a world that knows Jesus.
So how are you going with your involvement in world mission?
I must admit, for me it’s often out of sight, out of mind. Local mission feels more natural because I see the people around me every day and want them to know Jesus. But God sees the nations, and Jesus says, “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
So how can our hearts grow to reflect God’s heart for the world?
I’m convinced that a heart for global mission grows through exposure to real people.
You could begin by becoming a welcomer. Identify neighbours who have migrated from overseas and show them hospitality and the love of Christ.
Secondly, get to know our Christ Church mission partners by joining their prayer lists and sending encouraging messages.
Thirdly, spend time with missionaries when they’re in Sydney. We recently had Rebekah visit our church and help us see opportunities in South East Asia. You could even attend her commissioning service at 10am on Saturday 30 May at Hurstville Grove Anglican Church.
And that leads to something I’d love to invite you to.
One of the best ways to grow a heart for global mission is to hear firsthand from people serving cross-culturally. That’s why CMS is running Mission Up Close Live.
Mission Up Close Live
Saturday, 1 August 2026
6:30pm – 9pm
St Anne’s Anglican Church Ryde
At Mission Up Close Live we’ll hear stories from missionaries serving Jesus around the world — the joys, challenges and opportunities of global mission.
We’ll hear from Anthony & Trudi Elyard (Ethiopia), Ryan & Lynne Verghese (Seychelles), and Mike & Katie Taylor (Tanzania).
Luca from Night Church messaged me the other day and said:
“I’m excited to be going to CMS Mission Up Close because it’s an opportunity for me to consider how we can be part of God’s global mission. I think it’d be awesome if a group of us from Christ Church all went together.”
So far Luca, Lindy and I are going. We’d love others from Christ Church to join us too.
You can register here: https://www.cms.org.au/event/muclive2026-ryde/
And if you do register, send me an email so we can organise to sit together or carpool.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”— 1 Timothy 2:5–6
