Seeking a break from screens and an activity that would nurture the entire family? 

​Ahead of Easter, The Katoomba Easter Convention (KEC) team has partnered with The Wandering Bookseller to supply a list of recommended reads for every member of the family! In these peculiar times with increased time at home, let's fill our shelves with inspiring reads that will nurture hearts and minds with gospel hope and truth.

​We hope that you can use these book titles to develop daily reading habits with your family or to start a virtual book club with your friends! 

​Brahmin Reborn (Bhaskar Sreerangam)
​
The wonderful testimony of Bhaskar Sreerangam, a zealous young Hindu man in India who was searching for Moksha, release from the Hindu cycle of reincarnation. Instead his prayers were answers by God sending Christians to meet him. Bhaskar's joy in becoming a Christian and finding assurance of eternal life, reminds us that the death and resurrection is good news, and news people are waiting to hear!


The Story of God’s Love for You (Sally Lloyd-Jones)

A lovely hardback gift book with the text from the Jesus Storybook Bible, but redesigned to be read by teens and grown-ups. A wonderful way to introduce people to the story of the Bible.

Resurrection Year (Sheridan Voysey)

Reflections from Sheridan Voysey about the year after he and his wife realised their dreams of having children would not be fulfilled. A hope-filled story about starting again after a dream has died, an emotive, poetic, and at times humorous discovery of the healing qualities of beauty, play, friendship, and love.

Be True to Yourself (Matt Fuller)

Our culture tells us that the way to be happy is to "be true to yourself". It’s posted on social media, promoted in adverts, taught in schools and, even, expressed in churches. But what does that mean, and does it actually work? Matt Fuller explores how true happiness, wholeness and freedom can be found in embracing who God has created us to be; allowing ourselves to be shaped by who the Bible says we are, rather than our own fluctuating feelings, or the voices around us.

For Richer For Poorer (Clare Heath-Whyte)

We are living through a time of global crisis that our generation in Australia has never experienced before. In For Richer For Poorer Clare Heath-Whyte tells the story of Christian women from the 19th century. Perhaps we can learn from the lived-experience of past generations?

Growing in Prayer (Stephen Shead)

28 daily devotions written to help cultivate a habit of prayer. With each short reflection, you’ll be encouraged to meditate on truths that fuel joyful prayer. Through the weeks, you will build up your own habit of coming before your heavenly Father each day to delight in and depend on him.

We hope that you enjoy these book titles, and we look forward to serving you again at Katoomba Easter Convention 2021 (2-5 April) with guest speakers Michael Ramsden (RZIM) and Kirk Patston (SMBC). You can sign up to receive our updates on our website: ​https://www.easterconvention.com.au/

At Katoomba Easter Convention we believe when God’s word is preached, lives are changed. For this reason, we ask gifted preachers to join us each year to proclaim the life-changing message of the gospel for our good and God’s glory. In 2020, we are thrilled to welcome Malcolm Gill to the KCC platform as a special guest. ​He will be delivering a special talk on Good Friday evening and will share how the death of Jesus is significant to believers.

Malcolm is married to Tamara and they are parents to three busy teenagers (Annabel, Adam, and Zara). Formerly a pastor at St Barnabas Anglican Church Broadway, Malcolm is currently Director of Postgraduate Studies at Sydney Missionary & Bible College where he also teaches New Testament, Greek and Preaching. Malcolm has traveled to over 40 countries and has a passion to see Jesus proclaimed as Lord among all cultures. He enjoys mangoes, cricket, stand up comedy, and the beach.

You can listen to Malcolm's talks from other KCC events on the KCC App.

Katoomba Easter Convention is an annual retreat for the whole family.

​Get away over the Easter long weekend with the entire family and be immersed in God’s Word whilst relaxing in the beautiful Blue Mountains. Connect with family and friends, and grow in your walk with Jesus together.

​For tickets or more information visit: www.easterconvention.com ​

Stay up to date with Katoomba Easter Convention:

We are so pleased to welcome Nicole Starling to the KCC platform at Katoomba Easter Convention this year. Nicole will be joining us as a special guest to share a biography on the Kindness of God in the life of Elizabeth Saunders. s.

1. What takes up your time during the week?

I’m a mum to four school-aged kids, so that still takes up a fair bit of my time. I’m also a PhD student at Macquarie University, where I’m researching the history of the early temperance movement in Australia, and I help teach Christian history at Morling College part-time. As a family we are a part of Chatswood Baptist Church.

2. How did you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?

I became a Christian as a six year old through the ministry of a Scripture teacher at my local school in Bathurst. I loved hearing about Jesus and was amazed when she told the class we could “ask him into our hearts." I did this and went home and told my parents, who were a little worried since they weren’t Christians at the time. They had, however, already started to send me to Sunday school, and had a number of Christian friends who were praying for them and seeking in various ways to share the gospel with them.

​To begin with, they just dropped me off at Sunday school each week and didn’t stay for church, but one day when they were invited to a special anniversary service, they came along and my dad decided to become a Christian that day. My mum was encouraged to read through the gospel of John and became a Christian soon after. After that I was raised by Christian parents who encouraged me in my faith and helped me to work out what it meant to follow Jesus in every season.

3. The theme for KEC 2020 is "The kindness of God: The action that changes a destiny". How have you seen the Kindness of God in your own life?

I’m very thankful for the way God intervened and used so many Christians along the way to save my whole family. I’m also thankful for the way in which he has been at work, through his word and his Spirit and the actions of countless people within and beyond the churches we’ve been part of, to keep us all on the path of following Christ through all the ups and downs of the last three and a half decades.

4. What can we expect from your biographical sharing at KEC this year?

One of the things I love about history is the way in which it helps us see the way that faith in God gets worked out in the lives of real, fallible, frail, relatable people. Elizabeth Saunders was an amazing woman in many respects, and there are all kinds of ways in which she and her husband demonstrated the kindness of God in their actions toward others. However, they were also frail, imperfect and vulnerable people themselves who were dependent on God’s kindness in their own lives. In both of those ways, I hope her life will be a source of wisdom and encouragement for all of us.

Katoomba Easter Convention is an annual retreat for the whole family.Get away over the Easter long weekend with the entire family and be immersed in God’s Word whilst relaxing in the beautiful Blue Mountains.  Connect with family and friends, and grow in your walk with Jesus together.

Go Together. Grow Together: www.easterconvention.com ​

Follow KEC on Social Media: 

At Katoomba Easter Convention we believe when God’s word is preached, lives are changed. For this reason, we ask gifted preachers to join us each year to proclaim the life-changing message of the gospel for our good and God’s glory. 

​We are thrilled to have Matt Fuller (Christ Church, Mayfair, UK) and Daniel I. Block (Wheaton College, Illinois, USA) on the platform at KEC in 2020.

​​Matt Fuller is the Senior Pastor at Christ Church Mayfair, where he has served since it was planted in 2001. He oversees the city centre ministry to families, students and workers. In God’s kindness they have been able to plant numerous other churches into diverse settings and Matt sits on the board of the Co-mission network of churches.

​Matt lives in central London with his family and is the author of several books. Prior to ministry, he worked for several years as a school teacher of History and Politics which remain a great pleasure to him. Matt will be giving four talks from Ephesians 1. Get a taste of his teaching here: 

Free sermons on the KCC App: 

1. How to Make Wise Decisions - Listen here 
2. The Benefits of Friendship - Listen here
3. The Rewards of Wisdom - Listen here
4. Taming the Tongue - Listen here
5. God and the Body - Listen here

Book Review: 20 Quotes from a New Book on How to be True to Yourself

On January 1, 2017, Daniel Block retired from his position as the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament in the Wheaton College Graduate School. Daniel is the author of more than 170 scholarly essays and numerous popular articles on biblical texts and subjects, and also serves as senior editor for the new Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament. 

​He and his wife Ellen are active members of College Church in Wheaton. They have two adult children, a daughter Jonelle (married to Douglas Yates), and a son Jason (married to Carolyn Ratzlaff), and six delightful grandchildren. Daniel will be giving four expository talks on the Book of Ruth. Get a taste of his teaching here:

​Katoomba Easter Convention is an annual retreat for the whole family.Get away over the Easter long weekend with the entire family and be immersed in God’s Word whilst relaxing in the beautiful Blue Mountains.  Connect with family and friends, and grow in your walk with Jesus together. For tickets or more information visit: www.easterconvention.com 

Stay up to date with Katoomba Easter Convention:

On behalf of Katoomba Christian Convention we would like to thank you for your prayers this bushfire season. Due to the incredible work of the NSW RFS and God’s kindness in providing rain, the KCC site has remained safe and standing over summer, and seen three massive weeks of conferences impact attendees with God's Word. We are thankful that there were no building losses in Katoomba and beyond - and our lookouts remain beautiful, with plenty of green bushland areas for walking and enjoying!

While this is good news for KCC, we want to acknowledge that Blue Mountains businesses are struggling with the loss of their peak summer trade. For this reason, we want to invite KCC delegates to consider supporting bushfire affected areas by visiting the Blue Mountains for a day, overnight or a weekend. Join us in supporting local businesses, encouraging the local church, and helping to boost morale. 


Here are some suggestions for your visit: 


1. Blackheath Grower’s Market 

Smell, buy and taste wonderful regional food at the Blackheath Growers Market. Meet the growers and producers of a fantastic array of foods. The Market is run in the mornings until noon on the second Sunday of each month from February to December. 


2. National Day of Prayer & Fasting (22 February 2020)

Christians in Katoomba will be gathering at the StayKCC site on Saturday 22 February, 10am-12pm, to pray for the local community. The theme of the event is “Together for the glory of God” and is a great opportunity for Christians to pray for our nation. This is an interdenominational event planned by local churches in Katoomba, and everyone is welcome.


3. The Clean Standup Comedy Hour with ‘Uncle Nath’ (22 February 2020)

Join us for a night of laughs with local comedian Nathan Ranclaud, also known as ‘Uncle Nath’. Nathan employs clean humour to share the gospel message to audiences of all ages. He will be performing on Saturday 22 February, 7:30pm at St. Hilda’s Anglican Church. Tickets are $15 and available from his website: www.unclenath.com


4. Fantastic Aussie Tours

Fantastic Aussie Tours is proudly an Australian, family owned company which has been operating in the Blue Mountains since 1974. Explore the Blue Mountains using their Hop On Hop Off Blue Mountains Explorer Bus. More info: www.fantastic-aussie-tours.com.au/


5. Painting Class: Paint, Sip & Watch the Sunset 

Enjoy a 3-hour painting workshop with Fran Crane (Lady Bird Design). The workshop is a step-by-step guide into how to paint original artwork onto canvas. The venue for this workshop overlooks treetops into the Valley of the Waters and will be hosted at sunset so that you can enjoy the changing colours of the sky while you paint. The next workshop will be held on Saturday 14 March 2020.

More info: 
https://classbento.com.au/painting-class-paint-sip-and-watch-the-sunset-sydney 


6. Blue Mountains Biking Adventures

Explore the trails, towns and scenic hotspots of the Blue Mountains on two wheels, with self-guided tours and electric bike hire available. Visit the shopfront in Katoomba for walk-in mountain bike or electric ‘urban’ bike hire, with the latter the perfect option for those who want to explore without raising a sweat.

More info: 
https://www.visitbluemountains.com.au/blue-mountains-biking-adventures 


7. The Polished Opal

Learn about Australia’s national gemstone as you learn how to release the fire from the stone at hands-on workshops at The Polished Opal. Each participant receives three stones to polish during the three-hour classes, under the guidance of polishing expert Sonja van As. You’ll also receive a display case to keep your treasures in.

More info: https://www.visitbluemountains.com.au/the-polished-opal 


8. Hydro Majestic Pavilion

Celebrating the spirit of the Royal Easter Show pavilions of Sydney’s old showgrounds and operating as a magnificent interactive ‘living’ history space, the Hydro Majestic Pavilion will house a vibrant display showcasing boutique and unique food and wine from the Blue Mountains and its regions. Regions showcased will include Mudgee, Bathurst, Orange and the Western Plains. Open daily 9am 5pm: https://www.hydromajestic.com.au/87-hydro-pavilion 


9. Bygone Beautys

Step into a more gracious era at Bygone Beautys, a collection of Blue Mountains cottages, a tearoom and teapot museum located in Leura. The self-contained cottages offer a romantic home-away-from home, with guests enjoying half-priced Devonshire Tea at Bygone Beautys tearooms. The tearooms are open daily for lunch or light refreshment, set amongst antiques and bric-a-brac.

​More info: http://www.bygonebeautys.com.au/ 


10. Leuralla Toy & Railway Museum

Leuralla Toy & Railway Museum is the Southern Hemisphere's largest collection of toys, trains and associated memorabilia. Whether you're a family or a serious collector, the world class displays of 20th century toys, from Barbie, Popeye, Tintin and Alice in Wonderland will captivate and entertain. The displays are housed in an historic early 20th century mansion, set in lush, 5 hectare award-winning gardens filled with interactive displays and picturesque scenes. Open daily 10am-5pm.

​For more info visit: https://www.toyandrailwaymuseum.com.au/

Easter Convention takes place at the KCC Conference Centre nestled amongst 13 hectares of spectacular bushland on the edge of the Blue Mountains World Heritage National Park. Get away over the Easter long weekend with the entire family and be immersed in God’s Word whilst relaxing in the beautiful Blue Mountains.  Connect with family and friends, and grow in your walk with Jesus together. For tickets or more info: www.easterconvention.com 

In this interview, Lachlan Anderson from St Paul's Anglican Church in Chatswood shares why he attends BASECAMP men's conference and how the event has served to renew his strength as a man of faith.

1. How many times have you attended BASECAMP? 

​2019 was my third time at BASECAMP. 

2. Why do you think men should set aside time to prioritise men's conferences like BASECAMP? 

It can be so easy to get bogged down in the business of life, whatever that may look like for each of us, but it often means God takes a backseat in our lives. So sometimes we need to get out of our routine and purposefully recharge spiritually. BASECAMP is so helpful for us to pause, breathe and reflect on our relationship with God and the men He is calling us to be.

3. How does BASECAMP serve to "renew your strength" as a man of faith? 

Taking the time to stop for a day and sit in God's word with so many brothers in Christ was the best remedy for me in a period where I was stressed and anxious about life. The speaker, Paul Tripp challenged us to base our identity in Christ and not in our achievements or relationships. I felt strengthened and renewed to stand alongside so many other Christian men and humbly come back to Jesus - proclaiming Him as our identity and our strength.

4. What is one encouragement you took home with you after BASECAMP 2019? 

I was encouraged by L-T Hopper's on-stage chat with Steve Kryger about friendship between brothers in Christ. It was so great to hear from the front that true Godly masculinity involves love, gentleness and compassion, especially when our culture tells us a very different story about what it means to be a man in Australia.

​BASECAMP is an annual event for men who want to know God better. Since 1997, men of all generations and from across denominations have taken time out together to hear God speak. Each year, men have encouraged each other to run the race with their eyes fixed on Jesus.

To sign up for BASECAMP 2020 updates fill out the form on our website: www.basecampmen.com 

Follow BASECAMP on social media: 

We are thrilled to announce that Jackie Hill-Perry will be joining the KCC platform at OneLove 2020! 

Jackie Hill-Perry is an author, bible teacher, and artist whose work has been featured on The Washington Times, Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition and other publications. She came to know Christ at the age of 19 and has been compelled to share the light of gospel truth through teaching, writing, poetry, and music as authentically as she can. At home, she is a wife to Preston and mummy to Eden and Autumn. 

​Get a taste of her teaching here:

Jackie Hill Perry on the Gospel For Sinners (Interview with Nancy Guthrie) 

Love is a Gospel Issue

Jackie Hill Perry on Poetry and Rap 
​
Why is Theology Important? Is Jesus Enough? 

When Temptation Holds Out Pleasure

Jesus is Always Faithful

Jackie is the author of Gay Girl, Good God. In this book, she shares her story of finding wholeness in her experience of growing up in a fatherless home and struggling with gender confusion. Jackie grew up abusing marijuana, loving pornography and embracing both masculinity and homosexuality. At the age of 19, Jackie came face-to-face with what it meant to be made new. And not in a church, or through contact with Christians—God broke in and turned her heart towards Him right in her own bedroom in light of His gospel. We can't wait to hear her speak at OneLove 2020! 

After a sold-out event this year, OneLove will return on Saturday, 22 August 2020. OneLove is for women of all ages and life stages. Whether you have been a Christian for many years or are still seeking answers about God, come to OneLove and experience life changing preaching, inspirational testimonies, amazing music and fantastic fellowship!

​Secure your tickets for OneLove 2020 at the special pre-launch rate ($80) if you book before midnight 29 September, 2019. Please note that this is our lowest rate and no further discounts will apply.

​Register at: www.onelovewomen.com/2020

Stay up-to-date with OneLove 2020:

​If God is so good...

why are Christians so bad?
why does he condemn people to hell?
why is he so against our sexual freedom?

Is God good for you?

​God calls us to live as ambassadors in the world. It can be tough when we are surrounded by objections to our faith.

​Join us as at Onward 19 this June as our panel of internationally renowned apologists Dan Paterson, Mary Jo Sharp and Wassim Sabry equip us to answer these difficult questions with love and truth. 

DAN PATERSON
​
For Dan, childhood family tragedies caused a series of barriers to belief in God. Could a God who allows evil, suffering and pain in the world still be good? Through an investigation of Jesus and his response to suffering, Dan was moved to find a life of faith. Dan is a pastor and international speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. 

Get a taste of his teaching in this video “Has Science Buried God?”​​

MARY JO SHARP

A former atheist, Mary Jo Sharp was raised without religion. She is now an Assistant Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University and the founder and director of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry. She is an itinerant speaker on apologetics throughout North America and has engaged in formal debates on Islam.

​Get a taste of her teaching in this video “Engaging Others in Their Beliefs". 

WASSIM SABRY

Wassim Sabry is the Area Director for ministry in the Middle East, as well as an Itinerant Speaker for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. He studied at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and completed an MA in Philosophy at the American University in Cairo, where he developed a new model that helps in understanding forgiveness. Prior to joining the RZIM team, he led the development and launch of SawtOnline, an Arabic online platform for apologetics resources. ​​

​You can follow Wassim on Twitter.

Onward 19 will be held on Saturday 22 June at Scots Church in the heart of Sydney city next to Wynyard Station. Join us for four fantastic talks over the afternoon from 1:30pm - 6:00pm.

Tickets are $49pp and available from our website: www.onwardevent.com

Note: Onward Youth is a separate event for highschoolers. Public Evangelist Sam Chan will be speaking on the topic “Coming Out as a Christian” on Friday 28 June.

Connect with Onward on Instagram or Facebook.

At the 2018 OneLove women's conference, we recommended the book 'For The Joy: 21 Australian Missionary Mother Stories on Cross-Cultural Parenting and Life' from the platform. In this interview, co-editor Miriam Chan shares the intentions behind the book and what it looks like to persevere towards eternity in her varying roles over the years as a theological student, Sunday school teacher, school counsellor, ministry wife and missionary mother.