This October, KCC is hosting ‘Oxygen Live’ a series of online Facebook events to help Christian leaders prioritise their ministry wellbeing and run refreshed.  

In 2020, the Oxygen team continues to be committed to serving pastors and Christian leaders. In this season of change and instability, we have been brainstorming ways to help our nation’s leaders to run refreshed so that they can continue serving the gospel in a world that’s hungry for hope.  

Therefore, we are hosting Oxygen Live—a series of free online Facebook events, featuring guest speakers who will speak on the topic of ministry wellbeing. In the first two talks of the series, we will interview Dr Grant Bickerton and Tim Dyer who will join us in sharing their thoughts on weariness and dealing with ministry stress. Make sure to save the dates in your diary!
 
1. "What to do when your tank is low" – Tim Dyer – Wednesday 7 October | 12PM AEDT 

2. “Ministry Stress - Crisis or Catalyst” – Dr Grant Bickerton – Wednesday 21 October | 12PM AEDT 

Dr Grant Bickerton is a counselling psychologist who also has 15 years' experience as a missionary in Australia and overseas. Grant’s research expertise concerns the psychological and spiritual variables that reduce work stress and promote well-being among Christian missionaries. 

Tim Dyer founded the John Mark Extension and serves as a trainer of church consultants, mentors and leaders. He works across many mainline denominations and focuses on the care, development and support of clergy and the health of congregations. 

To get the latest updates and resources for Christian leadership and to join Oxygen Live, make sure to follow our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/kcc.oxygen 
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To get a taste of Oxygen teaching, you can tune into "Time to Reset", as well as our library of old Oxygen talks which have been uploaded to the KCC One App. We recommend that you tune into Grant Bickerton’s Oxygen 11 talk, “Battling Burnout and Enhancing Engagement in Ministry” which comes with the following complimentary handout. ​

To help youth see how biblical theology is “lived out” in everyday situations, KYCK delegates past and present will be joining the platform, to share how the gospel has transformed and shaped their decisions in different seasons of life.  
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Christian bands CityAlight (KYCK #1) and Gather (KYCK #2) will also be joining the livestream to guide youth into reflecting and responding to God's word in song. ​To familiarise yourself with the songs ahead of KYCK, you can follow the KYCK 20 Spotify playlist here. ​

Finally, if delegates have any questions from the day, they can submit their questions to our live Q&A panel which will be led by Ben Staunton and our MC’s.  
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Although our delegates are unable to gather physically this year, every element of the new online program has been designed to challenge and equip high schoolers to live out their faith with joy and boldness. Please join us in praying for this outcome this Spring! ​
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I love sleeping. Most days, I can nod off with ease and enjoy good chunks of deep and uninterrupted sleep. While stress may cause insomnia for some, my body reacts to pressure by shutting down. Sleep is my superpower, and yet over the years I have learned that no amount of shut eye is capable of curing the restlessness in my soul and heart.

The thing is, if I’m not sleeping, I’m busy. My calendar is bursting with deadlines and to-do’s. I say “yes” too quickly and too often. I struggle to be still, and to focus on one thing. In a culture that glorifies performance and output, busyness is addictive, and yet it makes for a terrible god because its demands are endless.

Why is it that my plate is so full, and yet I’m still wondering if I’m doing enough?

Why is it that I try so hard to be useful and helpful, and yet still feel like I’ll never be enough?

Despite living in such a prosperous country, why are so many of us trapped in workaholism because we feel like we’ll never have enough?

In the words of Dallas Willard, “hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life”, so why is it such a pervasive part of the human condition, including professing Christians? At the recent OneLove women’s conference, Kara Martin challenged me to consider why I struggle with “hurry sickness” and why slowing down in isolation has caused me to feel uncomfortable, guilty and fearful.

I can identify 7 reasons for why this is so:

• My identity is shaped by my performance and competency.
• I’m afraid of being alone with my thoughts and feelings.
• I don’t fully trust that God will provide.
• I measure my worthiness by what I can do and how I can help.
• I’m afraid of being labelled as weak, useless, or lazy.
• I doubt the goodness of God’s timing and will for my life.
• I despise my limitations because instead of imaging Him, I want to be like God.
  
  

We all have our reasons for pursuing a hurried life, and OneLove reminded me that “true rest” is much more than a good night’s sleep. What Jesus promises in Matthew 11:28-29 is a deep and satisfying spiritual rest in Him. Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him, for He has the power to calm restless hearts and to satisfy our soul’s desire for hope, purpose, identity, satisfaction, confidence, acceptance and redemption.

In a year where my work plans have been uprooted and every earthly security challenged, I have found myself at the mercy of my Maker and relearning what it means to find true rest in Christ. With my schedules cleared of normal routines, I have been forced to redefine productivity and to see that time resting in Christ’s presence, is never a waste.

Here are 8 ways that coming to Christ has granted rest for my soul:
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• My worth and identity is defined by Christ’s righteousness, and not the labour or success of my own hands (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• I can acknowledge my limitations and surrender to the One who never grows tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28).
• I can “pour out my heart” in prayer, trusting that God is an unshakeable refuge who is quick to listen and powerful to act (Psalm 62:8).
• I can confess my flaws and failures, and draw comfort from God’s unfailing love and compassions (Psalm 51).
• There is “no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”. In Christ, I am forgiven and reconciled to my Father and Judge (Romans 8:1-2).
• Even if I don’t see immediate results, I can trust that my labour for the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
• There is a Judge who sees all, and there will be a day when perfect justice will rule (Psalm 50:6).
• No matter my earthly circumstances, Christ has saved me into an eternal hope without death, tears or goodbyes (Revelation 21:4).
  
  

Does your soul feel weary and burdened?

Take a moment to pause and to hear Christ’s invitation:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:28-29

1. What does being a Christian father mean to you? 

I’m imperfect. God is perfect. My children are under my authority, but I am under God’s authority. I want them to never know a day that they didn’t trust in Jesus, as their Lord and Saviour (my wife always says that, and I think it’s a good one), so I try to immerse and marinate them in the Christian worldview. We begin and end the day in the Bible and prayer. I’m not great at this but I can see their hearts and minds slowly being shaped by biblical truth. That’s exciting!  

It’s also scary because kids learn by what is taught and what is ‘caught.’ They are ALWAYS watching me, and I have to make sure I am worth copying! This means I need to keep growing in my faith too. If I’m to teach our boys to achieve new goals, I can’t be stagnant myself. The best way to do that is in prayer and regular bible reading. Being stretched in my thinking with clear and relevant bible teaching and Christian writing is priceless too. Lately I have spent early mornings listening to Ravi Zacharias, John Piper, Don Carson, Francis Chan, etc. I don’t have to be a ‘great Christian thinker’ myself, but I can benefit enormously from thinking about Christian things!  

2. How does knowing God the Father change the way you parent your kids?  

I think it changes everything. It has to. As a parent we are teaching a child their identity. As a Christian parent, I also need to show them that their identity then points to their destiny. In the words of J.I. Packer, author of Knowing God: “I am a child of God, God is my father. Heaven is my home, every day is one day nearer. My saviour is my brother. Every Christian is my brother and sister too!” I believe this is a pretty good compass to walk through life with. 

3. Can you share something that God has been teaching you since you’ve become a parent?  

I’ve learnt a lot and yet I still have my ‘L-Plates’ on! Seeing my own sinfulness and shortcomings is one lesson. I used to think I was patient. I may have been. It’s just that now I am constantly put in situations where I have to be selfless and I spend the majority of the day serving others. I have less time for my own hobbies and pursuits. Perhaps my irritability and impatience come from a place where I don't get to fill every day with serving myself. I’ve probably learnt the same lesson through marriage too. Maybe happiness isn’t as important as Holiness? 

I think also trusting in God is a journey that hasn’t stopped. I have lived and worked in the Outback. I have been part of a church-plant. I have three boys and one with extra needs. I lost my job for the last two years due to medical reasons. I have taken on the challenges of a new role–being a stay-at-home dad, studying while homeschooling our boys, running the house and doing the shopping. It’s been a great lesson in not putting confidence and identity in one’s work. 

I’ve had great times and am much closer with my sons. I’ve been able to be more involved in church. I’ve seen my wife thrive in a job she enjoys. I’ve had many opportunities to do things that a shift-work pilot would not have permitted. I have much to be thankful for. Trusting in God is not always easy, in fact at times it was near impossible.  

As C.S. Lewis says in the Lion and the Witch and the Wardrobe, describing Aslan the Lion. “He is not a tame lion, but he is very good.” I know that God is very good, and I can completely trust Him in ALL things. I can see looking back that trusting in God is so important when you go through ‘the valley’. Trusting in God does bring about peace as you hand life’s challenges to Him. I need to do this consciously and on a daily basis.  
 
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 


4. How do you see your role as a dad as a form of “men’s ministry”? 

Apparently Aristotle once said, “Give me the child until they are seven, and I will give you the man.” We have three boys. 11, 9 and 7. According to Aristotle, a significant part of their ‘formation’ has been completed. Of course, they are being shaped beyond their first 7 years. 
 Of course, I have more time with them, God willing. However, these early years are so significant. 

So many seeds have been planted already that are now growing. I see it as a huge privilege to begin ‘Men’s Ministry’ in these boys’ lives so early on. I’m very aware of my imperfection and that I need to keep relying on God. Indeed, it is Jesus who I need to show to my three boys, so I need to instruct them how we need to follow Jesus’s wisdom and teachings in the Bible. By showing them I’m not perfect and I’m still learning. My prayer is that we are following in Jesus’ footsteps together today and on that day when we meet him face to face. 
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1.     What does being a Christian father mean to you? 

Being a Christian father means I’m called to represent God to my kids. As concrete thinkers, young children find it hard to know what God is like. But I’m given the high calling of making God’s character known to them, so that the tone of my voice reflects the tone of God’s voice, the way I discipline and exercise authority reflects God’s good discipline and authority and the comfort I provide reflects the comfort God provides. What a task!  

Fortunately, I don’t have to have it ‘all together’. When it comes to my own pull towards self-centredness I’m more like my kids than different to them. So, I learn to rely on God’s grace and forgiveness to me. I identify with my kids in their weakness and self-centredness and I point them to the same grace that I so desperately need myself. 

2. How does knowing God the Father change the way you parent your kids?  

Knowing that God, the Father generously offers me forgiveness and hope for change does two things for my parenting. First, it enables me to own my failure, weakness and sin and speak honestly about this to my kids, and even asking them to forgive me when I relate to them in damaging ways. My kids are always engaged when I speak personally with them about such things. I shudder to think what my relationship with them would look like if I felt I had to ‘cover up’ the ways I’ve wronged them. 

Second, I can offer hope to my kids in the face of their signature struggles. Whether it is acting impulsively, persistent ‘deaf ears’, or another jealous squabble, I don’t have to relate to them as if they’re just a sum total of these patterns. God is patient with me time and time again. His Spirit empowers me with new resources to change. That same patience and those same new resources are extended to my kids in Christ. I can celebrate incremental change as it happens and not give up as if change is beyond their reach. 

3. Can you share something that God has been teaching you, since you’ve become a parent? 
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Our kids are still quite young – we have three kids under the age of 7 years old. Understanding that kids think in concrete terms is something that hasn’t come naturally to me. I too quickly go into ‘biblical instruction’ mode with my kids as if they were older. But I’m learning that one of the key ways I point them to God’s grace and forgiveness is in moments of reconciliation after time-outs.  

We have a bit of routine worked out where we ask the kids what they did, and they take responsibility for their actions by saying sorry and asking for our forgiveness. These aren’t just moments to talk about God’s character but to model God’s character to them in granting forgiveness. This means actually treating them as forgiven – not continuing to resent them for what they’ve done or continue to punish them in subtle ways – but relating to them warmly in restored relationship.  

This is also an opportunity to check my motives. Am still angry them because they spoiled my plans for the evening? Or am I happy to give up my plans knowing God’s calling me to see something bigger going on in this moment? ​