Written by Reverend Mark McDonald, Vicar at St Columb’s Hawthorn
Anglican Renewal Conference Team Leader
Dear friends in ministry,
We know this season has been challenging. Many of us are feeling the weight of fatigue, discouragement, and the slow burn of exhaustion. I’ve felt it too. Recently, I found myself on the edge of burnout and knew I needed to step back, recharge, and seek renewal.
So I went to the UK—and what I saw there gave me hope. Churches are being revitalised. People are experiencing personal and corporate renewal. And most astonishingly, the data shows that church attendance is rising. The Bible Society reports that 2 million more people are attending church in the UK than just five years ago. Among young men aged 18–25, attendance has surged from 4% to 20%. That’s not just growth—it’s revival.
Imagine if that could happen here in Australia.
Imagine a new generation coming to faith in Jesus. Imagine our churches renewed, our ministries reinvigorated, and our communities transformed.
There are signs of hope—and we believe God is stirring something new in our nation.
Let’s Gather. Let’s Pray. Let’s Believe.
Join us in Melbourne this November for Anglicans Ablaze 2025 – the Anglican Renewal conference. Together, we’ll:
- Share stories of renewal and revitalisation
- Pray for a fresh move of the Spirit across Australia
- Encourage one another in the journey of ministry
- Seek God’s vision for the season ahead
“Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4
In Luke 5, we find Peter, exhausted from a fruitless night of fishing, listening to Jesus teach from the boat. Though weary, he responds to Jesus’ call to go deeper. What follows is a miraculous catch, so abundant it requires another boat to help haul it in. This November, we invite you to respond to that same call.
Whether you’re weary or expectant, discouraged or hopeful, this is a space for you. Let’s come together. Let’s believe again. Let’s see what God will do.
Anglicans Ablaze is a gathering for Anglican ministers and leaders who sense that God is stirring something new in our churches. It’s a time to reflect, renew, and reimagine what it means to lead communities of faith in this season.
Why Come?
- Renew Your Vision: Explore what God might be birthing in the Church today, not just reviving past movements, but discerning fresh expressions of mission and renewal.
- Prepare the Nets: Learn how to ready your church for a new catch, spiritually, structurally, and missionally.
- Catch the Fire Together: Bring your team and catch a shared vision for renewal that can transform your local context.
Anglicans Ablaze 2025 theme: A Call to Renewal
In a time when many are praying for revival, longing for a move of God in our churches and communities, it can feel overwhelming when those prayers seem unanswered. But what if there’s a more accessible, Spirit-led path forward?
Renewal is that path.
This year’s theme—Renewal—offers a fresh vision for ministry that bridges the supernatural work of God with our faithful partnership.
What is Renewal?
Renewal is a Spirit-empowered collaboration between God’s movement and our ministry. Renewal is the intersection of:
- Revival – the sovereign move of God we pray for.
- Reformation – the intentional reshaping of church through human insight.
It begins in the heart of the leader, spreads through the church, and reshapes our understanding of ministry for a new generation.
Three Dimensions of Renewal:
- Personal Renewal – A fresh work of the Spirit in your own heart and leadership.
- Corporate Renewal – A contagious vitality that spreads through your church community.
- Conceptual Renewal – A reimagining of ministry that holds fast to the unchanging gospel while engaging a changing world.
Final Invitation
We believe that personal renewal is vital, but even more powerful is corporate renewal. When teams are inspired together, the impact on our parishes multiplies. Let’s gather to seek God’s renewal for the Anglican Church in Australia.
We’d love to see you in Hawthorn this November.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.