Category: 2025 Blog

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A Heart for the Islands: SOMA Mission to the Solomon Islands 2025

By Rev. Melinda McMahon, National Director, SOMA Australia

In late September, a SOMA Australia team travelled to the Solomon Islands for a week of teaching, prayer, and partnership with the Anglican Church of Melanesia. Our group included clergy and lay leaders from across Australia, who joined with local church communities in Honiara to explore ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit.

From the moment we arrived, we were met with song, warmth, and overwhelming hospitality. Despite the tropical heat and occasional power outages, the joy and generosity of the Solomon Island people were constant reminders of God’s abundant grace.

The clergy conference at St Barnabas Cathedral became a space of deep conversation and learning. Together, we reflected on healing, deliverance, and Spirit-led discipleship within an Anglican framework. One moment that stayed with us all came when the Cathedral Dean asked, “How can we prevent what’s happening in Australia—declining congregations and ageing churches—from happening here?” It was a question that united us in shared hope for renewal across our regions.

Beyond the conference, we shared in village worship, a youth rally, and a baptism feast filled with singing and laughter. Our visit to the Christian Care Centre—a refuge for women and children escaping violence—was especially moving, reminding us of the power of compassion in action.

We returned home inspired, humbled, and grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.

You can read the full mission report and watch the video presentation below:

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2025 Anglican Renewal Conference organisation has begun!

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:

  1. Personal Renewal – A fresh work of the Spirit in your own heart and leadership.
  2. Corporate Renewal – A contagious vitality that spreads through your church community.
  3. 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.

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SOMA July/August Newsletter Out Now

Our (belated) newsletter has just be sent to all subscribers on our email list. If you’d like to receive a copy, please complete the contact form, and we’ll forward it to you.

In this issue is an opening devotional, a “Meet the Team” travelling to the Solomon Islands in October on mission.

A reminder of the next National Anglican’s Ablaze conference in November this year.

It’s a great read!

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Is the Spirit calling you to join SOMA’s mission to Solomon Islands?

If your heart is open to respond to the Spirit’s call, there is a mission for you this year!

SOMA is going to the Solomon Islands in October 2025! The SOMA Solomon Islands mission team are excited to extend this opportunity to you as we prepare to serve in the beautiful islands of Melanesia.

A little about SOMA for the newbies
SOMA (Sharing of Ministries Abroad) exists to bring renewal and life to the Anglican Church through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Our mission is rooted in deep spiritual transformation, and we operate with the guidance of God’s wisdom, providing both logistical and governance support for mission endeavors. If you are unfamiliar with SOMA’s story and ministry ethos, we would be happy to share resources that capture its vision and impact.

The Solomon Islands’ Mission being organised
This year, under SOMA’s leadership, we have been invited by Archbishop Leonard Dawea of the Diocese of Central Melanesia (ACOM – Anglican Church of Melanesia) to partner in ministry. In consultation with the Bishops of the Province, he has specifically requested that our team provide teaching in two key areas: Discipleship and Healing.

Beyond these core focuses, we also see a great opportunity to minister to children, youth, and the wives of clergy and church leaders in Honiara, the capital city. We believe this mission will lay a strong foundation for future outreach, both in Honiara and in surrounding dioceses and villages.

Mission Leadership
The team will be led by Rev. Brett Wattersall from All Saints Nelson Bay. Rev. Brett has many years experience both leading missions and in ministry of the Holy Spirit. Brett will be assisted by Melinda McMahon, SOMA’s National Director, and Rev. Graeme Liersch, interim Chair of SOMA, who will serve as active members of this mission.

Your Invitation to Serve
We encourage you to prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to join this mission for such a time as this. If you’d like more details, do not hesitate to contact Rev. Melinda and a letter of invitation will be forwarded to you. If you are not a member of SOMA, an application form will be included.

As we prepare, let us hold onto the words of Jesus,

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10).

May this mission be a vessel of that abundant life for the Anglican Church of Melanesia.

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Canon Michael Harper’s book “Power for the Body of Christ” now republished

Power for the Body of Christ

We are delighted to announce the re-release of Michael Harper’s seminal work, Power for the Body of Christ. Originally published in 1964, this influential book has been a cornerstone in understanding the role of the Holy Spirit within the Church. Its renewed availability offers both new readers and longtime admirers the opportunity to delve into Harper’s profound insights.

Canon Michael Harper was a pivotal figure in the Charismatic Renewal movement from the 1960s through the 1980s. His ministry spanned the globe, notably through the Fountain Trust, an organization he founded in 1965 to promote spiritual renewal. In 1979, Harper established Sharing of Ministries Abroad (SOMA), which has gone on to expand internationally, fostering connections and strengthening ministries across continents.

Power for the Body of Christ serves as a concise yet comprehensive guide to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit within the Church. Harper articulates the necessity of embracing spiritual gifts and renewal to invigorate the Church’s mission and community life. His writing emphasizes unity, empowerment, and the dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit as essential components for a vibrant and effective Christian witness.

This re-release is a timely invitation to revisit Harper’s teachings, which continue to resonate in today’s context. As the Church navigates contemporary challenges, Harper’s call to embrace the Holy Spirit’s power remains as relevant and compelling as ever. We encourage all believers to engage with this work, allowing its insights to inspire and renew their faith communities.

This book forms part of SOMA’s new “Anglican Charismatic Heritage Series” which intends to republish former written works, so to share old wisdom with younger ears and hearts.

Michael Harper’s book may be purchased either in paperback or as an ebook from the SOMA Bookstore or from Amazon.