Brisbane Christian News @ Brisbane Christian Chat (Queensland, Australia)


	30.04.04 - Live At The Princess returns next Friday with a "SuperStar"! From 96five. After 3 months of the 96five 'Super Star' competition, Live At The Princess is on again, with Mark Lowndes the 96five 'Super Star' winner headlining on Friday May 7th 2004. Accompanying Mark Lowndes will be Propane and Crying Out Loud. Live At The Princess is held on the First Friday night of every month at the Princess Theatre, 8 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba from 7pm til late. Tickets only $9 at the door. (More details in the Gig Guide.)
	30.04.04 - Dove Awards 2004. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Christian music's 35th "night of nights", the annual Dove Awards, was held in Nashville at the Municipal Auditorium overnight (28 April). The presentation honored achievements in Christian music over the past year. Live performances featured Newsboys, Third Day, Pillar, Sanctus Real, Jars of Clay, MercyMe, CeCe Winans, Randy Travis, Ncole C Mullen and more. MercyMe and Jeremy Camp won many of the significant (if I can use that word) awards. Rebecca St James hosted the backstage TV presentation featuring interviews with Amy Grant, Michawl W Smith and major award winners. All the results are at this location.
	30.04.04 - See Colin Buchanan live in concert next Saturday. From 96five. Don't miss Colin Buchanan, Australia's favourite kids praise artist and regular presenter on Channel 7's 'Playhouse Disney' and guest on ABC's playschool at 96five's Family Day. Colin will be performing all your favourite kids songs on the main stage at Family Day at 1pm and 4:20pm. Family Day 2004 is on track to be bigger and better than ever before, and will once again provide the families of Brisbane with a positive event the whole family can enjoy. Based in Pavilions 8, 9 & 10 off Alexandria Street in the RNA Showgrounds, all event attractions are linked in one convenient location and on one level. Family Day 2004 will be held on Saturday 8th May from 10am to 5pm at the Alexandria Street Entrance to the RNA Showgrounds.
	25.04.04 - Guides 'Catch the Spirit'. From Judy Rogers - State Arts Adviser for Guides Qld. Guides Qld launches CD 'Catch the Spirit' on Friday 7th May. The CD was produced as a result of many requests by Guides and their leaders for copies of the songs written by Judy Rogers. These songs provide a modern, upbeat and meaningful way to promote Guiding in the 21st century. The songs are sung by 'The Guide Squad', three talented young leaders who have performed together for a number of years. Lisa, Claire and Michelle have given their time, talents, energy and enthusiasm to share their love of Guiding through these fantastic songs by Judy Rogers.
	21.04.04 - AGMF. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Imagine a giant fair... A no-charge event that is open to all the public. Kids and families, teenagers and oldies, couples and singles. Displays, stores, food, coffee and plenty of interesting events, plus high quality showcases. That's just one part of Toowoomba's largest community event - AGMF. Surrounding this is a series of small and large tents housing every musical style from metal to folk, country, rock, a capella, gospel, plus indigenous. And the main stage, an open air arena holds around 10 000 people. Thousands, from all over Australia and New Zealand, pay money each year to stand in the tents and sit on the grass enjoying the outstanding performances by Australian Christian musicians. Downtown, more free events. The main street is blocked for concerts and street events. And the city's largest shopping mall hosts a steady stream of concerts presenting the best of Australian contemporary Christian music. AGMF is not a Parachute Festival, or Sonfest. This is very Australian. Right down to the annual Australia Vs New Zealand cricket match. Highlights (for me) included Darlene Zschech, Rebecca St James, Guy Sebastian, Roma Waterman, Claire Hazzard, Rookie and Alabaster Box. Alabaster Box claimed the crown for most improved act with the sextet rising to a new level.
	20.04.04 - 'Leg Rope News': Kenya & Uganda. From Andy Chapman. YWAM outreach continued. Stage 3 Kenya 1 month. After flying all the way back to Hong Kong via Bangkok again (& waiting another 10hrs), we flew 13 hours across the Indian ocean to South Africa then on to Nairobi, Kenya. By then we were struggling to keep track of what day it was let alone what the time was! It seemed all the training and previous challenges were for Africa. We stayed at YWAM Athi river base in the 'bush bush' about 1 hr east of Nairobi. (There were Giraffes roaming around down the bush track.) The people were great and friendly. We walked, walk/taxied, almost daily to the local villages and towns, to do door to door ministry, open air singing, dancing, drama's, testimonies, prayin' for sick people etc. We even sang some songs with a local church choir. "I am D' Vine" and "Do you believe in God?" were a big hit. Our children Josiah, Asher, & Georgia had a great time playing with the orphans at the base. They made friend's easily and were a big attraction wherever they went. People were healed and some rededicated their lives to Christ, and some became first time believers! Praise God, after planting and watering many seeds of faith in Bali and Sri Lanka, we were seeing the fruits of our labour. The Kenyan Christians displayed genuine love and commitment to us. We went to serve but they served us also. Sharny preached at an open air crusade (a great message about making Jesus saviour takes only a moment; Making him Lord takes a life time. A daily taking up of your cross and following him). We did some ministry as a family near the end, which went so well. We also went on a very exciting 3 day safari thanks to our leaders Nick and Mick! Other highlights were going to the Nairobi slums (over 1 million people live in the sprawl of shacks with open sewerage running down the alleyways). We visited 2 ministries there that were caring for and feeding/housing orphans, some of whom were HIV+. We did dramas and sang and shared with them and gave away our lunch to them. Josiah came with me. Great eye-opener for him. We had a fantastic opportunity of going to and ministering in a town in the Massi Lands. Open air outreach, football, and door to door in the bush. (Where the huts were about 30 mins walk from one to the next!) These were a proud people, self-sufficient and tough. They live a basic Old Testament lifestyle, herding cattle and goats, although it seemed many were Christians also. I preached one night in a local church. (haven't done that for ages!) Challenges: the daily challenges at the base were eating bread and butter for breakfast; milky tea for every meal (I like it black!); 'oogarlie' for every second dinner!; squat toilets (I didn't mind that too much, only that they smelt real bad!); Bucket-bathing; bucket clothes-washing, and 'hanging' our clothes on the long grass were all interesting activities! Stage 4 Uganda 5 days. (To see our 2 sponsor children.) Our family was so excited! After over 10 years of sponsorship, love, prayers, photos and letters we were going to fulfil a Huge dream. To visit our sponsor children in Uganda, Africa! We left the team in Bissel Massi land & journeyed to Nairobi airport with Brother David. Squashed for hours in a Matatu (they are never full, people just keep getting on!). As we were pressed for time, we flew (thanks to friends who gave us money for tickets) to Entebee, Uganda over the rift valley and huge Lake Victoria. We got stuck in the airport for we didn't have enough money for visas and our credit/bank cards wouldn't work in the machines! Thanks to 'Willie' the taxi driver who was sent by Compassion Uganda to pick us up, he drew money out of his own account to bail us out! Then he drove us to Kampala the capital and all over town to find a bank where we could get some local money out. They were all shut! We had to come back tomorrow! Willie drove us to the Namurambee Guest House where lots of missionaries stay. They let us stay and have a wonderful meal, real showers, toilets and beds without vermin! Praise God! The next day I walked down to the city and drew out some money on credit to pay our many bills. I caught a motorbike back to be warmly greeted by Goretty (our beautiful, tall and lean sponsor child with Christian Children's Fund) and her mother 'ToTo Joyce' who nearly jumped out of her skin with joy when she met me! Goretty looked great dressed in her Sunday best she had bought with some money we had sent her through CCF. They had travelled a long way from their village in North Uganda to see us. It was too dangerous for us to go to their village. The Lords Resistance Army had ravaged and overran their village and farm. They (along with the 4 other children) fled to Sorrotti and were in a refugee camp there since mid 2003. She, like an estimated 1 million refugees in Northern Uganda have fled before a vicious rebel army that has had a history of killing and maiming innocent villagers, kidnapping school students for brides, slaves and front line soldiers. This war has gone on for 16 yrs. That's how old Gorrety is! Please pray for international & supernatural pressure to stop this rebel war and that God's people in North Uganda will be safe. After meeting some staff members & lunch at CCF headquarters we went to town with Goretty and ToTo, Edith and Teddy (CCF staff). We had a great time taking Goretty shopping for a dress and shoes, we also bought her a Bible, some school supplies and gave her some money for a foam mattress, and we went bowling. And took heaps of photos. What a great day we had! We prayed together and sadly parted. Georgia really enjoyed being with her 'big sister' all day. The next day was just as exciting. After meeting the Compassion staff at their headquarters we went off to see Sebulime (our Compassion sponsor child) with Chris (Compassion staff) and Fred our driver. After a long rough drive we arrived at Seb's church in Luwero where he had been waiting for us for 3 hours! There he was; handsome, tall, athletic and shy with a big smile. Much like Goretty. Even the same age, 16. He was dressed in his Sunday best that he had bought with money we sent him through Compassion. Irene, the Compassion staff worker said Seb had walked 7 miles to be there, and had been waiting since 8am! After some warm greetings and hearing about the project we all jumped back into the van and bashed our way over rough bush tracks past Seb's school to his home 3 miles further on. We arrived at their mud house and kitchen. The welcome from family was amazing. Seb's mum bounced up and down as she greeted each one of us. She bowed to the ground and kissed my hands. Our interpreter said she was overjoyed and lost for words! We enjoyed being led around their plot and shown Seb's garden of cassava, jackfruit trees, bananas, yams, and his pride and joy a milking cow and calf that he had bought with money we had sent him. We snacked on sugarcane and passionfruit then had a huge home cooked (on open fires) lunch of ground peanuts, chicken, banana moetook, all steamed in banana leaves. We gave gifts to Seb including a soccer ball that we kicked around with him and his cousins and friends. Asher and Josiah really enjoyed that. We sang songs and prayed together and took lots of photos and gave out lollies to his friends and relatives. As we were leaving something amazing happened. Josiah took off his shoes and socks and gave them to his 'big brother' Seb, then he took his shirt off and gave that to him as well as the crowd of friends and relatives laughed and cheered! We felt so blessed to be a blessing. That's what child sponsorship is about. Both of our sponsor children and their families have been benefited so much from sponsorship. It really works. Both children's fathers had passed away years ago, leaving the mothers and children struggling. They were identified by CCF and Compassion respectively as children in need. Our sponsorship has made a difference in their lives by helping meet their physical needs through nutrition and health services, helping them with their education and most importantly helping them to know their Heavenly Father. So do yourself a favour. Sponsor a poor & needy child through CCF or Compassion. It really works and you'll be blessed to be a blessing! Compassion. We are continuing to promote this great ministry that really works. (Seen it with our own eyes!) We've had a few more needy children sponsored and continue to generate interest in this ministry. Thank you to Ballina and Gympie locals who have recently sponsored a compassion child. Thank you! Please pray that as we share about this ministry that more children will be sponsored and blessed. Contact me or Compassion Australia to sponsor a child today. Web: www.compassion.com.au Free call: Ph. 1800 224 453. Tell 'em Andy sent you!
	18.04.04 - Steve Apirana in intensive care. From Andy Chapman. Internationally known gospel singer and friend Steve Apirana was involved in a serious car accident Friday afternoon (16 April) in Tewantin, Qld. He is in intensive care with multiple fractures to both legs. Please pray for God's intervention and healing, sustaining power for him and the family leading to a full and miraculous recovery.
	15.04.04 - Soulframe's AGMF '04 experience. From Soulframe. Soulframe exploded onto the QCCC Big Top at AGMF ’04, where they celebrated the release of their first single from their second album - 'Tonight'. The four boys from the sunny Qld Gold Coast went on to share an intimate but powerful set with their fans, which showcased four new songs, including the seductive first single. Soulframe absolutely blew the crowd away with their emotional & spiritual freedom, and their ability to rock out hard. A talent rarely captured within today's modern rock. Highlights included the funky hit 'Ok' from their debut album 'Sojourn', which saw the boys from Rookie on stage wearing Guy Sebastian fros, and the outstanding vocals of lead singer Mutto - who dramatically involved the audience in the Soulframe experience. This was followed by two hours signing autographs and talking with the band's extensive fan base - some old hands... others brand new to the Soulframe phenomenon. Clearly one of the festival’s many highlights, Soulframe’s Friday night performance was followed up on Saturday with an appearance at the Bible Society's Wordfest. With a clear focus on the impact of Mel Gibson’s Passion, the band shared an intimate melodical portrayal of Mary’s heartache, as she watched her son put to death. But - the best was yet to come. On Sunday, Soulframe led worship at the Toowoomba Christian Outreach Centre, with an emotional and heartfelt service that touched the band in a real and intense way. The band then ended the weekend by enjoying Guy Sebastian’s long awaited performance on 96five's main stage and keeping back to the AGMF groove. Soulframe is a band who clearly combine rock's intensity, while demonstrating the emotion and freedom of four men who clearly love God and have a true heart for evangelism.
	10.04.04 - AGMF sells out! From Australian Gospel Music Festival (AGMF). The fastest growing music festival in Australia has sold out. After a near-capacity crowd on the opening day of the Australian Gospel Music Festival, and even more people booked in for Saturday and Sunday, AGMF 04 is now at capacity and tickets are no longer available at the gate. There are a limited number of tickets available today (Saturday) at Koorong Toowoomba, Koorong Brisbane, and Grand Central Shopping Centre.
	05.04.04 - Renegades on the road. From ACAN. In an effort to keep the summer festival circuit alive and the kids happy, Revolution Industries, Kerrang! Magazine and Custom-Made Touring joined forces to present four all-ages events taking the form of mini-festivals in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney throughout March and April. 'The Renegade Tour' features Antiskeptic as the headline act alongside two other awesome underground bands, After The Fall and I Killed The Prom Queen, plus three local bands from each state. This tours aims to expose some of the great new music and bands coming out of the underground independent scene, whether it be punk, hardcore or full-tilt hammer and nails rock. Renegade tour dates 28.03.04 Adelaide, 03.04.04 Brisbane, 10.04.04 Melbourne, 17.04.04 Sydney. 'The Renegade Tour' coincides with the release Antiskeptic's third new 'Aurora' single 'Beautiful In White', released through Toupee Records/MGM Distribution.
	01.04.04 - Soulframe's rockin' new single out Easter '04. From Soulframe. Gold Coast-based band Soulframe, is proud to announce the Easter release of their first single 'Tonight', from their forthcoming album due out mid-year. Right from the start, it's clear 'Tonight' is a song that manages to embrace both the intimacy and raw power of rock music. It's gutsy... heartfelt... with an ability to seduce you and then hit you hard. This is rock as it should be. Front man Guy (Mutto) Mutton says, after the success of their first album 'Sojourn' - their new single 'Tonight' clearly shows a growth in their musicianship and an extension of their craft. "It is an intimate exposure into who we are and where we're at right now..." Mutto said. "Musically, Tonight combines the sensitivity of a ballad with the energy, intensity and emotional freedom of rock." 96five's Program Director Malcolm Pollard regards 'Tonight' as clear evidence of a band that has come a long way since their 2001 debut. "The lyrical power and musical dynamics that have become the Soulframe signature are unmistakable, as is their bold step forward in terms of musicianship, song writing and ownership of their sound. I am impressed by the new single 'Tonight', which showcases a smooth melodic intro that leads into full-blown rock," Mr Pollard said. ABC radio's Belinda Sanders agrees that Soulframe stands out and has brought something absolutely compelling to the music industry. "Soulframe's music is well constructed with imaginative lyrics and the lead singer's voice is simply outstanding. I'm watching out for the album... the gift given to the members of Soulframe is obvious," Ms Sanders said. 'Tonight' is being released in conjunction with Soulframe's appearance at AGMF 2004 (April 9 - 11), and is available at AGMF's general merchandise stand, on the web at www.soulframe.com and through Toupee records at your favourite record store. Soulframe perform live in the Big Top at AGMF 2004 on Friday April 9th, Queens Park in Toowoomba. Show starts at 9pm.