August Newsletter

Dear STL Supporter

The whole world has been shocked by an avalanche of breaking news horror headlines of recent months. Plane wrecks, bombings, graphic photos of racial and religious conflict, political chaos and corruption, children involved in atrocities, Russia's incursion into Ukrainian territory, the Ebola virus outbreak, another resurgence of swine flu, recrimination after recrimination in the middle east, more genocide between religious rivals and on it goes. Some of it has been pretty close to us Australians who are often sheltered by distance.

So where should our focus be? On the chaos or on the solution as foretold in the Bible through the prophets?

Jesus said, when we see these things happening we should understand that His coming is very close. (Matt 24: 33, Mark 13: 29, Luke 21: 31). It's a privilege to understand that Jesus' coming is very close. The privilege carries with it responsibility to share the good news of the ultimate demise of evil.

For Christians through the ages it has been the 'blessed hope'. Many have paid dearly for this hope. Paul's advice to the Thessalonian Christians was to comfort and encourage each other by talking about the promise of the Second Coming. Wherefore comfort one another with these words, He said. (1 Thes 4: 18).

It's good advice for us, too.

Alternative Sexuality and the Church

Pastor Ron and Claudia Woolsey were much appreciated as they shared their insights and experience from Melbourne to Brisbane and a number of stops along the way.

The feedback we have had on the seminar has been very positive. Pastor Woolsey's new book, that was being bound when they arrived in Australia has made it to our shore. Strait Answers to Gay Questions is most helpful giving insight and Biblical answers to the Gay questions that are confronting traditional values, all around the world. The book is now in stock at STL. We wish the Woolsey's God's blessing as they conduct their Narrow Way Ministry.

Growing Healthy Food for Healthy People - STL's Next Sunday Health Seminar, September 14.

Rod and Desley Bailey, from Eastwood Missionary College, north NSW are presenting their passion for growing their own food to gain maximum nourishment. The presentation outline that Rod has shared with us is packed full of really helpful, practical tips on how we all can be involved in growing food that leaves what we buy in the supermarket for dead. - no matter how much space we have for a food garden. Desley will be demonstrating some of her family's favourite recipes, using the plants that the Bailey's quite extensive 'home garden' yields.

Rod provides answers about the use of pesticides, the impact of gmo's, how to create a soil that is packed with nutrients for the plants, etc. It's going to be a different Sunday Health Seminar to the one's we have conducted in the past and one definitely not to be missed. For interstate readers the DVD will be available about a week after the actual event.

November Seminar - Pr Tim and Karen Roosenberg - "Islam and Christianity in Bible Prophecy - How God Calls a People from Both"

Pr Tim Roosenberg presents this revealing study of Bible prophecy relevant to today's modern world. Pr Roosenberg has studied prophecy for over 25 years and has discovered that following the interpretation methods of the early church and the reformers results in the most reliable and logical understanding of Bible prophecy.

In "Islam and Christianity" Pr Tim will help you understand a remarkable Bible prophecy in Daniel 11 and 12. This prophecy starts in Daniel's time and chronologically unfolds through the time of Christ, extending through our time and on to the end of the millennium. This prophecy includes a future major conflict between Islam and Christianity. Given heightened recent events between Christianity and Islam in the world you will not want to miss this seminar

Baritone, Wintley Phipps in Concert, is in Australia Soon

Please see the brochure in the attachment box above which advises of several Wintley Phipps concerts in Australia, shortly to take place. Seats are limited so early booking is advised. Full details are on the brochure.

Wintley has sung for a number of American presidents including Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama at several National Prayer Breakfast events and other celebrations. His voice is described as a 'booming baritone' and he uses it to sing inspiring Christian music.

He is a pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the USA and established the U.S. DreamAcademy, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing a values-based, interactive, tutorial and remedial education program targeted at children and youth-at-risk through community Family Learning Centres located in various states of the USA. Phipps wanted something to help break the cycle he saw played out so many times in his own family.

His concert will challenge and inspire you.

Christian regards from Cherryl and the STL team

Brian Way/Programs Coordinator


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Pastor Ron Woolsey’s seminar, Alternative Sexuality and the Church

Pastor Ron Woolsey’s seminar, Alternative Sexuality and the Church’ was well received in Victoria.  All venues were strongly attended.  Folks attending expressed their gratefulness to pastor Ron and his wife Claudia for the loving insights, based on the Bible’s admonition,  into the gay lifestyle.

This is your invitation to attend the seminar this coming weekend at the Thornleigh Hillcrest Uniting Church, Pennant Hill’s Rd, Thornleigh (Entrance via Comenarra Parkway and Wood St).  It commences at 7.00 pm Friday evening, continues on Sabbath/Saturday (10.00 am, 2.30 pm. 4.00 pm. 7.00 pm and Sunday, 7.00 pm)

The program is sponsored by Steps to Life.  It is not a program of the Thornleigh Uniting Church.   The Thornleigh Hillcrest Uniting Church, while providing the venue for this seminar, disassociates itself from the views expressed by Steps To Life or its representatives.  Steps to Life is grateful to the THUC for allowing us to use their venue.

Given the huge push from the gay community for acceptance of the gay lifestyle this is a must attend seminar.

We hope to have your company  for all or part of this weekend.

A Personal Message from Pr Ron

Why Attend a Seminar on Gay Issues?

"Alternative Sexuality has become an extremely controversial topic in many countries around the world, impacting societies and now the entire Christian community as well, and that on a global basis. Indeed, it is one of the very top issues the church is now having to face, according to church leadership at the highest levels. The basic question is, "How should Christians relate to persons who practice homosexuality in its various forms today? Do we love and accept them along the broad way which leads to destruction? Or do we lovingly lead them into the narrow way which leads to life?" Some denominations have split over this issue, and others are in danger of splitting.

Our God of love has given us the commission to take this gospel of the kingdom, the good news of salvation from sin, to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. This includes the global community of homosexuality. Jesus is not willing that any should perish. Are we...?

The purpose of this seminar is to inform, educate, equip, and inspire the Christian to be more effective, when faced with the Gay Puzzle, in loving Gays to Christ."
Pr Ron Woolsey

You can download the seminar brochure here.

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July 9, 2014 Steps to Life Newsletter

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - That's Us!!

I am a faith based creationist. I see overwhelming evidence in the natural world to convince me of the need for intelligent design. The irreducible complexity (The existence of multiple interdependent systems to sustain even the simplest forms of life, let alone the more complex) of the biology and physiology of plant, animal and human forms of life and their dependence on just the right conditions in the world that surrounds them, compels me to believe that there is a mastermind who has created. For these reasons I can't be a faith based evolutionist, or even agnostic.

I hear what the apostle Paul has said in Romans 1: 20 to 23 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. As Paul continues in the rest of Romans 1 he links the distortion of societal malaise to the rejection of the evidence of God as creator. Paul particularly specifies the emergence of alternative sexuality to the rejection of the evidence of the creating God. The Bible's book of origins, Genesis, tells me that the originator's design was for male and female in a partnership of equality but with different roles cemented into a marriage relationship.

Ron and Claudia Woolsey's coming seminar, Alternative Sexuality and the Church, explores this theme from the perspective of one who willingly experienced alternative sexuality but has now chosen by the grace of God to put it behind him and live according to the creator's design for sexual expression and marriage. Ron and Claudia describe their seminar as homo-agapic (redemptive love for) rather than homophobic (fear of). Claudia's insights, from the perspective of someone who has married a person who has been there and done that, and in God's strength rejected so called gay lifestyle, will be most informative and helpful as we all determine our positions on the matter of alternative lifestyle and those who live it.

Recently I had a huge injection of faith in creation when I read God's Undertaker. Has Science Buried God? The author is Dr John C Lennox MA, PhD, DPhil, DSc. At the time when he wrote the book he was the Professor in Mathematics at Oxford University and Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy at Green Templeton College. He is an academic of no mean international standing. His argument is that everything in science does not point towards, atheism but towards theism. That the evidence points towards intelligent input rather than chance and probability. He documents the researchers who declare that evolution cannot explain our existence and points out many fallacies in the conclusions that evolutionists/atheists put forward as fact.

Dr. John C Lennox's conclusion on his analysis of the weight of scientific, mathematical and philosophical argument about creation or evolution is - Diametrically opposed to naturalism and materialism is the theistic view of the universe that finds clear expression in the opening words of Genesis - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1: 1). Here is an assertion that the universe is not a closed system but a creation, an artefact of the mind of God, maintained and upheld by him. It is an answer to the question: Why does the universe exist? It exists because God causes it to be.

From reading God's Undertaker. Has Science Buried God?, I am more than ever convinced that we, and all that surrounds us is fearfully and wonderfully made.

Next STL, Dr Neil Nedley Depression Recovery Program, Commences on August 18

Most of us know friends or families who are affected by depression and anxiety conditions. These conditions are unfortunately in epidemic proportions in the western world. The program is for anyone who would like to proof themselves against, or needs help with, or would like to help someone with depression/anxiety challenges. It's a very effective program with a high success rate of depression/anxiety reduction and cure.

If you would like to know more please call us on 03 9739 4093. If you live in the Melbourne area and would like some information flyers to hand out to your friends, social groups or church members we are happy to send some to you on request.

Pain Management: Theme of Sunday Health Seminar, August 10

Dr David Bird is leading this seminar. He is one of our regular SHS presenters. David is a consultant doctor at the National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Melbourne. His specialties include pain management and relief, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue and burnout, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease and depression and anxiety. The advertising brochure is included with this newsletter. If you would like more to share with folks who you know who could be helped please call Cherryl on 03 9739 4093. The SHS will be available as a DVD.

Steps to Life Filming Studio Available for Use

Our STL filming studio space is not always being used by us. It is available for other compatible use. It can seat up to 80 people, is both heated and cooled. It can be used for small groups that need an occasional or regular place to get together. It is available for filming presentations that have an audience, or which don't have an audience. If you are interested in exploring the possibilities call us and let's talk over if we can be of help to you.

Alternative Sexuality and the Church - Ron and Claudia Woolsey - Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, plus Some Country Locations.

This seminar promises to be one of the most helpful and relevant seminars hosted by STL in recent times. The challenge of alternative sexuality and how we as Christians relate to it in a Christ-like manner is all around us, often in a confronting way. The media portrays it from a human rights perspective, schools no longer teach that families have a mother and father but that families may be made up of two fathers or two mothers, leading politicians and civic figures are proudly declaring their gay status, as are sporting icons and pop stars. Children are encouraged to question their sexual identity at an early stage in mainstream education and children's literature. Church clerics are declaring their gayness and performing same sex marriages. On June 28, 2014 David Cameron, Prime Minister of the UK made a video proudly promoting UK as the leading gay friendly nation in Europe. He promotes it as a major social reform that is leading the world. You can view it for yourself here.

Ron and Claudia Woolsey's seminar is to help us understand how to relate to all of this in a Christian manner. Don't miss it!

Christian greetings from Cherryl and the STL Team

Brian Way/ Program Co-ordinator