Thank you for praying and acting to protect Christian values in Australia.
 

Two weeks ago we reported that we needed a miracle for marriage in Australia. This was in response to the announcement of a cross-party bill to redefine marriage. The bill is likely to be introduced into Federal Parliament on 11 August. 

 

While there have been over a dozen attempts to redefine marriage over the last decade, this is the most dangerous. It calls for our very best effort to take a stand by praying and speaking out. So much is at stake.
Please Keep Praying

Prayer Guide
Already Christians across Australia have begun 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. This finishes on Sunday 9 August which has been designated as  MARRIAGE SUNDAY .    

 

Daily  Devotions ,  focused on Awakening, with especially written prayers are now available. If you haven't started this time of prayer and fasting yet, we urge you to do so  (fast however the Lord leads you) .  Click on the photo to read more and download the booklet to print. Y ou can also  receive these daily by following  the Canberra Declaration Facebook page.

 

The Australian Labor Party National Conference starts tomorrow in Melbourne. Please pray that they will not decide to bind all their Parliamentary members to vote in favour of a bill that would redefine marriage.

 

Please pray that the Coalition will not waiver from their long-standing party position.
Please Write and Visit Your Local MP 

Alongside praying we ask you to write and visit your local member before the re-sitting of Parliament on 11 August. 

 

Those Federal MPs who support true marriage as defined in the Marriage Act need your encouragement to stand strong. Those who want to redefine marriage or who are undecided need to know your view on this issue. We recommend these three steps -  

 

1. Write a signed letter to your MP. Then hand-deliver it to your electorate office. To find out the details of your MP go to this Government website page and enter your postal code. Click on your MP's name to get the address of the electorate office.
 

2. Make an appointment to visit your MP when you deliver the letter. 

 

3. Go with other like-minded people for this visit if you can.
Helps for Writing a Letter

Writing letter
Next to prayer and a personal visit, a signed letter, respectfully written, is the most powerful way to influence your local member. Unlike electronic mail, a signed hard-copy letter requires a written reply. 

Here are some documents to help you.
Religious Freedom is at Stake 

In countries that have legalised homosexual 'marriage', assured religious freedoms are being ignored. Those who don't agree can be discriminated against and even silenced.

 

An opinion piece on this by Paul Kelly appeared in the 11-12 July Weekend Australian. In regard to this compelling article, the Australian Christian Lobby ask, 

 

"Is this the Wait-a-Minute moment in Australia's marriage debate?"

 

Angela Shanahan, in her column in the 18-19 July Weekend Australian, underscores how the 'same-sex marriage push attacks freedom of religion'. She describes how marriage is much more than a wedding ceremony!
Back in 2010 God placed the idea of the Canberra Declaration on the hearts of several Christian leaders. This largely was in response to the threat to redefine marriage in the 2010 Federal election.   

Now, five years later, the threat is even more intense. Even so, a redefinition of marriage is NOT INEVITABLE. We ask you to persist in your prayers and knocking on the doors of your MPs.

 

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ...

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone."

(Colossians 4:2,5-6)

 

Yours in anticipation of a Miracle for Marriage,

David Rowsome and Warwick Marsh
PS.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today, Thursday 23 July 2015, is the 5th anniversary of the Canberra Declaration! 

 

Next week we look forward to recapping the Double Our Numbers Campaign and giving thanks to God for the great things He has done.
Canberra Declaration 
phone 02 4272 9100 or 0418 225 212


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