HOW CHAPLAINCY HAS INFLUENCED MY WRITING

 

I have been a Chaplain in a variety of settings for 30 years. 

In this time I have learnt to express ministry in an authentically compassionate way that thinks, pioneers, develops and responds with innovative, proactive empowerment and solutions.

Story telling has influenced my chaplaincy practice. My chaplaincy practice has influenced my writing. It is interesting how many parallels I have discovered in each. Both Chaplaincy and writing are grounded in presence, empathy, relationship building, narrative theory and story-holding. 

In Chaplaincy I have the privilege of sacred encounters with people every day.

In writing I get to nurture sacred encounters with readers too.

Let us consider some essential tenets of Chaplaincy delivery and how it may inform our writing.

AUTHENTIC PERSON-CENTRED ENGAGEMENT AND EMPATHY

Essentially, I carry a heart of authentic engagement with people from my philosophy and praxis of Chaplaincy into my writing. The alternative pastoral care that chaplaincy offers focuses on creating safe spaces through holistic care methods like narrative, metaphor, art, community development to help individuals navigate life’s challenges and faith transitions (Layson et al 2023). 

As a Chaplain and writer, I aim to express compassionate presence, actively listening to the human experience, and helping individuals or readers process deep emotions, suffering, and meaning. We write for people. People who have souls who require authentic person-centred engagement. As we write we need to ensure we are not caught in a pattern of mechanical content development but have a genuine, empathetic perspective. This requires vulnerability, active listening, and a deep understanding of the audience's needs. The heart of this is to be about redeeming our texts from the potential traps of shallow monologues, thin characters, unrelatable scenarios and weak prose into shared human experiences.

Chaplains exercise deep empathy, utilizing "perspectival knowing" to understand the world as their wards experience it. To write a compelling character, an author must step inside that person's psychological framework. To ensure that a character is relatable this means that an author needs to be able to do the same with their audience

THE EMPOWERMENT JOURNEY. HOLDING SPACE TOGETHER

Chaplaincy expresses a journey metaphor. It means walking alongside care-seekers supporting them as non-anxious companions in unfamiliar or painful territory. Spiritual exploration is viewed as an ongoing process of discovering purpose, meaning, and resilience, rather than a final fixed destination. The journey metaphor honours the unpredictability of human experience, giving people room to process at their own pace.

The "empowerment journey" refers to a shift from rescuing or dictating solutions to instead walking alongside individuals, honouring their agency, and facilitating their own spiritual or emotional growth. Chaplaincy treats the care seeker as ‘the expert’ of their own life and meaning-making process. It is a holistic, participatory process aiming for empowerment, and sustainable change. For me, writing is too. 

Chaplaincy creates a judgment-free zone where the individual (or community) can process grief, uncertainty, and emotional or moral conflict. It means simply being with someone in their time of trouble. It is the sacred practice of ‘holding space’ or ‘with-ing’: being fully present with the people right in front of us that we are caring for (McBride 2025) and -for me- who I am writing for. 

Chaplains act as "story-holders" (Blanco 2024). They create a safe and nurtured space to allow people wrestling with challenges to untangle their own experiences, helping them find continuity and purpose during emergencies, crisis, grief, and trials. Kerry Egan (former hospice Chaplain and author) writes that chaplaincy is less about storytelling and more about “story-holding”.

“We listen to the stories that people believe have shaped their lives. We listen to the stories people choose to tell, and the meaning they make of those stories.”(Egan 2017). 

As writers we craft narrative arcs that give events meaning and help characters discover meaning and life solutions. As writers we create and hold space with our readers as they engage with a well-told story, characters that they empathise with and story arcs that resonate with their own life journey.

Presence is the connective tissue serving as one of the most powerful forms of care we give as Chaplains (Blanco 2024). Simply being present. As I have grown in my role as chaplain, I have been grateful for the opportunity to deepen practices of active listening, bearing witness, staying grounded in the here and now, and ‘holding’ others with respect and compassion. Simply bearing witness to someone’s pain and letting them know they are not alone. In our creativity and storying development we have the privilege of holding countless sacred stories of love and loss and of suffering and resilience, bravery, inspiration and life change crafted with our characters and creating ‘presence’ with and for our readers.

Chaplaincy is empowering, not overpowering. Care is highly person-centred and  often shows radical respect. Chaplains avoid imposing their own dogmas or beliefs and foster self-determination. Chaplains ask open-ended questions that empower the care seeker to identify their own core values, strengths, and personal strategies for coping. While chaplains rely heavily on the unspoken elements of communication—tears, silence, and presence—to build a safe space for healing. Writers avoid heavy-handed exposition by using metaphor and scene. This is the necessary art of "showing, not telling": In both fields, truth is often found in the subtext.

Similar to the chaplain, an author of fiction is not trying to overtly persuade, but is effective in inviting readers towards perceptions of some aspect of the world, perhaps from the points of view of more than one character, and prompts the reader to consider: "How do you feel about this?"…"What do you think?" ... "What would you do?"

 

MEANING AND COPING FACILITATION

At the care seeker's invitation, chaplains aid in the exploration of spiritual, existential, or religious concerns to help them find meaning within their crisis.

Chaplains guide individuals through a process of spiritual discernment, stripping away distractions to help them focus on what they value most. Writers know that editing is where the true story emerges. Effective writing requires cutting away the noise to find the core message.

A chaplain helps individuals access inner reserves and external resources . Spirituality and faith are often used as tools that empower people to cope with adversity.

It is interesting to consider the question :

What internal or external resources have I been able to help my readers to discover?

CATALYSTS OF CHANGE

“Change spawns stories and stories can trigger change”(Brown et al 2009).

Chaplains act as agents of change by introducing new ideas, mobilizing support, empowering local people to take ownership of their own solutions, and facilitating collective action to solve problems.

In Chaplaincy we respond with a spirit that is empowering, grounded, and caring. I think the world needs more of that right now and perhaps can experience it through us as writers and our writing.

God’s desire for us is holistic flourishing, and I have come to realise that through my writing- as similarly to my Chaplaincy - I get to participate in the redemptive work of healing, growth, recreation, love and living.

In both chaplaincy and writing, transformation in others is a sacred privilege. We accompany people as they confront sometimes painful truths, wrestle with questions of identity and meaning, and begin to reframe their own stories.  

It’s powerful to be able to be a part of someone’s journey and to help inspire hope when the ground is shifting under their feet through seasons of change, desperation, suffering, awakening, flourishing and celebration.

Shane Brigg and friend holding space together Central Australia

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blanco, J.  Editor (2024) Issue #28 “ Chaplaincy” . Fuller Magazine. Fall 2024

Brown, A.D, Gabriel, Y., Gherardi, S. (2009) Storytelling and Change: An Unfolding Story

Brown, A.D. and Humphreys, M. (2003) `Epic and Tragic Tales: Making Sense of Change', Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 39(2): 121-44.

Egan,K. (2017) On Living .Thorndike Press.

Layson, M. D., Carey, L. B., & Best, M. C. (2023). “The impact of faith-based pastoral care in decreasingly religious contexts: The Australian chaplaincy advantage in critical environments”. Journal of Religion and Health, 62 (3), 1491-1512.

McBride, G. (2025) ”The Weight-ing Game. Friends.  Is There a Right Way to Hold Space for Someone in Crisis? Providing support for someone in tough times is simpler than you might think”. Psychology Today. Posted March 1, 2025

Photos various chaplaincy and missions  contexts I have been involved in. 

Shane Brigg In PNG 'Journeying' and hearing and telling stories

Daring to be seen

(image by Freepik, www.freepik.com)

by Claire Bell (aka Claire Belberg)

Most of my current writing practice is keeping up my Facebook and Instagram author posts. Preparing them challenges me with constant deadlines and finding worthwhile content that reflects something of myself as a writer. I’m not a scroller (other than to find out news about friends) so there aren’t many repost opportunities that come spontaneously. I end up sharing quite a bit of my current life, from speaking opportunities to moving house to mental health tips learned by experience, to my growing experience of community.

When I first began to write for publication, I was nervous about being seen and interpreted by strangers. Writing with authenticity will inevitably reveal aspects of our character and attitudes. Authenticity requires a measure of vulnerability. This enables connection with readers and gives opportunity for the Christian writer to be light to the world. I have heard that authenticity is a primary value in today’s world. It’s something we crave in a world of fake that the internet unfortunately enables. 

Being seen by strangers also brings risk. Not every reader is non-judgemental, careful with their words, and willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt. We’re all aware of ‘trolls’, social media responders that seem to delight in casting aspersions and tearing people down. Even worse, genuine readers might see attitudes in me that I don’t see in myself, or that I had hoped no one else would see. Further, readers are interpreters. What if they interpret me through lenses that distort the truth about me?

So here I am 15 years later, writing about my life and my struggles in public posts. How did I come to this, and without angst? I’m not really sure! But I see the work of God in it, and marvel. I think it began as a gentle learning curve with the first two published novels and the promotional work that came with them. The curve became steeper when I decided to put my poetry about my experience of my parents’ dementias into public hands. Since Unravelling: Loving my Parents through Dementia was published nearly two years ago, I have shared more of my personal story in a number of public talks and workshops. The telling of these stories has become part of my sense of who I am. I have discovered more connection with strangers (‘friends I haven’t met yet,’ as someone described them) because I’m more willing to write and talk about my ups and downs openly.

(image credit: rawpixel.com at www.freepik.com)

There are a lot of kind and gracious readers out there. I’m grateful that I can dare to be seen. My life is the richer in community and connection because of it. 

Claire Bell writes from the Adelaide Hills where she lives with her husband. She writes poetry, creative nonfiction, devotional articles and short stories, and has published two speculative YA novels and a collection of poems wrangling her parents' dementias. She also edits Stories of Life. Her Facebook and Instagram handle is 'Claire Belberg author' and her occasional blog is The Character Forge, www.clairebelberg.wordpress.com

Writing as Christ's Ambassadors

 

One of my favourite Christian singers came to my town to perform at a music festival. I’d seen him in concert three times back in the 1980s and I had eight of his albums, so I was excited at the chance to see him again. He gave a wonderful performance and I stood in line afterwards so he could sign the two CDs I’d recently bought. He signed one of them, but when I tried to hand him the second one, he just looked down at the CD and looked back up at me with a fairly neutral expression—not smiling, not scowling, just ... nothing. I took that to mean that he wasn’t going to sign it, so I smiled weakly and left the queue. I was SO disappointed. He wasn’t the friendly, approachable artist I thought he’d be.

The example I’ve given is fairly minor in the grand scheme of things. Maybe I caught him on a bad day or he’d been told there was only time to sign one item for each person. However, we sometimes hear of prominent Christians who have had a more significant fall from grace. It could be moral issues, addictions, the lure of money or even issues that involve criminal charges. How do we react as readers or listeners of their material? Does it change how we feel about their body of work and their ministry? And perhaps more importantly, what lessons can we learn for our own creative enterprises and ministries?

The Hypocrisy Factor

Although we are all sinners and any of us can fail, God does expect us to pursue righteousness and follow his paths so that our words match our actions. For example, James 2:14–17 reminds us that it’s no use telling someone to ‘stay warm and well fed’ if we don’t provide for their needs. Faith without works is dead. Jesus also rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and told the people not to ‘do what they do, for they do not practise what they preach’ (Matthew 23:3).

As writers, words are our currency. We use them to tell others about the things God has laid on our hearts. Some of us write overtly Christian material, such as devotionals, theology books or Bible study materials, books on Christian living, memoirs that tell of what God has done in our lives or novels that share the message of God’s love. Others might not include overtly Christian material in their books, but they are still writing from a Christian worldview and infusing their books with godly values and perspectives.

But here’s a sobering thought. We can write the most magnificent prose, we can win prestigious awards, our books might be flying off the shelves, but readers aren’t just looking at our words. They’re looking at our lives. Do our words match the lives we are living?

It’s Not Me, It’s Them!

It’s easy to point the finger at Christians who haven’t measured up to our expectations. How could they do something like that? That would never happen to us.

But here’s the thing. They’re human and so are we. The Apostle Peter never dreamed that he would deny Christ until he did. Jesus is the only perfect person who has ever lived. All of us are sinners saved by grace, and we’ll continue to make mistakes (sometimes huge ones) while we’re on earth. But God still wants imperfect you and me to partner with Him in advancing His Kingdom. As the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:19-20a:

‘God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.’

So how can we be intentional about living a life worthy of the gospel we are proclaiming?

 

Living as Christ’s Ambassadors

Who Gets the Glory?

Always remember that God is the one who has given us our gifts and talents. We can certainly hone those gifts and talents, but we can’t do anything for God’s Kingdom in our own strength. Are we pointing people to Christ or claiming the glory for ourselves?

Good Stewardship

God is the giver of gifts, and He wants us to be good stewards of the things He has given. Are we using our creative gifts for His glory? This doesn’t necessarily mean that we will write overtly Christian material, as some of us are called to have a voice in the mainstream marketplace. But whatever our calling, we should do a stocktake every now and then to see if we are making the best use of our gifts. 

Resisting the Enemy

Satan is not happy that any of us want to write for God’s glory. He’ll put obstacles in our way, he’ll put temptations across our paths and he’ll attack our efforts at every turn. We need not fear him, because Jesus has defeated him on the cross, but we do need to be aware of his schemes and resist him. Some of the following strategies can help in this regard.

Devotional Life

Are we spending regular time in God’s word and prayer? It’s hard, if not impossible, to minister to others if we’re not being nourished ourselves. God’s word is our life blood and prayer is our lifeline. Let’s never neglect these essential disciplines. The health of the words we write is intricately entwined with the health of our devotional lives.

Fellowship

Some people are involved in ministries that are run by particular churches or Christian organisations, but writers are sometimes seen as a separate category. Aren’t they just doing their own thing? While our writing may often be done alone, we still need to be connected to other Christians. As we’re reminded in Hebrews 10:24–25, ‘let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching’.

Accountability

Ministers and missionaries are usually accountable to a separate body such as a church board or missionary organisation. If we see our writing as a ministry, we should also take accountability seriously. Seek out trusted and godly friends or mentors with whom you can be honest. Share your triumphs and struggles with them. Ask them to pray for you and give them permission to ask the hard questions if they see you going off track. Don’t just ask people to pray for your upcoming book event, but also for your heart attitude and for those whom God will touch through your words.

Repentance and Forgiveness

When we do make mistakes, which we’ll inevitably do from time to time, keep short accounts with God. He has promised to forgive us when we genuinely repent of our actions. Depending on the circumstance, it may also be necessary to apologise to others we have wronged or make restitution in some way. 

Power of the Holy Spirit

Praise God that we have the gift of the Holy Spirit and we can draw on His insight, strength and power rather than our own. If God has called us to write for Him, He will empower us and partner with us to achieve His purposes. Let’s always rely on Him.

This is not an exhaustive list. What things help you to represent Christ through your writing? I’d love to hear your examples.

Credits

All scripture references are from the New International Version of the Bible.

Featured photo from Pexels on Pixabay.

Author Bio

Nola Lorraine loves weaving words of faith, courage and hope. She has had more than 150 short pieces published, including fiction, memoir, devotions, and poetry. Her inspirational novel Scattered was a finalist in the 2021 CALEB Awards. Her devotional book Comfort Zone was published in 2025, with No Standing Zone to follow in 2026. She also loves helping other authors through The Write Flourish—a freelance writing and editing business she and her husband Tim have run since 2013.

Flourishing Together

 I am a terrible runner.  The only races I ever placed were in swimming. When it came to running, I always came last. In fact, one year (in one of the many schools I went to), someone had the bright idea to put all the terrible runners into the obstacle race. They then asked my Dad to judge it. Guess who came last. Yes, me. Last of the last. My humiliation was complete. 

In a race, we compete against each other. Winners mean losers. Your gain is my loss. 

Writing is not like that. Together, we are stronger. Remember the Inklings - a writing group that included C S Lewis, J R R Tolkien, Charles Williams and others (and Dorothy Sayers as the unoffical inkling). These writers sparked off each other, encouraging and critiquing. The result -- a richer world and timeless classics.  

CASQ

This last weekend, a group of writers got together for Christian Authors Showcase (Queensland) or CASQ. Together we are stronger. Through encouragement, inspiration, good counsel and challeing each other. More than that, we could fellowship together, overcome misunderstandings, pray, listen and laugh together. 

The weekend started with a keynote speech from publisher Rochelle Stephens and finished with Adele Jones with a deep dive into what it means to find our tribe. In between, we were treated with heartfelt worship, the green curled grammar grandma grinch, panels and presentations on writing craft (short stories, suspense, spec fic, song-writing, research, hero's journey, changes in writing style etc), and about publishing and different writing groups including CWD. Pop-ups gave authors 90 seconds to present their books, while a number of authors had the opportunity to launch their books - from Mosaic of Grace, to Stephen & the Heroes, El Roi and others.  

I especially had fun moderating the Sci-Fiction and Fantasy panel with Lynne Stringer and Donita Bundy as we explored the difference in the spec fic genres, the role and creation of worlds and how our fiction intersects with real life and research.

But best of all was connecting with each other and our Lord, catching up with old friends and making new ones, sharing our stories over dinner on Saturday, lunches and the delicious morning and afternoon teas. 

A big thank you to Annie Hamilton, Judy Rogers, Ruth Bonetti, Bek Robinson for organising the weekend and all speakers, panelists, the contributors of prizes, and the wonderful attendees who made this a great weekend. Looking foward to next year. 

Stories That Shape Us

In just over a week, on 15 May 2026 at the Gap Uniting Church, Ruth Bonetti, Kathy Hoopmann and I (Jeanette O'Hagan) will be joining with authors Megan Daly, Debbie O'Shea and Claire Nada in the Stories That Shape Us -- an inspiring evening celebrating the power of stories to shape our lives, values, and sense of purpose.

Through a panel conversation with local authors, discover what draws them to their stories, what motivates their writing, and how stories have influenced their lives.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/16fz9ytyt5/  &  website  

CALEB

Omega Writers CALEB Award is closing this Friday - for published works. CALEB stands for Christian Authors Lifting Each other's Books.  Not only entries - but readers of the different categories are wanted.

https://omegawriters.com.au/caleb-award/

Omega Writers Conference

And finally, registrations are NOW OPEN for the Omega Writers Conference in October. This year's conference is to be held in South Australia.

"Building Blocks and Pathways 2026 is here—and bookings are officially open for the Omega Writers biennial conference.

Join us on October 16–18, 2026 at Nunyara Conference Centre in Adelaide, South Australia, for a weekend designed to equip, encourage, and connect writers at every stage of their journey."

https://omegawriters.com.au/omega-writers-conference-2026-details/

Jeanette O'Hagan has spun tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight. She enjoys writing fantasy, sci-fi, poetry. Her Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs.

She has published over forty stories and poems, including the Under the Mountain Series (5 books), Akrad's Children and Rasel's Song, the first two books in the Akrad’s Legacy series and more recently, Rise of the Consortium. Her story in Stepping Sideways, 'In a League of Her Own' won the 2024 Aurealis Award for YA Short Stories & 'Anomalies at Prospero Base' (in Rise of the Consortium) was shortlisted in the 2025 Aurealis Awards.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and writing. She loves reading, painting, travel, and pondering the meaning of life. She lives in Brisbane.

Find out more about Jeanette at:

My Website | Facebook Author Page | Amazon | Books2Read | Goodreads

Responding to the Growing Challenges of Author Life

There’s no doubt that it’s becoming harder to be an indie author these days. We’ve known for a very long time that the Kindle gold rush is long gone, but just in the last few months writers have faced some new challenges. How are we as Christian writers to respond to growing challenges?

The most talked about of these recent challenges is perhaps Draft2Digital’s introduction of a $20 joining fee, and a $12 annual maintenance fee. This came as a big shock to a lot of people - certainly to me.

These fees are in place to try to protect readers from scammers who abuse platforms like D2D to upload large quantities of fake books created with AI that were never intended to be read. The annual fee is only charged to those who make less than $100 (after D2D take their bit) on the platform.

After receiving this news, I checked what my previous year’s takings on D2D were. My heart sank. I already knew it was well below the $100 threshold, but it was also well below the $12 fee. I would now be paying more to D2D than they would be paying me. I would be making a loss just by being on the platform. In a situation like this, one may legitimately ask, what’s the point of even being there at this point?

I was struck with feelings of unfairness. This policy puts authors from developing countries at a greater disadvantage, and even here in Australia, the exchange rate means we’ll end up paying a lot more than $12. But most of all, it felt like I was being kicked while I was down - fined for my failure.

This choice has resulted in a lot of emotion and discussion. Many people have immediately withdrawn their books from the platform.

For me, this was an eye-opening moment. I was forced to face the truth of my lack of success. I’ve always known that I wasn’t making many sales, but I tried not to compare myself to others. Afterall, we’re all on our own journey, proceeding at our own pace. But as I stared at a flat line of zeroes on my KDP dashboard, and considered I was now paying more than I was making, I felt the message was clear. You’re not a real author. You’re not good enough. You are not valued.

My purpose here, is not to throw hate at Draft2Digital. They are doing what they believe is best for all concerned. My purpose is to examine how we react to these kinds of difficulties.

So how did I respond to all of this? I allowed myself a day to feel sad. To live in my emotions as I wrestled with these feelings of inadequacy and failure. But after that, I knew I would have to get back to work. I chose to view this setback as a challenge - a call to arms - to try to raise my sales, to at least see if I could reach that $12 mark to break even. And I remembered that my value is not in how much money I’m making, or how many people are reading my books, it’s who I am in Christ. I’m proud of my stories. I believe in my stories, and I know there are people out there who have enjoyed them.

This experience was also a good reminder to involve God, not only in my writing, but also in my marketing. For us, writing is more than just a business, it’s also a calling. We have words of encouragement and life to share with the world. If God wants those words to be read, doesn’t he have the power to help make that happen in his time?

Draft2Digital’s new policy isn’t the first challenge we’ve faced, and it won’t be the last. I predict things will only get harder as time goes on. Despite this, we are still living in a great time. We still have the ability to publish our words, relatively free of gatekeepers. We still have more opportunity than most writers throughout human history.

It can feel wrong to ask God to bless our marketing efforts, to help our books find success. It feels selfish somehow. But God has given us gifts. He has put words in our hearts that I believe he wants us to share.

Today is the launch day for my latest book - the fourth installment in my Jewel of The Stars series. I have worked hard over the last 30 days to promote it, and I have seen some results. Not earth-shattering results, but I’m no longer seeing a flatline of zeroes. That little glimmer is enough to keep me going, because it sparks something in me that tells me it will be worthwhile some day. It’s not stubbornness, it’s not self-delusion. It’s faith. The story is not over yet. God still needs to write the ending. Until then, I keep working, keep striving, not in my strength, but in his.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 3:13-14

Adam David Collings is a science fiction and fantasy author from Tasmania, Australia. He draws inspiration for his stories from his over-active imagination, his life experiences and his faith. Adam is the host of the Nerd heaven Podcast where he discusses works of sci-fi and fantasy on the big and little screen. You can find him at AdamDavidCollings.com

40 Years . My Life Is His Story

 

A Personal Testimony of How God Has Been Crafting 

My Life As A Writer

 

It is 40 years since I came to Christ.

April 1986.

I was 16 years old and in year 12 at school.

I had been writing for a few years ...

In my formative years I had always enjoyed telling stories, often with my brother late at night as we wrestled together with our Dad’s sickness. These stories were often didactic fables or adventure stories, bringing comfort, giving hope, building resilience. God was helping to write the story of my life as my author. I didn’t know Him yet, but He knew me.

When Dad’s sickness took a turn for worse, stories were there to help me dive deeper into a growth curve catalyzed by my Grandfather. His inspiration to discover the meaning of words I did not know by finding their definitions in the dictionary lead me to reading the dictionary from the beginning to end to encounter and learn and document and utilize each new word in speech and stories and writing. I was in year 7 (primary school). I became dux that year, even though it was a new school for me. I was awakened to a God who seemed to be interested in caring for me. He was watching me. But who was He?

My high school music teacher, musical director and family friend took me under wing as part of our school musical team to write multiple scripts for comical and dramatic dialogue. She released something in me that propelled a self-recognition of a gift that I was happy to intentionally craft. I took whatever opportunity there was to develop my skills at school: a brief foray into the debating team, writing and making mini movies, and developing multimedia storied projects. These were all foundational as I had well begun writing, producing, and directing a huge school wide movie project for my senior year project when my attention was captured by The LORD.  I was born again. God was my Saviour. Jesus saved me.

The Creator was creating in me

My salvation occurred in the maelstrom of year 12 including the movie project, a core role in the school musical “Godspell” (I played Judas), deciding on career paths, navigating relationships, Dad’s ongoing illness, adolescence, my own deep - sometimes dystopic and dark- perspectives on life, and an autodidactic survivalist sensibility. Godspell helped to disciple me in the narrative, parables, and chronicling of the book of Matthew. My new life disciplined hope out of despair. It was this year that I began writing what has become my major (still ongoing) writing project. An adult adventure coming-of-age trilogy. The Creator was creating in me all the right stuff. He had been doing it all along.

As year 12 finished I took on summer work as a kid’s holiday program worker. I wrote the formative explorations into characters and plot of my trilogy. A group of young friends surviving a “Lord of the Flies”-meets- “Tomorrow When the War Began” experience. I hadn’t even engaged with these materials, but there was something in the zeitgeist and my own psycho-social experiences that was crafting these narratives. As my university studies started, I shelved my creative writing to dive into my science academics. I even contemplated discarding my stories. Creativity found me though. In the margins of lecture notes about the chemical compositions of soils and rocks, hydrology equations, biological nomenclature, physics theorem, and sociological philosophy, there emerged plot ideas, sketches of characters, maps, landscape features, poems, songs, sayings and quips. Our fledgling university Christian group discipled me in pioneering, prayer, purpose and pursuing Christ in mission. A good mate saw me scribbling story notes one day on the back of one of our computer syntax printouts. We soon had a fledgling indie production company started and I wrote the screen play for a Christian movie we hoped to produce.

Can my creative story telling serve Jesus’ mission well?

Uni continued, youth programs were created, manuals of discipleship were written. The movie was pitched to potential sponsors; it had variable support. Pre-production artistry was undertaken and then the story of my life turned with economic difficulties that necessitated a radical resolution, repositioning, and reframing. A year off uni, and a brave family move to a regional town. I held all my creative work in my hands prepared to relinquish it to the cleanout bonfire and I found myself caught by God’s attention. “Hold on to it. It has a purpose”.  I wrestled with this idea for many years though : “Can my creative story telling serve Jesus’ mission well? Could my writing have a purpose?” It took many years for me to see how God saw my writing. I think I needed to see my creativity from a re-created position, and that has taken time.

Uni was completed a year later. I was engaged to be married (my beautiful wife and I met in that regional town). Employment was gained. I was writing as part of my role working in a school and in youth and children’s ministry. Discipline policies, newsletters, articles, programs, discipleship materials. I could not let go of the scibbled and formative notes I had made over the many years. They sat in an archive box awaiting their purposeful revealing.

God has led and leads and wants me to be shaped by His creativity

Many more years. Ministries. Moves. Mission opportunities. Our precious children were in school.  During an appointment with one of the young men I was discipling, a fresh plot line and character was awakened. I rushed home, grabbed a pen and note paper and began writing and reframing the material in that archive box. I discovered new characters and narratives that have now formed a significant body of work that has been underway for a couple of decades. Age, time and experiences have produced wisdom, deepened my relationship with Jesus, and insights for my story telling. I am now in a season (amongst other responsibilities) where I have dedicated and concerted space and time for beginning to bring all this work to some kind of completeness. It may still take some time (I hope it is not another 40 years) until it is published. I am happy for how God has led and leads and wants me to be shaped by His creativity and timings for my life.

 

My history is a story of God’s crafting

There have been tough and joyous experiences that have honed my hope. My parents have passed. Our children have married. Our daughter fought and conquered cancer. They have produced beautiful grandchildren. Life goes on.

I am truly grateful for every plot turn, twist, trouble, trial and triumph.

My life is His Story.

He is my author and perfector. I have related how it is a special milestone to have been journeying with Jesus for 40 years, but I honestly and heartily believe He was journeying with me before then. He was and is designing my journey.

He is writing the story of my life.

I am forever thankful for His crafting of my life. This testimonial is simply a brief expression of thanks to our Maker. There seems always more to express (write). 

The times of my life are in His hands. I am intently aware of His penmanship in my own writing journey too.

One day the story I have been writing (that trilogy) will be finished. In God’s time, in His way and how He wants it completed. Blood, sweat and tears. Other works are being formed and expressed regularly. Examples are the research and writing of a biography of a missionary, articles for encouraging missionaries in their journeys, support letters, research works, creative inspirations. There is much writing to be done, but the real writing (the most crucial one for my own personal journey) is to allow the story of my life to be written by the hand and heart of God.

I hope to encourage us all to know this.

May we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher (perfector) of our faith

(Hebrews 12:2). 

He is well able to complete the good work He has begun! 

(Philippians 1:6).

Pastor Shane Brigg. Missionary. Member Carer. Chaplain. Mentor. Writer

A Closer Walk

 by Rebekah Robinson

'How about we pray?' Captain Obvious, a.k.a. my pastor, has a knack for the gentle suggestion when I've lost my balance.

I was frazzled. It was music practice night; the turnout wasn't great, I was worried I hadn't prepared enough, and I was apprehensive that the new songs would fall in a heap.

So yes, we did the obvious captainly thing: we prayed. And lo, the sky declined to fall.

How on earth do I keep forgetting that none of my gigs — despite responsibility — are really riding on just me? Since that day I've made it a point to begin every rehearsal and every service with prayer. It isn't a token gesture; it actually grounds us, and invites the Lord to take an ever more practical role in what we do. It — He, really — lightens the load.

This applies with work as well. I like to ask for His agenda to rule, and for help with my tasks for the day. This goes double for the daunting ones! There's something about committing the day to Him and deliberately asking for His involvement that smooths the way. Obstacles loom a little less. A way opens up. There's not as much self-condemnation if I don't get through my To Do list quite as thoroughly as I'd like. And I'm a great deal less tizzy.

So ... why shouldn't we begin our writing sessions with prayer?

The Holy Spirit is our business partner, our inspiration, our guidance, our wingman. He's the one who anoints us to do what we do. We are His work and we do His work. If we want to produce the very best work, it's only logical to call in our Heavenly Expert.

The Lord cares about what we do. According to Ephesians 2:10 NIV, ministry opportunities have been intentionally lined up for us. 'For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.' That means He's invested in us. He doesn't sit back and dare us to try to impress Him. Rather, He is eagerly waiting to coach and coax the best out of us, if only we are willing to be taught and to let Him have a hand in it.

In a few weeks, I'll be attending the Christian Authors Showcase Queensland — a weekend I look forward to every year. It's a chance to be immersed in the craft, revelling in the company of other writers. But it's also a chance to worship: to seek the Lord, to lift Him up, to let Him speak into what I do. We open with praise and we close with blessing. It's special and it's meaningful.

Sometimes what I write fails to get lift-off, and I struggle to nail down what I'm trying to say — if anything! But other times I look back over a decent chapter and think, 'Did I really write that?' And those are the times I'm sure I've been carried.

So, I'm recommitting to pray every time I sit down to write. I'm praying for wisdom, ideas, insight, and authenticity. It doesn't have to be a fancy prayer, just something from the heart. I'll put a little visual reminder near my keyboard — maybe a Post-It note, or an object from another room whose unexpected appearance jars me out of my rut. 

We can be as intertwined with the Lord as we want to be. The Heavenly Father isn't someone we outgrow, but someone we grow towards. Maturity becomes a greater reliance on and enmeshment with Him. It's only the juvenility of ego that makes us seek to do things 'without any help.' In this lifelong apprenticeship, the wise soul heeds the master and takes care of the tools — and seeks 'just a closer walk' with Him.

Rebekah Robinson loves God and people, and writes about Christian living. A missionaries’ daughter, she was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and lives in Brisbane, Australia. She and her husband have two adult children. Freelancing as a graphic designer, she enjoys singing, songwriting and worship leading, and may have a slight digital scrapbooking addiction. https://www.beckoncreative.biz

Lifting the (Writing) Bar by Ruth Bonetti

Confess I’m challenged. After a lifetime writing nonfiction my foray into fiction forces me to explore character arcs and hero journeys. Sure, I’ve long known these concepts, but I’m stretched to action them. To show-not-tell.

 The editor of an anthology has challenged me to lift my game. 

‘Please take onboard this feedback and resubmit.’ 

 

After editing thirty-odd Mosaic of Grace submissions, I hastily resubmitted my rework. It was apparent my brain was fried. But I’m grateful that she sent back my story several times, for objective eyes see what our own misses. 

 

Anne Hamilton had taken the lion share of editing the first two collections, Palette of Grace and Symphony of Grace, even rewriting some stories. As 2-i-c editor, I felt guilty that thus far my easy ride had been to rubber stamp her decisions. Last year Anne returned from an interstate tour exhausted and unwell. So I hesitated to moot a third anthology. 

 

‘Sleep and pray on it first.’ But I couldn’t resist adding, ‘Remember those writers whose confidence blossomed since Palette of Grace publication? Our collections eased them through the pain threshold into print. Isn’t this our goal, to offer such opportunities? Promise, I’ll take the active role to save your time and effort.’ 

 

So many submissions! Thirty contributors, some of whom submitted several pieces. I realised that editing is rewarding but challenging. Sometimes difficult. For some borderline instances, I enlisted second opinions from Rosemary New as beta reader. A few text exchanges directed her to Review>Track Changes, which she embraced. Her insightful responses gave me tactful angles to suggest how writers might improve stories. By the time our tired brains reached final decisions, Rosie had earned her way up to co-editor. Justifiably.

 

‘Sorry, I can’t come to tonight’s service,’ I told a colleague who’d submitted to Mosaic of Grace. ‘I must do another rewrite of a story.’ Did I overwhelm him with a flurry of brainstorming to bring his character to life? ‘What’s the back story? How can you express his culture in senses like taste, smell, clothes? Describe!’ 

 

Subtext: ‘Show don’t tell’. 

Sub-sub-text: ‘It’s not just you—it’s me and all of us! I teach what I needed to learn.’

 

He took a while to respond but his final was far more engaging. 

 

Writers enjoy a wonderful opportunity: expert editing, free publication with no submission charge, an entrée into print with a couple of free copies thrown in. What a great deal! As her ministry, Anne (‘Annie’) shoulders all costs of design and printing. 

 

Each anthology, I buy fifty copies to offer as a fundraiser at church. Birthday, Mother’s and Father’s Day presents are at the ready. Contributors can also support this ministry by purchasing additional copies at 45% off the RRP. This not only defrays the cost of publication, it brings us closer to the goal of being able to release a family of brick-kiln labourers from slave bondage in Pakistan.

 

I’d hesitated to ask friends and colleagues to rewrite, but was encouraged by that anthology editor’s example. She insisted that I cull teenage slang and portray the senses using active verbs—aspects I knew but needed to put into practice. We teach what we need to learn. With the help of my trusted home editor, Rosie. We are blessed to form working relationships with fellow authors!

 

Contributors Rev. Robin Payne, Ruth Bonetti and Terry Hatfield 

By asking similarly of other writers, we encourage fledgling authors to embrace the learning process and lift their game as writers. Together, we can all polish our gifts to greater glory. Working together, we, the fellowship of writers lift each other up. What a blessing!

Mosaic of Grace will launch on May 2, at CASQ Don’t miss it! 

Christian Authors Showcase Qld returns for the fourth year —an inspiring program awaits us! 

ROCHELLE STEPHENS of Rhiza Press is keynote speaker and we look forward to her wealth of experience and insight. As traditional publisher who has gained respect in the mainstream market, she knows the Kids Lit to YA marketplace inside out. 

 

Who could forget Grammar Grinch? His/her cousin Grammar Grouch will return. Speakers will be announced by fanfare but in a tight two-room program, they will be hauled off with the shepherd’s crook. As is the norm in the popular Pop Up ops which means 90 seconds to tout your book(s)—(so start rehearsing NOW) and hope readers look for it on the book table. BOOK NOW!

We look forward to seeing you there! https://www.casq.online/event

RUTH BONETTI 

Ruth’s career in classical music became a passport to the world. Destiny led her to Sweden and Finland where she researched her grandfather's story and those of Finnish relatives, resulting in her award-winning Midnight Sun to Southern Cross trilogy (historical biography/memoir). 

Her passion to chronicle fighters against oppression has opened an exciting new vista, researching Finnish, Estonian and Russian history. Ruth’s vision is to write a series about Musicians Who Changed History, as she resonates with the healing power of music in the lives of those who fought against oppression.

Ruth's many publications (by Oxford University Press and her imprint Words and Music) cover both historical biography, and titles to motivate and inspire confident performance of words and music.