Ted Sherwood to lead the next First Saturday discussion

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What do the three Anabaptist centralities – Jesus, community, and reconciliation – have to do with how we think about our finances? Ted Sherwood has given some thought to this subject and is going to lead us through an introductory discussion of this topic.

Our discussion will be on Saturday, 6 May 2023, live-streamed via Zoom between 4:00 and 5:00pm. Join earlier to mingle with other participants.

Contact aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Drew J. Strait to lead the next First Saturday discussion

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Dr Drew J. Strait is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in the USA. We will be discussing his work on “Christian Nationalism”.  We will view a 30–minute video intended for use in small group study to “break silence” in your community. Later this year Drew is leading a short course online called Resisting Christian Nationalism with the Gospel of Peace with this video as an introduction to the course.

Our discussion will be on Saturday, 4 March 2023, live-streamed via Zoom between 4:00 and 5:00pm.

Contact aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

AAANZ AGM 2022

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The AGM will be held via Zoom on the evening of Thursday 3 November, starting at 7:00pm.

If you plan to join us, please email aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

If you are not a registered member and would like to be part of the AAANZ, please fill out the membership request form before the meeting.

Doug Hynd to lead the next First Saturday discussion

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Dr Doug Hynd

Dr Douglas Hynd is Adjunct Research Fellow, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture. The post-Christendom era in the English-speaking world has seen a significant reduction in access to political power by the churches, a slow loss of their social and cultural influence, and a shredding of their moral standing from abuse scandals and other public failings. 

Doug’s new book Community Engagement after Christendom directly addresses these challenges, proposing a different approach to the relationship between church and society.

On Saturday, 1 October 2022, Doug will be interviewed by Jim Longley about that book. The discussion will be live-streamed between 4:00 and 5:00pm.

This will be in conjunction with a gathering of AAANZ members and supporters in Canberra.

Contact aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Doug’s book Community Engagement After Christendom has been published by Wipf and Stock.

Debbie Armanious to lead our next First Saturday discussion

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As part of our regular series of online discussions, Debbie Armanious will join us via Zoom on Saturday 3 September at 4:00pm.

Debbie is the Director and Co-founder of Exodus Community Services in Sydney.

The video below tells the story of Exodus and its vision to offer a holistic and inclusive service that values, empowers and supports individuals and families on their journey of growth, healing and recovery.

Debbie says, “To Exodus, every single person who approaches our doors for support is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And so, there is always room at this inn.”

Contact aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Dr Andrew Shepherd to lead a discussion

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The next First Saturday webinar will be at 4pm (AEST) on 6 August 2022, with Dr Andrew Shepherd leading the discussion

Andrew is a Lecturer in Theology and Public Issues. His working life has alternated between academic teaching roles and leadership responsibilities in Christian and non-profit organisations. After his initial degree in English Literature and History he completed post-graduate studies in theology. His doctoral thesis offered a theological ethic of hospitality in conversation with French philosophers, Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Derrida.

Andrew suggests that we watch this video on YouTube before the Zoom gathering.


Austin Dayal to speak on his book “The Gospel of the Kingdom of God”

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The next First Saturday webinar will be at 4pm (AEST) on 2nd July. Austin Dayal will lead a discussion about his book “The Gospel Of The Kingdom Of God”

Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and taught about its values throughout his ministry. The disciples continued to preach the gospel of the kingdom for two generations but during the second century things began to change and by the fourth century when Christianity became a state religion, the gospel of the kingdom of God was changed to the gospel of personal salvation. This error had a catastrophic effect on the life of the church. The church must reclaim the gospel of the kingdom and follow its values, to demonstrate the beauty of the kingdom that the world may believe in Jesus.

Austin Robinson Dayal lives in Adelaide, Australia. He is married and has two grownup children. Austin has been associated with the ministries of Operation Mobilisation and Student’s Evangelical Union in Australia and overseas. He and his wife Shobha are passionate about seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness as outlined in the Sermon on the Mount.

They are praying for the establishment of a Christian community in Adelaide and to develop a network of all such people who are trying to follow the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. Austin has published three books on the subject. He currently worships at the Corner Uniting Church, Adelaide. He has a Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Sydney and has worked for CSIRO as a research scientist.