The shining light in a dark, unstable world

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The light of Christ provides hope amidst the darkness of the current financial and moral crises, the Reverend Dr Keith Garner told a gathering of more than 150 community and business leaders and supporters, at Wesley Mission’s Annual Easter Breakfast on 8 April.

Dr Garner said the financial recession, the global food crisis and child sex trafficking were major issues facing the world today. Alcohol abuse, domestic violence and family breakdown were disturbing domestic issues. These troubles often made people think that the “darkness has overtaken the light”.

“Darkness will never, never, never, put out the light,” Mr Garner said. “The light of Christ remains the hope of the world, even in the face of suffering.”

Wesley Mission will continue to do all it can to be a prophetic voice, to care for those in need and stand alongside the disadvantaged.

“We have a mandate to care for all the world,” he said. “We must not hand over our prophetic responsibility to speak for those who have no voice and challenge those who have power … even if it is costly!”

Dr Garner said the marginalisation of the Christian faith has taken hold, especially in the West. He encouraged Christians to make Easter a time to proudly proclaim their faith.

“The denial of the reality of God, the needs of the poor and our accountability before God are issues with which we all have to do business,” he said.

“The continual erosion of Christian values in our society, and particularly in our Western developed world, cannot be ignored.”

However he implored the gathering that “At the heart of the world still stands a cross. We have to declare that loud and clear. We have a responsibility to declare the Easter message with confidence.”

Andrew Scipione, NSW Commissioner of Police, told the gathering that Easter gave him time to reflect on his “new beginning”, his commitment to Christ at the age of 14. Ever since that time he has been living his life for God.

“I know I am doing what God wants me to do, so it is all worthwhile,” Commissioner Scipione said.

It is his Christian faith that sustains him in his challenging job of heading Australia’s largest state police force. It is a faith of identity and meaning.

“I’m not a policeman who happens to be a Christian; I’m a Christian who happens to be a policeman,” he said. “My faith provides me with my moral compass. I try to act justly, love mercy and do humbly.”

The breakfast was hosted by ABC CEO Mark Scott and was the best attended Easter breakfast event in years.

- Lyle Moran, Public Affairs

(Lyle is studying journalism at Boston University, and is undertaking an internship with Wesley Mission’s Public Affairs Unit)

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Attendees at the Easter Breakfast	Alan and Elizabeth Orr with John Howard
Rev Dr Keith Garner's Easter address	Mark Scott (ABC CEO) MC
John Howard and Lyle Moran	NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione
Carol Garner with a Guest