Love in the Cracks and Chaos
Gershon Nimbalker shares how Christ’s love breaks through and meets us in all of life’s fractures.
When the scales tilt toward justice
This August, we have seen glimmers of hope tilting the scales toward justice, even in the midst of chaos and pain.
Earlier this month came a surprising shift in rhetoric from Alex Hawke, the last Immigration Minister in the former Coalition government. For more than a decade, thousands of asylum seekers who arrived by boat have been trapped in cruel limbo, denied permanent settlement, security, and the chance to truly belong. For years, both major parties have stood united in refusing refuge to those who arrived this way. Yet Hawke publicly called for resolution; urging that these men, women, and children finally be given certainty and permanence.
It is a remarkable shift, a crack in what had been a hard bipartisan stance. While Hawke no longer wields formal power, his words open space for our government to act with compassion and welcome, reducing the risk that this issue will once again be turned into a political football.
I’ve seen up close the pain and uncertainty that comes from migrants not having permanency, stability, or support, and the breath of relief and hope that comes when security is offered. Many of these people are our neighbours, colleagues, and friends - woven into the fabric of our communities for over a decade. We yearn for their waiting to end, for them to be given the security they deserve.
There’s a chance to build on this momentum. If you haven’t already, can I urge you to visit the End the Waiting website and consider if you or your church can host a prayer vigil.
In our other justice areas, we've seen cause for both hope and lament as well.
In Victoria, Treaty negotiations with First Nations peoples are in progress, with the first statewide treaty bill in Australia expected to be introduced into the Victorian Parliament in the coming weeks. This is a historic step towards truth and justice, an overdue act of recognition and partnership. And yet, alongside it, we hear the grief of the most recent Closing the Gap report, which shows that incarceration rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are still rising. Only four of nineteen national targets are on track. Here we are reminded of the deep structures of injustice that persist, and the urgent need for change.
And in Sydney, hundreds of thousands filled the Harbour Bridge in a March for Humanity. It was one of the largest demonstrations in our nation’s history - a collective cry for peace and an end to the suffering in Gaza. It was a moment of extraordinary solidarity that helped push the Government toward a historic decision to recognise Palestine as a state. This moment rings out against Netanyahu's Israel planning to annex Gaza, a move that will only deepen the humanitarian disaster and one that has been broadly condemned.
May our movement continue to be a community that not only bears witness to glimmers of hope, but nurtures them into lasting change, as we together work for a world where all people and all creation flourish as God intends.
_________________________________________________________________________
August 2025 Updates
Thank you for engaging with our NAIDOC Week Resources. We have been so heartened by the way churches and communities have used our video, prayer, and educational resources to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025. If you haven’t yet, we invite you to listen to our rich and deeply moving three-part NAIDOC Week podcast series, featuring three First Nations Elders. Their timeless stories are full of wisdom, truth, and hope.
If you have any feedback on the resources from this year, or any stories of how your church or community used them, please get in touch - we’d love to hear from you!
________________________________________________________________________________
Last week, communities in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Canberra gathered together for #EndTheWaiting prayer vigils. MP Alicia Payne joined the Canberra event to publicly support calls to end the waiting for thousands of people seeking asylum, whose safety and security in Australia remain in limbo. Together with the National Council of Churches, we invite you to join a powerful movement of prayer and action over 100 days from August to November. Join Snap Actions Sept 1–14. Find out more and sign up here.
________________________________________________________________________________
Season of Creation (1 September - 4 October) is a great opportunity to start a conversation about climate and faith. Our Faith & Climate: A Conversation Guide offers practical tips, myth-busting truths, and a grounded Christian perspective to help you speak with clarity and hope. Perfect for one-on-one chats or small groups, and a great conversation-sparker. Download the guide here. And explore further resources and opportunities to celebrate Season of Creation 2025 here.
_______________________________________________________________
Last week, several members from our Domestic and Family Violence Working Group attended the Faith, Hope, Love Conference. Read a reflection from Ellaina Welsman, Common Grace's Domestic and Family Violence Justice Coordinator, on a faithful church response to domestic and family violence here.
For 16 Days of Activism 2025 we will be reflecting on relationships, exploring the role of dignity, equality, justice, listening, and leadership. Sign up here to receive 16 daily reflections in your inbox, starting 25 November.
_________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for joining us as we walk together pursuing truth, justice and grace.
With deep gratitude,
Gershon Nimbalker
Common Grace National Director
This is Common Grace's August 2025 eNews update.
Keep up to date with all our latest news - sign up with your email on our website here and follow us on social media @commongraceaus
