Just Keep Turning Up
Jenny and Ian Thompson reflect on how engaging with Common Grace has given them a deeper opportunity to activate their faith in a way that has felt both authentic and courageous.
Jesus in a Time of War: Distortion, Denial, or Discipleship?
Throughout this month, Lent has held a strange mix of joy and sorrow for me.
Each Sunday, our family has tried to mark a kind of mini-Easter. Gathering with friends and family, sharing food and wine, laughter around the table. Kids bouncing on the trampoline, or playing tips through the house. Small, ordinary moments of celebration and life that feel like glimpses of resurrection breaking in.
And yet, alongside that joy, there have been moments this month where I’ve been reduced to tears, and found sleep hard to come by. Opening up the news (perhaps too often), I’ve been confronted again and again with fresh horrors unfolding through the destruction and war in Iran, Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza, and beyond.
One of the things that have troubled me most deeply, as a follower of Jesus in this most holy season, has been watching leaders invoke his name as they justified violence. To see Jesus drawn into the logic of war in ways that feel, either like a horrific distortion of his life and teaching, or an outright rejection of his way.
Trump's secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, prayed in front of the Pentagon this week that the United States would deliver “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy” - adding "we ask these things in bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ”.
This prompted what seemed like a rare and direct rebuke from Pope Leo. In his Palm Sunday address he said, "This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying, even though you make many prayers, I will not listen to your prayers, your hands are full of blood.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu said, in articulating his justification of the war, "Jesus Christ has no advantage over Genghis Khan". That is, Jesus, the prince of peace, has no advantage over one of history's most brutal conquerors.
The path to safety and security for Netanyahu is being stronger, more powerful and more destructive than those who would oppose us. This he recognises, is not the path of Jesus. At least, unlike Hegseth, he gets that right – but then chooses to outright reject Jesus' way.
One of the things I’ve found hard is seeing these distortions and denials of Jesus start creeping into the public discourse, and particularly among Christians around me.
And yet, in the midst of that, I’ve found a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for you, for this community that is seeking to follow Jesus in the way of peace and justice.
It reminds me that regardless of what the powerful say or believe about our Lord, there are still those who are choosing to draw near to the Prince of Peace.
Thank you.
I’ve been especially encouraged this month by the number of people who have stepped forward to support this movement through regular giving. We have had 34 new regular monthly donors, our biggest ever increase. Thank you. It sustains this work, and it has been a real source of strength in what has been, at times, a heavy season.
Finally, we felt the weight of this moment - the convergence of Holy Week and the ongoing war - called for a more thoughtful response.
Together with our Justice for People Seeking Asylum Coordinator, James Harris, we’ve written a three-part blog series to help us process this time. The first is my Palm Sunday reflection responding to Netanyahu’s claim about Jesus having no advantage over Genghis Kahn. The second and third draw on James’ relationships with people impacted by conflict and displacement, and his experience in the Middle East — inviting us to walk the narrow path of love, and to reflect on our call to be peacemakers.
I’d encourage you to take some time this week to read and reflect.
As we move toward Good Friday and Easter Sunday, may we hold fast to the truth at the centre of our faith: that the way of Jesus is following the way of love, through death and into life.
__________________________________
March 2026 Updates
This year marks 35 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody delivered its final report. Heartbreakingly, in the decades since the 1991 report was released, 627 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have died in custody. We grieve the lack of implementation of the 339 recommendations by the Australian Government and as this injustice continues, so does the deep and ongoing grief experienced by First Nations and surrounding families and communities. As followers of Jesus, we are called not to turn away, but to draw near - in lament, in prayer, and in action. We invite you to join us for an online prayer vigil, Wednesday 15 April 2026 from 7:30PM-8:45PM AEST as we listen deeply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders, and respond together. Sign up here.
________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have a refugee background, or have you helped welcome refugees into your community? We’d love to hear from you! For Refugee Week 2026 (17–23 June), themed ‘A Million Stories’, we’re celebrating the one million humanitarian visas Australia has issued since 1947 - a legacy of welcome that has shaped our communities and culture. To mark the week, we’ll be sharing stories from across the Common Grace movement of those who have been welcomed, and those who have offered welcome. If you have a story to share, please share with us here.
________________________________________________________________________________
From January to March, Common Grace supporters and staff participated in meetings with our federal leaders as part of the Renew Australia for All campaign. The meetings have been calling on the Government to invest in an Energy Bill Savings Plan to combat the skyrocketing cost of living and cut climate pollution, and to implement a Climate Safety Plan to ensure Australia has a coordinated plan that ensures no one is left to manage the impacts of climate change on their own. This season of advocacy culminated in a day at Australian Parliament House, where 80 representatives took part in 47 meetings with parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. Together, these conversations reflected a powerful, united call from diverse communities for stronger, more compassionate climate action.
_______________________________________________________________
Over the past year we have worked with Settlement Services International on the development of a new e-learning platform aimed at educating faith and multicultural leaders to know how to respond to DFV in their communities. Our hope and prayer is that this resource will help faith and community leaders feel more confident in recognising family, domestic and sexual violence, responding appropriately, and referring victim-survivors to relevant support services. We’re excited to share this free online 8-part learning resource with you, and welcome your feedback. We also encourage you to share this with your church leaders. Sign up online here.
_________________________________________________________________________
Each month, we’ll now be sharing a dedicated prayer section as an opportunity for our movement to pause, reflect, and seek God together.
Extreme weather: May we continue to hold in prayer all those still living with the aftermath of, and those currently experiencing, this season's fires, floods, cyclones and all natural disasters. May we resist the temptation to move on when the news cycle does, and may our compassion deepen into action, standing with affected communities and speaking out for the urgent action required by our governments and our world.
Domestic and Family Violence Webinar: Please pray for the Common Grace team and panellists as they prepare to host an important conversation on leaving violence. May God grant wisdom, sensitivity, and courage in shaping this space, and bring comfort, hope and support to all those impacted. (Details on how you can participate will be available soon)
Closing the Gap Report:Hold in prayer the findings of the Closing the Gap Report, asking that leaders would listen deeply to First Nations voices and respond with justice, humility and genuine commitment to change.
Bianca Dowling: May we pray for Bianca Dowling (née Manning), Common Grace’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Advisor, as she prepares to welcome her first child. May she be surrounded by peace, strengthened in body and spirit, and held in care as she awaits a safe and healthy arrival.
________________________________________________________________________________
We are blessed to be following Jesus and pursuing justice alongside you. Thank you for all you do to bring justice, safety, flourishing, and goodness to a world that so deeply needs it.
Blessings,
Gershon Nimbalker
Common Grace National Director
This is Common Grace's March 2026 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
