A new study finds young adults are increasingly interested in faith, but with little change in core beliefs.

A new report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that young people in Amercia aged 18 to 23 are moving in two spiritual directions at once, showing increased interest in faith while also drifting away from key beliefs.

On one hand, there are clear signs of growth.

More young adults are calling themselves Christian, Bible reading has increased, and a growing number say they are committed to practising their faith.

On the other hand, deeper beliefs remain largely unchanged. The study found that just 1% of this generation holds a fully developed biblical worldview.

Activity is rising, but foundations are not

The data highlights a gap between behaviour and belief. Increases in church involvement and Bible reading suggest openness and curiosity. Yet when it comes to core questions about truth, God and morality, most views have stayed the same.

Researcher George Barna described the findings as only “a lukewarm affirmation of revival”, noting that spiritual activity alone does not necessarily lead to lasting change. That distinction matters.

As the report explains, behaviour can spark interest, but without understanding, it often doesn’t take root over time.

The same pattern is emerging in Australia

While the study focuses on the United States, recent Australian research suggests a very similar trend among young people here.

The 2025 McCrindle report An Undercurrent of Faith, based on national census data and a survey of more than 3,000 Australians, found that the country’s relationship with Christianity is increasingly complex.

On one hand, many young Australians are moving away from organised religion. Between 2016 and 2021, more than one in three young people aged 15 to 24 shifted from Christianity to “no religion”.

At the same time, the report highlights a strong sense of openness and searching.

Young Australians are described as being on a “quest for meaning”, with more than half open to spiritual conversations and exploring belief for themselves.

Fewer, but more committed

Perhaps the most striking similarity is what happens among those who do engage with faith.

Even as overall identification declines, young Australians who are Christian tend to be more active than older believers.

Around 68% of Gen Z Christians attend church at least monthly, significantly higher than older generations.

This reflects a broader shift away from cultural or inherited religion, toward something more personal and intentional.

Open, but still searching

Taken together, the findings from both the US and Australia point to a generation that is not disengaged, but still exploring.

Young people today are less likely to inherit faith by default, but more likely to question, examine and search for meaning on their own terms.

That creates both a challenge and an opportunity.

Interest is there. Curiosity is real. But without deeper understanding, that interest may not translate into long-term change.

This article was researched and prepared by Hope 103.2 staff writers, with assistance from AI in its presentation. Final review and fact-checking was undertaken by our Digital Team prior to publication.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

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Every five years, the Census gives Australia a shared moment to reflect on who we are and how we live.

Read more: Why the Census matters to Christians in Australia

It is more than a statistical exercise. The Census helps governments, institutions and communities understand how Australia is changing, and how to plan funding, services and support for the years ahead.

For Christians in Australia, this matters.

Our faith is not simply a private belief. It shapes how we worship, serve, gather, raise families, care for others, build community and contribute to public life.

When the Census asks about religion, it is asking a question that connects directly with identity, belonging and the role faith continues to play in Australian society.

More Than a Box to Tick

For many Christians, answering the religion question may feel straightforward.

If Christian faith is part of your life, your worship, your community and your understanding of who you are, then the Census is one way that identity is recognised in the national picture.

But the question still matters.

The Census does not measure the depth of anyone’s faith. It cannot capture prayer, discipleship, service, church life, generosity, conviction or devotion.

What it can do is record how many people in Australia identify with Christianity.

That makes the question important, because what is recorded helps shape how Australia understands its communities.

Faith Has a Public Presence

Christianity in Australia is lived out in many visible ways.

It is seen in churches, schools, hospitals, aged care, charities, chaplaincy, community services, crisis support, family life and everyday acts of service.

It is present when Christians gather for worship, care for neighbours, support the vulnerable, educate children, visit the lonely, pray in times of hardship and serve their local communities.

The Census helps show that faith is not absent from Australian life. It remains part of the story of who we are.

Why Visibility Matters

Census data informs how governments, organisations and communities understand the nation.

Religious identification data contributes to the broader picture used in planning services, understanding community needs, supporting cultural and social research, and recognising the role different communities play in public life.

If Christian identity is under-recognised in the data, the contribution and presence of Christian communities can become less visible in the national conversation.

This is not about seeking special treatment.

It is about truthful representation.

Answering With Clarity

For Christians, the Census is an opportunity to answer clearly and thoughtfully.

The religion question is not asking how often you attend church, how strong your faith feels, or whether you meet someone else’s standard of religious commitment.

It is asking how you identify.

For those who identify as Christian, the answer matters because it contributes to a fuller and more accurate picture of Australia.

Helping Others Understand the Question

Many Christians also have family members, friends or neighbours who may have a connection to Christianity, even if they are unsure how to answer the religion question.

Some may have been shaped by Christian family, schooling, community, prayer, tradition or values, but may not immediately think of themselves as “religious”.

This is not something to force or assume.

But it may be something worth discussing gently and honestly.

The aim is not to persuade people to choose an answer that does not feel true. It is to help people understand the question and respond in a way that reflects their own story.

A Moment for Reflection

The Census gives each person a simple but meaningful opportunity to reflect.

What is my faith?

How do I identify?

What story does my answer tell?

For Christians, this is a chance to be counted clearly as part of the national picture.

Not defensively. Not politically. Not to make a point.

Simply truthfully.

A Broader Picture of National Identity

Australia is changing, and so is how people understand belief and identity.

The Census doesn’t resolve these complexities, but it does record them. Those records shape how Australia understands itself over time.

For Christians, this isn’t about defending a position. It’s about being clear on how our identity is communicated in the public square.

Because in the end, the Census is not just about categories.

It is about people, stories, and how a nation learns to understand itself.

And that is something worth getting right.

Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.

Must we be endlessly available, universally liked, and perpetually busy?

We live in a culture that deeply romanticizes exhaustion. We are taught that to be a “good” person—a good partner, parent, friend, or colleague—we must be endlessly available, universally liked, and perpetually busy.

But there is a radical paradox at the heart of human well-being: the choices that feel the most selfish on the surface are often the most generous things we can do for the world. When we look closely at emotional health and sustainable living, we find that real resilience requires us to embrace a few beautiful, counter-intuitive truths.

Paradox #1. Boundary Drawing is Not Selfish, It is Loving

We often avoid setting boundaries because we fear looking cold or withholding, stretching ourselves thin to keep the peace. However, unsustainable enmeshment in relationships inevitably leads to resentment and eventual rupture. Whether it is navigating a relationship with a domineering parent, a friend who constantly takes without giving, or an entitled grown-up child, feeling that your emotions and thoughts are not respected is a recipe for burnout.

In order to remain genuinely connected to the people in your life, you have to make the dynamic sustainable for yourself. Boundary drawing isn’t a wall to shut people out; it is a clear map that defines where you end and they begin, preserving the relationship by preventing the slow burn of hidden frustration.

It is ultimately far more loving to offer an honest, compassionate “No” that protects the bond than a resentful, exhausted “Yes” that quietly erodes it. Clear boundaries eliminate guesswork, allowing you to show up with genuine presence rather than out of a sense of draining obligation. By protecting your own emotional capacity, you ensure that the time and care you do give are authentic, resilient, and built to last.

Paradox #2. Detaching From Others’ Reactions Empowers You to Care Deeper

It sounds noble to absorb everyone’s emotional weather and care deeply about their immediate opinion of you, but people-pleasing is an act of emotional survival rather than genuine connection. When your primary focus is managing how others perceive you or personalizing their unpredictable moods, your energy is entirely consumed by anxiety and internal performance.

Ironically, refusing to personalize others’ emotions frees you up to care for them with far more depth. When you stop treating people as judges to be impressed or problems to be fixed, you clear out the mental noise and can finally see them as human beings to be heard.

Furthermore, if your self-worth is not tied to their immediate emotional state, you can handle their heavy emotions, disappointments, or conflicts without collapsing, overreacting, or getting defensive. Detaching from their approval isn’t about becoming callous; it is about becoming a steady, anchored presence. You are able to love people for who they are in that moment, precisely because you aren’t waiting for them to validate you or fix your own anxiety.

Paradox #3. Resting is Not Lazy, It is the Ultimate Efficiency

We tend to view rest as a luxury or a reward for hard work, something we are only allowed to do once an impossible to-do list hits zero. However, the human brain and nervous system do not operate on a linear scale, and constant grinding quickly yields diminishing returns that lead to foggy thinking, critical mistakes, and emotional volatility. True rest is not a waste of time; it is incubation. Stepping away from the desk or taking a weekend to completely unplug is the very mechanism that sharpens your focus, sparks creativity, and prevents the catastrophic downtime of full burnout.

When you rest, your brain actively processes information, consolidates memory, and regulates stress hormones. True efficiency isn’t about how many consecutive hours you log; it’s about the quality of energy you bring to those hours. Ultimately, rest is not the absence of productivity, but the essential biological framework that makes sustainable productivity possible in the first place.

Paradox #4. Acknowledging Your Vulnerability Makes You Deeper and Safer

We often hide our struggles or assume that admitting we don’t have it all together makes us look weak, incompetent, or fragile. In reality, relentless perfectionism creates emotional distance and signals to others that flaws are unacceptable, while vulnerability creates genuine safety and connection.

When you drop the exhausting act of having everything figured out and honestly acknowledge your human limits, you break down walls and give the people around you permission to drop their heavy armor too. This shared authenticity transforms relationships from superficial performances into deep, resilient bonds, ultimately making you a much safer, more grounded, and trustworthy presence for your family, friends, or colleagues.

Paradox #5. Lowering Your Immediate Standards Often Raises Your Long-Term Impact

The cultural belief that you must give 110% to every single task, every single day, is a direct recipe for mediocrity and burnout. Giving maximum effort to everything means you are scattering your focus and giving nothing your true genius. Embracing “strategic under-achievement”—deliberately choosing to let low-stakes, non-essential balls drop, such as maintaining an immaculate house or instantly responding to every casual email—is not about failing, but about prioritizing.

By intentionally lowering your standards on things that matter less, you actively preserve the deep psychological and physical energy reserves required to hit a home run on the few high-stakes goals that truly define your long-term legacy and impact.

Conclusion: Let’s Fill the Cup First

Ultimately, every single one of these counter-intuitive shifts points to a singular, unyielding truth: you cannot give what you do not have. We have been conditioned to believe that self-sacrifice is the ultimate measure of love and efficiency, but trying to pour from an empty cup is a biological and emotional impossibility. When we refuse to rest, protect our boundaries, or detach from external validation, we aren’t actually giving more to the world—we are simply offering it the bitter, exhausted residue of our resentment and fatigue.

Looking after yourself first is not a luxury, nor is it a detour from your responsibilities; it is the absolute prerequisite for them. If your goal is to love deeply, care authentically, and make a meaningful, long-term impact on the people around you, then protecting your own mental and physical well-being is the most radical, effective, and loving act of service you can perform.

Article supplied with thanks to The Centre for Effective Living.

About the Author: Jennifer Chu is a psychologist who is passionate about therapy, experienced in a range of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, social adjustment issues, stress management, and cross-cultural issues and more.

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Is it riskier to be Christian in Australia today?

Millions of Christians across Australia are being forced to keep their religious beliefs secret despite society “championing” other religions, according to Australia’s first comprehensive audit of Christian freedom.

The Australian Christian Freedom Index report benchmarks legal, institutional, social and cultural pressures on Christians in 2026.

Its survey of 10,808 Christians found an overwhelming majority (92%) saying it is riskier to identify as a Christian in Australia today, than it was five years ago.

Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) CEO Michelle Pearse who is one of 11 co-authors, revealed 73% of Christians felt pressured to keep their religious beliefs private at work, online and in public.

“Christians are self-censoring, their freedoms are being eroded”

The ACL boss declared that in Australia, Christian beliefs underpin our values, our democracy, our way of life and Christians should not be discriminated against, persecuted or made to hide their faith.

But they are.

“Nearly half (43.9%) of all Australians are Christians who find themselves living in a country where they are self-censoring, where institutions don’t feel protected, and our freedom of religion and speech are being eroded,” Ms. Pearse observed.

The report which analysed documented cases of persecution and scores of Acts of Parliament from nine jursidictions, was launched at a breakfast at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday May 28, with cross-party MPs and church leaders among those receiving a hand-signed copy.

Seven of the report’s 11 authors addressed the event.

“Prayer is criminalised, sermons attract vilification complaints”

According to the 108-page report, laws and regulations about healthcare referral mandates for euthanasia and abortion; rules and regulations about teaching and praying about sexuality; and vilification laws, have all contributed to a worsening environment for Christians.

It ranks Victoria as the most restrictive state in the country for Christians followed in order by the ACT, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

Western Australia was the least restrictive.

Pastoral conversations and certain forms of prayer are now criminalised under Victoria’s conversion practices legislation; sermons on Biblical sexuality can attract vilification complaints; and Christian schools face narrowed hiring exemptions.

“74 Acts of Parliament restrict Christian freedoms”

Human Rights Law Alliance Principal Lawyer and report co-author John Steenhof said a legislative audit found 74 Acts restricting Christian freedoms introduced in the past 25 years.

Almost half of them in the past five years.

“Legislative overreach has tripled in the past five years, and the Index reports more than 40 cases of discrimination and persecution of Christians across Australia,” Mr. Steenhof said.

“Workplaces are among the most high-risk [environments] with education and healthcare the most pressured sectors.”

“Public servants are sanctioned for their faith, HR depts are weaponised”

“We’re seeing public servants being sanctioned because of their beliefs and HR departments being weaponised to remove Christians from the workplace,” Ms. Pearse reported..

“We heard one story of a lady who wears a crucifix to work.”

“She was told by the leadership in her workplace that it was disrespectful for her to wear the crucifix when there were Muslims in the workplace.”

“The Muslims were allowed to wear the hijab, but she was confronted about wearing the cross.”

“Inclusivity stops at the point of including Christians”

“As a society, we champion tolerance and inclusivity as the greatest of values, but what’s come through clearly in this report is that Christian belief is not tolerated.”

“Inclusivity stops at the point of including Christians,” Michelle Pearse asserted.

A majority (92%) of Christians surveyed said hospitals and healthcare workers were restricted or not free to operate according to their beliefs.

Religious freedom is “being plundered” amid attempts to remove faith from public square

“The right to religious freedom is being plundered in Australia,” said Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney Anthony Percy.

“This Index lays the ground for some rearguard action.”

Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher said the Index brought to light “recent attempts to minimise the role of faith in everyday life and exclude it altogether from the public square.”

Former Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies said the report “carefully analyses the erosion of freedoms in our country over 40 years or more,” and called on parliamentarians and religious leaders to read it.

What action the report recommends

The Index makes 42 recommendations including a Register to document anti-Christian incidents.

Other recommendations include restoring religious hiring exemptions for faith-based schools and institutions across all jurisdictions, and ending compelled participation in abortion and voluntary assisted dying for healthcare workers and institutions with conscientious objections.

The report identified six primary drivers of discrimination against Australian Christians — four external, two internal.

Drivers of anti-Christian discrimination

• Secular progressivism has recast Biblically orthodox belief as social harm
• An expanding state apparatus has given that moral vision legal teeth
• The combined effect is a legal asymmetry in which religious freedom rests on narrow exemptions that can be litigated away or later repealed
• Islamist extremism as documented in the high-profile 2024 stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel
• Doctrinal drift where institutions accommodate secular-progressive values at the cost of legal protection for those who will not
• Misplaced meekness: The belief that Christian humility requires silence in the face of injustice.

The Index is an initiative of the Canberra Declaration which produced it with the support of the Australian Christian Lobby, FamilyVoice Australia, the Human Rights Law Alliance, CitizenGo and the Australian Family Coalition.

It will be published annually.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision Christian Media – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

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What your attitude to money reveals about your heart

It’s been estimated that there are 2,350 verses in the Bible about money and generosity. We often don’t like to face the reality that Jesus had a lot to say about money in his teachings, and what he had to say was very challenging. One of the ways that we try to avoid this truth is by spiritualising it away.

The story about a man we call “The Rich Young Ruler” is a good case in point. The story goes like this:

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:17–25.)

It is very difficult for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

What just happened here? What is this story about?

If you ask different people, they will give you different answers. Some people will tell you that the story is about commitment. The young man wasn’t committed enough to follow Jesus. Or perhaps the story is about selfishness. The young man was too selfish to follow Jesus.

I think there’s some truth in both of these ideas. But they are both also ways of avoiding the uncomfortable truth that this story is basically about money and wealth, and our attitudes to it. Jesus says as much in the lesson that he draws from it for his disciples. It is very difficult for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

Christianity has nothing at all to do with how much money you have.

That would have been a very confronting thing for the disciples to hear. That’s because they lived in a religious culture that taught that if you were wealthy, it was a blessing from God in recognition of the fact that you were his follower. The blessings of God, and especially things like wealth and health, were associated in the minds of the people with one’s standing with God. And, actually, if you think about it, there are strong streams of that kind of thinking in Christianity today as well.

By telling this rich young man to sell everything and to give it to the poor if he wanted to follow him, Jesus was effectively telling him and us that Christianity has nothing at all to do with how much money you have. You don’t need a single cent to follow Jesus. You can be a billionaire or a beggar and still be loved and accepted by God. There is absolutely no correlation between your wealth and your standing with God. Contrary to what many Christians today believe, that correlation is not a positive one: in other words, it is not true that the more faithful you are to God, the more he will financially bless you.

Our attitude to money reveals the truth of whom we worship.

But there definitely is a correlation between your attitude to money and your relationship with God. Throughout all the teachings of Jesus we see that this correlation is a negative one. In other words, the more you love money, the less you will love Jesus, and conversely the more you love Jesus, the less you will make money the centre of your life.

Why? It’s not because there is anything inherently magical or spiritual about money. It’s just metal and paper. But it represents power in our society, and every human being, whether we admit it or not, worships what we consider is most powerful and we want it for ourselves. As a result, money is the biggest idol. Our attitude to money reveals the truth of whom we worship, whether we sit in a church every Sunday or not.

So ask yourself: How generous are you? Or, another question: How do you justify your lack of generosity?

Article supplied with thanks to Dr Eliezer Gonzalez.

About the Author: Dr Eli Gonzalez is the Senior Pastor of Good News Unlimited and the presenter of the Unlimited radio spots, and The Big Question. Sign up to his free online course called Becoming a Follower of Jesus to learn about Jesus and His message.

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Danniebelle shares a heartfelt glimpse into holding onto a lifelong dream

It’s a dream she’s carried since she was a little girl.

Not a vague idea, but a clear picture – a family, built on love, partnership, and the kind of care she watched her own parents model so beautifully. It’s still there, still strong, unchanged in its essence.

Only now, it sits alongside another reality… It hasn’t happened yet.

“My biggest dream from when I was a little kid was that I would be a mum… and it still is.”

There’s something disorienting about dreams without timelines. We get used to milestones in life – school, work, relationships – often mapped out in neat succession. But some of the deepest desires don’t come with a calendar date. They unfold in their own time, or sometimes, feel like they’re taking longer than expected.

Uncertainty can feel like a mystery

For Danniebelle, that uncertainty can feel like a mystery she’s learning to live with.

Not solve. Not rush. Just live with.

“I don’t know the date, I don’t know the time… it all feels like a bit of a mystery.”

There are moments, she admits, where the questions get loud. Nights where she turns it over in her mind, “Why hasn’t this happened for me?” Moments sparked by something as simple as a film or a fleeting love story on screen, highlighting the absence of something she longs for deeply.

And yet, alongside the questioning sits a quiet resolve.

A choice not to get lost in the “what ifs”.

Keep trusting… even while we wait

Instead, she’s learning to place that dream gently into God’s hands; to trust that a desire so deeply rooted isn’t there by accident, or as some kind of cruel tease.

It’s a trust that isn’t always easy.

There are times when God feels silent on the subject. Times when the gap between hope and reality feels wide. Times when comparison sneaks in – when it’s tempting to look at others and think the grass might be greener somewhere else.

But almost as quickly as those thoughts come, they’re challenged.

Because with age has come perspective. A growing awareness that comparison rarely brings peace, and that even the paths that look ideal from the outside can hold their own complexity and pain.

Life, after all, rarely turns out exactly as imagined.

“I’ll immediately go, ‘oh yeah, the grass is greener over there’ but then straight away go, ‘no, I can’t think like that.’”

Danniebelle and Brendan both acknowledged that reality: the relationships they’ve seen break down, the families reshaped by loss or hardship, the unpredictability of life. It’s enough to make anyone pause and wonder what the future might hold.

Even, at times, to question the dream itself.

There are moments when Danniebelle has looked at the state of the world – the chaos, the uncertainty – and quietly wondered what it would mean to bring children into it. It’s not a loss of hope, but a reflection of how deeply she cares about the kind of world future generations will inherit.

And yet, through all of it, one anchor remains. A verse she returns to again and again: “For I know the plans I have for you…” (Jeremiah 29:11).

It’s not a quick fix or a neat answer. But it is a reminder that even when she can’t see the full picture, she’s not forgotten. That her life isn’t defined by what hasn’t happened yet, but by what’s already been given.

And that list, she realises, is full.

Family. Friends. Meaningful work. A community of listeners. A life rich with connection and purpose.

It doesn’t replace the dream but reframes it.

Rather than becoming consumed by what she doesn’t have, she’s choosing to invest in what she does. To pour her love, energy and attention into the people and opportunities already in front of her.

And to trust that the rest will come in the right time. Or in the right way. Or in a way that may look different from what she imagined.

“I don’t want to be distracted by what I don’t have when I have everything right now.”

This was a reminder that so many people can relate to as they are walking similar paths, carrying similar hopes, often quietly.

Dreams that feel delayed.

Questions without answers.

A tension between trust and longing.

And in sharing her story, Danniebelle gave language to that space, not as something to fix, but something to gently hold.

Because sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is keep trusting… even while we wait.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Supplied

The dangerous rise of AI beauty rankings

Cyber Security expert, Rebekah Nijsen, discusses “Omoggle”, the app where AI judges users by their appearance.

What is Omoggle?

“It is a web-based live video chat that pairs 2 random users from across the world via webcam. So that’s the first aspect of it. ‘Omoggle‘ comes from a slang term for ‘look maxing’, which is the online culture that determines that a physical dominance over a person on their physical appearance.”

AI Determines the Score

Through this platform, users battle each other over how others rate their physical appearance. They use AI for facial analysis and determine a score.

“It looks at things like eye lift, jawline, skin tones, aspects like that. This only takes a few seconds and then a score is introduced. Now the winner is known as the ‘Mogger’ and the loser is known as ‘Mogged’ and that comes from the term mogging which comes through the lookmaxing culture.”

Viral Battles of Looksmaxxing

These battles are now going viral via live streaming platforms, like “Twitch” and “Kick”, so wider audiences now watch these battles.

“The people who jump on and have a look at these battles have the ability to encourage users or mock losers, which creates a pack mentality.”

This has the power to cause psychological triggers in young people, based on what AI is rating them. People as young as 12 are falling prey to shallow comparison and mockery.

“It’s web-based, which means you have internet connection and you have a webcam, then anyone can access it. It is an 18+ site, but all you have to do is click ‘yes, I’m over 18’ and you’re straight in. There’s no further age verification checks.”

“‘Twitch’ and ‘Kick’ are age restricted platforms under cyber-security legislation. However, ‘Omoggle’ is not.”

Parents – Start a Conversation

Rebekah said that parents need to have open conversations and chats with their children about physical appearances.

“Ask, ‘What do you think about physical appearance allowing you to have status in the online world. What do you like about yourself?”

Helping children to understand character being more valuable than status can help them with their self-esteem.

“We can do that in our conversations, but also by modelling that behaviour ourselves,” said Rebekah.

“Are they seeing that our most important thing is, putting our face on for the day and putting, makeup? Those things aren’t bad things. Absolutely not. I wear makeup.”

She argued to that end, if parents are so obsessed with health, eating and appearance, it can get noticed and imitated. Conversations and behaviour modelled at home enables them to have a healthier lens on how they view the world.

Know What Your Kids Are Viewing

Rebekah said the most important advice for parents to take heed of is to know what our kids are watching.

“We do that by physically seeing what they’re doing and making sure the devices are outside the bedrooms so we can actually see how they’re interacting online, but also by having those continual conversations with them and saying, ‘What did you see online today? Or, hey, I’ve seen this new craze come through. What are your opinions about it?’”

She argued that many kids would be outraged about it, because our kids are very switched on.

“We’re starting to see a switch with our kids starting to be a bit more empathetic and realizing, hey, we can be part of the solution here by calling out this behaviour.”

Encourage Their Opinion

Rebekah said this needs to be encouraged and fostered in the home so that kids feel like they have a voice.

“If we can actually say, ‘What you say is important and we’re going to give you a platform in the house to have an opinion,’ whether we agree with it or not. Hopefully that then teaches them that their voice matters. And then they can then start being the positive influence.”

Rebekah said there will always be a new app invented, hopefully with more conditions, but if parents look at the fundamentals of culture and what we are allowing our kids to view, we can then teach them to be critical in what they see as well.

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

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Wherever the pain is, that’s where Jesus goes

You might know Watoto through the smiling faces of the Children’s Choir. But what you might not know is that beyond the Choir, Watoto Church is living out a greater mission by rescuing abandoned babies, supporting vulnerable mothers and bringing the hope of Jesus into Africa’s most broken communities. They are not afraid to step into places where people are hurting.

For many of us this, is a confronting idea. But what if the places we avoid are the very places God is calling us to go?

That conviction has shaped Watoto Church in Kampala, Uganda for decades. Watoto Church leader Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo shared a philosophy that has shaped the ministry’s response to poverty, conflict and loss in their country.

“We aim at the pain and wherever the pain is, that’s where the love of Jesus brings the greatest healing,” Julius said.

A Church That Runs Towards Brokenness

For Watoto Church, that philosophy is not just a slogan. It has become a way of life. Today, the church reaches more than 35,000 people across 18 locations in Uganda and South Sudan. Alongside its growing congregations, the ministry continues to care for vulnerable children, families and communities. Just last year, Watoto rescued 90 abandoned babies and continues to support around 1,200 vulnerable mothers, impacting thousands of children.

The needs are significant. Julius explained that the country still has close to two million orphans, but instead of seeing it as a challenge, Watoto Church sees it as a place where God can move powerfully. “We are a very young nation and some of the big needs of the country affect our children,” Julius shared. “It’s an honour to see God reach the youth.”

Watoto’s ministry has expanded into neighbouring South Sudan, a nation scarred by decades of conflict, poverty and instability. “God spoke to us as a church in 2011 to go and plant a church and be a part of the healing of South Sudan,” Julius shared. When many saw brokenness, Watoto saw an opportunity for the Gospel.

How Watoto Church Is Raising Leaders Through Compassion

One of the most inspiring aspects of Watoto’s ministry is that their vision isn’t just about meeting the needs of people, but growing and discipling them into their God-given potential.

“That’s what we do. We raise leaders,” Julius said. “We don’t just rescue and reach out to the broken, we reach out with a vision that they will be leaders that will rebuild community and rebuild our continent again.” For Watoto Church, discipleship doesn’t end with rescue. Their goal is to see people restored, equipped and released into God’s purposes.

Maybe you don’t live in Uganda. But all of us still have a mission to “go out and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). This might look like starting a Bible study with that friend or inviting your coworker to church. God gives us so many opportunities to bring the Gospel into our everyday lives, we just have to be willing to get uncomfortable.

The Challenge for Australian Christians

While the challenges facing Uganda and South Sudan may seem far removed from life in Australia, there is an important lesson for Western churches. Julius acknowledges that Australia has social systems and government support that many African communities do not. Yet he also points out that pain comes in many forms.

“It’s not just physical,” Julius explained. “There are relational issues, people struggling with their faith, and even real poverty that exists.”

Some Western churches have become inward-focused, concentrating primarily on what happens inside their own walls. “I feel that’s a missed opportunity where the church could have real impact,” he shared.

Pain may look different in Australia, but it still exists. It can be found in lonely neighbours, struggling families, young people searching for purpose, and people wrestling with questions of faith.

The question is whether we are willing to see it.

Following Jesus Towards the Pain

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently moved towards people who were hurting. He touched lepers, welcomed outcasts, comforted the grieving and restored the broken.

Watoto Church’s philosophy echoes that same pattern.

They don’t have some secret master plan to heal the world. Rather, they are simply being obedient to the call of God, choosing to bring Christ directly into difficult situations.

For Australian Christians, that may be the greatest lesson of all. The Church was never called to stay comfortable. It was called to carry the love of Jesus into places where hope feels absent.

As Julius reminds us, healing often begins where pain is greatest. Perhaps the question for each of us is simple: where is the pain God is asking us to notice today?

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

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For someone in navigating infertility, grief and longing, being in church can feel almost unbearable at times.

“I might have suspected that I lost a pregnancy that week and somebody walks past with a newborn,” Susannah said.

“And you just think, I could probably get through this service without crying – if someone would give me a general anaesthetic.”

For five years, Susannah and her husband were unable to become pregnant.

“Five years of infertility is a very painful experience.”

An Auslan interpreter living in New South Wales’ Blue Mountains, Susannah still believes God was there with them.

Even if it didn’t feel like it.

“I think he was there but at the time, it felt pretty dark and dreary,” Susannah said.

“I’m just saying [to anyone else] it’s kind of OK to find it hard and to lament that before God.

“He values our honesty and doesn’t want us to lie to him about our experiences.”

God’s pattern

Susannah read articles and books which provided Christian reflection upon infertility, usually written after the author became pregnant.

This frustrated Susannah who was looking for “dispatches from the trenches [to] help me get out of bed today”.

Wanting to think clearly, and biblically, about infertility while she was going through it, Susannah began to write The Fruitful Soul: Infertility and the Christian Life to be published mid 2026.

Without knowing what the end of the story of pregnancy might be for her family, Susannah explored the question “What does God think about all of this suffering, self-blame, the fallenness of the world?”

One key pattern she discovered in Scripture actually offered grounding hope to someone experiencing infertility.

“Jesus suffered first, and then he was resurrected – and that is the shape of our lives as well,” Susannah said.

“Suffering first and then glory, that is the shape of the Christian life.”

As a clear reference point, Susannah pointed to the New Testament book of 2 Timothy: “If we’ve died with him, we will also live with him… If we suffer with him, we will also reign with him.” (2 Timothy 2:11 NIV)

For Susannah, the encouragement is not instant answers, but a trustworthy pattern: “That’s what we’re looking for in our lives.”

A call for churches: sensitive, present, and real

As much as Susannah found church gatherings to be unintentionally painful, she is grateful for the support she received.

“I don’t remember any time when anyone has ever made my suffering worse and they have made it an awful lot better just by being there,” Susannah said.

Still, she encouraged churches to think carefully about how they discuss or celebrate motherhood.

“Try and avoid any rituals that divide women up into mothers and not mothers, because motherhood’s not always visible,” Susannah said, reflecting on unseen grief such as miscarriage.

Her message to anyone walking through infertility is compassionate and practical.

“You’re not alone. One in six couples will go through some kind of infertility,” Susannah said.

“Don’t rest until you’ve found somebody to walk that journey with you. You need care; don’t do it alone.”

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Ben hosts Mornings on Hope 103.2 and the ‘Money: Faith & Finance’ podcast.

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When the mind is pointed inward, on a loop, it can quietly become its own kind of prison.

It usually starts small. A text you read three times before replying. A decision you’ve been weighing for days, coffee or no coffee, take the job or stay, say something or let it go. Reflection is healthy. But somewhere along the way, reflection turns into rumination. And that’s where the trouble starts.

If you’ve ever lain awake at 2am replaying a conversation from three days ago, wondering whether you said the wrong thing, you’re not imagining the toll it takes. Research consistently shows that chronic overthinking is one of the strongest predictors of anxiety and depression. In fact, studies have found that people who ruminate frequently are nearly four times more likely to develop a depressive episode than those who don’t. The mind is powerful. But when it’s pointed inward, on a loop, it can quietly become its own kind of prison.

We all get caught in the loop

Personally, I’ve been there. As a psychologist, mum, and pastor, I know the cost of a mind that won’t stop running. There have been seasons where I’ve replayed a conversation a dozen times trying to figure out if I should have responded differently, or sat in the car after dropping the kids at school mentally rehearsing the day ahead like I was about to sit an exam. Even with all the training, even knowing better, I still get caught in the loop. So if this is you, please know: you’re not broken. Your brain is just doing what brains do when they’re under pressure. And there’s a way out.

The most common signs of overthinking

Indecision

Overthinkers often find it hard to make decisions, paralysed by the fear of making the wrong choice. You weigh the pros, then the cons, then the pros again, and before you know it, the moment has passed. Constant rumination can lead to missed opportunities and a quiet undercurrent of frustration that builds over time.

Anxiety

The endless worrying that comes with overthinking can snowball into chronic anxiety. When your mind is racing through every fear and concern, your body stays in a state of heightened tension, which makes it hard to relax, focus, or feel present.

Stress and physical symptoms

Overthinking doesn’t just live in your head. The mental strain often shows up in your body, headaches, fatigue, jaw tension, restless sleep. Research has found that high ruminators have elevated cortisol levels, the same stress hormone that floods your body during a fight-or-flight response. So if you constantly feel “on edge” without knowing why, your thoughts may be writing cheques your body is paying for.

Emotional exhaustion

Overthinking drains your emotional energy. The mental chatter makes it hard to connect with your feelings or enjoy the things that used to bring you joy. By the end of the day, you’re tired, but you haven’t actually done anything tiring.

Action avoidance

The habit of overanalysing often leads to a fear of taking action. You think, plan, and prepare, but never actually move. This avoidance leaves you feeling stuck, unfulfilled, and increasingly disconnected from the life you want to live.

So why do our brains do this?

Overthinking isn’t a flaw. It’s a habit your brain has learned because, in some way, it’s been trying to protect you. Maybe by analysing every possible outcome, you hoped to avoid pain. Maybe by replaying past conversations, you were trying to make sense of something that didn’t feel safe. The intention is protective. The result, unfortunately, is exhausting.

The good news? Habits can be unlearned. Neuroscience has shown again and again that the brain is remarkably plastic, meaning it can rewire itself with repeated practice. Every time you choose a different response to overthinking, you’re literally building a new neural pathway. Over time, the new pathway becomes stronger than the old one.

How to break the cycle

If you’re caught in the exhausting loop of overthinking, here are some practices, backed by both clinical evidence and lived experience, that genuinely help:

1. Name what’s happening

The moment you say to yourself, “I’m overthinking right now,” you create a tiny gap between you and the thought. That gap matters. Researchers call this “metacognition,” the ability to observe your thinking instead of being trapped inside it. It’s the single most powerful first step.

2. Set a worry window

Give yourself a specific amount of time, say, 15 minutes, to think about a particular problem. When the time is up, gently redirect yourself. This trains your brain that worry doesn’t get unlimited airtime. A study from Penn State found that people who used scheduled “worry time” had significantly lower anxiety levels within four weeks.

3. Challenge the thought

When you find yourself spiralling, ask: Is this actually true? What’s the evidence? Would I say this to someone I love? Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), one of the most researched forms of therapy in the world, is built on this single idea, and the evidence base for it is strong.

4. Move from problem to possibility

Overthinkers fixate on the problem. Try gently shifting the question from “Why is this happening?” to “What’s one small thing I can do today?” It’s a small reframe, but it gets you out of analysis paralysis and into momentum.

5. Reduce the noise

Too much information leads to overload. Be intentional about what you consume, the news, the scrolling, the group chats, the advice from well-meaning people. A 2022 study found that participants who reduced their social media use by just 30 minutes a day showed measurable improvements in anxiety and mood within a week.

6. Talk it out

Sharing your thoughts with someone safe, a friend, a partner, or a therapist, interrupts the loop. Saying things out loud externalises them. You stop being trapped inside them. As I often tell my clients: what stays in our heads grows. What comes out into the light loses its grip.

7. Move your body

Exercise isn’t just good for your physical health. It’s one of the most evidence-based interventions for anxiety and rumination. A 30-minute walk has been shown to reduce cortisol, boost serotonin, and quieten the default mode network, the part of your brain that runs the “worry loop.” You don’t need to train for a marathon. A walk around the block counts.

8. Make peace with imperfection

Most overthinking is fuelled by the fear of getting it wrong. But the truth is, almost no decision is final, and almost every mistake is a teacher. Allow yourself to be a learner. Some of the bravest growth happens when we let go of needing to know everything before we move.

9. Prioritise soul care

I prefer “soul care” to “self-care” because it goes deeper than bubble baths and face masks. It’s the practice of tending to your whole self, your mind, body, and spirit. Rest. Pray. Move. Eat well. Get sunlight. Sit in silence. Be in community. These aren’t extras. They’re foundations.

A gentle reminder

You don’t need to silence your mind to live a peaceful life. You just need to learn to lead it rather than be led by it. Over time, with practice, grace, and a few of these tools, you’ll find the loop loosens its grip. The decisions become easier. The 2am replays grow rarer. And the mental space that used to be filled with “what if” slowly starts filling with “what now.”

Article supplied with thanks to Sabrina Peters.

About the Author: Sabrina is a pastor and a psychologist who is dedicated to helping people experience wholeness and growth. Passionate about building healthy families, she spends her days raising kids, supporting clients, and creating resources that inspire freedom and hope.

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