Think Charles Dickens, but real life. For Steve McAlpine’s mother, Christmas wasn’t always merry: abandoned in foster care, kidnapped by her birth mother, left by her husband—then reconciled. Over 80 years, her extraordinary journey, shaped by the gospel, turned Christmas into something truly transformative.

Steve has a background in journalism and three decades experience pastoring and planting churches. He has spent most of his life in Western Australia, but is originally from Northern Ireland, emigrating, as so many did, back in the 1970s.



TOOL BOX
Have a Merry Christmas!!



CREDITS

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

We continue our dive into the crucial role of emotional intelligence (EQ) in church leadership, specifically focusing on team dynamics with Pete Stedman from Norwest Anglican Church in Sydney.

TOOL BOX:

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Bradbury and Greaves

I Told Me So by Gregg Elshof

242 What I Have Learnt In Leadership with Pete Stedman

The NorWest Way

380 Why EQ is the Edge Every Leader Needs Part 1 (Pete Stedman)

CREDITS:

This episode was brought to you by Youthworks

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

While IQ is important, emotional intelligence (EQ) is crucial as pastors navigate the complexities, compromises, and conflicts inherent in church life. 

Pete Stedman from Norwest Anglican Church, Sydney shares how EQ shapes his leadership style, transforms team dynamics, and helps him navigate the challenges of ministry.

TOOL BOX:

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Bradbury and Greaves 

I Told Me So by Gregg Elshof

242 What I Have Learnt In Leadership with Pete Stedman

357 Inheriting and Building Teams with Ray Galea

CREDITS:

This episode was brought to you by Youthworks

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

January can feel like a weird limbo—Australia practically shuts down, and people are in and out all month. Bur don’t just coast; use this time wisely:

January’s not a throwaway month—it’s a launchpad. Make it count.

TOOL BOX:

332: What do I need to think about on Term 1

315 Organising my Preaching Program

You're Not Crazy with Sam Allberry and Ray Ortlund (Podcast)

Fire Up! with Dave Jensen (Podcast)

Aspire with Paddy Benn and Aaron Smith (Podcast)

Made in Our Image by Stephen Driscoll (Book)

Growth and Change by Andrew Heard (Book)

CREDITS:

This episode was brought to you by The Leadership Development Program

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Data is just a tool, but it's an important tool. Its real purpose? Loving and serving your people better. A snapshot of data can give you an idea of your church health. Scott and Derek dive into:

TOOL BOX:

Church Health Consults

Knowing What to Measure and Why Seminar

Measure What Matters Book

CREDITS:

This episode was brought to you by Church Suite

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Should we plant new churches or invest in revitalizing struggling ones? If you had to choose, where would you lean?



TOOL BOX:

Church Planting Podcast

Gospel Workers Questionnaire

Church Planters Questionnaire 

376 Why Everyone Needs to Know About the Church Planter Questionnaire 

Church Planting is for Wimps

Church Health Consults



CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by Church Suite

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

You might not ever plant a church, but you should be looking for people who can. Where are you going to send them if you think they might be suitable? 

Hopefully you'll send them straight to the Church Planter Questionnaire on the Reach Australia website. Here's what you need to know about it before you send them the link.

These self-assessments are most helpful when followed by a debrief conversation to fully unpack the results.

Defining Success in Church Planting:

TOOL BOX:
Gospel Workers Questionnaire

Church Planters Questionnaire

Church Planting Prospectus

Church Planting Australia Podcast

CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by Exdia

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Chris Mann (Cornerstone Box Hill, Sydney) and Rob Abboud (MBM Church Blacktown, Sydney) launched churches in 2024!

TOOL BOX:

Church Planting Australia Podcast

Gospel Workers Questionnaire

Church Planters Questionnaire

Reach Australia National Conference '25: watch for the planting conference

MBM Blacktown

Cornerstone Anglican Box Hill

CREDITS
This episode was brought to you by Worship Tools from CCLI

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Term One: It seems an eternity away. After all, we haven’t even got to Christmas yet! But the key to starting strong in Term One is getting on track in Term Four.

TOOL BOX:

332 What Do I Need to Think About in Term 1 2024

279 What Do I Need to Think About In Term 1 2023

280 Joining A New Staff Team

166 Refreshing Your Staff Meetings Part 1

167 Refreshing Your Staff Meetings Part 2

315 Organising My Preaching Program

CREDITS:

This episode was brought to you by EA Insurance

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

"We become bolder in our local mission when we see what God is doing globally."

Being a healthy church means being concerned what God is doing throughout the whole world.

Wei Han Kuan thinks that Charles Perry (the evangelical founding bishop of Melbourne) got it right when he said in 1851 that “the best means of ensuring the health of the local church is a vital commitment to world missions.”

TOOL BOX:

Redeeming Babel by Wei-Han Kuan

Gaining by Losing by J D Greear

52: The Sending Church

Policies - to come

CREDITS:

This episode was brought to you by  Safe Ministry Check

The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠

To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠.

For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.