Author Archives: Tony Payne

About Tony Payne

Tony is the Publishing Director at Matthias Media; editor of The Briefing; author of Islam in our Backyard, Fatherhood and numerous other Matthias Media resources; husband to Ali; father of five teenagers; and an avid consumer of books and almost any televised sport.

Remember The Poor

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Owing to the complexities of printing schedules and Christmas holidays, it’s just over a week before Christmas as we put the finishing touches on this February Briefing. In fact, as I write this, I am still recovering from a lunchtime commando raid on the local shopping centre. It was supposed to be like the war in Iraq— go in, do the business and get out again—but ended up feeling just as futile and almost as protracted.

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The surprising face of Hillsong

Thought, Sola Panel

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Tony Payne and Gordon Cheng report from Hillsong Conference, 2006.

The sound hits you like a wave. The bass is throbbing. The drums kick through your diaphragm with each beat. The guitars thrum and swell. The lead singer is a good-looking guy with unkempt hair and stubble. He stands, arm raised, head thrown back.

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Chocolate and chips

Couldn't Help Noticing, Life, Sola Panel

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If my kids were given the run of the place and were allowed to set the rules, what would their day look like? Apart from the absence of school, I’m guessing their activities would involve a copious diet of computer gaming, MSN (if you don’t know what this is, ask someone under 20), music downloads, TV, chocolate and chips.

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Beware that bandwagon

Couldn't Help Noticing, Sola Panel

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I love a bandwagon as much as the next man. There’s a certain satisfaction to be gained from jumping on board the happy caravan as it passes by, to the cheers and back-slapping of your new fellow passengers. And as you join in shouting to the onlookers that they should jump on board too, there’s a delicious feeling of belonging to the righteous brotherhood of the truly aware. (more…)

Editing sermons

Pastoral Ministry, Sola Panel

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Being an editor doesn’t have many occupational hazards. A bladder weakened by coffee over-consumption perhaps; or bruises on the upper arm from having been punched by your teenagers for pointing out yet another appalling lapse of grammar or pronunciation on their part. (more…)

Social involvement and evangelism (Part II): How they relate

Thought, Sola Panel

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In the first part of this essay (in Briefing #316), Tim Chester looked at the strong case that can be made for Christian social involvement, as well as the strong case for proclamation of the gospel being central. We now come to the question that has bedevilled evangelical discussion of this subject for the past 30 years: What ought to be the relationship between social involvement and evangelism in Christian ministry and mission?

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