This was the theme for our 2010 Brisbane Lord Mayoral Prayer Breakfast, held last Thursday, 18^th March.

Around 300 leaders from church, marketplace, civic, political and community gathered to pray for our city and nation. Each year we have a keynote speaker present a message to fit our theme. This year Brigadier Jim Wallace AM (Ret'd), Managing Director, Australian Christian Lobby, gave a stirring and challenging message on ‘Courage and Change' and explained how necessary personal courage is, in effecting change in society.

  Jim's message was a real wake-up call to the church! His message was strongly worded and directed to us, the church of Jesus Christ, in our role within society and for us not to abdicate our position of influence, to stand for truth regardless of the personal cost.

He used life examples and drew from those who have won our nation's highest military award, the Victoria Cross, as well as men who through the centuries, exemplified personal courage that led to major societal change. He reminded us that men like Wilberforce, Martin Luther King and others had the courage of their convictions and paid a personal cost in making an impact for the good of the all.

He said, that Christians on both sides of state and federal politics often find their role a lonely and thankless task, and when they needed the church to provide support, mostly, we were nowhere to be found. He said those in actual battle conditions (war) knew that every member of their squad was trained to cover for each other. That's the culture, he said, that they build together so that when difficulties rose, as they usually did, they knew they would have cover fire to protect them in the battle.

Courage, he said, is produced from this kind of commitment and culture. He use this example to highlight the fact that we, the church, need to provide support, like cover fire, for those on the frontline who are battling on behalf of the cause. That we must not become so socially relevant that we find ourselves taking a position through lack of courage that might be opposite to what is right and true. If it's wrong and not in the best interest of those like, the poor, the marginalized, children, families and people in general - the ones who often have no voice, we are failing to be the salt, leaven and light of the gospel.

This was our 5^th breakfast, but it was the first time that I have seen everyone present rise to their feet and give the speaker a standing ovation as he descended from the platform; it continued until Jim took his place at our table.

The Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman was greatly impacted by the message and thanked Jim for, ‘pouring a bucket of cold water', he said, ‘over us' - a real wake up call.

As one who works with the Lord Mayor and a team of leaders in my city to arrange these breakfasts, I hope that we don't waste this moment of truth and go back into our business as usual mode that so often happens.

As Jim encouraged us, when pieces of specific legislation or other bylaws etc come to our attention, that are not right or true to our Christian worldview, let us not just sit back and wait for others to speak out or act. Rather, let us get involved, to write, call or visit our local, state or federal political representative and stand up for that which is right and true. Let's also provide cover fire for them.

The church of Jesus has a clear prophetic voice to speak out and to demonstrate clear and practical examples of what is true, fair and just in our society.

The above photo shows me standing with the Lord Mayor on my left and Jim on my right. To view Jim's speech in full click here or visit the Australian Christian Lobby website to get involved.