Signs of the Times July 2025

THE FIGHT OF MY LIFE a christian perspective on the world today

In this issue July 2025

WHAT IN THE WORLD 04 THE DUNGHUTTI DESTROYER AND THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE 6 From boxing to the Bread of Life.

ENEMIES IN THE RING, BROTHERS AT THE BELL 14 My blood-soaked opponent shocked me at the end.

ASK PASTOR JESSE 20 What is the prosperity gospel?

WELCOME TO COUNTRY, LEGACY AND THE NEXT GENERATION Pastor Darren Garlett on this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

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BECOMING DJIDA: IDENTITY, ART AND SERVICE 22 How this Indigenous artist is building a legacy.

THE BOOK I NEARLY LEFT BEHIND 28 Thank goodness I didn’t.

COMPASSION, EMPATHY AND BULLYING 46 Equip your kids to deal with the worst.

IS GRANDMA WATCHING OVER YOU? 48 Our ideas about heaven and hell aren’t comforting.

FINDING FAMILY FAR FROM HOME 54 How Chinese immigrants found a new home at church.

REVIEW: THE HARDEST LINE: THE STORY OF MIDNIGHT OIL 56

AN ANCIENT HYMN FOR A MODERN AGE How an ancient Egyptian song inspired modern songwriters.

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FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

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Often controversial, never boring, always principled.

FOODS THAT EASE MUSCLE SORENESS NATURALLY 60 Don’t just suck it up!

SUDOKU AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE 62 @SIGNSMAG

I’M STARTING TO FEEL OLD

Yes, I know age is relative. I know that there are a good number of you far more “advanced” than me (there’s no nice way to put it). Regardless, I feel older than ever before. I don’t understand young people’s music. I don’t understand their slang. But most tragic of all, I don’t understand their memes.

It may seem trivial to you, but you must remember that I’m part of the generation that invented memes.

Today, memes are becoming increasingly arcane and obscure. I don’t know what a “skibidi gyatt 360” is and frankly, I don’t want to.

I don’t know if it’s a symptom of age but I find myself increasingly part of a world I don’t understand. When I see 20-year-olds today, I feel like Principal Skinner from The Simpsons who says in a fleeting moment of introspection, “Am I so out of touch?

“No, it’s the children who are wrong.”

A Greek proverb goes, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.”

I may not understand much of the next generation, but I do know one thing: they struggle with the same things, dream the same dreams and face the same challenges I did at their age. People change from generation to generation, but the human experience remains the same.

This is why I’m excited we can shine a spotlight on NAIDOC Week’s theme: The next generation: strength, vision and legacy. On p6, we talk to the legendary “Dunghutti Destroyer”. On p22, we spotlight an Indigenous artist making a difference. And on p32, we speak to an Indigenous elder who is committed to empowering the next generation.

So, whether you’re young, old or somewhere in-between, my challenge is simple: plant a tree, even if you know you’ll never see its shade.

JESSE HERFORD Associate Editor

VOL 139 NO 6

ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford ASSISTANT EDITOR Zanita Fletcher COPYEDITORS Melody Tan Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau’u Talia Valderrama PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsmag.com WEBSITE signsmag.com ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A28/$NZ30; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical.

Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs.

Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised.

Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide.

COVER IMAGE: Chris Hyde

WHAT IN THE WORLD Embracing native food AUSTRALIA

Decoding dolphins UNITED STATES

Dolphins have long been recognised as intelligent marine mammals, using clicks and whistles to communicate, resolve conflict and attract mates.

Now, from more than 40 years of dolphin recordings, Google has developed DolphinGemma—an artificial intelligence model that will help them interpret dolphin communication and one day, even generate responses.—Scientific American 4

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JONAS VON WERNE, BEN YOUNG—PEXELS, VICKY ADAMS, VERNE HO, REBDY NOVANTINO—UNSPLASH

Over the past decade, native Australian ingredients like wattle seed and lemon myrtle have been appearing on restaurant menus. Yet many remain underused in mainstream food and dining. For example, warrigal greens grow abundantly without fertiliser, are highly nutritious and delicious when sautéed. The Kakadu plum contains the highest known natural vitamin C—100 times that of an orange—and five times more antioxidants than blueberries. Indigenous foods are environmentally resilient, nutrient-rich and have unique flavours. Producers are using the success story of the macadamia as a case study for other native foods with hopes of expanding the presence of Indigenous foods into supermarkets, restaurants and the everyday Australian diet.—National Indigenous Times

Cricket makes a difference AUSTRALIA

In the remote Northern Territory (NT) town of Borroloola, cricket is helping boost locals’ wellbeing and increase school attendance.

NT Cricket, with Woolworths, ran a week-long cricket program for 118 local children aged 3 to 15. The program aimed to give students an opportunity to engage with a sport they might not have tried due to a lack of equipment. The team ran multiple daily sessions and donated gear to the community to make the sport accessible.—Body and Soul

Help for struggling Aussies AUSTRALIA

Starting in 2026, Australians will have free access to mental health counselling online and over the phone under Medicare, with a $A3.4 billion government investment.

The initiative seeks to address the growing demand for mental health services.—news.com.au

Human flourishing INDONESIA

Harvard University’s Global Flourishing Study explored what helps people truly thrive. The survey —more than 200,000 people in 22 countries—found Indonesia tops the chart, followed by Mexico and the Philippines. The study showed that flourishing isn’t just about feeling good—but functioning well too.

While the limited country sample raises questions, the five-year project aims to reveal what truly supports human wellbeing.—Harvard University JULY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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The Dunghutti Destroyer and the fight of his life SIGNSMAG.COM • JULY 2025

Renold Quinlan’s toughest opponent wasn’t in the boxing ring—it was the man in the mirror.

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enold Vatubua Quinlan is a “proud Dunghutti man” with Fijian heritage. He grew up on the mid-north coast of New South Wales around Port Macquarie and Kempsey. Known as the Dunghutti

Destroyer, Quinlan is a professional boxer who held the IBO super-middle weight title from 2016 to 2017.

“My biggest experience in my life was winning the world title,” he said.

But although Quinlan made it to JULY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

CHRIS HYDE—GETTY IMAGES

JARROD STACKELROTH

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the top of his sport, he did not find it satisfying. “Winning the world title, having everything and then losing everything at the same time—feeling like I was at rock bottom. I thought I had found happiness and peace. But I hadn’t.

“The peace and happiness that I found was by turning to God. And now I’m at this place.”

The place Quinlan is referring to is Mamarapha College, a haven of education and faith on the outer suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, that trains and equips Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from all over Australia.

However, Quinlan had quite a journey before ending up at Mamarapha. From being on top of the world in his boxing career, Quinlan found himself with a failed marriage and spending time in jail.

rock bottom

Quinlan’s family had tried to give him the best start. His family were Seventh-day Adventists on both sides, and he grew up with his

Winning the world title, having everything . . . I thought I had found happiness and peace.

But I hadn’t.

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Developing this new attitude and taking accountability for his past helped him find hope for his future.

“I’m 35 years old. I didn’t know where I want to be in five years’ time.

My dad always used to say, ‘Where do you want to be five years son? I don’t want you being where I am all my life.’ Dad’s never touched drugs or alcohol, but he chose to do other things like robbery—and not to be there with me.

“My dad always gave me, gave me, gave me, gave me, but I would prefer my dad to be out [of jail] to raise me than for him to give me money.

“That’s the way he thought that he could show me his love—by always giving me everything. Even to this day, I’ve said to him, ‘Dad, you know, I’d give anything for you to raise me as a child, to have a mum and dad with me [rather than] to have things that you gave me.”

One thing that helped Quinlan to start to rebuild is the faith he learned from his grandparents.

“I learned about God from a young age. It’s not until now that I’ve actually reached back out to God and asked Him, ‘God help me. I’m going in a path where only You can see what’s ahead of me’. And that’s my prayer every day, like, ‘God, what is before me? If there’s distractions or things ahead, please steer me away from it, but help me in all areas of my life.

Where I’m weak, strengthen me in the place where I’m weak’.”

After being a world champion boxer, Quinlan is learning that there JULY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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grandparents. His dad spent a lot of time in jail, while Quinlan’s mum walked her own path. “I never had my dad or mum. My dad is in jail. My mum had her own life. I knew that she loved me so much, but I can’t make that as my excuse. I had two good [grand] parents that brought me up in church knowing the word of God, not around drugs and alcohol.”

He would attend church with his grandmother but as he grew older, he “started drifting away from God and finding myself in trouble”.

That trouble included armed robbery. And more recently, his marriage ended in a messy divorce.

It was being in jail for a second time that caused Quinlan to rethink his life and take ownership of where he had ended up.

“I think going to jail this time around, especially going through a divorce and stuff—to see something that you’re charged with and seeing others in there for the same thing, you think a lot about it.

“I think it drew me closer to God, [helped me] to realise that, as a man, you’ve got to take ownership. There’s a lot of things—especially from an Aboriginal-Pacific Islander background—a lot of guys, we don’t like to communicate, we don’t like to take ownership.

“Something I learned by sitting in that cell and praying and reading—God made me realise, [you need to] take actions for what you’ve done wrong and own it, which I have done.”

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are some opponents he cannot conquer on his own. He knows he will face opposition, from others and from himself on this new journey.

“Even though the enemy, the devil’s, going to try all he can to stop me, but I’m not going to stop. I’m going to continue to keep my eyes fixed on heavenly Father.”

In Christian theology, the devil, or “Adversary”, is the great enemy of God whom the Bible describes as coming to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Combatting the lies of the devil may be the biggest fight of Quinlan’s life.

“The devil’s always going to try to bring up your past. When you ask God for forgiveness for what you’ve done, wholeheartedly, He will forgive you. But the devil’s always going to try bring it up, remind you of how low you got.”

Quinlan has four children.

He sees them in Sydney whenever he can and although he doesn’t see them often, he is encouraged that they are being raised to know God. “It’s a blessing that they’re being brought up Seventh-day Adventist. They know God at the end of the day. I can’t save them, but every time they’re with me, I’m always teaching them about God. But at the same time, I’ve got to make 10

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myself right.”

journey to Mamarapha

“I actually stepped out in faith coming over here to Mamarapha College, because the devil was trying to stop me—in all areas of my life to take me back down my old path—but coming here was so much [of a] blessing.”

Quinlan shares how he’s learned so much in the classroom, experienced spiritual growth and learning things he had never known.

“It’s actually been the best thing,” he said. “If you know the Lord, you can be a big comfort to those that need it. The life experience you may have faced, you might see someone else go through. You can share with others, like people in your own community, maybe even in the church.”

Quinlan is not sure if he’ll finish boxing soon or what he’ll do after he retires from the sport. At the time of this interview, Quinlan was completing a unit at Mamarapha but had a fight coming up in Melbourne in June.

“A lot of family was telling me, maybe I have to hang up the gloves. Or maybe put on the gloves for God, fight for God. With my boxing career, being at the top of the sport and having everything, you may

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“I’m a very shy person. I stepped out in faith this time around and whatever [God] would have me do, I’m hoping to do this time.

“Whether it’s doing ministry or helping to get the word [of God] out there or helping others. There’s a lot of men who are in these places I’ve been—maybe I could be a help to them. Whatever it is that the Lord has me do or whatever Mamarapha wants me to do—anything I can do, I’ll do.”

Interview courtesy of Mamarapha College and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia.

To take the next step with Mamarapha, scan the QR code on the next page.

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think there was happiness, but there wasn’t.”

But boxing is all he’s ever known.

“All I’ve done was boxing in my life.

Boxing meant I always had money, I hardly had to work. But looking back, they say ‘dishonest money goes quick’ which is something I’ve learned. When you work honestly, you’re more grateful. A lot of family members probably say I was spoiled.

I always had everything because of boxing so I just took it all for granted—never appreciated it. My talent got me so far.

“After this fight, I’ll probably give it up. We’ll see what happens.”

Now he wants to help people.

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Explore your LOVE FOR GOD at Mamarapha College.

APPLY TODAY and take the first step towards a brighter future!

What my toughest boxing match taught me about God’s love.

DANIEL MATTEO

ENEMIES IN THE RING, BROTHERS AT THE BELL 14

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JOHANN WALTER BANTZ—UNSPLASH

M

y head was pounding, my eyes were swollen and the stabbing pain around my sinuses made me reasonably sure that my nose was broken. I could taste blood flowing inside my mouth.

I was sitting on a folding stool in the corner of the boxing ring looking across the length of the canvas at my opponent sitting in the other corner.

He stared straight back at me.

Absentmindedly, my tongue searched for the source of the bloodflow and found scores of little strips of flesh where the inside of my cheeks had been minced against my teeth during a couple of well-placed left and right hooks. Exhausted, I leaned back on the corner pole resting my elbows on the ropes. My arms were so tired that, during the preceding round, it was a battle to lift my hands even to protect my face. My breaths came in deep, violent gasps, punctuated by snorts and hacking coughs as I ejected blood, snot and spittle into a bucket that my second held out for me. It was 2001 and I was a brandnew digger (Australian soldier) trying to prove his worth to his company in the First Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment’s annual battalion boxing competition.

My company sergeant-major, a stout, grizzled and greying warrant officer named Boye, had taken on the job of being my coach for this fly-bynight event. He said something to me about ducking or moving or keeping my hands up or something. I couldn’t really understand because it felt like

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there was cotton wool in my brain.

Thinking about anything was a struggle, so I just ignored him. Instead, I focused on trying to stare down and hopefully psyche out my opponent.

Good luck with that. Private Horton was a full half-a-head taller than me as well as being stronger than me, fitter than me and broader around the shoulders. He had a reputation for vicious drunken brawling and the new guys in the battalion (like me) feared him.

I knew that the rest between rounds was only one minute, and oh how I wanted that minute to last! When it was all I could do not to throw up or pass out from utter exhaustion, every second sitting on that rusty little stool, greasy as it was with previous fighters’ sweat, was precious.

Without warning, water squirted into my gaping mouth (I’d never tasted anything

We had stood toeto-toe with each other, bleeding and being bled . . . and both of us had refused to back down 16

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so sweet and beautiful in my life), my mouthguard jammed in immediately afterward and I was pulled off my stool. My little time in heaven was over. The referee summoned us to the centre of the ring, the bell rang and off we went: windmilling furiously at each other again.

The subsequent round was simultaneously the hardest and most painful three minutes of my life.

What I lacked in energy, strength, perseverance, fitness, agility, experience and boxing know-how, I made up for in hardness of head. Somewhere between the first and second rounds, I had won the jeering

“Thanks, sir,” was all I could muster.

When the referee brought us together again to hear the judge’s decisions and (of course) award Private Horton the victory, something very strange happened that I had not expected (seeing as I’d never even seen, let alone competed in, a boxing match prior to this day).

My opponent gave me a huge hug.

Not just one of those perfunctory macho “man-hugs”, either. He gave me a great big bear hug and he held on for a while longer. Overwhelmed I hugged him right back. “Great fight,” he said into my ear. “Well done.”

“Thanks mate, you too,” I said, before adding, “No rematch, OK?” After that point, although never really friends, Horton and I shared a mutual respect, acknowledged by a nod of the head in passing. We had stood toe-to-toe with each other, bleeding and being bled, and both of us had refused to back down. As a result, two men who had formerly both been enemies, putting everything they had into granting the other the sweet rest of unconsciousness, could now embrace in respect as sportsmen and colleagues. How strange to be united over this!

Twenty-four years later, I am now on a very different path to what I was at age 18. I am currently working as a minister of religion and have sworn off physical fighting, except in defence of self and others. However, as I reflect on that seemingly contradictory and bizarre interaction, I JULY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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crowd of my fellow soldiers’ respect through my sheer ability to absorb punishment. But exhausted and punch-drunk as I was, nothing could have prepared me for the absolute annihilation that was the third round.

Although I was later told by spectators that I had gotten a few good shots in, and even almost took the day once or twice, from my end it felt like that Flatley guy from the old Irish Lord of the Dance troupe had free rein to use my head to do his little jig on. Unable to summon the strength to lift my hands to protect myself, it felt as if my opponent simply slogged me left and right as hard as he could, again and again and again, more times than I could count.

There were times that I couldn’t see, I felt I didn’t know which direction to face, which way was up or even why I was there in the first place. I stumbled around, swinging blindly for what felt like an absolute eternity, taking devastating punishment to my head and torso, until I finally heard the sweetest sound that my ears had ever received. A music so beautiful that it lifted my soul from utter hopelessness, pain and despair into a place of relief, joy and happiness: a two-note bell. Ding! Ding!

Immediately we both stopped.

I stumbled into my corner and collapsed onto that grimy little chair with gratitude. It was over. WO2 Boye put his hands on my shoulders and said “You’ve gone down this time, mate. But guts effort.”

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would you admit that you feel like God’s enemy? Like you’re fighting against Him? The difference between God and Private Horton is that even if you feel like an enemy of God (or that God is your enemy), He doesn’t feel the same way. It’s the Enemy (sometimes called “the Accuser” or “Satan”) who is pummelling you, trying to convince you that God is against you; that God will never accept you; that God condemns you for all your mistakes. The apostle Paul once said, in Romans 5:10, “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” When once you and God were separated forever by sin, now you can embrace forever like loving family, and what made the difference was the cross.

Jesus says to you today, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37).

Won’t you embrace Him today?

Daniel Matteo is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor in Victoria, Australia. If you’d like to meet the God who is waiting for you, start the course on the next page.

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am powerfully reminded of how God deals with you and me.

In Colossians 1:21,22, the apostle Paul remarked, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”

The Bible says that because of our evil choices to harm others, we became enemies of a perfectly righteous God. If nothing changed, we would be destined for destruction, because a good God must, because of His nature, bring an end to evil.

However, God was able to reconcile with us in relationship because Jesus took the punishment of our bad choices onto Himself when He died on the cross. It’s like when one minute Horton and I were punching each other and the next minute we were hugging. What made all the difference was the bell.

If you were honest with yourself,

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As a pastor, there are questions I’ve encountered over and over again, sometimes about the Bible but usually about everyday life. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ask a pastor tough questions this is the right place!

Do prosperity gospel proponents represent Christian teaching on wealth and money?

Absolutely not. The prosperity gospel is an American invention and does not reflect the gospel (good news) of Jesus in any way, shape or form. The heart of the prosperity gospel is greed, plain and simple.

In short, it claims that faith leads to health, wealth and wellbeing.

Almost all prosperity preachers encourage their followers to (among other things) send them money in exchange for God’s blessing over any of the aforementioned categories. Lost your job? Sick relative?

Depressed? Prosperity preachers will say that faith and a donation (often described as a “seed”) will create the desired outcome. It’s incredibly manipulative and is anathema to the gospel of Jesus. I don’t often speak in such terms—but I believe that most prosperity preachers are con artists—or at the very least, seriously misrepresenting Jesus’ teachings on money. I make no apologies for that.

My best advice is to turn off the TV and pick up a Bible to find out what Jesus really said about money. If you don’t know where to begin, Jesus did speak about money many times, from His parables (such as the Parable of 20

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the Talents in Matthew 25:14–30) to more direct teachings (such as in Jesus’ commentary on the Widow’s Mite in Mark 12:41–44).

One one occasion, Jesus was approached by a rich man who asked, “What must I do to get eternal life?”

Jesus replied, “Sell all you have and give it to the poor.” This was too much for the man, so he left, sad because he couldn’t bring himself to give up the belongings he treasured so much. As usual, Jesus’ disciples were amazed and confused at His words. What Jesus said next was even more bewildering: “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 10:24,25).

What in the world does Jesus mean?

I think He is touching on a tension we all feel. All of us are concerned with money—no matter who we are or how much of it we have. Money and its accumulation take up massive amounts of time in our lives. We go to work every day to earn it, we carefully save it, we invest it and we pay other people to manage it for us. I’m not suggesting we should be careless with our money. I just want to point out the obvious—that it really is a significant part of our lives. Jesus knew it of His first-century audience and He knows it of us today. The question is, are we in charge of our money, or is it in charge of us? In other words, do we use our money wisely so we can have the kind of life we desire, share it with those in need, invest in initiatives that

help others and secure the future of our children . . . or, do we worry about it, hoard it for ourselves and otherwise allow it to turn us into greedy, anxious, paranoid people?

Jesus said of money that “no man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). No-one can serve both God and money at the same time. “Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” The good news is that if we choose to give dominion of our lives over to God, He will take care of us. Jesus reiterated that God both knows what we need and is generous in giving it to us. He is a generous Father who delights in lavishing His good gifts on His children. When we give control of our finances to God, they no longer have power over us. He promises to not only set us free from

the enslaving power money exerts over us—He also promises that we will be taken care of. It takes enormous courage to do so, so I’d understand if you feel hesitant. Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t quite believe Him at the time.

Going back to Mark 10, Jesus’ disciples responded to the camel comment by asking, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus’ response is simple, yet brilliant. “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).

Want to get your question published in the next issue? Ask Jesse a question by scanning this code!

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BECOMING DJIDA:

identity, art and service

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Dana Garlett’s story is one of courage, calling and connection—where faith meets culture and art becomes legacy.

LORRAINE ATCHIA

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D

ana Garlett always had a passion for art, but never considered pursuing it as a career or her main source of income.

It wasn’t until she decided to take a leap of faith that she saw God open doors for her to ultimately become the first Indigenous community artist to have a residence at the Subiaco Museum in Perth, WA. She is excited to see where God will lead her on this journey as she uses the strength of her community, the shared vision of her people and the legacy she will pass on to the next generation, as her art continues to evolve.

Garlett, 34, is a proud Whadjuk, Minang, Nyikina and Gooniyandi woman, with her roots running deep from the waters of the Mardoowarra of Fitzroy Crossing to the Darling Ranges and Southern Coastal Plains of Western Australia. As the seventh recorded generation Whadjuk, she has many stories to share and she has started by sharing her own at her first art exhibit called Becoming Djida. Djida is the name her father, Darren Garlett, gave her when she was born. It is used to describe the morning scenes before the sun rises and a new day begins, this includes the first lights and the birds singing.

Her art is an expression of her

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identity, which is shaped and inspired by the older people in her life.

The exhibit consisted of various art forms, including, acrylic on canvas, digital artwork, sculptures, wooden carvings and woven pieces.

“Because it was my first art exhibition I wanted to go back and see how it all started. I first started creating art using acrylic paint on canvas before moving to digital art.

Weaving is in my family as my older sister, Nadine, runs a weaving business and my nana, who was part of the stolen generation, used weaving to help her heal and reconnect with her mob, so weaving is important to me and my story.”

The artworks tell stories from her life, her family and her country.

“I think country is where it all starts. We talk about being on country and country being a part of us, which is true. We are one with nature and country is all sorts of things. It’s the land, sea and sky but also the pathways and the air we breathe. It is being in nature with God and that is the number one inspiration for me and my work.”

Garlett is one of four children, and she remembers when they were growing up her parents put a lot of focus on serving others.

“I remember going to camps and Mum and Dad were always visiting people and doing things at camps like organising crafts; everything always revolved around service.” So, when she left school after Year 11 and became a mum, she didn’t know 24

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what she wanted to do with her life, however, she did know she wanted to serve people. Which is why she worked in office administration and eventually became the student services officer at Mamarapha College, an Indigenous Bible college based in Perth.

“I was fulfilling the service role at work, then I would come home and serve my community and my mob.”

However, even in her office roles, she was still pulled towards her gift of art, often using her skills to create certificates and flyers and making documents more aesthetically pleasing. She would use her skills to help her parents create promotional materials for events and helped friends when they would need assistance with graphic art projects.

Although she loved art, she was overly critical of her own artwork growing up and kept them to herself and her close family. As a single mum and her family’s sole breadwinner, she found it was too risky to put everything into her art. But in 2020, she decided to take a leap of faith and created Paperbark Prints, a gift card company featuring Indigenous designs.

“I love gift giving and I am always very thoughtful when giving gifts.

When you go to the shops to buy a card you think about the person you are giving it to and want to get a card to suit them, but I never saw cards for black fellas in the shops, so I thought it was important to have cards specific for us.”

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Garlett was still working in office administration at the time and working on Paperbark Prints on the side. The week after starting her business, a friend invited her to a masterclass run by the Minderoo Foundation. The masterclass consisted of bringing Aboriginal businesses and Aboriginal investors together so they could support each other.

“It was really important for me to see other Aboriginal businesses and see the impact they had. This made me think more seriously about what I was doing and not think of it as just a business, but how I can be more of an influence and impactful in my community and how I can give back.”

Once Garlett started on the path of creating art for people to see, she saw God opening doors almost immediately. She would sell the gift cards in the market and meet people, which led to commission work.

“God had a plan because I didn’t know what I was doing.

But I was willing to say yes and go with it. He put people in my path to steer me into what I am doing—and this is still happening. He has guided me along the way to things I thought I would never be a part of.”

Two years after she created Paperbark Prints, Garlett quit her primary job to focus solely

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on art. Since making that decision, she hasn’t had to look for work.

“God has been putting me in different places at different times, meeting different people and He has opened up doors for things to happen that I didn’t even think about.

Some things I am not ready for, but I am just saying yes. I am being open-minded and being willing to try something new. That is how I came to have this exhibit.”

The City of Subiaco was receiving expressions of interest to assist with their Reconciliation Action Plan.

Garlett applied and won. As a result, they invited her back to exhibit at the museum. Following on from this, she will be part of Subi Blooms, an interactive floral art installation, where once again, she will be the first Indigenous artist, along with two other artists, to be involved.

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“I am really grateful to have the opportunity to be the first Indigenous artist to exhibit (at Subiaco Museum) but it does show how far they have to go in their Reconciliation Action Plan. Even though this is overdue, this is the first step to changing that, and I am glad to be a part of it. Not everyone in the city may want to accept the history of what’s happened but having me be an artist and having a presence sparks conversation and gets them talking about real reconciliation.”

Garlett is creating a legacy and is part of the next generation of Indigenous leaders. She has accomplished so much and continues to grow in the art field. When asked what advice she has for the next generation, the same generation her son, Malcolm (16) is part of, she responded, “Just start, just do something. A lot of

playgrounds and landscaped areas.

She will specifically be designing a seating area and a large floor mural.

“I’ve learnt to be open-minded, because God has plans for me. I don’t know what’s going on but as long as I am willing to step into the door He has opened, it will build me as a person and as an artist to be more confident in my identity. The artwork is the icing on the cake; it’s the journey that we take before that that’s important. We never really know what God is doing behind the scenes—as long as we are willing and open to it, it can lead to all sorts of things. Not only building my own self up but building others up, and building a legacy for those to come.

“It makes a difference knowing that God has a higher purpose because I see this as my calling, not just a job, but as God using me as a vessel to get His message out there.

We know Jesus is coming back soon and the more we share our story and His story, people can connect to that and in turn, change their story.

“I want to create a legacy for our younger generation and build something for the future. This is my way of doing that. It might be a little bit different to everyone else in my family but I love what I am doing and this is only the start.”

Lorraine Atchia works for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia. She lives in Melbourne, Victoria.

To support Djida’s work, browse her prints here:

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people, especially the younger generation, are really scared to fail.

People say this all this time, but you just have to try it and go from there.

Have the mindset that if you do fail, it’s not the end—it’s just showing you there is another way to do it and a better way to do it”.

“A lot of people don’t know what they are doing. I don’t even know sometimes what I am doing, but that’s okay, you can know where you want to end up, but you don’t have to know how you are going to get there.

God will bring people into your life, and He will help to guide you to where you are supposed to be and show you your purpose.”

Since the art exhibition at the Subiaco Museum opened, Garlett has been working on several different projects. She has worked with an Aboriginal interior designer and a team of artists at the new Ernst & Young office in Perth CBD. They have assisted in designing three levels, each focusing on different aspects of Noongar culture: country, waterway and trade. This includes artistic glazing throughout the office and a large four-metre wood carving which speaks to the story of Noongar commerce and trade.

She has been working with designer Leah Paige on a weaving installation for the entrance of the Bank West office, and she and nine other Noongar artists will be working on public art that spans over seven kilometres, integrating artwork and stories of her people into parks,

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From a school dropout who avoided books to a pastor who now can’t stop reading the Bible, my story proves that when Jesus steps in, nothing stays the same.

HENRY DUNN

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didn’t start out strong in faith. My mum and dad were raised in the church, but as they got older, they stopped attending. Still, some things stayed in our home: prayer, respect and a deep reverence for God. We weren’t allowed to curse or swear—especially not against God. My dad didn’t care who you were; if you disrespected Jesus, you were out.

Because of that, I grew up with a respect for God. But I didn’t really know Him. In my early 20s, I was facing some tough times.

I lacked the education to help me process life’s challenges. I had left school at 15 but was never without a job. I knew early on that suits, admin or working indoors weren’t for me, so I thought, Why do I need to learn literacy?

My only outlet became sport and

parties, but that just got me into more trouble.

I felt directionless, unsure of who I was and trying to fill the emptiness with the wrong things.

That’s when my uncle George Quinlan introduced me to Pastor Darren Garlett. It was through Darren that I really got to meet Jesus.

I remember visiting him one day at his house in Crescent Head, NSW. Before anything else, he showed me all his old V8 cars but what really caught my eye was his library.

He noticed me staring at the books and said, “Help yourself.”

I didn’t really want to. At the time, I didn’t read well. I had struggled with reading all my life and I didn’t enjoy it. But to be polite, I grabbed two books, thinking I’d never actually read them.

Not long after, Darren moved JULY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

TIMA MIROSHNICHENKO—PEXELS

The book I nearly left behind

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back to Western Australia. Without his nurturing influence, I drifted.

I felt alone again.

The older church members didn’t really understand me and I didn’t know how to relate to them. Slowly, my spiritual life faded, until I was back out in the world again—chasing empty things, trying to numb the ache inside.

Then God used someone else.

My wife, who came from a Catholic background, attended a Seventh-day Adventist seminar. I’ll never forget the fourth night she came home while I was watching the kids. She walked in and said, “I’m a Seventh-day Adventist now.”

I laughed at the time, not thinking much of it.

But over the next eight months, she kept inviting me to church.

I wasn’t interested. My heart was still chasing what I thought life had to offer: weekend parties, fast money and status. But over time, I noticed something in her.

She was different.

She spoke with kindness.

She carried herself with grace.

There was a glow about her that I couldn’t ignore.

I started feeling like I was being left behind not just by her, but by a better version of life that I didn’t know how to reach.

I felt like I was losing my family.

So finally, just to keep her quiet, I agreed to go to church with her.

My first visit felt a bit boring, to be honest. But over time, as I kept 30

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going, something shifted. I began to reflect on what Pastor Darren had taught me—the way he lived out his faith through practical ministry.

He showed me that ministry wasn’t just about preaching or knowing all the Bible verses, it was about serving people.

Helping someone mow their lawn.

Checking in on someone doing it tough.

Lending a hand when no-one else would.

That was good for me, because I still couldn’t read well back then. But this practical way of helping people made sense. And without me realising it, it shaped how I’d do ministry in the future. That’s what it looked like for me.

One day, I remembered the two books I’d taken from Darren’s shelf.

I pulled one out and started reading. Slowly, the words began to make sense not just in my head, but in my heart.

That book I nearly left behind became the book that helped me move forward as a pastor. I had a fire inside me I couldn’t explain—a burning desire to learn more about Jesus.

That’s when Mamarapha College came into the picture. Mamarapha is a Bible college for Indigenous students in Perth, Western Australia.

I only wanted to go there to know Jesus more. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d leave my Dunghutti country, move to Sydney or graduate as a pastor.

Now I can’t stop reading.

They say readers are leaders and that’s one saying I now believe with all my heart.

The Bible says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). I truly believe it.

That’s how God works.

He used my mum and dad, Uncle George, Pastor Darren, my wife and even a forgotten book to write a story I never could have imagined for myself.

Today, I am pastoring in Sydney, sharing the same Jesus who never gave up on me.

Henry Dunn is the pastor of Redfern Seventh-day Adventist Church.

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I felt directionless, unsure of who I was and trying to fill the emptiness with the wrong things

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Welcome to country, legacy and the next generation 32

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NAIDOC Week 2025 is all about the next generation. We spoke to Pastor Darren Garlett about that theme, and the challenges Indigenous people are facing in 2025.

THIS ARTICLE IS AN EXCERPT FROM A CONVERSATION BETWEEEN JARROD STACKELROTH (JS) AND DARREN GARLETT (DG) ON SIGNS RADIO.

JS: What is NAIDOC Week? Why is it significant?

DG: NAIDOC Week celebrates Indigenous culture—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their achievements and their contribution to the nation.

As far back as the 1920s, [Indigenous] people understood that they lived in a society where they were faced with restrictions and limited opportunities—and they looked at “How can we boost morale”, “How can we understand our own culture and presence”. It became a time of celebration—their achievements and existence. NAIDOC is an invitation for all Australia because when Indigenous people are successful and progress, the whole nation progresses as well. It’s a good thing for the community and a good thing for our society.

JS: Can you give us a window into what that success looks like?

DG: The NAIDOC Awards recognise the achievements of people in the community. It may be “Elder of the Year”, it may be people delivering services to the community, personal achievements of individuals and sporting achievements. We normally associate Indigenous achievements with sports in the Australian context, but NAIDOC is much broader than 34

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that. It looks at a whole range of categories. That happens on a national scale, but also different states do their own awards.

Stories come out of those celebrations that we may not hear about. I think of some of the Ranger programs where Indigenous rangers are preserving rare species and habitats we have in Australia. This is a significant achievement for our people—but also for our country.

We’ve got so many interesting and wonderful creatures and habitats where these animals live and it’s our people who understand them and are now caring for those habitats.

And then you’ve got other young people who are becoming doctors and so on; working in the legal field—and it’s really “mainstreaming” Indigenous people in the Australian society. Not assimilating but mainstreaming them. They’re still Aboriginal, they’re still connected to their people but they’re achieving on the same level as anybody else in this country.

JS: The 2025 theme is “Next Generation: strength, vision and legacy”.

What does that mean to you?

DG: That the next generation is a group of young people who are passionate, grounded, connected and understand the historical context

previous generations have come through.

A lot of aspects of life will be in their hands as we move forward.

A lot of trailblazers who’ve done some very hard yards in our Aboriginal community are getting to the end—age is catching up with them and they’re looking at passing [the torch] to the next generation.

We’re seeing that happen and we’re seeing a lot more young people get involved and confident in what they can do. That is really what this next generation is all about: transferring that information, that hope and looking forward to good outcomes for all Aboriginal people.

JS: As a pastor, where do you see the Bible speaking to this theme of legacy and empowering the next generation?

DG: We see this pattern throughout the Bible. We’ve got Moses handing over leadership to Joshua. Elijah handed it over to Elisha and even in the gospel stories—the early church, from the disciples to the apostles and so on, and raising up different churches in the various regions.

We see next generation coming through. Just as passionate, just as focused on the mandate—to share the gospel, to bring hope—and so there’s lots of parallels. As Christians today, we draw strength from that.

As an Aboriginal Christian,

what we do in our community is very much in line with what the Bible teaches and what the Bible shows us in the patterns of leadership and development of people and mentoring and so on.

JS: “Mentoring” is sort of a buzz word these days. How are you seeing that in your own life and ministry? Are you seeing it being practised in Indigenous communities and the broader community?

DG: I had this conversation last night with my wife Kathy. We were thinking about the whole concept of discipleship and mentoring.

When we talk about discipleship in the Christian context, we’re talking about leading people to Jesus and then others leading their friends to Jesus and so on.

But when you remove the church aspect and look at the Aboriginal community, discipleship was always there. It was education, it was learning and mentoring. It was all rolled into one. It was a whole community focused and working together to

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achieve those results. We’ve always had discipling or discipline in our Aboriginal context. And it was done in different stages. Your parents and then your grandparents had a big part of that in your early years.

And then as you got older, your aunties and your uncles became part of it and then your peers. So you go through all these different stages—different people are in your life at different times, mentoring and being part of that process. But there’s a common thread of what it is highlighted within your family.

When I put that together with Christian discipleship, there’s no real difference—other than the fact Jesus becomes clearer. But the process has always been there with our Aboriginal families—for most Aboriginal families, I should say, not all of them.

And that’s what’s so devastating when we look at the stolen generation—removal of children, even today—that’s where that breakdown becomes, so evident. It impacts not only on the person who was removed but those connections that they would normally have with all their family members.

JS: In Proverbs, there’s a verse that says, without vision, the people perish. What vision do you think Australia should have so that our Indigenous people can thrive?

DG: I think the vision for Australia is a shared future. We’re all proud of this country. I mean you’ve only got to take us out of our country to overseas and it’s not long until we 36

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start longing for home.

So, our future together really is a shared one, one where we all love our country, we love being in it, but we also need to learn to love who else is in it with us. We get bogged down on all kinds of things that might divide us but if we looked a little bit closer at some of those issues, they’re strong points that could unite us.

I think about the whole Welcome to Country stuff, which, every so often comes up in debate. But the Welcome to Country is really a beautiful thing that non-Aboriginals can use to say, “Hey, I live on country”.

Not only in the country of Australia— that’s one thing. The Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country is not about that, but I live “on country”. That means I live in a place that has a history of Indigenous people who thrived and lived and they have their storylines there.

There’s a wealth of information around me in nature that tells us that. And that’s something precious in our community. When we get to the stage where we accept that and realise the value of it, then that’s walking together with our shared history. My hope is that we embrace that shared history. That way, we can have a better future together.

JS: Your work takes you all around Australia. What’s one thing that encourages you about the people you meet?

DG: The one thing many Indigenous have in common is a strong

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can have all the resources at your fingertips in the city, but you see a lot of people walking around that don’t have hope. People are really struggling. There’s a longing in people’s hearts to go back on country.

JS: What’s one message you’d like to leave with our readers?

DG: Historically, Aboriginal people have leaned in to what we would call the “white fella’s ways”—whether it’s language, education or employment.

Yet we haven’t seen that from the rest of the community. We know stuff from overseas more than we know what’s in our own country, simply because we haven’t crossed the room to have those conversations.

When we know and understand one another, we’re going to do things differently, we will see our community impacted in a positive way.

To hear the full conversation, listen to Signs Radio. The episode can be found here:

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sense of spirituality. They believe in a God. They believe there’s something better on the horizon: that God has a plan for mankind.

Without them even understanding all the Bible texts and the depth of all that, they know already. Because of that, they live with hope. That’s quite precious when you’re out in places where you’re looking for a blade of grass. We go to very remote places where it’s hot and dry—there’s more flies than anything—but the people have hope and they have a love for their place, their country there.

And it’s tied into the spirituality—that God is part of them and He’s part of that place with them. And also, they know there is a God who is preparing something better for them.

I’m a religious leader, a pastor, but even before I start talking about God, those things come out. They share that stuff openly. They’re open about their spirituality. There’s a contrast when you come into the cities. You

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AN ancient HYMN FOR A MODERN AGE From a dusty scrap of papyrus to a modern stadium chorus, the new documentary film The First Hymn bridges a gap of 1800 years.

MARK HADLEY

JULY 2025 • SIGNSMAG.COM

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t is the mid-to-late-200s AD and the Christian church is facing the most dedicated persecution believers have seen to date. In AD 250, Emperor Decius seeks to unite the empire around traditional Roman religion and sees Christianity as a political threat. He issues an edict requiring all citizens to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods and the emperor or face imprisonment, torture and death. Many Christians renounce their faith; many others go into hiding while key Christian leaders are executed. The persecution intensifies under Emperor Valerian, who comes to see Christians as enemies of the state. In AD 257, he forbids Christian gatherings. In AD 258, he orders the execution of Christian clergy who refuse to make sacrifices, confiscates Christian property and targets Christian senators and high-ranking officials.

It is in this climate of fear that an Egyptian Christian sits down and writes an amazing hymn to God, who he describes as “. . . the only giver of all good gifts”.

In 1897, British archaeologists Bernard Grenfell and Arthur Hunt were working in the ruins of the Egyptian city of Oxyrhynchus. A scattering of sunbaked stones was all that remained of what had been the country’s second-largest city in ancient times. However, their excavations would soon send shockwaves through

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the historian community. Grenfell and Hunt happened upon an ancient rubbish dump that contained more than half a million scraps of papyri.

Amongst this vast treasure trove was P.Oxy 1786—a ragged piece of papyri about 30 centimetres long and 5 centimetres high. Written on it was that ancient Egyptian Christian’s hymn—but not just the words. Under close examination, scholars would realise they held the first Christian hymn discovered with lyrics and music intact. For the first time, the world could know not only what these Christians were singing about but also what it sounded like.

The First Hymn is a documentary releasing in Australian cinemas in early July of 2025. It tells the story of this extraordinary hymn and the attempts of the filmmakers to bring it back to life. Host, Professor John Dickson says it is a testament to the confidence of the ancient church in the middle of violent persecution. “At times they were being hunted down, but here they were singing with joy and exuberance and inviting all creation to stand still and take notice.”

The lyrics of this “first hymn” challenge Christians to stand together on beliefs that predate any concept of denomination. At their heart is praise to God as “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. And this single line also challenges critics of the Christian faith. It has been suggested in many popular historical accounts that the doctrine of the Trinity was a late addition to Christianity. Sceptics have argued 42

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that it was forced on the church by Emperor Constantine at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. But here it is in a Christian song from the previous century. Wheaton College historian Dr Esau McCaulley says he isn’t surprised as the New Testament contains ample evidence that the first Christians believed in the divinity of Jesus Christ. “One of the things you can often discover in a text,” he says, “are the things people fought about.

And you can tell by reading the text of the New Testament there’s a lot of fights about the Law, the place of the Gentiles and morality. You know what you don’t see them fighting about? The divinity of Jesus.”

According to The First Hymn, the writer of this ancient piece of music actually had his eyes set on appealing to the critics of his own day. Firstly, he employs music his unbelieving friends would have found very familiar. “The Christian hymn is a remarkable discovery,” says Oxford University’s professor of classics, Armand D’Angour, “because it isn’t really any different from that earlier music.” In short, it’s what the writer’s contemporaries would have expected to hear in a tavern or at the theatre.

In addition, this early hymn employs language that addresses the gods they believed in. In the Greek pantheon, Zeus, the greatest of the gods, was referred to as “the giver of gifts.”

But the author of this hymn refers to God as, “. . . the only giver of all good gifts.” The author’s clear intent is to lift his friends’ eyes to something

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Chris Tomlin

Ben Fielding

John Dickson 44

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more than they’ve been taught to believe in, in a way that they will be ready to receive it.

But that’s only the documentary’s first act. Dickson reasons that it’s not enough to inform Christians about the existence of this challenging piece of music. Going one step further, he aims to give the song back to the world. The documentary shifts gears and passes from historians to popular musicians. Dickson enlists the support of top Christian composers Ben Fielding and Chris Tomlin to analyse the hymn’s lyrics and melody and craft from them a new, resurrected song.

It would be hard to underestimate the significance of these two performers. Both are Grammy Award winners. Fielding is one of the creative geniuses behind contemporary church ballads “What a Beautiful Name” and “This I Believe” (also based on an ancient document, The Apostles’ Creed). Tomlin has sold more than 12 million records and has more than seven billion streams to his name. It’s estimated that 30 million people sing his music in churches each week. Time Magazine described him as “potentially the most often sung artist in the world”.

“The first hymn is a precious gift from early believers, some who literally gave their life for the gospel,” shares Tomlin. “And now, 2000 years down the road, we can stand in that long line of faithful believers and sing with them.” Fielding was equally moved by the opportunity to be

the claim Jesus was the divine Son of God is not an innovation of a later era. It was fundamental to the beliefs of the earliest Christians and it inspired them to a level of trust that could face down the severest repressions. In addition, the beauty of this revived piece of music offers to forge an enduring link in the mind of those open to reconsidering Jesus that will outlast many sermons.

For the Christian, The First Hymn offers a different opportunity.

Watching their story unfold and connect with our present, we have the chance to stand together with ancient Christians who knew nothing about the battles in doctrine and practice that can divide the church today. We have a fresh chance to experience the unity that characterises all those who put their trust in Jesus.

And singing this first hymn, we hold hands with that isolated Egyptian writer who could honestly say that, despite what the world threw at him, he was at peace with a Lord who was, “. . . the only giver of all good gifts”.

Mark Hadley is the scriptwriter of The First Hymn.

The new “First Hymn” song is available on all streaming music services. The film will be released in Australia at cinemas in July and online in August of 2025.

To find out more, visit <thefirsthymnmovie.com>.

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involved. “I couldn’t be more excited to hear people singing this song,” he says. “We want to give it back to the modern church and imagine early Christians singing it too. That we can still sing today those same words in unity is unbelievable.”

So, The First Hymn team travels to Nashville, America’s music capital, to craft the new “First Hymn”. It was never going to be as simple as pasting an English translation on top of the ancient Greek melody. The style of music the Egyptian composer used strikes the modern ear as very strange. But the viewer will observe Fielding and Tomlin taking all the lyrics and musical elements from that first creation to create a modern, anthemic hymn that lifts the heart as well as the mind. The documentary travels through online exchanges, early rehearsals and studio recording sessions to arrive in Fort Worth, Texas. There, the Tomlin-Fielding version of this first hymn is released at a stadium concert attended by more than 10,000 people.

It’s a dramatic conclusion to a historical and musical journey that spans 1800 years. But it would be a mistake to think of this documentary as just an enjoyable way to spend 90 minutes. The song at the heart of this production challenges unbelievers to consider the identity of Jesus now as much as it did in the third century.

The temptation remains to see this Carpenter from Nazareth as simply a good man or a gifted preacher.

But The First Hymn makes it clear

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how to win at parenting

R

aising children with the ability to empathise is key in creating a kinder, more compassionate and loving world.

At the same time, children who can put themselves in someone else’s

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shoes are more likely to treat others with respect, understand the impact of their actions, and far less likely to engage in bullying behaviour.

Empathy is a taught skill and it all begins with you. How you model

SOURCE

Compassion, empathy and bullying

1. connect with their emotions

When a child is upset, hurt, having a meltdown, confused or frustrated, the quickest way to display empathy starts with acknowledging their emotions. Validating your child’s feelings requires taking on the perspective of your child.

2. name the emotions

The more emotions we recognise and can name within ourselves, the more we can recognise our children’s emotions. This teaches them to recognise these emotions within themselves and others.

3. listen to them

Find out their perspective and listen without judgement. Listen more than you talk. Talk to validate their feelings and empathise, then listen. If we can’t be learners of what our children are experiencing then we can’t be empathetic, and they learn best from our actions.

4. pay attention to what you and your child are feeling

The biggest mistake we can make when empathising with someone is to make their feelings about us.

Be mindful of what feelings are being brought up in you, your body language and don’t over-identify with what they’re feeling.

5. be non-judgemental

This applies to how you treat them but how you behave generally as well.

When we judge others in front of our children, they listen and learn from our words and actions.

want practical activities to teach empathy?

• To a superhero-loving child, talk about how they help others and right wrongs. Discuss how superheroes have different strengths and abilities that enable them to help in different ways, just like us.

• Look for everyday opportunities to help others: A smile, opening a door, giving up a seat, letting someone else go to the front of the line, pulling in a neighbour’s bin, etc.

• Encourage them to be kind to a friend who others are excluding or teasing.

• Find social justice groups that you can support. Those who fight for justice for the poor, educate children or support women in poor communities.

Melody Tan is a passionate advocate for empowering mothers through connection, faith and digital engagement. She is project manager of Mums At The Table. She lives in Sydney with her husband and their primary-school-aged son.

Want a free printable list of feelings to help your child name their emotions? Scan this QR code!

ARINA KRASNIKOVA—PEXELS

empathy to your children will in turn nurture their empathy towards others. Here’s how:

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Is Grandma watching over you?

Why the idea of loved ones watching from heaven might not be so comforting.

ELGENE BUHONG—PEXELS

JOSH WOOD

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O

ne of the first questions people ask when you meet them is, “What do you do for work?” The answer to that question, for me, has always led to interesting conversations. In a society where fewer people identify with faith and increasingly identify as being non-religious,1 it is surprising to me how many people I have interacted with who still think their deceased loved ones are looking down on them from heaven. If you don’t believe in God, where is the comfort in believing your loved ones are with God in heaven?

I talk about and contemplate death a lot—probably more than most. It’s not that I have a weird fascination with death and dying; it’s that my work leans heavily into this.

You see, I draft wills for a living. It’s a unique role within my church and it’s a humbling one as I interact with people daily and guide them through the realities of life—and especially, the end of life. Prior to this role I was working as a local church pastor at a church connected with an aged care home. Death was a constant there too. In four years of ministry at that church I participated in more than 25 funeral services.

The older we get the more we experience the sense of loss that death brings and the more we contemplate our own eventual demise. It’s in this context we begin to ask ourselves the question, “And then what?” We ask this question more out of intrigue than fear because while death comes

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to us all,2 the question of “then what?” isn’t even agreed upon by Christians.

what the Bible really says

The Bible has many passages about death and what happens when we die that directly contradict the popular belief that when we die, we immediately go to heaven (Daniel 12:2; Ecclesiastes 9:5,6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14). In these passages, death is described simply as a sleep. I don’t know about you, but my experience with sleep is that I know nothing between the moment I nod off to the moment I wake up. While time goes on for seven-to-nine hours when I’m sleeping, I am not cognisant to the passage of time. When I wake, I’m aware time has passed but I’m not aware of the things that have occurred during my slumber.

Death, as described in the Bible, is very similar to this. When we die, our consciousness knows nothing.

We rest until the return of Jesus, the “second coming” or “second advent” as Christians refer to it. The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians that “the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.”

unpicking resurrection logic

Have you ever wondered why the dead “in Christ” rise if they are already in heaven? Taking that a step

looking down on us in judgement of our smallest of indiscretions. We can also be comforted by the fact that they aren’t sitting in eternal torment in the Hollywood version of hell we’ve become accustomed to imagining, either. This isn’t to say that these loved ones may not find themselves one day resurrected with Jesus. It’s simply to say that we, thankfully, don’t have to make that judgement call nor do we need to think about living under their judgement, either.

I talk about and contemplate death a lot— probably more than most

IVAN SAMKOV—PEXELS

further, where is the logic in the resurrection of Jesus or the resurrection of Lazarus?3 Why would you be resurrected to life on this earth if death sees you immediately in heaven? It doesn’t quite make sense.

And it doesn’t make sense because, as the Bible presents to us, we are resting in sleep until the second coming of Jesus. This is quite a revelation to most people who come across it, as most media and even most Christians teach that when you die you immediately go to heaven or hell (though the teaching on hell is also something worth investigating further).

You see, because “the dead know nothing” and death is like sleep, we don’t need to fear what these dearly departed loved ones might be thinking. We can be comforted that they don’t sit on their “heavenly porch”

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(in either joy or horror). Those who suffered in life are no longer suffering. Those who were tormented mentally are at peace. Those who had difficulty in life are now at rest. The converse is also true. I’m encouraged that my loved ones who weren’t committed followers of Jesus in life are not suffering eternal torment— that they too are sleeping the sleep of death. I’m encouraged because the Bible provides clear instruction that their knowledge and consciousness cease to exist.

I’m also encouraged that people rest until the time of Jesus’ return— and that upon His return, they are granted new bodies free from disease and decay (Philippians 3:20,21; 2 Corinthians 5:4,5). I look forward to the second coming of Jesus as when “the dead in Christ rise first”.5 On that resurrection day my loved ones will wake up, as though from a good night’s sleep, and the first thing they see will be the face of Jesus.

Josh Wood is a pastor in Melbourne, Australia.

To discover more biblical truth, visit <biblestudy. com.au>.

1. <abs.gov.au/articles/religious-affiliation-australia> 2. Aside from a few individuals (Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:1-11).

3. A friend of Jesus whose story of death and resurrection occurs in John 11.

4. John 3:16–21 offers a great explanation of what this looks like for each of us.

5. 1 Thessalonian 4:16.

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In 2003, the first of my grandparents passed away (technically the second, but the first died before my parents even met). By 2011, I had no grandparents left. In that period, I graduated high school and university.

I was baptised as an expression of my commitment to Jesus and I led countless church activities. I also battled an addiction to pornography and found myself participating in activities that were far from favourable or accepted as “good Christian behaviour”. I don’t know about you, but the thought of my grandparents watching me from heaven isn’t an encouraging thought—if anything, it’s creepy.

The benefit of the biblical view of what happens when we die, that is, that death is a sleep-like state, brought me comfort when I realised I could live my life without needing to “perform” for dearly departed loved ones—either as a result of trying to “make them proud” or “live up to their standard”. Instead, I realised that I could live my life to the best of my ability, not to please my grandparents or other loved ones, but simply as a response to having accepted Jesus’ gift of eternal life.4 This benefit then extends to the fact that neither do I have to live in shame—shame of the actions I’m not proud of, the moments of personal defeat or humiliation.

While I, like all others, experience the grief that comes when losing a loved one, I am encouraged that they aren’t watching over me from heaven

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make a difference

FINDING FAMILY FAR FROM HOME

F

or many Chinese migrant workers in Auckland, life in a new country brings heavy challenges. Language barriers, unfamiliar systems and financial pressures can leave them feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Starting over isn’t easy when every day feels uncertain.

Through the One Family Project, led by Auckland West Chinese Seventh-day Adventist Church with support from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency New Zealand, several workers and their families have found more than help—they’ve found belonging. What started as simple support has grown into a strong and vibrant community.

Since December 2023, the One Family Project has been offering free English classes, legal seminars, food parcels, weekly meals, job assistance and invitations to Sabbath worship and celebrations. It’s about meeting real needs with practical care—and doing it with heart and hospitality.

“We’ve already helped about 100 workers and their families,” says project leader Jane Chen. “It hasn’t always gone exactly to plan, but the impact is real. People feel seen, heard—and supported.”

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One volunteer noticed a profound shift among participants: “They are more confident communicating in English now. You can see their stress easing.” Improved language skills mean greater opportunities to find work, support their families—and build a stable future in New Zealand.

The educational seminars have also played a key role in helping workers understand their rights and avoid exploitation—a risk many face in unfamiliar work environments.

Being better informed gives them confidence and protection.

Beyond skills, the project offers simple but profound joys: shared meals, birthday celebrations, cultural festivals and new friendships. In small but meaningful ways, migrants are finding not just help, but hope.

The team admits the work has stretched them. “We underestimated how much time and energy this would take,” Jane reflects. “But we’ve been blessed with willing volunteers—and every effort is worth it.”

Through all the teaching, meals and support, the real gift the One Family Project offers is a glimpse of God’s love—kindness without strings attached, grace offered freely.

In a world where many feel invisible, this project reminds us that every small act of care plants seeds of hope—and that in welcoming strangers, we become the hands and heart of Christ.

Courtney Latu serves as the fundraising campaign officer for ADRA NZ.

SUPPLIED IMAGES

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ReView: The Hardest Line: the story of Midnight Oil The recent documentary sheds light on one of Australia’s most culturally significant—and controversial—bands.

NATHAN BROWN

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WIKICOMMONS

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I

had been a long-time casual fan of Midnight Oil and their idiosyncratic frontman Peter Garrett. But in a gap between harsh Covid-19 restrictions in early 2021, I was among about 13,000 people at an outdoor show—one of the largest crowds of any kind in Australia that year—as part of the iconic Australian band’s “Makarrata” tour. Devoted to highlighting the invitation for a renewed relationship with Australia’s Indigenous peoples contained in “The Uluru Statement from the Heart”, this tour and album featured a number of Indigenous musicians sharing the songs and stage with Midnight Oil. One of the things I took from this remarkable show was a new curiosity about Garrett, who was 45 years into his musical career and in his late 60s at that time, but still singing about things that matter, speaking out in support of various justice causes and continuing to give opportunities to younger musicians.

I wanted to be that when I grew up. Not so much the enigmatic frontman of an iconic rock band, but someone who will continue to speak and create in ways that matter as long as I am able, and to support others in doing so.

So I read his memoir—Big Blue Sky—and took a deeper dive into the back catalogue of the band. I found a passionate musician and advocate, who coincidentally was born at Sydney Adventist Hospital. His early life was shaped by personal tragedy

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and music became the way he found a place in the world. Like any band, Midnight Oil had their hits and misses, both musically and politically, including their famous performance at the closing ceremony of Sydney’s Olympic Games in 2000. Garrett also was circumspect in reflecting on his time—featuring both successes and failures—as a member of Australia’s parliament and government minister (2004–2013), during which time the band took a hiatus, before regrouping in 2017 and their final world tour in 2022.

Filmed over those final years of the band’s life but drawing from footage across their career, The Hardest Line is a powerful introduction to the band and their environmental, peace and justice activism, from touring outback Australia to performing in protest on the street in front of the Exxon building in midtown Manhattan. Of course, for those already fans, it is primarily a celebration of all things Midnight Oil, pulling together many aspects of their story that have been told previously in various forms.

But this new documentary added one significant and intriguing element to my understanding of Midnight Oil and their career. After their initial success in Australia, built on the hard work of travelling and playing countless gigs around the country in the early 1980s, they struggled to continue and grow that success in the wider world. There were a couple of false starts with recording albums in the UK, but it

Passion”—refusing the easier path and instead taking uncompromising, sometimes uncomfortable and even seemingly unsuccessful stands for justice—as well as in pursing their own way of creating music, sometimes in tension with the existing music industry.

As the story of such a longstanding band, The Hardest Line is a significant contribution to the recent cultural history of Australia and beyond, touching on many of the issues that have engaged activists around the world over that time. Whether it introduces you to Midnight Oil or reminds us of some of their biggest songs, this documentary prompts us to reflect on the role of the creative activist and the faithful calling of sustaining this focus over the seasons, successes and frustrations of a lifetime. That’s still what I want to be when I grow up.

Nathan Brown is book editor for the Signs Publishing Company, based in Warburton, Victoria.

To check out Nathan’s books, go to <signspublishing.com.au/books>.

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WIKICOMMONS

was a tour through central Australia, primarily visiting Indigenous communities, that gave them new perspective and inspiration. Almost counter-intuitively, engaging with Australia’s Indigenous peoples and unique country sparked their biggest global hits and international tours, including “Beds are Burning”—a song about the dispossession of Indigenous peoples—“The Dead Heart” and “Blue Sky Mine”. But, as Garrett comments, Diesel and Dust was not only their most successful album, it was, “much more important[ly], an addition to our way of thinking and feeling and seeing that we never otherwise would have had” that “made us, I think, better people”.

“We were caught unaware that our songs about Aboriginal people in Australia would find [such] an audience overseas—and then we got on the bus and we were shuttled all around the United States and Canada and Europe,” comments drummer Rob Hirst on their extensive touring that began in 1988. Midnight Oil found its greatest and broadest success when finding inspiration on the margins, listening to the dispossessed and literarily amplifying their voices to the wider world in the work of justice. This is “the hardest line” of the documentary’s title—borrowed from their song, “Power and the

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FOODS THAT EASE MUSCLE SORENESS NATURALLY Achy muscles after a workout or the first few workouts after a long break from exercising is normal—and can even be healthy.

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1. wholegrains

Eating quality carbs like wholegrain bread or Weet-Bix fuels your body for exercise and may help prevent muscle cramping. After a workout, carbs help replenish muscle fuel stores. Wholegrains will also give your body a range of nutrients, including fibre, protein, B vitamins, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper.

2. ricotta or cottage cheese

These spreadable cheeses provide a source of calcium. While known as the nutrient that keeps your bones strong, calcium is also vital for muscle and nerve function.

3. nuts

These little morsels are loaded with goodness and provide your body with protein as well as nutrients like magnesium. Brazil nuts are the best nutty source but almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans and pine nuts all contain magnesium. This essential mineral helps create new proteins to repair muscles and supports normal muscle function. Nuts are also good for your weight and your heart.

4. legumes

Legumes are high in zinc, which is known for its healing properties.

As well as helping your body repair wounds, zinc supports protein synthesis and breaks down carbohydrates to make it easier for your body to replenish fuel stores. Other sources of zinc include wholegrains, tofu, nuts and seeds.

5. seeds

Flax seeds, hemp seeds and chia seeds are all plant sources of omega-3. This fatty-acid is a building block your body uses to create hormones that regulate a wide range of functions, including controlling inflammation, muscle contraction and relaxation. Other plant sources of omega-3 include soybeans, walnuts, seaweed, leafy greens and wheatgerm.

KAROLINA GRABIWSKA—PEXELS

G

ood muscle soreness is a sign that you are pushing yourself to your limits. What’s going on inside your body is your exercises are causing small tears in your muscle fibres, which generally repair in a few days. This breaking down and repairing of muscles actually makes them stronger.

Healthy muscle soreness usually peaks between 24 and 48 hours after exercising and then eases. If the pain lasts any longer, see a doctor.

So, if muscle soreness is good, what can you do to help ease the aches and make it easier to stick to your new exercise regime? Sanitarium’s dietitians have shared a list of budget-friendly whole foods to aid in muscle repair.

Article courtesy of Sanitarium Health Food Company. Visit sanitarium.com.au or sanitarium.co.nz and subscribe to Recipe of the Week for a delicious plant-powered recipe in your inbox each week.

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CROSSWORD How closely have you been reading? (Almost) every keyword in this puzzle is also contained within this issue of Signs of the Times. Happy digging!

crossword clues DOWN 1 Western Australian college where Renold Quinlan found faith and direction.

2 Indigenous gift card company started by Dana Garlett.

3 Ancient Egyptian city where the first hymn was discovered.

4 Dana Garlett’s first art exhibit, called “Becoming _”.

6 Leader who passed the baton to Joshua.

8 Book of the Bibe that calls death a “sleep”.

9 Key emotion to validate in your child during a meltdown.

ACROSS 5 Annual sporting event where Daniel Matteo fought to prove himself.

7 Nutrient in nuts that helps repair muscles.

10 American prosperity gospel televangelist.

11 The 2025 NAIDOC theme celebrates strength, vision and . . .

12 Roman emperor who began empire-wide Christian persecution in 250 AD.

SUDOKU easy

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