World Missions Conference – Figtree Anglican Church

16-23 August 2026

world missions conference 2026

The annual World Missions Conference (WMC) is our focus on gospel mission across the globe. It’s a reminder that as well as being involved in proclaiming the gospel here in Wollongong, we also have a part to play in the gospel going forward around the world.

This year, we’re exploring the topic of ‘Engaging Neighbours and Nations’.

Our special guest, Dr Tim Silberman, will be speaking at all services on Sunday 16 and 23 August.

The purpose of the conference is:

Build a biblical understanding of mission;
Challenge us to be active in mission;
Raise support for our Mission Partners

so that we may…

2026 Mission Partners

We are thankful to partner with seven extraordinary projects, each playing a small but significant part in engaging our neighbours and nations:

African Enterprise

church engagement project

For more than 60 years, African Enterprise (AE) has been sharing the gospel across the cities of Africa through Word and Deed, partnering with local churches to reach every level of society through its distinctive model of stratified evangelism.

Under the leadership of Simba Musvamhiri, AE Australia has experienced significant growth, mobilising prayer, resources, and support to strengthen evangelistic ministry across Africa. Through a strategic partnership with FAC, there is an opportunity to further expand this impact by funding a Church Partnership Officer for 2-3 days per week.

The role would help to:

Increase AE’s visibility and gospel influence within evangelical Australian churches;
Build stronger relationships with mission-minded congregations and Christian leaders;
Grow awareness of the Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) training courses being provided to African pastors;
Grow prayer, financial, and partnership support for AE’s evangelistic initiatives across Africa;
Promote life-changing projects such as the Centre for Champions in Rwanda, which has equipped more than 5,000 vulnerable young people with education, vocational skills, leadership development, and the hope of the gospel;
Promote emergency aid needs such as our Seba Kare appeal for refugees in Ethiopia.

By investing in this role, FAC can help establish a sustainable platform for deeper church engagement, enabling more Australian believers and congregations to participate in the transformative work God is doing across Africa. This partnership reflects Figtree’s commitment to strategic gospel ministry, global mission, and empowering local churches to make a lasting Kingdom impact.

africanenterprise.com.au

Praise God for more than 60 years of Gospel impact through African Enterprise’s ministry across African cities. Give thanks for the many lives being transformed through evangelism, discipleship, literacy programs, vocational training, and community development initiatives. Pray that God will continue to open hearts to the message of Jesus and provide opportunities to share His love throughout Africa.
Pray for protection, wisdom, and courage for AE teams, volunteers, and their families. As political landscapes change in various African nations, ask God to keep His people safe, grant them discernment in their ministry, and strengthen them as they faithfully share the Gospel and disciple others.
Pray for Africa’s young and rapidly growing population. Ask God to draw many young people to faith in Christ, raise up a new generation of disciples and leaders, and use them to carry the Gospel throughout Africa and beyond as they live out the Great Commission.
Pray for Simba Musvamhiri and the Australian ministry team. Ask God to give Simba wisdom, strength, and vision as he mobilises churches and supporters across Australia.
Pray for God’s provision and blessing over all AE ministry and Aid & Development projects. Ask God to provide new sources of support so that vulnerable young people can continue to receive education, skills training, and opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ.
Pray for increased prayer, financial, and relational support from churches and individuals in Australia and around the world. Ask God to raise up faithful partners who will help sustain and expand the work of African Enterprise, bringing peace, reconciliation, and the saving grace of Jesus to communities across Africa.

The Bible Society Australia

Equipping Indigenous Bible Translators

FAC’s support helps train aspiring First Nations Bible translators through the Certificate II in Bible Translation at Nungalinya College in Darwin.

This entry-level program is crucial for the continuation and renewal of translation work in Indigenous first languages, particularly in the Northern Territory.

The course teaches students to read and write in their Indigenous language, as well as Bible translation process and principles, forming an essential foundation for those interested in becoming Bible translators and ensuring the Gospel speaks powerfully across generations and cultures.

biblesociety.org.au

Pray for safety and protection for the translators as they travel from remote communities to Darwin for translation workshops.
Pray for new and younger translators to be trained.
Thank God for and continue praying for, the translation workshops at the college.

Bush Church Aid Society

Trent and Alice McGrath
The Village Church, Jindabyne

The Village Church (TVC) exists in the rural, albeit frequently visited, town of Jindabyne in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Trent is the only theologically trained and ordained, full-time Anglican minister in the Snowy Monaro region. Over the last five years, TVC has become a spiritual home for many Christians to worship Jesus and grow in their faith, while also serving as a “home away from home”, church to those seasonal visitors who come to work and play on the mountain during winter. By God’s grace, we long to see hundreds of people come to know Jesus and make Him known.

bushchurchaid.com.au

thevillagechurch.com.au

Please join us in praying for our Term 3 Alpha course. Pray for seekers to find Jesus and for our team to have joy in serving!
Please keep praying for our building project. It was paused recently so we could develop it further into something more suitable for immediate and future use. Pray for God to provide the way and the means to complete it!
Please pray for our family. Alice is in a full-time winter job, which has added a new dimension to family life and adjustments for all of us. Pray that we would grow in thankfulness for God’s provision, and make the most of our reduced time together.

Elizabeth in the Middle East

Elizabeth serves and trains young adults in a Middle East church where over 110 different nations are represented every week. FAC’s partnership helps the church steward the many gospel opportunities arising there. A particular prayer for the church is that being a disciple of Jesus would become the driving priority for those who have recently come to know Him.

Elizabeth is working in the region long-term, developing language skills and building relationships with young people. This includes running training courses and exploring future ministry opportunities.

Refer to the World Missions Conference 2026 booklet for prayer points.
See Langdon Stewart for more information.

Evangelism Explosion Africa

African youth projects

EE4G is partnering with churches across Africa to equip indigenous Christian leaders to evangelise and disciple the next generation. In 2026, conferences in Agbor and Lagos, Nigeria, saw the ministry expand into at least 10 regions, with leaders from Anglican and other denominations taking the training back to their churches. Three Anglican ministry champions, 10 denominational coordinators, and a full-time national EE4G coordinator have now been appointed to lead and grow the work across Nigeria, laying a strong foundation for long-term gospel ministry.

In 2027, we have been invited to return to Nigeria to sponsor the three-week Changemakers discipleship program. Around 30 leaders from at least 10 denominations will receive intensive discipleship and EE4G training before returning to equip others and strengthen youth ministry in their own regions. Every participant is fully sponsored through this project, enabling gospel-centred leadership development that will multiply across Nigeria for years to come.

The ministry is also expanding across Africa. Later this year, leaders from seven African nations will gather in Johannesburg for further training, while opportunities for gospel growth continue to increase in both Nigeria and Ethiopia. We are thankful for Figtree Anglican Church’s ongoing partnership in developing indigenous Christian leaders through youth ministry. Several members of FAC, including Harry Brennan, Lizzy Brennan and Byron Price, have already participated in training across Africa. Your support is helping establish faithful local leaders who will continue reaching young people with the gospel for generations to come.

evangelismexplosion.org

Give thanks for the recent EE4G conference in Nigeria. Following last year’s conference, where more than 40 delegates were trained, the ministry expanded to 10 locations and over 70 young people responded to the Gospel. A follow-up conference has now been held in Lagos.
Pray for the three Anglican ministry champions – Duke Aruquo, Ofili Chuks and Ogwuelcke Precious – as they lead the ministry within the Anglican Church. Pray especially for Ogwuelcke in his additional role as the full-time national EE4G coordinator.
Pray for the 10 coordinators serving across other denominations throughout Nigeria as they establish and grow the ministry in their regions.
Pray for the next conference in the coming 12 months, where 30 Nigerian leaders will participate in the three-week Changemakers discipleship program. Pray they will be equipped to train others, strengthen youth ministry across Nigeria, and see continued gospel growth.

Open Doors

supporting the persecuted church in india

Through trusted local partners and the generosity of churches like FAC, this project could help strengthen about 600 vulnerable Christians in India facing growing persecution and social pressure.

Your partnership could equip believers through four key areas: emotional and mental healing; social awareness and community reconciliation; biblical and discipleship training; and economic survival and sustenance.

Together, these initiatives help the church in India build resilience, respond to persecution with biblical wisdom, and remain active and effective in sharing the hope of Christ.

opendoors.org.au

Pray for wisdom and fairness among local authorities and government leaders, that they would uphold justice and help create an environment where Christians can practice their faith freely.
Pray that believers will remain steadfast in their faith in Jesus, respond with love, and continue encouraging one another despite the challenges they face.
Pray that this project will strengthen local churches and equip Christians to grow in faith, support one another, and share the hope of Christ in their communities.

Matt and Kez in South East Asia

Matt and Kez, together with their children, will soon be serving in South East Asia through Bible teaching and discipleship to strengthen under-resourced theological education. Their work helps to train and equip local students and their families.

Pray for theological education in SE Asia.
Pray for their family during transitions.

Key Speaker

Dr Tim Silberman

Dr Tim Silberman is part of the Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC) Centre for Cross-Cultural Mission and lectures in missions units.

Tim began his studies at SMBC and completed his Master of Divinity in 2006 before joining the faculty in 2007.

Since then, he has completed his Master of Theology in the field of intercultural leadership development and led annual mission trips to various countries, including four months with his family in India in 2012.

Tim helped to design and launch The Bridge Program (gap year program for 18-21s) and served as its director from 2015-2017. In 2021, he completed his doctoral studies exploring the involvement of Australian local churches in mission.

Tim is married to Peggy and they have two daughters and a son. He attends St Paul’s Anglican Church in Canterbury, and enjoys running, cycling, reading and spending time with his family.

Tim is the author of Engaging Neighbors and Nations, which explores the factors influencing local church participation in mission both locally and around the world. He identifies a range of theological, missiological, and organisational influences on mission practice.

This book is for those who long to see local churches committed to engaging both their neighbours and the nations in mission, growing our understanding of how to encourage helpful church practices for the sake of Christ.

Conference Events

The World Missions Conference is a chance to be encouraged and equipped to play our part in God’s mission, and to meet our Mission Partners and hear how God is working through them.

Sunday Services

sunday, 16 august

8am, 10am + 6pm

Bible teaching from Dr Tim Silberman
Hear from Mission Partners: Matt and Kez, Evangelism Explosion, and Open Doors

Talking Faith: Mission Edition

Tuesday, 18 august

7-9pm | The Hub

An evening to worship, listen, ask questions, and think together about God’s mission in our world.
Speaker: Dr Tim Silberman | Does world mission matter as much as mission to my neighbours?

MORE INFO + REGISTER

Women Alive

Thursday, 20 august

9:30am | FAC Foyer

Hear from one of our newest Mission Partners, Kezia, who will be serving in South East Asia.

Vox FM Mission Spot

Friday, 21 august

Listen from Noon-1pm

Tune into Vox FM 106.9 to hear a special ‘Mission Spot’.

24 Hours of Prayer

Fri 21 – Sat 22 August

6pm fri – 6pm sat | The hub

Come to FAC and pray together for world mission in one-hour slots for 24 hours.

MORE INFO + REGISTER

World Mission Dinner

Saturday, 22 August

6-9pm | FAC

Come together as a church family for great food, fellowship, worship, and encouragement as we hear from our key Mission Partners and celebrate the gospel reaching the nations.
Featuring a special interview with our guest speaker, Dr Tim Silberman.

MORE INFO + REGISTER