It's with joy; I say 'Hello' to you all.

Bear with me as I tell you about myself in what, for now, must be a one-sided conversation! We'll rectify that when our paths cross.

After being smuggled across the northern NSW border at 18mths old; I grew up under the assumption that being a QLD maroons' supporter was in my blood. I've been praising God for the excellent sense of my parents ever since!

My ties to Queensland strengthened in 2016 by marrying one of Brisbane's exceptional teachers, Ruth Irons, born in Rockhampton and bred in Yeppoon. We resettled here with our 2yr old son, Jerusalem, at the invitation of Bishop Michael in March of this year.

My role will specifically focus on coordinating different appeals throughout the Diocese and connecting with all those who take these causes and 'our collective work' to heart.

This truth of 'our collective work' was planted deep in my heart when I travelled to Iraq in 2018. I was there visiting Christian communities who faced persecution for their faith in Jesus. I was inspired by many I met there. A Bishop whose faith had withstood the likelihood of an impending execution by terrorists. A woman who spoke of the strengthening of her faith after surviving a bombing against Christians – many of her friends did not. A businessman who despite having lost everything, after fleeing his city in the middle of the night, talked to me of the goodness of God.

An Iraqi Priest asked me to pass on a message to those Australians, who I represented; and, whose donation had helped the Iraqi church minister to the needs of those in their home region, 'tell them they are like an elder brother to us … because an elder brother always takes care of the vulnerable siblings'. The way we reach out to our region together, in Central QLD: the giver, the administrator of the donation, the pastoral worker on the ground; and, even the recipient of the gift are all interconnected and are a part of the one work, 'our work'.

Goodbye for now, until we meet face-to-face.

Nathan Harding