Do give her session on Faith and the Future of Creation a listen! She insightfully outlines the integration of faith and climate science in this talk, explores the biblical concept of ‘dominion’, examines today’s pressing climate challenges, and a offers theological framing for our practical action in response.

We highly recommend setting aside a few minutes—only 19!—to listen to her talk!

This book is available at
https://www.amazon.com/Connected-Water-Robert-D-Sluka/dp/B0DGF74MT2

Bob writes,

Early memories of family vacations to Daytona Beach and the Florida Keys sparked a desire to learn more and experience the vast and wonderful deeds of God in the ocean. I didn’t have the language to describe these events spiritually or even an understanding of how the ocean could relate to my faith. That came much later as our family embarked on an adventure that would take us to various parts of the Caribbean, the Great Barrier Reef, a remote island in the Maldives, India, Southeast
Asia, Kenya, and the beaches of the UK and southern Europe.

While this is the story of my experiences and only a subset of them, the subject of the book is the ocean. I hope that you get to know her more through my interactions with the communities, species, and habitats in various locations. I also hope to trace some of the changes in my thinking through time and take you on a journey to understanding a way of thinking about the ocean and its relationship with God including our part in that. I hope that you will increase your love for the ocean, God, each other, and yourself in a way that will cause you to actively participate in ocean conservation.

The emphasis is on the experiences, the places, sometimes the people, and the learning rather than an exact, full, and detailed account. My hope is that you will enjoy a trip to far-off places and a desire will grow to get to know better the one who made the oceans and all that is in them. This is my attempt to express in words my thanks to God, to tell of His wonderful deeds in the ocean.

The Whole Easter Story: Why the Cross is Good News for All Creation by A Rocha International’s Jo Swinney is a 40-day Lent devotional exploring how the cross transforms not only our own individual connection with Jesus, but also our relationships with each other and our world.  

Published by BRF, all royalties go to A Rocha’s conservation work around the world. Listen to some commendation of her writing:

Narrated with honesty, warmth and the insightful perspective of a storyteller – and accompanied by Jo’s warmly sensitive sketches of particular species – the Whole Easter Story helps us see afresh the immense power and wisdom of the cross for the salvation of the whole world. Thoroughly recommended! 

Professor Paul S Williams—Chief Executive, Bible Society  

This is a truly enjoyable devotional book, providing an excellent guide as we journey through our relationship with God, others and God’s wider creation, as well as God’s own relationship with his creation. Refreshingly honest, laugh out loud, attentive to all of God’s creation – your heart and soul will be fed. 

Jo Herbert-James—Head of Engagement, A Rocha UK

But not only that! Consider participating also in the…

Lent book club

You are warmly invited to join a six-week virtual book club based on The Whole Easter Story. Hosted by Jo Swinney and Jo Herbert-James, the club will run on Wednesdays from 5 March to 9 April 2025, 8 to 9pm GMT.  

Do find out more and book your place HERE. 

This course, part of the IBTS Learning Network, is open to members of all and any denominations (or even if you don’t belong to any denomination!), from anywhere in the world.

The course explores how Christians can respond to the current multiple ecological crises, no matter who and where you are placed. You will acquire biblical, theological, and ecological resources for reshaping your understanding of discipleship and attend to concrete practices that may bear witness to Jesus Christ, cultivating lives that are properly aligned with God’s redemption of creation.

Details are as follow:

• Course begins: 3^rd October 2024
• Duration: 10 weeks, 3-5 hours per week
• Format: Fully online, facilitated course of 10-20 participants, with a weekly virtual meeting
• Cost: 150 Euros, scholarships are available
• Language: English

What are you waiting for? Sign up here!

For more information, including who the facilitators are, head on over to: https://www.ibts.eu/programmes/eco-crisis-and-the-gospel-1

Download here, but also do check out www.arocha.org/marine where you will be greeted by the good work that AR is doing in this area, alongside many other ocean and faith related resources.

He was recently interviewed by Frontiers UK on his experience in creation care and mission, first as a church planter in South Asia, then later working intentionally in creation care.

Bob shares his journey from anthropocentric dualism to attempts at integral ocean mission. Give it a listen, and do share this with your friends!

https://rawmission.buzzsprout.com/1852871/15483954-creation-care-mission

Give his talk a listen, invite your friends to having this conversation and be welcome to let us know what you think!

We draw your attention to a wonderful resource on earthkeeping, a comprehensive essay by Paul Kunert, available for free digitally or to buy as a printed booklet here [at https://licc.org.uk/resources/jesus-died-to-save-the-planet/].

Paul is a businessman and chartered accountant, with many years’ experience in the electricity sector in Africa. By his own admission, for many years he’d seen climate change as a secondary issue for Christians, until the truth about ecological breakdown and God’s purposes in Christ for all creation dawned on him.

Paul’s essay is compelling and biblical. Chris Wright, of Langham International, says: “There is a prophetic, Jeremiah-like urgency to this essay, calling the church to wake up and get serious about this issue. But, also like Jeremiah, Paul Kunert calls for repentance and holds out hope.”

Field Notes Podcast, by A Rocha

Be inspired by stories of Christians engaged in earthkeeping around the world, often in challenging contexts! We invite you to these 30-40 minute podcasts [https://arocha.org/en/field-notes-podcast/] to deepen your understanding of this wonderfully created world and our place within it.

Topics to whet your appetite from A Rocha’s Field Notes include a cynical Italian journalist finding Christian faith at A Rocha Kenya, a challenge to the global church from North East India, discovering community and conservation in Portugal, food-growing leading to healing the land and its people in Canada, and a compelling story of reconnecting people with nature in Chile.

This is a resource for church leaders, giving a Christian understanding of the climate crisis, the nature crisis, and the signs of the times. It’s short and accessible and we hope it helps equip church leaders in many places. The lead author is our very own Revd Dr Dave Bookless, Director of Theology for A Rocha International and Catalyst for Creation Care for the Lausanne Movement, alongside contributions from over 20 others from around the world. 

Our friend Paul Cook, Head of Advocacy at Tearfund says, “It’s a short book for church leaders, explaining the climate and nature crisis, a Christian understanding, and how churches are responding. Do have a look. There is really thoughtful, but easily accessible, content in there, great for small groups.” 

You can get it here!