We have to dismantle the comfortable notion that prayer alone will revive Australia.
Though millions of Christians have begged, “God send revival,” I warned the attendees at the Albury Wodonga Prayer Breakfast, 23 July 2025, that spiritual renewal will not be delivered to a nation that has abandoned its Christian foundations while its believers stay timid and unrepentant.
I have wonderfully encouraging news for faithful Christians about the faithfulness, humility and courage of the Albury Wodonga Prayer Breakfast (AWPB), which I attended as their keynote speaker now three months ago.
In April this year, I published a letter to the Sydney Prayer Breakfast Committee (after a week without reply) outlining the profound harm to the Gospel being done by them planning to include an acknowledgement of or welcome to “Country”. Regardless of exact wording, mixing any ritual named, or even perceived to be honouring the Aboriginal religious entity commonly referred to as, “Country”, is syncretism.
The Sydney event went ahead with the item in the program as planned. Despite a foolish attempt to – false religion simply can’t be redeemed. One can’t redeem a seance, a ouji board or an Aboriginal “Country” ritual – it’s simply impossible, let alone reckless and unjustifiable.
I’ve been invited to preach on this at some churches, and helped a few Christian school boards repent of including “Country” rituals, and was happy to help when the AWPB Committee invited me to explain the problems with anything called “Country” in an Aboriginal context. They had, in 2024, decided to include one, and received no small amount of feedback expressing disappointment. Please remember to never suffer paganism silently. Respectfully give feedback and hope for the best.
I highly commend the spirit of humility and teachability the AWPB Chairman and Committee demonstrated, and after deliberating, they resolved to never do it again – true repentance, praise God!
Their following event this year featuring me (a public critic of false religion in Christian events, services and buildings) was their biggest ever and even had to sell some tables without catering!
This is the kind of religious reformation and pursuit of holiness the Australian Church must demonstrate if we want revival in our nation.
So be encouraged: there is a faithful remnant!
Drawing on the fierce faith of Australia’s founders — from Sir Henry Parkes to Prime Minister Alfred Deakin — this speech reminds us this nation was unapologetically built on the authority of Jesus Christ and the supremacy of God’s law. Yet modern Christians, I argued, have retreated into silence, sentimentality and fear of offence.
Citing 2 Chronicles 7:14, I declared that revival is conditional: humility is not self-pity, but confident agreement with God on every “contested idea.” I recounted my own legal persecution for refusing to water down the Gospel, adding forgiveness does not mean capitulation.
The way forward? A national spirit of repentance — starting in the Church. Not government edicts, not nostalgic prayers; but believers boldly turning from compromise, declaring God’s Word without apology, and seeking His face more than social approval.
My final plea:
“We are trustees for posterity, for the unborn millions, unknown and unnumbered, whose salvation and national blessing we may help to fulfil and whose eternal destinies we may assist to determine, if only we could humble ourselves, pray and seek God’s face, and repent of our unrighteousness.
Almighty God, we beseech Heaven, to let it be in our day. God bless Australia, God send revival.”
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Dave Pellowe is a Christian political educator & writer who gives priority of philosophy to God’s Word. He founded Church And State ministries in 2016, which has grown to include annual teaching conferences in Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and regional Australia by invitation.
Specialising in what God says about complex ethical and social issues, Dave Pellowe is a sought after guest speaker at churches, Christian schools, TV, radio and podcast interviews and other secular and Christian forums where love of Truth and nonpartisan thinking are valued. [more]
