Words from the streets of Kings Cross and Bondi Beach
About Jon Owen
“I am the Pastor and CEO of Wayside Chapel. I write with my heart wide open and my eyes looking at life. I am a philosopher, a dreamer, a tower of weakness, a leader and a follower, a husband and a father and I hope to give you a flavour of life by the wayside.”
About the Inner Circle Newsletter
The Inner Circle is a weekly letter with musings on humanity, acceptance, and love from the Pastor and CEO of Wayside Chapel. It often includes anecdotes of life at Wayside Chapel and speaks to anyone who wants to lean deeper into the question of what it means to be human.
Bulldogs Eating Custard
Dear Inner Circle, In the whispered chill of the last week, there have been moments that breathe warmth back into our bones—moments where adversity draws
Outrageous Grace
Dear Inner Circle, Our hearts are heavy as we continue to mourn the tragic events that unfolded this weekend at Westfield, Bondi Junction, and across
Love’s Voyage
Dear Inner Circle, While we have a long way to go, it’s undeniable that we’ve made significant progress from a few decades ago. Many of
Oh Happy Day!
Dear Inner Circle, Easter is akin to a grand final week for those of us in roles like mine. There’s always so much to arrange
Stopping Rats
Dear Inner Circle, Trudging home the other night, I ducked down an unfamiliar alleyway, only to confront one of my few fears: healthy, glowing-eyed, aggressive
Dancing Away from Disaster
Dear Inner Circle, Perhaps one of the reasons that discontent abounds, stems from a Greek-influenced cultural legacy that idolises perfection in everything, and we always
Chilli Sauce and Howling Cats
Dear Inner Circle, What will we do when every trace of trust has evaporated? We’re constantly told that all news is “fake news”, slowly eroding
Grounded in Love and Time
Dear Inner Circle, In a world captivated by time-lapse photography, social media feeds and Hollywood movie endings, it’s easy to fall for the lie that
The Eyes of the Heart
Dear Inner Circle, Not long ago, I was called to the hospital at the request of someone with only a few days left to live.
Any time of year, you can find it here
Dear Inner Circle, Welcome back friends, for another year of stories from the Wayside. It’s good to be back in a space that makes room
