The story behind the ministry

Christian Seminars and Training Services

I had started writing poetry from the first week I came to faith in Christ, having never written a poem before in my life. In 1982 I self funded the printing of a small range of Christmas Cards, having become convinced that the poetry I was writing so prolifically was to be used as a way to share God's love and encouragement with others. The cards would also provide a practical tool for Christians to touch others with the Father's Love. The rapid sale, without much effort on my part, of those cards seemed to indicate to me at the time that this was indeed pleasing to God.

With that in mind, I approached a small (at that time) Australian Christian Company to distribute the cards. After discussions an arrangement was made to print the the cards on a royalty bases. This arrangement lasted a couple of years, and I felt led to take the next step, which was to form a Partnership with Robyn Harrison, and Sonshine Publishers was born.

Sonshine Publishers
Robyn, a Minister, became the business heart of Sonshine Publishers Pty Ltd. After many faithful and at times frustrating years for Robyn as the company grew, believed God was taking him in another direction. He had however left the company in the hands of two great distributors, and an annual turnover of over 100,000 units. One of those distributors was the first Christian Company I had started with, the other an Australian owned company in the secular market, taking the cards into the Post Office Shops, which were just beginning to emerge.

Many other people contributed their time and talents to helping the cards and the company grow, believing this was a 'God-given gift'. Without these tireless friends who encouraged me to make the writings available for others, I doubt it would have happened.

Sylvia Fraser Ministries
While Sonshine publishers were focussed on the card ministry, a parallel ministry was formed to accommodate the many invitations to speak in churches and ladies groups. Sylvia Fraser Ministries became the 'public face' of the itinerant ministry. That ministry took me around Australia and New Zealand to various churches and Christian groups and was a time of great excitement and joy.

With that ministry came a growing desire to bring the Father's love in ways that would encourage other Christians to find greater wholeness and healing in Fathers love. I believed then, as now, that effective evangelism comes from God's people knowing a deeper intimacy with Father God, and in understanding their own healing journey, are better equipped to touch others with the Father's love.

After my return from England, I knew that God wanted me to take what I had experienced at CWR, and the ministry of the late Selwyn Hughes, to Christians on this side of the world. To do this I knew that I would need to be equipped with skills and qualifications suitable to the task God was directing me to. This meant taking on first a Diploma with ACIF, and later a Graduate Diploma with Charles Sturt University at St Marks Theological College Canberra. This was a scary time for me, having not completed high school.

Christian Seminar & Training Services
In 1999 Sonshine Publishers Pty began trading as “Christian Seminar & Training Services”, with the hope that the Discipleship/Christian Counselling Schools would facilitate others in their pursuit of 'Deeper Intimacy' with Father God. I wrote the material from the insights gained at CWR, and the qualifications I had obtained. The two-fold purpose was to encourage others to 'know God' in a way that would make visible the invisible heart of God, with richer insight and effective skills.

The accreditation process for the schools took a lot of time energy and focus to keep them current with the changing legislation and re accreditation requirements. In 1998, while I was pursuing this discipleship training road both distribution companies had major changes which left the card ministry in tatters. With had neither the time nor energy to rebuild it - I had to simply set it aside for a season.

Revisit written ministry
In 2005, I felt prompted by God to revisit the development of the written ministry, including now both greeting cards, and resources for equipping other Christians. In this new season we are called to continue to facilitate others in their healing journey as they pursue a greater depth of intimacy with our Abba and His wonderful Love.

After ten years of running accredited training programs, which have seen over 200 students significantly impacted with God's love, we believe in this new season, God has brought us full circle, and is calling us back to a strong discipleship and mentoring focus. The accreditation process and bureaucratic red tape has taken the limited resources and energy from the main purpose which has always been discipleship/mentoring. Because of this, the accreditation of the course has been discontinued, to make way for the discipleship/Father Heart work to continue with a greater intensity of focus.

Father Heart retreats
This is happening now through the expansion of our Father Heart retreats. Alongside those will be our Marriage and Spiritual Growth Retreats, as well as workshops on grief, loss, and 'Living Loved in Fathers Kingdom' programs.

We will continue to provide Christian workers with insights needed to work with people affected by 'Domestic and Family Violence', 'Alcohol and other Drug Addictions', to understand 'Addictive Patterns and Behaviours', and the 'Shame' issues attached to them.

Caring Cards
Sylvia Fraser's Caring Cards » is the next exciting chapter picking up something of the print ministry of Sonshine Publishers.

I hope this brief outline of the company's journey, provides a glimpse of our heart, and our passion.

Sylvia Fraser (Director)

To host a retreat or workshop in your area

If you would like to host one of our retreats or workshops in your area, please don't hesitate to contact us. This new season in God, is to take the message of the Fathers Love far and wide. If you think our ministry and the message of the Fathers Love, could enhance the work in your church or organisation, then we would love to discuss the possibilities with you.