About Us
 

The Mormon Outreach Ministries originally started as Gospel Outreach to Mormons at St.Paul’s in 1998. The name was changed to Mormon Outreach Ministries with more emphasis and direction on equipping saints for the work of the ministry -Ephesians 4:12.

Mormon Outreach Ministries is run by a group of committed Christians on a voluntarily basis. Andrew Southerton, who is doing theological studies at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia, runs conferences on Mormonism and helps those who struggle with problems as a result of being part of the Mormon Church (See Letters of Urgency).   Etsuko Stanhope, while studying at Mary Andrews College, Sydney, met a number of Mormon missionaries and felt called to reach out with the biblical gospel to Mormons.

Etsuko Stanhope was born in Japan and was raised in a Shinto and Shingon Buddhist faith. She became puzzled as to how Shinto (not a personal faith, but a communal tradition) and Buddhism coexist without conflict in many Japanese households. While living in Mexico City between 1985 and 1992, her personal search for the living God started. In 1993 she became Christian through the ministry of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, in Sydney.

A preacher’s words from the pulpit at the Cathedral, struck her: “Jesus of Nazareth died for sinners like you and me, so that our sins might be forgiven.” She was haunted by these words. She began to struggle with the notion of sin, which was a new concept for her. She thought to herself, “Why does God see both murder and gossip as equally sinful? Murder is certainly more serious than gossip, isn’t it?”

She came to realise that God’s standards are very high, and that sin is like cracks in a crystal glass. No matter how beautiful the crystal glass is, a crack renders the vase worthless. No matter how upright or righteous one may appear, a small sin makes the person a sinner.  From within our hearts come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, envy, slander, arrogance and folly (Mark 7:21-23) Our wicked thoughts cannot escape from God’s notice (Matthew 22: 18). She admitted that she offended God by rebelling against him, shaking her fists at him and ignoring him as if he did not exist. It seems too good to be true but eternal life is a gift (Ephesians 2: 8-9). At the moment she accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour and the Lord, she had peace with God.  Since then she has had the assurance that her sins are forgiven and she would live with the Heavenly Father even if she died tonight. 

In 1995 Etsuko started her theological studies at Mary Andrews College. In her third year at the college she started meeting a number of Mormon missionaries. She was saddened by the fact that while they have a zeal for God, they were not right with God. Instead of trusting in Jesus’ righteousness, they try to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:1-4). In late 1997 Senior Minister Bruce Hall at St.Paul’s warmly encouraged her to start a ministry.

The work is hard and slow. Deconversion from one faith to another does not happen in the blink of an eye. Perhaps Etsuko may not see much fruit of the harvest until she gets to the place where the Heavenly Father dwells. However, she wants both dedicated and inactive Mormons to see that Jesus is our substitute, who has done everything necessary for our salvation, not their creditor, to whom they owe debts, or merely their example, showing them what they need to do.

She wishes to develop an accurate, first-hand understanding of the teachings of Mormonism and their culture, so she did several Institute courses at the (Mormon) Institute, invited by Mormon missionaries between 2000 and 2005.

She holds a Bachelor of Law from Gakushuin University in Tokyo and completed an Advanced Diploma of Theology (Evangelism) from the Australian College of Theology through Mary Andrews College, School of Christian Studies and Morling College.

She is married to Bruce Stanhope who loves cricket and rugby. Bruce is an active member of a local Anglican Church. They both enjoy living near the harbour, listening to classical music and watching rugby matches. For her, there is nothing more exciting than rugby. However, she is an anonymous English rugby supporter. She loves the way the English forward play, which is not popular with her husband and other Australians.  She is a Leicester Tigers supporter. Her husband calls her, “Traitor!”