Raising up Aborignal leaders

Training leaders

Rev Chris Webb travels the Kimberley helping to train Aboriginal Christian leaders.

Broome People’s Church is helping equip Christian leaders in remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley.

Rev Chris Webb, a CMS worker based at Broome, was recently invited by a local elder to visit Yakanarrra, near Fitzroy Crossing, and run Bible teaching and leadership training.

The initiative is a partnership with the Kimberley Christian Fellowship which runs an annual weekend training workshop in each of four communities, including at Noonkanbah, Yiyili and Wangkatjungka.

Overall, the aim is for people to attend all four workshops as an integrated training program. However, distance and cultural commitments make this difficult so Chris delivers stand-alone foundational training to those who come along.

At Yakanarra, Chris and pastor Jamie Short from Kununurra People’s Church led a small group study of Titus 1, looking at the aim of ministry and qualities of a leader.

“We also want to support the local Christians to share the gospel with their community, so we had a BBQ evening and church service that were open to all,” Chris said.

Christians in each community are keen for others to hear the gospel and want to have a church set up. However, they face many challenges, including isolation and a population that moves around a lot.  

“In most of the places, opportunities for face-to-face Christian encouragement are few and far between and we are yet to see a strong church take root and grow.

“But, the men who are coming to the training weekends, have grown in maturity and understanding of what being a Christian is all about and under God we trust that spiritual growth is happening.

“Our prayer for them is that they will be able to begin small but regular gathering of Christians – that they would feel confident and take the initiative to start a Bible study, prayer meeting or a sing along.”

Easter in Dongara

 
 

Fesh Start at Easter

New Dongara Rector David Thompson published his first message to residents in the ‘Local Rag’ about a fresh start with God through Jesus at Easter. 

How good is a fresh start? This year has been a year of new beginnings for myself and my family. In January we moved all the way from rural New South Wales to Dongara so I could become the new Pastor of Dongara Anglican Church.

Moving is an exciting time because of all the new things to explore and experience. Everything feels fresh (like a swim at the beach on a lovely Dongara morning). Yet, moving is also tiring and stressful. The feeling of a fresh start is often only momentary and quickly fades.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could experience a lasting fresh start in our lives? It would be great if we could start over and be confident that our future wouldn’t be affected by our past pains, mistakes, failures and regrets. Such a fresh start would surely bring a life filled with freedom, joy and hopefulness. Can you imagine this life, this fresh start?

At Easter time we celebrate Jesus’ death on the cross and his miraculous resurrection. At its heart, the message of Easter is the offer of a fresh start with God. The cross means our past, however messy, can be forgiven, and Jesus’ resurrection secures our future. It is Jesus who says “I am the resurrection and the life”. This means that we can have true hope for the future. The Bible describes this future as one where every tear will be wiped away, where there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). It’s a future filled with everlasting joy and real satisfaction, far beyond what we could ever imagine! Isn’t that what we all long for?

 Have a safe and happy Easter.

Blessings,

 David

Miracle baby home

Karratha Anglican Church is praising God for answered prayer. Baby Ollie, was born with his organs growing outside his body and faced an uncertain future. After hospital care in Perth he has returned healthy. Revd Frank Nicol shares the story of the Bent family so we can join with prayer and praise.

Frank writes: In the Parish of the West Pilbara we farewell many people. July last year was one of the saddest farewells. We rejoiced with the Bent family when they announced early 2023 that Jess was pregnant.

We grieved early on in the pregnancy when she announced that the child-to-be was not forming properly in the womb. His organs were growing outside his body.

We prayed, we were hopeful, we farewelled them. The Bents moved to Perth for the birth and subsequent care of their baby. We cried when we heard at birth that his future was uncertain. Things were worse than expected. 
We prayed, and in time we praised God for his graciousness to the Bents and to little Oliver.

Ollie, as we know him, spent 6 weeks in hospital, most of those in intensive care. God worked miraculously and through the hands of the many staff at Perth Children's Hospital. Ollie left hospital.

We don't get to welcome too many people back to church but in January this year we welcomed the Bents back. We still all tear up as we retell the story but we praise God for how he has worked and we'd love you to be praising God with us.

Shining light in the darkness

St James Kununurra is supporting the Kununurra Peoples Church to reach Aboriginal children with the hope of Jesus.
 
Each Thursday up to 50 children aged 5 to 14 come to Bethel Bible Study, where they enjoy a simple meal followed by Bible study and games.
 
St James member Jenni De Vries said the weekly gathering shines a light in the darkness for the children, most of whom are not connected to any church. “We pray, sing songs, watch an episode of Superbook and have a short talk.  
 
“The program is only meant to be for primary school kids but some of the older ones have wanted to keep coming! Year 7 and above now have a separate activity with a Bible study and discussion with a couple of leaders."
 
Jenni said the leaders are considering a more structured discipleship and worldview training group for the older students. "It will require a lot of prayer and planning and we are still seeking God’s direction about this."
 
Please pray for Bethel Bible Study. 

Pipeline for leadership

 

Nathan Hiscock and Lachlan Edwards

 

Geraldton student Nathan Hiscock has been appointed the first Ministry Apprentice in the North West Anglican Church, in a major push to raise up homegrown gospel workers.

The position is part of the new 3-stage Ministry Training Pipeline which includes theological studies and a stint as a curate before graduating to lead a church.

Dean of Geraldton, Lachlan Edwards, said Nathan will serve God at the Cathedral for two years discerning his suitability for long-term ministry.

“One of the biggest challenges to ministry here is attracting gospel workers to locations that are isolated, far from family, with extreme weather conditions and highly transient populations,” he said.

“Through the pipeline, we aim to raise up able, godly, and trained workers from our own backyard who are familiar with the particular demands of ministry in our region. We pray that this means they will stay long-term.

“We thank God for Nathan – a faithful, humble, teachable young man who yearns for more people to know Jesus and grow in their relationship with God.”

Nathan’s role will include leading music ministry and playing the organ, co-leading a weekly Bible study with Lachlan, service leadership, pastoral visits as well as opportunities to preach.

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