A group of Aboriginal Christians in Broome is meeting for Bible study on the main oval so that they can be a visible Christian presence in the centre of town.
Assistant Minister Chris Webb – supported by CMS – helps pastor the People’s Church congregation of Broome Anglican Church. He said the men’s Bible study group had been meeting at the church premises. But one morning, after discussing the story of the rich man and Lazarus in the gospel of Luke, one of the members challenged the group to meet in a more public location.
Just like the rich man in the gospel, the men meeting at the church had all the riches of God’s grace and salvation while in the centre of town there were many other men who were missing out on the blessing of knowing Jesus.
The group decided they should meet under the big tree on the oval at the centre of town – a common meeting place for many Aboriginal people. So now on Monday mornings, a core group gathers with guitars, a thermos and a Bible to spend time having a cuppa, singing, discussing the gospel and praying. And every week a handful of extra men (and sometimes women) who are on the oval join them.
Chris said: “We now have an extra point of contact with these men, many of whom are struggling with alcoholism, and they have another opportunity to hear the gospel.
“It’s been great for the boldness of the Christian men too as they publicly identify themselves as followers of Jesus.