Finke River Mission

Our mission

Live, promote, teach and nurture the proclamation of the gospel among the indigenous people of central Australia according to the Scriptures and the Confessions of the Lutheran Church

Click here to read our full Mission Statement.

Our activities

• 60 Indigenous Pastors/Leaders, 30 Communities,
  5 Languages
  Lutheran ministry among the Indigenous Christians in central Australia covers the Arrarnta, Pitjantjatjara, Luritja, Alyawarr, Anmatyer language groups. Over 60 Indigenous pastors and church leaders proclaim the gospel in about 30 remote communities in central Australia. Click here for more information about our Language Areas.
• Leadership Development
  Finke River Mission (FRM) employs ordained and lay fieldworkers who work actively in remote communities alongside indigenous pastors and church workers to nurture Christian faith and assist with leadership development. Leadership is also enhanced through regular in-service teaching conducted by Australian Lutheran College whose staff provide theological and literacy programs.
• Yirara College
  Through FRM the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) also provides Christian secondary education at Yirara College in Alice Springs to approximately 200 Indigenous boarding students from remote Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland. Click here for more information about Yirara College.
• Hermannsburg General Store
  FRM operates a general store service to Hermannsburg at the request of the local community. 
• Community Care and Training
  Community care and training services in central Australia are provided through Lutheran Community Care.
• Christ in the Centre
  Christ in the Centre is a twice-yearly publication of FRM that covers only a fraction of the important activities that occur in the centre. Christ in the Centre is distributed widely throughout the LCA community.
  Click here to see the current and previous editions of Christ in the Centre:
  Summer 2011/12
  Winter 2011
  Summer 2010/11
  Winter 2010
  Summer 2009/10

Our history

For over 130 years FRM has served the Indigenous people in central Australia. During this time involvement has ranged from hospital and health, education and training, and distribution of food and clothes, as well as word and sacrament ministry and translation activities including the Bible, hymnbooks, catechisms and Bible stories.

In 2011 we celebrate the 135th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries at Hermannsburg, located on the Finke River in central Australia. This was the beginning of the work among the Indigenous people in that area, which we know as the Finke River Mission of the Lutheran Church of Australia. Click here for more information about our history and anniversary.

Management

The Finke River Mission Board, which meets for a full day four times per year, includes pastors, lay workers and Indigenous representation, as well as people with experience living and working in and around Alice Springs. FRM also employs a full-time executive officer, who is based in Alice Springs.

Support us

Lutheran Church activities in central Australia rely significantly on donations from organisations and individuals within the broader church and community. If you would like to contribute to this work please click the donation link.

Contact us

Finke River Mission Board
Email: frm@lca.org.au

Executive Officer
Brenton Schild
Phone: 08 8952 4666
Email: brenton.schild@lca.org.au