Aboriginal/Indigenous Ministry

Background

Finke River Mission (FRM), together with Alice Springs Lutheran Church, Lutheran Community Care, Yirara College, and Living Waters Lutheran School, brings God’s saving gospel to Lutherans in Central Australia. The work is focused on ministry among over 6000 Aboriginal Christians who identify as Lutheran in the southern part of the Northern Territory and extending from the Queensland border to just over the Western Australia border. These Aboriginal Lutherans in more than 40 communities are served by 28 pastors (20 Aboriginal) and dozens of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal leaders and trainee pastors.

There are four main areas of Aboriginal ministry in the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA):

• Central Australia – Finke River Mission, a ministry of the churchwide LCA
• South Australia (Far West Coast and urban Adelaide)
  Contact the South Australia – Northern Territory District on 08 8267 5211
• Far North Queensland
  Contact the Queensland District on 07 3511 4000
• the church’s ministry to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders encompasses all our ministry spaces, including within our own local congregations, schools, and other Lutheran communities.

The LCA has a long and deep relationship with Aboriginal ministry, spanning some 150 years. In 2018, the LCA partnered with Reconciliation Australia to develop its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Now endorsed by the General Church Board and Reconciliation Australia, our LCA RAP speaks to the commitment our church has made, and is a call to action, to further the church’s vision of reconciliation. It is to bring to life an expression of our ministry that all peoples recognise, understand, value and respect the histories, cultures, lands, and contributions of First Nations peoples as we honour our common humanity as children of God. Our LCA RAP invites every one of us to be involved – our congregations, schools, and communities.

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How we serve

With support from Australian Lutheran College, FRM is responsible for the training of Aboriginal pastors and other leaders who proclaim the good news of salvation to their people in six languages. The FRM Board coordinates the work of supporting church leaders, as well as providing Bibles, hymns, and other worship resources in language, and promoting appropriate literacy programs. Through Yirara College, FRM provides Christian secondary education to up to 300 Aboriginal boarding students annually from remote Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland. Additionally, at the request of the local community, FRM operates a general store and the Old Mission Precinct at Hermannsburg.

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How you can serve with us

Donate

The LCA ministry in Central Australia relies heavily on donations from organisations and individuals within the church and community. Visit the Donate page on our website to find out ways to support us.

Pray

We are grateful to everyone who supports our work through their prayers. Please sign up for our regular eNewsletter so we can keep you informed about our work and particular prayer needs. Go to www.lca.org.au/enews, follow the prompts to the list of eNews, and select ‘Finke River Mission’ from the churchwide section.

Volunteering and employment

Each year dozens of volunteers give their time and energy to help provide services and maintain places of worship and other buildings. These opportunities are ideal for congregation or interest groups (men, women, youth) – and for grey nomads escaping cold winters! Although the conditions in which you will work might be challenging, the relationships you will build with the local community will more than make up for it.

The Lutheran agencies in Central Australia are regularly looking for committed Christian people to fill employment vacancies. These are advertised through LCA eNews and FRM eNews (sign up at www.lca.org.au/enews), or send your resume to admin@finkerivermission.org.au

Service-learning for schools

FRM partners with Lutheran Education Australia in providing service-learning opportunities for students. Contact us if you are looking for ways to connect your students’ faith with practical service.

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