Stepping out in love and action

During August and September, more than one thousand members and friends of our Lutheran Church have been stepping out all over Australia in Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) Walk My Way events, walking, strolling, striding or waving (encouraging others) to protect refugee girls in danger of child marriage in Kenya and Somalia.

Events have been held in Brisbane, Dalby, Cairns and most recently in Aberfoyle Park in suburban Adelaide on 12 September. Events are soon to be held in Canberra and Sydney.

A sea of blue Walk My Way T-shirts filled each event, peppered with the pink caps worn by the highest fundraisers. These events raised much-needed funds and provided an incredible witness to those walking past.

Walking along the Brisbane River, marshals and participants at the Brisbane Walk My Way were regularly stopped to ask: ‘What event is this?’ and ‘Wow, that’s an amazing cause to walk for!’

At Aberfoyle Park, police cars stopped traffic at a busy intersection along the route so participants could walk safely, and the community could see there was a very special event happening.

At these events, our church has been united in walking the way of Jesus, sharing his love through practical action. Walk My Way is an initiative of ALWS, the international aid and development agency of the LCANZ.

Each $100 raised helps provide an education for refugee children. For girls living in refugee communities, education can be life-changing. In these communities, girls as young as eight may be married – the cultural norm but sometimes given in marriage so families can receive the bride price and have one less mouth to feed.

Education helps protect girls from early marriage, gives girls greater safety and stability, and opens the door to future opportunities. Staying in school means girls are more likely to build confidence, develop skills and have a stronger voice in the decisions that shape their lives. And as the local MP Erin Thompson, Member for Davenport, reflected in her welcome speech at Aberfoyle Park, ‘the gift of education can never be taken away’.

These events have also been a beautiful way for our church to gather together. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus says, ‘where two or three gather in my name, I am with them.’ This has most certainly been true at these events!

Our Saviour congregation were truly gracious hosts for the Aberfoyle Park walk, providing a sausage sizzle, biscuits, uplifting music, afternoon tea, a plant stall and all-round generous hospitality. They welcomed congregation teams from Glynde, St Michael’s Hahndorf, McLaren Vale, Warradale, Pilgrim Magill, staff at LLL (including CEO Karen Pienaar and her family), and teachers from Immanuel Gawler and Encounter Lutheran College, as well as many individuals, families and friends.

To date, $164,000 has been raised, protecting 1,640 girls from child marriage through the gift of education. Our Lutheran Church truly is a church where love comes to life!

Donations can be made to www.alws.org.au/precious or walkmyway.org.au

You can also host your own Walk My Way event for your local community.

Rachel Kuchel is the community action coordinator at ALWS.