Where is God working today?
by Delton Schiller CEO, Murray Bridge Lutheran Homes
Where is God working today? He is in our own backyard, in our homes, our communities, and in the everyday lives of ordinary people. To me, he is very visible. Yet I sometimes wonder whether we all notice him day after day, week after week, and year after year.
God is working through your hands and mine – constantly shaping the environments in which we live, work, care and serve. I see this clearly through the work taking place at Murray Bridge Lutheran Homes Inc. and within our independent living retirement villages at Swanport Village and Murray Heights Village. At both sites, there has been continual growth, development and renewal. Buildings change, communities evolve, and people come and go through different seasons of life. Yet through it all, God’s presence remains constant.
Swanport Village, established in the early 1980s, has grown into a vibrant community of 73 homes centred around a welcoming Village Centre. Over many years we have welcomed residents into our care and farewelled others into God’s eternal care. In many ways, village life reminds me of reading the Bible – the words remain the same, yet as we grow through life’s journey, God continues to reveal new meaning and understanding to us.
The same can be said for our villages. While the foundations remain, the communities continue to grow and evolve. Units are upgraded, homes are renewed, and new residents become part of the life and story of the village. There is always change. And that is the exciting part – we are not called to stay the same. Tomorrow will always bring new challenges and opportunities, but God promises to walk beside us every step of the way.
One of the most significant projects currently underway at Murray Heights Village is the development of six new stand-alone villas. These modern two-bedroom homes are designed to meet today’s expectations for comfort, accessibility and independent living while continuing to provide security, support and connection within a caring community. Alongside these villas, we are nearing completion of expanded community facilities – a project many years in the making. The journey has included planning processes, council approvals, financial challenges and countless hours of work, but we are now seeing the vision become reality. This is one of the largest projects ever undertaken at Murray Heights and it reflects a growing need within our broader community.
As the Baby Boomer generation enters retirement and aged care services are increasing, Australia faces enormous pressure across housing, hospitals and aged care systems. Every day we see evidence that more people are searching for secure, supportive and connected communities in which to live.
While the challenges are significant, we believe the work we are doing matters deeply. Our prayer is that we may continue to serve and develop our communities in ways that allow us to be God’s hands and feet – offering security, housing, support, love and community to those who need it most.
We anticipate our expanded Community Centre will be operational by mid-year, with the first residents moving into the new villas by Christmas. Later this year, we hope to hold an Open Day and official dedication of the new facilities. It will be an opportunity not only to showcase the development, but also to celebrate the blessings of God’s work here in Murray Bridge. And perhaps that is where we see him most clearly – not only in buildings or projects, but in people caring for people. That is where God continues to work today.
Published in Together magazine, Winter 2026
