Pastors & Staff

Despite a COVID-19 lockdown forcing a last-minute change of plans, Stanley Roberts was ordained in unique circumstances as a Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) at Papunya in the Northern Territory in November.

Pastor Paul Haines died on 24 October 2020 from complications of advanced diabetes. He was in the palliative care unit of Alice Springs Hospital, surrounded by family.

Pre-1950 the Lutheran missionary Pastor F W Albrecht began visiting the remote Alyawarr area (the Sandover region), 300 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs.

Early this year Michael Jacobsen and his wife Hanne were delighted to host a guest from Germany for two weeks. During Rev Arnim Doerfer’s stay, they were able to give him a detailed insight into the varied work and eventful history of Finke River Mission.

Philip was a master communicator and his natural ability at language and his strong involvement in traditional cultural activities meant that he was often the obvious person chosen to organise and manage major activities in his community.

For Michael Jacobsen, it is very important to communicate directly with the Aboriginal people, and this is not possible without the Alyawarr language.

On Sunday 13 October, nearly 200 people attended the ordination service for Jeffrey Wheeler at Mount Liebig.

On 23 December 2018, Janie and Margaret Campbell were installed as church workers by Pastor Phillip Wilyuka and Malcolm Willcocks.

The Board for the LCA’s Finke River Mission (FRM) has paid tribute to the ministry of the late Pastor Max Stollznow.

Pastor Hezekiel Jingoona was born in 1938 at Pitarulu, south-east of Docker River. His father was Maanma (born 1916) and his mother was Yuminiya (born 1927). His sisters were Ruby Wheeler and Maureen Bob.