Pastors & Staff

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.

After six years away from Central Australia working with the Uniting Church in Darwin, I have recently begun working as the chaplain at Yirara College. Beginning again in Central Australia brings new questions and new ways of seeing things.

Pastor Charlie Cornelius Chirrup was born in 1948 at Pitarulu, south of Docker River. His father was Munbungar (Joseph Kunia, born 1916) and his mother was Mitjina (Lucy Punkala, born 1931). His brothers were Paul, Prossie, Ted and Frank, and he had one sister, Jean.

In an echo of its beginnings 140 years ago, the LCA’s Finke River Mission (FRM) has again welcomed a German pastor to serve in Central Australia.