Pastors & Staff

There were only two windows of opportunity for me to meet and get to know Kwementyay Haines, who passed away earlier in 2024. I’d like now to tell the story of our small interaction with him, as he performed final checks of two Gospels in Anmatyerr, John’s Gospel in 2010 and Luke’s Gospel in 2018…. Read more

Recently we received visitors from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria (ELCB), Arnim Doerfer (Missione Eine Welt – Mission One World) and Martin Klein. It was to be a full weekend in terms of Indigenous ministry – three communion services in three communities, from Laramba to Ti Tree, a round trip over 650 kilometers. Though… Read more

Based in Alice Springs Lutheran Church, Pastor Stephen Radke will focus on ministry in the Alice Springs town camps and across other Central Australian communities. The installation was conducted by Pastor Rob Borgas, a former Pastoral Support Worker in the Pitjantjatjara language area and a current member of the Finke River Mission (FRM) board. Pastor… Read more

Pastor Marcus Wheeler led the palm-weaving procession into the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Hermannsburg on Palm Sunday this year, his last full service as a pastor. Over sixteen and a half years ago, in the very same church, Pastor Mike Semmler, then President of the Lutheran Church of Australia, ordained Pastor Marcus. His ordination took place… Read more

Alice Springs Lutheran Church held its long-awaited confirmations on 23 June 2024. Five young women confirmed their Christian faith: Rhonda Bob, Shanille Braybon, Ella Williams, Jordyn Williams and Mariah Meurant. Each of these had completed their Confirmation studies over the past 12 months. Rhonda attended school at Yirara College years ago but missed the opportunity… Read more

After arriving in Alice Springs for the ordination of Malcolm Willcocks on 10 December 2023, LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith and SA–NT Bishop Andrew Brook took a trip out to Hermannsburg to meet people and have a look around.

New FRM Board chair Marcia Hoffmann shares her thoughts on her role so far.

The ordination and installation of Malcolm Willcocks as a Specific Ministry Pastor took place on 10 December 2023.

Before I came to Central Australia, Pastor Paul Albrecht gave me three pieces of advice. The first was to be kangkintja – a Western Arrarnta word for a kind and loving man. The second was to be a pastor and trust that people would soon get to know who I was and why I was there.

Yirara College has appointed a new principal, Mr Wesley Meurant. With the utmost heartfelt thanks, we say farewell to Mr Chris England and send well wishes for his next journey in life.