Training

In late September the people of Imanpa, a Pitjantjatjara community 270 kilometres southwest of Alice Springs, welcomed Indigenous church leaders from all over Central Australia to a teaching course.

When Rita Okai graduated from her Certificate III course in Christian Ministry and Theology in 2017, she was quite possibly the first Indigenous Lutheran in central Australia to have ever graduated with a tertiary theological qualification in the 140-year history of the FRM.

On Saturday 1 July, ABC TV will screen a documentary about the work of the Finke River Mission on their Compass religious affairs program.

Professional Standards officers have delivered the first ever LCA Standards of Ethical Behaviour presentation specifically for Aboriginal pastors and church workers – all the way out at Docker River.

Mark Thiel has been serving Aboriginal people in the Lutheran Church of Australia for over 30 years at various locations in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Storytelling has always been a major way of teaching in every culture. Bible storytelling was the focus of the 2016 FRM Aboriginal Women’s Bible Leadership Camp led by Ann Eckert.

FRM offers three ‘bush’ courses every year to provide theological training for pastors and potential pastors. FRM also provides at least one ‘bush’ course per year for indigenous women.

Lost and found – this was the theme of the Finke River Mission women’s Bible Study camp, held this year at the Mission Block in Alice Springs.

What is the church? Where can we find it? Who is part of it? This is what 40 women gathered to consider on the banks of the Areyonga (Utju) Creek.

Many travellers, from early explorers down to present day outback adventurers have died from lack of water. No water, no life. That’s as true for our spiritual lives as it is for our physical lives.