‘God has always looked after us’
I was born out in the bush on 16 October 1947, so now I am 75 years old. When I was young I never thought I would become a pastor. I was a stockman, riding horses, doing cattle work.
I learnt to be a builder, too. I helped build houses at Ntaria and churches in some other communities. I helped blast the sandstone rocks from the hillside quarry across the Finke; there’s a picture of me when I was 19. They used the rocks to build this new church here.
I also drove the mission truck to take stores from Alice Springs to Areyonga and Ntaria along rough, two-furrowed tracks. I would often drink too much. Then I married Betty [Albert Namatjira’s granddaughter]. We were married in the old church by Pastor Doug Radke. Betty says she always prayed for me to stay away from drink, to keep safe and follow God’s ways.
I went to lots of bush courses to learn about the Bible and God. I was 60 years old already and they said I should be a pastor. So I did. On 25 November 2007 President Mike Semmler ordained me.
My happiest times as a pastor are when I teach and read the Bible. The best time was when my grandson Jeffery was ordained as a pastor at Mt Liebig by Bishop John Henderson. I was very proud.
The saddest times are when we have had to bury younger family members. That’s hard.
Betty always comes with me wherever I go to support me. And God has always looked after us both, keeping us safe, healthy and together as partners.
Marcus Wheeler is a pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ntaria (Hermannsburg) NT.
In a worship service at Ntaria (Hermannsburg) on 27 November 2022, the 15-year service of Pastor Marcus was acknowledged. A certificate was presented to him, and his favourite hymn, ‘God be with you till we meet again’, was sung.
