Pastors & Staff

It is with great joy that we welcome longtime SIL linguist David Strickland, who has joined the Finke River Mission team as a support worker in the Anmatyerr Language Area.

In March this year, I joined the Lutheran Mission Development (LMD) Board. This board was established to support and promote the aims, beliefs and articles of faith of the Lutheran Church of Australia.

Pastor Philippus (‘Longjack’) Tjakamarra passed away on 25 August 2020.

Pastor Trevor Tjampitjinpa Raggett passed away at his outstation near Haasts Bluff (227 km west of Alice Springs) on 26 November 2020, a few weeks shy of his 66th birthday. He was the son of Pastor Obed Raggett, a much-loved and respected former pastor at Papunya.

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.