Pastors & Staff

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.

Meet Michael Tjapiard: ‘People from my community kept asking me to become a pastor. I also believed that God was calling me, so I become a pastor.’

Rev Michael Jacobsen has been called to the FRM. He and his wife Hanne come from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria.

On 14 January 2018, Kunpry Peipei was installed as a parish worker by Pastor Hezekiel Jingoona and Mark Reid at Mutitjulu Lutheran Church where she regularly leads Sunday services, and assists with Holy Communion.

On Sunday 26 November, the Hermannsburg congregation celebrated 10 years of faithful ministry from Pastor Marcus Wheeler.

On Sunday 17 September 2017, Marlene Abbott was installed as a parish worker at Docker River Lutheran Church to help resident pastor Roy Yaltjanki with regular Sunday services.

Sunday 27 August 2017 was a very happy day for Hermannsburg, visitors and family who gathered to witness the ordination of Ingkaarta Neville Doecke.