Pastors & Staff

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

Ivan Christian first arrived at Ntaria (Hermannsburg) in 1977 to teach in the Finke River Mission (FRM) outstation schools.

In 2016 Jimmy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Still serving as a faithful Pastor until he was hospitalised, he died at Pmara Jutunta (6 mile) on 30 November 2016.

In the 1990s, my family and I lived in Alice Springs where I was a motor mechanic for eight years. There I was first challenged by God to go to Australian Lutheran College.

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.

Jimmy Haines has been working faithfully as an evangelist and pastor for the last 25 years. He was ordained on 4th October 1998 at Ti Tree.

On Sunday, 15 November, at Kiwirrkura, which must surely be the most remote community of the Lutheran Church in Australia, John West was ordained by LCA Bishop John Henderson.

On Sunday 15 November, Neville Doecke was installed as Pastoral Support Worker for the Western Arrarnta communities of Central Australia.

Lutheran evangelist of more than 40 years, Tjuki Pumpjack, died at Imanpa on 7 September 2015. Born in 1924, Tjuki was a great leader and helper for his people.

Pastor Rodney Malbunka was recently ordained at Hermannsburg. Alice Springs historian, Josie Petrick, has known his family ever since 1962. This is her story about Rodney and his family.