Finke River Mission - Anniversary

Quicklinks

• Give thanks to the Lord
• The Governor Said It First
• What followed their arrival?
• Background - The Mission Trek Northwards
• How can congregations celebrate?
• Support FRM with Prayer and Praise
• Prayer thoughts
• Prayer is valued and appreciated
• Praise the Lord with Song
• Songs - English
• Songs - Aboriginal languages

• Sermon relating to Aboriginal Missions
• Spot message
• Support FRM with donations and bequests
• Meet FRM's friend, SAM
• Samples of Aboriginal words
• Let's go on together
• 'The Last Supper' Art Print
• Be a Barnabas
• Celebrate God's Work Together
• 'Dankilai' - Give Thanks

Give Thanks To the Lord! Back to Top

Members of the Lutheran Church of Australia and supporters of our Church's mission in central Australia, have much to thank the Lord for!

Lutheran hymnwriter Jaroslav Vajda wrote:

'So much to sing about,
So much to thank Him for;
So much we cannot do without,
And so much more'.

So it is for all of us, as the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) celebrates the beginnings of Finke River Mission 135 years ago in 1875. FRM's beginning was humble -- two new inexperienced pastors in a wagon, going bush and enduring almost 20 months of gut-wrenching hardship just to get there. Drought, heat, isolation, sickness, set backs and ten years before the first conversions of just seven Aboriginal teenagers in 1885. Food and funding shortfalls followed. Lack of medicines, poor communication, scurvy outbreaks, all continued to disrupt the Mission. Yes and yet the Lord gave His blessing and the Gospel spread far and wide with inspiring outcomes still abundantly evident today. Give thanks to the Lord...for He is good!

Let all LCA congregations give thanks and renew a commitment to support this vital Synodical ministry, as we walk together with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters.

The Governor Said It First Back to Top

When South Australia was proclaimed a colony by its first Governor, John Hindmarsh on 28 December 1836, he made special reference to Aboriginal people, charging the new colonists 'to assist in the promotion of their advancement and ultimately, under the blessing of divine providence, to accomplish their conversion to the Christian faith'.

When explorer John Macdouall Stuart raised the flag in central Australia on Central Mount Stuart in 1862, he said, 'May it be a sign to the natives that the dawn of civilisation, liberty and Christianity is about to break on them'. For Aboriginal people in 'the Centre', this dawn began to break 135 years ago.

Motivated more by Scriptural injunction than by the Governor's proclamation or the explorer's claim, local Lutherans undertook a variety of mission projects before looking at the possibilities in central Australia.

On 22 October 1875 they sent two young pastors northward into the harsh outback. On the banks of the Finke River they established a mission. That Mission grew like the biblical mustard seed, spreading throughout central Australia resulting in untold thousands coming to faith in Jesus Christ.

Today we celebrate and give thanks for the vision of those early Lutherans and for the dedication of the two who set off 135 years ago.

What followed their arrival? Back to Top

Pastors Hermann Kempe and Wilhelm Schwarz demonstrated amazing faith

On Friday 22 October 1875 the first two missionaries from Germany, Pastors Kempe and Schwarz, began their trek to central Australia to establish what is now known as Finke River Mission (FRM).

They set off from Bethany in the Barossa Valley in South Australia in 1875, arriving only almost 20 months later on 8 June 1877.

Inaugural LCA President Dr Max Lohe said, 'In the annals of missionary endeavour, this journey stands alone.'

Since those distant beginnings, we have seen God's Spirit at work through the ministry of Word and sacraments. Early missionaries and those that followed them preached and taught the faith, reaching out further from Hermannsburg as time went on. The need for such evangelistic ministry gradually changed as the people themselves grew spiritually and church leaders emerged to teach the Word themselves.

Now God has raised up Aboriginal pastors and evangelists to serve their own people. Today 21 pastors minister to some 6,000 people in 60 communities. They do this at no cost to the LCA. This has been a most helpful development resulting in pastors ministering in their own languages and with full knowledge of their local culture. Our Church's support for these LCA congregations needs to continue.

At present cultural factors prevent these congregations from making use of the institutions that we as a Church provide for other congregations. We instruct pastors at the Australian Theological College (ALC), but educational requirements for entry into the ALC, as well as its curriculum, are designed with non-Aboriginal congregations in mind. Also, the men to be trained for ordination have very limited English ability and limited knowledge of non-Aboriginal culture. Yet, when taught in their own language, these same men are equally capable of grasping the deep theological truths taught at our Seminary. In addition, traditional Aboriginal people have a strong relationship with their families and their own country, such that they would find it almost impossible to apply themselves adequately to the necessary studies.

Gifted linguists have worked with tribal languages, translating the Bible, Luther's Small Catechism, worship resources, commentaries and many hymns and Christian songs. Yet there is still more to be done.

Pray the Lord of the harvest to send more labourers, and to provide resources to support them. Today there is still much to do.

More pastors are needed. Further translation work is waiting. Earlier translations need revision. New areas must be reached. Limited funds can be restrictive. Nevertheless, we have good reason to give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

In this 135th Anniversary Year, we invite you to join with others throughout the Church to thank the Lord and to commit to continued support for this vital work which includes...

• Teaching literacy so people can read God's Word in their own languages
• Instructing church leaders, especially preparing men for ordination
• Conducting regular in-service study courses for pastors and evangelists
• Providing the Bible and other literature in the languages of the people
• Helping pastors and congregations with spiritual counsel and support

Background - The mission trek northwards Back to Top

After a lot of correspondence going to and fro between Australia and Germany, and much discussion between the Church and the SA government, the small Lutheran Church in South Australia (ELSA) received approval from the government to establish a mission among the Arrarnta people west of Alice Springs. Recent explorers William Gosse and Ernest Giles had reported sighting many Aboriginal people near the Finke River.

The year was 1875. The government granted a 900 square mile lease which included part of the Finke River. More negotiations with the Hermannsburg Mission Society in northern Germany eventually resulted in a number of new pastors being commissioned on 25 June 1875 and sent to Australia, two of whom were to be missionaries to the Arrarnta Aborigines. The others were to take up parish ministries in various parts of Australia. They sailed from Hamburg on 21 July (not much time to prepare!), arriving in Adelaide on 16 September.

The two missionaries were Hermann (A H) Kempe and Wilhelm (W F) Schwarz, who fortunately were tradesmen with skills that would serve them well both as they travelled and after they arrived. The Church did not waste any time. The men were commissioned at St Michael's, Hahndorf on Wednesday 20 October when the Mission superintendent, Pastor Georg Heidenreich, preached on John 14:6 'I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me'. The men then left for the Finke River just two days later.

For chronological perspective, we note that all this took place in 1875, the same year that Hans Christian Anderson died, Albert Schweitzer was born, Benjamin Disraeli was the British Prime Minister and Alexander Graham Bell conducted the first successful voice transmission by wire. In that same year Georges Bizet's opera Carmen premiered in Paris, Bizet himself died soon after, and the Sydney Town Hall was completed.

So, as the world went about its business, on Friday 22 October many Lutherans from Barossa congregations gathered at Bethany to farewell the missionaries.

Children from the Bethany Lutheran School sang 'Lead Thou Me On', then together with one layman, Mr Huebbe, they climbed aboard their horse-drawn wagon. It was rather late in the day and before nightfall, they travelled only seven miles to Siegersdorf (Dorienn)...not really dramatic progress!

On Sunday they rested and had a worship service in a local hotel. Was it perhaps the first 'pub church'? They could not know what problems they would face in the coming months. Within days of leaving they had horse trouble and had to buy a replacement animal. Once a wagon jack-knifed and a crate of eggs was smashed, so they gathered up what they could and for dinner that night they enjoyed scrambled eggs. So it went on, with difficulties usually far more dramatic than a few lost eggs.

This early re-enactment captures something of the difficulty travelling almost 2,000kms on a slow and not-too-comfortable conveyance.

Their major challenges revolved around water and the weather. It was the beginning of a summer that was to be one of the worst white settlers had seen. The heat, dust, flies and horrific drought conditions plagued them within a week or two of travelling. Just past Melrose, they went through the Flinders Range at Horrocks' Pass and when descending on the western side of the Range, they were struck by blistering hot north winds.

For the first weeks, Kempe kept a diary in which he described what they experienced. Sometimes the dust reduced visibility to only a few yards. They could hardly see their horses. They themselves had parched and blistered lips as temperatures soared to around 104 degrees Fahrenheit day after day. Planning each day around the availability of water supplies for the horses was a constant struggle. They tried to sleep in a tent, but during the night the north wind blew it away. They then spent most nights under the wagon.

Some nights the horses wandered far from camp and much time was wasted looking for them next morning. They received some help from Superintendent Heidenreich who met up with them on horseback and did what arranging of supplies he could. Still they struggled to find adequate water and feed for the horses, and they wondered why they were being tested in this way.

When they were barely four weeks away from their starting point, and after already enduring enormous hardship and deprivation, Kempe wrote,

'Yes, often our courage nearly fails us. Often I have been almost tempted to exclaim in the words of the prophet: 'It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life,' for I am sick at heart. But then again I tell myself that we are in the Lord's service, that He has sent us and will always be with us. He will also know why He deals with us in such a way, and that everything is happening in our best interests, even though we do not understand His ways.'

It was only 27 November and they were barely 500 miles from Adelaide.

For the remainder of their journey, they faced similar and still ever increasing new problems. The drought was severe. Seemingly never-ending sandhills hindered progress. From the declining mission at Killalpaninna, they took over some 3,000 sheep, plus other livestock, all of which made their search for water the more pressing.

Details of the remaining months are too complex to adequately describe here, except to say that, when they reach Dalhousie Springs and found good supplies of water, they found also many others who were droving sheep and cattle and wanted to share the life-giving liquid. So it transpired that they spent over six months there before some rains came. Even then they could not move since they needed drovers to help them with the mob of sheep. Other livestock owners paid higher wages for drovers than the missionaries could afford, so they had to wait until the drovers had finished their better-paying work. So eventually, only on 8 June they arrived at the site for their mission station. What might have been expected to take two months, had taken them almost 20 months of gruelling travel through unimaginable country in stifling heat and waterless tracks.

The mission settlement was named Hermannsburg after the missionaries' 'hometown' in Germany. In April 1878 they were joined by a follow-up group from Germany including Pastor Schulze. Initial contacts with the Arrarnta people were difficult but, by 1885, a school was started, a chapel was built, carols and a reading primer were produced in Arrarnta, mediation was undertaken with hostile white station owners, and seven teenagers were baptised.

Despite these achievements, the early years were plagued with further hardships, eg isolation, illness, lack of medical aid, droughts, severe frosts, disappointing spiritual experiences, and unpleasant confrontations with local police as the missionaries acted to protect the people from exploitation and worse.

From mission to Church, with Aboriginal pastors administering Word and sacraments.

However, the missionaries persisted with language learning, translation and teaching. Missionary Kempe compiled the first dictionary and grammar in the Arrarnta language. In 1891 the Hermannsburg Mission Society printed and published a volume for Christian instruction and worship in Arrarnta. It contained a catechism, Bible stories, psalms, prayers and fifty- three hymns. A treatise on the habits and customs of the Finke River Aboriginal people and the geography of the area was complied by Missionary Schulze and published by the Royal Society of South Australia in 1891.

Other missionaries followed, most notable Pastors Carl Strehlow and FW Albrecht, who helped consolidate the mission with strong Bible teaching, reaching further remote peoples and the establishment of local industries. In 1964 the first two Aboriginal pastors were ordained, Conrad Rabaraba and .

Today 21 Aboriginal Lutheran pastors are serving some 60 congregations in five Aboriginal languages, supported by the LCA staff through Finke River Mission.

The Church gives thanks to Almighty God that, just as they had done during their journey north, the earliest missionaries kept at it because as Hermann Kempe said, '...we are in the Lord's service...'. Inspiring indeed!

How can congregations celebrate? Back to Top

Firstly: Many congregations have included FRM in general prayers in October or November 2010, with a special mission offering as appropriate.

Secondly: In 2011/12 many will give thanks in some more-special ways and celebrate the zeal and commitment evidenced by those first two missionaries and those who followed them. They will tell the FRM story. They will become excited at what the Lord is doing. They will involve young and old. They will mark the Anniversary with a series of special events and support their continuing Synodical work in the heart of the nation.

As a start, Finke River Mission has provided some ideas and resources below to help congregations and support groups stimulate their thinking. They will spark your thoughts further and you will develop many creative ideas suitable to your own situation.

Whatever you think of, you are encouraged to do it! Do it for the glory of God and the spiritual welfare of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters.

Yes, your involvement will surely benefit the people served by FRM. It also will enlarge the view of your own people, as they are taken out of their local scene and transported vicariously to central Australia and the ministry in which they are already involved through the wider Church family.

Invite people to consider joining with others to:

• Surround this ministry with prayer
• Give to support it

From Our LCA President Back to Top

LCA President Rev Dr Mike Semmler speaks strongly about FRM.

The 135th Anniversary of the beginnings of Finke River Mission is a good time to render thanks to the one who says to us, 'Go and proclaim my message. I will be with you'.

Despite many unimaginable mission hardships, unknown thousands of Aboriginal people have accepted the Gospel, as our Lord has given grace upon grace. Still now our Church is blessed to have FRM staff doing a selfless yet powerful work of ministry.

I urge all congregations to give thanks for what God has done and still is doing through FRM in central Australia. It is my earnest prayer that the Lord will open the hearts of our LCA to once again generously support this work of God's Kingdom.

Rev Dr Mike Semmler
LCA General President

Support FRM and the Aboriginal People with Prayer Back to Top

When staff and visitors ask the Aboriginal people what to tell fellow Lutherans in other parts of Australia the answer is almost invariably, 'Tell them to pray for us.' Some of them specify what to pray for. For example, 'Pray that God will make us pastors strong in God's Word.' 'Pray that the young people will keep coming to church'. 'Tell them to pray for God to stop the devil working here'.

This recurring theme resonates still today. What can you do for FRM and the people they serve?

Please Pray!

• 'The prayer of the righteous person achieves a great deal'. James 5:16
• 'Always keep on praying for all the saints.' Eph 6:12

FRM asks people to pray. It can be helpful to use the latest issue of the FRM Newsletter 'CHRIST in the CENTRE', and these web pages as resources for specific prayer needs.

• In Sunday services, include FRM staff and Aboriginal church leaders in general prayers.
• Pray in personal devotion times, family devotions and small groups.
• Include FRM prayer needs in women's fellowships, youth meetings and men's groups.
• Arrange an FRM prayer vigil. Invite members to visit your church any time during a period of eight days (announce opening times). Encourage them to give 15 or more minutes to pray either in pews or at the altar rail. To all who come, hand out a brief leaflet referring to the power of prayer and including some specific FRM prayer needs. Be sure to include petitions for both the power of the Gospel to be evident, also the power of Satan to be held in check. For those who cannot attend the church, urge them to pray privately through the week, so that the whole congregation joins in prayer.

Prayer is valued and appreciated Back to Top

Pastor Simon Dixon at prayer. The Aboriginal people pray and ask others to pray for them too

Not long ago, FRM linguist and Luritja support person Paul Traeger wrote of the value of prayer for FRM staff. This could be read in Sunday worship before the general prayer, or printed in Sunday Bulletin.

SOME think being an FRM missionary in the outback must be difficult and must require a person of outstanding spiritual calibre.

Yes, there are of course some difficult moments and the work certainly can be very different, but a 'missionary' is not so very different from people in other vocations.

We grow weary sometimes. We face temptations. We need God's forgiveness. We laugh. We cry. Most days we enjoy our work and we enjoy time to relax.

More obviously than most perhaps, we see Satan working. He hates pastors being trained and Bible translation. He causes disruptions, broken relationships and hindrances of many kinds.

This is a key reason we are glad that others in the Church are praying for us, for FRM's work and for Aboriginal pastors and people.

If there is any encouragement to give, it is St Paul's call in
Romans 12:12, 'Be...faithful in prayer!'.

Prayer thoughts Back to Top

• Give thanks and praise for the vision and commitment of the early church in 1875 and for the two first missionaries who journeyed north 'in the Lord's service'.
• Praise God for those who followed in later years, spending much of their lives to advance the kingdom of God in 'the Red Centre'. Pray for the power of the Gospel to continue in 'the Centre'.
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire and strengthen both FRM staff and Aboriginal pastors, who serve in some very difficult and remote situations.
• Ask the Lord to rebuke Satan as he seeks to disrupt, distract and destroy the progress and influence of the Gospel in central Australian Aboriginal communities.
• Ask God to raise up more Aboriginal men to study God's Word with a view to ordination.
• Give thanks that all congregations, indigenous and non-indigenous, are able to walk together as Synod in the ministry of reconciliation which He has given them. (2 Corinthians 5:18).
• Look for other prayer material in these pages and in recent issues of the FRM newsletter 'CHRIST in the CENTRE'.

Songs - English Back to Top

Sing a new FRM Song

Like this Hermannsburg Women's Choir, most Aboriginal people love to sing for God.

When your congregation chooses to give thanks for the work of the LCA through Finke River Mission, consider singing the hymn 'Glory be to God in heaven' (895 in ALH Supp.), adding these two supplementary verses. Or you could use these two verses alone. (Written by Irwin Traeger, permission granted by Finke River Mission.)

The Finke River People
(Words and music by Janelle Patch)

Other suitable song suggestions:

Lutheran Hymnal

All Together Books

Praise the Lord with Song Back to Top

From a very early age, the people enjoy singing which is very important to them.

You can praise God in the Arrarnta language to the tune of 'Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow')

Songs - Aboriginal languages Back to Top

Try singing these examples of translated Christian songs.
In a Sunday service these could be sung by choir, singing group or soloist.

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow! (Western Arrarnta)
NOTE: One syllable to most notes.

Be still and know that I am God (Luritja)
NOTE: Two syllables to most notes.

Amazing Grace (Luritja)
NOTE: One syllable to most notes.

Sermon relating to Aboriginal Missions Back to Top

(This sermon prepared by the LCA and included in the publication 'Working Words' for lay readers, could help with your sermon preparation.)

Text: Romans 1:14

(It can be helpful if the text is read in the following three versions NRSV / GNB/ CEV):

l am a debtor both to the Greeks and the barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.
For I have an obligation to all people, to the civilised and the savage, to the educated and the ignorant. It doesn't matter if people are civilised and educated, or if they are uncivilised and uneducated. I must tell the good news to everyone.

None of us like being in debt, although most of us have debts of one kind or another. It may be a mortgage on our house, an overdraft at the bank, or an extended purchase commitment. It could even be a simple favour we owe a friend from whom we have received a favour. Whatever kind of debt we have, our debt places us under an obligation to the financial institution or the person who has done us a favour.

Depending on the size and nature of the debt, the debt can stop us from doing things we might otherwise like to do. For example, we might want to buy something or go on a holiday, but find we cannot because of the need to first repay our debts.

However, we do not think of having an obligation to people we have never heard of, much less do not know. Nor do we think of ourselves as being in debt to people from whom we have never borrowed, and who have never done us a favour. And yet that is what St. Paul is speaking about when he speaks of his indebtedness. He speaks of being under an obligation to all kinds of people, be they civilised or uncivilised, be they educated or ignorant. These are all people he had never met. People who had done him no favours. People from whom he had borrowed nothing.

From where, then, did St. Paul's sense of indebtedness spring? What gave him a sense of obligation to these people he didn't know? It came from what Jesus Christ had done for him and in him. Let's listen to what St. Paul says about himself:

Others may boast about themselves, but I have more reason to boast than anyone else.
I was circumcised when I was eight days old, and l am from the nation of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a true Hebrew. As a Pharisee, I strictly obeyed the Law of Moses. And I was so eager that I even made trouble for the church. I did everything the Law demanded in order to p/ease God. But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. (Philippians 3:4-9 CEV)

St. Paul had been brought up to believe that if he kept the law of God perfectly, he would make himself acceptable to God. God showed him that this was self delusion. His own efforts could never make him accep­table. Only faith in what Jesus Christ had done could do this. It was this insight into which God had led him, that changed his whole life. This was fantastic news. It meant that now all people, whether they were civilised or un­civilised, educated or uneducated, could become acceptable to God - with all that meant - simply by putting their faith in what Christ had done. He simply had to share this news with people who did not yet know it. This was his debt; this was his obligation to people who did not yet know this good news.

On several occasions Jesus spoke of our sins as being debts, as in Matthew's version of the Lord's Prayer, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. It is these debts of ours that Jesus' sacrifice wiped out. Nowhere does the Scripture speak of what Jesus has done for us, as again placing us in debt to God. We do not owe God for our salvation. God's gift in which he has forgiven us our debts is free. However, as St. Paul reminds us, God freeing us of our debts places us under an obligation to tell others how they can have their debts forgiven. It is in this sense that St. Paul speaks of himself as being a debtor.

Our forebears came to Australia so that they could worship God and practice their faith in freedom as their consciences dictated. At the same time, they believed they were under an obligation to the indigenous people of our country. Despite still trying to establish themselves in a new land, they sought to discharge this debt.

We can be proud of their efforts under God. As a very small church they put more of their resources into mini­stry among the indigenous people than churches with a much larger membership. Although Lutherans were involved in early mission work among the indigenous people around Adelaide, the Australian Lutheran Church's first efforts at mission work was among the Dieri people at Killalpaninna (later known as Bethesda) in the north of South Australia. Then they began mission work at Hermannsburg in Central Australia, followed by Hope Vale in North Queensland and Koonibba on the west coast of South Australia. The mission work commenced at Hermannsburg and at Hope Vale and Koonibba last century has born fruit. God has blessed this work, so that where once there were missions, there are now indigenous Lutheran congregations, many with their own indigenous pastors.

In view of these developments that have taken place under the blessing of God, do we still have an obligation to these indigenous people, who are now our fellow Lutherans? Can't we say that the debt has been discharged, especially in view of the very tight financial situation facing the LCA?

There is a sense in which our church, the LCA, has substantially discharged its debt of bringing the Gospel to people who did not know it. The indigenous Lutheran congregations which have grown out of the missionary effort, are proof of this. Moreover, these congregations are now in a position to fund their own local expenses particularly the support of their pastors.

However, at present cultural factors prevent these congregations from making use of the institutions we as a church have established to serve the whole church. Take the example of our institution for training pastors, the seminary. Educational requirements for entry into the seminary, as well as its curriculum, are based upon standards that we regard as suitable for ministry in our Australian congregations. However, the seminary is not geared to train men who, while knowing their own indigenous language and culture, have only limited knowledge of English and of our culture. And yet these same men, when taught in their own language, are equally capable of grasping the deep theological truths taught at our Seminary.

So we need to provide an alternative path to ministry for these men, so that congregations that still use their indigenous language, can have pastors to nurture them with Word and Sacrament. This means we still need to supply men who are prepared to learn an indigenous language and then teach pastoral candidates in that language. In essence these men carry out the same function as our Seminary lecturers. We have other institutions in our church for mutual support, administration, further education and the like. For cultural reasons these have to be duplicated too.

Twice each year, FRM arranges week-long bush study courses for pastors and evangelists.

Our forebears were prepared to sacrifice to pay their debt to the indigenous people. There was a time in the history of the Finke River Mission when the financial debts of the Mission were such that the bank would lend them no more money. A member of the Board stepped into this difficult situation. While he had no ready cash he had a property which he mortgaged so that the Mission could meet its ongoing commitments.

God grant that we in our day can show similar commitment, so that the work begun by our forebears can continue to the glory of God. Our debt is not to him, but needs to be met to benefit the indigenous people with whom we have been associated, in some cases for over a hundred years. As Paul said, I must tell the good news to everyone. Amen.

Suggested hymn: 'Spread, O spread, thou mighty Word'.
221 Lutheran Hymnal.
Suggested song: 'Here I am, Lord'.
296 All Together Everybody.

Spot message - FRM 135 Anniversary Back to Top

(May be read during Sunday worship, perhaps before the General Prayer - time, two minutes.)

This year our Church is celebrating 135 years of God's blessing on our mission in central Australia. Pastors Hermann Kempe and Wilhelm Schwarz left Bethany in South Australia's Barossa Valley in October 1875, 135 years ago. After trekking through extreme heat and horrendous drought conditions, they arrived at the Finke River on 8 June in 1877.

The missionaries settled on the banks of the Finke River west of Alice Springs and named the place Hermannsburg. This was the beginning of what would become the Finke River Mission, or FRM.

Today there are 6,000 Aboriginal Lutherans in 60 isolated congregations in central Australia. Through FRM, we are supporting these people with the instruction of pastors, literacy training and the translation of the Bible and other helpful resources into five Aboriginal languages.

FRM is committed to working in the languages of the people, namely Arrarnta, Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, Alyawarr and Anmatyerr.

The work of FRM has grown, moving in all directions from Hermannsburg. It now touches the lives of more than 70% of all Aboriginal people in central Australia.

Presently 21 Aboriginal pastors are actively serving in Word and Sacrament ministry. They do this at no cost to the LCA. Still, more pastors are needed.

FRM also has oversight of Yirara College, a full boarding school for up to 200 post-primary aged Aboriginal children from throughout central Australia and the Northern Territory.

The Church is continuing to seek to fulfill its God-given purpose, with individuals and congregations as partners in mission. FRM is proceeding with necessary expansion work, trusting God for the necessary resources to do what must be done.

Even as our Church waits on God for needed funds, we lift our hearts in thanks and praise to him for the obvious blessings of his Holy Spirit throughout the past 135 years. He alone deserves the glory!

Support FRM with donations and bequests Back to Top

Creative ideas for congregations

Congregations are encouraged to mark the FRM anniversary year with thanksgiving worship and other activities. This is appropriate any time from 2010 to 2012.

Two ways to celebrate and also help FRM at the same time are:

• Pray through the ministry
• Send donations for the work

Celebrations can include a thanksgiving service, celebration function such as a lunch or dinner, fund raising activities and other events involving all ages.

The precise 135th anniversary departure date is 22 October (2010). The precise date of arrival at the final Mission site is date is 8 June (2012). However your congregation's celebrations may be held at any time from 2010 to 2012, because the missionaries' journey north took almost 20 months.

Have your whole congregation make a vicarious pilgrimage to Hermannsburg and other Aboriginal communities where FRM is working. Not physically, of course, but in spirit. Perhaps visit Hermannsburg symbolically, by organising and participating in local events such as these.

Just imagine. It is not difficult to imagine having a special mission thanksgiving service (using resources above), followed by a bring-a-plate lunch where people sing songs in Aboriginal languages and hear the story of the first missionaries. Meanwhile, the youth are on a trampoline or exercise bikes outside doing sponsored activities. After lunch the congregation files out to see how the youth are going and to cheer them on. At the same time the children are preparing to fly their hand-made kites to encouraging words and cheering from everyone. Then all gather together outside for a prayer for FRM and a doxology.

Be a Barnabas Back to Top

MEET a good friend of FRM, known best by his nickname, Barnabas. The early church in Jerusalem needed money to provide for those in need. A recent convert, Barnabas looked around at what he owned and asked himself, 'What do I have that I don't really need?' Then he sold some land and gave the entire proceeds to the church. Read about him in Acts 4:36, 37.

Today, people can do what Barnabas did. For example, I recently sold a lot of books I no longer needed and was able to give the proceeds ($320) to mission. I heard of one woman who was moved to support a special need. She had a diamond ring (not an engagement ring) and she decided, 'I don't need this really'. So she sold it and gave the proceeds ($1,200) to mission.

Who of us doesn't have some things we no longer need? What is there under the bed, in the wardrobe, the garage, the linen press, the back shed and so on?
'Do I need to keep everything that's there?'

Maybe you could become a Barnabas too, and help change lives
through supporting FRM.

Meet Our Friend SAM! Back to Top

SAM is a good friend of FRM. SAM, or Sponsor A Missionary, is an arrangement for congregations to directly sponsor an FRM missionary.

Congregations can join SAM by establishing a relationship with an FRM missionary of their choice. This includes financial gifts, prayer, exchange of news and possible visits from time to time.

Want to know more? Simply phone 08 8952 4666.

Words in Aboriginal languages Back to Top

Here are some words in three of the languages spoken by Aboriginal people where the Finke River Mission staff are supporting autonomous Lutheran congregations. The Alyawarr and Anmatyerr languages are not listed.

Celebrate God's Work Together Back to Top

Join with all LCA members to celebrate the past 135 years. Congregations, small groups, fellowships, families -- all can give thanks and pray for Aboriginal people and FRM staff, whose work often takes them to remote and difficult circumstances.

Celebrate with resources provided -- hymns, messages, photos and prayer cards. Encourage mission gifts, perhaps special offerings, maybe a fundraising dinner or similar event.

Know that however you celebrate, you will help change Aboriginal people's lives for eternity.

As Synod, we walk arm in arm
with each other, indigenous
with non-indigenous.

Now let's go on together! Back to Top

Finke River Mission is privileged to carry the banner throughout central Australia on behalf of the Lutheran Church of Australia. The relationships and credibility that have been built during an unbroken period of 135 years of ministry to Aboriginal people have allowed us a special role. We share that work with you, our supporters.

Through prayerful support and through practical assistance, you help FRM to continue a wonderful work and to help build strong Aboriginal congregations in remote communities.

We celebrate the contribution that all of you make in your prayers and mission gifts. Very importantly, we invite you both now and in 2011, to join in thanksgiving celebration for the abundant blessing of God's Holy Spirit over 135 years.

'The Last Supper' print Back to Top

'The Last Supper' print by artist Ruth Cook makes a splendid gift for a church worker. It suits well in a church narthex, hall, Sunday School room or church office.

The unique painting of 'The Last Supper' by Aboriginal artist Ruth Cook of Alice Springs, has attracted a great deal of interest in Australia and overseas. To mark the 135th Anniversary of the LCA's work among Aboriginal people in the Centre, Finke River Mission is offering this fine reproduction print at just $50.00 including GST packing, post and insurance (valued at $65.00).

'The Last Supper' by Ruth Cook

This quality unframed limited edition reproduction print measures 420mm x 540mm, and is printed in faithful colour on quality art stock, finished with a protective art varnish. Proceeds support FRM work.

Order prints from:

Finke River Mission
197 Archer Street,
North Adelaide 5006

OR phone 08 8267 7300

'Dankilai' (Give thanks) Back to Top

• Schedule a special FRM mission thanksgiving service.
• Use new songs composed for this FRM Anniversary.
• Arrange a one-off special retiring thanksgiving offering.
• Ask FRM for free prayer cards for distribution to members.
• Include FRM's work and all Aboriginal church leaders in your
  congregation's general prayers.

Give Thanks To the Lord! Back to Top