Give

Give to a worker

  • Give
    A
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    A (Mentac)
  • Give
    Adam and Avril Friend
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Adam and Helane Ramsay
    East Asia • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Adrian and Anita Lovell
    Bolivia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Amy Stephens
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Andrew and Margie Newman
    Africa • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Andrew Buchanan and Abi Tandiseru
    Indonesia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Anna Radkovic
    Africa • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Anthony and Trudi Elyard
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Anwar and Tsigereda
    Africa • VIC Branch
  • Give
    B
    Middle East • WA Branch
  • Give
    Bill and Linda Colyer
    The Pacific • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Brenton and Mel Kilby
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Bruce and Libby Hayes
    Nepal • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Bryan and Sarah Haro Leon
    Ecuador • TAS Branch
  • Give
    C
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Chenny Thie
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Erin
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Grace Adams
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Julie Dean
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Karen Webb
    Broome • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Chris and Kristy Galea
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Stef Overhall
    Chile • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Colin and Catherine Puffett
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Craig and Lisse
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    D (mentac)
  • Give
    D and T
    Asia • SANT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Dan and Erina Sawyer
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Dan and Marg
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Daniel and Olivia Webster
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    David and Beck McIntyre
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    David and Cathie Sandifer
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    David and Jennifer Juniper
    Africa • WA Branch
  • Give
    Dene and Rachel Hughes
    East Asia • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Derek and Rosemary Snibson
    Darwin • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Derk and Susan
    South Asia • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    E
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Elizabeth
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Elle Bryce
    East Asia • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Emma Payne
    Europe • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Gavin and Megan Rosser
    Jordan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Gillian Akers
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Gillian Law
    Europe • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Grant and Alison Gallant
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Howard and Trisha Spencer
    Belgium • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    I
    South East Asia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Ian and Jenny Wood
    Darwin • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    J
    South East Asia • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    J and A
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    J and P
    Eurasia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    J and S
    Central Asia • QNNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Jason and Hannah Fairclough
    Europe • WA Branch
  • Give
    Je
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Jeremy and Jill Horrocks
    Cambodia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jim and Tanja French
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jo
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Joel and Tiffanie Atwood
    The Pacific • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    John and Deb
    Middle East • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Jon and Deborah
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Josh and Nici
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Josh and Steph Mackenzie
    North Australia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Josh and Susannah Apieczonek
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jotham Booker
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Julie
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    K
    South Asia • TAS Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    K
    South East Asia • SANT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Karina Brabham
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Keith and Marion Birchley
    Papua New Guinea • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Kellie Nicholas
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Klaus and Jude Hickel
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Kylie Zietsch
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    L
    Middle East • VIC Branch
  • Give
    L and C
    South East Asia • QNNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Lachlan and Candy Grice
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Lachlan and Zaneta Neal
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Lauren Raiter
    Europe • VIC Branch
  • Give
    M
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    M
    Middle East • SANT Branch
  • Give
    M (QNNSW)
    Middle East • QNNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    M and K
    South Asia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Maggie Crewes
    North Australia • SANT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Malcolm and Ainsley Purdey
    Chile • SANT Branch
  • Give
    Malcolm and Leanne
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Martin and Julie Field
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Marty and Jenny Foord
    Singapore • WA Branch
  • Give
    Matt and Bex Ooi
    East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Matt and Lisa Pearson
    Gunbalanya • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Matthew and Ellen Tyler
    The Pacific • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Maurice and Amanda Jacobson
    Cambodia • TAS Branch
  • Give
    Michael and Jean Burke
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Michael and Rani Grivas-Allison
    Belgium • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Mike and Karen Roe
    Africa • SANT Branch
  • Give
    Mike and Katie Taylor
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Miriam Bradshaw
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Morgan and Olivia
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    N and R
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Na
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Nathan and Diane Lovell
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nathan and Maki Clapham
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nick and Kysha Davies
    Latin America • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Pedro and Joy Oliveira Woolmer
    Latin America • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Peter and Terry Blowes
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    R
    Eurasia • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Ray and Sandy
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Rebekah
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Rowan
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Ryan and Lynne Verghese
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    S and D
    Central Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    S and E
    South Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    S and M
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    S and P
    Middle East • WA Branch
  • Give
    Sam and Bec Gorfine
    North Australia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Sam and Shan-Shan Chrisp
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Sam and Sharmila Budhathoki
    Nepal • WA Branch
  • Give
    Simon and Jessica Cowell
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Stephanie Hawkins
    St Andrew's Hall • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Steven and Sandra Parsons
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Taulama Siuhengalu
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Tim and Olivia Mulherin
    Cambodia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Tony and Yenli Nguyen
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    W and S
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Yumin
    South East Asia • TAS Branch

General Worker Support

Select a Branch

Please select the branch you would like to give to. This refers to the CMS branch that will process your donation.

NSW & ACT

QNNSW

SANT

TAS

VIC

WA

Tax-deductible Workers and Projects

Select a Branch

Please select the branch you would like to give to. This refers to the CMS branch that will process your donation.

NSW & ACT

QNNSW

SANT

TAS

VIC

WA

Give to a Campaign

Select a Branch

Please select the branch you would like to give to. This refers to the CMS branch that will process your donation.

NSW & ACT

QNNSW

SANT

TAS

VIC

WA

  • Give
    Ramsay Schooling
    QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • WA Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • WA Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    WA Branch
  • Give
    QNNSW CoMP
    QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    QNNSW Regular Giving
    QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Lasting Hope Appeal
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Lasting Hope Appeal
    Tax Deductible • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Lasting Hope Appeal
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Lasting Hope Appeal
    WA Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Missionary Accommodation Project
    VIC Branch
  • Give
    Christmas Appeal
    Tax Deductible • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Nuts & Bolts
    VIC Branch
Your Gift
View Your Gift
Please select a frequency
  • • Branch

Give to another worker from

  • Give
    A
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    A (Mentac)
  • Give
    Adam and Avril Friend
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Adam and Helane Ramsay
    East Asia • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Adrian and Anita Lovell
    Bolivia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Amy Stephens
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Andrew and Margie Newman
    Africa • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Andrew Buchanan and Abi Tandiseru
    Indonesia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Anna Radkovic
    Africa • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Anthony and Trudi Elyard
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Anwar and Tsigereda
    Africa • VIC Branch
  • Give
    B
    Middle East • WA Branch
  • Give
    Bill and Linda Colyer
    The Pacific • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Brenton and Mel Kilby
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Bruce and Libby Hayes
    Nepal • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Bryan and Sarah Haro Leon
    Ecuador • TAS Branch
  • Give
    C
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Chenny Thie
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Erin
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Grace Adams
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Julie Dean
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Karen Webb
    Broome • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Chris and Kristy Galea
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Chris and Stef Overhall
    Chile • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Colin and Catherine Puffett
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Craig and Lisse
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    D (mentac)
  • Give
    D and T
    Asia • SANT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Dan and Erina Sawyer
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Dan and Marg
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Daniel and Olivia Webster
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    David and Beck McIntyre
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    David and Cathie Sandifer
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    David and Jennifer Juniper
    Africa • WA Branch
  • Give
    Dene and Rachel Hughes
    East Asia • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Derek and Rosemary Snibson
    Darwin • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Derk and Susan
    South Asia • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    E
    South Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Elizabeth
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Elle Bryce
    East Asia • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Emma Payne
    Europe • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Gavin and Megan Rosser
    Jordan • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Gillian Akers
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Gillian Law
    Europe • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Grant and Alison Gallant
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Howard and Trisha Spencer
    Belgium • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    I
    South East Asia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Ian and Jenny Wood
    Darwin • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    J
    South East Asia • WA Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    J and A
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    J and P
    Eurasia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    J and S
    Central Asia • QNNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Jason and Hannah Fairclough
    Europe • WA Branch
  • Give
    Je
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Jeremy and Jill Horrocks
    Cambodia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jim and Tanja French
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jo
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Joel and Tiffanie Atwood
    The Pacific • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    John and Deb
    Middle East • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Jon and Deborah
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Josh and Nici
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Josh and Steph Mackenzie
    North Australia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Josh and Susannah Apieczonek
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Jotham Booker
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Julie
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    K
    South Asia • TAS Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    K
    South East Asia • SANT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Karina Brabham
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Keith and Marion Birchley
    Papua New Guinea • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Kellie Nicholas
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Klaus and Jude Hickel
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Kylie Zietsch
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    L
    Middle East • VIC Branch
  • Give
    L and C
    South East Asia • QNNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Lachlan and Candy Grice
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Lachlan and Zaneta Neal
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Lauren Raiter
    Europe • VIC Branch
  • Give
    M
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    M
    Middle East • SANT Branch
  • Give
    M (QNNSW)
    Middle East • QNNSW Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    M and K
    South Asia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Maggie Crewes
    North Australia • SANT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Malcolm and Ainsley Purdey
    Chile • SANT Branch
  • Give
    Malcolm and Leanne
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Martin and Julie Field
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Marty and Jenny Foord
    Singapore • WA Branch
  • Give
    Matt and Bex Ooi
    East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Matt and Lisa Pearson
    Gunbalanya • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Matthew and Ellen Tyler
    The Pacific • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Maurice and Amanda Jacobson
    Cambodia • TAS Branch
  • Give
    Michael and Jean Burke
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Michael and Rani Grivas-Allison
    Belgium • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Mike and Karen Roe
    Africa • SANT Branch
  • Give
    Mike and Katie Taylor
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Miriam Bradshaw
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Morgan and Olivia
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    N and R
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Na
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Nathan and Diane Lovell
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nathan and Maki Clapham
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Nick and Kysha Davies
    Latin America • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Pedro and Joy Oliveira Woolmer
    Latin America • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Peter and Terry Blowes
    Argentina • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    R
    Eurasia • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Ray and Sandy
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Rebekah
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Rowan
    South East Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Ryan and Lynne Verghese
    Africa • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    S and D
    Central Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    S and E
    South Asia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    S and M
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    S and P
    Middle East • WA Branch
  • Give
    Sam and Bec Gorfine
    North Australia • VIC Branch • Tax Deductible
  • Give
    Sam and Shan-Shan Chrisp
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Sam and Sharmila Budhathoki
    Nepal • WA Branch
  • Give
    Simon and Jessica Cowell
    Europe • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Stephanie Hawkins
    St Andrew's Hall • QNNSW Branch
  • Give
    Steven and Sandra Parsons
    East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Taulama Siuhengalu
    South East Asia • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Tim and Olivia Mulherin
    Cambodia • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Tony and Yenli Nguyen
    St Andrew's Hall • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    W and S
    Middle East • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Yumin
    South East Asia • TAS Branch

General Worker Support

Tax-deductible Workers and Projects

Give to a Campaign

  • Give
    Ramsay Schooling
    QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • WA Branch
  • Give
    CMS Overseas Aid Fund
    Tax Deductible • WA Branch
  • Give
    Indigenous Ministry in North Australia
    WA Branch
  • Give
    QNNSW CoMP
    QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    QNNSW Regular Giving
    QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Lasting Hope Appeal
    Tax Deductible • NSW & ACT Branch
  • Give
    Lasting Hope Appeal
    Tax Deductible • QLD & NNSW Branch
  • Give
    Lasting Hope Appeal
    Tax Deductible • SA & NT Branch
  • Give
    Lasting Hope Appeal
    WA Branch
  • Give
    Aboriginal Missionary Work
    Tax Deductible • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Missionary Accommodation Project
    VIC Branch
  • Give
    Christmas Appeal
    Tax Deductible • VIC Branch
  • Give
    Nuts & Bolts
    VIC Branch
Total Gift

$0 / Month

Continue
25 August 2021

Walking alongside leaders: Checkpoint Spring 2021


CMS missionaries Matt and Kate Vinicombe are learning language and culture as they serve in North Australia. Here Kate writes about their reflections on what they have learned, and how they hope to support the growth of God’s church in that place.

We have lived on Groote Eylandt for two years and still feel very much at the early stages of ministry. One of our main goals is to support the church leaders here among the three indigenous parishes of Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra.

Building relationships of trust

When we first arrived on Groote Eylandt, we found it hard to gain an audience with the leaders we had come to work alongside. They seemed aloof, always out, maybe even disinterested.

Yet as we have watched our relationships develop, we can now see that this was a normal stage in relationship development. In a place where mutual trust between
majority culture and indigenous culture is relatively low, the initial phase was about them watching us, seeing what sort of people we were.

Now, two years on, it feels like we have made huge gains in mutual trust. We have needed to be vulnerable, both emotionally and materially, to show that we are not here to exert power. Getting a smashed car window and asking our church leader for a replacement was a big step forward in our relationship in our first year. It showed that we were willing to rely on them, rather than be self-sufficient.

Here to support the church leaders

When we describe our role here, we are always quick to explain that we are not ordained, and that we do not run the church. People often look a bit perplexed with this, both local and non-local. But it finally feels like even the leaders trust that we are not here to take over, but to support them in their genuine leadership of those in their care.

A commitment to learning to operate in Anindilyakwa (the local language) shows vulnerability—we often have no idea what is being said and have no eloquence to say much of importance. But again, it shows that we are not here to take over and enables leaders to lead in the language that God has given them.

The reality is that we are partners together and support each other. The community put up with our poor Aninidlyakwa and teach and correct us. They give us ‘ins’ to new relationships. The people show us their country and involve us in their lives. As Christians we are spurred on to persevere in our trust of Christ through all life’s ups and downs.

Value of listening

Listening seems like an obvious point, but often people from the majority culture here have so many ‘great’ ideas that they forget to listen to indigenous people. Without listening to our church leaders, we will be unable to support them.

We have seen that listening across cultures is hard but important. It is through listening that we discover how we can support the church leaders in genuinely helpful ways rather than doing stuff that we think should be supportive. One example is hearing a woman’s stress over choosing a Bible passage for the next week’s service. It was a surprise to me, and not a significant issue from my perspective. But helping her think through a simple Bible reading plan has resulted in growth in confidence, conviction and clarity while leading services.

Slow but steady

Initially our support looked really simple—being regular at church (which is significant in a small congregation and in a culture where people don’t do anything alone). Gradually our support of church leaders is growing—praying together, helping them choose passages and think about meaning for church services, facilitating the translation of a children’s story based on the Bible, or talking through issues that arise.

It’s important that our support is not just ‘spiritual’, but includes helping in times of distress, or in navigating complicated situations.

This year marks 100 years since CMS arrived permanently on Groote Eylandt. Through our experience here and reflecting on the 100 years of history, we are convinced that the church on Groote should and needs to be led by local Christian indigenous leaders, supported and encouraged to continue in their work for the Lord by CMS and the Diocese of the Northern Territory. So, we will keep seeking to build further trust, empower their leadership and support the church leaders that God has raised up here in the Groote archipelago.

GO

There are many opportunities to support the Indigenous Church and Aboriginal Christians in North Australia. Has God placed it on your heart to go? Contact your local CMS branch to learn more.