Finke River Mission Lutheran Church of Australia

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Finke River MissionLutheran Church of Australia
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Finke River MissionThe Aboriginal ministry
support arm of the Church in central Australia
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Today FRM touches the lives of 75 of
Aboriginal people in central Australia

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FRM covers a large part of Central Australia. The
lower half of Northern Territory, into Western
Australia South Australia nearly to the
Queensland border
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• Ministry area is larger than state of Victoria

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FRMs work began in 1877

• Pastors Kempe and Schwarz were the founding
  missionaries

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• Their journey from the Barossa Valley lasted 20
  months
• They left in 1875 - arrived 8 June 1877
• They immediately began to build a relationship of
  trust with the local Arrarnta people

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• They began teaching and preaching
• Translated parts of the Bible
• Built a church and school

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• FRM staff baptized many people
• Provided work cattle, joinery, tannery and
  bakery
• Saved people from unscrupulous whites
• Built a larger church in the 1960s

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FRM staff now equip Aboriginal leaders to
minister to their own peopleFirst Aboriginal
pastors were ordained in 1964

• Now nearly 130 years later, things have changed

Pastor Djarla Andrews, Areyonga
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• FRM helps to establish autonomous Aboriginal
  congregations
• Congregations support their own pastors - build
  their own churches

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• Theological training is carried out together with
  Australian Lutheran College
• They attend each year
• 3 week-long study courses

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• Men are instructed in their own communities by
  FRM staff

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• After completing studies and examination, the
  General President approves ordination

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In 2007, there are now 24 Aboriginal pastors
serving in central AustraliaAll pastors and
evangelists serve at no cost to the LCA
Pastor Frank Turner Irrewlty
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FRM conducts Bible translation and literacy
programs in five languages -

• Arrarnta
• Luritja
• Pitjantjatjara
• Alyawarr
• Anmatyerr
• A new Bible in Luritja was launched at Synod in
  2006

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Linguist Paul Eckert

• FRM publishes translated literature
• the Bible
• liturgies
• catechisms
• hymn books

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• FRM operates Yirara College at Alice Springs
  for Aboriginal students

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• The college is a boarding school for secondary
  aged indigenous youth from rural and remote
  communities in and near the Northern Territory

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Basic Features of the School

• Majority of students have English as 3rd or 4th
  language
• Six major indigenous language groups
• 370 students pass through during a year with
  approx 200 being the average attendance

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• The program of Yirara College includes
• Biblical knowledge
• Christian living
• Prevocational courses
• Literacy numeracy
• Musical tuition
• Indigenous language

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In summary

• FRM supports Aboriginal congregations
• More than 67 congregations
• Over 6,000 Aboriginal members

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• Thanks for your prayer and donations.
• It is vital that these continue
• All donations are tax deductible, whether
• for translation, literacy or training

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The literacy program must be expanded
The need is increasing

• Anmatyerr people are asking for
• a Bible in their language

• Still more pastors are needed

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The people are grateful for FRM and the
Gospel More than anything, we thank God that he
sent his messengers to us with his Word
Pastor Jimmy Haines Ti
Tree
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• Through FRM, the Church aims to establish strong
  Aboriginal churches, served by their own leaders
• Future generations then will receive and
  celebrate the Good News of Jesus Christ.

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Godalu mukulya pulkangku
ngayunya Kura pulkanguru
wankarunu.Kawankatinguna kani mantjinu. Kuru
pati mununi alanu. Amazing Grace in
Pitjantjatjara 
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is
good Psalm 1361  Pastor Frank Turner
Irrwelty