Welcome!
Since before we were married (in 1992), we have felt a conviction to serve God full time in His mission, wherever that may be. So far this has included serving as dorm parents for MKs in Northern Pakistan and Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai), helping to spread God’s word in Asia through Reach Beyond Radio (formerly HCJB Australia) in Nth West Australia and now, reaching out to the Indigenous families of the West Kimberley in Nth West Australia with Growing Families Australia.
We have been living in the North West of Australia since 2004, but have been getting to know the local people of the West Kimberley since August 2011. We currently serve with Growing Families Australia Missions with a focus on pastoral care and family ministry. Our main places of ministry are Derby (town of approx. 5000) & the nearby community of Mowanjum (300).
An example of how we reach out is through friendship building, visitation, community involvement (such as playgroup attendance, prison visitation, working at a computer resource centre helping people learn basic computer skills & leading/teaching Bible studies & teaching a parenting course developed especially for local Aboriginal families called “Families God’s Way” ). We feel that God directed us to build our home in a central place where people feel they can drop in and be welcome to come for conversation, resources, prayer and encouragement.
There are a lot of spiritual needs and social problems due to generational trauma in this area, such as drug and alcohol abuse, child neglect, domestic violence and suicide. There are also a lot of positives, such as open hearts, strong family ties and a vast network of local shared knowledge. We feel that we can make a difference through consistently being a light and being available for long term relationships.
This is not just ‘our’ ministry, we feel like an extension of the heart of other Christians reaching out to the people of this area through their prayers and support. When we tell our friends here that there are people praying for them it is a great encouragement to them.
Acknowledgement of Custodians of Country and the Creator
We acknowledge the Nyikina/Warrwa Aboriginal people as the Traditional Custodians of the land where we live and work. We also acknowledge the people of Worrora/Wunambul/Ngarinyin/Bardi/Jawi/Mangala/Unggumi/Bunuba/Walmajarri/Kija/Gooniyandi/Oogardang/Oomeday/Yow Jabi & Wangkatjunka nations with whom we interact. We pay our respects to their strength, cultural resilience and to their Elders.
We acknowledge & lament the atrocities done to Aboriginal people in the history of this area and seek to bring about the conciliation & healing of Christ.
We honour the Creator of all of us as the One who created and sustains the land on which we all live.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.
God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’
– Acts 17:24-28a