Project Update: The Reverend Gloria Shipp

Gloria thanks her ABM supporters.

July 2019

Reverend Gloria Shipp received strong words of appreciation from the parish of St John’s Molong, after they heard her preaching in their church recently. Many would agree that deep appreciation and inspiration are what many of us feel when we encounter the living God through Gloria’s ministry. And so we are delighted to share the latest report from Gloria on the work she has been doing through her Walkabout Ministries, based in Dubbo, New South Wales, in the Diocese of Bathurst, thanks to your generous support. 

Walkabout Ministries Report for first half of 2019

Elders Outreach Group

The first six months of 2019 have seen the Elders Outreach Group continue to meet every Tuesday. In February the Elders travelled to Tooraweenah to join in with International Day of Women celebrations. Once the Elders arrived at Tooraweenah, they then boarded a coach for a trip to the Emu Logic farm for morning tea and where I was the guest speaker. We then went on to the Warrumbungle National Park for lunch served by the local Lions Club and back to Tooraweenah to travel home. We spent a morning with the Buninyong Migrant Group at the community centre and a planned day trip to the bush had to be cancelled due to bad weather. We joined another Dubbo Elders group at the Cultural centre for morning tea and to look and learn about carved trees. We continue to make craft items and sewing, and members of the group attend Preschool in the park. The Elders continue to be heavily involved in the community. We continue to have health professionals and guest speakers coming to the hall.

Above, Elders Group travels to Tooraweenah, and below, a wide variety of craft items to sell made by the Elders Group.

 

Orana Juvenile Justice Centre

Weekly Bible talks are continuing to be held at the Centre, but due to a decline in numbers at the centre the monthly church service has been placed on hold. The boys continue to actively participate with the weekly bible talks. The group from Moore College continue to come once a month to the centre to engage with the boys in prayer/song and sharing. The boys have also been visited by a Korean youth group from Sydney, twice this year to also share. The group have been very well received despite some of the group requiring interpreters due to them not speaking English.

Korean Anglicans visit Orana Juvenile Justice Centre.

 
Women of the Bible

Our Women of the Bible afternoon held in March was very well received with 21 ladies attending from the Anglican, Uniting and Catholic church. This year we studied the Shunammite Woman and the woman at the well. All the ladies joined in and some great discussions and sharing occurred over the course of the afternoon. We are planning to hold another women of the bible afternoon later in the year after requests from many of the ladies who were at this one and some who could not attend.

Two Letters of Appreciation

“Dear Rev Gloria,

Just wanting to say thank you for the study on Women of the Bible last Saturday. I enjoyed the study, learning about women who have their stories written, and preserved in the Bible, because they were outstanding in their faith and courage. I was really touched that the group included both members of the Elders group, and others of us, of European descent, and that it was such a friendly gathering because we are all sisters who share a love of Jesus. I really enjoyed meeting quite a few people that I had not had an opportunity so speak to before. Blessings in Jesus.” – Sue Cooper

“Hello Gloria & Jenni,

I would just like to thank you for the afternoon on Saturday. Apart from catching with old friends which was great I found the content of the discussion very interesting and stimulating. It certainly provoked thought. Also I know a lot of work and people go into arranging such a gathering so thank you to everyone involved. Blessings and Prayers for your ongoing work.” – Wyn Stevenson

Participants in Gloria’s “Women in the Bible” talk .

Sunday School has started at Buninyong

I have started a Sunday school in Buninyong Community Centre after being approached by members of the community. Buninyong have graciously provided their bus for us to use to pick the kids up and return them home afterwards. We started off with one day a month to see how it went and have now increased to twice a month. A lot of the kids come from the nearby housing estate and are very keen to learn about Jesus.

 

Gloria baptised this baby as part of her priestly ministry.

Wedding, Baptism and Funeral

On the 1st June I married a couple in the Biddybunge Reserve on the banks of the Macquarie River Dubbo and a baptism in January at Holy Trinity. I also led the funeral for one of Dubbo’s well known and respected Aboriginal Elders, which was a great privilege.

 

Speaking visits

I have travelled to Parkes to speak in the Anglican Church on Sorry Day, and to Molong to preach in the Anglican Church and talk about my ministry. Both trips created great interest in my ministry.

 

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council (NATSIAC)

I am still the Chair of NATSIAC with the Gathering being held in Adelaide in October this year (2019).

I continue to be thankful for all the support given to this ministry from ABM which enables these programs to continue.

Rev Gloria Shipp

 

[All images © Walkabout Ministries, 2019]

 

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