ABM Archive Website
THIS WEBSITE CONTAINS ARCHIVE MATERIALS FOR HISTORICAL REFERENCE ONLY
For up-to-date information, including our latest appeals, news, and resources, please visit our current website.
Australia: Northern Territory Discipleship Track
My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
– Psalm 17:5
 |
| Women from seven different Anglican church communities, gathered in Darwin as part of the biennial pre-Synod church leader’s conference. © Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory, 2017. Used with Permission. |
Christian leaders in Aboriginal communities face formidable challenges. They are isolated from the broader Church in remote places which are expensive to travel in and out of. They stand in the tensions between their traditional cultures and the Church, working in communities where English is a second or third language and where material disadvantage is prevalent.
The Territory Discipleship Track seeks to assist remote Aboriginal Christians who want to be intentional
in their faith, and especially those in leadership, to access much needed training and support as they seek to witness to Christ in their communities.
Over the last two years your donations have enabled the establishment of Healing Groups run by the Ministry Development Team (MDT) of the Diocese of the Northern Territory.
These groups were born when church leaders on Groote Eylandt expressed deep concern at the unresolved and growing tensions in the lives of many in the community who were struggling to deal with the impact of hurt, grief and violence.
The participants in these groups have greatly valued the opportunity to talk, listen and learn:
“I thank God [for your] training so you could share this with us. This [trauma healing group] is very important. You made me strong, so the ladies can talk and share the problems we have and learn from each other”.
“When we share, it all comes out and we talk together and it’s healing us. It is healing our hearts. As we go out, I can feel it is healing my heart”
In 2018 a new group was formed on Bickerton Island.
This year your contributions will be used for three ‘tracks’:
1 . The Healing groups run with ABM support have been so helpful, that Aboriginal leaders now want to undertake training so they can lead the program in other communities around Arnhem-land. Funding will enable four Aboriginal leaders to be trained and will then support the ongoing costs to deliver the course in various communities.
2 . A pre-ordination discernment and development track for remote Aboriginal candidates who are exploring leadership and ordination.
3 . A conference for Aboriginal church leaders from across the Anglican communities in the Top End to enable collaboration and mutual spiritual encouragement. The conference will be an opportunity for Aboriginal voices to be heard in decision-making and planning for the Diocese.
Please consider supporting this unique project to help remote Aboriginal Christians as they seek to walk ‘the narrow’ track with God.
AU008BA needs $25,000 in 2019 (non tax-deductible)
HOW TO DONATE
You can make an online donation to this project. 
Alternatively, for donations by cheque/money order (made out to the Anglican Board of Mission – Australia), telephone or email, view contact details here. Please don’t forget to include the project name and/or code with your payment details.
Gifts to ABM will be applied to the support of project(s) selected. In the unlikely event of the project being oversubscribed or not proceeding to completion, donations will be applied to a similar project to the one(s) selected.
 |
This is part of the Reconciliation Program: Learn more about ABM’s Programs |
PROJECT UPDATE
June 2019 – ABM has received a report from the Anglican Diocese of the Northern Territory on the progress of the three ABM-supported projects that come under the “Northern Territory Discipleship Track” umbrella. Read more
< Back
