Hi all,

From next Monday we will running a news feature on Indigenous ministry in Sydney Diocese.

Recent Moore graduate and newly ordained deacon Jonathan Lilley will be online from 9am to 10am on Tuesday February 12 to discuss issues relating to indigenous ministry. Jonathan will be keen to talk about his new role in leading the indigenous ministry at Nowra Anglican Church.

Please feel free to bring your questions to Jonathan on Tuesday for a great forum discussion or in advance with any questions you may have.

ta joseph,

i will be here for an hour or so on tuesday to speak to who ever is interested.  i hope i can be of help to anyone wanting more info regarding indigenous work here in the east of australia

Sounds great. I wish I could be off-class in that time, but I had a bad feeling my teaching timetable doesn’t allow that.

TZ.

Hi all,

Please do not forget to be online from 9am to 10am tomorrow morning to participate in our special forum chat with indigenous minister Jonathan Lilley.

Or if you cannot be online at that time in advance with any questions you may have.

im a little early, so if there is anyone around we may as well get going.

Hi there Jonathan,
I love your enthusiasm to get started.
Let’s get a little more insight into who Jonathan Lilley is…
So, how did you become a Christian?

grew up in a Xn home, my father was a minister in victoria.  we heard the gospel proclaimed regularly.  i accepted Christ when i was young.  both my mother and father helped me understand who Jesus is.

Hi Jonathan,
the highly publicized sorry day is tomorrow.
What will your involvement be?

Hi Jonathan
How do you plan to go about this ministry? Will you start a group in your home? How many days will you be able to commit to this ministry?
thanks Di

nothing too offical.  this topic is always on the agenda in the community.  ive been working in nowra for a little over two weeks and the topic is thick for conversation, especially for Aboriginal people who have been directly involved in this issue, those who have been taken away. 

the anglican school may be replaying the apology from the PM tom afternoon which ive been asked to be present at, and then pray with the school.

di,

im basically starting off reading the bible with a few people, and have slowly been making other contacts for those who want the bible taught in their homes.  i have a few of those that need to be followed up this week.  its exciting!!  about half my time is spent ministering to the congregations at all saints and the rest of the week is for the indigenous work.  my house is always open for a meeting.

Hi Jonathan
You had the privilege of going through Moore College and you completed the degree successfully, but one of the issues with training indigenous pastors is that many in the Aboriginal community lack the necessary educational levels to undertake a tertiary level theological degree. What can society generally and Christians specifically do to help raise indigenous educational levels?

Hi Jonathan,

Great to hear about your ordination, I’m praying that God will bless your ministry.

I minister in a country town where we have a fair bit of contact with indigenous people through funerals, welfare assistance and occasional baptism enquiries.  We would love to develop a more ongoing ministry amongst and alongside indigenous people, many of whom would identify with our denomination.
What are your thoughts on:

.  the best place to begin in building relationships

. how our way of doing church might need to change to make indigenous poeple feel more welcome

Many thanks,

Mark Short

there is so much variation in the community for education standards, like any other people.  many of our young people now are going further in education than ever before.  yr 12 is achieved and uni entered into for many, but sadly, there are even more who never get the support to study, even finish high school.  at this moment, there are some who are trying to create some sort of ‘pathway’ for biblical studies into higher education.  some of the major universities have been doing this for years, and succeeding!  its time we moved with this.  Xns need to support these programs which see levels of training enhanced and the gospel proclaimed.

thanks mark
awesome to hear you are reaching the community.

to build relationships is the same with anyother people.  you have to come where they are at.  be interested in what they are interested in.  one uncle of mine who has been a minister for over 30 years to his people said he had the best conversations on saturday at the footy, watching the local teams slog it out.  ive had better conversations fishing with people ,than speaking to them after a funeral.

church is the gathering of God’s people around His word.  we all know its not to do with the building, and tradition, although these are helpful to some.  i said to a guy the other day when asked the same question.  go to a place to gather where you feel out of place and they dont.  the message is often clearer to them when they feel this way, and others will not be scared of coming in to the gathering.  tis on their terms, and you are the one out of place.  churches, even at nowra, are the place where the community bury the dead.  how is it used to celebrate life?

great question mate.  needs much more thought for sure.  thanks.

Great answers Jonathan,
is there a strong network and links between the four indigenous fellowships meeting in Sydney Diocese: Minto, Redfern, Nowra and Tregear?