AP

ABORIGINAL MINISTRY IN MOREE, NSW (April 2025)

We do all in the knowledge that “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1). 

Moree, like many outback towns, is a place of many tensions, exacerbated by home invasions, assaults, and car thefts. Thankfully, a recent community meeting was a peaceful event, with hundreds in attendance. An incident at the end of the meeting epitomised the heart of the issues here, when an Aboriginal Auntie got up to speak, and was quickly shut down for saying that people needed to repent and return to God. Pray for changed hearts, and that Christians would be bold and faithful witnesses here in Moree. 

We have been privileged to join in several activities that have given us an insight into past and current Aboriginal beliefs. Recently we attended an Indigenous Astronomy evening, listening to a man tell the stories that his grandmother had taught him of the different planets and constellations. One Saturday morning we did a Walk on Country with an Aboriginal Auntie, which was a fascinating insight into her beliefs about creation and the land. Both events were part of a travelling River Country exhibition which included artwork at the local Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Lucy has also done another Aboriginal Weaving Day coupled with traditional storytelling. These events have given us plenty of food for thought as we grapple with how best to present the gospel to people here. We’re never going to be experts at it, but we just need to get out there and by God’s grace do our best. Thankfully it is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring people into the kingdom. 

One challenge we have is meeting and engaging with Aboriginal people. We are aiming to be at any and every event where we might meet Aboriginal people. Usually, we don’t get to chat to many people, but at least our faces are being seen, and we are having one or two conversations each time with some people. Reconciliation Week is scheduled for late May. This is a week to commemorate the 1967 referendum as well as the High Court Mabo decision – which are key milestones in the reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Reconciliation is also a key theme within the gospel, so pray that we can use these opportunities to speak of Christ’s work to reconcile people to God and to each other. 

The recent moderate rainfall was very welcome in this area, but excessive amounts further afield have caused great devastation for many. In this area, communities and roads can be impacted weeks later when the floodwaters travel downstream. The mosquitoes are also having a bumper season, and we are thankful to be vaccinated against the mosquito-borne Japanese Encephalitis. 

The North West NSW River Convention is another opportunity for faithful Bible teaching, although we did not attend in 2025. The Convention travels to Enngonia, Weilmoringle, Goodooga, Brewarrina, Lightning Ridge, Walgett and Collarenabri. Besides the world, the flesh and the devil, there are floods to be negotiated, and mosquitoes are out in force. Sadly, a convention we did attend in Moree went on for 18 days, but the teaching was rather confusing on the one night we attended. 

Bob has had more opportunities to preach, both at the Community Church where he has often preached before, and at the Presbyterian Church for the first time (where he is also an elder). He also sometimes leads a men’s Bible study on a Wednesday afternoon. The man he usually visits weekly and has deep theological discussions with is currently out of town for medical reasons (a reality of living in the country). On Wednesday mornings Lucy usually visits a lady to do a Bible study together. These one-on-one times are valuable for both us and the people we meet with, so please pray that more opportunities might develop with more people. 

We continue to live in a share house, so our expenses are modest at present. However we expect to need to rent a house on our own later in the year, which will require an increase in income. The link for financially contributing to our support through Pioneers is here: https://pioneers.org.au/give/donate/ 

– Bob and Lucy Quinn