CMS Summer School stalwarts admit they were left rattled and shocked by a presentation on indigenous ministry that highlighted the extraordinary need to recruit missionaries for our own nation.
Steve Etherington from Nungalinya College sketched the startling collapse in recent years of some remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
"Satan detests the Aboriginal church because it is growing through the cracks in his asphalt."
Mr Etherington says that the indigenous Christian leadership is being burnt out by an unbelievable torrent of people in desperate need: those who have been raped, parents whose children have been stolen from them for predatory purposes, those addicted to drugs and other substances.
"The social situation has become too chaotic and difficult to get any systematic work done" you can't run Bible studies, you can't do translation work. All the Christian life becomes in this context is being "salt and light'."
As a result of the social collapse in these remote communities, there is a significant drift of people into Darwin.
Many do not speak English as a first language and will struggle to find employment.
In question time, the Bishop of Northern Territory, Greg Thompson, explained that, "most of our indigenous Christian leaders are on disability pensions and are ill."
Kriol speaker Marjory Hall painted a less bleak picture presenting a long list of remote Aboriginal communities that had growing churches.
Nevertheless she spoke movingly about her own health issues saying: "We are sick people, but we are spiritually healed" We are fighting a spiritual battle for our people."
Marjory said she had been declared dead from a heart attack in 2004.
"God gave me back my life so I could finish my journey," she said, "and come here [to Katoomba Summer School]."
"We need more prayers for more leaders… maybe God is calling you to this job."
Centenary of indigenous ministry in NT
On Monday night, a special event was held both to mark the centenary and to celebrate the launch of the new Kriol Bible " the first full translation in an Aboriginal language.
A group of 13 Kriol-speaking Aboriginal people made a torturous trip to Katoomba through cyclones and floods in order to fellowship with NSW Christians there.
The occasion was also an opportunity praise God for the work of Kriol Bible translators Lance and Gwen Tremlett who have been with CMS NSW on the missionfield since 1960.
Now in retirement, they will continue to live in Palmerston, a satellite city of Darwin, and remain in close contact with Kriol speakers.
