Shire Christians have joined indigenous Australians to promote reconciliation during the Australia Day weekend.
As most Sutherland Shire residents celebrated Australia Day with a BBQ or day at the beach, members of the Soul Revival Youth Community at Gymea Anglican Church came together with indigenous Australians from across NSW to promote reconciliation.
The inaugural Sydney River Convention was held in Bundeena " an event that is the brain child of Ngymba community elders Feli McHughes and Isaac Gorden,
"River Conventions were important gatherings across western NSW from the 1930s to the 1950s," Mr McHughes says.
"Our people came from all over the west to join in uplifting times of learning about God, listening to preachers, sharing testimonies, singing and rejoicing in the Christian faith."
In later years these conventions ceased to exist. However, over the past five years they have been resurrected by the Ngymba Christians with the assistance of regular "Friendship Visits' from Soul Revival Youth Community members.
Sydney has now joined the list of River conventions that stretch across NSW each year held in Brewarrina, Collarenebri, Gilgandra, Fingal Head and Dubbo.
"We have enjoyed our friendship with indigenous Christians from across NSW," says Gymea Anglican Church's Indigenous Liaison Minister, Jai McMordie.
"These trips provide rural and city people with opportunities to share their lives, including the problems they face today and positive experiences from their shared faith. It is exciting how we can both help each other so much."
With attendances of over 400, the weekend was a practical reconciliation of reconciliation.
Non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians met over meals and attended meetings where unity and forgiveness was preached.
Indigenous Wellington-based pastor Rod Bird valued the fellowship during the weekend.
"We are one in Christ, our faith brings us together," he says.
"We are reconciled through Jesus like nothing else can," added Brewarrina pastor, Isaac Gorden.
Organisers say hosting the convention on Australia Day at the site of first contact between the British and the indigenous population of Australia was a powerful symbolic moment.
Indigenous Baptist Pastor Roy Hatfield from Grafton spoke of all Australians having the opportunity of moving together into the future under Christ.
"The future is bright as Australians of all backgrounds can now be brothers and sisters in Christ."
