Sydney's support for Aboriginal ministry in the Northern Territory is expected to build with the appointment of CMS missionary Greg Anderson to be head of Moore College's Department of Mission from the beginning of 2007.
"I’m hoping to encourage Christians to have a world perspective in ministry, that will lead some to move a long way away from their comfort zone," Greg says. "I’d especially like to recruit some for Aboriginal ministry in the Territory."
Greg, supported by Annette and children Paul, Zac, Jane, Lucy, currently has an extraordinary range of ministry responsibilities including providing training and resources for Aboriginal churches across Arnhem Land, as well as pastoring Darwin Cathedral's cafe church and the family service at Palmerston.
Greg admits he regrets he is leaving the Arnhem Land churches when they still need outside support.
"Since it was announced that we were finishing with CMS at the end of 2006, I have visited only three of the Arnhem Land parishes, but telling them of our decision was one of the hardest things I’ve done all year," Greg says.
With CMS Summer School beginning at Katoomba Christian Convention Centre tomorrow, Greg emphasises the need for more people to consider missionary service.
"Personal relationships are everything in Aboriginal ministry, and to leave these relationships is going to be very difficult, especially when there is still a real need for ‘outsiders’ to work sensitively alongside the Arnhem Land churches."
In all 9 CMS missionaries will be leaving or retiring from service in the Territory over the next 18 months.
Summer School welcomes new CMS head
Over 1,000 people are expected to welcome the Rev John Bales as new General Secretary of CMS-NSW on Sunday, at a special communion service at Summer School.
It is the first time the Summer School church service has been held in the evening. The address will be given by Archbishop Peter Jensen.
Mr Bales, who will be formally commissioned at the service, says he is excited about his new role.
"One of the things that excites me about my new role as General Secretary is that I will have more time to spend with missionaries and those thinking about and applying to CMS. This gives great opportunities to see the way God is working in peoples' lives and around the world," he says.
But with only 27 per cent of the $4.5 million needed to meet the June budget deadline raised so far by CMS, challenges still lie ahead for Mr Bales.
"Our principle of putting money in second place is not always easy to maintain as we approach the end of the financial year," Mr Bales says. "This year we are close to budget, but we also have a bigger than ever budget to reach. However, our experience over many years is that as God raises up missionaries, so he raises the support to send them."
