Maclean 1990-2001

TROWEL & SWORD

Resources - Missions (Local)

September 2001

Maclean 1990-2001

John and Lesley Zylstra

It certainly was a whole new ball game for the Reformed Churches of Australia when they decided to send out a couple to work amongst the Aboriginal (Koori) people of Northern NSW in 1990. The denomination had of course been involved in Overseas Mission work for some time but very little had been attempted amongst Australia’s indigenous inhabitants.

Eleven years have passed since the work commenced and this work has now officially come to an end. This may be a good time to look back and evaluate the past eleven years. What has been done? What are the challenges that still face the Aboriginal people today?

The background to this ‘Mission’

In today’s society it is popular to refer to our Aboriginal people as being ‘very spiritual’ and in one sense this is true. The ‘Koori’ people are far more aware of spiritual realities than most Europeans are, however, ‘spiritual’ does not mean ‘Christian’. They are lost in sin, just as all people are without Christ. Their animistic religion made them aware of the spirit world but also kept them in bondage to the spirits and ignorant of Christ.

Long before our work started in Maclean, most Koori people had been under the teaching of the Gospel at some time or another. Some had come to true faith, but very few were openly standing up for their faith. The Charismatic movement had made some impact, but the main emphasis was on physical healing and being ‘slain in the Spirit’, not on the work that Christ had done for us in giving Himself for our sins.

Bob and Anne Bruinsma, a Reformed couple living in the area, had recognised the need. They had commenced Sunday Schools and adult meetings within the Koori communities. Their enthusiasm and commitment provided the base on which our work could build. It was at their request that the Reformed Churches came to be involved. Rev. Bill Berends visited the area to evaluate the needs and opportunities here. The report he wrote became the basis for the work during the following eleven years.

What results were expected from this mission

The Berends Report made it very clear from the beginning that the aim was not the formation of a Reformed Church. The report stated that: “If the purpose of such a project would be to plant a Reformed Church for Aborigines then, humanly speaking, it is unlikely that such a goal would meet with much success. If the goal is to engage in a work that will be an encouragement to the Reformed Churches by producing much fruit then, again, a work among the Aborigines... is not recommended. However, if the goal of the project is to help a needy people in their spiritual and social needs by encouraging them to strive to attain their own full potential as people made in the image of God then there is scope for action.”

The report encouraged us to foster a Reformed world-life view, a realization that all of life is to be lived under the authority and control of our sovereign God. We were encouraged to complement what others were already doing and to “Correct their shortcomings and excesses... in a non-confrontational way.” To “bring the insights of the Reformed faith without pushing the Reformed name.”

Bill Berends suggested that we should be “Prepared to let the Christian Aboriginal community take on its own distinctive character.” The best way to do this would be to “involve the aboriginal people themselves in all programs.”

The aim was to train Christian leaders and to have them involved in Sunday Fellowship meetings, Sunday Schools and Youth groups etc. The establishing of ‘halfway houses’ for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, staffed with trained Aboriginal counsellors was also suggested and programs to help them gain a pride in their own abilities etc., such as arts and craft workshops.

What was actually accomplished?

While we cannot point to a large number of conversions, we can be thankful for the many contacts and opportunities we have had, and continue to have, to point people to Christ, and to encourage them to live out their lives as ‘image-bearers’ of God.

Sunday Schools and Youth groups have been a major part of our work for many years. Young people have been taught the basics of the Gospel. A foundation has been laid and the yearly Holiday Bible Clubs continue to build on this.

Adult meetings were commenced by Bob Bruinsma at Hillcrest, the Maclean Koori settlement. We kept these meetings going for the next seven years but numbers fluctuated greatly. Our greatest disappointment was the fact that no likely leaders appeared who could be trained, either in adult or youth work. There was also a tendency to withdraw from the wider community, and partly because of this I accepted a request from the local Presbyterian Church to pastor their small congregation at Lawrence part time, in 1997. The Koori people who attended our services at the time agreed to join us there and they have continued to do so ever since. We feel that the resulting mixture of white and Koori believers is actually more honouring to God than the racially segregated groups of the past.

Up to eighteen Koori adults have attended our services throughout the years for varying periods of time. We cannot say how many of these were truly converted. Many came for a short period only and then fell away again but some have shown real evidence of faith in their lives. One of the greatest encouragements was a man who never actually joined us at the services. He came to faith late in his life. His health was so poor that he could hardly go out because of his breathing problems. His hunger for the Word however was real. We were able to spend quite a bit of time with him at home and in the hospital before God took him home. His clear witness was seen by all those around him, a witness that he would not compromise. He made it very clear before he died that he wanted no ‘smoking ceremonies’ or other animistic practices at his funeral. At present we have about eight adults who worship with us. Some, but not all, are very regular.

While we encourage white and Aboriginal Christians to worship together, we have continued on with separate Bible Study groups for the Koori people. They do feel much more at ease and will open up much more when they are not mixed. There has been a real increase in enthusiasm and participation at these studies during recent months, mainly through the influence of Nita, a lovely Aboriginal Christian who has joined us during the past year.

It has not been possible to fulfil all the tasks that had been envisaged in the Berends Report, but quite a bit was done. We have certainly tried to help the people to recognise their worth as ‘image bearers’ of God. We have been able to stand along side them and help them in their times of need through hospital and home visitations, court support work and some diaconal work.

Some Koori people do attend others churches. We have at times been able to encourage the faithful believers there, but there have also been times when we have had to point out serious deficiencies in beliefs and practices, especially in regard to syncretism. As much as possible we have tried to do this in non-confrontational ways, but it has not always been possible to avoid offence. This part of the work has become much more difficult in recent years as outside pressure is being exerted for Christian Koories to incorporate traditional ‘Dreamtime’ (Animistic) beliefs and practices, with their Christian beliefs.

Other tasks, such as encouraging halfway houses and craft groups etc. have not been met by us. Trained Aboriginal Christian workers to staff a halfway house are simply not available here, nor are there Koori Christians around who can be trained at this time. We have encouraged some to enter the wider workforce however and some are working as nurses and teachers aids. Some individuals make and sell craft items, encouraged by secular groups, but attempts by us to encourage the community as a whole were not successful.

What about the future?

We believe that there has been a significant change in the living conditions of the local Koori communities during the past decade. Housing at Maclean has improved out of sight, (less so at Yamba). Most families have cars and are able to get whatever they really need. Their increasing mobility has made Sunday Schools etc, less effective, as most kids are away at sport or other functions during the weekends. Holiday Bible Clubs however, retain their attraction.

The Aboriginal Christian community faces major challenges. Some, like the group which joins us at Lawrence, recognise that the Gospel message and the Dreamtime beliefs do not mix, but many, especially with ‘Charismatic’ beliefs, see no problems and are actively engaged in promoting a new ‘Rainbow Spirit Theology’. Not all Charismatics agree with that and we have some fine fellowship with a couple of Charismatic Koori ladies in Yamba. Much prayer and practical guidance is needed to guide believers through these difficult times, but hopefully this can be given by faithful local churches.

We count it a privilege to have had this opportunity to work here. At times we have found it frustrating but it is always a joy to be allowed to proclaim the grace of God. Our work at Lawrence will continue for the time being, combining Koori believers and Europeans. We hope and pray that the Presbyterian Church will accept responsibility to care for them if we do have to leave.

In closing, we would like to thank the Christian Reformed Churches for their faithful support for the work here. We want to express our appreciation to the Maclean Work Group, and also the local Support Group at Maclean, which has given us much encouragement and support throughout the years.

May God continue to bless you all.

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