Aboriginal Ministry in the Suburbs

By Marilyn Wall

Located in Ferryden Park, an inner north-western suburb of Adelaide is the home of the small congregation, St Paul’s Lutheran Church and the Aboriginal Lutheran Fellowship.

This congregation is small in number, but great in heart and spirit, providing ministry to the local community which, amongst others, includes a number of local Aboriginal families.

St Paul’s is also considered their spiritual home, by visitors from more distant Aboriginal communities, when they come to Adelaide. For a number these often represent return worshippers to St Paul’s. On any given Sunday it is not unusual to welcome a visitor or two from the West Coast (SA) or one of the numerous Central Australian communities (NT). Many a family back in these communities is comforted in the knowledge that their family members are able to connect with and seek spiritual care with the church community in Ferryden Park while they are in Adelaide having their medical/health needs attended to. The congregation feels they are greatly blessed in the opportunities these visits present.

As part of his recent installation into the church community, Pastor Leon Rosenberg, received a number of tokens, including one representing the specific Aboriginal ministry into which he has been called. Responding to this call to St Paul’s, Pastor Leon says …

“I see my ministry at St Paul’s, Ferryden Park and the Aboriginal Lutheran Fellowship as a wonderful opportunity and challenge. Heidi and I look forward to whatever God has in store for us”

Marilyn Wall is the RAP Project Officer
LCA Hearing the Indigenous Voice