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Sharing our Lutheran stories

LCANZ churchwide entities shared stories of Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand with church members and the wider community through an exhibition, guided tours, workshops and presentations during South Australia’s History Festival in May.

The new Church House Exhibition Centre opened its doors at 139 Frome Street in Adelaide for the first time on 5 May in time for the month-long celebration of history and community connections. Dozens of LCA members, as well as people with no connection to the church, visited the centre in its first six days of operation to explore exhibits focusing on the mission and service of Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand.

The ground-floor space, which is open on an ongoing basis, shares stories through information panels, historic and current-day photos, interactive audio-visual displays, and rare artefacts and artworks, with much of its content sourced from Lutheran Archives. Bookings are not required to visit during regular opening hours from Tuesdays to Thursdays (see www.lca.org.au/exhibition-centre for current times); however, emailing ahead to exhibitioncentre@lca.org.au is recommended for guided tours and group visits.

Lutheran Archives staff provided guided tours, workshops and a course among the more than 550 events that comprised the annual history festival last month. Archivists led walking tours on German Adelaide culture and community, while also hosting a three-week genealogy course and workshops on reading historic German documents and researching German–Australian family history. The course and workshops were held at the Archives’ base in Bowden, Adelaide.

Friends of Lutheran Archives (FoLA) presented a talk titled ‘Home via Hermannsburg: William Wilkinson’s 847 Day Top End Red Centre Quest’ at Immanuel Lutheran Church, North Adelaide, while the Australian Lutheran College (ALC) Library hosted special viewings and discussions featuring rare books from its collection, with one session booked out.

The Church House Exhibition Centre still has openings for volunteers. If you live in Adelaide and would like to serve in this way, please email exhibitioncentre@lca.org.au

For more information, visit www.lca.org.au/exhibition-centre

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Small acts of care, lasting impact

by Elise Mattiske

Seeing how small acts of care can change a life has shaped the way financial counsellor Peter Schirmer walks alongside people experiencing hardship today.

He spent the first eight years of his life in India, among communities where survival was often uncertain and daily life was shaped by adversity.

One story, told and retold in his family, left a lasting impression on his life.

A young mother once came to his family’s home with an infant suffering from malnutrition. Peter’s own mother responded with a simple act of care, supplementing the baby’s feeding with milk formula. Over time, the child recovered.

Years later, when Peter’s family returned to India to visit, they met that same mother and her child, now a healthy young man.

‘It was a very poignant moment,’ Peter says. ‘It impressed on me how even seemingly small acts of mercy can have lifelong positive consequences.’

That ‘thread of service’ has run through his life ever since – from years working with Australian Lutheran World Service, including in disaster response and refugee support, to senior leadership roles in the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ), and now into the deeply personal work of financial counselling with Lutheran Care, a community services organisation supporting vulnerable people in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

After nearly a decade as executive officer of the LCANZ, he began to reflect on what the next stage of life might look like. Rather than stepping away into retirement, he felt drawn closer to the frontline.

As cost-of-living pressures intensified across Australia, Peter saw a growing need, not only among those familiar with financial hardship, but also increasingly among families facing it for the first time.

Encouraged by the insights of an experienced financial counsellor, he recognised that his own experience could be harnessed in a more personal way.

‘It felt consistent with that same thread of service,’ he says. ‘The only “downside” was that I had to re-engage the academic side of my brain and complete a diploma of financial counselling!’

Peter lives in Adelaide with his wife, Janette, and is a member of Glynde Lutheran Church, a community he values for its rich cultural diversity. His work with Lutheran Care is varied and often complex.

Financial counsellors offer free, confidential and non-judgemental support to people experiencing financial difficulty. The role is not to direct clients, but to equip them with options and walk alongside them as they make decisions.

A typical day might involve negotiating with utility companies, setting up hardship arrangements with creditors, helping someone build a workable budget or connecting clients with concessions and support services.

Often, the challenges go far beyond finances. Peter engages with a wide cross-section of society, including people who have experienced domestic and family violence, relationship breakdown, job loss, disability or long-term financial stress.

And yet, he is careful to emphasise what he sees beyond the hardship.

‘In these people, I see not only their challenges and problems, but individuals with strengths and potential,’ he says.

Even when outcomes fall short of what someone hoped for, the goal remains the same: that they are treated with dignity, given a ‘fair go’ and achieve the best possible result that offers them hope for the future.

‘I feel a great sense of privilege to meet people who have been brave enough to come forward and seek help,’ Peter says. ‘It is not an easy step to take, especially when they may be experiencing feelings of failure and vulnerability.’

There is also a responsibility to listen well, to recognise the strengths each person brings and to walk alongside them to find the best outcomes for their circumstances.

‘It can be challenging and confronting but always underpinned by a sense of hope that this person is loved by God,’ he reflects, ‘and that I’m part of his mission to share it through practical action.’

One encounter, in particular, has stayed with Peter.

A single mother with four children came seeking help, overwhelmed by debt and mounting pressure from creditors. Through negotiation, those debts were waived on compassionate grounds, lifting an immediate burden.

At a follow-up appointment, she brought a stack of unopened letters, too afraid to face what they might contain. Together, they opened them.

Inside were multiple traffic fines, now totalling more than $3,000, with the risk of losing her licence and car registration.

‘That would have had significant consequences for her day-to-day life and wellbeing: school runs, access to shops, social engagement, the ability to find work,’ he explains.

Together, they worked out an affordable repayment plan, easing the pressure and preserving her independence.

‘It was a huge relief,’ he says.

Moments like that are why the work matters.

For Peter, hope is not abstract.

‘I see the sign of hope, which is Jesus,’ he says. ‘Through his suffering comes the promise of hope for everyone.’

That ultimate fulfilment may still lie ahead, but Peter sees its signs already.

‘I see it in the people I meet – people with God-given dignity, gifts and strengths,’ he says. ‘And I see it in the resources around us that help people move towards lives with less stress, greater dignity and more security.’

Sometimes, it begins with something as simple as opening a letter together or offering help when someone dares to ask.

Elise Mattiske is the LCA publications editor.

If you need financial help, support is available

Australia – National Debt Helpline
1800 007 007 | ndh.org.au

Domestic and family violence support (Australia)
1800RESPECT

New Zealand – MoneyTalks
0800 345 123 | moneytalks.co.nz

Shine Helpline (NZ)
0508 744 633 | 2shine.org.nz

Are You OK (NZ)
0800 456 450 | areyouok.org.nz

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When words fail, faith remains

by Karen Dymke

I spent my life working with words. As a teacher, presenter and facilitator, language was my calling and my craft – the tool I used to teach, encourage and connect with others. Now, slowly and unexpectedly, those words are slipping away.

I was brought up in a Christian family where church on Sunday was simply part of life, and from an early age, I wanted to be a teacher, just like my mum. I studied at Lutheran Teachers College in suburban Adelaide, and I taught in Lutheran schools before becoming what I often called a ‘teacher of teachers’, running workshops and facilitating professional learning across Australia.

Communication and language were central to my life and vocation. Words were my tools. Then something strange began to happen.

While presenting, I started mixing up pronouns – saying ‘she’ instead of ‘he’. Occasionally, I would say completely wrong words, like calling a glass an elephant, even though I knew perfectly well it was a glass. I felt as though I had lost my mojo. Something wasn’t quite right.

In response, I took what I called ‘long service leave’ – unpaid, because I ran my own consulting business, Thoughtful Works. My husband Jonathan and I travelled widely, exploring the Kimberley, hiking in New Zealand, crossing the Nullarbor, visiting Karijini National Park and even swimming with whale sharks at Exmouth. But every time we returned home, the problem picked up exactly where it had left off.

In the middle of a speech, I suddenly stopped – only for a few seconds, but it felt like five minutes. This was deeply unsettling for someone who had always had the gift of the gab. I used to say I could talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles. Suddenly, I was losing my words.

I saw an integrative doctor, worked with a trauma therapist and sought counselling support, wondering whether stress might be the cause. I also spoke with friends. One friend joked she had used up all her red wine in her youth. I half-believed I might have used up my words in the same way.

I continued presenting professionally, although I knew something wasn’t right. One day after a workshop, a woman said quite bluntly, ‘You are not as bright as you used to be.’ It hurt to hear, but she was right. Something was wrong.

Then, last April, everything changed. After a PET scan, the specialist told me I had frontotemporal dementia – the language variant.

He said I had seven to ten years to live. Seven to ten years. That is how calmly he said it, almost as if it were a weather report.

We left the office stunned, unable to breathe, let alone speak. We were encouraged to seek a second opinion.

Another specialist conducted further tests and explained the diagnosis differently. They said I had primary progressive aphasia, the non-fluent variant – a subtype of frontotemporal dementia. It was still difficult news, but it finally made sense.

The irony is not lost on me. I spent my life loving language, and now my brain is slowly packing it away, piece by piece.

Only about four per cent of people with dementia have this variant. Actor Bruce Willis has it too. I have always been a bit of a rare bird, so perhaps it is fitting that I would receive a rare diagnosis.

Writing is no longer easy. The words come more slowly, and speaking is harder still. But I still have stories to tell.

The diagnosis came the day before Good Friday. My husband Jonathan came to church with me, and we both sobbed as the whole congregation gathered around us. It was heartbreaking, and, somehow, very holy.

We have been grieving ever since, though that grief has changed over time. At first, it was overwhelming. Now, it feels more tender, even gentle.

Because my life and vocation had always centred on teaching and communication, I initially felt completely lost. I was not angry with God, but I was frightened. I found myself asking the ancient question: Why me? Where am I now, God?

So, I returned to something that had helped me before. I participated again in the Focused Living course at St Paul’s Lutheran Church Box Hill in Victoria, which I had first completed 10 years earlier. I began asking again: What is my purpose now? What is my calling?

The first answer was simple but profound: I am held in the arms of God. I am a beloved and baptised child of God. He made me, and he will sustain me.

What feels important now is contributing where I can and cherishing time with family and friends.

We continue to live fully. I have become a dementia advocate, speaking while I still can, and recently appeared in The Australian newspaper, highlighting that dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia. My husband and I have also recorded a podcast called Holding the Moment, where we discuss intimacy and dementia. In July, we intend to travel to Vietnam with our whole family.

As I journey with Christ, I am learning to create a safe and loving space for myself, my family, my friends and my church community. I hope to bear witness to Jesus Christ through vulnerability and honesty, speaking courage, faith and hope into the lives of those around me.

Our pastor at Box Hill, who is himself living with stage 4 cancer, recently shared these words: ‘The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still’ (Exodus 14:14).

To anyone facing illness, loss or uncertainty, I would say this: be brave if you can, be active if you can and stay connected as much as possible.

And when you cannot do those things, simply wait on the Lord.

As Paul writes in Romans, suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

My life has certainly not gone as planned. Yet I can still say with deep gratitude that I have had a fortunate life, and through every unexpected turn, God has been with me.

And as I walk through the shadowed valleys ahead, my hope remains in him.

Karen Dymke is a retired educator, having taught in schools, TAFE and at La Trobe University, and is a member of St Paul’s Box Hill Vic.

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Faith quietly caught along the way

Jesus once said, ‘By their fruit you will recognise them.’

This was certainly true for Lam Vuong, who first encountered the Christian faith through the quiet witness and everyday fruit of the people around him: Lutheran teachers who spoke openly of their hope, a boss whose integrity matched his words and friends whose faith was evident in how they lived and worked.

Born in Vietnam into a Buddhist family, Lam grew up in a home where worshipping ancestors was an important part of spiritual life. His mother, who had been educated in a French Catholic school, valued the discipline and structure she had experienced there and later sought similar schooling for her children.

As Lam grew older, he encountered Christians whose faith was expressed quietly but consistently. Lutheran teachers spoke openly about their beliefs, and later, in the workplace, he noticed the same integrity in colleagues whose faith shaped the way they led and worked.

Over time, that quiet witness sparked Lam’s curiosity. ‘They practised what the Bible preached,’ Lam reflects. ‘They walked the talk.’

Lam says it was their daily conduct and down-to-earth nature that made the greatest impression. Seeing colleagues live out their faith in ordinary workplace interactions showed him that belief was not just something people talked about, but something they lived.

He also began reflecting more deeply on life and faith. The deaths of close relatives made him wonder about questions many people wrestle with: Why does suffering exist? Why does God allow violence? Is there an afterlife, and will loved ones meet again?

The search became more personal when Lam and his wife Serina began exploring schooling options for their sons. Through friends, they were introduced to Concordia College and St John’s Lutheran School in Unley, in suburban Adelaide. Although their son had already been enrolled elsewhere, meeting principal Michael Paech left a strong impression.

‘He was particularly engaging, down to earth and caring,’ Lam says. ‘You could feel a genuine vibe about him, and we immediately knew this was the school and environment we wanted our boys in.’

Around the same time, the family began attending St John’s Lutheran Church in Unley. Lam remembers being struck by the calm atmosphere of worship.

‘Everyone was welcoming,’ he says. ‘We just wanted to go somewhere that was traditional and authentic.’

When they were invited to join an Alpha course – which explores the basics of the Christian faith – at the church, Lam and Serina decided to attend.

‘It was casual – friendly people, no pressure. We talked a lot and asked lots of questions. It made us feel part of the family.’

Through those conversations and relationships, their understanding of faith gradually deepened, along with their sense of belonging within the church community.

‘The “why” of having God as part of our lives clicked with us,’ Lam says.

When it came to baptism, Lam says he felt both eager and uncertain. The step was ‘a bit daunting’, he says, and he was ‘not sure what to expect’, but it also felt like the right time.

Looking back now, Lam says faith has brought him a deep sense of reassurance.

‘I feel that God is closer, and having a father look over you, to guide and bless – a strong presence in times of joy and sadness,’ Lam says.

Today, Lam describes church as ‘a sense of family in faith’ and ‘a sense of belonging to a faithful community’. Away from the noise and pressures of everyday life, he says it offers ‘a place of reflection and prayer and a safe community’.

Faith has also shaped the way he notices God at work in everyday life.

‘God turns up when I need help the most and also when I seek guidance,’ he says. ‘Messages come in different forms and from people, but you know God is at work.’

Certain Bible stories have taken on special meaning for him, including the parable of the talents, Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and the parable of the lost sheep.

Looking ahead, Lam hopes his family will continue to grow in faith and remain connected to the congregation that welcomed them.

For those curious about faith but unsure where to begin, his advice is simple: ‘Ask a friend who is attending church, tag along, ask questions, have an open mind and open heart. Avoid the naysayers,’ he says.

For Lam, seeing faith lived out in the lives of others was the simple beginning of his own journey.

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LCANZ Church House dedicated

More than 100 members and friends of the LCANZ gathered in Adelaide’s CBD in February 2026 to witness the official opening and dedication of the new Church House.

Although staff began moving into the LCANZ building at 139 Frome Street in late November 2025 and visitors have been welcomed since December, the gathering on 28 February marked the formal dedication of the premises as a hub for mission and ministry.

The service, led by LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith, began on the ground floor and unfolded as a journey through the building, culminating on the third level. Along the way, members of the Indonesian Christian Fellowship of Adelaide led singing, adding a joyful multicultural expression of praise.

During the service, Bishop Paul highlighted the Scripture verse inscribed on a plaque unveiled at the opening: ‘Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus’ (Colossians 3:17). He described the verse as both a blessing and a commission for the ministry that will occur from Church House.

Two Church House staff members addressed those gathered: Tim Stringer, principal of Australian Lutheran College, and Lisa McIntosh, coordinator of the new Exhibition Centre, which will open later this year.

Students from Concordia College provided background music as guests enjoyed afternoon tea and, following the formalities, visitors took the opportunity to explore the building and its facilities. Before the dedication, LLL sponsored refreshments at the adjacent Funk Café, offering a relaxed space for conversation and fellowship.

The five-storey Church House brings together staff members from across the LCANZ, including the Churchwide Office, Australian Lutheran College, Lutheran Media, LCA International Mission, Australian Lutheran World Service, Lutheran Education Australia, Finke River Mission and LCA Insurance.

Envisioned as more than office accommodation, Church House is designed as a collaborative hub to support mission and ministry across the wider church.

The Exhibition Centre on the ground floor will provide opportunities for community engagement and education, with displays that reflect both Lutheran heritage and future direction. The exhibition area is expected to formally launch in time for South Australia’s History Festival in May 2026.

The Frome Street building was purchased following the sale of the LCANZ’s North Adelaide properties in 2024 and is located near Bethlehem and St Stephen’s Lutheran churches in Adelaide.

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One child. One mentor. One hour

Just one hour a week may seem a small commitment, but for a primary-school-aged child, that consistent time with a trusted adult can be life-changing.

Each week in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, members of St Mark’s Lutheran Church in Mount Barker step beyond their congregation’s walls to participate in Kids Hope: a structured, one-to-one mentoring program that links schools and congregations to offer children steady encouragement and care.

St Mark’s is one of four Lutheran congregations in South Australia involved in Kids Hope. Most partnerships are with public schools, making the connection between St Mark’s Lutheran Church and St Mark’s Lutheran School a rare collaboration.

From the school’s perspective, the impact has been ‘deeply meaningful’, says Deputy Principal Rachel Harrip. ‘Partnering with mentors from St Mark’s congregation provides our students with consistent encouragement, care and positive role modelling. This strengthens our students’ confidence and sense of belonging.’

St Mark’s member and retired early childhood educator Jane Hill has been involved for almost a decade. She began as a mentor and now coordinates the program for St Mark’s, supporting volunteers and liaising with the school.

Over the years, Jane has walked alongside five children, meeting each one for an hour a week during school terms. ‘When you’re given a student, that’s the only child you support,’ she explains. ‘You stay with them until they finish primary school. A connection forms so easily. There’s anticipation of the visit and obvious enjoyment during the time together.’

Mentoring isn’t about solving every problem. It is about presence, listening and sharing small moments.

The benefits flow both ways. Mentors often speak of the privilege of being invited into a child’s world – through games, conversation, reading or simple shared activities. For Jane, cooking is a favourite weekly ritual. ‘The children love it,’ she says. ‘Sometimes we’d keep a part of what we made to give to someone elderly or lonely. It was a way to show the child the joy of thinking of others.’

For Jane, the reward is mutual. ‘I feel blessed as the mentor as well,’ she reflects.

Fellow mentor Vicki McNeil has also seen how small, consistent care can make a difference. She recalls a young girl who loved reading, games and crafts. One day, the child asked, ‘Do you just visit me?’ Vicki replied, ‘Just you – you’re special.’ At the end of the year, the girl gifted her a succulent plant with a sign: ‘Thanks for helping me grow.’

Jane has also seen the lasting impact of mentoring. Last year, a former mentee in the program reached out. ‘She is now in Year 10 and looks back fondly on our time together,’ says Jane.

Through Kids Hope, St Mark’s congregation lives out the simple yet profound gift of presence – nurturing confidence and connection that extend far beyond a single hour.

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Members invited to dedication

Members of the LCANZ are invited to the opening and dedication of the new Church House in the Adelaide CBD this month.

While the 139 Frome Street premises have been open to visitors since late last year, the official dedication will be held on Saturday 28 February from 3pm to 5pm. Numbers are limited, so members who will be in Adelaide and wish to attend should RSVP by 13 February to soc@lca.org.au

As part of the move to the new LCANZ offices, staff returned to the former Churchwide Office in North Adelaide on 28 November for its decommissioning and a Rite of Farewell, led by LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith. Bishop Paul also led staff in a Rite of Blessing of 139 Frome Street on 3 December.

The first visitors to Church House on 1 December were Jenny and David Kraft, members at St John’s Tea Tree Gully in Adelaide’s north. The Krafts were greeted by LCA Support Officer Lyndal Fuller and toured the building with the then Lutheran Media Manager Tania Nelson.

Jenny said the couple had been ‘following the journey’ of the LCANZ’s move from Archer Street, North Adelaide, to Frome Street, and were keen to see the new offices and learn more about what is ahead. They took the opportunity to drop in after another CBD appointment.

Not far behind the Krafts were Garry and Desma Wedding, from Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Magill, who toured Church House with Executive Director of Church Operations Brett Hausler and enjoyed coffee afterwards at the adjacent Funk cafe with Kathy Tscharke from Professional Standards.

As well as featuring modern workspaces and flexible meeting areas for staff and church ministries, Church House includes spaces available for visitors and other Lutheran entities, as a shared resource for the wider church community. The property’s function is to support church members.

So, if you live in or are visiting Adelaide, the team at Church House would love to show you around.

Another feature of the Frome Street building, which will provide opportunities for engagement with and connection within the wider church and broader Adelaide community, is the Exhibition Centre.

Opening this month, it will showcase displays and stories that reflect our Lutheran heritage, present-day ministries of faith, worship and service and future directions. Please email exhibitioncentre@lca.org.au if you or your church group would like to book a guided tour of the Exhibition Centre. We are also looking for volunteers to serve in the centre, so if you or someone you know may be interested in serving in this way, please email us at the same address.

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A cross-cultural home for faith

by Tim Eckert

At Glynde Lutheran Church in Adelaide’s north-east, located in a rapidly changing multicultural area, the sounds of Mandarin, Korean, Nuer, Hindi, English and other languages can be heard throughout the church complex. You might see English learners chatting, individuals of all ages in Bible studies, youth participating in activities, families at a playgroup or adults sharing food and conversation.

This is the everyday life of a congregation that has long sensed God calling it to be a welcoming home for people from all nations, ages and backgrounds, where the gospel is shared through friendship and hospitality.

With the support of the LCANZ’s Local Mission Fund, Glynde is now preparing to take a significant new step in that calling by establishing the Glynde Cross-Cultural Ministry Centre, a three-year project designed to strengthen multicultural and ‘first-third’ ministry locally and provide cross-cultural mission learning opportunities for the wider church.

Over the years, Glynde has embraced this mission opportunity through English classes, ‘Coffee ‘n’ Chat’, ‘Grace Over Lunch’, youth discipleship, playgroup, Mainly Music and family-friendly worship. We have established partnerships with Grace Lutheran Chinese Church, Adelaide Global Mission Church, and the Nuer Lutheran Fellowship, as well as an informal relationship with Pilgrim Lutheran Church Magill.

Alongside this, Glynde has invested deeply in first-third ministry (ages 8 to 30), recognising the strong connection between cross-cultural mission and youth discipleship.

Building on these foundations, the Cross-Cultural Ministry Centre will offer a safe, hospitable and grace-filled space where people can encounter Jesus, explore faith and connect with others. Core programs will include English classes, youth gatherings, family ministries, Alpha and ‘Intro to Faith’ courses, and community hospitality activities.

Central to the project is a commitment not only to welcome people but also build friendships and equip new leaders, particularly from culturally and linguistically diverse and first-third backgrounds. The centre will also share its learnings with the wider church, inviting congregations to learn together how to welcome newcomers and share the gospel in culturally sensitive ways.

The Local Mission Fund grant is both an encouragement and a call to step forward in faith, trusting God to grow this ministry as a place where many hear the good news of Jesus and find a home in his family.

Tim Eckert is Chairperson of Zion Glynde Lutheran Church SA.

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The everyday rhythms of school life

Faces of Faith – Matthew 5:16 

In Faces of Faith, we tell the stories of people across the church whose lives bear witness to God’s faithfulness. Through vocation and service, these stories highlight how God equips and sends his people.

by Elise Mattiske

Faith is not always expressed in dramatic moments. Often, it is revealed quietly through presence, care and how people are treated in ordinary, everyday encounters.

For Fiona McAullife, executive principal of Good News Lutheran College in Tarneit and Mambourin in Melbourne’s west, faith is lived this way each day. ‘In the Lutheran understanding of vocation, I have come to see that faith is not something we merely profess, but something lived out daily in service to others,’ she says. This understanding, she explains, is grounded in the message of James 2:18: ‘I will show you my faith by my works.’ ‘As I lead the leaders, I also use a translation, “Don’t just tell me, show me,”’ she says.

Her sense of vocation began early. Growing up on a farm in South Australia’s Mid-North as the eldest of six children, she was raised in a family deeply connected to their faith. From a young age, she knew she wanted to become a teacher and developed a love for mathematics. Over time, she came to see how those passions could intersect.

Her journey into Lutheran education was shaped by formative experiences and influential mentors, particularly at Concordia College in suburban Adelaide. The school’s motto, Fortiter in Re, Suaviter in Modo (‘Firm in principle, gentle in manner’) resonated with her, capturing how she aspired to live and lead. ‘I felt at home in a community where humility and quiet achievement were valued,’ she says.

Across a range of school communities and cultural and religious contexts, her sense of vocation has remained consistent. ‘I’ve come to see that faith is not about striving to prove anything,’ she says. ‘It’s a response of gratitude, shown through care, presence and love.’

‘While these environments have differed greatly, my purpose has remained grounded in God’s call to serve faithfully where I am placed,’ Fiona says.

Like many, her journey has not been without challenge. During her early adulthood, a tragic head-on collision between a mother and son profoundly affected her. The accident took the life of a young man she had grown up with and left a woman who had cared for her like a mother utterly devastated. In the aftermath, Fiona found herself seriously questioning where God was amid such immense suffering. It was not until several years later, following another painful event, that she truly felt God’s presence and understood that he had never left her. ‘Those experiences strengthened my faith and gave me resilience I didn’t know I had,’ she says.

That resilience was called upon early in her time at Good News Lutheran College at Tarneit in Melbourne’s west. She began in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in one of the most locked-down areas in the country. The year also included a lightning strike that damaged key infrastructure and the death of a Year 12 student. Reflecting on that time, she says, ‘Possibly the most important lesson was that whatever is happening, care for community is key. Every student and staff member is considered before anything else.’

What brings Fiona the greatest joy is forming genuine connections. ‘Whether it’s a conversation at school pick-up time, lending a hand at a community event or simply being a familiar face around the grounds at the college campuses, these moments of connection create a sense of belonging and remind me why I do what I do,’ she says.

She has also been stretching herself to learn some phrases in Hindi, spoken or understood by many families in her school communities. ‘Through my experiences, I have gained valuable insights into what it means to lead and create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels cared for. The positive responses from students and families have reinforced the importance of these efforts,’ she says.

Mentoring and coaching future leaders has become a particularly meaningful part of Fiona’s work. ‘Supporting aspiring leaders as they grow in confidence and capability fills me with hope for the future of our school,’ she says. Through this, she sees leadership as an expression of service, rather than authority.

Faith is woven into the life of the school in intentional ways. Fiona is encouraged by students who engage openly with faith through Bible study groups and devotional activities. ‘Seeing young people come together to explore their beliefs, support one another and share their faith stories is a powerful reminder of the strength found in community,’ she says.

She also points to the visible presence of the church within the college grounds. Buildings named in honour of Lutheran congregations and their histories serve as reminders of faithful witness across generations. ‘The journeys of those that have come before us in the name of God and have followed their faith through all manner of challenges inspire us to face our own challenges and let our own faith guide us,’ she says.

Looking to the future, her hope is for the continued flourishing of the school community in both Tarneit and the newer campus at Mambourin. ‘With our significant wait lists, I wish we could take in all who want to be in our school and care for them as well as we care for our current students,’ she says.

Today, Fiona says her journey has shaped how she sees others. ‘My journey has deepened my faith so that I am now genuinely able to see the presence of God in everyone I interact with,’ she says. ‘My role is not to impose faith, but to bear witness to it through compassion, integrity and faithful service.

‘In this way, each day becomes a lived expression of faith, gently and consistently showing God’s love in action within the everyday rhythms of school life.’

Ultimately, Fiona’s motivation and passion are sustained by the relationships she builds and the encouragement that flows generously from those around her. ‘Each day’s interactions, big or small, remind me of the impact we can have when we serve with kindness and work together for something greater,’ Fiona says.

Elise Mattiske has served as the LCA Communications Coordinator and is the LCA’s new Publications Editor.

Know of any other Faces of Faith stories in your local community? Email the editor elise.mattiske-rogers@lca.org.au

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Welcome to the neighbourhood!

by Nigel Rosenzweig

The conversation at the doorstep of a stranger in my neighbourhood might go something like this … [Knock knock] ‘Who’s there?’ ‘The Great South Coast.’ ‘The Great South Coast who?’ ‘The Great South Coast Welcome Team – we’ve come to welcome you to Victor Harbor on behalf of all of the churches in the town!’ ‘Which church?’ ‘All the Christian churches of Victor Harbor together!’ ‘Wow – what a surprise!’

Many people in our communities are surprised to hear of churches working together. But in many communities across Australia and New Zealand, that is exactly what is happening! And when Christians work together in unity, the unity we share is a powerful witness.

In August 2024, the South Coast Minister’s Group based in Victor Harbor on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula agreed to step out in faith and create a welcome pack, a website and a new resident visitation program, to enable local church members to systematically welcome new residents into the area.

This was enabled after Victor Harbor Lutheran Church received an LCANZ Local Mission Seed Fund Grant late last year. The project grew quickly!

A development team was formed, comprising people from many local churches. Welcome magazines, gift packs and a website were prepared. In May this year, visitor and evangelism training was provided to 93 potential visitors. In June, the Great South Coast website (www.greatsouthcoast.com.au) was launched, and 36 official visitors were commissioned at a combined worship service before coming together for final equipping and to receive their first assignments. The assignment of visitors to homes has been covered in prayer. We have been blessed to have an ecumenical prayer group meet fortnightly specifically to surround this project and other local ‘church together’ projects in prayer.

Visitor assignments are made based upon intelligence collected about local property sales and occupancy. Visitors generally visit in their local neighbourhood and receive one or more assignments every month from the visitor coordinator. Visitors work in pairs, and many pairs consist of people from different denominations. New friendships have grown from this.

The welcome pack we offer has a professional local magazine in it that celebrates local community issues, the community engagement activities of the churches and stories of the churches working together. Also in the bag is a pen and a fridge magnet card, plus local business vouchers. Many visitors personalise their bags with extra items, such as home-propagated plants, produce or baked goods, or even a packet of Tim Tams. The local newspaper provides free copies of a recent edition, while the local council makes their new resident information packs available for us to include in
the bag, too.

In July, visitors came back together for a combined worship service to hear testimonies about the first round of visits. The feedback was truly encouraging!

Some visitors have been welcomed by new residents into their homes. There have been opportunities for follow-up and community connections, and friendships are growing. Who knows how God might work through these simple visits of welcome offered as an act of service?

In the first four months of the visitor program, 114 visits were reported to the visitor coordinator. Of these, 48 per cent have been ‘highly appreciated’ and 23 per cent ‘politely appreciated’. In 26 per cent of cases, the visitors have been unable to contact residents, but in cases where contact was made, only 3 per cent have been considered ‘unappreciated’.

Many visitors have reported positive connections being made and stated that many recipients are surprised and grateful for the welcome gift. Visitors also report many new residents talking about the stress of moving and working through change; therefore, some visits have resulted in referrals being made to appropriate services. Many who are visited are pleased to simply meet people in the area, while it is often reported that new residents have been surprised by the concept that the visit was a combined-churches initiative.

One visitor said a resident was ‘absolutely blown away that anyone would think of blessing him with a gift’. ‘He was shocked and delighted to receive the bag. I said the combined churches had put this together, and that we just wanted to bless him and welcome him to the area. He couldn’t believe that anyone would do this for him. He has never had anyone do anything like this for him before.’

Another visitor reported meeting a couple who were looking for a church and was able to extend an invitation to worship and to an Alpha course. On that and some other occasions, visitors have been invited back for a further visit.

One visitor was invited to come again with these words: ‘Next time I will give you some plants I’m taking out of my garden.’ In this endeavour, visitors are definitely finding ‘people of peace’, as we read of in Luke 10:1–24.

As the program continues to mature, we wait and see what God might grow through these new friendships forming from welcome visits. Additionally, an unexpected spin-off from this ministry is that visitors and others from local churches have come together for combined worship events every two months.

By the time we gathered to worship on 21 September, we were starting to see a growth of ideas for new teams forming under the banner of Great South Coast. These new teams will enable Christians working together to care for their community and give a united witness in a variety of other ways.

With the early success of the visitor program in Victor Harbor, there has been strong interest in expanding to Goolwa, 17 kilometres east. This has required a second round of visitor training to be brought forward, while new visitor coordinators and visitors are being established for the Goolwa area.

On Saturday 8 November, more than 50 people gathered for a round of training to enable them to join either the new welcome team in Goolwa, the existing welcome team in Victor Harbor, the ‘New Hope Team’ (which will visit people in our region who are without a home), or one of the other developing teams that is growing to encourage shared outreach and evangelism.

On 30 November, the Great South Coast launched the ‘Goolwa chapter’ of the welcome team at a combined worship at the Goolwa Uniting Church.

Over the past 12 months, we have seen God provide for and bless Christian community wherever brothers and sisters live together in unity and step out in faith together.

Ephesians 4:2 is a foundational text for this project. It reminds us that we do not create the unity – God does. We simply have the opportunity to keep it and live in it by being completely humble and gentle, patient and bearing with one another in love.

For many who have lived in the area for a long time, this project has been an answer to a long-standing prayer and a demonstration of the unity God gives!

Pastor Nigel Rosenzweig serves at Victor Harbor Lutheran Church, South Australia, and oversees the Great South Coast Welcome Team.

 

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