What would we say if we heard that a population the size of Tasmania had a drought of faithful gospel witness? (Yes – that is inland Australia beyond the hinterland of the cities that hold most of the population.)
What if we also heard that this was also an area of flooding rains, life-sapping droughts and a multitude of social problems, and still without the gospel?
Most of us would rightly be concerned, and we Presbyterians would form a committee to look at the matter and report back in three years.
Hold the horses on that committee! The Presbyterian Church already has a body addressing this issue. It is called ‘Presbyterian Inland Mission’ (PIM) and is a direct successor to the Australian Inland Mission founded by the energetic Rev John Flynn in 1912. Dr Flynn was an innovator in his era, just as PIM is in present times.
PIM is presently enjoying a surge of new life, building on past labours. Stuart Bonnington is applying his energy and passion to his new role as Superintendent. The excellent facilities at New Dunesk, Ardlethan are being put to good use to grow gospel usefulness. Patrol padres are patiently building relationships and bearing faithful witness. The present initiative of gospel nomads is training volunteer gospel agents for effective witness at remote servos, camping grounds and the like.
Why not check out the PIM website and see what they are doing (https://pim.org.au/)? Check out the events and ‘New Dunesk’ pages to see what is upcoming. And why not add PIM to your church mission giving and prayer list?
PIM is bringing gospel light to inland darkness. That is worth driving for.
David Burke,
Moderator-General,
April 2024.