New First Nations building dedicated in a healing place
Left to right: Pr Terry Johnson (our President in Australia), Cr Ruth Butterfield (Mayor of Armadale), Pr David Garrard (our Principal at Mamarapha College) and Pr Darren Garlett (our ATSIM Director in Australia)
On 30 May 2023 during Reconciliation Week, members of the Australian Union Conference (AUC) Executive Committee, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries (ATSIM) Committee, and the honorable Mayor of Armadale met to celebrate the opening of a new building and extension on Whadjuk Noongar land (also known as Karragullen in Western Australia).
A higher experience
Coming in under budget—at just under AU$2 million—the pristine new classrooms, student common area, computer lab, administrative offices and Faith FM recording studio will support growth in First Nations ministry and health education at Mamarapha College.
Ms Teeharnee Robinson, a current ministry student, shared from the heart, “I expected to learn about the Bible at Mamarapha, but I never expected the experience to be life changing! I never expected to be speaking in front of a mic in front of you today, and I never expected to have opportunities to travel like I have.”
More than a Bible college, this landmark Registered Training Organisation (RTO) offers accredited courses to support real work opportunities and human flourishing for its Aboriginal students. “I would love to be a chaplain and work with kids some day,” Ms Robinson said.
Pr Connie Toga, Ministry Course Coordinator at Mamarapha, affirmed, “The new spaces have already given a great boost to student morale, as they have been designed with our students in mind—right down to the carpet colour. The buildings have also led to greater recognition that there are church leaders and members lending support to students who want to be equipped to minister to their own people.”
Pr Darren Garlett, ATSIM Director for the Adventist church in Australia, proudly stated, “The Mamarapha experience has been raised even higher. The new buildings represent how much we value the work of Mamarapha College, its students, and—more broadly—First Nations ministry.”
Beautiful buildings dedicated to God’s glory. This will be the first year that students graduate onsite in their own auditorium, rather than borrowing from external venues.
Shared history from darkness to light
New additions to the site include a unique two-part mural, which tells a story. Ms Dana Garlett, a professional Whadjuk Noongar artist, explains that the story depicts a student’s journey, beginning in darkness on the left (dark burgundy area), moving towards God’s light and the eternal hope of Jesus’ glorious Second Coming on the right (orange and yellow areas). The blue river represents Jesus—the ‘River of Life’—who is ever-present throughout the journey. Also, the leaves represent continual healing and health that comes from God as He heals the brokenness in lives. (The word ‘Mamarapha’ means ‘God heals’ or ‘God makes whole’. ‘Mama’ is the word for ‘God’ for the Western Desert indigenous people. ‘Rapha’ is a Hebrew word for ‘healing’/’making whole’.)
Original artwork by Dana Garlett. Photo provided by Pr Connie Toga.
Dark burgundy area: The Holy Spirit impresses upon individuals even as they sit in darkness. The Holy Spirit is represented by the ripples and rings around the people, which are the ‘U’ shaped symbols.
Light burgundy, brown and gold areas: The people gather at Mamarapha and are equipped with knowledge and tools for ministry.
Green and teal areas: As people continue with Jesus, they are further transformed by Him as their relationship with Him grows. This transformation is represented by the changing colour of the individuals throughout the murals. Individuals are equipped with tools for ministry, represented by the ‘U’ and ‘I’ shapes that are together. The white rays coming from some of the individuals are the ‘dhari’ iconography in Torres Strait Islander culture. Individuals with crosshatching surrounding them represent those living in coastal and urban areas. Individuals with the dots and lines represent those living in remote and rural areas.
Original artwork by Dana Garlett. Photo provided by Pr Connie Toga.
Teal above the stairs: Fishing nets are also a tool, used to follow Jesus’ instruction to become fishers of men.
Orange and yellow: New meeting places are formed by those who have become agents of change, teaching their own people about Jesus. Figures holding tools at the end of the mural are represented in the same blue as the River. It is God’s desire that we imitate Him, being totally committed to the eternal hope of Jesus, and eternal life with Him.
Left to right: Haily Dorante (Northern Australian Conference lay member), Doreen Murphy (Remote North New South Wales Conference Bible Worker), Wayne Thomas (Chaplain at Karalundi Aboriginal College), Pr David Fletcher (South Australian Conference ATSIM Director, Pastor at Adelaide ATSIM Fellowship Church and former Mamarapha College Principal), Pr Richard Reid (Wahroonga Adventist School Chaplain and Greater Sydney Conference ATSIM Director), Darren Peakall (Western Australian Conference ATSIM leader and Pastor at Karla Bidjar Church), Pr David Garrard (current Mamarapha College Principal), Pr Jameson Pulelisi (South New South Wales Conference ATSIM Director), Pr Darren Garlett (Australian Union Conference ATSIM Director), Pr Luke Stuart (South Queensland Conference ATSIM Director and Pastor at Murri Wantok Church), Pr James London (Victorian Conference ATSIM Coordinator, Pastor at Wangaratta and Benalla Churches), Daniel Gela (Northern Australian Conference lay member) and Pr John Beck (ATSIM Remote Area Senior Pastor for the Australian Union Conference)
The best is yet to come
Pr David Garrard, Principal at Mamarapha College, is excited for the new ministry opportunities within the space: “The new Faith FM studio will allow us to provide spiritual content in both English and Aboriginal languages.”
He continues, “We are currently working in partnership with another RTO to deliver a Certificate II in Community Services. We aim to add this vocational course in 2024, then progress to the Certificate III.”
Pr Michael Worker, AUC General Secretary, shared there are plans to add new courses to broaden the impact and influence of the College throughout First Nations communities, including vocational trade qualifications.
Looking to Jesus’ model of reconciliation
Pr Terry Johnson, AUC President, shared in his dedication speech the importance of Christians leading the way in repairing our relationships with First Nations people: “Central to the Christian message, is Jesus’ work of reconciliation which began here on earth. While our church has formally apologised to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations after the Bringing Them Home investigation into institutions and the stolen generations, and while we are seeing great things at Mamarapha here today —the work of reconciliation has just begun.”
Pr Garlett reminds the Adventist church, “Our hope for continued reconciliation with First Nations people is in the hands of our membership. It’s up to local churches to lead in practical ways such as improving understanding and connecting with their local indigenous communities. It’s important that our leadership lead—not only in word—but in actions that affirm our Adventist church’s commitment to reconciliation.”
Pr Connie Toga, Mamarapha College Ministry Course Coordinator, opened the event with warmth and grace
Pr John Beck, ATSIM Remote Area Senior Pastor for the Australian Union Conference, played the Yidaki (also incorrectly known as the didgeridoo)
References
Commonwealth of Australia. (1997). Bringing them Home: Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families. Australian Government, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/bringing-them-home-report-1997
South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists. (1998, February 21). Apology to ‘stolen generations’. Record, 103(6) 10. https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19980221-V103-06.pdf
