3 Week Mission to South Australia

The recent drought in South Australia put preparations on hold for many farmers across the Eyre Peninsula. Planting seed crops for the new season were delayed as the traditional ANZAC Day rains never came this year.

Still, you will have to drive a long way to meet a farmer who has given up hope. The families on the land across the Eyre and Yorke Peninsula’s are just about the most resilient, hard working people I’ve ever met. Every year this agricultural region faces big challenges with droughts, bushfires, insect and mice plagues etc… And yet it is famous as a grain producing region due to the tenacity and will of the families working the land. 

Over the coming weeks we will be doing events in many of the rural communities and we appreciate your prayers. Thanks to those who have invited us to come and pray for rain and preach the Gospel. Yes it’s winter in South Australia but we believe this is where God has called us to at this time!

– Steve & Kerrie

FAREWELL TO A BROTHER

Pictured: Family, friends and people from many communities in the desert came to farewell Lenny Nelson.

It has been a heavy hearted week as we mourned with the community of Ali Curung the passing of legendary guitarist and humble leader Lenny Nelson. He was greatly loved by many from all over the Northern Territory. He mentored other young people in music and most of all discipled children and adults with music and Bible reading at the local Baptist Church. 

Traditionally a funeral will last for hours with waves of grief and emotion shared by loved ones. It was a real honour to be asked along with Paul McLaughlin to speak to the crowd and comfort them in their sadness and loss. After recent months of conflict and fighting we were able to represent Lenny’s heart to see Christ as Lord in the people’s lives. Pray with us that even in Lenny’s death there will be a spiritual renewal for the families of Ali Curung community. Thank you.

RED DIRT, LONG ROADS AND REVIVAL

Pictured: A long nose Kenworth triple trailer Road Train heading south on Australia's only inland north/south road towards Alice Springs, NTl

One thing I’ve learned over the past 30 years of music and ministry is that while ever you have a heart to serve there will always be an opportunity. When you step out in faith God seems to meet you there and not only open doors but miraculously provide. He brings people across your path… Some you are required to help out in practical ways, pray for their healing or bring a message of hope.. Others He will use to help meet your needs along the way. There are no real formula’s to this ‘faith’ journey thing… Just a willingness to go, a heart to pursue faithfulness, to obey His word and get out there in a world desperate to know Jesus in a real way. 

Religion will never bring revival to the remote regions of my country. It will happen with a generation of people humble enough to travel the long roads and red dirt tracks to bring a simple message of God’s unconditional love and grace and reflect His character in their day to day lives. We can all be part of that kind of revival.

In this past week I’ve loved being back out with brothers and sisters from many tribal areas of the inland deserts. It has inspired me to remain steadfast to the calling and be determined to keep rolling on with the mission. It has been so encouraging to meet up with people who are going on strong for the Lord and full of joy. It’s a long, long road and there are seasons when not much happens… But never underestimate the work of God’s spirit in and through all of your efforts. Keep on trucking!!!

But thanks be to God for we have this victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that nothing you do in His name is ever in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Godspeed

Steve Grace

HEADING WEST AND THEN SOUTH

Pictured: Driving into the disappearing sunset of north west Queensland bound for Mt. Isa

We are excited to be heading back into the Northern Territory for the next two weeks for events in remote communities and Alice Springs. Then its south down the Stuart Highway to bring hope to hurting towns on the Eyre Peninsula. The late April rains did not come this year and farmers have been waiting to plant their crops. Finally the rains have fallen but it will make it a very challenging season if summer comes early. We’ve had a number of invitations from communities asking us to come and encourage the locals with the Good News of the Gospel and pray for the land. Here’s some of the towns we’ll be visiting…

Northern Territory: Ali Curung - Alice Springs - Papunya - Haasts Bluff - then in South Australia: Davenport Community - Port Augusta - Minnipa - Karcultaby - Port Lincoln - Cummins - Cleve - Jamestown - Balaclava and Maitland on the York Peninsula. 

Thanks for your prayers as we reach out to communities doing it tough at this time. This is the work we know we are called to and love doing!! 

FAITH, FRIENDSHIP AND GOOD FOOD

You never go hungry when you visit Ps Doug and Anne Reid of the Charters Towers Baptist Church. Doug reckons he only gets cheese sandwiches but we know he lives like a king with Anne’s cooking!!! Thanks so much for some wonderful days of ministry and fellowship in the iconic and historic gold mining town. Our time with the Sunday morning church fellowship was very rewarding and that night we had the privilege of doing a Shed Night at the local Men’s Shed. We greatly appreciate the faithful friendship of the Reid’s and others in Charters Towers who have prayed for and supported the ministry for years. Hoping to get back before the end of the year for some more music, ministry and concerts in North Queensland.

Pictured: Anne and Doug Reid with Trentan and Steve at the Baptist Church in Charters Towers, Queensland.

SLIM DUSTY SONGS UPDATE

Pictured: Steve with guitar at the old Morella CWA Hall north of Longreach, Queensland

I’m road testing most of the songs on the new Slim Dusty Songs album at the moment. One of the songs called ‘Slim’s been here before’ mentions the iconic Morella CWA Hall out in the middle of nowhere in western Queensland. We are hoping and praying this new album will not only reach a lot of people but also generate finances to enable us to reach more remote regions of Australia with the Gospel. Progress has been slow with the completion of the project but we are excited to see things coming together. Thanks to all those who have supported the vision in a practical way. This album will open doors in every town across Australia!!!

CARAVAN PARKS AND PEOPLE

Pictured: Trentan and Steve with the outdoor stage set up in the Clermont Caravan Park last Friday night.

People came from everywhere around town and around the busy caravan park last Friday night for our impromptu concert. You never really know how many people you are communicating with in this situation as there could be hundreds listening from a distance. We presented a 90 minute concert and were amazed at the response from people at the end of the event… even the park management loved the show. We shared a simple Gospel message and sang songs of encouragement and hope and a few patriotic Aussie songs as well.

The new Slim Dusty tribute album songs are a huge hit and we are very excited about the potential this project has as we prepare for its release next month. A huge thanks to Sonrise Church in Clermont / Capella for their support and organisation of our events in town. We know there will be many more Caravan Park concerts in the years to come.

HOPE IN THE HARD TIMES

Pictured: Steven Elliot training a 'working dog' in the skills of mustering sheep and cattle from his home in Winton, Queensland.

Every now and then I meet a real Australian legend, a hard working hero who has overcome all kinds of setbacks and humbly gotten on with life. On New Years Eve 2003 at Black River, North QLD, Steven Elliot’s life changed forever while competing in a rodeo event. His spinal cord was partly severed and he was destined to be a quadriplegic. From 10 years as a champion saddle bronc rider to being completely bed ridden. But with the love and support of many and a deep determination Steven managed to recover the use of his upper body. The locals in Winton passed the hat around and bought him a motorised wheelchair that could handle a bit of outback work. Summertime sees him in his shed making branding irons for clients all over Australia and training his dogs… In the winter he sets off on the working dog competition circuit with his truck and modified horse float he uses for accommodation.

Steven Elliot never let his accident slow him down. He chose to keep going and build something from his tragic circumstances. This humble man in a wheelchair is inspiring to hang around with as he speaks quietly to his ever attentive dogs doing the work that he cannot do. Thank you Steven for the time this week.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

We can focus on the stuff that cripples our dreams and give up, or we can choose to keep believing that there is hope in the hard times. 

Thanks mate..

Godspeed

Steve Grace

THE ART OF SERVING

Pictured: Trentan Kruger laying down some classic Fender Telecaster guitar tracks for a new album project for Brian in Ben Hakalitz’s studio, Cairns

 

When he heard there was an Indigenous Gospel Artist in town recording a new album and some lead guitar parts were needed, Trentan Kruger enthusiastically gave up some hours of a day off from touring to help out. Ben Hakalitz, the original drummer for iconic Australian band Yothu Yindi now operates a recording studio at Living Light Church in Cairns and has a constant flow of artists wanting to record their songs.

Ben is also about to launch ‘Hakalitz Drums’ internationally which is an exciting venture for the boy who grew up in a village in the Bouganville Islands east of PNG. For Trentan it was simply another opportunity to serve and encourage Brian, an Indigenous songwriter with a wonderful testimony of God’s grace and redemption. That’s what it’s all about.