CMS missionaries Chris and Karen Webb are serving Indigenous brothers and sisters at Broome Peoples Church. Here, they speak about recent fellowship and training opportunities in the wider Kimberley region.

What is the Kimberley Christian Fellowship (KCF) Convention?

The Kimberley Christian Fellowship Convention is the annual gathering of Aboriginal Christians from People’s Churches (independent evangelical churches) across the Kimberley.

People come from great distances to be there. For some who don’t have church in their community this might be the only time of Christian fellowship they have in the year.

What did the 2024 convention look like?

The 2024 convention was held in Yungngora Aboriginal Community. The convention ran from Friday to Sunday, with morning and night meetings that included singing and a Bible talk. The Saturday evening session and barbecue was an opportunity for people to invite non-Christian family to hear the gospel. 

Jono Wright, a former Australian Indigenous Ministries (AIM) missionary was the main speaker at the convention. He preached on the theme of hope as it unfolds throughout the whole story of the Bible. 

Jono gave clear and practical Bible teaching for people to hold on to. Many Aboriginal families in the Kimberley face a lot of grief and trouble, so the hope that Jesus offers was a great topic to think about.   

On Sunday afternoon, we split into men’s and women’s groups. The men shared with each other about the ups and downs of following Jesus. The ladies talked about some sad events that had recently happened, and shared Bible verses that encouraged them in their grief. 

Tell us about First Nations Ministry Training (FNMT).

FNMT is a Bible training initiative, started by the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship (AEF). It provides a model of training that can be delivered in a local church context and aims to disciple Christians where they are. 

What did the FNMT in Broome look like?

We had twelve Aboriginal people from around the Kimberley join us at FNMT in Broome. The course, which ran for a week in October, focused on the basics of the gospel—how God speaks to us, how we are saved, and how we live as followers of Jesus.   

FNMT aims to deliver their courses in a way that allows people with lower literacy skills to participate and learn. In Broome, we used lots of visual aids and discussion to reinforce key ideas. 

People found the week really helpful, and appreciated the opportunity to spend a concentrated amount of time thinking through God’s Word, and talking with other believers.

Praise God!

Header image: Karen Webb and women during sharing and praying time at the KCF.

PRAY

Pray with Chris and Karen that these recent opportunities for fellowship and training will result in people being equipped to serve in their churches, and make Christ known in their communities.