Our annual SURRENDER gathering is on again March 23-25, 2012 and this time our theme is ‘Hope Speaks – Hope Acts, Word and Action in our Neighbourhoods’

Together we’ll be exploring how we can serve God through both words and actions in our neighbourhoods. Through main sessions, workshops, worship and conversations we’ll join together to seek God’s heart for our communities, to be inspired to proclaim good news and join with the healing work of His Spirit.

Our keynote speaker, Andy Hawthorne, has had over 20 years of experience loving in word and action in one of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Britain. His passion for God and for the young people of his neighbourhood has seen him help birth an amazing ministry in the Message Trust and Eden, a network of missional communities in which teams of Christians move, work and support local churches in some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities to reach young people.

Please check out the Lineup, Features and Useful info for SURRENDER:12 and then get your friends and family together, register and we’ll see you there!

Aunty Jean Phillips, Lloyd Hollingsworth Billy Williams and Goma Conlon brought a unique and strong voice that affirmed the desire for reconciliation, and for the people of God to stand up and share peace together.

Truth Labs are intended to be low-key and conversational so that you can safely explore questions you might have, and in this second Truth Lab, the question was posed ‘how your faith is linked to Indigenous Australians and what to do about it’.

Lloyd Hollingsworth was passionate throughout the night, and continually brought Christ to the centre of our conversation.  But perhaps the key message of the night came from Aunty Jean, who reminded us that the only way to remove the stain of aboriginal oppression and abuse would be by partnering together in a journey of redemption toward the future.

Aunty Jean confessed, “I have been around too long to let those things (set backs in reconciliation) get me down…It is not an easy journey…but there are so many wonderful things that you can learn”.  Her words highlighted a deep passion, not to ignore persecution and racism of past and present, but to move beyond the pain together, mutually learning and journeying, and that it is in this process that healing takes place, and a new future is born.

Of course the next question is, where are we at on the journey, and where are we heading to? Goma reminded us of the horrors of stolen generation, not just in the tearing apart of families and communities, but of the ramifications of such a policy within the aboriginal community.  In particular, the removal of leadership and empowerment of and within Aboriginal people.  Elders looking behind them and realising there are few to take their place.  Empowerment has been removed, and this has completely changed the dynamic of leadership within community.  In spite of this, the night highlighted not a desire to sit in pain, but a decision and an invitation to move forward.  Goma pointed this out when describing the beautiful and inspiring painting adorning the stage, sharing with us his passion for  “different communities to come together and sit together.

Goma posed the challenge to non-indigenous Australians pleading “we ask you guys to understand the impacts society has had on our people. Not only acknowledge, not only to understand, but then to join us in the journey, be partners in the leadership and in the training of our people.”  Billy Williams, hosting the night, gave us wisdom in pointing out the value in just being together, and that perhaps this is the mark of the aboriginal people, and something we all need to glean as many communities joining together.

This is the message and the movement we all must understand.  There will be no perfect ‘quote’ or snazzy allegory that brings about the impetus or means for reconciliation.  Nor will there be a clear and easy process or policy outlined to close the gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.  The lesson from the Truth Lab, if we must take something tangible away, is in the relationships formed during our time together.  I enjoyed listening to these wise elders, but I enjoyed having a laugh and a meal together beforehand even more.  I listened to the words spoken, but was far more impacted by the hug and throw away comment ‘I like you, sister’.  But in our very white way, we want a solution and we want it now.  If our brothers and sisters have taught us anything in these last 200 years, it is surely this: white guilt and false motives have no place in reconciliation, and that the only path to true peace is the conversation that will happen in the relationships we form along the way.

Date: 4-17 November 2010
Opening: Saturday 6th November, 4:00-6:00pm
Artists: Max Conlon and Goma Conlon
Venue: Chapel on Station Gallery
Address: 3 Ellingworth Parade, Box Hill, 3128

Artists bio:

Brothers Max and Robin (Goma) Conlon were raised amongst 14 siblings in the Cherbourg Aboriginal settlement in south east Queensland and are descendants of the Kabi Kabi/Kullali tribes.

Max is an established artist and has been painting for 35 years, Robin has been painting for the last 14 years. They have exhibited extensively throughout the east coast of Australia, collaborating on murals and art projects with cultural community outcomes.

Their family traditions have inspired a unique body of work which utilises traditional and contemporary symbols to communicate stories of life experiences.

Proceeds:

Funds raised from the sales of artworks from the Jisas wantaim Art Exhibition will go towards supporting the training of emerging Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander leaders.

‘First things First’

How your faith is linked to Indigenous Australians and what to do about it.

with: Aunty Jean Phillips, Graham Paulson, Billy Williams, Llyod Hollingsworth, Goma Conlon

Hear, speak, question and dissect.

Come and chat with passionate Indigenous Christians in a safe space. Explore the history of Christian interaction with the First Australians, begin a journey through listening and find out why the country needs to look to Aboriginal leadership for true reconciliation. Hang around afterwards for more ‘research’ over some nibbles and drink.

WHEN: 7:30pm, Saturday November 6, 2010

WHERE: Chapel on Station, Box Hill Baptist Church VIC, 3 Ellingworth Parade, Box Hill

EMAIL: enquiries@surrender.org.au

COST: Donation at entry

*SURRENDER Truth LABS are one-off nights (or days) where you can research and discover what it means to follow Jesus in a hurting world. Truth LABS are about discovering an alternative to living for yourself, about making a real and lasting difference in a world desperate for good news!

Click here to get details of the In the Mix Sessions at SURRENDER:10

We’re really pleased to be able to present a Restorative Justice workshop stream at SURRENDER:10 this year. This unique workshop stream is hosted by leading ministries and organisations working within the criminal justice and prisons system; Prison Fellowship, Bridge of Hope, Prisoner Aftercare Support Services, Bible Society (Vic) / Sophia Thinktank, Kairos, Prison Network Ministries, Alpha for Prisons/Caring for Ex-Offenders and Five8.

Here’s some detail about this great workshop stream:

The failure of imprisonment to address the nature and causes of crime reflects a criminal justice system that is adversarial and punitive in nature, one that systematically alienates and polarizes offenders and victims from each other and from the community.  On the other hand, Restorative Justice offers a biblically based approach to crime that is inclusive and redemptive in nature.  Restorative Justice views crime as a violation of people and relationships. Restorative Justice seeks to meet victims’ needs, to hold offenders accountable while offering possibilities for restoration, and to invite church and community to participate in the justice process as healers and peacemakers. Restorative Justice programs work with the criminal justice system in developing and advocating criminal justice programs consistent with the principles of accountability, healing and restoration.  Although Christians have always been at the forefront in prison reform, the Church has largely deviated from a restorative approach to penal justice.  There is a view held by many Christians that justice is purely about retribution, an ‘eye for an eye’. Others, sadly, are simply unengaged and unaware.  As anyone canvassing for prison volunteers knows, there is an urgent need for Christians to live out their faith in a practical and vital way through ministering to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families.

Workshop content:

• Who goes to prison and the imprisonment experience;
• The criminal justice system vs. a restorative justice approach to justice;
• ‘Crossover’ – a proposed new cutting-edge prison & post-release program that helps offenders reintegrate to the community / church;
• Giovanni – an account of one prisoner’s redemptive journey with the support of a local church;
• Opportunities for involvement in prison and after prison ministry.

For more of Claudio you can check out our video section here. or see him talking about poverty below:

We’d love to know what you think — you can reply to this post below.