ATSIM Victorian Adventists

29/05/2026

Some of our ATSIM Directors had an opportunity to share in SPD worship over this last week.
Here is something I had the privilege to share about National Reconciliation Week.

This week, we acknowledged the significance of National Sorry Day and we are currently in the middle of acknowledging and celebrating National Reconciliation Week with the theme being “All In.”

Reconciliation is not a moment; it is a journey. It asks something of us. It calls us to be “all in.”

National Reconciliation Week is observed each year from 27 May to 3 June. These dates are significant in Australia’s history.

27 May marks the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, where over 90% of Australians voted to amend the Constitution so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted in the national census and so the Federal Government could make laws for them. It became a powerful symbol of unity, recognition, and change.

3 June marks the anniversary of the historic 1992 Mabo decision in the High Court of Australia, which recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of this land and overturned the legal idea of terra nullius — the notion that the land belonged to no one before British settlement.

National Reconciliation Week started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993 (the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples) and was supported by Australia’s major faith communities.
In 1996, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australia’s first National Reconciliation Week.
In 2001, Reconciliation Australia was established to continue to provide national leadership on reconciliation.
National Reconciliation Week has seen approximately 300,000 people walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge and subsequently across bridges in cities and towns throughout Australia – to show their support for reconciliation.

Today, National Reconciliation Week is celebrated in workplaces, schools and early learning services, community organisations and groups, and by individuals Australia-wide.

National Reconciliation Week invites all Australians to reflect on our shared history, acknowledge past injustices, celebrate the cultures and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and continue the work of building respectful relationships, truth-telling, healing, and unity.

One ATSIM Advocate described being “all in” this way: “when you decide to jump into a pool, there comes a point when you can’t hold back. Once you jump, you’re committed. You’ll get wet.” You surrender comfort and control because you’ve chosen to enter fully into the experience.

That image speaks powerfully into reconciliation. Real reconciliation cannot happen from the sidelines. It requires listening, humility, truth-telling, relationship, courage, and sometimes discomfort. It means stepping into another person’s story and allowing God to shape our hearts through it.

One night, as I was driving, I was listening to a podcast, and what I was able to pick up from the discussion had to do with spiritual growth — particularly the kind of growth that comes through being challenged.

Sometimes within our own spiritual contexts, we stay safe. Staying safe can mean we never have to move beyond what is familiar or comfortable. We remain in our own spiritual comfort zones because it feels easier there. But I believe God continually invites us beyond comfort so that we can grow, be stretched, and see from a different perspective, not as one particular stage in our lives but over the years of doing life and journeying with God.

Spirituality was never meant to be stagnant; it is dynamic. Faith grows when we allow God to challenge us, shape us, and open our hearts to others. Often, some of the deepest growth happens when we are willing to listen to stories different from our own, to sit with discomfort, and to allow God to transform the way we think and live.

The Bible reminds us in:
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come… God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”2 Corinthians 5:17–18

Jesus Himself was completely all in for humanity. He did not love from a distance. He stepped into our world, carried our pain, broke down barriers, and gave everything so we could be reconciled to God and to one another.

Philippians tells us that Jesus “made himself nothing” and humbled Himself in obedience. His example shows us that kingdom growth and kingdom building are not about comfort or convenience, but commitment, sacrifice, and love in action.

To be “All In for 2026” is more than a theme. It is an invitation:
* to be all in for reconciliation,
* To be all in for restoration
* all in for justice and healing,
* all in for relationships,
* all in for the expanding of God’s Kingdom.

And just like jumping into the pool, following Jesus wholeheartedly means we may get uncomfortable. We may get stretched. We may even get challenged in ways we didn’t expect. But transformation happens when we stop standing at the edge and trust God enough to step fully in.

What can reconciliation week look like for you?
And what kind does that look like in action?

🙏🏽Prayer 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, Thank You for being all in for us.
As we reflect on Sorry Day and begin Reconciliation Week, soften our hearts and strengthen our courage.

Help us to listen well, walk humbly, and commit ourselves to the work of reconciliation.
Challenge us to move beyond what is comfortable and safe so that our faith may continue to grow and deepen.

Teach us what it means to be all in for Your Kingdom — willing to love deeply, serve faithfully, and walk together in unity and hope.

May our words and heartfelt actions bring healing, justice, peace and hope.
In Jesus name,
Amen

10/05/2026

To all our strong and beautiful First Nations Mums across this land — from the red earth to the saltwater shores, from Country to community — today we honour you.

Your love carries generations.
Your strength holds families together.
Your wisdom keeps culture, story, language and spirit alive.
So many of your sacrifices go unseen — the quiet prayers, the sleepless nights, the burdens carried silently, the nurturing of children, grandchildren, kin and community.

The Word reminds us:

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25

Like the gumtree that stands through storm and drought, First Nations mothers continue to stand strong through hardship, carrying deep resilience passed down through generations. Your care reflects the heart of Creator God — enduring, patient and full of mercy.

Devotional Reflection:
Today we thank God for the mothers, aunties, grandmothers and carers whose faithfulness often happens behind the scenes. Heaven sees every sacrifice made in love. Every meal prepared, every tear cried in prayer, every comforting word, every act of protection and guidance matters deeply to God.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.” Numbers 6:24

May this Mother’s Day bring healing, honour, peace and strength to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and matriarchs. Your endless sacrifices are beyond what words can ever articulate or fully appreciate.

With love and gratitude,
From our ATSIM family 🤎

25/04/2026

April 25 — A Day of Remembrance

Today, many gathered to commemorate our ANZACs who fought at Gallipoli. Countless names were spoken, and many families stood in honour of those who served.

Today, one of our Victorian Pathfinders clubs had the opportunity to take part in completing the ANZAC honour. Not only did they learn about well-known figures such as Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, Private Billy Sing, and Lieutenant Colonel Henry William Murray, but they were also introduced to the story of Douglas Grant, from the Ngadjonji nation in far North Queensland.

They learned that, long before World War I, there were conflicts fought here on Australian soil. Douglas Grant, adopted and raised by a Scottish family, enlisted with the 34th Battalion in January 1916. During the war, he became a prisoner of war and was well respected among his fellow prisoners.

Sadly, the equality he experienced during wartime was not reflected when he returned home. On one ANZAC Day in Sydney, an ex-serviceman, Roy Kinghorn, noticed Douglas standing outside a service. When encouraged to join, Douglas expressed that he felt he was no longer wanted. In response, Roy took him by the hand and led him into the Domain.

This story reminded our Pathfinders that while some who made great sacrifices are recognised and remembered, others—who gave just as much—have not always been acknowledged.

In closing, our Pathfinders reflected on John 15:13, a verse often shared during ANZAC services:
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
They were reminded that while recognition may fade or be uneven, the sacrifice remains the same. Today, we honour every life given, every story carried, and every name remembered or forgotten.

Let’s be reminded.
Lest we forget.

📸Australian War Memorial of Douglas Grant

23/03/2026

What an amazing opportunity.
Looking forward to what God will do and continue to do in this space 🙌🏽🙌🏽❤️🙏🏽

Yesterday marked a significant milestone for ATSIM Victoria, as they held their first meeting to discuss the possibility of establishing a VIC ATSIM Advisory.

The group gathered in Shepparton, where the local Seventh-day Adventist church has been actively engaging with the Indigenous community and building meaningful relationships.

Most conferences have an ATSIM Advisory that supports areas such as evangelism, pastoral care, cultural training, literature ministry, youth outreach, and other matters impacting ATSIM within their region.

We look forward to what will grow from this space and are excited about the possibilities ahead.

L-R: Jacqueline (non-Adventist), Cathy, Michelle, Coral, Kelly, Wendy, Mandy and Darren.

02/03/2026

This time last week many were preparing to fly in for our Super Advisory at AUC, our Union Office based in Ringwood, including our mob from around Australia who were part of our ATSIM Super Advisory. It was great to yarn and fellowship with our mob from around Australia to see what is happening, sharing about challenges arising and how God is navigating these spaces.
Our prayer request to our mob is to ask that you continue to keep our mob in prayer as God’s Spirit moves in this space in ways that will share a beautiful picture of an evolving mob with Christ at the centre of it all.

Day two of ATSIM meetings!

We've had some great conversations and ideas on how we can bridge the gap and introduce God to people in our communities.

We have half a day of meetings remaining. Please pray for us and the other Advisories as we wrap up our discussions and begin putting our plans into action.

27/02/2026

If you don’t have one, you need to grab one.
Looking forward to participating in Stormco this year and wearing our Stormco T-shirts designed by Pastor John Beck.

15/02/2026

Praise God for your ordination and your ongoing ministry Pr Keith 🙌🏽

02/02/2026

Our students are back to continue growing and learning through connections and fellowship.
Let’s keep our students and the staff in prayer as they begin and continue their studies for 2026 🙌🏽🙏🏽

26/01/2026

I love this post shared on our national ATSIM page. As many of us navigate Australia Day, it’s a reminder that this day holds different meanings for different people. We’re invited not only to celebrate, but to acknowledge that Australia’s story did not begin a few centuries ago. At the heart of this nation’s history are our First Nations Peoples, and the stories of hurt, loss, and pain they have carried—and continue to carry.
True celebration doesn’t come from looking away or pretending these stories don’t exist. Celebration comes from seeing clearly, acknowledging truth, and choosing to walk alongside one another.

As people of faith, I believe God teaches us how to see—to open our eyes, our hearts, and our lives to one another with humility and compassion.
The words from the bridge of Hosanna capture this posture so beautifully, reminding us of the space God longs for us to hold as a people, because He is a God of unconditional, benevolent love:
Heal my heart and make it clean�Open up my eyes to the things unseen�Show me how to love like You have loved me�Break my heart for what breaks Yours�Everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause

God bless our mob

Meekness isn’t weakness, it’s quiet strength, humility, and resilience. The kind of strength that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have carried for generations.

So much land has been taken. So much pain, loss, and injustice has been part of the journey. But God sees it all.

What God promises is something no one can take away, identity, dignity, healing, and a place in His Kingdom. An inheritance far greater than land alone. One that lasts forever.

God honours those who walk humbly with Him. He lifts up voices that have been ignored and restores what was meant to be lost. The promise still stands. Hope still stands. And your story matters.

13/12/2025

What an awesome opportunity and blessing to share online our ATSIM ministry and what is happening around Australia. It was great when I was able to finally put my camera on 🙏🏽❤️