As the opal capital of the world, the town of Coober Pedy is a fascinating place to visit, yet with summer temperatures regularly soaring into the mid-forties it can be a tough place to live. So, what attracts people to move to the middle of nowhere if they aren’t gem seekers? God of course! For over 50 years BCA has supported Field Staff to live and do God’s work in this unique underground town.

It was in 1978 in Coober Pedy that Christian Fellowship Tours Founding Director John Cronshaw first crossed paths with Kerry & Julie Medway who were then serving with BCA. John was leading the first ever BCA tour to Central Australia and the group were able to worship at what was then the new Catacomb Church. Today, things have come full circle with Kerry & Julie now CFT Tour Leaders; they especially love leading holidays with a BCA connection and see their new role as another form of ministry.

The importance of BCA’s work in Coober Pedy, and Kerry’s own contribution on BCA’s behalf, is celebrated in the town’s street names where both BCA Road and Medway Drive can be found.

Kerry & Julie would love to show you around Coober Pedy on the 2024 BCA/CFT Salt & Light tour. It will travel from Sydney to Darwin (via Roxby Downs and Coober Pedy, Uluru and Alice Springs), visiting BCA Field Staff along the way.

With two nights in Coober Pedy, the tour group will enjoy local touring, but will also spend time in fellowship with new BCA Field Staff Dave & Margie Wood and visit the incredible underground Catacomb Church.

The Catacomb Church was built (or really dug out) from an old opal cave and Kerry Medway was there when it was officially opened in June 1977 by the visiting Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane. At the time, the Archbishop was the Primate of the Anglican Church in Australia and also President of the BCA Board. He was keen to visit the area and see where his sister had done a stint of BCA nursing (Minnipa, South Australia).

Cut out of the sandstone in the shape of a cross, the Catacomb Church is reminiscent of the Roman catacombs, where early Christians sought refuge from persecution. It is decorated with the ‘Jesus fish’, the symbol used at the time to secretly communicate faith to other Christians. Bringing a real sense of place is the old mining windlass with opal bucket that serves as the communion table, set in front of a cross of local mulga wood. Kerry describes the old mining equipment used in the décor as “an eloquent reminder of man’s search for opal and God’s search for man”.

The Salt & Light Tour will be an inspiring 22-day holiday which also has the option to depart in Alice Springs for those wanting a shorter 16-day trip. Whichever you choose you will be travelling with like-minded people on a holiday that offers so much more than just a sightseeing tour.

Tours depart 28 July 2024 and places are limited. For further information please contact Christian Fellowship Tours on 1300 635 358 or visit christianfellowshiptours.com