It’s now three and a half years since Topher & Chica Hallyburton moved to Alice Springs to commence training for ministry under former BCA Field Staff Kristan Slack. In the secular news, much has been made of youth crime in Alice Springs, but the Hallyburtons are enjoying their time there and the opportunities life and ministry provides.

“We love the place,” says Topher. “It is beautiful country and a welcoming community, and we enjoy meeting people from around the world.”

There is a significant South Sudanese population in Alice Springs, and Topher & Chica have become close friends with AJ & Apajok, who are core members of the church family. Recently, Topher & Chica had the privilege of being asked to be the godparents AJ & Apajok’s son Atem.

“Apajok helps me run the ESL Bible study for other Sudanese women each Thursday morning,” says Topher. “Before Easter we asked the ladies how they would have celebrated Easter back home. After hearing their thoughts, we had a special Easter event where we shared a meal, wove palm wreaths for the children to wear and danced to traditional music – the lyrics spoke about the victory of Jesus over death, how we have decided to follow him and inviting others to follow him.

“Apajok is also a great advocate for refugees and the multicultural community in Alice Springs.” Alice Springs Anglican is a thriving community with three services each Sunday; a traditional 8 am with communion, 10 am with Kids’ Church, and an evening service which was started because many members of the church family work shifts.

As Topher has been training under Kristan, he has been involved in all aspects of church life. “I help with leading services and preaching; I’m involved in the music team and coordinating the children’s and youth ministries.”

“After three years, it has been exciting to see some new openings for ministry as connections with the community grow,” says Topher. “This is particularly true in the youth ministry space. Our youth Bible study is attracting several young people from different churches in town. Some of them came with us to the KYCK conference in Katoomba, NSW. I have also recently been invited to run a Christian program at the juvenile detention centre, as well as getting involved in the boarding school’s chapel and Bible study. These are great opportunities to take God’s word out of our normal church circles.”

Learning from Kristan has been a valuable experience for Topher and he’s come to experience and value the following in new ways:
• Patience – We can run around doing many things, but only God gives growth to His church.
• Love – The transient nature of town can take its toll. Kristan & Kath are always welcoming and loving to all.
• Church family – We have come to value church family in a deeper way.
• God gives gifts to His people – We can run programs, get assigned to tasks, etc – but God cares for His people and gifts them generously. It is good to follow His lead and use the gifts He gives.
• God provides for His church – We have been amazed to see how God has met our needs as a parish.

As Topher & Chica continue their work both within the parish and in the community, they seek your prayers. “It’s hard to know what to pray for our town,” says Topher. “So please pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out more harvest workers. Pray that all in our town may hear Jesus’ invitation to come to him and find rest. Ask God, that as His word goes out, it will not return empty, but accomplish what He desires.”