It’s often hard to put into words just what SURRENDER is all about… and possibly harder to give you a taste of SURRENDER:11, our recent conference… but we thank God for what was a time together that revealed something amazing, something humble, something fragile and something powerful about the coming of his Kingdom. Thank you to all who made it along, thank you to all who made it so beautiful. Amen.

The Jisas wantaim aboriginal art exhibition with artwork by Max Conlon and Goma Conlon set the scene for a powerful night of influence and change at the SURRENDER Truth lab, ‘First Things First’ on Saturday 6th of November where around 250 gathered to hear from Indigenous Christians.

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.