I got this e-mail from the base director at Reef to Outback in Townsvillle, Australia. We had been talking for years about birthing a ship ministry out of YWAM Australia, and it is very close to coming together. You can read some of the latest developments below:
Recently I had an historic trip to Papua New Guinea, Mike Reynolds (who seems to refuse retirement, even after his official retirement as the Speaker for the Legislative Assembly of Queensland commenced late last month) returned to Port Moresby earlier this week, accompanied by representatives from the YWAM Australia & PNG Ship Tour, Rebekah Hoover and Hannah Peart.
The trip, which served to strengthen both the recent twinning relationship between the PNG National Parliament and the Queensland National Parliament and the Sister City relationship between Townsville and Port Moresby, was very successful. Continue reading YWAM Australia Trip to Papua New Guinea Plans Ship Tour→
A Youth With A Mission Team that has been volunteering at Christmas Island has unfortunately caused a bit of controversy.
The YWAM team has been providing sports, arts and other similar activities to the detainees of an Australian Immigration Detention centre on Christmas Island. The team was asked to come in by the company running the detention centre to help to augment what was already available at the centre.
There have been no complaints lodged against the YWAM team, but a human rights commission is investigating if the company running the centre is trying to save money by bringing in the YWAM team.
You can read a bit more about the YWAM team on Christmas Island here.
Let Justice Sing is the newest album released Five Star Streets from Reef to Outback, in Townsville, Australia. The members of the band are Mike Murray, Luke Haythorpe and BJ Magee.
The members of Five Star Streets have been together now for a few years and have put out a couple of albums. Their latest album is a message of justice and redemption. Many of their recent performances have been as a part of Voice in the Dark, which is a movement to raise awareness of injustice issues around the world.
The new album will be released during the band’s second North American Tour, which will be happening later this year. They describe themselves as an indie-rock band and you can read more about them, their recording plans and their tour plans here.
Apparently down in Byron Bay, in New South Wales, Australia, there is a yearly celebration of everything about marijuana. They call this festival “Mardi Grass”, and no, that’s not a typo.
A team from the School of Music in Missions from YWAM – Reef to Outback based out of Townsville, Australia headed down to outreach to the people there with “a message of hope and some great tunes”.
Got an update on the condition of Steve Aherne, the YWAM Australia National Director. Here it is:
He has been released from the hospital yesterday with improvement on his condition. The doctors still want to continue treatment on him but will do it from his home. His feet are still swollen and sore. He is waiting for approval from the government for him to be able to continue taking the injections which help his psoriasis. Please pray that he will be able to receive the medication he needs. His skin has improved immensely from when he was first admitted to the hospital…your prayers are working!
He is planning on going to Newcastle this Sunday … He will be speaking on the YWAM DTS there, so strength is needed.
