Service to God in the outback can be like the story of Moses and the Burning Bush, says Pastor Paul Glazbrook, Patrol Minister for the Parkin-Sturt Patrol in South Australia.
“God calls Moses to participate with Him in bringing deliverance to God’s people. He gets Moses’ attention with a burning bush that’s not being consumed. Moses gets the message. He responds with ‘Here am I, Lord’,” Paul says.
“This is exactly what our Frontier Services Outback Links Team did recently at William Creek. When the call came to serve God and others, these people answered, ‘Here am I’.”
When it was announced that the Campdraft and National Bronco Branding Championships would be held at William Creek, on the Oodnadatta Track in August, the nearby station owners were chuffed. The delight faded somewhat when the owners became concerned that they wouldn’t have enough time to refurbish the local gymkhana grounds in time for the event.
Paul and other volunteers felt inspired to lend a helping hand, feeling God’s call to serve.
Paul is a Frontier Services Patrol Minister, a travelling pastor on the dusty or at times, muddy roads of remote South Australia. On his journeys he performs sacramental ministry for the isolated people such as births, deaths and marriages. He considers helping out on events like this an extension of his work, helping to serve strangers in need and create connections with the people of the outback.
“There’s always an endless list of jobs on any station,” Paul explains. When he offered to help the station folk, they quickly were quick to agree.
Paul assembled a dream team of retired tradespeople to help in William Creek. Among them were a builder, a plumber, a painter and a not-yet-retired electrician. The Frontier Services volunteers drove a 2,000km round trip to help out the tiny community during the first week of July.
The jobs list was extensive – the volunteers installed a septic tank, painted multiple buildings and other areas, made repairs to outdoor seating, changed lights from fluorescent to LED, welded bronco yards, and completed a few other odd jobs.
The team were pleased with their work and the locals were very appreciative.
The National Bronco Branding Championships will take place in William Creek on Wednesday 26 August, 2017. Competitors from Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia will be competing at the event. Paul will return to run a Frontier Services BBQ for the competition with the assistance of his companion and wife, Robyn, and another couple.
Frontier Services can only help because generous people support its work through donations. If you need help or would like to volunteer, please visit frontierservices.org
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