Australia: The Mission Field the World Forgot

By Steve Mayo

A scorching mid-winter sun heated the asphalt netball court to summer-like temperatures. The competitors, however, didn't seem to notice the heat. This was the Grand Final, the dream Australian teenage girls pursue through a long and grueling season. On this day, all eyes were on Anna, the designated goal scorer for the yellow-and-green clad team from Budgewoi. At nearly six feet tall, Anna towered above her fourteen-year-old teammates. By all accounts, Budgewoi should not have made it this far in the tournament-the team lacked both skill and maturity. But Anna was the equalizing factor; no team could match her height and discipline.

Netball elicits the kind of passion from Australians that Little League baseball does in America. Every village park has at least one pair of white poles suspending bare basketball-like hoops. In fact, an American might easily mistake netball for basketball, except that the hoops lack backboards, and the ball looks more like a volleyball.

The uniforms are different, too. Girls wear skirts and a colorful sport vest imprinted with bold letters: GS, GA, GD, etc. to define where and how each girl must compete during the game. For example, Anna wore the letters GS, which meant she did all of the shooting for her team.

Budgewoi was clearly outclassed by an aggressive Toukley team in the first half of the Grand Final. Anna watched helplessly from the shadow of her net as her teammates repeatedly failed to advance the ball to her side of the court. Meanwhile, Toukley made each turnover count as they built a seemingly insurmountable lead.

But the second half belonged to Anna. With dogged determination she converted all but one scoring opportunity. Suddenly the score was tied. Only seconds remained in the game. The competitors, red-faced and wide-eyed, clawed each other for the ball. Anna calmly reached above the fray, snagged the ball, and held it safely aloft. She composed herself to take the final shot.

I don't know if Anna saw the ball go through the hoop. Her teammates piled on her in jubilation: Budgewoi had won the championship, and Anna was the Player of the Match.

Most people would have excused Anna if she had skipped church the next day. A triumphant celebration followed the game-enough to weary even the most devout. Besides that, Anna's family had all come for the weekend. Not being churchgoers themselves, they would surely be pleased if Anna stayed home with them.

To Anna, however, there was no dilemma. She had given her life to Jesus Christ; He was more important to her than netball, than trophies, than praise from friends and relatives. Early on Sunday morning, Anna quietly got ready and walked two-and-a-half blocks to church.

Anna's relationship with God had begun early in life. While visiting a small church, she believed the gospel and was saved. Her spiritual growth, however, came through an unusual source-the local public school.

Unlike the United States, Australia permits volunteers to teach the Bible freely as part of the regular school curriculum. Through these Scripture Classes, Anna grew in her faith and became involved at Budgewoi Community Baptist Church-a congregation led by ABWE church planters, Don and Connie Duty.

A turning point for Anna came in sixth grade. The Dutys, with their colleagues, Matt and Barb Douglas, staged a Christian musical drama at the public school using Scripture Class students as cast members. Anna was chosen for a leading role. This initial experience with Christian ministry launched Anna into greater service in the church. She now volunteers in the church nursery and provides special music for worship services.

Unfortunately, Anna's story is a rare bright spot in a continent covered by spiritual darkness. Far beyond the soft image promoted to tourists-koalas, kangaroos, and the Great Barrier Reef-Australia is a place of extremes:

• the lowest population density in one of the world's most urbanized countries.
• a leader in the application of technology (Australia has more cell phones and computers per capita than even the USA) humbled by an untamed wilderness that strikes with wild bushfires, poisonous snakes, and deadly spiders.
• a climate and a standard of living that are the envy of the world where the youth suicide rate has reached crisis proportions.

Nowhere are Australia's extremes more pronounced than within the church. Compared to other parts of the world, the open doors for evangelism in Australia are unmatched. Imagine ...

• praying inside the public school office each week that children would understand the gospel and be saved.
• requiring every student in the school to memorize and explain John 3:16.
  setting up a circus tent on public beaches to evangelize families during summer vacation.
• watching a program on public television promoting biblical salvation.
• living in Sydney, a city where 30% of the population was born overseas. Immigrants are hungry for lessons in English, fellowship ... and the gospel.

In contrast, however, is the sad reality that these startling opportunities are not being met. It is estimated that only 2% of Australians have genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Tragically, the Christian witnesses in this land are too few; the cults are left to fill the void and reap a bumper crop of converts.

In September of the year 2000, all eyes will focus on Sydney. Perhaps Anna will be one of the competitors in that Olympiad, wearing the yellow and green uniform of Australia. Already several mission agencies are preparing to proclaim Christ through literature distribution and personal witness. ABWE will be on hand when the world comes to Australia.

But we mustn't let our vision be obscured by this singular global event. The fact is that the world has already come to Australia. Only Israel has a higher percentage of recent immigrants. Who will reach the lost Down Under in 1998? 1999? And beyond?

ABWE-Australia is prayerfully seeking experienced personnel to serve as short-term or career missionaries. A minimum of five couples or single adults is needed within the next five years to implement an aggressive strategy. Our team must expand, if we are to take full advantage of the golden opportunities Australia offers. Let's win Anna's generation before time runs out.

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