Your gift will transform communities

Wontulp-Bi-Buya College supports the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander church and community leaders through study programs leading to awards in theology, suicide prevention, addictions management and community development.

“This College is God’s gift to our people” says one student who attends Wontulp-Bi-Buya College from Boigu Island in the Torres Strait. “I was on a little island, and now I can understand the Bible and talk about the Bible. Before, I never knew what the Bible was all about”. As well as courses in Theology and Ministry, Wontulp offers courses in Addictions Management, Community Development, and Indigenous Mental Health.Wontulp-Bi-Buya provides culturally-grounded training, led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Wontulp is a transforming community that empowers people with the faith, vision and skills, to be effective in building up their people, their church and their community.

Your support enables Wontulp-Bi-Buya and Nungalinya Colleges to equip Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander church and community leaders to truly transform their communities.

Access to clean drinking water has made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of people whom AID supports in Kenya, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar.

In Kenya, communities have gained access to water for drinking as well as for use with stock and crops, improving food security. Schools have rainwater tanks, freeing children from the burden of travelling long distances to collect water.

In Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, our church partners work with volunteers in remote communities to provide access to clean water. Sometimes they will rehabilitate existing storage facilities.

Patrick Mark, Chief of Lesa community in Vanua Lava in Vanuatu’s north, says, “Since 1980 up to now, we don’t have access to clean water. We only drink dirty water from the river. In 2021 water supply came to our community. It makes life easier for us. Vulnerable people, mums, and kids no longer have to go to the river to fetch water… It is through ACOM Vanuatu’s WASH project that we manage to have access to clean water.”

Ready access to clean water means better health for whole communities, especially young children who are particularly prone to waterborne illnesses.

Your gift will transform communities.

We pray for the Coming of the Lord.

We wait for you to come to us as Emmanuel,
the longed-for hope of Jew and gentile.
You surprise us by appearing in our world
as a crying baby, shivering in a cold stable. As we wait, open our hearts to love those frozen by
loneliness or fear,
and to help those who need clean water. We wait for you to come to us as Judge of the world,
knowing that you are like a refiner’s fire, like fullers’ soap.
When we, full of scorn and disdain, usurp your role and judge others,
surprise us by showing us who we have really become. As we wait, open our hearts to acknowledge our
wrongdoing and to seek reconciliation,
and to help those who want to build up their people,
their church, and their community. We wait for you to come to us as the Bread of heaven,
day by day, week by week, in the sacred Feast.
Prepare us for all the surprises of your eternal reign of love
as we walk our earthly journey alongside you. As we wait, open our hearts to receive you
and to give as generously to others as you give of yourself to us.
Amen.