“What is that Bible story where it rains?”

You are helping remote chaplain Shannon be there for her community in all seasons.

In Kalkarindji, a small community five hours drive from Katherine, everyone knows one another. When it came to wanting some help at the local school, the principal knew who to ask. She approached Shannon, who lives across the road and whose four children attend the school, with somewhat of a surprising question.

How would Shannon feel about becoming the new school chaplain? 

“At first I was a little nervous,” admits Shannon, who alongside her husband, Mat, supports the local church in Kalkarindji. Although she had attended Bible college in Sydney, chaplaincy was a new experience. 

 “I realised that having SU Australia involved would be really helpful,” Shannon reflects.

On commencing her role, Shannon initiated a colouring-in club at lunchtime, seeking to build relationships in a low-pressure, fun way. It was an idea that quickly caught on.

“In a sense, it has become too popular, because it started out as just a few kids … And now there’s usually more than 20 kids,” Shannon says. 

One of the biggest joys Shannon has is hearing the questions the children ask like, “What was that story in the Bible when it rained?” 

Shannon knows prayer is vital to her work. She is grateful to know others are praying for her and believes supporters have a major role to play in any ministry endeavour.  

“We make a big mistake in thinking the people that are doing work on the ground are doing anything more than people who are praying because that’s definitely just as much a part of the work,” reflects Shannon.

Thank you for your support of our rural and remote chaplains. Please continue to hold them and their precious communities in your prayers.

Click here to find out more about what Shannon’s chaplaincy looks like in the extremely rural environment of Kalkarindji in the Northern Territory.