MTC Mission

Want to read about what's happening on MTC Mission?

http://mooremission.wordpress.com/

"One of the most staggering truths of the Scriptures is to understand that we do not earn our way to heaven. ...works have a place-but as a demonstration of having received God's forgiveness, not as a badge of merit of having earned it."

-Ravi Zacharias

Dr Martin Luther King Jnr

Australia was a different country back in 1977 (I was 6) than it is today.

As a Fijian family moving into Newcastle (Mayfield East), we were perhaps one of two dark skinned families that lived in Novacastria (another term for Newcastle).

Back then, the white Australia policy was still in place (has that changed much?) and boy did we feel it.

We were a poor family, dad was studying for his B.Ed. (Industrial Arts) at NCAE with very minimal government aid (virtually non-existent back then). During the holidays dad would work in the Coke Ovens at BHP Steel Works, but things were tight, there some stages where my parents would have $2 for the week to feed us which meant that my sister and I would eat first, then my parents would finish whatever was left over.

Because we didn't have a car, mum would walk us to school or walk to the shopping centre and for a time people would make fun of her because she was different, but she would just keep walking ignoring the taunts. The richness and depth of mum's heritage and faith in the Lord Jesus made her the strong woman she was and is.

She won them over in the end - but it was a hard start.

For me I used to get chased and beaten by the older kids in the play ground until mum joined the tuck shop roster and got to know the other parents.

Learning to play league earned me protection from bullies and the like.

Our local church, Mayfiled East Uniting Church, were a big support to us as a struggling family especially the Ford family.

So as a kid growing up in this environment men like Martin Luther King Jnr were people you grew up respecting, especially in the context of his last words in his final address ("I see the promised land"):

" We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!!"