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Creative Ministries Pastor Jonathan Anthony said the church was very optimistic the exhibition, in partnership with Ngaama Ministries, would engage its wider community by providing the opportunity to view 32 Indigenous artworks.

“The day we opened the arts exhibition on Sunday 15 March, with the Honourable Ben Morton MP as our guest, became our final onsite Sunday service until further notice,” Jonathan said.

With various restrictions put in place and changes occurring almost daily as a result of COVID-19, there was certainly an element of disappointment, given all the work that went into the exhibition.

“However, in spite of all these predicaments, the Lord graciously blessed us with a great response – from people who were present at the opening, and a few others who came during the week to view the paintings, and the relationship that has been forged with Ngaama Ministries through this event,” Jonathan said.

Indigenous art at church

As Mount Pleasant Baptist Church prepared to open the Ngaama Indigenous Arts Exhibition, to coincide with Harmony Week in March, it never imagined it would be affected by a global pandemic.

Overall, 21 paintings were sold and all the proceeds went directly to the artists with a percentage also donated to Ngaama Ministries.

Jonathan said Ngaama in Noongar language means waterhole and is inspired from John 4:14: “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

“Ngaama Ministries was birthed by God in the hearts of Gary and Dena Gower, an Indigenous couple who have a heart to raise up the next generation of Indigenous young

The Honourable Ben Morton MP cutting the ribbon at the opening of the Ngaama Indigenous Arts Exhibition with Gary and Dena Gower, Jonathan Anthony, and Sue and Simon Ford.

people, with the desire to equip, develop and release them in their full potential for Kingdom purpose,” Jonathan said.

Gary and Dena have invested their time and energy into discipling Indigenous leaders and are paving the way to pass the baton to the next generation of young leaders.

Former Baptist Churches Western Australia Director of Ministries, Pastor Steve Smith passed away on 31 March, having battled motor neurone disease.

Steve served in various ministry capacities and is best known in Western Australia for serving as the Director of Ministries from 2001 to 2006, leading the denomination through a number of strategic changes that helped shape the movement for future growth.

Dr Brian Harris, in his book The Tortoise Usually Wins, describes Steve as a thoughtful leader who realised that the denomination required “transformational change” and that Steve helped member churches to bring about this “meaningful change”.

Vale Steve Smith

In recent years, Steve moved to Victoria to be closer to his family and served in an interim capacity in state churches. He was survived by his wife Merilyn, their three children and five grandchildren.

Due to the impact of COVID-19 on church services, a memorial for Steve will be held in Victoria following the lifting of travel and meeting restrictions.

Jonathan said there was the possibility the arts exhibition may become an annual event to continue fostering partnership and providing opportunities for Indigenous artists to showcase their craft, talent and skills to the wider community.

He expressed his deep appreciation to exhibition partners, including Bible Society Australia, 98.5 Sonshine FM, Indigenous Ministries Australia, MOZAIC Church and Ngaama Ministries, for making the exhibition possible, and Pastors Rob Douglas and Keith Truscott, Tom Little, Rick Pekan and Frances Ramsey for their significant contribution.

A memorial page was created by the Smith family and can be viewed at memories.net/ page/3307/stephen-smith

Photo: Nerida Phelan Photography

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