Open Air Campaigners
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OACI Update 1999

Australia: Bush missions down-under

They call it 'Bush Missions', when OAC Australia goes deep into the outback to reach the semi-tribal Aboriginal people with the gospel. During one three-week mission, they drove 5,500 km over unbelievably rough and dusty roads. Some of the team had to fly to reach another remote community in the Northern Territory. The problem of cross-cultural communication was overcome by using visual presentations to explain biblical truths. English was often only a second language, and the Aborigines tended to be shy. Despite this, hundreds of children attended the special evangelistic programs, and several hundred teenagers and adults came to the family nights. One evening church service lasted five hours!

OAC began on the streets of Sydney in 1892, when a Christian lawyer preached to his peers. Today, Australia has become one of the most multi-cultural nations on earth, making it a large mission field. Thousands flock to caravan parks and holiday centers during January (summer) and Easter, which presents an ideal opportunity for evangelism. Using music, drama and sketchboard messages, many are reached who would normally never attend church. Public schools also present an open door of ministry for our evangelists, who teach the Bible to several thousand students each week (pictured above). Not far from Australia is Singapore, where OAC is reaching many more students for Christ in school assemblies, and is training Christians to do youth evangelism.