Rural chaplains bring message of hope

The Uniting Church’s two Rural Chaplains work with a variety of communities in western New South Wales, being the Uniting Church in places where communities have been demoralised by years of drought, recent floods, and community decline.

Julie Greig, based at Hillston, and Kel Hodge, based at Canowindra, help the church build stronger communities, advocate for rural people and offer pastoral care and support for individuals.

The chaplains also help out practically: paying bills and organising community workshops to build skills like grant application writing.

Mr Hodge says the best thing about being a rural chaplain is the freedom to care about people and advocate on their behalf without a set agenda or expecting anything in return.

He says the generosity of the church allows him to take time to get to know rural people and find out what they need from their own perspective.

Ms Greig says her Christian faith led her to want to do something practical for people who didn’t have ready access to other community services.

“I have a passion for the church helping to address injustices and inequalities like lack of services, lack of educational opportunities, even lack of social opportunities in the bush.

“The resilience among rural people is enormous and underestimated; their passion for the land and for their communities is great.”

Ms Greig attends community events and works closely with other service providers who are out and about in the bush. In collaborations with Mr Hodge she targets specific areas and works with small communities in whatever way is appropriate.

“I believe strongly in the benefits of community, the essence of which is people helping one another.”

Ms Greig says, “The really vital thing we do as a church is to bring a message of hope to people who sometimes feel that there is none.

“On the whole, primary producers have an incredible level of resilience. We as a church need to recognise and support them; to keep affirming that rural people are important.”

Follow the rural chaplains on their informative blog: http://www.ruralchaplains.blogspot.com/

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