(From the January 2010 edition of HopeSpeak)

In October we were very privileged to have Steve and Samantha visit Australia for a whirlwind tour—lasting only 12 days. This included their time to recover from jetlag! The first week was spent at Cooranbong, New South Wales, where they conducted a Hope & Healing seminar for survivors of pastoral sexual abuse and two Faith & Fidelity seminars for spiritual leaders to help them remain true to their high calling. The first was an interdenominational conference for leaders in the Newcastle area and the second was presented at Avondale College to Theology students and their wives.

They then headed north to Queensland where they had a well-earned day of R&R in Toowoomba before heading to Brisbane for more meetings. On the last day before they left for home they presented a second Hope & Healing seminar. All of the seminars were well received with about 100 participants in total. In addition to the presentation of The Hope of Survivors seminars, Steve also presented his three-part revival series both weekends they were here.

In between their busy speaking schedule they also squeezed in a radio interview, a TV news clip for the Hope Channel, a visit with Safe Place Services and an appearance as guests on Talking Life, a two-hour talkback show on Christian radio. A recording of this show can be listened to at http://www.96five.com/pages/content.aspx?pid=128.

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with people who we have journeyed with on the road to healing, and to meet others who we are just getting to know. Hearing Steve and Samantha’s stories and how they found healing was a powerful message for all listening. On behalf of those who attended and benefited from Steve and Samantha’s trip ‘down under’, I would like to thank those who contributed financially to make this trip a reality.

For us, and I am sure for others too, it was a real blessing to be able to meet Steve and Samantha in person after conversing by email, and occasionally phone, from one side of the world to the other for a number of years. Not only did they bring a special blessing for those attending the seminars, but also for our own families. Steve baptised Madeline (Coralie’s daughter) on the last weekend before they returned home. The devil did his best to disrupt plans but what was meant for evil God was able to use for good.

One of the blessings of this trip was that an attendee who was helped by the message Steve and Samantha presented has offered to assist in the incorporation of The Hope of Survivors in Australia. This is something that we have pursued from time to time, but the ‘red tape’ has made it difficult and the costs have been way more than could be afforded. God has provided a qualified person who has offered to do this pro bono. This is truly an answer to prayer.

Unfortunately with such a full schedule there was not much time for sightseeing, however, Samantha did enjoy the small amount of time she spent hand feeding kangaroos. Samantha came with one request—to see kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat. The kangaroos were very obliging but the koalas were not!

We praise God for sustaining them throughout the busy schedule and we pray that God will again bring them to our shores in the not-too-distant future to continue the healing and educating work of this vital ministry (and maybe for Samantha to catch up with the elusive koalas).

Coralie & ArlageneAustralia Division
Coralie Roll (Administration)
Arlagene Groves (Victim Support Services) 
Phone: (866) 260-8958 extension 6 (from U.S.) or (in AU) 07 4615 2430