Greetings and may the Lord bless you!
Celebrating the goodnews of God!
Faith Hope and Growth by Ps Barbara Miller at Lifestream Church Canberra 8.12.24
An anointing of compassion and healing was poured out by the Lord. We thank the Lord because we have had a 20 year relationship with Lifestream church and its former name since Ps Renton McCrae was on our Pastors Reference Group when we hosted our first Psalm 24:7 conference in Parliament House Canberra in 2004. We do appreciate the elders especially Peter and Kim Taylor who have been a huge blessing over the years. I remember when Lou Engle from the USA came into our conference there was such an anointing with our Tabernacle of David worship team pumping and Jacqueline, Kim and Irwin’s warfare dancing, he couldn’t get over the anointing.
In fact it was wonderful to catch up with so many friends in Canberra including Glen Sebasio, Jacqueline and Derek Bedson and Ps Irwin and Jill Ross. Also Shoshana and Rod Linnane who travelled from Brisbane. Shoshana is working with us on our school education project.
VICTORIAN GOVT PROMISES ACTION 16.12.24
The statement we gave to the Victorian government with 4 practical measures which they and state governments can take to deal with antisemitism may have had an effect on the measures announced today by the Premier which are similar.
Amazingly the statement was given to the Victorian government on Dec 6, the day of the firebombing of Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and the 86th anniversary of William Cooper and the Australian Aborigines’ League protest about Kristallnacht where synagogues in Europe were burned and their glass shattered.
Norman and I outlined 7 measures the federal government could take on the same day (Dec 6) outside Parliament House Canberra.
When we released a press statement in Cairns on Dec 10, we increased this to 16 measures state and federal governments could take re Australian antisemitism and its anti-Israel stance. Read the statement and press releases below.
Left – Dec 6 United with William Cooper event at East Melbourne synagogue Dec 6. Right – Ps Norman Miller playing the didjeridoo and clapsticks after his Acknowledgement of Country message at the Israel Embassy Canberra Dec 6 Honouring William Cooper event. SEE NORMAN’S MESSAGE HERE. SEE NORMAN PLAYING DIDJERIDOO AND CLAPSTICKS HERE.
UNITED WITH WILLIAM COOPER EVENT MELBOURNE DEC 6
Barbara was pleased to be on the team along with David Jack and Steve Green of SCAFI and Sarah Way of ICEJ and some members of the Jewish community who organised the United with William Cooper event in Melbourne on Dec 6, the anniversary of Cooper and the Australian Aborigines’ League protest of Kristallnacht to the German Consulate in Melbourne. Wonderful messages were given by rabbis and ministers. After messages at the East Melbourne synagogue, they proceeded to the Victorian parliament to present a Social Cohesion statement to the Premier’s representative.
Barbara wrote the statement, with a paragraph updated by Alice Young of William Cooper’s family, sections were read by Alice, other Aboriginal people present, Michael Pearce, the Hon Consul for Germany and Ps Dale Stephenson. The statement was presented to Nick Staicos, the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, on the steps of the parliament. It was on a background of Norman’s painting and was presented by Michael McDonogh, the great grandson of William Cooper. Many Christian organisations had endorsed it with their logos but a copy without logos was presented. It is planned to later present it to the Governor.
Alice and her friends did a dance to Ngarra Burra Ferra on the steps of Parliament House which was very moving. I have a recent article on this song and the amazing William Cooper story. SEE HERE
This followed another Dec 6 event and flag raising ceremony at the Beth Weizmann Centre organised by the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) to which former senator Nova Peris, Michael McDonogh and Raymond Finn spoke stirring messages before coming to the East Melbourne synagogue event and speaking there.
Left – Pastors Norman and Barbara Miller with Israel Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon at Israel Embassy Canberra Dec 6 for William Cooper event. Right -Pastors Norman and Barbara, Pastor Irwin and Jill Ross and Kim Taylor outside Parliament House Canberra where Norman read out a statement in support of Israel on Dec 6. VIDEO SEE HERE
ISRAEL & GERMAN EMBASSIES HONOUR WILLIAM COOPER DEC 6
It was an honour for Norman to do the Acknowledgement of Country at the Israel Embassy in Canberra where the Israel and German embassies honoured William Cooper with a plaque on Dec 6, the 86th anniversary of the protest he led to the German Consulate in Melbourne re Kristallnacht. Leonie Drummond, great granddaughter of William Cooper, was one of the speakers. Barbara was pleased to be involved in advising on the preparations on the event at the embassy as William Cooper’s biographer. Cooper family member John Higgins and his wife Yvonne were also present as was David Jack behind the camera and Abe Schwarz who has done so much for the legacy of William Cooper.
Many embassies attended the event as did press but it was overshadowed press wise by the shocking firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on the same morning.
Nevertheless, it was a historic event as Germany is now one of Israel’s best supporters and the two embassies have an adjoining fence on which they will put the plaque in an event they cohosted. Norman did a prophetic act with the Acknowledgement of Country by joining the 2 clapsticks together as in Ezekiel 37:15 declaring that Israel and Germany are one and the Aboriginal and Jewish people are one. He also played the didjeridoo. We thank Glen Sebasio for making the clapsticks which Norman stayed up the night before and painted. As well as Aboriginal designs, he put a star of David on each clapstick and presented them to Ambassador Amir Maimon.
Barbara presented her book “Shattered Lives Broken Dreams” to the German ambassador while Norman presented her with a book of photographs of William Cooper and his legacy made by David Jack.
Left- Norman doing Acknowledgement of Country at Celebrating Israel Sydney Dec 2 Right- Celebrating Israel host Dahlia Ayalon Sinclair and Millers with Rob and Suzie Schneider, Emmanuel Synagogue, Woollahra. It was the 20th time Dahlia organised this yearly event which commemorates the historic UN resolution 181 of 1947 to partition the British Mandate into 2 states, a Jewish state and an Arab state.
The Jews accepted it and the Arabs rejected it. They were not called Palestinians at that time. The role of Doc Evatt and Australia in facilitating that resolution was commended. Following this resolution, the modern state of Israel was proclaimed in May 1948. The beginning Norman’s message was not videod, but he acknowledged Hashem, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel first. Most of his message can be seen here, CLICK HERE
It was an enjoyable event with a reenactment of the historic UN vote, good speeches, dance and song.
Left – Sydney Jewish Museum with Rob Schneider at event re Jewish Refugees from Arab Lands and Iran Dec 1. Right, Aboriginal church at Redfern with Ps Filli, Raymond Finn and others Dec 4 Christmas meal.
THREE SYNAGOGUE VISITS
We visited Emmanuel Synagogue on Dec 2 for the Celebrating Israel event atWoollahra which was peaceful though it was in between 2 terrorist events Nov 21 and Dec 11 which we have publicly condemned.
We also met with the President of the Great Synagogue on Dec 4. He told us that they had an event that night and knew there would be anti-Israel protestors and Nova Peris was speaking. What he didn’t know is that things would get so bad that those who attended were locked inside the synagogue for 3 hours, fearful of leaving because of the threatening demonstration. We had already gone to the Aboriginal church by then and were not present when this happening. The intimidation the Jewish community is facing is sickening.
In Canberra, we were blessed to attend the synagogue service on Saturday Dec 7 and have lunch at the home of Dr Alan and Anita Shroot afterwards, along with Robert Cussel and Jane and Tim O’Neill. It was a blessed time.
We had precious time with Jewish friends in Sydney over coffee, lunch, dinner and the Jewish film festival.
This interview took place 10 Dec but was published 3 days later but it was good to get coverage finally in our local paper. We are pleased to be regularly featured with our articles in The Canberra Declaration and Jewish media thank them for that. Barbara’s prophetic act at Channel 7 TV after Norman read the statement of Dec 10. SEE HERE. This followed Norman’s reading of the statement at Ch 7. SEE HERE
Here are our press releases with very pertinent comment on current events:
https://indigenousfriendsofisrael.org/press-release-indigenous-friends-of-israel-international-5-12-24/
PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM AND ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS
Our Public Relations Campaign is underway though the Gofundme campaign to support it is very slow to gain momentum. We don’t have any paid staff and have limited funds. Please help spread the word about it, donate yourself no matter how small, and volunteer. We are pleased an experienced curriculum writer is looking at the Queensland schools curriculum for us to see where we can get an inroad and will help us prepare materials.
Barbara has already written a training manual for adults and upper secondary with activities. We have met with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry which is a peak body for Australian Jews and they have asked to partner with us which is great.
We are continuing with our monthly zoom seminar series and daily social media reaching out worldwide to counter lies re current events and history.
Adam Kreuzer who is Education Officer for the Australian Jewish Association is writing regular articles for our website and we have been working for a couple of years with Eli Rabinowitz of the WE ARE HERE Foundation in Perth as he is an educator.
The Australian Jewish News wrote an article about our project last week SEE HERE
You can donate HERE as the donate to support button on the banner is not a link.
USING GOFUNDME TO MAKE IT MORE PROFESSIONAL AND SUSTAINED
CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW – COMPASSION AND EDUCATION
In a world where misinformation and prejudice often overshadow truth, it’s crucial to elevate voices that stand for justice, compassion, and education. The Indigenous Friends of Israel International is dedicated to fostering understanding, combating disinformation, and supporting the Jewish community both locally and internationally.
Please see the website to find out more information and see the video below to be inspired. We need your help. CLICK HERE
Please get involved! We need your help!
We would love to connect with you and help you support Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, working against calls for its destruction and the genocide of its people. These calls are advancing at great pace since October 7. Indigenous Friends of Israel formed in July 2017 because of concerns over Australia’s policy towards Israel. Since then we have gone international as antisemitism is international and isan ancient hatred. The forces standing against Israel also oppose Western and/or Judeo-Christian values which have helped us achieve a society with social cohesion and the rule of law.
Please help us take a stand against antisemitism, and for a community where all are valued and safe. There are many opportunities to use your passion, gifting and skills as a volunteer whether you are a person of faith or not. United we stand and divided we fall. Please complete the form to volunteer.
Are you good at creating or sharing social media, fundraising, administration, film and video making, government advocacy, newsletters, speaking, representing a geographical area, organising zoom meetings or do you have other giftings or talents that you can use to bless the Lord, the Jewish people, and Israel. It doesn’t matter where you live in the world, you can get involved. Check it out here.
Donations to the ministry of the Centre for International Reconciliation & Peace
BSB: 064804 Account no: 14069302 Swift code: ctbaau2s
Commonwealth of Australia Bank, 120 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Donations to Pastors Account BSB: 064804 Account no: 14258760
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