Brooke Prentis is an Waka Waka woman, Aboriginal spokesperson for Common Grace and the coordinator of the Grasstree Gathering. This post is the first in our Reconciliation as Friendship series celebrating Aboriginal Christian leaders from the Grasstree Gathering and sharing their perspectives on Reconciliation.

Reconciliation is important, but it can’t just be important to Aboriginal peoples – we can’t do Reconciliation on our own. If you have a conversation with me this Reconciliation Week, you’ll hear I would rather call Reconciliation friendship.

And so this week, I’m inviting you into friendship.

Come with me on the journey; meet some Aboriginal friends who will share with you their heart for Reconciliation, reflect on the scriptures and think, act and pray, as we seek together to be people who value and walk in Reconciliation friendship.

Last year I shared my heart for Reconciliation in a short talk at Q Commons in Brisbane. Today, I invite you to begin Reconciliation Week listening to that talk, and hearing my invitation to rethink of Reconciliation as Friendship:

90% of Australians do not know an Aboriginal person. 

If you don’t know us, how can Reconciliation happen? Our nation needs healing, but that healing can’t happen from one side. It requires friendship. The Aboriginal hand of friendship is extended to you.

The Church is the perfect context for friendship to take place, as the bible calls us to friendship and 73% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Christian. It’s time for the church to lead the way in much needed Reconciliation.

Reflect, Pray, Think, Act

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor; If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Friends are a beautiful gift. The bible describes the great benefit of a friend - walking beside us, making us more productive, supporting us through trouble. Pray you will open yourself to friendship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples this Reconciliation week.

Think of an Aboriginal friend - give them a call or send them a message - to simply say hello. If you don’t yet have an Aboriginal friend - pray for one.

At Your Church: Share Brooke's talk next Sunday

As a show of friendship we invite you to recognise Reconciliation Week as a church next Sunday by playing this video of Brooke's talk during your service.

  Download the video of Brooke's talk