As a Christian aboriginal, it’s a great privilege for me to acknowledge in this book some of the great things that God has done in our time. In 1979, we had revival that began at Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island and it affected the whole of Arnhem Land. It spread south-west to Warburton Ranges, and then north-west to the Kimberleys. We also had teams going to north Queensland to minister and spread the revival.

This has set a course for the church at Galiwin’ku to become an outreach church. Ever since that revival, we have been going to places and sharing what God has done and what he is still doing. I am one of the products of that revival and I’m not the only one. There are a few of us still on fire for the Lord. Every year, on March 14, we celebrate that spiritual awakening and pray for a fresh touch from God through the power of his Holy Spirit. These are exciting times for the church in Australia. We must repent more and more so that times of refreshing will come to our churches.

Since 1977-1978, I have had the privilege of working as community worker with John Blacket. He is one of the Balanda (white man) staff who witnessed that revival from the very beginning. My perception is that John is a different man now since the revival. John is one of those people who can communicate to an Aboriginal person anywhere, because he has learned to listen and understand Yolngu (Aborigines), then takes the time to share with them. I admire him for this task and particularly for his endurance and patience with people. Now God has given him this important ministry of reconciliation and bridging of Christian Balanda and Yolngu in Australia. We want to see unity come to the church of God right across the land, then we will see revival come to the whole of this Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. This book is a milestone for that revival. I would like to commend John in his careful efforts in documenting and compiling these anointed stories. I’m sure you are going to enjoy reading this book and will be blessed by the Lord.

1. Gathering firewood: The background to the Aboriginal revival
2. Lighting the fire: The Arnhem Land Aborigines and Christianity to 1970
3. A strong wind fans the flame: The preparation for the revival during the 1970s
4. Creating a hot fire: The Arnhem Land Revival, 1979
5. Sustaining the hot fire: The Arnhem Land Revival, 1979-1981
6. Igniting the tinder-dry desert: Revival spreads to Central Australia
7. Lighting many new fires: The rapid spread of renewal in Central Australia
8. Fuelling a raging bushfire: The crusades across Western Australia
9. Stirring the smouldering embers: The first years after the Aboriginal revival
10. Fighting and lighting fires: The late eighties and early nineties in the Aboriginal church
11. The coming of rain: The legacy of revival in today’s Aboriginal church