Murray-Darling Prayer Pilgrimage an Answer to Prayer

|PIC1|At last others are aware of their plight and are showing support.

For seven years the drought and lack of sufficient rainfalls has had devastating effects on the Murray River which forms part of the 3,750 kilometre (2,300 miles) long combined Murray-Darling river system.

Locals have had to shower in muddy water when water restrictions tried to alleviate some the shortfall.

Reservoirs, such as the Dartmouth Dam, that are normally opened to help the Hume Dam water level have been below sufficient supplies to help.

Lake Hume, which holds six times as much water as does Sydney Harbour, is a series of water holes and dry river beds. Two townships were immersed under water when the Hume Dam was completed. Tallangatta was relocated to its present day site south-east of Albury- Wodonga, while most of the residents of the tiny township of Bowna moved into Albury.

The streets and foundations of buildings of the former Tallangatta are now in full view, spread across open, dry land, and serve only as a tourist attraction.

In 2006 the Ministers Fellowship in Albury-Wodonga held 13 weeks of prayer every Sunday – prayer and afternoon teas drew Christians together, to do something about the drought and lack of running water. In 2007, six months of prayer meetings were held. At the Solemn Prayer Assembly in Canberra, March 2007, the situation became the focus of concern and the Murray-Darling Prayer Pilgrimage became a reality.

The Murray Darling Prayer Pilgrimage is an initiative of Warwick and Alison Marsh, co-founders of Australian Heart Ministries in co-operation with Ps Peter and Maria Walker, Australian Indigenous Christian Ministries. Brian Pickering, Australian Prayer Network and Kris Schlyder, Australian Indigenous Prayer Network, have also been strong supporters of the Murray Darling Prayer Pilgrimage.

"The purpose of the Murray Darling Prayer Pilgrimage is to rally people together to pray for a final end to the drought and for a flood of rain to fill the dams and clean out the Murray Darling River System and avert a human and ecological disaster," said Warwick Marsh.

The Murray-Darling Prayer Pilgrimage was held along the Murray River from the Hume Weir to the Mildura /Wentworth junction of the Murray Darling. The Prayer Pilgrimage is being supported by the Australian Prayer Network and the Indigenous Prayer Network, Christian groups/churches and individuals all over Australia.

Pastor Glenda Taylor and Mary Copland of the Baranduda Community Church co-ordinated the first prayer gathering, at noon, next to the Hume Weir, Tuesday 30th September, 2008. Prayers, Responsive Prayers and Scripture readings were led by the two ladies and shared by the 25 who attended. Media representatives from the local newspaper, radio and television covered the event.

A wide range of denominations were represented. Ken Stephens (Wodonga District Baptist) held an Australian flag and Bev Burgess (River Community Church, Albury) an Aboriginal flag, which formed a backdrop to the official party.

Warwick Marsh and Ps Peter Walker lead in a short communion service with prayers for the healing of the land according to 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Isaiah 43:19-21.

Then Bob Dudley (Church of Christ) and Ray Weich (Everyman's) prayed on the Hume Weir itself, as a symbolic sachet of salt was thrown into the Murray River.

The next gathering was held at The Gateway, Wodonga. Here Mavis Lutton (Wodonga District Baptist) led the meeting, assisted by Rev. Heather Matthews (St John's Anglican Church, Wodonga), with Warwick Marsh and Ps Peter Walker again sharing the Scriptures and communion.

Warwick Marsh and Ps Peter Walker then headed for meetings at Howlong, Corowa, Tocumwal, and Echuca. On Wednesday, 1st October they continued with meetings in Barham, Swan Hill, Robinvale, Wentworth and Mildura.

The Mayor of Wentworth, Marg Thomson, greeted the many prayer pilgrims with a short speech and a prayer along with Victorian State parliamentarian Peter Crisp and other church leaders. Ps Peter Walker, an Indigenous elder, and Warwick Marsh invited those gathered to kneel by the river bank as they asked God to send the rain and heal the land.

"We all had a sense that God had heard our prayers," said Warwick.

Warwick Marsh stated: "The Murray Darling Prayer Pilgrimage was both encouraging and humbling, all at the same time. To listen to the prayers of the mums and dads, the ministers of many different denominations, the children, the politicians and community leaders and the older folk who supported the prayer gatherings was truly inspirational.

"Kris Schlyder and Chris Garvie prayed at nine rivers in the upper area of the Darling River Basin; Rev Mark Clayton prayed in Mildura with us and then travelled on up the Darling to the Paroo and Warrego Rivers. Hugh Magarey and team prayed at Loxton and Berri on the way to Mildura and then prayed at several towns along the Murray to the Murray mouth where he met a team of intercessors to pray and share communion - and so the pilgrimage was complete."

Prayer pilgrims gathered for the final ceremony at the junction with representation from SA, NSW, QLD and Victoria.