How We Work

The NCCA gathers together Churches and Christian communities which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures. We commit to deepen our relationship with each other and to work together towards the fulfilment of common witness, proclamation and service, to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All Saints Anglican Church on Erub (Darnley Island) in the Torres Strait. Image: Wikipedia

The Coming of the Light is celebrated by Torres Strait Islanders on the 1st of July. It commemorates the arrival of Reverend Samuel MacFarlane from London Missionary Society on Erub Island in the Torres Strait in 1871. It led to the adoption of Christianity through island communities during the late 19th century.

Dabad, one of the tribal elders of the island, met the missionaries at Kemus Beach. Dabad befriended them and introduced them to Amani, another tribal elder, and the rest of the Erub Islanders. His role in the bringing of Christianity to the Torres Straits is memorialised by Dabad’s Monument at Badog.

This day is an island specific public holiday and many Torres Strait Islanders whether they live on the islands or the mainland will come together every year to celebrate this day.