How Indigenous art and storytelling are opening doors for gospel engagement among children — even in places like Ocean Grove. 
 
When Andrew Pickett walked into a local primary school in Ocean Grove with a copy of the Pitjantjatjara Children’s Art Bible, he wasn’t expecting to be invited to speak to the Year 6 students. He simply felt God prompting him to donate the book. 

Andrew Pickett

But what unfolded next was a powerful moment of gospel engagement — one that continues to ripple through the school community. 
 
“I just felt God saying to me, go in and donate the book,” Andrew recalls. “I met the principal at the gate, handed her the book, and she said, ‘Come in and talk to the Grade 6s.’” 

Andrew, a disability support person and part of a church worship team, had recently returned from a mission trip to the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands with a team from The Wave Church and Church By the Bay. The trip’s purpose was simple: to provide God’s word in the local language and encourage the reading of it. “We walked alongside each other, reading and discovering the messages in God’s word”, says Andrew. That mission came to life ‘back home’ in unexpected ways for Andrew — through Indigenous art, storytelling, and heartfelt testimony. 

A Bible in Paintings 
 
The Pitjantjatjara Children’s Art Bible, known as Godaku Tjukurpa (“God’s Story”), is a vibrant, visual retelling of the Bible’s big story through Indigenous paintings. Created by over 28 Aṉangu artists and translators, the book was the vision of the late Nami Kulyuru, a long-serving Pitjantjatjara Bible translator.  

Nami dreamed of a Bible that would speak directly to her children and grandchildren, using the symbols and storytelling style they knew best. 

In Pitjantjatjara culture, stories are traditionally passed down orally and visually, often through paintings that depict entire narratives in one canvas. Godaku Tjukurpa honours this tradition, presenting stories from Genesis to Revelation in a way that is both culturally rich and spiritually profound. 
 
“It’s God’s word, presented in such a relatable way,” Andrew says. “You can read the whole Bible in 30 minutes or spend 30 minutes on one painting. From a resource point of view, it’s awesome.” 
 
In schools, where Indigenous art is often part of the curriculum, the Art Bible offers a unique bridge. “Indigenous stuff is ‘in’,” Andrew explains. “But often it comes with political messages. This book presents God’s word — no agenda.” 

Godaku Tjukurpa (God’s Story)

 
Engaging the Heart and Mind 
 
Andrew and his pastor, Stuart Jamieson, led an interactive session with about 60 Year 6 students. They began with sign language games, then explored the symbols and stories in the paintings. Students were invited to guess which Bible stories the artworks represented. Then Andrew shared his personal testimony. 
 
“All the kids went quiet,” he says. “It was very emotional. I talked about how I became a believer and the difference Jesus made in my life. We left that day talking about Jesus with Grade 6 kids and two strong believers among them.” 
 
The staff were moved too. Follow-up emails and videos from Bible Society’s Translation and Bible Engagement coordinator, Dave Barnett, helped deepen the school’s engagement. Teachers even asked for specific artworks to support the students’ upcoming confirmation classes. 
 
Beyond the APY Lands 
 
Though created for children in remote Indigenous communities, Godaku Tjukurpa is finding resonance far beyond. “That was Nami’s vision for her children,” Andrew says. “But it’s reaching other children too.” 
 
Andrew has since shared the book with other schools, including a Catholic secondary school where he works. While not every door opens as easily, the Art Bible continues to spark curiosity and conversation. 
 
“It’s a huge resource for believers in schools,” Andrew says. “Kids relate to it. You can do so much with it from a Religious Education (RE) point of view, or just to talk about faith.” 
 
A New Way In 
 
For Andrew, the experience affirmed the power of Indigenous storytelling to communicate timeless truths. “We weren’t trying to fix anything,” he says.

“We just presented God’s word and let it do its thing.”

As Bible Society Australia continues to support Indigenous-led translation and distribution efforts, stories like Andrew’s show how local churches can play a vital role in sharing the gospel — one painting, one story, one child at a time. 

Want to help more people engage with God’s word? Support the ongoing work of Bible publishing and engagement in Indigenous communities across Australia.

Support This Project