About
Vision
“In this day, we believe there is a strong movement for people to come to the desert of Australia in search of clues to the deeper aspects of life
- to understand the spirit of this great land and its indigenous people, and through this
- to nurture their own life and the spirit within
Our hope is:
To provide an opportunity for people to share their story around a campfire in the heart of Australia and through that sharing, to grow in the mystery and wonder of the heart of God.
To offer hospitality and opportunities for reflection and retreat for local people and visitors from Australia and overseas.
To promote a gathering place where indigenous and non-indigenous people alike may to share pathways for the advancement of acceptance, understanding and healing across cultures.
The Story
For most of the past 30 years, Sue and David Woods have lived in small intentional Christian communities where hospitality and prayer were the central focus. They met, married, and raised their four children at St Joseph’s House of Prayer in Goulburn NSW. In late 1998 they moved to Alice Springs to experience life in the Centre of Australia. This caused them to reflect on what they might contribute of their previous experiences in this place.
Living as a suburban family for the first time in their married lives, they started to seek links with other people who were searching for a place to pray and reflect on their own story as it connects with Australia’s desert and its unique spirituality.
‘We were looking for a place of community and prayer which welcomed people to the Centre and encouraged them to reflect more deeply on the importance of this place in the life of each one of us,” said Sue
Not finding the sort of meeting place they had envisioned, Sue and David started a weekly gathering where people could come together to do just that. Based in their home, it attracted ready interest.
In 2003 the dream came to fruition when they found the property that has become Campfire in the Heart. With no money themselves, Sue and David were blessed by a generous benefactor, who believed in their vision and provided the money needed to purchase the property for their use as a place of retreat.
“Campfire in the Heart reflects our vision for a place where people can gather to tell their stories, draw strength and sustenance from each other, and grow in their understanding of their life in the Centre,” says David