Faith, Culture and Community: God’s love woven through People and Place
Rev Natasha He reflects on faith, culture, and identity as intricately woven by God’s love, grounding her in community and purpose
January 28, 2026
by Rev Natasha He, Minister at Saltbush Community
I have come to see that God’s love is not handed to us neatly folded. It is woven, patiently and purposefully, through people, cultures and places.
Last November, I attended the President’s Conference in Tonga. Going back home is always deeply emotional, as a daughter of the land, and a leader of God’s people. I carried with me both gratitude and responsibility, knowing that I was walking in the footsteps of those who nurtured my faith long before I answered God’s call to ministry.
The highlight of the conference for me was from one of the keynote speakers, Principal of Sia’atoutai Theological College, Rev Dr Paula Onoafe Latu. Listening to him was both grounding and inspiring. He spoke not only of the history of Christianity in Tonga, but also of the sacred practice of weaving. How faith, culture, and identity are intricately woven together. The mats, ngatu (tapa) the patterns, the patience of the process that all reflected a theology deeply connected to God and the fonua, the land itself. In his wisdom he shared that theology is not only written in books, but lived, touched, and passed down through generations.
Rev Dr Latu reminded us how the gospel took root in Tongan soil, shaping not just belief, but community, hospitality, and a sense of belonging. Faith in Tonga is embodied – sung, shared, cooked, woven, and lived out in everyday life. Faith is not meant to be distant or abstract, but deeply relational and incarnational.
"It was a gift to gather alongside so many First Nations peoples from across Australia and our Pacific neighbours. There was something deeply sacred about being in that space together..."
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.
It was a gift to gather alongside so many First Nations peoples from across Australia and our Pacific neighbours. There was something deeply sacred about being in that space together, like sitting around a shared table in the presence of Christ where we heard stories of faith, resilience, and hope. They shared testimonies of communities walking the long road of reconciliation in their own lands and cultures, seeking justice while holding fast to the Gospel.
As we listened, we caught a glimpse of what it means to love Country as God’s gift of creation and the pain of being treated as strangers on the very land where your ancestors have prayed, walked, and worshipped for generations.
Sometimes it was confronting, even heavy on the heart. Yet the stories felt holy. Because truth-telling is holy work. It is the work of light breaking into darkness.
It was a great joy to travel with two young Tongan members from Dubbo Uniting Church. They were eager to learn more about the wider Church and what it means to belong to a Church that values justice and inclusion. Watching them engage with international speakers, ask questions, and immerse themselves in worship was deeply moving.
Going back to Tonga grounds me in my identity as a second generation Australian-Tongan woman, which is not fragmented, but woven together by God’s grace.
May we continue to listen to one another’s stories, honour culture as a gift from God, and nurture the faith of our young people. For “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10), woven together by God’s love, for the sake of the world.
Rev Natasha He
Minister, Saltbush Community
More news from the President
Listening to the household of God
Listening to the Household of God Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli has written this reflection from Fiji on the Pacific Church’s witness – and the call to listen, be changed and walk togetherWritten by Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia Last week, I had the privilege of gathering with church…
Easter Madness 2026: A place to belong
Easter Madness 2026: A place to belong At Easter Madness 2026, young people from across Queensland gathered to explore belonging through worship, community, and transformative encounters with God Earlier this month, around 170 young people gathered for four vibrant days at Easter Madness 2026, a Uniting Church youth event held on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.…
Remembering the Armenian Genocide
Remembering the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide mm Friday 24 April marks 111 years since the start of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, where authorities carried out the systematic destruction of Armenian Christians resulting in the devastating deaths of approximately 1.5 million people between 1915 and 1923. This year is also 11…
Re-grounding the Household: Returning to our Story in Christ
Re-grounding the Household: Returning to Our Story in Christ Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli spoke at the opening session of Day 2 of the Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting in Fiji, challenging delegates to be re-grounded in Christ As Day 2 of the Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting gathered momentum in Suva, Fiji earlier today,…
President’s Easter Message 2026
Peace BeWith You Easter messages from the President and Moderators of the Uniting Church in Australia In a world that can feel loud, anxious, and divided, Easter arrives with a quiet but powerful word: peace. This Easter, Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, offers a message drawn from the heart…
ABC interview: Speaking out on Gendered Violence
Speaking out on Gendered Violence Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli recently spoke with ABC Radio on churches’ role in confronting gendered violence and promoting safety, dignity and compassion Subscribe to our newsletter If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter…
President reflects on Gendered Violence Conference
Gendered Violence Conference: Restoring what has been bent The President offers this pastoral reflection following The Wesley Centre Theology and Culture Conference on the topic of Gendered Violence By Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia Last month, I attended the Gendered Violence Conference hosted by Rev Associate Professor Robyn Whitaker,…
UCA President urges political leaders to back peace and immediate ceasefire
Middle East conflict: UCA President urges Political Leaders to back peace and immediate ceasefire President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Charissa Suli, has written to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Australian Greens and other Australian political party leaders, urging multi-partisan support for the Australian Government to…