It was a call from a man he met on a small island off the west coast of Scotland that brought Dave to Baptist Care SA’s WestCare Centre, where he has remained working for the past 25 years.  

 

At the time, Dave was a volunteer in a small Christian community on Iona, a small island in the Inner Hebrides, known as the Cradle of Christianity in Scotland. He had landed there while backpacking to explore different expressions of the Christian faith and was attracted to the community where the emphasis was on social justice. 

The call was from David Wright, the Pastor of the WestCare Church, who was also the Manager of Baptist Care SA’s Inner City Services, offering Dave a newly created pastoral role at the WestCare Centre. Enjoying his time at Iona and with further travels planned, Dave initially declined the offer despite the caller’s many attempts to lure him away.  

But the offer stayed with him. After a time when he prayed and discussed it with his wife, Renee, Dave recognised it was a call from God and the couple returned to Adelaide so Dave could take up the role.  

Dave credits his 25-year tenure to the genuine relationships he has made with members of the WestCare Centre community.  

He says that treating every single person as someone of value, as worthy of respect and with something to offer is a core value of the WestCare Centre community. He believes that from a faith perspective, this expresses the truth that everyone is made in the image of God.   

“Everyone is of value no matter what life has done to them or how broken they are,” he says.  

He says the warmth, humour and encouragement he receives in the genuine conversations he has with the community is what keeps him going. 

The genuine relationships Dave forms with people often extend beyond when they are back on their feet, and they remain connected with the WestCare Centre Community.   

“They tell me they feel the sense of love and community they find with us is greater than anything they can find elsewhere,” he says. 

The love and compassion Dave has shown over 25 years is shown in return. Renee recently passed away and the empathy and kindness shown by members of the community of the WestCare Centre has wrapped him in reciprocal comfort and support, demonstrating how he has helped them along their own journeys.  

Dave says his relationship with the WestCare Centre is much more like a calling to a Christian community than simply a job. 

“I’m so grateful that God called me here all those years ago.” 

 

Baptist Care SA meets on the lands of the Kaurna, Peramangk and Boandik people. We respect the ongoing skilful custodianship of lands, skies and waters and the continuous deep cultural connection with Country. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from all Countries, Nations and Mobs.