By Amy Galliford
“When I get to the hardest bits, God finds a way to break my heart for His people again. Even when it’s a righteous anger, it’s a broken-heartedness for people’s pain that probably is the more sustaining thing,” says Kristyn Crossfield.
Kristyn Crossfield and Deborah Tin are committed to pursuing social change but are equally aware that they are playing a long game with outcomes that are not always visible. However, love remains their motivator, with their absolute tenacity flowing directly from their faith in God’s goodness and their love for people.
“God does not like injustice. I just want to live as living proof of the Gospel – that God is love and God loves people. God wants us to stand up for the voiceless, to be a mouthpiece for those who cannot speak,” Deborah explains.
When Deborah first felt the call in her heart to advocate for the oppressed in Myanmar, she wasn’t sure where to begin. It was hearing of the bloodshed that ended a peaceful protest in her homeland that gave her the confirmation she needed to begin her activism.
“Confirmation or not, this was something that a believer should do – that’s what I strongly felt.”
Alongside her service as a Deacon and Music Coordinator at Belmore Church of Christ, Deborah Tin is a dedicated member of a CRPH/NUG Support Group (NSW), an Australia-based advocacy organisation for the people of Myanmar.
Raising her voice in both song and protest, she is often found singing on-stage at fundraisers or emceeing for campaigning events. Deborah sees her role among her activist groups as an encourager. Singing for a group of activists who are increasingly fatigued in a seemingly hopeless battle, the message she brings to every stage is to persevere and recall the good cause they are fighting for.
“I choose to sing songs about falling down seven times and standing up eight. I encourage people through song,” Deborah explains.
Much like Deborah, Coast Community Church member and chair of Coast Community Care, Kristin Crossfield’s faith is the force behind her advocacy efforts. Director of social change consultancy Reveille, which works with NFPs and union groups, and board member of the Christian social justice organisation Common Grace, which seeks to influence public discourse and government policy, the common force compelling her work is her understanding of God’s heart for people.
“I think everybody should have the good life that God intended for us, the abundant life. People should have dignity and capacity to live their best life,” Kristyn states.
Her faith upbringing informs this drive for justice, with an early understanding of God’s love and His design for restoration shaping the direction of her career. She continues, “If the world operated as God intended, I wouldn’t have to fight injustice. Out of that knowledge, I really wanted to do work that got us closer to God’s ideal world.”
Kristyn’s determination to advance these Kingdom principles has guided her work in social change. As she pursues ‘God’s ideal world’, she describes how “God opens doors, and my job is to walk through them.”
Deborah credits a rich prayer life with helping her discern the way forward in her fight for justice for Myanmar. As she explains, “It’s the word of God and His Spirit that keeps me on the right path. The more I go, the more I need to pray – so many people are too busy to pray.”
For both women, the battle for justice is only endurable through their personal relationship with the Lord. In expressing what sustains her efforts, Deborah explains,
“It’s the love of God in me – He loves me, and I know. But also, the Lord has not come back yet, but He has given us time – and so a patient God like this gives us patience! The Spirit is in us, so we have the fruit of the Spirit.”
For Kristyn, in facing frequent opposition to her efforts, the love of God again provides her with the solid footing to take a firm stand. She recalls the boards she often had to confront in her union work, saying, “I just knew who I was outside of that boardroom. I can be confident because I am loved.”
Both Kristyn and Deborah are almost certain they will not see the end of their battles. Deborah’s determination is palpable when asked about what motivates her despite the apparent hopelessness. Her voice takes on a new intensity as she states, “Whether we win or not, I have to fight to the end. I may not even see my generation rise up or become a democracy. I don’t care. I want to receive a ‘well done, good and faithful servant’. I will do it until the end. We have to pursue our calling until He comes or until we close our eyes.”
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
Click here to listen to a recent song by Deborah Tin, recorded to raise funds for Myanmar.
Read more stories from churches of Christ in NSW & ACT HERE
