General News
14 June, 2025
Tent of promise visits Nyngan
For many people understanding the Bible can be daunting. The size of the book, the language, and the many messages it conveys presents a challenge for many of us.
In the early 1990s Barry Cunnington, a farmer from West Wyalong sought to overcome this when he designed a mural which shows the Bible in colourful pictures designed to be easy to follow and understand.
It was Cunnington’s vision to create a travelling ministry where the Gospel could easily be explained to people in and in turn, they could embrace Christianity.
He named this ministry the Tent of Promise, and since 1994 it has been travelling the country – and last week was based at the Nyngan Showground at the invitation of the local 3CN Church.
Cunnington, now 80, has passed the operation to his daughter Kristen who is joined by a group of Christian ministers who share the desire to take the Gospel on the road.
Whilst the 24-metre Tent of Promise marquee was based at the Nyngan Showground, community members were able to visit and view the 30 metre Bible panel and also pray for miracles and healing.
Kristen Cunnington said the heart of the travelling ministry was the Bible panel.
“There’s hundreds of thousands of words in the Bible, but a picture like this shows the whole story in a simple easy to understand way. A picture says a thousand words,” she said.
“The original panel was painted by an ex-hippie who became a Christian with my dad. My dad designed it and each panel was hand drawn.”
“This one we have now was created in 2002-2003 and took a year to create. Two Greek Orthodox artists hand drew it in different sections and it was then digitally composited to make one story.”
A red line threads its way through the mural, representing the bloodline of Jesus and underneath the pictures is written information so viewers can match the scriptures. A timeline has also been included about the pictures.
The Tent of Promise spends around one to two weeks in each location it visits, and welcomes Bible believers of all denominations.
“During the day we give a tour of the artwork and in the evenings, we have revival meetings which demonstrate the power of God,” Kristen said.
Kristen said in some communities four or five Christian congregations will come to the Tent of Promise at one time and worship together.
A highlight of the Nyngan visit was the nightly puppet shows where children could learn the Gospel through the singing and acting.
Kristen has been with the Tent of Promise for 21 years.
“My mum passed away last year, but it’s been a big thing for both of my parents to see The Tent of Promise continuing,” she said.
Michael Dutschke from the Nyngan 3CN Church said the nightly puppet shows were particularly popular. They involved acting and singing, with many of the songs from mainstream bands but adapted to help tell the Gospel story.
Read More: Nyngan