This little book, created by Fern in partnership with Bible Society Australia’s publishing team, is a companion volume to God’s Christmas Promise, which delighted and encouraged thousands of Australians last Christmas. Bible Society Australia (BSA) offered the book for free as a Christmas resource for churches to give away in their congregations and communities as people gathered to celebrate the season.

Late last year, Fern spoke about the book, and said, “It’d be lovely to have God’s favour on it and to touch people’s hearts with the story of Christ, [people] who would normally see [the Christmas story] as just a colonial concept, not understanding the depth of spirit, the depth of life, that God has given us through Christ.” Her prayer for the book was answered, as BSA supplied more than 570 churches, schools and individuals with 80,000 copies of the book in the months leading up to Christmas.

Image by Fern Martins from ‘The Easter Love Story’

As Fern created the artwork for The Easter Love Story, her heart was full of hope that “us Aboriginal people in Australia would feel the inclusiveness of the Easter story. I really wanted to let my brothers and sisters know, nationally, that God has accepted us, and we were made in his image. Also, for other Australians to come to understand that we are created in God’s image like they are. That’s really important.”

Fern’s favourite artwork from the book depicts Jesus breaking the bread and sharing the wine. She says, “That to me is all about forgiveness and servanthood, and we know that night was when Jesus was talking about being a servant and teaching them how to be a servant. That is a servanthood of love for one another. To serve each other, in love. And that was part of my journey, seeing Jesus in an Aboriginal person giving love back to the people who have hurt us so much.”

Image by Fern Martins from ‘The Easter Love Story’

As this book, The Easter Love Story, is distributed to churches in preparation for Easter this year, Fern is praying that God’s word would make a difference in the heart of Australians who receive and read it. Fern says she is praying, “that they would know that the only reconciliation we can have is through the blood of Jesus, and the forgiveness of the past, and making up for what has occurred historically in Australia. The only way really — the only real healing I’ve experienced as an Aboriginal person who deals with racism on a daily basis — is that you can forgive through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God’s made a way for forgiveness, through his Son.”

Image by Fern Martins from ‘The Easter Love Story’

Fern is also praying that all those who read the book will “know that you are loved and forgiven”. Through her artwork, Fern is sending a message to non-Aboriginal Australians, “We reach out to them and say, ‘We want to forgive, be a part of the body of Christ with us, united in one Spirit.’”

Bible Society Australia is giving away free copies of The Easter Love Story as part of their Jesus. All About Life Easter campaign. To order free copies of Fern’s book, sign up to Jesus. All About Life here. Note that for those in WA, SA and NT customers, the order cut-off date is 10 March to guarantee delivery by Easter Sunday. For all other states, the cut-off date is 15 March. Postage is charged at $20/box.

Karen Mudge is BSA’s impact and communications manager.