5 Things I learned from Rob Fyfe, CEO of Air New Zealand

I wasn't planning this to be my first post of the New Year, but in the interest of timeliness, I've decided it was better to go with it, rather than hold off to a later date.

Rob Fyfe is the CEO of Air NZ, a position which he has held since October 2005. Since that time, Air NZ has seen significant changes and growth. They are the current Air Transport World Airline of the Year, having won the same award in 2010. Earlier today, Mr Fyfe announced that he would be stepping down from his position as CEO at the end of the year.

I've never met Mr Fyfe personally, although I have seen him around airports in NZ and observed him numerous times in the media. He's a character who has intrigued me and impressed me. This blog is a reflection of who I am - someone involved in Christian ministry who is passionate about many things, one of which is good leadership. Having watched Rob Fyfe and read of him, there are a number of things I admire and have learned from him in this regard:

(1) Failure can be the backdoor to success
Like many Kiwis, Rob Fyfe has spent time abroad. Around the turn of the Millennium, Fyfe spent time as Managing Director of ITV Digital (a British digital terrestial TV broadcaster) during the period when it went into bankruptcy. What was a clever, innovative brand, ultimately failed. However, Fyfe wasn't deterred. His next move was to Air NZ, where in a short time, he became CEO.
For many, the failure in leadership in a major organisation would be enough to ensure Fyfe would never assume such a position again. However, for Fyfe & Air NZ, the failure at one organisation was a stepping stone to success at another. It's a salutary lesson that failure is not necessarily final.

(2) Innovation, creativity and change are the doors to the future
The airline industry is one where things are often done the way they have been done. Not so with Fyfe. He has systematically introduced innovation, creativity and change as part of the company's ethos.

As an outsider looking in on Fyfe's leadership (albeit as a regular traveller w/ Air NZ), for me, this would be one of the hallmark features of his work - the passion and commitment to keep making things fresh and new. "Having an appetite for a degree of risk is something we promote within the organisation..." is how Fyfe puts it. “I am quite comfortable with making the odd mistake, if it comes in the pursuit of new opportunities and new ideas.” Everything about Air NZ demonstrates this willingness to try things out - from the Grab-A-Seat website launched by Fyfe, to the Cuddle Class economy flatbed seating introduced last year, the fun and famous Safety videos on board flights to the All Black planes appearing across the network. Fyfe has overseen and introduced a culture of change that consistently looks to move the company forward. It's one of the reasons Air NZ is so endearing and enticing for both passengers and employees alike.

(3) Good is never good enough

The emphasis on continued improvement is linked with the continuous desire to innovate and change. For Fyfe and Air NZ, the attitude is that you can never rest on your laurels and good is never good enough - there's always room for improvement. This has been brilliantly demonstrated by Air NZ's response to winning the ATW Airline of the Year award in 2010 - rather than sitting back and enjoying the success, Air NZ have looked to move the airline forward and keep improving. The introduction of changes on the trans-Tasman routes, new Airpoints cards that allow foreign currency spending, changes to reward their most loyal customers are all part of the desire of Fyfe to keep improving. 'Good to great' is more than just a book title, it's a business philosophy that Fyfe has espoused and for that he deserves credit.

(4) He aha te mea nui? He tangata. He tangata. He tangata.

For those outside NZ, this Maori saying probably needs some explanation. It means "What is the most important thing? It is people. It is people. It is people."

For years, business wisdom has argued "The consumer is king", but traditionally, the airline industry has ignored this. The renowned business guru Tom Peters responded to me in a tweet about United Airlines by saying that customer service complaints about airlines were so frequent, he'd given up on them completely. Rob Fyfe has ignored conventional wisdom and made his business all about people. Anyone flying Air NZ will know that the service is generally exceptional and is all about individuals. Numerous examples would demonstrate this, a few will suffice.
Fyfe's decision to spend one day a month in a different area of business is the kind of idea the TV show 'Undercover Boss' is trying to promote. However, for me, 'Undercover Boss' is a concept that the best bosses should be implementing without the need for secrecy - that of knowing, understanding and empathising with every part of their business. Rob Fyfe does this much more overtly and openly and in the process demonstrates an integrity that tells his employees "I care about you and your work".

The response of Rob Fyfe to crisis and negative reports demonstrates his people-centred emphasis. His apology for the 1979 Erebus disaster (when Fyfe was nothing to do with the company!) and his dignity in the wake of the 2008 Perpignan tragedy showed a humility and care above and beyond the duty of a CEO. Air NZ's response to the Christchurch earthquake in Feb 2011 and their provision of cheap and flexible fares for those wishing to get in or out of Christchurch showed the importance of people to Fyfe and Air NZ. Compassion is a vital characteristic of any leader.
Customer service in Air NZ is legendary. From top to bottom, the emphasis on looking after customers is exemplified by a "nothing is too much" attitude to giving their customer's the best experience possible.
Too often people are taken for granted, Fyfe doesn't seem to have made this mistake.

(5) Quit while you're winning

For many, the announcement of Fyfe's resignation will come as a surprise. To me, it struck me as real genius. Knowing when you're ahead is one of the real challenges for a successful leader. Fyfe argues that he doesn't want to become a road block to the career expectations of his executive team and so is quitting now - one of the tests of good leadership is how those who follow you manage and that remains to be seen. However, leaving whilst you're still at the top is a mark of a good leader. Fyfe is doing that, when many would outstay their welcome.


I'm sure that Fyfe has his flaws and imperfections. I'm not pretending they don't exist, but the areas highlighted are things that commend Fyfe and Air NZ to me. Whoever suceeds Rob Fyfe as CEO of Air NZ has a tough act to follow. Whatever Fyfe goes to next, I wish him all the best and look forward to seeing how these strengths play out in another arena.

Coming Soon...

It's been far too long since I last posted. So much has happened & there's much planned.
This isn't a proper post, but simply one to say "watch this space!" There'll be a post in the near future!

All Black Nation

A selection of photos taken around our rugby-obsessed country.

Manu Overboard & Slade Slayed

The Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals provided some entertainment and surprise. Surprisingly, much of the entertainment came from the Northern hemisphere teams, whilst the Southern hemisphere teams played out the drab ‘Northern-style’ rugby!

The atmosphere in Wellington over the weekend was nothing short of sensational. To have four world class teams in town meant the place was abuzz. The Irish sea of green was complemented by a fair splash of gold, a good dose of red and a darker, more African shade of green. We had springboks, wallabies, leeks and shamrocks. There were hymns and arias, cockles and mussels and even Matilda was waltzing.

We had the privilege of going into town to soak up the atmosphere just prior to the Wales v Ireland game. It was fun, as fans of all teams mingled awaiting the big game. All four of us wore our Ireland shirts, and Sam and Josh (in their pushchair) used the Ulster flag as their blanket.

Walking around, we just happened to arrive outside the Irish team hotel as they were boarding their bus. A crowd of several hundred was singing, cheering and yo-ho-ing (a good Ulster word). It was one of those memorable occasions. We got to wave ourflag, and encourage the boys as they drove past us en route to the ‘Cake Tin’. It saddened me that even in NZ, we had several disparaging remarks about an Ulster flag, even being told “There’s no need for that.” Surely the Irish RFU needs to actively embrace the fact they represent “the four proud provinces of Ireland”, and do all it can to combat bigotry and prejudice. As an ‘outsider’ looking in, it does seem that Ulster boys seem under-represented in the Irish set-up. I recognise it’s not uncomplicated, but for the team to be truly an 'all-island' team, steps forward still need to be made.

On to the rugby…

Sadly, the Irish team who beat the Aussies were nowhere to be seen. The decision (3 times) to go for tries rather than the 3 points on offer came back to haunt them. A lesson learned is that points on the board can really swing momentum in a game. The Welsh, were superb. Their discipline off-field and on-field has been outstanding. Warburton, who I’d not heard much about pre-tournament has been an excellent leader. And the discipline they’ve shown off-field means they deserve to be in the Semis.

What to say about the English?! I watched them play live in three of their games. In all three, they were poor. The Quarter Final was nothing short of awful. Serious questions need to be asked of the management and leadership when players can’t survive 6 weeks or more without a drink. Some of the behaviour and attitudes shown exemplify the deep rooted problems in the RFU. It seems I, along with most others, are happy that the English were knocked out. Manu Tuilagi proved to be the best English player of the tournament, but even he jumped ship the day after their exit. If only some more of the English squad would follow suit.

From Sacre Bleu to Allez les Bleus went the French, in a way that only the French could. South Africa can only blame themselves, though they are making a good fist of blaming the ref, Bryce Lawrence. Sure, Australia didn’t deserve to win, but then neither did the Springboks against the Welsh or Samoans. Cup rugby is all about taking your chances and the final score is what counts.

And then we have the All Blacks…a seriously underwhelming performance cost them dearly. Slade is now gone – surely making Graham Henry’s job easier and less costly for his ego. Although, calling up Stephen Donald would have hurt Henry, he had no choice. I feel for Donald, and although we’ll start with Cruden, I hope Donald gets some time to prove some people wrong. You have to feel for the likes of Carter, Muliaina and Slade, who have experienced the highs, but now face a fairly major low.

Which all leaves us with the question of who will go through to the final?

Personally, I think and hope that the Welsh manage it. For all their irrational dislike and hatred of the English, I had a happy 3 years there and I wish them well. As folks here have frequently said “The French only have one good performance per tournament and they’ve used it up.”

And what of the Wallabies or All Blacks? On form, it’ll be pretty close. But, thankfully games aren’t played on form alone. One would have to say the All Blacks have the better team and should make it through. I predict they will, but it’ll be a close game, even if the scoreline doesn’t fully reflect it.

All that remains to be said is there are 4 teams left, 3 of which are coached by Kiwis. These boys know their rugby, and I still believe in 2 weeks’ time, it’ll be a Kiwi coach whose team are champions. See you Wales in the final and 'go the All Blacks!'

Godzone

To say that Godzone is one of the most exciting and inspiring projects I've been involved in is no exaggeration. It's been a privilege to head up the project and a thrill to see it come to fruition.

Way back in 2006, when I first visited NZ and contemplated the idea of moving here to head up TSCF's outreach amongst students, one of the dates that loomed in my mind was 2011. The Rugby World Cup was 5 years away, but the potential of the world's third biggest sporting event being in NZ was enormous.

Since moving here, we've been working towards the Rugby World Cup, knowing it would provide unique opportunities to speak of Jesus in a way that connects with much of the NZ population. To that end, one of the initiatives we agreed to work on was a rugby-themed Gospel which included the Christian testimonies of a number of high profile players.

After a significant amount of effort and investment, and a number of obstacles and frustrations, it was great to finally see the fruit of of our labour with the arrival of 'Godzone' in the early stages of the RWC.

Using the easy to read, New Living Translation, it is designed to introduce people to Jesus. We have used Luke's account of Jesus' life, as it starts with the more familiar Christmas birth narrative and includes stories that have resonance with Kiwis, such as the lost sheep in Luke 15.

Godzone includes 10 stories of high profile international players from around the globe. Brad Thorn, the current All Black lock is the player most Kiwis recognise and respond to, but numerous others elicit positive repsonses. Fijian Captain, Deacon Manu who grew up in New Plymouth (NZ) is well known on these shores, whilst RWC winners Nick Farr-Jones and Jason Robinson bring significant credentials on the rugby field. Euan Murray, the Scottish Prop is widely known as a Christian, mainly due to his stand of not playing on Sundays. Doris Taufateau is probably a name not widely known, but as a women's rugby player & women's RWC winner, she has achieved great success. Pierre Spies and Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira are part of the Springboks RWC squad, with David Pocock and Sekope Kepu are members of the Wallabies squad.

As well as these, Godzone features pictures of scenery from around NZ, which is also where the name 'Godzone' comes from. NZ is frequently referred to as 'Godzone' or 'God's Own Country'. Our desire in publishing Godzone is that people in NZ and beyond would come to know God's Own Son, Jesus as they read it.

Within TSCF, we have made Godzone available to our students to give to their friends personally with the challenge and encouragement to read it. We have also made it available for churches and organisations in NZ, so that it can also be given to unbelieving friends. One leader wrote to us saying "I have just a had a good look at Godzone...IT'S BRILLIANT. Thanks for this wonderful gift you have given us!" We've consistently had this sort of reaction as people have seen it and realised its potential. The fact it is Kiwi designed and made brings extra appeal.

It's been thrilling to see it get some coverage in the national and international media. The Dominion Post in Wellington had a story on it, whilst the Irish Independent and Guinness websites picked up on it! Our good friend Paul Windsor has also made some kind comments about it here on his blog

Our vision for Godzone is that as people read it, they would come to meet Jesus for themselves. We've been encouraged to hear of a number of people giving it to friends, including some of the players and teams, school pupils, students, sports team members and work colleagues. So, we would love people to do likewise - if you would like to get hold of copies of Godzone for yourself and/or friends, you can do so here. (We will ship around the world, although obviously it costs more to send overseas.)

Rugby World Cup Reflections on Pool Stages

After 3 weeks of intense rugby, the 2011 Rugby World Cup pool stages are over. 4 pools of 5 teams have played their hearts out, and we now know the 8 teams who will compete the knock-out stages to find the winner of this year's Rugby World Cup.

In the midst of a busy season work-wise, I have been privileged to watch a number of the games live. Work commitments have probably meant I've watched less games on TV than I normally would, but given RWC fever is all around us, feel I've not really missed out.

So, what do I make of the teams I've seen and of the 40 matches that have gone before us? Here's some reflections on RWC 2011 Pool Stages:

Grassroots Rugby

The first day I attended of RWC was an epic. We travelled to Dunedin for England v Argentina, but due to the shift of match from Christchurch, we were able to add a quick road-trip to Invercargill to watch Scotland v Romania. The atmosphere in Southland was fantastic - so many kilts and such a close game. Scotland were poor, but the Romanians were passionate and unfortunate. At the end of the match, we were able to "hang around" the tunnel as the players left, which for me brought back memories of the 1991 RWC when commercialism hadn't taken it's vice-like grip on the IRB. It was a great insight into the passion for rugby in ordinary Kiwi's lives.

Global Rugby

After a quick drive North, we were in Dunedin for the Falklands' Classic in the new Forsyth Barr stadium. On arrival, we were greeted by a cacophony of noise which was incessant throughout. Fair play to the Argentinian fans, who came in their droves, bounced like crazy and sang with gusto. As with the Scots, England were lucky to win, but we enjoyed a night when global rugby with its modern stadia, vast numbers of fans, Mexican waves and streakers added to the evening's spectacle.

Pacific Island Rugby

Over the tournament, I have seen 2 of the 3 Pacific Island nations play. With TSCF's involvement with Deacon Manu, I enjoyed supporting the Fijians in their ultimately unsuccessful tournament. The best passing I have ever seen on a rugby pitch came from the Samoans, who were ultimately let down by poor refereeing by Nigel Owens and cynical play from the South Africans. Their speed of pass, belief in their running support play and willingness to give it a go was wonderful to watch. I'm told, although I wasn't there, that the Tongans fully deserved their win against the French.

However, in the midst of all of this, I see the IRB and the likes of NZRU's Steve Tew don't give these supposed "minnow" nations the credit they deserve. On Queen Street last Friday, after Samoa had been knocked out of the tournament, the party atmosphere created by their fans suggested they had won the tournament. Considering all they bring, it seems unfair to give them the playing schedule, the massive fines (particularly compared with England's let-off) and diminishing of their culture (stopping Bible verses being written on shirts, reducing the impact of war-dances with various rules and regulations). Come on the IRB - it's time to recognise the value of these nations!

Northern Hemisphere teams

Of the bigger teams, I have seen England, Scotland, Romania and Wales play so far. (I'm hoping that I get chance to see the Irish before the tournament ends!) Of these, Wales have looked far and away the most convincing. They deserved to win against SA, although I was sat directly in the line of fire of 'that' kick, and can confirm it looked doubtful as to whether it was over. In Sam Warburton, they seem to have a great leader and player. Their clash with Ireland looks set to be a classic. The Irish result against the Aussies was fantastic - the Irish have some of the best players around and so it was great to see them do their reputation justice. Although I'm an Englishman, even I can see they've not been playing well and that there appears to be a major discipline problem revolving around the sense of privilege there should be in playing for your country.

Southern Hemisphere teams

I've been privileged to watch NZ, SA & Argentina play. Of those, only NZ have looked anything like contenders for the trophy. SA have ground out results, but have looked anything but impressive. They have the players, but they are also getting older. Argentina are fortunate to be there, but we would expect them to returning home to BA at the weekend. The dark horses for me are Australia. Robbie Deans is a good coach. They have some good players, and I would anticipate they will beat SA and meet NZ in the semi. For me, the winner of that clash will win the tournament. Of course, the All Blacks suffered a massive blow with the tournament ending injury for Dan Carter. I've written about that elsewhere. They can still win the tournament, but to do so has just got harder.

Quarter Final Predictions

Who will win? Realistically, anything could happen (well, apart from the Pumas beating NZ), but here's what I think...

QF1 Ireland v Wales. This is the toughest to predict. My head says Wales, but my hearts say the Irish. I think on the basis of the way they've been playing, it'll be the Welsh, but either way, I think there'll only be a few points in it.

QF2 England v France. Unless the French have a Sacre Bleu moment or two, this is England's to lose. They have looked awful and their team unity seems as bad as English off-field discipline. This is England's.

QF3 SA v Australia. Could be a close one. I think the Irish win against the Aussies was a good wake-up call for them. For me, the Springboks have just not looked convincing. Their cynicism could cost them, particularly if it is refereed well. Bryce Lawrence has been appointed, so as Brian Moore said "You might as well toss a coin to see who wins!" Australia by 5 points or so.

QF4 NZ v Argentina I have no doubts NZ will win this one. But, I think the big story to come out of this game will be Colin Slade (who I like & rate) having a poor game as his lack of confidence continues. Piri Weepu will come to the rescue and NZ will win by about 20 points. Weepu will then start the semi and Cruden come onto the bench. You heard it here first...

So, the semis should be Wales/Ireland v England - head says Wales, my heart (& wife) wants Ireland, and Australia v NZ. Not long to go until we find out!

Rugby in our backyard

It's hard to imagine I still have any blog readers, after another protracted absence for a little while. However, in the vain hope that someone, somewhere is still reading, and in the recognition that
blogging is a healthy discipline for me to maintain, here's a few thoughts/reflections on recent happenings.

The past few months have been some of the busiest since we arrived in NZ. In 2007, when we first started seriously thinking about moving to NZ and what God may have in store for us, the Rugby World Cup in 2011 seemed a long way away. The distant has become present and the dreams a reality.

I'm often asked by friends overseas "What big events does TSCF have for the Rugby World Cup?". The reality is TSCF doesn't really do "big" events in the way the questioners are used to. It's not that we're against them, but more that by and large, the situation here doesn't require or suit them. There are some "big" events that happen in the NZ Christian scene, but mostly things are done at the grass-roots level in smaller communities and numbers. NZ is a country where relationships are important, and things don't have to be big to be good. We've embraced that in our outreach and our mission strategy. Indeed, some of the most exciting things in TSCF have been the smaller things that others would see as "off the radar".

Still, having the Rugby World Cup in our backyard brings opportunities for the gospel that simply cannot be missed. TSCF has ensured that we use it to see more students reached with the Good News of Jesus. Our energies have been channelled in 3 main directions:

1 - GODZONE

The initiative we have been working towards for some months has finally come to fruition. TSCF has produced a rugby-themed edition of Luke's Gospel, interspersed with 10 international rugby players' testimonies. It is this that has taken most of my time for the last couple of months, and my biggest reason for not blogging in that time! Suffice to say, it merits it's own blogpost, so, watch this space in the next few days for a specific post on Godzone.

2 - RWC EVENTS IN EVERY GROUP

As part of our commitment to evangelism and connecting with the culture, we have encouraged and challenged every TSCF group to try at least one initiative related to the Rugby World Cup. Some have been bigger events and some, much smaller, with just a few friends gathered together. But, we are encouraged by the willingness of our students to connect with the events around them & to see them as gospel opportunities.

It's been great to hear of some of the "Kiwi" groups partnering with the International groups to help explain rugby to overseas visitors. Similarly, it's been brilliant to see students whose interest in rugby is only passing, seize the opportunity and expect great things from God and attempt great things for God.

3 - AN EVENING WITH DEACON MANU

In God's timing, He has brought us into contact with Deacon Manu, the current Fiji Captain. Deacon was born & raised in NZ. His father is Maori and his mother Fijian. Having played in the Super Rugby competition in NZ, he moved to South Wales and has been playing for the Llanelli Scarlets in the Magners League & Heineken Cup. It is whilst in Wales, through the witness of elderly neighbours, that he has grown in relationship with Jesus.

Deacon has said that he sees part of the reason that he is in the RWC squad is so God can use him to be a witness during the tournament. Out of that conviction, he has given of himself on a number of occasions to join us at events in NZ and Fiji and speak of his life in rugby and life in Jesus.

The night before the pre-tournament match against the All Blacks, he shared in Dunedin of how he came to know Jesus. A day before leaving Fiji for NZ and the RWC, Deacon was the cause of a commotion similar to when the Beatles arrived in the USA, as he attended the Pacific Students for Christ (PSFC, the IFES movement in Fiji) annual conference. Again, he spoke humbly and faithfully of his love for Jesus. This past week, just 2 nights before playing the current World Champions, South Africa, Deacon joined a similar event in Wellington, where he also memorably provided a tuition of how to wheel a scrum (complete with real life front-row of a scrum formed by 6 student volunteers!). Later this week, we trust he will be speaking at another event in Auckland.

These events have been significant opportunities for students to hear of someone who loves Jesus more than rugby, and to connect with how to use sport as your mission. Deacon is a great example of both of these and we have been thankful to God for his willingness and enthusiasm to partner with us.

While all this has been going on, Jen has done a stellar job looking after the boys and the home. Sam is increasingly becoming more chatty and more mischievous. He knows when he sees a silver fern that it is the All Blacks and tells us it is "rugby". He's also knows that he 'plays' football on a Saturday & the key thing is to "kick kick". We're anticipating after the weekend's performances that his Ireland shirt will be worn much more than any England clothing he has!

Meanwhile, Josh is a much more placid child. He rarely grumbles and just likes to sit back and watch what is happening. Thankfully, he seems to enjoy the presence of his older brother, even when that involves cuddling (read smothering), kissing (read slobbering) and playing (read bouncing balls against your younger brother). We're loving having two very different children and the fun/challenges they bring.

We had a lovely time with Jen's parents a few weeks back when they came to visit us. It was brilliant to see Sam run down the airbridge at Wellington airport shouting "Nana, Nana, Papa, Papa" on their arrival into NZ. We're thankful for these times we have with family, and are aware of the sacrifices that are made for God's Kingdom by those who are "left behind".

The busyness of my work should return to 'normal' in the coming days & I hope to be able to blog a little more about some of the ministry, as well as the rugby taking place in NZ in the coming weeks. Watch this space, but don't hold your breath!

How then will you live? A tribute to John Stott

For the second time in the past week, I woke to Jen telling me the news that someone had died. At the weekend, it was Amy Winehouse. This morning, Jen shared that Rev John Stott had passed from this life into eternity.

The news of John Stott is still fairly fresh. The few hours I have been awake have been spent thinking of & thanking God for all that he did and was.

Ranked by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world, this position is clear by the many tributes from around the world already posted on Facebook and Twitter.

At his boarding school in Rugby, having heard a talk by the Rev Eric Nash entitled "What then shall I do with Jesus?", the 17 year old Stott knelt by his bedside and gave his life over to Jesus - he became a Christian.

His subsequent life was spent in the service of the Jesus he knew and loved. At Cambridge University, he became part of the CICCU (the Christian Union), and then later became ordained as an Anglican clergyman. Becoming Curate and then Rector of All Souls, Langham Place, John Stott stayed involved in his local church (just a short walk from where he was born) for the remainder of his life.

John Stott was known as a Pastor and a preacher. His ministry at All Souls saw a remarkable growth in size and influence of the church in the heart of London. However, through his writings and wider ministry as a theologian and scholar, he became known and loved throughout the world. To many, he was known as "Uncle John" - a term of endearment and affection for the lifelong bachelor.

For me, two of his books have stood out - "The Cross of Christ" is probably his greatest written work, where he defends and articulates the finished work of Jesus on the cross, the message we believe and preach. His contribution to the Bible Speaks Today series with his commentary on the book of 2 Timothy is probably the commentary I have read most and significantly appreciated.

In his final sermon, at the Keswick Convention, he chose to preach on "Becoming More Like Christ". What a choice! My mum who was there said it was fitting of the man that his final publicly preached words were an exhortation that pointed people to Jesus.

Sadly, I never heard him preach in real life. However, on a number of occasions I have visited All Souls, Langham Place. As I meandered with the crowds through for coffee after the service, the door was held open for the throng by Uncle John. In this simple act, he was un-recognised by many, but showed he was servant-hearted and humble to the core.

I'm told he never accepted second-helpings of food out of deference to those who had none. He was a man who mixed with the elite (he was the Chaplain to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II), but who didn't lose sight of the poor.

For the past few years, he has lived in a retirement home with other Anglican clergy. Yesterday afternoon, in the company of a number of friends, whilst listening to Handel's Messiah & having 2 Timothy read to him, he passed into the presence of Jesus. What a way to go!

I've spent the morning remembering the man, his influence and impact, but perhaps most significantly his godliness and humility. When he preached, his sermons had no wasted words. When he wrote, his books were pure gold. The way he lived, he spoke of a far greater treasure.

The temptation with the news is towards idolatry of John Stott. We must not do that and he would not have wanted that. John Stott was not perfect - he had his faults & flaws and in the midst of them, he trusted in Jesus to forgive them, and make him more like Jesus. Instead, we should be inspired by him, encouraged by his example and reminded that our lives are just a vapour - here one moment and gone the next. He would have wanted us to look to Jesus - to see Him, savour Him, share Him and sacrifice our lives for Him.

As I think about the life and death of Amy Winehouse and of John Stott, one is a life wasted and the other a life well spent. There is tragedy and grief in the passing of Ms Winehouse, and sadness and joy in the passing of Rev Stott. The difference between the two isn't just the comparative ages they died at, rather it is summed up in the words of the apostle Paul.

"For me to live is Christ, to die is gain."

Amy Winehouse lived for other things and her life is a tragic loss. John Stott lived for Christ, and his death is gain.

The Sound of Silence

It seems a familiar routine for me to begin a blog post with words expressing my regret at having not blogged for some time & the blog being filled with the Sound of Silence. Thus far, 2011 has been the busiest year for us in the work here, and it shows no sign of abating. Thankfully, we knew this before the year started, and not every year is the way this has been. However, all this means I've not been as faithful at keeping up to date with blogging. For this, I can only apologise & offer the vain hope that I will try to do better in future!

Where do you begin when there's so much to report on? There have been so many encouragements. Instead of trying to excitedly communicate everything that's happened, here are some of the highlights of what God is doing in our lives at the moment:

Bible Reading

Since January, I've has been working through the Bible chronologically in my daily Bible readings. Thankfully, my mum agreed to work on the same reading scheme. She's a bit ahead of me (I'm a bit behind!), but I've been enjoying reading the Psalms of David and his activities as King. The Psalms I read this morning basically reminded me never to forget the greatness of God. Christopher Hitchens' book entitled "God is Not Great" is simply wrong. He is great, and I must never lose sight of this.

The Boys

The past two months have been noisy in the Carswell household. Sam continues to grow and in particular, his speech is coming on. He definitely has Carswell traits in that regard. We regularly find him, or hear him chattering away to himself, talking to nobody in particular, enjoying the sound of his own voice.

Josh is a much more placid child than Sam was. He sleeps well, and is content to spend time looking at his mum, and listening to his brother.

Both boys have brought us real joy, and we are enjoying the privilege of parenthood, whilst learning some of the challenges too.

Jen

Jen has 'suffered' me being away a fair bit over the past few months. She has held the fort admirably, particularly when her and the boys were all ill whilst I was away. I am aware of the sacrifices she makes, and try as often as possible to limit the time I'm away, or to arrange it so I am around when she most needs it. I'm grateful to friends and colleagues who keep me in check on this. We are looking forward to some family time together after the TSCF Mid Year Conference, when I will take some Annual Leave.

Outreach in TSCF

I am loving being able to focus my energies on outreach within TSCF, having been freed from my responsibilities as Wellington Team Leader. I'm glad Gina Wong is able to focus her time on the team leadership and for Richard Deeble supporting the work as Staff Worker. I'm attempting to think about how we make the most of the opportunities for outreach both nationally and locally (in all the regions), and how we encourage students to make the most of the opportunities to share Jesus with those around them.

Over the past few months, I've met with those who attended the Evangelism Weekend I shared about here. It's been encouraging to hear how the weekend impacted each one, and to hear of some of the impact the weekend had on the students. Here's how one of the students expressed their thanks to me in an email

"Just wanted to say that I really found the training useful and really extremely very very muchly appreciated the opportunity to learn from you, Nigel and other students who share similar passion of sharing Jesus. Would reaaaaally love to have more opportunity as such in the coming year if possible :) Haven't stopped thinking about what I've learnt since..."

We want to see students not only impacted with the gospel, but changed by it and keen to take the good news to others. We thank God for the growth we see in students like this.

Learning to Trust God in Spite of Exchange Rate Falls

Over the past months, the UK-NZ exchange rate has continued to decline. Last year, it hit its lowest trough for 30 years, and has since declined. We are currently at some of the lowest rates ever. Needless to say, this all affects us significantly. Because of this, without losing any of our supporters, we effectively "lose" significant chunks of our financial support. We thus have to raise new support just to keep at past levels. In the midst of a busy year, this continues to be a challenge. We don't want to be those who are known for only talking about money and financial needs, but without changes to the situation, our support base will suffer.

Through it all, it is a reminder that we must only trust in God to supply our needs. He always has and always will. Chatting with a friend in the UK yesterday, it was an encouragement hearing them share how God has prompted them to take a job with a salary 1/10th the size of another job they were offered, because that was where they believed God was calling them. It was a reminder again to me to ensure our treasure is in heaven, not on earth.

Having said all that, there are those who have partnered with us of late, and we are thankful to God for them. Others have asked how they can be part of God's work here in NZ. If you are interested in joining with us, please drop me a line. (There are tax-efficient ways of doing this from the UK, NZ & USA)

Rugby World Cup

The RWC is only a few months away now. The excitement within NZ is almost palpable. Conversations around ministry opportunities continue apace. We continue to work on producing a rugby-themed Gospel for free distribution in time for the World Cup. The bulk of the work on that (from my perspective) is due to be done in the coming few weeks. Please pray that it would all come together well and in time. Do specifically pray that as students & others read the Gospel for themselves, that they would meet Jesus and have their lives changed and transformed by Him, as they come to know Him.

One of the players who has been helping us in it is Deacon Manu. Deacon is the Captain of the Fijian rugby team. He plays Professionally as a Prop for the Neath Llanelli Scarlets in Wales. Whilst living in Wales, he really came to know Christ for himself. In December last year, he fractured his arm playing against Leinster. Tomorrow, he is due to have his first match back as he plays against Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup. Please pray for Deacon as he works towards playing for Fiji in the World Cup. He is clear that God has given him unique opportunities to be a witness in the professional rugby scene - do pray that God would use Him significantly, particularly in the months ahead. We are looking at a number of potential initiatives with Deacon which work with his rugby itinerary.

TSCF Mid Year Conference

Next week is the annual TSCF Mid Year Conference. It's a gathering of students from across the country for a week of Bible teaching and training, combined with fun and fellowship. Our theme for the week is "What if God was one of us?" We're looking at the incarnation - what it is, what it means, how it affects and changes us. We long for a significant week in the lives of students. Look out on here for a report after the conference has finished!

Overall, I have a real sense of God's hand being on us and working in and through us over the past few months. We really are thankful to Him for all He's doing, but depend on Him to continue what He has been doing in our lives and those He brings across our pathway.

(Some of you may be aware of a little project I've been working on - The Double Listener is a blog where I'm attempting to look at culture & engage with it from a Biblical perspective. I'm deliberately seeking to write from a Kiwi perspective, as so much that we have here in NZ is imported from around the world. I recognise the same can be said of me, but I'm trying to be as Kiwi as possible.) Do check it out & tell others.

The People's Prince

It was particularly heartening to see Prince William going on a walkabout the night before his wedding to meet and greet well-wishers.  It was this kind of behaviour that earned his mother the title 'The People's Princess'.

However, having seen it and been encouraged, it did get me thinking that really this should be the norm.  The Royal Family is there to serve the people, they are the representatives of the people, and therefore should be mixing with ordinary people more often than not.  Good on both William & Harry for doing this more often than others in their everyday lives.

Over the past few months, I've seen and heard of a number of examples of Christian ministry where leaders have been away from the ordinary people.  This should not be so!  Christian ministry is all about people - loving them, serving them, sharing Jesus with them, teaching them, encouraging them, correcting them, training them and so many more things.  (If I doubt this, 2 Corinthians 5 should remind me of it)  The key is that Christian ministry is about God's involvement with people.  When I (or others) distance or isolate myself from involvement with people, I separate myself from God's work and involvement in the live's of people.