Since we arrived back, a fair bit has been happening. Last week, I was away all week at the TSCF Staff & Families conference in Papamoa (in the North of North Island). It was great to spend time with my colleagues and their families, and it was a shame Jen wasn't able to come until the Thursday night because of work commitments.
We enjoyed good teaching from Pete Hughes, from our sister movement AFES in Australia reminding us that our ministry is all about Jesus from Colossians. It was good to spend time with him & his family. It was also great to hear
Paul Windsor (outgoing Principal of Carey Baptist College) reflect on his time involved with preaching in New Zealand. My colleague, Andy Shudall (note the spelling dad!) has shared his thoughts on Paul's session with us
here. It was great to hear Paul's heart for Biblical preaching across New Zealand and to be encouraged by someone a little further down the road than I (sorry Paul!).
After the conference, Jen & I took the opportunity to drive round the Eastern Cape from Tauranga to Napier. It was great to share the journey with Dave & Rachel Turner too & to enjoy the sights & scenery as well a good number of laughs. A good number of Kiwis have remarked to us that they have never done this journey and it really does feel quite remote. One of the places we stopped was St Mary's church in Tikitiki. We had heard that it contained lovely Maori carvings, but for me, the real highlights were reading of how the Gospel had come to this remote area and also to see the wonderful pulpit. The Maori carved figures at the bottom of the pulpit were said to be "supporting and upholding the Gospel or the Word of Christ." That is our desire - we long to see God's Word and Gospel upheld and supported here in Aotearoa (New Zealand) being sensitive to and part of, the culture around us.
One of the questions we are frequently asked is 'how can we pray for you?' Just before we left to return to NZ, Jen's minister, Rev Charles McMullen preached a sermon at her church from 2 Timothy 4. As he read from the Bible, he mentioned that the passage was particularly appropriate for us heading back. So, in answer to the question regarding prayer, please pray that we would do exactly what the text says:
"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."
Today, I have spent the day with our the 6 TSCF members of Minty (Ministry INTernship Year) sharing thoughts on outreach here in New Zealand and encouraging them as they go back to their campuses to "do the work of an evangelist". Please pray for them as they begin their year, and particularly for Phil, Greg & Elaine who will be working with us in Wellington.
So, friends reunited? It's good to be back working with TSCF friends again and it's great to be making new friends. As it's the Kiwi summer, we have a good number of folks visiting us from the UK - it certainly is busy, but great to enjoy the company of friends.
