It often feels that my blog-posts start with an apology for not writing for some time. I’m sorry that it’s been some time, but often it feels better to have written something of significance & substance than to rush a blog post up.
Much of the past few weeks has been catching up on jobs from previous weeks & preparing for a busy few months ahead in the final part of the University year. Most of our students only have 6 weeks of studies left until their end of year exams. It feels like we are in the final strait for this year and so much can be done in the last moments of a race (unless you are Usain Bolt!). We are encouraging our students to make godly choices and prepare and plan for next year so that we make the most of every opportunity.
Last week was our TSCF Staff Training Conference. It’s held just up the road from where we live and is a great opportunity for the TSCF team to join together from around Aotearoa (NZ) and think about how we do our work, how we can be more effective and strategic in helping students reach students for Christ. We had a great few days & took the time to soak ourselves in 1 Peter, which we will be studying with students later on this year at our Student Leadership Conference. I loved reading 1 Peter afresh & being reminded it’s all about living in Christ and for Christ in a world where we will suffer with Christ. For me, those times were the highlight of the week.
The last 2 days were with the National Leadership Team, which consists of the those leading the work in the regions. Again, we had good times thinking about all we do – at times the conversations were honest and robust, but it’s all part of moving TSCF forward and more importantly, part of advancing the Gospel here in NZ.
During the NLT meetings, Nigel took time to talk about our vision for the future. As with many things, he provided a helpful visual illustration of where we are at and where we are headed. I’m hoping that in time, he will blog it in his own words, but for now, you’ll have to hear it from me!
One of the most iconic Kiwi heroes is Sir Edmund Hillary, who died last year. For me, he sums up much of Kiwi ideology & thought – the pragmatic, no-nonsense ordinary person who seeks to do extraordinary things. Of course, he’s remembered as the man who conquered Everest. I think this picture captures some of the ruggedness and toughness that epitomised the man. 
Nigel helped us look back at the past few years in TSCF. He moved out here in 2006 and so reflected on things that have happened in those 3 years. Although we have not been around for all of them, I can see the changes and have heard people describe them even since I visited in July 2006. The greater unity and clarity of purpose for TSCF is more obvious, the growth of the staff team and the healthier financial position both speak volumes and altogether, there is a sense of moving forward together for the cause of Jesus here in NZ. Nigel described where we’ve come from as being like the lower ranges of the mountain – we’ve climbed them, tackled them and made it to Base Camp. He even began to sound Churchillian as he described us at being at “the end of the beginning”.
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Sir Winston Churchill
I’m not a climber, but even I know that getting to Base Camp takes hard work and effort. The past 3 years have been harder at times than people thought (I think even for Nigel). There has been pain and toil, but there has been progress. In recent weeks, I have heard of a number of students who have come to faith over the past year – it’s easy to look up and see the task ahead and feel daunted, but when you look back and see where we have come from, there is much for which must give thanks to God.
As we look forward to the future, the task of the next few years remains the same – the climbing is familiar – the work involves students coming to our campuses and we must seek to reach them, share Christ with them and see them grow as disciples and leaders. However, there are some peaks which lie ahead, which though they are challenges will provide highlights on the journey.
09/09/09 (yesterday) may have been a date etched on many people’s minds, but here in NZ, we were reminded it was exactly 2 years to the day that the 2011 Rugby World Cup will start. It’s the third biggest sporting event in the world (after the Olympics and Footy World Cup) and will be huge here. It provides us with some unique opportunities to share the Gospel and we are putting significant thought into how we can seize them. Please pray as we seek to make this a significant time here & not just a bandwagon that we jump on. It is a sizeable peak which provides great opportunities for us and the Gospel.
Christmas Day 2014 may seem some time away and it is. However, it will also be a significant moment in the history of Aotearoa. It will mark 200 years to the day since the Gospel first came to these shores from Yorkshire(!). Again, seizing the opportunity of this peak. Samuel Marsden and the Gospel he brought have had much impact on this nation, but we long for more and we long for a renewed awakening to God’s power at work. Incidentally, in a few weeks, I am going with a small crowd to the Marsden Cross (in the Bay of Islands in the far North) to remember what God has done in the past, but also pray for the future. I’m sure pictures and thoughts will appear on this blog in the future.
Those 2 dates (2011 & 2014) provide points in the distance where we can look towards and see where we are heading. Nigel used them as places we are climbing to, however, they are not the only things we work towards. We long to see more students reached on our campuses – we currently have campuses where we have no staff or groups. Repeatedly I am reminded of Luke 10:2 “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”
As we paused at Base Camp, we were reminded as we seek to press on there will be dangers and difficulties ahead – we may need to come back to Base Camp over and over again, but we must advance and the Gospel cause must go forward here in NZ. We go forward not for our own glory, or even that of NZ, but for God’s glory and for God’s Kingdom. 
As the Apostle Paul reminds us, we “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
So, back to work, back to the climb – there may only be “blood, sweat, toil and tears” ahead, but we are on the winning side. Whilst times past may have been great , they are past and as we look to the future, we look ahead to what may be the finest hour. Thanks for being with us on the journey – it is great being reminded of those who are with us, supporting us and encouraging us on. And so, for now, let me close with words that keep our focus on why we climb and what we are about. It is because so many do not know our God that we must go on.
Psalm 115:1-8
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;
6 they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but they cannot smell;
7 they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
