I’m a staunch believer that wherever we go, whatever field we work in, we are all missionaries, carrying Christ's light.
Having handed in my resignation as the ministry coordinator of social services, to jet off to Tonga, I’m not handing in my resignation to Christ’s mission of reconciliation and transformation. This continues wherever or whatever I find myself doing.
When I was young, the Left Behind books were all the rage in Christian circles. I lived in fear of coming home to find my family's folded clothes around the house, after they had been raptured and left me behind.
Many people are excited about Jesus’ second coming – and what a great and glorious day that will be, standing in his presence! But whatever we believe about the end times, we currently find ourselves in this world of brokenness. We look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, but what do we do with the here and now? How do we live in the “now” and “not yet” of God’s kingdom?
About 2,600 years ago, God’s people of Judah were captive in Babylon, longing for deliverance. They could have shut out their present reality, clinging to the promises of deliverance from the Babylonians, whose way of life was so different from theirs. But the prophet Jeremiah spoke God’s words to them: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7).
We, too, are “longing for a better country – a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). We’re looking forward to Jesus’ return. We could just white-knuckle it and hold on until we find ourselves face-to-face with Christ. Or we can be his ambassadors and reconcile this separated world to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). We can seek the peace and prosperity of our diocese – this region that we are placed in.
He healed the sick, cared for the poor and freed the oppressed. Jesus’ life was spent liberating people from sin, sickness, shame and the systems that burden so many people of his day.
And he is inviting us to be his ambassadors!
The living God wants us to represent him?! What a daunting honour!
When I first started my social services role for the diocese, I had just finished a three-year degree at Bishopdale College. It was time to step out from this safe Christian environment and live out what I had learnt.
I still remember the first time I cold-called a social service agency to ask them what the needs of the community were. I felt like Peter walking on water: I was pretty sure I was going to sink, as the church that I represented and social service organisations are often suspicious of one another.
Yet God reached out and helped me walk through this often-challenging role. Over the past two years, I have talked to many secular organisations and am always amazed at the care they show their clients who are sick, poor and oppressed. They were asking for youth groups, after-school programmes, places for connection. This, I realised, is our wheelhouse!
I was so encouraged by the vast amount of community-facing ministries that our Anglican parishes host every week, building connections between so many people. If we are to truly care for the hurting, we need to work collaboratively, using the gifts of people, spaces and resources that God has given us. The Church has a vital role to play in the wellbeing of members in our community.
During my time in this role, I’ve received over 500 hardship grant applications from many different organisations and parishes, requesting slightly over $200,000 in total.
I’ve heard many heartbreaking stories from whānau and individuals. Mums going hungry so their children can eat. Children who don’t have car seats so their family can buy food. Families suffering the cold in their homes as the cost of electricity and firewood continues to rise.
God has been restoring relationships so we can work together for the peace and prosperity of all. For what is the “good news” if it only impacts me? Or if I only see it on my deathbed?
The good news is the good news for everybody.
We may not be able to lead everybody into a loving relationship with Jesus, as great as that will be, but we can care for the sick, poor and oppressed and point to Christ.
Pointing to Christ with both actions and words is why I have enjoyed my role as the ministry coordinator for social services. I am sadly leaving at the end of this year, although I am not sad about the reason why.
Early next year, I am marrying Esther Jens, from Wellington, and together we are relocating to the Kingdom of Tonga for three years. I’m looking forward to seeing God at work in a different culture and country, and how we may serve him in this kingdom for his kingdom.
Thank you to the many people I have been able to serve alongside. Thank you to the bishop, and to the diocese, for taking a chance with me.
I am very encouraged by the direction God is leading our diocese in, and I look forward to hearing of the great things he does. May we continue to experience Christ’s love, grace and mercy, so we can love and serve those around us.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
I’m a staunch believer that wherever we go, whatever field we work in, we are all missionaries, carrying Christ's light.
Having handed in my resignation as the ministry coordinator of social services, to jet off to Tonga, I’m not handing in my resignation to Christ’s mission of reconciliation and transformation. This continues wherever or whatever I find myself doing.
When I was young, the Left Behind books were all the rage in Christian circles. I lived in fear of coming home to find my family's folded clothes around the house, after they had been raptured and left me behind.
Many people are excited about Jesus’ second coming – and what a great and glorious day that will be, standing in his presence! But whatever we believe about the end times, we currently find ourselves in this world of brokenness. We look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, but what do we do with the here and now? How do we live in the “now” and “not yet” of God’s kingdom?
About 2,600 years ago, God’s people of Judah were captive in Babylon, longing for deliverance. They could have shut out their present reality, clinging to the promises of deliverance from the Babylonians, whose way of life was so different from theirs. But the prophet Jeremiah spoke God’s words to them: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7).
We, too, are “longing for a better country – a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). We’re looking forward to Jesus’ return. We could just white-knuckle it and hold on until we find ourselves face-to-face with Christ. Or we can be his ambassadors and reconcile this separated world to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). We can seek the peace and prosperity of our diocese – this region that we are placed in.
He healed the sick, cared for the poor and freed the oppressed. Jesus’ life was spent liberating people from sin, sickness, shame and the systems that burden so many people of his day.
And he is inviting us to be his ambassadors!
The living God wants us to represent him?! What a daunting honour!
When I first started my social services role for the diocese, I had just finished a three-year degree at Bishopdale College. It was time to step out from this safe Christian environment and live out what I had learnt.
I still remember the first time I cold-called a social service agency to ask them what the needs of the community were. I felt like Peter walking on water: I was pretty sure I was going to sink, as the church that I represented and social service organisations are often suspicious of one another.
Yet God reached out and helped me walk through this often-challenging role. Over the past two years, I have talked to many secular organisations and am always amazed at the care they show their clients who are sick, poor and oppressed. They were asking for youth groups, after-school programmes, places for connection. This, I realised, is our wheelhouse!
I was so encouraged by the vast amount of community-facing ministries that our Anglican parishes host every week, building connections between so many people. If we are to truly care for the hurting, we need to work collaboratively, using the gifts of people, spaces and resources that God has given us. The Church has a vital role to play in the wellbeing of members in our community.
During my time in this role, I’ve received over 500 hardship grant applications from many different organisations and parishes, requesting slightly over $200,000 in total.
I’ve heard many heartbreaking stories from whānau and individuals. Mums going hungry so their children can eat. Children who don’t have car seats so their family can buy food. Families suffering the cold in their homes as the cost of electricity and firewood continues to rise.
God has been restoring relationships so we can work together for the peace and prosperity of all. For what is the “good news” if it only impacts me? Or if I only see it on my deathbed?
The good news is the good news for everybody.
We may not be able to lead everybody into a loving relationship with Jesus, as great as that will be, but we can care for the sick, poor and oppressed and point to Christ.
Pointing to Christ with both actions and words is why I have enjoyed my role as the ministry coordinator for social services. I am sadly leaving at the end of this year, although I am not sad about the reason why.
Early next year, I am marrying Esther Jens, from Wellington, and together we are relocating to the Kingdom of Tonga for three years. I’m looking forward to seeing God at work in a different culture and country, and how we may serve him in this kingdom for his kingdom.
Thank you to the many people I have been able to serve alongside. Thank you to the bishop, and to the diocese, for taking a chance with me.
I am very encouraged by the direction God is leading our diocese in, and I look forward to hearing of the great things he does. May we continue to experience Christ’s love, grace and mercy, so we can love and serve those around us.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
