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Last Sunday, Russell Pickersgill-Brown was bid farewell by the parish after ten years as vicar in Motueka. In light of that milestone, I sat down with him to reflect on how he first arrived, what he believes God has been doing over the past decade, and what comes next.
Russell: I was invited by Bishop Victoria of the Christchurch Diocese to become a vicar before I was even ordained a deacon! And then I wasn’t priested until I’d been there about 10 or 11 months. So, I had to have retired clergy come with me to every service so they could do communion. Here I was, the vicar, living in the vicarage – but I’d never done a curacy.
I started in Mount Herbert Parish, seven churches, five retired clergy looking after me. I was ordained, and eight days later the Christchurch earthquakes hit. Then I had to do CPE training two and a half days a week for 17 weeks. It was a pressure cooker for those first few months. And I just thrived by the grace of God. I loved it. I was there five years, and then Richard snapped me up here.
Russell: So I landed in Motueka by ringing the diocesan office and wanting to find out information about St Christopher’s in Blenheim. Bishop Richard Ellena found out I had rung, called me personally and said, “Are you looking at Blenheim?” And I went, “Well, you know, just playing around with ideas.” And he said, “I don’t want you to go to Blenheim, but I’ll tell you what. I want you to come to Motueka.” And that was how it happened.
When I was leaving the last parish, I was quite distraught because I’d only been there five years and it was my first parish. I had quite a robust discussion with God and said, “What are you doing? I’m only just getting settled in.” And God said very clearly, “Russell, you just don’t get it. I don’t need you for my Spirit to move.” I felt that as a release. I believe he’s saying the same thing now with Andy and Emily coming – I can go from here having done what was needed, and God doesn’t need Russell for his Spirit to continue to move in this place.
Russell: The very first day, I gathered all the leaders together – there were 23 of them – and I asked their names and what their passion and mission was. . When it came around to me, I said, “I’m Russell. Yes, I’m your vicar. I’m only here to pray for you, to resource you, to support you, and to guide you. You guys already have the mission on your hearts. I’ve just heard you talk about it. So you have the calling, so invite me to come along. I’m not going to interfere and do anything unless you invite me.”
Then for the next 12 weeks I did a series from Thessalonians trying to help the parish understand they already have what is needed. They have the giftings, the passion, the mission, and the drive from the Spirit.
It’s been ten years of hard work. I’ve just laid down a foundation.
Before I arrived, in the 17 years prior there had been five clergy, each there on average three years. So why was I surprised that two years in, nobody was buying into what I believed the Lord was calling us to do? The rhythm had been, “He’ll be gone next year.” It was almost a sub-conscious protection mechanism. And I get that.
That’s why I gathered the leaders on day one. That’s why I did Thessalonians. That’s why I built the pizza oven and the pergola at the vicarage and had vestry meetings and parish lunches there. There were people who’d been in the parish 15 years and had never been to the vicarage.
If you’re only going to be here three years, why would you build a pizza oven? I was trying to show them: I’m here for the duration. I’m here until God says otherwise.
As soon as Covid hit and the first lockdown happened, that’s the busiest I think I’ve ever been in ministry because I was trying to reimagine what church might look like. I created so many online forms of church from the vicarage. Easter services, home communion, Taize service, ponder points and messages. All recorded and put on line. I was in my element. Creative and proactive.
When we came back together, I was concerned by the amount of conspiracy rubbish doing the rounds. That’s why at the first service I said, “This House of Prayer will only ever preach Christ and him crucified. If you want to talk about the prime minister, what’s going on in the States, Covid, vaccinations – go and have a coffee somewhere. Here, it is only Christ and him crucified.”
We didn’t lose one person. Some churches around town were losing 30 percent. We actually gained a few. People appreciated that there was no socio-political stuff coming out of the pulpit.
Russell: About 18 months ago I said to God, “So what’s going to be my legacy?” And he said, “You’re going to be like Albert McMakin.”
Albert McMakin invited a mate to a tent revival. That mate had been thrown out of youth group for being a mischievous character. He went forward and gave his heart to Jesus – and that mate was Billy Graham. So who brought more people to Jesus – Albert McMakin or Billy Graham? I’d have to say Albert McMakin, because no matter how many Billy Graham did, Albert did one more.
God said, “You’ve done the mahi. You’ve laid the foundation and preparation for moving forward, and you will bring the person who will bring the fruit, and it will be mighty.”
Andy and Emily and I have been talking for three years about coming here, and suddenly the opportunity presented itself. God’s true to his word. He is bringing the person who is going to see this place flourish and bring fruit to the glory of his name.
Russell: I asked God, “Am I going to be the vicar who got the church painted and the driveway fixed?” And he said again, “You just don’t get it. Everything you have been doing up to now is simply preparation for what I have next.”
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We believe the Lord has something definite for us. Initially it’s recharging our batteries, some travel, maybe home groups down the track like we did when we were new Christians in the ’80s.
But I’m more excited knowing you can have in-depth theological discussions with people over a beer at a campsite, sometimes far more effectively than with Christians you’ve known for years.
I firmly believe the mission of this parish is a continuum. It’s not about which vicar you’ve got or which one leaves. God certainly sees it as a continuum. The Kingdom never changes. If we seek first the things that never change, performance issues fall away and we can just get on with it.
This is a great place. Andy and Emily are the perfect fit at the perfect time. God will continue building on what he has already started.
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.
Last Sunday, Russell Pickersgill-Brown was bid farewell by the parish after ten years as vicar in Motueka. In light of that milestone, I sat down with him to reflect on how he first arrived, what he believes God has been doing over the past decade, and what comes next.
Russell: I was invited by Bishop Victoria of the Christchurch Diocese to become a vicar before I was even ordained a deacon! And then I wasn’t priested until I’d been there about 10 or 11 months. So, I had to have retired clergy come with me to every service so they could do communion. Here I was, the vicar, living in the vicarage – but I’d never done a curacy.
I started in Mount Herbert Parish, seven churches, five retired clergy looking after me. I was ordained, and eight days later the Christchurch earthquakes hit. Then I had to do CPE training two and a half days a week for 17 weeks. It was a pressure cooker for those first few months. And I just thrived by the grace of God. I loved it. I was there five years, and then Richard snapped me up here.
Russell: So I landed in Motueka by ringing the diocesan office and wanting to find out information about St Christopher’s in Blenheim. Bishop Richard Ellena found out I had rung, called me personally and said, “Are you looking at Blenheim?” And I went, “Well, you know, just playing around with ideas.” And he said, “I don’t want you to go to Blenheim, but I’ll tell you what. I want you to come to Motueka.” And that was how it happened.
When I was leaving the last parish, I was quite distraught because I’d only been there five years and it was my first parish. I had quite a robust discussion with God and said, “What are you doing? I’m only just getting settled in.” And God said very clearly, “Russell, you just don’t get it. I don’t need you for my Spirit to move.” I felt that as a release. I believe he’s saying the same thing now with Andy and Emily coming – I can go from here having done what was needed, and God doesn’t need Russell for his Spirit to continue to move in this place.
Russell: The very first day, I gathered all the leaders together – there were 23 of them – and I asked their names and what their passion and mission was. . When it came around to me, I said, “I’m Russell. Yes, I’m your vicar. I’m only here to pray for you, to resource you, to support you, and to guide you. You guys already have the mission on your hearts. I’ve just heard you talk about it. So you have the calling, so invite me to come along. I’m not going to interfere and do anything unless you invite me.”
Then for the next 12 weeks I did a series from Thessalonians trying to help the parish understand they already have what is needed. They have the giftings, the passion, the mission, and the drive from the Spirit.
It’s been ten years of hard work. I’ve just laid down a foundation.
Before I arrived, in the 17 years prior there had been five clergy, each there on average three years. So why was I surprised that two years in, nobody was buying into what I believed the Lord was calling us to do? The rhythm had been, “He’ll be gone next year.” It was almost a sub-conscious protection mechanism. And I get that.
That’s why I gathered the leaders on day one. That’s why I did Thessalonians. That’s why I built the pizza oven and the pergola at the vicarage and had vestry meetings and parish lunches there. There were people who’d been in the parish 15 years and had never been to the vicarage.
If you’re only going to be here three years, why would you build a pizza oven? I was trying to show them: I’m here for the duration. I’m here until God says otherwise.
As soon as Covid hit and the first lockdown happened, that’s the busiest I think I’ve ever been in ministry because I was trying to reimagine what church might look like. I created so many online forms of church from the vicarage. Easter services, home communion, Taize service, ponder points and messages. All recorded and put on line. I was in my element. Creative and proactive.
When we came back together, I was concerned by the amount of conspiracy rubbish doing the rounds. That’s why at the first service I said, “This House of Prayer will only ever preach Christ and him crucified. If you want to talk about the prime minister, what’s going on in the States, Covid, vaccinations – go and have a coffee somewhere. Here, it is only Christ and him crucified.”
We didn’t lose one person. Some churches around town were losing 30 percent. We actually gained a few. People appreciated that there was no socio-political stuff coming out of the pulpit.
Russell: About 18 months ago I said to God, “So what’s going to be my legacy?” And he said, “You’re going to be like Albert McMakin.”
Albert McMakin invited a mate to a tent revival. That mate had been thrown out of youth group for being a mischievous character. He went forward and gave his heart to Jesus – and that mate was Billy Graham. So who brought more people to Jesus – Albert McMakin or Billy Graham? I’d have to say Albert McMakin, because no matter how many Billy Graham did, Albert did one more.
God said, “You’ve done the mahi. You’ve laid the foundation and preparation for moving forward, and you will bring the person who will bring the fruit, and it will be mighty.”
Andy and Emily and I have been talking for three years about coming here, and suddenly the opportunity presented itself. God’s true to his word. He is bringing the person who is going to see this place flourish and bring fruit to the glory of his name.
Russell: I asked God, “Am I going to be the vicar who got the church painted and the driveway fixed?” And he said again, “You just don’t get it. Everything you have been doing up to now is simply preparation for what I have next.”
We believe the Lord has something definite for us. Initially it’s recharging our batteries, some travel, maybe home groups down the track like we did when we were new Christians in the ’80s.
But I’m more excited knowing you can have in-depth theological discussions with people over a beer at a campsite, sometimes far more effectively than with Christians you’ve known for years.
I firmly believe the mission of this parish is a continuum. It’s not about which vicar you’ve got or which one leaves. God certainly sees it as a continuum. The Kingdom never changes. If we seek first the things that never change, performance issues fall away and we can just get on with it.
This is a great place. Andy and Emily are the perfect fit at the perfect time. God will continue building on what he has already started.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
