Christchurch blog Day 1

It is nearly 19 hours since I awoke, ready to catch the first public flight into Christchurch since the earthquake - so I won't at this stage go onto details of aftershocks and what life is like here, with no water etc

We are here for the people - we set off in the Canterbury Kids' Coach soon after 9am and as soon as we pulled up at the side of the road the kids came running, each eager to tell their earthquake story. Some offered scientific explanations of why earthquakes happened, others gave advice on what to do should another big one happen - all had a tale to tell. They were each encouraged to offer prayers of 'thanks' and 'please', and nearly all did so.

Louise spotted a lady walking by, and at the first gentle question the tears flowed freely. Prayers were offered and gladly received on the roadside. Another Mum sat on the bus and stared into space - seemingly overwhelmed by it all and grateful for a place to pause and rest.

Another team member arrived, having called in on a lady to find she had tried to take her life with an overdose - the police and paramedics arrived in time to save her life. Thank you Lord. Another distressed lady explains that her home has been condemned, and she has no idea where she will live in the coming months. No answers at this stage, but sympathy and the promise of ongoing support.

I could go on - but you get the picture. These stories are all real, and from today. This is work at the coal face, at ground level, with desperate folk. This is an authentic, powerful expression of God's love, and I am fiercely proud of our team here.

Tomorrow - life without water, aftershocks and students.

At the coal face

I received an email which I want to share. It comes from one of the ministries we support at a distance, and inadequately, but for which I have enormous respect and love. In an understated way, the email reads,

"On Friday we had news of two couples separating - hopefully temporarily, one collapse requiring ambulance (fortunately nothing serious) and almost all our kitchen help away! We were very aware of prayer cover and despite all that the night went well and was not particularly stresssful! Thanks Lord!"

What strikes me, and moves me, is that here we have a group of people genuinely living in community. In the vast majority of churches I visit I see little of this - we are too busy showing how spiritual and how together we are to admit that we are broken, fragile, sin-battered humans on a painful journey of transformation in Christ. I can pretty well guarantee that in the majority of churches in NZ this weekend there were couples whose marriages were hollow shells, or worse; husbands and wives who were overwhelmed with despair, fear, anger and guilt because the key relationship in their life was failing. But we don't talk about that, no thank you.

If we do not create genuine, authentic community then our Christian gatherings become impotent and ultimately pointless. If we cannot cope with pain, failure and sin, then we are nothing like Jesus.

At the coal face, the margins of ministry and society, we find Christ, welcoming, offering grace, and bringing healing. "Thanks Lord!" indeed/

Ministry - where?

I was impressed recently by the contributions made by young adults (under 25!) in a church service. It was not a "Youth service", yet they welcomed, led worship, played in the band, read the Bible lesson, preached, administered communion and even took the collection. But I was also slightly concerned that this might give the impression that real ministry can only happen in a church building.

This fear was reinforced by a conversation I had with a 17 year old this past week, who is entering her final year at school. It is a massive mission-field, with over 2,500 pupils, plus staff - and this particular girl was explaining that she was on the leadership team of the Christian group in the College, was trying to arrange for a concert to be held, had a speaking engagement coming up, and was aware that for some of her non-yet Christian friends this school year may be the last realistic chance for them to experience Jesus.

The conversation was prompted by a decision she has to make - having been invited to help lead a small group in her church for younger kids, which she would enjoy and would do really well - she found herself struggling to prioritise her time and energy.

So - pour yourself into a tough mission field with literally thousands of lost souls to invite into the kingdom; or engage with a small lovely group of kids already surrounded by Christianity? Genuinely a difficult decision. And I fear that 'church' will praise, support and encourage her if she chooses one way, and be totally unaware of the significant leadership role she will be carrying if she chooses the less trodden path.

This "born again" thing

I read today the wonderful story of a lady who had been kidnapped as a 19 day old baby, but after 23 years had managed to trace and meet up with her real mother. Carline White (her real name) said, "I'm so happy. At the same time, it's a funny feeling because everything's brand new. It's like being born again."

Wow! We know that in the West we have an epidemic of broken homes, "blended families" and countless fatherless children. But hang on a minute - they are not fatherless. If only they could get to meet up with their real Father, they too would have that born again experience. In my darker moments I wonder if Christianity really has much to offer the people of the world - and then I come across a deep truth like this, and i can only say - thank you father God that you are still the ultimate answer for today, and tomorrow. And I also need to say - sorry for doubting you, and for keeping you to myself.

Final Northy

As she looked back on her life and ministry, Sister North was able to say "I can think of no other way that I would rather have spent my life, and I would have exchanged it for any other."

How wonderful to be able to assess one's life in such a positive way - no regrets, no omissions, just satisfaction and celebration. Many of us don't lack opportunities, but we struggle to know which ones to take. Those of us who follow Jesus, seek his guidance, others weigh up the options and consult with family and trusted friends. Perhaps one way of making big decisions when faced with more than one choice would be to ask "what might I most regret NOT doing?"

Sister North was from a different generation - but her sacrificial, committed wholehearted, risk-taking service of Jesus is a model we can all try to emulate.

Northy 7

After a while in Church Army HQ, Northy was asked to undertake work among the Maori people, for which she felt ill-equipped. "Well of course one said yes...you don't say I'm not going to do that, but it scared me stiff. I had hardly ever seen a Maori person, and I felt that I didn't know how to approach them - how to talk to them."

It seems to me that most of us feel that way about haring our faith with anyone - we basically don't know how to do it without causing offence, or putting people off. So we don't bother most of the time.

Sister North persevered, too the risk of rejection or 'failure', and had an amazingly effective ministry that is still remembered with affection and appreciation today. She concludes "they did seem to love me and we got on well together; and that is really the secret."

It really is that simple - being friendly, not being ashamed of Jesus, sharing the words and actions that together express the Christian faith.

Northy 6

Another young evangelist who benefited from Sister North's gentle apprenticeship training was Eileen Brady, who enlisted for a "Cycling Bike Hike Mission" without mentioned the fact that she could not actually ride a bike!
"Really, the falls that poor girl suffered, it was dreadful." But Northy's approach was persevere rather than surrender, and that is what happened "she had the most dreadful falls but although she fell down, you couldn't down her." Perhaps that was a reflection of New Zealand at the time?
Many of my faith heroes have that same belligerent, stubborn, never-say-die attitude, in contrast to many who claim God's call to ministry, but return from the mission field - at home or abroad - after a few years or even months. "I couldn't cope with the heat/food/people/loneliness/hard work/stress/boredom(???)/language/rejection etc. etc." Or the vague "it just didn't feel right." So what happened to God's call?
I have to say I have loved ministry in every place God has called us to - but nobody can say that for the Clark family it has always been easy - indeed, at times, it was only the certain knowledge that God had called us, that enabled us to carry on. Maybe that's just my stubborn Yorkshire streak - but if you are thinking of giving up, why not pray for strength and determination from God instead?