The Ark Christian Ministries – December 2017

December 2017

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If not, go to www.facebook.com/IntegritynFaith (or click the link below) and click LIKE/FOLLOW. Then you’ll get the news, updates and prayer requests promptly.

That being said, I’ve had a newsletter in the works since July. You can’t read it if it’s in my DRAFTS Folder! Let’s catch up.

2017 started with me managing Atrial Fibrillation after traveling to Bangkok to speak at a UN regional meeting of international religious leaders and UN delegates. Who’d’ve thought I’d get to speak for Jesus before such influencers!?

2017 has included:

Orientation of new students at Massey University. I help train the Uni guides for peer support. I also support refugee background women at university, giving them every chance to be self-sufficient in this new land. These initiatives make me accessible for spiritual conversations throughout the year.

I spoke at various events throughout the year, telling stories that stick in memories, and asking questions for which I don’t provide answers.

I met regularly with young ministers of new or young churches, consistently asking the question, “Where, when, how does spiritual transformation happen?” so as to keep us focused on our objective and not on just the Sunday large group gatherings. Mentoring them keeps me honest, fresh and passionate.

I led Shore Community Church people in spiritual retreats and facilitated discipleship initiatives with individuals and in groups.

I recently was MC for a youth forum’s presentation to a panel of government and NGO staff; professionally Calm on the outside while jumping with pride internally for NGOs people who were using their voices to effect change for those who will follow.

There were book club meetings, rugby nights, strategy discussions for chaplaincy, church planting, discipleship, mapping the spiritual landscape of Auckland, some bird watching, some art, many dog walks, meals and laughs with friends, creating artwork that would create conversations on campus.

September’s Peace Week saw me laying out 606 pair of shoes, 1 meter x 1 meter apart, to illustrate the significant loss NZ experiences from suicide each year. The stats are not improving. We also had a human trafficking display, Peace Poles, chairs painted different flesh colours to illustrate diversity, and other installations, but the shoes definitely grabbed everyone’s attention.

It’s been a year of losses, and gains. I responded to five deaths during a six week stretch, one being a much loved chaplaincy colleague and another a young teen with autism from our church family. Some responses mean traveling the length of the country for the funeral and others sleeping on the floor for a week to support the grieving mom.

Then, during a brief foray to the US in October, I visited a dear friend on Monday, got news of her passing on Sunday, and spoke at her funeral on Wednesday. God’s blessing was all over that sequence, even as my voice broke when I described what a champion she’d been to me over the past decades. I had some quality time with family, not enough time with many friends and partners, and experienced great generosity in the loan of a car and many comfy beds.

I presented a TEDc talk at our annual chaplains’ conference in November, and was part of the organizing team for the entire gathering.

The Int’l Conference on Missions has asked me to serve as Prayer Chairperson for the 2018 conference in Cincinnati. I have agreed, for many reasons, all of which will benefit the Kingdom. I will coordinate the prayer initiative with missions professors, campus ministers, missions pastors, missional volunteers and creative friends. I last served on the exec of ICOM when it was the Nat’l Missionary Convention in 1995.

Just recently, while helping with a Christmas party for at risk kids, I asked one whose birthday we were celebrating. He said, “Santa’s.” Much work yet to be done.