RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
Last weekend I preached on God’s peace which gives us confidence to stand in times of trouble. The Lord has such a sense of ‘humour’ knowing that my peace was disturbed by issues surrounding the rebuild of our home. Thus in preparing the word, I had to first sort my act out and allow God’s peace to be realised in my heart. PTL I got there before a major meeting at the home and before I had to preach. Next week I’m wondering about preaching on taking a holiday in Hawaii.
Yvonne Hannah and I went to Nelson for a couple of days relaxation before I spent time doing a consultation with a large Brethren Church down that way. I was helping them prepare to select a new senior pastor as their current one leaves in October. It was a very intense time as we had to pack quite a bit into a couple of days. From their feedback I’m pleased with the outcome and the time I had put into it. There is a chance I may be asked to go back and work a bit more on the actual selection process.
I am still doing training on management and other aspects of leadership for a vet from the top of the South Island. He has also asked if I would mentor him in his leadership as we go towards the end of the year. I’m really enjoying this one-on-one online training. I am also working with a young Baptist pastor on the management aspects of the Caleb leadership course. He’ll do the full course next year but needs the management material straight away. We’ve been meeting once or twice a week online and sometimes face to face and it had been going really well. He is asked if I will coach him in leadership/management through at least until Christmas and then review whether we continue.
I have completed the training online with the Invercargill businessman. He was very positive about it.
Getting the bridge builders courses to happen has been like pushing water uphill with a rake. Today the potential course in Kaiapoi is seriously being evaluated as to when it would go ahead. The one in Tekapo is in discussions with the leadership of the Presbyterian church.
The Caleb Leadership course will be going ahead next year up here in Auckland from the 22nd of July to the first of August. Brad (my Aussie trainer) and I have also confirmed that the new leadership course in Brisbane will happen next year from the 29th of April to the 9th of May. This is an exciting step forward for us. I will have to work on building the training teams.
PTL the damaged parts of our home are being rebuilt. Currently it looks like a giant white tent. Hannah has found it a challenge with the ‘mess’ around the house and we have had to talk her through what is going on. There are issues we have had to challenge on, but as stated above, having God’s peace has meant that our concerns have been well heard and addressed to some degree. We are still hoping that the interior walls will all get repainted as recommended by the Fire Inspector. Please pray that this protection will happen. The stunning thing is that over the months I’ve built a good relationship with the Project Manager. He has an autistic son. At the end of our meeting last week, he and I had a deep discussion about our respective journeys. I offered for him to contact me and meet up anytime he feels he needs to unburden himself of the pressures of raising his son. He and his wife had already lost two babies earlier. With tears in his eyes, he said he’d love to meet. He also stated that while he’s not particularly religious, he wonders whether God gives journeys like his and mine to people God knows will cope. We have crossed a line into the spiritual aspects of life. I’m looking forward to meeting with him and see what the Lord can do. Please pray for this relationship.
We are now hoping to be back in our home by mid-September.
Can you believe, Hannah turned 31 last Monday! We celebrated as a family over dinner and What’s App. Hannah doesn’t ask for anything for presents so I might have to keep the drop saw I got her.
Our granddaughter Ada ended up in Christchurch hospital while we were in Nelson. She had RSV which attacks the lungs. Her oxygen levels dropped dangerously low and she had some pneumonia in one lung. The doctors and nurses did a brilliant job of getting an oxygen canula into her. It took three of them to hold her down as they strapped the pipes on. The wee teddy bear they demonstrated the procedure on first didn’t seem to cause trouble. PTL Ada pulled through and is now doing better.
The rest of the family are doing pretty well along with getting through the usual winter colds.
Yvonne leads worship again this week and I preach at our church next week.
Thank you for your amazing support as we journey together in this ministry to leaders. May the Lord continue to guide not only us on our mission but you on the mission God has you doing as you influence others for the Kingdom.
Nga Manaaki
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura, Kayla & Chloe, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.