RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
I go out to the shops with trepidation at the moment as I watch crowds of people going mad, spending huges amounts of money on gifts that they feel obligated to get, which may be appreciated for a moment. Yet as David Jeremiah once wrote, “All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.” With all the tiredness of a years work and the hope of some rest on holiday, its my prayer that we and you hold fast our faith in Christ, God’s gift to us and worship Him over the holidays.
For some years the Caleb Board and I have been working on a succession plan. A couple of months ago we advertised among Caleb graduates for a person who may sense the call of God to live by faith and take on the Director’s role. The board have interviewed an applicant and have made an appointment. This person will be part time, working ten hours per week focussing on getting the Caleb Leadership Course to happen each year. They are a Baptist Pastor and will continue in their current role for thirty hours a week.
My role changes as I move to semi-retirement. I will work for 20 hours a week. My role will include coaching the new director in his role especially in regard to the Leadership course as well as help develop the course material. I will also work with our Brisbane person to establish the Caleb course in Australia. I will continue with the supervision of pastors and business people which currently I have 16 and another pastor in training whom I mentor. I will be open to consultations with church leadership teams and pick up any Bridge Builders courses that occur. I will also maintain my work with the International Training Alliance.
I am preaching the three weekends after Christmas in three different churches.
An update on my heart attack. I am so grateful for your prayers. In the ambulance as the attack raged, I felt no fear as the presence of the Lord engulfed me in a way I have not felt before. I’ve heard lots of near-death experience stories, and now I add mine. As I prayed for healing, and for the Lord to look after Yvonne and the family, it felt like it would be the most natural thing, in the blink of an eye, to be talking face to face with Jesus gone from this earthly existence into the fullness of eternity with Him. The Lord in His wisdom has chosen for me to stay on earth longer continuing to serve Him and my family. Who ever invented the ‘stent’ is a life saver. I had one placed in the main artery to my heart muscle and the pain was gone. My Cardiologist whose name is Dr Heaven (I kid you not! And I didn’t do the jokes since he had a knife.) told me that it was a massive heart attack and there would be quite some damage. Then the Lord’s grace and Yvonne’s fast response in calling for help was revealed. After an echocardiogram Dr Heaven was amazed at the lack of damage. PTL. I have lost little pump effectiveness and should gradually make a ‘full’ recovery. I have to rest for six weeks gradually building up walking further and doing some physical tasks. Vacuuming is out forever!! I’ve just got back to driving – yea. Please continue to pray that I will learn to rest and stick with the rehab process. I will start rehab classes next year.
Our granddaughter Ada is now out of her wheel chair and is supposed to be using a walker and having physiotherapy. She has spent a couple of days using the walker but has now ditched it and walking independently albeit awkwardly. Another wonderful answer to prayers.
Tim and Aimee had a great holiday in Europe and Uk. They spent a good amount of time in the far northern reaches of Finland and Norway seeing the Northern lights. Tim was even able to dip his feet into the Arctic Ocean. Aimee has resigned from her work at Whitcoulls. She will rest over Christmas then look for a more suitable job.
Jeremey took his family to Christchurch for two weeks while he was working down there. They got to visit Rachel and her family.
Hannah seems to have taken watching me be carted off in an Ambulance fairly hard and has developed a new loud vocalisation which is more of a growl. Please pray that the Lord will bring deep peace and security to her heart and mind. It affects me deeply as I feel that my heart attack set this off.
Sadly, due to small numbers and financial difficulties, the church we attend will be closing late February next year. All year I have been praying about whether the time is right to restart our House Church to continue to build a group of house churches to reach the growing Drury community. Please pray for clarity on this. Also, Yvonne and I are praying through whether to renew Elijah’s Cave retreat for Christian workers at our home. The new chapel that we had built seems to fit with this. Please pray for clarity on this also.
I can’t express how much we appreciated your prayers as we faced the heart attack and the challenges that will bring. We hope and pray you will have a wonderful Christmas and experience again the wonder of the birth of Jesus, the King of Kings.
Christmas blessings
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura, Kayla & Chloe, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.