RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
I hope you are enjoying the cold winter. We’ve had quite a few frost and I’m hoping it will snow so I can tobogan down our section. One can dream.
I spent a day down in Hamilton working with the Board of One Mission Society. We worked on why they exist in NZ. It produced some very interesting discussions. Their board has some new young members so this was a valuable exercise for them. We went on to redefine two things. First what their mission purpose is going into the future and second, what the NZ branch’s relationship could look like with the International group. The response to the day was very positive. I supervise their Director and his wife.
We took a week and a bit to go to Ashburton to visit Rachel , Jonny and Caleb. It was a very special time to spend with them. Caleb is growing so fast. He is trying to crawl and to talk. Might be a preacher like his Grandpa.
I have had several opportunities to preach at different churches. It’s something I really enjoy. I continue to do monthly supervision of around 20 people now. Two are mission workers from overseas. One in Zimbabwe and one in Nepal. It is a delight to watch them all grow in their leadership and in the way they approach challenges in their lives.
We had the CEO of International Training Alliance and his wife stay with us a couple of days. It was good to get that time with them and to discuss some of the issues around development of coaching of the Leadership Matters graduates. As Vice Chairman, it was a great opportunity to continue to be able to speak into the direction of ITA.
I have spent a lot of time trying to get men and women onto the Caleb Leadership course. We are still hoping for a few more to finally sign up. The amount of rejection from pastors about coming on the course sometimes gets hard to take. However, yesterday after preaching at a church, the pastor a grad from our Leadership course sent me a card. His words of encouragement and what my input into his life personally and the lives of others has meant, were like a fresh spring of water. I was able to say, “yes it is worth it all.”
We need pray for three people trying to come to the CLC from overseas. One from India is reapplying as his visa was denied. It seems that the immigration department makes it exceptionally hard for someone from India to come to NZ for training even though they know we have had Indian’s here successfully before, and they all went home!
Tab Trust have given some funding for Baptist Pastors to come to the course. It does not come to Caleb directly but goes to the Baptist Union and together we distribute portions to registered pastors. This will be a great help for the ones coming this year. Unfortunately it arrived too late to encourage others to come. However, we will be able to carry the rest over for next year.
This coming Saturday I will be doing a consultation with St Martin’s Presbyterian Church’s Elders and leadership team. It is also hoped that their minister will be able to come to next year’s leadership course as the leaders get to know me. Please pray that it goes well and is transformative for them as a mostly Samoan church.
Preparation for the Leadership course is now full on. The trainers arrive on Sunday 22nd with trainer Training on Monday. The course starts on 24thJuly and runs until 3rd August. Please pray for God’s hand on the time and His success for the training. A week after the course I head for Nelson to meet with a couple of pastors to arrange a venue for the CLC in Nelson next year. I will also meet with Nelson Christian Trust Board. Then it’s a couple of weeks holiday. Yes Ashburton will be most of it.
Yvonne and Hannah have the bot and are on antibiotics. In my usual compassionate way, I’m hoping they don’t give it to me right before the Leadership Course.
Hannah had the Down’s Association Ball last week. She looked lovely in her new dress and jacket. Unfortunately, because she wasn’t feeling so well, she didn’t enjoy it. I was able to make a contact there with a parent there who is a Chaplain at a 7th Day retirement village. We are going to meet up and see if Caleb can help their leaders.
We had a good time with Rachel and Caleb visiting for a few days. Air NZ has some really good fares and you actually get to arrive on time.
The others are doing well although they seem to be working very hard. Tim’s boss is away and he is leading his department. Jeremy and Sakura went on a three day cruise from Auckland to Napier and back. Seemed to be very enjoyable and inexpensive. Tim suggested it might be something we call do together as a family. Nice idea.
Last Friday was the first anniversary of my Dad’s death. It was a difficult day for Mum and for us. He had such an great influence on us and continues to do so today. The year has seemed to fly passed.
Consultations going well.
Good responses to my preaching.
CLC Training team enthusiastic and ready for the course.
Tab Trust grant.
Good time with family.
CLC going well
Trainers giving their best.
Consultation with St Martin’s Presbyterian church going well.
Success in signing off on a venue for next year’s CLC in Nelson.
Family health improving.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support it is as ever deeply appreciated.
May the love of God be the passion in your heart. His joy your strength when the going gets hard. His presence a peace welling up from inside and his Word the seed you sow.
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny and Caleb, Jeremy and Sakura, Tim and Aimee and Hannah.