RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
One of my favourite psalms is Psalm 31. Verses 2 and 3 have been important to me with their recognition of the Lord’s presence and protection during times of intensity in life. It says ‘ Be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. Foy You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. As we face the bumby waters of ‘progress’ toward building and ‘progress’ toward fixing the rental the psalmist words help me keep perspective especially in my ‘down’ days.
I have picked up another two pastors for supervision. One is from a New Life Church and one is a Presbyterian. I may also be supervising a CEO from a mission organisation.
I spent three days in Christchurch and one of the critical meetings was with the new Dean of Christchurch Cathedral. We have begun to build a really good relationship. He is very interested in the Caleb leadership course particularly in the light of him having to lead a sizeable team. I am hoping that next year he may be able to come to the leadership course. While I was in Christchurch I met with several pastors from different denominations. One of those from an AOG church it’s interested in hosting a bridge builder’s course and may attend a Caleb course.
In the middle of May Yvonne Hannah and I went down to Ashburton. I was there mostly for work but some good time visiting with Rachel and her family. While Yvonne and Hannah stayed in Ashburton, I headed south to Dunedin. I met with the regional leader for the Baptists, which was really useful. The next day I spent the day at a Presbyterian Conference it’s the goal of meeting as many ministers and senior lay leaders as possible. I’m hoping that it will produce some work either for the Caleb leadership course or for consultation and or short courses.
In discussions with different pastors, it was interesting, if not a little upsetting, that a couple of them said their churches would not be able to afford to send them to the leadership course. There are many others who are now part time and therefore cannot get to the leadership course. Thus, it has been very difficult to get people to sign up this year. Part of the difficulty in recruiting people for the CLC is that with both the fire damage to our house and trouble with the rental taking up huge amounts of time and energy during the initial couple of months of this year, I hadn’t got onto trying to get people on the course as early as I would have liked to. While there are still several people saying that they would like to attend the course, including three Nigerian pastors, the Caleb Board and I decided yesterday to cancel this year’s course. It is a huge disappointment for all of us. But I do believe that in God’s grace, it will give me the space I need to work with the project management team on the rebuild of our home. One of those registered for the CLC will work with me on a one to one basis on the management aspects of the CLC as he needs that help now. He will do the whole course next year in Auckland.
Two Presbyterian pastors and I will be looking at getting a Northern Presbytery CLC up and running again next year. Please pray that they will get the go ahead from Northern team.
The Brisbane course has been shifted out to May next year because of conflicts of timing with the Brisbane churches. This means that potentially we may have three courses next year. PTL.
I am continuing to do the one-on-one management training for both the Blenheim veterinarian and the Invercargill businessman. I have also picked up two consultations. One with a Mission organisation and the other with a Brethren Church in the South Island.
We can celebrate the fact that the permit to rebuild our house came through council at the end of April. Last week a building company were chosen to take on the work. The time frame has now shifted to a finish time of the end of October. It is now six months since the fire. So, there is a lot to praise God for.
Just before we were to head South, Yvonne got covid. Praise the Lord Hannah and I did not. I’m not sure that she appreciated having to sleep in a tent out in the sheep paddock. But isolation is isolation.
Please pray for Yvonne as she leads worship at our church this Sunday.
With our children and a couple of long-term friends we celebrated a special birthday for Yvonne and it was a very honouring time for her. She is doing remarkably well coping with the dislocation from our home. When we go over to the house to work on keeping the gardens going, it is always disheartening seeing it looking so forlorn and lifeless. Please pray that we keep our eyes on Jesus and allow His joy to infuse our hearts.
Your prayers are desperately needed and we a very aware how blessed we are as a family to have such faithful friends. May the Lord keep you healthy and grant you His peace and joy.
Every blessing
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura, Kayla & Chloe, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.