RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
Just after sending the last Booth Broadcast, the second wave of storms hit and two of the huge pine trees next door crashed down at night missing our bedroom by 12 metres. It forced the owner to get the whole lot cut down before they could smash our house. PTL.
I did three days of training of leaders from the Christchurch Revive Church which went very well as did the preaching on the Sunday. Two weeks later I flew to Dunedin. An interesting trip. I had a very friendly time with the principal of the theological college, however, I couldn’t get him to see past an academic understanding of leadership and see the need for skill development. Other aspects of the time were valuable meeting with pastors.
A week later Yvonne Hannah and I flew to Nelson and Blenheim. I had good meetings with the Anglican Bishop and other ministers before heading to Blenheim for the Bridge Builders course. The Bridge Builders course had very good results although the number attending was disappointing. Yvonne was helping with the training.
Our trip to see Rachel and family a week later over Easter was pushed back 4 days as they all got round 2 of Covid. My word it hurt changing airfares! However, after some successful busking, we had a good time with the family. Our two grandchildren spent hours playing hide and seek with us and climbing all over us. Wonderful time! Caleb has begun to settle into the primary school pretty well although he’s not yet doing a full day. I have appreciated the prayers for him. The final and full diagnosis is still to come as the Paediatrian is waiting to see how he copes with school. Ada has walking difficulties and has to see a paediatrician to discover whether the issue is with her joints or whether she has Spina Bifita or a neurological disorder. She’s a pretty intelligent and cheerful girl. Please pray for the family as they face this second special need challenge.
One and a half weeks after getting home from Ashburton I had to preach at a Pukekohe church before heading that afternoon for Whangarei. I had to drive into a storm. I was taking key leaders from Arataki Ministries, a mental health provider for three days leadership and management training. It was a very successful three days. Two of the Arataki team have decided to sign up for the Leadership Course PTL and the CEO is going to do the Caleb Leadership Course again.
Baptist Union of NZ, now require supervisors to be registered with them and so I am to do two days of understanding their processes and the outcomes they hope to get from pastors being supervised. This will allow me to continue to supervise Baptist pastors.
Yvonne and I will run a Bridge Builders course starting next week for a Presbyterian Church in Pukekohe. It looks like there will be at least 30 participants. In the beginning of June we will do another Bridge Builders in the Waikato. I continue to work toward getting more particpants on the CLC to happen in late July. I am working with the Anglican parishes of Greymouth to work towards them having a Bridge Builders course.
I have an ITA Board meeting coming up this month plus continuing with the committee I work with. The Caleb Board have a meeting soon too. I’ll be working with the Chairwoman on considering what might be some of the strategic shifts or development needed for Caleb especially after the Covid issues with churches.
On Easter Saturday, I had a wee mishap while mowing a steep part of our property with the hand mower. I stepped back onto a retaining wall ledge but slipped backward off it. In stopping the fall, I hurt my right arm by pulling the bicep tendon off the bone. The specialist said they wouldn’t do surgery and I’d have a series of physio sessions to strengthen the rest of my shoulder. I must admit, I received a bit of flack from the family. It’s an interesting experience when your adult children each give you a stern lecture on health and safety. It’s nice that they care so much.
Generally, the family are doing pretty well. Tim just received a promotion at work which kicks in at the beginning of July. Ada turned 3 at the end of March and Chloe is five months old now and doing really well. Please pray for Kayla as she seems to be getting repeated ear infections.
Thank you for your prayers. This first half of the year has been really busy and I need your prayers to stay fresh and on top of the organisational things.
Every blessing
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura, Kayla & Chloe, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.