This month at Nativity we are having a focus on overseas missions. For many years some people have challenged my support for making overseas mission a priority, though I hasten to add, I haven't had that at Nativity.
"Surely" people say "we have more than enough needs right here in our own backyard."
Is that a valid challenge?
My reasoning for my stance is simple. It's based on when I was the newly ordained Curate (assistant priest) in Hawera.
I wanted to do some Parish visiting in the isolated back country behind Ararata. So headed off into the hills first thing and started visiting. By the end of each day I had made some good visits, but not made much ground.
One week I changed tactics. I travelled to the far end of the valley and worked my way back. People who'd not had a visitor in decades were delighted. Several made the effort to come to worship. Others were simply encouraged that someone from town was thinking of them.
But what I also found was those who lived close to town had visits or contact anyway.
So when it comes to our mission I believe it's the same one, be it here or there. Yes it's rightly done differently in different contexts. But if we don't start at the distant point, we'll never get there. In the meantime those closer will probably get what they need anyway.
"Surely" people say "we have more than enough needs right here in our own backyard."
Is that a valid challenge?
My reasoning for my stance is simple. It's based on when I was the newly ordained Curate (assistant priest) in Hawera.
I wanted to do some Parish visiting in the isolated back country behind Ararata. So headed off into the hills first thing and started visiting. By the end of each day I had made some good visits, but not made much ground.
One week I changed tactics. I travelled to the far end of the valley and worked my way back. People who'd not had a visitor in decades were delighted. Several made the effort to come to worship. Others were simply encouraged that someone from town was thinking of them.
But what I also found was those who lived close to town had visits or contact anyway.
So when it comes to our mission I believe it's the same one, be it here or there. Yes it's rightly done differently in different contexts. But if we don't start at the distant point, we'll never get there. In the meantime those closer will probably get what they need anyway.
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