While I’ve travelled over these recent weeks, I have heard some remarkable things…
In Peru, the church is “living in a time of harvest” – the 1% ‘evangelical’ in 1989 has mushroomed to 15% today – which amounts to 4 million people and 20,000 churches.
In Zimbabwe, the inflation rate is so bad that some shop-keepers are known to raise their prices three times a day.
In Malaysia, the four major global religions are each represented by more than 10% of the country (Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism) – the only nation like this in the world … until someone tells me otherwise, that is!
In Syria, the President was so impressed with a locally-produced DVD on the Apostle Paul’s life that he personally paid for it to be screened for three consecutive nights in the local opera house.
In Colombia, a medical-doctor-turned-theologian observes that half of his class at medical school is now practising medicine in the USA.
In Israel, on that first Day of Pentecost, one sermon led to 3000 believers. Too often today it seems like 3000 sermons lead to one believer…
In India, they are expecting there to be more than 100 million believers by the year 2020.
In Russia, 30% of the Bible Schools that started in the 1990s, after the fall of communism, have been closed.
In Iraqi Kurdistan, there is a Korean couple (whom I met) who have worked with blind people and spent these recent years before retirement translating the New Testament into Kurdish braille.
In the Middle East somewhere (I can’t disclose the location – sorry), there are people distributing business cards with the entire Bible on them.
In New Zealand, people are celebrating being the only unbeaten team at World Cup 2010 (even though we were knocked out in the first round, a minor detail that must not be allowed to spoil a good story).
nice chatting
Paul
About Me

the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
Just when I thought that it could not be possible to have another first-hand account of the impact of John Stott’s life (d. 2011), along comes this book by his close friend, John Wyatt. I am always ready to learn more about John Stott, but also about friendship. It fascinates me. It keeps coming up…
Reading stories to grandchildren over Christmas reminded me again of how powerful they can be. They are so compact and simple in presentation, and yet so clever in construction. There are just so many features at work in an effective story. It is some years since I taught narrative preaching, but when I did I’d…
Apart from the eight years in which we were based overseas, Barby has been working at the Refugee Resettlement Center in Auckland since 2002. This year she is a ‘release teacher’, spending one day each week in three different classrooms, with three different age groups. Impressive—and demanding. One day is spent with 11-13 year olds—from…
This is excellent and encouraging Paul. It is so good to be reminded of God's work in the world. So often we get preoccupied and discouraged with the struggles in this little island in the Pacific that we forget that there is much that is thriving elsewhere. Thanks for providing such good perspective on how God's working.
Thanks, Andrew – it is amazing what can be picked up when we listen carefully, isn't it?! Trust you are well
P