mission
It remains the most helpful mission concept I have encountered in the past twenty years. “WOW – that’s a big call, Paul.” But it is true … and it is so simple. Devised by the late Harold Turner (the Kiwi Newbigin), the suggestion is that for mission to be effective (under God’s gracious hand, of…
READ MOREI came into my little study this morning to find my “Jesus is homeless” bag in the rubbish basket. What?! Who has done this?! Further investigation is made and I discover that my wife is responsible. Gulp?! ‘Please tell me why’. ‘It is theologically incorrect.’ Hmmm… So methinks about it for awhile. I believe Barby…
READ MOREIn Disciples of All Nations (OUP, 2008), Lamin Sanneh refers to the “flagging fortunes of a post-Christian West” and the “robust potential of a post-Western Christianity.” (51) I like that contrast – but I need to read it carefully! For 25 years I’ve read the books, attended the seminars and even taught the courses on…
READ MOREThe forecast was terrible. 80km winds and heavy rain. But we took the 4hr drive from Auckland anyway. State Highway 1 to Route 10. Then just past Kerikeri it is right onto Kapiro Rd and then left on to Purerua Rd and then finally another left onto Rangihoua Rd. A 25min walk down through a…
READ MOREI pretty much imbibed the Great Commission with my mother’s milk. I cannot remember a time when I didn’t know about Jesus’ command to ‘go into all the world’ – and that he expressed it on five different occasions in the New Testament. But here I am at 49 with a global mission role beckoning…
READ MOREOur 25 years with a NZ-focus in our ministry lives is drawing to a close. I am a sentimental-type and find myself doing a lot of reflecting on these years – and have even been given the opportunity to do so in the company of others. (a) The first opportunity came with the Baptist Historical…
READ MOREI never knew that reading a newspaper could be so exhilarating. So it has proved to be today with NZ’s leading newspaper, the New Zealand Herald. First they choose to name Tony McLean and Austin Hemmings as their NZers of the year. What an inspired choice! And what compelling evidence of the impact on this…
READ MOREI am enjoying my longest stay in the USA since I was a student here 25+ years ago. I have been speaking at the annual missions’ conference of a church set in the cornfields of NW Ohio – where my father-in-law is pastor emeritus. The church has been supporting Barby’s family in India for 95…
READ MOREWhen I first saw the billboards from the Green Party I thought immediately of worms. Two NZ-elections ago the ‘worm’ was the difference-maker. The leaders of all the political parties participated in debates and the audience responded as they listened and this response took the form of worms crawling across our screens. The main beneficiary…
READ MOREWhile I don’t commence employment until 1st April the powers-that-be encouraged me to attend the annual International Council meetings of Langham Partnership International in London this past week. There were many highlights… ONEI loved attending All Souls, Langham Place on the Sunday (my birthday!) before the meetings started. This is where John Stott has been…
READ MOREAbout 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.