Changing churches isn’t uncommon for us in New Zealand. Perhaps it is an Auckland thing, or perhaps a kiwi thing. When I first began working with people from overseas they were a bit shocked at how often and how easily New Zealanders change churches. In my work with missionaries often a candidate would not have… Read More should I stay or should I go?
It happened again recently someone asked “How can we get millennials to join our church (or organisation, business or NGO) if they are like this and we are like this”. Sometimes I think we are stuck in a boomerang loop Gen X, Gen Y, Millenials, Gen Z, we seem to be stuck explaining the same… Read More stop saying this about millennials
Last week I found a hair on my chin, it was not from the cat who had been sleeping on my clothes, it was firmly attached and sprouting in that random way that unwanted hairs have. It was a sign that I had to think about something I have been repressing ever since I saw… Read More why every church needs an eccentric lady
Usually in Auckland we don’t think much about our power, at the click of a switch we have light, hot water, all the things we need to make our life comfortable. Last week we became suddenly aware of all the things that require power. A storm damaged the overhead lines that deliver electricity and many… Read More Name Your Power
A few weeks ago Billy Graham died aged 99. My sympathy and prayers go to his family and friends who mourn a real person that was close to them. In many ways, BG was more than just that real person the friends and family knew. He was known to so many of a certain generation… Read More I spent my career fighting Billy Graham
I have been waiting. On Monday I was waiting – silence. On Tuesday I was waiting – silence. Today the silence has become deafening. I don’t feel like I should be the one to raise this after all, I am one of the fortunate ones who can say #notme. But perhaps that makes it easier… Read More silence speaks
Today’s blog post is the start of a new series, introducing you to the female leaders in New Zealand’s mission, ministry and Christian Not-for-Profit Sector. The first of my guests is Rachel Murray. Rachel has been the General Director of the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society, for three years. NZBMS is the mission organisation of… Read More women in leadership – Rachel Murray
On the first Monday of each month, I offer some reflections on a book I have been reading. These are not book reviews, but a reflection on how the book interacts with my story and the questions that I currently have. I share where the book takes me with my questions, whether it conjures up new ideas or questions, whether it helps me frame my experiences and gives me things to ponder.
Sometimes we can get stuck in certain ways of thinking. We might be tired, and busy and it is easy to fall back into familiar paradigms. A familiar paradigm might be that orchestras play classical music. To an extent, this is true orchestras do play classical music and have done for centuries in the western… Read More does your orchestra play rock music?
I have always disliked introducing myself at social events because the first thing you are asked is so “what do you do?” The answer for me has never been simple. I envy those people who could say “I am a primary school teacher or a nurse or a vet” and people immediately understand what they… Read More face outward
