Message from the Pastor

While studying at university I took the opportunity of a long summer break to join my family on a trip to New Zealand, and then to open out my return ticket so that I could stay there the whole summer (their winter!).  I was able to afford this mainly through staying with distant family members (as it is my mother’s home country), and on other occasions by staying at cheap backpackers’ accommodation.

During my time there I was delighted to meet a cousin of my mother’s who was a strong Christian, and who indeed had been a missionary in Tanzania. He told me that he had prayed for my mother and her family often, so was overjoyed I had recently come to faith in Christ.

This memory reminds me never to give up on praying for loved ones to accept Christ as Lord.       

                Luke 18:1-8

The second memory of my time in NZ that I would like to share is that of helping at a Christian youth/children’s camp run by this relative’s son.  It was challenging at times as the kids were quite awkward at times, and I was a fairly shy 19 year old.  I had to do some basic Bible reading/teaching for the kids in my cabin each day.  One of the younger ones seemed particularly uninterested, however on the last day of the camp when the main preacher gave an altar call, it was that boy who came over to me to tell me he wanted to give his life to Christ.  This is again an encouragement not to give up, or to write anyone off, even  the  least  likely  potential

converts.                 

           2 Timothy 4:2

 

       Alan