Mangatepopo River Disaster

Elim Christian College is at the end of the road we live on. We drive past often, the church the school is a part of has a very positive relationship with the church we go to.

Earlier this week six students and a teacher lost their lives on an school outdoor adventure trip. The weather turned suddenly and dramatically and the school party were caught in a river bed as the water swelled to 4 times its normal flow.

This is a personal nightmare for the families and school and a major local and national tragedy. I'm sure the questions of loss and grief will be asked and already the school principal and the parents of some of those lost have been speaking openly of God's presence in a time of real loss. The school principal as he addressed the school assembly said,

If our faith means anything
it must mean everything now

Please do pray for the parents and families of those lost, for the children at the school and for the community in which we live.

Pray too for New Zealand - that this secular nation might find in this tragedy the heart to hear the testimony of God goodness in the midst of real pain.

For news stories and video interviews click HERE for Nigel Pollock's reflections click HERE

Looking not Seeing

Watch the video - click play: it lasts 67 seconds.

It is easy to miss the obvious when your are looking for something specific. It is easy to overlook what God is doing when you look at the details of strategy, organisation, administration and the practical outworkings of 'ministry'.

Last night I was asked how work is and I answered 'busy'. What a pathetic response - but I picked myself up on it immediately. How is work?

Next week I'm heading down to Wellington to meet with the new Staff who have joined TSCF this year. Other national staff will be joining us for a week of training and development. The joy of having 4 new full time staff and 3 associates working with us is amazing - God is raising up new peoople to work on the campuses of New Zealand.

The following weekend the students and staff from the Auckland region will gather at Ngaruawahia for the first combined camp/weekend away for a long time. Paul Windsor will be speaking and TSCF staff will be cooking and together we are looking for real growth in the students (more spiritual than physical).

Students are beign encouraged, discipled and reached with the life giving truth about Jesus on a daily basis. Things are sometimes discouraging in their detail and how they impact emotionally (students dismissing 'TSCF' because they don't 'get it'). There are times that TSCF staff and students "drop the pass" because we don't see it, don't make the extra effort to reach it or are too occupied catching something else. But most of the time there is huge commitment, extreme effort and outstanding performance from sinners under grace in the hands of a loving and amazing God.

How's the work? It is a privilege to be invovled. It is humbling to be part of something so great. It is a joy to be working alongside such quality people, staff and the students, who love Jesus. It is painful to work on campus when so many don't know Jesus and don't care. It is refreshing to study Scripture with others and see eyes light up and hearts begin to 'flame'. It is sobering to see some understand the truth and walk away. It is satisfying to know that in the midst of activity, and even busyness, that God is present and that our labour here is not in vain - because of His work in and through our lives.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. 1Cor15.57-58