Vicar's Letter - 30 August 2024

Rev Andrew Spence

Kia ora All Saints whānau,

I wanted to take this opportunity, as my last Vicar Letter to reflect on my three  and a half years here. Taking us on was a leap of faith. The nominators at the time would have received this idea of four people in a team based leadership. They would have had to make the decision to be a little risky - this was not standard practice (it still is not). It was made even riskier given that although we had many years of youth leadership and missional experience, we had never been in charge of a parish. They did infact take that risk and on Feburary 8th 2021 we were installed as the next Vicar's of All Saints, Hataitai.

As I reflect on it all and the three years here - God has his fingerprints all over it!
All Saints was at one of its lowest points when we arrived. It meant that you were ready to try something different. There were without doubt some rocky patches as we entered into leadership, both learning how to lead a Parish while also trying to work out how a team of four operated to do that. However, the second lockdown of the pandemic gave us an opportunity to instil a discipleship backbone to the way we did church. House churches were born and this has provided a pivotal movement where we are working together as small groups to live out the gospel in our neighbourhoods, with each other and to the people we interact with weekly. It is this platform that has allowed a whole heap of discussion, interaction, closer connections and a welcoming space for people to find life in. 

From there we have seen the church grow and develop to now have a chance of developing people to be missionaries as our Mission Action Plan says. The next step is to create these pathways where people can meet Jesus, be discipled, then reach out and disciple others so that more people would come to know Jesus and his Kingdom would increase. Our strategy for that is missional communities, small groups who orientate their lives and expression of faith around a particular network or neighbourhood, building relationships and try to 'fish for people.' This takes House churches to a new level and creates a networked church of all believers exercising their ministry, so that now matter who the leader is this network will continue to grow Jesus' church. 

What I notice as a reflect on this all is that none of it is about us being great leaders. It is instead Jesus being present and all of us doing what he is asking of us. It is the church in action. It is the people of God being the body of Christ to reach and serve the world. It is your willingness to serve and trust the Holy Spirit.

In the words of the Maori proverb:
He aha te mea nui tea o?
He tangata he tangata, he tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people, it is people, it is people!'

As we (Emily and Andy) finish up this weekend - it is you who stay and continue on this mission so:
May God bless us with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths,
And superficial relationships
So that we may live
Deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger
At injustice, oppression,
And exploitation of people,
So that we may work for
Justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless us with tears
To shed for those who suffer from pain,
Injustice, starvation and war,
So that we may reach out our hands
To comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless us with enough foolishness
To believe we can
Make a difference in the world,
So that we can do
What others claim cannot be done. 

Amen! Let it be so!
Andrew Spence