2019 Christmas letter

Sue insisted I write the Christmas letter in December this year rather than the 31^st of February like last year so here goes.

 we have now completed nearly 21 years in Napier and are pleased to be here.   David is well settled in Napier with an accounting job at Blue Rock accounting and a hankering for buying a house.  We helped a little bit with the deposit and flatmates help him pay the mortgage.  It is 3 bedrooms on a nice small section   It is walking distance to the supermarket and Greenmeadows shops.

God has started doing some new things in the church, bringing in several people from other nations (Thai, Chinese, Indian…) into the church so that has been a bonus.  We have also had several international students coming along which is great.  Sue still works with the international students at EIt as the Homestay Coordinator.  She is often under pressure as student numbers remain high.  We have had our usual series of students stay with us.  Currently we have a Japanese and a Chinese student plus Kiwi John who has been with us a few years and we expect another from Vietnam in late January.  One delight was to go and visit several of those who have stayed with us when we took a month’s holiday to go to Cambodia and Vietnam and Taiwan.  Sue was pretty nervous about our 3 days’ transit in Hong Kong but that passed peacefully.

Highlights of the trip involved meeting several ex homestays and some amazing scenery.  Haulong Bay is a beautiful place and the day we spent on a bicycle meeting locals in Hoi An is probably the other highlight.  We did an intrepid tour for 12 days and enjoying meeting the other 10 who traveled with us.  If you are our Facebook friends, you would have seen lots of pictures and if you aren’t yet it is not too late to go and look back over our photos and comments.  The third highlight was going to Taiwan to meet with Judith Jackson for a week.  Judith was Sue’s first friend at Bible college and has worked in Taiwan for over 30 years.  She took us to meet some of her High school groups who were great fun.  We also got to see some of the sights including this sunset at the salt fields.

I have enjoyed the year saying no to most extra responsibilities from the Presbytery other and find having time and energy to concentrate on the people of Napier is enough.  I still go to the gym a few times each week along with a long walk or bike ride along the cycle trails.  Sue is still enjoying walks and was tempted by a puppy as it is over 2 years since her beloved Misty died but our Chinese student is allergic to dogs and going away would have been unfair to leave a new puppy.  Sue has had a few trips to nelson now her mother has turned 91 and both my parents celebrated their 80^th Birthdays in the past year.

Paul and his wife Mary are still in Gisborne and also enjoyed a holiday to Vietnam this year.  Paul continues as a Chef at the Vines and Mary is still at the BNZ.  They are coming down for a few days before Christmas and we will go there after Christmas before a week in Nelson with Sue’s mother.

Wishing you a blessed Christmas a peace-filled New Year.  Greetings from Brett & Sue Walker

Velcro Churches part 2

here is  a followup Post on Velcro Churches
One writer used Velcro as an acronym

V= Valuing every person as a gift from God
E= Engaging every Guest intentionally
L= Leading people to encounter Jesus -
C= Connecting them to community
R= Relationships are the key to people becoming a part of the Church
O= Organizing Small groups for on going care.

Making our church a Velcro Church

Velcro Churches

by Rick Chromey

It’s funny what a walk in the woods can do.  George de Mestral, a Swedish electrical engineer in the 1940s, was fascinated with burdock seeds and how they attached themselves to his dog and clothing. George studied the special “hook” design of these seeds and subsequently created Velcro.

Velcro is sticky stuff. The tiniest patch has substantial strength and countless uses. You can hang pictures. Seal clothing from cold or rain. Secure shoes and batten down covers. You can even use Velcro to stick a body against a wall. Velcro is a lot of fun.

Ironically, when Velcro is separated and isolated, it loses all its stickiness. It’s just a patch of nylon hooks and polyester cloth with the potential for connection.

Humans are like Velcro. Isolation happens, but like snowflakes, watch what happens when we stick together. We get stronger. We last longer. We seal and secure. We even have fun. God specially designed humans for connection and community. We have relational hooks. In fact, if we don’t belong, it’s so long.

I’ve introduced my “Rule of Threes” before but let me expand and explore these principles because they’re markers that guide social “stickiness” (attraction and retention). It’s what draws, pulls, invites, joins, and caps.

3 MINUTES (FIRST-TIMER): It only takes minutes for a visitor to decide if he or she will return. It’s why guest relations or “front-door evangelism” are key. A visitor has only two needs to scratch: security and pleasure. First-timers (regardless of age or context) want to know if your church is a safe place—physically and emotionally—and will it be an enjoyable experience. Failure to meet this need produces discomfort, and that’s enough to look elsewhere (one and done).

3 VISITS (FOLLOWER): Returning guests usually need just three experiences to decide to “camp.” By now they feel good about your church but are carrying a different need to feed: belonging. Does the guest sense connection and community? Are they making friends? Failure to meet this need produces disconnection and a potential exit.

3 MONTHS (FRIEND):  The path to “membership” solidifies at the three-month mark when guests now view themselves as “regular” members who sense community. At this point the need shifts to new wants: grace and dignity. The new member desires to feel freedom (“Can I be me?”) and value (“Am I important?”). Too many churches like to rush these new “friends” into leadership roles for which they’re ill-prepared or ignore them as they refocus on attracting and retaining “newbies.” However, failure at this point produces disappointment and that can create bad attitudes and unexpected departures.

3X3 or NINE MONTHS (FAMILY): Usually by the nine-month mark, a regular attender is ready for leadership roles. They’ve attended long enough to understand routines, core beliefs, traditions and values. They feel a part of the family. The need now shifts to empowerment. Is this a place where I can grow, contribute, and make a difference? Failure at this juncture introduces disengagement and retreat.

3 YEARS (FAN): Productive contribution and leadership is what creates a raving fan. As Jesus modeled, it takes this long to disciple a core member to reproduce the vision and values of your church. If this doesn’t happen, the individual will likely give up and move on. A “fan” is a church’s best evangelist, worker, and leader. Fans draw attention and affection. Fans invite others into the vision. Fans fan the flame that grows attendance, enthusiasm, passion, and commitment.

The Rule of Threes.

Like Velcro, they’re the hooks for true connection.

And they’re always working.

Rick Chromey

Rick has a Doctorate of Ministry and is the author of Sermons Reimagined.

Christmas News from Brett and Sue Walker 2017

Christmas News from Brett and Sue Walker 2017

We are hoping you have had a great year and will enjoy a blessed Christmas and New Year. Here is some news from us.

You may have heard that David moved back to NZ from Melbourne last Christmas and moved in with Paul and Mary in Gisborne.  He has a job as the accounts administrator for the Gisborne Towing Company and works full time.  He has bought himself a nice car and he, Paul and Mary enjoy each other’s company.  It is great when Paul works night shift at his restaurant as Mary has some company besides their 2 dogs (Fergus and Oscar).  Paul enjoys his job at the Vines – a Winery restaurant, and Mary has been working at the ASB bank, but has moved from part time to Casual which takes the stress of having to push credit cards or extra loans which she didn’t enjoy.  We have been up to Gisborne a few times lately as Brett has been on the interview panel for a Church looking for a new minister and we also went up for Paul and Mary’s 6^th Wedding anniversary.  We will go up there again on Christmas day and have Christmas dinner with them and Mary’s family.  Our two families have gotten on really well and Mary’s Mum (Azure) has stayed with us a few times as she has travelled to Palmerston north as she has been completing her degree in social work.

We have had our usual run of international students stay with us this year.  We have some from Myanmar, Cambodia, China and Timor Leste.  Some are here for a 7 week English program for Government officials and others are longer term EIT students.  The picture has Jackson from China who has moved on to Waikato University.  We like following them on Facebook and to see how they flourish over the years.  Last January we were really blessed to have a Japanese boy who had lived with us about 7 or 8 years ago come to NZ and visit us.  We were on vacation in Nelson and so he and his family flew to Nelson for 1 day just to meet us.  At the moment we also have Peter from China back with us who lived with us 2 years ago. He is continuing his Wine Science Degree this year but needed somewhere to stay between flats.  We still have John Graham with us who has been with us 4 years now.  John takes charge of the animals (and students) when we go away.

Brett’s year at the church (Coming up to the end of 18 years here in Napier now) has been pretty good.  We are still doing many funerals for people who have been pillars of the church for many years including Sheila Jamieson (wife of Duncan Jamieson who was minister at St Columba’s for 28 years from 1962.) We are grateful that there are many new people joining and so our numbers are actually increasing.  We have been looking at a 2 year growth program (24 to double) which is helping up set in place some good systems as Brett is not naturally a systems person.  Brett still goes to the Gym about 3 times a week and bought a new bicycle this year to ride the trails - no more road racing.  The hills haven’t got any smaller!

Sue has had a few trips to Nelson to see her mother who is a sprightly lady in her 90^th year. Sue has a very busy time as EIT international accommodation officer so before each semester starts and when other  groups come through (such as the English Langauage training for Government officials for 7 weeks 3 times a year.)  She still goes to Yoga each week when she can and tried a Body Balance course at the local gym.  She enjoyes her card classes and craft group.  She has been in the same bible study group for about 6 years so the members are good friends.

The other interesting thing this year has been the installation of 16 solar panels on the roof and that is working as planned.  This month our power bill as $39. (There are a few reasons, the previous bill was an estimate and they charged too much and we had 2 weeks without anyone extra in the house.)  Still, our average power bill the year before was $300 per month so if we can save lots when the sun is shining we will be very happy. The other thing we have done is put new lino down in the kitchen, bathrooms and downstairs hallway.  It looks great and is easy to clean.  The down side is we have had to paint 3 rooms (which also look great – but it has been a bit of work.)   We are really lucky that our Neighbour Tony as handyman/builder and he pops over and does a bit of painting or other work so that place is looking great.  We realise that we have been in this house for over 10 years so it was time to do some renovations.

As I am sitting down and writing this Christmas letter it is with some sadness.  We have decided that after 15 years Misty our Labrador cross is to go to the vet for a long sleep tomorrow.  She is falling over at times and her arthritis in her hips and foot are pretty bad (there are several other things also which are making life no fun for an old dog).  She had a nice trip to the beach on Friday and we will have to treasure those memories.  I am not sure how Sue will cope so if you see tears on the paper you will know it is still a painful decision.  She is being very brave to make it.  Sue herself has a cold and is not enjoying that experience especially at this busy time of the year. Besides that she is decidedly fit as she has joined the Napier Tramping Club and been wandering the hills for 5-7 hours several times in the past 6 weeks.  She has even managed couple of Wednesday walks and got paid as she had accumulated so many hours “in Lieu” over her busy periods.  Brett is not feeling the happiest either as he had a trip to Tauranga to visit his dad in the ICU for a bad infection which they just got in time.  He was home for a week and then had a relapse so is again in Hospital as I write.  Added to that he had another heart attack a couple of weeks before that.  The Cardiologist has said his heart is in poor condition and there is little they can do.  We will be going to Tauranga again just after Christmas and while it is only about 4 hours away – sometimes that seems a long away.  Apart from all this we are actually doing well and overall it has been a good year.

We hope that your year has gone well and we look forward to catching up with your news as well.  Wishing you a session of peace and joy as we celebrate our Saviours birth.

Greetings

Brett & Sue xox