Gabrielle, State of the Nation Report and Asbury University

Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
Gabrielle, State of the Nation Report and Asbury University
Tuesday 21st February 2023

Dear Readers and Supporters

I have taken a longer than usual break from my weekly writing. For the last four years I have blogged twice a week. I plan on continuing this year with a small change to the days I will write. My Gospel and Culture blog will come out first thing on Tuesday mornings. This blog seeks to make a contribution to the interesting and challenging conversation around the intersection of the church and NZ society (secular culture). As Christians individually and as a church we are called to be salt and light, to be a bright light that is shining on top of the hill. This blog is my way of assisting with that thinking and those conversations that hopefully will lead to appropriate responses and actions.

On Friday my letter to Pastors is a ‘blog’ that covers some of my recent thinking, reading, observations and trends about church life, leadership, ministry and missions in the 3500 or so churches in NZ. In this blog I try and strike a balance between encouraging pastors in the good work they do and at the same time challenging the ways of thinking and practice that might be past their ‘best before date’. Every 6 weeks or so I will invite a guest writer to contribute their thoughts.

Finally, I love to get your feedback. Please don’t hesitate to write a comment or send me a note with a subject idea or issue that you think needs a little air time. My email is alan.vink@leadershipworx.org.nz OR simply hit ‘reply’.

Cyclone Gabrielle

It is probably of little surprise that Cyclone Gabrielle is officially one of the worst storms in NZ’s living history. Watching the images over the last week is nothing short of heart breaking and hard to believe if it weren’t for the footage that we have seen. With that said, it is so heart-warming to see the outpouring of goodwill and kindness by thousands…….tens of thousands of everyday New Zealanders. My goodness this has been and continues to be absolutely stunning! It is a vivid and beautiful reminder that 99.9999% of people have ‘the image of God’ stamped firmly in the DNA of their souls.

Professor James Renwick has been sounding a warning about climate change for a very long time…..decades in fact. He spoke to Miriama Kamo on the Sunday Programme two nights ago. is not alone when he says ‘we caused it and we can fix it”. He is urging all New Zealanders to take this weather event very seriously and be willing to take bold steps and to do what we can and what we must to stop the earth warming as it has been doing since the industrial revolution.

State Of the Nation Report

POV. I attended the briefing and launch of this report last week. Every year the Salvation Army provide the social service sector a fabulous piece of research. This year’s report covers 6 categories and 100 social indicators. You can find an interactive dashboard, a 7 page summary and the full length report here. Some sobering information to read and think about, that’s for sure.

Asbury University

POV. Over the last 10 days I have read quite a bit of commentary on what is happening at Asbury University. I have been quite selective as to what I have read and more particularly who wrote it. I wanted to focus at least for now on reading reports and opinion pieces from credible people who are actually there and ‘in it’. I have to say, I like what I am reading…..a lot. It would be hard to deny that God isn’t up to something quite extra-ordinary. Come Holy Spirit!

I think Ed Stetzer’s short comment 5 days ago was superb.

“I've preached at Asbury University in that very chapel.
I've lectured to their amazing students and met w/ their thoughtful faculty.
They are going to be OK without all of your opinions about this moment.
Let them be.
And let the Spirit do His work.
And leave the results to God”.