The Bronx

Dear Pastors

The Bronx is an actual place. It is a Borough in New York created in 1898 and today is one of the most densely populated land area’s in the USA. It is a place known for its social problems. The term, ‘The Bronx’, has come to mean a densely populated suburb or housing estate that has as its hallmark deprivation…..all kinds of deprivation and the resultant consequences of under achievement, addictions and crime just to mention a few. Some refer to this kind of community as the ghetto or even a slum. Every city and most towns in NZ have a few streets like this-pockets of extreme deprivation if you like.

Since the early 90’s this social phenomena has worried me and interested me right here in Hamilton. You see we have three such area’s in Hamilton. In fact last month a study showed that ‘Poet’s Corner’ in Fairfield, Hamilton is the most deprived suburb in NZ on a number of measures. I was shocked….the most deprived?

See here for the article in Stuff.

In 1997 as Pastor of Hamilton Central Baptist Church I along with Nettie Holm set up a community centre just on the outskirts of Poets Corner in Fairfield. We called it Te Whanau Putahi (meaning The Family Centre) as a church plant from Central Baptist.

Today it is still open for business, still with Central’s support but the leadership has changed. It’s a small world with interesting twists and turns but my oldest son, Shane, is the pastor there these days and his Mum, Jeanette is assisting him on a part time basis. Sadly, not much has changed in Poet’s Corner after 20 years as this study bears out. In fact I think it has gotten worse.

Pastoral care work is a bit different here then in the average middle class church. Sure there are home visits, hospital visits and counselling appointments etc but at TWP, Shane and Jeanette are often down at the Police Station, at Court or at the Hospital Psychiatric unit. Shane tells me that some days he feels like the local truancy officer. A couple of months ago Jeanette stopped a fight at TWP between two women (she always wanted to be a police women) and four weeks ago when I was preaching we had to call the police as a neighbourhood feud was going on and a few folks were ‘hiding’ at church (I could think of worst places to hide). Note: I would love to say my preaching created a riot in town but no I can’t claim such notoriety.

Yes life is raw, harsh and at times brutal in the Bronx. It’s not my natural habitat but it is where Jesus is very comfortable according to my Bible. And to my amazement He shows up there in powerful ways at times. But ministry is ‘messy’ here. People are Christ followers yet still addicted, they are ‘converted’ yet still very angry with life and with each other, they are so wanting to get right and sincerely say so sing so and pray so yet make really ‘dumb’ decisions. Yes it is very messy indeed. And it’s heart breaking. We weep over the kids in particular.

I propose today that every pastor in NZ should spend a few weeks in a church like TWP. I propose today that pastors stop going across the seas to learn how to do ministry but across town to the Bronx. And finally I propose that in our training for Pastoral Ministry we have a compulsory paper entitled ‘The Gospel to the Poor’. That this paper be no more than 50% book learning and 50% practical learning following an urban missionary (Pastor) around for a semester and learning as much as they can. Then we might see a few more churches start in these communities. And that can only be a good thing.

Blessings

Alan

Our Mental Health and the Church has started. We are in Hamilton next week Tuesday and Wellington next week Thursday. Register here today.

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.