The Budget, Innovation and Digi-Church
Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
Monday 11th May 2020
The Budget. Grant Robertson’s Budget announcement this week may be the most important Budget in living memory. Robertson has said that it will be a budget that both helps our Economy to Recover and to Rebuild. In a Sunday Star Times piece yesterday Economists are using three words in relation to the budget. Reform – Retraining – Repurposing. All eyes will be on our screens yet again on Thursday.
The downstream issues of the lockdown are huge here in NZ (as they are in all countries of the world incidentally). For instance, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, says 20,000 operations were cancelled and 60,000 specialist appointments parked. It will take more than a year to catch up, they say.
Currently one million workers are being supported with emergency wage subsidies that will finish in a few weeks’ time. And what then for many of those folks? No one knows how many will be able to go back to their jobs pre COVID19. I personally know of four businesses that are right now on the brink of laying off staff having already passed on the wage subsidy to those very same staff. Another three companies that have taken a huge financial hit already.
There is no doubt that the coronavirus hurts lives and livelihoods. There will be no shortage of work for local churches to do for years as a result of the fallout. There will be a huge need to support people spiritually and emotionally as well as practical challenges around food security and mortgage payments. Not to say anything about the knock on affects on church operating budgets.
Where I stand. After six weeks of in depth reading and careful listening I fully endorse the lockdown measures. I wrote about that in my blog last week ‘A Leadership Masterclass’.
Innovation. ‘Buy Local’ has become a new mantra. And so we should. And with it has come some incredible new and exciting business innovations. Talk about a rapid pivot. The kiwi spirit and entrepreneurial ‘get up and go’ is truly amazing.
NZ Made Products on Facebook has 400,000 new members in the last 3 weeks…..yes 400,000. And ‘Buy NZ Made’ has seen a huge increase of people wanting to register for a Kiwi Trademark. In fact last week’s volume of applications alone equated to 6 months previously.
My parents immigrated from Holland in 1952 because they were told NZ was a country of Golden Opportunity. They weren’t disappointed. It appears to still be the case 67 years later.
Digi-Church. Here is another amazing innovation from within our own ‘sector’. Six weeks ago and almost overnight our homes became bakeries, classrooms, offices, warehouses, gymnasiums and yes churches. What will the future look like on this front I wonder? Suddenly tele-health, virtual classrooms, remote working and digi church are part of our new normal. Fascinating to say the least.
I am in no doubt that the opportunities for local churches that have already presented themselves not to say anything about what is yet in front of us is all very exciting. Now is the time to re-envision a new future. Watch this space!
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.
