Church Planting
November 30th 2010 02:03
Being back in Christchurch after many years was for me exciting. I got to visit many of my old haunts and see them through the eyes of a Christian. Then I came across some people that Hine and I both knew. They were Christians as well and had a calling to go Church planting. We were invited to join with them.
My gardening business was earning money but not enough to get rich. Together my wife and I sought the Lord about going out church planting. As the children were involved, it was important for them to be part of the decision process. Before long, we found ourselves packing up and moving further south.
Temuka is the home to a line of famous pottery. Stuff like bowls, serving platters and all that kind of stuff. Temuka pottery also made insulators for use on powerlines. My first job was there in the pressroom. At my job interview it came out I had a blended family of eleven children and at that time, I think 15 grandchildren.
“Jesus Christ,” the interviewer said.
“Yes,” I replied. “I have him too.” It still surprises me I was hired.
We stayed in Temuka for nearly two years. It was wonderful getting to know the locals and watching God at work in their lives. Church planting put a strain on our relationship and it was a good thing when it ended.
During this time, I learnt about shaking hands on the door and banking cheques. Then there was all the back room stuff. I also got into song leading, singing and then the planning meetings. Preaching was my favourite. Sometimes I would get invitations to preach in other churches. The pastor would go away out of town and I would look after things for him.
The first time I ever preached was a real classic. I wrote this sermon out and practiced it until even my wife nearly knew it better then I did. It then remained in the back of my bible for ages. In fact, it had been placed in my bible before we went church planting.
When we first arrived in Temuka, the team would fellowship at a little church out of town whilst we were sorting out a venue for the work. This particular night the guest speaker failed to turn up. The pastor got in the pulpit and explained we were going to minister to each other. No one moved.
“It is only 3 mins each,” still no one moved. “How about 1 minute then.” Still no one moved. I then said I could go for twenty minutes. All I heard was “get up here now Stephen.”
At the end I gave an alter call and this man came up for prayer. The sermon was on the subject of how to handle criticism.
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