The next months leading up to
December were hectic but mightily blessed as both the funds
and the points came in to enable Chris and I to go the
PNG.
We took the time to carefully talk
and pray through going to
Toronto
and felt very clearly that it was not
right.
The week before we were to leave
Chris’s 15-year-old niece, Caitlin, was killed in a camping
accident.
Severe winds blew a tree onto
the tent some girls were sitting and talking, Caitlin and her
friend were killed.
What an unbelievable
time. The first few days in PNG Chris just wanted to be home
and before we were to fly to Popendetta I offered for us to go
home – she declined.
The conference was terrific and the
village where we stayed was beautiful, but exceptionally
hot. We were so humbled by these beautiful people, their
generosity towards us and the value they placed on being
together.
Some of them had walked long
distances and paid virtually all they had to come along.
I
couldn’t help thinking how we moan and complain about driving
across town to something.
The process of unrest has stayed
with me since my first PNG trip. I have no sense of peace
about being a pastor in a local church any longer and this
simply continued to get worse and worse.
I
feel I must somehow make a difference in people’s lives and
that is just not happening in
Sydney
’s western
suburbs.
By the middle of 2002 I was in a
mess, in that I was coping but felt like I wasn’t.
I
was terribly confused about what to do and where we should be
serving the Lord. Chris insisted that I take some of the many
weeks of holidays owing to me and I went away for a couple of
weeks.
After having five weeks off
in all during August and September (the longest break I had
ever had in 20 years) I had come to the conclusion that I
needed to resign and go do something else, but lacked the
faith to do so.
It was at such a time when I found
myself attending my first 5 day long pastoral retreat with a
group of Churches of Christ pastors. I
felt quite out of place as I was still ministering with
Foursquare Gospel at the time.
As part of the retreat
process I shared my “story” and finished up with saying that I
wanted to resign, in fact I knew I had to resign, but I didn’t
have the courage without having something in place
first.
My fellow pastors encouraged me to
be the person of faith they knew me to be, to place my faith
in God and His ability to provide for me as He has always
done.
One guy remarked to me how he had always seen me as a
person able to take such steps when others had difficulty in
doing so.
With such
encouragement I came home on the Friday afternoon and resigned
my ministry, to conclude in the December. An immediate peace
of God fell on me and I knew I had done the right
thing.
We finished up and still had nothing
in place as far as ministry for me, or even employment. I
had made contact with nearly every parachurch organisation I
could find and every church I could contact; yet nothing came
from any of it. We constantly had people questioning us as
what we were going to do.
In early January I received an email
from a fellow in Queensland suggesting that I
check out this position with Samaritan’s Purse and it included
a web link. I did so and requested a copy
of the full job description. When I read the job
description I was staggered at how it fitted with my gifts,
talents and desires. I printed it off and gave it
to Chris to read. When she handed it back she
simply said, “They are talking about you.”
I formulated my application and
emailed it on the Sunday afternoon and didn’t expect to hear
anything for some time. But, as is my habit I checked
my email early on the Monday and already had a response from
the Executive Director who wanted to meet with me that
week.
We met on the Wednesday and within
minutes I knew that this was for me, and so did he.
After more time and a meeting with the Chairman of the
Board I started working with Samaritan’s Purse Australia on
February 13th ,
2003 as National Manager – Operation Christmas
Child.
In this role I oversee Australia’s
involvement in the world’s largest Christmas project for
children (in 2002 over six million gifts were distributed to
poor children); visit many countries and see numerous aid
projects first hand and have the opportunity to write project
proposals and see practical aid being given to poor
people.
Well, on the Friday of my first week
I was on a plane to the
USA
for the first
time. This was to attend an international OCC meeting, an
annual event where all senior OCC staff from every OCC sending
country gathers to share, plan, dream etc.
To say that I am filled with joy at
being where I am is an understatement. My
journey with God has taken me through some difficult things in
life – but most people travel through tough stuff.
It’s the determination to come out the other side
stronger in one’s faith and more resolute to serve our Lord
Jesus Christ that makes the difference.
Be encouraged my friend, if you are
experiencing a tough time or are riddled with doubt about your
service for the Lord – I suggest you pack your bag and go and
spend a week or two on a mission field somewhere, and allow
God to speak to you. You will never be the same
again. I’m not.
