Columnist Kevin Robertson, or 'Kev the Rev' as some people call him, is a gumboot-wearing-chainsaw-wielding-farm-hack and pastor-of-people at Te Awamutu Baptist Church in the beautiful Waikato region. Salt of the earth: it's what Jesus says we are. Paul the Apostle encourages us to season our conversations with salt. This column is about that: telling stories of salty people, inspiring us to imagine something we haven't thought of before, or helping us taste something differently. Porridge is better with salt!
This is it. This is the moment that has crept up on me. I knew it was coming, but are we ever prepared? It’s been determined; use by date: 22/12/24! The property is on the market…the excess stuff and junk has been given away. The chainsaw has been given to the son-in-law for safekeeping. Yes, I trust him. I trusted him with my daughter, which was his apprenticeship. He’s done that well, so now I can trust him with my chainsaw.
After 50 years of being in some form of Christian leadership – Jesus and ‘the one who must be obeyed’ have agreed that it’s time to repurpose. A few months back, I handed in my resignation to an eldership who struggled to accept it. The congregation were next in line for the ‘news’. Now, it’s inevitable, and my time is up. I keep an eye on my countdown app thingy on my phone, and soon, the government will have the great pleasure of paying me to do nothing. It’s hard accepting God’s directive to step back from something that I love, but obedience is better than sacrifice. Ministry will go on, but it will look very different. How do you walk away, not just from full-time ministry, but from a people that you love and respect?
But during this time of change, there are still amazing ‘salt’ people around. In this, my last effort for the Baptist NZ platform, I want to acknowledge four remarkable ‘salt’ people. Reluctant, humble people but gifted and called people.
It’s always a fascinating time in the life of a church when it journeys as a community between pastors. Personally, I’ve got some strong opinions on ‘pastor’. I would have been happier with ‘lead follower’, but that’s beyond the scope of this blurb. As the church that I love heads into uncharted waters of the ‘interim’ between pastors, we (me and the eldership and accepted by the congregation) have come up with the IMT. Interim Management Team. These four will lead, direct and serve the church in the interim. And what a team! Four people who love Jesus, their church community, and their wider community have been chosen to lead in such a time as this. Four young women have said yes to God’s nudging, God’s persuasion. There has been a deliberate shift in mindset, not only toward a more collaborative team approach but also by the congregation, which has courageously embraced a new way of thinking and adjusted its expectations of leadership.
This has started with the congregation accepting that they are the ones who share the responsibility for pastoral care and that it’s everybody’s calling to be involved, not just the function of a pastor. This is being expressed through Life Groups that become the nucleus of care and belonging. A key emphasis in these groups is being intentionally intergenerational, praying together, and providing practical and spiritual support within and beyond the group. It is the goal that every congregant finds belonging in a Life Group of some sort. This is a great congregation – They are salt.
And then there is the team. Noisy, creative and out of their comfort zone! One will serve with her ability in vision, mission and organisational management. In particular, she will contribute to the directional vision for the church and how that is communicated on Sundays. The next in line adds to that by continuing her work supervising administration and reception. She also adds to the team with her creativity, vision and management skills. Another key member is a young mum who has a growing passion and enthusiasm for the Intermediate Kids. This is a recognised growth/mission area for the church, so it’s vital that they are integrated into the life of the community. In saying yes to the invitation to the team, she said, “It’s time for me to stop being a recreational Christian and step up”. The fourth will continue in her work serving the families of the church by running the kids ministry, which continues to grow. She will also assist in the team dynamics with her ability to be creative about including everyone in the journey. What a team! They are salt!
Dang, nearly forgot another couple who have put their hands up. These two are people we thought we’d got ‘rid’ of. We sent them out as missionaries to serve in another context in the ‘lower island’ of New Zealand. But they have listened to Jesus and are willing to serve as mentors, offering guidance, encouragement, coaching and wisdom, supporting the team in fulfilling the church’s vision and mission – all be it from a distance. I like to call them ‘camp Mum n Dad’, but they…not so much. But they are salt!
And that’s it.
This is Kevin’s final entry for his Salt of the Earth column. You can read his other entries at baptist.nz/resources/communication/columns
