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Global Mission Office

Having read this article I hope you will be left with one over-riding thought: I have to attend GlobalTrek 2003. You know all about it - dates, venues and programme. One question remains: What would motivate you to attend?

 

Clearly ours is not a happy world at present. General Secretary of the WCC, Rev Dr Konrad Raiser correctly states "Wars cannot be won, only peace can". He called the attack on Iraq "immoral, illegal and ill-advised... (ignoring) the voice of civil society, churches and other faith communities". I have posted worship and other resources on the Global Mission - Peace page.

Our New Zealand hymnal 'He came singing peace' is another wonderful resource to enhance relevant worship. Many Presbyterians have continued to march and pray. The majority however remain dumbfounded by the barrage of 'real time' war footage. I do too. This global conflict confronts every parish as people of all persuasions fill our churches on Sunday searching for inspirational leadership, guidance, words of solace and hope, renewed faith - the assurance that God is still with us. GlobalTrek is about our response to a world in crisis. It is all about the gospel call to be salt and light in the midst of hopelessness. Convinced? Not yet.

Is religious difference the root of all evil?

It is an interesting question. Overseas Council New Zealand (OCNZ) reports that Christian brothers, Rasheed and Saleem Masih were acquitted on 22 March 2003 by the Lahore High Court, Pakistan having both been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment under the "Blasphemy Law". They were convicted on the word of an ice cream vendor who accused them of blasphemy and defiling the name of the Prophet Muhammad after an argument. Imagine such an event taking place in New Zealand! Section 295 B and C of the Pakistan Penal Code outlaw the defiling or damaging of the Qur'an or the prophet Muhammad. The laws are misused to persecute Christians and other non-Muslim minorities.

Imagine our police having the time to deal with blasphemy and bible bashing! What is your opinion on religious persecution? Can interfaith dialogue help? Whilst not a specific topic at GlobalTrek, no doubt it will be discussed as we debate what it means to be Christians in mission in other countries and how to handle flood of new religions coming into our communities? You may find a paper on similarities between the 'Big 3' written by my Methodist colleague John Roberts very interesting. It can be found on the Global Mission - Debate page.

A challenging example from Thailand of inter-faith at work was reported by Reuters News. On 28 March 2003 an estimated 50,000 Thais took an oath against drug use at an interfaith ceremony led by Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Sikh spiritual leaders. How would we respond if one billion metamphetamine pills flooded New Zealand annually? Inter-faith, GlobalTrek and the international drug trade - now there's an interesting mix.

Persecuted for your faith

Still not coming to GlobalTrek? OCNZ reported on the plight of Rev Rinaldy Damanik, a minister in the Church of Central Sulawesi (GKST), Indonesia who is head of the church's Crisis Centre. He is on trial for the alleged possession of weapons following Muslim-Christian violence even though the overwhelming evidence indicates that he is being framed as a scapegoat by the authorities' who fear the Islamic militant extremists, Laskar Jihad. We have a long history of kiwi Presbyterians working in Sulawesi. But do we have a future? Possibly a gathering like GlobalTrek will enable us as a Church to strengthen our witness for Christ and peace? When last did you or I face imprisonment? When last was your witness worth framing you over to shut you up? Framing and imprisonment were certainly not a strange experience for the Apostle Paul. Mind you neither were they for Jesus.

I was hungry

Clive Calver, President of World Relief, suggests there is "a grotesque unawareness" about the food crisis in Mozambique. Calver reported that "there were people lying beneath trees dying, while others were eating worms and vegetation that normally elephants would have." Mozambique's National Disaster Management Institute stated that 1.4 million people now need food aid mainly due to poor rains over the planting season in late 2002 and recent cyclone damage. Talk about extreme weather patterns.

At the same time hundreds of elephants, giraffes, impala, and other wildlife species are being shipped Noah's Ark-style from their current home in South Africa's Kruger National Park to the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Over 6,000 animals will be moved in a three-year translocation project that will culminate in the creation of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP)-a multi-use recreational and cross-border conservation area including territories in South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. At least the 'Big 5' seem to be able to cohabit in peace! But besides the foreign tourists who will enjoy the park, it seems as if the animals are getting preferential treatment over people! Do we have an opinion on whether people are more important than animals?

And yet life still goes on

In the midst of these often overwhelming situations around the world, we can celebrate the birth of a son to Stuart & Lala Simpson who recently returned from Madagascar. Aina's baby brother will be named Manda.

Kathryn McDaniel wrote recently from Thailand of her gratitude to God for her progress despite the rigorous treatment. However she also spoke of her grief at the loss of two close friends.
So what is your answer?

Would any of the extraordinary challenges facing our world motivate you to attend GlobalTrek 2003? If so, register now on line or on an application form. Closing date 27 April 2003.

A real bun fight

The UK's Telegraph newspaper states that local authorities have ordered schools to stop serving hot cross buns at Easter so children of non-Christian faiths are not offended by the symbol of the cross. The Muslim Council of Britain called the decision "very, very bizarre". A spokesman said: "This is absolutely amazing. At the moment, British Muslims are very concerned about the war with Iraq, and are hardly going to be taken aback by a hot cross bun.". The humble hot cross bun has pagan origins and was christianized in 1361. ! Possibly Britain could export all the offensive buns to Mozambique?