By Troy Nathan, NZCMS Māori Evangelist
How I Met Jesus
I met Jesus in Waikeria on July 26 in 1982. While inside the Waikeria prison, after I physically abused a white man, he later came back to see me with a chocolate and Bible. I thought he was a nut case in all honesty. It made me question, who comes back to gift someone who has physically hurt them? In my world before Christ, nobody did this.
It was later that night when I opened the Bible and came to a verse in Romans chapter 12 verse 20 which says:
“Na, ki te mate hiakai tou hoa riri, whangainga; ki te mate wai, whakainumia: ki te penei hoki to mahi, ka purangatia e koe nga waro kapura ki runga ki tona mātenga.”
“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.”
I cried and felt a heaviness lift off of me, a heaviness I didn’t know I even had. This led me to seeking who Christ was. Years later I met Wally Haywood who eventually became my spiritual father and nurtured and guided me in my faith in Ihu Karaiti.
Why I Love Jesus
The word of God is what allows me to fall in love with Jesus constantly and every day. My Love for Christ is an everyday personal relationship as I know that I would be lost without him. I believe in the forgiveness that Jesus gives to me because of what he did on that cross. He suffered for me, died for me and rose again to victory for me. That’s why I love him!
My Background
Ko Tuta Moe te Maunga
Ko Mamaranui te Moana
Ko Mahuhu ki te rangi te Waka
Ko Ngati Roroa te Hapu
Ko Ngati Whatua te Iwi
Ko Taita te Marae
Ko Kia Mahara Koutou te Tupuna Whare kei Kaihu
Engari hoki tonu koe ki roto ia Ngapuhi he iwi nui tonu
Tuta Moe is the mountain
Mamaranui is our sea
Mahuhu ki te Rangi is our Canoe
Ngati Roroa is our Subtribe
Ngati Whatua is our main tribe
Taita is the name of the meeting place
Kia Mahara koutou is the name of our Ancestral house in Kaihu
But we are still part of the larger tribe of Ngaphui.
My Call into the Role of a Māori Evangelist.
It is through whakawhanaungatanga (the process of relationship) that my minister Matua Les has walked with me for over a year within the Māori Anglican church in Te Tai tokerau. He has sat down with me to listen and understand some of my background and walk with God. This prompted him to ask me if I would consider a role with the Māori Evangelists in Te Takiwa o Manukau partnered with the NZCMS, to which I responded positively to. I have accepted that this is a calling from God for me and where I am able to continue to serve God and his people.
Thank you, Tessa. I remember Ray (and Jean) very warmly from our time at St Tim’s before we left for St John’s College at the beginning of 1987, and was excited many years later to learn of their visit to the Elliotts in Uganda. (We visited them in 1997 on study leave.) That visit, and a later one, showed their quiet growth in faith and mission during the years. I praise God for Ray’s life and service, and pray for the Comforter’s presence to be so close to Jean.
Hey there,
A friend of mine told me about you guys and I’d love to come along on Monday!
Cheers,
Caleb Croker
Hi Caleb, I’ve just seen your message. I apologise that this was missed. I assume you’re talking about the Seriously Interested in Mission group? The next one is August 11 and we’d love you to join. Can you email us at office@nzcms.org.nz (Rosie writing here)
Thank you Tessa
Thank you Archdeacon Fran. Mothers Union appreciated your input when we visited the Far North recently. Your wisdom and wise counsel made it a memorable weekend. God bless you in your new role.
Rev Fran, you and Rapiata are a gift to the Church. May the Lord bless you as you serve in this next season
With reference to the article ‘By invitation not invasion’. My husband and I were involved with CMS from the 1960s onward and this was always the attitude of CMS leadership. They deferred to the church leadership opinions whenever possible, wherever there was a local church. I’m not aware if this has change. It isn’t something new.
Hi Pauline,
I agree with you!! I don’t think this has changed, just good to re-iterate why and we send mission partners. This is Rosie writing — hope you’re doing well!
Yes Pauline it was the same for Alan and me. When we went to Singapore 1966–69 it was in response to a request from the Bishop oof Singapore and Malaya.