Last week, Spanky came to me and exclaimed, "Brad! Jay’s coming down next week, shall we hustle an event together?" To which I enthusiastically replied, "Of course!"
Jay Ruka is a bit of a legend in the realm of faith and cultural partnership. Author of Huia Come Home and Dean of Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary, he’s passionate about bridging Christian faith and Māori culture. He speaks on New Zealand's missional history and the transformative message of the gospel amid cultural missteps of the Treaty of Waitangi.
His invitation into a future of flourishing cultural partnership really excites Spanky and me, so we were keen to have him here.
Given the last-minute nature of the planning, we thought a cosy, small venue would suffice – expecting no more than 30 people – so we booked Victus Coffee & Eatery in Nelson.
But as word spread about Jay's visit, Bishop Steve advised, "You're definitely going to need a bigger venue." So we switched to St Barnabas in Stoke, initially planning to use just the foyer, which accommodates around 60 people.
As the night unfolded, people were lining up 45 minutes early. By the time 7:30pm rolled around, over 100 people were buzzing in the foyer, sipping coffee in what had become a standing-room-only space. We quickly ushered everyone into the church, and ended up filling the building!
Jay captivated the audience, weaving together the narratives of the gospel’s journey through Aotearoa, themes from his book Huia Come Home, and the pivotal aspects of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. His message focused on the historical and ongoing work of God in New Zealand, highlighting the interactions and emerging visions of reconciliation and partnership between Māori and Pākehā, with Christ at the centre of these efforts.
In the same vein, we have an amazing opportunity for the young adults within the diocese – a ministry encounter trip to Waitangi in February 2025. This is a chance for our young leaders to step into a greater understanding and engagement with our history and the role of the church in leading through this time of cultural change.
If you’re interested, I'm holding an information evening at St Barnabas on Tuesday next week, with a Zoom link available for those further afield. It’ll be a great opportunity to learn more about the trip and to ask any questions you might have.
It shows an eagerness to be able to participate meaningfully in conversations around church and the Treaty, and I’m encouraged by that. God has been at work in this country for longer than any of us have been around, so we might as well get on board!
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Last week, Spanky came to me and exclaimed, "Brad! Jay’s coming down next week, shall we hustle an event together?" To which I enthusiastically replied, "Of course!"
Jay Ruka is a bit of a legend in the realm of faith and cultural partnership. Author of Huia Come Home and Dean of Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary, he’s passionate about bridging Christian faith and Māori culture. He speaks on New Zealand's missional history and the transformative message of the gospel amid cultural missteps of the Treaty of Waitangi.
His invitation into a future of flourishing cultural partnership really excites Spanky and me, so we were keen to have him here.
Given the last-minute nature of the planning, we thought a cosy, small venue would suffice – expecting no more than 30 people – so we booked Victus Coffee & Eatery in Nelson.
But as word spread about Jay's visit, Bishop Steve advised, "You're definitely going to need a bigger venue." So we switched to St Barnabas in Stoke, initially planning to use just the foyer, which accommodates around 60 people.
As the night unfolded, people were lining up 45 minutes early. By the time 7:30pm rolled around, over 100 people were buzzing in the foyer, sipping coffee in what had become a standing-room-only space. We quickly ushered everyone into the church, and ended up filling the building!
Jay captivated the audience, weaving together the narratives of the gospel’s journey through Aotearoa, themes from his book Huia Come Home, and the pivotal aspects of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. His message focused on the historical and ongoing work of God in New Zealand, highlighting the interactions and emerging visions of reconciliation and partnership between Māori and Pākehā, with Christ at the centre of these efforts.
In the same vein, we have an amazing opportunity for the young adults within the diocese – a ministry encounter trip to Waitangi in February 2025. This is a chance for our young leaders to step into a greater understanding and engagement with our history and the role of the church in leading through this time of cultural change.
If you’re interested, I'm holding an information evening at St Barnabas on Tuesday next week, with a Zoom link available for those further afield. It’ll be a great opportunity to learn more about the trip and to ask any questions you might have.
It shows an eagerness to be able to participate meaningfully in conversations around church and the Treaty, and I’m encouraged by that. God has been at work in this country for longer than any of us have been around, so we might as well get on board!
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
