Mission in Action

Caught up with a mate of mine the other day. He’s a builder, a self-avowed atheist, and a pretty deep thinker.? Anyway we’re having a drink on his verandah and talking about life , the universe and everything. He told me about one of his young apprentices who in his words is a “bit deep” and needs someone to talk to.? Turns out the young bloke has lost a good friend in a mining accident within the last three months, and that has triggered some big issues that have been sitting there since his brother committed suicide nine years or so ago.

“He’s been thinking about death a lot,” said my mate, “I told him I might have someone for him to talk to.”

“Oh,” I said, before realising he meant me.

When we got back we realised that because of the mining boom this place is awash with money.? Everyone (Not everyone -Ed) is either cashed up or debted up and building the extension/buying the SUV/getting that flat screen. What does it take to break through that veneer? Probably only death.

Anyway I met up with this young bloke for a drink at the Guildford Hotel. He’s the kind of person I hit it off with really well: non-tertiary educated, intelligent, witty, and a real thinker. There are a whole lot of tradespeople out there who are far smarter than many of the uni-crowd and he was definitely one of them.

Let’s cut a long story short.? He said that “the stuff isn’t enough”. He’s got all the bling, but he won’t let that satisfy him.? ? In fact he looks at his mates and can’t figure out why they are so satisfied with things that they will have to leave behind when they die.? We had a great talk and are going to meet up on a fortnightly basis.? Incidentally, it never ceases to amaze me (and please me) when people who haven’t heard a lot about Jesus
are really impressed by the stories you relate to them from the gospels. This young bloke was no exception.

What does it all mean? It means what we thought it meant in Sheffield with TCH.? How do you reach your location with the good news of Jesus? Slowly, persistently, and in the context of good relationships. We’re going to start a Sunday brunch every couple of weeks or so and bring some of the crew together who want to plant with us, and then invite people like this young bloke as time goes on. Sounds like a plan.

written by Steve