4 A TAPESTRY OF FAITHFULNESS By Sophia Sinclair Before we start considering the stories of our Mission Partners and the locations the work, we first want to pause and reflect on the story of New Zealand. On Friday 12 April 1799 a group of 25 men gathered in a room in the Castle and Falcon Hotel in London. They had been meeting there regularly for years as the ‘Eclectic Society’. Eclectic is certainly the right word to describe them – merchants, businessmen, a silk trader, an upholsterer, a skinner, a surgeon and a number of clergy. Among them were two familiar names – William Wilberforce and John Newton. For years this group discussed ways to share the gospel globally and had supported Samuel Marsden’s appointment as Chaplain to the penal settlement in Australia. That evening the group launched a deputation to advise the Archbishop of Canterbury of a new organisation, an organisation driven by the call of the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Thus the Church Missionary Society for Africa and the East (CMS) was born. After sending missionaries to West Africa and India, New Zealand was next. God planted seeds long before plans were made to send missionaries. During his time in Australia Marsden befriended a number of Māori, including Ngāpuhi chief Ruatara. At Ruatara’s invitation Marsden shared the gospel on New Zealand soil for the first time on Christmas Day 1814. A crowd gathered at Oihi Bay to hear Marsden speak from the Gospel of Luke – proclaiming ‘glad tidings of great joy for all people’. e story of early New Zealand is a tapestry threaded with God’s faithfulness and human weakness. 2014 marks the bicentennial celebration of this event. This is a year for New Zealanders to reflect, celebrate and commemorate this period in our history. The story of early New Zealand is a tapestry threaded with God’s faithfulness and human weakness. As we look back we see political agendas intersect with godly ambition. At times the early European missionaries battled their sinful desires and made mistakes which are all too easy to condemn through a contemporary cultural lens. New Zealand & the Pacific
Transcript
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A TAPeSTry of fAiThfulNeSS
By Sophia Sinclair
Before we start considering the stories of our Mission Partners and the locations the work, we first want to pause and reflect on the story of New Zealand.
On Friday 12 April 1799 a group of 25 men gathered in a room in the Castle and Falcon Hotel in London. They had been meeting there regularly for years as the ‘Eclectic Society’. Eclectic is certainly the right word to describe them – merchants, businessmen, a silk trader, an upholsterer, a skinner, a surgeon and a number of clergy. Among them were two familiar names – William Wilberforce and John Newton.
For years this group discussed ways to share the gospel globally and had supported Samuel Marsden’s appointment as Chaplain to the
penal settlement in Australia. That evening the group launched a deputation to advise the Archbishop of Canterbury of a new organisation, an organisation driven by the call of the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Thus the Church Missionary Society for Africa and the East (CMS) was born.
After sending missionaries to West Africa and India, New Zealand was next. God planted seeds long before plans were made to send missionaries. During his time in Australia Marsden befriended a number of Māori, including Ngāpuhi chief Ruatara. At Ruatara’s invitation Marsden shared the gospel on New Zealand soil for the first time on Christmas Day 1814. A crowd gathered at Oihi Bay to hear Marsden speak from the Gospel of Luke – proclaiming ‘glad tidings of great joy for all people’.
The story of early New Zealand is a tapestry threaded with God’s faithfulness and human weakness.
2014 marks the bicentennial celebration of this event. This is a year for New Zealanders to reflect, celebrate and commemorate this period in our history. The story of early New Zealand is a tapestry threaded with God’s faithfulness and human weakness. As we look back we see political agendas intersect with godly ambition. At times the early European missionaries battled their sinful desires and made mistakes which are all too easy to condemn through a contemporary cultural lens.
New Zealand & the Pacific
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The first missionaries to New Zealand were sometimes called ‘mechanic missionaries’ – referring to their desire to bring ‘civilised’ trades and technologies along with the knowledge of Christ. However, after 11 years and no converts a new approach was needed. Henry and Catherine Williams, along with Henry’s brother William and his wife Jane, sought to bring education and the provision of the Scriptures. With this came greater awareness of the need to meet Māori where they were culturally and adapt missionary activity with greater cultural sensitivity. This led to breakthrough and a dramatic growth in Māori turning to follow Christ.
God’s Spirit and the changing cultural tide worked in tandem to open the hearts of Māori to the gospel. The Christian maxims of peace and reconciliation spoke powerfully into their culture. Although European missionaries had a significant impact the most effective evangelists to Māori were Māori themselves. Before any missionary work began in the South Island, Tamihana, son of the great warrior Te Rauparaha, had visited every pa in Canterbury and Otago to share the gospel.
Two significant and different journeys took place during the 1800s, two paths weaving together and apart at different points – the journey of New Zealand as a colonised nation and the journey of the gospel’s impact. These journeys intersect with the Treaty of Waitangi. Unlike the missionaries, who built relationship with Māori for the sake of the gospel, the new wave of
immigrants were more concerned with land and many acted unfairly. Missionary Henry Williams initially supported British rule and encouraged Māori to sign the Treaty (which he and his son translated). He believed the Crown would offer Māori equality and protection from those who were acting unscrupulously. In the light of a post-treaty landscape it became clear this was not the Crown’s intention. Both Māori and missionaries became disillusioned as they watched more and more land leave Māori ownership.
Post-treaty troubles, land wars and attempts to conform New Zealand’s Christian landscape to an authoritarian Anglican Church structure all impacted the relationship between Māori and missionaries. This sense of betrayal and hurt continues to influence church culture today. However, we must remember God’s faithfulness in spite of human weakness. God continued to grow his church and inspire his people for mission.
In 1892, just 77 years after Samuel Marsden first shared the gospel on the shores of Oihi Bay, a group of Anglican New Zealanders were determined to further the work of the Great Commission beyond their own shores. In the hall of All Saints’ church in Nelson the New Zealand Church Missionary Society (NZCMS) was formed. Marie Paisley and Della Hunter-Brown were the first Mission Partners to be sent – both went to Japan. From then NZCMS has continued to send people across the globe.
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New Zealanders have been pioneers for the gospel in many locations. A strong focus on sending Mission Partners to Pakistan and East Africa during the 20th century produced a lasting impact for God’s Kingdom. In Pakistan the Rev. Dick Carson baptised the first Kohli converts in the Sindh region kick-starting a church movement that now numbers in the thousands. Bishop Max Wiggins pioneered a new diocese, Victoria Nyanza, in East Africa. The fruit of God’s Spirit continues to flourish in this area, with believers being trained for pastoral ministry. In more recent years NZCMS’ strategic focus has shifted to the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. The diversity of contexts, religions and cultures within these two regions are fitting for New Zealanders
– our industrious and adventurous spirits go a long way when it comes to furthering the Great Commission.
As NZCMS we can look back on our history and proclaim God’s glory and faithfulness. We are thankful for the impact the gospel had on our nation’s foundation. We give God glory for continuing to build his church and use New Zealanders in mission. We are inspired by godly examples of women and men who continued to step out bravely in service to God. This year, as we celebrate 200 years of the gospel in New Zealand, we can look back and see God’s goodness as we move forward to honour and serve him in his mission.
