our children our world, compasssion day 2010 - tearfund new zealand

8/7/2019 Our Children Our World, Compasssion Day 2010 - Tearfund New Zealand

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T e n D a y s of C ompa s s i on


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T he theme for this years Compassion Day is,Our Children, Our World. We are reminded thatevery child is created in the image of God andtherefore should have the right and opportunityto experience life in all its fullness.

To inspire Kiwis to make a difference, we have producedthe rst-ever Compassion Day Devotion Guide.A 10-day devotional booklet offering insights on justice

and poverty, thoughtfully offered by Christian leadersfrom around the country. As you head into CompassionDay on Thursday 25th March we trust you will beencouraged through the daily readings.

Justice is the new blackMick Duncan page 3Good news or bad news?Ps. Murray Robertson page 4 He has sent mePs. Maree de Jong page 5Enriched Through PovertyPs. Iliafi Esera page 6Seeing beyond the disability

Charles Hewlitt page 7It is time to act!Rev. Jung Hun Choi page 8To subvert the city, bless it!

Dr. Mark Strom page 9This is a Story of HopeAndrew Urquhart page 11Generosity and the presence of GodPs. Ian Wright page 12 Doing Justice is spiritual warfare

Steve Tollestrup page 13

K ia Or a ,we l c ome t o C ompa s s i on Da

y 2 0 1 0 Justice is the new black

Mick DuncanCommunicator, Educator & AlongsiderMichaelduncan.org

Reading: 2 Kings 4-5

Jus t ice is n o t a bou t be in g t re n d y i t is a bou t prophe t s ge t t in g a l on gs id e ord in a r y pe opl e

Justice is the new black! It has now become very in and it. This is agood problem. Good in the sense that at last justice is on the page. It isa problem in that it may be hijacked and become nothing more than atrendy bangle on a wrist.

We must never forget that justice is not just about protest marching,buying fair trade coffee, going to the majority world and being alternative.

Justice is about people and particular people at that. Justice is about con-necting with people and walking with them over an extended period of time. And as we do so, we need to ask four questions. What is happening

for this person? Secondly, why is this happening? Thirdly, what ought tohappen? And nally, and in light of the three previous questions, what thencan I make happen with and for this person?

When we get alongside people, walk with them and ask these questions;then justice becomes more than a bangle. It becomes instead a way of loving people. An academic once wrote that justice is what love lookslike in a particular situation. I like that! Essentially therefore, to be aboutthe work of social justice, is not about being a social activist. Rather, it isabout being a disciple of Jesus who loves people.

Steve TollestrupExecutive Director


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In one of the most well known passages in the New Testament, Jesusspells out to us the manifesto for his mission. He has come, He says, tobring good news to the poor, the prisoners, the blind and the oppressed.

Given that these were great themes with the Old Testament prophets,we might have thought that his audience of devout believers might haverisen as one to applaud his intent. Instead we nd them forming a lynchmob to assassinate him.

What on earth went wrong? Things seemed to be going well until Jesusquoted some of the prophets to show that Gods heart for the poorextended far beyond the believing community to the despised Gentiles.Sometimes I wonder how different we are today. As long as we areassured that Gods blessings are for us, all goes well. But when we aretold God purposes to bring his redemptive love to all humanity, manysadly lose interest. Do I?

T he y t ook h im.... in ord e r t o t hrow h im off t he cl iff.

Reading: Luke 4: 14-30

Ps. Murray RobertsonPastor Emeritus, Spreydon Baptist ChurchDirector, Leadership [email protected]

Good News or Bad News?

Ill never forget the rst t ime I went to Cambodia and saw thepoverty that was a reality for so many lives. My rst response wasto want to buy things for the children and their families. I did notsee beyond the surface need into the heart of the human spirit thatdesired far more than material possessions, but required people withhearts that would break to see justice, love, and dignity extended tothese precious lives.

Our western way of living and thinking can bl ind us to Gods heart forevery human life. A heart full of compassion, love, justice, and mercy.

A heart that is always reaching beyond itself toward others to bringsolution, not sympathy.

God is looking to us to be the answer, to be the ones who can helpbring change. The rebuilding of the generations is in our reach; it is inour hands.

A he a r t t ha t is a l wa ys re a ch in g be yon d it se l f t owa rd o t he rs t o br in g sol u t ion , n o t s ympa t h y.

Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4

Ps. Maree de JongSenior Pastor, LIFElifenz.org

He hassent me


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Poverty is not just lack, poverty is a spirit. It is the fear of lack, a fearthat you will end up going through life never having enough. This atti -tude plagues the rich and the poor alike.

St Paul said of Jesus that, though He was rich, He became poor thatthrough His poverty we might be made rich.

Born in a stable yet, He owns the universe. Begged a woman for a drink,yet He is living water. Borrowed a boat for a pulpit, a boys lunch toperform a miracle, a coin to illustrate a teaching and donkey to rideinto the city. Nowhere to lay His head, yet the earth and its fullness isHis. In death as in life - He paid a debt he did not owe, cruci ed on atree He created and buried in a borrowed grave. He died alone.

Yes we are rich through Him; saved by His death, forgiven by His blood,healed by His wounds, set free by His love and even though we may beincapacitated; His grace is suf cient. All things are found in Jesus Christand when we have Him in our lives, we have everything.

Reading: 2 Cor 8:9,Luke 4:18, Prov 19:17

Enriched ThroughPovertyPs. Iliaf EseraSenior Pastor, Christian Leaderfcc.net.nz

P ove r t y is ul t ima t e l y n o t a l a ck of su bs t a n ce bu t of Some on e

Seeing Beyond the Disability

Charles HewlettPrincipal, Carey Baptist Collegecarey.ac.nz

Reading: Mark 1:40-42

F il l e d w i t h compa ss ion , Je sus re a che d ou t a n d t ouche d t he ma n .

As the chair of the Board of Trustees of my sons Special School I wouldmeet weekly with the Principal. Recently I was in her of ce along withthe Deputy Principal. As we were talking, a group of students walkedpast the window and our discussion immediately stopped. The deputysaid, Dont they just look so beautiful, while the Principal just sighedand said nothing.

It brought tears to my eyes. These women didnt notice the frames of the wheelchairs, the white stick Harry was carrying, or the excitedscreams of my son James. They werent put off by the uncontrolled

arm waving or the contorted expressions on their faces. Rather, thesewomen saw boys and girls they knew individually; people with personal-ity and potential. They knew their struggles and pain and appreciated alltheir small, very small achievements.

It is so easy to value people for what they can do rather than for whothey are. May we look hard for beauty within people and then take agenuine interest in their lives.


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Children are a precious treasure. I still remember the time when eachone of my children was born and the great joy I felt. My children meaneverything to me.

No one would want to exchange their precious child for anything, yetsadly it is a reality that in order to survive, some have sold their chil -dren into slavery.

Extreme poverty has caused so much pain but God hears His world. Heis listening to the weeping of broken families.

In Exodus 3:7 God says: I have indeed seen the misery of my peoplein Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers,and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down torescue them

Jesus stepped into our world to save us from despair. Jesus has called usto be a part of his mission. It is time to act. It is time to step into the tor-ment of others and offer our hearts and our help.

E x t re me pove r t y ha s ca use d so much pa in , bu t God he a rs h is worl d .

Reading: Exodus 3:1-16

Rev. Jung Hun ChoiKorean Minister, Greyfriars Presbyterian Churchgreyfriars.org.nz

It is time to act!

The risen Jesus called Paul to translate His kingdom in the Greco-Roman cities of the empire. Life was dominated by Roman rule andby conventions of rank and status that held people indebted to thewealthy and powerful.

The extraordinary ful lment in Jesus, of Gods promised grace,demanded a profound shift of allegiance: from Caesars story of worlddomination, to Jesus story of world reconciliation (v1).

This renewal of the mind empowered a radical non-conformity to theprevailing social patterns and ideas (v2). By grounding identity in grace,it undercut elitism, fuelled a profound reassessment of others, andestablished the new social obligation: love, not ambition (v3-5).

In a world where love and compassion never appeared as virtues of a man (always a man!), and where justice served eliti sm, the story of

Jesus provoked a manner of life that subverted the inner logic of theimperial capital, even as it blessed its inhabitants (v6-21).

Do n o t con form t o t he pa t t e rn s of t h is worl d , bu t be t ra n sforme d

Reading: Romans 12:1-21

Dr. Mark StromNational Principal, Laidlaw Collegelaidlaw.ac.nz

To subvert the city, bless it!


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Andrew UrquhartProgramme Director, New Zealands Rhemarhema.co.nz

I have seen rsthand the work of justice that TEAR Fund and its partnersare involved in around India. What I experienced deeply impacted mylife and view of the world - a spontaneous concert in the biggest slumin Bangalore; travelling by Tuk Tuk through the dirt, dust and crowds of Delhi, and visiting remote Dalit villages.

I touched the extremes of poverty amongst the worlds poorest and sawdevastation but also determination, dignity and joy. I witnessed every humanaspect of a person and their community, being engaged and transformed.

As Christians, it is part of our calling to provide for the material,spiritual and emotional needs of the poor. When this happens it reallyworks. This is not optional even when it involves our own sacri ces.When this is done, Jesus is made real and his sacri ce retold amongstthe mess of our world.

This is what makes the real difference;giving beauty for ashes and peace for despair;the difference between Disgrace and Grace;This is a story of Hope..

T h is is wha t ma k e s t he re a l d iffe re n ce ; g iv in g be a u t y for a she s a n d pe a ce for d e spa ir

Reading: Isaiah 61

This is a Story of Hope

See what God says about poverty and justice.Be challenged and inspired by more than 90 Bible studies.

Words that jump off the page

0800 800 777tearfund.org.nz

Register now for your FREE CD!


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I love that fact that the presence of God is a 24/7 promise for everyfollower of Jesus, and that as we draw near to God, He will draw nearto us. (James 4:8)

Many look for wonderful spiritual disciplines to assure themselves of thepresence of God. Personal experiences of prayer and intimacy, times of fellowship with other believers, uplifting and inspiring church services andconferences, times of personal retreat and fasting. These are all legitimatevehicles to know the presence of God in a more profound way.

But as we live in an age of an increasingly me centred Christianity, wemust remind ourselves that we all have a responsibility to the down-trodden and disenfranchised.

As with the early church, there is a call for all followers of Jesus toserve generously those who are less for tunate. In doing so, Godpromises to, draw near to those who are generous, lend freely andact with justice.

Dra w n e a r t o t hose who a re ge n e rous, l e n d fre e l y a n d a c t w i t h jus t ice

Reading: Psalm 112:1-6

Ps. Ian WrightSenior Pastor - Invercargill Christian Centrechristiancentre.org.nz

Generosity and thePresence

of God

Doing Justice is spiritual warfare

Steve TollestrupExecutive Director, TEAR Fundtearfund.org.nz

Reading: Gen 1:26-28;

Luke 11:17-20; Rev 21:5 We a re n o t on l y in vol ve d in soc ia l jus t ice bu t impor t a n t l y a n d v i t a l l y, sp ir i t ua l wa rfa re .

Standing alongside the open drain in a slum outside New Delhi, the stenchof raw sewage is overwhelming. Flies are everywhere; especially on my faceand around my eyes. I am continually swatting, blowing, and wiping themaway. Around me are Delhis poorest children and families; squatters, land -less, and Dalit, the so called outcasts TEAR Fund works with.

I consider the words of Jesus calling Satan, Beelzebub, The Lord of the Flies. Jesus understood the social dimension of poverty, as the teaching of theGood Samaritan clearly demonstrates. However, when Jesus calls SatanBeelzebub Lord of the Flies, He put his nger directly on the spiritual dimen-

sion of poverty - the satanic challenge to Gods image in a human being, theattempt at undermining all hope for these poor children and their families.

When we give, or we pray, when we take action to advocate for justiceor work alongside these poor communities, we should never forget thatwe are not only involved in social justice but importantly and vitally,spiritual warfare.


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Compassion Day aims to releasea wave of compassion thatchanges lives around the world.

To kick Compassion Day eventsoff, TEAR Fund will go live on NZsRhema.from 6am to midnight.

The day will be dedicated to promot-ing TEAR Fund Child Sponsorshipand the events and activities of theCompassion Day Tours to follow. Youwill be inspired by live interviews,in-studio performances, guest pre-senters and messages from children

around New Zealand.Tell your friends and seize controlof your workplace radio, to help usget more than 100 children spon -sored on the day. Find out Rhemasfrequency in your area at:

rhema.co.nz

NZ s R he ma , f ul l -d a y ca mpa i gn on T h ursd a y 2 5 t h M

a r c h

TUNE INto Rhema

Every child, created in the image of God,

deserves the chanceto experience life in all its fullness.Give a child living in desperate poverty that hope today!

Sponsor a child for just $45 a month.0800 800 777tearfund.org.nz


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North Tour South Tour

10 events nationwide

Steve Tollestrup +Restoration Mick Duncan +Shooting Stars

RHEMA Thursday 25th March 6am to Midnight

Live on New Zealands Rhema. Find the frequency in your area by visitingrhema.co.nz

NORTH TOURAUCKLAND & WHANGAREI

SOUTH TOUR

WELLINGTON & CHRISTCHURCHVenues and times TBA attearfund.org.nz

our children our world, compasssion day 2010 - tearfund new zealand

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