Missionaries come in many differing shapes and sizes and they can serve for a brief period of time, for years or a lifetime. Paul the apostle considered himself to be as one of ill-timed birth and the least of apostles, yet he shaped the gentile church and wrote the majority of the New Testament.

Missionaries often take a leap of faith. Paul the apostle established numerous churches along his missionary journeys. As he travelled he talked to people in simple words. He wrote letters of instruction, encouragement and correction to those who became followers of ‘The Way’.

Pioneers and settlers immigrate to New Zealand to usually start a new or better way of life. When the barque Louisa Campbell arrived off North Head in May 1842 and deposited Joshua Robinson and his family ashore, Auckland’s first Baptists had arrived. Later with his son-in-law William Morgan he helped found Auckland’s first Baptist Church. These people walked and talked.

Most of us have not experienced the trials of pioneers and missionaries but each day as we walk and talk and go about our daily business we are Jesus to the people we come into contact with. Jesus walked and talked daily, and people were drawn to him. Jesus’ strength came from His reliance on the Father and doing what the Father commanded of him. Like Jesus we need to rely daily on God. God deliberately kept it simple so that we can simply talk as we walk.

Eric Harrison