March 17, 2008
Palm Sunday, Como, Italy: We had arranged to meet our friends at the Piazza Duomo at 10am. But on arrival, we discovered that we were not the only ones gathering around the great marble cathedral at that hour. Crowds of the faithful were converging on the central square of the northern Italian city, famous for […]
March 3, 2008
Our planet has been wrongly named. That was the opinion of a science reporter I once read in a German airline magazine. And flying across the mighty Pacific and then the North Atlantic on a 12,000 kilometre trip back to Europe, I have to agree! The vast majority of this trip has been over water. […]
February 25, 2008
Kiwi culture is something I have to readjust to everytime I visit my land of birth. New slang and expressions demand translation and explanation. christians often have had a name for running behind the times. Many of us grew up hearing prayers and Bible readings in 17th century english – as if somehow that was […]
February 18, 2008
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent lecture addressing the relationship of Islam to public law ‘touched several raw nerves in our culture’, commented the popular evangelical Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright, at the London School of Economics last Thursday. When that happens at the dentist, he suggested, we know it’s going to be painful but we […]
February 11, 2008
A miracle is unfolding in Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light district, following the prayers and actions of many in recent years. Supported by two-thirds of the city’s inhabitants and all but two of his city council, Mayor Job Cohen is driving through a bold plan to replace brothel windows and sex-bars with fashionable stores, galleries, cafes, […]
February 4, 2008
Thirty-four years ago today, I left the shores of my homeland for the first time. I suddenly recalled this personal benchmark during a special lunch today with family and friends back in New Zealand, to celebrate my mother’s 85th birthday. As we shared happy memories around the table, honouring my mother Shirley for her spritely […]
January 28, 2008
In the last of three short articles, YWAM’s International Director of Urban Missions, Tim Svoboda, challenges the mission’s leadership to strategize for effective urban outreach. His challenge can be adapted by other missions and denominations. Tim led the YWAM urban work in Chennai, India, where he pioneered city-wide networks and diverse ministries. He recently received […]
January 21, 2008
Here is the second of three short articles by Tim Svoboda, YWAM’s International Director of Urban Missions. This comes to you as Romkje and I are travelling to New Zealand, returning to Europe early March. Tim led the YWAM urban work in Chennai, India, where he pioneered city-wide networks and diverse ministries. He recently received […]
January 14, 2008
Over the next three weeks, I will be sending on to you short articles from Tim Svoboda, YWAM’s International Director of Urban Missions. For two reasons: one, Romkje and I leave this weekend for New Zealand to be with family there, returning early March, and this saves me extra work! More strategically, what Tim has […]
January 7, 2008
‘Hope’ seems to be bubbling up all over Europe this year as a theme for national strategies, city-wide evangelism and inspirational events. Young evangelical leaders in Poland, for example, are spearheading an initiative they pray will gain momentum across denominations under the banner, Realna Nadzieja (Real Hope). Their vision embraces the whole Christian community across […]
December 3, 2007
Sometimes I think the Pope must be reading my mail! Recently I suggested in an editorial for HOPE magazine that a good companion volume to Benedict’s book, Without Roots, would be Without Hope. The first book portrayed a Europe that had forgotten the source of her values. The second, I proposed, could describe a Europe […]
November 26, 2007
When Liviu Mocan went to renew his driver’s license sometime after 9/11, the city official behind the desk began to panic. For the sculptor’s swarthy complexion and grey-flecked bushy beard gave him a remarkable resemblance to the world’s most wanted man: Osama bin Laden! Yet this man is a revolutionary of sorts. Through his sculptures, […]
