Living the Story by Brad Coath
We all have a narrative. It is the storyline which undergirds what we believe, how we act, and what things we value. Our narratives are captured in the symbols which we hold dear—flags, celebration days, songs, monuments—and as we engage with these symbols, they shape our lives and our communities. They point back to events from our past—the way our communities have been founded, the sacrifices made and the adventures lived. And they point forward to hopes for the future.
One of the core practices we share as UNOH communities is meeting for communion. In our homes, with team members or neighbours, we meet most days to remember the story anew.
As we gather around a shared meal, we celebrate God’s shalom pictured by the biblical writers in such earthy ways as,
“They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.” — Isaiah 65:21
It’s a shalom which we sometimes see glimpses of in our neighbourhoods—the dignity felt as work creating handicrafts is valued and rewarded; the belonging experienced as women often isolated by language and culture gather to share recipes; the abundance experienced in eating, laughing, and praying together. It’s a shalom that comes from the deep recesses of our hearts, a longing to be all that it is God created us to be.
As we take the elements of bread and wine, symbolising Jesus’ broken body and poured out blood, we enter into the suffering of those on the underside of the story—those exploited by the wealthy and dominated by the powerful—and join Jesus in the confrontation of injustice even in the face of consequences. As we enter into the suffering of our own neighbours—the displacement and trauma of those fleeing war and persecution; the captivity of immigration detention; the poverty of the slum; the hopelessness of addiction; the lingering cultural domination of colonisation—we are ourselves changed. We can never stand in their shoes, but we can be found alongside our neighbours, learning to see from their perspective and helping to amplify their voices in the cry for a more just world.
And as we eat and drink together, we act in faith that this crazy hope that God will put things right—that God’s Reign will come on earth as it is in heaven—will be brought into being. That those who have fled persecution will find a place of peace and safety. That those whose lives and communities have been shaped by the forces of cultural domination will have the ability to shape their own futures restored. That those whose dignity has been crushed under the weight of poverty will be able to live out of all that it is to be human, created in the image of God. It’s a hope expressed in neighbourhood churches, in homes, and amongst neighbours as we pray, and in our neighbourhoods as we seek to live out God’s new world. And it’s a hope that is grounded in those three words which became the catch cry of the early Jesus movement: “Jesus is risen!”
So each day as we share communion together, this is the narrative we find ourselves in. Again and again we remember and again and again God’s Spirit shapes us. This is the story we live.
Running the Race by Denise Tims
Hebrews 12:1-2 NRSV
… Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,[a] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of[b] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
In 1924 two athletes whose strong determination, commitment and passion for running, led them to converge in Paris at the Olympic Games to represent Great Britain. Though both men had different reasons for competing, they both desired to run the race of their lives, with the hope of winning a gold medal.
Eric Liddell a Scottish Christian whose devotion to God had been questioned when he chose to express his glory to God by running, discovered that his 100 metre race was to be on a Sabbath Sunday. After years of training for this race he decided to forfeit his place and share a sermon that Sunday in church. A fellow team-mate was so impacted by Liddell’s faith decision, that he conceded his own position, to allow Liddell to run his 400 metre race. To everyone’s surprise Liddell wins.
Harold Abrahams an English Jew, who pushes back against cultural prejudice to participate in the same sport, runs the 100 metre in his last opportunity for a medal and wins gold. The film called ‘Chariots of Fire’ released in 1981 reveals both men’s struggles, challenges and victories.
In a world, where we esteem victories rather than struggles, big rather than small, it is incredibly humbling to reflect upon the passed 4 ½ years of UNOH, and acknowledge that we have had more people leave our Order rather than join. It has been a time of trials, but we have seen strength, courage and honesty bring healing to brokenness, hurt and pain.
We have chosen to completely deconstruct and reconstruct the core essence of who we are. We have been through a refining fire that has challenged us to confess our failings, firstly before God, to each other and then also to you our supporters, sponsors, friends and critics. It has been a time to acknowledge our frailty before humanity, and the need for Christ to give us hope and strength. In this journey, we ask for your forgiveness if we have hurt, offended or failed you. We pray that God’s love will sustain, comfort and strengthen you. We are becoming stronger in our identity and have allowed ourselves to challenge what we believe in and what we value and can commit to.
In July this year we called, an Advisory Board of Darryl Gardiner, Andrew Menzies, Lynette Leach and Sherry Maddock to share their wisdom. Following this process we also decided to employ Darryl Gardiner (New Zealand) as the International Commissioner of UNOH. His role is to visit every team and to support, guide and challenge.
Finally, in 2017, the New Zealand Community of the Year award was given to Randwick Park , Auckland. This national award is an incredible achievement and to have a small UNOH team living in Randwick Park, working collaboratively with other local people and trusts, meant this award was shared with a group of passionate people who were of one heart for their community. It was amazing to note that the core group, were Jesus followers from different denominations. What I love about God is that size, does not limit His amazing victories.
Partnering Shalom by Brad Coath
I still remember looking out over the patch of land at the back of the local primary school with a sense of sadness at the neglect it had endured. Once a thriving community garden, over years it had become a wasteland of weeds, perhaps symptomatic of a neighbourhood which no one wanted to take responsibility for.
At the beginning of last year, however, something began to shift. We had newly returned from a Sabbatical in which we’d begun to reimagine neighbourhood life. Conversations begun to happen with neighbours, the school community and local organisations in which a synergy developed and excitement grew over what the space could grow into.
In the nearly two years since, we’ve seen this barren piece of land transformed before our eyes. Garden beds have been rejuvenated. Fruit trees have been planted. Shrubs and grasses have sprung up around the old drain which will hopefully provide a home for frogs and skinks. And perhaps best of all, it has brought neighbours together on a journey of understanding the preciousness of the land and the dignity it gives to those who partner with it.
Each week parents, neighbours, friends, and students spend a day in the community garden—digging, weeding, planting, harvesting, talking, laughing, eating and sharing. It’s become a place of belonging and a place of abundance as we share life and share our weekly harvest.
At UNOH Broadmeadows, we see partnering with God, neighbours, organisations, and the land as integral to participating in God’s work in the neighbourhood. We see God being about the restoration of shalom—of peace and wellbeing—in a neighbourhood and in a world too often characterised by the devastating absence of shalom. Here in the garden, there is a real sense of partnering together as one weeds, one harvests, one turns compost or does the watering. There is a joy in partnering with the land and sharing in the abundance it produces. And, for those with eyes to see, there is a beauty in partnering with God in seeing shalom—even if only in fleeting glimpses—take root.
New UNOH Worker: Matt
Where did you grow up?
My mum is from Ballarat, and my dad was born to two Italian migrants in Preston. I grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne, in the pews of our church and in the accelerated class at high school.
Do you have a favourite Bible verse or story?
I have a few, maybe Micah 6:8 or James 1:27?
What are your hobbies?
Board games, soccer, fantasy football, FIFA, poetry, nostalgic video games, podcasts, talking and coffee.
What three things could you not live without?
People and coffee, I don’t need a third thing.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about living a life that reflects Jesus.
I am passionate about justice and freedom for asylum seekers and refugees.
I love hanging out with young people, which is why I work at a school.
Tell us about your journey toward UNOH
I have always been fascinated / inspired by UNOH. A few people from our church had joined early on, and I can recall hearing their stories at missions’ conferences and in bible studies from a young age.
Midway through my commerce degree, I was challenged to live my faith in a more wholistic way, that was more than just about reading the bible, praying and listening to worship songs in the car.
So I quit my degree, and started studying Social Work.
From here I started to explore what following God looked like in less traditional ways than I had been (as a youth leader). This meant getting involved in an interfaith dialogue program, helping run a queer youth group with the local council and visiting refugees and asylum seekers in detention – which I started doing with Brad and Colleen after a UNOH camp. Since then, I have been heavily involved visiting, supporting and advocating for people in detention. Since graduating, I have been working in youth resi-care, local council, an Arabic Community Centre and at a high school. Through this work, I have come to believe in the vital need for local, personal, purposeful and intimate relationships within marginalised communities. The decision to partner with Brad and Colleen in their work in Broady seemed like a natural next step.
So here I am.
What do you hope for the next year?
I hope the next year I will be hearing and following Jesus more closely, and that my home will be known as a place of welcome, safety and food within the neighbourhood.
Sport the Medium by Eric Mailau
“I’m just lazy”, “Too fat” said Vita 8 months ago. Generally the butt of jokes being called a “FOB” (Fresh Off the Boat; someone that has recently come from the Pacific Islands, can’t speak english very well, and has the stigma of being dumb etc). Three weeks ago Vita couldn’t hold in his pride and joy over a recent experience of attending one of if the biggest sports tournament for 11-13 year olds in the south pacific, the AIMS games. “Awesome experience, I didn’t think we can play at that level!”, “We played bigger schools, top teams from Samoa and Australia”, “Made me feel like I can be good. I don’t know maybe I’ll play for NZ or Samoa!”
In 8 months Vita changed physically (slimmed up!) via training, pre-season, season, inter-school, and club games; touch, rubgy league and rugby union. Most importantly he’s changed his self-view; self-esteem, self-worth and self-respect. Vita experienced hope via the controversial medium of sports.
Acknowledging the abuse, fraud, brutality, and some of the disgusting cultures that exist within the world of sports, there are some incredible redeeming features of sport. It is fun. Its perimeters are defined, therefore progress and growth are clear. It builds team work, teaches perseverance and discipline. With the right coach it can teach good character, compassion, and respect. Lastly it is a wonderful vehicle of hope; widening a young person’s self-belief and future. This is Kingdom participation, affirmation to Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 139: 13-14.
The fragility of our teens in NZ is the other backdrop that highlights this simple story of one of our youth. NZ has the highest suicide rate in the so called “developed countries”. My personal encounters with teens in 3 high-schools and 2 intermediate schools testifies to very low self-worth. This is on top of the bigger NZ culture of “tall poppy syndrome” – the cutting down of those who achieve, and the resulting self-deprecation to protect oneself from criticism.
Our Hope in Jesus must be more than purely eschatological. Our Hope in Jesus must be more than just ‘spiritual’. It has a ripple effect that embraces the now, transforming it with view of what is to come. The case of suicide is a prime example; what is Hope to those that don’t value this life…what an utter mockery if the hope we offer is escapist in nature – a “look at this fallen world, let’s haste the next life” kind of hope.
Vita’s experience of sports was ‘transformational’ to his self-belief and testified to his already founded conversion to Jesus. Thus the two are clearly intertwined – to-and-fro, brick and mortar; transformation and conversion. Vita clearly encapsulated this in his little prayer: “Thank you God, for my sports and giving me the chance to play well”.
Muk’s Story by Elise Fletcher
Some people’s stories travel before them and are almost impossible to shed. I heard Muk’s story long before I met her and remember thinking that I would never forget it. Meeting 14 year old Muk in person was memorable because I walked in on a fight that my colleagues were helping to break up! Technically that’s when I found out that she is a fighter but it has taken four years to see quite how deep her fighting spirit runs.
Muk works with us at RoyRak; a jewellery business hosted by UNOH Thailand that provides fair wages and a safe community for vulnerable women to dream and grow. At first Muk was rude and unreliable and quick to give up. In any other job she would most likely have been sacked long ago!
Looking at Muk today I am inspired to reflect on the impact that stability in one area of life can have over the rest of life. Chaos is gradually giving way to a calm confidence. She has fought one battle after another; moving out of an abusive family setting, quitting a gambling habit and raising her own child.
She may be the youngest in the RoyRak family but Muk is now our go-to when we need a job doing well! Her design skills are spot-on and she is great at teaching others. I watched her recently with her two year old son who is hilarious for his extensive vocabulary! She has a gentle and compassionate parenting style that I don’t often see in our setting.
It’s a reality that trauma and abuse are perpetuated in relationships. My honest fear for Muk was that her story would trap her in a cycle that would continue into the next generation of her family.
We just returned from a RoyRak team-building camp in the jungle of Northern Thailand. As we helped to wash elephants in the river I glanced at a very muddy Muk and realised that my fears no longer held any weight. When I looked at her I saw a new story that she had written for herself. She has fought hard to ensure that adversity doesn’t define her and her present reality speaks much louder than her past. I am so very proud of her and pray that she will understand her story in the light of God’s big story.
Please support Muk and her colleagues by visiting royrak.org to purchase their beautiful jewellery designs.
The Fletcher Family
The Fletcher family have been working with UNOH Thailand for 5 years. Jon, Elise, Elliot (11) and Sam (8) are from the UK and they now live with their dog Poppy in Khlong Toey’s Rong Muu slum community. They have journeyed with this community through a devastating fire last year and are committed to being present here for a further 2 years. Their dream is to see their neighbours living in the knowledge of their God-given worth and responding together to issues of urban poverty. Jon currently leads the team here and Elise is the UNOH worker responsible for the RoyRak jewellery project. As a family they enjoy motorbike trips, cooking and being creative! The Fletcher’s are in the process of adopting a six year old Thai girl with a rare metabolic condition. They would value your prayers for every aspect of this complicated process. Their growing family and ministry opportunities mean that they are currently very low on financial support and are seeking churches and individuals willing to partner with them.
If you are from Australia please give via the UNOH website, if you are from the UK please give via www.give.net/20164994. Thank you!