A note from Keith
20 August 2010
Dear Friends,
After the enormous amount of hype that has surrounded the election campaign, the coming days will involve returning to our day-to-day life here in Australia. A number of matters come to mind:
Firstly, there are the many people who are virtually untouched by an election campaign and largely ignored by all parties, namely some of the people we care for at Wesley Mission and to whom we seek to offer hope in the name of Jesus Christ. It is important that they continue to be a priority for us.
Secondly, while the majority of the emerging issues have focused on our internal politics, the challenges the world faces cross the boundaries of nationhood and present the opportunity to be a world community. In the midst of the campaign, Pakistan was devastated by the worst floods in the country’s history, half a million people in Southern China have been forced to flee their homes following floods and landslides and there are almost daily suicide attacks in Baghdad. How can we as a people learn to be more responsive to human need beyond our own doorstep?
Finally, I cannot help thinking that we have partly succumbed to the temptation of allowing our politics to become a popularity contest… it is much more important than that! It is vital that we address the issue of values and find ways in which we can interpret the Christian faith in the specific circumstances of our daily and national life.
I don’t want to try to forecast the future, but we can certainly envisage that it is going to be increasingly difficult, as Christians, to engage with our culture. As some of you are aware, we at Wesley Mission have found ourselves accused of being narrow and restrictive, when in point of fact we have simply been expressing the essential moral values which underpin our faith and life. This is a time to pray meaningfully for our country.
On this particular Sunday, I commend to you a prayer for our nation:
Almighty God, we pray for our country at this significant time. We ask you to grant wisdom, insight, patience, dedication, integrity, open-mindedness and humility to all those who have been elected to high office. We pray that each may be equipped to honour the trust placed in them. Give to them the qualities they need to serve faithfully, staying true to their convictions, yet putting people before party. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Warmly yours
As Superintendent and Friend,
Rev Keith V Garner
Superintendent
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