Regular readers of this column may recall that I am currently on my way to lead the team to run the second ever NextGen Uganda.
On my way, I have had the delight of spending a few days in Capetown, South Africa. Most of my time was spent with leaders from the Church of England in South Africa (CESA).
The marks of decades of help from Sydney Anglicans are hard to miss, and greatly appreciated. God's work in these churches and denomination is a powerful reminder as to the impact that we can have around the world. George Whitfield College was established just over 20 years ago, with Sydney-sider David Seccombe principal for most of this time. Before him it was Broughton Knox.
The College now has about 100 students, and is the main training arm for CESA. The connections are too many to list here. It is a series of seemingly smaller events that have fostered and developed the relationship, rather than any one event.
It is hard to spend time with CESA friends, and not be struck by the ministry of Frank Retief. Though recently retired as Presiding Bishop, his days at St James Kenilworth were the closest thing to revival that South Africa has known.
Countless people came to know Jesus through the power of the Gospel. Hundreds came to Bible study mid-week to delve into the word of God with Frank. Scores were raised for full time ministry. Even today, St James remains larger than any church in our own Diocese, such was the sustaining nature of the conversions that God worked in this time.
Someone said to me: 'now that Frank is retired, he could preach more.' But they quickly acknowledged that one must look to the future, rather than the past. While we rightly rejoice in what God has done through his remarkably gifted servant, the time comes when more normal patterns of church life and evangelism must dominate.
I suspect that in the years to come, it will be our South African brothers and sisters who will teach us some of these lessons, as some of our great leaders and servants of the Lord Jesus slow down.
Perhaps a question we could discuss is this: what do normal patterns of church life and evangelism look like?
