From memory the story goes something like this:
A bloke is walking along a beach in Mexico (as one does!) after a huge storm. Hundreds of starfish have been washed ashore. A small boy comes into view as this fellow picks his way through the dying starfish. The lad is throwing the helpless creatures, one by one,  back into the water. The man approaches the child and enquires, “Why bother? What difference can you possibly expect to make?”. The child without breaking rhythm throws another starfish and replies, “It made a difference to that one!”. Indeed it did.
Making a difference one by one: the starfish principle, if you will.
Vanessa is an exemplar of this starfish principle.
I’d been speaking at a dinner some years ago. It was connected with a Christian basics course. Vanessa had been invited by a friend. In time Vanessa placed her life in Jesus’ hands and then set about praying for her husband, Eugene.
Eugene attended church, signed up for a Christian basics course and a one to one Bible reading programme. Eugene came to Christ.
In the meantime Vanessa had been speaking about her trust in Christ to Marion, a neighbour. Marion then came along to a series of evangelistic events and eventually to church. Vanessa had also been praying for her friend, Mel. An informal pastoral relationship developed and Mel also, through Vanessa, was enfolded into the community of faith.
Not to be outdone, Eugene enrolled in a (secular) director’s program. It was there that Eugene met Robert. Eugene and Vanessa started to pray for Robert and they opened their home to him as well. Vanessa and Eugene invited Robert to the next Christian basics program. Robert accepted and found it all very helpful. Last week, after a meal (with Eugene and Vanessa), Robert attended church for the first time.
During a recent Moore College Mission art show, Vanessa exhibted some of her work. As I spoke with people that evening (most of whom I’d not met before), the oft repeated refrain, “Oh yes, I’m Vanesa’s friend. She asked me along tonight,” rang about the gallery. Wonderful!
In October (2006) I’m taking a small team from church to conduct a mission in the diocese of Ballarat. Vanessa hesitated in applying - she wasn’t sure that she’d be suitable. The ‘queen of the starfish’ not suitable?
On Sunday night , a young woman, Jess, is being baptised. It seems that Vanessa (and I only found this out today) met Jess a few years back at some local dance classes!
‘Redemptive relationships’ is a term sometimes applied to the way in which Vanessa goes about her ministry.  And that is probably correct….though I myself, having coined it, will now refer to all this as the starfish principle; making a difference (for Jesus), one precious soul at a time.
Thanks Vanessa.

Stuart Robinson is the National Mission Facilitator for the Anglican Church with church planting experience in Western Sydney, the CBD and Europe, and the rector of St Paul’s Anglican Church, Chatswood.