Kurt has a strong sense of ‘call’. He’s never been to theological college (or wants to) and he does not work on a church ministry team. Kurt is a layman. A regular guy, I suppose. He takes the bus to and from work, loves his wife and daughters and lives a relatively quite sort of life. Well, almost.

You see,  Kurt believes that God has set him apart to serve as the Reynolds Street ‘chaplain’. Seriously.

Here’s how it works: With intent Kurt prays for each of his neighbours in Reynolds Street by name. He asks the Lord to give him opportunities to explain God’s love for them in Christ.  And because he’s friendly and genuinely interested in their well-being, people tell him all kinds of things. They know he’s the sort of person who can be trusted with sensitive info too. He even offers to pray for them. Most are OK with this.

At Christmas Kurt and his family organise a ‘block party’. Everyone in Reynolds Street gets an invitation and most come. Its a B.Y.O affair…barbies, tinnies and kebabs. Kurt’s clan prepare and pass out the words to the carols and the whole company lustily rehearse the birth of the Messiah in song. Sometimes Kurt reads a few verses from the Bible.

Recently Kurt decided to ‘take it up a notch’. More invitations. This time it’s to a Christian basics programme on Friday nights. It seems Kurt underestimated his standing in the community. Lots said, “sure Kurt, why not?”

Why not indeed? Each week some 28 people pack into Kurt’s front room and they speak about Jesus. The dilemma that Kurt is facing (now that the course has concluded) is what to do with his friends. Some laughed when he suggested they come with him to ‘St. Pete’s’ on Sunday mornings. “If I went into that place the roof would…...”.

It seems they want a ‘safe’ environment; a place where they can have a free and open discussion; a chance to pray in down to earth (read: very colourful) language - maybe even sing a bit (with a ‘cab sav’ in one hand and a snag in the other).

That’s not to say ‘St. Pete’s’ insn’t any of those things. Truth told, it’s a great church.  The Reynolds Street crowd simply prefer to hang out together and be led and taught by the man they know and trust; their ‘chaplain’.

As people bring new friends, Kurt prays that God will call another ‘chaplain’ to share the load. Someone from Jamieson Avenue, perhaps. The houses have bigger lounge rooms there.