“ Recruiting and sending global mission workers was a primary focus of Chris’ work. A distinctive he developed throughout his time as director was a passion for the care of missionaries. He worked to provide holistic care to enable workers to sustain an effective ministry.”
Becoming a director of a mission agency was not something Chris set out to do. In fact, it would have been the furthest thing from his mind when he responded to God’s call on his life. Realising that God had a plan for making disciples of all nations, he felt compelled to participate and said yes to finding his place in God’s story.
Preparation for missions took him to Bible College in Auckland, then on to Lincoln College, an agricultural teaching institution near Christchurch. At 25, he arrived in France for language study, a long way from his home in Southland. Nine months later he entered the country of Benin where he used his agricultural skills to share God’s love.
Fast forward 16 years and Chris, his wife, Helen, and their four children found themselves back in NZ. For the next 18 years, he would be active in various leadership roles in SIM.
Recruiting and sending global mission workers was a primary focus of Chris’ work. A distinctive he developed throughout his time as director was a passion for the care of missionaries. He worked to provide holistic care to enable workers to sustain an effective ministry.
Developing an orientation programme for missionary appointees was vital. The 1970’s were key in moving towards more systematic, culturally aware, and comprehensive preparation for missionary service.
The SIM Awareness Weeks held at Willow Park Christian camp were born out of this desire to send workers who were well equipped for their roles. A country hit song of that era, ’On the Road Again’ (Willie Nelson), depicts the amount of travelling Chris did for SIM.
There was domestic travel to churches throughout the country, far and wide, for events like the Mission Close Up weekends. These training gatherings and events for enquirers were hugely instrumental in helping churches in their missional engagement.
Chris travelled internationally as well to visit mission partners in their ministry locations. Seeing the work firsthand in places like Sudan, India, and Peru gave him an appreciation of opportunities that existed to make disciples of Jesus. But he also gained valuable insights into the challenges mission workers faced, something he always attended to.
Part of a director’s role is to connect with mission supporters. Chris made many productive road trips, often with visitors from SIM International. Hearing Howie Brant talk about mission being “from everywhere to everywhere” was a new concept to grasp. Little did we know that this would become a reality today.
Reflecting on the SIM office team that was in place during his time as director, Chris would be quick to say that an effective mission office is the sum of all its parts. Each worker had a role to play, and each relationship provided a time to learn and grow together.
There were significant changes during Chris’ 10 years as director. As SIM entered a new age of mission in 2007, Chris acknowledged that the time was right to hand over to Nigel Webb who would lead SIM into the future.
Want to learn more about the history of SIM? Take a look here at our history and read about ordinary people who stepped out to share the gospel in the world’s hardest places.
