So just what IS kiwi ingenuity Serving in Mission?

In the New Zealand Herald last year, it was reported that a $10 kitchen wok from the Warehouse was converted in to a transmitter for a new TV station in North Otago. They said this was a “classic case of Kiwi ingenuity.” I have been mulling over just what it means to export kiwi ingenuity in the form of missionaries to our teams around the world. For me the graphic above which shows some No.8 wire, sums up what makes NZers a valuable part of any missionary team.

As a people connected to the land and with an affinity to nature we are often found in very practical development roles. Our egalitarianism and lack of history as colonizers means that we happily work alongside or under the national church. Kiwi ingenuity doesn’t mean an “I can do it” arrogance, but coupled with a reliance on prayer and upon the Lord, our God-given innovation and “we’ll give it a go” mentality gives kiwis a MacGyver-like ability to solve many problems, often using unconventional means or whatever happens to be lying around.

Neither does it mean that we are all rugged pioneers and individualists. I have been told that a fence of No.8 wire is best put up 3 strands at a time to make it stronger and minimize breakage. We NZers work especially well in small multi-cultural teams that give people a chance to contribute according to their giftings.

Not that we always are easy to get on with: some find it hard to see how “DC”s (derogatory comments) are terms of endearment and at times our egalitarianism causes us to challenge all authority and forget that there is such a thing as servant followership as well as servant leadership.

Nevertheless, as Kiwis, I believe that we have a unique role to play in God’s mission to the world alongside missionaries from many nations. Whether in the hard places of the world or in multi-cultural teams our kiwi ingenuity (the No.8 wire mentality) is a strength that will help the Kingdom advance. You our missionaries are not super-heroes just servant leaders – mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries (1 Co.4:1). Please know that we pray for you all. We see our role as mentoring others into missions and standing by you all as you are enabled by God to do all that he has called you to do together.

My vision is to see many NZers mobilized to go into the hard places of the world to reach the unreached with the transforming message of Jesus. We are challenged to send out and stand alongside you. Know your God, be bold and do great exploits in his power and love (Daniel 11:32b).