As Carmen and Casey Lee prepare to move on from their many years of mission at St Matthew’s, Tītahi Bay, they share some thoughts on that time and being obedient to God’s call on their lives.

Our response to the call to minister at Tītahi Bay was simply one of obedience: “His will be done.”

We retired from ministry in Malaysia, and were attending St Christopher’s, Tawa when the Co-Vicar General Ven. Julie Rokotakala invited us to take the helm of St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Tītahi Bay. After waiting upon God, we responded – it was a go!

Ven. Julie informed that St Matthew’s Anglican Church (SMAC) was a very small church and we would be non-stipend and starting at ground zero. We started work, and at times there were that déjà vu feeling from our decades of past ministry of tolling, planting, rebuilding, gathering and sieving of the people.

SMAC was in a stage of low spirituality and high physical disrepair. The parishioners were low in morale; the sad condition of the church and hall was a physical reflection of their spiritual condition. The perimeter wall was reminiscent of Nehemiah’s Jerusalem wall. The remnant of mainly elderly folks were contented to remain at status quo, largely due to a lack of directional incentives and also financial constraint.

God moved among his people; some left, but the new generation who came and those that remained were willing to be guided “to make St Matthew’s relevant to the community.” The warden underwent education for Ministry. Others were happy to be counted as servants for His work.

“He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata.” When the people turned to the Lord, they became one and willing (2 Chronicles 7:14). The physical and financial situations were no longer insurmountable hurdles. Instead, they allowed the people to experience first-hand God’s endless faithfulness, to enjoy His provision, and to share in His love and joy.

How else could you explain it, except that it was God’s provision when the projected cost of repairs and maintenance to the church and hall was more than halved when undertaken by willing local builders; when professionals chose to work at St Matthew’s as part of their community service; when we were given gifts of banquet chairs and accessories to enable the hall to be rented out, cement blocks to rebuild our walls, and a garden shed for our storage.

The Tītahi Bay Fruit & Vege Co-op and the Tītahi Bay Community Garden at St Matthew’s intertwined the church with the community, and the groundwork that has started for five units of affordable housing when completed will further enhance this connection.

The word of God is prominent in our ministry at Tītahi Bay. The sharing of it has touched and transformed lives, whether from the pulpit, out in the harvest field, or through personal testimonies. We saw sons and daughters come from afar to be ministered to (Isaiah 60:4). It is our joy to see faith revived and the healing of souls by the word of God.

After seven years at SMAC, we heard the call of the change of season to hand over the reins (Ecclesiastes 3). We therefore hear and obey, knowing that SMAC is His church and that it is He who gives the growth. All glory and praise to God.

by Carmen & Casey Lee