E ngā maunga whakahī o te motu, tena rā tatou katoa, welcome to season two of Ngā Here.
Now just to recap In our first season of Nga Here, I came up with this crazy plan.
I was looking at the health of our planet and the wellbeing of the people who live in Aotearoa - and I had some pretty big questions. Questions about what our faith and what the Bible might have to say about the way that we live and about how we care for creation and each other. Questions about why the Church doesnt seem to be doing too much to care for God's creation, And questions about how Māori and Pākehā can learn from each other and grow together as we care for the whenua.
So - last time I invited two strangers who were asking similar questions to come to Christchurch for a weekend - to head off the grid to the secluded hut on Banks Peninsula - hidden in the middle of beautiful native bush surrounded by birds… so we could fully immerse ourselves in Creation, to explore these big questions.
Now what I didn’t expect was how many other people were also asking these same questions. So many people listened and got in touch to let me know that they had been wrestling with the same questions.
And, after talking for hours and making season one of Ngā Here, we quickly realised that we had only just scratched the surface. I actually came away from our first weekend in the hut with a totally new perspective on how Christians should be caring for creation here in Aotearoa.
Now that first kōrero was amazing - But I also left the hut with some new questions that I just haven’t been able to get out of my mind. Questions about how we can feel more connected to the places where we physically live when we are also living in an online, disconnected, concrete-covered world. Questions about how we should care for and respect the whenua - when the economic system we’re in seems to see it as something to be used and abused? And as weird as this might sound… Questions about the difference between dirt and soil - and how so much of the stuff that we take for granted, might actually hold the key to living a truly abundant life here in Aotearoa.
So with all these questions in mind - we decided to get the crew back together again! And to go back to the hut to continue the kōrero.
So if you’re keen - I’d love you to come on another crazy, beautiful, journey with us - as over 6 episodes we explore Ngā Here - the many connections that exist between Creation, the Bible and living in Aotearoa.
So Nāu mai Haere Mai!
Ngā Here - Many Connections is a project funded by The Wilberforce Foundation in partnership with Scripture Union. Produced by me, James Beck, with Creative Direction from the Revered Spanky Moore. Our Music was created by the wonderful Chris Williams - check him out on Spotify. Don’t forget to listen to the whole 6 part series of Ngā Here.