What could a man do to deserve such a brutal death?

In October 1536, an Englishman was executed in Belgium. He was tied to a stake, strangled, and then his body was burned.

You might assume he had committed a particularly heinous crime. Murder? Treason? Something worse?

The man was William Tyndale.
His crime was translating the Bible into English.

Today that may sound almost unbelievable. Most of us own several Bibles. We can read them freely, carry them on our phones, and hear a sermon from the Bible in our own language preached every week.

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Every day Jesus sends us into the harvest fields of our workplaces, streets, and families. God has sovereignly placed us in the lives of the very people he is drawing to himself. Often, as we pray for workers, we are the answer. What a joy and privilege to be Christ’s ambassadors and workers, scattering the seed of his word and watching him transform lives.

As we prepare to gather this Sunday, we wanted to share some news regarding a change for our family. After much prayer, reflection, and several weeks of rest, Andy has decided to step down from his role on the City on a Hill staff team. Claire will be remaining in her role as Magnification Pastor, with some adjustments to ensure her ministry continues sustainably.

As someone who is still relatively new to Aotearoa New Zealand and only recently a Kiwi, I’m aware that I’m still learning what to make of Waitangi Day — our national day, marking the 1840 signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

From what I observe, it’s less a celebration of national pride (like Independence Day in the US or Bastille Day in France) and more a day marked by reflection and, at times, tension.

Many New Zealanders value the idea that our nation was founded by treaty rather than conquest, the recognition of Māori as tangata whenua, and the belief that injustice can be named, challenged, and addressed rather than ignored.

‘An Attitude of Gratitude’

This is a phrase I’ve started using with my family. When things don’t go our way and we’re tempted to complain or get grumpy, we remind each other to choose an attitude of gratitude, to thank God instead for the many ways he provides, cares for, sustains, and remains faithful to us.

Throughout the Bible, God’s people are repeatedly called to give thanks:
“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 9:1)