Local Roads

Local Roads

Local roads give us the opportunity to impact our community, our city and our nation. Local Roads lead to ‘local towns’.

in Mark 5:1-20 we have the story of Jesus healing a demon-possessed man. To read the full story, please click here. His life story, so far, was tragic.

This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. (vs 3-5)

As the story progresses, the man is set free: healed, dressed and in his right mind. As Jesus prepares to leave

…the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (vs 18-20)

This is from the NIV (New International Version) however, when we read the same passage in the NLT (New Living Translation) it gives a slightly different insight into this, as we read,

So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

The Decapolis, literally The Ten Towns, was the region in which the man had lived all his life. More than that, it was a region that he had terrorised for many years, and now he is sent to go and tell the people of that region how much Jesus had done for him.

When we become followers of Jesus, some of us are sent to new places, sometimes to distant places, (see Distant Roads) Most of us are sent back the place we already live, work and socialise. These are ‘our towns’.

However, there are also other ‘towns’ on the Local Roads… up and down New Zealand.

For example, for quite some time I (Brian) have been concerned at the inability of the church to impact our existing communities, let alone the new housing areas that are popping up around the fringes of Auckland’s Western Suburbs. I’m not convinced that the ‘normal’ model of church with its dependence on pastoral staff and property has got any real chance of keeping up with the growth of these new areas, however I believe that a DMM (Disciple Making Movement read more) using  DBS (Discovery Bible Study read more) could.

Over time, there are a number of ‘towns’ we have felt led to pray for. As we continue to pray, we continue to listen to what more God would have us do. These towns include:

  • Te Atatu Peninsula – that is where God has planted us
  • Ranui
  • Whenuapai
  • Hobsonville Point
  • Scott Point
  • Westgate
  • Red Hills
  • West Hills
  • Malbec
  • Huapai.

It was while a small group of us were praying in Whenuapai that I felt prompted to create the www.followjesus.nz website, with friends later translating it into Mandarin Chinese www.gensuiyesu.nz.

So… what is/are your town/towns.

Where is God inviting you to tell what Jesus has done for you?