It was a privilege to be in Christchurch for the Gathering. This year close to 600 people attended the four day conference at Lincoln University – the most for many years – and it was an inspiring time of sharing and drawing closer together as a denominational family.

When I heard the venue had shifted from Hamilton to Canterbury I had misgivings. Wouldn’t it be better to cancel Assembly and give the money it costs directly to our churches in Christchurch? Or maybe fly Christchurch pastors who wanted to come to Hamilton?

But I was completely wrong. Holding Assembly in Christchurch to show solidarity for our Cantabrian church family was the best thing we could have done. It was humbling to hear the stories from our Christchurch brothers and sisters during the course of the conference.

And the first night, when all the Cantabrian pastors attending – and there were many of them – spoke a few words about this year’s journey, it was moving.

Just as it was to watch the DVD, The New Normal, so beautifully put together by Kim Boyce-Campbell, in collaboration with her mother and retiring Baptist Union president Lyn Campbell. It combined heartrending footage with more poignant stories from our people in Christchurch.

When we arrived at Christchurch Airport and drove out to Cashmere, where we were staying with friends, it was hard to believe disaster had recently struck. We initially saw little signs of quake damage. But the next day, when we ventured towards the city centre, we started to notice the undulating roads, propped-up fences and walls, piles of rubble and empty lots.

At first I thought of taking photos, but actually being there I didn’t have the heart. My mind drifted back to another Christchurch Assembly held at Spreydon a number of years ago. On that trip, Duncan and I wandered into the city and visited the Cathedral where a huge Christmas tree was already decorated and gleaming.

We lit candles in the holy peace of that place, the first time we had entered as Christians, as we were fairly new believers.

God offers us a hope and a future. He says it is the church and not the bricks and mortar that count.

And although there is still much sadness in Christchurch, there is also a palpable sense of hope as Cantabrians look towards slowly shaping their city’s new future.

This Christmas will be like no other in Christchurch and more than ever I pray for God’s peace and goodwill to be with everyone in the city as they come to the end of such a cataclysmic year.

– Fran Pardon