Jay Matenga ahau
It is traditional for Maori to locate themselves according to their tribal lineage, environmental context, and family connections. For Maori readers, here is my pepeha…
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Te Waka o Kupe me te Tuhirangi ngā maunga
Ko Onoke te moana
Ko Ruamahanga te awa
Ko Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa
ko Ngati Porou, ko Kai Tahu ōku iwi
Ko Ngati Rākaiwhakairi tōku hapū
Ko Kohunui tōku marae
Ko Terepuku, rātou, ko Tui, ko Te Matenga Kainoke Tui,
ko Aperahama Kuhukuhu Tui Matenga rāua ko Mere Noke Whaare oku tupuna
Ko Kaki Tui Matenga raua ko Morehu Rera Manihera Pouhiki oku kaumatua
ko Taare May Matenga tōku koro
ko Barrie James Tui Matenga tōku mātua.
Ko Jay Matenga tōku ingoa
No reira,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa
Theorist
I serve in highly pragmatic contexts where practitioners can too quickly dismiss theorists. Little do they realise that everything they do has been influenced by someone’s theory! Call it what you will: a framework, model, set of principles, plausibilities or paradigms – theoretical constructs lie at the foundation of all interpretations of human reality.
I get energized by time spent chewing over concepts in my head, that have real-world applications. Most of the thinking I do is drawn from data sourced from my involvement with the global missions community. I look for patterns, for historical influences that cause situations to develop. I investigate assumptions, motivations, purpose and desired end-games. I assess the complexity that creates problems and seek to help people and organisations navigate their way through the hurdles to harmony.
Writer
Communication is among my top strengths. The written word is my preferred means of communication. As I process ideas from the world around me, map connections and visualise strategic ways forward, I articulate the sense I make of the world through writing. I have found it helps others make sense of their world too.
I find expressing myself by writing easy and an absolute joy. This is a key indicator of a strength. When I’m writing I enter a state of ‘flow’ where the world around me fades into the background – I often don’t even realise the room’s gone dark! To be able to publish what I produce is a privilege and I seek more opportunities to draw on experience, research and debate to make sure my contribution is of practical relevance to readers within my spheres of influence.
Speaker
Oratory is highly valued among indigenous people, and I enjoy presenting fresh ideas to groups in creative and light-hearted ways. Whether in lectures, workshops, seminars, small groups, sermons, or one-on-one cafe meetings. If people want to engage in a conversation about the topics I have researched then I’m happy to oblige.
I like working the angles. In the movie “A Beautiful Mind”, the John Forbes Nash character claimed, “Find a truly original idea. It is the only way I will ever distinguish myself. It is the only way I will ever matter.” Something like this is a motivating passion for me. My identity is not dependent on it, but I’m rarely content with “this is the way it’s always been”, because I know it isn’t. As an unconventional thinker I enjoy surprising an audience, bringing a fresh take on topics they may assume they already know well.
Bio
My early years were spent growing up in state housing in the impoverished welfare-dependent suburb of Cannon’s Creek, Porirua East, New Zealand. When I was about 7 years old, my mother and step-father moved our somewhat volatile nuclear family to cheaper rental housing in the small rural town of Martinborough (Waihenga), South Wairarapa, New Zealand. It was there that I put down roots. 40 years later I was to discover that my Maori ancestors’ bones lay near there too. This is my turangawaewae, my standing place, the earth to which I belong. At the age of 16 I accepted Jesus as Lord of my life and was baptised in my tribal river, a significance that resonates strongly with me now in the second half of my life.
I am the husband of Pauline, who I met at Faith Bible College in 1988 and we married in 1990. We have no children, but we have a conviction from the Lord that this has freed us to pursue our missions calling in special ways (similar to 1 Cor 7:32-35).
We both left the banking/clerical workforce in 1991 to pursue God’s call on our lives and invest ourselves into missions service, initially with WEC International. In 2000, I was appointed the leader of Pioneers New Zealand’s newly formed Mobilisation Base, and I remained in that role until 2015. My leadership position in Pioneers saw me responsible for every aspect of missions sending and supporting alongside a small dedicated staff team. My leadership responsibilities also extended to helping with Pioneers’ international development as part of their International Leadership Team and International Council.
Since 2007 I have been an Associate of the World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission, although my connection with the Commission began a decade earlier in 1997 when I first met former Executive Director Dr Bill Taylor while I was studying for my MA at All Nations Christian College in the UK. In 2011 I was appointed to lead the Mobilisation Network with the WEA MC and tasked with completing a major global research project concerned with mobilisation. That project culminated “Mission in Motion: Speaking Frankly of Mobilization“, which I co-wrote, published by William Carey Library. In 2018 I was appointed to the WEA MC’s Leadership Team as Associate Director with responsibility for Publications, Funding and Communications.
In 2015, I moved on from Pioneers to take up the role of Executive Officer at Missions Interlink, the national association of missions-passionate people and organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. Missions Interlink is the equivalent of Missio Nexus (USA), Global Connections (UK), Missions Interlink (Aus), etc. My primary responsibility in Missions Interlink is to foster greater collaboration in mission from and within Aotearoa New Zealand and promote a deeper sense of being a community ‘on mission’, within our subscribed membership in particular, but also among the people of God (aka the Church) in Aotearoa New Zealand in general.
In 2020 my role with Missions Interlink reduced to make way for additional responsibility as the Director of the World Evangelical Alliance‘s Global Witness Department and Executive Director of its Mission Commission. The leadership responsibilities work in synergy, ‘theoretically’ half time each for Missions Interlink and the WEA. As I have done for the missions community in Aotearoa New Zealand, so I seek to do in the global ‘Evangelical’ community — to strengthen participation in God’s mission and help God’s people flourish in missions.
In addition to my Missions Interlink, WEA MC and personal commitments, I also serve as Secretary of Interserve’s International Council and on the working board of the New Zealand Christian Network.
Education
In spite of an anti-education stance within my family of origin, my innate curiosity motivated a desire to better understand spiritual realities and this led me into Christian studies. The Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course was a catalyst for directing my interests toward the rather unconventional context of evangelical Christian missions and missions sending/support in particular.
I have not attended a mainstream university but have earned a DipCS from Faith Bible College (NZ), a Bmin from Worldview Centre for Intercultural Studies (Aus.), a DipMiss from Australian College of Theology (Aus.), an MA in mission studies from All Nations Christian College (UK), and a Doctorate of Intercultural Studies from Fuller School of Graduate Studies (USA).
Passions
I have many interests and passions. Writing is chief among them. I am also a poet/songwriter, singer, guitarist, and worship leader – nothing gives me greater joy than leading God’s people in sung worship, especially in multi-cultural environments. For me, singing is a deeply therapeutic and spiritual experience. I accredit that and my singing voice to my indigenous heritage. I enjoy carving and usually have a project in process. My artistic leanings extend to the digital sphere where I draw on years of desktop publishing experience to enhance my online and professional life.
My over-riding life-calling or passion is to help people extend God’s influence in the world for God’s glory. Ultimately, that is why I do all that I do. I seek first God’s kingdom and trust that the Holy Three will provide for all our needs.
Ma te Atua e manaaki koe
(May God provide you with every good thing)
Maranatha!
See you on the other side. 👊🏼
Listening
with Reuben Ezemadu
Leader, MANI
Collaborating
with Risto Jukko
Leader, WCC’s CWME
Learning
with Snr Samuel Escobar
Latin American Missiologist