These images of The Church of The Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo in the South Island of New Zealand are well-known - at least in this part of the world. We visited the church one cold Sunday afternoon in the middle of winter. We failed to read the sign at the door that said that the church was used by the Anglicans in the morning and the Roman Catholics in the afternoon. Without thinking we opened the door and found the eyes of almost everyone in that building turned our way. Thankfully the congregation numbered less than a dozen! The priest continued, totally ignoring us. I guess he was used to insensitive tourists barging in and disturbing mass.
Years ago an Australian friend gave me a card with the photo of the cross in the foreground and the mountains in the background (taken from inside the church) and I was able to say, "I've been there." Show these images to anyone who's toured New Zealand and chances are they will be able to say the same thing. Google "Church of the Good Shepherd New Zealand" and similar images will appear.
While these images of a small church in New Zealand are well-known, there are images of the world-wide church that are lesser known. I'm talking about the persecuted church. It's easy to be complacent in our Western churches and forget our brothers and sisters suffering for Christ's sake all over the world.
The media doesn't show these images. They're relatively unknown. Forgotten and ignored. But just because we don't see them doesn't mean it's not happening.
Last Sunday a young man visited our church and spoke about what was happening in his homeland. He had studied in our town several years ago and was well-known to many in our congregation. When he spoke he didn't focus on the persecution - in fact he said that Christians were being persecuted in his homeland and it was good. Good! Why? Because the church was growing. Because they were seeing prophecies fulfilled - such as young men dreaming dreams. Because he realised that when the people have no one to turn to but God, there is no place for lukewarm Christianity. In place of complacency is a living breathing fire that nothing can quench.
In our padded pews it's difficult for us to comprehend that in the twenty-first century there are still people that die for their faith in Christ. For many, choosing Christ is a death sentence.
We have no idea.
Writing to the Church of Ephesus, Paul referred to himself as "an ambassador in chains" (Eph 6:20); to the Church at Philippi, he wrote, "for to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Phil 1:29, NKJV).
We may not have to suffer for our Christian faith but let us never forget to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ that are suffering - the persecuted church.
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