Nigel Ring
It was an awesome privilege spending time with Nigel Ring at Crossroads Community Church as he shared God’s word, and also having him spend an evening in our home. I managed to catch up with Nigel after dinner and this is what he said:
M.M: Can you briefly tell me about your background?
N.R: I was born in Sevenoaks in UK. I did my schooling at Marlborough College and went to Cambridge University for 5 years where I studied Mechanical Sciences (Engineering) at undergraduate and post-graduate level. During that time I met my wife Janita – the most beautiful girl in the world. We married and have 4 children: Jez 39 years, Nikki 37, Becky 26 and Suzi who is 22. I have 2 grandsons: Gideon who is 14 years and Ethan who is 2¾ (3/4 is very important at that age!).
M.M: From Engineering to Administration – how did you cope with the change?
N.R: Because I knew God called me to ministry, it was emotional at the time but, I never doubted it was right. It wasn’t a crunch change but an emphasis change. Leaving the job I loved to something new and unknown was both emotional and a bit strange as I had had quite a high profile and was now starting again. However, God is so good; it really did not trouble me.
M.M: What are some of your highlights of working with Terry Virgo?
N.R: It’s a HUGE privilege having Terry as a friend and observing his humility and prayer life. It’s also an incredible privilege and pleasure to work with a company of men who could hold high positions in the secular world and yet are not jostling for position. There was also the excitement of not having a clue of what administration was about or where we were going in specific terms and yet seeing the favour of God on Newfrontiers.
M.M: Can you briefly tell me about your background?
N.R: I was born in Sevenoaks in UK. I did my schooling at Marlborough College and went to Cambridge University for 5 years where I studied Mechanical Sciences (Engineering) at undergraduate and post-graduate level. During that time I met my wife Janita – the most beautiful girl in the world. We married and have 4 children: Jez 39 years, Nikki 37, Becky 26 and Suzi who is 22. I have 2 grandsons: Gideon who is 14 years and Ethan who is 2¾ (3/4 is very important at that age!).
M.M: From Engineering to Administration – how did you cope with the change?
N.R: Because I knew God called me to ministry, it was emotional at the time but, I never doubted it was right. It wasn’t a crunch change but an emphasis change. Leaving the job I loved to something new and unknown was both emotional and a bit strange as I had had quite a high profile and was now starting again. However, God is so good; it really did not trouble me.
M.M: What are some of your highlights of working with Terry Virgo?
N.R: It’s a HUGE privilege having Terry as a friend and observing his humility and prayer life. It’s also an incredible privilege and pleasure to work with a company of men who could hold high positions in the secular world and yet are not jostling for position. There was also the excitement of not having a clue of what administration was about or where we were going in specific terms and yet seeing the favour of God on Newfrontiers.
Nigel visiting a home near Crossroads Community Church
M.M: Any administrative challenges?
M.M: Amongst your travels around the world, what would you say is the uniting factor of the different people groups and the major differences amongst the people groups?
N.R: From a Christian perspective – it’s an immense privilege and of great interest to travel to various cultures and be accepted as Christians despite the huge differences in culture, finance, background etc. This is the uniting feature.
Differences are conspicuous in clothes and food but other common differences are seen in the attitude to time, marriage and so on. One other difference is often seen when something goes wrong. Do you seek to find out ‘what’ and ‘who’? This highlights the difference between ‘blame’ cultures - where people need to know ‘who’ so that they can avoid the same error in future - and ‘shame’ cultures – where people must not be shown up in front of others, so the issue may not be addressed.
M.M: How best would you describe your experience at Crossroads Community Church?
N.R: I LOVED it. There is very healthy energy in the church. I loved the serious amount of time given to international prayer in a rural context yet you’re keeping up with what’s happening around the world. There seems to be good community life. It was FUN. I’m impressed with Steve and you on how you are integrating the Foundations programmes into the Church as a lifestyle rather than a project.
M.M: Any words of encouragement?
N.R: There is a real spiritual hunger that people want to see Kingdom advance on earth as it is in heaven; a very real participation of members functioning together – it’s what Kingdom Community should be. I’m encouraged with the energy going into ministry with the poor – helping them to become active participants. I’m proud of Newfrontiers and the serious attention given to the plight of the poor.
M.M: Thank you so much Nigel. It was wonderful getting to know you more.
Interviewed by Molly Manhanga
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