Word of Mouth

10 Jun 2010

When Tracey Buunk had a man turn up on her doorstep with an unexpected donation of ten kilograms of frozen stir-fry chicken, the Hei Hei–Broomfield community development worker knew God was behind the idea to hold a community dinner.

“The community dinner came about because of a shortfall in funding. When the donation of frozen chicken arrived, and only an hour later there’d been a promise of potatoes, I thought, ‘God’s going to provide for this’,” says Tracey – who realised early on that the dinner was going to be much more than just a fundraising affair.

Tracey, who works for Anglican Care’s Family and Community division, held the dinner in November last year and has scheduled another for 21 August. A three-course meal will be available at the outreach centre, which operates from the former St Aidan’s church in Christchurch’s Hei Hei Road.

Even though monthly lunches are held at the centre and draw up to eighty people, Tracey says the November community dinner was her first. The building has limited cooking facilities – no oven or large pots – so the stir-fry chicken was perfect for heating up on the night in slow-cookers. Other donations of food, table settings and equipment – many unsolicited but on Tracey’s ‘must-have’ list – arrived at the centre, and a team of eight volunteers helped on the night.

Tracey says for her, personally, the event was a valuable lesson in trusting God. For the community, it was an opportunity for a social event that provided locals with a healthy meal, a chance to make friends and to hear her testimony about God’s provision – for community dinners and in her life! The event also raised more than $500 for the centre’s work.

Second time around, Tracey plans to cater for fifty people. She expects most of them won’t be regular users of the centre or the social services it provides. “It works by word of mouth – and there’s some pretty big mouths in this area!” she laughs, explaining her marketing approach. “The people who need to be there will be there,” she says with conviction.

Tracey, who is studying for a Certificate in Local Mission and Evangelism with the Anglican agency Church Army, is only too willing to share her faith with those who come along. “I’ve felt the ever-increasing need to share God with people. I say, ‘Hey, I’m going to church on Sunday – do you wanna come?’”

WORDS: Megan Blakie PHOTO: Dave Wethey