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Peter and Miranda moved to Portugal in 1983 to establish and run A Rocha’s first field study centre. Together with their four children they lived at the centre for twelve years until 1995 when the work was given over to national leadership. They then moved to establish A Rocha France’s first centre near Arles, and lived there until 2010, providing coordination and giving leadership to the rapidly growing global movement. They are now back in the UK from where they work to support the A Rocha family around the world while being closer to their own, and not least their grandchildren. Their story is told in Under the Bright Wings (1993) and Kingfisher’s Fire (2008).

15th May 2013 | Miranda Harris | 1 comments

A Rocha’s five core commitments as lived by John Stott − 3: Cross-cultural

John was more English than almost anyone I know − except perhaps my father-in-law! Yet beneath the reserved, even conservative demeanour of this gracious gentleman lurked a profound and often subversive cultural agility. His humility and genuine interest in people, along with a considerable sense of humour, enabled him to make friends across all religious and cultural boundaries.

Categories: Stories
Tags: cross-culturalism culture John Stott simplicity
15th April 2013 | Peter Harris | 2 comments

The Correspondent, the Conservationist and the Chinese Dolphins

Michael McCarthy’s poignant valedictory piece as Environment Editor of The Independent makes sad reading for Christians. But for Samuel Hung of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, it’s only because of his own Christian faith that he has been able to keep going on the difficult and painful road as one of the region’s most respected conservation leaders and campaigners.

Categories: Reflections
Tags: Christianism dolphins Hong Kong hope
26th March 2013 | Dave Bookless | 9 comments

A Horse! A Horse! God’s Kingdom for a horse?

‘Horsegate’ has become a pan-European scandal of producers, suppliers, and manufacturers, and revealed the complexity of our globalised food system. It’s not just about horsemeat, but the whole way in which food is produced. Most urbanised citizens have no idea where their food comes from. It is collective denial, because if we really did know we might have to do something about it.

Categories: Reflections
Tags: food labelling Wendell Berry
28th February 2013 | Dave Bookless | 6 comments

Will my rabbit go to heaven?

It seems a simple question, childlike even, but actually it leads into all sorts of minefields. Will God’s new creation include other animals, and if so… will my rabbit / cat / dog / snake be there? Will I know it personally? Will we be able to communicate? How will there be enough space? And should we keep pets anyway?

Categories: Questions
Tags: future pets
31st December 2012 | Dave Bookless | 4 comments

From Advent to Epiphany: the nature of hope, and hope for nature

Happy New Year!? What will 2013 hold? More hurricanes, droughts, floods, crop-failures, wildlife extinctions, urban-drift, and desperate people attempting to escape poverty. Not to mention global economic gloom. Perhaps the scarcest commodity of all is hope. What hope can Christians have for the future of the earth, or of our own species?

Categories: Reflections
Tags: Advent Epiphany hope
30th November 2012 | Dave Bookless | 1 comments

By their fruit you shall know them

One month ago, sixty people from six continents gathered in Jamaica to pray, listen, reflect and call for action. The Lausanne Consultation on Creation Care and the Gospel, co-sponsored by the World Evangelical Alliance, was based on the belief that creation care is a gospel issue within the Lordship of Christ, and also that today there is a vital urgency about our task.

Categories: Reflections
Tags: action fruit Lausanne Movement