Rev. Tim Costello has had the ear of more political, business, and opinion leaders than any other clergyperson in Australia's history, with the possible exception of Rev. Dr. Alan Walker. His 'gift-mix' (lawyer, theologian, ethicist, social activist) together with a passion to help the poor – everywhere – have propelled him into regular media opportunities to 'conscientize' us all.
And, of course, having a high- profile brother – Peter, our nation's longest-serving Federal Treasurer (1996 to 2007) - has provided a topic for many water-cooler and dinner-time discussions - 'How does one family produce two people at different points along the ideological spectrum on many issues?' (As one of the Costello family's pastors at Blackburn Baptist Church during the 1970s/early 80s I have a few theories about all that!)
Tim's latest book contains insights and stories from his travels as CEO of World Vision, and from 57 years of an interesting life.
Samples:
'A gold coat is worn in Nagaland, north-east India, by someone who has given a feast of merit. That means hosting a feast for the entire village, particularly the poor, which might go on for weeks until the person involved has liquidated all his assets. When everything is gone you have a gold coat placed on your shoulders in a ceremony of great respect. Then you start again with nothing.' ('Whoever dies rich dies disgraced' – Andrew Carnegie).
'Twenty-five years ago, 60,000 children under the age of five were dying from malnutrition and preventable disease each day. [Now it is] 21,000 a day. That number in a world of plenty is still obscene.'
'There is more joy with the poor than in our [Western] societies, where we have solved the economic challenge of supply… So the question I often ask myself is: who are the poor in this world?'
'500,000 women die from complications around childbirth each year.'
'Many Jewish homes are fitted with timers that trigger all internal lights and ovens after sundown to avoid breaching the Sabbath.'
'The title of one of Archbishop Tutu's books: "God is not a Christian"… South African [repressive apartheid… can be blamed on] church-attending, bible-believing Christians, as these were largely the people who had devised the system and supported its maintenance.'
'A question that bothers me: why does Israel need the bomb, but deny other nations the same?'
'It took a civil war and 600,000 dead to end slavery in the US because it was just so profitable… There are today more slaves than ever before in history – some 21 million.'
'It is estimated that for every $1 that is given in aid to poor nations, $10 flows out of these countries via secret jurisdictions through theft, the proceeds of crime and lost tax revenue.'
'Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision, wrote on the flyleaf of his Bible, "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God".'
'In Australia, you can lose up to $10,000 in one go on one slot machine… Between 40 and 60 per cent of the $12 billion profit from slots comes from addicted people.'
Tim was named Australian of the Year in 2004 and was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in 2005. His previous books include Streets of Hope and Tips from a Travelling Soul Searcher.
An excellent gift-idea - and marvelous for couples and families to read and discuss, one short chapter a day, for about two months!
Rowland Croucher's John Mark Ministries web site www.jmm.org.au
Rosie Timmins in a journalism graduate from Bond and is based in Melbourne ministering with OAC as an Intern.
Rosie Timmins previous articles may be viewed at: www.pressserviceinternational.org/rosie-timmins.html