A Rocha opens field study centre

By Audrey Martin

THE INSEPARABLE link between Christ and the goodness of creation was behind the 1983 founding of A Rocha, an international Christian conservation organization.

A Rocha -- "the rock" in Portuguese -- exists to "practice the biblical call to care for all creation," and through that to show God's love for both the environment and the people who inhabit it.

A Rocha's Canadian chapter began six years ago, and has now developed into a formal organization with its own board and staff, funded by charitable donations. It has recently raised funds for a down payment on a local property to use as a field study centre, and is currently raising just over one million to cover the remaining costs of the property.

Acquiring the property is a "miracle" according to Markku Kostamo, who with his wife Leah, is co-director of A Rocha Canada. The couple just moved to the 10-acre site -- on 172nd Street, just south of 8th Avenue in South Surrey -- which extends to Campbell River.

"It's been an exciting part of the whole journey . . . I feel as if we're running catch up with what God is doing," Kostamo stated.

"Our vision is to be an ecology and interpretive centre, and to work closely with volunteers and community organizations," added Kostamo, whose background is in ecology and environmental consulting.

A Rocha Canada had targeted the general area, near the Campbell River watershed, when they came across the property for sale. When they enquired about it, they learned the owners, Erwin and Harriet Lietz, were Christian. The two became excited about A Rocha's vision and gave financial flexibility to the purchase along with donations of equipment and cash. The property includes two houses, a garden, a pond and several multi-purpose facilities.

A Rocha Canada is already active in the Lower Mainland and has run programs that include environmental education for youth at camps, as well as inner city youth. The group's education officer, Ruth Des Cotes, said A Rocha hopes to continue to expand these programs both with church groups and the general community.

"We encourage the kids' excitement about the world around them and help them investigate it." She added: "It's critical for the next generation that they become more conscious of the way we care for creation."

Other programs include protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, and educational conferences such as 'Creation Groaning: Down to Earth Gospel' -- scheduled November 14-15 and co-sponsored by Regent College.

Kostamo identifies A Rocha as first and foremost a Christian organization, but also a conservation group rooted in community. This includes both the international, cross-cultural aspect of the organization and its volunteers, but also the numerous local organizations with which the new field study site has already developed relationships, including funding through the Pacific Salmon Foundation.

Kostamo and his wife Leah see their mission as one that integrates both God's creation and mission to offset the dualism that often exists in evangelical thought.

"More and more Christians are beginning to realize that matter matters . . . As God's image bearers, we have the mandate to be stewards of God's creation, and we haven't always done a good job."

Kostamo added that, for many members of the community at large, seeing believers work together on behalf of the environment is their first opportunity to see Christian beliefs walked out in a tangible way, and they often find it "intriguing." This is the outreach that is implicit in A Rocha's ventures -- it raises questions and provokes conversation, Kostamo said.

The first A Rocha site in Portugal has attracted thousands of volunteers, both believers and non-believers, all who work side by side to care for creation.

For more information, visit www.arocha.org or email canada@arocha.org.