Author Archives: Clinton Bergsma

About Clinton Bergsma

I live near Fremantle in Western Australia with my sweet wife and our four children. I love exploring the intersection between theology and practice for all aspects of life, and get excited about finding ways to bring those two together in the life choices available to me. I love learning and making things with my hands, family days, gardening and home produce. I am terrible with a paint brush or camera, and I know nothing about cardiology. I do not own a cardigan. Yet. I also manage Amos Australia, help facilitate a Masters of Transformational Development through Eastern College of Australia, and am undertaking some additional study. I tend to order more books than I can read. Actually, I don't tend to. I do.

a wild night at Clancey’s

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Clinton Bergsma

they fought on the road, so I waited, car running, ’til they moved to the sidewalk. I parked they battled, I entered the pub, they moved to the carpark.   I saw them next, him standing over her landing fist … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | 10 Comments

cf Lk.10:25f

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Clinton Bergsma

  I’m on the plane home after spending this past week travelling Eastern Sumba with a few of the other Amos Australia folk – Jake, Arlene (staff members) and Diane (board member).  I’m looking forward to being home and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

To the tune of Psalm 88

Posted on May 11, 2019 by Clinton Bergsma

if you can’t contain tsunamis earthquakes or your anger (if that’s what it is) let them pass over the poor and swallow up the pharaohs so I can cling to tasteless crumbs of justice when it seems your grace is … Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesia, Poetry | 4 Comments

The importance of bare feet for poverty reduction

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Clinton Bergsma

She runs a little warung in the hilltop valley of Kannangga, the pitstop that everyone looks forward to.  The road to and from her timbered café is winding, ever winding, twirling back and forth through the mountains, dancing up and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Two chapters and a verse

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Clinton Bergsma

Chapter 1: Bergsma, C. 2018. ‘Yelling at God about poverty’ in Where spirituality and justice meet.  Edited by Steve Bradbury and Lyn Jackson.   Wantirna, VIC: MST &Graceworks Private Ltd.  pp 43-64. Available here. This book is a collection of student essays from one … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | 10 Comments

Change can be as slow as I am

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Clinton Bergsma

I was asked to facilitate a workshop at the recent TEAR conference in Perth, and share a few things that I’ve learnt as my understanding of the gospel has developed over the past decade.  I’ve by no means completed the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Justice and mercy are often boring

Posted on August 21, 2018 by Clinton Bergsma

I was asked to facilitate a workshop at the recent TEAR conference in Perth, and share a few things that I’ve learnt as my understanding of the gospel has developed over the past decade.  I’ve by no means completed the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

What news is good news?

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Clinton Bergsma

‘Abundance means having more than enough.  So a society without an understanding of what enough is will never experience abundance’ – Bob Goudzwaard* I was rather proud to find out that Beaconsfield – the suburb where I live and drink … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Who’s Ships?

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Clinton Bergsma

I spent last week in Malaysia, rounding out my studies considering all things economic.  As always, the world is much bigger (and stranger and scarier!) than I’d previously thought, and there are some intriguing alternatives to the dominant economic narrative … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

The power of equality

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Clinton Bergsma

These past two weeks in West Timor and Sumba have been rather challenging.  My young family came with me this time, and they did incredibly well considering that we moved house every two days, met countless new people and spent … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments