An interview with Alistair McGillivray

Let’s start at the start. What does the name. “Listair” mean?

Alistair:
It is actually my first name minus the “A”. When we first mooted the idea of the institute the boys* wanted to call it the “Alistair Institute”. Much and all as it is very flattering I want the name to reflect the work and vision of the institute, not its founder. We finally met half-way with the name “Listair”.

So, in your own words, what is that vision
A: There is a sequence of events here. Firstly, after working with local communities for eight years I have repeatedly been confronted with a disturbing reality that is begging for real, practical answers. Gradually a dream began to take shape – a dream of changing that reality. The dream transformed into action and the vision was born.

Let’s back-track a moment? What is this disturbing reality you refer to.
A: The reality is that in recent years we have seen the emergence of two Vanuatus. Outside of Vanuatu is often seen as the unspoiled Pacific paradise and a great holiday destination. Others regard it as a high profit real-estate investment. Tourism and real-estate has attracted considerable overseas investment in the country. Some if that investment has been in the form of training of local people to provide support for the new industries and their infrastructures. However, wages for the locals are relatively mediocre as the substantial profits return to the overseas operators. Training tends to be specific to the needs of these industries. The other Vanuatu is a much sorrier situation. Unemployment and boredom are high. People lack basic living skills and their lives lack a sense of purpose and direction.

I would have thought that tourism would be a huge boost to the economy and life on Vanuatu as a whole?
Only in those towns associated with the resorts and real estate development. Vanuatu is an island nation. The majority (80%) of the 218,000 people live in villages spread throughout of the thirteen larger islands.  With primitive transport infrastructure the villages tend to be isolated from each other, and the islands are separated by targe expanses of open sea. Development, tourism and economic prosperity are for the privileged few. The rest of the country is only a few years removed from a primitive tribal life-style.

In a couple of sentences, How would you summarise your vision and mission?

Our committment to the Gospel commission has never changed, to plant the seeds of Christian faith in Vanuatu. Our mission is to accomplish this through a practical ministry which not only shares the message of Jesus, but through imparting a broad range of practical skills, we will bring a level of security and stablility to the lives of these wonderful people as they move towards self-suffiency. They in turn will then be in a position to pass these benefits on to their own. That's three sentences, but never ask a Scot to say in two sentence what he can say in four.

How do you manage to do this without any funding, external support, or even wages?

It is not so difficult with the CEO I work for. All Jill and I have to do is to trust him. It has its moments, but we have never lacked for anything and God has never let us down. For us, "God will provide" is not a cliche. It is the underlying principle we live every day of our lives by.