Onslow Community Church Camp
Onslow Community Church enjoyed an encouraging time together at their church camp over the past weekend at Foxton Bible Camp.Pastor Peter Rhodes-Robinson writes:“We were thrilled to have Kerry & Aliza Rickard (Kingston Community Church) and Ray & Glenys Cooper (York Street Chapel) with us for the weekend. Kerry shared a series of messages from Colossians 3:1-17 linking into our 2025 teaching theme of “Living Hope” (1 Peter 1:3). Kerry’s sessions were followed by all-age discussio...
March 28, 2025Being Equipped to Equip Others
Lydia Ellis (right) has been serving as Women’s Worker with Emmett Street Community Church in Christchurch for the past 18 months, with the primary role of evangelism and discipleship among the women in the church and wider community. The church meets in one of the most socioeconomically challenged areas in New Zealand and has observed that a distinctive feature of their community is its strong matriarchal nature, where women often take on the responsibility of raising fami...
March 28, 2025Conflicts on the Outside, Fears Within
By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorI to matou taenga mai hoki ki Makeronia, kihai i whai okiokinga to matou kikokiko, heoi mate ana matou i nga taha katoa; i waho ko nga whawhai, i roto ko nga mataku.Auā e moni lava ‘ina ‘ua matou ō mai i Maketonia, sa leai se mapu i o matou tino; ‘ae sa puapuagātia i matou i mea uma; o tau‘a i fafo a o le fefe i totonu.For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 2 Cori...
March 28, 2025Prime Time Conference
Last weekend, 42 people gathered at Lakeland Park Camp (Queenstown) for the 2025 Prime Time Conference, aimed at those aged over 50 from our wider movement.It was great to see people coming from various churches within the CCCNZ/Open Brethren Heritage movement, including Manawarū Bible Chapel (Waikato), Bryndwr Chapel (Christchurch), Orwell Street Church (Oamaru), Cornerstone International Bible Church (Dunedin), Edendale Christian Fellowsh...
March 28, 2025Baptisms at Mt Wellington Community Church and Feilding Bible Chapel
Last Sunday, two people were baptised at Mt Wellington Community Church (MWCC) in Auckland and six at Feilding Bible Chapel (FBC) in the Manawatū. Russell Grainger, Senior Pastor at MWCC, writes:“It was incredible to hear their testimonies of how God has been, and still is, working in their lives. These guys have been through a lot in their lives with so many stories to tell....
March 28, 2025Missions Retreat and IBCM's Director Visit
David Smith is the International Director of the IBCM network. IBCM is a global movement working amongst 40,000+ independent Open Brethren Heritage churches in 160+ countries. The heart of the IBCM is to see independent churches and church leaders working together to point more people to Jesus through the gospel from the Bible. It’s been remarkable hearing of younger leaders from movements like ours in Africa, Asia, and South America coming together to work together to mobi...
March 21, 2025Headspace Interns
Last week, Scolarships Enabler Liz Hodge and South Island Enabler Tim Hoge visited Headspace interns in Christchurch.Headspace is the programme GC3 relaunched this year. It’s a residential 10-month programme that combines theological studies, involvement with local mission outreaches, and two months with long-term missionaries overseas. The four interns for 2025 (pictured below) are Sarah Jensen and Lizzie Nepia from Crossroads ...
March 21, 2025Carriers: Leadership Development in Community
Riccarton Community Church (RCC) runs a programme called Carriers, a one-year leadership development commitment designed to fit around a day-a-week schedule.Carriers is short for 'Carriers of the Vision', with the idea that participants are engaged in the church's vision "to see our city become a place of Christ's transforming hope for the world". Typically this includes a half day of service in a ministry, their regular class times, reading, and reflection.Carriers interns t...
March 21, 2025Christ-like confrontation
By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorNui atu toku maia ki te korero ki a koutou, nui atu toku whakamanamana mo koutou: ki tonu ahau i te whakamarie, hira ake toku koa i o matou matenga katoa.‘Ou te tautala atu ‘iā te ‘outou ma le mautinoa; ‘ua tele lo‘u mitamita ‘ona o ‘outou. ‘Ua fa‘atūmuina a‘u i le loto tele; ‘ua fa‘atūmuina a‘u i le ‘oli‘oli i o matou puapuagā uma lava.I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; i...
March 21, 2025Fellowship of the Word - Waikato
10 people from four churches (Chapel Hill Community Church, Hillcrest Chapel, Raleigh Street Christian Centre, and Manawarū Bible Chapel) gathered at Chapel Hill last Friday and Saturday for the Fellowship of the Word training. ...
March 21, 2025100 Years of Christian Camping
At the recent Christian Camping Hui, Graham Ashby launched the book 100 Years of Christian Camping, which is in its final stages of editing and design before being printed.Graham is very grateful to the Trusts that initiated this project and the excellent team that has worked with him during the last two years. Graham says, “I was pleased to acknowledge the importance of having this Christian camping history as a powerful reminder of what our pioneers established”....
March 21, 2025Yes, No
By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorWhakamoemititia a Ihowa. E toku wairua, whakamoemititia a Ihowa. I ahau e ora nei ka whakamoemiti ahau ki a Ihowa; ka himene ahau ki toku Atua i ahau i te ao nei.Ia outou vivii atu ia Ioa. Lo‘u agaga e, ia e vivii atu ia Ieova. Ou te vivii atu ia Ieova a o ou ola; ou te fai pesega i lo‘u Atua a o ou tumau i le ola nei.Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.Psalm 146:1-2The in...
March 17, 2025Children's Ministry Training in Christchurch and Wellington
Children’s ministry volunteers from Emmett Street Community Church, Halswell Community Church and Rutland Street Church in Christchurch gathered in early March for a workshop run by Julie McKinnon (CCCNZ Children and Family Ministries Enabler), that explored how our understanding of children shapes our ministry practice....
March 14, 2025Crossroads Latino Launch
It's 7pm on Saturday night, I'm at Crossroads Church in Palmerston North with 70 other people. We're singing, praying and listening to the sermon in Español—all for the launch of Crossroads Latino, a monthly Spanish-language service. It was such a joy to see my EA Paula Almada (and other volunteers and Crossroads staff) lead the group in worshipping together.Paula, along with her husband Saverio Malgeri, her sister Ana Almada, and brother-in-law Ma...
March 14, 2025Waikato NZ Rally Camp
Last weekend, around 180 kids and 60 leaders gathered at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre for a NZ Rally Camp.Nikki McBride and Micah Church (The Orchard Rallies) led the Rally leaders. The theme this year was the Olympics. Ray Cooper (York Street Chapel) and Anthony Samuels (Tāmaki Community Church) followed this theme in their Bible exploring sessions. Ray spoke to the younger kids and Anthony to the older kids. Caleb Mills from ...
March 14, 2025Deepening faith and service through practical theological learning
Ane Ponifasio and Dolly Kirubakaran from LifeChurch, along with Joy Fountain from Eden Church in Auckland, are together studying part-time as a cohort toward the Level 6 Diploma in Christian Studies (Christian Leadership) through Pathways Bible College.On Friday last week, they gathered for a block course day in Auckland, facilitated by Richard Goodwin (from Raleigh Street Christian Centre).These students are now in their second year of...
March 14, 2025Churches Camping
I mentioned last week I wanted to share with you more about the Camping Hui held in Auckland last weekend....
March 7, 2025Manawatū NZ Rally Camp
Close to 200 kids and leaders attended the Manawatū NZ Rally Camp last weekend at Forest Lakes Camping and Conference Centre.NZ Rally CEO Tony Foster said everyone got to hear the gospel message through Ray Cooper (York Street Chapel) in the hall known as the Sharing Shed. ...
March 7, 2025God of Nations
CCCNZ South Island Enabler Tim Hodge, visited Bryndwr Chapel in Christchurch and he shares:"It was an honour to be with Bryndwr Chapel last Sunday; such a marvellous spread for church lunch! It was good to meet Felix Chai (elder) and Andrei Popa, who are both involved in spreading God's Word in other languages."Andrei Popa is one of the leaders of Grace Romanian Church, a Romanian language Sunday afternoon congregation which last Sunday started meetin...
March 7, 2025Next Training: Lower North Island
What a joy to see more than 20 young adults come together last weekend from Ingestre Street Church (Whanganui), Kingston Community Church (Palmerston North), Church on Vogel (Palmerston North), New Plymouth Community Church, and Feilding Bible Chapel. The group met at Highland Home Christian Camp for the first ever Next Training: Lower North Island. Next Training is designed to follow on from First Training, and is a space for young adu...
March 7, 2025Step One: Fly the plane
By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorI whakawhirinaki o matou matua ki a koe, i whakawhirinaki, a whakaorangia ana e koe.Na faatuatua ia te oe o matou tamā; na latou faatuatua, ua e laveai foi ia te i latou.In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.Psalm 22:4When pilots face mid-air emergencies, they’re provided with a checklist for steps to follow. They have a list of steps to take, in order, that should result in the fewest accidents and casualties. What I found fa...
March 7, 2025The anchor of God's grace
By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorKo te Atua hoki nana nei i ki te marama kia whiti i roto i te pouri, kua whiti ki roto ki o matou ngakau, hei homai i te marama o te matauranga o te kororia o te Atua i te mata o Ihu Karaiti.Auā o le Atua lava o lē na fetalai atu, “ ‘Ia pupula mai le malamalama mai le pouliuli,” na pupula mai i o matou loto ‘ina ‘ia malamalama, e iloa ai le mamalu o le Atua i fofoga o Keriso.For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine ...
March 3, 2025Church-based Internships at Kingston Community Church
Left to right: JC Marais (CCCNZ Operations), Rebecca Treanor (KCC intern), Jed Meads (KCC Youth Coordinator & intern), Shanae Rickard (KCC intern), Kerry Rickard (KCC Discipleship Pastor), Raewyn Meads (KCC Office Manager), and Ray-Anne Cahill (CCCNZ Accounts and Team Support). On Friday the Palmy-based CCCNZ staff team joined the Kingston Community Church team for lunch. It was great to hear how interns Rebecca Treanor, Jed Meads and Shanae Rickard&nb...
March 3, 2025Baptisms in Hamilton and Palmerston North
I’m so encouraged to see more and more young people being baptised around New Zealand!Last Sunday, Anna and Dominique were baptised at Hukanui Bible Church in Hamilton, and Sarah was baptised at Kingston Community Church in Palmerston North....
March 3, 2025Baptism in New Plymouth Community Church
It was so encouraging to hear that 14-year-old Ash was baptised on Sunday at New Plymouth Community Church (NPCC).NPCC Youth Pastor Jake Moir shares:“It was such an honour to baptise Ash. We met him and his family through our Rally program, and he now attends our High School youth group, and attends church with his family.“Ash is an infectious young person who has already drawn a stack of his mates into church to hear about Jesus for the first time. Can't wait to see how ...
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