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Worship Workshop at Kelston Community Church

On Sunday 23 July, worship ministry leader Paul Naveen and a handful of great trainers from Kelston Community Church (KCC) in Auckland led a memorable worship ministry development workshop (the first of four planned).Their more experienced musicians and singers train and coach the less experienced and those interested in being part of the KCC worship ministry....

Whitiora Bible Church News

Whitiora Bible Church is located in the middle of 18 motels currently being used for emergency housing, which impacts massively on the needs of their community and the local school.This is the second year in which they go into the local school and provide breakfast for any child who wishes to attend. Around 30-40 children attend each morning and many are regulars.Pauline Diffey writes: "It is a privilege to show God’s love to these children through providing them breakfast and being ...

Creative ways to partner with your local campsite

As I reflect on the past 12 months I’m drawn to a rather well-known but sometimes misused Scripture. ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28).It’s sometimes misused, when only that verse is mentioned, because the reality is that we need to look at the whole of Romans 8. This chapter describes how God is at work in a suffering world while also reminding us (those who are united in Christ) tha...

Four Churches Working Together

Hillcrest Chapel, Northgate Community Church and Chapel Hill Community Church shared a hangi prepared by the community at Rukumoana Marae.Over Matariki weekend four Waikato churches held a shared dinner together: Hillcrest Chapel, Chapel Hill Community Church, Northgate Community Church and Rukumoana Marae.They were welcomed by Rukumoana church leaders, while the Rukumoana church family provided the Hangi.There's an amazing story behind the relationship these four church...

Kids Holiday Programme at Onslow Community Church

Last week over two days, 65 school-age children attended CHARGE, a kids' holiday programme organised and run by Onslow Community Church.This year the programme was based around a Matariki/space theme, using a personalised version of David’s Psalm 8.Pete Rhodes-Robinson, a pastor at Onslow Community Church, writes:“Children enjoyed making crafts, playing games, watching a drama performed by the youth, puppets, dancing, singing, and sharing morning tea together!"We even had a ‘live chat...

To An Unknown God

Acts 17:16"Na, i a Paora e tatari ana ki a raua i Atene, ka oho tona wairua i roto i a ia, i tana kitenga i te pa e ki ana i te whakapakoko""While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.""Ua faatali atu Paulo ia te i laua i Atenai, ua tiga tele ifo lona loto, o matamata o ia i le aai ua tumu i tupua"New Zealand feels a lot like ancient Athens at times.When Paul is faced by the rampant idolatry in Athens, he doesn't recoil. Why doesn'...

Churches Partnering Together in Mission

Diana Hutchinson, Program Director at PCF, writes:“A team of nine from PCF (Pakuranga Christian Fellowship) have just returned from a two-week mission trip to Fiji in the July school holidays."We spent time with Pastor Manoa and Alisi Kalanouviti at Waidamudamu Gospel Community Church in Suva, then travelled to Nasavusavu Gospel Church in Savusavu."We had the opportunity to share the gospel with people from the Hindu and Muslim community and encourage fellow believers through kids' clubs, yout...

The Tauwhare Gospel Chapel's 60th Anniversary

Top: Tauwhare Elder Andy Millar with Kaumatua Tom Wheki. Bottom left: Norm Silcock and Te Mape Haimona. Bottom right: Brian Goodwin and Kemp PallesenOn the 8th of July, after months of planning, the Tauwhare Gospel Chapel celebrated the 60th anniversary of its opening. It originally opened on the 26th of January 1963.After a pōwhiri at the marae, Te Mape Haimona and Harataki Manihira led a blessing at the chapel.Afterwards, back at the mara...

Church-Camp Partnership Bearing Fruit

Russell Grainger, pastor at Mt Wellington Community Church, writes:“MWCC is very strongly camping-orientated in a number of ways. At the baptisms today, every one of the seven that got baptised mentioned involvement with a camp in one or more ways as a critical part of their faith journey. These camps included Willow Park kids camps, HM Rage, Easter Camp at Taupō, and our annual church camp."Be encouraged! Church-camp partnerships are alive and well and camping is still having ...

A Night Around the World at Eden Community Church

Passengers gathered at Eden Community Church's cultural night on Saturday.This year’s celebration theme was “A Night Around the World”. It was also a fundraiser for the Cooper family, who are heading to the Middle East.   “The idea was to replicate an actual flight and provide guests with a passport and dinner tokens once on board," said Meg Imai. John Stephenson said, "The smiles gave testimony to a brilliant evening of culture and diver...

Orwell Street Church Housing Project

It’s very encouraging to see how churches are working to help their communities and show the love of Jesus in practical ways.This is the case with the housing project that Orwell Street Church in Oamaru has been involved in....

Orewa Community Church farewells Murray Cooper

Ninety people came together at Orewa Community Church for a surprise celebration of Murray Cooper's fourteen-and-a-half years of pastoral service.He now steps away from the pressure of full-time ministry but will continue to use his pastoral gifts at OCC. ...

God, the Creator of the Matariki

Job 9:9"Nana nei i hanga a Aketura, a Tautoru, a Matariki, me nga ruma i te tonga.""He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.""O lē na faia Asa, ma Kisila, ma Kima, atoa ma ana o i le itu i toga."Matariki points to the Mediator.Matariki is the Māori name for the constellation of stars known as the Pleiades. In the Bible, Job declares, "God is the maker of the Bear and Orion, Matariki and the constellations of the south."Job references the Matariki...

Outreach News From Churches

CCCNZ Camping Enabler Richard Davis recently met with Justin Thompson, a pastor at Manawaru Bible Chapel.Richard writes: ”Justin shared the church's vision for their community which is centred around the local school, Manawaru Primary, which has about 85 students."The church has built a strong relationship with them over a number of years through Bible in Schools, school chaplaincy work, and other school community assistance. One result of this relationship is tha...

Call me Mara

Ruth 1:20"Na ka mea ia ki a ratou, Kaua ahau e karangatia, ko Naomi; ko Mara ta koutou e karanga ai ki ahau: he kawa rawa hoki ta te Kaha Rawa mahi ki ahau." "Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter." "A ‘ua fai atu o ia ‘iā te i latou, “‘Aua tou te ta‘ua a‘u o Naomi, a ‘ia ta‘ua a‘u o Mara; auā ‘ua matuā ‘o‘ona mea ‘ua faia ‘iā te a‘u e Lē ona le malosi uma lava."Ruth chapter one takes place i...

Onslow Community Church in the Newspaper

Above and below: I was encouraged to read how Onslow Community Church is pointing people to Jesus in their region's local newspaper. ...

The Four Horsemen

Revelation 6:1"A i kite ahau i te wahanga o tetahi o nga hiri e te Reme, i rongo hoki i tetahi o nga mea ora e wha e mea mai ana, ano he reo whatitiri, Haere mai.""I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” "Na ‘ou iloa atu fo‘i ‘ua tatalaina e le Tama‘i Mamoe le tasi o fa‘amaufa‘ailoga e fitu, ‘ona ‘ou fa‘alogoina ai lea o le tasi o meaola e fa, o lona leo e pei o se faititil...

First Training South Island

During King’s Birthday weekend, 37 younger leaders from 4 churches - Grace Church, Rutland Street Church, Riccarton Community Church, and Halswell Community Church attended the First Training at South Island Waipara Adventure Centre....

Waikato-Auckland Regional Rally Training Day

Tony Foster the NZ Rally co-ordinator writes: "We had an amazing time at the Waikato and Auckland Regional Training day, which was held at Whitiora Bible Church last weekend. Thanks, Whitiora, for hosting us!...

CCCNZ Annual General Meeting

During the pōwhiri, from left: Malachi Williams, Nick Goodwin, Julie McKinnon, Cynthia Hulse, Char Williams and Paul Samuels.On Friday afternoon, we gathered at the Tauwhare Marae in the Waikato.The day involved a Pōwhiri, a listening hui with CCCNZ Board members and Māori CCCNZ-OBH leaders, an AGM and a good time talking together over lunch.A huge thank you to Te Mape Haimona, Renata Te Aho and Norm Silcock (leaders of Tauwhare Marae and Tauwhare Gospel Chapel) for so warmly hosting us and c...

Jesus Is Better Than Your Comforts

Revelation 1:12-13"Na ka tahuri ake ahau kia kite i te reo i korero nei ki ahau. A, i taku tahuritanga ake, ka kite ahau i nga turanga rama koura e whitu; A i waenganui o nga turanga rama ko tetahi e rite ana ki te Tama a te tangata, ko tona kakahu tatu noa ki nga waewae, he mea whitiki te uma ki te whitiki koura." "I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe r...

Jesus and His Salvation

John 18:10"Na he hoari ta Haimona Pita, unuhia ana e ia a haua iho te pononga a te tohunga nui, tapahia ana tona taringa matau. Ko te ingoa o taua pononga ko Maraku." "Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)" "O Simona Peteru foi, ua i ai le pelu, ua se‘i e ia, ma taia a‘i le auauna a le ositaulaga sili, ua tipiesea lona taliga taumatau; o Maliko le igoa o le auauna." What on earth is go...

The Gospel proclaimed at HM Rage

I loved hearing about HM RAGE over King's Birthday Weekend.650 youth from 22 youth groups gathered at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre just outside Matamata. The majority of youth groups were from CCCNZ-OBH churches. What a joy it is to know youth spent the weekend hearing about God’s grace to us through Jesus’s death and resurrection. So good! A huge thank you for the incredible work done by so many volunteer youth leaders, parents, operations and logistics people to make the weekend possib...

Ephesians 6 Expressed through Dance

On Sunday 28th of May, the youth group at Auuso Kerisiano Otara (Otara Brethren Christian Fellowship), led by Damaris Amerika, performed a breathtaking kapa haka at church. They sought to present the message of Ephesians 6 (standing strong in the full armour of God) with various Tongan, Samoan, and Māori expressions in the dance.By Richard Fountain, CCCNZ Auckland Enabler...

Unguarded Strengths

John 18:10"Na he hoari ta Haimona Pita, unuhia ana e ia a haua iho te pononga a te tohunga nui, tapahia ana tona taringa matau. Ko te ingoa o taua pononga ko Maraku.""Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)""O Simona Peteru foi, ua i ai le pelu, ua se‘i e ia, ma taia a‘i le auauna a le ositaulaga sili, ua tipiesea lona taliga taumatau; o Maliko le igoa o le auauna."When he meets the sold...