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Light Party at Raleigh Street Christian Centre

On Tuesday 31 October around 700 people attended the Light Party at Raleigh Street Christian Centre, about 450 of them were kids. Jeremy Johnson, one of the organisers of the event, says:"What was truly special was seeing many attendees who aren't part of our regular church community". Jeremy continues, "One of our volunteers shared this encouraging story: 'Our neighbour came and loved it! She wanted to know if there was an open day at church! She wants to get her kids into church, we were able ...

CCCNZ Partnering with Bethany Trust

On Wednesday 1st November, we acknowledged the partnership we have as a service trust with Raleigh Street Christian Centre and its property trust Bethany Trust as we’ve moved our Cambridge office into one of Bethany’s buildings next to RSCC.Pictured above, from left to right: Karen Morris (RSCC), Sheryn Brownlee (Bethany Secretary), Kacha Vuletich (Bethany Trustee), Grant Birks (CCCNZ Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Enabler).A huge thank ...

Family Fiesta at Hillcrest Chapel

On Tuesday 31st October, Hillcrest Chapel opened its doors to the community and hosted the “Family Fiesta” event.Sarah Chalmers, Hillcrest Chapel Youth Pastor, writes: “There was a range of stations inside and outside the chapel building including a sausage sizzle, cupcake stand and ice cream servery!”...

Baptism at Church on Ingestre

On Sunday 29th October, Dayanna (pictured above giving her testimony), who is originally from Colombia, was baptised at Church on Ingestre's international service. Pastor Doug Benn writes, “She has grown in her faith due to strong discipleship from Thiago and Mara Girao (from Brazil) and it was a great pleasure for them to baptise her”. It’s such a joy to see people decide to follow Jesus and be baptised.  ...

The Mark Drama at Rutland Street Church

Our vision is to see churches (and the regional campsites and national ministries that support them) working together to point people to Jesus through the gospel from the Scriptures. For that reason, it’s a delight to see two CCCNZ churches in Christchurch, Rutland Street Church and Redemption Church, inviting non-Christian friends and family to the Mark Drama. Last weekend Rutland Street Church hosted the Mark Drama presentation. This is a 90-minute theatre-in-the-round presenting all of Mark...

CCCNZ and Pathways College

On Monday, board members and senior staff from CCCNZ and Pathways College gathered to share honestly and listen to each other. It was a significant time together reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of developing people in CCCNZ/Open Brethren heritage churches through theological education.Pictured above, from left to right: Gordon Fountain (CCCNZ Board Chair), Clint Craig (Pathways Board Chair), Michael Hanson (Pathways Trustee), Ian Payne ...

A Kiwi Family's Experience in Israel During Conflict

I have already been to Israel a couple of times before and it was at the top of my bucket list to take my family there and show them all the major sights where the stories of the Bible unfolded. For the past two years I have been planning and saving to take my family to Israel. Actually, it was my wife, an ex-travel consultant, who returned to paid employment who did most of the planning and paying.My three children are 8, 12 and 14 years of age and I have just celebrated turning 50 so it seemed...

Local Church Leaders Share Stories of Camping Ministry

We recently shared about the breakfast at Willow Park on Friday 13 October, where a number of church leaders from Auckland and Northland gathered together to talk about how churches and camps can be working together. Leaders shared how they have grown flourishing relationships with local camps to share the good news about Jesus, through the gospel from the Scriptures. Richard Davis, CCCNZ Camping Enabler, writes:“Marina Shannon, Orewa Community Church, spoke on the relationship that the youth ...

How long, O Lord?

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorPsalm 13:1 “Kia pehea te roa o tou wareware ki ahau, e Ihowa? mo ake tonu atu ranei? Kia pehea te roa o tau hunanga i tou mata ki ahau?”“Ieova e, e te faagalogalo pea lava ia te au seia afea? E te ‘alo ou fofoga ia te au seia afea?”“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”You may have heard the expression 'courageous conversations'... it describes a conversation about a difficult matter that could go to ...

Fenton Park Bible Church starts a Rally!

It's great to hear from the Fenton Park Bible Church family as they begin reaching children and families in Rotorua through starting a Rally.May you and the church family know God’s good hand as you reach out to children and families in your community through Rally. It’s a delight knowing this is the third new Rally started this year across the country.By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador...

Baptisms at Crossroads Church

On Sunday, four people were baptised at Crossroads Church in Palmerston North. Lead Pastor Reuben Porter writes: "It was such special day worshiping together. Hearing the stories from those being baptised was incredibly encouraging"....

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorJohn 11:43 A, no ka penei tana ki, he nui tona reo ki te karanga, E Raharuhi, puta mai.Ua ia fetalai atu ia upu, ona alaga lea o ia ua leo tele, Lasalo e, ina sau ia i fafo. When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”By raising Lazarus Jesus was making a statement: death has an expiry date. Why? Because he is the Resurrection and the Life.Notice something about the story of Lazarus. This is Jesus' most profound miracle. He raises a...

Auckland Leaders Dinner: North & West

It was a privilege to be at the North & West Auckland Leaders Dinner at Northcross Church on Thursday evening. Over 30 Elders, Pastors and Ministry leaders from 12 churches from north and west Auckland joined together for a meal and hear more about ministry.Churches represented included Au uso Christian Fellowship – Henderson, Birkdale Bible Chapel, Birkenhead Community Church, Hobsonville Point Church Family, Kaukapakapa Bible Chapel, Lincoln Road Bible Chapel, Northcross Church, Orewa Co...

Far North Summit

Our vision is to see churches working together to point people to Jesus through the gospel from the Scriptures.For this reason, it was a real privilege to be at the Far North Regional Summit on Saturday. Over 40 leaders gathered at Coopers Beach Christian Youth Camp. ...

Children's Day at LifeChurch Manurewa

Every year in October, LifeChurch Manurewa has a White Sunday, a traditional celebration in Pasifika churches where children take the stage to minister to the congregation. Pastor Ane Ponifasio writes, “They recite bible verses, and perform different items like singing, dancing and acting out Bible stories etc... We also do a formal prayer for baby dedication”....

Governance Workshop in Nelson

The Ian Elliott Scholarship is an initiative of Lichfield Lands Trust administered by CCCNZ to honour the work of Ian Elliott over many years of governance within Christian organisations. One of the ways the scholarship is being used is by investing into governance training. Camp and support ministry boards have the opportunity to attend training run by Peter Allen, who is a Christian with deep experience in governance and governance training. In this context, Peter ran a workshop in Nelson last...

News from Whanganui

On Sunday 1 October, elder Keegan Easton and pastor Doug Benn at Church on Ingestre had the joy of baptising Pati Leiataua.Doug remarks: “We are deeply encouraged by this young man's hunger for the Word, his desire to serve and, of course, his desire to be baptised”.On that same Sunday, Church on Ingestre started an international service. Doug comments:“Thiago Girao (left, standing below) and his wife Mara were pastoring in Brazil and he has a deep passion to serve the immigrant community ...

Wellington Visit

It’s been a privilege this week to meet a number of church leaders and leadership groups in Wellington.It was lovely to spend time with Simon and Jenny Gill from The Street Church. I appreciated touching base with Pete Rhodes-Robinson from Onslow Community Church.I valued touching base with Henare Whaanga, an elder at Pathway Christian Centre in Lower Hutt and Clint Craig, pastor at LifeSwitch in Upper Hutt.I very much enjoyed meeting the elders from Broderick Road Chapel (pictured above from ...

Christ is our Hope

John 11:33A, no ka kite a Ihu i a ia e tangi ana, i nga Hurai hoki i haere tahi me ia e tangi ana, ka ngunguru ia, ara tona wairua, ka koingo.Ua silafia e Iesu o ia ua tagi, ma Iutaia ua o mai ma ia ua fetagisi, ona tiga tele lea o lona finagalo, ma ua ātu lava o ia;"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled".In John 11:28-37, Jesus walks into the midst of weeping.After meeting Jesus on the road to Bethany, Mart...

Willow Park Hits the Road

In the recent school holidays, 130 campers and leaders gathered from a range of Auckland churches for the Willow Park Kids Camp. Some of the churches involved were Mt Wellington Community Church, Auckland Bible Church, and Manurewa Bible Church....

Churches, Camps and Support Ministries Working Together

We love to see churches partnering with local campsites for gospel ministry! CCCNZ Camping Enabler Richard Davis shared this vision with CCCNZ Auckland church leaders this morning at Willow Park Christian Camp over breakfast. Thanks to Kelston Community Church pastor Paul Long for sharing this photo on the CCCNZ Auckland Community Facebook group, saying:"Very encouraging and challenging early morning meeting on the CCCNZ camping ministries; the ministry successes, opportunities, and partnership...

Auckland Leaders Dinner: South, Central & East

53 leaders from 15 churches around South, Central and East Auckland gathered together last night at Auckland Bible Church (Ngaire Ave Campus) to build relationships and connections.Pictured above: Ane Ponifasio, Carmel West, Mele Siaosi, and Nesi Ulugia from LifeChurch Manurewa....

Mission Sunday at LifeChurch

On Sunday, LifeChurch Manurewa commissioned a team travelling to Uganda on a short-term mission, led by Pastor Lui Ponifasio. The team of nine people will be part of a medical mission, renovating a church building, launching a new church plant, sharing cultural items, songs and testimonies; and conducting live gospel evangelical crusades....

Equip Evangelism at Hillcrest Chapel

On Friday night and Saturday afternoon, Hillcrest Chapel hosted an Equip session about how to share the gospel. Sarah Chalmers, Youth Pastor at Hillcrest Chapel, writes: “We looked at seven myths of evangelism that sometimes hold us back as well as lots of practical tips. This is in anticipation of sharing door-to-door around our community over the next few months”.If you'd like to know more about Equip, contact Sarah Chalmers....

South Island Regional Summit

Our vision is to see churches working together, to point people to Jesus, through the gospel from the Scriptures.It was a real joy for the team to serve amongst ministry leaders from 11 churches at the Central-Upper South Island Regional Summit at Rutland Street Church on Saturday....