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Growing in confidence in church based ministry through theological study

Abbey Grainger (on the right) teaching at HM Rage.Abbey Grainger, from Mt Wellington Community Church, is involved in serving God in her church as a youth leader, on the worship team, and at kids' camps.Last year, she began studying for a Graduate Diploma in Applied Theology through a New Zealand theological college and received support for her fees from a JH Baldwin Scholarship from Lichfield Lands.Abbey writes:"Last semester I took two papers—Introduction to the New Testament and Gospel of J...

Jesus Knows Us

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorPsalm 139:23"Tirohia iho ahau, e te Atua, kia matau hoki koe ki toku ngakau: whakamatautauria ahau, kia matau hoki koe ki oku whakaaro.""Le Atua e, ia e suesue mai ia te au, ma ia e silafia lo‘u loto; tofotofo mai ia ia te au, ma ia e silafia o‘u manatunatu.""Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts."In Psalm 139, David is anxious. All through the psalm, he seeks to quiet his worries.Verses 19-24 expose the underlying questions be...

A Love That Endures

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorRevelation 6:10'Nui atu to ratou reo ki te karanga, ki te mea, Kia pehea te roa, e te Ariki, e te tapu, e te pono, a kore ana koe e whakawa, e rapu utu mo o matou toto, i te hunga e noho ana i runga i te whenua?''They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”' 'ua latou alalaga foi ma le leo tele, ua faapea atu, Le Alii e, le paia ma le faamaoni e...

Growing in faith and ministry through practical theological study

Primary school teacher Abbie Gibson (pictured above on the left) always enjoyed serving as part of youth and children's ministries and was keen to grow and learn more. At the end of 2021 Abbie gave up her full-time teaching role to pursue theological study—with the hope that she would grow and be better equipped to continue serving in children’s and youth ministries.Northgate Community Church (NCC) Lead Pastor Jonathan Ruthven says the church has been blessed to...

God Comes Camping

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorExodus 29:42"Hei tahunga tinana tenei e mau tonu ana i o koutou whakatupuranga, i te whatitoka o te tapenakara o te whakaminenga, i te aroaro o Ihowa, i te wahi e tutaki ai ahau ki a koutou, korero ai ki a koe." “For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. There I will meet you and speak to you;" "E faia lenei ma taulaga mu e le aunoa i o outou ...

2023 Auckland Regional Summit

On Saturday, over 100 leaders from 24 churches attended the Auckland Regional Summit at Willow Park Christian Convention Centre....

CCCNZ PastorLink Retreat

It’s early August, which can mean only one thing: It’s CCCNZ PastorLink Retreat at MiCamp Taupō.It has been so good to have over 60 pastoral leaders and their spouses at the retreat, representing 24 churches across both the North and South Islands.We’ve appreciated the wisdom and input from Rowland Forman who joined us via Zoom due to COVID.I’ve enjoyed watching new friendships flourish and existing relationships strengthen. I am grateful for these men and women who ...

Christian Camping New Zealand Conference

This week the Christian Camping New Zealand National Conference took place at El Rancho, from Sunday to Wednesday. Over 140 staff, managers and board members from camps throughout New Zealand attended, with approximately 55 people from camps associated with the OBH movement. Picture above: From left to right, Siobhan Jansen (Teapot Valley Christian Camp), Ross Bay and Stewart Ward (Woodend Christian Camp)Picture below: Tōtara Springs Christian Centre...

Au uso Kerisiano Church Papakura

Based on Matthew 5:13-16, young adults at the Au uso Kerisiano Church, Papakura led an unforgettable time of worship, prayer and challenge to live out the gospel.For Youth leader Linda Vaoga it was "a joy to see after all their hard work". Pastor Fatu Tuu said the speakers integrated the words of the worship songs into the message. They gave a great message. Following Jesus and obeying his call is about being salt and light to all....

God made New Zealand

Acts 17:24"Ko te Atua, nana nei i hanga te ao me nga mea katoa i roto, ko ia nei te Ariki o te rangi, o te whenua, e kore ia e noho ki nga whare i hanga e te ringa;..." "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands." "O le Atua na faia le lalolagi ma mea uma lava o i ai, ona o le Alii o ia o le lagi ma le lalolagi, e le afio o ia i malumalu e faia e lima;..." What does this say about God? God creat...

Marsden Bay Christian Camp Engaging With The Community

On Saturday 22 July, Marsden Bay Christian Camp (MBCC) invited all their neighbours to gather together—those whose properties back onto the camp and on the other side of the road. There were over 30 in attendance.Marsden Bay Christian Camp Chair, Ian Rowe, welcomed everybody and talked about the history of MBCC from 1956 and the reasons why it was initially purchased and built. Trevor Kerewaro, MBCC Manager, talked about the camp ethos and its Christian roots and ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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'...

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...

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 ...

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...

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. ...

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....

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...