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Jesus' Humility

Philippians 2:7 "Engari i mea i a ia ano kia poaha, ka mau ki te ahua o te pononga, ka meinga kia rite ki te tangata." "Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." "Peita‘i ‘ua matuā fa‘amaulaloina o ia e ia lava,ma ‘ua tino mai o ia o le pologa." I've been thinking lately about how we see the world. Expressions like 'keep looking up' and 'step up' often come to mind.We frequently hear expressions like 'level up' and 'keep your...

Northland Churches and Camps

I was encouraged by this update by Naomi Mason, from Kaitaia Bible Chapel and Coopers Beach Christian Youth Camp in Northland:“2023 Easter camp at CBCYC was such a wonderful, encouraging time of fellowship together."Our speakers Murray Stevenson and Winston McEwan gave very encouraging messages that were well appreciated."This was a family camp, catering for all campers, with a program for children 12 and under and an older Bible study for 13-16 year olds."We have had lots of feedback from man...

Police Chaplains

I am encouraged to see leaders across the movement serving and supporting policemen and women by becoming police chaplains.Pictured above is Police Commissioner Andrew Costa, who is a part of The Street Church Wellington, with Carrie Toehemotu from Northcross Church, Lui Ponifasio, a pastor of Life Church Auckland and Peter Somervell, a pastor of Grace Church Nelson at a recent police chaplains conference.By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador...

Known Unto God

John 15:13"Kahore he aroha o tetahi i rahi ake i tenei, ara kia tuku te tangata i a ia ano kia mate mo ona hoa.""Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.""E le sili lava le alofa o se tasi i lenei alofa, ia tuuina atu e se tasi lona ola e sui a‘i ana uo."The Unknown Warrior now interred at the National War Memorial in Wellington died fighting for New Zealand in France sometime between April 1916 and November 1918.He was buried in one of the Commonwealth ...

Churches Camping

Clint Craig, Lead Pastor at LifeSwitch, wrote to me about how great it is to be able to run Camp Survivor again."As a church we have 300 local kids attending our kids camp, most of whom are from unchurched families."The camp utilises around 50 youth and a total of 125 volunteers from our church community. We see many kids respond to the gospel and hope to see a significant number of campers and families engage with the church in the coming weeks."The coolest part about camp is that we make it fr...

Churches Reaching out through Camps

CCCNZ PastorLink Enabler Mark van Wijk writes:“This week, more than 130 campers, leaders and adults gathered at Willow Park Christian Camp in East Auckland for the Willow Park Kids Camp."Many of the volunteers are from local CCCNZ churches, including Mt Wellington Community Church, Tāmaki Community Church, Manurewa Bible Church and Auckland Bible Church."...

My Delight Comes with a Duty

Romans 1:14-15"He nama kei runga i ahau na nga Kariki, a na nga Tautangata, na te hunga mohio, a na te hunga whakaarokore. Na reira e ngakau nui ana ahau kia whakapaua taku ki te kauwhau hoki i te rongopai ki a koutou i Roma.""I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.""Ua ia te au mea a Eleni atoa ma nuu ese, o e popoto atoa ma e valelea; o le mea lea ou te naunau ai, ia ou folafola ...

News from Churches

It is delightful to see that eighteen teenagers and five parents volunteered at the Kingston Community Church School Holiday Programme last week....

Update from Church @ Cedarwood

It was lovely to hear from Bruce Scott today about how the church plant Church @ Cedarwood on the Kāpiti Coast is going.Bruce writes: “We give thanks to God for what he is doing in our midst."We love the sense of community growing in the life of the church through a regular Sunday lunch. We also love the sense of increasing community outreach through the men's monthly community breakfast, and growing involvement in the Waikanae drop-in centre.”...

The Good News of God's Wrath

Romans 1:18"E whakakitea iho ana hoki i te rangi to te Atua riri ki nga karakiakoretanga katoa, ki nga he o nga tangata e pehi ana i te pono i runga i te he.""The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.""Ua faaalia mai foi le toasa o le Atua mai le lagi i le amio faalematau ma le amio leaga uma lava a tagata, o e taofi i le upu moni ma le amioletonu."Paul Windsor was teaching a group of students ...

Easter Leaders

"Ko te korero hoki o te ripeka ki te hunga e whakangaromia ana he mea wawau; ki a tatou ia, ki te hunga e whakaorangia ana, ko te kaha tera o te Atua.""For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."“A o lenei, ‘ua tu‘uina e le Atua itūtino ‘ese‘ese i le tino e pei ‘ona finagalo i ai o ia."—1 Corinthians 1:18We are Easter Leaders.We who shepherd God's people during this season of remembering the cross�...

News from CCCNZ Homeworkers

I am immensely grateful for the ministry of Norm and Liz Silcock (pictured). They have a ministry based at Tauwhare Gospel Chapel in the Waikato and travel amongst churches in the wider movement.Norm wrote in a recent newsletter about a visit to the Northland and Auckland. Norm and Liz ministered in Kaitaia at Kaitaia Bible Chapel before travelling to Totara North where Mike and Janet Fleming run several programmes for tamariki and rangatahi, using Māori Postal Aotearoa materials. The...

News from Churches

Our vision is to see churches and the regional campsites and national ministries that serve them working together to point people to Jesus through the gospel from the Scriptures.For that reason, I just loved hearing an update from Jason McKinnon, an elder at Hillcrest Chapel in Hamilton.Last Thursday the elders of Hillcrest Chapel, Chapel Hill Community Church, and Northgate Community Church in Hamilton met together.At the Regional Summit last weekend, Jason mentioned that more than twenty-five ...

Southland/Otago Churches and Lakeland Park Camp

Pictured above, left to right: Jason Moss, Jandre Niehaus, Stafford Ferguson, Murray Frost, Rochelle and Tim Weir, Ian McBride, Craig Johnson, and Peter Chalmers.Last week CCCNZ Camping Enabler Richard Davis, Ian McBride and Craig Johnson met with the Queenstown Christian Camp Trust Board.We are grateful for the work Jason Moss (Queenstown), Jandre Niehaus (Cornerstone International Bible Church), Stafford Ferguson (Riverside Chapel), Murray Frost (Rutland Street Church) and Peter Chalmers (Gore...

Strengthening Connections at the Waikato Regional Summit

On Saturday elders and ministry leaders from across the Waikato region gathered for the CCCNZ Regional Summit....

Atawhai: Churches Serving Schools

We love seeing how churches are serving schools to point children, parents, and staff to Jesus.Sarah Chalmers from Hillcrest Chapel in Hamilton writes:"We have this amazing ministry called Atawhai. Twice a year, a survey is sent to our local school, Silverdale Normal School, asking about what practical support our church can offer whānau."This term we had 17 families reach out to us with requests for kids' clothing, which is the most we’ve ever had. It reflects the growing need out there."The...

Opening Doors for the Gospel

"Kia whakakitea atu ai e ahau, kia rite ai taku korero ki te mea i tika.""Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.""Ina ia ou faailoa atu ai, faapei ona tatau ona ou tautala atu ai. "—Colossians 4:4When Paul wrote those words, he was in prison.It’s likely that he was thrown in prison for speaking the gospel. Now, his ability to proclaim the gospel is radically reduced.But faced with profound restrictions and limitations, it’s fascinating what he asks the Colossians for in chapter ...

Stewards Executive in Auckland

Stewards Executive. Left to right: Graham Anderson (Bryndwr Chapel), Malcolm Davie (Vivian Street Gospel Hall), Glenys Yeoman (Eden Community Church) Murray Frost (Rutland Street Church), Jeff Simpson (New Plymouth Community Church), Phil Humphries (Manurewa Bible Church), Stephen Munn (Northcross Church), John Robinson (Northcross Church), Greg Eden (Auckland Bible Church) Cameron Bennett (Whitiora Bible Church), Gordon Fountain (Eden Community Church), Ruth Early ( Johnsonville, joined via Zoo...

Marsden Bay Christian Camp News

Geoff Rout, from Whangarei, has had a long association with Marsden Bay Christian Camp.In 2007 Geoff had a vision to create an area of native bush at the camp for groups to enjoy. Geoff has spent many hours on this wonderful project which now has over 150 native trees. Most of the plants and trees have a wooden plaque depicting the name and history of the species. School groups have found it to be a very useful resource for activities and lesson planning....

Where do churches fit in when a natural disaster strikes?

In writing about this topic from the perspective of a Community Pastor at Clark Road Chapel in Whangarei, I am very aware that whilst Cyclone Gabriel did create a lot of damage up here, it is nothing compared to our friends in the Hawkes Bay, and nothing compared to our friends in Christchurch who had to deal with Earthquakes.Personally, I did think a lot of CRC’s readiness to help our community if we should be needed.Thought No 1: Where is your church placed? Is your church and community in a...

Church Planting News

We are excited to see Clark Road Chapel praying for and encouraging Lighthouse Church as they become fully independent. Praise God for how he is growing his church in the Northland!The Lighthouse Church team writes:“We had a wonderful day celebrating an awesome milestone for Lighthouse Church."The church as a whole, along with the leadership team, were prayed for and encouraged by Andrew and Herman, from Clark Road Chapel, as we became fully independent."This is such a wonderful blessing from ...

Churches Work Together to Reach Children and Their Families

On Saturday, 18th of March, thirty leaders of all ages from Church Street Bible Chapel, Glentunnel Chapel and Rutland Street Church gathered at Rutland Street Church for the Canterbury regional Rally training day.The churches are seeking to reach children and families in their communities through Rally.We are grateful for new leaders, Brodie and Heather De Gouw from Church Street Bible Chapel (above) and delighted to see the multigenerational nature of leadership developing in Rally....

Crisis Response in Havelock North

We appreciated hearing from Pastor Matthew Johnston from Riverbend Bible Church in Havelock North about their response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.After checking in on and assisting their church members, they began reaching out into their local community. The church offered practical assistance to families recovering from the destruction, including the preparation of food in their church kitchen.  They have also been helping other churches with th...

He Comes For Us

"I te aonga ake ka mea a Ihu kia haere ki Kariri, a ka kite i a Piripi: a ka mea a Ihu ki a ia, E aru i ahau.""The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, 'Follow me.'""O le isi aso, na finagalo ai Iesu e maliu atu i Kalilaia. Na maua e ia Filipo, ma fetalai atu ‘iā te ia, 'Mulimuli mai ‘iā te a‘u.'"—John 1:43Historian and author Tom Holland studied Ancient Greece and Rome for years. He makes a striking observation: those ancient cultures had no sen...

Around Auckland

Three churches and about twenty keen youth leaders joined together with South Auckland Youth Enabler Scott Doddrell. Scott has settled in to Hamilton life and continues serving with Word of Life. He still plans to visit Auckland. Northcross hosted a watch party along with Orewa Community Church and Clark Rd Chapel (Whangarei). The watch party has generated interest among Auckland leaders for ongoing encouragement, teaching and equipping. Youth Director, Isaac Claasen says: "the event was we...