Back to Blog

WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT TONGA

Some of the team that helped stock 20 drums heading to Tonga for relief. ...

Connecting during the Delta outbreak

There is no question that the Delta variant outbreak in 2021 was significantly harder than previous outbreaks of COVID-19. Parents have found the home learning and life juggle harder, more people are seeking help for mental health concerns, and churches and church leaders are facing numerous challenges. There’s a cumulative effect from the turmoil of the past 18 months, says PastorLINK Enabler Kerry Rickard, “Church leaders have had no respite from the relentless decision-making that is requ...

Summit Connections

Leslie Scott (left) and Rebekah Reeve (right)...

Connecting at Easter Camp: Siao-wei Huang

“The highlight of the Top of the South Easter camp for me was being able to spend time with other Christians and meet other people. To hear amazing speakers and learn things I might have not noticed before—it reminded me of what God did for us. I loved the way the speakers shared their message, by using stories.“The thing that stood out to me in the talks was that it reminded me again about Easter. Also it reminded me to think that it should’ve been me, everything that Jesus went thr...

Connecting at Easter Camp: Cate Wilson

“My highlight of the North Island Easter Camp 2021 was the Sunday morning service, when so many people lifted their hands either to renew their relationship with Christ or to accept Christ in their lives for the first time.“So many people’s lives were touched by this camp including mine; I have been a Christian for a long time now, but leading up to Easter Camp I felt overworked and stressed out. I had been too focused on making my last year of high school count but I had somehow begun to ...

Connecting at Easter Camp

In 2021 CCCNZ youth leaders in the South and North Islands came together to plan and host Easter Camps specifically for connecting CCCNZ youth groups. Putting on the North Island Easter Camp at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre was a team effort coordinated by Hangyul Cho, the Associate Pastor at Northcross Church. Hangyul said that leaders from at least 10 churches were involved, with each taking responsibility for different elements of the camp. They were pleased with the outcome.“It felt ver...

Regional Connections

It’s isolating work.That’s a surprising fact for those of us who see children’s ministry workers constantly connecting with the most energetic and open members of our churches. But many in those roles regularly describe it that way—isolating.Ten years ago, while working as Children and Families Pastor at Hillcrest Chapel, Julie McKinnon joined a ‘cluster’ meeting for other Waikato-based children’s ministry leaders set up by Karen Warner, who was leading the Baptist Union’s Ch...

Connecting to Support Outreach and Evangelism

Word of Life NZ’s Youth Reachout typically takes place in Fiji and Samoa. It’s a three week trip focusing on evangelism and personal development in a cross-cultural context. But with COVID-19 putting a stop to overseas travel in 2021, it became Youth Reachout Roadtrip. During the July school holidays a team of 20 people (Word of Life staff, their families, and young people) traveled around New Zealand to partner with different churches in hosting evangelistic community events. “It was real...

Camping Connections

“When was the last time you had four or five people in your church, in one morning, say, ‘I want to become a Christian?’” That’s a normal day at Teapot Valley Christian Camp—seeing four or five youth taking the next step towards faith in Jesus. As CCCNZ’s Camping Enabler, Richard Davis has plenty of opportunities to say what he’s been asking for some time: “That’s the opportunity before us; don’t you want to be part of it?” In Nelson, leaders from the trustee churches...

Canterbury Connections

“Connections between people and churches really started gaining traction last year—ironic given 2020 was a year where we experienced increased restrictions because of COVID-19!” Lawson Scott as served as the CCCNZ Canterbury Regional Enabler since 2016, a voluntary role where he seeks to encourage connection among Open Brethren heritage and independent churches, campsites, and support ministries in Canterbury.“We’re all fiercely independent, we look different and feel different as ...

Seven Reminders From Ephesians

Mark Grace CCCNZ Ambassador The COVID situation is pressing and stressful, but it’s not centralIn Ephesians Paul names his imprisonment twice—it’s significant, but it’s never central. Christ. His gospel. His Church. These are central. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the government’s public health response, have become increasingly significant, but they are not central. Our goal hasn’t changed The beating heart of Ephesians 1 is God’s grace to us in Jesus and his death and resurrecti...

Finding meaning in the mess

By CCCNZ Ambassador Mark Grace The Christmas story in Luke feels messy. Luke leads with messy people, messy politics, and messy births. If you wanted to know who was in the middle of the mess you’d naturally think—Rome! Caesar Augustus has spoken and the region's peoples are on the move. The result: Joseph and Mary are on the move to Bethlehem. Looking deeper into the mess of the first Christmas, we remember the words of Micah centuries earlier, prophesying: “But you, Bethleh...

Hillcrest Chapel's Journey With Prayer

By CCCNZ Prayer Coordinator Jackie Millar In March 2020, I met with two elders from Hillcrest Chapel (Waikato) to talk about prayer in their church community. Their heart for “more” in prayer was evident; not only for themselves or the elders but for the whole church.   Fast forward through various COVID-19 lockdown levels, changes within their church community, including changes in pastoral staff, a few Zoom prayer meetings, and hosting the Waikato Prayer Gathering in August... an...

Planning for the COVID-19 Protection Framework

A church in our movement have developed these Traffic Light planning templates and have shared them here for churches to adjust, customise and use. ...

Biblical Framework: an approach to vaccines and meeting together

Pastor at Manawarū Bible Chapel, Justin Thompson, has shared a Biblical Theology Framework for approaching vaccines and meeting as a church under the COVID-19 Protection Framework....

Knowing the Good Shepherd as you walk in the valley

CCCNZ Ambassador Mark Grace"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me". Psalm 23:4 This season can feel like walking in the valley of the shadow of death. For a number of church families in the New Zealand church it already means death—the death of loved members and leaders. For those in ministry, the valley’s shadow of death casts itself across so much. The decay of a clea...

Questions for talking through the COVID-19 Protection Framework

Elders from two churches have generously agreed to share questions that helped them talk through the COVID-19 Protection Framework and concerns with members....

'Come to Me'

"Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."Matthew 11:28 "Come to me". Jesus is the one who invites the weary and burdened.Jesus is the one who offers his strength and direction.Jesus is the one whose heart's essence is gentleness and humility.Jesus is the one who has come to us and then said come to me.  In this season so many people are saying "come to me". Come to my YouTube channel, my social feed, my group, my cause.The result: roiled people loo...

Guiding Biblical Principles: One eldership's starting point

We as an eldership acknowledge that there is a public health problem regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, we are guided by the public health authorities regarding how we are to respond. The effect on the vulnerable, and the potential impact on daily lives sees us seeking to follow public health recommendations, but also desiring to support those who are affected. We are in a season of change. The very world we live in and the lifestyles we have enjoyed are changing. The worldwide pandemi...

Conflict is coming

Conflict is coming. Tension, strain, and pressure are coming. Disagreement is coming. Conflict between leaders is a reality in the New Testament letters. Conflict can turn teams to custard. Conflict can also strengthen, deepen, and sharpen teams. What makes the difference?The complexities of the ministering in the season ahead will confront leadership teams with numerous challenges. Each challenge can easily grow into conflict. How can facing these lightening rod issues ...

What it means to be the Church

1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus are letters written by Paul to younger leaders early in their ministry. He writes to Timothy and Titus who are facing the collision of confusion, false teaching, and opposition to gospel ministry in Ephesus and Crete. I’ve found Paul’s response to each issue a really helpful reminder.  False teaching: Be the ChurchConfusion: Be the ChurchOpposition: Be the Church Paul is encouraging them to 'begin with the end in mind'. In a confusing ...

Hope in the hardship

There is hope in the hardship.  The Apostle Paul is writes 2 Timothy 2:1-13 in prison at the end of his life. It’s hard. He is suffering. He is chained like a criminal. He invites Timothy to join him in suffering; to suffer like a good solider, an athlete, and a hardworking farmer. But hardship is not the end of the story. In the exhaustion, complexity, and challenges of Ephesus, Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful, and to keep going. There is hope in the hardship. ...

Leading people during an incredibly challenging season.

By CCCNZ Ambassador Mark GraceWe are entering a profoundly challenging ministry season. The last 18 months have been challenging, the next 8+ months will be significantly more so. It’s my sense that local church ministry in Level 2 is more complex than Level 3.  Church leaders in different parts of the world have noticed a common trend affecting churches in this phase of the pandemic. Matt Chandler sums this up with a picture of thirds: a third of the congregation...

More like Jesus

By CCCNZ Ambassador Mark GraceThe Apostle Peter wrote his letters to the churches in a complex and changing society. In 1 Peter 1 he calls the churches exiles, scattered. He recognises the suffering, grief, and trials they are facing. He’s writing to churches of ordinary Christians scattered across Northern Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. It’s likely they are facing sporadic, but increasing, persecution under the Emperor Nero. What is fascinating to me is the approach he takes with ...

Same place, different conditions

By CCCNZ Ambassador Mark GraceConditions have changed.Many trampers and hunters have been caught out by quickly changing conditions on the Tararua Range.People can walk up a ridge in the morning in full sunshine, then return back to the base of the ridge at lunchtime to find ‘white out’ conditions.They find themselves in the same place, but in radically different conditions. Those who aren’t prepared for the change face the terrible consequences.Since 1970, 22 have...