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Auckland Elders' Workshop

On Saturday, 27 leaders from 13 churches from across Auckland’s Central, South and East regions came together for an Elders' Workshop at Eden Church on 'growing leaders, finding elders'.CCCNZ Auckland Enabler Richard Fountain writes,"It was a blessing for experienced elders, new elders and potential elders to hear from Kerry Rickard (Kingston Community Church) speaking on developing leaders into eldership."...

Langham Preaching Training at Church on Ingestre

Brett Campbell and Doug Benn attended the Langham Preaching Course in June and decided to take up the challenge to run it back home at Church on Ingestre. They had nine participants and ran it over two afternoons (21– 22 September), teaching the material and having a practice run through a short Bible passage. They gave them a week with another short Bible passage to observe the details and consider its context. They came back together the following Saturday ...

The end of all things is near

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorKua tata ia te whakamutunga o nga mea katoa.‘Ua latalata mai le i‘uga o mea uma lava.The end of all things is near.1 Peter 4:7Peter probably wrote these words around AD 64, just as the persecution of Christians was ramping up. What is Peter’s framework for thinking about the persecution, suffering, injustice, and pressure Rome caused?  It’s the recognition that the end of all things is near. In 1 Peter 1:5, Peter describes this as the “last time...

God’s Timing and a New Direction

If you call the Orewa Community Church (OCC) office, you’ll probably find Carli Hay on the other end of the line. Carli took on the role of Church Administrator earlier this year, which she says was a big change, and a steep learning curve after spending the last 20 years working in the field of Occupational Therapy in the UK and New Zealand. Carli says she took on the role because she is keen to work in the church environment, to align more with the new direction God ...

Canterbury Regional Summit

Our vision is to see churches (and the regional campsites and national support ministries) that serve them working together to point people to Jesus through the gospel from the Bible.For this reason, it was a real delight to be with ministry leaders from 12 churches at the Canterbury Regional Summit at Rutland Street Church on Saturday. ...

Children and Families Ministry Leaders Regional Gathering in Palmerston North

Leaders involved in ministry with children at Crossroads Church, Feilding Bible Chapel, Kingston Community Church, and Queen Street Chapel met this week for a time of encouragement and connection....

Combined youth event in New Plymouth

Last week, a combined youth event was held at New Plymouth Community Church (NPCC) with Tom McIvor as the guest speaker. With a small group of about 10, they hosted around 70 young people from their wider community....

Preaching and Teaching Training in Palmerston North

Three churches from the Manawatū (Feilding Bible Chapel, Kingston Community Church, and Church on Vogel) have been gathering regularly across the year to explore and be equipped in the theology and practice of Christian preaching and teaching. Pastor Kerry Rickard writes, “We have covered our convictions around God's Word, a methodology for preparing and delivering messages that are faithful, clear, relevant and engaging. The group has shared, wrestled, challenge...

Feilding Bible Chapel's Women's Retreat

Last weekend, Feilding Bible Chapel held a women’s retreat. With the theme “Flourish”, they were encouraged to remain deep-rooted in Christ....

Winter experiences

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorE toku Atua, e toku Atua, he aha koe i whakarere ai i ahau? he aha koe i matara atu ai ki te whakaora i ahau i nga kupu hoki o taku hamama?Lo‘u Atua e, lo‘u Atua e, se a ea le mea ua e tuulafoai mai ai ia te ‘au, e taumamao ma lo‘u faaolataga, o upu foi o lo‘u faataio? My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?Psalm 22:125 years ago, I was going through a very painful period in life.I...

Community outreach efforts recognised

It's encouraging to see youth and community workers working together to reach their communities, and a bonus to have this work supported and acknowledged by local councils....

Encouraged to stand firm

Heretaunga Community Church, Upper Hutt organised and hosted the Stand Firm Conference, last weekend (13-14 September)....

God at work in elderships: Rowley Bible Church

One of the great privileges the CCCNZ staff team has is the regular opportunity to meet with elders across the movement as they are invited into various elders' gatherings.We're blessed by the ways we see elderships praying together for their church families, opening God's Word with each other, working through issues and shepherding God's people. It's also a privilege to share some of these insights with you for your encouragement....

Where do we put our confidence?

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorE matawaia tonu ana o tatou kanohi i tatou e titiro ana ki te awhina tekateka noa mo tatou: i a tatou e tiaki atu ana, i whanga noa tatou ki te iwi e kore e whakaora.A o tumau i matou sa fole o matou mata i vaai i lo matou fesoasoani le aoga; sa vaavaai atu i matou i o matou fale matāmoe i le nuu e le mafai ona faaola mai. Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.Lamentations...

A dedicated prayer space for Chapel Hill Community Church

Christine Renner and Judi Shepherd from Chapel Hill Community Church in Hamilton recently shared about the new prayer space at their church. ...

Rutland Street Youth Camp

Rutland Street Church in Christchurch held their annual youth camp on Saturday at the beautiful Mt Hutt retreat centre in Canterbury.Craig Barrow (CCCNZ Youth and Young Adults) writes:"The weekend was a fantastic combination of fun, teaching, and community. On Friday night there was a hilarious game of 'Bible smuggling' using glow sticks all over the property."Three talks focused on how we can be easily distracted in our relationship with the Lord. Rutland Youth has an ‘eve...

Hamilton Prayer Breakfast

What a delight to see CCCNZ/Open Brethren Heritage church leaders joining together with others from across the Waikato region to pray. ...

Don't miss the climate

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorI pera ai he hara no ona poropiti, he he no ona tohunga kua whakaheke nei i nga toto o te hunga tika ki waenganui ona.Ona o agasala a ona perofeta ma amioletonu a ona faitaulaga e na faamaligi le toto o e amiotonu i totonu ia te ia;But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteousLamentations 4:13Jerusalem has fallen. Solomon’s Temple has fallen.Lamentations 4 paints a harrowing p...

How is Revelation 7 displayed in your church?

A couple of weeks ago South Island Regional Enabler Tim Hodge shared a devotion on Revelation 7:9 and asked: How is Revelation 7 displayed in your community already? New Plymouth Community Church has a great response, coming together every year to celebrate the diversity of languages, cultures and nationalities within their church community.This year was the third time the church family get together to celebrate with food, dancing and singing.Brian Ropitini is a&nbs...

GC3's Headspace is relaunching

Jon Slack and Christa PicklesJon Slack, along with his wife Mari, and Christa Pickles have joined the GC3 team to relaunch Headspace.Headspace is a year-long mission focused discipleship initiative, designed to equip young adults for lives of serving and loving God. It’s about diving into God’s mission and discovering your unique place within it.It's a chance to go deep and set foundations for the rest of your life before life gets too busy, integ...

Father's Day at Tuvalu Brethren Assembly

Tuvalu Brethren Assembly celebrated Father's Day on Sunday, CCCNZ Auckland Enabler Richard Fountain shares how blessed he was by the memorable service: “All the dads, uncles, and grandads participated. They performed several skits and dramas, sang action songs in amazing harmony, and three dads shared their testimonies about trusting Christ as Saviour.”...

Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Auckland First Training

“Where are the leaders of tomorrow?” is a question we hear often from church leaders.We'd like to share a glimpse of an answer to that question. Grant Birks was one of several youth leaders who came along to First Training with a group of young people at Willow Park over the weekend for the third First Training event across Aotearoa, NZ this year.  ...

Jesus took the cup instead of us

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorKia hari, kia koa, e te tamahine a Eroma e noho na i te whenua o Uhu; ka tae atu ano te kapu ki a koe; ka haurangi koe, ka whakarere ano koe i ou kakahu.Ina olioli ia ma e fiafia oe le tama fafine a Etoma e, o loo nofo i le nuu o Usa; e oo atu ia te oe lava le ipu; e onā ai oe, ma e faalelavalavā ai.Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and stripped naked.Lamentations 4:21The ...

Jesus calls us his friends

By Tim Hodge, CCCNZ South Island EnablerIn Matthew 26, Jesus prophesies that by the end of the night, each one of his disciples will have left him. He pointedly tells Peter in verse 34, “This very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.” Later, in the garden of Gethsemane, the disciples fall asleep instead of praying, as Jesus had asked. In verse 46, Jesus says, “Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”Jesus knows his betrayer. He knows his disc...

Prayer at Lightouse Church

Lighthouse Church in Tutukaka started life as a church plant out of Clark Road Chapel in Whangārei, and is now a thriving group that meets in a small coastal community in the Far North. This week, CCCNZ Prayer Enabler Jackie Millar had a great conversation with Trish Ellis from Lighthouse Church about prayer, and she comments:“Trish and her husband Greg open their lounge room, during various times of the church calendar as a 24-7 Prayer R...