Good times last month. Māori and Pasifika leaders met for a hui at Willow Park Camp in Eastern Beach. Most of them came from Auckland, and some from further afield. They connected and ate together, learned about resources, and spent time in prayer and korero about churches and future gospel work. Those who led the evening were Jerome Edwards and Max Guptill.
Pray for all those involved in planning a future hui that the Lord would give clear direction, unity, and vision as Māori and Pasifika leaders come together from across New Zealand.
After preaching in the morning service of the new startup, Franklin Bible Church, in Pukekohe –, David Goold, from Wiremu Street Bible Chapel enjoyed a time of connecting: “It was a thrill. I had lots of conversations with young and old afterwards over lunch.
"They have already made a considerable impact in the community and there’s great promise there with evidence of the Lord’s hand on them”.
When it comes to developing volunteer leaders, Youth Director at Northcross, Isaac Claasen, recognises the importance of staying in touch with his volunteers and showing appreciation. They share how they are seeking to serve God amidst their busy lives: “most of the leaders are working” he says.
Tone Lui is the new secretary at Ranui Open Brethren Samona Assembly. An interest in counselling sparked a conversation between Tone Lui pastor Scott Fruen (middle) and Ian McBride (The Orchard / Lichfield Lands Trust) about resources for leaders.
Last Sunday Nobu Sugimoto officially started as the new pastor at the Auckland Japanese Christian Church, in Epsom.
On Sunday Lifechurch Manurewa had a special service to commission new LifeChurch West Pastors Charles and Anna Rivers.
As these churches are celebrating and looking forward to a new season pray for the new leaders and their families.
Brigitte Crowe (Howick Community Church) is leading a workshop at the Auckland Summit on prayer and the pursuit of the heart of God. She writes: “James 4:8 exhorts us to draw near to God and in so doing, God will draw near to us. In this session, we unpack prayer in the context of pursuing the heart of God. In so doing, we consider how this way of praying impacts our individual and corporate response to God.”
(Above left ) Four Auckland churches represented here over desert at the Māori and Pasifika hui at Willow Park, Eastern Beach (L) Janet Sao-Mafiti (Family Worship Otahuhu), Nella (Tāmaki Community Church), Naomi McKinnon and Elaine Forbes (Tāmaki Community Church) and Ane Ponifasio (Life Church Manurewa).
(Above right) Robert Siakimotu (Onehunga Bible Church) chats with Jerome Edwards (Tāmaki Community Church) before dinner.
After the Auckland Japanese Church service which meets on Sunday afternoon at ABC’s Ngaire Ave Campus, members stay on and connect in small groups. Campbell McSkimming (Rossgrove Bible Chapel) stands talking in the church foyer with elders from three central Auckland churches (Terry Street Bible Chapel and Wiremu Street Bible Chapel) before a meeting to share ideas.
(Left and middle) The leaders dinner in May at Lincoln Road Bible Chapel continued the theme of mental health and the faith community. Left, Amy Udy from Northcross shares what the church needs to understand about the impact of mental health amongst high school students.(Right)
Enjoying a meal together are LR: Graham Luey (elder at Howick Community Church) and Melissa Wang, Joy Huang, and Cherry McKinnon (from Wiremu St Bible Chapel). They are all first-time attendees at the leadership dinner for churches in South, East, and Central Auckland.
By Richard Fountain, Auckland Enabler
