It was a privilege to be at Waitangi Commemorations this year. What stood out for me from the day is the way that people across our movement and the wider movement of Open Brethren heritage churches contribute to the commemorations by pointing people to Jesus.
Andrew Coster (pictured above), Commissioner of the New Zealand Police, led the dawn service in a God-centred, heartfelt prayer. I am grateful for Andrew’s contribution to his local church in the wider movement.
Left photo: Alasdair and Nicky Hall. Right photo: Maria Henderson at the OAC gazebo.
Jeremy Dempsey (OAC National Director) and Maria Henderson (OAC staff member) both from Riverbend Bible Church (along with others) were pointing people to Jesus through their creative evangelistic conversations and the Scripture resources of Māori Postal Aotearoa. Maria commented that they had given away a truckload of bi-lingual Māori Postal evangelistic resources over their time at Waitangi. Watching you guys at Waitangi was an inspiration!
Alasdair and Nicky Hall, from Feilding Bible Chapel, along with 100 others from churches across New Zealand, helped serve thousands of meals (along with doing toilet cleaning and car parking duties) on the Lower Marae at Waitangi bearing witness in word and deed to the centrality of Jesus’s death and resurrection in the formation of the Treaty.
From left to right: Joy and Gordon Fountain, Mark and Steph van Wijk.
I'm grateful too, for the attendance of Max from Mt Wellington Community Church and Jerome Edwards from Tāmaki Community Church (above). Lovely to spend time with other board members who were there, including Gordon (and his wife Joy) Fountain from Eden Community Church. Gordon is the CCCNZ Board Chair.
Grateful to also be there with Mark and Steph van Wijk from Auckland Bible Church. Mark is the CCCNZ PastorLink Enabler.
In the midst of the commemorations, I was reminded again that the covenantal nature of the Treaty is ultimately due to the death and resurrection of Jesus. There is a direct link between the cross and the covenantal nature of the Treaty.
By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador
