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A better home

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorNa Pita, he apotoro na Ihu Karaiti, ki te hunga whiriwhiri e noho manene ana i Ponoto, i Karatia, i Kaporokia, i Ahia, i Pitinia,O a‘u o Peteru, o le aposetolo a Iesu Keriso, o la‘u tusi lenei i e ua āumau, ma ua faataapeapeina i Pono, Kalatia, Kapatokia, Asia, ma Pitunia,Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.1 Peter 1:1Christians living in the first years...

Easter event at Hillcrest Chapel

Last Friday, Hillcrest Chapel hosted ‘Risen’, an Easter event for families. Approximately 65 people attended, with around half of them being from the local community.Children and Families Pastor Rach Dixon writes, “We shared the story of Easter with the kids and their families—they took home a copy of the story and some props with the challenge to share it with someone else. The kids made an 'empty tomb' craft to take home also. “It was a pretty relaxed ev...

Baptisms at Clark Road Chapel

Last Sunday, three girls were baptised at Clark Road Chapel. The building was so full that extra seating had to be arranged!...

Prime Time Conference

The Prime Time Conference was recently held at Lakeland Park Camp (Queenstown) last weekend (22 - 24 March). The conference was aimed at those aged over 50 from our wider movement.Graham Ashby writes,“The conference aims to stimulate, challenge and encourage older Christians to stay engaged in the work of God.“It didn’t take long for the 42 folk to become one big family and it was a joy to see them engaging in rich conversations with plenty of laughter. “Knowing how o...

Our Redeemer lives

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorOtiia e mohio ana ahau kei te ora toku kaihoko, a i nga wa i muri nei ka tu ia ki runga ki te whenua;Auā ua ou iloa, o loo soifua le na te togiolaina a‘u; o aso amuli foi e tulai mai ai o ia i luga o le eleele.I know that my redeemer lives,and that in the end he will stand on the earth. Job 19:25In the mornings before sunrise, I have been meeting with God through the book of Job. Days away from Easter, I read these words: I know that my redeemer l...

Studying and serving the local church

Samantha Diffey (Crossroads Church) is studying for a Graduate Diploma in Theology at Laidlaw College, and it's having real implications for her ministry as part of her local church: ”for me, my study and my church community are inextricably connected.”Samantha was part of a team who recently organised a women's breakfast (pictured above) with the hope of fostering community between women from different services, sometimes from vastly different generations.She says she found i...

The Anchor Church Camp

Last weekend, The Anchor Church held its annual family camp at Forest Lakes in Ōtaki. They spoke about two important topics ‘Our Identity and Self-worth’ and ‘Evangelism in our Modern Context’.Pastor Darryl Ward writes,“The kids were well taught by Ray Cooper using his creativity to present the clear message of the gospel. We love Ray’s input into our church kids’ lives over a long time, and thankful to God for him and&nb...

Jesus has overcome the world

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorKua korerotia e ahau enei mea ki a koutou, kia whai marietanga ai koutou i roto i ahau. Ko ta koutou i te ao nei, he mamate: otira kia maia; kua taea e ahau te ao.Ua ou fai atu nei mea ia te outou, ina ia outou maua le manuia ia te au; e maua foi outou e le puapuaga i le lalolagi, a ia outou loto tetele, ua ou manumalo i le lalolagi.“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcom...

Waikato Regional Elders' Dinner

On Monday night, 33 elders and pastors from the Waikato region met at Hillcrest Chapel in Hamilton.There were nine churches represented, including Agora Church, Chapel Hill Community Church, Hillcrest Chapel, Manawarū Bible Chapel, Matamata Bible Church, Northgate Community Church, Putaruru Gospel Chapel, Raleigh Street Christian Centre, and Whitiora Bible Church.Kerry Rickard and Joel Birkin from Kingston Community Chur...

Clark Road Chapel Church Camp

Clark Road Chapel (Whangārei) had a great time last weekend at their church camp at Marsden Bay Christian Camp, with more than 130 people in attendance. ...

Mission Team in Levin

It was encouraging to be in Levin on Wednesday. Matthew and Sally Wright from Manawarū Bible Chapel are with a mission team of around 15 Kiwi and Aussie students from Sydney Missionary & Bible College serving in the ministries at a local church. The team is led by Alan and Alayne Thompson, originally from Manurewa Bible Church.Matthew and Sally are 18 months into a three-year degree at SMBC. They are lovingly sent and supported by&...

God’s heart for the helpless

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorE tohe nei i te whakawa a te hunga e tukinotia ana: e whangai nei i te hunga mate hiakai: ko Ihowa hei wewete i nga herehere:He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.Psalm 146:7In Psalm 146, I’m confronted by God’s heart for the helpless.  In this psalm, we read about the God who creates everything, who is faithful, who upholds the cause of the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry, who sets pr...

Sisters Hui Rotorua

I was so encouraging to hear about the Sisters Hui Rotorua, a regional Māori women’s conference held at Roosevelt Road Bible Church on Saturday 2 March. Sharon Brooks (Roosevelt Road Bible Church) writes, “It has been with great pleasure and in our Father’s presence we held the regional gathering of the women’s fellowship hui in Rotorua. We were blessed with our brethren sisters from Mangakino, Waharoa, Tauwhare, Matamata and all the way to Auckland.�...

A week in Sydney

It has been a privilege to be in Sydney this week joining with leaders who serve amongst the CCCAust (Christian Community Churches of Australia) movement in each state in Australia (pictured above). What an encouragement. I’ve been blessed to hear how churches are working together to point people to Jesus, through the gospel from the Bible. While in Sydney I’ve been able to touch base briefly with Matthew Wright from Manawarū Bible Chapel studying at Sydne...

Canterbury Regional Gathering

Last Sunday, 20 elders and leaders from nine churches gathered to pray together and hear of initiatives around the region. Churches represented include Rutland Street Church, Riccarton Community Church, Durham Street Gospel Hall, Westchurch, Springs Community Church, Bryndwr Chapel, Rowley Bible Church, Wairakei Road Bible Church, and The Embassy @ North Beach....

Growing in faith and practical skills through internships

Sam Trebilco from Te Awamutu Bible Chapel and Taylor Firth from Kaipaki Bible Church have been reflecting on their recent experiences interning with MMM New Zealand (formerly known as Mobile Mission Maintenance). In 2023 they were employed by MMM to work with a builder four days a week, spend one day a week volunteering with MMM, and have blocks of theological study throughout the year.(Pictured above, from left to right: MMM National Director Ho...

Humility

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorKei meinga tetahi mea i runga i te wehewehe, i te whakapehapeha ranei, engari i runga i te ngakau papaku, me te whakanui a tetahi i tetahi ki runga ake i a ia;'Aua ne‘i faia se mea e tasi ma le finau vale, ma le mitamita fua; a ia taitasi outou ma manatu ma le loto maulalo, ua sili nisi uma ia te ia. 'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.Philippians 2:3At some level, I think I do almost everything o...

Movement of the Word in Auckland and Waikato

On Sunday night, 16 Auckland leaders from Auckland Bible Church, Au uso Christian Fellowship – Henderson and Franklin Bible Church came together for a Movement of the Word training taster. The Movement of the Word assists local churches simply and profoundly to be growing and maturing leaders by assisting them to meet Christ through the Scriptures for themselves.It’s a few simple principles of digging into the Bible that can be used one-on-one, in a sm...

Heritage Brethren Christian Camping Hui

Last weekend, the second Camping Hui was held at Silverstream Retreat in Lower Hutt, Wellington. About 50 trustees from 24 camps came together to explore the future of camping from Brethren Heritage Campsites.A vision to see CCCNZ/OBH churches reaching their communities through camping was shared. Campsites are being invited to consider a new shared structure that will see local camp staff having more time and resources to serve the churches in their mission because property and o...

Thank you!

After seven years serving as pastor at Birkenhead Community Church in Auckland, Dan and Emily Tyler and their whānau are heading back to the UK where Dan will take up a Senior Minister position at Haywards Heath Baptist Church in South East England. We're grateful for Dan's contribution to the CCCNZ movement as a volunteer regional PastorLink Enabler for the North Shore. Thank you Dan and Emily!  We'll be praying for both the Tyler whānau and the Birkenhead C...

New Plymouth Community Church in the countryside

Last Sunday, New Plymouth Community Church (NPCC) enjoyed an outdoor family service. It was a great day of fellowship, filled with worship, testimony, and teaching. Pastor Brian Ropitini writes, “We are blessed to have a couple within our fellowship who have an amazing lifestyle block which they have also set up as a wedding venue. They generously offered us the use of their place to hold a summer family service.  ...

Rosedale Bible Chapel Church Camp

Last weekend, Rosedale Bible Chapel (Invercargill) held a church camp at Lakeland Park Camp, Queenstown.Elder Nigel Winder writes,“Over the weekend we explored together God's Great Invitation to Belong, Believe, and Become. “After some teaching on each theme, we gathered in mixed age groups to discuss further how we might apply and support each other as a church family in becoming lifelong committed followers of Jesus. “The weekend also included some...

God's consolation

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorHe iti rawa ranei mou nga whakamarie a te Atua, te kupu ngawari e hoatu ana ki a koe?Are God’s consolations not enough for you, words spoken gently to you?Job 15:11The intensity of the conversation is heating up. Job has lashed out at his ‘friends’ in Job 13:4. “You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!”.Here, in Job 15:11, Eliphaz the Temanite strikes back: “Are God’s consolations not enough for you, words spoke...

Manawatū Regional Rally Camp

Last weekend I visited the annual Manawatū Regional Rally Camp at Forest Lakes Camp where 190 kids and their leaders came together for a weekend of fun, faith, and friendship. There were nine rally groups present, from Feilding Bible Chapel, Church on Vogel, Crossroads Church, York Street Chapel, Queen Street Chapel, Rongotea Bible Chapel, Woodville Gospel Hall, Bunnythorpe Family Church, and Dannevirke Bible Chapel. Half the children ...

United with Christ - Part 2

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorKi te mea hoki kua honoa tatou ki a ia i runga i te ahua o tona matenga, ka honoa ano tatou ki a ia i runga i te ahua o tona aranga:For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.Romans 6:5Part 2 of 2:Paul Windsor, commenting on holiness, noted the number of seniors in his first church as a pastor who would grieve over sin in their lives—sin that he, in a sense, thought was minor. He c...