Baptisms at LifeSwitch
I’m so encouraged to see people being baptised across New Zealand. On the last two Sundays, two people were baptised at LifeSwitch, and they are expecting to have three more in the coming weeks!Clint Craig, Lead Pastor at LifeSwitch, comments:"It has been incredibly exciting to see people taking the step of baptism. We are in the middle of a run with two baptisms over the last two Sundays and one planned for each of the next three. “We're now praying that we can keep the run g...
April 19, 2024Waikato - Bay of Plenty Summit
On Saturday, 130+ people from 22 churches were at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Regional Summit. What a blessing to see elders and ministry leaders from various churches chatting together. Thank you to Justin Thompson (below, right) from Manawarū Bible Chapel for opening God's Word for us and preaching on what it means to serve like Christ from Philippians chapter 2....
April 19, 2024Holiday programme at Kingston Community Church
It's encouraging to see how Kingston Community Church (KCC) is serving their local community, as they develop and disciple young leaders. They ran a school holiday programme this week, with around 60 children taking part.Joel Birkin, Ministry Pastor at KCC, writes:“Our youth leader Jed (Meads) is running our school holiday program alongside 18 of his youth leaders. It's been a joy to see a range of new leaders step up this year. “We have a majority of new children this ti...
April 19, 2024The power of God
By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorA i a koutou ahau me te ngoikore, me te wehi, me te tuiri nui.Na ou i ai foi ia te outou ma le vaivai, ma le mata‘u, ma le gatete tele;I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 1 Corinthians 2:3What is the Apostle Paul saying? He didn’t come to them with confidence in his speaking ability. He didn’t come to them with confidence in human theories, philosophies, or ideas. He came to them in weakness. He came to them in weakness, wi...
April 19, 2024Manawarū Bible Chapel Church Day Camp
It’s encouraging to hear how churches are partnering with their local campsites across the country to point people to Jesus.I loved hearing about Manawarū Bible Chapel's church day camp at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre. The morning sessions were set up for church members with Daryl Bay, Lead Pastor at Hope Community Church, as the guest speaker. The message was centred on focusing on people in our community by speaking on 1 Peter 2:12. This time was followed by&nbs...
April 12, 2024Reflecting on Scripture together at Auckland Bible Church
An old boss of mine would often ask "Why can’t creativity and gospel content go together?" I loved hearing about creativity and scriptural content going together on the Sunday before Easter at Auckland Bible Church.They ran Scripture Reflection Stations, where they cleared out all the chairs from their auditorium into their café space and set up different creative areas to interact with. Lead Pastor Hayden Johns writes,“We gave everyone a booklet with...
April 12, 2024Conflicts
By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorI takoto hoki toku whakaaro, kia kaua ahau e matau ki tetahi mea i roto i a koutou, ko Ihu Karaiti anake, ko ia hoki i ripekatia.Auā na tonu lo‘u manatu, ou te le iloa se tasi mea ia te outou tau lava o Iesu Keriso, o ia lava na faasatauroina. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.1 Corinthians 2:2Corinth is a train wreck. The church is no different. Chaos, conflict, and confusion mark its life. Abuse, war...
April 12, 2024Men's Breakfast at Rutland Street Church
On Saturday, Rutland Street Church (RSC) hosted a Men’s Breakfast with 60 people in attendance. The speaker was Ross Bandury, who is passionate about the gospel and community ministries to reach people for Christ.Elder Lawson Scott says,“The Ministry is called Fuel Up and we had 60 men attend for this event which is held every quarter at RSC – from young guys to senior members....
April 12, 2024Baptisms at Kelston Community Church
Around the country, I get the sense that more of the churches are baptising more people. God is on the move. On Easter Sunday, two women were baptised at Kelston Community Church.Pastor Paul Long (pictured above baptising) comments,“Our Easter service was extra special (again) as we celebrated the baptism of Floras Ng (from our Mandarin-speaking service), and Yasmin Luatua (from our English-speaking service).”...
April 12, 2024Combined Easter Service
On Easter Sunday, Hope Community Church and Grace Church celebrated a combined service at Teapot Valley Christian Camp. Daryl Bay, Lead Pastor at Hope Community Church, comments:“It was such a thrill to join together as two churches unified by our vision to see the gospel of Jesus flourish in the Tasman district. We celebrated the Risen Christ at the beautiful Teapot Valley Christian Camp, who served an amazing lunch and allowed us to enjoy their activities for th...
April 7, 2024Lower North Island Easter Camp
It was an absolute delight to visit the Lower North Island CCCNZ Easter Camp on Easter Saturday at YMCA Kaitoke in Upper Hutt, with 170 people in attendance from 10 churches, including Feilding Bible Chapel, Kingston Community Church, The Anchor Church, Onslow Community Church, Church on Vogel, and Church on Ingestre.Joel Birkin, Ministry Pastor at Kingston Community Church and one of the Easter Camp organisers, writes:“It was wonderful to witness t...
April 7, 2024Thank you!
This past week Jeff and Averil Coleman along with their five children headed back to the United States indefinitely for Averil's cancer treatment. A huge thank you to you all: Jeff, Averil, Sophia (14), Noah (12), Abraham (10), Moses (8), and David (5), you’ve made such a significant impact on us. Thank you for your work amongst the Cornerstone International Bible Church, Caversham Community Church and Riverside Chapel communities. Th...
April 7, 2024A 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...
April 7, 2024North Island Easter Camp
On Easter Sunday, I visited the upper CCCNZ North Island Easter Camp at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre. I was encouraged to see around 160 people from various churches, including Northcross Church, Orewa Community Church, Hukanui Bible Church, Matamata Bible Church, Te Awamutu Bible Chapel and Putaruru Gospel Chapel.A big thank you to Billy Hanna (Hukanui Bible Church), along with Marina Shannon (Orewa Community Church)...
April 7, 2024Easter 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...
March 28, 2024Studying 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...
March 28, 2024Our 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...
March 28, 2024Baptisms 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!...
March 28, 2024Prime 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...
March 28, 2024Jesus 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...
March 22, 2024Waikato 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...
March 22, 2024Mission 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&...
March 22, 2024Clark 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. ...
March 22, 2024The 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...
March 22, 2024Growing 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...
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