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Yes, No

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorWhakamoemititia a Ihowa. E toku wairua, whakamoemititia a Ihowa. I ahau e ora nei ka whakamoemiti ahau ki a Ihowa; ka himene ahau ki toku Atua i ahau i te ao nei.Ia outou vivii atu ia Ioa. Lo‘u agaga e, ia e vivii atu ia Ieova. Ou te vivii atu ia Ieova a o ou ola; ou te fai pesega i lo‘u Atua a o ou tumau i le ola nei.Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.Psalm 146:1-2The in...

Deepening faith and service through practical theological learning

Ane Ponifasio and Dolly Kirubakaran from LifeChurch, along with Joy Fountain from Eden Church in Auckland, are together studying part-time as a cohort toward the Level 6 Diploma in Christian Studies (Christian Leadership) through Pathways Bible College.On Friday last week, they gathered for a block course day in Auckland, facilitated by Richard Goodwin (from Raleigh Street Christian Centre).These students are now in their second year of...

Waikato NZ Rally Camp

Last weekend, around 180 kids and 60 leaders gathered at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre for a NZ Rally Camp.Nikki McBride and Micah Church (The Orchard Rallies) led the Rally leaders. The theme this year was the Olympics. Ray Cooper (York Street Chapel) and Anthony Samuels (Tāmaki Community Church) followed this theme in their Bible exploring sessions. Ray spoke to the younger kids and Anthony to the older kids. Caleb Mills from ...

Children's Ministry Training in Christchurch and Wellington

Children’s ministry volunteers from Emmett Street Community Church, Halswell Community Church and Rutland Street Church in Christchurch gathered in early March for a workshop run by Julie McKinnon (CCCNZ Children and Family Ministries Enabler), that explored how our understanding of children shapes our ministry practice....

Crossroads Latino Launch

It's 7pm on Saturday night, I'm at Crossroads Church in Palmerston North with 70 other people. We're singing, praying and listening to the sermon in Español—all for the launch of Crossroads Latino, a monthly Spanish-language service. It was such a joy to see my EA Paula Almada (and other volunteers and Crossroads staff) lead the group in worshipping together.Paula, along with her husband Saverio Malgeri, her sister Ana Almada, and brother-in-law Ma...

God of Nations

CCCNZ South Island Enabler Tim Hodge, visited Bryndwr Chapel in Christchurch and he shares:"It was an honour to be with Bryndwr Chapel last Sunday; such a marvellous spread for church lunch! It was good to meet Felix Chai (elder) and Andrei Popa, who are both involved in spreading God's Word in other languages."Andrei Popa is one of the leaders of Grace Romanian Church, a Romanian language Sunday afternoon congregation which last Sunday started meetin...

Step One: Fly the plane

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorI whakawhirinaki o matou matua ki a koe, i whakawhirinaki, a whakaorangia ana e koe.Na faatuatua ia te oe o matou tamā; na latou faatuatua, ua e laveai foi ia te i latou.In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.Psalm 22:4When pilots face mid-air emergencies, they’re provided with a checklist for steps to follow. They have a list of steps to take, in order, that should result in the fewest accidents and casualties. What I found fa...

Churches Camping

I mentioned last week I wanted to share with you more about the Camping Hui held in Auckland last weekend....

Manawatū NZ Rally Camp

Close to 200 kids and leaders attended the Manawatū NZ Rally Camp last weekend at Forest Lakes Camping and Conference Centre.NZ Rally CEO Tony Foster said everyone got to hear the gospel message through Ray Cooper (York Street Chapel) in the hall known as the Sharing Shed. ...

Next Training: Lower North Island

What a joy to see more than 20 young adults come together last weekend from Ingestre Street Church (Whanganui), Kingston Community Church (Palmerston North), Church on Vogel (Palmerston North), New Plymouth Community Church, and Feilding Bible Chapel. The group met at Highland Home Christian Camp for the first ever Next Training: Lower North Island. Next Training is designed to follow on from First Training, and is a space for young adu...

The anchor of God's grace

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorKo te Atua hoki nana nei i ki te marama kia whiti i roto i te pouri, kua whiti ki roto ki o matou ngakau, hei homai i te marama o te matauranga o te kororia o te Atua i te mata o Ihu Karaiti.Auā o le Atua lava o lē na fetalai atu, “ ‘Ia pupula mai le malamalama mai le pouliuli,” na pupula mai i o matou loto ‘ina ‘ia malamalama, e iloa ai le mamalu o le Atua i fofoga o Keriso.For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine ...

Church-based Internships at Kingston Community Church

Left to right: JC Marais (CCCNZ Operations), Rebecca Treanor (KCC intern), Jed Meads (KCC Youth Coordinator & intern), Shanae Rickard (KCC intern), Kerry Rickard (KCC Discipleship Pastor), Raewyn Meads (KCC Office Manager), and Ray-Anne Cahill (CCCNZ Accounts and Team Support). On Friday the Palmy-based CCCNZ staff team joined the Kingston Community Church team for lunch. It was great to hear how interns Rebecca Treanor, Jed Meads and Shanae Rickard&nb...

Baptisms in Hamilton and Palmerston North

I’m so encouraged to see more and more young people being baptised around New Zealand!Last Sunday, Anna and Dominique were baptised at Hukanui Bible Church in Hamilton, and Sarah was baptised at Kingston Community Church in Palmerston North....

Encouragements in Southland

Tim Hodge, CCCNZ South Island Enabler, was in Southland this week. He said there is much to thank God for in Southland and shared this snapshot from his visit:“Hayden Hillas, elder with Elles Road Bible Chapel in Invercargill, is rejoicing in their recent church camp at Lakeland Park Camp, Queenstown, with Bible teaching brought from Simeon Dudley from Takapuna Bible Church (Auckland). “This coming weekend Rosedale Bible Chapel in Invercargil...

Stewards' visit to the Manawatū and Horowhenua

On Sunday night I joined fellow Feilding Bible Chapel elders Lindsay Rowe and Gary Gilpin to meet with Stephen Munn (Stewards' Trust Chair) and Jeff Orr (Stewards' Senior Executive Officer). It was encouraging to hear of Stewards’ heart to be supporting churches in the development of their properties and their desire to support church planting in the future.It was also exciting to hear that due to a bequest, Stewards' has set up ...

Is your basket empty?

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorMe Rutu Moapi hoki me te wahine a Maharono, kua hokona mai ia e ahau hei wahine maku, hei whakaara ingoa ake mo te tupapaku ki tona kainga tupu, kei hautopea atu te ingoa o te tupapaku i roto i ona teina, i te kuwaha ano o tona wahi; ko koutou n ga kaititiro i tenei ra.o Ruta foi le fafine Moapi, le avā a Maalona, ua ou faatau ia te ia e fai ma‘u avā, e faatumau ai le igoa o le ua oti i lona tofi, ia le galo le igoa o le ua oti ai lona au uso, ma le faitotoa o ...

Baptism in New Plymouth Community Church

It was so encouraging to hear that 14-year-old Ash was baptised on Sunday at New Plymouth Community Church (NPCC).NPCC Youth Pastor Jake Moir shares:“It was such an honour to baptise Ash. We met him and his family through our Rally program, and he now attends our High School youth group, and attends church with his family.“Ash is an infectious young person who has already drawn a stack of his mates into church to hear about Jesus for the first time. Can't wait to see how ...

Canterbury Catch-up

On Wednesday, the CCCNZ Board met at Rutland Street Church in Christchurch. While there, it was a delight to chat with Lance Robinson and Dave Gow from Word of Life and to meet others in the South Island team who work from the Rutland Street Campus.It was also great to have Kristopher Bate from The Embassy @ North Beach, Andre Posthuma from Emmett Street Community Church, Liz Hodge (Scholarships) from ...

Immense gratitude for theological studies

Scholarships Enabler Liz Hodge had the privilege of catching up with two groups of past and present theology students in Auckland this week.Hazel and Jeremy Tattersall from Lincoln Road Bible Chapel hosted at their home on Wednesday evening, welcoming Abbey Grainger from Mt Wellington Community Church, Bivin Mathew from Manurewa Bible Church, Steph van Wijk from Tāmaki Community Church and Chris North...

CCCNZ Staff Conference

Front row, from left to right: Liz Hodge, Jan De Lange, Richard Fountain, JC Marais, Paula Almada, and Ray-Anne Cahill. Back row: Grant Birks, Jackie Millar, Sophia Sinclair, Julie McKinnon, Tim Hodge, Mark Grace, Nick Goodwin, and Craig Barrow....

We're part of CCCNZ

Left to right: Dorothy Goodwin, Bruce Carr and Nerida Carr.After seeing an item featuring a 'we're part of CCCNZ' sign in the Wrap a few months ago, Bruce Carr and the elders at Pakuranga Christian Fellowship decided they'd be keen to have a copy to put up outside their church.   CCCNZ Auckland Enabler Richard Fountain was pleased to deliver the sign a few days ago to Dorothy Goodwin, Bruce Carr, and Nerida Carr who were attending a lifegroup at the c...

Ordinary people called to an extraordinary mission

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorKa mea ia ki a raua, haere mai kia kite.‘Ona tali mai lea o ia, “O mai e matamata.”“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”John 1:39In Western literature from Jesus’ time, ordinary people were not normally featured prominently. Usually, the only way ordinary people were written about was as the butt of jokes. Historian Tom Holland writes that during his years of studying classical antiquity he was struck by the apparent assumption of most people...

For he himself is our peace

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorNa, inaianei i roto i a Karaiti Ihu, ko koutou, ko te hunga i tawhiti i mua, kua meinga e nga toto o te Karaiti kia tata.Ko ia hoki to tatou maunga rongo, nana i mea nga mea e rua kia kotahi, whakahoroa iho e ia te patu e arai ana i waenga;A o lenei, ‘ona o Keriso Iesu, o ‘outou sa vāvāmamao ‘ua fa‘alatalataina mai i le toto o Keriso. Auā o Keriso lava ia na ‘aumaia le filemū ia i tatou, ‘ina ‘ua fa‘atasia e ia tagata Iutaia ma tagata o Nu‘u �...

Waitangi Day

It was a privilege to attend Waitangi Day Commemorations this week. While there were a couple of moments of tension, thousands of us enjoyed what felt like a family-friendly festival atmosphere. A highlight was seeing all the ways people across our wider movement and beyond were reflecting the love of Christ throughout the commemorations. I am grateful for Maria Henderson and Jeremy Dempsey from Riverbend Bible Church in Hastings (and OAC), along with ...

Growing young leaders with NZ Rally

Monday to Thursday last week, cadets from around NZ gathered to take part in the Rally Cadet Camp at Woodend Christian Camp in Canterbury.Cadets (teenage leaders) from Manurewa Bible Church in Auckland, Rutland Street Church in Christchurch, and Rosedale Bible Chapel in Invercargill participated in the camp which focused on growing and equipping young leaders with the skills they need to support their Rallies in the mission of preparing kids for life. ...