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Easter Events Around the Churches

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorWhen I think of the Easter Camps, conferences, and events, I’m filled with gratitude for all the volunteer time and effort that made each one possible. Due to space and time constraints, I couldn’t include every story, but here are a few snapshots....

Important Announcement from the CCCNZ Board

The CCCNZ Board has officially accepted a letter of resignation from CCCNZ Ambassador Mark Grace. Mark will step down from his role with the CCCNZ Service Trust on Friday, 6 February 2026. Mark took up the role in late 2015 in preparation for the February 2016 Roadshows. Since the earliest days of CCCNZ, Mark has felt that the Lord wanted him to serve in this role for 10 years.Mark writes: “Serving God amongst this movement of churches has been a deep privilege. Outside of ...

The Power of Jesus' Resurrection

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorMehemea hoki kahore a te Karaiti i ara, maumau noa ta matou kauwhau, maumau noa to koutou whakapono.ma ‘āfai fo‘i ‘ua lē toe fa‘atūina mai Keriso, po ‘ua lē aogā la matou tala‘i atu, po ‘ua leai fo‘i se aogā o lo ‘outou fa‘atuatua.And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 1 Corinthians 15:14Where I grew up, I’d often see cars in driveways on blocks without wheels, with the hood up and no engin...

Come and Know Me

“Why wouldn’t we write about the very thing that changed our lives?” When husband and wife team Aaron and Emma Falconer (The Orchard Church) began a songwriting project in 2014 they were motivated by their love for Jesus and their desire to focus on the life-changing gospel message. “We headed to Dallas Theological Seminary in 2019 to gain a better grounding in God’s Word”. Their time in Texas led them to further develop the project and re-write many of ...

Baptisms at Northcross Church

It's exciting and encouraging to hear of more and more baptisms all around New Zealand. Last Sunday, three young men were baptised at Northcross Church in Auckland....

The Death of Jesus

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorA, no ka tae ki te ono o nga haora, ka pouri a runga o te whenua katoa, taea noatia te iwa o nga haora. A i te iwa o nga haora ka karanga a Ihu, he nui te reo, ka mea, Eroi, Eroi, rama hapakatani? ko te tikanga tenei ina whakamaoritia, E toku Atua, e toku Atua, he aha koe i whakarere ai i ahau?O le itūlā e sefulu ma le lua i le aoauli na pogisā ai le nu‘u uma se‘ia o‘o i le itūlā e tolu. O le itūlā fo‘i e tolu na ‘alaga leo tele ai Iesu, “Eloi, E...

Baptism at Church on Vogel

Last Sunday of March, Anika (pictured below) was baptised at Church on Vogel in Palmerston North....

Servant-hearted leadership and passion for theology

Marina Shannon is Youth Pastor at Orewa Community Church (OCC), and at last year’s CCCNZ Auckland Regional Summit she brought along Martin Vorster (pictured) from the youth group. Martin was able to chat with Scholarships Enabler Liz Hodge at the Summit, and in 2025 he began studying toward a Diploma in Christian Studies at Pathways Bible College, supported with an internship gift from Lichfield Lands.The course means Martin is involved in a su...

Taking the high road

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorAe ra, e tohe ana ahau ki a koutou, kia kaua ahau ina tae atu e maro ki te whakaputa i te maia, pera me taku e mea nei kia maia ki etahi, e whakaaro nei ki a matou, ano ko ta matou whakahere no te kikokiko.‘Ou te ‘ai‘oi atu ‘iā te ‘outou, ‘ina ‘ia lē fa‘amalosia lo‘u tautala atu ma le lototele pe a ‘ou i ai ‘iā te ‘outou, i le fa‘aali atu o le fa‘amalosi ‘ou te iloa e tatau ‘ona fa‘amalosi atu ai i nisi, o ē o lo‘o manatu o l...

The Lord's commendation

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorIn 2 Corinthians 10, Paul defends his ministry against a group of antagonistic leaders in the Corinthian church. In his letter, he will ironically call this group ‘super apostles’ and expose them for what they are: false apostles and deceitful workers.His main argument becomes clear in verse 18. “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”While making his case, Paul says in verse 12:“We d...

Willow Park joins Te Maru

On Tuesday 40 people gathered at Eastern Beach in Auckland to celebrate the integration of Willow Park Christian Camp into the Te Maru whānau....

Risk & Liability Workshops in Southland

Earlier this week Jan De Lange, CCCNZ National Advisor, along with Tim Hodge, CCCNZ South Island Regional Enabler, ran two Risk & Liability workshops in Invercargill. This is to help elders, deacons and trustees consider changes in charities legislation and establish appropriate responses for their own local churches.Tim says:"It was a joy to serve Edendale Christian Fellowship, Elles Road Bible Chapel, Gore Christian Fellowship, Rosedale Bible Chapel and&n...

Working together to invite seniors into community

Mangonui Bible Chapel and Cooper’s Beach Youth Camp are working together to reach seniors in their local community. Every month a team comes together to run Brighter Days, a ministry inviting older people to join them at the campsite for a day of activities, food and friendship....

Feilding Bible Chapel Church Camp

We had an incredible weekend at the Feilding Bible Chapel (FBC) family camp last weekend at Foxton Bible Camp. Rob Morton from the Tim Course in Christchurch spoke from 1 Peter, showing how Peter encourages believers to endure suffering with the hope of future glory. It was so cool to see so many of the church family serving each other across the Sunday service and meals. ...

Waikato & Bay of Plenty Summit

I loved being amongst 100+ people from 17 Waikato and Bay of Plenty churches on Saturday at the CCCNZ Regional Summit, held at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre in Matamata....

Onslow Community Church Camp

Onslow Community Church enjoyed an encouraging time together at their church camp over the past weekend at Foxton Bible Camp.Pastor Peter Rhodes-Robinson writes:“We were thrilled to have Kerry & Aliza Rickard (Kingston Community Church) and Ray & Glenys Cooper (York Street Chapel) with us for the weekend. Kerry shared a series of messages from Colossians 3:1-17 linking into our 2025 teaching theme of “Living Hope” (1 Peter 1:3). Kerry’s sessions were followed by all-age discussio...

Baptisms at Mt Wellington Community Church and Feilding Bible Chapel

Last Sunday, two people were baptised at Mt Wellington Community Church (MWCC) in Auckland and six at Feilding Bible Chapel (FBC) in the Manawatū. Russell Grainger, Senior Pastor at MWCC, writes:“It was incredible to hear their testimonies of how God has been, and still is, working in their lives. These guys have been through a lot in their lives with so many stories to tell....

Being Equipped to Equip Others

Lydia Ellis (right) has been serving as Women’s Worker with Emmett Street Community Church in Christchurch for the past 18 months, with the primary role of evangelism and discipleship among the women in the church and wider community. The church meets in one of the most socioeconomically challenged areas in New Zealand and has observed that a distinctive feature of their community is its strong matriarchal nature, where women often take on the responsibility of raising fami...

Prime Time Conference

Last weekend, 42 people gathered at Lakeland Park Camp (Queenstown) for the 2025 Prime Time Conference, aimed at those aged over 50 from our wider movement.It was great to see people coming from various churches within the CCCNZ/Open Brethren Heritage movement, including Manawarū Bible Chapel (Waikato), Bryndwr Chapel (Christchurch), Orwell Street Church (Oamaru), Cornerstone International Bible Church (Dunedin), Edendale Christian Fellowsh...

Conflicts on the Outside, Fears Within

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorI to matou taenga mai hoki ki Makeronia, kihai i whai okiokinga to matou kikokiko, heoi mate ana matou i nga taha katoa; i waho ko nga whawhai, i roto ko nga mataku.Auā e moni lava ‘ina ‘ua matou ō mai i Maketonia, sa leai se mapu i o matou tino; ‘ae sa puapuagātia i matou i mea uma; o tau‘a i fafo a o le fefe i totonu.For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 2 Cori...

Missions Retreat and IBCM's Director Visit

David Smith is the International Director of the IBCM network. IBCM is a global movement working amongst 40,000+ independent Open Brethren Heritage churches in 160+ countries. The heart of the IBCM is to see independent churches and church leaders working together to point more people to Jesus through the gospel from the Bible. It’s been remarkable hearing of younger leaders from movements like ours in Africa, Asia, and South America coming together to work together to mobi...

Headspace Interns

Last week, Scolarships Enabler Liz Hodge and South Island Enabler Tim Hoge visited Headspace interns in Christchurch.Headspace is the programme GC3 relaunched this year. It’s a residential 10-month programme that combines theological studies, involvement with local mission outreaches, and two months with long-term missionaries overseas.  The four interns for 2025 (pictured below) are Sarah Jensen and Lizzie Nepia from Crossroads ...

100 Years of Christian Camping

At the recent Christian Camping Hui, Graham Ashby launched the book 100 Years of Christian Camping, which is in its final stages of editing and design before being printed.Graham is very grateful to the Trusts that initiated this project and the excellent team that has worked with him during the last two years. Graham says, “I was pleased to acknowledge the importance of having this Christian camping history as a powerful reminder of what our pioneers established”....

Christ-like confrontation

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorNui atu toku maia ki te korero ki a koutou, nui atu toku whakamanamana mo koutou: ki tonu ahau i te whakamarie, hira ake toku koa i o matou matenga katoa.‘Ou te tautala atu ‘iā te ‘outou ma le mautinoa; ‘ua tele lo‘u mitamita ‘ona o ‘outou. ‘Ua fa‘atūmuina a‘u i le loto tele; ‘ua fa‘atūmuina a‘u i le ‘oli‘oli i o matou puapuagā uma lava.I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; i...

Fellowship of the Word - Waikato

10 people from four churches (Chapel Hill Community Church, Hillcrest Chapel, Raleigh Street Christian Centre, and Manawarū Bible Chapel) gathered at Chapel Hill last Friday and Saturday for the Fellowship of the Word training. ...