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Sharing the Good News about Jesus in Hamilton

Fran Kennach is part of Agora Church where she helps coordinate a growing team of people in sharing the gospel on the streets of Hamilton. She shares her heart for seeing people know and understand the gospel.“I was Catholic all my life but didn’t know the gospel until twenty months ago at age 43. I started reading the Bible and learned the true gospel and it changed my life, I found Agora Church through the CCCNZ website as I was looking for a Protestant church.“The gospel has changed my ...

Grace Amid the Turmoil

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorKua puta mai hoki te aroha noa o te Atua e ora ai nga tangata katoa, Hei whakaako i a tatou, kia whakakahoretia e tatou te karakiakore me nga hiahia o te ao, kia noho whakaaro tatou, i runga ano i te tika, i te karakia pai, i tenei aoAuā o le alofa tunoa o le Atua ‘ua aumai ai le fa‘aolataga, ‘ua fa‘aalia lea i tagata uma lava. O lo‘o a‘oa‘o mai ‘iā te i tatou ia lafoa‘i le amio fa‘alēmata‘u, ma tu‘inanau fa‘alelalolagi. A ‘ia tatou n...

Sharing God’s Love Through Food and Friendship

Howick Community Church (HCC) recently hosted their second annual International Food Festival. Last year, around 80–90 people came, but this year over 200 showed up!Guests enjoyed dishes from 10 different nationalities, celebrating the beautiful diversity within their community.Pastor Brigitte Crowe writes:“This year we took a different approach—we invited people whenever and wherever we could! Total strangers, passersby, anyone who popped into our building… ever...

First Training in Auckland: Learning, Leading, and Growing in Faith

Last weekend, youth communities from Northcross Church, Orewa Community Church, and Lifezone Church gathered at Sonshine Ranch Adventure Centre for First Training. The weekend was filled with teaching, small group discussions, and late-night mafia games. Topics covered included 'Sharing your faith', 'The call to leadership', 'Leading where I am now', 'What is my spiritual gift?' Craig Barrow, CCCNZ Youth and Young Adults, shared that the highlight of the w...

Scholarships Growing Servant-Hearted Leaders

This week, Scholarships Enabler Liz Hodge was grateful to meet with a group of servant-hearted local leaders from across the Manawatū-Whanganui region (and beyond).She especially enjoyed sitting in as Doug Benn from Church on Ingestre and Josh Campbell, intern from Crossroads Church, met for the first time and shared stories about their studies and service within their churches.Liz says:“Josh was so enthusiastic about all his experiences and learnings a...

Elders United in Prayer Across the Tasman Region

On Tuesday, elders from Tasman Church, Hope Community Church, and Grace Church gathered for a time of fellowship and prayer.Philip Wilson, an elder from Grace Church, shared that it was a great encouragement. He commented that Daryl Bay, Lead Pastor at Hope Community Church, led them in a devotion from Philippians 1:21–26, reminding them that Paul’s aim was to encourage the believers in Philippi for their progress and joy in the faith. “It was a good remi...

A Sunday of Celebration: Seven Baptisms at Halswell

Last Sunday, seven people were baptised at Halswell Community Church—using a rented inflatable spa pool!Chair of Elders, Rob McAuley, reflected that the morning had been an "inspirational and powerful time – the Spirit of God was there in a big way."Each of those baptised shared a short testimony. Their stories were different, yet all pointed to God’s faithfulness and kindness....

The Grace of God Grounds Us

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorI runga i te tikanga i whiriwhiria ai tatou e ia i roto i a ia i mua i te orokohanganga o te ao, hei hunga tapu, kahakore i tona aroaro, i runga i te aroha...A o le‘i foafoaina le lalolagi, na filifilia e ia i tatou ‘ona o Keriso, ‘ina ‘ia pa‘ia i tatou, ma ‘ia lē mata‘uleagaina i ona luma...For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love...Ephesians 1:4It’s AD 62 and Paul is under house arrest...

Youth United in Worship and Fellowship

Last Friday, over 70 young people from LifeChurch Manurewa and Mt Wellington Community Church got together with two other local local churches for a powerful night of worship, testimonies, prayer, fun and food. Pastor Italia Tapu highlights:“It was incredible to see the body of Christ come together, encouraging each other and praying for those who don't know Jesus yet.“It was amazing to see young people gathering as believers and united in love and fel...

Momentum: Christian Camping Conference

I’ve been to some of the Christian Camping Conference this week. It’s a biennial event designed for Christian camp managers and staff. I’m grateful for the many staff from Open Brethren heritage campsites who are here (pictured together above). It was lovely to meet new managers, Michelle Willis from Willow Park and Hanneke Van Rensburg from MiCamp. It was a blessing to talk with Sarah Turner from Teapot Valley and to me...

First Training at Teapot Valley: Leaders Encouraged and Valued

Last weekend, Teapot Valley Christian Camp hosted the CCCNZ First Training in Nelson. Youth and leaders from Hope Community Church and Grace Church joined together for teaching sessions, small groups, and encouragement in their faith and leadership journeys.Craig Barrow, CCCNZ Youth and Young Adults, writes:“We received such good feedback about the teaching sessions and small group times, but the most fantastic part of the weekend was the Teapot Valley crew's care...

Weakness, Grace, and Renewal

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorNa ka mea a Ihowa ki a Kiriona, He nui rawa te iwi i a koe nei hei hoatutanga maku i nga Miriani ki o ratou ringa, kei whakapehapeha a Iharaira ki ahau, kei mea, Na toku ringa ake ahau i whakaora.Ua fetalai mai Ieova ia Kitiona, E toatele naua le nuu o loo ia te oe; ou te le tuuina atu Mitiana i o latou lima, ne'i mitamita mai Isaraelu, i o'u luma e faapea mai, O lo'u lava lima ua ola ai a'u.The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian...

Two Lives, One Saviour: God’s Grace at Work in Matamata

We love sharing stories about discipleship and the Great Commission in action. Every story and testimony are special, showing God’s mercy, grace, and faithfulness in a different way.This week, I loved hearing of Johan and Danielle being baptised at Matamata Bible Church.Pastor Dean McDonnell says, “It was wonderful to see two people with quite different testimonies baptised at Matamata Bible Church recently.”Johan was christened as a young child and was thankful to be raised in a home wher...

Rutland Street Church Day Camp Plus: Growing Together in Faith

Rutland Street Church recently held its first camp in many years at Glenroy Baptist Lodge, called “RSC Day Camp Plus”. The heart of the weekend was fellowship, with people able to come for the day on Saturday or stay over on Friday night—the “Plus” part.Friday night was a relaxed time of board games, sitting around the fire indoors, and, for the brave, gathering around the outdoor firepit to roast marshmallows and sing along with Ella Marchand, Lance and Emma Robinson as they led worsh...

PastorLink Retreat: 'Wonderful to be so well refreshed'

By Tim Hodge, CCCNZ South Island EnablerNot every church in our movement has a pastor, but for those that do, PastorLink is a treasured annual conference of refreshment for pastors and their spouses. Held in Taupō on 12–15 August, it’s a time to step away from the responsibilities of home and ministry to rest, pray, and connect with others.This year saw the largest team yet from the South Island. Dave Bosma (Grace Church), Mato, Anna and Jabari Kariuki (Halswell Communit...

New CCCNZ CEO appointment

I am very pleased to announce that the CCCNZ Board has appointed Roger Osbaldiston as the new CEO of CCCNZ. Roger will commence later in the year, and will be based in Auckland. Roger is married to Nicki, and they have two adult sons, Alex (married to Meredith) and William. Both Roger and Nicki were raised in Open Brethren assemblies, Roger in Kaukapakapa, and Nicki in Blenheim, and have been in fellowship amongst our network of assemblies for the majority of their time in Ne...

Giving Glory to God: MPA’s 80th Anniversary Celebration

On Saturday, over 200 people celebrated the 80th Anniversary of Māori Postal Aotearoa (MPA) in Whanganui.Liz Silcock, a member of the MPA Board, writes:“It was a great tribute to the faithfulness of the Lord to grow the work of sharing the Gospel, which resulted from the seeds sown by Mr. Arnot Edwards in Northland and Miss Elsie Severinsen in Dargaville, who each posted lessons to Māori children in 1945.”...

Passing the Baton

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorNa, i tenei kapua nui o nga kaiwhakaatu e karapoti nei i a tatou, whakarerea e tatou nga whakataimaha katoa, me te hara whakaeke tata, kia manawanui hoki tatou ki te oma i te omanga e takoto nei i to tatou aroaro; Me te titiro pu ano ki a Ihu, ki te kaitimata, ki te kaiwhakaoti i te whakapono…O lenei, o i tatou o ē o lo‘o si‘omia e le fa‘apotopotoga tele o tagata molimau, ‘ia tatou tu‘u‘eseina mea mamafa uma, ‘atoa ma le agasala o lo‘o pipi‘i m...

Baptism: A Joyful Step of Faith

All that we do has the ultimate purpose of pointing people to Jesus. Perhaps that’s why our hearts are so deeply encouraged whenever we hear of people being baptised across New Zealand—men and women, young and old, publicly declaring their faith in Jesus. It’s such a joy and a privilege to be able to share these stories in our newsletters!I was especially delighted to hear recently of Campbell’s baptism at Tasman Church. What a beautiful testimony of God’s work in a young lif...

Manawatū District Rallies Newcomb Ball Winter Tournament

The Manawatū District Rallies recently came together for their Newcomb Ball Winter Tournament.NZ Rally CEO Tony Foster comments:“It is so encouraging to see Mike & Rebekah Mudford from Bunnythorpe Family Church bring this event together, and it warms my heart seeing all the Rally leaders help make this possible for their kids by picking them up and bringing them along.”...

Unmasking Spiritual Lethargy

Last Friday, Matamata Bible Church hosted an elders' dinner, bringing together over 30 pastors and elders from ten churches.Elders from Chapel Hill Community Church, Hillcrest Chapel, Lifezone Church, Manawarū Bible Chapel, Northgate Community Church, Paengaroa Bible Chapel, Raleigh Street Christian Centre, Te Awamutu Bible Chapel, The Orchard Church, and Whitiora Bible Church gathered for a time of fellowship and rich discussion....

Baptisms at Northcross Church

It’s always a joy to hear about people taking the faith step of baptism. Northcross Church recently celebrated with Bianca, Helen, and Marcus (pictured above) as they got baptised.Lead Pastor Hangyul Cho comments:"Sometimes God will miraculously meet people on the Damasus Road. But more likely, He uses faithful, ordinary people. That's what I noticed about our recent baptisms. Whilst their stories were different, it was through specific relationship...

2025 PastorLink Retreat

The CCCNZ PastorLink Retreat has been this week from Tuesday to Friday at MiCamp Taupō. The event began with Max Guptill and Sam Chapman kindly leading us in a mihi whakatau (an informal Māori welcome). We’ve valued working through Paul’s letter to the Philippians together with Marcus Honeysett. Marcus focused our gaze on the goodness of God in Jesus Christ and how, when our hearts are rested in him, it acts as a profound antidote to illegitimate for...

The Joy of the Lord

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorNa ka u nei toku whakaaro ki tenei, e matau ana ahau tera ahau e noho, ae ra, ka noho iho ahau ki a koutou katoa, hei whakaneke ake, hei whakahari i a koutou i runga i te whakapono;‘Ua ‘ou mautinoa le mea lenei, ‘ou te tumau; tatou te tūtūmau fa‘atasi fo‘i, ‘ina ‘ia alualu pea ‘outou ma ‘ia fiafia i le fa‘atuatua; Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,Phili...

Cultures Day at Crossroads Church

Last Sunday, Crossroads Church celebrated a “Cultures Day”, a beautiful reflection of the diversity in the church community.Discipleship Pastor Isaac Pettersen writes:“People came dressed in traditional attire, and we shared scripture readings, prayers, and songs in a variety of languages spoken within our congregation."The service was followed by an incredible potluck, with traditional dishes lovingly prepared from nations all around the world.“With over 30 nationali...