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Engaging Well With Culture

During the week two Wellington churches had the privilege of hosting Dr Darrell L Bock as part of a nationwide tour.At LifeSwitch Church in Upper Hutt and The Street Church in downtown Wellington, Darrell shared on how to engage well with the world around us on matters of faith. Each presentation was followed by a Q&A time, which proved popular with a good portion of each evening being taken up with these questions....

Navigating Polarisation with Gospel Grace

‘That was so helpful!’ It’s a simple, but profound, summary of what it means to attend a seminar for church leaders run by Dr Darrell Bock.  Darrell Bock is one of the world’s most preeminent New Testament scholars, an author of over 40 books and podcast host of The Table: exploring the intersection of theology, culture and everyday life.During the month of June CCCNZ is hosting a number of seminars for leaders across the country, ‘12 things to consider to get out of the polarisat...

Creating Space for Young Leaders to Grow at First Training

Young people from churches across the Lower North Island recently gathered at Highland Home in Manawatū for First Training, a weekend-long leadership training retreat designed to equip and encourage 16–18-year-olds as they grow in their faith.Local youth leaders from The Anchor (Whitby), Feilding Bible Chapel, Church on Ingestre (Whanganui), and Onslow Community Church (Wellington) took the time to identify young people in their churches who would benefit from leadership training and invited ...

Coming Together: Ranui & Henderson

It’s encouraging to read about Ranui Open Brethren Church Au Uso Kerisiano and Au Uso Kerisiano Henderson coming together regularly this year for combined worship services.With two combined services held so far this year (one in May, one in June) they have plans to continue.They see this an opportunity to mutually encourage one another in the Lord, celebrating how God is at work....

Engaging Culture Together with Dr Darrell Bock

On Saturday, 30 Auckland leaders gathered to hear Dr Darrell Bock discuss the challenge of evangelism in secular New Zealand and the importance of elders and leaders understanding and adapting to cultural ‘scripts’ and differences while maintaining core values.Some of the strategies discussed included building relationships, explaining the gospel's relevance, and avoiding the trap of polarisation.For Karl Udy (Northcross Church), a key takeaway was the call for Jesus' ambassadors to "bring a...

Persevering Together at Impact Conference

More than 800 people from over 30 churches gathered for this year’s Impact Conference, united around the theme Persevering Church. ...

No Phones, New Perspective: How Off the GRID Shapes Young Christian Leaders

Forty days without technology. No scrolling, no notifications—just God’s Word, Christian community, and the beauty of God’s creation. For a generation of young adults who’ve grown up with phones in their hands, the Off the GRID experience is a remarkable opportunity.“It’s very different from anything I’ve ever done before. It was a packed schedule, but in a good way. It was a unique experience.”Ethan Hosking grew up in Manawatū, attending Feilding Bible Chapel, and was two years...

Developing Young Leaders at Cornerstone International Bible Church

Cornerstone International Bible Church in Dunedin is supporting two interns this year as they study through Pathways College.Cornerstone elder Roly van Noppen is supervising interns Hugh Wilson and Avi van Noppen as they study, and says he’s appreciating the mix of academic learning alongside ministry experience.“I like Pathways practical ministry focus as it keeps everything really grounded—it’s not like Jesus took the disciples off to university somewhere and they spent all their time ...

Beyond the “Pink Fluff”: Women, Discipleship, and God’s Word

Donna Springgay is passionate about seeing women growing as disciples of Jesus—growing in their ability to hear and teach God’s Word.  Donna is part of a team from Heretaunga Community Church in Upper Hutt that has been developing a culture of discipleship involving women sharing testimonies, deepening their study of God’s Word, and providing opportunities to use their teaching gifts in ministry to other women.At Heretaunga Community Church, the overall responsibility to lead and teac...

Young Leaders Taking Shape: First Training Canterbury

39 youth and their youth leaders were part of First Training in Canterbury over Kings Birthday weekend.Riccarton Community Church, Rutland Street Church, Emmett Street Community Church, Halswell Community Church and Grace Church took part—with local youth leaders facilitating sessions on how to grow as leaders.First Training is CCCNZ’s leadership development retreat for young people aged 16-17—named for the fact this is often the ‘first’ time many young people have had leadership skill...

More than 520 gather at HM Rage

More than 520 people gathered at Tōtara Springs Christian Camp for HM Rage—a youth event that takes place every King’s Birthday weekend, standing for ‘His Majesty’s… Rather A Grand Event’....

Closing One Chapter, Beginning Another in Blockhouse Bay

For more than 60 years people have been meeting at Terry Street in Auckland’s Blockhouse Bay to fellowship and worship together. At the end of May 2026, Terry Street Bible Chapel officially concluded their fellowship—handing over the keys to the newly planted LifeChurch Blockhouse Bay who have been sharing the building for the past year. Former Terry Street Bible Chapel elder Sam Kommunuri has been part of the fellowship for the past 19 years—since the first Sunday he and his young fa...

23 Baptisms at Crossroads Church

Lead Pastor Reuben Porter from Crossroads Church in Palmerston North shares about the joy of baptising a number of people on Pentecost Sunday: "Sunday was such a special day for our church family, with 23 people getting baptised and publicly declaring their faith in Jesus."They had 16 people register to be baptised, seven in the 10am Service and nine in the 6pm Service. People were able to share their testimonies with the church of what God has done in their lives and what led to their deci...

65 Years of Porirua Gospel Chapel

On Saturday afternoon over 180 people came through the doors of Porirua Gospel Chapel to celebrate 65 years of witness and God's faithfulness.The work at Porirua Gospel Chapel began as an outreach programme of the Brethren Assemblies in the wider Wellington area (as far north as Levin and including Masterton). People saw the need for a church plant in the new state housing area that the government of the time announced would take place in Cannons Creek, Porirua.The new church was opened in May 1...

Opening the Door For Faith Conversations

A growing connection with the local City Mission prompted Church on Ingestre in Whanganui to start up an Alpha Course for people exploring faith.   With a number of people in the church serving as volunteers at the local City Mission and the City Mission Op Shop over the years, the connection developed further as the church partnered with other local churches to start a weekly coffee morning on Thursdays at the City Mission, opening the door for friendship, connection, and conversation...

Sharing God's Grace in Ranui

Ranui Open Brethren Church Au Uso Kerisiano has been meeting in the Ranui area of West Auckland for over 28 years, holding their church gatherings in a local community centre.  Earlier this year the team planned, prayed for, and prepared an outreach open day ‘free event’ to serve the community around them. With the high cost of living affecting so many people, the event was designed to take the pressure of families—with everything free: clothes, toys, household goods, baby gear... Th...

'If love is not the motive, the cause is helpless' Remembering Ross Hanna

Paddy Puru writes in loving memory of his grandfather, Ross Hanna:Ross Leslie Hanna passed onto glory on Monday 11 May 2026. He was born in 1943, in Te Awamutu, where his body is now laid to rest alongside his wife, Ethne Edna.In 1964, he married the love of his life Ethne (aka ‘Nana’). Established in Christ, and reinforced by their unwavering love for each other, this couple was a powerful partnership which would go on to impact thousands of lives both in New Zealand and abroad.Having worke...

A Place to Belong: The Anchor en Español Begins in Wellington

Hearing Paula Almada share the story of launching Crossroads Latino at the 2025 Lower North Island Summit sparked an idea for Geoff Lawson—who serves as Mission Partnerships leader at The Anchor Church in Whitby.Geoff connected Paula with Jorge Edgecombe and encouraged him to start a service for the Latino community in the wider Wellington region. Jorge and his wife, Mariuxi, are from Ecuador and were keen to connect with other Latinos to worship together and support each other.Jorge attended ...

A Weekend of Faith and Community

There's something about camps. And us young adults love them!Recently, young adults from Church on Vogel, Church on Ingestre, Dannevirke Bible Chapel, Feilding Bible Chapel, and Kingston Community Church spent a weekend away at the amazing Mi Camp, Taupo.Aaron Hodgson from Raleigh Street Christian Centre unpacked Romans 12, challenging us in how we live in response to God's mercy and grace.From worship and solo reflection time to slingshot paintball and braizers. Space was created to connect wit...

Celebrating One Year!

Two weeks ago LifeChurch Blockhouse Bay celebrated one year since being planted, they share with us: "We are grateful for God’s faithfulness through every season. Like many pioneer church plants, the journey has been both rewarding and stretching, requiring deep trust in God."Through it all, the prayers, encouragement, and loving support of elder Hans Stutz (along with wife Mandy) from the Terry Street fellowship have been a tremendous blessing. Their love for the Lord, welcoming hearts, ...

Planting With Purpose: A Church for Naenae

Mark Gordon’s journey to church planting began during his time at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the US. The plan was always to come back to New Zealand for pastoral ministry, “but probably around halfway through our time there I got more of passion to plant a church rather than come home to apply to pastoral roles…”While serving as a pastor and elder at a church in the US his call to return to New Zealand to plant was affirmed. “The church commissioned me to come and plant a...

Launching Dr John Hitchen's new book, 'Reclaiming the Good News' at Laidlaw College

A crowd gathered at Laidlaw College’s Henderson Campus last Friday to celebrate the launch of Dr John Hitchen’s latest book, ‘Reclaiming the Good News.’Dr John Hitchen has a rich legacy of serving within and from the Open Brethren Heritage movement of churches in New Zealand. This includes pastoral work with Rutland Street Church (then Rutland Street Chapel), cross-cultural work in Papua New Guinea with GC3, serving as a GC3 Board Member, and many years in theological education and train...

Serving Together, Sharing Jesus Together

“I had a burning desire to see our church run holiday programmes again—it’s a wonderful way to minister to the community, introduce children to Jesus, and to empower those that know and follow Him to invite friends, it’s discipleship training at ground zero!”Claire Bresler has been serving as Rutland Street Church’s Kidzone Director since 2024—and says that while she was keen to get a programme off the ground, the thought of starting something from scratch was overwhelming.Then she...

Baptisms, Growth, and a Step of Obedience

Seth, John, and Nathan were recently baptised at Northcross Church, each publicly declaring their faith in Jesus.The Northcross team shared, “What a special and joy-filled day it was as we celebrated together, giving thanks for God’s goodness and the transforming work He is doing in their lives!”We spoke with Nathan Tuebes (18), currently completing an internship with Northcross, about how God has been at work in his life....

City Meets Country: A Day of Wind, Wheels, and the Word in Hororata

Earlier this year the quiet paddocks of Hororata, Canterbury came alive as Rutland Street Church (Christchurch) and Glentunnel Rally joined forces for an unforgettable combined day with the Wind & Wheels Trailer.The Wind & Wheels Trailer travels around the country giving Rallies the opportunity to run combined Rally events, and community events to engage new kids and families. The highlight of the day was the sheer variety of activities made possible by the extra space. In the larger pad...