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Manawarū 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...

Reflecting 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...

Men'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....

Baptisms 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).”...

Conflicts

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...

A 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...

Lower 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...

Thank 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...

North 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)...

Combined 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...

Easter 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...

Baptisms 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!...

Studying 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...

Our 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...

Prime 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...

Clark 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. ...

Jesus 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...

The 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...

Waikato 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...

Mission 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&...

Sisters Hui Rotorua

I was so encouraging to hear about the Sisters Hui Rotorua, a regional Māori women’s conference held at Roosevelt Road Bible Church on Saturday 2 March. Sharon Brooks (Roosevelt Road Bible Church) writes, “It has been with great pleasure and in our Father’s presence we held the regional gathering of the women’s fellowship hui in Rotorua. We were blessed with our brethren sisters from Mangakino, Waharoa, Tauwhare, Matamata and all the way to Auckland.�...

Growing 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...

Canterbury Regional Gathering

Last Sunday, 20 elders and leaders from nine churches gathered to pray together and hear of initiatives around the region. Churches represented include Rutland Street Church, Riccarton Community Church, Durham Street Gospel Hall, Westchurch, Springs Community Church, Bryndwr Chapel, Rowley Bible Church, Wairakei Road Bible Church, and The Embassy @ North Beach....

A week in Sydney

It has been a privilege to be in Sydney this week joining with leaders who serve amongst the CCCAust (Christian Community Churches of Australia) movement in each state in Australia (pictured above). What an encouragement. I’ve been blessed to hear how churches are working together to point people to Jesus, through the gospel from the Bible. While in Sydney I’ve been able to touch base briefly with Matthew Wright from Manawarū Bible Chapel studying at Sydne...

God’s heart for the helpless

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorE tohe nei i te whakawa a te hunga e tukinotia ana: e whangai nei i te hunga mate hiakai: ko Ihowa hei wewete i nga herehere:He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.Psalm 146:7In Psalm 146, I’m confronted by God’s heart for the helpless.  In this psalm, we read about the God who creates everything, who is faithful, who upholds the cause of the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry, who sets pr...