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Movement of the Word—Waikato

From Wednesday to Friday this week, a group of nine people from Northgate Community Church, Chapel Hill Community Church, Raleigh Street Christian Centre, Hillcrest Chapel and Lifezone Church joined together to learn how to train people for Christian ministry with the Bible. Led by Philip Wheeler and Todd Kelly, they worked on the “Dig & Discover” Bible study principles course....

Kingston Community Church's women's retreat

Last Saturday, Kingston Community Church held a women’s retreat at Highland Home Christian Camp. The theme "Joy in the Seasons" highlighted that although seasons change, God’s character doesn’t....

Churches working together through NZ Rally in the Manawatū

Nine rallies recently participated in the 2024 Manawatū District Rallies Winter Tournament, including Bunnythorpe Family Church, Crossroads Church, Feilding Bible Chapel, Marton Bible Chapel, Queen St Chapel, Rongotea Bible Chapel, York St Chapel, Church on Vogel, and Brunswick Rally, with over 120 children and 50 youth and adults attending.Rebekah Mudford (Bunnythorpe Family Church) highlighted that this event reflects unity in Christ since “...

New creation

By Julie McKinnon, CCCNZ Children and Family Ministries EnablerKua kakahuria nei te tangata hou, e whakahoutia nei i runga i te matauranga kia rite ki te ahua o tona kaihanga.A ‘ua ‘outou ‘o‘ofu i le tagata fou, o lē ‘ua fa‘afouina i le iloa, e fa‘atatau ‘ia foliga i lē na faia o ia.You have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.Colossians 3:10Have you ever looked at a child and immediately seen a resemblance to their parents? T...

Working together to develop the next generation of preachers

The need to develop local preachers led Justin Thompson from Manawarū Bible Chapel to start preaching development for seven younger people in the church.Then three people from Hukanui Bible Church joined them. Blending a mix of theory sessions and practical exercises, they have been developing their ability to bring God’s Word to his people. ...

The light of the world

By Julie McKinnon, CCCNZ Children and Family Ministries EnablerKo koutou te whakamarama o te ao.O ‘outou o le malamalama o le lalolagi.You are the light of the world.Matthew 5:14When my daughter was little, she hated her room being dark at night. We tried many different versions of night lights throughout her younger years in an effort to get the balance of light and darkness right. Even a small light in a dark room attracts our eye. Light comforts us. We seek it out, longing for it to il...

How a parenting course helped shape church prayer life

Rach Dixon is Hillcrest Chapel's Children and Families Pastor and she recently ran a Parenting For Faith Course for their church.Parents and caregivers appreciated the opportunity to learn some new tools to equip them in being intentional about building faith in their children.One parent said: “the course helped create connection with the other participants... It encouraged me in my own faith and gave me confidence to try things with my kids.”Another parent commented: “I realise ...

Hope bears fruit

By JC Marais, CCCNZ Operations ManagerNo matou ka rongo nei ki to koutou whakapono ki a Karaiti Ihu, ki to koutou aroha hoki ki te hunga tapu katoa; Mo te mea e taria atu nei, e takoto mai nei ma koutou i te rangi, ko ta koutou i rongo ai i mua ki te kupu o te pono o te rongopai,Auā ‘ua ma fa‘alogo i le tala i lo ‘outou fa‘atuatua ‘iā Keriso Iesu, ma lo ‘outou alofa i le au pa‘ia uma; ‘ona o le fa‘amoemoe ‘ua teuina mo ‘outou i le lagi. O le fa‘amoemoe lea na ‘outou f...

Missions Sunday at New Plymouth Community Church

New Plymouth Community Church invited Māori Postal Aotearoa (MPA) to speak at their Missions Sunday held last weekend.The MPA National Directors Malachi and Char Williams, and Norm and Liz Silcock shared the growing work of MPA and gave a challenge: that one of the marks of a Christian is their partnership in the sharing of the gospel in some form....

Baptisms at Rosedale Bible Chapel

Last Sunday, two young men were baptised by their dads at Rosedale Bible Chapel.Benjamin Winder and Ezra MacNaughton (pictured below) are leaders at Boy’s Rally and lead a local Scripture Union SUPAkidz Camp. ...

A visit to Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough regions

Last week, CCCNZ South Island Enabler Tim Hodge visited the Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough regions. He came back very encouraged and shared these snapshots:Grace Church in Richmond is a larger church and has a key role, through their Headingly Centre, in engaging with the wider community. Headingly Centre is a building in use with many groups throughout the week, including Grace Church services and ministries. ...

Auckland Summit

On Saturday, around 150 leaders from 24 churches gathered for the Auckland Summit at Willow Park Christian Camp....

Churches working together through Rally in Otago-Southland

Last Saturday, the NZ Rally staff team ran the Southland and Otago Regional Training Day kindly hosted by Rosedale Bible Chapel. Participants shared ideas and learnt new games and how to use puppets to engage kids in Bible stories....

Kids Camp

Leaders from a range of churches, including Mt Wellington Community Church, Tāmaki Community Church and Auckland Bible Church came together to support the Willow Park Kids Camp held last week. ...

A vibrant hope

By JC Marais, CCCNZ Operations ManagerHeoi whitikiria nga hope o o koutou hinengaro, kia mataara, tumanako atu, a taea noatia te mutunga, ki te aroha noa e kawea mai ki a koutou a te whakakitenga mai o Ihu Karaiti.O le mea lea, ia mataala ma fa‘autauta. ‘Ia tu‘uina atu ‘ato‘atoa lo ‘outou fa‘amoemoe i le alofa tunoa e ‘aumaia e Iesu Keriso ‘iā te ‘outou pe a fa‘aalia mai o ia.Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to ...

Being equipped for gospel ministry through theological study

Anyone who attended the recent Otago/Southland Regional Summit last month will recognise Simon Sim as he opened God's Word for us by preaching on Philippians chapter two to start off the day. Simon works with Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship (TSCF) as Otago team leader, helping university students learn more about the Bible and grow in faith, and he is part of Cornerstone International Bible Church in Dunedin, along with his wife Rosie, and daughters...

Bible Conference at Christchurch Korean Church

Christchurch Korean Church hosted a Bible Conference from 12 - 14 July. The keynote speaker was Kyung Sik Jun from Los Angeles, who is currently studying for a Ministry in Biblical Counselling PhD at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.Elder Scott Choi said they usually send out open invitations to the Korean community by advertising the conferences in the Korean newspaper. Scott writes,“We, therefore, had several visitors who came interested in hearing God...

Music and fellowship at Lincoln Road Bible Chapel

On Sunday, Lincoln Road Bible Chapel (LRBC) hosted the gold medal-winning Nagaland Madrigal Singers from Northern India who were in New Zealand for the World Choir Games.Several years ago, a woman named Kaisa from Nagaland lived in New Zealand and attended LRBC. She got in touch with friends and made the connection between the choir and Pastor Catherine Perich who was also singing in the games. ...

The Orchard Church Holiday Programme

During the first week of the school holidays, The Orchard Church ran a kids' programme with 190 children attending from Monday to Friday, and around 35 volunteers.Children’s Pastor Mikayla Crawford comments:“We had lessons, games, small groups, bouncy castles, dancing and lots more fun! The week ran smoothly, was so much fun and we got the privilege of seeing kids respond to the gospel.”...

Kingston Community Church Holiday Programme

Kingston Community Church (KCC) also held a holiday programme last week, with 65 children in attendance, most of them from the community.Ministry Pastor Joel Birkin commented that seeing 16 youth leaders in action was awesome as they built relationships with and served these kids. ...

A family baptism at Crossroads Church (Palmerston North)

Crossroads Church Discipleship Pastor Isaac Pettersen writes:“As we continue to explore 'What is your next step?' in 2024, we've witnessed an incredible surge of faith in action. Over the past three weeks, we've been blessed to celebrate the baptism of eight individuals, including a remarkable family of four who took this transformative step together.”...

Manawarū Bible Chapel Kids' Programme

Manawarū Bible Chapel partnered with Word of Life to run a kids' programme from Monday to Wednesday this week. Pastor Justin Thompson says they had the joy of seeing over 60 kids have fun for three days and get to hear the gospel....

The uniqueness and supremacy of Jesus Christ

By Mark van Wijk, CCCNZ PastorLink Enabler'He maha nga wahi, he maha nga huarahi i korero ai te Atua i mua, ara nga poropiti, ki nga matua, I enei ra whakamutunga na tana Tama ana korero ki a tatou, ko tana hoki tera i mea ai mana nga mea katoa, ko tana kaihanga hoki tera o nga ao''E tele auala ‘ese‘ese na fetalai mai ai le Atua i o tatou tamā anamua e ala i perofeta; a ‘ua fetalai mai ‘iā te i tatou i nei aso e gata ai e ala mai i le Alo, o lē ‘ua tofia e ia e fai ma ona tofi mea u...

CHARGE Holiday Programme

Onslow Community Church held their annual holiday programme on Thursday and Friday last week. The original inspiration for the programme came a few years ago after hearing The Anchor Church share about theirs at the CCCNZ National Summit. Pastor Pete Rhodes-Robinson said they sensed a holiday programme could help them engage with the community by meeting a practical need and at the same time, provide real opportunities to share the gospel and serve alongside each ot...

The gift of salvation

By Mark van Wijk, CCCNZ PastorLink EnablerNa te aroha noa hoki koutou i whakaorangia ai i runga i te whakapono; ehara ano hoki tenei i te mea no koutou: he mea homai noa na te Atua: Ehara i nga mahi, kei whakamanamana te tangata.Auā o le alofa tunoa ‘ua fa‘aolaina ai ‘outou i le fa‘atuatua; e lē o se mea lea na ‘outou faia, a o le meaalofa a le Atua; e lē ‘ona o galuega, ‘ina ne‘i mitamita se tagata.For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from y...