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Rutland Street Church Centenary

A plaque unveiling from the oldest (over 100 years herself!) and the youngest (a babe in arms!)....

City-wide Hide and Seek

Legend youth leader Joseph Corrigan from Church on Ingestre in Whanganui developed this wide game for Fortify Youth. If you’re looking for something to do with your group, this might be something you’re interested in, Joseph shares how it went: “In term 2, Fortify Youth ran a city-wide game of hide and seek in Whanganui. Youth were divided into teams of seekers (each with an adult driver) and were given the contact details of our volunteer hider, along with a map and a ...

Your Jesus Time: Inspiring Creative Connections with Jesus

Emma Robinson (from Rutland Street Church) has created Your Jesus Time, a vibrant initiative designed to empower individuals to build a deeper relationship with Jesus in ways that resonate with their unique personalities and learning styles.While the Bible remains the cornerstone of fostering a strong connection with Christ, Emma emphasises that God invites us to engage with him through diverse and creative avenues.  The Your Jesus Time website offers a growi...

All Creatures: A Transformative Bible Study Resource

Caitlin Menzies (from The Orchard Church) has crafted an exceptional tool for personal Bible study with All Creatures.This innovative resource introduces readers to the Inductive Bible Study method through beautifully designed booklets.With a clear and engaging introduction, readers are guided to the All Creatures website for simple yet powerful techniques to deepen their understanding of this method of Bible study. The booklets lead users through studies of the books of Mark...

Old Friends, Ongoing Ministry

It is encouraging to see ministry connections between friends continuing across the country. Some Auckland and Christchurch elders and pastors met in June in Henderson for dinner.(Above pic on left, L to R) Vavao Fetui (formerly with Au uso Christian Fellowship, Henderson), Lene Molia (Samoan Open Brethren, Ranui), along with Arona & Koreti, Luaiva & Falesa, and Fa'afetai Fa'avaoga and his wife (Ekalesia Au Uso Kerisia...

First Combined Elders' Breakfast

From left to right: Lawrence Narayan, Michael Cornwall, Vijay Prasad, Alastair McNaughton, Sam Tu’itupou, Tiko Tuifagalele, Bruce Carr, Garth Hattingh, Ken Hutchinson, Lloyd Vivian and John White....

Getting To Know Au uso Kerisiano, Henderson

(Above pic, L to R: Saifoloi Robertson, Tuileva Robertson, Rosanna Robertson, Grace Robertson, Sione Robertson, and Ernest Robertson)...

'Your faith has saved you'

Erica Carey, Children’s coordinator at Auckland Bible Church shares how giving time and space for children to respond to Scripture led to surprising and beautiful results.Erica says, “After a recent catch up with Julie, I was challenged to think more intentionally about using ‘wondering questions’ and leaving room for children to reflect.”Wondering questions are open-ended questions designed to invite children to imagine and to think deeply about what is happening in the stor...

Knitted Together

Children and leaders at Rutland Street Rally recently discovered that knitting can do far more than make a blanket - it can bring people together and bless families in need.When Rally leader Tony Foster was looking for an activity for term 3 that met Rally objectives of learning a life skill and serving others, he connected with Rosalie Frost (Rutland Street Church) who coordinates knitting blankets for Mission Without Borders’ Operation Cover Up, an organisation that sends much-needed blanket...

2025 Canterbury Regional Summit

It was a joy to be at the Canterbury Regional Summit on Saturday.Hosted by Rutland Street Church, friends from 12 churches around the region gathered to be encouraged in hearing what God is doing in and through Canterbury, with workshops and forums sparking conversation and prayer, often over fantastic food.Bryndwr Chapel led us in praise so well, and Andre Posthuma (Emmett Street Community Church), preached so clearly from 1 Corinthians 1 about a foolish message and a foolis...

Grounded in Love

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador...

Chosen by God to be his children

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorHe mea whakarite hoki tatou nana i mua, hei tama mana, i roto i a Ihu Karaiti, ko ta tona whakaaro hoki i pai ai.Na tofia e ia i tatou ‘ona o lona alofa, ‘ina ‘ia ‘avea i tatou ma ana tamafai ‘ona o Iesu Keriso, e tusa ma lona lava finagalo malie. He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.Ephesians 1:5My pepeha starts by recognising my mountain and river, and the significance of plac...

Glentunnel Chapel Hosts Evening on CMCT Mission in India

Earlier in September, Glentunnel Chapel hosted a fellowship evening with Jake and Ali Preston-Marshall from Bethany Christian Missions Charitable Trust, the New Zealand representatives of CMCT.Elder James Proudlove writes:“It was a lovely evening of sharing of the outreach in India, started in 1965, by Colleen Reddit as a missionary. She arrived by ship with a suitcase of personal effects and a sewing machine to minister to women in desper...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...