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Rebuilding, a lesson from Ezra

In Ezra 3:7-13 the people of God go back to the future. After exile, and after returning to the land they rebuild the temple.Before the end of this year, it's plausible that we, as church families, will go back to the future.We will have the opportunity to return and rebuild our gatherings and life together as local churches.What can we learn from Ezra 3?  It’ll be the same but differentThe people of God rebuild God’s temple. It’s the same. It’s God’s temple.&n...

Christian Leadership in a time of dissension

The Church in Ephesus is a mess.False teachers and teaching are wreaking havoc.False teachers focus on feathering their own platforms, power, and wealth in the process. Relationships are at breaking point. What does Christian Leadership involve in a time of dissension? Look with me through 1 Timothy 6:11-21It involves being reminded who we are and whose we are as leaders. Christian leadership in a time of dissension involves: Fleeing the noise (6:11)In 1 Timothy 6:4-5 Christi...

Remember

Paul remembers. He and Barnabas are being sent. Sent to the Gentiles. Sent to preach the gospel. Sent by the apostles.What’s the one thing they are asked to do? What’s the one thing they are charged with? What’s the one thing they should remember?  In Galatians 2:10, Paul recounts,  “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along”.'They' being James, Peter, and John, asking that Paul, in the preaching ...

Declaring Christ Crucified

"But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict". - 1 Thessalonians 2:2 It’s AD 51, churches from Judea to Thessalonica are riven, ravaged, and rattled. Across 2000km it feels like every church is roiled, there’s rumblings… it’s likely hot heads want retribution.At the centre of it is the reviled Apostle Paul and his apo...

God is

The Thessalonians are suffering.Paul and the apostolic team are being persecuted.The Judean churches are being brutalised. The churches in Macedonia and Achaia are being terrorised to the point of destitution.The external pressure on the Thessalonians is immense. The internal pressure within the church from false prophets, and idle and disruptive believers is almost as painful. The conflict is real. Into this powder keg the Apostle Paul shows us Christian Leade...

Standing at the centre

Ephesians Chapter 2:11-22 invites me, a Gentile, to remember where we were and reminds us where we are.  Where we were: "...remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world." (v 12). We were separate from God, excluded, without hope, foreigners, without God in the world. Where we are: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, ...

WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT TONGA

Some of the team that helped stock 20 drums heading to Tonga for relief. ...

Connecting during the Delta outbreak

There is no question that the Delta variant outbreak in 2021 was significantly harder than previous outbreaks of COVID-19. Parents have found the home learning and life juggle harder, more people are seeking help for mental health concerns, and churches and church leaders are facing numerous challenges. There’s a cumulative effect from the turmoil of the past 18 months, says PastorLINK Enabler Kerry Rickard, “Church leaders have had no respite from the relentless decision-making that is requ...

Summit Connections

Leslie Scott (left) and Rebekah Reeve (right)...

Connecting at Easter Camp: Siao-wei Huang

“The highlight of the Top of the South Easter camp for me was being able to spend time with other Christians and meet other people. To hear amazing speakers and learn things I might have not noticed before—it reminded me of what God did for us. I loved the way the speakers shared their message, by using stories.“The thing that stood out to me in the talks was that it reminded me again about Easter. Also it reminded me to think that it should’ve been me, everything that Jesus went thr...

Connecting at Easter Camp: Cate Wilson

“My highlight of the North Island Easter Camp 2021 was the Sunday morning service, when so many people lifted their hands either to renew their relationship with Christ or to accept Christ in their lives for the first time.“So many people’s lives were touched by this camp including mine; I have been a Christian for a long time now, but leading up to Easter Camp I felt overworked and stressed out. I had been too focused on making my last year of high school count but I had somehow begun to ...

Connecting at Easter Camp

In 2021 CCCNZ youth leaders in the South and North Islands came together to plan and host Easter Camps specifically for connecting CCCNZ youth groups. Putting on the North Island Easter Camp at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre was a team effort coordinated by Hangyul Cho, the Associate Pastor at Northcross Church. Hangyul said that leaders from at least 10 churches were involved, with each taking responsibility for different elements of the camp. They were pleased with the outcome.“It felt ver...

Regional Connections

It’s isolating work.That’s a surprising fact for those of us who see children’s ministry workers constantly connecting with the most energetic and open members of our churches. But many in those roles regularly describe it that way—isolating.Ten years ago, while working as Children and Families Pastor at Hillcrest Chapel, Julie McKinnon joined a ‘cluster’ meeting for other Waikato-based children’s ministry leaders set up by Karen Warner, who was leading the Baptist Union’s Ch...

Connecting to Support Outreach and Evangelism

Word of Life NZ’s Youth Reachout typically takes place in Fiji and Samoa. It’s a three week trip focusing on evangelism and personal development in a cross-cultural context. But with COVID-19 putting a stop to overseas travel in 2021, it became Youth Reachout Roadtrip. During the July school holidays a team of 20 people (Word of Life staff, their families, and young people) traveled around New Zealand to partner with different churches in hosting evangelistic community events. “It was real...

Camping Connections

“When was the last time you had four or five people in your church, in one morning, say, ‘I want to become a Christian?’” That’s a normal day at Teapot Valley Christian Camp—seeing four or five youth taking the next step towards faith in Jesus. As CCCNZ’s Camping Enabler, Richard Davis has plenty of opportunities to say what he’s been asking for some time: “That’s the opportunity before us; don’t you want to be part of it?” In Nelson, leaders from the trustee churches...

Canterbury Connections

“Connections between people and churches really started gaining traction last year—ironic given 2020 was a year where we experienced increased restrictions because of COVID-19!” Lawson Scott as served as the CCCNZ Canterbury Regional Enabler since 2016, a voluntary role where he seeks to encourage connection among Open Brethren heritage and independent churches, campsites, and support ministries in Canterbury.“We’re all fiercely independent, we look different and feel different as ...

Seven Reminders From Ephesians

Mark Grace CCCNZ Ambassador The COVID situation is pressing and stressful, but it’s not centralIn Ephesians Paul names his imprisonment twice—it’s significant, but it’s never central. Christ. His gospel. His Church. These are central. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the government’s public health response, have become increasingly significant, but they are not central. Our goal hasn’t changed The beating heart of Ephesians 1 is God’s grace to us in Jesus and his death and resurrecti...

Finding meaning in the mess

By CCCNZ Ambassador Mark Grace The Christmas story in Luke feels messy. Luke leads with messy people, messy politics, and messy births. If you wanted to know who was in the middle of the mess you’d naturally think—Rome! Caesar Augustus has spoken and the region's peoples are on the move. The result: Joseph and Mary are on the move to Bethlehem. Looking deeper into the mess of the first Christmas, we remember the words of Micah centuries earlier, prophesying: “But you, Bethleh...

Hillcrest Chapel's Journey With Prayer

By CCCNZ Prayer Coordinator Jackie Millar In March 2020, I met with two elders from Hillcrest Chapel (Waikato) to talk about prayer in their church community. Their heart for “more” in prayer was evident; not only for themselves or the elders but for the whole church.   Fast forward through various COVID-19 lockdown levels, changes within their church community, including changes in pastoral staff, a few Zoom prayer meetings, and hosting the Waikato Prayer Gathering in August... an...

Planning for the COVID-19 Protection Framework

A church in our movement have developed these Traffic Light planning templates and have shared them here for churches to adjust, customise and use. ...

Biblical Framework: an approach to vaccines and meeting together

Pastor at Manawarū Bible Chapel, Justin Thompson, has shared a Biblical Theology Framework for approaching vaccines and meeting as a church under the COVID-19 Protection Framework....

Knowing the Good Shepherd as you walk in the valley

CCCNZ Ambassador Mark Grace"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me". Psalm 23:4 This season can feel like walking in the valley of the shadow of death. For a number of church families in the New Zealand church it already means death—the death of loved members and leaders. For those in ministry, the valley’s shadow of death casts itself across so much. The decay of a clea...

Questions for talking through the COVID-19 Protection Framework

Elders from two churches have generously agreed to share questions that helped them talk through the COVID-19 Protection Framework and concerns with members....

'Come to Me'

"Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."Matthew 11:28 "Come to me". Jesus is the one who invites the weary and burdened.Jesus is the one who offers his strength and direction.Jesus is the one whose heart's essence is gentleness and humility.Jesus is the one who has come to us and then said come to me.  In this season so many people are saying "come to me". Come to my YouTube channel, my social feed, my group, my cause.The result: roiled people loo...

Guiding Biblical Principles: One eldership's starting point

We as an eldership acknowledge that there is a public health problem regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, we are guided by the public health authorities regarding how we are to respond. The effect on the vulnerable, and the potential impact on daily lives sees us seeking to follow public health recommendations, but also desiring to support those who are affected. We are in a season of change. The very world we live in and the lifestyles we have enjoyed are changing. The worldwide pandemi...