Back to Blog

Official Welcome to Caretakers at Coopers Beach Christian Youth Camp

Coopers Beach Christian Youth Camp celebrated an official welcome to Grant and Evelyn Laybourn to the position of Camp Caretakers. They joined the camp in July, but the welcoming celebration was held this week.Lynley Fleming, Coopers Beach Secretary, writes: “Attending were members from the three supporting churches of the camp, Tōtara North Bible Chapel, Mangonui Bible Chapel and Kaitaia Bible Chapel.“A delicious afternoon tea was enjoyed and it was a lovely time to sit and chat to everyo...

Examine ourselves

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador1 Corinthians 11:28Engari kia uiui te tangata ki a ia ano, ka kai ai i taua taro, ka inu ai i taua kapu.Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. One of the things I’ve noticed about driving in Auckland is that you have to spend more time looking in the rearview mirror than you do in Feilding. To get where you are going, you need to be more aware of what’s behind you. In the same way, I don’t think we can fully ...

Auckland Prayer Breakfast

On Thursday, the Auckland Church Network hosted the annual Auckland Prayer Breakfast at Eden Park.Jackie Millar, CCCNZ Prayer Enabler, writes, “It was wonderful to see such a great representation of CCCNZ/ Open Brethren heritage churches at the Auckland Prayer Breakfast. It was a joy to gather in prayer for the city and for New Zealand, with 500+ people from various denominations, non-profit organisations, and businesses”....

Rally NZ Board Meeting

It was lovely to be with Tony Foster and the NZ Rally Board last weekend in Manawarū. Thank you to Denis and Joy Wallace for your hospitality.I came away deeply encouraged to hear of what God is doing across 50+ churches through Rally as children and families are being pointed to Jesus. More churches are starting Rallies to reach out to their communities and a new Regional Rally Camp in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty in 2024 will see churches working together to reach c...

Family Fiesta at Hillcrest Chapel

On Tuesday 31st October, Hillcrest Chapel opened its doors to the community and hosted the “Family Fiesta” event.Sarah Chalmers, Hillcrest Chapel Youth Pastor, writes: “There was a range of stations inside and outside the chapel building including a sausage sizzle, cupcake stand and ice cream servery!”...

Light Party at Raleigh Street Christian Centre

On Tuesday 31 October around 700 people attended the Light Party at Raleigh Street Christian Centre, about 450 of them were kids. Jeremy Johnson, one of the organisers of the event, says:"What was truly special was seeing many attendees who aren't part of our regular church community". Jeremy continues, "One of our volunteers shared this encouraging story: 'Our neighbour came and loved it! She wanted to know if there was an open day at church! She wants to get her kids into church, we were able ...

Baptism at Church on Ingestre

On Sunday 29th October, Dayanna (pictured above giving her testimony), who is originally from Colombia, was baptised at Church on Ingestre's international service. Pastor Doug Benn writes, “She has grown in her faith due to strong discipleship from Thiago and Mara Girao (from Brazil) and it was a great pleasure for them to baptise her”. It’s such a joy to see people decide to follow Jesus and be baptised.  ...

The Mark Drama at Rutland Street Church

Our vision is to see churches (and the regional campsites and national ministries that support them) working together to point people to Jesus through the gospel from the Scriptures. For that reason, it’s a delight to see two CCCNZ churches in Christchurch, Rutland Street Church and Redemption Church, inviting non-Christian friends and family to the Mark Drama. Last weekend Rutland Street Church hosted the Mark Drama presentation. This is a 90-minute theatre-in-the-round presenting all of Mark...

CCCNZ and Pathways College

On Monday, board members and senior staff from CCCNZ and Pathways College gathered to share honestly and listen to each other. It was a significant time together reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of developing people in CCCNZ/Open Brethren heritage churches through theological education.Pictured above, from left to right: Gordon Fountain (CCCNZ Board Chair), Clint Craig (Pathways Board Chair), Michael Hanson (Pathways Trustee), Ian Payne ...

CCCNZ Partnering with Bethany Trust

On Wednesday 1st November, we acknowledged the partnership we have as a service trust with Raleigh Street Christian Centre and its property trust Bethany Trust as we’ve moved our Cambridge office into one of Bethany’s buildings next to RSCC.Pictured above, from left to right: Karen Morris (RSCC), Sheryn Brownlee (Bethany Secretary), Kacha Vuletich (Bethany Trustee), Grant Birks (CCCNZ Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Enabler).A huge thank ...

Communion Matters

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador1 Corinthians 11:27Mo reira ki te kai he tetahi, ki te inu he i te kapu a te Ariki, ka whai hara ia i te tinana, i nga toto, o te Ariki.O lenei, ai sē ‘ai i lenei areto, pe inu i le ipu a le Alii ma le faaletatau, e nofo sala o ia i le tino ma le toto o le Alii.Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.The Corinthian church’s communion had gone to custard. Dis...

A Kiwi Family's Experience in Israel During Conflict

I have already been to Israel a couple of times before and it was at the top of my bucket list to take my family there and show them all the major sights where the stories of the Bible unfolded. For the past two years I have been planning and saving to take my family to Israel. Actually, it was my wife, an ex-travel consultant, who returned to paid employment who did most of the planning and paying.My three children are 8, 12 and 14 years of age and I have just celebrated turning 50 so it seemed...

How long, O Lord?

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorPsalm 13:1 “Kia pehea te roa o tou wareware ki ahau, e Ihowa? mo ake tonu atu ranei? Kia pehea te roa o tau hunanga i tou mata ki ahau?”“Ieova e, e te faagalogalo pea lava ia te au seia afea? E te ‘alo ou fofoga ia te au seia afea?”“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”You may have heard the expression 'courageous conversations'... it describes a conversation about a difficult matter that could go to ...

Fenton Park Bible Church starts a Rally!

It's great to hear from the Fenton Park Bible Church family as they begin reaching children and families in Rotorua through starting a Rally.May you and the church family know God’s good hand as you reach out to children and families in your community through Rally. It’s a delight knowing this is the third new Rally started this year across the country.By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador...

Local Church Leaders Share Stories of Camping Ministry

We recently shared about the breakfast at Willow Park on Friday 13 October, where a number of church leaders from Auckland and Northland gathered together to talk about how churches and camps can be working together. Leaders shared how they have grown flourishing relationships with local camps to share the good news about Jesus, through the gospel from the Scriptures. Richard Davis, CCCNZ Camping Enabler, writes:“Marina Shannon, Orewa Community Church, spoke on the relationship that the youth ...

Far North Summit

Our vision is to see churches working together to point people to Jesus through the gospel from the Scriptures.For this reason, it was a real privilege to be at the Far North Regional Summit on Saturday. Over 40 leaders gathered at Coopers Beach Christian Youth Camp. ...

Baptisms at Crossroads Church

On Sunday, four people were baptised at Crossroads Church in Palmerston North. Lead Pastor Reuben Porter writes: "It was such special day worshiping together. Hearing the stories from those being baptised was incredibly encouraging"....

Auckland Leaders Dinner: North & West

It was a privilege to be at the North & West Auckland Leaders Dinner at Northcross Church on Thursday evening. Over 30 Elders, Pastors and Ministry leaders from 12 churches from north and west Auckland joined together for a meal and hear more about ministry.Churches represented included Au uso Christian Fellowship – Henderson, Birkdale Bible Chapel, Birkenhead Community Church, Hobsonville Point Church Family, Kaukapakapa Bible Chapel, Lincoln Road Bible Chapel, Northcross Church, Orewa Co...

Governance Workshop in Nelson

The Ian Elliott Scholarship is an initiative of Lichfield Lands Trust administered by CCCNZ to honour the work of Ian Elliott over many years of governance within Christian organisations. One of the ways the scholarship is being used is by investing into governance training. Camp and support ministry boards have the opportunity to attend training run by Peter Allen, who is a Christian with deep experience in governance and governance training. In this context, Peter ran a workshop in Nelson last...

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ AmbassadorJohn 11:43 A, no ka penei tana ki, he nui tona reo ki te karanga, E Raharuhi, puta mai.Ua ia fetalai atu ia upu, ona alaga lea o ia ua leo tele, Lasalo e, ina sau ia i fafo. When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”By raising Lazarus Jesus was making a statement: death has an expiry date. Why? Because he is the Resurrection and the Life.Notice something about the story of Lazarus. This is Jesus' most profound miracle. He raises a...

Children's Day at LifeChurch Manurewa

Every year in October, LifeChurch Manurewa has a White Sunday, a traditional celebration in Pasifika churches where children take the stage to minister to the congregation. Pastor Ane Ponifasio writes, “They recite bible verses, and perform different items like singing, dancing and acting out Bible stories etc... We also do a formal prayer for baby dedication”....

Christ is our Hope

John 11:33A, no ka kite a Ihu i a ia e tangi ana, i nga Hurai hoki i haere tahi me ia e tangi ana, ka ngunguru ia, ara tona wairua, ka koingo.Ua silafia e Iesu o ia ua tagi, ma Iutaia ua o mai ma ia ua fetagisi, ona tiga tele lea o lona finagalo, ma ua ātu lava o ia;"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled".In John 11:28-37, Jesus walks into the midst of weeping.After meeting Jesus on the road to Bethany, Mart...

Willow Park Hits the Road

In the recent school holidays, 130 campers and leaders gathered from a range of Auckland churches for the Willow Park Kids Camp. Some of the churches involved were Mt Wellington Community Church, Auckland Bible Church, and Manurewa Bible Church....

Churches, Camps and Support Ministries Working Together

We love to see churches partnering with local campsites for gospel ministry! CCCNZ Camping Enabler Richard Davis shared this vision with CCCNZ Auckland church leaders this morning at Willow Park Christian Camp over breakfast. Thanks to Kelston Community Church pastor Paul Long for sharing this photo on the CCCNZ Auckland Community Facebook group, saying:"Very encouraging and challenging early morning meeting on the CCCNZ camping ministries; the ministry successes, opportunities, and partnership...

Auckland Leaders Dinner: South, Central & East

53 leaders from 15 churches around South, Central and East Auckland gathered together last night at Auckland Bible Church (Ngaire Ave Campus) to build relationships and connections.Pictured above: Ane Ponifasio, Carmel West, Mele Siaosi, and Nesi Ulugia from LifeChurch Manurewa....