Actually, the Franklin Graham ‘God Loves You Tour’ went very well
There were events in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, with overflow crowds, many young people, a wide range of ethnicities, and a great atmosphere. The music was upbeat and high quality, with an inspiring element of testimony. The preaching was a straightforward, clear presentation of the Gospel. There was no hype or pressure.
We thank God that in each venue, hundreds came forward to receive Christ, and others to re-dedicate their lives to Christ. Watching such a response is always moving, and a reminder that God alone can turn people’s hearts, and that God is always (and in many different ways) calling people to himself.
We thank God for the way so many churches solidly got in behind this initiative, and for the unity of the Spirit that was evident.
We thank God for all the training in evangelism and discipleship that preceded the tour, in multiple places.
We thank God for all the prayer that has taken place around the country.
We thank God that all the tour costs were generously covered by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
We thank God for the good organising, both by the BGEA people and by the New Zealand team led by Sam Tolley.
We thank God that the events were so positive, and that the negative media attacks that some of us had been quite worried about barely happened. In one very biased TV interview, Franklin Graham responded well to hostile accusations, and firmly kept his eye on the Gospel.
Big events like this come and go, and are by no means our everyday way of evangelism. But we pray that all this recent focus on prayer, unity, training, evangelism and discipleship may have an ongoing strengthening effect on many New Zealand churches and Christians.
Mā te Atua koutou e tiaki e manaaki i ngā wa katoa May the Lord bless and keep you at all times
This month's Next Gen focus is on the ministry of JH Ranch with Desiree Thompson, who is co-director with her husband Phil, of JH Aotearoa.
JH Aotearoa is a high impact, intentional programme that has been developed over 30 years in the USA at JH Ranch and adapted to our NZ context.
The programme is founded on prayer and uses experiential learning, adventure activities, and an undistracted environment to connect teenagers with their parents, and with God. The ministry deepens and strengthens relationships between parents and their teenagers, and creates an environment where parents are able to pass their faith and values on to their children.
Through the ministry, they have had non-Christian young people and non-Christian parents give their hearts to the Lord. A great number of participants recommit their hearts to the Lord. Many broken families experience reconciliation, many others experience healing and forgiveness. Many families testify afterwards of the life-changing consequences and long-lasting impact of the ministry.
Last week
Richard Brunton and David & Dale Garratt share their insights and reflections on the power of blessing in an informal format, together with Andrew Marriott, at the Garratts’ home. This session is a departure from the usual Pray As One format. Richard, David and Dale wanted to share what the Lord has shown them with our PAO community - so that we can all be better equipped to speak blessing and be more effective in our personal prayer lives.
Richard is well known, not only as a founding director of Colmar Brunton but as the author of ‘The Awesome Power of Blessing’, ‘The Blessing Effect’ and ‘Anointed for Work’ – with more than 15 million blessing books in print, in 59 countries and 44 languages - growing at over 150,000 books per week.
David and Dale are well known as the founders of Scripture in Song. They’ve written and produced a series of albums and songbooks of the same name since then, with their most recent album ‘Songs of Blessing’ inspired by Richard’s book, The Awesome Power of Blessing.
Every Monday night, from 8-9pm, we run a national prayer meeting on Zoom with 70-80 participants joining from throughout the nation. Come join us!
BECOME AN ACTUAL MEMBER OF NZCN
Individuals, couples, churches, and Christian organisations may all officially join NZCN. Becoming a member carries some benefits (see here), but is primarily about making a statement that you are firmly committed to biblical Christianity and to working together with other Christians.
Helping to build awareness of different parachurch organisations serving the church in New Zealand and overseas.
NZCN featured member
Listed on our Directory by our Church and Christian Organisation members
VENN Foundation
Venn Foundation is an educational institution. We help people embrace the riches of Scripture and the Christian tradition for the good of their homes, workplaces, universities, churches, and communities.
Through our Lead Programmes, Events & Courses, and Resources, we challenge people to think deeply, live faithfully, and serve wisely, to shape Aotearoa, New Zealand for the glory of God. These high-quality learning contexts are welcoming, demanding, and integrated. Participants are enabled to explore the human condition, full personhood, and the summons of the good news of Jesus Christ. We want to see people grow in wisdom and serve in areas such as business, politics, law, education, sport, media, and the arts.
We are committed to supporting the local church by helping Christians to embrace the riches of Scripture and the Christian tradition, and to contribute to the flourishing of their church communities.
This summer, join 100 students, young professionals, and creatives from around Aotearoa, New Zealand for seven days as we explore the rich, transforming Christian faith and what it means for our lives.
What’s it all about?
The Christian faith is deep, alive, and worth living well. It speaks of our world as filled with beauty and meaning, created by a good God with good purpose. It calls us to live lives marked by wonder, imagination, deep thought, rich feeling, love, courage, and service. This faith has transformed the lives of men and women for generations: it’s given new energy and meaning to the student at her desk, the worker in his office, the athlete with her team, the writer with his pen, the scientist in her lab.
For more than a decade, Summer Conference has been helping young adults explore this vision of God, ourselves, and the world, and how it affects all parts of life. Over a week of learning, conversation, good food, and fun, you too can come to see the truth, beauty, and challenge of the Christian life.
What can I expect?
The week-long conference is challenging, life-giving, and creative. It’s for young adults 18-30 years old, is fully residential, and is held at St Peter’s School, Cambridge in the beautiful Waikato from 6 January to 13 January, 2023.
The conference is dynamic and expansive: across the week, you will be immersed in rich teaching, creative responses, local field trips, and group discussions. You’ll also have heaps of time in the afternoons to soak up the sun and to cool off in Lake Karapiro.
How much does it cost?
Student earlybird: $595 Standard earlybird: $795
The week is fully residential and prices include all meals, accommodation, and conference materials. To make the most of the earlybird prices, make sure you register before 31 October 2022. Student latebird is $650 and Standard latebird is $850. We have weekly, fortnightly, or monthly payment plans available.
Scholarships and Sponsorship are also available by application, thanks to our generous community of donors.
Check out our website for more information and to register. All registrations close 9 December, 2022.
Connecting people for employment, internships, or voluntary roles in Christian organisations and churches. This can include looking for people to join governance boards or to fill a need for a specific skill/project.
Employment Opportunities
Listed on our Job Board by our Church and Christian Organisation members
*Denotes a new or recently re-listed opportunity*
Christians Against Poverty New Zealand Penrose, Auckland
Numbers in brackets indicate the number of events currently listed in that category until the end of November.Some events have both online and in person options to attend.
Events
Listed on our Calendar by our Church and Christian Organisation members. In chronical order with listings added this week highlighted.
If you are interested in expanding your leadership influence in your community, church or during our school holiday camps then this camp is for you.
Our Leadership camps are filled with general leadership training along with more pin-pointed training towards our holiday camp leaders, so there is something there for everyone. Our aim is to see youth & young adults step into their God-given leadership potential and be better equipped to serve God in leadership roles.
Join 100 students, young professionals, and creatives from around Aotearoa, New Zealand as we explore the rich, transforming Christian faith and what it means for our lives.
Dive into dynamic presentations & discussions on some of the toughest topics young Kiwi Christians encounter. Become firmer in your faith and solid in your Christian Worldview. Leave bold in who you are and what you believe as you navigate culture AND life as a young adult.
MiCamp kids camps are a highlight for so many children during their school holidays. During a week of holiday camp the kids get to partake in interactive chapel times, fun all-in wide games, exciting activities and eat the most delicious food.
MiCamps much loved family camp is a great way for you and your family to spend the long weekend.
We offer an affordable camp designed for all ages and stages. It is not run by a church but rather run by MiCamps Board Members & Staff team. We have families who are coming for the first time and others who have been coming for many years all across the North Island.
Come enjoy family time, great speakers, fun kids program, amazing food and more!
Would you like to have your organisation featured in our newsletter, post employment opportunities on our job board, or list events on our calendar?
You can! These are benefits we make available to Christian organisations and churches with current membership
New Zealand society is in a period of significant change, much of it away from the Christian faith and values. Christian voices in society are either ignored or scorned.
We need Christian voices which are positive, sensible, reasoned, well-informed, and clear.