CCNZ Newsletter November 2009

Change, Transition, Transformation

Missional Endeavours

Greetings From the NLT

Move 09 Conference

ALC On Tour

CCNZ has a new Treasurer and Administrator

CWF Funding

Connections Christian Church Upper Hutt is seeking a new SENIOR LEADER

The Wider Church

Update on John Fulford

 

Change, Transition, Transformation

These words impact our lives and can put us in turmoil; life will not go on the same as it was before. There is always a price to pay with change and it will be at a personal level even when the changes are organisational. I was reading in John 3, a great chapter, we all know verse 16, but there was a huge transition going on in this chapter as well. Johns Disciples came to him and said that man… is taking our ministry.


After we have been in ministry for a while, we can find ourselves thinking like this if we are not careful. It is easy to see others taking what we have worked hard for and we can get protective and think it’s ours. It doesn’t matter whether we are volunteering or paid to do a role. Sometimes we can forget our call to serve Him. The personal impact on our life can over shadow the ministry and purpose of God.
John’s reaction was amazing! 27To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. “


John knew what he was called to do and the grace of God on his life to fulfil that call. He didn’t try to hang on to it; he was filled with joy because he completed his call. “28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.”


There’s a great lesson in this for us as we go through changes; do we understand what we are called to and what we have been given from heaven. We can rejoice when others rise and our ministry is superseded to see what God has in store for us next.

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Missional Endeavours

We want to hear from you about any Missional Endeavour you have started. Write your story and send it in for our Newsletter. Please send these any time and they will be added to the next newsletter.
Definition of a Missional Endeavour is an attempt to reach the lost for Christ in a new way within our communities.


We want to see our churches try different ways of building relationships with people. Your story will inspire other so let us know what you are trying. This will become part of our annual reporting and Statistic so keep a record of what you are trying.

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Greetings from the NLT

We met on Nov 4th in Nelson for our last meeting of the year. Tony led us in devotions from Jeremiah 17:7 the model for success is to be planted and growing. The role of a leader is to provide an environment for growth; it’s God's responsibility to grow.


Move 09 is now behind us and we were encouraged by the number who attended. This is having a flow on effect of encouraging and building confidence in our future and into our churches.


We spent time discussing and brain storming George's new role as National Director, this role will be finalised and a letter of call given after our next meeting in February.


Thank you for your continued prayers and support

God Bless
Jocelyn for the NLT

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Move 09 Conference


Move 09 Conference was held in August this year. Registrations were up on last year and it was exciting to have such a high number of delegates from all parts of New Zealand in attendance. The range of both speakers and electives offered to delegates were well received and the organisational skills of the Annesbrook staff and volunteers made for a successful and well run conference.


Below are some of the comments and testimonies that were taken from the Move 09 survey which were sent out to those who attended:


• It was a refreshing and encouraging time. Every detail was taken care of and much appreciated.
• So much to take in and so little time to do it. Great to have CD's available so we can reprocess information.
• Excellent worship and teaching - thanks.
• Good length ... pretty packed few days but was good.
• Great - excellent speakers, food and service. Live-in was a great idea.
• The electives were awesome ... relevant and helpful, topics were covered and questions answered.
• The passion and commitment from many of the youth for ministry. This was evident in the numbers at ALC. The truely missional focus for the furtherance of the kingdom of God both nationally and internationally - a breath of fresh air. The style of worship was challenging and moving. The youth event on Friday night was amazing to see that many youth willing to be there rather than on the streets of Nelson. Praise God!
• Spending time with God over a weekend and being a part of something bigger than just us [our church] is an experience that cannot be missed out on!!!
• Confirmed that intimacy with God is where I get renewed and empowered to be effective in my public ministry. I had special times with God during the ministry time when the anointing was strong upon me and I knew God's love and care for me.
• Firstly a greater understanding of where our church is at and the seriousness of the situation. Getting to know the couple I travelled with better. Personal challenge to move on to new things in my personal walk with Christ, especially responding to His invitation "in the quiet place". Also the prayer during the final session. A "work in progress".
• The refresher challenge from Brent on the first night regarding "What could you do in the next year without God" provided a key for a "solution" to an ongoing issue in the church we pastor.

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ALC on tour (Annesbrook Leadership College)

Is your Church Interested in hosting Annesbrook Leadership College Students? I think it could be a great opportunity for churches to get some energy around. We want to know how much interest there is for this to happen, so if you are interested please let me know This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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CCNZ has a new Treasurer and Administrator


We are excited to announce that Linda Eagle has accepted the above position for Christian Churches NZ. At present she is learning the ropes and will take over completely next year. We are very pleased to have someone who is very capable in these areas and happy to take over both roles. This will make things simpler for you as it is just one contact person for both areas. Shelley Johnstone and Chelsea Whyte are stepping out of the role as Treasurer and assistant at the end of this year. We are very grateful for all the help and dedication you have both put into this role and we wish you all the best as you pursue other areas. I am stepping out of the role as Administrator. I have enjoyed having email contact with you all and helping in any way possible and I know that you will find Linda great to work with. I will still be involved within CCNZ in other ways. Please continue to contact us through This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Also along with this, National Office is no longer contracted to Annesbrook so Linda and I are paid by CCNZ direct. At present we are looking at establishing office premises which will be helpful as we move forward. It has been such a blessing to be a part of Annesbrook Church and have the support and help of their staff. They have helped in growing the movement to a higher level and we are extremely grateful for this and their continual support of CCNZ.

Pauline Langford
Administrator

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CWF Funding


This year we had lots of applications for the Christian Women’s Fellowship funds grants – CWF. This money is specifically released for Care for the Aged and Women’s ministries. There were limited funds to disperse and the following churches were selected to receive funding this year because of their specific areas of need:


Harvest Te Atatu – West Auckland
Connections – Trentham
Bishopdale - Christchurch
Freedom Community Centre - Invercargill

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Connections Christian Church Upper Hutt is seeking a new SENIOR LEADER to:

• Build on current missional activity
• Grow the fellowship spiritually
• Develop leaders
• Lead into a new facility
This revitalised church is ready for the next phase.
For more information contact George Langford on 021 348 281 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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The Wider Church - by Lindsay Jacobs


This church is in good heart and on Sunday November 8, eighteen young people made their confession of faith and became members of the church. Members of the Christian Church participating in Cooperating parishes work hard to preserve the traditions of their church. At Onehunga communion is regularly celebrated by lay people after the tradition of the Christian Churches. The Board has had classes to explain the ethos of the Christian Churches and train some selected lay people to celebrate the communion. On the first Sunday in December three lay people: an Irishman who has recently joined the church, A Cook Island layman and a young Samoan woman will be set apart by the congregation to be celebrants at "Christian Church services".


Three new ministries in cooperating parishes are due to begin: Darryn Hickling at Linwood Avenue (Chris and Mary Ambrose completing five years and returning to South Australia), Metuisela Tafuna at Matamata and Clare Lind at Tawa (induction 4 February 2010).


On behalf of the association, Lyndsay Jacobs met with Dr Prawate Khid-Arn from the Christian Conference of Asia and Duoglas Chial and Tara Tautari (a New Zealander) from the World Council of Churches. Their willingness to hear about member churches and to respond to changes in the wider church was impressive. It is important to see our local witness as part of a broader canvass.


Congratulations to Althea Campbell, a Christian Churches member at Linwood Avenue Union Church, who has retired following 25 years service with Christian World Service. The annual CWS Christmas Appeal will be launched on November 29. Our association is represented on the board of CWS. Desmond Cooper, minister of Wellington South Union Parish has been elected President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. Desmond will become president in November 2010.


New Zealand women from our churches have often attended the four-yearly women’s gathering of the Canadian/USA Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The next is in Greensboro, North Carolina next year. See www.quadrennial.org


Ron O’Grady, founder and honorary president of ECPAT International, was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of Child Alert at the end of October. Ron outlined the history and work of ECPAT which seeks to eliminate sexual abuse and prostitution amongst children.

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Update on John Fulford – an email just received from Louise Fulford

It is with sadness that I write to report that on the weekend John’s health quietly deteriorated – he became very drowsy, and although aware of and recognising the people around him, was too tired to interact and kept falling asleep. This morning he had tests to see if this was something that could be reversed but alas, his biochemistry is now too disordered and will not respond to any medical interventions. He is on the homeward stretch!!


Over recent weeks he has had a wonderful testimony that he has accomplished the things God sent him here to do to the very best of his ability and that he was at peace that his time has come to go to be with the Lord.


We don’t know how long this final phase will be, probably not very long. Please pray that it will be peaceful.

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