In This Issue

Church Development Report
Greetings from the National Leadership Team
CEPTB News
Conference 2007
Leadership Article
Word Format (for printing)

Church Development Report
George & Pauline Langford

I asked you to pray for two churches, well keep praying for them; they are doing well.
Feilding have appointed Jocelyn Stephens as half time Transitional Leader. She will be wonderful in that role and to have her wisdom and insight through this season of the churches life will be great. Continue to pray for her and the Church through this rebuilding and time of rising up new leaders.

Wellsford are also doing well and are working through how the church will be structured to take them into the future. Rodney Cowell is working with the church until he goes to the UK in end of July. George Powell is flying down to the Leadership Development College at Annesbrook every week - that is a big commitment isn’t it. Wellsford have a good team of new leaders and it’s good to be working with them.

Congratulations to Harvest who have started a new congregation at Te Atatu Peninsula. They are meeting at Te Atatu Tennis Club, 572 Te Atatu Rd. Craig and Ruth Scott are the Pastors. Isn’t that exciting, go Harvest! There was 110 plus on the first Sunday. 147 people last week in both services.

There is always a challenge in ministry but the real challenge is to hear God though our turmoil and get his picture of things. We all know it but can we do it? top

Greetings from the National Leadership Team

Our May meeting was held in Auckland where we were hosted by the Revival Church at Otara. They were great hosts and it gave us the opportunity to be able to meet a number of their leaders and to hear first hand how things are going for them.

We spent time reviewing the Mission of a Movement paper and were encouraged by how many goals have been achieved since last conference. The ones that still need to be attained are continuing to be worked toward. It is very important that you report on your statistics when requested so that we can keep the goals monitored. We are looking at a number of ideas that would make it easier to receive these important figures. If you have any ideas, Debby Hoffman would be happy to hear from you.

Funding for our Church Developers needs to be increased. Rodney has drafted a letter to be sent to the business people in our congregations, to put before them the opportunity to give to this vital ministry.

The programme for conference is coming together and details will be sent out June/July. This is going to be an exciting few days of good input as well as attending to business, we hope to see you there.

Congratulations and welcome on board to Linda Scott from Wanganui & Brent Pickworth from Motueka our new members of the team. Linda has attended our meetings for a number of years as the Treasurer but has stepped up to the full responsibilities of a member of the team.

Hugh Scott, from CASI traveled to Auckland to meet with us. The Presbyterians have removed their financial support for CASI and as they were the ones who contributed the majority of the finances it means that CASI can no longer exist. Hugh was acknowledged and thanked for his hard work on this committee.

Brent shared with us about his attendance at the recent Head of Churches meeting. He sees this as a very strategic moment in time for the purpose and direction of Heads of Churches and sees value in His attending these meetings.

Our next meeting is in August, part of this time will be spent in discussion with the Church Extension Property Trust Board.

We value your prayers as we continue to serve on the Team.

Blessings
The National Leadership Team

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CEPTB News
Notes from the Church Extension and Property Trust Board

Two quarterly meetings have been held this year - in Wellington on March 10 & May 26.

The next meeting will be on August 11 in Nelson. One session at that meeting will be shared with the national Administration Team with a focus on working towards common goals to support the growth and development of our movement.

Barbara Halliwell of Wellington is now chairperson. Steve Baigent of Nelson continues as secretary. Steve is also deputy chairperson. Contact Steve at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or PO Box 1004, Nelson.

The board was pleased to hear that the national developers, George and Pauline Langford have settled into the board-purchased house in Nelson. This support of the national 'Mission of a Movement' emphasis, is saving the national budget (and therefore the churches) the cost of a housing allowance.

Other property matters: Stage three of the MOTUEKA building extensions is almost complete (supported by trust board loan) and about 300 are attending worship. The sales of the WAI ITI and MATAURA properties have been finalised. A three year loan was approved for NELSON CITY church to assist with the building of their new replacement manse in Blampied Place.

The board has agreed that it is able to sign the lease on behalf of Faith Christian Centre (Christchurch) for the City Council property they are using at Parklands.

Alan Jennings is continuing work on obtaining insurance options for congregations that can help increase cover and keep costs down.
Lyndsay Jacobs top

Conference 2007
Thursday 15th November - Saturday 17th November

Christian Churches New Zealand is honoured to invite you to our annual conference Mission of a Movement ’07.

Join us at Silverstream Retreat in Wellington this November as we discuss the mission of our movement, receive phenomenal teaching and are encouraged from some of our nation’s best. We have joining us this year guest speakers Kristen Williams and John Cameron.

Church Ministers and Elders, come early and spend Thursday afternoon with us before the conference begins for a great time of fellowship and practical teaching.


Conference dates are: Thursday 15th November - Saturday 17th November
Senior Leaders/Elders Day - Starts with lunch on Thursday
Registration for Conference - after dinner on Thursday [Session 1 starts at 7:30pm Thursday Night]

It won't be long before we have all the details finalised for this years conference, watch the post for your registration. top

Leadership Theology A Leadership article by Paul Burton.
Paul Burton is a member of the National Leadership Team and is the Senior Leader of Nelson City Church of Christ.

This short article is to stir us to grow our leadership theology. The premise for this that I should lead others as God leads me! My leadership, of my life, household, and place in the house of God will flow from how God leads me, or rather how I perceive God leads me. Therefore I need a theology of leadership which is also my theology of follower-ship: Our theology and our core beliefs, whether we have clarified them or not, shape our personal values and culture, determining our conduct and behaviour, and leadership.

I can say this with confidence because Jesus said in Matthew 12:33-34, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree will be recognized by its fruit… For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”
And Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life”

The Word of God is clear; a change in my self-control over my decisions, a change in my actions and attitudes; and a change in my mind, all require a change in my heart, a change in my convictions and beliefs. Our convictions and beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the gospel and its effect on our lives is our theology. Therefore, to change and grow as a leader requires a growing theology of how God leads me.

Galatians 2:20 is a leadership text, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.” Here is a theology of discipleship, and from this is my leadership. The core essence, the seed that must shape all my leadership is my faith in “Christ” in me. The anointing in me, the revelation of Jesus gospel is the power of God for salvation in me. Therefore the capacity and strength of my leadership in the kingdom of God is determined by my faith in Christ in me, bringing a new heart, a new mind, a new leader; from the inside out.

Surely the gospel is the power of God for our complete salvation (Romans 1:16-17) including a new heart (theology) and a new mind. Surely the word of God is able to thoroughly equip the man and woman of God for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
I am not suggesting we do not read and listen to material on leadership or any other subject. I am suggesting our leadership will flow from our theology, and our leadership must not stop growing in character and capacity, because that will mean we have stopped growing in our faithful devoted relationship with the Christ in us.

To grow a theology of leadership I ask: How does God lead me? Therefore, How should I lead others? top