In This Issue

Church Development
Presidents Message
National Office
Workshops 2007
Conference 2007
Church Name Change
Leadership College
Charities Commision

A Message from Our Church Developers

2006 was an awesome year in the life of our Movement! We can give thanks to God for His goodness. As we look across the churches, there are so many things that God has done.

We give thanks for all that people put into this Movement. People that go above and beyond the call; they are all through our Churches and they are the real hero’s who are laying down their lives for the cause of Christ and for His Kingdom.

We appreciate the wonderful Leadership teams that give so much time to see the vision, mission, and values of our Churches stay on track.

We have great Pastors who are putting so much into the life of our Churches; it is a blessing to be working along side each of them and seeing God’s hand on their lives, and their families.

Nationally we are blessed by the National Leadership Team, who give their time and effort working to put the national vision into place and give support and encouragement to us in our ministry.

We thank God for the work that the Church Extension & Property Trust Board are doing to resource the vision of the Movement. They are a great blessing to our Movement and have a key role in our future. Thank you for the house provided for Director of Church Development. We moved the 23rd Dec, great Christmas present ah!

We are encouraged by Brent, our president. He has given our Movement so much of himself, which has stirred our hearts, and motivated us in our mission. Brent, we commend you for taking up the challenge and shaping us into a Movement with clear vision. It is great working along side Brent to see our Movement strengthened.

Pauline and I look forward to see what God is going to do this coming year. Please pray for two Churches that are going through a transition at present, Wellsford and Feilding Life Point. God is at work reshaping leadership in both these churches.

We hope that you had a great Christmas and a good break and are refreshed and look forward to what God has in store for you all this year.

George and Pauline TOP

Presidents Message

Around 2000 I was told the world would end in 2006 by some fairly heavy duty Spiritual people. Alas, it didn’t happen so maybe it’s this year or next year or the year after?

Certain media will probably continue to have these higher powers broadcasting the next doomsday without any accountability for the previous prophetic miss they had embarked on unless I’ve missed something!!

I remember well my teenage years of Barry Smith dietary supplements and thinking “I wonder if I will get married? I wonder if I’ll have kids? Till a discussion with my great Aunty Olga (yep there’s some German in that name) during those early years of naivety and although my aunty was really old at the time of this discussion (like 60) and I only a fledgling (15 or 16) she would tell me that when she was a teenager she had exactly the same questions.

Wow, a 60 yr old thinking that the end was near that long ago… so I guess I’ve been a little suspicious from that moment of the dawning of the age of …

So here I am at the time of writing this it was raining, ice bergs have been floating past us, the war in Iraq poses a real threat to us here as petrol prices climb. Interest rates are continuing to rise and Helen Clark is still the prime minister. I am a little annoyed that I paid someone before Christmas to weed my garden and they obviously didn’t do a very good job cause those weeds are back! I finally got the spa fixed the other day after 10 weeks waiting for it to happen. I cleaned the car last week and used a chamois for the first time ever (that’s because it’s a new car so I have look after it). I went to a 50th birthday party cause we are friends with he who was turning 50… that’s so scary, its bad enough knowing that some time in the next 10 years I’ll be 50 but why the need to have friends that age now, it’s a cruel world we live in…

So amongst all this normality of life and the continuing knowing that the world is still going around the sun, is there something of greatness that God wants to do with me and you and the Church? So I’ve been wondering IF! That’s right just IF.

If I’m still here and reasonably sane even with this vocation I find myself in and actually enjoying it… ok I’m not sane…

Then what does God want me here for… I watched Blood Diamonds the other day and there is always a stirring that goes on in me that makes me want to help bang some heads together to get this world right side up (if you’ve seen it you’ll know what I mean) but I walk out with an IF and then I go home and do normal homey things. 30 million orphans in China (that’s the population of California) and I don’t know how many millions of orphans there are in Africa because of the aids plight. I hear these stats and am moved to want to do something while I take the rubbish out.

Last year I went to Mexico, which I’ve done a few times now, into the poorest of areas to help serve and minister. I came out feeling blessed to be there but under resourced to really make an impact… what can one do to help? What IF!

I went to the U2 concert and was taken aback by the aggressive message of mission feeding through the lyrics and the life of Bono. The ability to even give to his project (making poverty history) while in the concert by texting a particular number - wow now there’s the answer? But!!! Where is that money? Is it making a difference? Or is the answer more than just money?

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon said money is the answer to everything. I’ve always agreed with him, (I have to, its in the Bible) but why isn’t money really helping the poor, the injustice etc…Why is it I can drive over the border into Mexico from California (San Diego a mere 30 min drive) and experience absolute poverty yet next door is the wealthiest country in the world. They say there is enough money for no one to be poor, so how come there’s still the poor?

Because it’s not the money that is the answer - it is the Church… you and me together with the resource to make a difference. Look at the very thing God has called us to do in Isaiah 58, you know that true fasting passage…

It’s directed toward the Church, the Church holds the key, and of course the key is Jesus Christ….

So what if you had an ‘IF’ that would take you from within your normality of living and plant you in the centre of a plight so big and so moving you’d do anything to change it. That’s what the church needs, just that, an IF, that if that drives us enough to make a difference.

Let me encourage you, we are still here, and here for a reason, and the IF you have in the forefront of your mind must be realized in your life because I’m not going to die with an IF, and neither should you. Get a hold of 2007 and your IF, let them collide and see God do amazing things through you and your Church. Yahoo! Bring it on… TOP

National Office

As of the 1st March National Office will be situated in Nelson.

As part of this decision, at the end of 2006 George and Pauline Langford shifted to Nelson to base themselves in Nelson and help set up a National Office.

Through the years it has become obvious that there is a need to have everything in the Movement streamlined from administration to Church Development and already we are reaping the benefit of this with regular communication 'in office'.

National Office will operate out of Annesbrook Church, and although it relies heavily on Annesbrook resources it is a stand alone entity.

Please update your information for all future mail to The Movement and National Leadership Team to be posted to:

Christian Churches New Zealand
PO Box 2184
Stoke
Nelson

Phone: (03) 547 7371
Fax: (03) 547 7707 TOP

Workshops 2007

It is with great excitement that we look forward to the 2007 workshops. The last two years we have seen increase in so many areas because of our workshops.

Churches have benefited from the relationship building, support, vision-casting, leadership teaching, open forums for communication and the opportunity to buy into where we are heading as a movement.

The workshops are a huge asset to us as a Movement and we encourage every church to get as many key leaders there as possible. There is no limit on how many people can attend and the advantage of a one off donation of $100 per church means that the more people you bring the better!

This years dates are:

Auckland 12 May (Mirangi Bay)
Nelson 9 June (Nelson City Church)
Christchurch 16 June (Faith Christian Centre)
Fielding 23 June (Lifepoint Church of Christ)
More information will be out soon. Book out the whole day as we are hoping to have lunch together and extend the sessions into the afternoon. TOP

Conference 2007

This years conference is being held 14-17th November at Silverstream in Wellington. We are currently in the process of working out costs and making registration forms and will send them out as soon as possible.

Start talking to your team now about the conference. Give them plenty of time to book the time off.

As with Convention '06 this Conference promises to be a milestone in our Movement's history. Encourage the next generation to attend and all Elders, Leaders and team members. There will be something for everyone - a time of empowerment, connection and vision. TOP

Name Change for Annesbrook in Christchurch

There have been exciting developments in the South Island. Annesbrook in Christchurch have adopted a new name - Faith Christian Centre.

Excerpt from the name release email:

Annesbrook Church Christchurch has in fact changed their name (The logo above is still a work in progress and may yet change). We believe it is a name that let’s the world know that we are a Christian Church, that we are a people of faith, are growing and have a vision to be “a” centre of Christian Faith in our city. It is also a very transportable name i.e. if we eventually plant another church in the west south north or city centre or even another town. The use of the word “Faith” is not intended to suggest that other churches don’t have “Faith” or that we are the only “Faith Church” just that “Faith” is an emphasis for us.

We would also like you to know that the change does not negatively impact on our relationship to and with Annesbrook Church Nelson. That relationship is cherished and we are grateful for all their input and support and indeed have their support for the change. Brent will continue to have input into our vision team and the general life of Faith Christian Centre both now and in the future for as long as the need is there and his time allows.

These are truly exciting days in the life of Faith Christian Centre and we covet your continued partnership in this awesome work of faith. We appreciate and thank you from the depths of our hearts. May our Lord’s abundance and favour overtake you in all that you do as together we build His house for His glory and praise."

Merv Bassett TOP

Leadership College

The 2007 intake for Annesbrook's Leadership College has begun, we have 13 students joining us this year, representing 5 different churches nationwide:

Motueka Church of Christ
Motueka Baptist
Wellsford Church of Christ
Takaka Church of Christ
Annesbrook Church of Christ

Please keep the students in your prayers and if you know of someone who would like to take part in the College email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information. TOP

Charities Commission Update

From Linda Scott - Treasurer

Firstly, a number of responses are required to this update! So please do not simply read, but read and act.


Group Versus Individual Registration

While it has not been definitively stated in any official communication from the movement, there has been a general consensus arising from the meeting for Treasurers held at the 2005 Conference that each church would register as a separate charity. This was largely due to the complexity of filing consolidated returns (particularly over finances).

In perusing the final documentation and fact sheets that became available in late January it has become evident that there has been a significant change to group registration. This specifically includes the potential for individual charities within a group to file their own annual returns (including finances) and changes to details. Because of this I brought to our latest Leadership Team meeting in February a proposal that we consider group registration. This would allow us to retain the connection or association that we currently have and this will be reflected (once we are registered) when people search on the commission’s website for “Christian Churches” or “Churches of Christ”. I could go into a lot more detail, but it is probably best that you read some of the information I have attached. I haven’t attached all that is available due to the size of the files but others are available at www.charities.govt.nz I am more than happy to answer any questions or clarification required in order for you to make an informed decision, but don’t want to overwhelm you all unnecessarily.

The first step in the process of group registration involves each individual charity of the proposed group indicating they wish to be a part of the group. I therefore need the following from each church:

An indication that they wish to be a part of a group registration with Christian Churches NZ (CCNZ), and that the Leadership Team be indicated as parent.

Please respond to Linda Scott This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your agreement (or otherwise) of the proposal to complete a Christian Churches NZ group registration before 30 April 2007. I realise coming to a decision will require discussion amongst leadership of each church so I hope this gives enough time for this to occur. Presuming the green light is given by you all and the Leadership Team are indicated as “parent”, I will then begin gathering information including copies of your rules and officers etc. This will all be requested at a later stage, but regardless of whether you complete a group or individual registration, if you have no constitution or governing rules these will be required. So it would be a good idea to begin to action this now.

Please note: The group registration will not be jeopardized if a number of churches wish to register individually. They will simply complete an individual representation and there will be nothing available to link them with CCNZ.

A special note for Uniting Congregations: Due to the partnership structure your churches operate under I presume you will not be part of a Christian Churches group and that UCANZ itself will be considering registration independently of each of the member churches. I am sorry but I do not participate directly in UCANZ affairs so if I have this assumption incorrect please let me know.

Charities Commission Liaison

Because of the obvious need for ongoing direct communication with the individual responsible for providing documentation and responses could you please advise by 30 April 2007 to Debby Hoffman This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it the name, email contact and phone number of an individual in your church who will be responsible for charities commission registration and liaising with Linda Scott during the registration process.

This person may be an existing administrator, treasurer or other member of a churches leadership team or anyone you feel most suitable to the position. As the process is likely to last for at least 12 months please consider the continuity of the person as changes at any stage will prove disruptive.

Having said all this I want to finish by declaring Yes, registration is a mammoth undertaking (!) but let it not distract us from the main purpose of our existence – reaching our communities with the life changing message of an intimate relationship with Jesus. So keep up the awesome work you are all doing, but don’t forget to respond to the two requests above!

Many Blessings

Linda TOP