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Missions Interlink Bulletin
Missions – in, from and to – New Zealand
June 2008
Coming Events:
The Cross & the Crescent Conferences
Prayer
NZ Prayer Leaders Gathering in Wellington
Next Auckland Prayer Gathering
Community Demographics Seminar
World Evangelical Alliance – Mission Commission
Missionary Enrichment Retreat (MER)
Feature Event:
MV Doulos
International Night “To the Ends of the Earth”
Missions’ Fiesta
(Mission Booths at both events. Will yours be there?)
Announcements:
Mission Mobilisation – Help Shape the Future
Destination World 2009
New OMF Director Appointed
Missions in Aotearoa
Going on a Mission Trip?
Add value with NZQA & Student Allowance
MI Group Discounts – Why Pay More?
Report:
Prison Ministry – NZ Women’s Corrections Facility
Having a Real Relationship with God
Coming Events:
The Cross and Crescent Conferences - www.awarenessministries.co.nz
Christchurch – (finished)
Palmerston North – 10-11 June, St Alban’s Presbyterian Church
Hamilton – 13-14 June, Gateway Christian Centre
NZ Prayer Leaders
GATHERING in Wellington, 20 & 21 June, and we really hope that you can come, John Fulford
In the history of the world there has never been as many people praying as now! We need to see this global reality become a local New Zealand reality. And out of this will flow more mission. – Johannes Balzer
Next Auckland Prayer Gathering: 19 June - Balmoral Baptist Church, 7:30 am
Community Demographics Seminar
Get a better understanding of your (NZ) city or town. Engage missionally in a New Zealand community.
- Opawa Baptist Church, Christchurch - (finished)
- Thursday 26 June, Carey Baptist College, 473 Great South Road, Penrose, Auckland, 10 am - 1 pm.
- Wednesday 2 July, Wellington (venue tba), 1.30 - 4.30 pm.
For more details, see the May MI Bulletin, or email: angel-wings@paradise.net.nz or phone Lynne on (03) 960 9383.
(AngelWings Research and the Baptist National Resource Ctr, in association with Vision Network and Missions Interlink)
The Mission Commission of World Evangelical Alliance, WEA (a global network of over 220 mission leaders from around 80 countries and serves the Evangelical mission community) will have its consultation right after the WEA General Assembly (Thailand, 31 Oct. - 4 Nov. 2008).
For more information, check out their web site: http://www.worldevangelicals.org.
Missionary Enrichment Retreat (MER)
28 Oct. – 2 Nov. ’08
- Missionaries on furlough
- Newly returned missionaries
(2 to 4 years back is ok; but the sooner the better)
- Mission agency staff
For more info email Leilani Liew info@missions.org.nz
Feature Event:
Mission Highlight of this Doulos visit:
(1) International Night “To the Ends of the Earth”
Friday, 20 June 2008 - 7:30 – 9:30pm Held at Beaumont Centre - 98 Beaumont Street, Freemans Bay, Auckland.
Experience the diversity of Doulos! See cultural dances, listen to songs from around the world and watch impacting dramas and performances! Meet the international crew and be challenged by their testimonies to follow God wherever He leads. Entrance: free (an offering will be taken to help cover cost) MISSION AGENCIES ARE WELCOME TO PLACE DISPLAYS OF ANY SIZE IN THE FOYER FROM THE AFTERNOON ON FOR THIS EVENT! Contact George Booth to confirm.
(2) Missions’ Fiesta Saturday, 28th June 2008 (2:00 – 5:00 pm)
Interested in Missions? Find out more about God’s plan for the world and hear from different missions organisations how YOU can get involved - $5 per person. MISSION AGENCIES ARE WELCOME TO PLACE DISPLAYS OF LIMITED SIZE (2MX1M AND MAX 2M HIGH) IN THE PORT LOUNGE FROM 12:30 (note time change) FOR THIS EVENT! E-mail george@nz.om.org to book a place.
For Wellington info visit the Doulos NZ visit web site: www.omnz.org.nz/doulos.
Announcements:
Mission Mobilisation – You Can Help Shape the Future
The MI Council invites you to attend a discussion concerning the possible appointment of a national mobiliser to MI, to assist the NZ Church and mission organisations with raising the profile of cross-cultural ministry from, in and to NZ, and coaching young people with an emerging missions interest. The meeting will be on 1 July. RSPV to David Hall (email: info@missions.org.nz or phone: 09 275 8333). Bring own lunch and meet at Dominion Road Missions Centre- Auckland - at 12:30 pm.
Destination World 2009
The Missions Interlink council recently agreed to endorse Destination World 2009. It encourages all NZ mission agencies to provide a representative to an initial review and planning meeting. Watch the MI Bulletin for more info.
Hudson’s book
In the May MI Bulletin we shared about Hudson Dean’s book: Good and Faithful.
Nigel Webb of SIM is making this book available for Mission members for only $15 plus p&p.
Email: nz.director@sim.org, or phone: 09 538 0692, mobile: 021 647 157.
New OMF Director Appointed
The National Council of OMFNZ is delighted to announce the appointment of Christine Harding as New Zealand National Director designate. After studying at the Bible College of New Zealand, Christine with her husband Andy served as church planting missionaries with OMF Japan from 1984 to 1993. From 2002 Christine taught at Vision Leadership College in Hamilton. She is an ordained pastor at Eastside Apostolic Church and in recent years has developed a profile as a conference speaker with a passion for mobilizing Christians into cross-cultural mission work. Christine is presently completing her Masters in Theology through BCNZ. OMF was founded by James Hudson Taylor in 1865, to work in China.
It is planned that Christine and Andy relocate to Auckland at the end of 2008 and that Christine begin her leadership role of OMF New Zealand in early 2009. We are thankful that Christine will build on the valuable contribution of Warren and Doreen Payne, who together with our New Zealand team have developed strong strategies that have resulted in a good number of new long- term missionary members being sent to East Asia.
OMF New Zealand Mid-year Day of Prayer will be held in Auckland on Saturday 21st June,
at Royal Oak Baptist Church, 114 Symonds Street, Royal Oak. Rev. Earle Howe - Chairperson, OMF New Zealand National Council, email: earlehowe@orcon.net.nz or phone 09-272 4484.
OMF web site: www.noordinarylife.org.
New postal address for MARN: Please update your records: PO Box 20 063, Glen Eden, Auckland 0641, NZ
Accommodation needed in Auckland for two adults and two children (preferably in Glen Eden) from 26th July to 26th August for a missionary family on furlough. Please contact the MI office if you or anyone you know can help. Info@missions.org.nz
Missions in Aotearoa
What are you doing in New Zealand? The light that shines furthest, shines brightest at its source. Do we want NZ missions to have a greater impact on the rest of the world? The Missions Interlink web page “Opportunities to Serve Locally” lists organizations that provide opportunities for people to serve within NZ. Six organizations are listed; some of those were recently added. Shouldn’t your ministry be added to the list? Contact MI: info@missions.org.nz or (09) 275 8333.
Help others in the MI network(s) stay informed
Send info of interest to others - Email: info@missions.org.nz.
Going on a Mission Trip?
Why not add value to the trip by doing the Certificate in Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Care (Introductory), a 40 Credit NZQA qualification at level 4, at the same time?
How does it work? - You can do the 40 credit course full time for 3 months, for example, this could consist of one month on the trip and two months at home doing preparation. This would include some study. You can do the trip and at the same time, do some theological or ministry study along the way, and gain an NZQA Certificate.
20 of the 40 credits would be gained through the practical work done on the trip and the other 20 credits through research and theological reflection on the people group you will visit, or some general biblical study like Old or New Testament Overview or Galatians. Assessment is by way of essays for academic courses and reports for practical ministry work.
Funding - You can potentially get Government support for your trip!
As a full-time student you could receive a Student Allowance (if you are eligible)
Cost - The 40 credit course only costs $160, but if 2 or more students are enrolled, supervision fees of $300 per student are paid to the supervisor ($150 when students enrol and $150 when all course requirements are successfully completed).
So, go on a mission trip and at the same time gain an NZQA recognised qualification!
If you want more information about this wonderful opportunity then please contact me on 021-353952 or email: gideonh@harmony.org.nz. Gideon at Vineyard College.
MI Group Discounts - For anyone needing any IT equipment, remember that GSB has an IT department, which runs specials for a fortnight at a time. (Examples of recent specials are listed below). These come out by email to Ted, who forwards them onto anyone who wants to receive them. If you are an MI member and would like to receive these IT newsletters, just email Ted requesting them to tedz-cars@maxnet.co.nz and he will put you on that email mailing list. Obviously, there is a complete range available at any time also. Up to 60% off printers, PDA's, hard drives, cameras, projectors, laptops and more!
Prison Ministry – NZ Women’s Corrections Facility
Feedback on “Having a Real Relationship with God” - 13/03/08
Many people think there’s little or no hope for those in our prison system. Don Simpson, director of Christian Age Ministries (which has over 15 teams going regularly into various NZ prisons) sends the following report, collected by Precept Ministries. Hopefully this will give reason for people to think again. * (Note: names have been changed for security reasons.)
1. The whole study has been a huge help. It's got me understanding about God and Jesus. I had so much to learn, it was like going to school. I never used to pray, but now I pray heaps and have got into Bible reading. I really enjoyed the studies. Before I used to be really loud and pushy, now I'm much quieter and gentler.
2. It made a lot of difference to my life. A month ago I had to go to court and I had decided I to lie so that I would get a lighter sentence. But a passage from page 21 kept troubling me. It was John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, he is a liar and the father of lies.” In the end I told the truth and didn't involve others. I felt so much better afterwards. I've been reading my Bible, but I read the ___ Bible because I don't understand the others. I used to be scared that, if I went to church and Bible studies, everyone would make my life a misery, but in actual fact everyone seems to accept me as I am. And it makes such a difference having these others around for support and encouragement.
3. I've been a believer since I was 7 years old, but I lost the track, followed my sinful nature, and that landed me in here. For the last 3 months in jail, I've become stronger. I pray and read my Bible night and morning, but I carry Jesus around with me all the time. I've learned to thank the Lord for the hard times and for the grief, because they've made me stronger in Him and warmed my heart. I've appreciated the Bible study because it's taken me back to Him and taught me so much that I didn't understand before. I thought I'd be so angry and rebellious when I was sentenced, but in fact I had a strong sense of God being with me through the court hearing, and I felt quite at peace about the outcome.
4. I didn't really feel the Bible study touched my heart, but I'm keen to go on with more. I do pray every night, and I'm scared of going back to my old way of life, drinking so heavily. Pray for me…
5. The Bible study taught me a lot. Before I knew that Jesus died, but I didn't know why He died. Now I know that He died for my sins and I've put my faith in Him. Before I didn't know what to pray, but now I do. When I tried to read my Bible before, I didn't understand it. Now I do. Before I used to get so angry, now I stop and think, and ask myself why.
6. I enjoyed the Bible study. It brought me back to the Lord, and now I believe that's why He put me in here. I used to be such a control freak, rushing around organising everyone else's life, and my own soul was running dry. When I landed in prison I was mad at God for putting me here and letting me down. I wouldn't pray, and when Tony tried to get me to come to Bible study I pulled the sheet up over my head and said I didn't want a thing to do with anything about God. But Tony pulled the sheet off and wouldn't take no for an answer. The Lord humbled me and brought me back to Himself. Now I'm closer to the other girls here too, and we are having prayer meetings together.
7. I love the Bible study. It's been really great to go over so many things from the Scriptures – sometimes even mind-boggling. I love it, particularly the discussions where we apply it to our own lives. For 8 years I turned my back on Christian things. It's so lovely to be back, to be getting into the Scriptures, and to be having prayer times with the others. We're praying that the gospel will light up the whole prison. I've picked up stuff I hadn't come across for years. It's especially helpful in that I'm losing my sight and am having real difficulty reading the Bible for myself.
8. At first I found the lesson format hard – dotting back and fore from one place to another, but once I got used to that I found them good. It has increased my awareness of what sin is, and what is pleasing to God, and how the Holy Spirit can conquer the enmity in our hearts. There was one week that a lot of us found very difficult – it was Lesson 3 which was all about sin, and very full on. That same week the Alpha lesson was all about sin too, and one of the girls just cracked. I struggle a bit with my relationship with God. It's taking time for it to go from my head to my heart, but I think it's beginning to happen.
Precept Ministries New Zealand - P.O. Box 26 0061, Howick, Manukau 2146 - Phone: (09) 537 8428
David B. Hall, Director
Missions Interlink
PO Box 59 049, Mangere Bridge, Manukau 2151 - www.missions.org.nz
New Zealand's Mission Networks
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