The Wesleya NZ Vine

Page 17

Redoubt North Wesleyan Methodist by Rev. Peter Benzie Lead Minister Redoubt North Wesleyan Methodist has come a long way since a small group of us met in December 1999 to consider what God was calling us to do, as many we knew and loved were leaving or about to leave the Methodist Church we were part of. It soon became clear that God was calling us to plant (though we didn’t see it as a plant back then) in the Redoubt North area in South Auckland. It also became clear to us that God’s particular call to us was to children and their families, though of course not exclusively. What a ride we’ve had since then. The number of people who call Redoubt North their church home, their church family, has grown considerably and is still growing. We continue to see even greater spiritual growth in people. It wasn’t always that way. For about 10 years the number of

people who attended our Sunday Services grew slowly. It wasn’t for a lack of trying or desire. We were making an impact on our community through outreach like Mainly Music, a Light Party, the Christmas Experience, and an after school kids club etc. but we weren’t seeing many from the community join us in worship.

Before you think – that’s bad, let me tell you something I told the church on several occasions in those early years. The numbers at worship may not have been increasing at the speed we wished, but we were making a difference in the community. At one point in about 2003 I estimated the good news of the Gospel had reached into at least 20% of the homes in the community because of the efforts of our people.

THE VINEYARD

God builds His Church

As we know it is God who builds his church and in 2010 he did that when he brought several Niuean families in particular to his church. In the process

Children and their families hear the gospel at Light Party 2019.

THE WESLEYANZ VINE 17 3


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