Christian Life_issue 17_October

OCTOBER 2014 • Issue SEVENTEEN • www.mychristiandaily.com

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CHUCK MISSLER

THE MAN BEHIND THE MINISTRY

AM I IMPORTANT?

REALISING YOUR VALUE

ONE STEP FORWARD TWO STEPS BACK

Spontaneous joy

COLOURFUL PASIFIKA FESTIVAL IMAGE WINS KIWI AWARD

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY MANNA BOOKSTORES AND THE CHRISTIAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION

Issue SEVENTEEN | OCTOBER 2014

03 STEPS to Ending Problem Sexuality One Woman’s Rocky Road to Redemption 06 Sistas Conference – Drawing Back the Curtains

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Through Fire Ebenezer Fund 10 Reclaiming thethe Ground:

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11 Christian Bookstores Survive Internet Chuck Missler – The Man Behind the Ministry

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12 Making A Difference Kiwis Win Media Awards 14 “First the Saturday people...”

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Unlocking yourPromises Future 15 Men Keeping Their

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16 Hateful Christianity in social media A Revolution of Authenticity 18 Flying blind

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One Step Forward Two Steps Back 19 Robin Williams death: why the world thinks Christians are insane Shine TV programme guide 20 Shine TV programme guide

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Am I Life important?

Am I Making a Difference?

22 Christian Classifieds

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21 Christian Life Classifieds

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NEXT ISSUE OUT November 2014 Booking deadline: 24th October Art deadline: 26th October Distribution: 3rd November

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Redemption

One Woman’s Rocky Road to Redemption Former P-addict, JANET BALCOMBE, realised she needed divine intervention or things just weren’t going to end well. She talks to Marie Anticich about her amazing journey from junkie to Christian.

Author Janet Balcombe describes her journey from hell to wholeness in her newly released memoir Take a Walk on the Wild Side.

The book traces her descent from alcoholism into drug addiction and adultery, and her eventual restoration as a vibrant Christian woman.

“It took me ten years to write the book and to work through and relive those issues,” says Janet, who lives with her teenage son in Ruawai, north of Auckland.

Janet has now been free from alcohol for more than 23 years and clean from drugs for more than fifteen years.

“No matter how bad things are, there’s always hope for change and restoration,” says the 47-year-old who wrote the book in obedience to God’s command to encourage others facing the hell of addiction and toxic relationships.

Her struggle began with bullying at school, and ended when she realised she was incapable of mothering her son.

“When I was in my early teens, a group of close girlfriends wrote a booklet of reasons why they hated me and put it in my bag,” she recalls. “I was too shocked and ashamed to

tell anyone.”

Janet covered the bullying with shame.

She hardened her heart and resolved to change her identity.

“I had a good childhood, growing up in a small country town in a great family, but I was a wild child at heart and there was always potential for trouble,” she admits.

The book begins when Janet was eighteen and working in Queen Street in a merchant bank, and already a binge drinker and alcoholic. Her beloved brother, Robert, was killed in a motorbike accident and as a result at 24 she gave up drinking but filled the void with cannabis.

“One day I met Mark and eventually fell in love with him,” she recounts. “Later, I discovered he was married and I was shattered – now I was a marriage breaker.”

She spent the next eleven years with Mark who was an advertising man, an outlaw, and a drug dealer, who ended up in jail for conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine.

“Cannabis opened the door to harder drugs,” says Janet, “and after two years of slamming (injecting) methamphetamine I was about as low as you’d want to go.”

Above: Janet Balcombe

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“After ten years together, Mark and I had a baby, and then we both got sick and I couldn’t cope. Then the baby and I got campylobacter and became so ill I couldn’t get up off the floor.

Skinny, and covered in needle marks, she didn’t like or even recognise herself.

“I’d lost my health and my self-confidence, and the more wasted I got the stronger the question in my heart became; ‘What’s it all about? And why am I here?’”

Cold Turkey A few years later, around 1997, Mark said, “We can’t afford to both be addicts – I’ll pay for you to stay in a hotel for a week and give up, and then you can help me give up.

“Halfway through the week I nearly stopped but Mark was buying me a new outfit every day I kept off, and this motivated me. But looking back, I’m sure it was Mum and her friend Mary’s prayers that got me through.” Her mother is a charismatic Catholic and Mary is a Pentecostal.

“I broke the P habit in a week, but the psychological unravelling took a lot longer,” Janet reflects.

Amidst their crazy lifestyle of drugs, guns and gangs, they ran their own printing and graphic design business from home. At one stage Janet was incarcerated in an Auckland prison on a raft of charges including kidnapping, guns, drugs, and counterfeiting. She was bailed out and got off all the charges, except for kidnapping, but Mark once again did ‘time’.

Rock bottom came in 2001 “After ten years together, Mark and I had a baby, and then we both got sick and I couldn’t cope. Then the baby and I got campylobacter and became so ill I couldn’t get up off the floor. I rang home and Dad said, “Pack your bag. I’ll come and get you.”

Farewelling Mark, Janet said, “I’ll see you in a couple of days when I’m better,” not knowing she would never return.

“When I got to my parent’s place I was so ill I couldn’t walk without holding onto the furniture, and looking in the bathroom mirror I saw the mask of death,” she recalls.

One night Janet had a vision involving demonic activity, with her son’s cot rising up and down, and an insight into the pointlessness of the life she was living.

4 | Christian Life Issue Seventeen October 2014

Her mother said, “God is drawing back the spiritual curtain and showing you what’s going on - you can come to the prayer meeting tonight if you want to.”

After an intense spiritual battle, Janet decided to go to the meeting. “I knew nothing about Christianity but I sensed that my life and the future of my son depended on it. And I had nothing to lose.

“At the meeting I gave my heart to Jesus, and people prayed the powers of darkness off me. That decision changed my life and gave God permission to restore my heart and show me who I really was.”

Janet had transitioned from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light but the battle wasn’t over. “The enemy of my soul was not pleased – I had served him well,” she observes.

Looking back, she is extremely grateful to her parents and sister, Sam, for standing by her.

“I couldn’t ask for better parents – they put up with a lot of stigma, and people would sometimes cross the street to avoid them. They gave me support and unconditional love, and tough love when needed.”

Last March, Janet released Take a Walk on the Wild Side both on Kindle e-book and in paperback on Amazon, followed by her first New Zealand print run in May. Where to from here? “Writing is my passion,” says Janet who is already working on her second book.

“I wouldn’t have known I was a writer if I hadn’t found God, and He’s also given me a gift for graphic design and so that’s my bread and butter at the moment.”

Where is Mark now?

“He is in Auckland, doing his best to make changes in his life. We still have a great friendship because of our 14-year-old son, Roq,” says Janet.

Does she have any regrets? “No. Everything I’ve done led me to Christ, and I’d rather have gone on that journey than led an ordinary or even successful life and not found Him at all.

“God doesn’t use ‘comfort and ease’ to develop His soldiers – He uses hard situations to strengthen us and grow our courage. When we stop being disappointed and get with the programme, we become strong. If we have a life of ease, we’re going to be weak.”

Reading Joyce Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind helped her greatly. “The book is about the renewing of the mind and getting out of wilderness thinking, the same mental strongholds that kept the children of Israel wandering through the wilderness for 40 years and dying there, instead of going through it in eleven days,” she relates.

“The change has to happen within us, and I’ve written the ten ‘wilderness mentalities’ on a board in my lounge. It’s a zero tolerance policy now.”

What has been the hardest part of the journey?

“All of it! It’s a lie to believe everything is going to be sweet when you give your life to Jesus – it’s still hard work, but you have supernatural help. Jesus told us that we would have trouble, but to fear not because He has overcome the world.

We are more than conquerors through Christ and conquering speaks not only of victory, but also of battles.

What’s it like having a reputation for wild living?

“I don’t feel like a convicted kidnapper or methamphetamine survivor,” says Janet who attends Ruawai Community Church.

“I feel like a grateful mother, daughter and sister who has been given a second chance in life – and I’m grateful for the grace and the wisdom afforded me from another realm.”

Re. bullying, Janet says bullies need to take a long hard look at themselves and ask, ‘Why am I doing this?’ and get help. The fact is, bullies have themselves been hurt, that’s why they bully. We need to challenge the culture of bullying and look at the root of the spirit behind it.

“It’s an insidious thing that steals people’s identity — but I’m living proof that a life can be restored when God is allowed to have His way,” says Janet who shares her story at churches and at other events.

“Everybody will relate to some part of the book,” she adds “whether it’s parents, siblings, or friends, watching someone self-destruct and their life becoming a slow-motion train wreck — or a parent, struggling to shake off addiction for the sake of their kids.

“It’s incredibly hard watching your ‘prodigal’ descend into the hellish world of drugs and toxic relationships, but I encourage families not to give up and to keep on being available for them and, above all, to keep on praying.”

Says Janet Balcombe, “After what I’ve been through I can identify with a lot more people and I can honour those whom society scorns — the drug addict, the prostitute, the gang member. I see them as the people God intended them to be, people who Jesus died for. To Him be the glory.” www.wildside.com.mx

You are invited to the Annual Jubilee Resources International

Summer Schools - January 2015

Liberty Down Under Main Themes:

Healing Trauma & Shame & Restoring Honour & Identity; How to Converse with God, and the Implications.

Sandra Sellmer-Kersten Prayer Minister, Elijah House

Mark & Miriam Holloway Best-Selling Author

Sandra received training in prayer ministry through Elijah House Ministries (USA) and served on staff for nine years under Dr. John and Paula Sandford as prayer minister, teacher and mentor. She has travelled extensively ministering and conducting Elijah House schools, seminars and conferences.

In 2005 Sandra had two very clear and sobering visions of waves of brown water. After the first vision she heard the words “Batten down the hatches” (which means prepare for trouble). Two weeks later Hurricane Katrina hit the south coast of America.

Devastation followed, with loss of lives and property of “historic proportions”.

The second vision came two weeks later - this wave was larger and uglier than the first. This time she heard “There is a wave of trauma coming to the world that is bigger than the tsunami, bigger than Katrina, and the Church must be prepared to help!”

Since that time, Sandra has earnestly sought the Lord for insight and understanding in how to minister to people to release them from the unresolved shock, trauma, fear, terror and shame that has settled upon them; and to prepare and equip Christians from every denomination and walk of life to be able ministers of the Gospel.

After 37 years of believing in a God who seldom speaks clearly, Mark’s life goes down the plug hole in a single day.

Worse, he discovers it’s his own doing. Terrified he screams out to God, and to his amazement God speaks back - and keeps talking. An unbelievable conversation with God begins.

As his life continues to slide into an abyss, Mark is plagued by doubt.

Would God really talk to him like this? Then he discovers his conversations with God have made him a disappointment to religious people.

Thoroughly disillusioned he decided to stop. But God keeps talking. Author of the # 1 Christian Best seller, in NZ, “The Freedom Diaries” tells how the author, Mark, discovers completely by accident how to have a back and forth conversation with God. Thousands of others hear what Mark is doing and try it themselves. Many discover that they too are having a conversation with God without having to be perfect.

Wellington:

Friday 9th & Saturday 10th Jan.

Venue: Hutt City Church, 22 Marsden Street, Lower Hutt

Christchurch:

Monday 12th & Tuesday13th Jan

Venue: Avonhead Baptist Church, 102 Avonhead Rd, Christchurch

Auckland:

Friday 16th & Saturday17th Jan.

Venue: Eastgate Christian Centre, 5 Ben Lomond Cres, Pakuranga

9:30am to 5:30pm daily

Early Bird Registration no later than Wednesday 24th December, 2014

Special Note: As we enter this Shemitah year which immediately precedes the 70th Jubilee year, it is timely for Christians to be ready to handle the traumas of the economic collapse that will shortly hit many nations, including ours. (For further information, see the book, E-book &/or DVD entitled “The Jubilee, the Shemitah & Surviving the Debt Crisis” available from Jubilee.)

Many may lose their homes, businesses and farms during this time, largely because of excessive personal and government debt.

The Jubilee The Shemitah & Surviving the Debt Crisis Selwyn Stevens Ph.D.

Stop and think about this: Will you hear God accurately at such a time? (That will be important, maybe crucial.) How would you cope if you were about to lose your home/business etc? What about those family and friends who could lose theirs? Coping with the trauma of such losses will be immense. Are you equipped to help others who suffer great loss? If your answer to such questions is anything less than a wholehearted “Yes”, then you need to come to these vital two days for effective equipping.

If not for you; for them!

Jubilee Resources International Inc.

Hosted by Jubilee Resources Intl. Inc. Freepost # 4014, PO Box 36-044, Wellington Mail Centre 5045 Phone: +64-4-939-1910

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Web: www.jubileeresources.org

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Music

THROUGH THE FIRE LIFE Worship Band leader TONY CRAWFORD tells MARIE ANTICICH the inspiring story of the life-and-death struggles band members went through before making their new album, THROUGH THE FIRE.

Coming Through the Fire Fiery trials inspired LIFE Worship band’s second album Through the Fire which was released at last month’s Sistas conference in Auckland.

Many of the songs were inspired by suffering and the album’s opening track, Dance through the Fire is about pursuing God amidst trials and hardship.

These trials included vocal arranger Rhiannon Peters losing her leg to cancer, drummer Jono Wilson and his wife Geneva being involved in a serious car accident and band leader, Tony Crawford, having four throat surgeries and losing his voice for seven and a half months, and senior pastor Paul de Jong being diagnosed with melanoma.

“Some of our core people have been through the fire,” says LIFE Worship band leader, Tony Crawford (39.) “It’s been a rugged few years and many of the songs were written as a heart-cry from the valley when you’re asking ‘Why is this happening?’ and ‘How do I find God in this?”

During the last three years Tony has had several operations on his throat as well as snapping his achilles tendon and breaking his leg in a freak touch rugby accident.

“I had vocal surgery and they botched it – put the injection in the wrong place – and I lost my voice,” says Tony, who has sung at LIFE for seventeen years and was the church’s worship leader for twelve years.

“My voice sounded like a 100-year old chain-smoker and I couldn’t sing a note,” says the father of two. “It’s tough when you feel your destiny and calling is tied to your gift. But I thought, ‘Okay God, I’m more than my gift. How can I use my life to impact others and make a difference that is worthy of your name? “ Corrective surgery only made his throat worse: “The prognosis wasn’t good – the surgeons were going to cut my throat and risk irreparable damage to my voice ... But I’ve come through, and I’m one of the main vocalists on the album!”

Tony was healed at a prayer meeting at the home of a ‘lovely, old lady’ from church. “When she prayed, the implant in my left vocal cord disappeared and my gravelly voice cleared immediately. I walked outside her house and instantly I could sing!

He was scheduled for surgery and when the surgeon took tests he said, “The implant has gone!’ “So in April this year we thought, ‘Let’s record an album.’ It was a bit of a process because Easter and LIFE conference came in the middle of recording sessions.

“We recorded a single, played at multiple Easter presentations and at LIFE conference, and then spent three weeks in the studio finishing the album. Busy, busy, busy – but it was a labour of love.”

More Fire In 2012 LIFE Worship band’s main vocal arranger, Rhi-

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Above left: Tony Crawford with his wife Elle and Noah and Isabelle Above right: Tony Crawford and his wife Elle

annon Peters lost her lower leg from cancer, but has survived amazingly.

Her sister, Geneva Wilson, is a lead singer with the band and is married to the drummer, Jono Wilson. In December 2013, Jono and Geneva had a head-on crash on Auckland’s southern motorway when a car crossed the centre line. Geneva emerged largely unharmed with minor cuts, scrapes, and a broken nose, but Jono was in a coma in intensive care for a few weeks.

His brother, David, stood by his bed thinking, ‘I could lose my brother – but I’m going to hold on to the promises of God and trust Him to bring us through.’ David, who is a vocalist and guitarist with the band, wrote the song Promises at his brother’s bedside.

“Jono is still fighting his way back to full health,” David reports. “He’s a young, super-gifted, passionate guy who loves and serves God and yet this tragic thing happened to him. In the midst of suffering I’ve had to fight the tendency to ask ‘Why’ and focus instead on ‘Who’ God is.

“In doing this I’ve found that circumstances don’t necessarily change, but I change. God promises to meet us in our pain, not on the other side of it.”

After months in hospital and rehabilitation Jono is now living at home and having speech therapy and singing lessons, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. His goal is to be back at work in a year.

Jono’s ‘muso’ friends rallied and contributed work to a fund-raising album which they dubbed Jonny Be Good.

The album debuted on the Top 20 charts and is continuing to raise money to help fund Jono’s therapy.

Just prior to his own throat surgery, Tony Crawford and his wife Elle had to watch their son Noah (7) go through open heart surgery to repair a 20 x 20mm hole in his heart. The operation was successful, and the couple also have a daughter Isabella (5.)

“I’ve been through fire but I will never give up,” says Tony. “During the Nazi threat in World War II the great British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill encouraged the British people to ‘Never give up,’ and I’ve continued to fight the good fight, run the race, and persevere when waves of doubt have come against me.

“Through this season of trial I’ve realised that pain is universal and impossible to avoid in this life. We can only control our responses and what we choose to focus on.

Staying focused in times of pain and disappointment is hard work but through worship, prayer, and relationship with the Father, we can access the riches of heaven.

“I didn’t understand what was happening but I decided to focus on God and worship Him because He’s God – not for what I could get from Him – but just because He’s good. His mercy endures forever. His love never fails.

He is with us. It’s amazing how everything swings in

behind that in due time.”

Melanoma Scare Last July LIFE founder and senior pastor, Paul de Jong had a serious cancerous melanoma removed from his neck.

His middle son, Nathan de Jong (26) who is LIFE Worship band’s music director, wrote on his blog: “Recently my hero – my Dad – was diagnosed with a serious cancerous melanoma on his neck. My first reaction was positive - I believed God would come through for him.

But after a further negative diagnosis from the doctors, I went through a tough time coming to terms with the fact that I might not have a Dad soon.

“Growing up in the church I saw many people experiencing pain and destruction in their lives and I’ve seen people go through the fire and get burnt and others come out stronger than ever,” Nathan blogged.

“During my younger years, I naively thought being part of the pastor’s family provided special covering – perhaps because I’d seen so many people go through challenges but it never seemed to happen to us.

“As a family we immediately prayed together against the negative report and for God’s sovereignty over the situation. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 If we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Praise God that Dad no longer has cancer and is now a walking testimony of God’s goodness.”

Nathan’s wife, Gabrielle is in charge of merchandising the band’s products.

Everything’s Going up in Flames “Through the Fire. Those three words are an honest account of the road we as individuals, as a family, a band, a team and as a church, have travelled these past few years,” Rhiannon Peters (31) wrote on her blog after losing her leg to cancer.

“We’ve walked, crawled and danced through the fire.

For me personally, the three years between the LIFE Worship band’s CDs For Freedom and Through the Fire have been life’s most challenging,” says the private vocal coach “In November 2012, I was blindsided by a medical diagnosis that would change my life forever – high grade, fibroblastic osteosarcoma of the right distal tibia (read: bone cancer just above my right ankle.) My ‘probably just wearing high heels too much’ sore ankle proved to be far more serious, and life, as I knew it, turned on its head.”

An unrelenting stream of hospital visits, specialist appointments, blood tests, various bone, MRI, CT scans, x-rays and chemotherapy ensued.

“And then the bomb dropped,” says Rhiannon. “On January 9, 2013, I was called to Auckland Hospital. The

results of my second MRI were not good. My surgeons sat across from me and relayed the news that the lump forming under my biopsy scar was a tumour and it could take my life.

“There was no option but to immediately amputate my leg from below the knee cap. This was an all-out ‘everything’s going up in flames’ arson attack. How do you keep the faith as a Christian, a worshipper, when fire is threatening to consume you?”

Inspiration came from Ephesians 6:12: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

“For me the first step was acknowledging I couldn’t do it alone – I needed spiritual, emotional and physical support. I felt guilty because I struggled to read my Bible and pray during that time, but I just didn’t have the energy. A pastor’s response surprised me: ‘That’s not your job right now, that’s what your church family is for. We’re standing in the gap and storming heaven on your behalf. Your job is to focus your energy on getting well.’ I cannot tell you what a relief and comfort those words were to me.”

Later Rhiannon discovered that thousands of people around the world were praying for her.

“I’ve since had the opportunity to travel and meet some of those people, and they say, ‘Oh you’re Rhiannon, the girl we’ve been praying for!’ If you’re one of those who prayed – thank you so very much!

“In addition, the practical support we had from our church was above and beyond – countless meals, cards, flowers, gifts – and meal rosters and visitor’s schedules organised so that my family could focus solely on me during my two weeks in hospital. Just thinking about what they did, brings tears to my eyes. We saw the church in action in a way we never had before. We saw the bride of Christ in all her glory and she is truly beautiful.

“I refused to own the cancer and say ‘I have cancer’ instead I’d say ‘I am diagnosed with cancer.’ Changing those two words didn’t change the diagnosis but it brought about a power shift and changed the way I saw the situation. Cancer. Amputee, I don’t relate to those words. They are events in my life, but they’re not who I am and I refuse to be defined by them. I choose to be defined by other more meaningful adjectives and by scripture.”

Rhiannon’s most impacting definition took place the day she returned to the stage.

“Two weeks post amputation, three days after I was discharged from hospital, my parents drove me from Auckland to Parachute Music Festival in Hamilton,” she reports.

“Prior to being diagnosed I’d been scheduled to sing two sets – one with my good friend Bella Kalolo and one with LIFE Worship band. It was touch and go whether I would make it but I was determined. I took to the stage on crutches, wearing one glittery five-inch high heel, bald from chemo, bloated with post-operative fluid retention, but victorious. That day I was redefined as an overcomer.

“I haven’t retreated from the stage since. That’s not to say I haven’t been scared, or had my doubts – those are natural responses to staring your mortality in the face. But God has continued to show Himself faithful. Nowadays, I don’t just sing on stage, I dance too!

“My journey hasn’t been easy, nor is it over, but I’m cancer-free and I continue to trust God with my future and work hard in the natural to keep myself healthy. I’ve learned that life offers no guarantees, and being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from pain and suffering.

“We can’t deny its existence but we have a hope in Jesus. We’re not alone. He’s right there in the furnace with us. My prayer is that the songs on this album will inspire and encourage you,” says the vocalist whose bionic robotic leg was fitted in America.

I hope the songs will remind you that the fire you find yourself in needn’t be the death of you. You’re an overcomer. You will be victorious. So hold close to Jesus and dance through the fire! We’re cheering you on.”

Millions live in poverty and under threat of war // Our local staff reaches families in Ukraine New Zealanders can sponsor Ukrainian families // Sponsorship helps get them on their feet

band profile The group of ten musicians who comprise LIFE Worship Band are all on rostered worship teams at Sunday services on LIFE’s three Auckland campuses. They meet to play together two or three times a month.

“We’re a community of creative people and our new album, Through the Fire has songs from seven different songwriters,” says Tony Crawford.

LIFE Worship Band launched their first album of original worship songs, For Freedom at a Sistas conference three years ago on Rugby World Cup Finals day. Hillsong helped them with that album but this time they’ve stepped out on their own.

“We’re expecting to tour in Australia and New Zealand in the next six months,” says Tony “but our primary commitment is to building the local church and our secondary commitment is to making albums.”

Through the Fire is available on i-Tunes and at Christian bookstores in New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore. Free chord charts and lead sheets are available online.

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Profile

CHUCK MISSLER – The Man Behind the Ministry CHUCK MISSLER talks to MARIE ANTICICH about his international Bible teaching ministry Koinonia House, now based in New Zealand, his stellar executive career and his international intelligence network.

C

huck Missler is an intellectual giant of a man who strides across fields of knowledge that encompass quantum physics, politics, astronomy, history, politics, military strategy and Bible exposition.

The distinguished author was keynote speaker at Promise Keepers men’s events in Christchurch in August, in Wellington in September and in Auckland from October 3-4.

The founder and president of Koinonia House has relocated his world headquarters to The River Lodge, an 18-bedroom retreat, event and conference centre on the banks of the Waikato River in Reporoa, near Taupo.

Chuck and his wife Nancy purchased the 40-acre property at Reporoa five years ago and relocated their international ministry there from the USA, and run weekend retreats, seminars and four-week residential immersion programmes.

“Nan coined a phrase ‘Our goal is to create the L’Abri of the South Pacific’ just as Francis and Edith Schaeffer created L’Abri homes in Europe for people wanting to find a refuge for serious study,” says Chuck.

“We’ve been on Christian radio in New Zealand for fifteen years and felt the Lord was leading us here,” says the broadcaster who is probably best-known to Kiwi Christians for his daily 66/40 radio programme on Radio Rhema.

“Nan felt it was appropriate for me to have a platform outside the USA as she realised our ministry is going to be increasingly controversial, given the nature and content of our ministry material, and so we’re beginning to understand why the Lord moved us here.”

Currently Nancy is undergoing medical treatment for melanoma in America: “We’re feeling cautiously optimistic,” Chuck reports.

The Misslers are no strangers to misfortune, having been through business failure and in 1992 a devastating earthquake which demolished their home in Big Bear, California causing them to relocate to Idaho. A few years ago their 39-year-old son died from a stroke while jogging. They have three surviving children and seven grandchildren.

Hi Tech Internet “My background in computer networks is the thing we’re exploiting most these days,” says Chuck, a former leading engineer and computer pioneer, “With the internet we can establish our headquarters anywhere in the world and New Zealand is an excellent platform to create a world headquarters. We’d be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant place – it’s an English-speaking country, people are open and friendly and it’s small enough to be independent and yet feel part of what’s going on. So we’ve fallen in love with New Zealand.”

Since arriving in NZ Chuck has founded Lyonshead Media whose editors, programmers and trained professionals, film, edit and create online and DVD material to support K-House’s online Bible school. This technical team is leading the capture, editing, production and distribution of electronic publications in MP3, MP4 and DVD formats.

Lyonshead Media also provides substantial advanced internet bandwidth to support direct video conferencing from The River Lodge to worldwide affiliates.

“We probably have the best internet service in the country,” says Chuck. “We’re our own internet service provider so we can stream focus HD definition video from Reporoa to anywhere into the world, and we have round-table video conferences where we sit around a table but in different countries.

“We also have unified Wi-Fi with unlimited data through an ultra-fast internet connection which two Kiwi ministries helped us set up – one paid for the connection and the other made the installation, and so God has been with us each step of the way.

His dream is to be able to work from Reporoa without travelling: “I estimate I’m probably a year away from that,” says Chuck who has been spending time with Nancy in the USA and preparing for K-House’s ‘Strategic Perspectives’ conference in late October at its former headquarters in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.

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8 | Christian Life Issue Seventeen October 2014

An Eclectic Genius Koinonia House managing director, Ron Matsen describes Chuck as ‘an eclectic genius whose fascination for the Bible is a lifelong pursuit.’ An American, Ron directs both K-House (the publishing arm) Koinonia Institute (the online school) and all operations New Zealand.

“Chuck is in the unique position of having had a career in the American military and vast experience in the high-tech corporate sector, along with extensive Bible knowledge. As a result he can speak confidently on topics ranging from science to

theology, politics, creation, Israel, end times, and strategic current events,” says Ron Matsen.

“We describe his ministry as ‘an international intelligence network’ because it’s an organic world-wide synchronicity of people, connections, and ideas – the Lord leads us to meet all sorts of people and to come across information in all sorts of places.

“For example, we recently talked to Bob Cornuke and his chief archaeologist Eli Shukron in Israel about exciting new discoveries in their exploration on the Temple Mount. (Cornuke has just published a book on the Temple Mount.) While there Chuck and I found a stele which may have been erected by Melchizedek himself! A stele is a free-standing slab set up in for votive purposes or as a memorial to some person or event.

“So all of this makes for some interesting sessions at Koinonia House because there aren’t many places in the world where you can discuss evolution versus creation end-times prophecy, Bible exposition, astronomy, history, politics and military strategy, all within an open ministry,” Ron points out.

“The beauty of K-House is that it’s non-denominational but fundamental. Lots of interesting people are connected with our ministry because we’re not a denominational Bible College teaching a particular doctrine, but we do teach essentials like the deity of Christ and His complete atonement. We teach expositionally from Genesis to Revelation, verse and chapter within its context – it’s a hermeneutical way of interpreting the Bible because God works through God’s word.”

Stellar Career

Chuck Missler was raised in Southern California by German immigrant parents, committed his life to Jesus Christ at an early age and was confirmed in a Lutheran Church. He received a Congressional appointment to the prestigious United States Naval Academy and during that time met his wife Nancy.

He gained a Masters Degree in engineering at UCLA with additional post-graduate studies in applied mathematics, advanced statistics and information sciences, and in 1999 earned a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University.

Chuck’s civilian career began as a systems engineer followed by a senior analyst position in the Rand Corporation, a think-tank serving the intelligence community and Defence Department.

By his early thirties, he was director of computer systems for the entire Ford Motor Company and put in place the first international, industrial computer network.

Leaving Ford he started his own computer networking company which was later acquired by Automatic Data Processing (NYSE) Subsequently he served as a consultant to the board of Rockwell International for corporate acquisitions such as Collins Radio and American Data Systems and has participated in more than 100 business ventures as a principal, strategic advisor or turn-around specialist.

Over the past 30 years, Chuck has served on the board of more than a dozen public companies, and was chairman and CEO of six. As a result of a merger he became chairman and major shareholder of a publicly owned development company, Phoenix Group International whose

main thrust was to establish an international joint business venture with the USSR to provide personal computers to their 143,000 public schools.

When the USSR’s political power regime split up, this venture unravelled and failed. He started a computer time-share company which he sold and subsequently became CEO of Western Digital, the company which produces most of the world’s computer hard drives. “I was hired as top gun to repair high technology for companies like Chase Manhattan Bank and most conspicuously for Western Digital which was in bankruptcy and I brought it back into health. So I made my living for 30 years in repairing high technology companies,” he recounts.

For twenty years Chuck balanced his corporate career with teaching a weekly Bible study at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, Southern California under Pastor Chuck Smith, and more than six million of his teaching tapes were distributed worldwide.

“Bible study was my primary personal hobby and my friend, author Hal Lindsey, talked me into making my hobby my full-time profession,” relates Chuck who decided to become a full-time Bible teacher.

“Today I’m still well-known from my old days in the management world but my ordinary role in these last decades has been writing, speaking and publishing. So I’m in a total second career and I’ve had roughly 30 years in professional Christianity in the worldwide community.

“I’m doing what I love best, studying the Bible and archaeology –there are so many exciting discoveries going on around us in science, technology, archaeology,

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Profile

Studies carry academic credits for recognition by other Christian universities, and over the last seven years we’ve awarded five or six PhDs.

and the understanding of the Bible which is changing people’s understanding of things in a fundamental way,” Chuck enthuses. “I can’t think of a more exciting thing to do because it’s fun.”

College Without Borders Chuck Missler formed Koinonia House to encourage people to seriously study the Bible.

(Koinonia is a Greek word meaning ‘communication, fellowship or communion.’)

K-House produces and publishes resources for pastors, leaders and students, including topical studies and verse-by-verse Bible commentaries in DVD, audio CD, video and audio download formats with notes and printed and electronic books.

In 2005, he set up the Koinonia Institute (KI) to focus on Bible study and to provide on-line internet courses.

“We describe KI as a ‘ministry without borders’ and a Christian think-tank,” says its director Ron Matsen. “It’s an integrated programme which you can study at your own pace over a lifetime and we encourage people to think outside the box and to not be afraid to address difficult issues.

“A denominational Bible school may have an underpinning set of doctrines they wish to emphasise but we

encourage people to identify and defend their absolutes by exploring reasonable opinions and views. I think that’s unique in the Christian teaching world,” Ron asserts.

Thousands of Asians, including Chinese and the Filipinos, are studying online and 500 Asian pastors recently gained KI’s Bronze Medallion. “Most of these were existing pastors who were anxious to increase their understanding of Scripture,” Ron observes. “Studies carry academic credits for recognition by other Christian universities, and over the last seven years we’ve awarded five or six PhDs.” Three different countries have asked to integrate KI’s educational material into their school curriculums.

The Koinonia Institute has three study tracks: • The Berean Track is a classic expositional study of the 66 books of the Bible named after the Bereans of Acts 17:11.

• The Issachar Track looks at current events and is named after the tribe of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32 who were ‘men who understood the times and knew what to do.’

service in the body of Christ. Students set up practical elements and submit a practicum to gain a sense of direction and accountability.

‘Learn the Bible in 24 Hours’ comprises 24 one-hour sessions with power-point graphics and computer-aided diagrams, and is recommended for home-schoolers and home group studies.

‘Old and New Testament Survey’ is a 24-week course which gives students a comprehensive study of the entire Bible.

K-H has established the leading Christian internet presence through its website and has co-developed the Blue Letter Bible, a free comprehensive study resource featuring an entire hyper-text Bible with Hebrew and Greek Hyper-texted.

From their NZ headquarters, the Misslers continue to reach tens of thousands through their monthly newsletter, Personal Update which highlights the Biblical relevance of current events, in print and digital editions. K-House also produces a weekly online eNews for 100,000 plus subscribers worldwide.

• The Kronos Track helps people find their calling and

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Local news

Above left: Spontaneous joy at Auckland’s Pasifika Festival; Above right: Julie Belding and Errol Pike

Kiwis Win Media Awards “Colourful Pasifika Festival hits high note” was the headline above a silver award-winning photo at the annual conference of the Australasian Religious Press Association, held last month in Canberra.

The original photo, taken by photo-journalist Hilaire Campbell was published last year in Touchstone magazine, a monthly Methodist newspaper.

“It’s a spontaneous shot that conveys a lot of joy,” says Touchstone editor, Paul Titus, of Christchurch.

The ARPA conference attracted some 50 participants from around Australasia. Other Kiwi winners included the NZ Catholic (edited by Peter Grace of Auckland) which received a gold award for a review written by Bryant Myers.

Tui Motu Inter Islands, an independent month-

ly Catholic magazine (edited by Fr Kevin Toomey of Dunedin) was awarded ‘Publication of the Year.’

ARPA president, Peter Bentley, of Sydney said Tui Motu was “editorially excellent and topically relevant, with engaging writing and judicious use of imagery. It is a publication that draws you in.”

The TSCF magazine Canvas (edited by Maryanne Wardlaw of Auckland) won a bronze award for the best-designed magazine, and the Presbyterian magazine SPANZ (edited by Angela Singer of Wellington) won a bronze for a story by Christine Gounder which was judged the best feature by a single author.

LIFT magazine, edited by Julie Belding, won an award for Best Column, a feature written by Sam Burrows.

Study the

The Australasian Religious Press Association was founded 40 years ago as an ecumenical Christian communications network for Christian publications on both sides of the Tasman, and holds annual awards designed to encourage excellence in religious publishing. ARPA has chapters in six Australian States and Julie Belding, of Auckland, is New Zealand co-ordinator and vice-president.

The eight Kiwi delegates were Bernard Carney and Joanne Oliver from Wellington’s Marist Messenger, associate members Janette Busch (Christchurch), Stephen Brooker (Auckland) and Mary Houston, Errol Pike, Julia Stuart and Sarah Tengvall (Bible Society), all from Wellington

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UNLOCKING YOUR FUTURE MIKE FROST has some great words of wisdom about the importance and influence of Christian education...

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12 | Christian Life Issue Seventeen October 2014

s you consider the variety of college choices available to you, your responses to the questions posed in this article will shape one of the most important decisions of your life.

When it comes to considering whether to study at a Christian college or secular university or college, the most important question to answer first is, why do I want to study in the first place? Leonardo Da Vinci was noted for saying, “Study without desire spoils the memory and it retains nothing that it takes in.”

He’s right. Never study ‘without desire.’ It’s a waste of your time and energy. If you have a clearer idea of what you want to achieve with your life and where you think you’re headed, it will make it easier to choose the most appropriate college, whether Christian or secular. Both options have their pluses, but there are a number of very good reasons to consider enrolling at a Christian college: To develop a Christian worldview Secular universities and colleges will offer fully accredited degrees and diplomas in a wide variety of disciplines, but what they don’t offer is a way for you to think about your life and your career from a distinctly Christian perspective. If you want your faith to be discussed as part of class subject matter choose a Christian college where you can explore a Christian framework for your studies. This is about the development of a distinctly Christian worldview that allows you to examine science, art, business, education, medicine and other related issues through that lens. Only a Christian college can assist you to see course subjects via the lens of your religious beliefs.

If you completed your studies with only a set of new skills but with no ability to think ‘Christianly’ about your world it would be a real shame. Find a college that helps you to do both.

For the nurturing lifestyle and culture If you are a committed Christian, you might prefer a college that affirms your faith and creates a learning environment that supports your beliefs and lifestyle. Many Christian colleges have chapel services, chaplains, Bible studies and a number of other extra-curricula options to encourage your faith. Also, most secular institutions encourage a wide variety of lifestyle options, which can be a distraction to both your faith and your ability to focus on your studies. Or you might just feel more comfortable

Study

Whatever your motivation, you must make sure that the Christian college you’re exploring is fully accredited and academically respected. Choose diplomas or degrees that can lead into further study, even if you doubt that you’d ever complete more study. in a more conservative environment than is commonly available at many secular universities and colleges. So if you would prefer to attend a college where your faith is a part of the lifestyle and culture of campus life, definitely choose a Christian college.

Furthermore, in a Christian college you’ll meet faculty and fellow students who are examples of godly living and academic excellence. It was once said, “To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.” In any decent college you’ll acquire knowledge, but in a Christian college you’ll also get to observe the lives of mature followers of Jesus.

To prepare for ministry If you feel that your chosen career is more than just a job and that you’d like to see your future employment as an avenue for ministry then a Christian college will certainly help. Furthermore, if you sense a calling into ordained ministry as a pastor or church leader, you will need to attend a Christian theological or Bible college. A number of these colleges are linked to certain denominations, so you’re best advised to speak to your local church about which college will prepare you best for your chosen denomination. If your calling is to overseas mission, the

agency you prefer will be able to recommend colleges for missionary preparation. But remember also, that some theological colleges have links with secular universities that allow you to do double degrees and get the best of both worlds.

Here’s a word of warning about studying at a Bible college. Some churches have started their own ‘colleges’ and these are great for preparing people for service in that church, but often the education they offer isn’t well regarded in other churches or denominations. You are better off attaining a degree or diploma that can be transferred across a variety of church contexts. This will keep your options open should you want to minister beyond your church some time in the future.

Whatever your motivation, you must make sure that the Christian college you’re exploring is fully accredited and academically respected. Choose diplomas or degrees that can lead into further study, even if you doubt that you’d ever complete more study. If the award you’re gaining ‘articulates’ into further study (that’s the technical term), then the chances are that it’s a well regarded, accredited course. ‘Mickey mouse awards’ don’t lead into anything else. They’re academic deadends and you’re better off avoiding them.

Tertiary study is expensive and time consuming, so you don’t want to graduate with a diploma that doesn’t get you into the kind of professional work you want to do.

And also be aware that when it does come time to find a job, if your college is known for being ultra conservative, some employers may be a bit squeamish about offering you a job. Remember that study in a Christian college can offer you a variety of things – a religious worldview, lifelong Christian friends, an environment that nurtures your faith – but if it doesn’t open employment or ministry options for you it may not be worth the time and financial expense.

Study is not a chore or a form of torture. If approached properly it can be the source of great personal growth and spiritual development. Any award you complete ought to better equip you in the service of God and others. Never lose sight of Albert Einstein’s wisdom about academic study, “Never regard study as a duty, but as the enviable opportunity to learn to know the liberating influence of beauty in the realm of the spirit for your own personal joy and to the profit of the community to which you belong.”

Mike Frost

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Authenticity

The art of being yourself What is authenticity? How can we live authentically? What expectations do we live under? ROMA WATERMAN shares her heart on the subject...

Always trying hard to be somebody I forgot how to play myself I got lost in the constellation of stars and time and everything else Breathe on me, I need the fragrance of peace Awaken my soul, Pick the fear off my bones I need your love on my skin I need your saving grace To rain down on me again Need your love on my skin To wash over me with life Until I am free to live I need to be more than I can give I need to be something more within So put your love on my skin I could be another carbon copy 2nd print but not out of line Always writing someone else’s story

14 | Christian Life Issue Seventeen October 2014

and never finding the epic in mine From the song ‘Love on my skin’ – Roma Waterman From the Album “No Ordinary Life”.

I wrote those lyrics nearly ten years ago now (where has the time gone?) Little did I know I would still be living it out, and probably will be for the rest of my life.

In my 40’s I’m still just learning to be me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I haven’t been myself for the past 40 years, but there is a constant unravelling of who I am in Christ Jesus and how that fits in the body of Christ.

It’s not always easy. It means saying ‘no’when I would have previously said ‘yes’. It means saying ‘yes’ when in the past I might have said ‘no way!’ It means understanding times and seasons and how I fit into that, as a mother and someone in ministry that changes as the kids grow, and our marriage and ministry grows.

I haven’t learn’t all I will need to learn, but there have

been some life keys I have rested upon in the last few years that have been transformational to me. And they rest on this simple truth – just be yourself.

If you are anything like me, maybe you have been somebody else for so long you don’t even know who you are. In my early years as a new songwriter and touring artist, I was constantly trying to adapt to the landscape of the music industry. I was doing a lot of things to please other people.

At the end of that season in my life, I was grateful for skills I had learned and friendships and connections I had made but I really didn’t know who I was aside from all of that. Thus began the journey of finding what kind of child I was when I threw off the blankets of expectation to step into the dawn of a new season.

I want to share with you some of the things I am learning in how to step into a revolution of authenticity. I hope it brings freedom to you like it has to me.

We don’t know who we are when we are not doing what we love.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE I love this quote by Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

If you do what you love, you will thrive.

If you do what you love you will not only start something, but you will sustain it.

If you are not being authentic to your true passions, you will slowly shrivel up and become a shell.

I don’t know where we got the idea that doing what we love was selfish. The world needs your passion. You are not going to have passion if you hate your life or hate yourself. I have found when I do what was born for, I come alive. I have more energy. I’m vibrant. I shine Jesus.

I understand that we all have to pay the bills and sometimes that means being in jobs we maybe don’t love.

If you truly can’t change your job for various reasons (I’ve been there...I get it), what can you do that will revitalise you?

Maybe its a daily walk, reading a book, a latte at your favourite cafe. Or it’s starting a course, time to write a song, a regular prayer time.

For others, its that novel you always dreamed of writing, a house to renovate, spending quality time with your kids, or baking. It doesn’t have to take up a lot of time, even 5-10 minutes a day doing what you love can be the shift you need to release the real you on the inside.

This may seem so indulgent, and I certainly felt like that when I started making more time to do what I loved.

But it’s not indulgent because you will have more of yourself to pour out on others.

We don’t know who we are when we are not doing what we love.

And if we don’t know who we are, we don’t know what we can release.

Doing what you love will bring it’s challenges. Some of you may be questioning some of the things you have said yes to – because it’s crammed so much in to your life you don’t even know who you are anymore. This is not just true for our jobs, but even church roles. Don’t say yes for the sake of it. For example, I would rather a children’s pastor who absolutely loves being a children’s

pastor, rather than someone who is just filling the role because there’s nobody else to do it. Passionate people release passion in others, and I want that kind of influence over my kids. What are you doing that’s not releasing passion over others, just because it’s a role that needs to be filled?

Making time for what fuels you is a big step in discovering your identity.

ACCEPT WHO YOU ARE ON THE WAY TO WHERE YOU ARE GOING One way to be completely miserable is to constantly be yearning for the destination that we just hate the journey.

We are always waiting for ‘it’. We are single and waiting to get married. We are married waiting to have kids. We have a job but dream of another job that’s better.

This is actually really prevalent in creative industries – you are always waiting for the ‘big break’, the hit song, the recognition, that we just don’t celebrate the little things like writing songs, the ability to perform them live, or growing into an incredible artist in spite, and maybe because of the bumps in the road.

Maybe you wish you were 10, 20, 30 kilos lighter.

Or not so shy. Or a better parent. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve, but let’s not hate ourselves in the process of change.

Learn to love who you are now, and who you are called to be will rise to the surface. You may even find out some things about yourself that will surprise you!

A pastor friend of mine forced me for a week to look in the mirror and tell myself what an amazing person I was inside and out. Oh that was so hard! It was just plain embarrassing. But it made me realise I didn’t like who I was, I was always waiting to be someone amazing.

It’s such a lie that you have to be more than who you currently are. You can yearn to be more and still love who you are in the moment you are in. The real you will shine when you accept yourself warts and all!

ACCEPT YOU WILL CHANGE OVER TIME This has been a big lesson for me. The things I loved in my twenties, don’t fuel me now I’m in my 40’s. I also thought if God called me to something way back then

that I needed to love it for the rest of my life.

For example, my 20’s were all about recording albums, having radio singles touring and doing shows. I really loved that time, but as I got older, I really loved the other elements of being a singer/songwriter – I love sitting at my piano and writing songs. I could actually do that for hours. I love writing books and training others. I love speaking.

I don’t like the touring and the shows so much, but I love to lead worship and lead others into worship.

I felt because I was not enjoying what I used to enjoy that maybe it was time to retire. I was so bored and really didn’t have the passion that I once had. This concerned me and I kept trying to fit the mould of the Christian touring artist.

So much so that I began to hate it.

It wasn’t until some trusted friends pointed out to me that I was actually morphing and growing into the calling God had for me all along! Once I accepted that it’s ok to change, I began to thrive again. I became authentic in my leading and songwriting.

Accepting change is hard, because it’s actually a lot of work. Sometimes it requires a re- invention. Doing the same thing for a long time is boring, but it’s actually easier than change, so we just keep doing things that don’t inspire us. We lose ourselves. We forget who we are when we do this.

Look at your life today and ask these three questions: 1. What is it that you love?

2. Look in the mirror and tell yourself what you like about yourself now! (DO IT!) 3. Are there new passions emerging in your life, that need to replace old and tired ones?

I hope I can inspire you today to start this revolution of authenticity and become all God has created us to be!

Roma Waterman is an award singer/songwriter and author. She is also the director of Sounds of the nations Oceania – a missional organisation that seeks to empower artistic people to release authentic expressions of worship that transforms nations. www.sotnoceania.com, www.romawaterman.com

www.mychristiandaily.com | 15

Faith

ONE step forward TWO steps back Have you ever felt as though it’s a case of one step forward, two steps back? You’re trying hard, but not only are you going nowhere, you seem to be going backwards.

Just brilliant! Well, when you’re in that place, here are 5 things to remember, to get you heading back in the right direction again.

But just before I give you those 5 things, let me share with you what prompted this article.

Just over a year ago, amid much fanfare, we launched the completely refreshed, redeveloped christianityworks. com website. And it’s been a rip-roaring success. Almost 20,000 booklets downloaded. Hundreds of thousands of visitors. Hundreds of Gigabytes of audio streamed. Truly amazing!

Well done to our developers Brown Box. And thank you to the supporters that made it all possible.

But about a month ago, things started to go off the rails. Despite the very significant investment, the great success and all the hard work of an amazing team (not to mention, just quietly, the hand and the blessing of God on the whole venture) a bunch of things hit us at once.

Denial of service attacks. Underlying server software crashing. Communications bandwidth problems slowing the site (despite the fact that we were with one of the best ISPs on the planet). And then, finally, hardware problems with our servers (again at the ISP’s end).

Over and over and over again, like waves crashing on the shore. Blimey!! What in the blazes was going on?

An amazing step forward (new website) and quite a few steps back (with these repeated attacks).

You have to ask yourself, Why did God allow this to happen, since the whole site is there for His glory?

We’ve all no doubt found ourselves in that position, asking exactly the same question.

As I prayed and reflected on the whole fiasco, here are the five lessons that I learned and relearned, in getting the whole thing moving back in the right direction:

16 | Christian Life Issue Seventeen October 2014

1

. Christians Aren’t Exempt from “Stuff” The easiest thing to do is to blame God, isn’t it?!

Especially when it’s in the midst of serving Him that things go awry. After all, He could get us out of this pickle without batting an eyelid. But that’s not how He works.

The good, the bad and the ugly is spread around good people and bad people, pretty evenly according to Jesus.

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44,45) The point of believing in Jesus isn’t to get a free ride through some of these difficult times, but rather to learn to behave like Him, when the going is tough.

So the thing I try to remember when “stuff” hits the fan, is that right here, is a chance for me to become more Christ-like in how I think, how I believe, how I speak, and how I behave.

Adversity, as things turn out, is our God-given opportunity to become more like Jesus!

2

. The More You Serve God, the More the Enemy is on Your Case Let’s take that thought just one step further. Not only doesn’t being a Jesus follower give us a free ride through adversity, but it actually attracts more adversity. CS Lewis in his amazing book The Screwtape Letters makes the point that the devil is quite happy with pew-sitting Christians whose lives don’t weigh in and count for Jesus. But the moment you step onto the battlefield, is the moment that the devil gets you in his sights. And the more impact you have for Christ, the more attacks you should expect from the enemy.

Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you

know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. (1 Peter 5:8,9) Spiritual attacks and physical and emotional adversity are often a sign that you’re doing the right things.

3

. Despite Stuff Happening, God Hasn’t Fallen Off His Perch In the very next verse after that one, Peter makes it clear that God hasn’t lost control, He hasn’t lost His grip on things, and He hasn’t forgotten you. Remember, the letter of 1st Peter was being written to whom? Persecuted Christians: And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

(1 Peter 5:10,11) Write there in that passage is a certain hope, based on the promise of God that He will not leave you alone. In fact, when you have suffered for a little while, He will restore, support, strengthen and establish you!

Hallelujaaaaah! My King reigns! My King is going to set things right and strengthen me and reward me.

4

. Focus on the End Game One of the ten principles of war (something I learned when training to be an Army Officer) is this: Selection and maintenance of the aim.

When bullets and bombs are flying, when people are dropping like flies around you, the most important thing as a leader is to stay focused on your original objective, because if you lose sight of that, you will definitely lose your way. For me, it’s like a picture in my head, that guides everything I do, and our team does, to get to where we’re meant to be going.

The Apostle Paul was a great one for this. For him, it was about running the race with the intention of winning.

The winner, isn’t just the best runner, or the best boxer. The winner is the one who, through the pain, stays focused on the end-game; the objective.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Cor 9:24-27) I often imagine what must be going through the minds of marathon runners as they hit the wall, or boxers suffering blow after blow, who want to win.

The winner, isn’t just the best runner, or the best boxer. The winner is the one who, through the pain, stays focused on the end-game; the objective.

5

. When Times are Tough, Surround Yourself with the Best People It’s always important to surround yourself with good people to achieve something for God. But never more so than during adversity. One of the things I thank God for, is that we selected a bunch of Christians (Brown Box) to build and support our websites. For them, it was more than just helping a client with a problem. For them, as it was for me, it was personal. They did everything they could to get us to where we needed to be.

And that’s as it should be. That’s exactly how God’s

Word says we should operate. Together, as one, to get to where He wants us to go.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) Because of their dedication and innovation, not only were the problems addressed, but we’ve ended up with a much faster and more robust website than we had before the troubles began.

Berni Dymet is the ceo + Bible teacher of the global media ministry Christianityworks. Each week his radio messages are heard by tens of millions of listeners in over 160 countries around the world.

Visit christianityworks.com to request your free copy of his latest booklet and listen to his messages.

Churches invited to participate in New Zealand’s first ever, ‘Orphan Weekend’ on 1-2 November

THINKING ABOUT YOUR 2015 STUDY OPTIONS? Don’t just read about Laidlaw College, come and experience it for yourself!

OPEN NIGHTS Orphan Advocates are urgently needed.

We’ve been given a mandate to love and care for the orphan.

‘Orphan Weekend’ is an initiative of NZ’s Orphans Aid International, and they invite Churches, small-groups, families and individuals to think about, pray for, and do something practical to remember the orphaned child.

“This is our first ever ‘Orphan Weekend’ here in New Zealand. It’s a call to action and a call to bring urgent change. We invite you to remember the orphan this ‘Orphan Weekend’. Please join us.” says Sue van Schreven, Founder of Orphans Aid International.

Free ‘Orphan Weekend’ resource packs are available, which include a DVD and event ideas to plan and host your local ‘Orphan Weekend’. Packs are limited, so be in quick.

Please order your pack by e-mailing office@orphansaidinternational.org, or free phone 0800 ORPHAN (0800 677 426).

For more information visit www.orphanweekend.org.nz

7 October, 6-7pm | Henderson Campus 15 October, 6-7pm | Manukau Learning Support Centre

ENQUIRE TODAY

BECOME A STUDENT FOR A DAY Sit in on a lecture, chat to staff and students and find out first hand if Laidlaw is the College for you.

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www.laidlaw.ac.nz | info@laidlaw.ac.nz | 0800 999 777

www.mychristiandaily.com | 17

Programme Guide 13th Oct - 9th Nov 2014 SUNDAY 6:00

MONDAY Life Questions

TUESDAY

P

7:00

Go Frills

C

Scaly Adventures

C

7:30

3-2-1 Penguins!

C

Veggie Tales

C

6:30

Unlocking the Bible P

D

Unlocking the Bible

P

Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV

P

Leading the Way

Leading the Way

P

Answers with Bayless Conley

P

Derek Prince

P

Quick Study

P

Go Frills

C 6:30

Go Frills

C

Veggie Tales

C

3-2-1 Penguins! / C Superbook (30 Oct)

Fifty the Tractor

C

Veggie Tales

C 7:00

3-2-1 Penguins! / C Superbook (28 Oct)

Fifty the Tractor

C

Scaly Adventures C

Go Frills

C

Fifty the Tractor

C 7:30

Scaly Adventures C

Go Frills

C

Veggie Tales

C

LIFE TV: Paul de Jong

P

Running With Fire

P

Fifty the Tractor

C

8:30

Connection Point

P

Impact for Life

P

Word For You

P

P

Living Truth: Charles Price

P

9:30

SATURDAY

Quick Study

Scaly Adventures C

In Touch: Charles Stanley

FRIDAY

P

8:00

9:00

THURSDAY

Roots and Reflections

P

Living Truth: Charles Price

WEDNESDAY

Turning Point: P Dr David Jeremiah

All Over the World D Life Questions

P

Connection Point

P

Hour of Power

P

Life Questions

D

Beyond Adventure

D

Conversations in the Holy Land

D

Leading the Way

D

Give Me An Answer

D

Off the Streets

D

10:30

Word For You

P

Life Questions

P

Understanding Love

P

Answers with Bayless Conley

P

Your Best Life

P

Roots and Reflections

D

11:00

Songs of Praise

M

Roots and Reflections

D

Beauty and the Beast

D

Blessing, Curse or Coincidence

D

Joni and Friends

D

Not a Fan

D

The Exchange

D

Not a Fan

D

Christian World News

N

Building a Difference

Impact for Life

P

Word For You

P

LIFE TV: Paul de Jong

P

Running With Fire

Quick Study

D

Noon

12:30

See adjacent for detail.

The 700 Club (Mon - Fri)

1:30 2:00

Conversations in the Holy Land

D

Precious Memories

M

2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30

Hour of Power

In Touch: Charles Stanley

5:00

6:00

P

P

Living Truth: Charles Price

P

Running with Fire

P

5:30

Connection Point

Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer (Mon - Fri)

FEATURES

1:00

D Facing the Canon D P

Off the Streets

D

Give Me An Answer

D

Roots and Reflections Go Frills

All Over the World D Facing the Canon D / Building a Difference (21 Oct)

Give Me An Answer

D

Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV

Not a Fan

D

Understanding Love

D

Building a Difference

The Relate Show

D 1:30

Not a Fan

D 2:00

M

D

The Exchange

D

C

Veggie Tales

C

3-2-1 Penguins! / C Superbook (29 Oct)

Fifty the Tractor

C

Scaly Adventures

C

Off the Streets

D 3:00

Fifty the Tractor

C

Scaly Adventures C

Go Frills

C

Veggie Tales

C

Building a Difference

D 3:30

Go Frills

C

Fifty the Tractor

C

Life fm Presents

Y

Scaly Adventures

C

The DRIVE tv

Y

Ultimate Choice

Y

The Exchange

D

Little Film, Big Heart

Life Questions

P

Understanding Love

Lakewood Church: Joel Osteen

P

Veggie Tales

C

Ultimate Choice

Y

The DRIVE tv

Y

D

Beyond Adventure

D

Answers with Bayless Conley

3-2-1 Penguins! / C Superbook (30 Oct)

All Over the World D / True Beauty (24 Oct)

D Facing the Canon D 2:30

Life fm Presents

Y

Life fm Presents

Y

D

Building a Difference

D

Joni and Friends

D

P

Your Best Life: Phil Pringle

P

Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV

P

7:30

Songs of Praise

M

Building a Difference

D

Not a Fan

D Precious Memories M

Off the Streets

Christian World News

FEATURES

D

N

Facing the Canon D

See adjacent for detail.

9:30

10:30

P

Joni and Friends Building a Difference Lakewood Church: Joel Osteen

D D

P

Give Me an Answer

D

Building a Difference

D

All Over the World D / True Beauty (23 Oct)

D

Christian World News

N

Off the Streets

D

Word For You

P

LIFE TV: Paul de Jong

P

Running With Fire

Roots and Reflections

D

Leading the Way

P

Answers with Bayless Conley

P

Conversations in the Holy Land

D

The Exchange

D

Off the Streets

D

Joni and Friends

D

Midnight

Hour of Power

P

Give Me An Answer

D

Challenging Lifestyle

D

Building a Difference

D

P Preaching C Children M Music

D

Joni and Friends

11:30

KEY

The Relate Show

The 700 Club (Mon - Fri)

11:00

11:30

Precious Memories

3-2-1 Penguins! / C Superbook (27 Oct)

Impact for Life

11:00 E

P

N

FEATURES

American Bible Challenge

D 1:00

The 700 Club (Mon - Fri)

See adjacent for detail.

10:30

Beyond Adventure

D

10:00

Y 10:00

N

Blessing, Curse or Coincidence

9:00

Life fm Presents

D 12:30

7:00

P

9:30

Joni and Friends

P

Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah

9:00

P

Destined to Reign with Joseph Prince (Mon - Fri)

8:30

Y

D Noon

D

M

Ultimate Choice

The Exchange

Conversations in the Holy Land

Precious Memories

3-2-1 Penguins! / C 8:30 Superbook (1 Nov)

P

6:30

8:00

6:00

3-2-1 Penguins! / C Scaly Adventures C 8:00 Superbook (31 Oct)

10:00

11:30

P

D Doco/Drama

18 | Christian Life Issue Seventeen October 2014

N News

D 4:30

The Relate Show

D 5:00

Give Me An Answer

D 5:30

American Bible Challenge Beyond Adventure

6:00 E 6:30 D 7:00 7:30

E 8:00

FEATURES

See adjacent for detail.

8:30 9:00

FEATURES

D 9:30

P

Joni and Friends

D 10:00

N

Off the Streets

D 10:30

Give Me An Answer

D 11:00

E

Little Film, Big Heart

D

Y Youth

Joni and Friends

Building a Difference

The Mark Gungor Show

E Entertainment

American Bible Challenge

All Over the World D 4:00 / True Beauty (25 Oct)

See adjacent for detail.

Little Film, Big Heart

D

Facing the Canon D Beyond Adventure

D

All Over the World D 11:30 / True Beauty (25 Oct) Blessing, Curse or Coincidence

Details correct at time of printing

• Programme change from date shown

D

Midnight

Shine TV FEATURES 13th Oct - 9th Nov 2014

In Search of Canada

Coyote Summer

(running time: 45 min)

(running time: 90 min)

Discover significant ‘signposts’ in Canada’s vibrant history. Uncover the deep Christian roots from which its values and symbols have sprung, from pre-colonisation to the present.

Mon 13 Oct @ 8.30pm Fri 17 Oct @ 9.30pm Notorious to Glorious (running time: 45 min)

If anyone was beyond rehabilitation, it was career criminal Michael Bull Roberts. A look at the beauty and challenge of re-building a life from the ashes of hatred and violence.

Mon 13 Oct @ 9.15pm Fri 17 Oct @ 10.15pm The Heavens Declare (running time: 60 min)

Explore the signs in the universe that point to pre-thought order, sequence and design.

Featuring physics professor Dr John Hartnett.

Fri 17 Oct @ 8.30pm (Part 1) Fri 24 Oct @ 8.30pm (Part 2) Abel’s Field

A misguided teenager is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle on their horse ranch, where she must struggle to save a thoroughbred racehorse.

Fri 31 Oct @ 8.30pm Someone Somewhere Loves Me (running time: 60 min)

In response to the overwhelming need, Sue van Schreven, a Queenstown mother of two, established an orphanage in central Romania taking in unwanted or abandoned youngsters.

Fri 31 Oct @ 10pm iHeart Revolution (running time: 120 min)

Set against the backdrop of a Hillsong United tour, Joel Houston and the rest of the band reflect on issues of social justice and the task of embodying the Good News to the world.

Sat 1 Nov @ 7.30pm Sun 2 Nov @ 12pm & 9.30pm Love Begins (running time: 90 min)

(running the time: 120 min)

Ellen nurses the new farmhand back to health after he suffers a traumatic head injury. When her former fiance returns home to win Ellen back, will the farmhand travel on, or stay behind where love begins?

Mon 3 Nov @ 8.30pm

A Mile in His Shoes

(running time: 120 min)

While an entire Texas town cheers on their high school football team, a pair of unlikely friends come together to discover hope on the sidelines. Starring Kevin Sorbo.

Sat 18 Oct @ 7.30pm Sun 19 Oct @ 12pm & 9.30pm

(running time: 90 min)

Mickey Tussler, an autistic pitcher, joins a minor-league baseball team and has a profound effect on the team and manager.

An inspiring story about a special boy with an amazing gift and the coach who believed.

Mon 20 Oct @ 8.30pm Fri 24 Oct @ 9.30pm Pendragon: Sword of His Father (running time: 120 min)

Young Artos falls into slavery after his village is razed by barbarians. He struggles with his faith as he rises through the ranks of the military and must choose between God’s plan or his own.

Sat 25 Oct @ 7.30pm Sun 26 Oct @ 12pm & 9.30pm KJB: The Book that Changed the World (running time: 90 min)

Acclaimed actor John Rhys-Davies leads us back into a darker time of saints and sinners, power and passion. The greatest translation of the Bible emerged into a world and culture that would never be quite the same again.

Mon 27 Oct @ 8.30pm

Inside Bob Dylan’s Jesus Years Bob Dylan’s “Jesus Years” are regarded as among the best of his career. An insider’s view into Bob Dylan’s transformation and its effect on his life and music.

Fri 7 Nov @ 8.30pm The Jeffrey’s Brothers (running time: 30 min)

The true story of two brothers from a mining family who turned to Christ in the 1904 Welsh revival. They went on to evangelise and establish churches throughout the United Kingdom.

Fri 7 Nov @ 10.30pm Second Chances (running time: 120 min)

Emotionally and physically scarred from a car crash, a young girl finally sets on the path of recovery as she develops a love for a crippled horse named Ginger.

Sat 8 Nov @ 7.30pm Sun 9 Nov @ 12pm & 9.30pm

Details correct at time of printing.

For up-to-date 24-hour listings and programme information check www.shinetv.co.nz.

A Shine TV viewer says... “My spiritual life

has grown so much because of the great programmes on Shine TV.” How has Shine TV impacted your life?

Let us know... testimony@shinetv.co.nz

To watch Shine TV

Freeview Satellite 25 SKY 201 or online www.shinetv.co.nz

shinetv.co.nz

twitter.com/shinetv facebook.com/shinetv.nz

www.mychristiandaily.com | 19

Value

AM I IMPORTANT? AM I MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

A

m I okay? Am I important? Am I making a difference?

These questions of self-validation are common–even among those who sign up for work that is often considered selfless. Such as ministry.

At a ministry conference last weekend a crowd formed around a tiny booth bearing a sign that said, “I Am Enough.” The crowd became a multitude. Finally someone called the fire marshall when the hall became too packed for safety.

The people were waiting for the opportunity to be validated.Kami As they stepped up to the “I Am Enough” sign, Kami, the booth’s keeper, tied a red superhero cape around their necks, called each by name, and repeated this simple blessing: “Know that you are a child of the one true God. His love is the most powerful force in all of the universe.

His love is in you and it flows through you. You are on a mission from God, like all good superheroes. But your mission is the most important in all the world.

Your mission is to love God and love others. And on the days that you do not feel that you’re enough, know that

nothing can separate you from the love of God. That love casts out fear. You are always covered in his love.”

The very countenance of each newly caped individual seemed to change as they were reminded of their royal lineage. They beamed as they posed under the words, “I Am Enough. Because He is enough.”

We all crave validation. But often we don’t look heavenward for confirmation of our worth. We look for fleeting affirmation from mere humans. We check our count of Facebook friends and likes. We look for larger attendance at our events. We wish to be rewarded with a bigger budget. We dream of seeing our names prominently displayed and frequently mentioned.

Sometimes these reaches for validation can lead to grotesque aberrations, particularly in ministry settings.

Case in point: the recently chided megachurch pastor who proclaimed, “I am the brand.”

It would be healthy for ministry folk to take a cue from fellow high-profile minister John the Baptist, who, after meeting the King, said, “He must become greater; I must become less.”

That’s the kind of hero I admire. In this crazy era of best-selling superstar pastors on giant multi-site HD

screens, I’ve grown a special appreciation for the more obscure servants of God who quietly “become less” in order to be faithful to the one true King. They humbly pursue their mission to love God and others, regardless of fanfare. For them, loving and serving those whom God has placed around them is enough.

Last weekend, after receiving a cape, a group of conference attendees stepped outside and saw a homeless woman attempt to negotiate a curb in her wheelchair. The wheelchair tipped, spilling the woman into the gutter. The conferees ran over, helped the woman back into her chair, and spent some time with her in friendly conversation.Enough Then they caped her. They looked deeply into her eyes and said, “Know that you are a child of the one true God. You are always covered in his love. You are enough. Because He is enough.”

The homeless woman wheeled down the street, beaming, validated, with her new red cape flowing in the wind behind her.

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20 | Christian Life Issue Seventeen October 2014

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Applications now open for full-time House Parents Are you looking for an opportunity to make a real difference in lives of pregnant teens?

The House of Grace is a safe haven for young pregnant women. Two positions have become available for House Parents in the Wellington and Hamilton homes.

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For those living away from home for the first time, the Apartments are a place that provides a safe and secure environment ideal for that period between living at home and independent flatting.

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EVENTS

Eduard Klassen Tour of New Zealand 2015

February 6th to March 9th Auckland to Invercargill For dates and venues contact Colin and Jean Sampson P.O.Box 5131 Westown New Plymouth 4343 Phone 06 751-0633 or colinsam24@gmail.com www.eduardklassen.com

Celebrate the OMS New Zealand Centenary 22-23 November 2014 Elim Church, 21 Maui Street, Te Rapa, Hamilton Saturday, 1-5pm - Missionary displays & speakers Sunday, 10am - Church service Find out more: contact the OMS office 07 856 8655 or office@oms.org.nz www.onemissionsociety.org.nz

www.mychristiandaily.com | 21

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EVENTS

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Onsite activities include an initiative course, burma trail, horizontal bungy, water slide and trampolines, as well as an abseiling tower. Kayaking and sailing is also available but needs to be booked with an outside provider. The beach track gives access to a rocky shore as well as a sandy beach for beach games and swimming if desired.

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Limited places – book today For details contact: Wycliffe Bible Translators NZ Phone: 09 262 8440 Toll free: 0508 Wycliffe (992 543) Email: admin@wycliffe.org.nz

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22 | Christian Life Issue Seventeen October 2014

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Over the last 50 years many people in Photos and Slides scanned to similar life-walks to your own have Photo Files and DVD been helped while participating in totally confidential Christian support A u d i o C a s s e t t e Ta p e s a n d V i n y l groups. Exodus Ministries has such Records to CD ALL YOUR AUDIO VISUAL NEEDS groups operating in severalFOR centres 8mm & 16mm Film and Video in N.Z. This support Photos has resulted a p eand s t oDVD DVD andinSlides scanned to Photo Ta Files majority of participants being helped Videography and Photography Audio Cassette Tapes and Vinyl Records to CD in personal growth away from samesex-attraction struggles and gay porn 8mm & 16mm Film and P HVideo O N Tapes E : 0to8DVD 00 324 538 attraction.While the rate of growth varies, for a significant number itVideography has and Photography w w w . E a g l e T V. c o . n z been such that they have married and Phone 0800 324 538 raised families.

Exodus Ministries Ph: 09 268 0346 | www.EagleTV.co.nz exodusnz@maxnet.co.nz PO Box 175, Takinini, 2245

RESOURCES

EDUCATE TO COMMUNICATE

I urgently need your help for projects in training Christian leaders for church and society in Indonesia, Pakistan and Nepal • Non-confrontational tracts for enquiries • Online applied courses for market place workers.

• Advanced educational programmes for pastors and teachers, • Support for evangelically managed universities in Indonesia and Pakistan • Establish English languages centres for up skilling the decision-makers of society.

Please give generously.

Dr. Bruce Nicholls NZ-Asia Research and Development Trust 4 Bambury Close Pt. Chevalier Auckland 1022 Email: brucejnicholls@gmail.com Ph +64 9 846 1211

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www.mychristiandaily.com | 23

Auckland 18 October • Wellington 1 November Think of the team helping you reach your community. Does the energy in the room go up every time you meet? Does everyone feel that they are contributing from their strengths? Whether you are part of a team or need to build one from scratch, this workshop will give you essential tools for making your team a Dream Team!

Graeme Flett

One is the Loneliest Number Now on staff with Laidlaw College, Graeme was the senior minister of Burnside Elim Community Church for 13 years. Under his leadership the church developed an organic approach to ministry and local mission that encouraged creative innovation and collaborative teambased leadership. His passion for team-based ministry and leadership is reflected in his doctoral work.

Janet Tuck

Building your ‘A-Team’ Janet is a Career Specialist at Career Clinic. She helps people with career management decisions, and provides workplace coaching, and training for managers so that people can operate more effectively in their working lives and reach their full potential. She has a special interest in leadership identification and development, and is recognised for her strategic approach, and lively and engaging workshops and presentations. She is also a board member for the New Zealand Christian Network.

Lorna Gray

Building a volunteer ‘Coalface Team’ A recipient of New Zealand Christian Network’s Unsung Hero award in 2013, Lorna brings a wealth of experience to her workshop. Through organisations like Praxis and the Eastern Southern Youth Trust she has invested in the development of disadvantaged communities around Wellington with a particular focus on young people. A youth pastor for over 10 years, she is helping plant a church in Strathmore Park. She is also a Strengths Coach, a nurse and a grandmother!

The venues: Auckland Rawene Centre, 33 Rawene Road, Birkenhead • Wellington Discovery Elim Christian Centre, 148 Major Drive, Kelson, Lower Hutt EARLYBIRD AND TEAM DISCOUNTS! Our workshops are much more valuable when the experience is shared - bring a team for a discount!

Group size 1 2 3

Earlybird each $150 $125 $110

Non-earlybird each $175 $150 $135

Group size Earlybird each Non-earlybird each 4 $100 $125 5+ $90 $115 The fee covers materials, morning and afternoon tea and lunch.

Auckland Earlybird cut-off - Wednesday 8 October 2014 • Wellington Earlybird cut-off - Wednesday 22 October2014

CViC exists to promote church-based community engagement in every neighbourhood across New Zealand. We do this by empowering the unsung heroes of community outreach, those volunteer leaders in churches everywhere involved in community-facing ministry week by week. Through a cyclical series of workshops we cover 6 essential toolboxes that every community-facing leader needs. For those wanting to dig deeper we offer the Community Link Training Course.

Register @ www.cvic.org.nz on the Auckland or Wellington links