Christian Life Issue 21 March 2015

MARCH 2015 • Issue TWENTY-ONE • www.mychristiandaily.com

FINDING FOREVER FAMILIES, HELPING CHILDREN IN POVERTY, FROM NZ’S MOST WANTED TO A LIFE IN CHRIST, LOCAL NEWS, CLASSIFIEDS AND MORE...

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Issue TWENTY-ONE | MARCH 2015

03 CAMP SPECIAL: “Camp’s Coming Up!” 07 CAMP SPECIAL: Christian Camping is Changing Lives 09 “I’m Not Being Fed in This Church” 10 Mission: Healing our Land

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11 Sports Chaplains 12 From New Zealand’s Most Wanted to a Life in Christ 13 Finding Forever Families 14 Helping Children in Poverty 15 Local News 16 Shine TV programme guide 18 Christian Life Classifieds

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Camps Special

“CAMP’S COMING UP!” Over Easter weekend thousands of young Kiwis will sit under the gospel message and enjoy four days of chaotic fun and activities at camp sites throughout the nation. MARIE ANTICICH investigates the ever-growing phenomenon of Easter camping.

Up to 13,000 young people aged 12 to 18 will converge at camp sites around New Zealand from April 2-6 to attend Easter camps.

The four biggest camps are run under the auspices of Baptist Youth Ministries, and Presbyterian youth leaders will run nine smaller camps in various locations.

“We’re expecting about 12,000 young people at our four major camps,” says Gary Grut, the Auckland-based national director of Baptist Youth Ministries which oversees 230 Baptist youth groups nationwide.

“Each individual camp is run by a camp director and an organising team,” says the former golf professional and father of four sons.

“The best part of Easter camp is seeing young people come to faith. God comes to camp really powerfully – it blows you away – you just sit there and say, ‘Look at God go!’”

Northern Easter Camp at Mystery Creek near Hamilton will become a virtual ‘tent city’ with 5,500 young people living under canvas. The camp director Blue Bradley, who co-leads Mosaic Church, will head up a team of hardworking volunteers.

“We say our camps are ‘Birthed by the Baptists for the Kingdom of God’ because we get youth groups from lots of different denominations,” says Gary Grut.

The combined Southern Easter Camp to be held at Spencer Park in Christchurch will attract around 5,000 young people from more than 100 Baptist, Catholic and Pentecostal youth groups. This truly ecumenical camp

4 | Christian Life Issue Twenty One March 2015

Camps Special

is run by Canterbury Youth Services which Mike Dodge has headed for 20 years.

“We try to tell the Easter story in as many creative ways as possible,” says Mike who has been a youth worker for 30 years. “We call it ‘sticking to the script’ and we look at Easter as a journey. Jesus died on Good Friday and rose again on Easter Monday, and how does this affect us going home from camp?”

Laura Hughes, a young mother married to a youth pastor, will direct the Southern camp, assisted by her organising team.

An estimated 1,000 intermediate-age children will attend eCamp at Findlay Park which is situated near Cambridge on the banks of the Waikato River, and the camp director is Josh van de Worp from Franklin Baptist.

Central Easter Camp at Manfield Park in Fielding will host about 1,400 young people.

“We’re also a very cross-denominational camp and it’s noteworthy to mention that we’ve seen significant growth over the past two years,” says camp director, Johanna Vannathy who is BYM’s Wellington region youth consultant.

Bigger Camps “Easter camps have grown every year since I can remember,” says Gary Grut “and they’ve been transforming peoples’ lives for many generations before that.

“Camps allow young people to have the best time together, to be who they are and to sit under the Gospel message. Camps are a powerful format that enables leaders to chill and spend time connecting with their young people.

“When I was a youth pastor at Titirangi Baptist, camp was the big event of the first term. We’d build up to Easter and get as many kids to come to camp as we could – it’s a wonderful focus. Thirty to 40% percent of kids coming camp are from the community and many come to faith at camp, and so youth groups can gain a great deal of momentum for the coming year.

“So when we do the altar call, we don’t ask young people to come forward – we ask them to make a commitment with their leaders in their own communities.

“Camp directors and their organising teams are responsible for arranging the venue, catering and activities– youth pastors just have to organise their kids and get them to camp,” he says.

“Camps are exciting places for kids to come and we’re diligent about ensuring their safety, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We have more than 300 volunteers at Northern camp including police, doctors, nurses and security.”

Meals are served in a 50-metre long marquee with campers filing past the servers: “Last year the kitchen staff fed 5,000 people in 22 minutes – we’ve been doing this a long time – and it’s something to watch.”

Parents and youth leaders often come early to preerect tents on Easter Thursday, as camp starts that night.

“We lost half our tents in a big storm last year. We made plans to re-house 3,500 kids but the weather cleared and we only had to accommodate 200 – but we’re hoping for fine weather this year.

“Every year we have to think, ‘Have we nailed it?

What about the village area, sports activities and food?

What’s worked and what do we need to change?’

“A few a years ago we gave the kids paint bombs and they had a massive paint party in a big ditch!

“Going to Easter Camp is such a joy,” Gary asserts.

“It’s so well organised and so many people give their time to help. The kids give us little trouble and I’ve got to say it’s a wonderful experience.”

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Camps Special

PRESBYTERIANS RUN NINE SMALLER CAMPS An estimated 860 young people will attend nine smaller camps run by Presbyterian youth leaders at various camp sites up and down the North and South Island.

“We’re excited by the big and small camps happening around the nation – God moves in camps of different sizes and settings, and it’s nice for youth groups to have a variety to choose from,” says Wellington-based Gordon Fitch who is national manager of Presbyterian Youth Ministry.

Going to Easter Camp is such a joy...

It’s so well organised and so many people give their time to help. The kids give us little trouble and I’ve got to say it’s a wonderful experience.

The annual TukiTuki Easterfest will be held in Waipukarau. The camp director Tama Bucknell from St Andrews Presbyterian and other local youth groups will join in. PYM national youth director, Matt Chamberlin will speak to 90 college students at this camp.

Hordes of youth from Tauranga and Mt Maunganui will attend Easter Camp BOP at Ohope Beach, Whakatane, with Rob Williams from St Peter’s Presbyterian as camp director.

Southland Easter Camp will be held at Camp Columba in Pukerau, and the camp directors are Andrew Currie, Melissa Martin and Liz Manlove.

Also in Southland is Tirohanga Camp which will be directed by Eddy Davis-Rae from Highgate Presbyterian.

About 50 young people will attend Fusion Easter Camp at Lindisfarne Camp in Timaru, and Chris Konings from the Timaru Presbyterian Parish will direct the camp.

Eighty intermediate-age children will attend Easter Camp in Hunua, south of Auckland, and the camp director is Steph Brook.

“College students will lead the small group studies at Hunua and a college band will lead the worship, and so it’s also a great training ground for older youth,” says Gordon Fitch who will speak at the camp.

Approximately 150 young people will head down Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf to Easter Camp on Motutapu Island.

The Easter camp at Narrows Park in Cambridge will be directed by Aaron Henderson, youth pastor of the Huntly Co-operating Church.

The Salvation Army will hold an Easter camp at Silverstream in Upper Hutt, Wellington.

“Camps have grown in recent years,” he observes “and so God is clearly up to something. Camping is a great ministry as young people invite their friends to come and so youth groups grow in numbers.

“Most of our Presbyterian youth groups go to the larger Baptist camps, but some of our youth leaders run smaller camps around the country, as do the Anglicans, Salvation Army and other denominations.

“Easter is an exciting time for youth ministries in New Zealand,” says the UK-born father of four who has been a youth pastor in England and the USA. “We don’t have Easter camps in England or in the USA as Easter is a family holiday there, rather like Christmas in New Zealand.”

The nine Presbyterian camps include JYMC Easter Camp at Palm Grove Camp in Paraparaumu. About 100 young people will attend the camp which Nga Rolston will direct.

FREE GOSPELS Over Easter weekend, Bible Society New Zealand will distribute more than 12,000 free copies of the Gospel of Matthew to young people at Easter camps.

These contemporary booklets are tailor-made to appeal to 12-18 year olds, , and are often used for youth group post-camp studies.

Since 2011, the society has distributed the gospels of Mark, Luke and John at Easter camps, and the gospel Matthew will complete this popular series.

“In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus issues the chal-

lenge that it’s what’s inside us that counts,” says Emma Dyer, the society’s youth and children’s ministries specialist. “The ‘thinking’ theme reflects the idea that Jesus is concerned with our inner self ... and our thought processes. Jesus wants to transform each of us to our core – what we value, what we love, what we desire.”

This year Bible Society representatives will also screen four new videos from the ‘True Story’ campaign at Central Easter Camp in Fielding.

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Camps Special

CHRISTIAN CAMPING IS CHANGING LIVES

By Al Belcher, Director at Narrows Park

It’s the classic New Zealand experience. Screaming down the flying fox on that oh so comfortable T-bar, singing songs around the bonfire while cooking some damper and maybe learning to kayak or do some sort of craft with a knife your mother wouldn’t let you go near.

It seems every kid grows up going to camp. Who can forget sleeping on those bunks at night and looking up to read all the names and dates of the other kids who had gone before you, spanning some 40 years and doing just what you’re doing. Classic stuff. It’s a reminder that you’re part of a great heritage.

In this land, most camps were started in the 1950’s by an army of volunteers. Land was generally donated by a local farmer and buildings were moved on or built by hand in many cases. They didn’t bother about building regulations and OHS requirements because they were unknown then. The way camps are done now has changed quite a lot, but the heart is still the same. To spread the gospel to the next generation through a camping platform.

In 2014 there were over 20,000 kids at over 300 gospel spreading holiday camps around New Zealand.

There are probably more kids getting to church on a Sunday night combined across the country each year but to have that many kids all week, everyday and overnight is a significant amount of discipleship time! People often have their guard up from nine to five. We get accustomed to small talk in those usual business hours, to putting up a shallow conversation. But once you have someone overnight and then for a couple nights in a row you see

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Camps Special

Discipling the next generation is the future and it’s full of hope

another side of them. Perhaps the genuine side. It’s when people let their guard down and genuinely engage that we’re seeing some amazing transformations.

This year there were over 100 camps running leadership programs, training those older kids to mentor and guide and act as responsible young leaders at Christian camps. So we’re not talking about attracting kids to a week of fun, we’re talking about a discipleship program that provides a safe place to be a kid, then it provides an opportunity to be part of a team creating these events and then to be leading them yourself. That’s real ownership rooted in the gospel. As in 1 Timothy 4.12 says, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

Christian camping is not about events and taking kids off parents hands for a week, as some joke when dropping them off. It’s about spreading the gospel in temporary community. It’s about modelling Christianity to the next generation, and they desperately need to hear it.

The stories heard at kids camps of broken families, abuse, anger, damage, neglect, hopelessness, the list goes on, would break your heart. There is a cry from the kids of Aotearoa who need to be loved, guided and valued.

Christian camps don’t have all the answers but they are playing a part by providing a platform to reach into the lives of the next generation and sow good seeds.

Many camps focus on what is known as the 4/14 window - a demographic of 2 billion people worldwide identified by their age: four to 14 years old. Statistics show that an overwhelming majority of Christ followers take hold of the gospel during this window.

It’s exciting, but it doesn’t stop there. Some Christian camps have recognised and are addressing a need in the relationships at home.

Narrows Park Christian Camp has just started a Mother and Daughter Weekend and has run a Father and Son Weekend for a couple of years now. The response has been huge. With just under 100 people at each event the weekends are geared for any age. It’s the relationship that

is the focus. A whole weekend of one on one time with your child would freak out a few parents, but the ones who take the time to see into those eyes are the ones who come.

Proverbs 22.6 tells us to “Train up a child in the way they should go…” sometimes it takes a community to raise and disciple that child.

Christian Camps around New Zealand are at the leading edge alongside many others doing just that. They are sowing seeds of hope, they are creating space for believers to be discipled and are spreading the gospel one camp at a time. Discipling the next generation is the future and it’s full of hope.

For more information go to www.ccnz.org.nz where you’ll find a list of Christian Camps across New Zealand.

There were four Leadership Weekend Events that took place in 2014 with the specific goal of encouraging and building young leaders who are grounded in the gospel story and ready to outwork their faith in real life, according to Psalm 119.9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.”

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Spiritual Growth

“I’M NOT BEING FED AT THIS CHURCH”

By Thom Schulz - holysoup.com “I don’t feel we’re being fed at this church,” Bill admitted. He’s thinking about switching to another church – where he can be “fed.”

What does Bill mean? It seems that Bill, and many others who express similar feelings, go to weekend services expecting to receive encouragement, solace or inspiration. Their expectations are often unmet.

These expectations now form what many consider to be the essence of a church’s mission or purpose. It’s to satisfy the appetite of the audience. A church elder in the documentary When God Left the Building, states his church’s mission this way: “I believe it’s to keep the membership up, keep it fortified, keep everyone feeling good about being there, keep people desiring to come there and want to be there.”

Many church leaders advocate a similar consumer mindset for church involvement. They often say, “You need to go to a church where you’ll be fed.”

This whole image bothers me. There’s something very self-focused about it. I can’t help thinking of Audrey, the gluttonous flesh-eating plant in the show The Little Shop of Horrors, bellowing out, “Feed me!”

I’m all for spiritual nourishment. But I worry we’re producing a generation of pudgy pew sitters who desire nothing more than to gorge themselves on super-sized feasts of knowledge and anecdotes. Many teachers and preachers believe it’s their job to satisfy this big appetite with ever-more-tempting platters of “deep” Bible

details, soaring oratory, and five steps toward a happier life.

What’s the outcome? Are we producing healthy, productive disciples–or well-fed, complacent gluttons?

We’re seeing some telling effects among the Dones, the mature Christians and life-long church members who are now leaving the institutional church. Sociologist Josh Packard reports in his upcoming book Church Refugees that these people are feeling over-stuffed.

They’re tired of the same high-fat meal that’s dished out for them weekly. They want to actively exercise their faith.

A question of mission Should people view their local church as a spiritual fast-food joint? Is the prime objective to make sure patrons amble out rubbing their stomachs, feeling well-fed? I think not. I don’t believe God intended the church to be a diner for self-absorption, even spiritual self-absorption. Rather, the church should strive to be the healthy Body of Christ, the community of believers coming together to experience and love God, and to love one another and the larger community.

For those ready for a healthier diet, some suggestions: MEMBERS & ATTENDERS. Stop looking for a trough where you can be “fed.” Look for a Jesus-cen-

tered community where you can be the church, where you’re given full access to love one another, to experience God, and to exercise your faith.

CHURCH LEADERS. Don’t pander to those who wish to sit, gorge, and grow obese. Shift the primary focal point from a mere mass-feeding to a time for the Body to connect, love one another, experience God together, put their faith into action, and share stories with one another of God’s recent interactions.

Some churches today are doing it. They have chosen to intentionally step beyond the “feed me” mentality.

One such congregation, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, even incorporated its bigger mission into its name–The Point Is to Serve. From the get-go, people understand the point is not merely to “be fed.” Instead, these Jesusfollowers are known for how they feed others. Sometimes literally. Like the time they delivered 32,000 pounds of ham and bacon to the needy.

Pastor Allen Kjesbo said, “We believe service is a key (and often neglected) path of spiritual formation.”

The church’s small groups, called LifeServe Groups, “not only study the Bible and pray together, they also serve together,” Kjesbo said.

This church isn’t striving to fill pews with satiated spectators. “We were challenged to consider how to measure success differently,” Kjesbo said. “It’s about transformation–not ‘nickels and noses.’”

www.mychristiandaily.com | 9

Conference

MISSION: Healing Our Land Auckland pastor TAK BHANA talks to MARIE ANTICICH about this month’s New Zealand and Beyond conferences being in Auckland, Christchurch, and beyond.

Tak, why do you run these conferences?

“We feel that every Christian has a very important role to play in extending the Kingdom of God and helping to heal our land, and so we need to train, equip, inspire and challenge people to reach their neighbours, work colleagues and community with God’s love.”

Why the theme ‘Heal our Land?’

“People often think mission fields are overseas, but we have a mission field right here in New Zealand. This year’s theme is based on 2 Chronicles 7:14, If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

“Truth be told, our nation isn’t in great shape. Problems abound on every front –our teen suicide statistics are alarming and among the highest in the world – and the same for drug abuse and violence. I hate saying this, but the church isn’t making a lot of progress or making a significant difference around the nation.”

What can we do about it?

“One of the challenges is to pray – You have not because you ask not – and so we have to get back to basics and earnestly prevail on God in prayer. Unless enough people get on their knees and begin crying out to Him, nothing much is going to change.

We also need to get involved in the Great Commission. Some people think that means going to India or Africa but it also means sharing your faith with your neighbour, and being salt and light in your workplace and your community.

We’re all full-time ministers, we’re all called to do the work of God, using our gifts to serve God. I do it in a church setting, and others do it in an office, factory, school or hospital setting.

“The big task in New Zealand is to mobilise the entire body of Christ so that we all play our part leading people to Christ and healing our communities. I often say, ‘It takes the whole church to reach the whole world’ – and so we need to mobilise everybody. The church isn’t making more progress because we’ve left the task of ministry to a few professionals.

I believe the future of New Zealand is in the hands of the church, ‘If my people’ is addressed to the people of God. The government and business leaders can only do so much; it’s the church’s role to bring change and community transformation.

Our aim is to see church membership increase because, in most churches, attendance is fairly static or dropping away. The percentage of Christians is not increasing and most church growth comes from people transferring from another church. Unless we face this truth, nothing is going to change.

But Christianity is growing in other parts of the world such as Indonesia, Singapore, India and China.”

How can we rally the troops?

“Encouragement adds value to people. We can say: ‘Johnny, I know you work on the factory floor but you’re in full-time ministry – you can share Christ in a whole different setting.’ The Bible talks about being ‘called with a holy calling.’

It’s a mistake to say that one person has a strong calling. We’ve all got a strong calling, it just manifests in

10 | Christian Life Issue Twenty One March 2015

different ways . We’ve all got a role to play, and it’s not just for the pastor to see results. It’s taking a long time because of people’s mind-sets. People talk about ‘clergy and laity’ but neither of those words are in the Bible, that’s a myth that immobilises people. We’re all called and we’re all anointed to some area of ministry.

Ephesians 4: 11-12 says, It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service so that the body of Christ might be built up.

Another mistake is to make the church service the heartbeat of the kingdom of God whereas the people we want to reach are outside the four walls of the church, and so we need to put our focus into the community.

When I was in India years ago a prophet used to say to me, ‘Get outside the four walls of the church – there’s a whole needy world out there.’

I say to my people, ‘Maybe you need more anointing than me because you’re out in the marketplace among the lost, whereas I’m in church surrounded by godly saints.

I don’t have to work with people who swear all day or tell dirty jokes, or watch bad stuff – you need God’s power and it’s available for you.’

Some key Bible characters were in the marketplace, and yet we refer to them as ‘great men of God – Joseph was a like prime minister, Daniel was a civic leader and Abraham was a wealthy nomadic farmer We need to have a heart for a lost world, to be salt and light, not necessarily doing door-to-door evangelism, but asking, ‘What can I do? What’s my role in bringing the Kingdom of God?’ Evangelism and discipleship go hand-in-hand and so at Church Unlimited we work hard to get new Christians into our ten-week training programme and then into small group fellowship to help them grow in their relationship with God. We aim to get people saved and added to the church quickly so they don’t fall away. Churches need a strong focus on reaching out, training people to do that and having a strong disciple programme.

We want people to catch a vision of getting into the community and mobilising, equipping and inspiring others to play their part in reaching the lost. The church is the hope of the world and unless we’re out there doing something, nothing is going to happen.

People put evangelism in too-hard basket, ‘We tried that and it’s too hard so we’ll just catch people on transfer’ and so it comes down to ‘Who can attract the most people?’ I’m for church growth 100 percent – but we need to be reaching the lost.”

Have you seen measurable results?

“I feel we’re getting increasing buy-in to the main concept of the Great Commission – we do need to pray, we do need the power of the Holy Spirit and we do need to mobilise everybody in the church to do their part and reach out.

We’ve had people come to the Lord through our foodbank and our Mainly Music ministries, and our young people regularly feed homeless people on the streets, and they go into local high schools and invite students to youth meetings – lots come and get saved.

This year the Middle School is using our church facilities to provide free education with free uniforms, free stationery, no fees and a 15-to-1 teacher-student ratio –

that’s the community coming to the church.”

Tell us about ‘Running with Fire’ “We’ve been doing our radio programme for 15 years and our television programme and a magazine for eight years, and they go out to 80 countries. Our media ministry is part of our mission to reach the world, along with New Zealand and Beyond conferences.

We film our Sunday services for television and the programmes are broadcast on secular channels and through United Christian Broadcasting, and I record our radio broadcasts.

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the ministry to expand so much – the other day I was thanking God and saying, ‘I never believed you’d do all this.’ It blows my mind, but I guess God can do whatever He wants.

There is no secret formula, although prayer and fasting is a foundation of our church.”

How is your family involved?

“My wife Adrienne is a pastor at Church Unlimited and regularly speaks at services. She is also involved in pastoral care, and heads up the intercessory prayer team – it’s great knowing I’ve got people are praying for me.

Our daughter Jodi and her husband Sam Tolley are executive pastors running all the departments and staff, leaving me free to focus on Sunday ministry and to work on vision and travel. Jodi works part-time as they have two children – Zach is three and Emma is one. Grandkids are magic!”

Why the trend to multi-site churches?

“Many churches have gone to the ‘campus’ model of church as a way of extending their reach to other regions with their unique DNA. We have two campuses in Auckland, one in Glendene and one in Auckland city.

But every church is valuable, regardless of its size – we need big, medium and small churches to cater for all the different dynamics and regions and personalities.

Every community needs a church and every person has something to offer.”

Tell us more about New Zealand and Beyond “It’s our ninth annual conference in Auckland, and our fourth in Christchurch, and we’ll be holding our Pakistan and Beyond conference in Lahore, Pakistan in October.

I’m also hoping to start an Egypt and Beyond conference later this year – it’s not too hard to arrange as no-one else will go there (laughs). People find places like Pakistan and Egypt a bit scary, but I believe the safest place on this planet is being in the centre of God’s will. I’m wise and careful and I’ve only ever once had to cancel one trip due to strife and violent demonstrations, and that was to Egypt in 21013.

“So the conference truly has become New Zealand and Beyond.”

Three international pastors will speak at the New Zealand and Beyond conferences for the first time; Danny Guglielmucci from Edge Church, Adelaide, Russell Evans from Planetshakers, Melbourne, and Glen Berteau from The House Modesto, California.

The first conference will be held in Christchurch at Life Church in the La Vida Centre from March 16-18, and the second conference at Church Unlimited in Glendene, Auckland from March 19-21. www.nzandbeyond.com

SPORTS CHAPLAINS:

Helping Players Juggle their Life, Faith and Sport The Cricket World Cup began on February 14 and finishes on March 29 with finals and knockouts. During this time Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand has been providing chaplains on call for teams. CEO ROSS GEORGIOU talks to MARIE ANTICICH about this remarkable organisation which ministers to sportspeople in all codes and at all levels.

Ross, tell us about your work at ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

“Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand, together with Sports Chaplaincy Australia, has been providing chaplaincy services on call to Cricket World Cup teams playing in seven cities around New Zealand, and seven cities in Australia.

“Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand is a nationwide team of voluntary sports chaplains who minister to players at school, club, provincial and national level, from the serious to the elite.

We became an incorporated society and charitable trust in 2013, and we’ve been providing chaplaincy services since 2007.

As head of Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand, I oversee a team of 40 trained chaplains and nineteen partly trained chaplains around the country.

Our chaplains are pastors and lay people in Christian ministry and they come from diverse backgrounds; many of them are former sportspeople and so they understand the mindset of athletes.

Part of our focus is supporting players during their times of greatest pressure, but we also support teams, coaches and officials during normal every day life.

During the Cricket World Cup, our volunteers have also arranged accommodation in private homes for family members of players and officials.

Internationally, chaplains have been adding value at major sports events for many years and we partner with other chaplaincy organisations at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

My other role is chairman of the Major Sports Events Chaplaincy Council which runs a chaplaincy programme as part of the official major sports events volunteer programme. I’m the Kiwi on the council, and we have conference calls and meet once or twice a year to plan chaplaincy services at major sporting events.

We’re pretty excited that more of these international events are being held in New Zealand, and we’re often planning four to five years in advance.”

How did Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand start?

“We provided chaplaincy for the first time at the 2011 Rugby World Cup which was held in New Zealand, and this created a platform for us to serve as chaplains with New Zealand’s sporting community.

Our seven board members include chairperson, Martyn Norris, former chairman of the Parachute Music Festival, and Andrew Kerr, former head of the New Zealand Christian Sports Network. Sue Morris, a former New Zealand cricketer, is co-ordinating the chaplains on offer to the Cricket World Cup. One of our chaplains, Grant Harris (senior pastor of Windsor Park Baptist Church) is chaplain to the New Zealand Breakers basketball team. Another is Enroy Talamahina who works as chaplain at Kelston Boys High School and was instrumental in working with the school, parents and rugby players following the tragic loss of Stephen Dudley.”

Ross Georgiou (left) with an official at the London Olympics

How did you get involved?

“My first major official chaplaincy assignment was at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens. At that time I was director of Athletes in Action in Germany with oversight of sports ministries in 20 countries in Europe.

When I returned to New Zealand in 2007, I heard about what the Australians were doing with sports chaplaincy and underwent their week-long training course.

Quite frankly, it was the best model I’d seen for sports chaplaincy.

One of my priorities was to minister at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. We set up an organisation called Engage which was a way that the churches of New Zealand could serve the Rugby World Cup. At the RWC we had three main areas of ministry – providing chaplaincy services for rugby players, engaging with the community and building a legacy – this was primarily to encourage churches to engage with the sporting community.

We ran a home hosting network for the families of visiting players and officials, and we personally hosted the father of an international referee at our home for two weeks.

The CEO, Martin Snedden encouraged the churches of New Zealand to support the RWC event, saying it was a great opportunity to showcase our country, our hospitality and our love for sport.

His chief operations officer was Therese Walsh (2013 Woman of Influence Supreme Award winner.) Therese is now New Zealand head of Cricket World Cup, reporting to the overall CEO, John Harnden in Australia.

At the end of the 2011 RWC, we hosted a meeting together with the CEO Martin Snedden and the then CEO of the 2015 RWC, to showcase the legacy and impact of chaplaincy. The knock-on effect is that Engage is serving at the RWC event in the UK this year.”

How does one become a sports chaplain?

“Our seven regional representatives are responsible for identifying, training, appointing and guiding chaplains across the country. Candidates attend a four-day training course and receive a SCNZ certificate.

Matt Hawkins, a former cricketer and footballer, is in charge of national training and we’ve just revamped it to world standard – we’re very proud of that. Last month six Kiwis were trained in teaching our quality training across the country.

We’re encouraged that our chaplains, men and women, come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, and are aged between 21 and 70 plus years. Some of them choose to serve with a specific sporting code, or event, or age group – some work with school teams, clubs, veterans, provincial teams and others with elite athletes.”

What does a sports chaplain do?

“A chaplain is a pastoral mentor who considers the total person – mental, physical, spiritual and social. They’re not a sports psychologist, or a counsellor or a coach whose main focus is to maximise players’ on-field perfor-

mance. They’re not a fan who wants a photo or an autograph – chaplains are there to care for athletes regardless their performance, and to provide spiritual expertise.

A sports chaplain is a team player who works in relationship with the supporting sports community – doctors, physiotherapists, managers and officials. They’re an invited and trusted guest in a sports setting and they are expected to be available for conversations with players, which may be personal and confidential.

Chaplains extend pastoral care – if a player is injured they’ll go with them in the ambulance, wait for the family to arrive at the hospital, and pray. Why wouldn’t someone want that?

Players also struggle with transitions – reaching a higher level, transitioning out or retiring – and with time management skills, anger, life goals and substance abuse or performance-enhancing drugs.

Sportspeople often place a different value on relationships and if a relationship side-tracks them from reaching their goal, it will fall by the wayside.

Chaplains are motivated to provide pastoral care – love in practical ways – because they themselves have experienced it. Despite our imperfections and wrongs, despite being undeserving, Christ loved us and showed us mercy. This model is both our model and our motivation for serving athletes. At the end of the day, sports people have somebody there caring for them regardless of their performance.”

A PEN PORTRAIT Orewa-based, Ross Georgiou is CEO of Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand and chairman of the Major Sports Events Chaplaincy Council.

During his long involvement in sports ministry, Ross has served as a personal chaplain to sportspeople from a wide range of sports codes.

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Auckland, he was integral in ensuring chaplains were on hand to serve every team and match official.

Ross grew up in Cambridge where he played provincial representative football, and he is New Zealand and UEFA licensed coach.

After studying at Waikato University, he become a quantity surveyor and worked as a construction manager in New Zealand, Papua-New Guinea, the Pacific Islands and the UK. Going to Greece at age 24, Ross got involved with Athletes in Action. He also met his Greek wife Roula and they have two sons, Samuel (23) and Stephanos (11).

After three years in Greece, they moved to Germany where Ross became head of Athletes in Action with overall responsibility for its ministry to sportspeople in 20 countries in Europe.

Ross has worked as a chaplain at three Olympic Games, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

www.mychristiandaily.com | 11

Salvation

From New Zealand’s Most Wanted

TO A LIFE IN CHRIST JANET BALCOMBE catches up with former drug addict ADRIAN PRITCHARD and uncovers a sordid past but a bright future in Christ....

It was like catching up with a brother from another mother, chatting with this man with Jesus shining out of his face. How did it come to be, that this hard man - one of New Zealand’s most notorious career criminals, came face to face with Jesus? Well, grab a coffee, put your feet up and I’ll tell you. But one thing is for sure: Jesus’ arm is not too short to save, and His ear – not too deaf too hear.

It’s quite a gruelling ride just reading Adrian’s story, 2nd Chance; never mind surviving it. Growing up, Adrian’s home life had been far from perfect even before his parents separated. As a teenager he never had a mentor to teach him the basic keys to making a living or learning a trade. He had no life skills. The stage was set for Adrian to become one of New Zealand’s worst armed robbers.

A gifted teenage rugby and cricket player, his sporting career was cut short when injury struck, disillusionment crept in and drug use began at fourteen. When Adrian was sixteen his parents separated and he was to spend the next decade and a half off his face on drugs and alcohol to club the pain into submission. Angry and rebellious, he lived on the streets and with friends, and relied on crime to survive. As his drug use escalated he narrowly avoided death by overdose. One day his spirit left his body and hovered over him, laughing at him. He was so wasted he couldn’t even move an eyebrow, but he was so lost and dead at the time; the experience didn’t bother him at all.

Adrian lived on the edge and played a perpetual game of cat-and-mouse with the police and the system. He spent most of the 1990s in jails and had a cameo appearance on the police show, Crime Watch.

“In Gisborne we succeeded in ripping off just about every pharmacy, shop, bowling club and doctor’s surgery. We stole something like thirty cars a year and when that wasn’t enough, we did some huge hits on restaurants. We would also rob dairies and supermarkets for money and cigarettes. We carried out some of the biggest burglaries in town during our day, though it was nothing to be proud of. We would target chemists. All the drugs we stole from chemists would go straight to our personal baker to make synthetic heroin or morphine so we could shoot up. There were times when I went straight through my vein with the needle and it popped. It was painful but I just carried on with more and more drugs in my arm – a one-way ticket to death.”

He left for Australia on the run from New Zealand police after attempting to burn down the Napier airport, but returned to New Zealand after eventually attracting some serious heat from Australian gangs.

“To recap: I was now eighteen. I’d skipped the country, I’d been stabbed, been involved with overseas gangs and I’d been arrested on re-entry to New Zealand. All this and I still hadn’t dealt with my parents’ divorce. My major issues hadn’t gotten any smaller and I still couldn’t face them.”

After travelling to the US in pursuit of his dream of being a rock star, he returned with his dreams in shreds. Hardcore drug and sex addictions had already taken their toll and Adrian lacked the commitment to make it happen. He learned from hardened criminals and his gang associations and divided time between Gisborne, Hastings and Auckland.

At twenty-two, doctors at Grafton Rd Detox told Adrian he had the body of a seventy year old and he would be dead by twenty-five if he kept going at that rate. Eventually the system caught up with him and he landed a three-year sentence in Paremoremo. Adrian began attending a prison bible study while still coming off heroin, cocaine and poppies. During the next two years he went cold turkey on heroin, morphine, co-

12 | Christian Life Issue Twenty One March 2015

Before

After

From top: Adrian, back in the day — a wanted man; Below: Adrian today, with wife Wendy and their three beautiful girls. caine, opium, valium and sleeping pills, to name just a few. He refused methodone.

“My biggest fear was going to church in jail, as it was a very different culture for me,” said Adrian.

But through the prison ministry and ongoing support of Kevin and Christine Winters he saw authentic followers of Christ, and for the first time in his life stopped running. In his prison cell one night, he invited Jesus to take over his life.

“It was the first time I felt anyone could love me!

Jesus loved me the way I was and accepted me no matter what. As I lay on my bed, tears rolled down my face. Jesus was in my cell with me doing openheart surgery. It was hard for me to transition to this new life, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Within a few weeks Jesus took away from me all desire for drugs, even while I was still going through withdrawal. He set me free from them. God replaced the old craving for drugs with a new-found passion for himself.”

Adrian says being a Christian doesn’t make your issues go away, but it does place a desire in your heart to put things right. He was baptised one day on home leave. In 1998, two years after becoming a Christian and newly released from jail, Adrian had a fight with someone in the church toilets while the pastor was preaching.

“This guy was playing games with Jesus, just faking the Christian life to get what he wanted and saying false stuff about friends of mine, so I thumped him right there in the bathroom. These stubborn habits were why I needed a support system around me.

I needed people I could go and talk with, like Kevin and Christine and many others.”

Good friend, Rock Priest David Pierce of ‘No Longer Music’ and founder of the ministry Steiger In-

ternational (www.steiger.org) sponsored Adrian to do the challenging sixth-month Lifeway Army training in 2001 – extreme bible college with army flavours.

Adrian has just celebrated his 12th wedding anniversary to the beautiful Wendy and they have three gorgeous daughters. He spends his time telling people his story and showing them what Jesus looks like.

He’s seeking sponsorship to get his book 2nd Chance into prisons, available free for prisoners and share the hope that we have in Christ.

“The reason I am telling my story is that I get upset and angry when I hear of young kids killing or being killed, getting into gang fights around town, or getting wasted on drugs and drink while their parents are just sitting at home. Sharing my story might help some people to break free from their lifestyle. It might even help parents talk with their children about what’s going on in their lives.”

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12 If Adrian can share his faith with gang members, what’s stopping us sharing ours with our neighbours?

It’s easy! Just pass on this copy of Christian Life to someone who doesn’t know Jesus for starters.

You can contact Adrian regarding ministry opportunities or sponsorship of books into prisons and rehabs on: pritchardadrian@gmail.com or www.2cm.org.nz

Orphans Aid

Finding Forever Families

by Sharon Leamy New Zealand’s Orphans Aid International is celebrating a double milestone this year. Not only is the organisation marking ten years of caring about the children who have no one else to love them, it is also marking the release of its third documentary, Finding Forever Families.

Co-founder and CEO Sue van Schreven says this documentary celebrates the last ten years by using some of the organisation’s highlights to tell the Orphans Aid International story. “We were blown away to get the opportunity to have another documentary made, as we were so delighted nine years ago when work began on our first documentary, Someone, Somewhere Loves Me. This was such a huge help in establishing our fledgling organisation and making Orphans Aid International a nationwide name.”

“Then, when The Orphan Lady was made six years later it seemed like another miracle, giving us the opportunity to show people what we had been doing and see the progress in the children’s lives,” she says. “To have a third documentary made is simply extraordinary, and I am thrilled to once again let our supporters see some excellent footage of the children they are helping.”

Award winning film-maker, Rob Harley, says he is thrilled to be able to help Orphans Aid International show the public the incredible progress organisation has made over the last ten years.

“Orphans Aid International is a real New Zealand aid success story. It is quite unique in that it has found a solution to a problem that people used to think about rather one dimensionally; instead of bringing orphans to New Zealand, Sue and her husband Carl went over to Romania and thought more creatively about how to support these abandoned children in their own country.”

Since opening its doors in Romania in 2004, Casa Kiwi has seen more than 70 abandoned children placed in loving families and hundreds more helped with surgery, gifts and food. Over the last ten years the aid organisation has expanded into Russia, India and Uganda, while continually increasing its capacity in Romania.

Whenever possible, Rob has revisited children and families featured in the earlier documentaries to see where and how they are now. “In The Orphan Lady we saw an Indian boy who was living on the street and simply riddled with disease, sitting in the corner of the room looking barely alive. Now, thanks to the medical care and financial help he received through Orphans Aid International, this boy is in great shape. He has his own rickshaw, which earns him a living wage, and he is so happy and healthy.”

Over in Romania, a young boy who has been with Casa Kiwi since it opened was “virtually feral” when he first arrived, but Rob says that ten years on he has become a delightful young man. “When we visited the new Casa Kiwi premises he took us on a guided tour, showing us his bedroom and all the things he was proud of in the new house.”

Some of the new initiatives the organisation is embarking on also feature in the documentary, including intervening in local villages with families going through tough financial times, and who might otherwise have to give up their kids, by providing care for them so that their children don’t end up abandoned.

“This is a genuine attempt, with a good Kiwi ‘can do’ attitude, to take the real needs of children in other countries and actually address those needs ─ and not in a one size fits all way,” Rob explains. “So, along with this documentary being a celebration of ten years of Orphans Aid International, it’s also a real celebration of how these children are doing now.”

The organisation has gone from success to success, while drawing upon the goodwill of thousands of New Zealanders. “Their aid shops are a massive underpinning of what they do,” explains Rob. “This is a really good

multi-faceted organisation that is well run with real power house people behind it. Kiwis really respond to the work they do, it’s quite remarkable.”

Sue says Rob has become part of the Orphans Aid story. “He’s travelled with us on numerous times now and was there on one of our earliest trips, he’s seen the extremes. It’s been helpful for us to have someone like Rob to journey with us.”

One of the difficulties the staff face, when they have their heads down and are working hard, is how best to communicate with those who are interested in the impact their gifts are making in the lives of these children.

“It’s impossible to take every supporter and show them the impact individually, so this documentary helps us to show the differences happening in these kids’ lives,” she says. “Even more than this, we are beginning to see whole communities transformed, and I am so excited about this.”

Sue adds she is especially excited about the opportunities that have arisen for the children in India. “A special feature in the documentary is an exciting new development in Northern India where the organisation has been given land to build a school in a place where the children do not have an opportunity for an education. The impact will be life changing for these children.”

The name of the documentary, Finding Forever Families, is quite poignant for Sue as she believes it sums the organisation’s work up beautifully. “Orphans Aid International’s work is to care for the orphan and those others have forgotten. I see this as the very heart of God. James 1:27 tells us to care for the orphan and this is what motivates us into action.”

With so many wonderful and moving stories to tell about the progress Orphans Aid International has made over the last ten years, Sue hopes many people will choose to tune in and watch the documentary, which screens at 7.30am on Good Friday on TV One. “Please tell your friends about the Good Friday screening of Finding Forever Families ─ it really is worth watching over breakfast!”

Established in 2004, Orphans Aid International is now helping abandoned and disadvantaged children in Romania, Russia, India and Uganda while also helping Kiwis in need. They have four charity shops in New Zealand, including Hastings, Dunedin, Invercargill and Queenstown.

•

ROMANIA - the Casa Kiwi project has seen more than 70 abandoned children placed in loving families and hundreds more helped with surgery, gifts and food.

•

Russia - the Auyshki Centre provides daily care for more than 60 children and assists children with disabilities who live at a boarding school, children who live in extreme need, children whose mothers are in prison and children who live in institutions, orphanages and correction centres.

•

INDIA - the ASHA Neketon project provides medical help and food for over 500 children in 11 slums, education and food for children living at the Bhutan border and is currently operating 4 schools, with a 5th currently being built in the north.

•

UGANDA - the Imuka family strengthening project which in less than a year has already prevented more than 100 vulnerable children from being orphaned or abandoned in Uganda by addressing the root issues that lead to children being placed in residential care.

www.mychristiandaily.com | 13

Local News

HELPING CHILDREN IN POVERTY

Christian Life talks with ANDREW WILKS, Director of Mission Without Borders Left: Lyudmila from MWB Ukraine children’s outreach team at a State Home in a village downwind of Chernobyl (many ongoing serious illnesses affect the children).

Above: Andrew Wilks, Director of MWB, NZ

How did you get to work for Mission Without Borders?

I used to work as a lawyer. I did that for about 24 years but for the last few years of my law career that I felt that I should be doing something different. I started looking for jobs in Christian organisations that involved helping people in need. I came across an advertisement in the old Challenge Weekly. God prompted me to apply, I was appointed, and I have been here at MWB for 6 years.

Where does the Mission work?

Just in six countries in Eastern Europe – Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.

Do you get to travel in your job?

Yes. My job is based here in New Zealand and I’m tasked with inviting New Zealanders to support our work in Eastern Europe. I take a group of our supporters to see their sponsored families and children about every two years and I have leadership meetings in various places – this year Romania.

I also get to travel around New Zealand and meet a great many of our amazing supporters, many of whom supported our work when we were called “Underground Evangelism” in the 1960s and 70s. Some of our younger supporters have been to see our field work and help with the children’s summer camps in June and July each year.

Was is the biggest challenge that children and families face in Eastern Europe?

Poverty. It is hard to understand how countries in Europe can be so poor. But that’s just how it is. Poverty

drives parents to leave their families to find work in foreign countries. It breaks up families. Poverty leads to hopelessness and alcoholism. In these countries vodka is as cheap as bottled water. There is still a Communist mentality that may take another generation or two to erase. Children get sent to State orphanages because their parents think that State should bring them up and because they are too poor themselves. The trouble is, these children become institutionalised. They don’t know how to relate normally and are not prepared for normal life when they are chucked out of the orphanages at 18.

Most of those children will have tough lives. Many will end up being trafficked into slavery or prostitution, get into crime, prison, drugs.

In Ukraine, it’s war and poverty that are the challenges.

Nothing wrecks a poor country more than a war. They need our prayers, and a lot of help.

What does Mission Without Borders do to help children?

We would love to offer every child the opportunity to have a good education, to go to summer camp, to hear the gospel, to have good health. The reality is that we can only reach a few of them. Across the six field countries, we have about 15,000 children who are sponsored.

An increasing number of those children live in their own communities in what we call “at risk” situations – maybe one of the parents or both have gone overseas to work or for good, or are sick or alcoholics. We offer an after-school programme where children can attend,

have a good daily hot meal, play games, get help with homework, learn English, and get basic Bible lessons, have access to clothing, school stationery and other things that they can’t normally afford. We also reach kids in the State orphanages. We have a creative ministry team that visits regularly. We have coordinators assigned to each State orphanage that is open to our work. Many of those orphanages receive help from us like extra food, furniture, and many of our donors are helping with tools and educational aids to equip classrooms and the kids for future life. In Moldova we are running human trafficking awareness classes for the older children, so they become aware of the dangers well before they leave. We also outreach with regular meals to street kids as well as the older ones on the streets in cities in Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria.

What can New Zealanders do?

Donate, become a family or child sponsor, go to help as a volunteer at summer camp, or knit woollen blankets and clothes or help with other parts of our “Operation CoverUp” project that sends aid in two 40 foot containers every year from New Zealand. We also have volunteers helping us in the office and around the country who had visited some of our field countries and can talk about life and our work in Eastern Europe. I’ve seen the amazing changes in families and children that Kiwis have sponsored – often it’s like night turning into day.

For more details visit www.mwb.org.nz

Too many of our precious NZ children are experiencing abuse and neglect.

We care for them in their time of need.

We keep siblings together, ensure they are not moved often, and provide deep, restorative loving supports for their healing and recovery.

We need your help.

Please join us today by committing to a small regular donation.

For more information and to donate visit www.homesofhope.org.nz or call us on (07)

14 | Christian Life Issue Twenty One March 2015

578 9826

Local News

MAF PLANE ARRIVES IN NEW ZEALAND New Zealand provides many of Mission Aviation Fellowship’s pilots and it has become increasingly clear that there is a growing need for an aircraft here in New Zealand to train, test and prepare pilots for the challenging conditions they will face overseas. Now one of these operational aircraft will be based in New Zealand.

After it’s 3-day journey to New Zealand from Cairns the plane, a

Cessna 206, was expected to arrive on Wednesday 11 March.

MAF flies life-saving equipment, resources and personnel into some of the most remote and challenging areas on earth. Over the last 70 years, Mission Aviation Fellowship has grown from just one plane to a fleet of 140 aircraft and a MAF aircraft is taking off or landing somewhere in the world every three minutes.

For further info visit www.mafnz.org.nz or phone (0800 87 85 88) for updates

DR ARNOLD FRUCHTENBAUM BACK IN NZ Renowned biblical scholar, author and teacher Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum will be speaking at a number of regions throughout New Zealand in April 2015 including, Nelson, Westport, Christchurch, Invercargill, Queenstown, Havelock North and Auckland.

His family escaped to Germany after Dr Fruchtenbaum’s father was released from a communist prison in Siberia. The

NEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL FOR WELLINGTON

Fruchtenbaum’s immigrated to New York, and five years later, at age 13, Arnold came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

Dr Fruchtenbaum later moved to Israel, where he studied archaeology, ancient history, historical geography, and Hebrew at the American Institute of Holy Land Studies and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

It was during this time, he witnessed

While there are now some twenty integrated interdenominational Christian schools in New Zealand, Wellington has yet to have such a co-ed college. “We believe that now is the time for Wellington,” says Natalya Mansell, of the Wellington Christian Education Trust, which is heading up the establishment of the school.

Research and the advice of the Ministry of Education confirm that the location needs to be in the Northern corridor, which is equally accessible to students from the Hutt, Porirua and Wellington. Beginning with a PledgeMe campaign, the Trust is currently hoping to raise the deposit to buy the land and existing school buildings well placed in Johnsonville, able to meet all the criteria, for a school starting with Years 7-9,

the historic Six-Day War in 1967. Later that year, Arnold returned to the U.S. and entered Dallas Theological Seminary for studies in Hebrew and Old Testament.

For details on the tour contact Ariel New Zealand at www.Ariel.org.nz

gradually expanding to cover Years 0-13.

While the Trust (a registered charitable trust) aims to raise $5 million, the goal is to provide affordable Christian education to a wide variety of families. Once the school is purchased, WCET will immediately look to finalise the integration application and to continue to fundraise for establishing the school in20l6.

Tumanako ( Maori for ‘Hope’) Christian College is planned to be a co-ed, integrated, Christian school with the aim to ‘grow students who are passionate citizens of heaven and engaged citizens of the world.’ It is about integrating faith in every aspect of life through the school. “We want to encourage servant leadership,” Natalya says.

www.mychristiandaily.com | 15

P RO GR AMME GU I D E April 2015

Details correct at time of printing. (Notes in italics indicate programme date changes in the month) For up-to-date 24-hour listings and programme information go to shinetv.co.nz.

SUNDAY 6:00 6:30 7:00

Lakewood Church: Joel Osteen

MONDAY P

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Unlocking the Bible: David Pawson

P

Leading the Way: Michael Youssef

P

The Catholic Guy: Bruce Downs

P

Derek Prince

P

Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn

P

The Huggabug Club

C

6:00

Joni and Friends

D

Hearts Wide Open

D

Give Me An Answer: Cliffe Knechtle

D

Rhema Worship

M

Your Best Life: Phil Pringle

P

Hillsong Kids

C

6:30

The Huggabug Club

C

The Huggabug Club

C

Veggie Tales

C

Adventures in Booga Booga Land

C

Scaly Adventures

C

Go Frills

C

7:00

3-2-1 Penguins!

C

Go Frills

C

3-2-1 Penguins!

C

Larryboy

C

Hillsong Kids

C

Larryboy

C

7:30

Hour of Power: Robert Schuller

P

8:00

Connection Point: Reuben Munn

P

Go Frills

C

Friends and Heroes

C

Children’s Heroes of the Bible

C

Superbook

C

Pahappahooey Island

C

RocKids TV

C

8:00

8:30

Word For You: Terry & Jayne Calkin

P

Impact for Life: Peter & Bev Mortlock

P

Word For You: Terry & Jayne Calkin

P

LIFE TV: Paul de Jong

P

Running With Fire: Tak Bhana

P

Connection Point

P

What’s in the Bible?

C

8:30

In Touch: Charles Stanley

P

Superbook

C

9:00

P

Life Questions: Jeff Vines

D

P

Children’s Heroes of the Bible

C

9:30

Running with Fire: Tak Bhana

P

HarvestLite (Highlights from the Harvest Show)

P

7:30

9:00 9:30 10:00

Destined to Reign with Joseph Prince (Mon-Fri)

10:30 LIFE TV: Paul de Jong P

The Exchange

D

Answers with Bayless Conley

P

Rhema Worship

M

Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV

The 700 Club (Tue-Fri)

10:00

N

Life fm Presents

11:00

Full Circle (Mon-Fri)

D

11:30

Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer (Mon-Fri)

D

Hearts Wide Open

Y

Jeni: Seeking the Extraordinary

Noon

12:30 1:00

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

1:30 2:30 3:00

4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 6:00

Give Me An Answer: Cliffe Knechtle

P

Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah

P

Joni and Friends Hearts Wide Open

7:00

Precious Memories

8:00

D

Living Truth: Charles Price

6:30

7:30

M

Songs of Praise

M

Hymns of the Forefathers

M

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

2:00

3:30

Precious Memories: Bill & Gloria Gaither

Brought to you by

Songs of Praise Hymns of the Forefathers

In Touch: Charles Stanley

Sue Thomas: FB Eye

P

FEATURE: See adjacent for details The Restoration Road

P

Living Truth: Charles Price

Go Frills

C

Superbook

C

Life fm Presents

Y

TheDRIVEtv

Y

Christian World News

N

Ask Chris

D

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

9:30

D

D P

Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah

P

Lakewood Church: Joel Osteen

Veggie Tales

C

Larryboy

C

Friends and Heroes

C

Children’s Heroes of the Bible

C

Life fm Presents

Y

Life fm Presents

Y

Xtreme Life TV

Y

TheDRIVEtv

D

Live from Studio B

M

M M

What’s on Shine Sue Thomas: FB Eye

Word For You: Terry & Jayne Calkin

P

Christian World News

N

Ask Chris

D

D

LIFE TV: Paul de Jong

P

American Bible Challenge

E

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

Hillsong Kids

C

RocKids TV

C

Leading the Way: Michael Youssef

D

4:00

Superbook

C

What’s in the Bible?

C

Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn

P

4:30

Life fm Presents

Y

Life fm Presents

Y

Jeni: Seeking the Extraordinary

D

5:00

Jump Shipp

D

5:30

Lakewood Church: Joel Osteen

P

N

Running With Fire: Tak Bhana

P

Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn

P

Live from Studio B

M

Jeni: Seeking the Extraordinary

D

Jump Shipp

D

Todd White at Cloud Festival / Planetshakers TV (Apr 9)

D

TheDRIVEtv

Y

Your Best Life: Phil Pringle

P

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

10:30

Your Best Life: Phil Pringle

P

Life Questions: Jeff Vines

D

11:00

The Catholic Guy: Bruce Downs

P

Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer (Mon-Fri)

P

11:30

The Exchange

D

Destined to Reign with Joseph Prince (Mon-Fri)

P

Midnight

Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn

P

P

Leading the Way: Michael Youssef

P

The Catholic Guy: Bruce Downs

A Shine viewer says... “Shine is the best Christian station on

because there’s something for everyone. If anyone grizzles about Shine, you send them to me!” 

P

Derek Prince

6:30 7:00

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

7:30

Brought to you by

Sue Thomas: FB Eye

D

Unlocking the Bible: David Pawson

6:00

8:00

9:00

The Restoration Road

P

3:30

8:30

P

Answers with Bayless Conley

2:30

P

Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV

D

2:00 3:00

10:00

The Exchange

1:30

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

P

FEATURE: See adjacent for details FEATURE: See adjacent for details

Noon

Hour of Power: Robert Schuller

D P

D

1:00

Life Journeys

The 700 Club (Mon-Fri) Impact for Life: Peter & Bev Mortlock

D 11:30

12:30

D

M

10:30 11:00

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

FEATURE: See adjacent for details

8:30 9:00

American Bible Challenge

Y

P

Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV

Connection Point: Reuben Munn

P

P

D

9:30

Joni and Friends

D 10:00

Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn

P 10:30

The Mark Gungor Show

D

LIFE TV: Paul de Jong

P

11:00 11:30 Midnight

KEY: P Preaching C Children M Music N News

E Entertainment

D Doco/Drama

Y Youth

Details correct at time of printing

16 | Christian Life Issue Twenty One March 2015

SH INE FE ATU R ES April 2015

Barabbas

Barabbas tells the story of the murderer whose life was spared by the decision to crucify Jesus Christ. The epic pick ups where the Bible left off, following Barabbas in a powerful story of faith and redemption.

Fri 3 Apr @ 8.30pm Stay tuned to Shine for times of screening throughout Easter weekend or go to shinetv.co.nz

Journey to the Amazon: Living Truth in Brazil (running time: 60 min) Charles Price takes us to the Amazon rainforest to report on the work of the Evangelical Mission to Assist Fishermen.

Wed 1 Apr @ 1pm; Tue 7 Apr @ 8.30pm; Wed 8 Apr @ 1pm

Hymns of Hope & Healing (run time: 60 min) Written and composed often during times of adversity, these hymns give us great hope, today.

Pt 1: Sun 5 Apr @ 9pm; Mon 6 Apr 2.30pm Pt 2: Mon 6 Apr @ 9.30pm; Tue 7 Apr @ 2pm

The Gift of Hope: The Tony Melendez Story (running time: 50 min) Tony Melendez has no arms, but he is known around the world for playing the guitar with his feet.

Tue 14 Apr @ 9.25pm; Wed 15 Apr @ 2.25pm

58: The Film (running time: 73 min) Confront the brutality of poverty and meet those who live out the True Fast of Isaiah 58 for a better future.

Tue 7 Apr @ 9.30pm; Wed 8 Apr @ 2pm

Virtuous (running time: 120 min) The lives of eight women intersect and portray what it means to be a virtuous woman in today’s society.

Wed 15 Apr @ 8.30pm; Thu 16 Apr @ 1pm

Diamond Dog Caper (run time: 107 min) A courageous boy battles a gang of bumbling thieves to rescue a dog carrying a fortune in stolen diamonds.

Wed 8 Apr @ 8.30pm; Thu 9 Apr @ 1pm

Live to Forgive (running time: 81 min) Could you forgive and love the man who murdered your mother? The forgiveness journey of Dean Eric Smith.

Thu 16 Apr @ 8pm; Fri 17 Apr @ 12.30pm

A Heart Set Free (running time: 102 min) The story of the life of Charles Wesley, The Sound of Heaven (run time: 60 min) gifted poet and hymnwriter and one of Songwriter and worship leader David the fathers of Methodism.

Willersdorf passionately proclaims Jesus Thu 9 Apr @ 7.30pm; Fri 10 Apr @ 12.30pm through his worship anthems.

Thu 2 Apr @ 7.30pm; Fri 3 Apr @ 12.30pm Milltown Pride (running time: 134 min) How much will Will risk for his chance I Believe in Easter (run time: 60 min) at the big leagues? And when you hit How did Easter, a word with origins in rock bottom, is there a way back up? pagan tradition, come to embody the Fri 10 Apr @ 8pm; Sat 11 Apr @ 12pm most important festival in Christianity?

Thu 2 Apr @ 8.30pm; Fri 3 Apr @ 1.30pm Running Free (running time: 81 min) A colt is separated from his mother at Todd White at Cloud Festival the outbreak of WWI. An antelope and (running time: 60 min) a native girl teach him how to survive.

Rhema’s George and Andrew chatted Sat 11 Apr @ 7pm; Sun 12 Apr @ 2.30pm; to evangelist Todd White about his life Sun 19 Apr @ 12.30pm at Cloud Festival earlier this year.

Thu 2 Apr @ 9.30pm The Playbook (running time: 104 min) A story of how an ordinary father and This is Easterfest ‘14 (running time: 60 min) basketball coach questions his faith Easterfest is Australia’s biggest Christian after tragedy tears apart his family. festival. Find out what goes into making Sun 12 Apr @ 8.30pm; Mon 13 Apr @ 1.30pm such a big event possible.

Places in the Heart (running time: 106 min) Fri 3 Apr @ 7.30pm; Sat 4 Apr @ 12pm In 1930’s Southern USA, a widow and Saviour (running time: 49 min) her family try to run their farm with the What would it look like if Jesus were born help of a disparate group of friends. in the 21st Century? A contemporary Mon 13 Apr @ 8.30pm; Tue 14 Apr @ 1pm interpretation of the Christmas story.

Sat 4 Apr @ 7pm; Sun 5 Apr @ 2pm; The Last 14 Years of the Daniel 9 Sun 12 Apr @ 12.30pm Prophecy (running time: 85 min) Steve Shephard looks at the correlation Midnight Stallion (running time: 97 min) of the first 14 years of the Persian Empire When a family discovers a wild stallion with the last 14 years of Daniel’s prophecy. in a nearby forest they wonder if this Tue 14 Apr @ 8.30pm; Wed 15 Apr @ 1pm could be the answer to their prayers.

Sun 5 Apr 12.30pm To watch Shine

A Long Way Off (running time: 105 min) A modern-day retelling of the Prodigal Son. We all know one, have been one or are waiting for one to come home.

Fri 17 Apr @ 8.30pm; Sat 18 Apr @ 12pm

The 7 Mile Miracle (running time: 60 min) The capital of the surfing world... take a journey of discovery and see the heart of the Creator of it all.

Wed 1 Apr @ 2pm Slow Moe (running time: 87 min) Marvin wants to be a baseball player but lacks the skills until he finds a pair of glasses that turn him into the best player in his town Wed 1 Apr @ 8.30pm; Thu 2 Apr @ 1pm

Details correct at time of printing. For up-to-date 24-hour listings and programme information go to shinetv.co.nz.

Freeview Satellite 25 Sky 201 or online at shinetv.co.nz

Me Again (running time: 93 min) When Rich dreams of a life other than his own, he finds himself trapped in the lives of those his apathy has affected.

Sat 18 Apr @ 7pm; Sun 19 Apr @ 2pm; Sun 26 Apr @ 12.30pm

Beyond Beersheba: ANZAC’s in the Holy Land (running time: 93 min) Gary ‘Tex’ Houston on the Australian Light Horse’s journey from Beersheba to Damascus in 1917, through Israel, Jordan and Syria.

Thu 23 Apr @ 8pm; Fri 24 Apr @ 12.30pm There Be Dragons (running time: 106 min) An investigative journalist unearths secrets about his father’s ties to the controversial founder of Opus Dei. Fri 24 Apr @ 8.30pm; Sat 25 Apr @ 12pm Seven Days in Utopia (run time: 100 min) Promising golfer Luke meets Johnny, who makes an irresistible offer: spend a week in Utopia to change his life.

Sat 25 Apr @ 7pm; Sun 26 Apr @ 2pm Hopeville (running time: 91 min) A dynamic story of the commitment of three childhood friends, from the makebelieve remote town of Hopeville.

Sun 26 Apr @ 8.30pm; Mon 27 Apr @ 1.30pm Sarah’s Choice (running time: 86 min) Sarah Collins is considering an abortion.

She is shown three visions causing her to think about the impact on her future.

Mon 27 Apr @ 8.30pm; Tue 28 Apr @ 1pm

Let God (running time: 91 min) In 1848, a caravan of pioneers set out west. Only one woman survived a brutal attack. A story of faith overcoming all.

Sun 19 Apr @ 8.30pm; Mon 20 Apr @ 1.30pm

Embraceable (running time: 48 min) A celebration of the kindness, charisma, musical passion and joy of people with a rare condition called Williams Syndrome.

Tue 28 Apr @ 8.30pm; Wed 29 Apr @ 1pm

Faith of My Fathers (running time: 81 min) The story of the war career of Senator John McCain who, during the Vietnam War, was shot down and spent five years as a prisoner of war.

Mon 20 Apr @ 8.30pm; Tue 21 Apr @ 1pm

Colin and Riley (running time: 30 min) Entertainer Colin Buchanan and his son Riley travel to Indonesia where they visit Compassion projects and families.

Tue 28 Apr @ 9.30pm; Wed 29 Apr @ 2pm

A Call to Business (running time: 86 min) A wakeup call to business people to see that God has anointed them to serve Him ‘full time’ in the marketplace.

Tue 21 Apr @ 8.30pm; Wed 22 Apr @ 1pm The River Within (running time: 96 min) A recent law-school graduate finds new purpose after he takes a job as youth director for his hometown church.

Wed 22 Apr @ 8.30pm; Thu 23 Apr @ 1pm

Dog Jack (running time: 113 min) A Civil War tale about 14-year-old Jed, a slave who escapes with loyal dog Jack to join the Union Army.

Wed 29 Apr @ 8.30pm; Thu 30 Apr @ 1pm Hope is Erupting (running time: 79 min) Citipointe Live’s latest album opens people’s hearts to the reality of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

Thu 30 Apr @ 8pm

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

www.mychristiandaily.com | 17

Classifieds... brought to you by My Christian Daily Jobs www.mychristiandaily.com/jobs

POSITION VACANT

EVENTS

PART TIME YOUTH PASTOR

Avalon Assembly of God is a growing multinational Pentecostal church situated in Avalon at the cross roads of Lower Hutt’s diverse communities.

We are seeking an enthusiastic person to work 20 hours per week with college age youth and young adults for a one year fixed term position.

The successful applicant should have a passion for God and for young people, a calling for the ministry under the power of the Holy Spirit, demonstrating a strong Christian witness and undergoing theological training. Preferably, the applicant will be married with the full support of their spouse.

Please email Rudy Oversluizen; avalon.ag@xtra.co.nz for the job description and to send your CV. Web: www.avalonag.org.nz

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Suitable for General Audiences.

Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

FIND A CHRISTIAN BUSINESS

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RESOURCES

Peter Snell Youth Village is situated on 27 acres of native bush and parkland about 45 minutes north of Downtown Auckland. With amazing sea and island views towards Waiwera and the Mahurangi.

In recent years the facilities have been updated to meet the needs and comfort of the many school and community groups that take advantage of this beautiful site. Excellent catering and friendly hosts enable guests to focus entirely on getting the most out of their stay.

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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dio Cassette Tapes and Vinyl Records to CD

mm & 16mm Film and P HVideo O N Tapes E : 0to8DVD 00

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Phone 0800 324 538 www.EagleTV.co.nz

Totara Springs Christian Centre is one of the largest centre’s of its kind in New Zealand and is a venue for school camps, church retreats, business conferences, sporting and artistic events, holiday camps and weddings. We are situated in a beautiful setting, nestled at the foot of the Kaimai mountain ranges just outside Matamata. There are 90 plus acres of parklike grounds with accommodation for 420 people in fully serviced motels, 3 lodge complexes and 18 cabins. All our camps are fully catered by our resident catering team www.totarasprings.org.nz or bookings@totarasprings.org.nz or phone 07-8884700

18 | Christian Life Issue Twenty One March 2015

RESOURCES

O.S.C.A.R Where memories are made!

School Holiday Camps 7 fun-filled days $210 Camp Dates  Quad Bikes  Swimming  Sleds and Skimmers  Confidence Course  Flying Fox  Archery  Art  Gymnasium  Sports Field  BMX  Climbing Wall

April 4th to 11th or April 11th to 18th s of f u n !

Come and join us for heap Download registration forms @ www.campraglan.org.nz

Register NOW!

 Paintball (11years+) Phone (09) 630 5271 Email info@cbm.org.nz

Making Room for GOD Whakawatea

Orama Great Barrier Island Easter Weekend

Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2015

To register please contact Merrillyne on 09 429 0063 or info@orama.org.nz • www.orama.org.nz

From your Word document to being a published author, Author Now is here to help you bring your dream to life.

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PICK UP YOUR FREE COPY We are delighted to be partnering with the Christian bookshops

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of NZ to make Christian Life absolutely FREE of charge each month. That’s right, it won’t cost you a cent to read each edition!

To pick up your copy each month FIND A CHRISTIAN STORE NEAR YOU: Visit www.cba.net.nz or www.manna.co.nz.

www.mychristiandaily.com | 19

Ordinary New Zealand Churches doing Extraordinary things!

The Needs-based Evangelism Trap Howard Webb reflects on the nature and quality of church-based community outreach in New Zealand and draws some conclusions that may surprise you!

TIME AND AGAIN in my pursuit of stories of ordinary New Zealand churches doing extraordinary things in their community, I hear this story. A church sees a community need and meets it well. In time they might even become a contracted service provider with government funding. But several years down the track they are perplexed by how hard it is to bridge from their social service

to the gospel. “We’re a church, for goodness sake,” they say. “How is what we offer different from any other provider of this service?” I would like to suggest that the seeds of success or failure in bridging to the gospel from your community outreach were right there in your ministry plan from day one. The biggest mistake? Prioritising meeting needs over building relationships.

Read the full article at

www.loveyourneighbour.nz/insights Love Your Neighbour helps ordinary churches achieve extraordinary things in their community in three important ways: Stories

We scout out and share the stories of success around the country. These stories inspire, build vision and help us discern best practices in loving our neighbour in the name of Jesus.

Tools

Whether it’s a book, a DVD, a church kit or a thoughtfully written ‘Insights’ article from a New Zealand practitioner, Love Your Neighbour is an excellent go-to resource for those involved in church-based community outreach.

Training

Most community ministries are run by volunteer leaders, and most ministries die because that leader failed to clearly define success, build a real team and pass on the baton.

Over time our highly practical training covers the essentials that every ministry leader needs, including making the right start, casting vision, building a team, finding the resources you need, preventing burnout and finding a successor.

www.loveyourneighbour.nz

Designing for success

Your team can change the world!

Be honest. Is your ministry the life-changing force you always dreamed of it being? If you want to achieve an ultimate goal, you need to design your ministry for success.

Designing for success is best done from the beginning, but don’t worry - you can go back to the drawing board at any time! At this practical workshop wise facilitators will help you define success for your own context and give you the tools to set your ministry on a new trajectory.

You work hard. You want to leave a legacy of change for good. But will the good work you are doing continue after you are gone? You may have people around you who you call ‘team’ but if you are still doing 80% of the work and everything depends on you, you need to come take stock at this workshop – and bring your team with you.

Get it right and you will not only make a difference where you are today but you can change the world tomorrow! Learn from experienced practitioners how to raise the bar in recruiting and developing a motivated team that will help your success go large.

Tauranga Christchurch

Auckland Wellington

Saturday 2 May Saturday 16 May

To learn more visit

Saturday 2 May Saturday 16 May

www.loveyourneighbour.nz/workshops Love Your Neighbour : EVERY NEIGHBOURHOOD BEFRIENDED BY A LOCAL CHURCH