Christian Life issue_23 May 2015 by Initiate Media

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MAY 2015 • Issue TWENTY-THREE • www.mychristiandaily.com

“We want to help meet people’s everyday needs so the church isn’t just seen as a meeting place for Christians, but somewhere people can get answers to the everyday challenges of life.” Ps Paul de Jong

BIG NEWS FOR LIFE CHURCH • WORLD EVENTS • HOLOCAUST EXHIBITION • KAWERAU REVIVAL • KOEBI HART TESTIMONY • PLUS LOADS MORE

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Issue TWENTY-THREE | MAY 2015

08 04 Winds Of Change For LIFE Church 06 What’s the World Coming To? 08 Arts & Entertainment 10 Kawerau Revival Hits the Headlines 12 Straight Shooter: Koebi Hart 14 Local News 15 Going Into Bat for Parents 16 Shine TV programme guide 18 Christian Life Classifieds COVER: Pastors Paul & Maree de Jong from LIFE Church

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Change

Winds Of Change For LIFE Church Major developments are underway for LIFE church in Auckland. PASTOR PAUL DE JONG tells MARIE ANTICICH about plans to relocate two of its key campuses, and the upcoming Legacy Conference. Change is synonymous with the ever-growing LIFE church which has been through a series of moves since it was founded nearly 24 years ago.

he church is now operating out of its three main campuses in Auckland, and at Warkworth and in Melbourne, Australia. “Consolidating over recent years and focusing on three strategic locations in Auckland has enabled us to create a greater focus,” says LIFE senior pastor, Paul de Jong. “We’ll be selling the Mangere Convention Centre, as we’ve taken ownership of the Dream Centre in Manukau in the old picture theatre opposite Rainbows End. We’re going to establish our LIFE South campus there as it’s a primary position, particularly for people who live in south and east Auckland.” The eight-movie theatre complex in Manukau is strategically situated only 15 minutes from East Auckland, Pukekohe and Mangere, with 400 car parks and public transport running to the door. The new LIFE South premises in Manukau are expected to be up and running in early 2016, once renovations are complete. “We didn’t go looking for the Manukau site – the Baptist Union approached us about buying it. We saw the advantage of having somewhere so centralised and felt it was part of God’s dream.” Major changes are also afoot for LIFE Central in Mt Eden Road. “We’re rebuilding as the Auckland Rail Loop is going through our current property, and so we’re negotiating to buy a new building in central Auckland with more extensive facilities.” The new premises will comprise a bigger 2,000–2,500 seat church with adequate car parking facilities and a chapel auditorium that is open 24 hours for prayer and reflection. After the settlement of LIFE Central with Auckland Transport, the new building should open around mid2017. The church has come a long way since Paul and Maree started the then Christian Life Centre Auckland in a lecture room at Auckland Teachers’ College, in 1991. Wellington-born Paul is the son of Dutch immigrant parents and the fourth of eight children. He became a baker like his father, then spent ten years working at Sydney’s Hillsong Church. He and his Australian-born wife Maree felt called to move to Auckland with their three sons, and launch a new church. In 1995 CLCA moved to larger premises at the Mandalay in Newmarket but soon outgrew these, and so began the church’s ‘wandering years’ with services alternating between the Aotea Centre, Carlton and Sheraton hotels and the Downtown Convention Centre. “Before we moved to our permanent venue in Mt Eden, we had eight weekends in eight different locations,” Paul recalls. “Every Sunday the set-up team would start unloading an eight-ton truck and vans at 5.30am and they would pack up at 11.30pm.” In 2001 the church purchased an office and warehouse

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Ps Maree & Paul de Jong complex in Mt Eden Road and converted it into the present 850-seat auditorium. However the building is now too small, necessitating five services on a Sunday. In 2006 the church bought a 10-acre property near Auckland International Airport and developed it into LIFE South church, a leadership college and LIFE Convention Centre. Another change came two and a half years ago when the Hibiscus Coast and West Auckland congregations were relocated into a converted warehouse at LIFE Albany, and the new motorways has drawn people from west Auckland. “We need to have strategic locations which people can readily access and we need to get on top of that financially. So we’ve got buildings at Albany, Central and Manukau and we want to freehold these within the next five years,” says Paul. “We believe God wants us to be a church that’s seen on the horizon of Aotearoa so that – whether people love the church or hate her – they have to process her. The church needs to play a significant role in society so people have to make a decision about it one way or another she shouldn’t appear to be weak, anaemic or a backwater. “We’ve got to be true to what God’s asked us to do. Jesus said You will know a good tree by its fruit. So it’s trusting God and, over time, getting out of the boat and doing what He’s asked us to do. It’s nobody blowing a trumpet. It’s saying, ‘Come on, we can all do something if we do whatever God asks us to do.’ “In a nutshell, we have a five-year focus to see the church become debt-free in its three major Auckland campuses, and to be a church of at least 20,000 people.” LIFE currently has 9,000 active members, and a church plant in Melbourne. “When we say ‘We can be a church of 20,000’ it’s not about big numbers or saying, ‘Look at what we’ve done!’ It’s saying ‘The church is alive and – whether you love her or hate her – you’ve got to process her.’ “We work hard at seeing that church is relevant,” says Paul who is concerned that so many of our young people haven’t even heard the Christian message. Community Focus The LIFE organisation has four fundamental focuses: church, community, business and kingdom. To this end,

70 people are employed on staff and twice as many work on its business and community sides. “We believe the church needs to be centre of community life and so we’re building up our business side and setting up our own initiatives,” Paul states “and through the Life Centre Trust we aim to put at least $20 million a year back into the community.” It’s current business ventures include the Aeroparks park-and-ride service at Auckland Airport, child-care facilities and Edenz College, which release funds to meet community needs. Last year the church acquired Edenz College in Queen Street, merged it with Lifeway College and renamed the combined college Edenz. This tertiary institution has 380 local and international students and offers seven different courses, including English language, 3D animation, business studies and a film school. “We want those on the outside to understand that we’re a group of people willing to help others, and so we inspire business people to use their gifts to fund social and community needs. We have a strong 20/20 vision – that’s a play on words referring to seeing clearly and to reaching our goals by the year 2020. “We want to help meet people’s everyday needs so the church isn’t just seen as a meeting place for Christians, but somewhere people can get answers to the everyday challenges of life. Let’s say we’re unapologetically Christian and have an agape, no-strings attached approach.” The church wants to foster its community involvement and have an increasing kingdom presence so it can blow into the sails of what God is doing everywhere, not judging people but adding to and strengthening other Christian organisations, the whole kingdom. “There’s so much to do in the community,” he says. “Matthew 5:16 says: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (NKJV) So we want to bring people that tangible response of God’s love.” Flowing out of this, LIFE’s Christmas Box initiative will pack 14,000 Christmas hampers this year and work alongside community organisations to distribute them to families in need. “The Message Bible has a great verse in Ephesians 1:23: The church you see is not peripheral to the world;

We believe God wants us to be a church that’s seen on the horizon of Aotearoa so that – whether people love the church or hate her – they have to process her... the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. “When you think that through is that how the church in New Zealand looks? We need to see the church like God sees it – how we see the church determines our attitude towards her – you’ve got to love her or hate her, she’s that magnificent. She’s not full of judgment, she’s out there helping in the community. Jesus got the disciples to pray Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. “God seeks, acts and fills everything with His presence. Again, you’ve got to stop and debrief what that means – it means that we determine the volume of God’s work. We determine the extent of the touch of his hand or his reach. “We’re the conduit God uses. It’s all of us becoming the voice, the hands, the conduit of His presence, and therefore our vision should be big and our commitment large. I feel the government should be coming to the church to process the needs of humanity. “It’s not a case of being the ‘greatest,’ that’s not our driving force, as it’s all by God’s grace and we couldn’t have done any of this without His help. But it’s having the kind of kingdom

perception that God graces. “It’s not egotistical or up itself. It’s being humble before God and saying to people: ‘We’re not just doing this to get you into church. We’re doing it because you matter.’ “Everyone has the right to make a decision based on what they hear and feel, and to choose whether or not to follow Christ. We’re going to love them no matter what – Jesus said Who-ever chooses, let them come. “Jesus didn’t stereotype people because of their choices. He loved them with no strings attached, right where they were, and if we meet people’s needs they can feel God’s touch and know His presence. “In all of that, we’ve been on a big process – going from five locations to three strategic Auckland locations, and in Warkworth and Melbourne. We feel like we’re getting underway again. “For us it doesn’t seem like a grandiose vision – it seems like something we can burst out and do and so God’s going to need to do some miracles. I’ve always had a sense that God wanted us to do something and to make a profound difference in society. I think we’re not there yet, but we’re getting closer to it.”

Legacy Conference “More and more people are coming to the conference from all over the place – they love the format, the dialogue, the great speakers and the ministry,” says LIFE senior pastor Paul de Jong who is hosting the conference with his wife Maree. Some 2,000 church leaders and representatives of Christian organisations from around New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, Europe and the USA will attend the conference at the LIFE Convention Centre in Mangere, Auckland from May 19-22. The conference is one of LIFE’s kingdom initiatives and is designed to support the local church in New Zealand. “This year’s theme is ‘Legacy’ and it’s about and taking what God is doing and running with it generationally, and making our today and tomorrow count,” says Paul. This year’s line-up of international speakers will include pastors Tommy Barnett, Joel Holm, Chad Veach, Phil Pringle, Darlene Zschech and Luke de Jong. “A few years ago we changed the conference format to run from Tuesday to Friday,” Paul recounts. “Wednesday and Thursday is primarily devoted to Master Classes with key people bringing insights so that we can drill deeply into issues with dialogue and discussion. A businessman can come and get lots of keys to business within a kingdom environment.” The seven Master Classes cater to senior pastors and executive teams, youth pastors and leaders, childrens’ pastors and leaders, business people, community workers and creativity and personal development. “The heart of our two annual conferences – LIFE and the Sistas women’s conference – is to empower and minister to leaders and people from all denominations,” says the Auckland pastor who is passionate about helping people fulfil their God-given calling.

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World Events

What’s the World Coming To? Pastor Brian Hughes of Calvary Chapel, Auckland talks to Lynley Smith about the unusual confluence of significant events happening at present.

t seems that 2014 and 2015 have proceeded with an unprecedented ‘hiss and a roar,’ with significant events and world-shattering international threats grabbing the headlines. Firstly, there is the tetrad of ‘blood moons’ over a 17-month period – on April 15 and on October 8, 2014, and on April 4 and September 28 of this year. These total eclipses make the moon take on a bloodred colour, and they coincide exactly with important Jewish feasts: April eclipses with the Passover and the other two with the Feast of Tabernacles. Pundits quoting Isaiah 13:10, Ezekiel 32:7, Joel 2:1031 and Joel 3:15 have assured all who will listen that these are some of the signs prophesied to warn of the imminent approach of the last days and the return of Christ. Then we had the 70th commemoration of World War 2 events, including the liberation of Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp on January 27, 1945, and dates assigned as the end of World War 2, ranging from VE day on May 8, 1945, to Japan’s final surrender in August the same year. The media has paid unprecedented attention to all of these happenings. Other notable events have included our WW1 centenary commemorations, ANZAC Day and Gallipoli commemoration, and the bicentenary last year of the first sermon preached in New Zealand by Samuel Marsden, on Christmas Day 1814. Throughout 2014, international terrorist threats increased exponentially and anti-Semitism, is running rampant in Europe and is now being exported to Australia, Canada, the USA and elsewhere.

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The most flagrant example of ruthless and inhumane terrorism ever seen in the developed world has been manifested by the ISIS group which claims to have established by force a Muslim caliphate in Syria and Iraq. What is the church’s answer to all this? Pastor Brian Hughes, of Calvary Chapel in Glenfield, Auckland is not complacent in the face of the unprecedented range of events experienced during the past year, and believes that people need to stand up for their beliefs. “I think a quote from Martin Luther King sums up what’s going on today. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Pastor Hughes says people are fearful of Islam and many other things. New Zealanders, in their naivety, tend to think and hope they’ll be insulated from what is going on overseas. But Islam has a strategic plan to take over the world. On February 23, 2015 the New Zealand Herald reported that a Somali Muslim terrorist group, El Shabaab, has declared it will target Westfield malls world-wide. New Zealand has nine such malls. This indicates that New Zealand is not immune, he says. This confluence of events with Bible prophecy really is happening. There are signs Christians should be noting. “Jesus listed all the catastrophes that would assail the world in the end days, but emphasised that the time was ‘not yet.’ However, we are clearly getting to that point. “Any student of Biblical prophecy will note the problem of anti-Semitism in the world – it has been around since 400 BC, but now Jews are fleeing Europe in huge

numbers, driven out by anti-Semitism. Biblical prophecy is unfolding before our eyes – it’s happening faster and faster.” As philosopher George Santayano famously said: ‘Those who forget history are destined to repeat it.’ Pastor Hughes says we need to be concerned, to care about what is happening in the world and to the Jews and the nations, because God cares. New Zealand will not be insulated from the trouble to come. “The church has, to some degree, become about individuals and we are focused on our comfort, so we’re missing the signs. For some, the focus is more on man than on God! We need to get back to Bible. We will not recognise the counterfeit – false signs, false messiahs, false teaching – unless we read the Bible.” On the plus side, one recent event is very significant for New Zealand, he says. The 200th anniversary of Samuel Marsden’s first sermon on Christmas Day 2014 was extremely important. It wasn’t just about remembering the gospel’s arrival in New Zealand. More importantly, it was a counter to the increasing revisionist history being promulgated in New Zealand which fails to tell of the very important contribution of the missionaries and their teaching of the Word of God, to the Maori people. “Secularists over the past ten years have been trying to tell us that New Zealand is a secular country,” he says. “The bicentenary told history as it really occurred. It reminded people of the truth. It got rid of revisionist his-

“I think a quote from Martin Luther King sums up what’s going on today. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” tory.” Pastor Hughes says the danger of revision of history to a secular version must be understood. Secularism is a ‘religion’ or belief system. It means holding faith in man and not in God and, as such, leads to anti-Semitism. The church in New Zealand is standing unified in the face of increased opposition, much more than the average parishioner realises. National church leaders get together twice a year formally, and more often informally, and “We get along really well. We agree on the essentials of the Bible.” Pastor Hughes believes the church will rise to the challenge of our present situation, as shown by its response to the Christchurch earthquake. “The church provided what the government couldn’t prvide,” he says. “It got together quickly and efficiently. In a crisis, the Church rises! It is more strategically located to meet the needs on the local level in an emergency when community infrastructure is destroyed, as was the case in the Christchurch earthquake.” But we are being distracted from the core thing, he says. Focussing on the rise in terrorism, on the rise in anti-Semitism, on the geopolitics of the Middle East and USA, on the arms race in Iran …. these things are all distractions from the necessary focus of all Christians, which must be on Jesus Christ and the God who sent Him to die on the cross so that we could live. Yes, God is interested in Israel, and He weeps over the wickedness of men, but we, the Church, are called to

glorify God, not spend valuable time being intrigued by what Satan is doing. “People tend to blame God for what is happening in the world today,” says Pastor Hughes. “The well-known Bible teacher, Chuck Missler says that throughout scripture it was hearing that brought faith. It was the eye – as in the case of Adam and Eve seeing and coveting the forbidden fruit – that brought sin. That is part of the problem with the world today. We spend time looking at what Satan is doing, instead of hearing what the Word of God is saying. Satan plays us like puppets, collectively and individually. “We need to turn our eyes back to Jesus, and, as we spend time with Him, we begin to love as He does. If the Church manifested that love, the world would be saved!” Pastor Hughes says there are three important discipleship steps in reaching that goal. The first is abiding in Jesus, while still living in the world (John 8:31); secondly, loving like Jesus does (John 13:35); and thirdly, ultimately glorifying God in all we do (John 15:8). “In the end we need to glorify the Father by bearing fruit – that fruit is love for the Father. Love is the key!” There are only two offensive weapons in the Bible, he says. These are the Word of God and prayer: “My question is: Are you using these weapons, or are they sitting on the shelf?”

Taking Action in our World in Crisis Pastor Brian Hughes offers the following strategy for those ready to answer the call to battle in these tumultuous times: Pick up your weapons – the Word of God and prayer: 1. Pray for our Prime Minister and parliamentarians, whatever their beliefs or status, that they may have the wisdom of God with knowledge and understanding. 2. Pray for your pastor or church leader. 3. Pray for the protection of your family in these last days, that they may have eyes to see what’s going on and not be ashamed to share the Gospel. It is a time for boldness. Proverbs 29: 25 says ‘The fear of man is a snare.’ 4. Pray for yourself, that you will not be deceived. 5. Pray for the persecuted church, world leaders, the peace of Jerusalem and any other situation the Lord leads you to uplift to Him. “If you look at the world, you will be distressed. If you look at yourself, you will be depressed. If you look up (to the Lord) you will be blessed!” (Anonymous.)

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Arts & entertainment

Shadows of A Resurgent Past By Lynley Smith

Sheree and Perry Trotter, creators of the Shadows of the Shoah exhibition; Top: This moving multi-sensory exhibition, Shadows of the Shoah can be installed easily anywhere

hile many people in the world are passively watching the unprecedented string of major geopolitical and natural events unfolding over the past twelve months, one couple decided several years ago to make a stand. Perry and Sheree Trotter, of Wellsford, north of Auckland are the creators of a unique mobile exhibition called Shadows of Shoah which aims to counteract the rising tide of antiSemitism in New Zealand and across the world. Perry, who is a photographer and a music composer, and Sheree, who is a Holocaust educator and post graduate honours student in history at Auckland University, formed a non-sectarian incorporated charitable trust Shadows of Shoah in 2012. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key launched their photographic exhibition on January 25, 2013. The exhibition incorporates outstanding photographs, original music and short accounts from selected episodes of Holocaust survivors’ lives. The couple have interviewed more than 40 survivors to date and the work is ongoing. “The Holocaust ended in 1945, but the anti-Semitism that inspired it lives on,’ says Perry. “There is a climate of popular ignorance, apathy and passivity which have created trends that look eerily familiar to those who lived in 1930s Europe.” The couple pursued the project, initially funding it themselves, because of their commitment to the Jewish people and their desire to understand the historical, theological and spiritual roots of anti-Semitism. “We are friends of the Jewish people, Biblical Zionists and – I say this with a note of caution – Christians,” says Perry. “Caution, because we’re aware of the many who

espouse a supersessionist theology, more generally known as replacement theology which teaches that God has finished with the Jewish nation and has raised up the Church in its place. This theology provided fertile ground for the Holocaust.” The Shadows exhibition, which is aimed at raising the awareness of nonJews to the current resurgence of antiSemitism around the world, comprises a self-contained 8m diameter enclosure using HD monitors and projectors. The exhibition has had a busy season since its launch, having been staged in two museums, two art galleries, on a university campus and in several schools. At each venue, many hundreds of people passed through, viewing the dramatic stories. “The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive,” Perry says. “The exhibition designed to reach those who have little knowledge of anti-Semitism and of the Jewish people. Feedback indicates that these targets are being reached effectively.” Perry and Sheree have big plans for the exhibition and hope to take it to the European Parliament in Brussels, and to the United Nations in New York, and interest has been shown in these quarters. “Sadly, we’re seeing the phenomenon of anti-Semitism everywhere, even in the evangelical church,” says Perry who studies Christian anti-Semitism and Christian anti-Zionism and regularly follows developments throughout the world. “The church failed the Jews in the 1930s, with a few notable exceptions. Now, our hope is that there will be many Christians who, in the years ahead, will take a strong stand against anti-Semitism, in all its forms.” www.shadowsofshoah.com

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New Release: Noble NZ Release date: 28 May 2015. • Runtime 101 mins • Rating: M They broke everything but her spirit. They took everything but her dream. NOBLE, the award-winning feature film, is the incredible true story of a fearless Irish heroine driven by her daring vision to escape the slums of Ireland and risk everything on the streets of Vietnam. Winner of six U.S. film festival awards, including the Panavision Spirit Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the powerful biopic drama written and directed by Stephen Bradley is heralded by critics as “raw and genuinely powerful,” “captivating” and “moving.” The Holly-

wood Reporter calls it “a joyful and rousing affirmation of the human spirit that will resound widely.” The film captures the drama of a life that has culminated in Christina Noble helping almost a million street-children and their families in Vietnam and Mongolia. For more information about the charity visit: www.cncf.org Christina’s life can be read in her international bestselling autobiography ‘Bridge Across My Sorrows’ (1994) and her followup ‘Mama Tina’ (1999).

MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE Christian Movers and Shakers By George Bryant Published by DayStar Books Price: $27.99 Leading Christian author, George Bryant, has produced another inspiring book – his 17th! He examines how Christians have made a positive difference to our nation since its foundation. Motivated by faith they have put a human face on the principle of ‘loving your neighbour’. They have protested against injustices and gone the extra mile. This book outlines the profiles of a few of the thousands of Christians who are moving and shaking New Zealand today, including a judge, leading scientist, social worker, journalist, city councillors, doctor, educationist, racing driver, businessman, youth worker, prison reformer, city missioner, and navy commander.

Read about why and how they are making a real difference among the poor, with at-risk youth, in housing, the media, education, health, parenting, business... and across the community. As a country we are much the richer because of them. A great apologetic for the Christian faith. It will inspire and challenge Christians and non-Christians alike. “A must-read for anyone who wants to know what the Christian faith looks like,” says Duncan Pardon, former editor of The Baptist. A glossy, table-top production. For more information visit daystarbooks.org

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Revival

Kawerau Revival Hits the Headlines Pastors Matai and Cissie Bennett of the Kawerau Community Church tell Lynley Smith their unique story.

he Bennetts are the pastors who oversaw a revival that swept through the small town of Kawerau last year, shutting down crime and transforming the local high school playground into a prayer closet. This town of approximately 7,000 people has historically had the highest proportion of people on social welfare benefits in New Zealand, and in 2006 its unemployment level stood at 13.6%. “We started noticing something was up at the beginning of 2014, but I think it actually started in 2013,” says Pastor Matai. That year a team of British intercessors came to Kawerau and prayed over the local Masonic Lodge: “I have no problem believing in my heart that the Lord drew a line in the sand at that time,” says the father of four. From that time, more and more teens started to turn up at the Kawerau Community Church. Numbers steadily increased through the first six months of 2014 until June 2, when 100 teens gave their hearts to the Lord in one night. “This isn’t the first time we’ve had 100 kids giving their hearts to the Lord in one go –we’re a community-oriented church – but this was significantly different.” Pastor Matai has been pastoring in the area for 20 years and has seen renewal in churches around New Zealand where a few people might be saved. But this was the first time he’d seen the move of God spread outside the church and into the community, and actually into the local high school. The action really started with the arrival of a band called G Force from Houston, USA. The band performed at a youth conference in Auckland and wanted to see at the rest of New Zealand and look at Maori culture, and so they came to Kawerau. Pastor Brent Douglas, senior leader of Encounter Christian Centre in Avondale, Auckland, suggested that G Force do a concert in Kawerau to see what would happen.

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“My natural inclination was to host the concert in the church but Pastor Brent persuaded me to organise the high school as the venue. We advertised G Force as a gospel band and I suggested we have some testimonies as well. I expected about 150 young people to turn up.” To Pastor Matai’s amazement, 350 young people crammed into the school hall to listen to the music and testimonies. While the testimonies were good, they weren’t riveting, but when it came to an altar call, 100 youth came forward. “I can only call it a sovereign work of God,” he reports. “There was no one thing that made it happen.” He notes that there have historically been a lot of great intercessors in the Kawerau community. “There’s always been a feeling in Kawerau that God was going to do something great. That idea has been around here for 50 years – we were just at the end of a long line of accumulating faithful prayer and events.” Over the following months the Bennetts’ church hosted five meetings a week – 150 meetings in a row – for 26 weeks. In that time 300 to 400 youth got saved, including about 75% of the local high school population. Tarawera (Kawerau) High School principal, Helen Tuhoro told Pastor Matai: “We’ve had kids fighting and swearing in the playground, but since those meetings started we’ve had meetings of about 100 students in the playground at lunchtime, and they are praying!” Young people from the Bennett’s church took it upon themselves to organise these prayer meetings and the student response was amazing. Youth were stepping into the role of evangelists to others of their own age. The first prayer meeting was held on June 3 by Tarawera High School head girl, Kathleen Frewen who is a member of Pastor Matai’s church. Fifty students turned up. “There’s a powerful leadership gift on this girl,” says Pastor Matai. “God has used her to stand up in all sorts

of situations for Him. When we held outreaches in the school Kathleen would pray and introduce us.” During the six months the revival lasted, some youth independently took on the role of street evangelists. They walked the streets of Kawerau, laying hands on people and praying for them, and recorded this work on their cell phones. There were healings and some adults turned up at meetings because of these encounters. Although this move of God was clearly targeting young people, some adults were also saved. Many families in Kawerau have gang affiliations with the Mongrel Mob i.e. a family member or friend who is a member of the gang. A number of these people also gave their hearts to the Lord during this time. However only one patched gang member, Junior Tarei, came forward for salvation. While the meetings were continuing, the usually high crime rate in Kawerau dropped to almost nil. Police youth officer George Westerman said to Pastor Matai: “You’ll have to pay for the mortgage on my house – you’ve done me out of a job!” One aspect of this revival was that the church community was totally focussed on salvations; there were few altar calls for healing. “I’m a God chaser,” says Pastor Matai “and we became very focussed on what God was doing and didn’t want to depart from that.” There was opposition, but only really from one neighbour who kept protesting at the worship music, which played from 6.30pm – 7pm. However the local authorities were on board with what was happening, and nothing came of his protests. Word got out about what was happening in Kawerau and people began coming to see for themselves; some even wanted to buy houses and move to the town to be part of the revival. Others tried to duplicate what was happening in Kawerau and school meetings were also held in Opotiki with some success. Significant speakers included Maggie Carrasquillo,

“Revival is one thing, but we need community transformation. The kids are still living in that poverty environment, and Bernadette is bringing ideas and strategies to Kawerau.”

a Mexican who came with G Force and gave her testimony at the first meeting in the local high school, and Pastor Stephen Miller, senior pastor at Manukau New Life Church who came with a team of young people and witnessed 40 young people give their lives to the Lord under their ministry. New Zealand boxer David Tua and Nick Tuitasi, former Auckland police officer all spoke to the youth. “David’s testimony really gripped the kids,” says Pastor Matai. “He just told them of his simple faith.” Afterwards about 150 youth came forward to give their lives or rededicate them to the Lord. And Now…. Six months down the track Pastors Matai and Cissie are analysing what has happened and determining how to proceed from here. The great move of God has subsided, leaving Kawerau with a host of newly-saved ‘baby Christian’ youth. “Any church going through what we have is a little bit ‘ruined’ by it. We now realise how it should be. It’s a difficult one. To have the presence of the Lord so strongly that people are crying and signs and wonders are happening ….” The church had been through a roller-coaster experience, first wondering if revival was really happening, and then the huge excitement of realising that it certainly was.

“It was in the third month that the hard work really began for the leaders – we came out of it very tired. There were all the logistics of running an ongoing series of meetings, and it was exhausting for everyone.” As a result the leadership of the church took a good long break over the Christmas period to figure out what came next. “We realised that coming into a framework of God’s amazing love got us to a certain level, but we needed to disciple the young people to hold them there. Kids who got saved now have to be accountable – they were changed, but their community remains a poverty stricken. In this situation, kids slip back into their old ways and the crime statistics have risen again.” Pastor Matai sees the role of the church as picking up on all those young people who gave their hearts to the Lord and discipling them; they are not lost any more, but they need to be gathered in. “We are now in that process. We’re looking for transformation in marriages, in employment, in all the social issues.” People from all over the world have been in contact with the Bennetts and have got behind them in this new project, and the Church in New Zealand has encouraged them greatly, and is deeply excited that God would move in such a small town in our nation. Auckland entrepreneur, Bernadette Soares has been instrumental in trying to bring change to Kawerau, and

brings a team from Auckland once a month to develop ideas for the local community. “When people live on the poverty line it’s hard for them to believe things can change,” says Pastor Matai. “Revival is one thing, but we need community transformation. The kids are still living in that poverty environment, and Bernadette is bringing ideas and strategies to Kawerau.” Others are offering their input. Iconic song writers David and Dale Garrett, who wrote the Scripture in Song music in the 1970s, are running worship workshops in the town. Pastors are coming to live in Kawerau. Adult attendance at church has doubled. “We’ve experienced a beautiful unity in support from other churches across the denominations,’ Pastor Matai says. “They’ve continually spoken about and to us very positively. This revival has been a tremendous encouragement to other small towns.’ In summary, Kawerau has had a two phase revival. The first phase has seen many youth saved. The second phase, with which the churches are now dealing, has been firstly to seek the heart of the Lord for those saved, and now to see community transformation through discipleship.

In response to the Nepal Earthquake on April 25th

Rebuild Nepal 2015

EMERGENCY APPEAL PLEASE DONATE New Zealand Charitable Trust CC27410

Donate online at www.orphansaidinternational.org/nepal

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Restoration

STRAIGHT SHOOTER ONE WOMAN’S STORY OF ABUSE AND ADDICTION TO HEAVEN AND RESTORATION JANET BALCOMBE CATCHES UP WITH EVANGELIST, KOEBI HART When Koebi began working for the NZ Navy as a Civilian Stewardess, drug-use, depression and suicide were still regular companions. Desperate, she said one day, “God if you’re real there’s got to be someone out there for me,” then saw the word ‘HART’ in front of her eyes like a neon sign for twenty-four Koebi Hart with husband Steve; Opposite page: Steve before they met hours. Then she forgot all about it. In 1985 Koebi was convicted of posvery now and then God pulls a fast one and you slam straight into it. You didn’t see it coming and session to supply Cannabis and received nine months peyou just can’t pick yourself up and carry on like riodic detention. Wanting to make a new start, she moved nothing happened. Meeting Koebi Hart was one such to Taranaki, but defaulted back to drugs and began assoevent. One of God’s secret weapons, she looks like a nor- ciating with various groups including the Black Power. Then she met someone. But in a small town dates mal person but walks in supernatural grace because she with a cop don’t go unnoticed. gives supernatural grace to others, non-stop. She has a Gang members killed her German Shepherd, and message for us. But first, a little back-story… threw his body in front of her place as a calling card. From a middle-class family, Koebi’s Pakeha father wouldn’t let her acknowledge her mother’s Maori heri- “You’ll be next.” She had a choice to make; drugs and a life of crime tage. A sickly child, she suffered severe asthma attacks or the good man. The moment she chose the cop — her almost to the point of death before she would be relucfuture husband Steve HART — God removed her desire tantly taken to hospital. Speaking and laughing was unfor drugs. acceptable behaviour punished with beatings. Steve and Koebi moved to Patea in the late 1980s into Bullied at home, she paid it forward at school until the previous house of a Police officer who was also a there was no school left in Auckland who would take her. spirit-filled Christian and church elder. In Koebi’s broRejected by her father, peers and the system she attempted suicide at nine years old, was sexually active at ten, kenness she became such a disgusting drunk that Steve and taking drugs at twelve. Desperately unhappy at home gave up drinking. She abused him verbally to the exand with no safe place to go, she attempted suicide again treme, even threatening to run him over with the car — at fourteen, but just as in the first attempt she heard the rejection seeking to sabotage her relationship before she audible voice of God say, “NO!” and put the pills away. could be rejected. One month after they moved into the Christian’s She fell pregnant and began living with a man she barely house, God took Koebi, still an unbeliever, to heaven. knew after being kicked out of home. Koebi’s lifestyle No, she didn’t die — she doesn’t know if she was in her was unsafe for her son who eventually lived with her body or out. mother. “The whole atmosphere in heaven is filled with His

presence. On the golden footpath the Lord, the light of the world, was consumed in light. We communicated by thought.” “He would hear my thoughts and I could hear his thoughts. He sent out rays of light to me. The first ray hit me in the heart — LOVE like I’d never experienced. “Where is this love on earth?” I asked. “In my people,” He said. “But I must say, it’s sometimes hard to find His love in His people”, she says. “He sent another ray of light to me — PEACE; the peace that surpasses all understanding. All of my life I longed for peace. The third ray was JOY, and I heard the Lord belly-laughing. I began to laugh and laugh because when I was a child I couldn’t laugh. For the first time I was truly happy. I saw a carpet of purple flowers on either side of the footpath.” “Why are there purple flowers, Lord?” “Because of my royalty.” Koebi was overwhelmed with just how much He loves her. She didn’t want to leave his presence. She didn’t want to leave the love, joy, and peace. But the Lord said to her that she must go back. Back on planet earth she was overcome with an awesome fear of the Lord and the reality of knowing God was real. She couldn’t stop her body from shaking. “It was like heaven was shaking hell out of me.” She couldn’t adjust her eyes to the room in her house. Everything looked hard and harsh because of heavens glory. From that moment she couldn’t swear and the desire for alcohol had gone. The Holy Spirit taught her a new vocabulary and He taught her to read. At school she had been in a special-needs reading group and had struggled to string words together. Steve had an encounter with the Lord the same night Koebi was in heaven. Bringing him home supernaturally

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in the car, he was touched by God in the kitchen. But being very intellectual, Steve’s head got in the way and God had to smoke some of his false beliefs about scientific beginnings. Because Koebi had been a blasphemer, she didn’t know how to tell Steve what had happened to her. She said, “I’ve been blessed by God”. He said, “I know you have,” and told her what had happened to him. For the first time since childhood he had prayed a prayer — about a tree in their back yard that attracted wasps, a problem as he is fatally allergic to stings. “Lord, I know you can do something about this tree.” The next morning the tree was flat on the ground with the roots cut clean away, having fallen silently on a still night with no vibration. It missed the clothesline, woodshed, garage and house. The Inspector of Police asked, “Who cut the tree down? You needed to get permission.” “We prayed and God did it.” “Oh whatever you do, don’t pray for me!” he said with a smile. It was 1990 and Koebi and Steve still weren’t Christians. Koebi went to a Presbyterian church where they had an altar call. The Lord moved Koebi’s legs without her moving them because she wasn’t going forward. Koebi had cursed Steve so much with her mouth the Lord said she had to bless him with her mouth and speak life into his spirit. He attended a Bill Subritzky meeting six months later because the change in her was so dramatic — like night and day. Steve responded to the altar call. The policeman whose house they had moved into was on the team at the meeting and prayed for him. Steve was so filled with the Spirit that he couldn’t speak or walk straight for three hours. God had begun a mighty work of restoration in their lives. She began bible study and theological training, and became an ordained Anglican minister. God healed damage to Koebi’s brain from drug-use over time and eventually, after 25 years God spoke to her in a vision and called her out of the Anglican church. Koebi and Steve had a daughter. As a young child she stopped going to Sunday School because she needed

more mature teaching, and could even critique a sermon. She regularly saw angels and even massaged Jesus’ feet. Then disaster struck. In her teens, Koebi’s daughter was taken and viciously raped by someone who was known to the family. She was different after that. Very different. Koebi’s daughter had left the building. She cut off her glorious long hair, got piercings and dressed dark. She wouldn’t accept ministry and was physically abusive to her father. A three-year walk in the dark for the family had just begun. Koebi prayed and prayed for her daughter but saw no change. Rage bubbled just under the surface of Koebi’s heart and erupted each time she saw her daughter’s rapist. Even as an ordained minister, she couldn’t stop herself flooring the accelerator to run him over if she saw him crossing the street. Then one day she saw him sitting out front of her shop on a park bench. Her rage exploded and she grabbed the biggest carving knife she could find. “He’s not even going to know what hit him,” she said to herself and headed towards the door. Then God intervened. He took her legs out from under her and down on the floor she screamed and screamed until her rage was gone for good. The spirit of God spoke to her, saying “But I forgave YOU. But I forgave YOU. But I forgave YOU,” over and over again until she got it. She forgave her daughters’ rapist and was set free. Still, her daughter was in darkness. One night after three years of watching her daughter slip further away, Koebi stood outside her daughters’ room and cried out to God. “God, I don’t know what to say to you anymore. I don’t know what to pray anymore. I’ve prayed every prayer I can pray. Where is my daughter? Her body is in there, but that’s not her! WHERE IS SHE?” And then, in a vision, God showed her walking into the darkness, fumbling around and finding her daughter’s hand. She put a backpack down and stepped back into the light with her daughter. “God, what was the backpack?” she asked. God said, “It’s a bomb.” He revealed that the bomb was scripture. She fasted and

prayed for three days to download the scriptures she needed to make the bomb, hand-wrote them and placed them in her daughter’s mattress. The day the bomb was laid was the day her daughter returned, and began her long journey back. Koebi’s forgiveness was tested one day while out shopping. She ran face to face into the rapist. “I know what you did to my daughter,” she said. He was terrified… “But I forgive you.” A while later Koebi saw the rapists’ mother who was unaware of what her son had done. “How is your son?” Koebi asked. “Not good,” the mother replied. “He’s got agoraphobia and hasn’t been out of the house for two years.” Koebi replied, “If you would like, I could visit him or arrange for a male priest to call on him.” Koebi’s willingness to help the man was evidence that her heart was truly healed. Koebi’s story is large and she shoots from the hip. There is much more, but it’ll have to wait until next time. She has showed us the power of true forgiveness and earned the right to encourage us in this. She is now an international evangelist; her ministry is called Straight Street Ministries. It’s amazing what God can do with one broken life. If He can do it for her, He can do it for anyone.

You can contact Koebi on 7straightstreet@gmail.com

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www.mychristiandaily.com | 13 12cm high, 25cm wide Christian Life May 2015

Local News

Africa Inland Mission Conference in Te Awamutu on 6 June New opportunities for ministry in Africa and around the world are emerging in Africa Inland Mission. In a series of new planning initiatives, AIM is sharpening its focus to reach the remaining 1008 unreached African people groups, in Africa and in other countries. AIM’s 2015 conference will look at AIM’s TIMO Team among the Chadian Arabs. Hear first-hand reports and how God has brought people to Himself. Learn about new opportunities to serve in reaching the unreached through AIM’s teams. Learn about reaching out to the Muslim people. With guest speakers, AIM’s 2015 conference will encourage, inspire, challenge and equip you as we join together to see Christ-centred churches among all African peoples. For information and to register online, see www.AfricaInlandMission.org/nz.

Biblical Principles of Finance

New Zealand’s unique interest free charity Liberty Trust has been experiencing remarkable growth over the last year. After celebrating their 25th birthday in July 2014 they have been welcomed an unprecedented number of Christian families and churches into their community from all over New Zealand. Liberty Trust’s primary objective is to teach and demonstrate the Bible’s principles of finance. Beginning in 1989 with no capital and without ever borrowing they have now loaned $34 million dollars interest free from their storehouse to enable God’s people to build and purchase their homes and churches interest free and become debt free. Without the burden of bank interest most mortgages are repaid in in just 7 – 10 years,

enabling true liberty. Interest free loans of more than $4 million were advanced in the year ended 31 March. Over 370 interest free mortgage have now been given and word is spreading. Many parents are quick to see the benefits of teaching the sowing and reaping principles to their children and are sponsoring their children to receive an interest free mortgage in 8-10 years. The Liberty Trust storehouse is now growing at around $1 million each year as funds given to the trust are lent and relent many times over to assist many others. To find out more go to www.libertytrust. nz, email info@libertytrust.nz or call 0508 Liberty.

Love, not disability, the measure of worth We know a lady who has learned from the tough lessons of life, that what God thinks about someone, and what people think, can be very different things. You see, she lives in Bulgaria, a country where seniors and people with disability or illness, like her, are considered useless, and the only work she can find is making paper bags for 3 cents each. Where she lives, the state invalid’s benefit is just $123 a month. On her own for 20 years after a violent relationship ended and her mother died four years ago, estranged from her alcoholic daughter, she often feels lonely. But this remarkable lady, Ylinka, has a simple but profound faith that has drawn her closer to God. “My grandmother was the first to tell me about God. She would say to me, “Ylinka, help people. That is the only thing that will last; everything else will disappear.”” she tells us.

The tide is turning

A wave is slowly forming in this nation that is bringing about a change in men. Not prepared to settle for stereotypes presented by the media and social commentators, Christian men are returning to their roots. They are returning to the blueprint of godly manhood as revealed in the Bible. Promise Keepers is meeting with church and Men’s Ministry leaders in one-to-one meetings across the country, discussing Ministry with Men in the 21st century. As they travel the nation working with men from all walks of life, they are noticing some fundamental trends emerging. Firstly there is a growing hunger for things that are spiritual. The consumerist world out there has been found

“I read the Bible and pray. He is the one that has looked after me until now despite all my illnesses. And I believe that He will not abandon me.” Ylinka proves that she is anything but useless. She helps Mission Without Borders pack parcels for forgotten prison inmates, and for poor families and children at Christmas with other friends from the Mission’s local Disabled Citizens’ Club. Best of all, she has a love for children. “I had a brother who died from viral meningitis at the age of 14, which affected me greatly. That is why I am involved with the children’s summer camp organised by Mission Without Borders Bulgaria and try to help wherever I can,” Ylinka says. She skilfully and lovingly makes paper decorations as gifts for the children at camp. She has three wonderful grandsons and she loves

spending time with them. Two have eye problems and one is autistic. They all came to the last summer camp organised by the Mission. “When I am alone at home or with my grandsons, I love singing the songs we learnt at summer camp,” Ylinka says. Just as Ylinka’s life shows that love triumphs over adversity, Jesus’ triumph over sin and death is our hope, if we too will reach out to him. This northern summer, Mission Without Borders plans to run its annual summer camps for about 4000 under-privileged children in Bulgaria, Ukraine and four other East European countries. Kiwis who want to help can pay for a child to go to camp or take on a monthly family sponsorship (refer to our advertisement in this issue). Also see www.mwb.org.nz

wanting; men desire more! Going passively to church is no longer enough. Men are not willing to just make up the numbers anymore - they want to be significant in the mission of Jesus. Men are looking for substance and depth in their faith. A second trend has also emerged: a growing realisation that modern society isolates men, which is not God’s design. Men were intended to function in community. There is an inherent need to be connected with other men at a variety of levels. Promise Keepers has seen the impact of this through an increased number of active Men’s Groups that have started up nationwide. Men are looking for opportunities to engage with other men in meaningful

ways, and challenge one another to make a difference in their world. Men want to see results; they want to create a legacy in their homes, their churches, and their communities. The third emerging trend that has become apparent is an increase in inter-church activity. Promise Keepers is using their expertise to help churches work together in a city or regional area to organise combined local men’s events. Giving these events a specific focus ensures that they are profoundly effective in impacting men and their communities for the kingdom of God. Join the wave! The Promise Keepers team is coming to an area near you. www.promisekeepers.org.nz

Urgent help is needed

n Saturday 25 April 2015, just before midday local time, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal. To date the earthquake, subsequent avalanches and aftershocks have killed an estimated 7500 thousand The damage to Orphans Aid’s Nepalese people - and this supplier Ram’s house, which he number continues recently sent to Sue to climb. Tens of thousands more have been seriously injured, not only in Nepal but also across its borders in India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and China. Villages have been flattened, cities and infrastructure destroyed, and hundreds of thousands are now homeless without food or water, including an estimated 1.7 million children. Mercifully, the international aid response has been

14 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Three May 2015

huge. In New Zealand alone around 50 individuals and aid organisations have set up Givealittle pages to help raise funds towards immediate needs such as shelter, food, water and medication, and long-term needs such as rebuilding houses and infrastructure. The situation in Nepal is on a scale that will need a response from us across our life time. It’s not going to be a quick fix; the trauma and ongoing housing and infrastructure needs are massive. With a solid history of involvement in Nepal and Northern India since 2007, Orphans Aid International are there to help for the longhaul, thanks to the launch of its Rebuild Nepal appeal. Founder and CEO Sue van Schreven says while the appeal will immediately help fund food, water and shelter, the organisation’s long-term goal is on the second wave of aid - helping the country rebuild. “Urgent help is needed, not only in Nepal but also in Northern India, where our team continues to receive Nepali people who have fled their rural villages to find safety, food and water over the border. Through our strong local networks, we are well placed to bring very real solutions to needs on the ground over the months and years ahead.”

Waiting for news from thousands of miles away during the hours that followed the earthquake was hard for Sue and her team in New Zealand, with many supporters and friends living in Nepal and Northern India, where the organisation is currently building a school. “I was hugely relieved when I finally heard from one of our contacts, who runs a home for orphaned boys in Nepal. Currently they are all camped out on a field under the stars. This is just the kind of situation we want to help at this time. By working with locals on the ground we can see real solutions brought to very large needs.” Cash donations can be made through any of Orphans Aid International’s op-shops in Invercargill, Queenstown, Dunedin or Hastings, or online through Givealittle https:// givealittle.co.nz/cause/rebuildnepal2015. Donations can also be made through www.orphansaidinternational.org and www.facebook.com/Orphans.Aid.International. Sue says one hundred per cent of funds raised will go towards rebuilding Nepal. “We have already had a wonderful response, with some people coming up with really creative ways to raise funds for us, but there is still so much more work to do. We respectfully ask for your support for our Rebuild Nepal emergency appeal.”

Family

Family First: Going in to Bat for Parents By Lynley Smith

“

Parenting in New Zealand is one of the most ‘at risk’ activities in our nation,” says Bob McCoskrie who is national director of the family issues lobby group Family First. “Rather than supporting and equipping parents, we’re undermining and penalising them,” says the Auckland-based father of three. “Parents struggle at all times, but some of the recently introduced policies have made that job so much harder.” Almost by accident, Mr McCoskrie has found himself at the forefront of the battle for the protection of parental authority. Describing himself as an ‘independent Christian worshipper,’ but raised as a Methodist, Mr McCoskrie comes from a background of lecturing at Manukau Institute of Technology, being a South Auckland social worker, and a journalist at Radio Rhema. “While working in broadcasting, I realised it was really hard to find a voice in New Zealand on certain issues – family issues,” he observes. “At the time there was a lot of social engineering going on, with such laws as the Prostitution Law being pushed through Parliament. There were groups who voiced their opinions on specialist issues, but no-one was taking a broad approach.” He felt the call of God to do something about it. Nine years ago, he formed Family First and has been on the front line in the New Zealand debate over family issues ever since. His organisation, while not a Christian organisation per se, is based on clear Judeo-Christian values. Membership is mixed, with many Christians, and many who do not identify themselves as members of a faith community. Mr McCoskrie believes the reason for a less-thanclear voice on family issues from the church in general is the myth in some Christian circles that politics and religion don’t mix. “So some churches think they should stay clear of the family issues debate but this is really a misunderstanding of the Church and State divide. Family First gets involved in family issues – that’s not getting involved in politics. When politicians get involved in these issues, they’re still family issues. That’s not what separation of Church and State is about. It’s about keeping the Church separate from the State so that it’s free to speak the truth and so that politics cannot silence the Church.” It’s on this front that Family First has been waging its latest war – being forced to go to the High Court to challenge a ruling by the Charities Commission that its activities are of a political nature and not for public benefit, thus excluding it from the list of charities for whom the Inland Revenue Department offers a rebate on donations. This battle – and two others it has been involved in over the past several years – has garnered more support for Family First than at any previous time. The other two major rallying points have been the so-called “Anti-smacking Law’ and referendum, and the same-sex marriage debate. “When we went to the public for support on these three issues we had a very good response. People just need encouragement and understanding of how to engage in these debates.” The battle is continuing over the issue of parental authority as various rulings seek to erode it. “We as a nation fail to acknowledge the important role of parents,” says Mr McCoskrie. “There’s a view that the State is ultimately responsible for families, as is demonstrated by the government’s hard push to introduce the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccination for all 12 year old girls in New Zealand. It’s being administered through the school system with an ‘opt out’ option for parents.” Mr McCoskrie says two of the main drivers of worryingly increasing social statistics – family violence and child abuse and poverty – are the decreasing marriage rate and the breakdown of marriages. “No-one focuses on the ‘elephant in the room,’” he

says. “No-one notes the important role of marriage and stable families in this. We’ve been told by policy makers that family structure doesn’t matter. The government isn’t interested in recording family status. Yet international research shows clearly that family status is a huge indicator. The two married parent families show the best outcomes. The war on poverty has failed to overcome one of its biggest enemies – the breakdown of marriage.” Mr McCoskrie says there’s a lot more pressure on families now than in previous generations. There is financial pressure, but there are now elements of culture which are making it very difficult for families to survive. One example is the sexualisation of children in the media. Another is the declining marriage rate. A third example is no-fault divorce which makes divorce almost a commodity anyone can acquire, without any questions being asked. “Parents are now finding themselves between ‘a rock and a hard place,’” he states. “When things go wrong with young people, parents find themselves being blamed without reference to the circumstances.” Parents Lose Confidence A recent poll conducted by Family First showed that the confidence of parents to do their job well has decreased. It showed that parents were concerned about possible consequences for their actions, for instance in the area of disciplining their children with a light smack. “We have so many parenting experts around that it’s confusing,” says Mr McCoskrie. “Formerly common sense was one of the key approaches, but now we have expert opinions.” To add to the confusion, these expert opinions are changing regularly. Once, not very long ago, ‘time-out’ was touted as the preferred consequence for bad behaviour, as an alternative to a light smack. Now research has found that all forms of punishment, no matter what sort, produce some negative behaviours, not just light smacking. “So now experts are saying time-out is also damaging for the child, and parents should use only positive parenting. The problem is that there’s no definition for positive parenting!” Mr McCoskrie says the effects of these rapid changes are still to be fully seen on the health or otherwise of New Zealand parenting, but a dangerous precedent has been set. “The anti-smacking law has produced a generation of children who can stand up to their parents and tell them: ‘You can’t tell us what to do.’ Kids are now saying that to their teachers in school as well.” All forms of authority which are in place to keep New Zealand children safe are being undermined by this, starting with parental authority and moving to authority in the classroom and before the law. “Many children no longer respect police authority,” he says. “But the problem started back in the home. Children have been taught to challenge authority. Rules are to be challenged.” Has there been any progress on the anti-smacking law issue? “Politicians don’t want to go there or admit they’ve got it wrong,” says Mr McCoskrie. “They aren’t honest enough to examine the evidence as it would ultimately result in them having to admit they’d made a mistake. It would take a political party to challenge the status quo and overturn the law. We haven’t given up on this – and we won’t - as long as innocent families find themselves impacted by this ineffective law.” The HPV vaccine is another trigger. Family First is researching the issue, especially the degree to which parents are informed about the choice they have in either allowing their child to have the vaccine, or to refuse it. “We feel the children are being targeted through the

Family First national director, Bob McCoskrie school. The kids are being pressured by the school and by the State and through advertising. We think parents are not being informed sufficiently and the state is minimising the possibility of long term consequences of the vaccine.” Another area in which parents may well feel their authority is under threat is in sex education in schools. Again the state has taken upon itself the role that many parents believe to be theirs. “The basic message the State is putting out is that children can’t control themselves and so they should use a condom,” he points out. “Surveys show the majority of parents don’t want their young teens to be sexually active. We think that instead of equipping schools for teaching sex education, the State should be equipping and encouraging parents to do this in the home. Then the education given will be in keeping with the individual family’s values and culture – one size does not fit all!” Another major bone of contention is that parents are required to sign a note for the teacher if their child wears non-uniform socks to school, yet parents are left uninformed if their daughter wants to get an abortion. “Once again, we’re looking for people with the political will to sort this problem.” The independent youth benefit can also become a direct challenge to parents’ right to make major decisions about their children. “For instance, if a teenaged school-girl wants to leave home and live with her boyfriend and the parents are opposed to it, the State can step in and give the girl an independent youth benefit which enables her to go ahead with her plans. This totally circumvents family discussion of the issue.” And finally, Family First is protesting the current situation where Child Youth and Family can intervene in families without parents having any recourse to an independent review of the situation. While the New Zealand Police have such a review authority, CYF does not. “Many parents can’t afford the legal representation that would be required to demand a review under the current situation,” says Mr McCoskrie. “So they’re left powerless, once again.” Family First advocates in numerous other situations where the erosion of parental authority is under threat. The work is hard and time-consuming but the organisation is determined to continue the fight. “We see it as our calling to speak the truth, to create honest debate and to empower parents and families. We actually have massive support behind us from the general population – that shows we’re speaking on behalf of families across the board. While families value us and what we are doing, we will continue.” Mr McCoskrie has an important message for readers: “People tend to judge Family First on what they read in newspapers and see in television news items, but it’s not until they actually examine for themselves what Family First is saying that they can understand the full importance of the role it is playing in the fight to protect the New Zealand family.”

www.mychristiandaily.com | 15

PROGRAMME GUIDE June 2015

Details correct at time of printing. (Dates in italics indicate programme change during 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

Leading the Way: Michael Youssef

The Catholic Guy: Bruce Downs

Derek Prince

Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn

Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew

6:00

Joni and Friends

Hearts Wide Open

Give Me An Answer: Cliffe Knechtle

Rhema Worship

Your Best Life: Phil Pringle

Buzz and Poppy

6:30

Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew

From Aardvaark to Zucchini

Veggie Tales

Adventures in Booga Booga Land

Scaly Adventures

Go Frills

7:00

Paul the Little Missionary

Go Frills

Fifty the Tractor

Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew

Buzz and Poppy

Veggie Tales

7:30

Hour of Power: Robert Schuller

8:00

Connection Point: Reuben Munn

Go Frills

Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew

From Aardvaark to Zucchini

Paul the Little Missionary

The Lads TV

Fifty the Tractor

8:00

8:30

Running with Fire: Tak Bhana

Impact for Life: Peter & Bev Mortlock

Word For You: Terry & Jayne Calkin

LIFE TV: Paul de Jong

Running with Fire: Tak Bhana

Connection Point: Reuben Munn

RocKids TV

8:30

In Touch: Charles Stanley

Paul the Little Missionary

9:00

The Lads TV

9:30

Word For You: Terry & Jayne Calkin

Songs of Praise

Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah

LIFE TV: Paul de Jong

7:30

9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 Noon 12:30 1:00 1:30

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

Precious Memories

Leading the Way: Michael Youssef

Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV

10:00 N

Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer (Mon-Fri)

Christian World News

Kiwis Can Fly

See adjacent for details

FEATURE:

Living Truth: Charles Price

Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah

Brought to you by

FEATURE:

See adjacent for details

Joni and Friends

Answers with Bayless Conley

Full Circle (Mon-Fri)

Sue Thomas: FB Eye

See adjacent for details

Give Me An Answer: Cliffe Knechtle

The 700 Club (Tue-Fri)

FEATURE:

The American Bible Challenge

TheDRIVEtv

Life fm Presents

Y 10:30

11:00

Hearts Wide Open

D 11:30

Noon

12:30

FEATURE:

See adjacent for details

The Restoration Road

Living Truth: Charles Price

In Touch: Charles Stanley

Go Frills

Veggie Tales

Paul the Little Missionary

Fifty the Tractor

FEATURE:

See adjacent for details

Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah

The Lads TV

From Aardvaark to Zucchini

1:00

7:00

Precious Memories

7:30

Songs of Praise

Impact for Life: Peter & Bev Mortlock What’s on Shine

Sue Thomas: FB Eye

8:00

FEATURE:

See adjacent for details

Planetshakers TV

Live from Studio B

Hour of Power: Robert Schuller

2:00 2:30 3:00

Buzz and Poppy

RocKids TV

Leading the Way: Michael Youssef