Please take this copy of Christian Life
JUNE 2015 • Issue TWENTY-FOUR • www.mychristiandaily.com
If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you... John 15:18–21
• REMAINING TRUE TO GODS WORD: PERSECUTION IN THE WEST • AN UNCOMMON ANOINTING • THE BILL SUBRITZKY STORY • THE OCTOGENARIAN WHO NEVER QUITS • PLUS LOADS MORE
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Issue TWENTY-FOUR | JUNE 2015
06 04 Gender Agenda Will Confuse Our Young People 05 The Octogenarian Who Never Quits 06 The Sustaining Power of Hope 08 The Bill Subritzky Story 09 Local News 10 An Uncommon Anointing 12 Shine TV programme guide 14 Remaining True to God’s Word 15 Medical Ship Set To Sail 16 Unlikely Material: The story of Elevate 17 Christian Life Classifieds
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Family First
Gender Agenda Will Confuse Our Young People
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believe most schools, along with the parents in the school community, will rightly reject the extreme elements of the new sexuality education guidelines just released by the Ministry of Education. Based on the new guidelines to schools, primary school children as young as 5 will be indoctrinated with issues around ‘gender stereotypes and norms’, ‘sexuality and gender well-being’, ‘gender, sexuality and diversity’, and ‘gender and sexuality messages’. But most children that age simply want to play, eat and have fun. We should let children be children. Parents will object to programmes targeted at children as young as five undermining the role and values of parents, and resources which fail to take into account the emotional and physical development of each child and the values of that particular family. Among the implications of the proposals around so-called ‘gender’ issues in schools is that sex-specific facilities, including changing rooms, showers, toilets or sports teams may no longer be directed on the basis of a child’s actual biological sex. Students could pick the toilet or changing room or sports team or uniform of the gender with which they identify at that time. They give the opportunity, for example, for male students who pretend to be transgender an alibi to use girls’ toilets, showers, and changing rooms. But the expectation of parents and the children themselves is to see students of the same sex in places like changing rooms and showers. An example of this is ‘Johnny’ who turns up to school and decides that he now ‘identifies’ as a female. Of course, there is no objective assessment of whether he is right or not. If he ‘believes’ it, we are expected to accept
VICTORY CONVENTION CENTRE
it. So Johnny will now wear a skirt, will use the girls’ toilets, and will change in the girls’ changing room for swimming sports. He will also play in the girls’ rugby team. Now that is a recipe for disaster – and confusion. (Apply that scenario to a grown man who decides to use the women’s changing room at the local public swimming facility.) The ‘gender agenda’ will simply lead to confusion in schools. Ignoring biology is not a proper solution. What children really need is affirmation of their unique personality and appropriate treatment for their unhappiness and other presenting emotional issues. Most children with gender dysphoria will not remain gender dysphoric after puberty. To push the gender agenda in schools is a dangerous step to take. Elsewhere in the Guidelines, there is definitely a need for young people to be aware of the harms of pornography, rape and teen pregnancy, and issues around consent, but parents know their children the best and should determine the best timing and most appropriate way to tackle these sensitive topics. A valueless ‘one size fits all’ approach is far too simplistic and can even be harmful. Studies show that the biggest protective factors for coping with puberty and sexual involvement are married parents, family values, parental supervision, and parental expectations for behaviour. What happens at home is the greatest determinant of the outcomes for the young person. A recent international study found that by the age of ten years old, most children will have already had their first ‘facts of life’ talk with their parents. The online
survey of 5,420 parents and 2,569 children aged 5-10 years old was undertaken during 2014 in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The AVG Technology survey found that most parents plan to have the chat about adult topics including pornography, sex and puberty by the time their kids are 10-years-old, and that 76% believe that the Internet has encouraged the conversation on adult themes with children at an increasingly early age. This is a great result and shows that parents are now looking to pre-empt the unacceptable messages being pushed in the media, on the internet, and by groups abusing the sex education curriculum which pollute their young children’s minds and innocence. Parents are the best moral gatekeepers for their children. It’s time we empowered and resourced parents to be the sex educators of their children. Schools can focus on the ‘reading writing and arithmetic’.
Bob McCoskrie is the National Director of Family First NZ. Visit www.familyfirst.org.nz for more information on how you can become involved.
MANIFEST PRESENCE 2015
H E A L I N G T H E WAT E R S
R A N DY C L A R K R U S S E L L E VA N S
BILL JOHNSON
BANNING LIEBSCHER
REGISTER NOW MANIFESTPRESENCE.ORG 4 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
2 6 -2 8 AUGUST
Inspiring story
The Octogenarian Who Never Quits Julie Belding talks to an inspiring Bruce Nicholls...
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ighty-eight year old Dr Bruce Nicholls, MA, Dip Tchg, MTh, DD, of Point Chevalier, Auckland, doesn’t believe in letting the grass grow under his feet. He may have been a missionary teacher, writer, pastor and administrator for almost four decades in India, but since “retiring” to New Zealand in 1997, his life today seems as busy as ever. In a former life, beginning in 1955, Bruce and his wife Kathleen taught theology and communication at the Union Biblical Seminary in central India and later pioneered a research community in New Delhi. Two of their three children were born in India, and all were educated at Woodstock School. During their last six years of missionary service, Bruce pastored two churches in Delhi for the Church of North India, and describes this as the most satisfying period of their overseas career. Now living in a retirement village, Bruce has hardly slowed down over the past eighteen years. Retirement does not seem to be on the agenda of this farmer’s son who was raised in Te Kuiti and Otorohanga and trained as a school teacher in the 1940s. “I did retire at the request of the mission [Interserve] when I was sixty-five,” he says, “but I don’t see in Scripture any recommendation to retire and my vision has expanded considerably during the last couple of decades. In fact they have been even more fruitful that the previous ones.” In 1992, after 37 years of continuous service in India, Bruce and Kathleen returned to settle in New Zealand. But Bruce suspected God still had work for him to do. He was right. The call came in 1995 to return to Union Biblical Seminary where he had formerly taught, and serve there as interim principal for a year. So Bruce and Kathleen went briefly back to the nation that had so shaped their lives. Finally, in 1997, Bruce and his wife Kathleen left India for the last time. They lived in cottage in Kohimarama for a few years before moving to Selwyn Village in 2008. For the past eighteen years Bruce has continued to put his prodigious energy to good use. He’s written a few books, and stays in touch with the Asia Theological Association, an organisation he had founded back in 1970. ATA is still going strong, and now encompasses some
300 Bible colleges and seminaries across Asia and the Middle East. In fact it’s the major accrediting agency for evangelical theological institutions, and publishes books and journals as well. After his return to New Zealand Bruce continued to serve ATA as its senior advisor. One of his projects was the production of a multi-volume Asia Bible Commentary series. Bruce himself was the editor-in-chief of the first eighteen volumes (there will eventually be fifty) but two years ago he handed the editing over to a young Asian scholar. In his semi-retirement Bruce has been the driving force behind a number of ATA-sponsored theological conferences. He coordinated a Consultation on Globalisation in Indonesia, in 2009, and a Consultation on Scripture in Malaysia three years later. Out of each consultation he collected the papers that were presented and edited them into books which ATA published.
“My vision is for the Kingdom of God to spread across Asia, and I see my role today as a consultant and mentor of key leaders.” “My vision is for the Kingdom of God to spread across Asia, and I see my role today as a consultant and mentor of key leaders.” he says. “I’m now focusing on leadership training in Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.” When Bruce, who had been ordained in India by the Bishop of Delhi, returned to Auckland the local Anglican bishop licensed him to preach. The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand also recognized his ordination. So the former missionary pastor has been available for various preaching assignments in Auckland. These have included serving for three years as a co-pastor of the AnglicanMethodist parish of St Mary’s Church in Glen Innes. In 2000, three years after returning finally to New Zealand, Bruce heard that the ecumenical Presbyterian/ Methodist newspaper, Crosslink, was about to fold. Never one to overlook a potential opportunity, Bruce had the idea of starting a new newspaper which would serve
the needs of conservative Christians within the mainline denominations. And so in 2001 DayStar was born. At first the newspaper targeted evangelical readers in the Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches. Later, members of other denominations began to subscribe (Baptists became its biggest supporters) and a few years later the monthly newspaper morphed into a glossy magazine. Founder Bruce was on the board, and worked tirelessly to raise funds to keep the publication afloat. Eventually however, it became clear that the magazine would need substantially more financial backing if it were to survive, and in 2010, after nine years of publication, DayStar magazine was sold to Media Inc, an Australian publishing company. To Bruce’s regret (and the regret of many others) the magazine was discontinued after just a few months. It was a setback, but Bruce was not about to rest on his laurels. He was also interested in politics. In 2009 he had chaired the National Party’s Mt Albert electorate. A few years later, when the New Zealand Conservative Party was formed, Bruce threw his weight behind that. Despite his ebullience, the last few years have not been easy for Bruce or Kathleen, who now uses a wheelchair. Their eldest son died last year, and they have also lost a grandson. But despite these sorrows, Bruce remains positive. He says if he had to live his life over again, he wouldn’t do anything differently. Asked the secret of his good health, he quipped that an inherited DNA helped. But he also keeps fit by going regularly to the gym and doing a weekly three-kilometer run around the local park. He also believes in disciplined eating, avoiding sugars. He thinks getting adequate sleep is important, and likes to listen to classical music before going to bed “Good relationships with my wife, children, work colleagues and neighbours have also been vital,” says Bruce, “but above all, having peace with God and being assured of his guidance. My success in all these ministries is the work of Holy Spirit and as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, I’m careful to give all the honour to him.”
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New Christian Life columnist, TAK BHANA, discusses the power of a hope-filled life...
The Sustaining Power of Hope Hope sustains life A teacher was asked to see a child in hospital, unfortunately nobody warned her that the boy was severely burned and in great pain. She was shocked at his condition, but somehow stumbled through the lesson. The following day a nurse asked, “What did you do to that boy?” Worried, the teacher began to apologize. But the nurse stopped her and said they’d been really concerned about the boy, but since the lesson he was fighting back and responding to treatment. “It’s like he’s decided to live,” she said. Two weeks later, when the boy was much better, he told them he’d lost all hope of living, but when the teacher arrived he reasoned, “They wouldn’t send a teacher to do nouns and adverbs with boy who was dying.” That’s the power of hope. One writer said a man can live 40 days without food, three days without water, eight minutes without air, but only one second without hope. Does that mean we die when hope is gone? It does when overwhelming despair ends in suicide. Hope sustains life and without it a person will perish. Some people who lose all hope continue to exist, but it’s surviving rather than living. Throughout history individuals have endured the loss of health, limbs, finances, assets, careers, reputations, and loved ones. Others have experienced great pain, rejection, persecution, abuse, and the unspeakable horrors of concentration camps and so on, but some, like Job, have come through intact. The great psychiatrist, Victor Frankl, investigated why some prisoners at the infamous concentration camp, Auschwitz, died or committed suicide, while 6 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
others survived. He came to the conclusion that hope was the determining factor. But while we’re on the subject of hope let’s make sure we’re talking the same language as God. Many people say, “I hope”, when what they really mean is, “I wish.” Their hope, uncertain and flimsy at best, is merely a wish that things will work out. Biblical hope, on the other hand, is certain. It’s a confident expectation of good and an assurance that what’s happening now doesn’t have to define the rest of our life. Hope is an anchor Hebrews 6:19. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hope in God is an anchor for our souls. It won’t prevent the storms, but it will hold us steady through them. What could keep you going if you were held captive in a cold, dark, damp basement with only the tiniest ray of light seeping through a tiny hole in the door to let you know if it was day or night? How would you survive on meagre portions of poor food? How would you cope with sleeping on the dirt floor, which you shared with mice and frogs? How would you keep sane as the days turned to weeks, then months - never knowing when, or if, you would be freed from this wretched little dungeon? In a word - hope! Years ago a Swedish missionary couple was kidnapped in Russia and held in these circumstances for six months. During that time they prayed for release, while learning a passage from the Bible each day. One promise from Isaiah sustained them through those dark days.
Isaiah 51:14. The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread. That verse generated such a powerful hope of survival and release that it became an anchor for that couple, holding them steady until they were finally freed. The dangers of losing hope There are untold people in this world who live unbearably hopeless lives. Some might react with despair. For these ones the end of the road may be suicide. On the other side of the coin hopelessness may manifest in rampant self-indulgence and irresponsible living, that “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die”, attitude. When Christians, leaders included, lose hope, about their ministry, healing, family, marriage, finances and so on, there’s a very real danger of sin and backsliding. We find hope in God’s Word Romans 15:4 ...Through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. I experienced a horrible time of condemnation, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d made too many mistakes and couldn’t fulfill God’s call. I agonized over this for months, then it all lifted when God spoke through a verse which gave me great hope that I would indeed fulfill His plan for me. God’s promises to us are a great source of hope
Hope
Hope in God is an anchor for our souls. It won’t prevent the storms, but it will hold us steady through them.
We see this in Abraham’s life. His wife was barren but late in life God promised him a son. That promise filled Abraham with hope and though it was sorely tested God encouraged him by renewing the promise from time to time. When we start losing hope in a promise from God it’s time to pray for confirmation and encouragement. The Holy Spirit gives us hope There is no end to things people put their hope in and the world encourages us to run here and there looking for a fresh start, a new job, a new relationship, a better location, a different church, no church, better behaved children, ma-
terial possessions, success and so on. But hope in anything other than in God and His word is futile and feeble at best and certain to disappoint us. Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. God alone is the answer to the great avalanche of despair and hopelessness that engulfs so many lives. The God of hope is, by nature, full of hope and He is the great supplier and dispenser of hope to all mankind. He is well able to pour His hope into our lives: all the hope we will ever need.
Tak Bhana is the Senior Pastor of Church Unlimited. He has a radio and television program called Running with Fire which broadcasts in New Zealand and other nations. His church also produces a magazine with the same name which is distributed in 70 countries.
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Ministry
The Bill Subritzky Story Christian Life invited international evangelist BILL SUBRITZKY to share his testimony and tell us about his new internet ministry.
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hen I was eight years of age my younger brother aged five years contracted cancer from which he died at home after nine agonising months. Years later my mother told me that on the day that Keith died they heard him calling from the bedroom, “Mummy and Daddy come here quickly.” When they rushed in to the room to their amazement he was sitting up on the bed looking perfectly well. He was not looking at them but he was looking upwards with great expectation and said, “Mummy and Daddy, I’ve got to go now.” The angels of God had come for him. As a result of his death my parents began to search for God. They had been nominal Christians and we ended up in a very closed Brethren group. I attended that church for some years but when I reached the age of 16 I told my parents that I no longer wanted to attend church. I felt confined because it was very legalistic, I was not allowed to listen to the radio or go to films or go to sports. However my mother often quoted The Word of God to me and I still remember many of the Scriptures that she mentioned. I was determined to become a lawyer and qualified at 21. I started my own law practice and met and married my wife Pat. She was a practising Anglican but I was not committed to God. I had joined the church to make business contacts. Our teenage daughter Maria became a committed Christian and I went with her to a meeting. I watched the preacher pray for one of my clients. She was elderly and full of arthritis and could barely walk. As she was being prayed for she fell to the floor and I thought she had died. However she jumped up and shouted she was healed. That got my attention! I was astounded and excited by the power of God. Although our marriage was in difficulties, Pat and I with our children attended a crusade in Hamilton conducted by the same preacher. We went again the next night and again I felt the desire to surrender my life to Christ. This became overpowering and finally I raised my hand at the altar call. Pat and our whole family did likewise. The preacher told us to come to the front of the meeting with the others who had raised their hands. He told us to kneel down and confess our sins. I did my best to do so. He led us through the sinner’s prayer. I did not feel anything in particular at that stage. The preacher then offered the experience of being “baptised into the Holy Spirit”. I did not know what he
8 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
was talking about but Maria pressed me to go forward for this experience and to my amazement when the preacher laid hands on me I spoke in tongues. I went back to Auckland almost in a daze. However the next morning when I looked out of my bedroom window I had never seen the grass so green, the trees so beautiful or heard the birds sing like that before. I looked at the sky and I had never seen it so blue. I realised that that I was looking at the earth with new eyes, that I was born-again. At that moment I made one of the most important decisions of my life. I resolved to turn 180° from darkness to light from the power of Satan to the power of God. This has saved me from many difficulties and problems. Since then I have always known the presence and power of God within me at all times. I then witnessed to my legal partners and in due course they became born-again Christians. Our marriage was immediately healed and for the next 40 years Pat and I ministered together in the power and love of the Holy Spirit. Our two sons Paul and John have led the ministry of Promise Keepers in New Zealand where over the past 21 years tens of thousands of men have come to Christ in the various conferences and many have seen their marriages restored in Christ. Within a week of our commitment to Christ, Pat and I had a witness to start a prayer meeting in our home and over the next eight years many people were saved healed and delivered. It was in those meetings that for the first time in my life I saw demonic powers manifest in people and I learned how to cast them out. At our prayer meeting we learnt to minister in the gifts of the Holy Spirit including healing, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, deliverance, faith miracles and other gifts. I was invited to speak at various churches and conferences around New Zealand and then overseas. I spoke at seven world conventions of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship in various countries including the USA, Philippines and Brazil. I’ve also conducted crusades around the Pacific including Hawaii, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga and throughout Australia. I have seen tens of thousands respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and receive physical healing. I promised the Lord that I would preach the Gospel in every town in New Zealand and over the years I have done so from Te Hapua in the uppermost part of the
North Island to throughout the South Island including the Chathams as well as Great Barrier Island off Auckland. I have been privileged to preach the Gospel in various places in Africa, England throughout Asia including India, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, USA, Mexico and South America. Again, it has been a privilege to see untold numbers come forward and give their lives to Christ and receive mighty healings and deliverances. I have always preached on the basis of what Jesus said, “Repent and believe the Gospel.” I believe the primary work of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin, righteousness and the day of judgment. Accordingly I have preached the need for absolute repentance from sin as well as the Grace of God and walking in true holiness with God. For approximately ten years the organisation called Youth for Christ conducted an annual camp for young people on my farm near Kerikeri where I spoke. We saw thousands of young people commit their lives to Christ Four years ago, after many years of happy marriage and walking with the Lord, my wife Pat passed into glory. In a miraculous set of circumstances the Lord led Kaylene and myself into marriage a year later. Kaylene is absolutely committed to the Lord and works strongly in prophecy and the word of knowledge. She is a very able preacher. We have a wonderful marriage. Over the years I have prayed on the radio for many to be healed and come to Christ. We have had great testimonies from these broadcasts as well as my teaching broadcasts on radio. Recently the Holy Spirit has spoken to me about praying for the sick on Skype and I have begun a monthly webcast program doing this. Luke 6:17 says that Jesus often healed people at a distance and we can see this today when we pray for the sick at a distance. As my wife Kaylene and I pray on Skype we see the power of God touch people in an amazing way. They may be living in the USA or Australia or Dubai or wherever but the same Holy Spirit touches them all. We stand amazed as we see the fire of God passing through people and healing them on Skype and also in the reports from others watching who are being touched. I believe the Lord would use this medium mightily in the days to come. It is my prayer that before the Lord calls me home, He will give me the privilege of continuing to proclaim His name in every way possible and glorifying Him. For information and resources on Bill Subritzky go to www.doveministries.com
Local news & reviews
NEW MEMOIR SHARES 70 YEARS OF AUTHOR’S LIFE By Dennis R. McLeod Published by Balboa Press AU, ISBN 9781452528403
Manifest Presence 2015 –Healing the Waters. Manifest Presence Conference is a wellspring for our nation, delivering Apostolic and prophetic teaching that both releases and advances the Kingdom of God. Every session is structured to allow space and time for powerful encounters, impartation and ministry in an atmosphere of worship, faith and supernatural expectation. Running from Wednesday 26 August to Friday 28 August, this year’s dynamic lineup features Bill Johnson (Bethel Church), Randy Clark (Global Awakening) Russell Evans (Planetshakers) and Banning Liebscher (Jesus Culture).
A special addition to this year’s conference is a Healing Symposium with Bill Johnson and Randy Clark (pictured), two leaders with great wisdom and experience in the area of healing. This will run during the day of Wednesday 26 August before Manifest Presence starts in the evening. It is free with a full-time registration but people can also register for the Healing Symposium alone. Register at manifestpresence.org.
Author Dennis R. McLeod shares his lifetime journey from being a 15-yearold stepping out in life feeling the world was against him, to becoming someone who is wanted by many people, in his new memoir, “Small Beginnings.” Due to suffering verbal abuse as a child and being told he would never amount to anything, plus a marriage and divorce at age 33, McLeod suffered very badly from rejection. Even though he achieved much, the feeling of rejection remained. “Many young and not so young people are lost, walking down a blank road,” McLeod says. “I believe this book will encourage all people, no matter their age, that there is a beautiful world out there. All they need to do is allow God to open their eyes to see His beauty and everything else will fall into place.” About the Author Dennis R. McLeod was a top teacher at a local trade school, where he taught for over 35 years. He has served as a church synod representative. He and his wife, Penny, served as missionaries in many countries and pastors in a church in their hometown of Hamilton, New Zealand. More information is available at www.smallbeginings.com
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Profile
An Uncommon Anointing JANET BALCOMBE’S DIVINE APPOINTMENT WITH PASTOR TAWHIRI MATEA LITTLEJOHN Above left: Tawhiri back in the day; Above right: Tawhiri, Katy and their beautiful children
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o how exactly does one of New Zealand’s top session drummers become a pastor at just 29? Well it’s quite a story so kick back and check it out. This is what total surrender looks like. We met in Whangarei at a conference where I had been invited to share my testimony. When I met Tawhiri I saw the purity of his heart and his total surrender to Christ. When I heard that he was a pastor at such a young age, I knew there was a big story to be told. He invited me to share with his flock at Kaiwaka Family Church a few weeks later. When we arrived we found him at home behind the drums bringing some incredible beats during the worship. The surprises just kept coming! Tawhiri was born in a very big hurry in the small Northland town of Kaiwaka. He’d started how he meant to continue. Tawhiri Matea means ‘God of the wind, thunder and lightning.’ But like so many, his world was soon shattered when at 5, his parents split. Raised in the Ratana church, he lived with his Mum while his Dad, a full-time musician, continued touring. From a young age Tawhiri was captivated by the drums. At 13 he went to live with his father who bought him his first drum kit. With little else to do in the small town, Tawhiri practised endlessly. The drums made him happy and gave him a purpose, and his dream of being a full-time session drummer was born. He was very dis-
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ciplined in his practice routine, never wasted time or missed a day. By 14, Tawhiri often toured with his father all over New Zealand. At 18 he was playing for many different bands and artists then studied at Aucklands’ MAINZ Music School. Playing for King Kapisi was the start of a big break. His girlfriend Katy decided to leave him so he could pursue his music career. As a youngster he’d always wanted to be popular in the music scene, party hard and hook up with girls. He was now free to pursue all of his desires and was living the life he’d always wanted. Until one night in a nightclub — something strange happened. Drunk and having a good time, Tawhiri suddenly felt a deep conviction fall upon him like a sword piercing his heart. This conviction just would not leave, and for the first time he felt so lost. He’d given up smoking weed because it made him paranoid, but he got so bored while learning to play forty new songs for a band, he got stoned to make it go faster. As he lay in bed that night, still stoned, he began to think about his life. The conviction was still deep in his heart and he felt so empty. “Then while I was lying in the dark thinking, I heard a voice say, “Follow Me.” It was the Lord. When you hear His voice, you know without a doubt who is speaking. It was like a voice I’d always known, that I had always ignored. But for the first time I paid attention. From child-
hood I’d always known I was called as He had come to me in my dreams, and His power would come upon me in measures I haven’t experienced to this day. But I would always deny Him as I didn’t want Him. Well not yet anyway. I wanted to live my life the way I wanted to first. Yet God chose to speak to me right when I was seeking to live out my sinful lifestyle. So when I heard His voice I said to him as if He were standing right there, “No, I will not follow You. Not now. I will follow You when I am an old man, then I can do whatever I want now and still get to heaven before I die.” “Then another voice spoke to me, which was very seductive. It was the evil one. He said, “Yes that’s right. You can follow God and still have all you want.” Then He showed me all the things I wanted and I said to Him, “That’s what I want, Jesus,” and Jesus said to me again, “Follow Me”. “He said I had to give up everything I could see, as I could see in a vision all that the enemy wanted to give me. Everything in me was saying, “No God! Why did you come to me now? Not now God!” Then I saw a cross and Jesus said again, “If you want to follow me you must give up all you see now.” This was hard. I didn’t want to. But the conviction in my heart just wouldn’t leave, and after many hours of battling I finally said, “Okay Lord, I will give it a go, I will give up that other stuff.” Then
I witnessed the most incredible demonstrations of Gods’ power in nightclubs, music festivals, in cars, in the green rooms and back-stage with other bands. Everywhere I went, God went with me and He was ready to move in His power. instantly I felt peace, I was set free and was born again with a deep heart of repentance and sorrow for the selfish life I’d been living. My mind was freed and I now looked at the world through different eyes. I was even amazed at the beauty of all of Gods’ creation, as if seeing it for the first time.” Tawhiri began to read the bible and pray continually. He was hungry for God and spent the first six months in deep repentance. He learned to live by faith and trusted in God for everything. As he consecrated himself to the Lord he began to see amazing things happen. Tawhiri got a call to play in the band Sons of Zion, began session playing with many others and started the band Soljah. He played with artists Hazardous, musicians from Ardijah, Annabel Faye, Peiter T, Dane Rumble, Stan Walker, Jay Williams and many others. The music scene really opened up for him and he was doing what he always wanted. In the early years Tawhiri didn’t join a church because he was always touring. Still he refused to be influenced by the lifestyle of drugs, drinking and sex and learned to walk with God and abide in His presence no matter where he was. But eventually being immersed in the lifestyle began to make him feel depressed. At the end of 2011 he took time out to fast and pray if it was the Lords’ will for him to remain in the music scene — which it was. Tawhiri and Katy were reunited in marriage, moved back to Kaiwaka, were blessed with their first baby and began going to church. 2012 saw Tawhiri on tour again with the summer season of music festivals but was now strength-
ened by Gods’ word. He was on a mission. “I was no longer concerned about fame or success. I just wanted Gods’ will; to win souls for Jesus. From 2012 to 2014 I witnessed the most incredible demonstrations of Gods’ power in nightclubs, music festivals, in cars, in the green rooms and back-stage with other bands. Everywhere I went, God went with me and He was ready to move in His power. I would see salvations, healings, deliverances, and move in the word of knowledge and prophecy which would instantly set people free from alcohol intoxication.” Many of those God sent to him were backslidden Christians and His power would fall more than you would normally see in a church service. Tawhiri preached sermons on music video sets and even had some of the camera crew give their hearts to the Lord. He saw some of the most powerful demonstrations of Gods’ power delivering people from demonic possession as people often spontaneously manifested around him. “I even witnessed Gods’ protection over me in the music scene as I had drunk people try to come violently against me, but as they came close I felt a wall of the Holy Spirit envelop me. When they stepped into it they began to weep uncontrollably, not knowing what was happening to them.” He understood then that the church is not a building, but Gods’ people are His living temple, bringing His kingdom wherever they go. As he played he grieved over the condition of the people living in their sin and he
would pray, “God, when you say it’s time, I am coming out of this Lord. I am only here to do Your will.” That day came in April 2014. Tawhiri was so happy and knew that he’d done his Fathers’ will and a new leg of his journey began. In 2015 he was ordained as a Co-Pastor of Kaiwaka Family Church. “Jesus has changed my life and I owe it all to Him. My old life has gone and I am a new creation in Him.” Tawhiri and those around him harvest the rich fruit of his true repentance and totally surrendered heart. He loves seeing God transform and restore lives and is seeing huge transformation take place throughout his community. After playing in front of 40,000 people and 14 years of touring, he now enjoys having time with his wife and kids. He does miss his friends in the music scene and prays the Lord will set them free, as He did for him. “I know how strong the hold of music is. It becomes everything in your life, even more important than family. It blinds you and leaves you always seeking success and never satisfying. It is never able to fulfill that void in your heart. Only Jesus can. Nothing in all the world can ever compare to knowing Him and His great love for us. I’m excited at this adventure, and I am more hungry for Him now than ever before. In honour of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” You can contact Tawhiri on tawhiri.l@gmail.com
www.mychristiandaily.com | 11
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
P
Leading the Way: Michael Youssef
P
The Catholic Guy: Bruce Downs
P
Derek Prince
P
Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn
P
Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew
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
Buzz and Poppy
C
6:30
Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew
C
From Aardvaark to Zucchini
C
Veggie Tales
C
Adventures in Booga Booga Land
C
Scaly Adventures
C
Go Frills
C
7:00
Paul the Little Missionary
C
Go Frills
C
Fifty the Tractor
C
Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew
C
Buzz and Poppy
C
Veggie Tales
C
7:30
Hour of Power: Robert Schuller
P
8:00
Connection Point: Reuben Munn
P
Go Frills
C
Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew
C
From Aardvaark to Zucchini
C
Paul the Little Missionary
C
The Lads TV
C
Fifty the Tractor
C
8:00
8:30
Running with Fire: Tak Bhana
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: Reuben Munn
P
RocKids TV
C
8:30
In Touch: Charles Stanley
P
Paul the Little Missionary
C
9:00
P
P
The Lads TV
C
9:30
Word For You: Terry & Jayne Calkin
P
Songs of Praise
M
Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah
P
LIFE TV: Paul de Jong
P
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
P
Precious Memories
Leading the Way: Michael Youssef
Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV
P
10:00 N
Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer (Mon-Fri)
P
Christian World News
N
D
Kiwis Can Fly
See adjacent for details
FEATURE:
D
Living Truth: Charles Price
P
Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah
P
Brought to you by
P
D
FEATURE:
See adjacent for details
Joni and Friends
Answers with Bayless Conley
Full Circle (Mon-Fri)
Sue Thomas: FB Eye
D
See adjacent for details
Give Me An Answer: Cliffe Knechtle
D
The 700 Club (Tue-Fri)
M
FEATURE:
D
The American Bible Challenge
TheDRIVEtv
Life fm Presents
Y 10:30
11:00
Hearts Wide Open
D 11:30
Noon
Y
E
12:30
FEATURE:
See adjacent for details
The Restoration Road
D
Living Truth: Charles Price
P
In Touch: Charles Stanley
P
Go Frills
C
Veggie Tales
Paul the Little Missionary
C
Fifty the Tractor
FEATURE:
See adjacent for details
Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah
P
C
The Lads TV
C
From Aardvaark to Zucchini
1:00
D
7:00
Precious Memories
M
7:30
Songs of Praise
M
Impact for Life: Peter & Bev Mortlock What’s on Shine
Sue Thomas: FB Eye
8:00
FEATURE:
See adjacent for details
P
Planetshakers TV
P
Live from Studio B
M
Hour of Power: Robert Schuller
P
2:00 2:30 3:00
P
C
Buzz and Poppy
C
RocKids TV
C
Leading the Way: Michael Youssef
P
4:00
C
Adventures in Booga Booga Land
C
The Lads TV
C
The Catholic Guy: Bruce Downs
P
4:30
Rhema Worship (Mon-Fri)
M
TV4DADS
D
5:00
Full Circle (Mon-Fri)
D
Creation Magazine
D
5:30
The 700 Club (Mon-Fri)
N
Lakewood Church: Joel Osteen
P
3:30
P
Christian World News
N
Kiwis Can Fly
D
LIFE TV: Paul de Jong
P
The American Bible Challenge
E
Running with Fire: Tak Bhana
P
Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn
P
Live from Studio B
M
TV4DADS
D
Everytown
D
Basic / Ed’s Story
D
6:00 6:30 7:00
FEATURE:
See adjacent for details
7:30
Brought to you by
8:00 8:30
FEATURE:
See adjacent for details
FEATURE:
See adjacent for details
FEATURE:
FEATURE:
See adjacent for details
9:30 10:00
Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV
P
The Restoration Road
D
10:30
Your Best Life: Phil Pringle
P
Give Me An Answer: Cliffe Knechtle
D
11:00
The Catholic Guy: Bruce Downs
P
11:30
The Exchange
D
Midnight
Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn
P
Unlocking the Bible: David Pawson
See adjacent for details
Lakewood Church: Joel Osteen
Word For You: Terry & Jayne Calkin
D
1:30
FEATURE:
D
Hearts Wide Open
9:00
HarvestLite (Highlights from the Harvest Show)
The Exchange
See adjacent for details
6:30
8:30
D
FEATURE:
3:00 3:30
Give Me An Answer: Cliffe Knechtle
Creation Magazine
The Bible Series: 7 & 14 June: Paul 21 June: Apocalypse/ Revelation
2:00 2:30
Destined to Reign with Joseph Prince (Mon-Fri)
P
The Exchange
See adjacent for details
D
Answers with Bayless Conley
P
Planetshakers TV
P
TheDRIVEtv
Y
Your Best Life: Phil Pringle
P
See adjacent for details
Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV
P
Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer (Mon-Fri)
P
Destined to Reign with Joseph Prince (Mon-Fri)
P
Leading the Way: Michael Youssef
P
The Catholic Guy: Bruce Downs
A Shine viewer says... “Shine has indeed impacted our lives. We are a family of six with four children aged 7 to 12. As a Christian mum, I am always seeking good material and programmes for my children. So we looked at the offerings of Shine and they enjoy several shows. They have all developed a habit of tying everyday situations to Biblical lessons and looking for solutions in God’s Word.” 12 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
Sue Thomas: FB Eye
FEATURE:
P
Derek Prince
KEY
P
Connection Point: Reuben Munn
P
P Preaching
C Children
N News
E Entertainment
9:00 D
9:30
Joni and Friends
D 10:00
Hope Centre: Wayne Alcorn
P 10:30
11:00
The Mark Gungor Show
E
LIFE TV: Paul de Jong
P
M Music
11:30 Midnight
D Doco/Drama
Y Youth
SH IN E FE A TU RES June 2015
Monumental
The story of America’s beginnings. Presented and produced by and starring Kirk Cameron, this true story follows this father of six across Europe and the United States as he seeks to discover America’s true “national treasure” — the people, places and principles that made America what it is today. Fri 12 June @ 8pm; Sat 13 June @ 12pm
Cutback (run time: 87 min) Luke dreams of being a pro surfer, but when tragedy strikes he realises there is much more to life than surfing waves. Mon 1 @ 8.30pm; Tue 2 @ 1pm
Candle in the Dark (run time: 94 min) The compelling story of William Carey shows how a life dedicated to God can make a profound difference in the world. Sun 7 @ 8.30pm; Mon 8 @ 1pm
After Kony - Staging Hope (run time: 100 min) American actors & Ugandan teenagers collaborate on a theatre programme for war-torn Uganda. Tue 16 @ 8.30pm; Wed 17 @ 1pm
David Brainerd (run time: 58 min) David Brainerd was a missionary to the Native Americans. His story is a source of inspiration to many Christians. Tue 23 @ 9.30pm; Wed 24 @ 2pm
Flight: The Genius of Birds (run time: 60 min) The mysteries and mechanisms of birds, showcasing unmistakable evidence for design, purpose and plan. Tue 2 @ 8.30pm; Wed 3 @ 1pm
Amish Grace (run time: 85 min) The peaceful Amish community of Nickel Mines is forever changed when a gunman takes the lives of five girls in a schoolhouse shooting. Mon 8 @ 8.30pm; Tue 9 @ 1pm
Marriage Retreat (run time: 82 min) A group of best friends on a retreat discover the true state of their marriages and how far apart they have drifted. Wed 17 @ 8.30pm; Thu 18 @ 1pm
Little Red Wagon (run time: 102 min) 8-year-old Zach dedicates his life to helping children made homeless by Hurricane Charley. Based on true events. Wed 24 @ 8.30pm; Thu 25 @ 1pm
Goal of the Century (run time: 45 min) A look at the life of Canadian hockey hero Paul Henderson, and his goal of the century against the Soviet team in 1972. Thu 18 @ 8.30pm; Fri 19 @ 12.30pm
Notorious to Glorious (run time: 45 min) A look at the beauty and challenge of re-building the broken life of Michael Bull Roberts from hatred and violence. Thu 25 @ 8.30pm; Fri 26 @ 1pm
The Encounter (run time: 100 min) Six strangers are trapped in a Thai resort, facing a hurricane. They encounter a man who brings each a message of hope for their broken lives. Fri 19 @ 8pm; Sat 20 @ 12pm
King’s Faith (run time: 108 min) When 18-year-old Brendan King leaves his old turbulent gang life, his past continues to threaten his new-found faith, family and future. Fri 26 @ 8pm; Sat 27 @ 12pm
Angel Next Door (run time: 94 min) Each Christmas, the students in Olivia’s class present ‘My Impossible Christmas Wish Papers’, but this year... the wishes are coming true! Sat 20 @ 2pm
The Derby Stallion (run time: 98 min) 15-year-old Patrick doesn’t know what to do with his life. A misunderstood horse trainer convinces him to train for the Derby Cup. Sat 27 @ 7pm; Sun 28 @ 2pm
Jimmy (run time: 95 min) The story of a mentally challenged teen who interacts with supernatural beings he calls ‘Watchers’. Sat 20 @ 7pm; Sun 21 @ 2pm
Meant To Be (run time: 91 min) When 20-year old Nathan loses his career and girlfriend, he questions his purpose. He sets out to find his birth mother. Sun 28 @ 8.30pm; Mon 29 @ 1pm
God’s Country (run time: 91 min) Meghan Doherty will do anything to close a deal. With a $100 million dollar deal looming, not even God can stop her, she thinks. Sun 21 @ 8.30pm; Mon 22 @ 1pm
The Moment After (run time: 84 min) In a split second, a mass disappearance occurs. After the initial turmoil, the FBI is called in to investigate. Mon 29 @ 8.30pm; Tue 30 @ 1pm
Journey to the Amazon (run time: 60 min) Charles Price reports on the work of the ‘Evangelical Mission to Assist Fishermen’ in the Amazon rainforest. Tue 2 @ 9.30pm; Wed 3 @ 2pm; Tue 9 @ 9.30pm; Wed 10 @ 2pm
No Bright Lights (run time: 45 min) An up close look at Networks Romania, a Christian relief organisation reaching out to Romania’s poorest people. Tue 9 @ 8.30pm; Wed 10 @ 1pm
The Calling (run time: 76 min) A documentary by David Ranghelli on commitment to God, loyalty to family and the faith to discover God’s will. Wed 3 @ 8.30pm; Thu 4 @ 1pm
Catching Hearts (run time: 71 min) What happens when a bestselling atheist author loses his faith in atheism? Wed 10 @ 8.30pm; Thu 11 @ 1pm
Flux: A Journey of Constant Change
(run time: 58 min)
Robber of the Cruel Streets
George Muller‘s mission was to rescue Surfers aged from 12-60 from different orphans from street life in England backgrounds but with a common faith during the time of Charles Dickens. live together in NZ for 10 days. Thu 11 @ 8.30pm; Fri 12 @ 12.30pm Thu 4 @ 8.30pm; Fri 5 @ 1pm Our Wild Hearts (run time: 90 min) Jake Hamilton (run time: 30 min) A wealthy teenage girl from Malibu finds Jake Hamilton’s new album, Freedom the love of her father & a wild mustang Calling, is a mix of passionate worship in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. and prophetic declaration. Sat 13 @ 2pm Fri 5 @ 8pm Heart of a Hero (run time: 103 min) From the Rough (run time: 97 min) An 11-year-old boy’s derby dreams Catana Starks was the first woman to are shattered when his father is killed in lead a collegiate men’s golf team to an Afghanistan. He teams up with a man all-time-record championship season. who has lost his son to revive the derby. Fri 5 @ 8.30pm; Sat 6 @ 12pm Sat 13 @ 7pm; Sun 14 @ 2pm (run time: 60 min)
If I Had Wings (run time: 89 min) Two boys work together so one can achieve his dream of running for the track team despite being blind, and the other can stay out of jail. Sat 6 @ 2pm Underdogs (run time: 120 min) A small-town high school football team stands up for an entire community. Sat 6 @ 7pm; Sun 7 @ 2pm Sat 27 @ 2pm
To watch Shine Freeview Satellite 25 Sky 201 or online at shinetv.co.nz
Free Wheels East (run time: 93 min) Cousins Jamie and Ben cycle through 33 countries, and in so doing change the course of their lives... forever. Sun 14 @ 8.30pm; Mon 15 @ 1pm Prodigal (run time: 90 min) Levi is tired of the expectations of being a preacher’s son. He receives a large inheritance and takes the chance to get away from it all. Mon 15 @ 8.30pm; Tue 16 @ 1pm
The Assignment (run time: 92 min) After acceptance to music school, Eliza’s world is rocked when she uncovers a shocking mystery about her family. Mon 22 @ 8.30pm; Tue 23 @ 1pm Weaving Life (run time: 58 min) The story of Dan Terry, who spent 40 years devoted to the Afghani people until tragically assassinated in 2010. Tue 23 @ 8.30pm; Wed 24 @ 1pm
A Gathering of Souls (run time: 55 min) With expert commentary from pastors, academics and evangelists, a look at the history of the Billy Graham crusades. Tue 30 @ 8.30pm Youth Under Fire (run time: 45 min) Violence has infiltrated American culture. How is it learned? Why does it happen? How do we teach our kids that violence isn’t an option? Tue 30 @ 9.30pm
shinetv.co.nz twitter.com/shinetv facebook.com/shinetv.nz
Details correct at time of printing. For up-to-date 24-hour listings and programme information go to shinetv.co.nz.
www.mychristiandaily.com | 13
Persecution
Remaining True to God’s Word in the face of rising persecution in the West
F
or a long time, those of us who live in the affluent West have thought of the persecution of Christians as something that happens “over there somewhere”. In the Middle East, in North Africa … anywhere, except here at home. But that is all changing, and for some reason comfortable, pew–sitting Christians are shocked. The Times They are a Changin’ I guess that’s understandable. For so long, we’ve had things so good. When I was a lad (five decades ago) it was the norm for families to dress up in their Sunday bests and toddle off to church once a week. Falling pregnant out of wedlock was a scandal. Homosexuality was a criminal offence. There was no such thing as a sex change operation. People who cross– dressed were few and far between and were considered just downright crazy. Abortion was murder and punishable by prison–time … oh and, by the way pubs closed their doors at 6:00pm. Now, I am not for one moment suggesting that all those things were good. Underlying values and social reactions are two different things. But my point is this: the world has changed. And it’s changed drastically. Today, around 10% of people attend church on a Sunday (a lot of people mind you, but a clear minority). Children outside marriage are a valid lifestyle choice, as is living together, as is getting married anywhere but a church. Homosexuality is not only decriminalised (good!) but is being taught in our schools as being an acceptable and equal choice. What is progressively, in fact, being criminalised, is speaking out against this choice. Same–sex marriage is already the law in Canada, 37 states of the USA, New Zealand – a total of 17 countries around the world. It is likely to become law in Australia in the near future. Cross–dressing is no longer something for those on the fringe, it is a choice supported by expensive medical procedures, to be celebrated when someone finally becomes who they always were on the inside. Pregnancies can be legally terminated as a matter of convenience and it has apparently become a fundamental
14 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
democratic right to be able to go out and get plastered at a drinking venue until 3am in the morning. Have I missed anything? Political Correctness – The New Rule of Law So the people who these days, more and more, find themselves on the lunatic fringe, are those promoting family values, modesty, self–restraint and decency. They are now ‘bigoted’, ‘narrow–minded’, ‘ultra–conservative’, ‘homophobic’ individuals, who actively discriminate against others. My how the world has changed in just 50 years! And so my question to you is this: How are you handling this new world order in your heart, in your beliefs, in your attitudes, in your practices? (Or are you still clinging to the past, hoping all this will go away?) The truly scary thing for those comfortable, pew–sitting Christians in the West, is that more and more, speaking out for values that we, as Bible–believing, Jesus–loving Christians hold dear as representing the God–inspired truth, is becoming the battle front against the LGBT community, against vested interests, against the increasingly entrenched systems and structures of a fallen world. Back in April 2014, the CEO of Mozilla (a company which, amongst other things, is responsible for the popular web browser ‘FireFox’) was forced to resign, because he made a donation to an organisation that opposes same– sex marriage. In March 2015, Belfast based Ashers Bakery was prosecuted for refusing to bake a Bert and Ernie (Sesame Street) cake, with the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’. The cake had been ordered for a private function marking International Day Against Homophobia. It appears that Gareth Lee, a volunteer member of the LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, claimed he was left feeling like a ‘lesser person’ when his order was turned down. Mrs McArthur (a joint owner of Ashers Bakery) testified: The problem was with the message on the cake because, as a Christian, I do not support gay marriage. (Source: Daily Mail, Australia) These are by no means isolated instances. They are
the crest of a rising wave of persecution, coming under the guise of ‘political correctness’. So here’s the shock. Persecution, for the first time, has come to the doorstep of your church, your workplace and your home, here in the hitherto comfortable and safe affluence of the West. Don’t be so Shocked Of course, this is always what Jesus predicted. If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. (John 15:18–21) So how do you respond to this? How do you react? What will you do, when you’re the hi–tech exec, the baker or the florist who comes under persecution? A Stark Choice It seems to me that there is a stark choice – we either remain faithful to God’s Word, or we go with the flow. It’s as simple as that. Many are going with the flow. It’s a lot easier that way. No name–calling, no marginalisation, no prosecution. Going with the flow is certainly the easiest way. The only problem with that, is the end destination: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matt 7:13,14) And going with the flow is also so much easier, if we maintain biblical illiteracy. I had a lecturer many years ago at Bible College, who had been in pastoral ministry for over 30 years. In the first lecture of ‘Intro to New Testament’, he said something along these lines: At every church I have arrived at as pastor, I have always assumed
Youth with a Mission
MEDICAL SHIP SET TO SAIL a low level of biblical literacy … and I have never been disappointed. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve posted a blog about contentious social issues, thrown scripture into the mix, and had people respond with … but I think ... but I believe … but these days … but … but … but. Here’s there logic. I am a Christian, I believe ‘x’ therefore ‘x’ must be the truth. My response, lovingly, is always the same: When given the choice between your opinion and God’s Word, I’ll choose God’s Word every time. How can Bible–believing, Christ–loving Christians, having let the Spirit lift the words of Psalm 139 off the page and write it on their hearts, not see abortion for what it is? How can any Bible–believing, Christ–loving Christian who, having heard the terror of God’s Word in Romans 1:26–32, not ache for, pray for, fear for, those deluded by sins of sexuality and seek ways to love them into the Kingdom of God? Well the easiest ways not to do those things, is to leave your Bible up on that shelf gathering dust, ignoring the powerful, grace–full, terrible, life–giving Word of God, instead allowing the truth to be displaced by the impostor of self– made opinion. Might I ask you gently but directly today, are your beliefs and actions guided more by the living Word of God, or the opinions of this world? This is Not a Theory Lesson For me, none of this is a theory lesson. I live in the heart of the gay district in Sydney, and so I am surrounded by many people who don’t believe what I believe. Some them are very near and dear to me. I find myself walking this fine line of love and truth on a daily basis. It’s not always easy, but as I do, the words of Jesus ring in my ears: But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:27–31) Here’s what that means for me: loving someone doesn’t mean agreeing with them. Conversely, disagreeing with someone doesn’t mean hating them. I am not homophobic because I believe God’s truth over the world’s lies. Jesus loved you and me enough to tell us the truth, plain and simple. He never swept our sin under the carpet. He confronted it in love and with wisdom. In doing so, He was counter–cultural, He went against the flow and eventually … they crucified Him for that. He bore no anger toward His enemies. He didn’t see their opposition to God’s truth as a battle line to be drawn. He didn’t, like many so–called Christians today, spit venom and hurl vitriol at those who persecuted Him. He loved us enough, to tell and to be the truth. So… how will you remain true to God’s Word, in the face of rising persecution in the West?
Berni Dymet is the ceo of the global media ministry – Christianityworks. His radio and television broadcasts reach millions of people each week in over 160 countries around the world. For instant access to his free, daily eDevotional, stop by at edevotional.net
Above: The Pacific Hope; Below: Jesse Misa (CEO Marine Reach) and Captain Roger Connolly (Captain M/V Pacific Hope)
T
he Pacific Hope, Youth With a Mission’s new medical ship, is about to embark on its maiden voyage into the Pacific on the 20th of June. The M/V Pacific Hope was purchased in Japan two years ago and has been undergoing a refit in Tauranga since that time. The fifty-four meter vessel can carry a complement of 60 people. The ship is equipped with a medical clinic, training seminar room, large galley and mess hall, crew lounge, ship office and has a 250 square meter cargo hold for emergency relief supplies. “It is not just for medical work” says Captain Jesse Misa, CEO of Marine Reach. “Training is also an important part of the ministry with seminars planned on board in the areas such as primary healthcare, community development, leadership and pastoral care etc. Creating a long term and lasting change is a major part of our strategy for the communities we visit.” Youth With a Mission has a long history of using ships to complete the Great Commission starting with the M/V Anastasis which visited New Zealand in 1983. Over the last twenty-four years, Marine Reach, the maritime arm of Youth With a Mission, has pioneered four ships out of New Zealand visiting eighteen nations across the South Pacific involving over 300 port calls. Approximately 330,000 men, women and children have received medical care from the ministry’s dental, optical and primary healthcare teams. Additionally, over one million people have been reached by ship based and land based Mission Reach Teams comprised of church groups that serve on board for two weeks at a time. This gives the local church an excellent opportunity to get a missions experience as a church group in a controlled environment. The primary purpose of the ministry of Marine Reach is to serve the poorer more isolated coastal communities with God’s heart of love, mercy and compassion. Youth With a Mission currently has three ships serving in the Pacific with the M/V Pacific Link serving in Bougainville, the M/V YWAM-PNG serving in Papua New Guinea, the M/V Pacific Hope to serve in Vanuatu. Marine Reach also has vessels working with tribal peoples throughout the Amazon Basin as well as in the Mediterranean Sea aboard our Marine Reach Europe ship, the M/V Next Wave. Over a dozen other smaller vessels serve with YWAM around the world. The M/V Pacific Hope will sail for Samoa before heading back to Fiji then Vanuatu where she will be concentrating her efforts for the next few years. “Vanuatu is an excellent location to base the vessel as it has a short sailing time to both the Solomon Islands and Fiji”, says Captain Misa. Dozens of volunteers and contractors from around New Zealand completed the refit. The total two million dollars needed for the purchase and refit of the vessel was raised in New Zealand and the USA.
www.mychristiandaily.com | 15
‘Parachurch’ Ministry
UNLIKELY MATERIAL The story of Elevate
D
BY JULIE BELDING
i Willis, who with her husband Hugh and with Margie Willers founded the Christian Fellowship for Disabled almost four decades ago, concedes she was not the most likely person God could have used. “I was hopeless at school,” she admits, “just hopeless. My father and mother and sister were brilliant, but I failed everything. Eventually my parents had me assessed and realised I was a ‘slow learner’ and they sent me to a special boarding school.” Di was born near the end of World War II, and like many children in war-shattered London, was sent to live in the country where life was safer. She could never have imagined how her life would turn out. Despite her learning difficulties she persevered, helped by her teachers and coached at home by a persistent mother and sister. After attaining her basic O levels, Di was accepted to train as an occupational therapist. After graduating, she worked at an RAF rehabilitation centre in Surrey, at the same time enjoying a full social life. She was the original party girl. One day her father spotted an ad for someone to work at a rehabilitation centre in New Zealand, and suggested she apply. A representative came from New Zealand to interview her, and Di was given a two-year contract, beginning in 1967. Later she worked at Middlemore Hospital, and it was during this period, through a tramping club, that she met Hugh Willis, to whom she was immediately attracted. As Di tells it, the more reserved Hugh was not so impressed with this worldly party girl, and their friendship went nowhere.
Epsom, in 1970. Hugh later became head of the mathematics department at Westlake Boys High School, where he taught for 32 years. He is now retired. At Middlemore Di was working with para- and tetraplegics, and one day in front of Bev Everton, a tetraplegic, she felt God saying there should be a ministry for people with disabilities like this — whether or not they were Christian. Di also met Margie Willers of Te Puke — another divine appointment. Margie had been born with athetoid cerebral palsy and was a mature Christian. Believing for a miracle, she had flown to the USA to attend healing meetings led by the late Kathryn Kuhlmann. But the longed-for miracle never eventuated. Margie went on to Faith Bible College where through tears of disappointment she sensed God telling her he had a higher purpose for her life: she would be instrumental in a new ministry for people with disabilities.1 Thirty-nine years ago she shared this vision with Di and Hugh, and together they began to organise regular meetings at the Willises’ home in Torbay, on the North Shore. The group called itself the Christian Fellowship For Disabled. “We were always a ‘parachurch’ ministry,” Di explains, “never a church.” The three Willis children –Jenny, David and Andrew-were involved from the start. “The whole family needed to be part of our ministry,” Di says, “and they were.” Later, when Hugh and Di organised camps for people with disabilities, their children went along to support them and continued doing so for years.
Conversion Then an event happened which transformed Di’s life. A friend invited her to attend a Billy Graham crusade meeting in Auckland. On the night of the meeting the friend didn’t turn up, but Di went anyway. She heard the gospel preached and was radically converted. Soon afterwards she became re-acquainted with Hugh, who was now more interested! He became a bornagain Christian and they were married at St Andrews,
The Encourager In 1977 they put out a simple newsletter called The Magazine. Margie Willers typed the content, using a rod held in her mouth, and forty copies were printed on an old Gestetner. Later the newsletter grew into a magazine and was properly printed. Hugh was its editor from the earliest days. For years Di and Hugh put this magazine
16 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
1 Margie’s personal story, Awaiting the Healer, is now available as a Kindle book
together in their home with the help of a 30-person team of volunteers who collated, folded, stapled and prepared up to five thousand copies for dispatch. A Christian printer saw what was happening and offered to produce what was now called The Encourager, half in colour and at a reasonable cost. Four years later it became a full-colour glossy and was posted out by a mail centre. Now this magazine — still free —has a circulation of 6,000 and is sent out quarterly. A digital version is also produced, and the magazine is available on audio CD and Daisy for the visually impaired. Production continues to be supported by donations and a few trusts. Ministry Centre The meetings continued to grow, and soon the Willises’ home was bursting at the seams. It was clear they needed a larger place for their meetings, so they held them in different venues. A lack of funds did not daunt Di, who was confident God would provide. At first the group rented a house in Balmoral Road, central Auckland, for their centre. Then they were virtually gifted, through a set of amazing circumstances, a large house in Mt Smart Road, Onehunga, which had belonged to YWAM. In 1994 they renovated this house to meet the needs of the group and changed its name to Christian Ministries with Disabled Trust. “God has always supplied expert help for us just when we needed it,” Di says. Today the house, which also serves as the Trust headquarters, is a popular drop-in centre. It is open three days a week from 9:30am to 4pm, with an average of one hundred attendees, including staff. Di still goes in on those three days and Hugh on one. The place is a hive of activity. Often students from Carey Baptist College or Laidlaw College come to observe and help out as part of their practical ministry training. Other developments Since 1982 small camps have been run in different venues along with a large one held annually at Totara Springs in Matamata every Labour Weekend. Torch Ministries was founded for people with visual impairments, Joy Ministries for people with intellectual disabilities, and Emmanuel as a support group for families with disabled children. CFFD started a lending library and a tape library. Now, with the advance of technology, they supply CDs, DVDs and USB disks. In Sept 2012 the organisation, then well over thirty years old, rebranded itself (“the name of the Trust was such a mouthful”) and called itself ELEVATE Christian Disability Trust. With its stated mission to evangelise, to equip and to educate, it remains an interdenominational, registered charitable trust inspired by 1 Samuel 16:7: Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. There are sixteen branches and ministries throughout New Zealand and programmes operating in the Philippines. In his history of the ministry (On the Knife Edge of Faith, published in 2006) Hugh spoke of how the Lord chose people with seemingly little in common to come together to carry out his purposes. “The beginnings of a Christian work with people with disabilities in New Zealand,” wrote Hugh, “gives us a fascinating glimpse of how he so often uses seemingly unlikely material.” Di Willis would not disagree. “God is just amazing!” she says.
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POSITIONS VACANT
I N V I TAT I O N
Management Accountant [part-time] Interserve NZ is looking for a motivated, people-centred, detail-oriented and financially strategic Management Accountant. The ideal candidate will be passionate about cross-cultural Christian mission and support our National Director as he develops the organisation, and work with the Interserve Treasurer, Finance and Administration Committee, the Interserve NZ Council, and the global Interserve Fellowship.
to partner with the Asia Theological Association (the largest evangelical continental theological association worldwide) and with the Asia Theological Research and Development (NZ) Trust by prayer, finance and as a volunteer to:
This strategic and self-funded part-time role is available immediately, and would probably suit a semi- or recently-retired accounting professional. It requires a mature team player fully committed to the vision and values of Interserve, with excellent communication, computing (Xero and Microsoft CRM knowledge an advantage) and strategic management skills. She/he will be a person able to work with a wide set of people, across global cultures, and a variety of tasks at any given time, able to respond quickly and to deliver to set timelines. The role would initially include some developmental systems work, in liaison with the Interserve Treasurer. It could start as a .5 position but could potentially reduce as progress is being made. Working hours would be by arrangement and flexible. The location would be based in Central Auckland but a virtual component could be explored as well.
• Train national pastors in servant leadership in Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the MDiv/BD level; • Train teachers for the Bible Schools and Colleges in these countries at the MTh level to enable them to respond to the pressures and persecution from the majority religions and to counter emerging heresies in the churches; • Volunteer to teach English as a second language to both faculty and students in these countries either for one month of intensive teaching or for 1-3 year service.
4 Bambury Close, Point Chevalier Auckland 1022 Tel. (09) 846 1211 Email: brucejnicholls@gmail.com
For information contact: Dr Bruce Nicholls, Executive Secretary Asia Research & Development (NZ) Trust
For a full job description, and/or to send your CV, please contact the National Director, Johannes Balzer, during business www.interserve.org.nz hours on (09) 623 6105 or email him at johannes@interserve.org.nz
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brought to you by My Christian Daily Jobs www.mychristiandaily.com/jobs RESOURCES
At some point in their lives, many people feel they have been rejected and forgotten. Their lives are filled with a sense of rejection, whether real or imagined.
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Are you a
Small Beginnings
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t some point in their lives, many people feel they have been rejected and forgotten. They may see friends and family members go on to lead fulfilling lives and believe such a life will never come to them. Their lives are filled with a sense of rejection, whether real or imagined.
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Hamilton, New Zealand.
Dennis R. McLeod
Author Dennis R. McLeod understands that feeling. He shares in Small Beginnings how our lives can be turned around and fulfilled Dennis R. McLeod was a top teacher at a local trade school, where he taught for over thirty-fiveif years. has served as a church synod to what weHestop and listen representative. He and his wife, Penny, served as missionaries in many countries and pastors in aGod church in their planned hometown of for us. has
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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
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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18 | Christian Life Issue Twenty-Four June 2015
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www.mychristiandaily.com | 19
Ordinary New Zealand Churches doing Extraordinary things!
Money Can’t Buy you Vision Ginny Larsen reflects on the role of cold hard cash in community ministry. Do we sometimes put the cart before the horse? WHAT PREVENTS you from fulfilling your dreams? Talking with numerous organisations, you would think it is simply a matter of money. In my experience, this is seldom the case. Most likely you’ve done the exercise where you write down what
you’d do if money was no object. You come up with dreams, then put them in the ‘maybe in the future when we have money’ basket. But maybe what is holding you back is not money but your own mindset.
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 How to Resource your Growth Plan
How to Engage your Community
If you can fulfil your vision on your present budget, your vision is too small! The Kingdom grows and grows and your community-facing ministry should be growing too.
Do you have the sneaky feeling that your community flows past your church without really seeing it or needing it? If this is true, you may need a new purposeful, effective and sustainable plan for engaging your community for the sake of the Kingdom. If your church is invisible to your community, the problem might be that your community is still invisible to your church!
Of course resourcing your plan is about more than just dollars. At this workshop you will learn how to extend your vision, cultivate fruitful partnerships as well as how to find the money you need. Check out the website for information regarding the facilitators for this highly practical workshop. Auckland Wellington
Saturday 25 July Saturday 8 August
To learn more visit
If you want to learn about Community Mapping and how to put your church and your community in touch, our next workshop is for you! Details about the top-notch practitioners who will be facilitating this workshop can be found on our website. Tauranga Christchurch
Saturday 25 July Saturday 8 August
www.loveyourneighbour.nz/workshops
Love Your Neighbour : EVERY NEIGHBOURHOOD BEFRIENDED BY A LOCAL CHURCH