Christian Life Issue Eleven_April 2014

APRIL 2014 • Issue ELEVEN • www.mychristiandaily.com

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TREASURES IN THE DARKENSS Andy Bray lives a life of no regrets since the passing of his daughter

BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS IS ON THE UP!

Life changing programmes are being taught in more NZ schools

CBA TAKES OVER MAINSTREAM RADIO

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Contents...

Issue ELEVEN | APR 2014

04 Treasures in the darkness 06 COVER STORY: CBA takes over main stream broadcast 08 Bible in schools is on the up 10

Local News

12 Overcoming fear 13

Putting family first

14

Freedom fighter

06

15 6 Tests for a God-given dream 16 Shine TV programme guide 18 Christian Life Classifieds 04

With apologies...

08

Christian Life wishes to apologise for incorrectly referring to GLYNN CARPENTER of New Zealand Christian Network as Mr Glynn in Strengthening Marriages in NZ on page 3, issue nine.

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Family

TREASURES IN THE DARKNESS RAISING YOUR FAMILY WITH NO REGRETS ~ WITH ANDY BRAY I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord...

Isaiah 45:3 (NIV) On the 15th April, 2008 Murray Burton, the Principal of Elim Christian College, should have been celebrating his 50th birthday. Sadly, he’s unlikely to fully ‘kick up his heels’ on his special day, ever again. Each time he blows out his birthday candles we know his mind will not be far from the memory of the six students and the teacher that he lost that day.

Six years ago, we received the unbearable news that our beautiful 16 year-old daughter, Natasha, along with five of her school mates, Portia McPhail, Anthony Mulder, Tom Hsu, Floyd Fernandes, Tara Gregory and their teacher, Tony McLean, drowned while canyoning on an Elim Christian College trip at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre.

We didn’t know then, but we do now, that the entire nation held the College and the families close to their hearts. Mothers in particular, imagined what the sense of loss and grief would be like for them if it were their child. Many hundreds responded with messages of love and support, telling us they were praying for us.

Thank you. We needed them.

And the media spotlight shone brightly in our faces as a plethora of reporters watched closely to see how normal families with a professed faith would respond.

The most heartening response that I heard was from a reporter who was being interviewed on NewsTalk ZB one Sunday night about his coverage of the tragedy.

Referring to Murray Burton, the College, and the families, he said, ‘Whatever it is they are drinking, I want a sip of it.’

Looking back, I’m so thankful to God that He was present ‘in’ us, and through it all, because we ‘weren’t present’. We were hunkered down, barely living, trying to find a way through the numbed haze. Without friends, literally putting food in our mouths, driving us from place to place, and looking after our other children, we wonder how we would have coped.

I remember driving alone one morning during the craziness of rush hour traffic and yelling out at

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4 | Christian Life Issue Eleven April 2014

the top of my voice to all the cars racing around me, “STOP! STOP! DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT’S JUST HAPPENED?!” But the truth is, despite what you’re facing, the big wide world just keeps on turning.

Have you noticed, following any tragedy how the media talks a lot about ‘closure’. I know what they mean, but I do wish they’d find another word. There is never any ‘closure’, just a deep wound that will never completely heal.

Yes, we are thankful for the hope we have in Christ and we believe in the promise that our children now exist in paradise with Him, and that we will get to be with them again. But we still think of Natasha every day, we miss her so much, and it hurts. Our lives, our family... are so different since losing her.

And I am often taken aback, at how often I need to revisit ‘forgiveness’. Mistakes were made and rules were broken, at one of New Zealand’s most esteemed outdoor organizations. The tragedy was totally preventable. And while the CEO at the time, Grant Davidson, has said sorry on more than one occasion, we have yet to hear anything from the instructor who was directly responsible.

In my heart of hearts I have forgiven her. I imagine to myself, “what if she were ‘my daughter’ and this had happened?” That perspective helps. But every now and then, I find the feelings of anger and hurt well up unexpectedly. And I need to ask God to help me to forgive her, all over again.

As a family, we are all doing well now, especially since our other children have left school for university.

It’s like the beginning of a new era, leaving this behind.

While the tragedy has marked us, we don’t want it to ‘define’ us. Besides, we are used to tough things.

Having lost my kidneys as a 20 year-old, I‘ve been kept alive by a kidney machine, and 25 years of regular nightly dialysis brings its own set of issues.

As I said, we understand tough things, and how they impact our lives, our relationships, our marriage.

We choose to rise above our circumstances and live by the motto we have on our fridge: ‘Make the most of the best, and the least of the worst.’

We try to soak up each day and to treasure each other and the joyful moments of life, the family times

“...the media spotlight shone brightly in our faces as a plethora of reporters watched closely to see how normal families with a professed faith would respond.”

From top of page: The 6 Elim Christian College students and their teacher who lost their lives in the Maungatepopo River Canyoning Tragedy - 15 April, 2008; The Bray Family; The Maungatepopo Gorge where the group was canyoning; Murray Burton, Elim Christian College Principal delivering his address with a photo of Natasha Bray in the foreground

The tears stream down our faces, but they are good tears, tears that we welcome, because they call her memory back close to home. We have no regrets because we know we both invested quality time with her while we had her, and live on those special memories we share.

when we are all around the table together. We work hard at not allowing inevitable conflict to spoil things and we are all quick to ask for forgiveness; and to grant it. And we talk about Tash as if she was still in the room with us.

We are especially so thankful for the work God has called us to at FamilyLife; that we get to invest our days purposefully. I can’t tell you how empowering that is.

Nikki wonders how she managed to find the strength to attend our Marriage Conferences so soon after the tragedy, let alone stand and deliver her messages. She would say to me, “I don’t want to do this, but if it helps just one person ...” And inevitably that was the case. A woman would come up to her after she had spoken and say, ‘You have no idea what a difference it has made.’ I believe that our work at FamilyLife, sharing our stories to illustrate marriage principles, has been a key part of our own healing process.

And we are so thankful to God at how He is at work in our children’s lives. They are both young adults now, leading their own lives, and are thriving. They each have the odd ‘melt down’ when they are confronted for some reason with their loss. They have both had many public opportunities to express how the tragedy has affected them, during which they have articulated adeptly and boldly, and each time their faith in God has shone brightly.

We are now much more attuned to the reality of the

tragedies and heartaches that people have to deal with every day. Last week, we heard of a family whose 16 year-old son drowned in the family pool; would we be willing to talk to them? Of course! Our heart aches for them knowing the reality of what they face.

The book we wrote ‘Treasures in the Darkness’ has become a practical gift that many have used to give to friends or relatives facing tough times, to encourage them and give hope. Also, Nikki has written and presented a ‘Hope’ message to many women’s groups. I’m always blown away by what women say to me after hearing her, how she touches and helps those who attend.

Nikki and I will often chat ‘heart to heart’ about Natasha, in what ways we miss her most, what she would be doing now, or what she would think of such and such.

The tears stream down our faces, but they are good tears, tears that we welcome, because they call her memory back close to home. We have no regrets because we know we both invested quality time with her while we had her, and live on those special memories we share.

And while life would be so much more fun with her, we know and trust God with His bigger and better plan, and understand that our perspective is selfish and limited.

Natasha had a saying, ‘Jump in puddles’ which gained popularity after I mentioned it on air. But it lives on in my heart as a daily reminder of how to live life now.

By the way, “Happy Birthday, Murray. We love you.

You are one special, Godly, man.”

FIVE THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS

SO YOU LIVE WITH NO REGRETS

1

. Take each child on Dates.

Spend one-on-one time with each child, on regular dates, doing stuff they like to do. Even take them on the odd over-nighter to create lasting memories

2

. Make sure your child knows they are unconditionally loved.

We live in a performance-oriented world. Be careful that your love for your child is not based on what they do and how well they do it. Your child needs to know that mum and dad just love them, no matter what.

3

. Tell your child “I am proud of you.”

Nothing instills healthy self-esteem more in a child than a parent saying these words, sincerely and clearly.

4 Andy and Nikki Bray are the Directors of FamilyLife in New Zealand, which is dedicated to sharing God’s Plan for marriage. They head up a team of Speaker couples who present weekend conferences and one day seminars to equip, inspire and motivate couples to stay happily married for a lifetime. To purchase your copy of Treasures in the Darkness visit www.familylife.co.nz

. Make your home a haven.

Home has to be an oasis, a time for refreshment, rest, and rebuilding. There needs to be present an over-riding voice of encouragement rather than another constant voice of challenge, or ‘to-dos’, or disappointment.

5

. Share your faith in God One of the best things you can do for the future stability and growth of your child is to share your own faith in the most real and personal way that you can. Tell your child why your faith is so important and how it helps you. Share a key verse of Scripture and explain how it helps you in real life.

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Good news

CBA TAKES OVER MAIN STREAM BROADCAST This Easter YOU could make a difference in someone’s life in New Zealand just by ‘asking them to tune into NewsTalk ZB on Good Friday’.

SARAH TENGVALL reports...

Top left: Phil Guyan; Middle top: Josh Couch; Middle centre: Tim Sisarich; Middle bottom: Ian Grant; Above right: The Cross finished and being photographed

This Easter more than 300,000 Non-Christian kiwis will get to hear the Easter message live on New Zealand’s leading commercial radio network NewsTalk ZB. The Christian Broadcasting Authority (CBA) takes over the mainstream network for twelve hours on Good Friday to broadcast Christian programming. This has been the deal for the last seventeen years and CBA Chief Executive Officer, Phil Guyan, is as exuberant as ever!

“I am excited. This event pulls the church body together in unity to deliver a message to a NonChristian audience.” Phil’s hopes are, ‘that we will end up producing very high quality engaging radio that moves listeners’ hearts and brings light and hope. And that it causes people to consider the possibility of God’s existence and the plausibility of the Jesus story’.

The main purpose of the Easter broadcast is ‘to communicate the essentials of the Christian faith to those who’ve never understood them. We want to ‘normalise’ the conversation about faith and God, and present the Gospel in a positive, respectful, intelligent light. We want to tell it in a way that makes sense to people who are presently a million miles away from faith, who will say ‘wow’, I never really thought about God like that before.”

Phil doesn’t believe the Easter message is an ‘easy’ message to communicate well. “In some ways the Easter message is very simple but in other ways it is very complicated and when you try and unpack it, it’s quite heavy. It is a confusing, confronting and potentially offensive message!”

“It’s possibly harder to cut through the ‘noise’ of the marketplace now than perhaps 20 years ago. New Zealand is certainly more secular than it used to be. But focusing on the true meaning of Easter is only as hard as it ever was. In some ways it’s a very simple message.

In other ways it can be deeply difficult to grasp. I’ve interviewed dozens of ‘professional’ Christians asking them to explain the Christian faith, or the Easter message in less than sixty seconds, and very few have managed to deliver anything that was usable for a Non-Christian audience. We are not trying to ‘water down’ the Easter message, we just want to strip it back to its bare essentials

6 | Christian Life Issue Eleven April 2014

and the centrality of Jesus.”

So, just how will they be broadcasting Easter this Good Friday? Firstly, they have Easter Real Time in which the real life events of Good Friday are mapped out hour by hour. The result is a series of thirteen ‘twominute’ programmes which track the events of Good Friday one each hour throughout the day, as they actually happened. “We have voiced and dressed the series with sound effects and a powerful monologue drama of the trials and the crucifixion. We get right into presenting the dramatic side of it,” Phil said.

“From this central message of: ‘How society has been affected by the singular event in the life of Jesus that we are commemorating this weekend’, various other conversations springboard e.g. ‘How He affects every aspect of life’, How extraordinary His influence has been.”

Theologian, Dr John Dixon, will be talking about his thesis on humility. Phil says, this is interesting because humility hasn’t generally been valued as a virtue but now, increasingly, it is and he gives Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela as examples of it.

There will also be a creative piece, appealing to a completely different audience, parodying the popular TV series CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). In which they set up the missing body of Jesus as a CSI ‘cold case’, and build a fictitious TV trailer around a CSI episode with this as the storyline.

Petra Bagust will be opening up a conversation on sex trafficking having just returned from interviewing girls in Nepal. “Jesus stood up for the most vulnerable in society,” said Phil, who is very excited about this item as it is close to God’s heart and really shines a light on the issue.

Petra is but one among a long list of ‘Christian Celebs’ who host the programme. The line-up includes: Tim Sisarich (Broadcaster, writer, presenter), Sam Bloore (Writer, speaker, researcher, broadcaster), John Cooney (Editor & Managing Director of Grapevine Communications), Joy Reid (Television news reporter), Frank Ritchie(Broadcaster and aid agency education and

advocacy manager), Julia Bloore (Television presenter, writer, producer, voice talent), Ian Grant (International communicator & writer and founder of ‘Fathers Who Dare Win’), Petra Bagust (TV presenter) and finally Rob Harley (Television journalist & documentary maker).

These Christian celebrities will present programming that uses such themes as: How does this generation view Christianity? Is it accurate? How can we help to put right a distorted view of Christianity? CBA will tackle this through a multitude of viewpoints ranging from history, art, education, and anthropology. And will ask the tough questions like, ‘How does the mainstream media tend to view Christianity?’ They’ll look at why people have rallied against Bible In Schools – to see if their understanding of the programme (and the Bible, and Christianity itself) is even accurate. They may even take a look at faith-based schools i.e. ‘religious schools’, and ask why it is that parents are queuing up to get their kids into one.

Phil talks a lot about normalising conversations with God. He says this with reference to the fact that you don’t hear people these days talking about ‘faith issues’ when they are interviewed on TV or in magazines. “It is not reported – it has become side lined. I want it to be normal part of life for people to be able to talk about their faith.

It should be a natural thing to have this conversation and yet it has been edited out of public life.”

Now 42 years old, Phil grew up in a Christian home and had a lot of milestones of faith along the way. He started at CBA nineteen years ago. “I was enthusiastically involved in Church life and held a strong personal faith.”

While Phil was working as a Youth Pastor, the father of one of his youth group members who was a CBA founder felt Phil would be good at it and should get involved.

Phil said, at that time he’d had no broadcasting/media experience at all, except for doing a radio show on Waiheke Island, which he’d all but forgotten about!

However, his strengths lay in pulling people together and realising opportunities and in this respect he was perfect for the job. Today he says, “I am not ‘the voice’ but I contribute through writing and producing. I have

“THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF CHRISTIANITY IS NOT WHAT JESUS IS ABOUT. I THINK JESUS WAS THE MOST ANTI-RELIGIOUS PERSON AROUND. HE CAME TO SHOW THE WAY OF LOVE AND HOW TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. MY FAITH IS A MESSY FAITH BUT I THINK THAT’S OKAY.” learnt as I have gone along!”

As a youth Phil’s plan was to be a missionary and he even took a year off to work for Youth for Christ in Auckland as well as studying such obscure subjects as medieval history, among others, at university for five years.

These days it is unfamiliar ground for Phil to talk about his faith, something he is more used to having his presenters do. But after thinking for a moment he comments: “For me it’s a Christ-centred faith, Jesus and His ministry. I am not interested in religion but in keeping Jesus central. Jesus was about ‘inverting power’ and standing up for justice. It was all about the way of love conquering the inequities of power.”

“The public perception of Christianity is not what Jesus is about. I think Jesus was the most anti-religious person around. He came to show the way of love and how to have a relationship with God. My faith is a messy faith but I think that’s okay.”

In terms of ‘salvation’ Phil says that really isn’t the point, although he believes the broadcast could start listeners on that path. “Before someone can ‘come to faith’, someone has to ‘water the seed’. Before someone can ‘water the seed’, someone else has to ‘sow the seed’.

Before someone can sow the seed, someone else has to ‘plough the ground’. Before someone can plough the ground, someone has to remove all the boulders and stones in the field and that’s what we’re doing. We’re talking to people who are a very long way from even contemplating God. Yes, we want to nudge them one step closer to faith and taking that step is just as significant as crossing the finishing line of faith.”

In running the Easter broadcast, CBA also has to

PS ED YOUNG

consider the station’s existing audience, so it feels and sounds familiar to them. Therefore, says Phil, they operate within the parameters of entertainment and information, following the expected format with talkback, interviews, interesting guests, and strong opinion-based discussion on current and topical issues.

Sitting alongside of this is the goal of communicating the Christian faith in ways which are appealing, engaging, positive, contemporary, and make sense. The Easter message this year will be wrapped up in conversations about current news and topical issues. “We generally try to look for topics that lend themselves to becoming springboards for conversations about faith, God, prayer and the teachings of Jesus,” said Phil.

Having said that, the programming also has to engage and retain its regular listeners and Phil believes it does this, based on the feedback he’s received over and over again, over the years. “The shows we produce are tailored to meet the needs of all our listeners, to touch something relevant in their day-to-day lives.”

Now passionate about CBA and its achievements, Phil believes radio programming is a cost effective way to reach the masses. “Firstly, when else does any Christian endeavour in New Zealand reach 300,000 people in one day? If we, the Christian community of New Zealand, had a visiting international evangelist speaking at meetings, which attracted 10,000 people, it would be front-page Christian newspaper news. We have thirty times that many listeners and a more engaging medium whereby listeners can participate and ask questions. Furthermore, we’re on the air for twelve full hours and have ‘a whole raft of excellent speakers’ lined up. Most importantly, the majority of the listeners are not Christian, so we can

confidently say that we’re reaching beyond the walls of the church.”

Furthermore says Phil CBA is also achieving a unified front, something often hard to achieve in the Christian community. It appears everyone likes them. “We have the backing of every Christian denomination in New Zealand, the support of every Christian denominational leader, and the prayer support of more than a thousand intercessors. Moreover our broadcasters and guests come from right across the denominational spectrum.

As of today, we have 890 churches supporting our appeal to help cover production expenses. This makes it an incredibly unifying ecumenical effort. This and other CBA activities, such as our nationwide Media Prayer Day in August each year, have wider church support than any other Christian initiative I know of.”

And finally, Phil doesn’t think Christians are given a rough ride in the media. “It’s easy to think that New Zealand’s media has side-lined Christianity, mis-represented, or even been antagonistic towards followers of Jesus. We’ve found this to be untrue. To a large extent, it’s Christians who have withdrawn from the marketplace of ideas and of mass media in particular. Here we have New Zealand’s largest commercial radio network being given to us ‘free-of-charge’ nationwide, for 12 hours!!! There’s no obligation for them to do so, and there’s no precedent for it. It is an incredible privilege and opportunity.”

The CBA Easter broadcast will air simultaneously on 46 radio stations throughout New Zealand: 25 NewsTalk ZB stations and 21 Radio Sport stations.

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Education

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS IS ON THE UP SARAH TENGVALL finds out this Christian Education programme is far from on the way out…

Bible in schools is alive and flourishing according to Debra Hunt, Auckland Manager for the Churches Education Commission (CEC). In fact, CEC just needs more volunteers to take the programme into other waiting schools.

This seems to be in complete contradiction to the recent reports in the secular media.

“It is an interesting and exciting time to be part of CEC with many opportunities to do more,” said Mrs Hunt, herself a Bible in Schools teacher for eight years.

“Everything in the media says we are in decline but it’s not as simple as that. Actually, there are more schools that would like to try out our programme but we need more volunteers, more support and a heck of a lot of prayer if we are to meet the demand for it.” There is also now the opportunity of having ‘paid’ presenters.

“Schools are not dropping the Bible in Schools programme. We just need to be nimble and flexible in better serving these schools if problems do arise. In fact, there are brand new schools currently starting up the Bible in Schools programme. There is good stuff happening and with increased support we can do more. In Auckland alone there are 134 schools on board with the programme.”

Since 1973 CEC has run Christian Religious Education (CRE) programmes, also known as ‘Bible in Schools’, in primary schools all around New Zealand. It is the school’s Board of Trustees who determine if the programme will be run. Currently there are a total of 730 primary schools participating. The 1964 Education Act states parents have the right to decide whether or not their child will attend a CRE programme. And there is an ‘opt out’ form available.

I asked Mrs Hunt if the CEC felt itself under attack, “Only in a narrow way from the Secular Education Network, who target specific schools. Typically, one or two parents complain and then the Secular Education Movement whips up a media storm and of course the schools just want it all (the publicity) to go away. We sympathise with these schools which are under immense pressure in making these decisions and under the media spotlight.”

The CEC’s approach is conciliatory. “We have a big base of parent support and in most cases it just means a review of the situation and finding a solution, such as running Bible in Schools at lunchtime. And often many of the changes that occur as a result of complaints prove to be very positive for everyone,” said Mrs Hunt.

“We completely understand the schools’ perspective.

They have many pressures and responsibilities, and dealing with religious education is understandably low on the list. Our desire is to be as helpful as possible to the schools and to add value to their core curriculum.

“We come alongside wherever there are concerns about the programme and help the school to resolve them.” Reflecting back on St Heliers School which recently focussed in the media, she said, “we are really happy it is still accessible to everyone – lunchtime was a good solution.”

“For us, it’s about kids being free to express their religious beliefs. Faith is the core of your identity and it’s central to who you are, and for kids to go to school (for a major part of the day) where it is not mentioned at all, can be hard.”

So, do schools and parents like the programme? “The key is we encourage awesome values in line with the New Zealand curriculum.

For example, Mrs Hunt says she taught on the Jesus and Zacchaeus story recently pointing out that no one

8 | Christian Life Issue Eleven April 2014

Debra Hunt

One of the Champions team who present CRE in West Auckland liked Zacchaeus but Jesus chose to be his friend. The kids then came up with ideas on how they too, can be friendly and inclusive.

“The kids really like it. They are stoked when you arrive. It’s totally not this boring event where they are just read to out of the Bible; its creative story-telling, showing how the kids can apply principles to their own lives. We always end with ‘lesson application’ for example, exploring ways they can be honest or helpful, loyal, kind . . . etc. This way the kids have tools to choose how they will act in a given situation. We are simply equipping them for life.”

The CRE programme is both a values and Bible based programme weaving together the Bible stories with the values set out in the New Zealand Curriculum. Values such as loving your neighbour, personal worth, courage, inclusion and forgiveness, are taught through Bible giants like King David, Esther and Abraham. More recently the new programme has incorporated teachings about ‘famous kiwis’, such as Sir Edmund Hillary, Kate Sheppard and Peter Snell.

Basic Christian beliefs are taught in the programme such as; Jesus is God’s son, the Easter story - Jesus died on the cross and rose again. But controversial subjects like ‘hell’ and ‘end times’ are avoided.

So what about the recent contention by the Secular Education Network that teaching the programme at St Heliers School in Auckland is an abuse of human rights?

Glyn Carpenter, [National Director of New Zealand Christian Network] expressed one point of view: “Parents and board trustees need to be aware that the Bible in Schools programme does not breach anyone’s human rights and is entirely consistent with an inclusive secular education system. Furthermore, it provides an important context for teaching values that are sorely needed in our society.”

Dr Paul Moon, Professor of History at AUT Univer-

sity, put a worthy historical perspective on the debate as published in The New Zealand Herald. “It seems that the aggressive moral outrage from the serious-sounding Secular Education Network was sufficient for the St Heliers School’s Board of Trustees to capitulate on the long held tradition of ‘Bible in Schools’. This is how far we have come, as a nation, in two centuries; from all the schools in the country being organised by various Christian denominations (first Anglican and Methodists, and later Catholics) to the insistence that no Christian instruction at all will be permitted in our state schools, and that to do otherwise becomes an urgent matter of human rights.

“On the surface, the arguments for removing Bible in Schools may seem sensible, and to some even noble. The ‘separation of church and state’ , i.e. the role of schools is not to indoctrinate pupils, or that we are living in a much more diverse society than in previous generations, therefore those professing different faiths ( or no faith at all) deserve equal respect.

“For anyone looking over the curriculum for Bible in Schools, the most striking thing about it is, how entirely innocuous it is - so much so, that it makes its critics appear self-righteous and doctrinaire. However, the emphasis of those opposed to ‘Bible in Schools’ seems to be ‘absolutism of individual rights’ as an abstract dogma, ignoring in the process both the individual rights of ‘the majority of parents’ who do want it taught to their children and the strong historical and cultural legacy of Christianity in our State Schools.

And in closing his opinion piece, Dr Moon, states, ” Now the agitation of a small minority of parents has abruptly turned this legacy into an issue of ‘human rights’ – an appalling manipulation of the term that would offend those who have suffered genuine human rights abuses.

And in the process, another part of our history is being discarded for the sake of an abstruse argument on rights.”

www.mychristiandaily.com | 9

Local News

Parachute Festival Cancelled After 24 years, the final curtain has dropped on New Zealand’s longestrunning music festival.

Parachute Music, the charitable organisation behind the multi-day music festival, announced today that the event would be discontinued.

“While we celebrate a great run in this country, it’s important to us that we end well” says Parachute CEO and festival founder Mark de Jong (pictured inset), “This event is no longer viable financially and our Board doesn’t believe it is prudent to continue the event. Continuing the festival will put all the other activities of Parachute Music at risk.”

“It’s no secret that running an event of this scale in Australasia has become increasingly harder to do in a saturated events market” continues de Jong, “Over the last few years, we’ve reduced ticket prices, slashed operational budgets, increased artist spend and done many other things to try to make this festival work; we’ve come to the point where we believe this festival’s season is at an end. The last thing we want to do is to ruin this festival’s legacy by forcing it past a natural conclusion.”

“While we realise that this will be a disappointing blow to our loyal supporters, punters and volunteers, we’re excited about the opportunity to focus our energies on the other core activities of Parachute Music, including the development of emerging musicians, artist mentoring, management and training, as well as our community recording studios. We are also exploring some ideas for new events, watch this space.”

“We have nothing but fond memories of so many festivals, and we are deeply grateful for the thousands of supporters, volunteers, artists and punters who have been on this journey with us. We look forward to continuing this journey together as we move into a new season.”

All pre-purchased tickets to the 2015 event will be refunded in full from iTicket.co.nz.

CBM celebrates 50 years Children’s Bible Ministries has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Founded at the end of 1963

by Charles and Beryl McRae as Children’s Bible Crusade, the ministry has expanded considerably over the years, through the passion and dedication of a small team and a number of volunteers. CBM has a calling to be ‘toolmakers’ to the Body of Christ. This involves publishing lessons and curriculum which are used in NZ and many other countries to evangelise and disciple children. CBM also provides training to help teachers and parents to have the Biblical vision and practical skills to use these materials effectively. CBM has conducted

training courses in 32 countries and the Life Changers curriculum is currently translated into 23 languages. CBM receive regular feedback on the fruitfulness of the ministry in the lives of children and teachers, both locally and internationally. The local CBM team also minister directly to the needs of children here in NZ, through school holiday camps at Camp Raglan. The miraculous story of God’s leading in New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and India branches is given in their newly released book CBM - our journey of faith.

Right: Founders Charles & Beryl McRae

LIFE Conference is nearly here

Evangelism training coming to Auckland

LIFE Conference 2014 is almost here, an opportunity for you to strengthen the call on your life. Ps Paul de Jong, Conference host, explains the theme, saying: “The heart of LIFE Conference this year is captured in our theme ‘Strengthen’. For each one of us, our full Kingdom potential lies within the unique call of God on our life, and we are excited to present a conference designed to help you walk out your call with increasing effectiveness.”

This year LIFE Conference is excited to welcome two new friends to the speaking line up; Dr Samuel Chand, leadership expert and mentor, and Ps Ed Young, Senior Pastor of Fellowship Church in the United States and United Kingdom. Rounding out the line-up is Ps Steve Kelly, a long-time friend of the conference and Senior Pastor of Wave Church in Virginia Beach, USA The Conference comprises combined sessions with all delegates, as well as focused Master Class sessions crafted to strengthen you for your specific calling. Taking place over four nights and three days in May, LIFE Conference will leave you refreshed and resourced to effectively live out your calling.

This coming April 21-26 an evangelism training experience is being held in Auckland called, “The School of The Circuit Rider”. The vision of the Circuit Riders is to train, equip and activate believers to, “Save the lost, revive the saved, and train them all.”

We believe in this, the 200th year since the Gospel was first proclaimed in this land, that the Lord is desiring to re-activate Kiwi’s in our calling to reach the lost in our nation. We have such a rich history of the Gospel going through our land over the past 200 years. We believe we are in a time when the Lord is wanting to do a similar thing, not through events but through people who have His heart for the lost.

Visit www.lifeconference.co.nz for more details.

10 | Christian Life Issue Eleven April 2014

Circuit Riders is open to all ages, go to www.activatenz.org.nz/circuitriders for more information and to register.

Local News

Bringing hope to the people of Ukraine As we approach Easter, Andrew Wilks, Director of Mission Without Borders asks us to remember the situation in Ukraine.

While in the last few weeks the situation has become an international, political and military crisis, our local staff reminded us that at the heart of it is a very personal crisis.

Volodymyr Brychuk, MWB Communications Manager, personally knew some of those killed when the protests in Kiev turned violent last month. ‘Many of those who were killed in Kiev have families with small children and actively joined the protests in an attempt to stop corruption and lawlessness in their country; wanting change and better prospects for their children’.

To the outside world, the events in Independence Square in Kiev seemed to be the start of the crisis in Ukraine. For Ukrainians, these protests were the culmination of many years of economic hardship and political dissatisfaction. Integration with the EU was many people’s best hope for the future and when that seemed to have been taken away, their hope was gone.

Now the turmoil over Crimea and the Eastern parts of Ukraine where the majority are Russianspeaking increases the uncertainties of every-day life for ordinary Ukrainians.

Having worked with the local church over many years in Ukraine, Mission Without Borders has seen how this affects ordinary people. We are continuing to support those families and children that have been bearing the brunt of the worsening situation.

Families, for example, like the Romanyk family. Even though the father, Petro, works as a driver, his meagre salary is barely able to provide enough food for his family. This winter as the temperatures dropped to -30̊ Celsius, MWB were able to provide fuel for them so they could keep themselves and their children warm.

No-one knows how the situation will develop, but the political and financial repercussions will be

felt by the ordinary people like the Romanyks.

Apart from the practical help, what matters to Petro and his wife Olena is knowing that someone cares: ‘Thank you so much for your kindness and charity. Let God bless you with His every possible blessing’.

Get ready for Easter with Sophie Gray

Please continue to remember the Romanyk family, Volodymyr and our other colleagues in Ukraine at this challenging time.

They have specifically asked: • Please give thanks that the Mission staff, their families and our offices are safe and please continue to pray for their safety • Please pray for those in leadership in Ukraine and Internationally, that they might be wise and humble in their decision making • Pray for the many families like the Romanyks that we work with, and for the children in government institutions • Pray for the churches and church leaders that we work with, that they might be a light in their communities. In particular, please remember the Easter celebrations planned for the children who may be feeling fearful because of the current circumstances • Please pray for the distribution of goods which is such an important part of our work, that it is not disrupted by problems with government departments that are in a state of flux • And please pray that Ukraine can move forward again to become a stable nation with fair and honest government As we begin the Easter season, let’s be reminded that ‘The Cross’ is the basis of our true hope, that light will conquer darkness, that good will ultimately triumph over evil. In the Resurrection God gives us the true hope that dares to change the world.

Above: Shortages of consistent work for the father make life a struggle for families like the Romanyks.

As well as receiving help for winter fuel, the Romanyk family benefit by being part of our Family to Family sponsorship programme. They receive practical help with food and other items every month, and are supported by a Mission Without Borders co-ordinator who works with them to become self-sufficient.

For more information on our family sponsorship programme please go to: www.mwb.org.nz/families/family-sponsorship

www.mychristiandaily.com | 11

Profile

OVERCOMING FEAR CAROLYN MAILO is achieving big time in the elite world of bodybuilding. A well- known name here, especially in the Mixed Pairs events with body building partner, Steve Quinn, she describes how her faith in God has helped her win!

And more importantly to overcome her fear. With Sarah Tengvall

Carolyn lives in Wellington, is 48-years old, a wife and a mother of three. She describes herself as a God-loving and God-hungry, Christian! A believer since she was seven-years old, life for her, she openly admits, has been tough.

Carolyn grew up in a dysfunctional family with a father who couldn’t show love to her and treated her badly. By the time she was a teenager she felt unwanted and rejected, which led to acts of self-harm including suicide attempts. Looking back now, she believes it was only her faith in God that literally kept her alive.

Out of all of this came a growing enemy, ‘fear’. And as she moved into adult life, that fear started to clamp her down and stop her moving forward in all areas.

That was, until she discovered bodybuilding.

Carolyn says she was looking at a magazine photo of former ‘Miss Olympia’, Corey Evanson - this is the world’s top bodybuilding title - and remembered thinking how ‘fantastic, beautiful and strong’ she looked.

From that moment on she aspired to look like that. It was something about her strength, said Carolyn, who recognized it was the empowerment the sport offered her and the accompanying sense of self-worth after her difficult childhood that attracted her “Bodybuilding is the one thing I have been able to do well and I am proud of myself for that. It’s been part of my healing.”

Carolyn was 35-years old when she entered her first

competition. She started to prepare at 28 years but it took seven years to build up the mental and emotional strength to face her fear of not being good enough. “I had a fear of freezing on stage,” she described. “When you get out on stage you are just so nervous and these fears plagued me.”

God has played a huge part in all of this for Carolyn who prays before every competition. “He helps me push through my fear to get to my goal at the other end. I would pray and ask for His help and strength to do what I needed to do, and to overcome the thoughts that would distract me and could have stopped me competing. And the sport as a whole has taught me great discipline, strength and endurance, and perseverance.”

“God has helped with my ‘character building’ as well, to be strong minded and determined and to never, never give up. I just keep going even when I feel like I can’t do it anymore. And just somehow a seed of energy comes and I work with that, and the energy somehow grows and I get to my next destination,” she described.

Now, Carolyn says, she sees similarities between her walk in bodybuilding and her walk as a Christian.

“In both these worlds we are faced with situations every day that could lead to us compromising our faith and our beliefs, you know, for the ways of this world.”

She can relate this to compromising her goals in bodybuilding especially with regard to the pre-competition, twelve to fourteen week, high-protein diet. She says this often leaves her feeling grumpy, fuzzy and ‘bit of a zombie’! It is a very strenuous, but necessary part of the sport and often she doesn’t want to continue. It is at times like this that she’s been able to push through by calling on God and remembering the Bible verse, ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.’

“Part of it was deciding I would work hard.” Always into training and sport, playing netball and softball through school, Carolyn was a ‘sporty child’ and part of a ‘sporty family’. It wasn’t until she was sixteen-years old that she started to weight train, at first with her brother. “It was about the challenge of being

able to lift different weights and about getting stronger.” Along with the weight training she also did aerobics and cycling. However, it was only after having her second daughter, Emerson, that Carolyn took this type of training more seriously. She began ’shaping her body’ in preparation for involvement in Body Building competitions.

In her first show Carolyn, who belongs to the National Affiliation of Bodybuilding Association (NABBA), won both her Class and the women’s ‘Overall Novice’. She didn’t want to go any further but her NABBA friends could see her potential and encouraged her to go on to national competitions.

So she went up to Auckland and won both her Class and the ‘Overalls’ of the ‘Physic’ category. “It felt pretty good, and from there I got the bug and started competing every year, except for a break to have our third child.”

Most recently, she was selected to be part of a team representing New Zealand at the ’Asia Pacific competition’ and she won her Class, the Overalls and the Mixed Pairs with bodybuilding partner, Steve Quinn. She and Steve then took out the national title in New Zealand in the Mixed Pairs event. Today Carolyn is well known in the Bodybuilding world especially in mixed pairs, where she and Steve regularly take out the national title.

“It was quite cool, we were well known - it was like we were famous!”

Carolyn describes the feeling of accomplishing her goal as incredible. “It’s as if you’ve never eaten icecream before in your life and then you get to have it. It’s a real buzz and brings a great sense of achievement.”

Now with so many trophies she could start a shop, she says, “They are all in a box in the basement. There are too many to put up and they just collect dust . . . you kind of ‘get over it’, after a while.”

At the moment she is in an off-season after competing in three shows towards the end of last year. Carolyn says, the dieting and competitions are ‘nevertheless challenging’ and, in fact, can be more challenging now she is a bit older. “Last year I noticed a difference, I tired sooner and my joints were a little bit stiffer.” But there’s no stopping Carolyn, who talks about people in their seventies still doing classes with great bodies. “It’s not just about big muscles, it’s about the challenge.” Go, girl!

KINGDOM FOUNDATIONS SCHOOL with Randy Clark and Paul Martini Kingdom Foundations will model, impart and empower believers from all levels by equipping them to reproduce the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. It is designed to help people understand what God is doing in our time and encourage them to become God's vessels who invade earth with heaven's realities!

"The Kingdom of God is not in word [logos] but in power [dunamis]."-1 Cor 4:20. See the sick healed when you pray. Cost: $150. Healing Manual Provided.

May 27th to May 29th Liberty Christian Church 96 Lansford Crescent, Avondale, Auckland Ph (09) 820-0168 . www.liberty.net.nz to register

12 | Christian Life Issue Eleven April 2014

Politics

PUTTING FAMILY FIRST Bob McCoskrie doesn’t have time to celebrate Family First’s eighth birthday - instead he is educating New Zealander’s for this coming election... with Sarah Tengvall

Family First NZ celebrates its eighth birthday this month, but there won’t be any celebration according to National Director Bob McCoskrie. “But, if I was going to throw a party I would invite Louisa Wall, Sue Bradford and the Charities Commission,” he quipped.

Instead the birthday is just ‘a reminder’ for the team.

“It’s been a very fast eight years with a lot of major issues in the spotlight.” Looking back, Mr McCoskrie said, he hadn’t realised the huge need there was for what they are now doing, or the very real level of support the family advocacy group would attract. “We have 30,000 supporters on our email list. It’s phenomenal.”

He said ‘Family First NZ’ really took off with the ‘Anti-Smacking’ and ‘Marriage Amendment’ debates.

Previously a Radio Rhema announcer, Mr McCoskrie sensed the need for an advocacy group like Family First because there was no-one out there advocating for the issues that were really affecting the family. He couldn’t, however, have anticipated the extent or range of issues this would encompass.

“We are a voice for family issues in the public domain. We have empowered people to speak up, to utilise resources like Billboards, Broadcasting Standards and have even helped them to make submissions on local By-Laws governing such things as, where a brothel is planned. People weren’t sure just where to start. We have helped educate and empower them.”

“We give people a response to the question: ’What can we do?’ Even with the Marriage Amendment Bill, its backers thought they were home and hosed but we gave them a shock. We feel called to speak the truth.”

Mr McCoskrie says the big issues the group will be focusing on in the future are ‘the Decriminalisation of Marijuana’, ‘Euthanasia’, ‘Adoption’ and further attempts to ‘Redefine Marriage’. Family First also have research coming out on Euthanasia and the Choose Life campaign, which is something else they are supporting.

“We often feel like we are up against it, but my mantra is: ‘we won’t win every battle but we will lose every battle we don’t show up for’. We have been far too silent for far too long.

“One of the biggest myths we are trying to dispel, is that political issues are a ‘no go’ area for families. And this stems from the idea of Separation of Church and State. This is a misunderstanding.

A family issue is a still family issue even when politicians get involved.

Family First’s main focus for 2014 is, of course, the upcoming election. “We will inform voters on where the various parties stand on a number of family issues. We have a duty to protect the morality of New Zealand and it is very important that as voters, people are informed.

Voters need to go to the booths with a moral worldview – i.e. how are we going to best protect our families.”

Mr McCoskrie says the Charities Commission ruling will not affect the continuance of Family First NZ but if they do lose their charitable status, “it would be a disturbing decision, because then anyone that went against the prevailing view could be targeted.”

I asked him if they feel under attack.

“No more than any other group that speaks up for righteousness. We receive threats but that is just from extreme or fringe groups.”

And what is the current state of the NZ Family in 2014?

“You just have to look at the statistics on suicide,

abuse, violence, poverty and family breakdown – they speak for themselves. There are huge problems confronting the Family today.”

“Our key message is, ‘a strong family and a strong marriage equals a strong nation’.”

Mr McCoskrie feels the answer is to get back to basics.

Things like, the importance of marriage, protecting the role of parents and children, and a return to the ‘Judeo Christian values’ New Zealand was founded upon.”

In terms of achievement, Bob says, it’s not about notches on the board but just about speaking out for the truth. “We are empowering mums and dads and families to have a voice and to speak up on issues.”

www.familyfirst.org.nz

www.mychristiandaily.com | 13

Real story

Single mother of four, ELIZABETH KENDAL speaks candidly and openly of her struggle and the heart of compassion that was born from those trials to become an advocate for the Lord’s persecuted church...

“I’m a divorced, single mother of four for goodness sake! What on earth can I do for the Lord?”

I really didn’t think I could do anything much – not now all my hopes and dreams were shot to shreds. Yet since giving my heart to the Lord at age 17, I’d wanted to serve him. God had given me a zeal for his Church; I longed to see Christians strong and secure in faith.

Though hopes and dreams were shattered, my faith was strong; so I presented myself to the King.

As I was petitioning the Lord for work in his service, the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) was petitioning the Lord for a worker who would serve. Persecution might manifest itself as political, physical and psychological violence, but ultimately it is a spiritual battle. Understanding this, the WEA RLC rightly concluded that it must do more than just monitor and lobby for religious liberty – it must operate a prayer ministry.

In August 1998 God used the violent persecution of Egypt’s indigenous Christian Copts in al-Kosheh, Upper Egypt, to call me into his service. Over the next ten months, he brought me and WEA RLC together. I have I’ve been advocating for the Lord’s persecuted church ever since.

With hindsight I can see that God actually enacted his plan some fourteen years earlier, when, as a young newly married woman, Isaiah 58:6-12 was read over me: “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke” (verse 6). Then the divine training began!

While the next seven years were extremely difficult, I now realise that they were years of preparation and education wherein God cultivated within my heart a deep compassion for those who suffer, and equipped me with a personal understanding of their struggle.

Through those difficult years I learned how suffering can challenge one’s faith and seriously mess with one’s head – leaving a believer confused, hurt, isolated and angry. While some believers rebel, others do what I did and withdraw into themselves (passive aggression). It was

14 | Christian Life Issue Eleven April 2014

not until a dear friend suggested to me that I was angry with God that it even registered with me that I was! I thought I was just sad, hurt, confused and disappointed.

“No,” she said, “I think you are so angry with God that you are no longer on speaking terms with him.” And she was right!

Through those difficult years God showed me that the Lord is with his loved ones in the midst of their suffering. On one dark day in 1991, I was tearfully informing the Lord of my intention to kill myself when I suddenly caught sight of my Bible. “You don’t love me,” I protested as I swiped the book off the table. Upon hitting the floor, my Bible fell open to Isaiah 53: “. . . he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities . . .” Immediately I knew that God was speaking to me, saying, “This is how much I love you.”

Through those difficult years I came to understand how people who are abused, bullied and persecuted can become outspoken apologists for their abusers/persecutors. What starts out as a strategy aimed at keeping oneself safe ultimately becomes a state of mind rendering one captive. Anyone wanting to help the abused/persecuted must understand this. And remember, truth is often terrifying before it is liberating. Trust is absolutely key.

I have learned to trust the Lord in and for everything; I have learned that the Lord can be trusted. In fact God’s faithfulness excites me so much I long to see everyone to experiencing it.

The world is changing rapidly and radically, becoming increasingly intolerant of Christianity and hostile towards Christians. Wherever Christians are a counter-cultural minority amidst a hostile majority, there is persecution – the extent varying widely depending on the level of impunity and state complicity. As I write, around 40 Christians are imprisoned for their faith and witness in Iran, some 2,000 in Eritrea and over 50,000 in North Korea. In Egypt, Pakistan and India, Christians are living with the daily threat of violent pogroms and forced displacements. Whole Christian communities – from the most ancient in the Egypt, the Levant and Iraq

to the newest in Burma’s Kachin State, Sudan’s Nuba Mountains and Papua, Eastern Indonesia – are being decimated by ethno-religious cleansing and genocidal jihad. For millions of Christians around the world, violent persecution committed with impunity has become the order of the day.

Considering this reality, the greatest scandal of all must surely be that so many free and prosperous Western churches simply don’t care; they don’t even want to know!

Persecuted Christians desperately need humanitarian aid and political advocacy. But most of all, they need the Church to do what no other institution or organisation can do: they need us to go in and fight for them at a spiritual level. They need and implore us to pray for them: that aid will get through, that policy will change, that war will cease, that the Lord will intervene, and most of all, that their faith will remain strong so that God might be glorified. Intercessory prayer is no small thing: it is advocacy to the highest authority; it is serious spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

No matter what your circumstances, if you are a woman of God then God wants to use you. So lift up your head (Psalm 3:3), arm yourself for battle (Eph 6:12f) and present yourself to the King (James 1:5-6).

International religious liberty analyst, Elizabeth Kendal, is the Director of Advocacy at Christian Faith and Freedom (CFF) Canberra, and an Adjunct Research Fellow in the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths (CSIOF) at Melbourne School of Theology (MST). Her book, Turn Back the Battle: Isaiah Speaks to Christians Today – which presents a Biblical response to suffering and persecution – was published by Deror Books in Dec 2012. www.ElizabethKendal.com

Vision

SHERIDAN VOYSEY offers some sage advice when determining if your dream is God-given or man-driven...

We all have dreams for our lives, our families, our businesses or church ministries. For some, those dreams lie dormant and quiet, but they’re still there. For others, the challenge is deciding which dream to follow out of the many they have each week. For Christians, one question rises above all others on the topic: How do I know my dream is God’s dream for me? How do I discern between the dreams God places on my heart and those of my ego or my culture?

I was never expecting to write or speak about dreams.

But over the years I’ve seen some dreams fulfilled, some left unfilled, and some needing relinquishment. Then I wrote Resurrection Year, a book about recovering from broken dreams. Instead of choosing the topic, the topic chose me! And the question of when a dream is mine and when it’s God’s has always intrigued me. We can be sure that God’s dream for our lives is better than our own (even if it proves more costly).

So, here are some ‘tests’ I’ve come up with to discern whether a dream is from God or me. Let me know if I’ve missed anything.

1. The Dream Passes the Test of Love The dream is not about you, your significance, fame, or even your benefit alone. The dream is about God and the dream is about others. You’ll benefit from it alright, but it may also cost you significantly. God is love and his ultimate command is to love. Our dreams need to be sifted

through love to ensure they’re not just the result of ego alone.

2. The Dream Passes the Test of Time The dream lingers. It quietly pursues you. It isn’t one of many ideas, but the one idea that rises persistently above the many. Like me, you might enjoy dreaming up new ideas and ventures yet find many of those dreams evaporate over time. But if there is one dream that will not leave you, even for years, it may be God’s whisper to you.

3. The Dream Passes the Test of Peace Yes, you may feel excited about the dream. Or overwhelmed. Even fearful. But when you pray about the dream the dominant sense you have is one of ‘weighty peace’. You feel passionate but not driven. The dream may be vitally important but it isn’t burdensome in your spirit. Weighty prayerful peacefulness.

4. The Dream Passes the Test of Faith The dream is bigger than you, your abilities and resources. While it should be in line with your giftings and talents (please, no more singers who feel ‘called’ but can’t sing in tune), the dream takes you beyond your level of ability. You won’t be able to achieve it without God and others. You will feel vulnerable at times at the thought of it all falling in a heap. The dream will only be possible by faith.

bibles.books.music.dvds.gifts

at your local

CHRISTIAN BOOKSHOP

WARKWORTH: Heartbeat Christian Store, 60 Queen St, Ph 09 425 9559 AUCKLAND: Lifestore Albany, Unit L, Courtside, 75 Corinthian Drive, Albany, Ph: 09 443 7928; St Joseph's Centre Gift Shop 1 Fred Thomas Drive, Ph: 09 489 5613 Children's Bible Ministries 9 Walters Rd, Ph:09 630 5271 Christian Resource Centre 323 Queen St, Ph: 09 377 4059; Bamboo Resource Centre, 591 Dominion Rd, Balmoral, Ph: 09 630 5997 Lifestore Elim, 159 Botany Road, Howick, Ph: 09 538 0374; Church of Christ Bookshop, 361 Mt AlbertRoad, Mt Albert, Ph: 09 620 5008; Adventist Book Centre, 743 Great SouthRoad, Manukau, Ph: 09 262 5643 Epic Christian Books & Gifts 63 Edinburgh St, Pukekohe, Ph: 09 238 8134 THAMES: Thames Christian Bookshop 732 Pollen St, Ph: 07 868 9115

5. The Dream is Confirmed by Others Some won’t support the dream, and may even oppose it.

But wise, godly, prayerful people support the dream. They confirm it’s God voice and not your ego that’s speaking.

There is objective confirmation, not just subjective.

6. The Decision is Truly in God’s Hands In his Spiritual Exercises St Ignatius talks about godly decision making by describingthree kinds of people. The first know they need to make a decision before God but never get around to doing it. The second bargain with God, ensuring they get at least a little of what they want while feeling they’ve ‘taken the matter’ to Him. The third group seek God’s will alone. Their first priority is not what is decided but who decides it. It’s a good image to keep in mind when pursuing our dreams.

Sheridan Voysey is an Australian-born, Oxford-based writer, speaker and broadcaster on faith and spirituality.

His latest book Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams into New Beginnings tells the story of how he and his wife started again after a decade of infertility.

Visit Sheridan at www.sheridanvoysey.com and subscribe to his email newsletter for free articles, podcasts and videos on life, faith and the pursuit of Godgiven dreams.

www.cba.net.nz HAMILTON: Living Word Bookcentre, 634 Victoria St, Ph: 07 839 5607 CAMBRIDGE Solomon’s Couch, Capernwray, 3553 Cambridge Rd, Ph 07 823 1800 TAURANGA: Lighthouse Bookcentre, 54 Wharf Street, Ph: 07 578 6944 Sonshine Bookcentre, 84 1st Avenue, Ph: 07 578 8477 Sunrise Books, Shop 16 Cherrywood Court, Ph:07 576 1092 ROTURUA: Sonshine Bookcentre, 1129 Eruera St, Ph:07 349 1661 HASTINGS: Pleroma Christian Supplies, 38 Higginson Street, Otane Ph: 06 856 8378 NEW PLYMOUTH: Good News Centre, 581 Devon Street East, Ph: 06 758 4912 LEVIN: Beacon Christian Bookshop, 198A Oxford Street, Ph: 06 368 7683 BLEHEIM Christian Books and Music Centre, 14 Maxwell Rd, Ph: 03 366 1917

CHRISTCHURCH: Christian Superstore, 370 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Ph: 03 366 1917; New Millennium Books, 22 Grampian Street, Redwood, Ph: 03 359 1310 Catholic Shop, 79 Forfar St St Albans, Ph: 03 366 2853 ASHBURTON: Christian Superstore, 80-82 Tancred Street, Ph: 03 308 9235 TIMARU: Christian Superstore, 102 Stafford Street, Ph: 03 688 3431 OAMARU: North Otago Christian Bookstore, 27 Thames Street, Ph: 03 434 9025 QUEENSTOWN Salvation Army Bookshop 29 camp St, 03 442 51003 DUNEDIN: Catholic Centre Shop Moran Building 8 Octagon, Ph: 03 477 6342 MOSGIEL: Mosgiel Christian Bookshop, 135A Gordon Road, Ph: 03 489 4953

Serving all NZ www.mychristiandaily.com | 15

Programme Guide Monday April 7 - Saturday May 10 SUNDAY 6:00

MONDAY

P

Hillsong TV

P

The Edge

C 6:00

P

Bayless Conley

P

Derek Prince

P

Quick Study

P

RocKids TV

C 6:30

C

Buzz and Poppy

C What’s in the Bible? C

The Lads TV

C

Paul the Little Missionary

C 7:00

RocKids TV

C

What’s in the Bible?

C

Paul the Little Missionary

C

What’s in the Bible?

C 7:30

C

Jacob’s Ladder / The Edge (22 Apr)

C

RocKids TV

C

C

Buzz and Poppy

C

The Lads TV

C 8:00

P

Word For You

P

LIFE TV P with Paul de Jong

P

Connection Point

P

Jacob’s Ladder / The Edge (26 Apr)

C 8:30

In Touch: Charles Stanley

P

Living Truth: Charles Price

P

Turning Point: P Dr David Jeremiah

Hour of Power

P

Unlocking the Bible

P

C

The Edge

C

C

Paul the Little Missionary

C

The Lads TV Impact for Life

7:30

What’s in the Bible?

8:00

From Aardvaark C to Zucchini / RocKids TV (20 Apr)

8:30

Connection Point

P

Days of Wonder Precious Word of Truth From Aardvaark to Zucchini / The Lads TV (22 Apr)

10:00

Life Questions

D

Towards Belief

D

The Bishop, the Chef and the Fisherman

Just Thinking / D Facing the Canon D

10:30

Word For You

P

Life Questions

P

Days of Wonder

P

Life Church: Paul Scanlon

11:00

Songs of Praise

M

Joni & Friends

D

Towards Belief

11:30

Quick Study

D

From Heartache to Hope

D

Christian World News

P

LIFE TV with Paul de Jong

D P

D

2:30

Precious Memories

M

3:00 P

3:30

In Touch: Charles Stanley

5:00

P

Towards Belief

D

Give Me An Answer

D

Ancient Greece & D Turkey Explored

The Bishop, the Chef and the Fisherman Precious Memories

P

Noble Exchange

D

Your Best Life: Phil Pringle

P

Joni & Friends

D

9:30

P

C

Paul the Little Missionary

C

RocKids TV

C

What’s in the Bible?

C

The Lads TV

C

Jacob’s Ladder / The Edge (22 Apr)

C

RocKids TV

C

The Drive TV

E

Y

Y

Y

YouthBytes

YouthBytes

Life fm Presents

The Drive TV

D

The Exchange

D

Joni & Friends

D

Towards Belief

D

Life Questions

P

Ancient Greece & D Turkey Explored

Life Church: Paul Scanlon

P

D

7:00

Nzone Focus

N

7:30

Songs of Praise

M

Joni & Friends

D

Towards Belief

8:00

Precious Memories

M

From Heartache to Hope

D

Precious Memories

Turning Point: P Dr David Jeremiah

P

Impact for Life

See adjacent for detail.

UCB Meets / Hannah Help Me E & Leland Klassen’s M Comedy (30 Apr) D

Christian World N News Lakewood Church: P Just Thinking / Joel Osteen N Facing the Canon

FEATURES

(29 Apr)

P

Joni & Friends

D 12:30

N

Towards Belief

D 1:00

Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV

P

The Relate Show

D 1:30

Ancient Greece & D Turkey Explored

Nzone Focus

N

Joni & Friends

D

The Verdict of Science

What’s in the Bible?

C

The Lads TV

C

Noble Exchange

N 3:00

Paul the Little Missionary

C

The Exchange

D 3:30

Bishop, Chef and Fisherman

D 4:00

Joni & Friends

D 4:30

The Relate Show

D 5:00

Give Me An Answer

D 5:30

Give Me An Answer

D

From Aardvaark to Zucchini / Buzz C and Poppy (24 Apr)

Ancient Greece & D Turkey Explored

Buzz and Poppy

C

Life fm Presents

Y

Life fm Presents

Y

Nzone Focus

N

Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV

P

Bishop, Chef & the D Fisherman Your Best Life: Phil Pringle

P

(2 May)

The Relate Show

D

From Heartache to Hope

D

Give Me an Answer

D

The Easter Experience

D

Nzone Focus

N

Joni & Friends

D

Christian World News

N

Noble Exchange

D

Word For You

P

LIFE TV with Paul de Jong

P

Running With Fire with Tak Bhana

11:30

Noble Exchange

D

The Exchange

Midnight

Hour of Power

P

Give Me An Answer

P

UCB Meets / Hannah Help Me E & Leland Klassen’s Ancient Greece & D D Comedy (30 Apr) Turkey Explored D

P Preaching C Children M Music

16 | Christian Life Issue Eleven April 2014

Answers with Bayless Conley

Towards Belief

D Doco/Drama

Give Me An Answer From Heartache to Hope

E Entertainment

Y Youth

Towards Belief

D 7:00 7:30 8:00

FEATURES

See adjacent for detail.

8:30 9:00

FEATURES

See adjacent for detail.

Nzone Focus

N 9:30

P

Joni & Friends

D 10:00

N

Noble Exchange

D 10:30

Bishop, Chef & the D Fisherman

D

N News

The Verdict of D 6:00 Science Just Thinking / P Facing the Canon D 6:30 N

D

P

(2 May)

C

The Verdict of Science

Days of Wonder: Jarrod Cooper

The Verdict of D 2:00 Science Just Thinking / D Facing the Canon D 2:30

The Edge

The 700 Club (Mon - Fri)

11:00

10:30

P

The 700 Club (Mon - Fri)

See adjacent for detail.

Y 10:00

D Noon

Connection Point

Destined to Reign with Joseph Prince (Mon - Fri)

9:30

FEATURES

Lakewood Church: P Joel Osteen

Buzz and Poppy

Joni & Friends

Life fm Presents

The Exchange

(30 Apr)

M

9:00

P

Running With Fire

Just Thinking / D Facing the Canon N

C

6:30

KEY

D

Y

(1 May)

C

P

10:30

Give Me An Answer

YouthBytes

From Heartache D Noble Exchange D 11:00 UCB Meets / to Hope Hannah Help Me E Just Thinking / & Leland Klassen’s Ancient Greece & N Comedy (1 May) D 11:30 Facing the Canon D Turkey Explored

The Edge

Running with Fire with Tak Bhana

10:00

D

D

From Aardvaark to Zucchini / The Lads TV (22 Apr)

6:00

9:00

P

D

P

8:30

Running With Fire with Tak Bhana The Bishop, the Chef and the Fisherman Precious Word of Truth

(30 Apr)

The Exchange

Living Truth: Charles Price

5:30

The Edge

The 700 Club (Mon - Fri)

Joni & Friends

Hour of Power

Word For You

From Aardvaark to Zucchini / Buzz C and Poppy (24 Apr)

Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer (Mon - Fri)

FEATURES

2:00

4:30

The Exchange

See adjacent for detail.

1:30

4:00

Ancient Greece & D Turkey Explored

Impact for Life

Noon

1:00

SATURDAY

Unlocking the Bible

Buzz and Poppy

12:30

FRIDAY

D

7:00

9:30

THURSDAY

Quick Study

P

P

9:00

WEDNESDAY P

Life Questions

Living Truth: Charles Price

6:30

TUESDAY

The Verdict of D Science Just Thinking / D Facing the Canon D (1 May)

D

Towards Belief

D

Give Me An Answer The Bishop, the Chef and the Fisherman Nzone Focus

Details correct at time of printing

• Programme change from date shown

D 11:00 D 11:30 N

Midnight

Shine TV FEATURES

Monday April 7 - Saturday May 10 Dawn Anna (running time: 90 min) The true story of Dawn Anna, who overcame medical odds & the death of her daughter in the Columbine shooting... living proof of the human spirit’s strength.

Mon 7 Apr @ 8.30pm Fri 11 Apr @ 9.30pm

Shadows of Shoah (running time: 30 min) A unique exhibition to reach a generation for whom the Holocaust may seem to hold little historical relevance or significance.

Sat 26 Apr @ 7.30pm Sun 27 Apr @ 12pm & 9.30pm

The Grandfathers (running time: 60 min) A young man, deep in the Amazon jungle, searches for his identity while living with the primitive tribe that murdered his grandfather.

Fri 11 Apr @ 8.30pm

The Courageous Heart (running time: 90 min) Based on the true story of Irena Sendler, social worker and part of the Polish underground smuggling Jewish children out of Warsaw.

Sat 26 Apr @ 8pm Sun 27 Apr @ 12.30pm & 10pm

To Save a Life (running time: 120 min) Jake Taylor has everything going for him. When tragedy strikes, Jake begins to question everything & must to make a decision that will change his future.

Sat 12 Apr @ 7.30pm Sun 13 Apr @ 12pm & 9.30pm

After Kony: Staging Hope (running time: 90 min) A team of activists use theatre to help Ugandan teens share their stories of childhood terror caused

by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army.

Mon 28 Apr @ 8.30pm Fri 2 May @ 9.30pm

The Frank Jenner Question (running time: 45 min) This documentary tells the story of Frank Jenner, a street evangelist who at the height of WWII led many to Christ by asking a simple question.

Mon 14 Apr @ 8.30pm Fri 18 Apr @ 9.30pm

The Orphan Lady (running time: 60 min) A moving documentary explores how selfdescribed ‘ordinary mum’ Sue van Schreven from New Zealand is tackling the global problem of child abandonment.

Fri 2 May @ 8.30pm

Cries of the Cross (running time: 45 min) Set in Jerusalem, this doco looks at the life and death of Jesus and the seven statements He made before He died. With host Bill Newman.

Mon 14 Apr @ 9.15pm Fri 18 Apr @ 10.15pm

The Lost Medallion (running time: 90 min) A man visiting a foster home tells the children a story of two teenagers who uncovered a long-lost medallion that transported them back in time.

Sat 3 May @ 7.30pm Sun 4 May @ 12pm & 9.30pm

Digging for Jesus (running time: 45 min) Today the fact of the historical Jesus is rarely disputed. This documentary explores ten top archaeological digs that take us closer to revealing more about the man from Galilee.

Fri 18 Apr @ 8.30pm

The Divine (running time: 30 min) Facially deformed since birth, 18-year-old James’ only friend is his ill mother. Events unfold leaving James to wrestle forces beyond his understanding.

Sat 3 May @ 9.05pm Sun 4 May @ 1.35pm & 11.05pm

The Hope Project (running time: 15 min) Coming up to the 200th anniversary of the first Christian message in NZ, the Hope Project gives Kiwis an opportunity to understand not only what Christians believe, but why.

Fri 18 Apr @ 9.15pm

Moving On (running time: 90 min) An American couple decides to move to war-torn Uganda. The people they encounter will alter the course of their lives forever.

Mon 5 May @ 8.30pm Fri 9 May @ 9.30pm

The House that God Built (running time: 30 min) In 2012, Invercargill Central Baptist Church took 12 high school students to Fiji, to live with the people and attempt a building project in less than 14 days.

Sat 19 Apr @ 7.30pm Sun 20 Apr @ 12pm & 9.30pm

Science and Faith (running time: 60 min) Can science and religion coexist? For years this question has divided people into two camps: those who look for the ‘what, how, and when’ questions, and others who seek to understand the ‘why.’

Fri 9 May @ 8.30pm

The Passion Play (running time: 90 min) The making of the Canadian Badlands Passion Play, performed in the breathtaking beauty of Drumheller, Alberta.

Sat 19 Apr @ 8pm Sun 20 Apr @ 12.30pm & 10pm

An Innocent Man (running time: 30 min) Docudrama re-telling the Easter story in a modernday context. TV news interviews with the major players recount Jesus’ arrest, trial, execution and resurrection.

Sat 10 May @ 7.30pm

Faith of My Fathers (running time: 90 min) The story of John McCain’s experience as a Vietnam War prisoner of war. Based on the memoir of the same title.

Mon 21 Apr @ 8.30pm Fri 25 Apr @ 9.30pm

The Painting (running time: 90 min) In the midst of racial tensions in 1960s America, a white boy and a black girl fall in love. A tale of a father’s love, sacrifice and acceptance.

Sat 10 May @ 8pm

Notorious to Glorious (running time: 60 min) A former white supremacist and drug trafficking gang member completely changed his life around after a supernatural encounter.

Fri 25 Apr @ 8.30pm

Details correct at time of printing.

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

A Shine TV viewer says... “Shine TV has been a major source in where God has spoken to me constantly and strengthened my relationship with Him! My life has been changed for the good because of Shine TV. It was Shine TV that helped toward my salvation!”

How has Shine TV impacted your life?

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

To watch Shine TV

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

shinetv.co.nz

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

www.mychristiandaily.com | 17

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For ALL your church small group needs in: • Evangelism • Discipleship • Revival

office@omega-discipleship.org.nz

PICK UP YOUR FREE COPY TODAY We are delighted to be partnering with the Christian bookshops of NZ to make Christian Life absolutely FREE of charge each month. That’s right, it won’t cost you a cent to read each edition! To pick up your copy each month FIND A CHRISTIAN STORE NEAR YOU: Visit www.cba.net.nz or www.manna.co.nz.

18 | Christian Life Issue Eleven April 2014

April 24th - 27th, 2014 Crossroads Nazarene Church 55 Pukete Road, St Andrews, Hamilton, 3200

Details at : www.ourneighbours.co.nz Email: register@ourneighbours.co.nz Txt 027 2766900—Register by 14th April

GAY AND HURTING?

If this is your experience, take heart. Over the last 50 years many people in similar life-walks to your own have been helped while participating in totally confidential Christian support groups. Exodus Ministries has such groups operating in several centres in N.Z. This support has resulted in a majority of participants being helped in personal growth away from same-sex-attraction struggles and gay porn attraction.While the rate of growth varies, for a significant number it has been such that they have married and raised families.

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

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

ONE OF 10 DOUBLE PASSES TO SEE THE NEW SON OF GOD MOVIE

“ ...set to make a mark similar to that of the Sarkies brothers’ first collaboration, Scarfies” Southland Times

Christian Life has 10 double passes to give away to 10 lucky readers.

10 lucky winners will be drawn, and the winners will be contacted via email.

Simply email your name, postal address and daytime phone number to enquiries@initiatemedia.net

The winners’ names will also be published in the May issue of Christian Life.

“Will astonish, inspire audiences” Christian Post

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In Cinemas May 15

Is your church invisible in your community?

Afraid the answer might be ‘yes’?

Chances are your church has not yet thought through a strategy for engaging its community.

In other words, the problem might be that your community is still invisible to your church!

CViC in partnership with The Anchorage presents a workshop

Engaging my Community

WELLINGTON: Saturday 10 May 2014 8:45am – 4:45pm at the Hope Centre 4 Downer Street Lower Hutt

Lyn Campbell Community Mapping Lyn is currently the National Team Leader of the Baptist Community Ministries. Through policy and strategic roles she has facilitated many communities being transformed. Her work as Children’s Advocate in Policy Directorate with the Christchurch City Council led to work with local authorities on five continents! She has been a Commissioner for NZ Families Commission and a member of external advisory groups for social services, including CYF. Lyn is passionate about the need to develop social entrepreneurs and tap into the creative thinkers and risk-takers in our faith communities.

Ginny Larsen Putting my Church and my Community in Touch Ginny has fourteen years experience in the not-forprofit arena. For the past seven years she has managed new projects for Neighbourhood Trust, the community arm of St Albans Baptist Church in Christchurch. Ginny’s strong belief is that working together is the way ahead; making connections with other groups in our community is vital to success. Serving in post-earthquake Christchurch has taught her many valuable lessons for any church wanting to work in their community.

The Heart of the Hutt Trust is a charitable trust formed through the collaboration of five inner city churches whose desire is to provide a place of comfort and safety in the Hutt CBD and to meet needs in the community not presently being met. This place is called The Anchorage located at 132 High Street, Lower Hutt.

The mission, objectives and plans of the Heart of the Hutt Trust are geared to fulfill the Trust’s vision which is Christian churches partnering with the community, enriching the heart and soul of Hutt City. The Anchorage enables different organisations to work together and share resources and ideas to make meaningful change for the benefit of the community.

www.theanchorage.org.nz

Steve Worsley

Is it mission, or just a programme?

Steve Worsley is the Senior Pastor at Petone Baptist and has created two popular resources for churches (One Step Ahead Worship and One Step Ahead Preaching) and has led various workshops and seminars. His current church has a long history of involvement with its local community.

Steve is particularly interested in the link between community ministry and evangelism; and also in ways of making programmes and events relational and missional.

CViC exists to promote church-based community engagement in every neighbourhood across New Zealand. We do that by serving the unsung heroes of community outreach – those volunteer leaders in churches everywhere who faithfully run community-facing programmes week by week. Through a cyclical series of workshops we cover 6 essential toolboxes that every community-facing leader needs. For those wanting to add mentoring, reading & reflection and networking to the mix we offer the Community Link Training Course.

To register: www.cvic.org.nz and click on the Wellington link

EARLYBIRD AND TEAM DISCOUNTS! - Earlybird cut- off - Friday 25 April 2014 Our workshops are much more valuable when the experience is shared. So for significant discounts on the registration fee, bring a team!

Group size Earlybird each Non-earlybird each Group size Earlybird each Non-earlybird each 4 $100 $125 1 $150 $175 5+ $90 $115 2 $125 $150 The fee covers materials, morning and afternoon tea and lunch.

3 $110 $135