Christian Life Issue 43 March 2017 by Initiate Media

MARCH 2017 • Issue FORTY-THREE • www.mychristiandaily.co.nz

ISRAEL

A Matter of Simple Justice page 06

FAMILY FIRST

An Expert Panel Needs To Examine The Research On Harms Of Pornography page 09

LOCAL NEWS

The Church in NZ is moving into a New Era page 10

Keeping Children in the Church Full story page 4

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY NZ CHRISTIAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION AND MANNA CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORES

IN THIS ISSUE

Contents...

MARCH 2017

03. Giving a little for Fena 04. COVER: Keeping our Children in Church 05. SUNZ Survey - Finding Where the Needs Are 06. A Matter of Simple Justice 08. God’s Heart for America 09. An Expert Panel Needs To Examine The Research On Harms Of Pornography 10. The Church in NZ is moving into a New Era

11. Islam: a kairos moment in history! 12. Local News 14. Shine TV programme guide 16. Why Bless Israel? 17. Christian Life Classifieds

NEXT ISSUE OUT April 2017 Publisher Matthew Danswan

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MARINE REACH TRAINING

Give a little for Fena... By Janelle Payan RN

es, I was frustrated. We had done everything we could and now we were back to a big fat zero! Her name is Vinna and she is eight years of age. She lives is an isolated village on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. Some years ago her leg fractured in two places and no one quite knows why. She spent the following years being carried around her village or hobbling along on a makeshift crutch. One day, a medical team from Marine Reach - YWAM found her and provided all the medical care they could. However, the infection continued and left her leg twice the size of the other one. Captain Marvin Wilson, of Marine Reach’s ship, the Pacific Hope, heard of her plight and immediately turned the ship around from another northern island in Vanuatu and did the seventeen-hour sail down to Tanna. Now, with both Vinna and her parents on board he returned to Port Vila where the family was admitted to our newly built Family Care Centre. After an initial assessment at Vila

Hospital, it was obvious that Vinna had to go to New Zealand for surgery but the promised government funds never eventuated. Living at the Family Care Centre, Vinna was growing stronger and putting on weight but after three months the family had to return to Tanna to take care of the rest of their family. Shortly after I got the news, the wounds had gotten worse and the family had taken Vinna to the only help they could, a local medicine man. He had attempted to open the wounds to let out the infection with a piece of broken glass! They loved their little girl and believed they were doing the very best for her. I felt completely helpless. A team of us returned to Tanna to help again but the long term solution still evaded us. Where were we going to get the tens of thousands of dollars to help the precious little girl? I cried out in frustration and heartbreak to the Lord then something amazing happened. Kylie DellaBarca Steel of Fruit of the Pacif-

ic, heard Vinna’s story and talked to some friends and made vital connections. Soon local service organization in New Zealand heard the story and referred Vinna’s plight and have now taken up the challenge. Last month Vinna got her birth certificate and is now applying for a passport. Shortly, both her and her mum will be on a plane to NZ thanks to several different organizations working together to help a little girl who lived in obscurity in an isolated village in the jungles of Vanuatu. A “Give a Little” page has been set up under “Fena” on Fruit of the Pacific’s web site to pay for Vinna’s medical expenses and travel costs before coming to New Zealand. www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/fena It’s ok to be frustrated and it’s ok to vent our frustration to the Lord and it’s ok to feel that deep sense of gratitude and relief when God steps in and makes it happen. The M/V Pacific Hope returns to Vanuatu in April to continue to minister to the isolated and often forgotten island communities throughout the nation.

Janelle and Fena

On Saturday 8 APRIL People are gathering in towns & cities all around New Zealand to release blessing from the ends of the earth to Israel. Join this Special Evening in a centre near you.

Kaitaia, Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, Waihi, Te Puke, Tauranga, Gisborne, Hastings, New Plymouth, Hawera, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Kapiti, Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch, Wanaka, Dunedin …and more to come.

YOU’RE INVITED TO A SPECIAL EVENING

See New Zealand Bless Israel facebook page or website nzblessisrael.com for details

To join across the Nation, from many cultures, organisations and churches, to stand in unity and love releasing the sound of blessing from the ends of the Earth to Israel.

Shofars at Sunrise -‐ Shofars will blow simulaneously at 7 am

People will stand, praying and making declarations on high places, beaches, in cities and centres all across the nation. In over 35 towns already people have committed to pray!

To release blessing to Israel is not saying we reject other peoples - all people are made, loved and called by God. It’s not a political statement that we agree with every decision the Israeli or NZ Government has or will make.

email us – or check our website for the declarations.

collecting signatures Sign the Card -‐ we’re Embassy to give to the Israeli Sign online, send a clipboard around your church Faces of Blessing Photobook

We’re coming together to Bless Israel, We recognise the special covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob We respond to God’s call to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Take a photo of you, your family, or your church family with a sign saying Bless Israel, to add to a our photobook . Every smile sends a blessing!

LET’S JOIN TOGETHER rsvp or contact us at: info@nzblessisrael.com

8 APRIL 2017

Victory Convention Centre, 7-9pm 98 Beaumont St, Auckland and in centres around the nation

Standing in agreement across the nation – to Bless Israel

Read daily Christian news at www.mychristiandaily.co.nz | 3

KIDS MINISTRIES

Keeping Children in the Church The newly-formed New Zealand Children’s Ministry Network is seeing major denominations and para-church organisations working together for the good of our kids. Marie Anticich investigates this ground-breaking nationwide initiative.

Cutting the cake at the New Zealand Children’s Ministry Network launch, from left: Diana Langdon (Strandz Enabler - Anglican Children and Families Ministry), Jill Kayser (wearing red ) National Kids Friendly Coach - Presbyterian), Cheryl Harray (Kids Friendly Advisor Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland), Hilary Hague (former Children and Families Team Leader, Scripture Union NZ), Nigel Winder (Children and families Consultant - SUNZ) and Karen Warner (National Team Leader – Baptist children and family ministry).

growing sense of collaboration between national leaders in major denominations and children’s ministry organisations has birthed the New Zealand Children’s Ministry Network. Traditionally children’s ministry teams have beavered away in their own denominations and congregations, but the New Zealand Children’s Ministry Network is reaching across the denominational divides and helping them minister more effectively to children. The network came about through conversations between national children’s ministry leaders, Jill Kayser (Presbyterian), Diana Langdon (Anglican), Hilary Hague (former SUNZ team leader) and Karen Warner (Baptist). Launched at a children’s ministry training course in Auckland last September, the network now includes Presbyterian, Baptist, Anglican and Salvation Army denominations, the Unlimited Children’s Ministry Trust, New Zealand Bible Society, Messy Church and Scripture Union New Zealand. The network centres around a website built by Scripture Union. Already the website has proved popular with nearly 300 hits a week. “It makes sense for SUNZ to run the website as we’re a non-denominational para-church organisation with good working relationships with churches and children’s ministries,” says website administrator Liz Eichler who is a Wellington-based SUNZ children and family worker. The website includes pages for Events, Job Vacancies, Regional Contacts and Enquiries, and Liz maintains connections with national ministry leaders so it’s very much a team effort. The list of regional contacts helps children’s ministry workers connect with others in the regions, and there are now children’s ministry network groups operating in most main centres with potential for more. Network meetings provide support and encouragement for children’s ministry workers who come from a range of denominations and children’s ministries. “At network meetings we share ideas and resources and pray for one another,” says Liz Eichler who herself runs two network meetings in Wellington and Waikanae. “Someone might be struggling with getting commitment from volunteers or need help with planning their yearly programme. Someone might say ‘Who’s got some bright ideas for Easter activities?’ or ‘This book is a really good resource for 8-10

4 | Christian Life Issue Forty-Three March 2017

year-olds.’” Hundreds of children’s ministry workers will flock to SUNZ one-day Way2Go training conferences to be held in Invercargill on May 27, Auckland on June 10 and Wellington on June 24. Beginnings In 2010 three South Island children’s ministry workers– Nigel Winder (SUNZ), Cheryl Harray (Kids Friendly –Presbyterian) and Benjamin BrockSmith (Anglican) – formed the Otago-Southland Children’s Ministry Network. Working as a team, they began running combined training events, sharing the load of preparation and delivery and bringing their different styles and strengths. The network holds three meetings a year in Dunedin and in Invercargill, and runs annual training days in Oamaru and Central Otago. “Everyone who comes to our network meetings has the common bonds of passion and responsibility for children’s ministry,” says Cheryl Harray. “We all have similar aims and dreams for the children and families of New Zealand.” Similar collaboration was happening in other regions and these networks have now been formalised in the New Zealand Children’s Ministry Network. “It’s fantastic to see the establishment of NZCMN with a website encouraging more groups to meet and advertising coming events,” says Cheryl. “It feels so right to be encouraging unity and understanding across the denominations and working together for God’s kingdom.” SUNZ Invercargill-based southern regional director, Nigel Winder agrees. “Seeing different denominations prepared to work together for the greater good is cause for celebration. For years denominations have been running their own training sessions without a lot of connecting across those boundaries. The NZCMN website provides a central place to display training events to save doubling up. “Children are the church of today as equal partners and participants,” says Nigel Winder. “So it’s good news for the whole church when children’s ministry workers from different denominations come together to grow the faith of this generation. We’re much stronger when we work together.”

www.nzcmn.org.nz

KIDS MINISTRIES

SUNZ SURVEY: Finding Where the Needs Are By Marie Anticich

Every two years Scripture Union (SUNZ) conducts an online survey to build up a picture of the state of children’s ministry in New Zealand.

he survey gathers information from a wide range of denominations about church attendance and programmes for children aged 0 to 12 years. “Our 2016 survey showed that there is much to celebrate, as well as some statistics that are concerning,” says Annette Osborne who oversees the survey. “The ‘average’ church in the SUNZ Children’s Ministry Survey has five pre-schoolers, ten primary school children and four intermediate-age children. That’s a small number of children which is worrying,” says the Auckland-based children and family worker. SUNZ started the survey in 2104 because of the lack of comprehensive research into children in church since the early nineties. “One of our motivations was to have a clearer picture of what’s

happening in children’s ministries and track developments and changes,” says Annette. “The survey helps us see where the needs are so we can find ways to support the local church. It also allows us to provide other organisations and denominations with information about what’s happening across the regions.” The online survey takes 1520 minutes to complete and asks questions about children’s attendance at church and kid’s programmes and their involvement in the wider life of the church. How are children involved in the main church service? The survey shows that around 60% of churches have their children in church for 10-30 minutes of the main service. The most common ways children are involved in services are through singing (75% of church with children), children’s talks (48%),

prayers (46%) and activity sheets (42%). Statistics from participating churches show that: • 25% of churches have less than ten children aged 0-12 years • 48% of churches in the survey have less than 20 children • 5% of children in community programmes join the church each year The survey also measures church involvement in community ministries such as ICONZ, mainly music, CEC (Bible in Schools), SUPAkidz and SURGE clubs. “Churches are doing lots of creative things in their communities such as mainly music and running programmes in schools and special events for family and whanau,” says Annette. “However, the space between community ministries and the church is often wide. There’s a need to explore ways of helping children and their families

SAVE CHRISTIAN LIVES IN AFRICA THIS EASTER

journey through this space, and into our church life.” The decline in church attendance over the past 40 years includes falling Sunday School attendance. (However some churches now have larger children’s programmes than in previous years. How do we address the slide? The popular SUNZ workshop ‘You’re Losing Us’ explores eight key strategies for keeping kids in church and in faith. Topics include understanding the ‘big picture’ of the Bible as the story of a God who came to rescue us because He loves us so much. “We’ve had a wide response to our survey but we’re hoping to build up the number of participants,” says Annette. “The more churches that participate the clearer the picture becomes.”

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ISRAEL

A Matter of Simple Justice with GRAEME CARLE

iven the present world-wide media focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it seems odd to me that so little background analysis to these events is being offered. It does, however, explain the almost instantaneous widespread condemnation of Israel – we’re simply making our judgments before we’ve heard all the evidence. As a nation, we New Zealanders pride ourselves on our ethos of a fair go. Shouldn’t we then at least listen to the whole story rather than the truncated version? Of course the Pal-

estinians should be treated justly – no-one is suggesting otherwise – but shouldn’t the Jews be too? Not the justice long overdue them after 3,500 years of unrelenting genocidal attacks, persecution and pogroms, Crusades and Inquisition, nor even the Holocaust: Israel has a right to exist even if we limit our consideration to just the last 100 years in the Middle East. Most of us only know about Palestine, Israel and the creation of the Palestinian refugee crisis through what we’ve been told by a television

screen showing dead or wounded children and a voice-over blaming Israeli “occupation” of Palestinian land. One picture is indeed worth a thousand words but a picture can also tell a thousand lies. We need to understand the context of what we’re watching. I don’t expect our news media to accept any of the voluminous Biblical evidence for Israel’s covenantal right to exist as a sovereign state – many Christians today wrongly, in my opinion, dispute that too – but couldn’t they at least consider the Jewish situation in the light of the Arabs already having twenty-two sovereign states? Palestine will simply be number twenty-three. And as for the claim that a Jewish state would be racist, wouldn’t this mean all the Arab states are racist too? Wouldn’t the 57 Islamic nations also have to disestablish themselves? Our news media also seem completely beguiled by the narrative which portrays 1948 as the beginning of troubles, the Nakba or Catastrophe, as Arabs today describe the creation of the Jewish state and the displacement of Palestinians. Yet it is this truncated view that sets us up, at best for irrational judgments, or at worst for the blatant anti-Semitism prevalent today. Of course, those advocating only for the Palestinians today have to pretend it all started in 1948. After all, if anyone bothers to look back thirty years, they may well end up with a

very different perspective on today’s events. In 1918 the Ottoman Empire lost control of the Middle East and a new era began. Their mostly Arab subjects had chafed under the Turkish yoke for some four hundred years so the British dismembered that empire into autonomous Arab states: Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman and the Gulf States. Today, the Arab nations, including North Africa, occupy some 13,333,296 sq. km. However, in 1920, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Lord Arthur Balfour warned: So far as the Arabs are concerned, I hope they will remember that it is we who have established an independent Arab sovereignty of the Hedjaz. I hope they will remember it is we who desire in Mesopotamia to prepare the way for the future of a self-governing, autonomous Arab State, and I hope that, remembering all that, they will not grudge that small notch – for it is no more than that geographically – that small notch in what are now Arab territories being given to the [Jews].[1] And the “small notch” was to become even smaller. In 1922, the British divided the 120,466 sq. km of Mandatory Palestine to establish “a Jewish National Home in Palestine west of the Jordan and a separate Arab entity in Palestine east of the Jordan”. This division

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ISRAEL

granted the Arabs all of the 92,300 sq. km east of the Jordan (77% of Mandatory Palestine) which they promptly renamed Jordan (The Hashemite Kingdom of…), and then began today’s claims for another sovereign state called Palestine but within the remaining 28,166 sq. km west of the Jordan (23% of Mandatory Palestine). The UN’s call for dividing that will leave the Jews with only 12%. Is that a fair go? As a matter of simple justice, shouldn’t the Arabs indeed remember that the British, whom they resent for giving any land at all to the Jews, gave the Arabs all of the sovereign states they have in the Middle East today? That the Arab Nation (comprising 22 countries) already has a land area 500 times the size of Israel and, with another Palestine, that will increase to 950 times? That they were given 77% Mandatory Palestine in 1922 and renamed it the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan? Why then are they begrudg-

ing the Jews even the 23%? Is it fair to now reduce that to 12%? As for the refugees, because the creation of Israel in 1948 created 600,000 Palestinian refugees,[2] many demand that Israel accept them all back. However, if that’s fair, what should be done for the 856,000 Jewish refugees driven out of the Arab nations at that time?[3] These Jewish refugees left not only frozen bank accounts, homes, businesses and other assets but also an estimated 100,000 sq. km of Jewish-owned land, i.e. almost five times the size of the State of Israel (20,770 sq. km).[4] Wouldn’t simple justice factor in their displacement as well as that of the Palestinian refugees? So… what happened to all these refugees? Almost a third of the Jewish refugees fled to Europe or the USA but some 600,000 were absorbed into Israel and the last refugee camp there closed in 1958. The 600,000 Palestinian refugees, however, were turned

[1] Sir Martin Gilbert, The Routledge Atlas of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 7th Edition, London, 2002, p. 7 [2] After comparing many different sources and methods, it seems the most consistently calculated and likely number of permanent Arab or

Palestinian refugees in 1948 was about 600,000 (www.mideastweb.org/palpop. htm, 11 Apr, 2016). This does not include the 160,000 Palestinian Arabs who remained in Israel throughout the 1948 hostilities. [3] Morocco (248,000), Iraq (150,000),

away by their fellow-Arabs and there are now 5 million, and 58 refugee camps requiring permanent international aid.[5] Was it asking too much of the Arabs to accept their half-share, as the Jews did, in this population transfer of 1.2 million Jews and Arabs? After all, in other spheres of brutal antagonism, separation was considered the only possible solution. In 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne required the expulsion of 1.5 million Greeks and Christians from Turkish territory, and 800,000 Turks and Muslims from Greek territory; the 1947 partition of India, to halt Hindu-Muslim warfare, required 14 million people to change homelands, 7 million Muslims moving to East and West Pakistan from India and 7 million Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan to India. Isn’t it racist to believe that Arabs can’t be as compassionate and accepting of their refugees as the Greeks,

Algeria (140,000), Tunisia (103,000), Egypt (63,500), Yemen (46,000), Libya (36,000), Syria (15,000), Lebanon, Aden, Iran etc, as well as 17,000 from the Arab areas of Palestine? (http://www.justiceforjews.com/main_facts.html, 11 Apr, 2016)

Turks, Indians and Pakistanis? Should the Jews alone accept responsibility for all of the 1.2 million Arab and Jewish refugees who wanted to stay in the Middle East in 1948? Is it really Israel’s fault that their often ostentatiously wealthy Arab neighbours prefer to corral the Palestinian refugees into 58 permanent refugee camps? Or even to massacre them, as they did in Jordan during Black September in 1970 and Lebanon in 1992? Vastly more Palestinians have been killed by their Arab brothers in the last 100 years than ever by Israel – why don’t we care about them? Shouldn’t we apply some simple justice for all, Palestinians and Jews? Maybe the next time we see Israel being summarily condemned in the media, we should pause for thought.

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To register or for more information visit http://bit.ly/WAY2GO2017CL Read daily Christian news at www.mychristiandaily.co.nz | 7

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

God’s Heart For America I

David Garratt David and Dale Garratt pioneered a way for Gods people to worship using scripture verses and simple melodies in tandem with the Charismatic move that began in the 60s. Scripture in Song became a global phenomenon for more than 20 years. They reside in New Zealand but David still ministers in various countries. Dale is currently finishing a book to follow The Pleasure of your Company which encompasses their story together. davidgarratt38@icloud.com

t has been remarkable being in the USA over these four months because I believe God is shaking many of us up and realigning His body in a way that will challenge many preconceptions. Then, and this is staggering, we believe the opinions of the media as if all they said or wrote was true. It makes me realise that we have got so used to believing the words of men rather than hearing God that I wonder how much we are actually listening for His voice at all. The election in November has created huge division in this Country. The election of President Trump has exposed so much anger and hatred even among believers that I have never seen anything quite like it. Yet for me as someone who like many of us cringed at some of his statements especially in the lead up to the election and his childish like boasting, I began to see that perhaps America was being given a second chance to look back to her foundations set there by Godly people. Now as far as I see it, Donald Trump and the administration he is putting in place are providing a God

given opportunity to follow the way of the Kingdom of God on earth. If this is true then we shouldn’t be surprised at the amount of negative reaction his election has received. This certainly doesn’t mean everything they do will be perfect, like us all they are merely human. However, as vice President Mike Pence put his hand on 2 Chron 7:14 when he was sworn in, I suggest that if this Scripture is put into practise by God’s people, America will have another chance to become an example to the world in the way God designed her to be. Here is the Scripture: “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Talking of which I highly recommend the historical book ‘The Seed of a Nation’ by Darrell Fields because it actually shows how an Englishman named William Penn overcame incredible odds to give America a piece of the foundation

for her Constitution and, equally as important, how as part of a colonising nation he was to relate to the first nations people in a way that saw them as equals in every way. He received God’s revelations for these things which shows me our Father’s intentions not only for this nation but for other nations as well. Just one comment from the above Scripture. I am satisfied that healing the land is very much in our Creator’s intentions in these times... One other happening from a few days ago at an event in Florida. The first lady Melania Trump recited the Lord’s prayer which blew me away as, to me, it was a sign of a return to this nation’s foundations. I loved it. I suggest to you as God’s beloved people that you enquire from our Father to find His heart at this time. Of course time will tell but I think we are in for an amazing season of God’s grace in response to the prayers of His people provided we keep on praying, listening, and obeying.

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FAMILY FIRST

An Expert Panel Needs To Examine The Research On Harms Of Pornography F

amily First NZ has launched a petition calling on politicians to investigate the public health effects and societal harms of pornography. The petition states: “That an expert panel be appointed to investigate the public health effects and societal harms of pornography to both children and adults, and to make policy recommendations to Parliament.” The website is www.porninquiry.nz There are two major issues that our country must confront sooner than later. The first is the link between the regular and increasing consumption of online pornography and our unacceptable rates of sexual violence. The second, which many parents are very concerned about, is the effect of pornography viewing on younger people and its easy availability even when children are not actively seeking it. Social scientists, clinical psychologists, biologists and neurologists are now beginning to understand the psychological and biological negative effects of viewing pornography both online and through the media and video games. They show that men who view pornography regularly have a higher tolerance for abnormal sexuality, including rape, sexual aggression, and sexual promiscuity. Prolonged consumption of pornography results in stronger perceptions of women as commodities or as ‘sex objects’. Pornography has a damaging effect on intimacy, love, and respect and at its worst, leads to sex role stereotyping, viewing persons as sexual objects, and family breakdown. Research has also shown that children who are exposed to pornography develop skewed ideas about sex and sexuality, which lead to negative stereotypes of women, sexual activity at a young age, and increased aggression in boys. It also places unacceptable pressure on young girls which leads to eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, depression, and other harms In November 2016, Young New Zealanders Viewing Sexual Violence, the latest research report from the Office of Film and Literature Classification found that teenagers think that inaccurate depictions or misrepresentations of sexual violence in entertainment media are potentially harmful. Harms identified included normalisation, perpetuation of harmful stereotypes, negative impacts on victim/survivors, and being negatively influenced by behaviour seen on screen. Early last year, the deputy chief censor called for

the government to put more options on the table for regulating online pornography, saying “Given New Zealand’s acknowledged problems with sexual and family violence and the demonstrated harm caused by pornography that degrades, dehumanises and demeans people (particularly women), the choice for Government and regulators, must be about how far we are willing to intervene — rather than whether we are prepared to intervene at all.” Concerns about the health harms of porn are gaining traction around the world. The Canadian parliament has unanimously agreed to investigate

Research has also shown that children who are exposed to pornography develop skewed ideas about sex and sexuality, which lead to negative stereotypes of women, sexual activity at a young age, and increased aggression in boys. the “public health effects” of “violent and degrading sexually explicit material on adults and children” who easily view it on the Internet. Legislators in Israel have approved a bill that would block all porn in Israel unless people ask to view it. In 2016, the Utah House of Representatives became the first legislative body in the United States to pass a resolution declaring pornography “a public health hazard leading to a broad spectrum of individual and public health impacts and societal harms.” And the Australian Senate has just released a report on the “Harm being done to Australian children through access to pornography on the Internet” with recommendations to do more research on the harms to children, commission an expert panel to recommend policy measures, and examine adequacy of information available of parents to keep children safe online. A 2015 report by the American College of Pediatricians (ACOP) titled “The Impact of Pornography on Children” highlights the harms of

young people viewing porn and also summarises changes in brain structure and function in those who view pornography and underscores the evidence showing the addictive nature of porn. Researchers from a number of disciplines have shown that viewing pornography is associated with damaging outcomes. A recent meta-analysis of 22 studies between 1978 and 2014 from seven different countries concluded that pornography consumption is associated with an increased likelihood of committing acts of verbal or physical sexual aggression, regardless of age. A 2010 meta-analysis of several studies found “an overall significant positive association between pornography use and attitudes supporting violence against women.” In a study of U.S. college men, researchers found that 83% reported seeing mainstream pornography, and that those who did were more likely to say they would commit rape or sexual assault (if they knew they wouldn’t be caught) than men who hadn’t seen porn in the past 12 months. The same study found that porn consumers were less likely to intervene if they observed a sexual assault taking place. In a study of young teens throughout the southeastern United States, 66% of boys reported porn consumption in the past year; this early porn exposure was correlated with perpetration of sexual harassment two years later. These studies all highlight the extent to which porn is a public health crisis rather than a private matter. A number of hotel chains have also chosen to remove all on-demand pornography from their guest rooms. If we want to tackle sexual violence, we must first admit the role that pornography plays and the harm that it does to attitudes and actions. YOUTUBE presentation - https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=mjmg4IiPCUk

Bob McCoskrie is the National Director of Family First NZ. Visit www.familyfirst.org.nz for more information on how you can become involved.

Read daily Christian news at www.mychristiandaily.co.nz | 9

LOCAL NEWS

“We are passionate about championing unity among churches and denominations, so it’s great to see the body uniting with a vision for working together for the cause of Christ.“

The Church in NZ is moving into a New Era By Tak Bhana

fter our ‘New Zealand and Beyond’ conference dramatically doubled in size last year we have made the radical move of relocating to The Trusts Arena in West Auckland this year. Oh yes, it’s scary, but we believe this is the beginning of a New Era. In fact we believe the church in New Zealand is moving into a New Era of expansion and conquest, and we expect to see the gospel increasingly impacting our nation. Over the past two years, we, at Church Unlimited, have opened five campuses and experienced the acceleration of expansion God has spoken to us about, and we hear of other churches that are also experiencing increase. We’re expecting a move of the Holy

Spirit at this year’s conference, and among a number of prophetic words are:- ‘Upper Room experience’, and, ‘a New Era of evangelism’. I connect both of these words with the upper room experience in the Book of Acts, which led to multitudes being saved. I’m thrilled by the increasing numbers of churches supporting the conference, some bringing 50 plus people, including their entire leadership teams. It’s exciting to see so many denominations identifying with the vision of equipping, inspiring, and building faith, to reach New Zealand and the nations for Christ. We are passionate about championing unity among churches and denominations, so it’s great to see the body uniting

10 | Christian Life Issue Forty-Three March 2017

with a vision for working together for the cause of Christ. A popular aspect of the conference is the setting aside of a session with a focus on prayer. I love seeing Christians, from various churches and denominations, praying together, as this is often a forerunner to God moving powerfully by His Spirit. Psalm 22:3 tells us that ‘God inhabits the praises of His people’. This year we are praying that our huge choir of about 200 will enhance our praise and worship, and help us to be a body of people who are attractive to God, in other words help to bring his presence and make way for the Holy Spirit to move. Once again we have a wonderful

line up of speakers. Bayless Conley grew up in Southern California where, during his teenage years, he became involved in a lifestyle of drug and alcohol abuse. After years of searching for truth, and near-death experiences, he found Jesus as his Saviour when a twelve-year-old boy shared the gospel with him. Today, Bayless pastors a thriving church of 10,000 in Cottonwood, California. His television broadcast, ‘Answers with Bayless Conley’, is aired in in over 100 nations worldwide. Bayless will share the powerful story of his near death boating accident and his incredible recovery. Wayne Cordeiro is the founding pastor of ‘New Hope Christian Fellowship’ in Honolulu. New Hope has been listed as one of the top ten most innovative churches in America. It has seen over 73,000 first time decisions. Wayne has also planted over 124 churches in several nations, has written twelve books, including ‘The Life Journal’, which has been instrumental in bringing people back to the Word of God, and which is being used by thousands of churches worldwide. Graham Davison is senior pastor of ‘Grace International.NZ’, and has ministered in over 50 nations. He has been involved in missionary work, church planting, establishing Bible Schools, and overseeing groups of churches. His passion for the work of God, missions, and reaching the lost, is contagious. We would love to host you at ‘New Zealand and Beyond’, and have you involved with us in fulfilling the vision of reaching New Zealand and nations with the love of God and the message of salvation. It is our prayer that everyone who attends will step into a ‘New Era’, and have a life changing encounter with God. To register please visit www. newzealandandbeyond.com

ISLAM

Islam: a kairos moment in history! T

his book ‘Too Many to Jail - the story of Iran’s new Christians’ documenting this compelling revival in Iran. Outside of Iran in the ‘diaspora’ Iranians are regarded as the most receptive group of Muslims to the heart of the Gospel. They are disillusioned with Iran. They say the Khomeini promised ‘heaven on earth’ to Iranians and delivered ‘hell in Iran.’ A huge convergence of factors in the last three decades have made both Sunnis and Shias open to the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Briefly they are; Globalisation, the refugee crisis, Muslim versus Muslim wars, the Arab Spring movement, the Koran available in many languages, heightened expectations for the education and the emancipation of Muslim women, exposure to alternative value systems, the Twin Towers, suicide bombers, Muslims killing innocent Muslims, and increasing sectarian conflicts within Islam. Jesus presented as the Prince of Peace or the Prophet who can change a persons heart to love and not hate, have been key revelations of who Jesus is among Muslims. Dreams and visions and appearances of Jesus Christ in a heavenly form abound, and cause many Muslims to become disciples of Christ without human witness. The Divinity of Unlike Europe, Sheik Sheik at the Al Huda Dunedin Mosque condemns any Jesus in the Koran has also led many How can Christians love rhetoric that incites hatred. He has encouraged Sunni, Shia and Sufi’s to Muslims to reason that Jesus must be Muslims who speak such a pray together and pursue peace. the ‘Just Judge’ on Judgement day and hateful rhetoric? ‘The King of the Heavenly City.’ Our answer is found in the life of The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust has Jesus known as the Divine Prophet ‘Isa’ in Islam Holy Spirit who guides him and interacts with where he is mentioned 25 times in the Koran and him about every detail of his life. He now loves his published a series of leaflets based on the idiom his miraculous birth is recorded in Surah 3 ayat enemies and honours the Lord Jesus in every aspect of ‘The Pilgrimage’ a familiar concept to Muslims. Visit www.thepilgrimage.net.nz. Christians who 45-55. In these ten verses Jesus is honoured for of his life. In the last twenty years we have witnessed ‘a love Muslims are encouraged to have a coffee with ten divine attributes - more than any other person in the Koran. Jesus when dying on the cross said kairos moment’ in the effectiveness of Christian a Muslim friend and share one of five stories each ‘Father forgive them for they do not know what witness among Muslims. Iran has become one of the time they meet. The Trust have many interesting resources on they are doing’ (Luke 23 v 34). When Jesus arrested most receptive countries to the gospel of Jesus Christ ministry among Muslims available through their the fanatical path of the Apostle Paul on the road through satellite TV channels and the internet. In website at www.apdiscipleshiptrust.org.nz to Damascus he changed him from a Christian 2007 there were estimated to be 50,000 Christians hater to the Apostle to the Gentiles who made in Iran. This was two years after Ahmadinejad millions of Gentiles disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts became President and announced that he would ‘stop By Bapak Pengajar Rohani co-author of 9 vs 1-22). Simon Peter, the disciple of Jesus who Christianity in Iran.’ Iran now has at least 370,000 The Right Path hated the Romans as occupiers of his native land, Christian disciples. In 2014 Mark Bradley published he word Islam is used by caring Christians as an acronym to mean ‘I sincerely love all Muslims’ Any group of people who are constantly marginalised and ridiculed in the mass media end up suffering from a deep rejection complex, and that sense of inferiority leads to an exaggerated desire to enforce their rights. Islam is constantly in the media as a result of the atrocities of extremist groups who claim to be obeying Islamic creeds. On the 17th August 2014 HAMAS spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri declared a war to take back Jerusalem previously held by Muslim authorities. In France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Australia and the USA Muslims took to the streets shouting slogans such as ‘Heil Hitler, HAMAS HAMAS, Jews to the gas chambers. We are all HAMAS. We are Jihad’. Many participating in these protests were considered well integrated and well thought of academics in these Western societies where they had experienced democracy and free speech. Simultaneously the ISIS Commander announced himself to the be the global Caliph reinstating the role dismantled by Kemal Ataturk in 1924.

and uncircumcised, unclean, heathen, fell into a trance when the Lord spoke to him and commanded him to no longer regard the things God had made as unclean (Acts 10vs 9-48). Jesus taught us to ‘love our enemies’ (Matthew 5 v 44). He taught radical solutions to the social challenges of his day. A radical Maori Muslim who recently had an encounter with Jesus states that there is no equivalent in Islam to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit living in a believer’s life. He highly values the daily conversation he has with God the

Theology. Applied.

“

Carey College. You’ve changed me. You’ve stripped me back to the bone and reconstructed me and I will be forever changed. Not only that, you’ve impacted so many people through mainly music . . . Thank you. Thank you. Kia kaha. Aroha.”

Jo Hood

| Carey Graduate and leader of the mainly music organisation

Know God in a deeper and more personal way while engaging in robust theological study. Applied Theology Carey Graduate School Pastoral Leadership Youth Pastoral Leadership Cross-cultural Mission Children & Family Leadership Internships

Come and be challenged, transformed and equipped.

0800 773 776

carey.ac.nz

Intermission Young Adult Programme Full-time, part-time, distance and block course options available.

Read daily Christian news at www.mychristiandaily.co.nz | 11

LOCAL NEWS

Mission Possible-getting back to our primary task O

mega Discipleship Ministries has created a unique pathway to help churches rediscover their primary task, as commissioned by Jesus, of making disciples called Mission Possible – getting back to our primary task. The Mission Possible package in-

cludes a power-point presentation, a DVD with questions to consider and two workshop manuals. The programme is designed to help church leadership teams evaluate how they are implementing the discipleship aspect of their overall mission.

This is based on Gap Analysis, which many businesses use to maintain the dynamics and momentum of their organisations. It encompasses a threestage cycle covering evaluation, planning and implementation.

For further information contact: John Fuller, New Zealand Director, Omega Discipleship Ministries: Email: office@omega-discipleship.org.nz or Ph. 04-9052209. www.omega-discipleship.com

Happy Birthday 150th Birthday Scripture Union! This year Scripture Union is celebrating 150 years of serving churches around the world. Yet despite its diversity of ministries, helping all ages engage with the Word of God remains at its core. Scripture Union New Zealand (SUNZ ) trains, equips and resources several thousand youth and children’s’ ministry leaders each year. There is a growing desire and willingness of churches and denominations to collaborate together and SUNZ has been a catalyst in this. They have also just completed another very successful

summer camps programme – 80 years of running adventure type camps where children and young people are getting to explore the Bible together and grow deeper in their relationship with Him. Happy birthday Scripture Union! For more information about SUNZ and what the great events, resources and training they offer visit www. sunz.org.nz

Charity to send emergency support to Eastern Ukraine Mission Without Borders (MWB), an international charity working in Ukraine, is sending 10 tons of emergency roofing material to repair damaged homes in the city of Avdiyivka. Volodymyr Brychuk, MWB’s Communications Manager based in Western Ukraine, said: “These clashes developed into the worst escalation of this conflict for some time. Artillery, rockets and tanks were used, and over 200 homes were severely damaged. In these situations it is always the most vulnerable who suffer most. “We want to respond to show that we have not forgotten about them.” Since this conflict began three years ago, nearly 10,000 people have died, 23,000 have been wounded and 1.8 million are displaced. Andrew Wilks of MWB New Zealand reports, “Our Ukrainian team can respond to emergencies like this in the conflict zones due to the close relationship they have with local churches. We are calling on the NZ public to support our work in Ukraine and not to forget the terrible situation in the east of the country.”

12 | Christian Life Issue Forty-Three March 2017

ALPHACRUCIS

Sean du Toit

Is Theology a Form of Worship? “Every time we declare truth about God, it is an act of worship.” Students discuss scripture at Alphacrucis.

t is an astounding and overwhelming privilege that we are able to know the living and true God. Ever since my conversion, I have had this insatiable desire to know who God is and what God is like. And the more I learn about God, the more I want others to know who God is and what God has done and is doing. This should come as no surprise to those who have encountered the beautiful grace of our Lord. One of the ways Christians have learnt about and encountered God is through the Word of God. Thus, when I read Jesus’ command in Mark 12:30, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength,” I knew that I wanted to study the bible so that I could learn more about the surprising kindness of the God who cares deeply about us. Studying theology became a way for me to understand and appreciate the various characteristics of God; a way to know God better. But it also had an unexpected effect on me. Studying the bible constantly caused me to pause, in both wonder and adoration, at God’s relentless faithfulness to people. Studying the Scriptures became fuel for my worship. It wasn’t until much later in my journey that I

discovered that this is exactly how God planned it. There is a necessary relationship to the theology that we hold and the worship to God that we give. Theology shapes and informs our worship of God. All authentic worship of God assumes a theology. But I wish to go further and suggest that theology itself is a form of worship. Listen to what Jesus says in John’s gospel: John 4:23-24 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” Every time we declare truth about God, it is an act of worship. In the verbal and, ethical, individual and communal proclamation of the truth about who God is and what God has done for humanity, we are engaged in acts of worship. John’s gospel is itself a testimony and reflection on the truth about the identity of God revealed in Jesus through the revelatory agency of the Spirit to the community gathered to worship and encounter God. John’s gospel is thus a declaration of worship, enticing those who hear to enter

into communion with God. The vivid cellency of the divine nature (to echo metaphors employed throughout are the words of Jonathan Edwards). possibly strongest in the sections of Theology continually reminds us how John 6 where hearers are instructed to magnificent Jesus is, how wonderful feast on the very body of Jesus, a feast it is to know and encounter the Spirit, of intimacy with God. However, that and what a joy it is to know the Father. intimacy is developed and maintained Stating that God is loving, saving, through reflection about Jesus re- healing and compassionate is in sync vealed throughout John’s gospel and with the truth of the Scriptural revelaJesus’ teaching. There is therefore a tion, and thus reaffirms the character dynamic interplay between theology of God which is thus an act of worship and worship throughout the gospel itself. Study of the scriptures inspires that invites those with ears to hear to and shapes our worship of the God come and taste and see that the Lord is who is worthy. The outcome of such good. As N. T. Wright has perceptively study should be an act of worship. As noted, “When you begin to glimpse the J. I. Packer has stated, “Theology is reality of God, the natural reaction is for doxology; that is, the praise of God to worship him. Not to have that reac- and the practice of godliness.” There tion is a fairly sure sign that you hav- is therefore a dynamic interplay been’t yet really understood who he is or tween theology and worship. Theolwhat he’s done.”1 ogy not only inspires worship, but is Declaring truths about God which itself an act of worship. This worship are faithful and in sync with the Scrip- causes us to further reflect on the God tural revelation, are themselves an act who is worthy of our worship, and thus of worship to the One who is worthy of inspires further theological reflection. our attention, affection and allegiance. The very act of theology must be an act Dr Sean du Toit (PhD) is the of worship because God is no object to New Testament lecturer at be studied but rather as humble sub- Alphacrucis (www.acnz.ac.nz ), jects we contemplate the supreme ex- a Pentecostal training college in New Zealand and Australia. 1 N. T. Wright, Simply Christian, (New York: HarperCollins, 2006), 123.

COULD YOU LIVE WITHOUT A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD? CAN YOU SPARE $10? IT’S TO HELP US TRANSPORT ROOFING MATERIALS AND OTHER AID TO 200 VILLAGERS WHOSE HOMES WERE BLASTED LAST MONTH IN THE UKRAINE WAR? They’re very poor, cold and alone – and forgotten. We want to show them God cares about them!

Ukraine Emergency Appeal

Any additional funds raised will be used to support our wider work with the people of Ukraine

You can donate online or by phone with your credit card: mwb.org.nz 0800 469 269 nzadmin@mwbi.org

Taking help and the Good News to the poor of Eastern Europe Reg. Charity No. CC37218

Read daily Christian news at www.mychristiandaily.co.nz | 13

PROGRAMME GUIDE April 2017

Watch Shine on Freeview 25 / SKY 201 Online shinetv.co.nz 5:00 6:00 6:30 7:00

May you and your loved ones know God’s love and hope this Easter. From the Shine team

Details correct at time of printing at the beginning of April. Regular programming may be replaced by Easter features. For up-to-date 24-hour listings and programme information go to shinetv.co.nz

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Living Truth: Charles Price

In Touch: Charles Stanley

Living Truth: Charles Price

Turning Point: Dr David Jeremiah

Lakewood Church: Joel Osteen

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Lakewood Church: Joel Osteen

Hour of Power: Robert Schuller

Life Questions / Kingdom Connection

5:00

Hillsong Kids

6:00

Quick Study with Ron Hembree (Mon-Fri) Unlocking the Bible: David Pawson

Leading the Way: Michael Youssef

Kingdom Connection: Jentezen Franklin

Derek Prince

Harvest TV Rotorua: Dave and Jill Moore

Superbook Season 3 NEW

6:30

Hillsong Kids: Cubbyhouse

Captain Chuckleberry NEW

Superbook Season 3 NEW

Hillsong Kids: Cubbyhouse

Paul the Little Missionary

Captain Chuckleberry NEW

7:00

Jovis Bon Hovis

Friends and Heroes

Paul the Little Missionary

Captain Chuckleberry NEW

Superbook Season 3 NEW

Paul the Little Missionary

7:30

Hour of Power: Robert Schuller

8:00

Harvest TV Rotorua: Dave and Jill Moore

Blello TV / Theo: Teaching God’s Word

Hillsong Kids: A Big Life

Jovis Bon Hovis

Super Simple Science Stuff NEW

Hillsong Kids: A Big Life

Jovis Bon Hovis

8:00

8:30

Running with Fire: Tak Bhana

Impact for Life: Peter & Bev Mortlock

Word For You: Terry & Jayne Calkin

LIFE TV: Paul de Jong

Running with Fire: Tak Bhana

Life Questions: Jeff Vines

Super Simple Science Stuff NEW