Break Free • 8-9
PK Events re-engineered for a fresh focus and even better results
Tama Tane Malosi -
Refreshed & Released •5 Ministry with Men New Pastors’ Conference Webinars •7
Mighty Men of Valour • 3 First ever Samoan Language Event and Breakout
New Webinars launched
Brian France During Hitler’s fire-bombing blitz on London during World War II my family were bombed out of their home and they moved to a council estate in Dagenham, where I was born. Down the road lived Twiggy, the world famous fashion model, and round the corner was the comedian Dudley Moore. Terry Venables, who became a well known football manager, was “one of the boys”. My family were not Christians and I grew up being told that “seeing is believing”. So anything relating to God or the supernatural was not part of our worldview. Some years later when I became a Christian, it never dawned on me that the Bible was telling me something quite different. I assumed that when Jesus walked on water there must have been a sand bar under His feet.
When He fed the 5,000, the loaves and fishes must have provoked the people to get out their sandwiches. When He restored sight to the blind, well, I never worked that one out and I never thought the day would come when I would receive a miracle. I was serving as a Platoon Commander in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s during the time of the “Troubles” when the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was endeavouring by force of terrorism to have the six Northern Counties reunited with the rest of Ireland. Two-thirds of the people didn’t want reunification and so the terrorism with its bombings, snipers, petrol bombs, sectarian murders, kneecappings and bloodshed continued. The Royal Air Force Regiment had been deployed in Northern Ireland as part of the peacekeeping forces for some years and this was my third tour of duty there.
I was now responsible for the security of the Walled City of Londonderry. It was early March, the weather was cold and damp, but I felt no sympathy for my men who were on the streets providing mobile and standing patrols. They searched cars and pedestrians alike, looking for weapons and explosives, whilst all the time running the risk of sniper fire, petrol bombs and stonethrowing mobs. They were on duty twelve to fourteen hours a day in all weathers and stoically did everything that was asked of them. Saturday morning dawned fine and clear. The city was in the process of coming to life, shops were starting to open, people were beginning to move around, and then the bombs started to explode. By the time the third bomb had detonated and three buildings had been destroyed, leaving a number of casualties, I realised the IRA were targeting my sector and were looking to give us a real Continued on page 4
2
MEN OF ACTION
From Paul’s Desk 2012. The year of new initiatives for Promise Keepers! We live in a constantly changing world. To remain strong and relevant, as a ministry we need to adjust to that change. After 18 years of Promise Keepers in New Zealand, as a Board we felt it was time for a complete and extensive review of everything we do and how we do it to ensure we remain relevant and effective for the future. It was a case of not merely fine tuning the engine but rebuilding the car from the ground up! This process was both challenging and exciting. As a result we have seen multiple new initiatives start and develop. A number of these new initiatives are revealed and explained in this issue of Men of Action. For some years we have been urged to hold a Samoanspeaking Promise Keepers Event so that language did not become a barrier to Samoan men who struggle with English. This year we are holding the inaugural Tama Tane Malosi (Mighty Men of Valour) Event in Auckland. If you know any Samoan men - this is their time, this is their Event! This year, not only will we have a separate Refreshed & Released pastors’ ministry breakout at each Event, but we have also held a Refreshed & Released pastors’ conference for the first time. We believe it is crucial to do whatever we can to assist pastors, as they are at the forefront of the spiritual battle and need all the support and encouragement that we can give. The desire to support pastors was at the heart of this conference. It has been absolutely amazing to see the results achieved through developments in Coaching since November 2011 which are now reflected in the new Men’s Ministry webinar series. You can read more about this on page 7. The results from the first series have been profound and highly significant. The next webinar series will be held in October. Put the dates in your Men’s Ministry calendar now! Finally, dramatic changes have been made to the format of the Promise Keepers Break Free Events this year. It is always difficult to change something that has been so effective and successful in the past. However as we looked ahead to the next five years, we felt it was important to focus on building the impact and
effectiveness of these Events, and of course the relevance to the next generation. Considerable thought, effort and prayer have gone into these changes which will be evident from the first Event in Christchurch from 24-25 August. If you have friends who haven’t been or haven’t been for a while, why not invite them to come with you to experience God in a new and fresh way? Our vision and purpose and remain clear: to see men transformed throughout New Zealand, and indeed the world, through the power of God. God bless Paul Subritzky National Director
THE 7 PROMISES OF A PROMISE KEEPER A Promise Keeper is committed to...
1
Honouring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.
2
Pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.
3 4 5
Practicing spiritual, moral, ethical and sexual purity.
6
Reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.
7
Influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Building strong marriages and families through love, protection, and biblical values. Supporting the mission of his church by honouring and praying for his pastor and by actively giving his time and resources.
>> E v a n g e l i s e .
Plumbline for Life In today’s world more technological information than at history. Unfortunately information overload divert us, leading us to
we have access to toys giving us more any other time in this technology and can distract and live superficial lives.
What is our purpose in How do we live lives that influence and impact? God’s Word is a lamp to our path. It is our GPS. don’t switch this GPS on or With the busyness of want a quick reference to keep them on track as challenging culture, so that preserve their spiritual powerful legacy for the next This is the purpose of the Keeper. They are designed to plumbline for every area of These promises help on the most important our relationships. Firstly, God, then our family and us. We cannot afford to fail as failure affects not only near and dear to us. The 7 to examine our hearts and necessary to preserve those is vitally important, as it and ultimately determines We believe God is looking who do what they say they the 7 Promises reminds us be men of our word, men of The reward is a worthy example and model a man after God’s own we have been called to be those words “well done servant”. You can be that man. Look on the 7 Promises of a plumbline for your life. establish what needs to be then you can go on to fulfil
life? Where are we going? leave a lasting legacy of to our feet and a light Unfortunately, we often load in a destination! today’s life, many men guideline for living, they walk through a they can protect and destiny and leave a generation. 7 Promises of a Promise provide a quick reference a man’s life. keep us focussed foundations for our life, our relationship with ultimately those around at these relationships, our own lives but those Promises encourage us make the adjustments relationships. Our heart reveals our motivations our actions. for faithful men, men will do. The guideline of as men to be faithful, to integrity. meaningful life, being a of what it means to be heart, fulfilling all that and ultimately hearing good and faithful Why not start today? a Promise Keeper as Evaluate where you are, adjusted and live it out your purpose and destiny.
How?
Holistic poverty relief through Debt Counselling: CAP partners with local churches to reach into their communities and into the lives of the poor and the marginalised on their doorstep. Your church can be empowered and equipped to tackle one of the greatest issues in New Zealand society today by partnering with CAP to run a free debt counselling service for the community. Through a wide range of specialised financial services, personal support and ongoing education, to date 70 kiwi families have been set free from the burden of unmanageable debt, and 1 4 9 people have received salvation in Christ.
Our simple Money Management course: CAP Money is a revolutionary money management course that teaches people how to build and balance a budget, then how to implement it with a simple, cash-based money management system that really works. Presented by volunteers from your church, this three session course is for congregations who want to empower everyday people in their community to fight poverty before it hits. LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL CHURCH CAP PARTNERSHIPS AT ONE OF OUR UPCOMING BREAKFAST EVENTS:
· Palmerston North – 22nd June · Dunedin – 28th June · Auckland – 26th July
Spaces limited, bookings essential. Email info@capnz.org to register your interest.
To partner with CAP contact: Partnership & Communications info@capnz.org | 09 270 0334| www.capnz.org
MEN OF ACTION
3
Auckland 27-28 July 2012
O le Promise Keepers o se faalapotopotoga ua lauiloa I le lalolagi I galuega fesoasoani mo le itupa o alii ina ia avea I latou o ni tama tane malolosi I le itu faaleaiga, faaleagaga, galuega, aemaise o ekalesia. While hundreds of Samoans have been able to participate in Promise Keepers Events over the last 18 years, Samoan-speaking men have not been able to access the transformational messages, and experience what Promise Keepers offers men. Every year throughout New Zealand thousands of men come together at the Events, which are held in the main cities, where they are given many skills and biblical principles to help them become godly husbands and great leaders in the family. This year, from 27-28 July, Promise Keepers will be hosting its first conference in the Samoan language. Pastor Tavale Matai’a and Pastor Lui Ponifasio, who are members of the PKNZ Board, are spearheading this exciting
initiative. Many of the Samoan speakers, musicians and singers who have been on the platform at Events will now be leading Tama Tane Malosi in their own language. The special Promise Keepers dynamic of bringing men together from many different churches and denominations for a masculine event will be part of Tama Tane Malosi. Currently the PKNZ Board is working closely together with many other Samoan pastors and churches right across Auckland to help build up men in their respective churches to be mighty men of valour and integrity. Please encourage any Samoan men you know to be involved in this unique event.
Speakers include: Tavale Matai’a, Iliafi Esera, Kuki Aloalii and Lui Ponifasio.
O le taua o le mafuta o alii o se avanoa lelei e faailoa atu ai i tama e mafai ona iai se suiga lelei o lona aiga I le va ma lona toalua aemaise o le fanau. One of the greatest things about men getting together is that it provides an opportunity for men to realise they can make a change in their lives that will impact their family, especially the relationship with their wife. Pastor Faasoo Auvaa
O koneferenisi e pei o le Promise Keepers o se tapenaga e faamalosia ma unaina ai alii ma tane ina ia savavali mo le Atua. E ese le lagona e te maua mai ai, e le pei o se sauniga lotu. Events like Promise Keepers are great to encourage men to keep walking for God. It is very different from a church setting and it is encouraging to see all those men worshipping God. P Wilson
This is really smart assistance Rob Harley, well known TV doco & film maker. Sixty bucks ($60) to Langham Preaching puts a Study Bible in the hands of a young preacher in Asia or the Pacific. One hundred and twenty bucks ($120) adds a one volume whole Bible commentary to help the young preacher understand and apply the biblical message. See insert in this publication for how you can respond
a ministry of
Po Box 68208, newton, auckland 1145 Ph: 09 376 5190 www.leadev-langham.org
Tavale’s Vision
There have been many requests to have a Promise Keepers Event in the Samoan language. Pastor Tavale Matai’a is involved because he says, “This Event will help us work together across the denominations and be unifying for men.” Tavale has seen the benefits of Promise Keepers to him as a leader and to his ministry. The resources for Ministry with Men have also been a benefit. “The issues men face are addressed at PK. There are also cultural issues, for example, it is not a Samoan thing for a man to say to his wife, ‘I love you’. Appreciating and honouring women is a very healthy thing coming out of this forum,” Tavale says. Tavale expects many positive outcomes for every church represented at the Events. Often the women are at the forefront of church projects but the men are in the background not really contributing. Promise Keepers helps men to realise that they need to take responsibility and help the church. Also the area of discipleship is important. Promise Keepers also involves the different generations. Tavale believes when the older men become enthusiastic, that captivates the younger generation and gets them involved.
E faapefea ona avea au o se tama lelei ma se toalua lelei. E faapea ona ou tausia ma aoaoina si au fanau i ni auala lelei. E faapefea ona ou tuuina atu se taimi e faaalu i lou toalua ma lau fanau. Ia avea au o se tama e tausi ma faamaoni i lana upu ma ana folafolaga fai i lona aiga. How to be a good husband and father. How to be creative in raising my children. How to pay attention to my wife and kids. To be a man of his word – integrity. J Aiga
4
MEN OF ACTION
Is Seeing Believing? pasting. As these bombs continued to explode, houses and shops were damaged or destroyed and people were killed or injured. By the time we got to bomb number five, we were really into the swing of it. As unexploded bombs were discovered, my men cordoned off the area and called the Bomb Disposal Squad. In dealing with the aftermath of bomb explosions they did what they could for the injured and kept people from entering damaged buildings. I was alerted to unexploded bomb number six by a radio message from our control room through the radio receiver in my right ear. My senior sergeant and I made our way to where we were told it was located. Taking a short cut through a line of terraced shops and houses and entering a bakery by the back door, I found myself in an empty room about four metres square. In front of me was a counter and I was looking out through the front windows of the bakery at a line of terraced houses set at 90 degrees to where I was standing. The front doors of these houses opened directly onto the street, and every door was ajar with a person’s head peering around it, apparently looking at me. It took a second or two for me to realise that what they were actually looking at was the shop I was standing in, waiting for a bomb that had been planted to explode. I turned to my left and was going to shout “get out” to my senior sergeant who was coming in behind me. I never quite spoke those words, as at that instant an estimated fifteen pounds of high explosive went off a metre behind me. In a flash, my entire world was dominated by the exploding bomb, as the sound of it momentarily became my whole existence. The detonation completely demolished the room I was in, stripping the linings off the walls, bringing down the ceiling and blasting a large hole in the floor. It picked me up in its destructive grip, endeavouring to destroy me as it hurled me out the front of the bakery, along with a mass of debris. The force of the blast threw me about eight metres from where I had been standing and I found myself lying on the road at the front of the shop with bricks, smashed wooden beams and a mass of rubble around and over me. The front doors of the houses now opened and people came out towards me. I knew I was badly injured and one of two things was about to happen. If these people now coming towards me were IRA sympathisers they would complete the work the bomb had started. If
Continued from page 1
not, they would offer assistance; it was a 50/50 chance. Thankfully they picked me up and I was draped over the shoulders of two burly Irishmen who took me to one of our Standing Patrols some distance down the street. My men applied field dressings to the worst of my injuries and called an ambulance which took both me and my senior sergeant to the Londonderry General Hospital. Fortunately I was wearing a flak jacket made up of laminated layers of fibreglass with a green nylon cover. The jacket’s function was to protect my vital organs of heart, lungs,
kidneys etc. That’s exactly what it did. The nylon outer covering was vaporised by the explosion and the back and sides of the jacket were impregnated with pieces of steel, wood and concrete flak that the bomb had unleashed at me. Undoubtedly the jacket saved my life, and had I not been wearing it, the outcome would have been very different. The end result of being blown up was that I was
“umm”, “well I never!” and “is that so?” being my major contributions. I refused a wheelchair and did all I could to get my legs functioning again. One sunny day I was shopping in Darfield and bumped into a small group of Christian street evangelists, who on discovering I was deaf, asked if they could pray for my hearing. Don’t forget, I was brought up with the understanding that “seeing is believing” - but I figured that I couldn’t hear now, so they couldn’t do me any harm. I’d let them give it a go. I went with them to a nearby house, into the lounge, where they sat me in a chair and prayed for my hearing to be restored. Absolutely nothing happened and I went to bed that night as deaf as I had ever been. However, in the morning I was awakened by the ticking of a small electric clock that sat on my bedside table. I leapt out of bed with incredible relief, realising that I could hear and the deafness nightmare was over. This was a lifetransforming moment. God’s healing power had restored the damage the explosion had caused and it changed my life. I went from being largely unemployable, depressed, nonproductive and feeling useless, to suddenly having a full life again, apart from my legs which only functioned with considerable pain. A week or so later, I was again shopping in Darfield and bumped into the same group of Christians. I told them of my healing and thanked them profusely for praying for me. They jumped around shouting “Hallelujah!” and “Praise the Lord!” We chatted for a few minutes and were about to part when I had a sudden thought. They had prayed for my hearing and it had been restored, what if they were to pray for the pain in my legs? They enthusiastically agreed to do this and took me to the same house, into the same room and sat me in the same chair. Placing their hands upon my legs they asked the Lord Jesus to remove the pain. As they prayed I felt the pain drain down my legs and out of my feet. I have had no pain in my legs since. God really got my attention that day, and I realised that the “seeing is believing” worldview on which I had been brought up was false. I now realised that what the Bible says is true, that “believing is seeing”. If we want to minister in miracles, we must first accept that God is a supernatural God of miracles, just like the Bible says.
The detonation completely demolished the room I was in invalided out of the RAF with no hearing, and legs that didn’t work properly because they were full of shrapnel. Walking was painful, with hundreds of tiny pieces of metal in my muscles, knees and ankle joints. My hearing was so bad as to be non-existent. When I asked to have hearing aids I was told, “Sorry fella, you don’t have enough hearing to amplify; they’ll do you no good. So get used to being profoundly deaf. That’s how you’re going to spend your life”. I came to New Zealand and for three years lip-read and guessed my way through conversations with
Subscribe to Challenge Weekly NTH ! ONLY $10 PER MStayOinformed with Christian news
Pass on Challenge to family & friends
SUBSCRIBE NOW! Phone 09 361 6710 or visit our website
www.challengeweekly.co.nz
PHOTOS: Belfast, Charles TANKBOY Knight
Brian France is the Coaching Director for PKNZ. His passion is to see the men of New Zealand encouraged and inspired to become the men that God designed them to be, reaching their full potential in Christ Jesus. Brian will be speaking at this year’s Break Free Events.
MEN OF ACTION
Refreshed & Released ministry to pastors is an ongoing Promise Keepers initiative. It follows the first pastors’ conference in June 2012. At Break Free there will be Refreshed & Released pastors’ breakouts which will be focused on care and personal ministry for pastors. Geoff Wiklund has a heart to see pastors who are struggling healed, and to bring a spark of encouragement to their ministry. Refreshed & Released will give tools to encourage and equip pastors. It will be a time to grow together and come to a great place in God. Geoff says, “Refreshed & Released is designed to
Pastors on stage being prayed for by the men at Promise Keepers. Pastors standing for prayer at Promise Keepers.
5
“There will be plenty of time to share and get ideas from others attending. There will be opportunity for you to ask questions and interact, as well as times of prayer as we seek God together and also receive prayer. I will give you some keys that I have learned that will encourage you and help you win the battle, and see your church grow stronger.” Key Benefits: • Fellowship with other pastors • Personal ministry • A touch from God to help you in difficult situations • Healing and restoration • Resources
assist you as the pastor to be more effective in your role. As I minister in many churches and speak with other pastors at events, I see that many pastors find their role is no longer enjoyable. I want to address some of the problems we pastors face. More than half our number do not continue in the ministry. Pastors who attended Refreshed & Released Pastors’ Conference commented… This time has been significant. Giving out, dealing with people/issues is draining. Having time to sit under good, easy to listen to, solid teaching strengthened by personal experiences has been very encouraging. The style, openness and honesty of how things were presented was excellent. Thanks for sharing the years of knowledge. Andrew Time of prophecy, prayer and encouragement absolutely amazing. I have never experienced this before. Anon Thank you for the initiative and heart to put this together. Personally I have benefited,
feeling strengthened and encouraged. Also the aspect of getting alongside others in leadership and sharing with each other has great value. Steve The PK Refreshed & Released Conference has been a very beneficial and impacting event for me personally. God has used it to re-vision and encourage my ministry in a powerful way. I recommend it to any minister as a catalyst tool to revitalise, refresh and refocus on the things that will enhance your personal, family and ministry life in God. Dave
“...So that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
PK Promise #5
A Promise Keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honouring and praying for his pastor and by actively giving his time and resources.
Acts 3:19
6
MEN OF ACTION
Field Reps Promise Keepers Field Representatives have proven ability in succeeding in Ministry with Men. They are all volunteers with diverse life and career experience, who are committed to seeing growth in Ministry with Men and are willing to share from their experience.
Gary Fursdon – Field Rep
Coaching
A Positive Way Forward for Men’s Ministry
The All Blacks are world champions, and it is their coach who made the difference. Without a skilled coach they could have been also-rans. World champions don’t just happen; they are made through world-class coaching. Do you want your Men’s Ministry team to be winners, just like the All Blacks? Then get the best Coach available. Promise Keepers can offer your Men’s Ministry a powerful dynamic where experienced Coaches come alongside pastors, Men’s Ministry leaders and their teams. At a modest cost Promise Keepers will provide a valuable service of advice and encouragement. This will put in place a strong foundation and ongoing support. “Coaching is one of the best investments our church has ever made. The step-by-step advice I have received so far has been amazing. Why reinvent the wheel of Men’s Ministry when Promise Keepers already leads the way?” Peter Coaching is designed to bring a strategic focus that will develop and grow a church’s Men’s Ministry, helping to give it structure, direction and a godly underpinning. The Coach is also a facilitator and sounding board for suggestions and ideas on an ongoing basis. Men are not interested in failure, they want to be successful. Men are challenge-driven; they want to rise up and conquer the challenges, achieving the goals that have been set. The Coach can help meet the challenges and help strategise the way forward so that men can succeed. The greater the challenge, the higher men will rise to overcome the obstacles. A single man alone can only achieve so much, but
when men are working together as a team and going in the same direction they can achieve so much more. “Before we had Promise Keepers Coaching we found that as a team we weren’t heading in one direction... Now the whole team has a single focus. We have synergy amongst the members and we are heading in the same direction.” Wayne Promise Keepers’ survey results reveal that the greatest desire of men in the church today is to grow spiritually. The desire is there, but in many churches the process is not. Sometimes there is no structure available to develop men’s spirituality or to grow men into leaders. Men want the revelations of Christianity to propel them forward spiritually. This will enable them to grow into the mature men of God they were designed to be. Coaching will help to ensure that ongoing spiritual growth is the norm for your Men’s Ministry. Men’s Ministry leaders usually have great enthusiasm and drive. They may not have a lot of experience in building and leading a team or in organising the planning meetings that are needed to strategically grow a Men’s Ministry. Coaching can help ensure that the administrative side of the ministry is well structured and goal-orientated. Once a church decides on Coaching, a contract is established and regular contact initiated. The cost of the Coaching is met in part by the church with the balance subsidised by Promise Keepers. To g e t s t a r t e d , o r f o r m o r e information contact Brian at Promise Keepers on 0800 PROMISE (776647) or brianf@promisekeepers.org.nz
Promise Keepers has been at the core of me coming back to Christ. I went to the Event in 1997 [The Making of a Godly Man] when it was at the Walter Nash Stadium. Ever since then there has been something about it that has hooked me and really it has been central to my growth as a man of God. For that reason I very seriously believe in the concept of Field Reps, because there is someone out in the regions who can be a link or a linchpin for local churches to get in touch with regarding Men’s Ministry. It means that there is not that delay in waiting for someone to help out or give advice, or just to bounce ideas off, because that is what we can do. We can come in wherever you are at; we can add value to what you are doing. The whole idea is to build men for Christ. It’s not about building ministries - it’s about building men so that they can reach men for Christ. I live in Upper Hutt. I was born in Auckland and my parents moved down to Maungaraki in Lower Hutt before I was a year old. I first met Jesus Christ through my friends. They took me along to a Boys Rally, which is a Brethren organisation, and at the age of 12 I gave my life to Christ at one of their regional camps. Unfortunately, when I was 20 I walked away and didn’t walk with Him for another 17 years. In 1997 I gave my heart back to Christ. At the church we are in at the moment, I’m leading the Men’s Ministry. We are following the guidelines from Promise Keepers. We have been working on that for just on two years now, so it’s starting to grow, it’s starting to build. Gary is a Field Rep for Promise Keepers, based in the lower North Island. He has been the manager of a supermarket for 24 years and is happily married with two children, three stepchildren and four grandchildren.
You can help us save a life Mission Aviation Fellowship services 2000 airstrips supporting 1000 organisations with 130 aircraft in 30 countries worldwide
MA F NZ Flying for Life
Be part of this vital, life-saving work www.mafnz.org.nz 0800 87 85 88
FlyingWhere forflLife ying is not a luxury but a lifeline
MEN OF ACTION
7
Creative use of web boosts course participation nationwide Over the last couple of months Promise Keepers has run an amazing Men’s Ministry course via webinar. This type of web seminar is broadcast via the internet so it can be viewed from any computer, whether at home or at church. It is an ideal set up for Men’s Ministry teams to participate as groups. Comments and feedback were given and received from Promise Keepers and participants. Participants contributed ideas via the chat function. These ideas were monitored and discussed from the studio and feedback was given by the Promise Keepers team. Some questions were also answered by other participants via the chat text box, which quickly grew a sense of community. Men nationwide were all in the same conversation. Selected groups from Kaitaia to Gore were also brought in to the webinar via Skype video so that all the viewers could see a typical Men’s Ministry team discussing the course questions with the presenters in the studio. “REALLY appreciated the webinar. A fantastic way to get the info and contacts.” Karl, CityLife Christian Centre Many pastors and Men’s Ministry leaders are looking for the key that will unlock an enthusiastic and vibrant Men’s Ministry. Statistics show that as a Men’s Ministry grows, so does the church, with 93% of new Christian men bringing their families into the life of their church. This expands the church’s resources, both skill-wise and financially. The webinar course equips men with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully promote and run a dynamic and power-filled Men’s Ministry.
“The webinar transformed the church leaders’ thinking and elevated Men’s Ministry to a recognised status, including giving us a budget. Thrilled with how it’s going.” Damien, Bethlehem Baptist The webinar topics have been carefully thought through to provide a foundation upon which to build an effective and powerful Men’s Ministry. The webinar starts with the concept of creating a compelling vision and an effective strategy that links the Men’s Ministry’s activities together. This enables the momentum from events to be captured, so it does not dissipate as sometimes happens. The aim is for Men’s Ministry to involve all the men of the church, encouraging them to participate in this vital part of church life. Having one man head up a Men’s Ministry is a recipe for failure. The webinar sets out the importance of a team and explains why having a cohesive team is so important. “...the team are really on board with their roles... [Men’s Ministry leaders’] workload reduced.” Damien, Bethlehem Baptist “[The group dynamic] has initiated new thoughts and directions.” Bill, Spreydon Baptist To maximise the effect of the webinar, it is best to gather as many men as possible and have them participate in the webinar as a group. Groups can watch the webinar on a large TV screen or use a data projector. This way group interaction can happen, ideas are brainstormed, the men can process information together and discuss how to apply it. Promise Keepers has kept the cost of the webinar to a low $99 per church for all four sessions. These can be viewed as many times as necessary by all the men in your group. To register for the next webinar phone the Promise Keepers office on 0800 PROMISE (776647) or go to www. promisekeepers.org.nz to the online shop.
Live in studio with green screen.
Next webinar series: Tues 16 October, 30 October, 13 November, 27 November “[Promise Keepers] did SUCH a good job. I am most impressed with [the] knowledge, tact and encouragement.” Karl, CityLife Christian Centre “Men’s Ministry on Wednesday night showed a huge positive shift.” Wayne, Leeston New Life “Overall impression... incredibly professional. Very well produced. More than the content per se, it has inspired me to think big.” Michael, Elim Christian Centre - South
Get connected, get empowered, get online
Courageous Resources for courageous men Why do we hate going to Church? $24.99 $19.99
Fast-paced fiction/ parable for men. $19.99
FREE DVD tract! Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a Godhonouring way? That’s courageous. $29.99 DVD + FREE DVD TRACT while stocks last.
Honor Begins At Home Small Group Kit $99.99 Member Book $14.99 Courageous Church Campaign Kit $79.99
Courageous Living Bible Study Kit $49.99 Member Book $14.99
Courageous Living Learning from courageous men of the Bible. $19.99
The Resolution An encouraging message for fathers. $24.99
Ask in-store for bulk rates
Available from your local Manna Christian Store: Whangarei Henderson Greenlane Manukau Hamilton Hawkes Bay Palmerston North Wellington Hutt City Porirua Nelson Christchurch Dunedin Invercargill Gore
FREEPHONE 0508 4 MANNA
Getting balance back into your life. $26.99 $19.99
Ready for a spiritual transformation? $29.99 $19.99
manna.co.nz
PRICES VALID TILL AUGUST 11TH, 2012, WHILE STOCKS LAST
8
MEN OF ACTION
A dramatic change of venue will give the Break Free 2012 Promise Keepers Event in Auckland a different look and feel, as well as opening up a range of new opportunities. Moving to the Victory Convention Centre brings Promise Keepers close to Westhaven and the vibrant new Wynyard Quarter. The Victory Convention Centre has just undergone a multi-million dollar redevelopment and upgrade as part of the Victoria Park tunnel project. New side rooms overlooking Westhaven have been added as well as a cafe area, outdoor decks, plaza and new church offices. A new 300 space secure car parking building is in place. National Director Paul Subritzky says, “Promise Keepers had a great experience at Telstra Pacific Stadium, but we expect to be able to deliver a better overall Event at the Victory Convention Centre”.
Key features include: • Same seating capacity as Telstra Pacific (in excess of 2,700) • All seats are now forward facing and upholstered. • Good onsite parking capacity at the same cost as previous venue. Many other commercial parking sites nearby as well as street parking. Detailed parking information will be available before the Event. • There are many recreational facilities in the adjacent area including Westhaven, Silo Park, Wynyard Quarter, Viaduct Basin and Victoria Park (including an excellent skate park). • Many local food options as well as outdoor space to self cater. • Located in Central Auckland on SH1 Northern Motorway with good transport connections.
The Promise Keepers Break Free Event will build and strengthen a church’s Men’s Ministry in a number of ways. To start with, although the Event itself is totally organised for you, attendance at the Event has to be motivated and organised at a local church level.
Accommodation is another issue that needs to be considered for those travelling from out of town. For some men, a sleeping bag at the local church hall or the arrangement of billets will suffice. For others it will be a motel unit. It’s valuable and worth some effort to ensure that your men travel as a Group in one vehicle, if possible. This encourages men to interact and express to each other what they expect to receive from the Event, and discuss action points and highlights on their return.
This is a great opportunity to get your Men’s Ministry team functioning. They will need to consider the challenge of how to get a Group of men to the Event and then gain the most benefit from it. This is a great team-building activity. Once team members are involved they will develop their own organisational skills and appreciate the effectiveness of the team. This expertise can then be used for future Men’s Ministry events. The team needs to encourage as many men as possible to register for the Event to create maximum momentum on their return. Remember, it’s no use telling a man something once. Most of us need to see and hear information half a dozen times before we act on it. Attending the Event costs money. In today’s financial climate most of us are short of discretionary money. Why not start a fund now that is designed to subsidise the men of your church who genuinely cannot afford the full registration fee? This builds a sense of brotherhood and unity. This funding concept can also be used to invite men who are outside your church and for whom your men have been praying.
It projects them into the world of men in a way that no other event can Once there, make sure your Group sits together, eats together and stays together during the Event. This is an opportunity for pastors and Men’s Ministry leaders to be with their men for a good period of time. The Promise Keepers Event is the highlight of the year for many men. It’s a time when they are inspired and receive some great teaching. It projects them into the world of men in a way that no other event can. It engages them in concepts and encourages them to consider issues that they would not normally consider. The Event produces enthusiasm, motivation and a
• One of the largest church auditoriums in Auckland with outstanding architectural design and acoustics. In-house technical facilities almost eliminate the hiring in of sound, lighting, projection and staging. The change of venue is one way that Promise Keepers is responding more flexibly to a changing environment while maximising great outcomes for attendees.
desire to do something more. So use the momentum that the Event generates to maximum effect - it is too valuable to be wasted. To capture this momentum and prevent all the effort being dissipated, a range of postEvent activities should be offered. These will need to be planned beforehand. The Event will have bonded men together, so new Men’s Small Groups are a real possibility, whether they are open or closed. Check out resources for Men’s Ministry at the Event. There are also very good courses that can be offered – e.g. Winning at Work & Home, Quest for Authentic Manhood and Valiant Man. A men’s breakfast, seminar or camp are examples of follow-up opportunities that can also draw in even more men, including those who didn’t go to Promise Keepers. Promise Keepers Events can be used as an annual reinvigoration of your Ministry with Men, setting it up for a strong finish for the year and a platform for growth for the next year. So enjoy the Event and use it as a very real part of the structure that can help to build your Men’s Ministry. Coaching is also available to assist with a customised step-by-step approach to building your Men’s Ministry. Field Representatives are here to assist you to achieve results. There are also extensive free resources and howto information sheets available at www.promisekeepers. org.nz or call 0800 PROMISE (776647).
MEN OF ACTION
Powerful new changes have been developed by the program team to bring a fresh dynamic to the Break Free Events in 2012. Some of the many changes include... • Keynote and specialist speakers - This year will feature some keynote speakers and lots of shorter segments with specialist speakers. • Group interaction - There will be an emphasis on processing the concepts in groups through discussion and prayer. • Live guest appearances - Some experts will be interviewed live from their home bases around the world. The technical team will be busier than ever
bringing you live segments and gripping videos as well as the usual quality sound and lighting. Slice of life dramas and worship will be as awesome and impacting as ever. Break Free will continue to have the essential DNA of Promise Keepers at its core – large Events that equip and empower men through the transforming power of Jesus. The masculine spiritual experience will be as important as ever, and the way the Event is experienced will be enhanced. The team is excited about the potential of this new format where the whole experience adds up to so much more than just the individual components. You are invited to be part of Promise Keepers re-engineered for 2012!
Break Free Men’s Events CHC 24-25 August | WLG 14-15 September | AKL 5-6 October
Breakouts
Speakers include… Mike Connell
Men experience many challenges at different life stages. It’s not often that you find events specifically designed to equip men to capitalise on the opportunities and experience freedom. That’s why Promise Keepers puts so much energy into these specialised breakouts – because all men are important. These breakouts focus on men’s God-given potential and how to realise it.
Mike always brings biblical truth, fresh revelation and remarkable experience to Promise Keepers. His teaching style is a great balance of humour, compassion and truth. Be ready to find new freedom in Mike’s message.
Transition
A man with a lot of experience, especially in music and education, Richard has risen up to lead the Nelson Diocese. He brings to Promise Keepers great humility, honesty and humour as he leads men with his unique gifting.
Bishop Richard Ellena
Young men 11-17 years Saturday afternoon This is the time in your life when you are becoming your own man and making decisions that will shape who you become. You are leaving the familiar comfort zone and overcoming the issues that confront you as you pursue your God-given destiny and dreams.
Tom O’Neil
“The youth elective, Transition, had some really inspirational speakers that have truly spoken wisdom into my life.” Levi
Tom’s vast experience in helping people reach their full potential, find career solutions and achieve their goals will impact men at Break Free to find their path to greater freedom. To m i s e n e r g e t i c a n d inspirational.
Stance Young men 18-30 years Saturday afternoon This is a critical time in every young man’s life. A time of major decisions, with an impact that will last a lifetime and determine your future. Stance will help guide you in making wise decisions to give you confidence in your direction and fulfil your purpose in life. “[Stance] changed me and I know I could feel God talking to me... and from then I knew that I was here for a purpose.” Funaki
See Break Free brochure and website for more speakers and updates.
Find Freedom Together at Promise Keepers! Make Break Free a rallying point for the men in your church!
Refreshed & Released Pastors & Men’s Ministry Leaders Saturday morning Geoff Wiklund has a heart to see pastors who are struggling healed, and to bring encouragement to them. This Refreshed & Released pastors’ breakout will be a time to grow together and come to a great place in God. This will be a short sampling of the full Refreshed & Released Conferences which will be held in November 2012. “Highlight – ministry to pastors by Geoff Wiklund in the morning on Saturday.” Steve
Go together to Promise Keepers and reap the benefits of long lasting friendships. Travelling together, spending time together and processing Break Free together will be an unforgettable experience that reignites your passion and vision. Bring the enthusiasm back to your church from Promise Keepers. That excitement could build the Men’s Ministry and launch more Men’s Small Groups! Get a Group together and really enjoy your experience Breaking Free! Ideas and resources to help you organise your Group are available on the Promise Keepers website.
T h a n k Yo u P r o m i s e K e e p e r s appreciates the support of the advertisers which has made the production of this newspaper viable. Please support these advertisers and mention that you saw their promotion in Men of Action.
Men of Action published by Promise Keepers NZ PO Box 48123 Blockhouse Bay, Auckland 0644 Ph: 09 627 0101 Email: pk@promisekeepers.org.nz Editor: John Subritzky
Editorial Assistant: Brenda Forrest Advertising: Ray Curle, Christian Media Services Ph: 09 281 4896 Design: Alistair Craig, SeriousMed.com Ph: 03 455 9144, nzgodzone@xtra.co.nz Print: Gisborne Herald Circulation: 32,000
9
PROMISE KEEPERS REGISTRATION FORM 2012
One form per registration please. Photocopy for additional forms
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY ID No (from your mailing label if available): ___|___|___|___|___|___ First Name:_____________________ Surname:_______________________ Address:________________________________________________________ Suburb:_________________________________________________________ City/Town:__________________________________ Postcode:___________ Phone wk: (
)________________ Phone hm: (
)___________________
Mobile:__________________________________________________________ Email:___________________________________________________________ Full name of Church attended (if any): _________________________________________________________________ If you are on our mailing list please provide your previous address if this has changed within the last 12 months: Address:________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ PLEASE REGISTER ME FOR:
r r r
Christchurch 24-25 Aug 2012 Wellington 14-15 Sep 2012 Auckland 5-6 Oct 2012
I WISH TO ATTEND: rFull Event rFull Event + Transition
rTransition Only
NB: If attending as part of a Group please provide Group/Leader names. Group Name:____________________________________________________ Group Leader’s Name:___________________________________________ Event Fee: (see schedule / dates) Reg. Disc: rSuper rEarly Reg. Type: Reg. Rate:
rIndividual rAdult
rFull
rGroup rStudent
rPastor
$__________
My gift to help Promise Keepers reach more men: $__________
I AM PAYING BY: rCheque rVisa rMastercard
Total:
$__________
Name on card:___________________________________________________ Card No:
__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__
Expiry Date:
___|___
Signature:___________________________
Post or fax to: Promise Keepers, PO Box 163083, Lynfield Auckland 1443 | Fax 09 627 3526
CHRISTCHURCH
WELLINGTON
24-25 August
14-15 September
5-6 October
La Vida Centre 34a Hansons Lane Christchurch
Lane Park 16 Lane Street Upper Hutt
Victory Convention Centre 98 Beaumont Street Auckland City
EVENT FEES SCHEDULE
AUCKLAND
ADULT
ADULT
STUDENT
Super Discount (8 wks prior) Christchurch [Mon 16 July] Wellington [Mon 23 July] Auckland [Mon 13 August]
$84.00
$79.00
$59.00
Early Discount (3 wks prior) Christchurch [Mon 6 August] Wellington [Mon 27 August] Auckland [Mon 17 September]
$89.00
$84.00
$64.00
Full Rate
$94.00
$89.00
$69.00
Transition
$20.00
$15.00
Individual
Group
Full Event
$49.00
Vocational Pastors’ Rate
$35.00
Partial Attendance Rate [Fri pm] [Sat am] [Sat pm]
Per Break
REGISTRATION OPTIONS: 1.
Register online at www.promisekeepers.org.nz This reduces processing costs for Promise Keepers.
2. Fax your registration with credit card details to 09 627 3526. 3. Post your registration with a cheque or credit card details. Note: Registration wristband may not be swapped/shared with another person during Event.
For help with Group registrations ph 0800 PROMISE. Go to the website for updates and terms & conditions. Promise Keepers PO Box 163083 Lynfield Auckland 1443 Ph: 0800 PROMISE (0800 776647) Break Free QR Code
www.promisekeepers.org.nz
10
MEN OF ACTION
In 2003, Aron Ralston was hiking in the Utah Canyons. He was caught in a rock fall and had his right arm pinned by an 800-pound boulder. After five days of agonising pain and after running out of water, he realised his chances of survival were bleak. Aron chose to free himself by amputating his arm with a pocket-knife, and then began hiking to safety. After surviving the ordeal, he told his parents there were four possibilities: he could wait to be found by someone, he could try to move the boulder with his climbing gear, he could chip away at the rock, or he could cut off his right forearm with a pocket-knife. To Aron, the
fifth alternative – dying – was not on the list. Your dreams and ambitions will die if you choose to stay where you are! This is the important point highlighted by Aron’s plight. This was also my own experience in South Africa. Waiting for a client to arrive for a meeting at a car dealership one day, I suddenly found myself surrounded by four thugs brandishing firearms, who demanded cash from me. Life becomes pretty sobering when you are staring down the barrel of a 357 Magnum revolver! Thank God, passersby noticed what was happening and intervened to scare them off. I was able to walk away from that horrifying ordeal unscathed; however the incident shook me up and, in a drastic way, caused me to take stock of my life. This was a major deciding point for my future direction in life. I had to make the painful choice to ‘cut away’ from my comfort zone in order to follow God’s call. Yes, I was making a lot of money at the time, but our lives were more precious. So, still reeling from posttraumatic stress, we decided to sell up and move to New Zealand in 2000. However, not everything went according to my plan.
Before leaving South Africa, I had sold my prospering business as a financial advisor. I was hoping to live off the interest from the sale whilst I studied full time as a teacher in Auckland. Unfortunately the purchasers didn’t pay me, resulting in me standing to lose a lot of money if I remained in New Zealand instead of returning to fight for my money. I sought God for His direction as I knew He had led us to make the move to the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’. I believe that He laid these words on my heart that led me to remain, “Whatever I have blessed you with in South Africa, forget it, as I will bless you anew.” My first job in New Zealand, after owning my own business and living a luxurious lifestyle in South Africa, was working at Burger King. Not as a manager or in any senior position but starting off at the bottom doing the ‘graveyard’ shift: cleaning the toilets and floors, and eventually moving into the kitchen to prepare food. But I knew as a child of God that my worth was not determined by the job that I did! I progressed from there and began packing shelves as a night filler, also doing ‘graveyard’ hours, all whilst I studied full time as a teacher. I questioned God in prayer as to what His purpose for me in New Zealand was, seeing that I had been well off in South Africa and could have served Him effectively
Life becomes pretty sobering when you are staring down the barrel of a 357 Magnum revolver!
MEN OF ACTION
11
Myan Subrayan there with my lucrative business. God responded and laid these words on my heart, “I am going to take you from the pit to the palace, like I did for Joseph.” These words went on to inspire a new era and change in my life. They also became the title for my first book, From the Pit to the Palace, based largely on the life of Joseph, who was well known as the ‘dreamer’. Joseph also had to break free in order for his dream to live. He did this by forgiving his brothers who threw him into a pit and sold him off as a slave. One of the major reasons Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him was because of a certain fine coat that their father Jacob had given him. The first thing his brothers did was strip him of that coat. Joseph’s clothing got him in trouble again when he was in Egypt. Potiphar’s wife became enraged at Joseph for refusing to commit adultery with her. She grabbed his coat and held on to it as false evidence, claiming that he had tried to take advantage of her. What is so significant about Joseph being stripped of his garments? In both instances, Joseph did not hold on to them, but chose to let them go. In both instances the loss of the garments signalled a change in Joseph’s life because God was actually preparing him for new beginnings. As Joseph’s story further unfolds in Genesis 41:14, he is summoned from prison to appear before Pharaoh and given a new set of clothes – part of his transformation from slave to royal advisor. And then, having interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph is clothed in “fine linen” by Pharaoh himself. Joseph’s diligence and obedience to God were rewarded. His brothers could keep his old coat; Potiphar’s wife could have his old garment – because God had provided something much better – royal robes! I like what George Mueller says about this, “Our heavenly Father never takes anything from His children unless He means to give them something better.” I learnt from this that there will be times in our lives when God allows things to be cut away, like
what I was experiencing with the sale of my business falling apart. If we don’t cut free from our past we can sabotage the great plans God has for us in the future. Understanding how God had worked in Joseph’s life despite the loss and humiliation he suffered, also broke the chains of unforgiveness, bitterness and failure I had endured. These could so easily have prevented me from receiving the greater things that God had in store for me. Had I chosen to return to South Africa earlier I could I have missed His calling for my life. Through sharing my dramatic experience and writing a book about it, God has opened doors for me to minister in churches throughout New Zealand, to speak at Promise Keepers Events, and to write several books. Through writing former All Black Inga Tuigamala’s autobiography, Inga: My Story, I had the opportunity to get to know
If we don’t cut free from our past we can sabotage the great plans God has for us in the future the South African Bulls rugby team, travelling and sharing Bible devotions with them, during their Super Rugby 2010 and 2011 tours of New Zealand. In September 2011, I also wrote Springbok Pierre Spies’ autobiography, More Than Rugby, which resulted in me becoming friends with the Springbok team during the 2011 World Cup and sharing devotions with them. It was God who opened these doors to a whole new world of opportunities for me. If I had not followed God’s leading to New Zealand none of this would have been possible. When I grew up during the apartheid era in South Africa, rugby was followed and played by mainly white people and certainly not Indians. I only became interested in rugby when I arrived in New Zealand.
Stay connected to the Promise Keepers Team online! We are clocking up the hours online every week building the Promise Keepers community.
YOUTUBE, GODTUBE and VIMEO host many of our top videos. Enjoy the best of Promise Keepers on these sites. With more videos than ever coming out of our studio, you can find some powerful videos. Become a subscriber to be notified as new videos are posted.
You can see frequent updates and join the conversation with us on Facebook. All the interesting things we find and do get shared with you there. There are links, from the funny to just awesome, as well as some giveaways and prizes - so call past and “like” Promise Keepers NZ.
EMAIL NEWS
News and updates in your inbox. Easy to follow links to more information about events in your area and topics relevant to men. Subscribe now and go into our prize draw! (See page 13 for details.)
We also despised speaking Afrikaans, which we were forced to learn at school, and referred to it as the ‘language of the oppressor’ and rugby was the ‘sport of the oppressor’. However, a change came over me in New Zealand. Whenever I met a fellow South African I would speak Afrikaans and also talk about rugby and the progress of the Super Rugby and Tri Nations. Now I am uniquely placed, as an Afrikaansspeaking Indian who is mad on rugby, to minister in Afrikaans churches in South Africa. God took rugby and Afrikaans - two things that I had previously despised and which had worked against me - and He turned them around to work for good in my life. Sound familiar? This is the valuable lesson I learned from Joseph, that no matter what harm is committed against me, God can turn it around for good to accomplish His plan for my life (Genesis 50:20). When I decided to quit walking around carrying the burdens of my past hurts, setbacks and failures, I cut them off and moved on by coming to Jesus and laying them down at His feet. The power of God was released in my life when I chose to forgive. If we don’t forgive, we may be causing ourselves more harm than we think and preventing ourselves from reaching the greater things God has in store for us. “When you forgive you set a prisoner free, but then you discover that the real prisoner was yourself.” Breaking free may be just what is needed to kickstart or revive past dreams and the destiny that God has for you in the future! This worked for Aron Ralston, and was certainly successful for Joseph. It also transformed my life, and I believe that it can transform yours as well.
Myan has been a speaker and MC at Promise Keepers, and is the author of books on rugby icons Inga Tuigamala and Pierre Spies. Excerpts in this article are taken from his books From the Pit to the Palace and You Can. www.hope2overcome.org
WWW.PROMISEKEEPERS.ORG.NZ We spend about a day each week updating content on our website. This is your go-to place for event information and resources. • Events: All the details you need are here. As new events are added, all the relevant information goes online. • Men’s Ministry: Comprehensive resources are right here. Whether you want ideas, courses, Coaching or specific information like starting and running Men’s Small Groups, this should be your first place to explore. • Resources: As well as the large number of free resources on the website, there are also many items available for sale from the online shop. • Get Involved: Info and links to the multiple ways that you can be involved with Promise Keepers. From volunteering and prayer, to financial support, the options are here for you to consider. • About PK: Learn more about what makes Promise Keepers tick.
12
MEN OF ACTION
Every Church Should Have One Open Men’s Groups Crucial for Men One Open Men’s Group that meets weekly at 6.30am each Friday is even more important and relevant today than it was when it began 18 years ago. It has an average of 18-20 men attending. In the men’s own words, here are some of its key strengths: • Unity – men experience true biblical unity and camaraderie as they grow relationally and spiritually together. • An Open Men’s Group is less threatening - you are not forced to participate until you feel comfortable. • Men are like icebergs. Most of their emotions, thoughts and feelings are submerged beneath the surface of their lives. Men’s Groups provide a safe environment for openness and vulnerability where these issues can be brought to the surface and worked through. Confidentiality is the cornerstone for openness and trust. • With the different ages and levels of experience there is tremendous corporate wisdom and advice available. As you give and receive you can learn together. • Develops character through persistence, leadership through experience and example and understanding through knowledge of God’s Word and how to apply it. • Diversity of cultures and backgrounds are understood, appreciated and valued. • Topics change each week, creating a sense of anticipation and a vibrant dynamic. Also, if you miss a week you don’t lose out. • Men’s needs are met. You have brothers who will stand faithfully with you through your circumstances. “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.” Mark 2:3 • Open Men’s Groups equip and encourage men to be focussed, fuelled and armed for ministry and mission. For example – a large variety of missions and ministries are supported, including marriage, care for the aged, healing and prayer rooms, missionaries in China and Tibet and Promise Keepers.
Crucial for the Church An Open Men’s Group is a vital resource that every church needs. Men want to know that the church has something relevant for them. They want to feel part of the church, and an Open Men’s Group is a non-threatening way to connect them easily to the church and allow both new and existing men to build friendships with others.
Benefits… • Connects new men entering the church and gives them a platform to build lasting relationships with men already in the church.
A Men’s Group is the only place where everyday issues facing men are addressed on a regular basis • Closes the back door of the church. As relationship builds in an Open Men’s Group, so does loyalty and faithfulness to the church. The friendships built can be the glue that holds men in the church. • Core for Men’s Ministry activities. Because groups are meeting on a regular basis, they become a powerhouse and foundation for Men’s Ministry in the church. • Continued prayer and support for men with ongoing needs. Sometimes one-off prayer is all that is needed for healing and restoration. However on many occasions ongoing prayer is necessary, for example - for work, family or financial issues or physical healing. • Creates leaders for the church. Open Men’s Groups allow you to identify the giftings, abilities and interests that men have. They also reveal character – ie
whether they will do what they say they will do, their teachability and faithfulness. • Captures momentum from Men’s Ministry events held in the church and prevents the ups and downs that often plague Men’s Ministries. If the men attend an event, there are often things they need to work on afterwards. An Open Men’s Group gives them the forum to dig deeper, ask questions, and receive advice, encouragement and wisdom. • Catapults men into the missions and ministries of the church, often assisting with muchneeded resources. Both new and existing ministries are supported, equipped and developed. • Critical mass for evangelism. Men reach men. As men become victorious in areas of their lives they want to share that victory with others. Often an Open Men’s Group is a less threatening place for an unchurched man to come along to than a Sunday service. • Concern for marriages and families, along with valuable advice given by men who have “been there, done that”. • Community works. Open Men’s Groups often form a core workforce – they are a pool for resources, both financial and material. All those skills are in the room together.
Seven times faster! The number one desire of Christian men is to grow spiritually.*
In a small group, men will grow spiritually up to seven times faster than they will in any other setting, including attending Sunday services, important though that is. This is because: • Men learn by asking questions and can’t do this in a church service. • In a Men’s Small Group men ask questions they’re too embarrassed to raise in any other forum. • Men learn how apply what they have learned as they process information. • A Men’s Group is the only place where everyday issues facing men are addressed on a regular basis. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 *Promise Keepers NZ national church surveys 2007-2012
Trades or Handy people, D.I.Y’ers Use your practical skills to serve the Christian community!
We are a volunteer mission committed to providing building and maintenance assistance to Christian groups, including missions, camps, schools and churches - To learn how to get involved part time or full time, contact us or send for our free promo DVD…. MMM New Zealand
1 Kane Street Pirongia 3802 Ph: 07 871 9161 Email: mmmnz@mmm.org.nz Web: www.mmm.org.nz
Real Mission with the NZ Church Missionary Society
www.nzcms.org.nz
MEN OF ACTION
13
Tom O’Neil
Breaking free from unsuccessful patterns by setting achievable goals Imagine if Noah decided not to build the Ark or if Moses thought he was just too busy to lead the Israelites from Egypt… Thankfully this is not the case, as the Bible is a history of godly men and women working hard to fulfil the destiny He has laid out for them. “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)
• What sort of job would I love to do right now if I could walk into any role? • What further training or qualifications do I need to attain? • Can I do these part-time while I am employed? Praying through these questions, seeking God in His word and getting wise counsel from godly friends, family
establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps.
•R your life.
ELEVANT - Your goals must be relevant for Therefore remember that each goal can be refined or even deleted as your life changes.
•Ttime frame. With no time frame tied to it there’s IMELY - A goal should be grounded within a
no sense of urgency.
Good SMART goals include:
Sadly most people spend more time planning an overseas holiday or buying a used car than they do planning their life and career. God wants us to have a firm vision, plan and purpose for our lives, rooted deeply in His will. To be a true man of destiny, it’s very important to have a clear understanding of what your God-led short and long-term goals are. As well as this, if you clearly understand your long-term goals, your short-term choices and decisions will be easier to make.
• Lose 10kgs within the next ten weeks. • Pay off personal loan of $6,000 within 3 years – ($38.50 a week). Bad SMART goals include: • Lose some weight and get fit • Get out of debt A good way to get started is to make a list of the key areas of your life (for example faith, health, family, fun, career, financial security etc.) Once you have a list of the key areas and drivers in your life, write down the short, medium and long-term goals you can put into place, to live out the vision God has for you!
Three steps to setting and reaching your goals
1.
Seeking God’s plans for your life through prayer, reading the Bible and wise counsel
God wants us to fulfil our potential in every area of our lives. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 Questions to pray about and ask yourself include: LONG TERM • Where do I ultimately want to be in my life, spiritually, professionally and personally? Get specific in where you would like to be in twenty years’ time in terms of your family, ministry and career. • What are 100 things you want to do/have/achieve before you ‘kick the bucket’? (i.e. your ‘bucket list’).
and church leaders will help you understand what your gifts are and where you should be heading in the future.
2.
Diligently planning your short, medium and long-term steps in light of His revelation
Once you feel you have some good direction in terms of where you want to start taking your life, it’s vital to focus on putting pen to paper and creating ‘SMART’ goals. ‘SMART’ goals help you create tangible plans that you can measure, ensuring you stay on the path to success. A well written goal should have the following components:
CAREER/PASSION
•Schance of being accomplished than a general goal.
• What are my strengths and what do I do well? To help you answer this, ask ten family members and friends to give you honest feedback.
•M
• What are my weaknesses and what sort of things do I struggle with? Again, ask your family and friends for their honest thoughts.
•A you set when you plan your steps wisely and
3.
Following up those plans with practical action, continually praying and seeking God’s direction as you progress
Once you have set your goals, take action towards achieving them as soon as possible. As well as this, keep submitting them to God, making sure He is the one who is guiding your paths and lighting your way. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 As Promise Keepers we want to be godly men of destiny. Take some time today to seek God about His plans for your life, spend time making your goals, then get started changing the world for Christ!
PECIFIC - A specific goal has a much greater
WIN
EASURABLE - Establish solid criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. TTAINABLE - You can attain almost any goal
one of 7 Prize Packages valued at over $370 each!
Promise Keepers emails out key information and alerts for men and churches about news and events in your area. Email is our most regular and cost-effective means of communication, as the cost of postage continues to rise. Your email address is important to help us keep in contact with you. To encourage you to give us your current email address we’re offering this awesome incentive! Simply give us (or update) your email address to go in the draw to win one of 7 Prize Packages. To enter, fill out the Response Form on page 14.
Package includes: • One-year subscription to WiseChoices (value: $120) • Two tickets to Break Free 2012 Event (value: up to $188) • Break Free Event DVD set (value: $45) • Break Free T-shirt (value: $20)
As well as being an enthusiastic supporter of Promise Keepers, Tom O’Neil is an international author and motivational speaker, and consultant on personal and career achievement to TVNZ and The NZ Herald. Tom will be speaking at this year’s Break Free Events.
AchievementExpert.com
Communication Breakthrough
March 2012
By Jim Hurn
The Ho Purposely Spirit & Powe r got
We are not born with the ability to communicate well. It is a learned skill. Many are brought up in homes where they never see or hear good communication in action, so they don’t learn how. In some homes communication means “shout louder”. Without a When we communicate we are generally February 2012doubt role models are needed to assist learning. conveying two things: what are the facts I have and how we feel about a situation. experienced The Five C’s of Communication Spirit do dramatic and seen the As men we can be very good at me a firm things Holy By Steve conviction . That has given conveying information, even if we God in 1. Be Correct – Have all the facts before you open your mouth. Berger April 2012 of the my reality don’t always do so well at receiving God, I could life. Even if I of never deny ran away from and applying those facts. We receive it known.can understand 2. Be Clear – Be understandable. Use enough words so people yourtruths the missions through filters of our own perspective, I have hrist’s final meaning. is overseas I have got to our minds worldview, education and experience. of God. But By Mark Beale comes His strate command is the kingdom desperately to the stage to so oftenAwhat local actually self-centred man might be thinking vital our is mission, in ries about Church. gic perspective need physicof life where 3. Be Concise – Everyone is busy so keep what you say brief and to the point. And being walk of the gospel only about how the information applies I Over the most days When we think The work of these missiona for mission weeks I al exerci es. for the have bump ries. work me up last couple the He [Jesus assembled togeth guidelin andto him personally considering criticalof and missiona the street on a loop that se. I “Hey, tell ] commanded ed ce to think certaininstead er with follow importan throug to 4. Be Complete – As far as possible, think through all aspects of the issue at hand before takes , them, me what into people and of from Jerusa down need equal the perspective of the communicator. h the them not it is of a was – what in this we said, Jesus’ final lem, ns he says, “Iyou speak. via anoth bush to the coast,steep path, to depar Philippia be effective will hit His response might with a thereply to to command of the Father but to wait for in the context. To letterbe Jesus gave? was the last comm then back nothing, you the Promi t the harboer track. A spot heard from , “which,” He story ofInhisPaul’s own. to be happy, always happy If you aim at andment ” And peopl t world se s. give our lives ur has overlo mind, said, significan you happines Goals a that where oking e rush want “you have is your I can Green, 5. Be Courteous – Be careful with your body language, tone and volume. becom with water, Me; for John I pause it every time. whatisI want Canon Michael a mission at our church Men listening to women the biggestto everyone: you know, see the Bible through their truly baptis I repeat immediately and talk withe the place direction. Bringing but you the Holy pages turnin held this Lord; purpose and be evident Saviour God. Almos ed the Holy . Duringcommunication challenge. We are evangelist, it love one and somebody need to download Spirit not shall be baptis to Christ as your tolerance t Spirit ed with There isis no says, “Well g, Therefore, There t to Let , South Auckland importan other people we have to be many days looking for the facts. something veryIf near. pray is a process that takes place in and lovingthat is person gives me a in Clendon another. another?” No, it “It is that you need all from now.” the Lord is al, reassu wasn’t love was they asked when they had And then communication: Firstly there is the said to me, it is we anything also means want to offer and your minds meanswrong important . This has therea issolution ring mission he rest of come intentional. fill become worry; but if it itches”. This the critical the gospe they go throug one this time Him, saying, “Lord, together, source, which is the person who is prepared and fix the problem. dear friends as well as to me as I traver really that nd g scratch where and Finally h restor ls, the it… will You then for e the kingd we understa moun And He is true, everythin desiring to communicate. The message this in The Lord’s Prayerthe has 56tainto words se life’s valleys thatwife at said to to Matth they come important that where we Iserve. been doing have slowly learnt thatg my wants ps. good and ispure, My 11-yea them, “It om to Israel?” communities that we then with everythin ew chapt the information they are wanting to Mark Beale has As well g thattois me and is not for r-old Address 28. “There t issues in the to communicate her feelings er for many years. been honour,share noble, everythin son Isaachas 266 Lincoln’s me aGettysburg is importan and is you it , love and this may contain illustrations, know couple many ways tively that’s we has to has been that in the hope that I gcan understand her virtuous or times or construc go into of times. As churches it a church, he June 2012 recently seasons thought all at how we can When we symbols, words or images that will which light Sheeverythin as planting he said, in the better. wants to knowcould that be I am on ity projects The Ten 297stoppwith preach the the world, pray and work the withCommandments “Thishave everything that Phil 4:4-9 ERV ed g these issues God!” is where Father has put help convey their meaning. Thirdly, involved in commun her side, that together we are a team. If you make discipgospel and and organise assist in addressin if God had After we pause of praise.” in His worthy The US Declaration of Independence d, I asked talk authority. there is the medium used to deliver the own to control graffiti s in the Park les, THAT’ I don’t listen empathetically and really hesitation said anything the last of gospel truths. him But S for 23 years to him. Witho comm Isaac receive power you shall message try tous understand whereinshe iscommun comingity an annual Christma a regular horrendo was – ie writing, speaking, texting, 300 hasthat Jesus, right? and of byme Derek lived the ut he had just told is also Having thePrince in 2008, four from, then she does notthat feelthis thatimage I haveof violence Holy Spirit when the a gang Skyping. event and he message in the downloaded It’s the end of of God. In Clendon ity as a Lastly there is the recipient. It is Mark has seen has come Holiness is a unique attribute was aware heard and defensiveof walls the gospequarrelling or disagreement that is within upon a Iheart, the communimportant ButThe a Price Control Order in the! United murders occurred ity her prison visitor. leave first and what else felt it for the person communicating you; and unrelated the commun a Christian, ls, power to avoid. The writer of Hebrews lastcabbages our God has many other attributes—such not a true reflectionpassage in mindtoI consider start alongconcerning 200m States couldasthere shall This raised for Because thego up. you the personality andas attitude leader become his church. of to the this of contained be?” MOREwe my walkand power—which community. Often men we struggle issues same stretch join to help the my with love, wisdom can here also issues a very solemn warning. Me be witnesses to whole, so with of feeling safe. ! Way way out, the the gang and of theand recipient of the message and for in in Jerusa for the church good That, a nutshell,importan is the true t importance more! of road. are 26,911 easy May 2012 us serious issue that we seemake as causing to be separate I’m lookin street lem, and understand some extent by reference He says we will not see the Lord unless we all Judea media it was of listening what was it relevant to them, as they have the task scape of of Jesus out of was g uphill to On and communicating Here’s ity focus on well. nature of today’s housesto people from God. In some way, weback don’t feel and Sama in rate the effect way to be blown midst. atthings become partakers of His holiness. or in the natural realm their commun the a in demonst and tragedies and ity we peace, God ria, deal: Jesus’ Trust, joy and intimacy depend on us If of decoding it. by cars. On to the wasn’t But issue of these people in the commun is downh “good enough”. Holiness goes I’m to gratef the ul that goodness of characterised my in the that these holiness see the the ill! But points as men and wholeheartedly and scripture expresses God’s earth.” Acts end of the important todisplay consider in attributes. as awillingly in us – a life gospels. A final to others, last stretch commthat to His discip that Two labelled I’m really about perspective heart of this. and Jesus’ ty and service 1:4-8 thecommunication: has no parallel in the natural; it is les unique. view is were being going the extra mile and listening well. this we set all appre forcomm holiness inJesus’ His people is 1 joy, generosi bywhen Tavale Matai’a was desirefinal attractive final comm ciative Harbo I’ve got To achieve felt that they ity. I soon discovered and to ur. It nourisout across see in us an world’s largest book of John defined holiness toas “perfectin the theWesley and Thessalonians “For this will of waitisinthe Manukau used to people will Acts,4:3: brilliantthe command tell you this tonigh Jerusalem to His disciples violent commun in other parts ofThis newsletter has some making and the We need to constantly focus on WE ourhes - 25,000 words can be 1. WHAT SAYmylove”. soul. However, I prefer to define holiness God, your of soup Our walk t, the was sanctification”. What, is UNTIL the lifestyle. Then Holyprecisely, hope. ForgivenessI visited people bowl was a commotion among thewith young is not something we do for advice In early 2003 older brother, Matai’a Pili, Therethis to help usmy all do better. word is is comm and not sugge Spirit happe withtime relationship God and invest label baptism reason for our Godmouth aswith a combination God’s righteousness stion. The and and Holy To make had to have that this and our “Lord, fill my worthwhile of comm explain the of Spirit ned men of our family behind thethat. mainThis meeting passed away in Samoa. He waslitres. a paramount others, we New do itZealand for ourselves so that not sanctification? word is view should not be and out of r me simila Bless your communications! and in direct of eyes. I baptism to them. They reaking bowl the chiefs into love. Love you tothe come; option. The before they“tothecause stuff nudge when I’vethe said invites in and ion in their werebut sitting chief in our village, Sato’alepai.record-b My younger fale where we can get was well and forward.ifNot way of the Holy real move Any verb ending word isin -ify means we are truest sense This is the – it’s duty from crossour desire to know Himlookin arighteousness are walkin we needed youJesus are unfit told them went to preach enough!” Spirit ly asked of the word. g in. When the says that of soup commto to become” legged on the hard concrete floor. Thenatural youngpower brother, Tom, and I decided to travel to Samoa of forgiving someone is allowing a person goftogeth that which comes before it... want that the gospe many was frequent better. The outcome that er with we is this built-in come. There tension inanding His peopl preach the in Matthew 28 July 2012 of l. He wear ainflak the we involvement meninwere the loaded inlifted for the funeral. you don’t like to live to rent-free your What say has four God kindsinof the words: command to get in your Sanctify Holy means “to make sanct”. Sanct and the ready to attack gospeisl. the I needed friendship is truck to leave sinbeyon behind. This Spirit on the goal! es heart. Jesus’ e. I do that myself ourholiness. But He said, Mark 16, go is found eyes Keep your eye large businessrevenge. d our chiefs intervenedmatte Christianity, head! as saint... words - sanctify, WAIT, finalAll three in thesame jacket to protect around is not performance-based be or it is not “go “Befor by Rob Stacey as well asFortunately the •perspe Attackcircum words - “youcan never” becau r ity of stance book to e you happe commun s. It’s a of Acts them to be patient andwe waithave for their While the funeral service was in progress and toldFor ctive. saint, holy - are from n one basicse something the gospe into all the world when I walked These where our ‘shopping list’ of “you always”. – derived In this day and age it is easy to think that all we need can be found on the internet. Just be effecti to you before local people. needs ity. A Characteristic of God’sl,”People many with in the church, a pickup truck loaded These are two I read preach communquotes Greekand word hagios, meaning ve. holy. Very you can go our going but it is in fact thepowerful months sins to overcome. When we fail there, ofcommand. mensuper wantnatura action.You Their natural the other need Clendon period and day for instance, I grabbed my iPad, went on to YouTube and looked up “how to whatYoung Defence - “areWord you tells sure us that holinessand is topreach be simply, people, food and ie-toga (fine mats a– the most recently. Repentance andof forgiveness makes therefore, sanctification is “the to be impressions l powe attention the danger is feeling like a• failure as wordsGod’s effect large and is to go out and conquer the filled change ive. of God. ing the desire withbrake pads”. Sure enough, up came a step-by-step video on how to change brake you’re right?” ora “Icharacteristic don’t like the of the people creating keys proceeded valuable artefact in the Samoanpeople’s culture), Meanwhile are incredibly to gospe process of making holy”.do supernaturar before you wereimportant d fromthe visiting family a Christian andwith becoming somehow l make in can go world and makesense? a difference. l work.” pads, made by none other than those people who write the old school Haines manuals distracte people sound of that”. Consider Hebrews 12:9–10: “Furthermore, was truck s for their ifoga. They chose their most paramount pulled up in front of our fale. In the experiencing the love of God and being problem Doesn’t cars. Brilliant! I had those puppies done in an hour and saved myself about $100. violence Thus, we can He accurately translate 1 disqualified. And h and that didn’t sugge He commandedfor the fear of we have had human fathers who corrected Thessalonians 4:3, “For of self-wort matai nt to be were three matai (Samoan chiefs/orators) able to express love to others. It’s a John Subritzky of covered by a huge ie-toga as he terms this is the st.will was them, Churchesancan harness this energy by He of the exciteme option didn’t f. This wellness us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not God, that was kneeling on the sand about tenwe metres from the village of Sataua, threetoelderly choice between wholeness, ”. Hethat self-belie you be madeadults holy... each of to say, “This If instead are focusing on our didn’t over 12,000 do that giving young Now is once upon a time, guys like me would of the fathers of faith, to the adults (or say, gospel opportunities “itch feeding “You much more readily be in subjection to the in front of the meeting house. The sun was women and three beautiful young girls. One and blessing – and bitterness, illness and urgent free, work in John an you should know how to possess hishuma own relationship with God, we will want to with g”. John andNo to take Part of can go have andhad a father or uncle or grandfather probably more precisely, the males) to pass matteresponsibility. scratchin people Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for vessel inlead down at noonday. outside Subrit of the women was the estranged wife of my beating soup loneliness. Yet people themselves r condition zkyespecially neededcurse sanctification [a of n fleshly effort” be with The like-minded people, how veggie equipping process is mentoring have had you or me under the on the foundations of a spiritual legacy and good healthy the church . your markewho would was never a few days chastened us as seemed best to holiness]the 31°C, men. so underneath deceased brother, and the three girls were my temperature when they say,How “I could forgive part of awas aboutother is, no and honour”. contains A natural outcome is to live a young men inThis allverse life issues. car, greased up, pulling these out together. heritage that will form the very heart and matter Men - and being them, but He [God] for our profit, that we may a common the fine mat it was extremely hot. Heothers, could not contention. how good ting nieces. that person”. in its mission with gifting might phrase in modern English: in peace with to be your to be honest, I would have preferred foundation of a life lived with God. mentoring men. especially be, if there And anoinThey be partakers of His holiness.” not see anything from his position and he gospel of hope this “know how. ” Ittotakes scriptural and want know how ting toknow-how be successful not as a young guy. The problem is, like authority isthat gifting of turning was totally at the mercyThe of quality of holiness is lived out Understandably, Jesus said, “If you forgive the sins of a part God’s desire is that we may partake of His to achieve from Heave a condition of holiness. on your financially, relationally spiritually. so many young guys today, my dad wasn’t Keep these words that I am commanding going n, then to produand the estranged any, they are forgiven around? them; if you holiness. Verse 14 of Hebrews 12 adds, A person’s in our lives as righteousness and ce.earthen vessel his body—the This is a isgreat opportunity for men it’s not around. My uncles were all losers and my you today in your heart. Recite them to your It might John Subritzky wife and retain the sins of any, they are retained.” sound “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, vessel ofwho integrity. The real test of this is how the human spirit. in Many Christians are mature years, experience good, granddad children and talk about them when you are at � died before I was born. especially the (John 20:23) It seems to me that when without which no one will see the Lord.” you handle adversity and respond speak asor if the were evil— faithbody as we cansomething have a life-changing home and when you are away, when you lie daughters you are offended, unless you forgive when others create problems for you. First, we are to pursue holiness—we are to something to be ashamed of. Thegeneration. body is influence on the younger Learning how to do something with down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign wanted to the person, then you are the one who People can see integrity in us, that we make it an objective. not evil, it is good. It is one of the supreme care and a skilled hand comes through on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your express their retains the hurt. It is a wise idea to keep are reflecting Christ to them. of God’s gives creativeangenius. Rob Stacey excellent relationship. Something other than forehead, and write them on the doorposts of Second, to achieve holiness, we must achievements last farewell to short accounts. Go and see a person “I am fearfully and wonderfully overview of mentoring and the expertise is passed on when a mentor your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy pursue peace with all people. We are to David said, my brother. But who has offended you and try to sort it 139:14). He viewed compelling reasons to dohis it. body My friend shows you how to do something. You gain 6:6-9 attempt to live peaceably, not allowing made” (Psalm there was a huge out. Forgive them. Don’t let the sun go with aweOwen and wonder. Mansill �explains the impact of a respect for the finer details. You learn why, problem. The wife down on your wrath (Eph 4:26) is a good mentoring as he has been mentored not just how. You sense a passion for the A spiritual legacy starts in the home and is had committed standard to aim for, especially with and is now mentoring others. craft and you gain a generational hand-me- passed on through parents who live lives adultery two years those people closest to you. John Subritzky down which stitches you into the fabric of saturated by the Word of God and the life previously and The affliction of fatherlessness that manhood. Jesus portrayed. Research tells us that she had left my May you know His peace every day. is washing over our society can be when it comes to direction and values for brother secretly, changed by mentoring. Spiritual However it’s one thing to pass on practical life, our kids – and especially our teenagers taking with her the shallowness can be addressed by skills to young men, but what about the – look first to the example and role of us three daughters. mentoring. Most older men have spiritual legacy we can pass on from one as parents (and our boys, to us as fathers). Therefore, under John Subritzky something to offer others. generation to the next? If that role isn’t filled by a faithful and no circumstances courageous male role model in the home should she be How can you use your experience, In the book of Deuteronomy we have this they will look elsewhere to fill that void. � my family. This chief setting foot again in talents and spiritual understanding to amazing encouragement from Moses, one could have been the father of the guilty our village, because guide others? woman and he was practically offering
rld ing Your Wo
There’s
Reach
to be pur
pose & pow er
C
God Makes Us Holy
You nee d to with sup be filled ern power bef atural ore can go and you do supernatu ral work
Partakers of His Holiness
Freedom Through Forgiveness “Ifoga” – Seeking Forgiveness
Transforming men!
Tran
sfor min
g men !
First, we are to pursue holiness— we are to make it an objective.
she had shamed my brother and my family. Traditionally, her only hope of being accepted again by my family was through the Samoan cultural practice called ifoga. But even that is no guarantee of any reconciliation between her and my family.
himself up as a sacrifice on behalf of his daughter, seeking forgiveness from my family. While he was shaking with fear underneath the ie-toga, the chiefs of my family were deciding his fate - either to let him live or
Transforming men!
�
Transforming men! John Subritzky
14
MEN OF ACTION
What a blessing! Volunteering at PK Fay Hansen Last year I was asked if I would be able to commit some time to helping co-ordinate hospitality for the volunteers at the Promise Keepers Event in October. A couple of major attractions for me were that it was volunteer work, it was for Promise Keepers, and it was moving in an area that would reveal the glory of God. I was not disappointed. I have been reliably told that the blessing, worship, healing and miracles fell upon many men who had faithfully answered the call upon their hearts to come to this weekend Event. I set out by ringing the list of volunteers who had previously given their time, energy and service to this Event to ask if they were available to help again. The response from all the women was fantastic, as young and old were ready and willing to help again. I also added to the team line-up with some new volunteers. The weekend was a result of the combined effort of everyone. The willingness to work from the time of arrival in any area required - either in the kitchen preparing meals, serving food, cleaning down and resetting, to packing down at the end of the Event was very apparent. All the women worked where they were asked, they filled gaps when they saw them and served with a heart, smile and attitude that comes from the Lord. While this Event is for men, the women serving on the hospitality team were very blessed. We were serenaded by the magnificent worship of the men, as their voices raised in worship also reached us in the kitchen and hallways. It was very uplifting and just beautiful. At the end of the Event the women gathered to share and give thanks. We lifted our voices, this time in worship and praise, gave thanks for the success of the Event and the way our Sovereign Lord had moved over the weekend. And finally the women prayed as a group for each other before we left. It was a very edifying and special weekend for all of us. Praise the Lord. If you would like to know more about being a volunteer at the Promise Keepers Men’s Event for this year, I unreservedly encourage you to contact the Promise Keepers office. You will be uplifted, encouraged and blessed in your efforts, in your heart and spirit.
The last year has produced great fruit with men having deeper experiences with God at our Events than ever before. We have truly seen many “men transformed” which is at the core of the Promise Keepers vision. Promise Keepers is beginning the process of realigning the ministry so that it is in a strong position to grow over the next five years. Part of this includes the new initiatives of a Samoan language based Event, Tama Tane Malosi, and the Refreshed & Released Pastors’ Conference. We will also continue to focus on Men’s Ministry training, church-based Events and delivery of resources electronically via websites, emails, videos, webinars and social media. Promise Keepers’ vision of seeing men transformed by the power of God has not changed but the way we achieve that vision is being refined. Thank you to the 1393 donors who help keep this ministry robust. We are very grateful that despite the challenging financial situation facing New Zealanders, our supporters have maintained giving at a steady level. Many other charities have had a significant reduction in donations, so we don’t take that support for granted. Donations are crucial for the ongoing effectiveness of this ministry. The reduction in Event fee income reflects the financial hardships that many men are going through. The number of men requesting financial help to assist with the cost of Event fees has increased dramatically, making donations all the more critical. Due to the tight financial times in our nation, we have put considerable effort and prayer into carefully and
strategically managing the stewardship of the ministry’s resources. We will continue to do this. We have undertaken an extensive and intensive review of every activity we do as a ministry to consider its relevance and fruit, particularly as we look ahead to the next five years. As a result of this, we see some very exciting new initiatives being undertaken this year which will lay strong foundations to drive the impact of this ministry to a greater level. The review determined that if fewer national Events were held, it would release time and resources for these new initiatives, both locally and internationally. This is a time of unprecedented interest and opportunity. To seize the moment and progress forward we need to take the challenges seriously. That means putting men in the field backed up by an effective office. Promise Keepers needs men to invest into this work – individual men, families and businesses. How can you help? Will you be a prayer warrior for Promise Keepers? Can you give ongoing financial support? Are you subscribed to WiseChoices? Can you volunteer your time and skills? We appreciate everyone who joins us in the battle for men’s souls. Join the team today! Ph 0800 PROMISE (776647) or fill out the form below.
Response Form Join together in agreement praying for breakthrough in men’s lives throughout our nation. As breakthrough occurs, it impacts men’s families, churches, communities and ultimately our nation. You can be involved in:
Intercessory Prayer – before and during Events: Prayer focussed on the men attending that they would be open to God’s revelation and transformation.
National Day of Prayer: A monthly corporate day of prayer for the wider needs of men and our community.
Power Prayer Gathering: If you are in Auckland, join us at the Promise Keepers office at 7pm on the first Monday of every month.
Women for Promise Keepers: Some of our best supporters are women because they know the need for transformation in men and the incredible benefits of godly men who are following their calling. Specific prayer alerts help the women accurately target their prayers. Volunteer QR Code
Name: Address: Phone: Day ( Mob: ( ) Email:
PK ID# Postcode:
)
Prize draw! - I have given Promise Keepers my email address (above) to go into the draw to win one of 7 Prize Packages valued at over $370! (Details on page 13.)
I am interested in: Break Free Promo DVD Prayer - regular email updates Volunteer
CHC/WLG/AKL Event
AKL office
WiseChoices - suggested donation $120 per year Donation to the ministry of Promise Keepers Amount: $ Credit Card
AP
(we will send a form)
Online Banking (see below*)
Cheque
Credit Card # _ _ _ _ | _ _ _ _ | _ _ _ _ | _ _ _ _ Exp: _ _ | _ _ Card Name: Signature: *Promise Keepers Online Banking Details: ASB Bank 12-3082-0105255-04
MEN OF ACTION
15
Alice Banfield
Men’s Teams to Widows & Solos Changes Lives Churches often struggle to meet the ongoing needs of people who are in difficult circumstances or in distress. Men’s Team Ministry to Widows & Solos can help meet these long-term needs. There are other benefits that extend well beyond helping an individual care receiver, including outreach, and building up the men and the Men’s Ministry. This is a practical way to action Jesus’ command to love one another as He has loved us, so all men will know that we are His disciples (John 13:34-35). For several years, Harbourside Church in Auckland has based their Ministry with Men around the care of widows and solos. It has become the foundational platform for the rest of their Men’s Ministry.
So how does Men’s Team Ministry work? Small groups of four men spend two hours each month serving the same care receiver until the person no longer needs help. All the teams get together for breakfast, planning and teaching before they go out. This works well because men are growing by doing significant work together, it becomes missional when the person tells others why a team is willing to help them, and finally, there is the power of a large group of men when the teams come together for breakfast each month. At Harbourside, the Men’s Team Ministry is called Team 1:17, after the verse Isaiah 1:17. The monthly breakfast meeting becomes a large open men’s group. Some of the ladies cater for these breakfasts. Interestingly, one current and one former care receiver presently help out, allowing them the opportunity to give back to the ministry. The church also holds three annual super breakfasts which go for one and a half hours, include a speaker, and are open to all the men in the church. These super breakfasts are also a way of recruiting more men to Team 1:17. Another large gathering is an annual clean-up around the church. Team 1:17 is the basis for a large working bee that includes families and care receivers. It is an opportunity for everyone to meet and relate while focused on a task that blesses the church. Over time teams can do extensive work on a care receiver’s property. They can also become close like a family. At Harbourside, one team were pall bearers at the funeral when their care receiver passed away. Another team were pall bearers when a care receiver’s disabled son passed away. There is also the outreach aspect to neighbours and relatives of the care receivers. Teams can help others as the opportunity arises. One team is now regularly doing work on a neighbour’s property and garden. Although care receivers are usually women, there can also be men who need help. One Harbourside team is looking after a 93 year old man. Men can be good at relationship, but we also need to achieve practical results. With the enthusiastic support of church leadership, men’s teams at HarboursideChurch are getting results and impacting lives. Contact Promise Keepers for more information.
World Vision facilitator Bridget Tova with children in Ovana community, Weathercoast - March 2012. PHOTO: Alice Banfield
T h e Te m o t u p r o v i n c e o f t h e Solomon Islands is remote, isolated and is highly vulnerable to natural disasters including cyclones, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis. Finding work and earning an income in this environment is incredibly tough and more than 87 per cent of its population relies on remittances from family members living elsewhere. But slowly, change is coming thanks to nearly 60 Promise Keepers attendees who generously signed up to support World Vision’s work. This funding has allowed the development agency to start talking to the people of Temotu about a different future. A trust and hope that change is possible is now starting to take hold. Tilly Redstone, World Vision’s Solomon Islands program manager says: “Establishing trust is a critical first step when we start work in a new area. “We exist to assist, but ultimately it is up to community members whether or not they want to work with us. They need to believe that by getting involved in designing and leading their own development projects, a better future is possible for them and their children.” So far, two important steps have been taken, which will set the foundation for lasting transformation. Firstly, 15 collectives (one in each of the communities where World Vision is working in Temotu) have been set up comprised of highly regarded local men and women. These collectives will now lead a program of work around improving their agriculture and fishing practices. Improved management of the local resources along with better access to technical skills, training and markets are all part of the plan over the next couple of years. Secondly, 15 Community Disaster Mitigation Committees (CDRMC) have also been established. Each community participated in selecting seven members to sit on their committee. These groups will now be responsible for developing a Community Disaster Risk
World Vision staff Bridget Tova and Anthony Matelaomao walking to Valekilo, Weathercoast. PHOTO: Alice Banfield
Mitigation Plan (CDRMP) for their local area. “The progress over the last year has been really positive,” says Tilly. “The establishment of collectives and CDRMCs shows that the communities are keen to work with us and will form the platform for essential activity. “We are very grateful to Promise Keepers attendees for helping us kick-start this exciting journey in Temotu.” Promise Keepers participants supporting World Vision’s work in Temotu follow in the footsteps of 637 Promise Keepers who have partnered with World Vision to support its work around the world over the last five years.
16
MEN OF ACTION
“Ifoga” – The Power of Forgiveness Tavale Matai’a
In early 2003 my older brother, Matai’a Pili, passed away in Samoa. He was a paramount chief in our village, Sato’alepai. My younger brother, Tom, and I decided to travel to Samoa for the funeral. While the funeral service was in progress in the church, a pickup truck loaded with people, food and ie-toga (fine mats – the most valuable artefact in the Samoan culture), pulled up in front of our fale. In the truck were three matai (Samoan chiefs/orators) from the village of Sataua, three elderly women and three beautiful young girls. One of the women was the estranged wife of my deceased brother, and the three girls were my nieces. Understandably, the estranged wife and especially the daughters wanted to express their last farewell to my brother. But there was a huge problem. The wife had committed adultery two years previously and she had left my brother secretly, taking with her the three daughters. Therefore, under no circumstances should she be setting foot again in our village, because she had shamed my brother and my family. Traditionally, her only hope of being accepted again by my family was through the Samoan cultural practice called ifoga. But even that is no guarantee of any reconciliation between her and my family. There was a commotion among the young men of our family behind the main meeting fale where the chiefs were sitting cross-legged on the hard concrete floor. The young men were ready to attack the loaded truck in revenge. Fortunately the chiefs intervened and told them to be patient and wait for their command. Meanwhile the visiting family proceeded with their ifoga. They chose their most paramount matai to be
covered by a huge ie-toga as he was kneeling on the sand about ten metres in front of the meeting house. The noonday sun was beating down. The outside temperature was about 31°C, so underneath the fine mat it was extremely hot. He could not see anything from his position and he was totally at the mercy of my family. This chief could have been the father of the guilty woman and he was practically offering himself up as a sacrifice on behalf of his daughter, seeking forgiveness from my family. While he was shaking with fear underneath the ie-toga, the chiefs of my family were deciding his fate - either to let him live or kill him in order for any reconciliation to happen. Alternatively, my family could reject their ifoga and still let the man live. The whole atmosphere, both inside the fale and outside, was extremely tense. After a heated debate among my family matai one of them stood up and approached the offering outside. The young men followed closely behind him waiting for his command. Suddenly the chief dropped to his knees, pulled off the ie-toga and embraced the shivering man. Mercy and grace had prevailed. Pardon and forgiveness were granted. He was then led inside the fale arm-in-arm and his whole party were invited into the fale. There were tears of joy and embraces all round. Speeches were exchanged. Fine mats, money and food were presented to our family. It was a day of an amazing paradox – rejoicing for the reconciliation, and yet grieving at the passing away of my brother.
The Best You Can Get
More wise choices less regrets!
WiseChoices will benefit you and help you grow in your Christian walk: Easy daily readings developing regular time with God by Rob Stacey July 2012 Young men want In this day and action. Their natural age it is easy to desire is to go think that all we the other day for out and conquer need can be found instance, I grabbed the world and make on the internet. change brake pads”. my iPad, went on a difference. Just to YouTube and Sure enough, up looked up “how pads, made by came a step-by-s to none other than tep video on how Churches can harness those to change brake for cars. Brilliant! I had those puppies people who write the old school giving young adults this energy by Haines manuals done in an hour opportu and nities saved lead and to take to myself about $100. Now once upon responsibility. Part a time, guys like the equipping of me would of have had a father process is mentorin the fathers of or uncle or grandfat young men in faith, to the adults g who would have her probably all (or had you or me more precisely, mentoring men. life issues. Men under the on the males) to pass car, greased up, They the pulling these out foundations of a especially want to know spiritual legacy together And to be honest, how and I would have preferred. heritage that will form the financially, relationa to be successful that as a young very heart and foundation of a lly and spirituall guy. The problem life lived with God. This is a great y. so many young is, like opportunity for guys men who are mature around. My uncles today, my dad wasn’t Keep in years, experien these were all losers or faith as we can ce and my you today words that I am commanding granddad died have a life-chan before I was born. in your heart. Recite ging influence on the them to your younger generati children and talk about them when on. Learning how you are at home and when to do somethin you Rob Stacey are away, when you g with care and a skilled gives an excellent lie hand comes through down and when you rise. Bind overview of relationship. them as a sign mentoring and on your hand, fix Something other them as an emblem the compelling reasons expertise is passed than on your to do it. My friend on when a mentor forehead, and write them on the Owen Mansill shows you how doorpost explains the impact your house and on to do somethin mentoring as he your gates. Deuteron s of of g. You gain 6:6-9 a respect for the has omy finer and is now mentorin been mentored not just how. You details. You learn why, g others. sense a passion for the A spiritual craft and you gain a generational hand-me legacy starts in The affliction the home and is down which stitches - passed on of fatherlessness through parents you into the fabric that is washing over manhood. who live lives of saturated our society can by the Word of changed by be God and the life mentoring. Spiritual Jesus portrayed . Research tells shallowness can However it’s one us that when it comes be addressed thing to pass on to direction mentoring. Most by practical life, skills to young older men have our kids – and especiall and values for men, but what something to offer about the – spiritual legacy y our teenagers others. look first to the we can pass on example and role from one as generation to the of us parents (and our next? How can you boys, to us as fathers). use If that role isn’t talents and spiritual your experience, filled by a faithful and In the book of courageous male understanding Deuteronomy we guide others? role model in the to have this they amazing encourag home will look elsewher ement from Moses, e to fill that void. one �
A wealth of multimedia resources Regular connection with Promise Keepers Encouragement & equipping for difficult times Belonging to a community of like-minded men who are open to God’s transforming power Powerful resources that you can share with others
John Subritzky
Help change your perspective and grow spiritually
This is Why Jesus Christ Came The ifoga in a sense nicely demonstrated for me the very essence of why Jesus Christ came into the world – to reconcile humanity to the Father. “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) That is, Christ identified with humanity and took upon Himself our sin - like the father who offered himself on behalf of his guilty daughter. In actuality, Christ becomes our righteousness – when we come to God in humility and repentance! This is our message. Verse 20 says: “...He has given us the ministry of reconciliation”. In other words we are His ambassadors. What a privilege! See WiseChoices May 2012 newsletter on website for full article.
Each month subscribers receive the WiseChoices newsletter as well as their choice of either or both of the Men of Integrity 60 day prayer & Bible guide or the bi-monthly WiseChoices DVD. The DVDs are packed with valuable resources as well as a featured speaker. Also included are panel discussions, dramas, humour and other clips. By using it as a DVD ROM in your computer you can access other articles, books, photos, Men’s Small Group studies, lots of interesting MP3s and website links. Promise Keepers suggests a contribution of $10 per month. This helps cover the costs involved and makes the resources available to those who cannot afford them.
How do I sign up? Contact Promise Keepers or use the response form on page .... More info at www.promisekeepers.org.nz or phone 0800 PROMISE (776647).
Rickshaws For India Setting Families Free
In India, Rickshaws are a major method of taxi transportation for people taking short journeys. Those going to and from work and school, shoppers and business people all ride on Rickshaws. They are also used for moving goods and courier jobs. The government promotes their use as they are non-polluting. Sponsoring a Rickshaw enables an Indian family to have a debt free, good income producing small business that permanently supports them. This provides food, housing, clothing, healthcare, and a proper education for their children.
When you sponsor a Rickshaw for an Indian family, you are sent photos of the family with their new Rickshaw along with a plaque with all of their names, which is personally authenticated by the thumbprint of the husband. If requested we also sign write the sponsors name and/ or message on the back of the Rickshaw. This is a treasure that you can display in your home or office to remember your Indian family by. Sponsoring a Rickshaw is truly a gift that keeps on giving, day after day, year after year.
Set a family free from poverty online today
A B N 76 0 6 4 2 7 0 7 9 3
Rickshaw sponsorship, it sets a family free from poverty – forever!
WiseChoices QR Code