9 minute read
Standing on Solid Ground
For 141 years, The Salvation Army has been an integral part of the city of Ōtautahi Christchurch. Its location, outreach and ministry have evolved over time to meet the shifting needs of the community it serves. Despite many changes and challenges, particularly in recent years, Christchurch City Corps (CCC) has remained unwavering in its mission to help the people of Christchurch find and follow Jesus.
WORDS Kelly Cooper
When asked: ‘What is the most important thing for Christchurch City Corps?’ Brian Kench, corps (church) sergeant-major, is quick to respond, ‘It is always the people. We have this fantastic facility that is occupied throughout the week with many activities and at the weekends with worship, but the building is not the important part. It is always the people.’ The ‘fantastic facility’ that Brian refers to is the beautiful, purpose-built CCC building that sits proudly on the corner of Colombo and Salisbury Streets.
The building, designed by Dalman Architects, consists of a large worship space, several multipurpose meeting rooms, offices, an indoor sports hall and a sheltered outdoor courtyard. Stepping into the architecturally designed space, it could be easy to underestimate the journey CCC has been on to find their new home. While these facilities have been well used by corps members and community groups since their official opening on 29 April 2017, Brian recounts many obstacles and heartaches when describing the building process.
Changing times
The Salvation Army has maintained a significant presence in Ōtautahi Christchurch since the first service was held on Sunday 20 May 1883, in the newly purchased Gaiety Theatre in Cathedral Square. Several site relocations, changing community needs, the Canterbury earthquakes and, more recently, the impact of Covid-19 have all influenced the ways in which CCC delivers and remains focused on its primary goal of serving the people of Christchurch. Throughout the years people have been and continue to be the heartbeat of this corps.
Like countless other organisations, CCC was significantly affected by the Canterbury earthquakes. ‘After the first earthquake in 2010, our worship centre was still intact and we were able to continue to meet there,’ explains Brian. ‘The second big earthquake occurred on a Sunday while a service was taking place. Again, we were shaken, but okay. It was the third earthquake on 22 February 2011 that did the biggest damage. It was such a traumatic event for so many across Christchurch. For us as a corps, we lost our Victoria Square worship centre, our Hope Centre and our Family Store. Our corps officers at the time, Majors Alister and Anne Irwin, lost their home. Our corps building was uneconomical to repair.
‘It was a difficult time dealing with lots of hard dayto-day things across the city. We wondered how we could even continue to function as a corps. We made a commitment to meet together every Sunday at several temporary locations, including the Westpac Hub and a local school; that held us together as we determined how things might look in the future. We secured a more permanent space in Moorhouse Avenue that we were able to make our own and run our Community Ministries out of too. A strength of this corps is that our people held together all this time. It would have been easy for the corps to break apart and attend other corps, but I’m sure God’s plan was for us to stay together and sustain our ministry,’ recalls Brian.
Worth the wait
Brian describes the process of building a new facility for CCC as ‘a big wait and a big project’. He also acknowledges God’s faithfulness and marvels at ‘the many things which happened along the way that can only be God’. An unexpected block of land became available in an ideal location and despite not being the highest bidder, The Salvation Army was able to purchase the land. Public opposition to the building and multiple objections around resource consent were resolved. ‘There were sleepless nights, heartache and hurdle after hurdle,’ recalls Brian. ‘We should never have got this land. I believe it was all part of God’s plan. The size of this site has secured The Salvation Army’s presence in the city for the next 100 years. Every time I enter through these doors I enter [God’s] gates with thanksgiving.’
While the building is prominently situated and offers inviting spaces for corps members and the numerous community groups it serves, what may not be immediately apparent to visitors is the careful consideration given to its layout. Dalman Architects were asked to create a contemporary spiritual home for the corps that was welcoming to the community. The architects surpassed their brief and designed a building that enables CCC to continue its inner-city ministry and provide a spiritual sanctuary, with significant meaning.
‘The different spaces have been positioned around a cross,’ explains Brian. ‘You enter the building at the arm of the cross and are led to our reception and central circulation area that are situated directly in the centre of the cross. In the double-height worship space your eye is immediately drawn to the LED-lit cross window which is just as striking outside the building. The 11 tall vertical poles that run alongside the outside of the building represent The Salvation Army’s 11 Articles of Faith. The architect nailed every aspect of creating this building. He told our story, and the project was completed under budget,’ says Brian.
A church for generations
Brian describes CCC as a destination church, with members coming from every corner of Christchurch. Like many churches, CCC has taken time to recover from the effects of Covid-19 and the impact of lockdowns on corps community life.
‘The pandemic highlighted for us the importance of gathering together as Christians and not being alone,’ shares Brian. ‘Being together gives us a focus on God and enables us to go out to our respective weeks connected to one another.’
One example of the intentional focus on connection within the corps is the Connect to Care programme. Born out of a desire to maintain meaningful connections during the pandemic, every corps member is connected with a caller who makes contact with them regularly. This includes phone calls, Zoom chats and face-to-face conversations. ‘It is important that no one stands alone and we are connected with one another, not just on a Sunday,’ says Brian.
While CCC is predominantly an older congregation, since moving to their new site their demographics are changing, with people just walking through the door. ‘Our congregation has definitely become more multicultural and intergenerational in recent years,’ shares Brian. These changing demographics have informed CCC’s approach to both developing corps community and their ministry programmes. ‘We want to have young people as part of our corps, so we ensure that Sunday morning services include something for everyone,’ says Brian.
A multigenerational approach was a key focus when corps officers, Lieutenants Scott and Aimee Noakes, and their team launched The Gathering in March this year. ‘Our aims were to bridge connections between those who attend our community programmes and our church family, and to encourage people to draw closer to Jesus,’ shares Aimee. With over 100 attendees enjoying crafts, hospitality and music at the inaugural event, The Gathering is continuing to be popular among families.
In addition to a Sunday worship service, CCC runs more than 20 community programmes each week. These programmes include Bible study groups, youth groups, children’s ministry, women’s and men’s ministries, songsters, bands, youth mentoring and a city-wide fellowship group.
‘The key thing with all these programmes is that the people come first,’ explains Brian. ‘We work hard to build relationships that allow people to take that next step. People need to feel like they belong in a place and are accepted before they will make a commitment.’
Just Brass bridge
This intergenerational approach extends to the Just Brass programme, where school-age students are given the opportunity to learn brass instruments at the corps. Endof-term concerts have provided invitations for families to come into the corps, with several now regularly attending Sunday morning services. ‘We know that the Army needs renewal,’ says Brian. ‘We are always looking for opportunities to allow that to happen.’
Scott and Aimee are passionate about growing families and the next generation of leaders and disciples. Like Brian, they consider the fantastic team of people who are invested in the work of their church as the foundation for CCC. They acknowledge the complexities of responding to multigenerational needs in the church setting.
‘Sometimes it’s hard work,’ explains Brian. ‘The challenge for our leadership team is to get people to want to belong as part of our organisation.’ He notes that a ‘regular church attender’ is now defined as someone who comes along once a month. ‘We need to be intentional about connecting our weekday programmes to our faith, particularly with our youth, young adults and their families, and continue to find ways to invest in our multicultural communities.’
Both Brian and his wife Heather, who is the songster (choir) leader, are in awe at where their beloved corps now stands—literally and figuratively. ‘After the earthquakes we could have blown apart as a corps,’ says Heather. ‘We held together during tough times. We are now enjoying an exhale, and the blessings God has given us.’
Brian extends an invitation to all who come to Ōtautahi Christchurch to pop in and visit the corps. ‘We love visitors and would be very happy to welcome you.’ He also asks SALT readers for their prayers that CCC would continue to provide opportunities for people to make connections and grow their faith.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of recent years, CCC continues to do what it does best, sharing the love of Jesus and responding to the needs of their people, ensuring that they will stand on solid ground for generations to come.
