MORE Conference 2024: Seen, Heard, Included

MORE Conference is an annual weekend for youth leaders, children’s leaders and officers connected to The Salvation Army. This year, 175 people from Aotearoa New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa gathered for this life-giving event. Sarah Bridle reports.

Picture an old camp dining room, brimming with people making connections, reconnections and introductions. The weekend began with whakawhanaungatanga— forming new and maintaining old relationships—through facilitated conversations and time spent introducing the entire room to one another! There was no chance of leaving that space a stranger.

The theme for this year’s MORE Conference was ‘Seen, Heard, Included’, which is the heart and value system underpinning the work of the Next Gen team, led by Captain Alana LePine.

The intent was to initially connect as whanāu (family), and then connect with our Creator. Leaders came together to show our tamariki (children) and rangatahi (youth) that we value them enough to commit time to learn, grow and connect with other leaders, in order to brainstorm and network, as we choose to continue getting better, so our ministry can be more effective.

‘How We Gather Matters’, led by Tammy Preston, was tagged on to the conference, looking at intergenerational ministry and the heart behind this.

Objectives

We had three key objectives to anchor our time together: tūhononga (connection), to come together and connect as one team, hoping and aiming for the same divine purpose; whakawhanake (development), commitment to build upon what we already know, to grow, learn and expand our way of leading; and tā te ihu (rest), to rest in what has and what will happen, the acknowledgement of work complete and anticipation of work to come. These intentions were the base for all our planning— how we wanted to create room, facilitate time and have our leaders leave. Our rhythms formed the programme across the weekend and mirrored these three hopes: Friday for connecting, Saturday for development, Sunday for rest.

Weekend programme

On Friday we moved into the main session space to hear from Matt Renata speaking on why this creation of time and space to know one another is significant. He spoke on Psalm 23, and the rhythms of our lives.

Psalm 23 became a key biblical theme over the weekend, with every speaker noting its significance and the verses were spoken over our delegates time and time again.

The worship team was led by Tash McMillan (Cuba Street) and Jackson Callander (Miramar Corps) and accompanied by musicians from all around our territory. This team facilitated exceptional worship and became a highlight in many feedback notes offered by attendees.

Saturday had dedicated children and youth stream times, workshops, marketplace stalls, panels and free time for conversations. Workshops covered topics like How to Bring Your Best to a Team, Te Tiriti, Neurodiversity, How to Reach Gen Z, Child Spirituality and more. Panels covered topics like Stories from the Islands, Staying the Course and Messing with Messy Church.

The day ended with a testimony from Mele Vaea (Tonga Region). This was followed by a message from Daniel Buttar (from Alpha)—a familiar face to those from Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington. He reminded us of what God thinks of us beyond our ministry and that he loves us for who we are. He also reminded us to make room for Jesus, to get away to a quiet place and work with him.

Sunday brought the Sabbath reminder of recognising what has been achieved and choosing rest in him. Molly Sheridan (Palmerston North Corps) shared her testimony, and Lieutenant Jesse Willis (Thames Corps) preached with a gentle, vulnerable kindness, reminding us that although interruptions may occur, God is still there, still moving, still making space for us to rest.

Connections

Finishing our weekend was a time of poroporoaki (farewell). Echoing the chatter of Friday in the dining space, we heard people who had made new and old connections reflecting on the weekend, praying for one another and preparing to return home with fresh eyes and rested hearts.

All in all, the weekend was a significant time, and the Next Gen team is looking forward to attempting to raise the bar for next year’s weekend.

If you know someone who went to MORE, why not ask them how they found connection, development and rest. How is their ministry going? How can you support them? We encourage you to continue in korero (conversations) with those in ministry around you.

MORE Conference 2025, ‘Tino Taonga’, is in Ōtautahi Christchurch from 4 to 6 July. We’d love to see you there!