Meet ELI

Eli, our writer for ‘Light for the Path’, is the SUNZ Youth Consultant for Waikato & Bay of Plenty. We asked him to introduce himself to you. Here’s what he had to say:

Kia Ora, my name is Eli Savill. I am married to Noelle Savill, and we have two little boys Ebenezer and Solomon. I am a true Waikato boy with deep roots in the area. I grew up attending Whitiora Bible Church, and as a young boy I chose to follow Christ. In my teenage years, my grandmother, Edna Lind, who lived with us, sparked a passion for serving Christ with her amazing stories of her time on the mission field in Africa.

I got involved in youth ministry under Malcolm Barrow, who had me running holiday programmes, rallies and helping with the youth group. This led me into running the youth group at Whitiora. At this time, I met Noelle, who I fell madly in love with, and after two years of long-distance dating, I moved to America for study at Moody Bible College where I got a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministry. While at Moody, I had a lot of opportunities to serve God. On graduation, Noelle & I returned to

New Zealand where we have run a camp, set up a community centre and helped lead youth groups. I am now working on a Bachelor of Counselling at Wintec, as I see a major need for mental health support in Aotearoa New Zealand.

My passion for serving in youth ministry is to see lifelong disciples of Christ fostered and grown. Discipleship has been a key part of my spiritual formation and finding my identity in Christ. I long for this to happen with our youth in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

This issue is in your mailbox towards the end of the JULY school holidays.

April Perira

Camps

Pōnui Fishing (16-21 April) was another huge success with 20 boys enjoying fishing, sports, archery, a Burma trail, an overnight survival challenge, games and “some of the best camp food ever... including fish n’ chips made with the catch of the day! The campers were challenged to discuss big questions of life and faith.

Wild Wāhine North (14-16 April) also on Pōnui Island for girls to invest in their spiritual journey by exploring faith in the great outdoors. Wild Wāhine South on Banks Peninsula (21-23 April).

Eli Savill

Youth Consultant for Waikato & BoP started with SUNZ in April.

BEYOND EXPERIENCE (BE)

A short but powerful weekend, 28-30 April, at El Rancho, Waikanae for 62 BE attendees and mentors. The group studied the encouragement of Romans 12 and got involved in planting natives on the sand dunes. Kapiti Prayer Group visited on Saturday. So many volunteers helped make this weekend happen, we are so grateful. We now have 20 first year BE’ers, 16 second year BE’ers undertaking Stream Projects and 26 Kaiārahi/mentors in this programme.

MAY MEI

Nlt

National Leadership Team met in Wellington 3-4 May to pray and plan.

Auckland Office Move

Our Auckland team stoically packed up and moved to temporary offices while the rented Rockfield Rd office will be repaired to be watertight and warmer. It’s been a good opportunity to sort and declutter. The ministry team juggled this with WAY2GO and other engagements. Annette attended a Wananga at Laidlaw College 26-27 May and worked with intermediates at Glendowie Presbyterian on 28 May.

Lizzie Moore

Lizzie has been speaking to groups around Otago-Southland; Mataura Presbyterian 28 May, Dunedin youth events 29-30 May. She is now on maternity leave.

Please check out the News and Stories section on our website www.sunz.org.nz for more information.

COMING UP | Save the date for our Zoom AGM at 7pm on Thursday 14 September. We will send you more details closer to the time.

WAY2GO STARTED IN MAY...

Our Children & Families (CHIFAM) team kicked off the 2023 WAY2GO programme on 20 May in both Tauranga & Nelson, then in Palmerston North 27 May. The theme is The Great Invitation, to consider how to make ‘God’s Good News’ known to children and families. The participants were enthusiastic and passionate about this ministry. See more here https:// www.sunz.org.nz/children-and-families/ way2go/way2go-2023/

JUNE HUNE

...CONTINUED IN JUNE

WAY2GO moved on to Whangārei & Dunedin 10 June, Wellington & Invercargill 17 June, Auckland 24 June with one more NI event in New Plymouth 22 July (last one in Christchurch on 19 August).

Board

The SUNZ Board met in Wellington 16-17 June, book-ended by Finance Committee meetings to approve FY22-23 accounts in preparation for Annual Review and AGM on 14 September.

Supakidz

Sadly, our new TOP SECRET camp at Whangaparaoa 3-7 July was cancelled due to very few campers signing on. The CHIFAM team will reassess planning and advertising for SUPAKidZ camps.

Su Youth Camps

Whakapapa Classic, Ruapehu 2-6 July

Season & Alight, Kaikōura 2-6 July

Ruapehu Adventure 9-13 July

Wakatipu Base, Queenstown 9-13 July

Farewell Sylvia Coulter

On 23 July, SUNZ host an event at St Chads Meadowbank to celebrate Sylvia’s retirement after 20 years on staff. We have been so blessed by Sylvia’s faithful relationship building and network of supporters she has inspired to journey with Scripture Union.

P P

Andy Banks & Neville Bartley ran an Āpōpō workshop for Mt Albert Baptist Youth Group. The programme is being promoted directly to schools. Neville and Andy are now qualified Mental Health First Aid instructors .

NEW!

Holiday Programme for 5-11 year olds, based on the award-winning Diary of a Disciple: Luke’s Story, this introduces children to Jesus and invites them to consider his question: ‘Who do you say I am?’

Each day unpacks a little of Jesus’ story from Luke’s Gospel, beginning with the traditional Christmas narrative, moving on to explore some of Jesus’ teachings and miracles, leading up to and concluding with the Easter story.

Price $28.00

$2.00

Day book + Jotter books for the Holiday Programme and a Journal to encourage kids into Bible reading.

10 Pack for $8.50

Who is the Light? is a 20page booklet for children aged 5-8, presenting Jesus as the Light of the World and how those who follow him are called to be like light too.

Price $3.00

Jesus is the Light? is a poetic exploration of Jesus’ identity as the Light of the World aimed to engage children who may not be from a church background and is brought to life with beautiful illustrations & colouring pages.