Adventure Magazine October 2022

EDITORIAL

Ihave a lot of nieces and nephews —19 of them—that’s the joy of a big family. As I spend time with them and listen to them talk, it’s a continual reminder that our young people are experiencing new and difficult challenges. Worldviews are becoming increasingly polarised and issues such as climate change are reaching crisis point. Experiences of increased political division, the saturation of technology and everincreasing global interconnectedness are affecting the perceptions of our young people. They have more knowledge, opportunities, and freedom than ever before, yet social issues are complex and they are undergoing ever-increasing levels of stress and anxiety. These challenges were not caused by the pandemic, but they have been accelerated by it. Our young people are the church of the present, as well as the church of the future. We want to help them navigate this changing world and discover what being a disciple of Jesus looks like in the times in which they are living. May we help these words from Psalm 78:7 be true for

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE CHURCH OF THE PRESENT, AS WELL AS THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE.

our young people today—That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. Kia ū ai tā rātou tūmanako ki te Atua, kei wareware hoki ki ngā mahi a te Atua: engari kia mau ki āna whakahau.

This issue of Adventure takes a look at some of these issues young people are facing and asks how we can best help them through Scripture Union’s ministries. As you read it, please join me in prayer for the young people of our country.

Ngā mihi nui,

Hilary Hague

National Director

Union New Zealand

ADULT HOOD EMERGING

Sam Bloore is an Adjunct Teaching Fellow, contributing to Venn Presents and the Residential Fellowship. We were fortunate to have him speak at our Beyond Experience Retreat where he shared his research on emerging adulthood. This article has been written, with his permission, from that presentation. The quotes come from Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties 2nd Edition by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett. If you would like to know more this is a good read.

A

s recently as 1960, the typical 21-year-old was likely to be married or on their way to marriage, caring for a newborn child, or expecting one soon, reaching the end of their education, and settled in a longterm job and/or raising a family.

Periods of history can fast-track societal change. World Wars I and II, The Industrial Revolution, and even now during a pandemic, massive change is happening. Perhaps now, with the exponential rise of technology and social media, these changes are happening quicker than ever.

The expectations and reality for young people in Western society has been quietly changing over the last half-century. Today, the life of a typical 21-year-old, the road to adulthood is a long one. They experience the double-edged-sword of the freedom of options, and the anxiety of not knowing what’s coming next—especially after a disruption of a pandemic.

This period is not simply an 'extended adolescence.' There is too much parental freedom and exploration of independence to fit the definition. Nor is it really a 'young adulthood,' since this term implies that an early stage of adulthood has been reached. Whereas most young people in their 20's have not made the traditional milestones historically associated with adult status. A lot of them feel and joke as if they have not yet reached adulthood.

Instead, what we see is a new and historically unprecedented stage of the life course, so it requires a new term and a new way of thinking.

THE EXPECTATIONS AND REALITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN WESTERN SOCIETY HAS BEEN QUIETLY CHANGING OVER THE LAST HALFCENTURY.

Sam Bloore proposes the term Emerging Adulthood. Which is generally agreed to be between 18-29 years. Best described as having 5 features.

1IDENTITY EXPLORATIONS. We see this in choices around where and with whom emerging adults choose to live, hobbies and skills they choose to develop, and potentially exploring their ideas around gender and sexuality. Regardless of your view on any of these, Christ calls us to love.

2INSTABILITY. Many of those institutions both structural and human are no longer as stable as they once seemed. Even the uncertainties around weather and climate change, social interaction and lockdowns, and any long-term plans such as travel, and career progress can be halted at any moment.

social justice, voices for minorities, and bicultural journey. The downside to this is the lack of patience associated here, a message of how “change has to be now, and soon!” We should aim to put the focus on the cause first and the institution second. For these hopes to be truly optimistic and attainable, they have to be nimble and have grassroots.

It's easy to see these descriptors and interpret a sense of hopelessness and helplessness, but Sam also argues for 4 Practical Steps that are not framed around quantity, but quality. Perhaps doing less, but doing things with intention and meaning.

1A

BIBLICAL ANTHROPOLOGY.

An anthropology and worldview that starts with God at the top - not the other way around. God precedes and supersedes us in every way.

3

SELF-FOCUS. Perhaps every generation could be accused of this. However, with the onset and proliferation of social media and the opportunity for society to comment, a magnifying glass has been placed on the focus of oneself. Its negative impacts have never been more prevalent.

4

FEELING IN-BETWEEN. Between

the uncertainty and mistrust of “institutions” and expressions of ‘what am I doing with my life…’ creates an almost perfect recipe for feeling inbetween.

2STABILITY. Offering simple stability that previous generations may have taken for granted.

3SERVICE.

That focuses on real and tangible change, not change that has a focus so much on an institution but change whereby we let the experience speak for itself—focus on what you have control over.

4SAINTS

POSSIBILITY/OPTIMISM. On a lighter note than the previous four stages, there is also a measurable sense of hope that can be embraced. However, it isn’t the usual channels, institutions, or players. It's framed around

5

& EXEMPLARS. Parts of our faith have been sceptical of an emphasis on saints, causing some branches of our Christian faith to have swung the pendulum away from embracing these identities. However, with a different focus on what and why, these same identities can contribute to reinforcing our faith and even introducing others to our faith as followers of Jesus.

Faithful Living IN A CHANGING WORLD

NIGEL WINDER | SUNZ Children and Families Consultant, Otago & Southland

I

s it getting hot in here or is it just me? There’s nothing like times of unprecedented change to make one feel a little sticky under the collar. Change can even challenge our faith.

In the Book of Daniel chapter three, we find the story of three young men who were living in unprecedented times that challenged their faith and literally landed them in the furnace. You probably know the story—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three Hebrew slaves ripped from their homeland Israel by the nation of Babylon, ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar. Their families, homes and place of worship had gone up in flames.

In this strange new world, they had a choice—as do we—to assimilate. They could have kept their heads down and blended in. But the scriptures warn us, 'Do not love the world or the things in the world.'—1 John 2:15 ESV.

Another option in tough times (that we have, but they didn’t) is one of elimination of any influence from the world. We look to protect ourselves rather than step out boldly in faith. Again, the Scriptures warn us this is not God’s plan, 'My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.'—John 17:15-16.

But these young men did not do either of these things. A fire within them burned bright and strong. The option they took was transformation—being in the world, salt, and light, but not of the world. This is 'activating faith' that trusts and obeys God no matter what.— Romans 12:2

We see them making this choice repeatedly throughout Daniel 1 and 2. They refused to eat the king's food in violation of the law of Moses, they excelled in their studies, they treated those around them with respect and kindness. They attributed their success, wisdom, and gifting to the one true God.

Faith was their defence and weapon of survival and thriving in an unprecedented and changing world, and it protected them in the furnace.

This world's furnace may only get hotter, but God promises to be in the furnace with us when we live by faith. Let’s seek to do the same as these young men did in Babylon. Let’s wrap ourselves in the fire-proof blanket of faith.

MOVING BEYOND COVID-19 IN YOUTH MINISTRY

NEVILLE BARTLEY | SUNZ Youth Team Leader

In this article, I want to share a bit about the physical, emotional, and mental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic felt by youth ministries during the past two years, and the lingering effects as we head into a different future.

The effects on Youth Pastors, leaders, and the youth have varied in intensity dependant on the location of the youth ministry. However, even though some areas spent very few days in lockdown compared to others, there have been the equal effects caused by regulations, mandates, and people’s responses to them.

As I talked with people across the country it became very apparent that those doing youth ministry in the Auckland region have been affected far more than the rest of the country. To understand this, you only need to compare Auckland’s 107-day lockdown to the rest of the country’s 14 days.

Initially, as people looked back to that first lockdown in 2020, I heard comments like “it provided a space to rest” and “we had to engage in new ways of youth ministry digitally and pastorally.” Some loved the opportunity to work from home, while it drove others a bit crazy. Some embraced the time to connect with their own whānau.

There were a few who had only just started in their role as Youth Pastors, lockdown restricted their ability to build personal relationships with their youth. Some youth in lower socio-economic areas didn’t have the resources to engage online, so the leaders had to get creative to stay connected.

regulations and the cancellation of events. Leaders often found maintaining connection with their youth the hardest thing to keep going at a level that they thought was good. One Youth Pastor said it became “extremely hard to think beyond today, because why think ahead when it is likely to be cancelled.”

Continuous cancellations created what one Youth Pastor called a ‘non-committal mindset' amongst the youth, and this mindset is proving difficult to alter. Some Youth Pastors spoke of being “spiritually lonely”, “feeling emotionally drained” and “physically disengaged.” Many of the groups noticed a decline in numbers and in young people’s desire to engage spiritually.

Once the novelty of lockdown wore off, the comments about doing youth ministry during this time changed dramatically. Events that would normally only cause a minor disturbance suddenly became very challenging. As the effects of lockdowns wore on, I was greeted with phrases like “zoom fatigue”, “high anxiety”, “physical and mental fatigue” and even ‘burnout”.

One of the biggest stress points for leaders and the youth was the changing

One key obstacle for youth ministries across Aotearoa was the mandated regulations. They created tension, anger, disagreement, and even aggressive outburst from individuals and families. Leaders felt bound by the decisions being handed down to them, while at the same time they empathised with families and individuals differing viewpoints, creating a difficult balancing act. “The tone changed,” one youth pastor said. These issues caused people to leave youth ministries and churches, resulting in even more confusion for the youth. One leader refused to engage when I asked about the effect of the mandates, they didn’t have the physical, emotional, or spiritual energy to discuss with anyone about the rights and wrongs of it all.

CONTINUOUS CANCELLATIONS CREATED WHAT ONE YOUTH PASTOR CALLED A ‘NONCOMMITTAL MINDSET' AMONGST THE YOUTH

Many youth leaders felt unsupported by their own leaders and churches. Anything that impacts on maintaining and building relationships with the youth the ways these issues did is naturally detrimental to youth ministries.

Figures around Auckland suggest 3 in every 5 youth have moderate to severe negative mental health. If that is the case, then that needs to totally change how we do youth ministry.

Looking at the lingering effects of the pandemic, many are sceptical about the future. Some still find it extremely hard to make plans. Now, with monkey pox and the war on Ukraine, the anxieties of youth and youth leaders are only increasing. Some recognised that the world pre-pandemic was 'already exhausted and experiencing well-being distress.' The pandemic only brought this exhaustion above the surface, and we now face a world without sufficient resources to solve these problems.

Nearly every single person has mentioned that we can’t expect to go back to doing youth ministry like we did in the past. It

is a new world, a very tired, broken, hurt world. Many groups talked about seeing regrowth and young people who are full of questions and looking for truth.

If you have a youth ministry in your church, reach out to its leaders and youth and ask how you can encourage and support them. Please say thank you to the leaders for all they have given, and all they continue to give. The positive side of me thinks we are sitting at an important and exciting point in history where change in how we do youth ministry must occur. However, I am realistic enough to know that it will be slow and painful. I know that many who are currently involved as youth leaders need to be given permission to rest.

One final thing our church communities can do to help everyone’s mental health and well-being and that is to forgive one another. Young people will have better mental health and well-being if they are part of a community that is based on love and safety. So, let’s just forgive one another. Let’s work at creating communities where everyone feels safe, loved, and cared for.

PLEASE SAY THANK YOU TO THE LEADERS FOR ALL THEY HAVE GIVEN, AND ALL THEY CONTINUE TO GIVE.

We have all faced huge challenges over the past couple of years and the church has too. As we have gingerly returned to gathering inperson at church, I have often wondered why I am there. Not in a negative sense, but more a pondering about why we gather.

I am often drawn to a friend's analogy of a tuning fork. These are used to get instruments in tune with each other, and the idea is that we gather as Christians to get in tune with God and in tune with each other. When I attend church, I am there to engage with God and to engage with others.

Connecting with others has really suffered as a result of the pandemic. It has been and still is a huge challenge for churches. Although much momentum has been lost, this task is not insurmountable.

Our desire at Scripture Union is to see healthy churches across Aotearoa New Zealand. Churches where people of all ages can connect with each other. Churches where people help each other’s faith to thrive. Church is about individuals and their faith, and church is about the corporate faith of our church communities.

“Thrive” means to grow or develop well and vigorously and to flourish. The word conjures up images of growing children, animals, and plants. This visual is exactly what we wanted when we chose the name THRIVE for our mission of helping churches to grow lifelong disciples.

The image of a healthy tree is used throughout the Bible to describe individuals, families, and communities. We see in Psalm 1 the comparison between a healthy tree and an unhealthy one. A tree needs certain things to thrive, just like how faith needs certain things to thrive.

The Children and Families team have devised a year-long programme where we will journey with you and your church to help address this challenge. Through a process of consultation, facilitation, planning and ongoing support, we commit to journeying with your church to help address the issues of disconnection, not just for our children and young people, but for all of us.

To join us in this mission, or just to find out more, please email us at thrive@sunz.org.nz.

ANAMATA

TRAINING YOUTH LEADERS INTO THE

FUTURE

In te reo Māori, the word anamata means a time to come. The future is the basis behind the youth leaders training that we provide for churches and Christian youth organisations. One stream is aimed at those who are in their first two years of youth leadership or for others who just want a refresher on the basics. Another stream is for your more experienced youth leaders and looks at more in-depth leadership topics, and the final stream is aimed at those who find themselves in charge or one of the senior youth leaders within their youth ministry.

We aim to present topics that strengthen youth leaders and, as the name suggests,

to present the latest techniques to equip future leaders. We want to present a day where you have plenty of time to dive into the workshops, so each workshop is 90 minutes long, which means there is time for 3 workshops in each stream. We also provide a space during the day for youth leadership teams to come together and talk, plan or whatever they want to use the time for, and it gives groups from the same denominations time to come together and catch up as well. Our aim is to provide top quality training. These key events are planned for early in the year so that they can become an important part of a youth leaderships training and preparation.

NEVILLE BARTLEY | SUNZ Youth Team Leader

ANAMATA

THE FUTURE IS THE BASIS BEHIND THE YOUTH LEADERS TRAINING THAT WE PROVIDE...

The second part is in-house leader training. A youth ministry connects with one of our youth consultants in their region. They then organise for us to come in and run a specific training session with their leadership team. The session enables teams to go deeper into an area of training that is important to their youth ministry. These training sessions are offered free of charge, but if groups want to make a koha or offer to cover our travel expenses etc., we appreciate that. We want to make top level training to all youth leadership teams, and we want to ensure that cost will not be a barrier.

The in-house training has the advantage of being tailored to specific needs of a ministry and denominational structure. It

can also be done in the evenings or on weekends and is flexible to fit with what works best for the team.

We have a list of current training sessions that we run, and we are adding to that on a regular basis. However, if there is a topic that is not currently provided by us, we are happy to create something from within our team or, if needed, go outside to someone who is an expert in that area. If you have questions about what we have on offer check out the website or contact your local youth consultant.

A TIME OF PREPARATION ADVENT

Advent is a time of preparation and expectation, a season of waiting. Within Advent, there are two parallel journeys. The first is one in which we join the journey of the people of God over 2,000 years ago waiting for the Messiah. They were hoping for the one who would save Israel, the one bringing hope, peace, joy, love, and freedom. God provided this to them, and to all of us, through a baby born in Bethlehem.

The second journey is a personal one, we look individually to our world and our lives. We, too, long for hope, peace, joy, and love to reign. Our journey echoes that of the people waiting for the birth of Christ—come, Lord Jesus, come.

One way of marking this journey in our homes and churches is through an Advent Wreath. The traditional Advent Wreath uses the evergreen branches of pine trees to symbolise the faithfulness of God’s love and the candles show the light of Christ. In Aotearoa New Zealand we have adapted several northern hemisphere traditions, and the Advent Wreath can be adapted as well.

In this edition of the WAY2GO Magazine we will create a Kiwi version of an Advent Wreath, with ideas for you to use at home and at church.

Liz Eichler

Children and Families Team Leader, SUNZ

Welcome! Check out our ideas! Pull it out! & pass it around

AN A THROUGH

Advent Wreat Journey

There are many ideas available for making a traditional Advent Wreath. Here we have provided an idea for one with more of a Kiwi flavour. You will need five candles—one each of green, blue, yellow, red, and white. Arrange them on something flat, with the white candle in the middle, and decorate with shells, coloured glass stones and other collected things.

Take a look at the Aotearoa Advent Circle on http://

Advent

Here is an idea you could use at home, at the start of your church service, or in your children’s ministry.

ADVENT 1 Sunday, 27 November Hope | Tumanako

Ask someone to read out loud:

Today is the first Sunday of Advent— the time when we prepare for the coming of Jesus.

We light a candle each week to remind us that Jesus brings light into the dark places of the world.

We light the candle of HOPE to proclaim that God’s light is coming into the world. (Light the green candle)

Read together: Luke 1:5-25

Pray: Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the Hope that we can find in Jesus, today and every day. Amen.

2

Sunday, 4 December Peace | Rangimarie

Ask someone to read out loud:

Today is the second Sunday of Advent—the time when we prepare for the coming of Jesus.

Grass withers, flowers fade, but God’s word lasts forever.

We light this candle as a symbol of our HOPE. (Light the green candle)

We long for the day when peace and goodwill is real across the world. We light this candle as a symbol of PEACE. (Light the blue candle)

Read together: Luke 1:26-38

Pray: Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the Peace that we can find in Jesus, today and every day. Amen

ADVENT 3 Sunday, 11 December Joy | Harikoa

Ask someone to read out loud:

This is the third Sunday of Advent—the time when we prepare for the coming of Jesus.

Tell of a world where the desert sings, rejoices, and blossoms. Where everyone will want to dance and sing for joy.

We wait in HOPE and PEACE. (Light the green and blue candles)

The God in whom we rejoice, prepares our hearts for the coming of the Lord. We light the candle of JOY. (Light the yellow candle)

Read together: Luke 1:39-56

Pray: Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the Joy that we can find in Jesus, today and every day. Amen

ADVENT 4 Sunday, 18 December Love | Aroha

Ask someone to read out loud:

This is the fourth Sunday of Advent—the time when we prepare for the coming of Jesus.

No other word captures what we know of our God better than the word Love.

We wait in HOPE, and PEACE, and with JOY. (Light the green, blue, and yellow candles)

We light the candle of LOVE to proclaim God’s LOVE shown to us in the child born in Bethlehem.

We await the birth of God’s LOVE this Christmas. (Light the red candle)

Read together: Luke 1:57-80

Pray: Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the Love that we can find in Jesus, today and every day. Amen

Christmas Day | Kirihimete Sunday, 25th December 2022

(Light all the coloured candles)

Ask someone to read out loud: God, creator, and giver of life, be born in us again as you were long ago. Be born in us again and again in the words and deeds of faithful people. Be born in us as love, as joy, as peace, and as hope for justice. As we light this candle, may your light come to all people. Amen. (Light the white candle)

Read together: Luke 2:1-21

Pray: Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the Hope, the Peace, the Joy, and the Love that we can find in Jesus, today and every day. Amen.

Another way to count the days to Christmas is through a Jesse Tree. Jesse Trees are an old Christmas Tradition, dating back to medieval times. They are used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story.

The first Jesse Trees were large carvings, tapestries or even stainedglass windows put in churches that helped people who couldn’t read

or write learn about the Bible—from creation to the Christmas Story. These days Jesse Trees can be used as a kind of Advent Calendar. Check out our free gift to you this Christmas, a Kiwi Jesse Tree on our Breakthrough website: https://www. sunzbreakthrough.org.nz/ resources/the-jesse-tree

THE

'Connection’ takes up a lot of head space in my world. What does it look like to reconcile the disconnection of our present age? How much hope is there in reconnecting with each other, with God, with creation?

Should we return to old ways of reconnecting or adapt our old ways to account for our current climate?

I’m a person who always has a rotation of questions or concepts that I’m mulling over. Currently one of my go-to topics is author Victoria Loorz’s prompt: “Tell me about the land who raised you.” I’ve heard joyful retellings of ‘play’ facilitated by the outdoors, nostalgia for simpler times or a different culture, appreciation for the intimacy of a small backyard and the opportunity to know it well.

I used that prompt at our North Island Leadership Training weekend in August as an icebreaker, and as we debriefed the conversations we had, we realised how much deeper it prompted us to go. We observed the power of conversation as we swapped partners, how people inform

NATALIE DUCHESNE

| SUNZ North Island Camps Facilitator

Natalie is passionate about young people and the way being in the outdoors encourages and grows their faith as they connect with God and with each other.

our own responses and how they evolve with each interaction. What a powerful thing to identify at the start of a weekend which requires connection and input. The outdoors inadvertently connected us to each other that morning, simply as the focus of our conversation.

Imagine then, what happens when we’re actually outdoors? Mental health struggles are at the forefront, and, from what we know, anxiety is a bodily and mental fear of something in the future. There’s a rebuilding of confidence that is necessary for resilience. I—at least most of the time—delight in the future, but struggle to be present, but I’ve recently noticed just how present the outdoors allows me to be. What a gift to have the privilege of giving our young people as we explore what it means to reconnect. The ability to be present opens opportunity. Suddenly we have space to be attentive to God’s voice, and his ever-present movement around us.

THE NEXT DAY

WHAT SOME YEAR 10 STUDENTS HAVE LEARNT FROM ĀPŌPŌ

BE KIND AND LISTEN WHEN SOMEONE TALKS TO ME."

When we presented our first Āpōpō mental health workshops over four years ago, we’d often talk about the fact that they may not have come across anyone struggling with their mental health or suicide in their lives yet, but at some stage if they do, the tools we are teaching them will be there to help. Sadly, four years later, we don’t even have to say that sentence anymore, because now most of them will know someone.

A survey by the NZ Mental Health Foundation in February this year found that 36% of people (well over 1.8 million) surveyed were experiencing poor or very poor emotional wellbeing, up from 27% a year ago. Two years of unprecedented stress and disruption brought on by the coronavirus pandemic has had an enormous psychological toll on Kiwis— and that burden is growing.

In an ever-changing world that is crying out for stability, support, and hope, our Āpōpō workshops have never been more needed. We need to equip people to support themselves and each other when it comes to mental health and wellbeing.

One of the things that separates Āpōpō from other programmes is that it’s not just about inspiration and emotional impact, but about establishing simple, practical tools and getting young people to use skills that we are all capable of. It’s about loving our neighbour seriously and trying to change a culture in which the gaze is on ourselves and reverting it onto those around us.

It’s putting the words in Philippians 2:4 into practice—“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

The outcomes we want to see in our young people is being shown in the feedback we are getting from those participating in Āpōpō workshops.

If you want to find out more about Āpōpō and how you can use it to bring hope and connection in your churches, schools and communities, then get in touch at: apopo@sunz.org.nz

BE MORE THERE FOR PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT WAY."

LOOK AFTER FRIENDS AND FAMILY."EVERYONE DESERVES HELP."

ALWAYS ASK YOUR FRIENDS HOW THEY ARE DOING, AND CHECK UP ON THEM." I LEARNT HOW TO COMFORT SOMEONE."

Hearing from our emerging adults

ONRetrEAt with

The annual Beyond Experience (BE) Retreat is still in the recent memory for most of us. While our memories might be different, there was a great sense of how the main message of invitation was disseminated. We were eager to hear from the Beyond Experience participants (BE’ers) & Kaiārahi about their reflections.

We don’t want to keep this a secret. Obviously, we could have been selective in what we share, but we won't hold back the honest responses of people's experience from you. The good feedback is great; however, we want to find growth for ourselves and the programme through the constructive stuff.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM THE BE RETREAT?

• Enjoying time to be silent

• How technology intersectswith our lives

• Meaningful connection

• Better insights into issuesfor Young Adults.

• How being an Emerging Adultimpacts my life

• How to not complicate spending timewith God

• I am invited to be myself

• There is an amazingcommunity of people around me on a similar journey

• Humans are a lot more complex than I realised, yet God knows us completely & loves us fully

• Connections with other passionate leaders

• Feeling valued as a young leader

• Sense of potential callingin Christian leadership

• Responding to invitation, rather thanassuming the invitation is for othersand not for me

• The importance of being a leaderwith a faith in today’s world

• I am not alone

• I need to take time in my busy lifeto stop and spend time with God and do nothing

WHAT CANN BE/SSUNZ DO BETTER IN RUNNNING THE BE RETREAT NEXT YEAR?

Make retreat longer

I enjoy

us all to writedown

take-home

The planning team did suchan incredible job of fitting

much into the weekend

perhaps do a “longweekend”

More Pilgrimage time

More reflective focus time

Think about sustainabilityand housing

WHAT ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH?

Maybe more worship

More discussion time/ small groups

Consider a panel

Kaia-rahi for 2nd years

More workshop options

MoVe retreat to beginning of the year

this,

will work hard

been

consider

The BE Retreat will beback next year, date tobe confirmed.

Light

for the path

BETH COATES | Beyond Experience Administrator

Averse that God has continued to bring me back to recently is Psalm 84:5, which reads in the NIV, ‘Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.’ The person who finds strength in God is the same person that has their heart set on pilgrimage.

I have been asking God to show me where my heart has not been set on the pilgrimage that He has designed for my life. Sometimes there are areas of our walk with God that are much easier to accept than others. If my heart is not fully surrendered on the journey, I cannot accept God’s strength. The only alternative that this creates is to do things in my own strength. We are visitors to this life and so we cannot rely on the self or the world for strength. Our true strength and treasure are in Heaven. I love this verse because it speaks to a love for the house of God, which displays the heart of the pilgrim. Together, as pilgrims, we meet and draw on God’s strength. To have a love and a longing for God’s house prepares a foundation for our life in this world. At times, for

different reasons, I have found it hard to truly love my church. It will always be flawed—having been built by human hands—but it is also a place that God chooses to dwell. The local church is His, and as such it is the hope of the world. Until we can be with God in Heaven, we can choose to find the sweetness that comes from our reliance upon His strength.

As I go on this pilgrimage I pray ‘He rama tāu kupu ki ōku waewae, he marama ki toku ara (Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path);’ that God would continue to illuminate my path and show me the next step that I need to take.

IF MY HEART IS NOT FULLY SURRENDERED ON THE JOURNEY, I CANNOT ACCEPT GOD’S STRENGTH.

Meet BETH

Beth, our writer for ‘Light for the Path’, is the Beyond Experience Administrator. We asked her to introduce herself to you. Here’s what she had to say:

Kia Ora e te whānau!

My name is Beth Coates, and I am a part-time neuropharmacology postgraduate student in Ōtepoti Dunedin, and the newest staff member of SUNZ. I have recently stepped into the position of Administrator for our leadership development programme, Beyond Experience. I am originally from Tāmaki Makaurau and I try and go back as much as I can to see my favourite people—my family.

My personal journey with SUNZ began when I first attended a SUPAKidz camp when I was nine, and I subsequently attended Mangawhai Marine, Pōnui Junior and Pōnui Senior. I now get to go back to Pōnui Junior as a leader, which is a privilege. It’s also special to continue my family’s involvement with SUNZ. My Dad used to lead on cycle camps when he was in his 20's. I am passionate about the work that SUNZ does, especially in reaching youth with biblical truth, and I hope to make a positive impact in my new role.

God has given me a passion for neuroscience, and I have a keen interest in drug development to treat neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer. I hope to complete further postgraduate study and ultimately work as a neuropharmacology researcher.

OUT & ABOUT

HILARY HAGUE

Auckland staff have been taking advantage of the lifted travel restrictions. Andy spent a month in the UK connecting with his family. Andrew travelled home to South Africa for 3 weeks—it has been years since he has been able to see his friends and family there. He returned to a busy September schedule, with another WAY2GO event in Tauranga and several speaking opportunities, including a Children’s Church, a Family Fun Day and a Hotel Chapel. Annette also returned from her overseas trip, meeting with the rest of the SUI Ministry Team to plan for the year ahead. One key project is Bible engagement resources. She is gearing up for the first Y6-Y8 camp on Pōnui this spring holidays. Her next trip will be to Thailand in October.

Please check out the News and Stories section on our website www.sunz.org.nz for more information. We’ve developed this section especially to keep you up to date with what’s happening at SUNZ.

commence at Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park at the start of September.

Waikato has seen a North Island Leader Training weekend in Pirongia this May. Then over the school holidays, two snow camps were held at the SU Adventure Lodge in Ruapehu. Looking forward, Hamilton will see four weeks of ‘residency’ facilitating youth group at Gateway Church in August, which Natalie will be piloting a program she’s writing for a Going Deeper camp in October. She will also be speaking at Te Rautini youth group for two weeks. The North Island Leader Training weekend is taking place at the end of August, and the Wild Wāhine girls hiking program will

The Children and Families Team have had a week in Wellington planning and praying for next year. The AGM was on Zoom, but based in Wellington. It was good to see so many friendly faces and spend this time together.

Most of August was spent prepping for South Island Leader Training (SILT). This annual training weekend has grown in the past few years. We had over 10 people travel down from Ōtautahi this year. Otherwise, we were spending quality time with our awesome BE’ers.

Lizzie and Nigel have both been involved facilitating a THRIVE workshop with a local Baptist Church and meeting with our BE (Beyond Experience) mentees.

We are about to run our annual South Island Camp Leaders Training Weekend. Nigel ran another WAY2GO Children’s Ministry Training Day in Cromwell (Central Otago) and is busy planning for the Southland SUPAkidz Camp in October. Lizzie has been hosting youth leaders network gatherings, supporting youth groups, and having ongoing conversations regarding opportunities to run the mental health workshop, Āpōpō.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara \ Wellington

Ōtautahi \ Christchurch

Ōtepoti \ Dunedin

Kirikiriroa \ Hamilton

Tāmaki Makaurau \ Auckland

THE YEAR 2021/22 IN NUMBERS

campers attended our adventure-based camps, DISCOVERING JESUS and learning to serve the world around them.

young people

underwent training to become God-centred leaders of in�luence, today and in the future.

wonderful supporters donated a combined total of

estimated hours of work by SUNZ VOLUNTEERS making an impact on the lives of thousands of children and young people around New Zealand.

opportunities were taken up by people to OPEN THE BIBLE IN LIFE-CHANGING WAYS, with the help of our Bible reading guides and app.

CHURCH WORKERS were supported and equipped to minister to children and young people in their churches and communities.

744 children and young people learned about life and faith through our school and community-based programmes.

To read about all the exciting things God has been doing through SUNZ and how your support makes a di�ference, check out the rest of our latest annual review at sunz.org.nz/annual-review

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By leaving a gift in your Will, the fruit of your faith will live on as future generations are able to hear about our amazing God and the difference he can make to their lives. What a legacy to leave!

My parents’ gift to SUNZ will honour their memory, continuing their life work of supporting young people in their walk with Jesus.’ CRAIG HARRISON whose parents left a gift in their will to SUNZ

We are convinced that it is worth including SUNZ in our Wills because we expect it to go on being blessed by God and being a blessing to the whole church in New Zealand. We are confident in the wise stewardship of resources within SUNZ, glad to see prudence in the expenditure of funds, sowing the seed of gift income to produce a great harvest.’

HUMPHREY & LOIS BABBAGE SUNZ supporters

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