ISSN 1176-5143
ADVENTURE AUGUST 2016
TOMORROW’S LEADERS HERE TODAY
GO WAAYG2AZINE M
IDE
INS
How are we developing the leadership potential of our young people?
INSIDE THE PASSAGE TO ADULTHOOD
LEARNING TO BELONG
MORE THAN A CAMPER
editorial Scripture Union NZ (SUNZ) has been running camps for young people around New Zealand for decades. Successive generations of families have enjoyed the relationships and memories formed in the ‘temporary community’ called camping. Our camps have always provided an opportunity for faith to grow and for leadership ability to flourish. That is what has kept SUNZ in the business of camping for so long.
Ben Necklen, our South Island Camps Facilitator, tells a story (page 14) that illustrates the beauty of our young leaders journeying with fellow young people through various life stages in the context of camping. It is a lovely description of struggling and rejoicing together, of leaders of differing abilities modelling a relationship with Jesus. We believe that the church, like camps, can be a safe environment to stretch young people and see them grow. The truth is that the Christian community has a responsibility to steward young people through life, helping them to navigate through what we call ‘rites of passage’. Our youth team discuss this on pages 4 and 12. It is important that rites of passage are experienced as a community and not in isolation. Doing things as a community also resonates with our reading of biblical history and the forming of a people who reflect the God they follow and serve. Giving young people leadership opportunities appropriate to their age and stage is risky and messy. It involves members of the community 2 www.sunz.org.nz
being prepared to be vulnerable, transparent and authentic — all characteristics a leader needs. Hilary Hague, our SUNZ Children and Families Ministry Leader, makes a plea in her article that we as grown-ups share church with the children who are our potential leaders. We also ask youth (on pages 8-9) about what it means for them to be called leaders within their church. One young person responded: ‘I get to feel like I am doing God’s work in the hearts of others whenever I am doing something involving leadership in my church community’. I smiled when I read that! Leadership is not something you do to others. It is a holistic thing. As you turn these pages can I ask you to reflect on your own Christian journey and the important waypoints you have experienced. As you do, bring to mind some young people you know who may be experiencing these waypoints at this moment. Like us, be inspired to do what you can to develop a new generation of leaders.
WAYNE FRASER National Director
contents Features 4
THE PASSAGE TO ADULTHOOD
10
IF IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR JESUS
12
LEARNING TO BELONG
14
MORE THAN A CAMPER
20
OWNING MY FAITH AT UNIVERSITY
22
GREAT AND MIGHTY
Neville Bartley
Jeremy Woods
Aaron Douglas Ben Necklen
Ben Carswell
Hilary Hague
Interviews 8
Q&A
Friends of SUNZ
Updates 25
LIGHT FOR THE PATH
26
OUT AND ABOUT AUGUST
Liz Eichler
Children’s Ministry 15
WAY2GO MAGAZINE
Resources 28
RESOURCES FOR LIFE August 2016 3
THE PASSAGE TO
ADULTHOOD Growing maturity in our young people BY NEVILLE BARTLEY Yo u th M i n i str y L e ader, S UNZ
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To grow and develop into world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ, the youth who attend churches and youth ministries need a place to ‘work on it’. These young people need opportunities within our churches to ask questions, to discover their giftings, and to ‘give it a go’. This helps them to grow and develop — not only as followers of Christ but also as young adults. The more opportunities there are for involvement within the church and with adults in the church, the greater the chance that these young believers will grow a lasting faith. • What can we do to help young people to feel they are a vital part of the church? • What opportunities can we give them to live out their faith? • How can we help them feel recognised, respected and relevant in and to the church? The answers may be a lot simpler than you think.
MARKING MILESTONES All of us like to know that we are progressing in life — and we often mark this progression with significant events and celebrations. Our church families should be doing the same: celebrating young people’s transition from one ministry area to another, from intermediate to high school, and from high school to whatever comes next. We should be recognising progression from childhood to adulthood and creating rites of passage. All of these things make a young person feel as though they are important, recognised and respected amongst the church community. And alongside this, their faith and maturity grow.
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT We all like to feel significant and needed, and as a church community we need to provide opportunity for young believers to feel just that. It’s not hard. We just need to look for opportunities to allow them to be involved. It doesn’t have to be up-front leadership it just needs to be something that is significant to them. I remember a young person whom I gave the role of operating the OHPs for youth group and youth services (I know I am old!). It was a simple task really, but as an adult she reflected that it was one of the key things that kept her coming to church and enabled her to grow as a follower of Christ. If young people are gifted at speaking or teaching, then why not guide them, teach them and give them opportunities to give it a go. Yes, sometimes providing these roles and responsibilities means more work for us, but the minor sacrifice required to impact the life and growth of a young person is worth it.
We should be recognising progression from childhood to adulthood and creating rites of passage. Providing young people opportunities to be involved also provides them opportunities to rub shoulders with older adults in the church. This matures them and benefits their faith — and in my experience it benefits the adults as well. August 2016 5
MAKING PEOPLE A PRIORITY We all say we are busy, and just trying to ‘do everyday life’ is hectic. That may be true, but Jesus always had time for people, and as His followers and as His church we should make it a priority also. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy a good celebration? Who doesn’t enjoy seeing someone grow and develop under our guidance? Who doesn’t want to have their own role to play in the community of God? If we provide spaces and places for our young people to grow, explore and discover we will benefit, they will benefit and the kingdom of God will benefit.
MAKE A START So what can you do to help one young person on their journey of faith, on their journey of life? Maybe you could ask God to point
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someone out to you and show you how and where to begin. If you are in leadership within your church community take the time to check out what you have in place to help young people belong and be involved. If you don’t have things in place then why not get started? If you do have things in place, are they being utilised? The reality is that following Christ is a journey of growth and discovery, no matter what age we are. So let’s take the journey together as a family of Christ.
2016
EXODUS P R I M E
J A N U A R Y 16 - 20 TH 2 0 1 7 Y E A R S 10 - 13
Exodus Prime Young Leader Training Camp and Mentorship Program f rom SUNZ equips young New Zealand Christians to be leaders of impact, today and in the f uture. Nominate a young person in your church now. Go on I dare you! Ch e ck o u t o ur p a g e f o r m o r e in f o.
w w w.s u n z.o r g.n z/e xo d u s-p r im e
REGISTER NOW AT WWW.SUNZ.ORG.NZ/WAY2GO
August 2016 7
Q&A
What d o es it mean to yo u to b e a yo ung lead er w it hin yo ur c hurc h? We asked youth who attended our recent Exodus Prime camp.
DANIELGoldsworthy. To me, being a leader in the church is to lead by example in the way that Christ would lead. No matter how young or how old you are you still lead by doing the same things, and people watch you. They see the way you act and the way you talk and that’s how some people get their image of what Christians are like, and what it’s like to be a follower God. For me being a leader is pretty sweet. People look up to you and they try to do what you do. To be a leader in the church however is more special, and more of a blessing. I get to lead people into meeting with Christ and starting their spiritual journey with our heavenly father. Yes people still look up to you and try to do what you do but being a leader in the church means that if you act like Christ then those who look up to you will try to be like Christ too. I feel like I can make a difference in people’s lives and help them to know our savior. To be a leader it’s good to know who you are leading and where you are leading them to. As 8 www.sunz.org.nz
a leader of the church you are usually leading people who want to know the big man up in the sky. Sometimes these people already know God and want to go deeper with him, and sometimes they are people who don’t yet know God and want to find that something that their hearts desire. As a leader I feel like I can help them to do that. The young and the elderly. So to me, being a young leader in the church is to set a Christ-like example to those around you and to help them on their journey with God. “Change the world and let it start with me”.
SAMLightfoot. To be a young leader within my church is an opportunity I wouldn’t miss. Being a co-leader within my youth small group and also having opportunities to worship lead during church services and youth group has grown me to become more confident in my faith. It has given me more opportunities to share my faith with others which before my time of leadership would be frightening.
THOMASCross. It means so much to me, as it gives me an opportunity to build up bonds with all generations in the Church community by doing things such as being in charge of the projector on a Sunday or talking with anyone once the service is over while everyone is hanging around enjoying one another’s company. It also gives me a chance to impart wisdom and knowledge onto the future generations, whether through being a youth group leader for the local intermediate kids, or just making sure that the younger kids are entertained and having a good time while waiting to go home after a church service on a Sunday afternoon.
Becoming a leader meant that I was ready to go deeper within my relationship with God as well as grow in a new place. It also meant to walk a journey with others to help them to go deeper within their faith.
MIKEJessop. Jesus’ idea of leadership isn’t standing up the front of Church and speaking. It’s about serving. Jesus’ ministry was as much about the things he did as it was about the things he said. Jesus was a humble servant so as a young leader in the church I try and model my leadership on Jesus. This means that my main goal as a young leader in the church is to serve those around me with whatever is needed.
The most important thing about being a young leader to me is how I get to feel like I am doing God’s work in the hearts of others whenever I am doing something involving leadership in my church community. Passing his word on through me into others is the best thing a kid my age can ask for. August 2016 9
IF IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR
Jesus… JEREMY WOODS Youth and Children’s Ministries Specialist, Bible Society NZ
A huge factor in the church youth “drop-out” problem is lack of discipleship and mentoring. We need to be inviting young people to be participating in the life of the church community. Not just the up-and-comers, but those that seem like a risk too. Let me tell you why... Imagine the twelve disciples of Jesus. What do you see? If your mind conjures up long robes and luscious beards, white curly locks of hair and deep set wrinkles – then you can thank medieval and renaissance paintings for this image. The twelve disciples would have likely been young: perhaps ranging from their mid teens 10 www.sunz.org.nz
to late-twenties. Peter and Matthew being the oldest, and John the youngest. Nothing in Scripture tells us the age of the disciples, but we can gauge from various factors. Peter was the only disciple who was mentioned to be married – a 1st century Jewish man was married after age 18 (Matt 8:14-15) – and the only disciple instructed to pay the temple tax, a requirement for those over 20 (Matt 17:2427). And what better description of young, boisterous teenage boys than “Sons of thunder.” (Mark 3:17). Not only were the disciples young, but they were not the elite educated few of the
educational/religious system. When Peter and John spoke before the council, people were shocked at what they were saying because of their lack of education (Acts 4:13). The disciples were fishermen together with a tax collector, a revolutionary (Simon the Zealot) and a handful of other nobodies!
them. Imagine sorting through your stuff for a garage sale - a fresh pair of eyes will point out all the things you’ve overlooked because (consciously or otherwise) you cannot bring yourself to consider getting rid of them. Be bold, and invite youth to shape what being the community of Jesus looks like today.
These are not the candidates you or I might select when choosing a leadership team. However these young, scrappy boys are the ones Jesus chose to be his disciples, so perhaps we had better be attentive to what Jesus is doing here. I believe there are two key things we can take away from Jesus’ selection of the disciples that will encourage us to invite young people to be more involved in various areas of ministry.
2) Jesus was living out grace: something we often spiritualise but do not bring to our practical decision-making. Jesus was not put off by the immaturity, weakness and recklessness of the young disciples; rather he saw in them an opportunity to invest. Yes, he found them tiring and their growth slow (Mark 9:19), and I am sure that at times he’d wished he had disciples that had it together. But then neither they, nor us, would know how radical and transformative the grace of God is.
1) Because the disciples were largely uneducated, they had much less to unlearn when it came to understanding the law and the prophets and the traditions built upon them. All churches have certain ways of doing things and it is the young people in your church who are going to question
There are risks in granting responsibility to teenagers, but this is an important part of the maturing and development of youth, as well as critical to weaving them into the life of a community. If taking that risk was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us.
If taking that risk was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us.
August 2016 11
LEARNING
TOBELONG
Rites of Passage in an individualistic culture AARON DOUGLAS Youth Consultant, SUNZ
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G
Who am I? Where do I belong? These are two major identity questions young people ask as they form their own identity. Who am I? This question is made harder for our young people with the broad and varied communities they find themselves in today (social media, advanced sports teams that travel, membership of regional groups such as orchestras, bands, dance groups). This question is answered by the feedback they get back from their peers and adults in their lives. Identity formation now takes longer with the inconsistent feedback they are getting from these different settings.
The Youth team at Scripture Union NZ (SUNZ) has been delighted with the response of the churches in New Zealand to the new initiative of Exodus Prime. Working together with the Church, SUNZ provides the leadershipintensive week and the mentor training so that the Church can intentionally form their young people and help them answer the big questions above and to develop disciplines in their lives that will help ensure they don’t put their identity and faith in a lockbox in the future.
I hear more language of loneliness and abandonment than I hear of connectedness and a sense of belonging...
Where do I belong? Without a cultural deemphasis on families and community our young people struggle longer with this identity question. In conversations with many young people, regarding the adults in their lives, I hear more language of loneliness and abandonment than I hear of connectedness and a sense of belonging in community with adults. Failure to grapple with these questions adequately in adolescence can result in young people putting their identity and their faith in a lockbox that can have disastrous consequences. One of the ways to help young people navigate these formative questions is through Rites of Passage. In more communal cultures these often are moments in time that mark a changed status of the person within a community. In our individualistic culture I believe that we need to be thinking about Rites of Passage over a period of time that not only helps the young person to form their identity but challenges the community to be intergenerational in their ministry to young people.
One church who has sent five young people have already seen the transformation in their lives and are seeing them now engaged in the whole life of the church including being elected to Vestry, worship leading and taking care of the younger youth ministry. These young people are experiencing a Rite of Passage from child to adult that will have lifelong impact in God’s Kingdom.
For more information about Exodus Prime please visit www.sunz.org.nz/ exodus-prime
August 2016 13
MORE THAN A CAMPER BEN NECKLEN South Island Camps Facilitator, SUNZ
“Do you remember me from Te Anau [camp]?” A young teenager asked me. This was a fantastic and dreaded question at the same time. “Do I look familiar?”
camps are simply a section of history where thousands of volunteers gathered together to see camps have an incredible impact on young people’s faith.
Tim was a shy 7-year-old when we first met. I was leading on my first Scripture Union NZ camp and he had been dragged along with his parents who were the responsible camp parents on site. I distinctly remember him being looked after by the campers and getting involved as a camp kid. Fast forward to 11 years later – after multiple camps, E3 camp expeditions, discussions about life – to today, as he is about to attend his first camp as a leader, sitting in a humble McDonalds in Ashburton discussing how we can excite the youth of today to join the camping revolution. That’s right, a revolution starting from Ashburton McDonalds.
Energy, faith, commitment and compassion. These are just some of the qualities I see in our camp leaders. I have seen our leaders struggle alongside a young person and Our leaders do their challenges more than make at school, listen camps happen, to youth as they they are the heroes experience tough of the day for NZ’s family situations, next generation. walk beside them after bad decisions have been made. I see them go through life modelling a relationship with Jesus. Our leaders do more than make camps happen, they are the heroes of the day for NZ’s next generation.
Recently, we had a leaders training weekend at Peel Forest in Canterbury. While we were sharing stories on camp it suddenly dawned on me: We have families here with their children who are the next generation of campers. We have university students, like Tim, who have walked the journey and are now passionate about sharing their faith. We have experienced leaders who have been carrying the baton for some years now. We are so blessed! God is good and these 14 www.sunz.org.nz
I challenge you with the following two questions as a way for us to pause and think about our responsibilities as leaders called by God: 1) Who can you walk alongside to encourage and influence as a leader? 2) As leaders, who can we continue to learn from (regardless of age)?
LAB
27AUGUST
2016
AUCKLAND | NZ
Empowering our church in a changing world Our world is always changing. Our culture is becoming increasingly diverse. NZ is the fifth most ethnically diverse country in the OECD. How do we as leaders respond and excel in our ever-changing environment?
For more information or to register for Leaders Lab visit www.leaderslab.org.nz Workshops at Leaders Lab include:
A LEADER’S C U LT U R A L INTELLIGENCE
GROWING YOUNG PEOPLE INTO GREAT LEADERS
0508 423 836 | marketing@sunz.org.nz
EXTENDING YOUR LEADERSHIP
OWNING MY FAITH
AT UNIVERSITY
BEN CARSWELL
National Outreach Coordinator, TSCF
Ben Carswell studied in Scotland, Wales & USA. He now serves as National Outreach Coordinator with Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship (TSCF). TSCF is a movement of student groups on University, Polytech & College campuses around NZ seeking to reach students for Christ and to change them for life. To find more about the TSCF group on your campus, email Ben at benc@tscf.org.nz 20 www.sunz.org.nz
SCF
I’ll never forget the moment that day as I looked back and said ‘Goodbye’ to my parents. No longer was I a high school student. I had now entered the real world. The choice of what time I woke up, what time I slept, what lectures I went to and what I skipped was now mine and mine alone. The opportunities excited me. The new horizons daunted me. I had to make new friends, navigate new places and face new experiences. I was all on my own. Except, I wasn’t. Yes, mum and dad were no longer around to hold my hand (metaphorically speaking, I assure you!). But I wasn’t alone – you see, I knew that God was with me – at home, at school and now as I started out on the adventure in my post-school life. For me, I trusted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, becoming a Christian as a young child. Through my teenage years, I cemented the decision I had made to follow Jesus, despite it being, at times, costly and counter-cultural. But it wasn’t till I left home that I can really say for sure that my faith became my own. Having had the immense privilege of growing up in a Christian family, the danger of my faith being a ‘second-hand religion’ passed on to me by my parents was all too real. As I started university, I had a series of choices before me – choices that would define me. Who was I? How would I introduce myself to others? What would I get involved in? What would I refrain from? Where would I draw the line? The first Sunday of University was when it really hit home. Would I stay in bed and sleep on, or would I get involved in church? My body said one thing (‘Sleep on!’ ‘Bed is so warm & cozy!’), thankfully my heart and my head said something different.
Meeting friends, there was the challenge of what identity I would take. Thankfully, good friends encouraged me as a Christian to ‘nail my colours to the mast’ early on. I made choices to describe and define myself as a Christian. I’m sure there were some people who avoided me because of all they fear that entails, but I found it helped me be clear about the priorities in my life.
Thankfully, good friends encouraged me as a Christian to ‘nail my colours to the mast’ early on. I made choices to
describe and define myself as a Christian. I tried to be as sociable as I could – sport helped me make great friends. I watched and played as much as I could. At times, activities around sport at university clashed with what I knew would honour Jesus – I had to walk way, but most of the time, I was seeking to be God’s salt and light in the world in which He had placed me. I also got involved in the University Christian Union which brought me together with other Christians. Having others around me to support and help me, and together to live out and speak about the Christian faith kept me going when things were tough. The choice to involve myself in a group like this and to put my faith at the center of my life was crucial to my growth as a Christian. University was such a formative time for me. Today, in our family home, we have a verse on our kitchen wall. It reads ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord’ (Josh 24:15) I am sure the choice to follow Jesus today was borne out of the choice to follow Jesus in those early days of Uni as I transitioned out of High School into Tertiary education. August 2016 21
&
Great Mighty – although maybe not quite yet.
HILARY HAGUE
Children and Families Ministr y Leader, SUNZ
When God called young Gideon a great and mighty warrior, the truth was he was neither great nor mighty. In fact he was hiding in a pit, scared and uncertain. Yet God chose him and, in a prophetic statement, called him into the future He had for him. Gideon, however, wasn’t so sure. He did do what God had asked him to do, but he was so afraid that he did it at night when no-one would see. (And just as well - when everyone got up in the morning and saw what he had done they wanted to kill him.)1 There are young people like Gideon sitting in many of our churches. They are potential leaders but never get much of an opportunity or any help to grow into their gifts. I wonder 22 www.sunz.org.nz
And these are God’s young people. People he loves and values. So let’s try to see them through God’s eyes and make space for them to grow into all that God wants them to be. why? Could it be that we only see the present and miss the future that God sees for them? Could it be that we are worried about what they will do or say to our church?
and compassion that God shows us and pick them up and help them keep on going.
The thing is it’s actually God’s church.
Because who knows, if you and I take up this challenge and encourage the young people around us to grow into God’s plans, we may end up with a church full of the sort of people Gideon grew into — strong courageous followers of God who will make a difference in the church and in the world around them.
And these are God’s young people. People he loves and values. So let’s try to see them through God’s eyes and make space for them to grow into all that God wants them to be. Let’s journey alongside them and mentor them and encourage them and pray for them. Let’s figure out what we can do to empower them. Let’s step outside our comfort zones and allow them take chances and make mistakes. And when they do, let’s show them the same grace
Let’s share His church with them.
Imagine churches full of people like that!
1 Joshua 6:11-30
August 2016 23
PAT C H A M B E R L A I N Gone to Glory!
[ Wr itten by J en n y Mac k ie ]
We thank God for the life of Pat Chamberlain, the matriarch of South Ponui Island, who died on 4 June. Since her marriage to Peter 59 years ago, Pat faithfully supported Scripture Union’s camping ministry on Ponui. Her nursing skills were called upon by nervous camp first aiders; she shared her love of the island with campers, taking them on walks which were generally not as ‘short and easy’ as she claimed! She joined in barge picnics, overnighters and Sunday services, and donated fruit from the orchard to the camp kitchen. She was the Keeper of the Visitors Books, ensuring decades of Ponui camping history has been retained. Her own name appears in these books, as a camper on the Bible Study Camps. Her support of Scripture Union went beyond the island. She sold Ponui cards to raise funds, and was joint vice-president with Peter on Scripture Union’s Board of Reference for a number of years. Pat was an unassuming, caring person who gave all her life. We extend our warmest love to Peter and the Chamberlain family in their loss. We rejoice that she is now enjoying the glories of Heaven!
ELIZABETH SINGLETON [ Wr i t te n by Paul Mar tell ]
We in Scripture Union NZ remember with thanks to God, Elizabeth’s kindness and hospitality, and her seemingly boundless energy. Hundreds of women will recall her loving care from their teenage experience of SUNZ camps on the Singleton property at Waipu Cove. Elizabeth’s commitment to Christ was wholehearted, and she fully supported her husband Kit in his voluntary work with SUNZ. We share in the grief of her passing, and we look forward to the day when death will be “swallowed up in victory.” (I Corinthians 15:54) 24 www.sunz.org.nz
light for the path BY L IZ E ICHLER Ch ildren an d Families Worker, SU NZ
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 1:3-6 (NIV)
KEEP PRAYING AND ENCOUNTERING Sometimes we see results of our ministry and sometimes we don’t. But God always has a masterplan. When I left my job as a Scripture Union Inter School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) staff member in 1997, this passage from Philippians reflected my hope and prayer for the young people I had worked with — that their faith journey would continue, with others having input into their lives. WITH JOY In the years since, I have met up with some of these young people and have delighted in the direction their lives have taken. Over the past six years, as Children and Families Co-ordinator at Wellington Central Baptist Church, I have found myself working with the children of some of the teenagers I worked with in the ‘90s. How cool is that! These wonderful young parents are hanging in there faith-wise and doing their best to pass on their faith to their children. I also have a young leader whose mother was a part of the ISCF group at Palmerston North Girls High
School when I was a student there. I rejoice in God’s good work and thank Him for the encouragement of these encounters. IN CONFIDENCE Other teenagers I worked with have not found life easy and some, like friends you can probably think from your own youth group days, have not continued to follow Jesus. But their journeys are not over — there’s still life for them to live, with more encounters that God can use. I keep praying, being confident that God who began a good work will carry it on. I see it in my own children’s lives, but know it to be true on a much wider scale: God uses encounters with so many different people along a faith journey: youth group leaders; camp leaders; church members; Christian parents, families and friends. Whether or not we see results we all have a responsibility to be a part of the faith journey of those around us. So I keep praying and encountering, trusting God to complete His good work. Pray with joy and thanksgiving: for those who have been instrumental along your own faith journey and for your fellow workers in Christ. Pray in confidence: is there someone on your heart who has not continued or yet begun to follow Jesus? Pray for encounters that God will use to continue His good work. And keep encountering: How does God want to use you today? August 2016 25
Wellington HILARY HAGUE
It’s been an exciting and busy time in Wellington. WAY2GO Children’s Ministry Conference had record numbers, and was a great day looking at how to develop a deep and life-long faith in children. Our new Children and Families Worker Liz Eichler has started work alongside Raewyn Rowney. Liz is a trained teacher and will share her time between SUNZ and Wellington Central Baptist where she is Children’s and Families Coordinator. She brings a wealth of wisdom and experience. The Children’s Ministry Network met again to share prayer, ideas, and support for Children’s ministry workers. These once-a-term gatherings are proving helpful for those who come along — please get in touch with Liz (liz.e@ sunz.org.nz) if you would like to be involved.
out &
about Waikato, Bay of Plenty GRAHAM FULLERTON
The first North Island full weekend Story Telling Camp took place at Narrows Par near Hamilton on the weekend of 27-29 May. Steve Adams, Waikato/Bay of Plenty Youth Consultant, with some good help from his family ran a full and very worthwhile programme. 19 people learned how to Step – Sit – Walk – Speak into Bible Stories over the two days that they were together.
Workshop attendees at WAY2GO Wellington
Canterbury BEN NECKLEN
The recent months have had a good busy vibe here in Canterbury. Our Canterbury leaders training, held in Peel Forest was a great weekend with 22 leaders joining together to upskill and look ahead to how we can increase camps in the South Island. We have also been busy working through
Leaders at our Canterbury leaders training weekend
our annual adventure audit with Worksafe which was a success and allows us to continuing offering adventure activities. Coming up in July we are looking forward to our senior snow camp in Castle Hill. Snow camp is filling up well but your prayers would be greatly appreciated.
26 www.sunz.org.nz Ponui Camp changeover time at Kawakawa Bay
Otago/Southland NIGEL WINDER
Exciting Otago/Southland news comes from Aaron Douglas (Youth Consultant) and his wife Hannah who welcomed their new son “Francis” into the world. We have been most impressed by Aaron’s ability to operate with limited sleep. There are some fantastic camps coming up in the region: Mountain Madness in Wanaka will be run by Andrew Shepherd in the July winter break and returning in the spring are Queenstown Spring Caper and the Southland SUPAkidz Camp. We also welcome the rerun of the epic E3 Otago wilderness adventure later in the year for senior school students.
Hilary Hague speaking WAY2GO Dunedin
Having record numbers of attendees (50% up on last time!) at the Dunedin WAY2GO Children’s Ministry Training Day was a real buzz. We appreciate the commitment that so many made to be there. A huge thanks to the numerous churches that sent whole teams along to be encouraged, challenged and resourced in the most valuable work they do.
Steve Adams at the Hamilton Story Telling Camp
Our WAY2GO Penguins in Auckland
Auckland SYLVIA COULTER Donning penguin suits is not a normal requirement for WAY2GO volunteers but was all part of the day’s work for some this year! Other volunteers were running the kitchen, setting up rooms, serving people, and praying on-site during the day — these are volunteer tasks every year. Ever helpful, Robert Smith was on the job from early morning till late doing whatever was needed. He and Alison, photographed on their 2014 Golden Wedding anniversary, have blessed SUNZ in numerous ways, with Robert serving thirty years
on our regional committee till last December. We need more people to assist staff and help make SUNZ events happen. Email me with your offer: sylvia.c@sunz.org.nz. I praise God for SUNZ’s ongoing heritage giving opportunity for people of all generations to participate, being blessed themselves and, through their prayers and their giving, enabling this ministry to continue. August 2016 27
VISIT OUR ONLINE BOOKSHOP www.sunz.org.nz/shop info@sunz.org.nz | 0508 423 836
Aaron Douglas, our Otago/Southland Youth Consultant, put us onto some great resources by Tim Hawkins - one of the most experienced Christian Youth pastors in Australia. Tim has been a full-time youth pastor in local churches for over thirty years. Tim is currently the Youth Pastor Emeritus at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Castle Hill, in Sydney, where he has been for over twenty years. Here is what Tim Hawkins says about the Discipleship Training series: “Discipleship is not just a series of Bible studies. It is a lifetime of learning how to be totally committed to Jesus in every area of your life. Everything in this course will need to be put into practice in your life. The aim of this training is to help you grow as a disciple so that you will be better equipped to “go and make disciples.” This is what Aaron has to say about these resources: “I have hunted high and low for a quality discipleship resource that took participants deep into the Bible to explore what it means to be a disciple and intentionally held them accountable to living out this new life. What I was struggling to find was a resource that wasn’t just another ‘course’ for the young people to attend and that the material equipped the young people to mature in the faith as well as discover the tools to go on maturing in the faith once the material was finished. I have found all this in Tim Hawkins ‘Discipleship Training Series’. Hawkins’ Leadership Guide stresses that as a leader I am more than just a teacher “You are a coach who will train your students to play an active part on Jesus’ ministry team” (pg10). This material is much more than simply teaching them the Bible and what it says and teaches about being a disciple. It is expected that the students put into action what they are discovering and the group learns to celebrate and hold each other accountable to living it out. I recommend this series to anyone wanting to take their young people from participants in a programme to participants in God’s Kingdom”.
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The Discipleship Training Series has a Leaders Guide (covering all 5 studies) and 5 student study guides; My New Life, My Awesome God, My Intimate Relationship, My Mission From God, and My personal Obedience.
LEADERS GUIDE: $19.99 + pp STUDENT GUIDES: $10.99 each + pp
ORDER ONLINE AT: www.sunz.org.nz/the-discipleship-training-series 0508 423 836 August 2016 29
The “Sticky Faith series� developed by the Fuller Youth Institute has a new range of books to identify the relationships and best practices that can set children and teenagers on a path of lifelong faith and service. Check out our website for more details: www.sunz.org.nz/sticky-faith-series 0508 423 836
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Help shape the future of Scripture Union NZ as a voting member Scripture Union NZ (SUNZ) is an organisation which depends on volunteers for our day-to-day mission. We deeply appreciate the many ways people are actively supporting our mission: as volunteers in camps or schools ministries, SUPAkidz clubs, Bible reading promotion, SUNZ training and other roles; through financial and prayer support; as users of SUNZ resources. Supporters of SUNZ can also make an important contribution to the future shaping of SUNZ’s mission by becoming a voting member. Voting Members commit themselves to being a guardian of SUNZ’s Statement of Faith and Values and to turning up and voting when required. Membership is renewed every three years. If you would like to apply to become a voting member please go to www.sunz.org.nz/membership to find the membership link.
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PO BOX 760, Wellington 6140 | 0508 423 836 | info@sunz.org.nz He rama tãu kupu ki õku wae | Your word is a lamp to my feet. Psalm 119:105 SUNZ is a member of the Scripture Union International Family