LIGHT FOR THE PATH

Light

BY KAREN POY Camps Administrator, SUNZ for the path

Iremember the night I became a Christian. A visiting evangelist at Youth Group had asked who would like to know more about how to become part of God’s family. I felt my heart beating faster in my chest and I knew I did! That night started a new way of life for me and one that I had no idea would put me on a different path to my family and see me adopted into a new spiritual family, the family of God. I am sure my family assumed Christianity was a phase for me — something else that I would pick up and put down like so many other things I had tried. In fact, when I told my Mum that I had become a Christian she told me that everyone in New Zealand was a Christian! I knew that to grow as a young Christian I would have to spend time with other people at church to learn how to do this because going to church was not something my family did. I have always been very thankful for the leaders we had at Youth Group and Girls Rally, and the wider community at church who invited me into their homes and shared about God over meals and coffees, who helped me learn, who listened to my endless questions and patiently shared God’s Word with me.

Today some of these people are as close to me as my own family. Somewhere along the way, I realised that I had a spiritual family through going to Church: a family that I chose to be part of; a family to do this Christian life with; a family to encourage and be encouraged by; a family who could grow together and serve the Lord together.

I am so grateful for my faith family and all that I have inherited through Jesus Christ.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. —Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

REF L ECT Respond to Ephesians 1:5 in prayer, in praise, in gratitude. Give thanks for those who have been your spiritual family. To whom is God calling you to be spiritual family?

OUT & ABOUT

AUCKLAND ANNETTE OSBORNE

In December, the Auckland office attention turned towards summer camping and we gathered with around 50 others to pray for camps happening in the North Island. Andy was busy helping Intermediate- aged children prepare for their move to high school using the ‘It’s Your Move’ programme. Natalie Duchesne is currently based in our office and

has been in full swing with our two surf campscamp in Raglan. For the children and families staff, we are beginning to prepare for our ‘WAY2GO’ children’s ministry conferences next year.

November and December were a busy rush of preparation for camps, Christmas cards, Christmas appeal and the replacement of the server in the Wellington Office. Hilary headed to Ponui Island for the camp leaders’ training — she was last at Ponui when she was a 13-yearold SUNZ camper and it was quite special to return to a place that was an important part of her spiritual journey. The Senior Leadership Team had an excellent weekend meeting with the Board talking about lifelong discipleship and what it looks like in practice. They had a very interesting morning with Roshan Allpress, the National Principal/CEO of Laidlaw College and it was also an opportunity for some staff to meet some Board members for the first time. Neville and many of the youth team were at ‘Exodus Prime’ leadership development camp in January, and most of the office team have snatched some annual leave. It has been great hearing snippets of news from the camps teams and campers, and we look forward to sharing more camp stories. We are gearing up for ‘WAY2GO’ 2020 and already have cartons of promotional material stashed around the office. WELLINGTON JANICE HUNT

SOUTHLAND/OTAGO NIGEL WINDER

Another season of life-transforming summer camps has come and gone. Karen is looking forward to a break after administering these camps through December and January. Lizzie has led ‘Wild Wanaka’ camp and helped out with the discipleship camp ’Exodus Prime’ in Wellington. There are ‘WAY2GO’ Children’s Ministry training conferences and ‘ReGen’ Youth leader training events to organise. We are looking forward to continuing the work with churches to help them form life-long faith in their children and young people. Early March, we are excited about meeting up with the rest of the team at staff retreat in Wellington.