NOVEMBER 2018
Building Resilient youth What is resilience and how can we develop it in our young people?
INSIDE TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH ADVENTURE
DISCOVERING SOMETHING MORE
WEED AND FEED
editorial My first ever Scripture Union NZ (SUNZ) camp was on Ponui Island in the Hauraki Gulf. I was 13 and I had no idea that when I went along to Ponui I was going to have an adventure that I would never forget. I had a wonderful time and I came away with good friends and a much deeper faith. It was a formative experience.
These are not just words. They are our calling and we believe passionately in it. We want to use our camps to inspire a resilient lifelong discipleship in children and young people. And because we’re Scripture Union, we want to see that growing faith undergirded in Bible engagement and prayer.
Over the years thousands of young people have attended our camps in many places right across New Zealand. And like me, many have come away different. That’s because SUNZ is actually something more than just an organisation that runs adventure based camps. We are a movement with a mandate from God. Our vision statement says: Working with churches we create opportunities for children and young people to discover and follow Jesus, grow as leaders and influence our world.
So when you’re reading about our youth camps in this issue of SUNZ Adventure, keep this calling in mind. And as you read, please pray along with us for the young people who attend our camps.
2 www.sunz.org.nz
HILARY HAGUE
National Director Scripture Union New Zealand
contents Features
4 BUILDING RESILIENT YOUTH Neville Bartley 12
TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH ADVENTURE
14
DISCOVERING SOMETHING MORE
19
WEED AND FEED
22
WALKING THE TALK AND CHANGING YOUR WORLD
24
Paul Humphreys Richard Starling Nigel Winder
Andy Banks
MEET KAREN POY
Interviews 8
Q&A SPECIAL EDITION: STORIES FROM CAMP
25
LIGHT FOR THE PATH
26
OUT AND ABOUT NOVEMBER
Campers, camper parents and camp leaders Lizzie Moore
Children’s Ministry 15
WAY2GO MAGAZINE
Resources 28
RESOURCES FOR LIFE
Produced by Jamuel Enriquez Edited by Janice Hunt Adventure Magazine Design by Anna Juden WAY2GO Magazine design by Windsor Creative
NOVEMBER 2018 3
building Resilient youth
BY NEVILLE BARTLEY Yo uth Min istr y Tea m Lead er, SU NZ
A lot of people talk about the need to be resilient. Many people write books and run seminars on being resilient and the signs of a resilient person but what is resilience? Is it something we are born with or is it something we develop? Is it something Christians even need to worry about — after all doesn’t scripture say our strength is in the Lord? Let’s unpack what resilience is, why it’s important, and how we help to develop it in our young people — our rangatahi. Take a realistic look at our world today. Suicide rates in New Zealand over the year to June 2018 were the highest since records begani, and rates of depression and anxiety amongst 4 www.sunz.org.nz
youth are at an all-time highii. The pressure on young people to achieve is growing every day and the cost of tertiary education is creating a generation who begin their adult lives with massive debt and a shortage of jobs. Alongside that, the number of young people in our churches is dropping and, by their early twenties, many have left the church feeling disappointed, disillusioned and often hurt. This is probably not the usual beginning to an article, but it is the stark truth that we are facing here in New Zealand today. It is also the reason why the church needs to be up with cutting edge research on working with young people. It’s why we need to be well-schooled
in the progressive research around building resilience and helping young people deal with adverse childhood experiences. I have spent the past year doing study which included these very topics. Looking at resilience strategies that been developed is so very encouraging. However, when I look at what is being achieved without the involvement of God I wonder how much more effective the techniques would be with the God factor involved. THE TREE AS A MODEL OF RESILIENCE Top resilience expert Michael Ungariii has a short definition of resilience as ‘our capacity to navigate and negotiate for the resources we need to do well’. Another way of looking at it is that resilience is ‘a complicated dance between what we have inside of us and what we do to awaken it’iv. So building resilience is discovering the resources we have within and also the resources we can access, in order to cope with what life throws at us. If we want our young people to cope with the stress of this world, with the pressures that are pushing them into depression, with the pressures that are pushing them towards suicide then, as parents, as youth workers, and as a church we need to look at our role in helping to build their resilience on a daily basis. Michael Ungar headed up research based in five countries around the world, including New Zealand, that looked at what is resilience and how we help young people to grow it. Several different models have come from this research and I want to quickly look at main model: the ‘tree model’v. In this model the way we work with young people is split into three areas: engaging with them; supporting them; and watching (or allowing) them to grow. START AT THE ROOTS — ENGAGEMENT What does engaging with a young person look like? This is like the roots of the tree, and if the
roots are strong the tree will grow to be strong. Engaging is all about creating intentional, longlasting relationships. Relationships where rangatahi are treated as young adults, with respect and acknowledgement that they are capable of making informed decisions. In these loving, caring relationships the adult is not judgemental, controlling or directive, but rather is someone who walks alongside, encourages, enables and supports. Engaging is also helping young people to discover the positive adult relationships in their life and helping them to foster and grow those relationships. It is helping young people to discover the people, organisations and services they can trust and use to help with any of their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We can encourage them to engage with God, through prayer and scripture and through positive relationships with other strong followers of Christ. We also can help them to engage with God’s Spirit, who will give them more resilience than a person can achieve on their own. We pray that our young people will be engaged with us and with God in such a way that the Lord becomes one of their key resources available to them. BUILD A TRUNK — SUPPORT Supporting our youth is creating a strong trunk for the branches. It is making sure the young people’s basic needs are being met. Do they have a caring, loving, safe environment to grow up in? Do they have the physical aspects of food and shelter? Do they have access to education and health services? These are things many of us take for granted, but unfortunately things that many of our young people do not have. Support is about continuing to foster relationships. It is also about creating an environment where decisions about the young person’s life are not made by others for them, but with the young person involved in every step of decision making and having the power of choice. I meet many young people who NOVEMBER 2018 5
buckle under the weight of family expectations — perhaps that they will do certain subjects at school or go down a particular job path. Within our churches we so often provide things for young people without any real consultation with them. If we want youth to grow in their faith and have a resilient faith we need to include them in making decisions. We must involve them in the creation our church environment — an environment that is relevant to them and the things they are going through in their daily life. Our churches need to be a place that would be at the top of the young person’s list as a place of love and support, and not a place of judgement and control. THEN ALLOW THE GROWTH... Finally, if we get the engagement and the support right we are able to watch our rangatahi grow. But we have to make sure we give them space to grow, and that we allow them to grow into the people God created them to be (and not who we think they should be). This includes creating space for them to make mistakes because making mistakes is part of growth. We have to celebrate their successes with them, and let them know that even though they won’t always need us we will still be there for them. As a church we need to learn to allow our young people to flourish within our midst. We need to provide a place where they can express themselves freely, a place where they are given opportunities to use their skills and passions, and a place where they can outwork their faith in a way that is relevant to them and their peers. IT’S FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE JESUS SET It seems to me that the tree model of building resilience is very like Jesus’ model of creating disciples. By building disciples of Jesus I think we will be building young people of resilience — young people who can stand firm and strong as they take their faith and their faith lifestyle 6 www.sunz.org.nz
into a world that will want to challenge it. Building resilient young followers of Christ is a commitment we should all be involved in. It is not just a job for the youth pastor and the youth leaders. It is not just a job for parents. It is not just an eight-week programme that we run. It is a task that should be undertaken by the body of Christ, together. The more people who positively engage with our young people, the more resources there are to help them to navigate their rapidly changing world. The more we as a church support our rangatahi and give them a place to express themselves and to be involved in the shape and function of the church they are a part of, the more young people we will see staying and engaging within the church. The more young people we will see who rise above the pressures of this world. The more young people who will develop a faith that is strong and resilient, a faith that will help them through their own lives and will enable them to impact the lives of their peers. The reality is that resilience of character and faith is built through true, open, loving relationships with one another. If we are too busy, too set in our ways, too inflexible to change, then we will continue to lose young people from our churches — and sadly we will also watch them lose their lives, both emotionally and physically. Let’s be a resilient church who, through the gifts of the Spirit, nurtures and grows resilient young people who are able to navigate and negotiate their way through a hurting world. https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/assets/Suicide/20172018-Annual-Provisional-Suicide-Statistics-Final.pdf ii https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/99014681/Risingdepression-and-anxiety-among-Kiwi-youths iii Michael Ungar, Resilience Theory: What Works/Young Minds, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_sRmZTjhSU iv Dr Michael Ungar: What is Resilience, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15D1QuNLH0c v http://resilienceresearch.org/files/Resilience%20Tree%20 Handout.pdf i
REGISTER NOW FOR YOUTH CAMPS AT WWW.SUCAMPS.ORG.NZ
Register now for our kids camps at
www.supakidzcamps.org.nz NOVEMBER 2018 7
Q&A
SPECIAL EDITION: STORIES FROM CAMP Stories from campers, camper parents and camp leaders from our camps over the last few years.
“Life can be so stressful these days, and Ponui [Island] to my boys over the years has been such a special place where they can stop, rest, breathe, and focus on what’s important in life – their relationship with Jesus. As a parent I am so grateful for the availability of these camps for kiwi kids, and the influence it has on their lives.” “I have learnt that ‘the power is His’ and he does what he wants when he wants, Gods power. Through this week my faith has grown so much I don’t have any doubts anymore. The study on the posture of the heart really made me think that I needed to be fully, with all my heart, soul and mind in my relationship with God.” “I have learnt that God knows best, that often even though I may not understand things that God has his reasons. I have learnt that God is more loving than we can comprehend. I have learnt that we cannot solve our heart problem by ourselves but need God and that Jesus allowed this to happen through him. I have learnt to keep seeking God and not to give up seeking him because if I keep seeking him I will find him. I learnt that God wants a relationship with me and personally wants to journey with me.” 8 www.sunz.org.nz
“I’ve learnt that God is always there for me, whatever I go through He will be there, even if I don’t realise it. I learnt that He loves me no matter the decisions I make. He saved us before we even put all our trust in Him. He loves me and His love for me will never fail and will never run out. His love is unconditional.” “I learnt that God works in mysterious ways and that he has a plan for all of us even if we are going through hard stuff in life everything will come around in Gods amazing plan.” “I learnt that Jesus died for us but because of our sins, I always thought it was the other way around. I now know that God loves me more than anything, I have struggled with this.” “I learnt about the posture of your hearts in worship.” “God can change someone’s life no matter how bad it may seem.” “I learnt about how large God’s love is and that with God’s strength I can do anything.” “I learnt more about God’s unfailing love and grace and truly now believe in God and Jesus.” “I learnt that God works in wonderful ways.” “We could hardly believe our ears at the things David [name changed] was telling us about the snow camp he’s been on with you all this past week. More than we dreamed possible! He was so open about his faith experience and so happy to share it, also to meet up with his friend at a nearby church soon. He had so much fun and is just bubbling over with happiness and confidence - such a contrast from the anxious boy who we dropped off last Sunday!”
NOVEMBER 2018 9
“Our thanks to you and the leaders and cook and all who worked hard and put so much thought and prayer into this week. We are very grateful and thank God for the very special work that you all do.”
“What I learned about God: • He’s always there for us SPECIAL EDITION: FROM CAMP • He has our plan all workedSTORIES out Stories from campers, camper parents and camp leaders • I found He existed from our camps over the last few years. • He is an amazing God and loves me • Revelations is about the end of the world • If you pray more often, He grants them more often • He will love me no matter what • A deeper understanding of His unfathomable love • He hates the unforgivable sin • How He talks to me • That He is a forgiving God who gives second chances and loves you no matter what • He always forgives and is everywhere • He can help you in everything all you need to do is pray and ask” “Can you please also pass on our very big thanks to the team who ran and participated in the camp? James [name changed] had a fantastic week and came home with a ‘fat soul’. It was also fantastic my nephew, who can be handful, is coming along to SU camps (ski etc.) and really enjoys them too. So, thanks again, we so appreciate all you do for not just our kids, but for the kids of NZ.” “I had a great time this camp, and as always have come away encouraged seeing the campers’ faiths ignited and strengthened.” “I thought I would pass this on to encourage you both. I had a phone call from a CYF social worker yesterday to say that John [name changed] absolutely loved being at our camps (he went to two of them!) but he especially loved this camp. 10 www.sunz.org.nz
He feels that it has made a difference to him. He was enquiring if he could arrange for him to go to another camp! You all must have been something special to him! You just never do know how some kids lives are touched eh?”
“I absolutely loved all of camp, hanging out, making friends and outdoor adventures. Snow, wildlife, adventures, studies etc. The most memorable time I found was discussing God around the camp fire on the tramp with my friends and amazing, understanding leaders. Under the stars, experiencing God fantastic creation, it is a moment I won’t forget.” “Hello. I am just emailing to ask you to pass onto your team at Whakapapa an extremely big thank you for last week’s camp from Anna [name changed], she came home exhausted but not only excited about skiing but also that she came closer to God.” “Rebekah [name changed] had a fabulous time at camp. She has talked nonstop about the activities, the cold and the people. She said that she absolutely loves SU camps. She likes that there are other like-minded people who love the outdoors and love God. Thank you so much for your input to making the camp happen. We know it takes heaps of effort.” “I wish to say a huge THANK YOU to all those involved in the SU summer camps, especially Able Tasman E3 and the junior Wind and Water camp because our kids were involved in them!” “Sarah [name changed] thoroughly enjoyed the whole E3 experience. After the earthquakes her comment was that she didn’t mind where the camp was as long as it went ahead! She was really keen to be with other Christian young people and to have the opportunity to study God’s word. She loved meeting new friends and she also loved the adventure side of it.”
NOVEMBER 2018 11
12 www.sunz.org.nz
TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH ADVENTURE BY PAU L H U M P H R E YS So uth Islan d Camps Facilitator, SUNZ
My very first outdoor-oriented camp was with my youth group at Lake Daniels in Lewis Pass. I hiked with a large external frame pack, wearing white hi-top sneakers. I was in misery but absolutely loved it, and went back for more. That was way back in 1985, yet I still remember it with vivid detail. Perhaps you have had a similar experience — maybe even at an iconic Scripture Union NZ camp such as Te Anau Wind n Water, Ponui Island, or a ski camp on Mt Ruapehu. Why did I want to go back for more? Obviously it wasn’t the pack or the out-of-place sneakers. Why do I remember it so well? Camps bring an opportunity to create a unique faith-forming experience that is second to none. No matter what the geographic location or the outdoor activities undertaken, camps essentially use the same model of trying something in creation that might be new to you. Perceived risk is used to take you outside of your comfort zone. That experience makes you reflect and seek to apply what you have discovered to your own life, personal choices and how you live alongside others in the real world when you return home. Jesus taught using a similar method: ‘When Jesus taught his disciples he did so mostly in real dynamic settings that were in a constant state of flux… he crafted his teaching to sow seeds of life into people’s hearts in the
context of a real experience…Jesus masterfully made people respond.’i It is now widely recognised that a degree of stress increases learning and ‘our senses are more keenly involved in the learning process as we’re a pushed out of our comfort zone.’ii Therefore outdoor challenge with learning from the Bible at camps makes for a powerful combination. I am a big believer that Bible application to our lives begins right after we wake up and ends right before we go to sleep — every day! Camps build on this, looking for teachable moments throughout the day to complement the Bible theme and/ or passage for the day. The Bible is a book about God’s relationship with humanity and creation. SUNZ camps allow us to engage in that same creation documented in Genesis 1 and provide life-changing adventure. New and relevant connections to The Creator are built through experiences in the backdrop of the great outdoors. Sadly this is something that is happening less and less for many New Zealand children and youth. Please spread the word about our SUNZ camps, so more young people can have such life-transforming opportunities. i, ii Denton, Ashley, Christian Outdoor Leadership: Theology, Theory and Practice. (2011) p 36
NOVEMBER 2018 13
Discovering Something More R I C H A R D S TA R L I N G Stay Real Co o rdinator, SUNZ
The Stay Real programme is about dealing with real life issues in at-risk youth. It helps young people develop strategies to deal with real life problems like anger, bullying, drug abuse, relationships, parents, and peer pressure. Adventure camps are a key aspect of what we do here in Christchurch with the Stay Real programme. Why are they such a crucial part of our ministry? Camps allow an opportunity for young people to have experiences that they otherwise would not have. Many youth I work with have not been far from their own neighbourhood let alone out in the great outdoors — to the bush, on a kayak, to the beach. The challenges of outdoor activities provide campers with opportunities to experience creation as they discover the resources they have within themselves and learn to rely on each other and how to be patient with each other. I have recently returned from an annual camp I run in Karitane (near Dunedin). Sixteen young people attended this year. For this group the camp provided a great opportunity to see aspects of their culture in action. Most grow up familiar with the marae setting, and they all 14 www.sunz.org.nz
just get involved and pitch in about the place, the tuakana-teina practices coming to the fore — the older looks out for the younger. This type of context really allows for strong bonds to be formed between the youth and the leaders, and allows space for God conversations to very naturally weave their way into camps. For some of the highly at-risk youth I work with, who may be high on drugs every day, another awesome aspect of camps is that they have an opportunity to be without their drugs, to see life clearly for a week. Withdrawal has its own challenges, but the opportunity to be away from the negativity surrounding their lives and breathe the fresh outdoor air for a short while can provide an alternative way to be. Campers may only spend a few days at camp [run by Stay Real], but sometimes a brief glimpse can be enough to start an idea and a hunger that their lives could just maybe be something more. ‘I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.’ John 10:10 (The Message)
WEED AND FEED NIGEL WINDER Ch ildren an d Families Team Lead er, SU NZ
Spring is a great time of the year for a couple of reasons. It’s time to get my garden in and it’s time for the Southland SUPAKidz Camp. As a keen gardener I know the success of my garden crop depends on the work I do now, clearing my garden of weeds to give any new seedlings their best chance at growing and then providing a good feed of compost to stimulate that growth. The ‘weed and feed’ approach yields stronger and healthier plants that will bear more fruit (or vegetables) later on. SUPAKidz Camp serves a very similar purpose for both leaders and campers. Being on camp away from the normal distractions, troubles and routines of life is like clearing the soil of weeds to enable the Word of God to take root. Camp as a place of intentional and positive God-focused Christian community acts as a hothouse for young faith to grow. Like a good feed of fertiliser acting on growing plants, camps stimulate faith through positive peer relationships (sometimes lifelong friendships), opportunities to serve others (faith in action), intergenerational interactions where campers hear and see something of the faith stories of older generations, and exposure
to the big story of the Bible, the gospel and their part in God’s story. Compared with attending and leading on camps, there are few tools I know of available to the church that meet so many key ingredients in building stronger faith in children and young people. We’ve just celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Southland SUPAKidz Camp and I am absolutely thrilled by the large number of campers returning to the camp as leaders. The ‘weed and feed’ effect of camp continues to bear a bumper crop — thanks to God who, I reckon, knows a lot more about gardening and faith formation than I do. ‘They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased’ Psalm 107:37-38 (NIV) PS An added bonus from camp was three large rubbish bags of food scraps for my compost at home.
NOVEMBER 2018 19
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
1 Peter 2:9-10 The Message (MSG)
20 www.sunz.org.nz
NOVEMBER 2018 21
Walking the Talk and Changing your World BY ANDY BANKS Youth C onsultant, SU NZ
‘Working with churches, we create opportunities for children and young people to discover and follow Jesus, grow as leaders and influence our world’ – Mission Statement of SUNZ Our mission statement at SUNZ has three distinct parts to it. The first part is about discovering, the second is about growing and the third is about influencing. We find a similar pattern in Paul’s letter to the Colossians 2:6-7: ‘Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.’ I believe this pattern is vital in our work with children and young people as they grow into lifelong disciples of Christ. Once they discover Jesus as Lord and Saviour, discovery needs growth and growth should lead to influence. Where this pattern breaks down so often is that we miss ‘influencing’ and ‘overflowing’ out. We are often good at teaching, challenging and growing in knowledge, but not so good at doing, serving and putting into practice. The result of this is summed up well in the example of the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea in Israel. Both are fed from the same source, 22 www.sunz.org.nz
yet the seas are very different. One is clean and teeming with life and the other is stagnant and unhealthy. The reason? One has an outlet and one doesn’t. One is healthy as it receives and gives and the other simply receives, stagnates and dies. In order to influence and overflow with thankfulness, we need to have an outlet to our faith. Our YOUTHSERVE programme has been serving NZ communities for over 12 years and came from a need to create opportunities for young people to have that outlet — to walk the talk and to influence their world. It’s about taking up the challenge of scripture: to understand our part in God’s mission and learn together what it means to live it out day by day.
It would seem crazy if a sports team spent hours training and learning their roles on the field, but never actually played a game. Yet this is so often the reality in our churches and youth ministries: we learn about our part in the team, we gain new ideas and get better and better at knowing our roles as disciples of Christ, yet we never get to play the game and put it into practice. That is why SUNZ is so passionate about developing programmes and camps that incorporate that outlet and opportunity to serve and influence our world. To not just discover and grow, but live out lives of influence in the places God leads us.
NOVEMBER 2018 23
meet karen poy Karen Poy has recently taken up the role of SUNZ Camps Administrator in our Invercargill office. Karen has lived in Australia for the past eight years and had started to pray about the timing of returning to New Zealand. The next day she saw the Camps Administrator positon advertised on the SUNZ page through Facebook and was strongly convicted to apply for it. Fortunately SUNZ had the same conviction and Karen was able to move home and start the role! As a long time SUNZ volunteer and previous staff member, it was an easy decision for Karen to rejoin the team in 2018. Her first experience of SUNZ was back in 1987 when she joined a children’s holiday programme team at Pounawea. That was such a positive experience she spent the next twelve summers volunteering on holidays programmes in a variety of different roles. Karen has also been on various committees and was an 24 www.sunz.org.nz
SUNZ Children and Families staff member in Southland/Otago in 2000. She tells us that serving in these roles were some of the most faith-shaping moments in her life. Before moving to Australia Karen was a Career Advisor at James Hargest College, helping students plan towards their careers and futures. In Australia she worked in Employment Services assisting people who had been longterm unemployed or with health issues back into the workforce. With her love of working with and assisting people we are sure this new role is a great fit. Karen describes herself as a bit of a home body — she loves pottering around in the kitchen and garden, reading a good book, going for walks and catching up with friends for coffee.
light for the path BY LIZZIE MOORE
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’ These words come from a poem entitled ‘God Knows’ written by Miss Minnie Louise Haskins from Bristol in 1908. They were revived by King George VI in a broadcast he made during the darkest days of World War Two. Words of hope, words of trust and words to remind us where our confidence lies. Words echoed in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (NIV) and used in our Scripture Union New Zealand (SUNZ) logo strapline: Psalm 119:105 “He rama tau kupu ki oku waewae, he marama ki toku ara.” (Maori Bible) I was inspired again recently as I read some of the history of Scripture Union movements around the world. They have been unwavering in their focus in working with churches to encourage people to connect with God through the Bible and Prayer and in making Jesus known to children, young people and their families.
It’s a commitment that’s about helping the church develop lifelong followers of Christ and it’s a ministry that is needed as much today as it was 150 years ago when Scripture Union began. The church faces a continuing battle to encourage Christians to live out their faith and bear witness to a world so desperately in need of Jesus. At SUNZ we have a passion to see the church fully engaged with local communities, allowing this current generation to see real, authentic reflections of what the church is called to be. We have a passion to see followers of Christ bring the light of God’s word into the darkness around them. We declare what we cannot see or what we only see in glimpses: hope in the face of hopelessness, peace amidst conflict, joy in apathy and an all-forgiving love. It’s light, light to live by. Reflection: • How is my life bringing the light of our God of hope to my own family and community? • Where do I need to be putting my hand into the hand of God to step into the darkness or the unknown? NOVEMBER 2018 25
JAMUEL ENRIQUEZ
We have been wrapping up some postspring camp work in the Wellington office and we have been very encouraged with the feedback we have received from our recent camps. Praise God! We’re hoping to carry this momentum into our summer camping season as we continue to prepare and organise these camps.
We’re also very excited as we are in the middle of planning our WAY2GO children’s ministry conferences for 2019. Please pray for everyone who is involved with any of our upcoming events. Please also pray that as we approach the Christmas season that everyone will remember that Jesus is the reason for this joyful celebration!
AUCKLAND
GLENIS SILBY
It has been a busy and varied time here in the Auckland office. Here are a few highlights. Andy hosted Richard Starling, promoting the Stay Real programme. Paul spent time mentoring a young leader and leading a teaching slot at a holiday programme. Annette was involved in lecturing a day of the Children’s Ministry Course at Carey Baptist College. 26 www.sunz.org.nz
Andrew continues to promote Intergenerational faith formation in churches, and spoke at the ‘One Million Children’ conference in Wellington. Sylvia is on a road trip visiting supporters and prayer groups, and drinking many cups of tea. And I am attempting to organise us all to tidy our office — no small feat! Ponui Camp changeover time Ponui Camp changeover time at Kawakawa Bay at Kawakawa Bay
NIGEL WINDER
Taken from our recent Southland SUPAkidz Camps
Lizzie our Youth Consultant visited and participated in the Southland SUPAkidz Camp before heading to Central Otago to lead the spring youth camp “Queenstown Spring Caper.” Despite some intermittent weather both camps were a great success. Lizzie has also been preaching in numerous churches and helping to co-ordinate Youth Leader Network breakfasts. She is busy preparing intergenerational sessions she will lead at the Weston Community Church family camp.
Camps Administrator. She and Bronwyn Withington make a formidable team managing registrations, communication and team leader checks and approval processes. I’ve enjoyed running “You’re Losing Us” workshops with the Winton Salvation Army, surviving the tenth Southland SUPAkidz camp, hosting local Children’s Ministry Network meetings and gathering with the SUNZ national Children and Families Team to plan and evaluate for the year ahead
Karen Poy has returned from Australia to replace Heather Zwies as the National Youth
AUCKLAND - GISBORNE SY LV I A C O U LT E R
I spent a fortnight in October road-tripping between Auckland and Gisborne enjoying the stunning Waioeka Gorge en route. Some highlights included the new Tauranga prayer group focusing on ministry of Steve Adams (thank you, Denise James, for your leadership); meeting Steve’s mother, Ellen Adams, who reaches young people for Jesus In Kawerau; and bi-cultural worship at Bridge Street Community Church in Whakatane.
Steve Adam’s mother Ellen Adams
I enjoyed connecting with SUNZ friends, including a couple writing inductive Bible study notes to disciple new believers, and someone else preparing to spend six months with refugees in Europe. Worship at Bridge Street Community Church
NOVEMBER 2018 27
Take a look at these resources which would make great stocking fillers for Christmas! ORDER NOW ONLINE AT www.suresources.org.nz
M A S S I V E P R AY E R A D V E N T U R E
How you talk and listen to God will be different from anyone else. Discover your personal prayer style with poems and quizzes. Try out new places and ideas for meeting God on your own or with your friends. Pray inside and outside, draw, txt, and even fly prayers to God! BEST OF ALL, find out how to hear God speak to you! This is the ultimate prayer scrapbook for children aged around 8-12.
$14.00
M O S A I C - C E L E B R AT I O N S
Mosaic contains Bible-based resources especially designed for small groups of children with a wide age range. It is ideal for children’s workers in small rural churches, small urban churches and new church plants or any church with small numbers of children, few leaders, and limited space or resources!
$22.99 28 www.sunz.org.nz
IT’S YOUR MOVE
It’s Your Move! Is a friendly guide to moving to High School. Inside you’ll find lots of advice, together with stories about real people who have already moved up! There are poems and stories, puzzles and jokes, plus a space to collect all your friend’s signatures.
$3.50 1
T R A N S F O R M I N G C H I L D R E N I N TO S P I R I T UA L C H A M P I O N S
Award-winning and bestselling author George Barna shows how churches can come alongside parents to provide them biblical worldview training, parenting information, and counseling that will equip them to help their children become the spiritually mature church of tomorrow. This helpful and hopeful book unpacks just how to develop this kind of dynamic church/parent relationship and includes profiles of churches that are effectively ministering to children and winning the war for their hearts and minds.
$15.99
NOVEMBER 2018 29
DISCIPLE PETER AND PAUL’S STORY - Hardcover
Cut off your donation form here and return
Christmas Special
#
$13.99
Peter and Paul’s story is a contemporary retelling of the book of Acts. Written in a quirky, contemporary, accessible style, Diary of a Disciple offers a way into the Bible for the next generation.
Get your copies now: www.sunz.org.nz/shop or Phone 0508 423 836 30 www.sunz.org.nz
sunz He rama tãu kupu ki õku wae
Cut off your donation form here and return
sunz He rama tĂŁu kupu ki Ăľku wae
#
Support our ministry Your support helps us to work with churches and in our ministry to children and youth in your neighbourhood and in communities all around New Zealand. I would like to donate $30 $50 $100 $250 $500 $ (Your choice) Monthly donation One off donation My cheque is enclosed
Please debit my credit card
My card number is
Name on card:
Expiry date:
Signature: I would like to receive information about giving by automatic payment OR bank by direct deposit to account number 02 0560 0036204 00 Full Name: Address: Email: Phone: Please post to Scripture Union in New Zealand, PO Box 760, Wellington 6140 or alternatively you can donate to us on our website at www.sunz.org.nz/donate
NOVEMBER 2018 31
S TAY I N T H E L O O P
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/sunz.nz F O L L O W U S O N I N S TA G R A M @scriptureunionnz FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @newzealandsu VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.sunz.org.nz
sunz He rama t찾u kupu ki 천ku wae
PO BOX 760, Wellington 6140 | 0508 423 836 | info@sunz.org.nz He rama t찾u kupu ki 천ku wae | Your word is a lamp to my feet. Psalm 119:105 SUNZ is a member of the Scripture Union International Family