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This book is dedicated to the thousands of incredible people whom God has placed in this House over the last 30 years. It is also for the thousands yet to come. It is their inheritance, their history, and their future. Pastors Peter and Bev Mortlock
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But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
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PETER MORTLOCK I grew up in a small town in Taranaki, New Zealand, in a good family. At the age of 12, my father died which changed our lives considerably. I was not brought up a Christian yet my mother had a belief in God. My sister took me along to a church meeting when I was 13. At that meeting I had an incredible encounter with Jesus Christ. The preacher asked if anyone wanted to receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour and I found myself standing with tears running down my cheeks. I knew at that moment God was real. He touched my heart like nothing else I had ever experienced. My teenage years unfolded quickly and although my short but personal encounter with God was never forgotten, I began living a very rebellious life, unfortunately, far from God. I went from job to job, I had around 30 different jobs by the time I was 20. I felt the world owed me something for the loss of my father and I set out to take it. I was always aware of the existence of God. New Zealand is such a beautiful country one cannot help but wonder at the amazing beauty of creation. But the bigger questions, “Why am I here?” and, “Where am I going?”, still concerned me. After a number of years I began to search for God again. It is true you reap what you sow and I unfortunately had developed some bad habits. But through it all, God was faithful and loving – He hates the sin but loves the sinner. I returned to God and I was born again and filled with the Holy Spirit at the age of 21. My first reaction to a church full of people clapping and singing to God was that they were all crazy. But I could see something in their faces, something I didn’t have – real joy, the assurance of eternal life in heaven. Having now married my wonderful wife Bev, I began a career in sales. At every company I worked for I broke every sales record and by the grace of God I became one of New Zealand’s top sales people, and was a New Zealand Sales Manager of a large company at the age of 23. In everything I have experienced from parachuting, marathon running, travelling the world, sports involvement at a high level, to having a successful career, I can honestly say the most exciting, challenging thing I have ever done is to know and serve God. I have a beautiful wife, two wonderful adult sons, a lovely home and for over 30 years now have pastored a very large successful church. Everything else I can share with you is minor compared to the love of God I have experienced and know.
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For Eternity To take time to stop and look at where we are today, after 30 years of ministry, I see an incredible view of a lifetime of decisions, not only mine but others… that brings me to this time and place. God’s hand is undeniable throughout the entire journey. For me, the privilege of being brought up in a Christian home which witnessed miracle after miracle, positioned me for a future where I knew that, through Christ, all things are possible.
to build the Kingdom, and it didn’t matter that you were only ten years old! Our first drummer was twelve years old. With a guitar given to him by Louise Cutten and money he managed to secure from a non-contributor, Mark purchased drums and under the watchful eye of Ian Bensley had a quick 45 minute lesson.
Since accepting Christ at the age of four, this in-built knowledge of Jesus Christ as my Saviour has given me a strength and a grace that through Christ I could do whatever He was asking me to do. Funny thing is, if it is His idea, there is strength and grace… but if it is my idea, well, not so much!
There are a zillion stories, but it has been the amazing people that have brought what exists in faith, into the reality of today. The House still rests firmly on the original mandate that God gave to us:
When I was 12 years old, because of a passion for Maori and Pacific Islanders my family made a decision to emigrate from Canada to New Zealand. They never really realised their vision; but today we are seeing the passion of those who have gone before unfolding before our very eyes. Where we are today is because of massive building blocks and foundations that have created the vantage point we now see from. Was it hard? You betcha! But anything of importance always is. Is it worth it? Absolutely! If it’s not worth dying for, then it certainly isn’t worth spending a lifetime on. Having an eternal perspective is key to our confidence. Understanding that whatever we do today affects both destiny and eternity. We may not see the immediate reward, but we know it is just ahead! These pages are full of what we do and what we have accomplished. But really, the ‘who we are’ lies at the heartbeat of it all. To follow hard after God is the desire of our heart. The cost was never an issue. God made so little go so far, whether it was in our resources, our abilities or in our provision. Any and every resource was utilised
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See, I told you we believe in miracles!!
To see souls saved: To have the privilege of witnessing the tear washed faces, with a smile bigger than the Pacific, start a fresh new life with Jesus as the rescuer. To see the body grow into unity, maturity and wholeness: You just have to take a glance around to see what the vision filled City Impact Church family have accomplished together. They gave their word to put their hand to a good work and their personal integrity held them to that commitment. To worship and glorify God: The whole point of everything is so God will dwell with these, His people. We do all we can to ensure that this is the experience of everyone who walks through any of these doors. But it doesn’t end there, when God invades your life, you are changed forever… and in turn you affect everyone you encounter. My salvation is between me and God. But my Christianity is between me and everyone else. I am greatly indebted to the ‘everyone else’ in my life.
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OUR FAMILY
PETER, BEV, MARK & TARRY
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The Early Years This is where it all started
In 1981, Bev and I had just finished Pastor Rob Wheeler’s Bible School, and we were planning to head to Canada for a few years. We came home from a church meeting one night in May 1982 and went to bed. As we did, God filled the room. It was one of those moments – I remember it like yesterday. God spoke very clearly to us and said “I want you to start a church.”
It was one of those moments – I remember it like yesterday. God spoke very clearly to us and said, “I want you to start a church.” I just wanted to preach, to be an evangelist. I had a passion for the lost but I also wanted to obey God. Church as we knew it then was not like we know it today. Many churches were small and filled with problems. Although I had a love for the church, I had a greater love for the lost. I just wanted to hire the town hall and preach the gospel. Ever since I got filled with the Holy Spirit, I have had such a passion for God and His purposes and a fire within, that I thank God, has not dimmed over the years through all the ups and downs. I said, “God, you are
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Then we had to buy the chairs. The salesman wanted to score points in heaven so he gave us over half the chairs for free. I had to build the pulpit. The fact that it stood upright with my carpentry skills was a miracle in itself. For music, we took the stereo from our lounge and we were away. I have to confess, I did not feel ready to do this, and I remember sharing this with Bev’s mum, who gave me some sound advice. “Peter,” she said, “If you wait till you think you are ready – you never will be!”
By Pastor Peter Mortlock Thirty years is a chunk of a lifetime but what a lifetime it has been, filled with seeing people come to Christ and seeing their lives enriched by belonging to a great church.
that hall for a church. However, after I shared with him my vision for the youth, he became one of our greatest supporters in getting that hall, and Bays Christian Fellowship was born.
going to have to show me some signs that you want me to do this.” I prayed, “Lord, even like a red light, orange light or green light, showing me to stop or go.” I opened my eyes and I was looking right at a green light. (One of the coloured lights hanging outside around our barbecue). Apart from the obvious sign - confirmation and permission from our Pastor and oversight - we had many signs and wonders that God was with us. I can still recall standing outside Pastor Rob Wheeler’s office at Hebron Bible College after going in and sharing with him what God had said. He asked when we thought we would like to launch. “Fourth of July 1982,” we said. Wow, that was the only date he had free on his calendar that year. It was important for us to have him as our opening guest speaker, so it was another confirmation. We were part of the New Life Churches of New Zealand back then with many great relationships. I thank God for the Godly roots and heritage we had. Another sign was to do with the venue for our new church. The only hall we could find was St Anne’s Hall in Browns Bay, owned by the council. We had looked from Milford to Browns Bay, and really preferred Milford but nothing was there. When we made inquiries about St Anne’s, one councillor said we would never be able to use
I visited one pastor in the East Coast Bays to share with him that we were planting a church and he told me we were neither wanted nor needed in the city! – That was very encouraging at the time. Looking back, I am not sure whether I would have sent myself out back then, but it is fair to say, they were different days. It was a matter of sink or swim. There was no real support, no financial support. You stood on your own two feet. Bev, who was very shy back then, would hide in the kitchen, and if someone asked for the Pastor’s wife she would send them to her mum! I stacked the chairs, set up the sound, handed out newsletters, welcomed people, and led the worship with my tambourine in hand (along with Christine on the piano and Stephen on the French Horn). Then I would chair the service, take up the offering, preach, do the altar call and pray for people. Then I would race to the door to say goodbye to people and then wash the dishes from the cups of tea. (I feel tired just writing about it!). Praise God those days are long gone. Everyone else is grateful for that as well, I am sure. Praise God for people like Stephen and Christine Wheeler who came and helped us for the first six months, before moving to South Africa.
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Thank the Lord for people like Chris and Val Morton, Neil and Jan Smith, Paul and Sue Adams, and Linda Apps (now Linda Ward) who came along within the first few months. They put their hand to the good work along with a number of others who have since moved on.
Looking back, I am not sure whether I would have sent myself out back then, but it is fair to say, they were different days. It was a matter of sink or swim. I progressed onto bongo drums. I pried Bev off the huge organ (that we bought and she taught herself to play) and I got her up song-leading. Having a female song-leader in 1983, well that cost us some people. Being a worker, a ‘doer’, I have to confess that both Bev and I have worked hard over the last thirty years anyone who has built anything of substance will understand. The two years in St Anne’s Hall were amazing years - amazing that we survived! Thanks to His call on our lives, God was faithful to see that we produced fruit during that time. On our first Sunday, about sixty people came to hear Pastor Rob speak and I guess, to check out the new Pastor. The next Sunday we had forty people to hear me deliver my first sermon entitled “Unless the Lord builds the House”. I am amazed any of them stayed! We attracted a lot of youth, and many of them from the ‘wrong side of the tracks’. We had worked with troubled kids in years gone by, and many of them were now coming to church and getting saved. Other parents were keeping their kids away, as we were getting a reputation for ‘colourful’ youth. It is true that we had one church service where an ‘all out’ fight broke out over a girl. Chairs were thrown and police arrived, all while one of our first guest speakers preached – Pastor Fred Roberts from South Africa. We had about twelve saved that night. He was thrilled, saying that Bays Christian Fellowship was the only church in New Zealand doing something at that time! That was a
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nice, flattering statement, but of course it wasn’t true. Regardless, they were certainly ‘hot’ days. For a number of years, we would drive around our whole city every Saturday night – three times; one time speaking in tongues, one time worshipping, one time praying for the city. Today of course, East Coast Bays is no longer its own city. It became part of the North Shore and is now part of Auckland City and I praise God that we have expanded with it. Lord give us the city! During those two years at St Anne’s Hall we worked so hard. From street outreach to visitation programmes, carol services to garage sales, anything and everything! We have always ‘marketed’ the church. We figured if McDonalds do it, why not us? So we did letter box drops, flyers, ads, editorials, A-frame signs, and banners. I believe that if you throw enough mud on the wall some of it will stick! And it did. We started to outgrow St Anne’s Hall, with around sixty people in regular attendance, so we began to look at places to rent. In 1984 we moved to Bute Rd Browns Bay. It was an undercover concrete car park on a top floor. Now the work really began. Fitting out and renovating this car park into offices, a children’s church, a kitchen and an auditorium to seat 220 – what a huge job it was at the time! I had still been selling real-estate to pay the bills for the first year but we knew that God was challenging me to give it up. I was reluctant to let it go as my desire was to be self-supporting. That is another whole story, but God has His way and I gave up selling and we just lived off our own assets for a couple of years. However, as our personal mortgage grew, I took a job cleaning at Rangitoto College, and for five years I did whatever it took to survive - selling cars and vacuum cleaners, installing dummy security cameras... the list goes on. All this while still pastoring and preaching and everything else – I am glad I was young – 32 when we started! The rent on the building was $200 a week, which was huge as we had been in St Anne’s for free. Now we had
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to pay for power, rates, insurance and more. Everything was a major. For example, we had to put in an outdoor fire-escape costing $5,000. How were we ever going to do that? We had Westminster school sub-lease the building mid-week to help us financially. We had already been through our worst year ever - 1984. We had lost over forty people for a number of reasons. Some wanted to be elders; some did not like this, that or the other thing. It was a tough year, but I have learnt the hard lesson that some people are just too expensive to keep and with the clearing of the way, some good new people came along like Andrew and Virginia Martin. The weekend they visited, we had a family camp on, so there were only half a dozen people there. But they came back, praise the Lord, and they became pastors with us a few years later. A lot of the ‘colourful’ youth had dropped off, so now my son Mark started complaining that he was the only youth member. (Both my boys Tarry and Mark have made a huge contribution to the church and to us. I am so very proud of them both as they continue to serve alongside us today). Mark at the age of twelve approached several people in the congregation for the money to buy a set of drums for the church. He raised more money than I did that week! We began to grow, line upon line, year upon year. In 1986, four years after starting the church, we were a church of 180 people and we were rocking. I had a vision to grow to 500 people then start another church. Five hundred is all I could see.
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SUE, SHAREE, MARIA, KARL, PAUL & MATTHEW ADAMS
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One Decision Can Change Your Life Forever I went as an unsaved soul to the first ever Christmas service of Bays Christian Fellowship, and experienced such an anointing and presence of God that I had to pinch my baby son Matthew, to make him cry, so I could use that as an excuse to walk out of the service after just 10 minutes. I had been to other churches before, but had never, ever experienced anything like that. My salvation experience brought me under Pastor Peter and Bev’s covering, wisdom and friendship that not only changed my life, but the lives of my family forever. I have served with Pastor Peter over these years and I know him to be a man of the Word, of prayer and of fasting. He has a huge capacity and a generous heart. He seeks God always for the direction of the church, lines it up with the Word of God, and seeks wise counsel to confirm it. He’s not a lone-ranger, not one to pick up a fad, but always looking to be obedient to God. He and Pastor Bev are an amazing team, always looking to do the best for the church and for the people entrusted into their care. Jesus is only building one thing – His Church. And we here at City Impact Church have the awesome privilege of being part of that. Co-labouring to build the Kingdom. The batons are being passed from one generation to another because two people and their two young sons were willing to be obedient to the call of God and start a church back in 1982. I praise God, because the legacy of what the Lord is doing through City Impact Church, is still developing within my own family. It continues with all my children and grandchildren growing and serving in the church. Paul Adams
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Matt Adams
I grew up in church, with everyone picking me up and telling me how cute I was, and Pastor Bev kissing me and cuddling me all the time. I have so many memories; like serving with Aunty Val doing the words on the overhead projector, going on all the father and son trips with Dad and church lunches at home.
MATTHEW, KARL, SHAREE & MARIA ADAMS
This is a place where I am now married and raising my own family, day by day building God’s house for this nation. HEBRON BIBLE
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COLLEG
N BIBLE
THE EARLY YEARS 1982 July 4 – Bays Christian Fellowship starts at St Anne’s Hall, Browns Bay First 6 weeks we have the Harvest Band Church helps with Reinhard Bonnke crusade at the Logan Campbell Centre Solid teaching in the morning and the latest evangelistic movie at night COLLEGE, CLASS OF `81
STEPHEN & CHRISTINE WHEELER
Pastor Peter produces “Jerusalem News”, a newspaper written to tell the story of Easter as if it happened today and delivered it across the Bays Pastor Peter preaching on the streets with his personal tract
1983 Series: Burning Questions of the 80’s First Family Camp Summer in the Bays, Outdoor Series. Church outdoors on Sunday nights Combined Churches Easter Events We have “Believercise” aerobics classes! School of Evangelism Class (16 weeks) with Ian Williams and Neil Smith, held in Pastor Linda’s mum’s basement We outgrow St Anne’s Hall and move to Bute Road. Pastor David McCracken prophesies that we will move again
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VAL & CHRIS MORTON
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No Regrets Right from the beginning Val and I were drawn to follow Pastor Peter in building the Church. Through the challenges the Church has faced in its progress, it has inspired our faith to believe nothing is impossible with God. It's been a great adventure. I remember the excitement of Bays Christian Fellowship starting in the little St Anne's Hall, of Pastor Peter's shotgun sermons, where he just had so much passion that God had inspired him with – and he would want to get it all across, all at one time. He used to drive from one end of the North Shore to the other, praying for the ‘Bays’ people. We were drawn to his energetic, strong leadership and have never regretted it. There was a Friday night 'drop in' for coffee and games that attracted all sorts of characters, some rough and ready. Everyone was always welcome, no matter what their background. Many came over the years and some we saw come in downtrodden and seemingly beaten up by the world, and after a few months we saw them, changed, with a light in their eyes and excitement on their faces. God did a work in their lives. When we started back then, I didn't really understand what we were building.
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When it was decided to move from St Anne's to bigger premises in the car park building in Bute Rd and take on a rent of over $200 per week, I remember thinking to myself “how are we ever going to afford it, just with offerings?” But God was with us and He was building His Church. Now we are into lots of dollars but there are lots of good people involved, so we can achieve a lot more. When we moved to the land on East Coast Road, that again was a big step up, but again somehow God did it and we were able to build the Auditorium, which was extended and enlarged several times. Now we have built the new Sanctuary just with volunteers. We have taken on the Mt Wellington building which is a huge step again, and many lives are being impacted, but I know we can do it because I have seen God do it in the past; achieving amazing results through His people. City Impact Church is doing so much, because God is in the House, because there are God inspired messages, from God inspired leaders, and it inspires people to follow after Him, and to be changed into His likeness. It's experiencing God in the church that has changed us personally and continues to inspire us. It's a privilege to be a part of changing lives for good. Chris Morton
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LINDA WARD
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I Love My Church I was there at the very first meeting – the launch of Bays Christian Fellowship. I was there because I had seen the newspaper adverts, “New church starting in Browns Bay”. I was there because I was a teenager searching for a church that had sound doctrine and was full of the Holy Spirit. I was there because God knew that this church would be good for me and possibly I would be good for it! I hadn’t been there very long when Pastor Peter came and spoke to me one day. He said in such a kind way that he thought that one day I could be a leader and that since I was the responsible one in the youth group I needed to set an example. He said that there were lots of great things in me, and that I had great potential. I will never forget that first example of fatherly love that was shown to me. These little interactions are the ones that can define a destiny. So now I have been at City Impact Church for 30 years and it is the place where God has planted me. I have contributed to every stage of its growth and I plan to continue to contribute. As the church has grown and matured so have I. Along with a huge sense of belonging I always feel a sense of expectancy. I am comfortable with the familiar – sound Bible teaching, clear vision and purpose, culture of family and friendliness, spirit of excellence, depth of faith and anointing. I am also comfortable with the feeling of ‘there is still more to do, we haven’t made it yet’. There is always more as God unfolds his plan for our church: with Pastor Peter and Bev leading the way – the vision keeps growing, steps of faith are taken, new doors of opportunity keep opening, there is never an end – only another beginning… Developing into a leader and helping others in their walk with God has been a wonderful blessing for me. Being part of a church that sees people set free to live abundant lives in Christ is the biggest joy of my life. I stay at City Impact Church because it is a good church. We move forward and change. We see people make Jesus their Lord and Saviour, we see them grow into maturity and we worship together – a family who are all at different stages of the journey, but still a family. I stay at City Impact Church, these 30 years now and more to come, because of Pastors Peter and Bev. I am partnered with them to make things happen! I have had the privilege of seeing them grow in character and Christ-likeness. I have seen and experienced their depth of love – for me, for other church members and for the unsaved. Linda Ward
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Neil & Jan Smith
I moved back from Fiji where I had been living as a teenager. I saw an advert in the North Shore Times for Bays Christian Fellowship and knew that I needed to go to the church, despite not knowing anyone there or anything about it. I attended a service in November 1982, on my own at a tiny wooden hall with just a few people inside. It had the oldest wooden chairs that I had ever seen set up in rows. I was feeling nervous and remember that Val Morton greeted me and said “well you're obviously a visitor; here, have some tracts!” I've felt at home ever since! I met Neil there, and we became famous for some of the firsts… First wedding at the church, first church secretary, first youth group leaders. We have incredible, crazy and wonderful memories of 30 years here, raising our daughters alongside lifetime friends raising their children. This is family!
JAN & NEIL SMITH
LYNDA & SARAH BRITTAIN
BUTE RD
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Doug & Lynda Brittain
In 1984, we gave our hearts to the Lord at a Bill Subritzsky Crusade. A week later, we received a letter from the crusade team recommending a good local Church – Bays Christian Fellowship, a phone call from Pastor Peter, a letter from the Church and a personal invitation from a congregation member in the form of a small blue visitor’s card, all on the same day!
THE EARLY YEARS 1984 We refurbish Bays Market Building on Bute Road, Browns Bay, turning it into our new church. Pastor Bev and a team of ladies sew metres and metres of maroon velvet material for the cushions on the church's new plastic seats, as well as a backdrop for the stage Summer BBQs, Community Garage Sale and Church Fair For teenagers we have 'The Haven' with pool, table tennis, darts, draughts, cards Saturday afternoon movies
1985 We ordain our first associate pastors – Pastors Graeme and Sue McMeehan Willie Tata and the Lighthouse Gospel Band Rock and Roll video plays: 'A Search for God' Young Adults Nights start and the first youth group starts with a lovely young couple – Neil and Jan Smith
1986 Float Parades, and our winning streak begins, continuing for the next 6 years in a row! Easter convention with Pastor Rob Wheeler First elders and deacons ordained
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LAHNAE CLEAVER
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My History and My Future In the spring of 1986 my family moved from Canada to New Zealand. God led us to join Bays Christian Fellowship in Bute Road, Browns Bay. I was 9 years old. Since that day it has been my great privilege and honour to live under Pastors Peter and Bev’s leadership, anointing and covering. For that I am truly grateful. The story of my life would be a book without words if City Impact Church was erased. As a child I was baptised in the Adams’ spa pool at Okura. I spoke in tongues for the first time at a Church camp at Willow Park. Through Children’s Church and Youth Groups (however small) I met the people I still count amongst my closest friends. I worked through the issues of growing up at the altar of our Church and through High School and University my faith was never shaken because I was taught what it was to have a real relationship with a real God. For that I am truly grateful. I met and married the man of my dreams in this church and we have been fortunate to be able to build our marriage and family on the principles we have learnt here. The strong foundation of faith that was built into us at City Impact Church has seen us through life’s challenges including a five year battle to start a family. After a miscarriage and several years of trying to get pregnant without success, tests revealed that we had virtually no chance of ever conceiving a child naturally. The doctors told us that if we were serious about wanting a baby we would need to try very serious medical intervention and even with that help success was far from guaranteed. Fortunately we were able to stand on the truth that God and only God is the Creator, the giver of life and He had promised us a family. Today we have a beautiful 16 month old baby boy and are expecting our second beautiful baby in 6 months time. Both are miracles from God. Perfect, healthy pregnancies conceived with absolutely no medical help whatsoever. For that we are truly grateful. Our children will grow up in this church and be so blessed with the legacy they will find here. This church is my family, my history and my future. For that I will be eternally grateful. Lahnae Cleaver
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Unless the Lord builds the house, They labour in vain who build it. Psalm 127:1
Alison Jeff
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HP & transparencies · Lette and O rs to o e r the ste n a d s ’ L n a e d M i e e · s pap Break th days , r e f e i er a l sts ar rin e re · u b n e e c h n a t ( m i B h o e c loc L a a s e e b ’ a y B d v s s e l m l e r al ship Ca a B ne t S a & r W d a o r n l C h e r ristian · a sb eke te Supe : k s e t r I h m P nd a ge Pa nig s) of day ow n t u
Since being saved I have always had a passion to work with children. I came to church in 1987 after teaching in Matamata for the past 10 years. I ran the Children’s Church in Bute Road and decided to train as a Children’s Pastor at Children’s Bible Mission the year after. In 1991 Pastor Peter asked me to come on staff as a Children’s Pastor, to be honest my original heart was for outreach. When I said this to Pastor Peter, he said I could incorporate both of these – and that is what we did. We ran After School Care – in both church, school and people's homes. There was Bible in Schools, Rest Home Outreaches, local float parades, street evangelism events and Holiday Care. There were many great memories of trips we went on; camps, fancy dress parties and sleepovers, Christmas dramas and we even had our own magazine. To be honest the pastoral aspect of the role grew on me, I loved visiting the children in their homes and today seeing children’s lives changed has been very rewarding.
ALISON JEFF
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all from St Anne’s Hall · Ra cout H ft rac the S e c o eaning roster · OHP rost p to mp es · Cl er · C gu etit unch a lkin r r ch l ions banquets · Stree allie ions wa · Miss hur t Ou ·G s· en Out ec t t r s e I n a ldr ter a che pla Day -c s ily i · Dust or Destin ·C am · Jon y ra ·F eel
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Simon & Yvonne Godfrey
SIMON & YVONNE GODFREY
The highlight of the year definitely had to be our annual Church Camp. It was not remembered for its comfort but for the family fun and the bizarre games we played. Paul Adams and family had the audacity to try to win the talent quest by performing Silent Night. They stood there and did absolutely nothing – didn't make a sound for 3 minutes! Silent Night indeed! But the greatest memory of Church Camp is the way that God showed up to deposit yet a bigger vision in Pastors Peter and Bev. Their vision has not slowed down and we count it a privilege to be a part of the amazing City Impact Church jour ney.
THE EARLY YEARS 1987 First Bays Summer Festival is a beach party at Mairangi Bay Focus on the Family 7 week series We are excited to send our first missionaries out – Linda Ellis to the Philippines and Sarah Mulcock to Paraguay, who later marries Mariano and serves in Siberia Prison Ministry begins
1988 We are part of the largest petition New Zealand has ever seen, to see changes in law reform, standing for family values. Across the nation we collected 800,000 signatures Pastor Alison Jeff starts leading Children’s Church in Bute Rd
1989 Pastor Peter and Pastor Paul go to an auction and bid to buy 8 acres of land at 794 East Coast Road. It was a paddock with one huge dead tree and a chicken farm on it Youth Services, Child Dedications, Water Baptisms and 3-day fasts are part of the regular church calendar We begin holding 'Meet the Pastors Nights' at Pastor Peter and Bev’s house. This later turns into Introduction Night Pastors Andrew and Virginia Martin come on staff as pastors
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THE EARLY YEARS
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RS
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794 EAST COAST ROAD
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The Establishing Years By Pastor Peter Mortlock I always say that one person can change your church and one person did just that by giving $430,000! We’d had a scripture about ‘casting our net on the other side’ – John 21:6. So, in 1988 Paul Adams and I went to an auction for some land up on East Coast Road. It was farmland then but is now residential of course. It was 21 acres. The auction got to $600,000 and the land did not sell. We negotiated to secure 8 acres for $200,000. Oh how I wish we had bought the whole 21 acres (hindsight is a wonderful thing), but we wanted to build as well and not just sit on land that we could not afford to build on. So Canam Group Ltd was commissioned to build a 350 seat church complex on the site. They built and we landscaped. That was a large enough job for a small number of people.
hundred yards and we had an electrician in the church who was more than confident we could do it. What a disaster. I gathered a few young men to help pull the cable out of the drum. Well, you can imagine us pulling it through the mud, into the trench that kept collapsing. Then the drum fell off the truck and broke so it would no longer roll. A day later we had the cable off the drum, but not in the right position – we are talking a heavy cable here. Enough to say, late in the evening we got it into position only to find that it was three metres too short. And I had asked the electrician, “Are you sure you’ve got enough?” I had to remind myself, “Grace, Peter, grace.” It cost us thousands of dollars to join the cable. Did we save any money? No!
God gave us a word at this time: Psalm 78:55, ‘He… apportioned them for an inheritance by measurement…’ Another translation says ‘He allotted them an inheritance by survey’. We knew this was God.
God gave us a word at this time: Psalm 78 v 55 ‘He… apportioned them for an inheritance by measurement…’
I spent days and days developing a pond area down at the bottom corner of the property. I had a vision for a prayer sanctuary but today our school sits on top of it, all filled in. I also remember raking for days a half-sized rugby field. It never got used and is now all developed. Progressive vision is a wonderful thing.
That was one project (not to mention all the working bees where I had been left to put away the paint, the shovels etc) that made me say, “No, no, no,” when Syd Jones approached me several years later to tell me we could build our new sanctuary. How wrong I was.
I always say that one person can change your church... I remember we tried to save some money by installing the power cable from the road to the building ourselves. It was only a few
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And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.� So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. John 21:6
BUILDING OUR FIRST AUDITORIUM 794 EAST COAST RD, ALBANY
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1989 - 1990
THE CO
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THE CONCRETE POURING GANG
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BUILDING OUR FIRST AUDITORIUM
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TIM LOOK
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Called by God The clearest instruction that God has ever given to me was the direction to come here, and a few weeks later when He told me that I was to stay in this Church. However the first time I visited I was absolutely freaked out! As soon as the service finished I raced out into the car park, only to be chased by someone who yelled, “Hey, I know you...” It was Dave Leota. We had both gone to Westlake Boys, and it was Dave who made me think that perhaps this place wasn’t so bad after all! I didn’t understand it but I knew that I had to come back. During those early years God did a radical work in me challenging every area of my life. The day I was filled with the Holy Spirit was a life changing experience. Everything changed that day; my circumstances, my physical wellbeing and my attitudes. I remember waking up the next day with a new boldness and tenacity that had not been there before. From the moment I arrived I was in awe of Pastor Peter, thinking that he was not like any Pastor I had known before. He had something I wanted. I was so passionate to be in Church that I never missed a meeting. I even turned up to events that I wasn’t invited to! Before long Pastor Bev asked me to jump on the sound desk and weeks later I joined the Worship Team. 2001 was the year I came on staff as Outreach Director and a year later took over Operations. For me the most significant moments of my 21 years at City Impact Church would have to be the building of the Sanctuary and the opening of the Mt Wellington Campus. When we started digging the footings of the Sanctuary in the hot summer sun just before Christmas I remember thinking, “This is horrible, I don’t think I can keep this up for long, it’s too big.” It was hard work and incredibly tiring but when we returned to work after Christmas it felt totally different – it was still hard work but there was a supernatural grace to complete it. I was commissioned to pour concrete. The only time I worked inside was on a day there was no concrete to pour. That day I helped wire downlights in the Sanctuary catwalks but after Pastor Matt touched the wrong wire and received a shock I thought it best I stay outside for the rest of the project! After the
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foundations, floors and tilt slabs had been poured, we started pouring the concrete for the car park which we did every Saturday and then every Wednesday towards the end. The concrete truck drivers were amazed that we would work on the days the professionals thought the weather was too risky and that we always got away with it. With six weeks to go there was still a lot of concrete to lay. One professional contractor told me that we would never complete it in time and that we should get professionals to lay the remainder of the car park in asphalt. His comments gave us all the motivation we needed to complete the task on time. Several months before we started work on the Mt Wellington Campus, God gave me a vision and I knew that I would have a part to play there. The deal to purchase the building took a long time to come together and there were times when it looked as if it wouldn’t happen at all but everytime I visited the building I knew that it would be ours. When the day finally came I was told that we had three weeks to pull it off in order to open at Global Impact! Again everyone went the extra mile to make it happen. This time like never before I could tangibly feel that people were praying for myself and the other project leaders. There were early starts and late finishes but again there was a grace to do it. It’s an awesome feeling to know that God is carrying you. The night before the Grand Opening a few of us worked all night and later that day it all came together, Dr A.R. Bernard preached that night and the house was packed. When I think of all the crazy things I have said and done over the years I am so grateful for the grace that Pastor Peter and Bev have shown towards me – I think that I would have fired me a long time ago! It has been a lot of hard work but my life is wonderful and I am so grateful that I met my wife Janine here and that we have three beautiful children growing up in the House. I know that there is still so much more that God has in store for us as a family and as a church and I really look forward to the kids taking over. It will be awesome one day to be supporting my children, working alongside them in a different capacity as they build something of significance for the Kingdom. Tim Look
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Graeme & Anne Bird
Tamea Hayward
Wilf and I first came to Bays Christian Fellowship in 1990 when we moved from Devonport. We planned to visit all the Pentecostal Churches in the area before settling down. But that never happened!
In 1985 we were a young couple with a newborn when we were welcomed into Bays Christian Fellowship, a young church, with a young pastor and wife (song leader and pianist), two sons, a lot of faith, zeal, sacrifice and love for the Lord and His people powered by the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Peter was preaching a message we loved and understood. The Bible was loved and read to the people, Jesus the Mighty One was proclaimed, the welfare of the nation was in focus. We were welcomed, and prayed for. We had experiences at City Impact Church that filled us with joy and caused us to settle more and more into our new church home. We were given a Children’s Club, a home group and attended the 6am prayer group. Training for the future was going from strength to strength. The vision has become a reality!
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WILF & TAMEA HAYWARD
Praise God we had solid teaching from the onset. That has given us absolutes and foundations – guiding us through life, raising our family and answering the call upon our lives to serve the Lord aboard the ‘MV Doulos’ which was our greatest step as a family. Those years serving abroad on the Doulos were memorial stones in our lives – such an honour and blessing. More lives than we will ever know, I’m sure, have been impacted by the Lord. Our lives and the lives of our family wouldn’t be what it is today without the impact Pastors Peter and Bev have made, the tears, the wisdom, the laughter and the years we’ve shared are our treasures. God’s promises have given us hope in times of struggles and His Word has inspired us to great steps.
NEIL & JAN SMITH
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THE ESTABLISHING YEARS 1990 Move into new building at East Coast Bays. Children’s Church is held in the present reception area and outside in a builders’ hut! Establish the famous ‘Bowl’ – Pastor Peter’s handy work, a beautifully planted picnic area. The Sanctuary is on top of it today! Start Holiday Club with 35 children attending. Bible in Schools running Touch Base programme with Pastors Rob and Michelle McGrath Pastoral services – marriage counselling, vocational guidance, home budgeting, food bank Hong Kong / China Missions Trip
1991 After working voluntarily Pastor Alison Jeff comes on staff as the Children’s Pastor Car boot sales and trailer swaps Graeme and Anne Bird and their three little boys leave to serve on the missionary ship, the Duolos First Youth Camp (and ‘Singles Camp’) Ordained new deacons in the church Pastors Rob and Michelle McGrath appointed Youth Pastors
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KIDS CHURCH PSALM 71 v 18
WE DECLARE YOUR POWER TO THE NEXT GENERATION & YOUR MIGHT TO ALL WHO ARE TO COME.
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Simon and Louise Cornwall
We had been saved for 10 months and married for four weeks when we arrived as a new family unit at Bays Christian Fellowship in 1992. We were welcomed and loved, treated with honesty, and we connected with wonderful friends.
LOUISE & SIMON CORNWALL
What an amazing Church to grow and mature in, accepting and loving us – yet encouraging and challenging us to expand, serve and worship whole heartedly. Since accepting Jesus we have desired and sought after a real and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, believing that if we seek Him first and know Him for ourselves everything that we desire for our family, church and nation will come to pass. Pastors Peter and Bev have shown us by the example of their lives, who God really is. We now live knowing the authority we walk in through Christ.
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THE ESTABLISHING YEARS 1992 First business group starts ‘Heart to Heart’ (for solo parents) First trip to Mexico and introduction to Pastor Jeff Whiston Pastor Linda Ward leading Worship Dance Group Pastor Peter speaks to the media
1993 Building Children’s Church rooms Cell Groups launch. If you were a leader you were an X, L or D! Outreach: Prayer for North Shore City, hospital and kids healing BCF Youth Camp Pastor Janet Russel comes on staff to count the offerings First ushers group launches with Chris and Val Morton
1994 Children’s Church rooms open and numbers grow rapidly March for Jesus Power Team comes as we complete the Auditorium, seating 1300 people with new extension; we open it for the Power Team, with no carpet, and bleachers through to Function Hall. Numbers grow rapidly with around 1150 salvations in one week!
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LORETTA, JORDAN, CHARLIE, JANET & MELANIE RUSSEL
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Faithfulness and Friendship In 1989 we started our journey at the church, and we serve today as Elders, with Janet being on staff as Pastoral Director. We love how things are constantly changing, there is certainly no room for habit or monotony or inactivity. It’s easy to follow a man and woman with a clear vision and a very genuine and visible love for God and so we have always enjoyed supporting Pastors Peter and Bev by serving where needed. As a church we are always improving how we operate, there’s always something new, our capacity can’t help but grow. From the very first day when we walked through the doors down in Bute Road, God made it clear to Charlie that he would be involved in the building projects of the Church. The first project was building the stage in the newly completed Auditorium. Following that was the building of the Function Room with Children’s Church below, then the extension of the Auditorium, then later the kindergarten and associated rooms downstairs – and then the BIG one – working closely with Syd Jones on the Sanctuary. What a privilege to be so closely involved in making room for more people to come through the door for salvation and be added to the Church. One of the great things Charlie really enjoyed when working with other volunteers, was seeing so many of them develop skills they never realised they were capable of and taking responsibility and leadership for tasks. With hundreds of volunteers working together consistently on Saturday mornings, it built a culture in the Church of family, of friendships, of commitment, and of being a part of something bigger than ourselves. This culture has now carried over into our Community Days with the great turn out of volunteers. Over the years we have become close friends with Pastors Peter and Bev and have many great memories of travelling with them both in New Zealand and abroad. We so love and respect them for being consistent in who they are, whether on the platform or in their personal world. It doesn’t matter where we are, Pastor Peter is always looking for any opportunity to share the gospel. His heart is constantly for the lost. Charlie and Janet Russel
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PEOPLE OF THE 1990s
CHRISTINE DOUDNEY
BLUE JEANS, HAWAIIAN SHIRTS
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WORSHIP TEAM
PRODUCTION TEAM
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PEOPLE OF THE 1990S
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EARLY CHRISTMAS PRODUCTIONS
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THE ESTABLISHING YEARS 1995 Bays Candlelight Carol Service progresses to Northern Lights New Christians class running David Tua visits
1996 Vision – ‘Broadening the base’
NS
Expo Sunday Kindergarten opens Pastor Mark Mortlock comes on staff as Operations Manager Pastor Rob McGrath comes on board as Missions Director Family Camp progresses to Leadership Weekends First Interns – Tarry Mortlock and Scott Bell Pastor Peter takes a group of young guys on the Heaphy Track
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NORTHERN LIGHTS
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ROSS & ALEXIA PAULING
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Kingdom Builders In February 1993 a friend brought Ross and I along to Bays Christian Fellowship. We were reluctant to come and sceptical. However, what neither of us was prepared for, was the certainty that by stepping into God’s house at 794 East Coast Road, we had come home. As I tried to leave, half blind with tears after a Sunday morning service, Pastor Peter led me to the Lord in the car park. Four years later I was invited to be Personal Assistant to this visionary couple, whose lives are dedicated to building The Kingdom for Jesus. Ross surrendered his life to Christ soon after I did and as newlyweds, our hearts felt compelled to contribute. We began serving on Pastor Mark’s new Ushers Team, then Sound, Multimedia, Training and Production. Through serving at City Impact, and friendships found within, Ross retrained as an electrician. His skills are poured back into God’s house with gratitude and unwavering commitment. Then God inspired us to have our own family and we now have two gorgeous children, Sophia and Gino. Words like ‘legacy’ and ‘building for the next generation’ mean so much more! We’re committed to leaving something strong for them to contribute to and build on. At City Impact Church, Sophia and Gino are safe to grow and mature in God’s house. It’s a thriving family, full of wonderful pseudo relatives who want the very best for them. And Sophia and Gino, from their beginnings are being equipped to build The Kingdom. The Godly marriages, friends and families within City Impact Church are a constant inspiration to us. It’s a true family, one that is committed to doing life together. We cherish that so much and feel truly blessed to be part of City Impact’s inspirational history and the certainty of an incredible future. Alexia Pauling
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Heather Baker
Bays Christian Fellowship impacted my life long before I starting actually attending City Impact Church! I attended Holiday Club every year from about age 5. Every year I gave my heart to the Lord. A few years later I also attended the Power Team with my family. I know God was always faithful and looked after me even before I was faithful to Him. Holiday Club gave me my first opportunity to accept Christ. I believe my openness and acceptance of God then was one of the reasons God drew me back when I was 13 or 14 to make a lasting and ongoing commitment to Christ! Slowly but surely God led me through many challenges and made me into the woman I am today.
HEATHER BAKER
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THE ESTABLISHING YEARS 1997 Pastor Linda Ward comes on board as Children’s Director, and Pastor Alison Jeff stays on as Children’s Pastor Pastor Dean Payn comes on staff as Youth Director City Impact Church Queenstown launches with Pastors Rob and Michelle McGrath We record our first worship CD “To the Ends of the Earth”, with Pastor Krista’s famous song ‘Still my Soul’ LEADERSHIP WEEKEND 1998
Hot August Night – Wednesday nights with Pastor Peter Northern Lights goes to the North Harbour Stadium
1998 After School Care starts Leadership Weekend at Rotorua, with Pastor Brian Tamaki. We stay at ‘The Ridges.’ Pastors Peter and Bev continue to visit Mexico and support tent church in Cabo San Lucas Church receives special recognition at Westpac Trust Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards Pastor Leanne Mortlock comes on staff and Gateway launches – first Introduction to Bays Christian Fellowship night Church helps with Benny Hinn Crusade Northern Lights goes to the North Harbour Stadium again – this time Santa (Colin Robinson) arrives by parachute after jumping out of a helicopter above the stadium
1999 Introduction of purpose filled Impact Teams Music Box starts First Director's Retreat and Director's Walk Pat Mesiti Crusade Pastor Michael Pitts, Sy Rogers and Pastor Roberts Liardon come as Guest Ministry First Kindy Concert Northern Lights Pastor Krista Crawford comes on staff as Music Director Directors kayak down the Wanganui River – 80km in 5 days Pastor Richard Wagener comes on as Pastoral / Outreach Director Pastor Carlene Managh comes on staff as Youth Intern
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Christie Clark
CHRISTIE, NEIL, NATHAN & HANNAH CLARK
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I completed Gateway in 2010. Even though my father was an evangelist and I grew up knowing a lot about the Bible and church, I walked out of Gateway every Wednesday refreshed and encouraged. We were instantly connected to other people. Church became more of a family and a home rather than something you would do because you grew up that way. I guess for me and my family Gateway helped us move up many levels and stages in our relationship with God. Now that I am on staff facilitating Gateway I feel so blessed! It’s hard to explain how amazing it is, the testimonies of lives changed and set free, it’s definitely a God thing!
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Gateway started in 1998 as a response to a growing church. It was to provide an opportunity for everyone who came to church to become part of the House and become involved and find connection. The goal of Gateway is to share the vision and culture of City Impact Church, primarily the important biblical truths which undergird everything we do and who we are. Gateway is full of teaching, discipleship, fellowship and connection. It is the pathway to enter into an Impact Team or small group making it possible for everyone to become a significant contributor to the ministry of the House.
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The Empowering Years By Pastor Peter Mortlock In 1990, as we cast our net to the other side, in other words, from East Coast Bays to Albany, we grew quickly to around 300 people, making us one of the larger churches in New Zealand at the time. 1n 1994, it was time to expand the building, and over the next ten years there was always an addition, with something new being built or added. We could seat 1,100 people on the original flat floor. Then we squeezed in 1,300 per night on temporary tiered seating when we hosted the Power Team from the U.S.A. We had over 1,300 people saved in one week, through their visit, a record for a local church in New Zealand. In 1999 we put in terraced seating, closed off some function rooms and ended up with a great 900 seat auditorium with multiple classrooms, a café, offices, and children’s facility. This building is occupied today by our Kids Church. I remember well digging out by hand the toilet block for the Kindergarten behind a concrete retaining wall. What a mission. We could not fit a little digger through the hole, so we had to use a wheelbarrow. How we moved that much dirt I will never know. Praise God for faithful workers. We could write another whole book on permits and consents but most is best left unsaid.
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When we first moved up onto our land I wanted to put up a sign saying ‘Bays Christian Fellowship’ to mark the entrance to the church. The church site is down a right of way and obscured from the road, so road-front signage is of the utmost importance. Being in a residential area, the sign was not allowed to be bigger than three square metres; however, we were allowed to sign-write both sides of that. With the front entrance being back from the road, I opened the sign up into a V-shape to make it more visible for the passing traffic. Of course, the council regarded this as an illegal six metre sign. Well, a year later, with a file one inch thick, and after numerous council inspections escalating to inviting the Mayor to visit, we finally had consent. I could go on about inspectors arguing over signage, for example ‘exit’ or ‘egress,’ but I won’t!
We raised up a team from the next generation, people who had been born in the house. To see them all functioning today is one of the greatest thrills for me. When we built our first building, we shifted a lot of earth down to the bottom of the property and levelled it to make a rugby field. Later, when we put in an application for the new building, one inspector told us we would
never be able to build there as the land had slipped. I said, “No, we put that fill there and levelled it.” Have you ever tried to argue with an inspector? At one time they even thought part of our first building wasn’t on the original plan and even photographic evidence was not enough to convince them. We just smiled and kept moving on. What a great time we had in this facility – so many inspiring meetings, so many saved, healed, and delivered, so many visitors, guest speakers, and events. They were very fruitful years. During this time, we raised up a team from the next generation, people who had been born in the House. To see them all functioning today is one of the greatest thrills for me, as I think it would be for any Pastor. We had working bees, carol services, outreaches, float parades, and conferences. It all just kept on rolling. The church was going from strength to strength. Over these years we celebrated countless weddings and babies born, including our own grandchildren. The seasons were changing. As we grew older, the congregation did too, yet still with a strong emphasis on children and youth, the church was and is, always full of life. In 1998 Leanne, our daughter in law, designed and created ‘Gateway’, a new-comers and new believers
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course to help us integrate people into the church. It was designed to impart the culture and values of the House while teaching doctrine, seeing people baptised, filled with the Holy Spirit and going on in their walk with Christ. Right from the beginning, Gateway has had large numbers of people attending, which has enabled them to go on to being part of our Impact Teams and small groups. During this time, we realised we had a lot of overcommitted volunteers who were coming out mid-week to prepare for Sunday services, as well as attending a cell group on a different night. We felt that the cell groups ran the risk of becoming inward-focused, and lacked vision and direction. We wanted people to be able to connect, but with a serving element to give them a common passion and focus. Knowing that we wanted to do something different and unique rather than the standard cell group structure we had had in the past, we created ‘Impact Teams’. These teams combine the elements of serving and fellowship and mean that people are not coming out multiple times during the week. Impact Teams are grouped under Ministry Areas, for example, the Operations Ministry Area includes the ushering, car park, café, security and bookstore teams. This structure means that people can serve in their specific roles on Sundays and then meet together midweek with people from across their Ministry Area to prepare, connect, study the Bible and have fellowship together. So began the matrix!
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Louise Cutten
LOUISE CUTTEN
I was blessed to stay with a family from the La Paz church Mexico for 5 months, helping with evangelism and worship. It was an amazing time, lots of laughs, fun and special memories. I also visited the ‘daughter’ churches in Cabo San Lucas and San José – it was incredible meeting people who were so grateful for City Impact Church. They value and cherish our support so much, both financially and when we visit personally to minister to them. It’s exciting to see strong Pentecostal churches growing in Mexico, seeing people in such desperate need being born again and spirit filled. Being there among such loving and accepting people was a life-changing experience for me.
LOUISE WITH WHISTON FAMILY, MEXICO
Missions
MEXICO, CHINA, THAILAND, TANZANIA & TONGA
PASTORS COCO & LEANNE
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TEAM VISITS TANZANIA
CHINESE MEDICAL CENTRE
ONGA LORRAINE DIERCK IN THAILAND TONGA
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Village Impact
OLIVIA CAMPBELL
I went to Tanzania in 2006. As we visited the village of Magugu I was struck by how extremely poor the families there were. I was so broken-hearted and overwhelmed at the state that they were living in, and my values were instantly put into perspective. But what struck me the most was how incredibly full of joy the kids were at the school that City Impact Church sponsors regardless of their circumstances. It made me realise that joy comes from God and not from material goods and a life free from problems. With the money we send, the school feeds the children lunch (for a lot of them the only meal they would get that day), provides them with their much cherished uniforms and teaches them about Jesus in a predominately Muslim area. It was such a privilege to see how City Impact Church is impacting people, that most of us will never meet, on the other side of the world. Olivia Campbell
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PASTOR GREG AT MAGUGU SCHOOL, TANZANIA
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Pastors Daryl and Roberta
PASTORS ROBERTA & DARYL
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Queenstown is a strong local Church built amongst majestic scenery. As a local church it is part of the heart of the community of Queenstown. It has a unique calling to minister to those passing through – the impact of this cannot always be measured as people travel back home across the globe. Pastors Paul and Lynne Tankard have been faithful pillars in the house throughout this time and are lay pastors there today. An epic journey so far, but the best is still to come!
McGRATH FAMILY
PAUL & LYNNE TANKARD
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CITY IMPACT CHURCH QUEENSTOWN 1998 Pastors Rob and Michelle McGrath travel down to pastor with their children Geoff, Matthew & Charissa Pastor Paul & Lynne Tankard stay on to assist
2002
We are renamed Queenstown Impact Church (as B.C.F becomes City Impact Church)
2005
TANKARD
“Building the Dream” fund starts. Planning for a 500 seat auditorium with adjacent function rooms and café. There is also provision for a second tier of seating in the future to increase the capacity to 750 with administration offices. A Childcare is planned, to cater for up to 50 children a day
2006 JOZAC, MELISSA & NATASHA HILLARY
Moves to temporary location at Frankton Arms Hotel and a refit of offices, dining rooms and bar for church purposes. (Talk about taking back ground the enemy had occupied!) City Impact Church’s first Women’s Conference with Pastor Bev and all the City Impact Church girls!
2007
Moves into 3 Hansen Road, Frankton, our new building! It was built by a dedicated congregation over many Saturdays as well as a core construction team that helped pull everything together August 2007 our Early Childhood Education Centre opens
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with Shaun Vining taking the lead and Pastor Linda Ward helping support the establishment of the brand new facilities October 2007 Farewell to Pastors Rob and Michelle and welcome Pastors Dean and Maria Payn and family
2008
First Spring Giveaway and launch of Community Impact Days, Brazilian Impact and special Aquarela Brazil services, Tree of Hope initiated, prayer on top of the ‘Remarkables’
2009
We built an epic mining town playground for our Early Childhood Education Centre
2010 Welcome Pastors Daryl and Roberta as Pastors Dean and Maria relocate back to City Impact Auckland. That year was the first epic Christmas production Toy Story 1 with the involvement of the
children
2011 Toy Story 2, ‘Firewood Chop and Deliver’ to the needy, first simulcast for Super Weekend – Pastor Phil Pringle
2012
First Vision Sunday simulcast from North Shore Campus
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Pastors Daryl and Roberta
It’s all about people, introducing them to Christ and seeing lives touched and changed – a church that has His heart and is willing to be His hands and feet. In everything we do we seek to fulfil the vision of City Impact Church, to glorify our God and lead people into a closer walk with Him as they experience His love, grace and mercy. To be a part of City Impact Church, to have the covering, the encouragement and the accountability enables us to be focused and passionate about the local church. Our Senior Pastors, Peter and Bev, are an amazing example of lives totally submitted to God. It has been an honour to carry the heart and name of City Impact Church in the ‘Deep South’ over the last 9 years.
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CITY IMPACT CHURCH INVERCARGILL 2003
Pastors Leo and Alice Austin pass the baton. City Impact Church Invercargill launches with Pastors Daryl and Roberta Watson and children: Corey, Melissa, Serena and Charlotte with a congregation of 35
2004
The first Christmas Event hits the stage, with many other spectacular shows to follow‌
2005
The big move out of Trent St (the karate hall) to Hansen Hall, part of Southern Technology Institute
2006 CRUZ, KELLIE, ROBERTA, DARYL, MICAH, COREY, SERENA & CHARLOTTE
The Christmas Event: Toy Story 1, with Invercargill and Balclutha combining and performing in two locations!
2007
First Community Impact Day, the beginning of reaching our community in a fresh way. The first Church Ball, now an epic annual event. The Christmas Event: Toy Story 2
2008
The Christmas Event: The Amazing Race, Summer Impact launches in the South Island, April Youth Overnighter with Pastors Greg and Krista Crawford
2009
The Christmas Event: The Radio Show Ladies Pacific Night
2010
Dawn to Dusk Youth Day Out (Combined South Island Event), The Christmas Event: Pantomime
2011
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COREY & DARYL WATSON
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Divine Appointment Well it has been a journey. Roberta and I first met Pastors Peter and Bev when they visited us as guest ministry while we were pastoring Te Anau New Life Centre. What I have always liked about them is their appetite for life, their boldness and faith for God to move. I remember asking Pastor Peter, “How do you have such faith?” He turned to me and said, “The answer lies within”. That was Pastor Peter challenging me to look to the Holy Spirit within, dig deeper, push through and find the answer. During a New Life Conference at Bays Christian Fellowship, we were invited to lunch with the guest ministry and senior leaders by Pastors Peter and Bev. I didn’t say much at that lunch, just listened and observed. We were overwhelmed by their generosity and ability to open a door for us into a bigger world, to believe in us and to take a risk with us. I remember not wanting to do anything that would dishonour them. While ministering at a later date, Pastor Peter laid his hands on me and God told me very clearly to partner with this man. I approached him and left it in his hands. It wasn’t until a few years later that God opened the door for this to come to pass. For the last nine years Roberta and I have pastored City Impact Church Invercargill, and more recently, we have taken City Impact Church Queenstown under our wing. This has only been made possible because of Pastors Peter and Bev's willingness to challenge us and support us as we grow in our capacity. I can honestly say our lives have been blessed, enlarged and enriched in every way. In our family we have seen spiritual breakthrough with our children, which I attribute to coming under great leadership and apostolic authority. Their bigness of heart, their generosity, their commitment to excellence, their love for the lost, their heart for the church and their passion to extend the Kingdom throughout the earth has certainly had an effect on our lives. It is a great honour to be under their leadership and the mantle that they carry. It is with heartfelt thanks and much appreciation that we thank God for Pastors Peter and Bev and what He has done in and through their lives. We would not be doing what we are today without their love and passion for God and for us. Daryl Watson
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Pastor Liz Taylor
Our heart at City Impact Church Balclutha is to see people reached for Jesus – and the place for us to start is where He has placed us – South Otago. We are not designed to build the Kingdom alone – and I know that what we have done, especially over the six years that we have been a City Impact Church, has been made possible firstly by God’s grace and strength, and secondly because of our relationship with Pastors Peter and Bev and the City Impact family of churches. Alignment and accountability undergirded by relationship, mutual love and respect is absolutely paramount to building strong, growing churches – praise God that we have all those components. We can expect a great future together!
We pay tribute PASTOR BEVEN TAYLOR 1952 - 2010 FAITHFUL AND LOVING HUSBAND, DAD, GRANDPA, PASTOR AND FRIEND
LIZ & BEVEN TAYLOR
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CITY IMPACT CHURCH BALCLUTHA 2006 In February we start building the Auditorium and on April 1st, launched City Impact Church Balclutha. Christmas Event: Toy Story 1 with Invercargill City Impact
2007 Easter Hamper Giveaway Christmas Event: The Great Christmas Robbery
2008 Music Box launches. Coal Giveaway for the community. Christmas Event: Operation Christ Child
2009 Guys’ Clay Bird Shoot. October – Launch City Impact Gore. Christmas in the Park: CSI Jerusalem
2010 Community Impact Car Wash Balclutha and Gore, first Balclutha and Gore ‘Coal Giveaway’; Zumba launches, Free Fair Gala Gore, Pastor Beven joins missions team building church in Tonga, Pastor
2011 Extend the Auditorium and function rooms and upgrade ceiling and lighting, Christmas Event, Community Impact, first Christmas box giveaway
2012 Guy's 24 hour event; Youth Raft Race; first Holiday Care; first Easter Event
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PASTORS JOCELYN & TOM KERR & DAUGHTER PAULA WITH PASTORS PETER & BEV WITH KRISTA
LISA'S PARENTS – INGA & MAURICE
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CITY IMPACT CHURCH CANADA When I was 10 years old and my sister Bev was 12, our parents – in obedience to the call of God, moved our family from Toronto, Canada to New Zealand, where our dad became a Presbyterian minister. So I grew up in beautiful New Zealand, until in the 1980’s my wife Jocelyn and I were called of God back to the Kerr family’s Canadian origins. Based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, we ran a successful multimedia business for many years, then, started a church on 30th March 2003. In September 2007 we locked arms with Pastors Peter and Bev and City Impact Church Canada, was launched. We are a passionate church who understand the power of declaration, calling forth salvation and restoration for the people in our city of Fredericton. We are known around here for being a ‘bit radical’ though always willing to step up to the plate around our city. We’ve been blessed to help support families after fires, city-wide floods, economic downturns and personal issues. We love getting right in amongst our community, helping wherever needed and bringing the hope of the gospel to people by building a strong church and making a difference in people’s lives. We are pro-active in offering support and encouragement to business people around the city, we are inspired to see young adults reach their potential, and we are fueled with a desire to see souls saved! Being part of the City Impact Church family has been a great support to us all here on the other side of the world. Just knowing that we are not on our own as ‘Kingdom builders, world changers and dominion takers’ is so encouraging and Pastors Peter and Bev have been a lifeline to us in making sure that we are connected by being able to attend conferences ‘down under’. We look forward to continued growth together as we advance the Gospel of the Kingdom to the nations. Pastor Tom Kerr 30thAnniversaryBook_52-101.indd 95
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Jordan Russel
Tonga was an amazing experience. I went over to be a blessing (and I know we were) but came back thoroughly blessed myself! We had the opportunity to ‘go’ and help people in another nation in a very practical way and at the same time have a lot of fun as a team and build great memories. I loved meeting the Tongan people; they’re so content and happy. Pastors Havili and Mele are so genuine in their love for people and God, it was truly an honour to serve them. I will never forget my trip to Tonga, or the incredible people I met.
JORDAN RUSSEL
PASTOR BEVEN
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CITY IMPACT CHURCH TONGA Becoming part of City Impact Church Tonga officially in 2010 was awesome, but our relationship with Pastors Peter and Bev started long before that. The highlight for Vava’u was the building of our church home in 2004. In a record 12 days, and then having the team come back in 2010 to extend it because of the growth! We love reaching out to our community and seeing the next generation raised up. In Tongatapu there are also plans to build a new home for the church on land that has already been purchased, this too will usher in exciting days. The television show ‘Impact For Life’ is famous across Tonga and we know that God has great plans in store for this place. Pastors Havili and Mele (Vava’u) and Pastors Aisea and Alesi (Tongatapu)
PASTOR HAVILI & HAMISH MUIR
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Ian, Michele, James, Nick & Scott Bensley
What an amazing journey it has been since our family came to City Impact Church in 2000. Welcomed from day one, our boys have developed in a safe, challenging and God filled environment. We have found a House of God that has let us, at times ‘be still and know that God is God’ and at other times has stretched and challenged us. There have been opportunities to serve and to give, and we have been blessed to meet fabulous friends. We love the progressive vision of God that is set before us day by day, week by week, year by year. We are blessed!
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BENSLEY FAMILY
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THE EMPOWERING YEARS 2000
Y FAMILY
North Shore Childcare Centre opens Pastor Clare Jones and Pastor Carlene ordained. Pastor Clare joins staff as Children’s Pastor Directors trip down the Wanganui River Abel Tasman Walk with elders and friends Pastors Paul and Sue Adams Global Impact Conference with Pastor Kong Hee and Pastor John Bevere
BOB & MARIE KERR (POPPA & NANA)
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2001 Leadership Weekend at Carlton Hotel, Auckland (Matrix Theme) Bays Christian Fellowship changes to City Impact Church We produce ‘Urban 412’ magazine for North Shore high schools Pastor Greg Crawford comes on staff in the Pastoral team Pastor Tim Look comes on staff as Outreach Director Global Impact Conference – 'Positioned For Purpose' with Pastor Mark Conner and Pastor Michael Pitts
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JANINE LOOK
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My Honour and Privilege
elt 30thAnniversaryBook_52-101.indd 101
There are moments when you know your life has been forever changed and the day I arrived at Bays Christian Fellowship in the late eighties was one of those moments! Having been raised in a Baptist church all my life, everything here on that first Sunday was extremely different. The preaching was hardhitting truth but shared with conviction and compassion, and the presence of God was like nothing I'd ever experienced before! It was beautiful yet powerful, and from that moment I was captivated by the love of Jesus and the overwhelming joy and peace of His presence. This was home! Immediately, I felt compelled to be a part of what God was building here through Pastors Peter and Bev. Their vision, energy, passion and genuine love for people inspired me to reach beyond my own limitations of timidity and 'shyness', and to place the cause of Christ as the highest priority in my life! In the early nineties I joined the newly formed ushers team and learnt what it was to minister and serve the people by taking care of the basic practicalities. Shortly afterwards, the youth team began Saturday Night Live and I volunteered to organise the youth band. I was unable to find a worship leader and was encouraged by my leader to take up this role. Having never sung in front of anyone before, and as a shy young girl who was happy being in the background, this was more than just a challenge for me! But I loved to worship in the presence of God, and through the support and belief of my leaders and pastors I stepped out and began to lead. My passion in life became leading
people into the throne room of God, seeing them shake off their burdens and move from fear into faith as they placed Him first, creating an atmosphere where God has total and complete liberty to move and where the presence and anointing of God is valued above all else. In 2006 I was asked to lead the Worship Ministry Team full time – what an honour to be commissioned with leading a team of volunteers who love Jesus and are called to minister to His people. I love God with all my heart and I love the presence of the Holy Spirit. I learnt to obey and follow Him in this House; I learnt to trust God in ALL circumstances and to be confident and strong in Him. I am grateful every day that I met my amazing husband here, that I can minister alongside him and that our three beautiful children are in this House under the Word and in the presence of God. I thank God daily that He has honoured me with the privilege and calling of leading His people into His throne room through worship. I thank God for placing such inspirational visionaries into my life, that they took a chance with me‌ that they saw beyond what I could see and have allowed me to live my dream! Janine Look
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GLOBAL IMPACT 1999 Global Impact – Pastor Michael Pitts and Pastor Roberts Liardon 2000 Global Impact – Pastor Kong Hee and Pastor John Bevere 2001 Positioned for Purpose – Pastor Mark Conner and Pastor Michael Pitts 2002 Positioned for Purpose – Pastor Iverna Tompkins and Pastor Ashley Evans 2003 Architects of Vision / Building the Dream – Pastor Ulf Ekman 2004 The Favour of Heaven – Pastor Mark Ramsey and Pastor Michael Pitts 2005 Legacy – Pastor Ulf Ekman and Pastor Jack Hanes 2006 Reformation – Pastor Frank Damazio and Pastor Phil Pringle 2007 Thy Kingdom Come – Bishop David Evans, Pastor Frank Damazio, Pastor Joakim Lundqvist and Pastor Mark Ramsey Global Impact Youth launched
2008 Global Impact – Bishop David Evans, Pastor Kong Hee, Reverend Chris Hill and Pastor Ashley Evans Global Kids launched
2009 Global Impact – Pastor Joakim Lundqvist, Pastor Jentezen Franklin, Dr. A R Bernard 2010 Season of Significance – Dr. A R Bernard, Pastor Charles Nieman and Pastor Nicole Conner
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GLOBAL IMPACT CONFERENCE
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GLOBAL IMPACT CONFERENCE
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MARIAH, LATESHA, DEAN, REUBEN, MARIA & THEO
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From Strength to Strength Maria’s Story Growing up in the church, from the age of 5, I call this place home; I count it a privilege to have been brought up here. The passion that I have for the Word of God, the heart I have for the next generation, to know and walk in His ways, was birthed here. To make each day count and to live purposefully with eternity in mind came from the myriads of messages spoken, the seeds sown in fertile ground, the atmosphere created through times in His presence, here in the House of God. Teaching Children’s Church at 12, I never dreamed that my calling would lie in raising up the next generation to know Him. This is walked out today through my involvement with City Impact Church School, seeing the Word of God integrated into all that is taught and building Kingdom minded children who passionately and confidently know the Word. As I watch the next generation being saved, water baptised, filled with the Spirit of God and taking their anxieties to the altar just as I did before them, I am convinced that the generations coming are being equipped like never before to know their inheritance in Christ and the empowering of the Holy Spirit – they will be un-stoppable. My prayer, for myself and those to come is this: “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4). One door has led to another, as we have been faithful to serve God where He has planted us. Even meeting Dean here at 15, he walked into church and that was the beginning of what is our family today…
Dean’s Story It was not long after my fifteenth birthday, my brother had died in a tragic car accident and my parents had recently separated. I was outside when the Bays Christian Fellowship Christmas parade float passed by, with a whole bunch of young people obviously having a lot of fun. I thought to myself, “I will go to that church.” This became the turning point in my Christian walk and in fact, my life. God really started to do a big work in every aspect of my life; my growing desire was to impact
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young people’s lives and within 6 months I found myself serving in “PowerPoint,” today’s Junior High. It was held in an old builders hut outside the front of church and at a tight squeeze we could fit about 15 people! I met many lifetime friends, who attended both church and school together; little did I dream that one of those friends, Maria, would one day be my wife! When I was19 Pastor Peter took a group of young guys on the Heaphy Track. I had no idea that he was assessing my character and soon after he asked me to come on staff as Youth Director. Pastors Peter and Bev have always believed in the next generation and are not afraid to give young people a go; I am a testimony to that. The next 10 years were filled with impacting young people, touching lives with the gospel and partnering with many local schools and community organisations. This cannot help but stir up a passion for evangelism and the desire to reach more people for Christ through His amazing power. The greatest joy was to see young people mature and develop to become leaders, many of whom are diligently serving in the House today. Later I also became the Outreach Director, focusing on local, national and international outreach, PR and marketing. Because of my passion for this House, it was an honour to represent City Impact Church in the community. In April 2007, when leaving Queenstown having visited our South Island churches, I felt that I had just left a huge part of my heart there. I shared this with Pastors Peter and Bev which led to us picking up the baton from Pastors Rob and Michelle McGrath. This was particularly special as Pastor Rob had been my first youth leader in 1993 and now I was able to continue on where he had left off, pastoring City Impact Church Queenstown. It was a privilege to be a part of God’s work, ministering amongst our City Impact Church family in the South and meeting the ‘world’ each Sunday as they visited this beautiful place. In coming back to Auckland, one of the highlights for us has been seeing our children flourish again at City Impact Church School; we thank God for the passion this House has always had to equip the next generation. We know that the best days are ahead in this Season of Significance. 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” Dean and Maria Payn
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Jaco, Mari, Stefan & Ina-Mari Grobler
STEFAN, JACO, MARI & INA-MARI GROBLER
When moving to another country there are so many things that you need to leave behind. One morning while driving to church we were pondering on how our children were missing out on having cousins and family around them. The thought had scarcely left our minds when we stopped at church and the kids rushed out of the car running into the arms of their friends who were waiting for them. We smiled with relief and knew that it was God saying, “Here is your home away from home and your family will not lack anything!�
YOUNG ACHIEVER
EARLY GATEWAY
Five Fold Launch
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THE EMPOWERING YEARS 2002
Pastor Paul Adams is elected to Parliament for a 3 year term Global Impact Conference – ‘Positioned For Purpose’ with Pastor Iverna Tompkins and Pastor Ashley Evans Northern Lights: ‘Toy Story 1’
2003 Leadership Weekend with John Bevere City Impact Church Invercargill launches, bringing on board Pastors Daryl and Roberta Watson Purchase 10 acres for Queenstown City Impact Church Produce first short film, ‘A Deliberate Life’ Pastor Peter and Bev spend time away in Tanzania, visiting Magugu School, and experiencing a safari, as well as Alaska. They return with the ‘Big 5’ Vision – City Impact Church School, Impact for Life television programme, Building a new Sanctuary, International Missions and new City Impact Churches Pastor Janine Look comes on staff in Graphics, and then Operations and Outreach Co-Director, working with Pastor Tim. Global Impact Conference ‘Architects of Vision, Building the Dream’ with Pastor Ulf Ekman Northern Lights: ‘Toy Story 2’ Pastor Peter’s Mum passes away
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ALEXANDRA & HER MUM SHELLEY
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Overflowing Love I came to City Impact Church in 2002, and since then every part of my life has changed incredibly. I now know who I am, I’m confident in what I believe, and I know I’m living the best life possible. I have such a heart to see God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I used to be shy, now I’m completely different! I love my life – I am focused on and committed to fulfilling all God has for me. I’ll never forget being in Strobe with people like Pastors Dean and Maria, Pastor Carlene, Shirley Taylor, Heather Baker and Rachel Wheeler. They always cared about me, made me feel loved and part of the family. There is such an overflowing love for people here. Being part of an Impact Team played a major role in who I am today, as I was surrounded by people who inspired me to be all I can be. I was constantly challenged to step up and out – whether it be praying out loud at a Connect meeting, making friends at a leadership conference in Rotorua, learning new skills in the Café – it’s enabled me to grow and mature so quickly and to continue doing so. Around here family isn’t limited to an individual’s family, rather we are one great big family – in and between Impact teams, ministry areas, visitors, leaders – it’s everywhere! I remember the sacrificial miracle offering in 2005 when we each walked across the stage to drop in our offering. I watched everyone file by and it made me cry, thinking this is my family and knowing we were sacrificing through a heart to build God’s house and see people come into His Kingdom. There is power as we move together, it’s not about us as individuals ‘making it’, but it’s about crossing the finishing line with the multitudes. I’m so excited about what is happening; the distance City Impact Church has come – all the way from Bays Christian Fellowship – to where we are now, shows the potential of what we can do! Alexandra Pronk
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YOUTH THE EARLY YEARS
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SUMMER IMPACT
EARLY DAYS WITH PASTORS ROB AND MICHELLE
THE HUB
YOUTH CAMPS
STROBE
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GREG CRAWFORD
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G
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I am a Blessed Man The moment I set foot onto that little pencil plane I knew that this would be an interesting flight to say the least. The plane seemed to take the form of a thin piece of paper being tossed around at will through the thick grey clouds. The panicked looks and gasps from anxious passengers made things even more exciting… but what was worse was looking at the gentleman in a pilot’s uniform sitting in the row across from me with the white knuckled grip. I thought to myself, “this is it”. This was my time to make peace with God and ask him to forgive me for turning my back on him for the past 8 years. I started muttering my mid-flight prayer, which progressed on to bargaining with God. I said, “God if you get me through this flight I am all yours.” That is exactly what I did the moment we reconnected with Auckland terra firma. A few weeks earlier I had walked into Bays Christian Fellowship to witness a bunch of big hairy men ripping phone books, squashing frying pans and head butting massive ice cubes. Ok, it was enough to impress me to walk to the front with the other masses of people to say a prayer. But let’s just say that I still struggled with living a double life at that stage. However, this plane flight was enough to convince me that having my feet in two camps was detrimental to my longevity on planet earth.
Generous 30thAnniversaryBook_102-151.indd 125
So the Sunday after I arrived back from Gisborne I placed a phone call through to my older brother Andrew to meet me in the car park of church, because I needed a little help starting this new life. He had been bold enough to invite his messed up little brother to church on several occasions in the past, and praise God he never seemed to quit (to this day I am completely grateful for his persistence). So I rocked up to Church August 21, 1994 with the sole intent of recommitting my life forever to God. I can still vividly remember standing at the front of the Auditorium with steamed up, tear-filled glasses, and more importantly I remembered this huge weight being lifted off my shoulders as I no longer had to keep up the facade of trying to live a life without Jesus Christ. Thank you Pastors Peter and Bev for holding your course for 30 years, and making a home that was welcoming for sinners like me to turn their lives around. Because of you, I have found a purpose and a passion to live for. I couldn’t think of anything more fulfilling than day by day playing a part in the life of the next generation of youth that God is raising up at City Impact Church. I am a blessed man! Greg Crawford
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YOUTH We speak the truth of the gospel to our generation; Its power will see them saved. We bring heaven to earth in worship, Our anthem to make God known. We carry God’s favour, power, and authority To shift atmospheres and command change. One sound, one people, one God, As one we give all to glorify Him.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT
YOUTH CAMP GIRLS
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Emma-Jane Morris
EMMA-JANE MORRIS
Nothing compares to seeing an altar call where 50 kids raise their hands, saying ‘yes’ to Jesus and the salvation He brings. At Summer Impact we have the time of our lives – enjoying the beach, the sun and new friends, but better than all that, we have the chance to witness and be part of seeing hundreds of children and young people give their lives to Christ. It’s the opportunity to do as Jesus commanded – to be the light in the world, to be His hands and feet and to make disciples of all men. It pushes you outside of your comfort zone and causes you to grow in your relationship with Christ like never before. For me, there is nothing more exciting than making a change, impacting the next generation and seeing our nation change. There truly is no better way to spend my summer holiday!
Summer Impact + Winter Impact
RUNNING FOR OVER 18 YEARS IN LOCATIONS ALL OVER NEW ZEALAND. 3000+ SOULS SAVED
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JONN
Jonny Campbell
What I really love about Summer Impact is the fact that you’re serving God in such a tangible way. It’s great because you get down to the basics of the gospel and that is, face to face, telling people about Jesus. I love the awesome events, cool kids' clubs and the huge amount of changed lives, but what I love the most is that you can go away and be in a team of people you hardly know, which is often the case given our church is so huge, and after such a short time be such close mates. This is how I’ve made many of my close friends at church. It blows me away how much God has extended His favour to all the teams over the years. So yeah. I couldn’t imagine a summer without Summer Impact.
JONNY CAMPBELL
S SAVED
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SHARON & MATT FORMAN
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Opportunity Moving to Auckland from Christchurch was a huge step for us, we had just built a large family home on a lifestyle block; the place where we wanted to raise our young family. Auckland was only temporary, I told Matt that two years maximum was my condition on coming here, to give Matt the work experience he needed and then the first opportunity to head back to Christchurch we would be off! Our children were all very little – Jake 6 years, Levi 4 years and Georgia just 2 years old. We wanted to look around at the local churches to find one for our family; our first visit was to City Impact Church. It was a big change for us, like nothing we had ever been part of before. The bottom line was that the preaching was good and this was what we wanted – a church where we would grow and be challenged. So, we decided to give it a month and see how it went. It’s now 2012 and we still haven’t checked out any other churches! We had originally tried so hard to return to Christchurch, but it never worked out. So we prayed and fasted, asking God to clearly shut all the doors and work opportunities back in Christchurch if His will was for us to stay in Auckland. Well, those doors were firmly shut for us! So we cut our ties in Christchurch and sunk our roots firmly down into City Impact Church. Our first serving role here was in Children’s Church – setting up the playground and welcoming parents. Our first position on staff was as Network Pastors, and in 2008 we became the Children’s Ministry Directors. God had placed it in our hearts the knowledge that one day we would be in ministry, so to step into these roles was a very easy decision. It has grown and stretched us and we love what we do. We know that if we can plant a genuine love for Jesus in a child’s early years that this will carry them through their teenage years and into adulthood. We love the privilege of helping to plant firm foundations for children’s futures. Pioneering Mt Wellington has been amazing – seeing lives so radically changed and whole families with their extended families coming to the Lord. City Impact Church is home for our family. We love it here and could not imagine ourselves anywhere else. Sharon Forman
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City Impact Church
Children
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TYSON, SHAYLA, NATALIE, TIANA, SHANE & LEVI WIJOHN
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With God All Things are Possible Shane and I were both saved in this amazing church and words cannot describe how blessed we feel to be part of this family and how grateful we are to everyone who is a part of City Impact Church. Our lives were turned around 180 degrees in such a short space of time. Since the day I walked into City Impact and gave my heart to the Lord He began a steady transformation in our marriage, Shane just didn’t know it yet! Looking back, neither of us know how we survived so long without God in our lives and in our children’s lives. Although we were both brought up in churches we had never pursued a relationship with God and had instead lived for ourselves, oblivious to the long-term effect it would have on our future. We both came from broken homes so our expectations of marriage were pretty low. With so many unresolved issues from the past, and the circumstances we were in, our marriage never really stood a chance – it was in a complete shambles. We were desperate and broken. Frantically seeking some meaning in our sad, lonely world, I finally agreed to come along to City Impact Church with my sister, Steph. I was saved a short while later and things began to change in my life. God gave me renewed strength and hope and I prayed with a heart full of faith. There was no instant miracle but slow, subtle, changes and eventually Shane was saved too. We received the most amazing pastoral support and counsel during this time and we are so grateful. The enemy has attacked many times since then but we have battled through with God on our side. God is now the foundation of our marriage and our family. We can honestly say we would not have a marriage today without Jesus Christ and City Impact Church. The impossible has happened, it has been the most incredible journey of transformation, our four children are growing up in the House of God and we have all made the most amazing friends. City Impact Church is our family, we are firmly planted here, this is home. We are blessed! Natalie Wijohn
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Sunday
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SAM & JADE LUCAS
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Big Dreams City Impact Church has always been home to me. I have been coming for 17 years now and am constantly amazed at how focused our church is on reaching out and helping people. Pastors Peter and Bev are true role models that inspire me to be real at all times. I was ushering at the age of 11, and a year later I was encouraged to join the worship team. After some time in the choir, and with a lot of grace from those around me, I began to play the drums. One of the biggest imprints in my mind is at the age of about 17 when Pastor Peter told me, in a service, to guard against locking myself away behind the drums. He saw something in me that I didn’t see. That was one of the turning points in my life, I stopped playing drums and started leading people. I am 25 now and wouldn’t be wrong in saying that besides my walk with God; leadership has been the most consistent focus in my life. I have grown as a person and as a leader by the example of people around me and the opportunities given to me along the way. I thank God that I found a place to call home and that He gave me the challenge of responsibility to stay on track. I find it hard to imagine any other way I could have arrived at this destination without this church. I have found my beautiful wife here, and in church, God has given me the biggest dreams and direction for my life. Church is the people, and these people have become my family. Sam Lucas
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Darrell & Donna Parratt
It was the new millennium, Jordan was about 2 years old, and we had recently discovered (to our amazement!) that we believed in Christian values, and were inspired by some friends to attend City Impact Church with them. The biggest impact was experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit in the worship, we had never ever experienced that before. We had intellectually believed in the existence of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit through the teaching of the Catholic Church but in no way had a biblical worldview or anything like that.
DARRELL, ZACH, DONNA & JORDAN PARRATT
Wow, the Truth of the Gospel really did set us free! Over the past 12 years, our lives have been completely transformed in every way. We love, love, love City Impact Church – it’s our big dynamic family, it’s our home, it’s where our heart is. Being teachers at the School is phenomenal – we love the kids and we get to invest into their young lives dayby-day in a real way that has eternal value; you can’t get better than that!
POPPA & NANA
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THE EMPOWERING YEARS
2004
Leadership weekend at Rotorua, full of crazy antics and powerful ministry sessions Open new church in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico First Impact for Life launches, we are on TV! Victim Support partnership begins 21 Day fast for state of the nation and media blitz Pastors Peter and Bev minister for the first time in Paris and visit Pastor Ulf Ekman in Sweden We market with bus stop signs: ‘Jesus kicks the hell out of life!’ Global Impact Conference – ‘The Favour of Heaven’ with Pastor Mark Ramsey and Pastor Michael Pitts Northern Lights: ‘The First Christmas’ Poppa, Pastor Bev’s dad, passes away Vava’u New Life Tonga is built in 10-12 days
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Impact teams
EVERYBODY PLAYS THEIR PART
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The Expanding Years By Pastor Peter Mortlock We pushed our first facility in East Coast Road every way possible. Out the back, out the side and out the front with a new office complex. The church was now around a couple of thousand people strong and we had been talking about building our new Sanctuary, initially envisioning a 3,500 seat auditorium. We had plans, drawings, and photo montages. We lodged it with council and went through many stages of discussion, but our plan was just too big for their thinking in a residential area, they had issues with roading and parking etc. The maximum number of parks we could get on site was 650, which limited us to the 2,200 seat auditorium that we eventually built.
Syd Jones, an elder in the church, a good friend, and a top engineer, came to me in 2005 and said, “Peter we can build this ourselves”. Syd Jones, an elder in the church, a good friend, and a top engineer, came to me in 2005 and said, “Peter we can build this ourselves”. Now, I remembered the many, many working bees, building the extensions of our first building, many of which I had overseen myself. (The last one - the administration block - my eldest son Mark oversaw, praise the Lord.) I remembered how the questions just kept coming “Which way does that door swing? Where does that power point go?” ‘Design as you go’ was the way to do it on a shoestring budget.
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Building projects can wear a pastor down when he is still trying to preach, pastor, and do all the other things he does. So my words were, “No Syd. It is not going to happen. Let’s tender the job out”. He came back three times to me – praise the Lord for persistence. I could sense the faith in his heart (and the fear in mine). How would we do it? This was not a tin shed. This was a state of the art, 2,200 seat auditorium, café, classrooms, nurseries, reception lounges, offices, dance studio, bathrooms and on it goes, let alone the 650 concrete car parks he wanted us to pour by hand! I had never heard of anything like this being built by volunteers anywhere in the world and definitely not in New Zealand or Australia. The complex is by far the nicest church facility in New Zealand but, remember, that is just what it is - a facility. The church is about God and people; the building simply facilitates what we do as a church. Church building projects had a bad reputation in New Zealand. Many churches had lost out in building projects, let alone one like this with volunteer labour! We did not lose one person over the entire twenty months of building. No one got upset, offended, disappointed, hurt or left the church. I can still recall going home to Bev and saying, “Well, we can get you the building, but it is going to cost me every Saturday.” (It seems such a small cost now). I could not ask the people to do something that I was not
prepared to do. I only know of one way to lead and that is by example.
Bev had a major role in the design and finishing, she even taught me how to use a nail gun to put in the terraced seating. I said to Syd “I will be there, but I don’t want to be asked any questions about the building. I will just pick up the rubbish”. Having worked on many building sites in the past, I knew how much rubbish they can accumulate, from empty coke bottles, to cut off timber and gib. I was aware of how people can work better in a clean and tidy environment. (At least they can find their tools!). So my job was the rubbish – bag after bag, skip after skip. My tools of the trade were black sacks. Syd knew of my great block laying skills – yeah right – so he did have me laying a few blocks, some pillars, the lift wall, and the curved wall. However, chiefly I was the rubbish boy and happy about that. I could walk all over the site each Saturday, praying and saying hello to each and every person. Bev had a major role in the design and finishing, she even taught me how to use a nail gun to put in the terraced seating. Mark took a huge role alongside Syd in many of the decisions, especially all the lighting and sound. Sue Adams worked so hard as Syd’s ‘right hand man’ as did Karl Sumner and a number of others.
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There were about thirty people who never missed one Saturday and we called them the ‘hall of fame’ people. Hundreds would come out at times, sometimes there would only be seventy, but there would always be enough. Not to mention the army of ladies who supplied the famous Saturday lunches. Oh, the food! Everyone put on weight over the building project. I can remember the first meeting where we put people into teams, and Syd and Sue listed people’s skill sets. We held a ‘safe site’ meeting, and the first Saturday came. There was so much enthusiasm among the people as they got stuck into tying steel and digging foundations but the doubting Thomas in me whispered, “Will it last?” Looking back, I am still amazed that we did it. Walking around the property, I am still moved to tears by the faith of people like Syd. I can still see him, covering the building site in mud with a single step (or leap) of faith, and all the passion, enthusiasm, and belief in the world.
We did ninety five percent of everything, including what you see and don’t see. It was amazing the confidence and trust he put in others to do a job. They didn’t think they could do it but he put them on it and left them to it. I experienced this personally more than once. Syd was forever trying to get me off the rubbish and onto more skilled building work. One time he got me to help raise the entire upper floor by one inch by putting down a layer of mortar across a huge beam. I was way out of my depth but Syd had faith in me. Hey, the building is still standing, and my office is above that beam! Every person who comes on site is so impressed with the building. When we say we did it ourselves, and pretty much in the same time frame contractors would have taken, they just look at us in disbelief (especially Pastors) and start asking us what we did and didn’t do. We did ninety five percent of everything, including what you see and don’t see. There was so much work completed behind the scenes, like the pipes, the steel, the cables, the wiring, the plumbing etc.
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It was incredible to see teenage girls with long finger nails clambering over a roof ten metres high and nailing it down, having never held a hammer before. To assemble and install the air-conditioning, which is a state of the art displacement system, we had one person, Victor, who knew what he was doing. (Praise the Lord for Victor.) Pastor Dean was the air-conditioning team’s 2-I-C. He was our Youth Director at the time and some of his team didn’t know what a washer was when we started the project! The pieces looked like a Meccano set with nuts, bolts and washers everywhere. Dean’s youth assistant was his 2-I-C. There were approximately 100,000 man hours that went into the building project. We installed over 59,000 metres of cable (nearly 60 kilometres), handled nearly 80 tonnes of steel and moved 30,000 tonnes of dirt and clay. We poured over 3625 cubic metres of concrete – that’s 725 concrete trucks! Every Saturday and Wednesday and not once, over twenty months, did we have to cancel a concrete pour due to the weather. For those who know Auckland, that is a miracle. Syd advised us that laying a concrete car park would be cheaper because we could do it with volunteer labour, rather than having people come in and lay asphalt seal. It is one thing to endeavor to build the building; it is another thing to cover eight acres in concrete. We started in the bottom corner. When the truck drivers delivering the concrete heard what we were doing, they said we couldn’t do it. Then, upon seeing our concrete crews, including teenage girls like Sophy Jones, they just laughed.
The building stands as a monument to the faith and passion of Syd Jones and all those who put their hands to the good work. We ended up pouring more concrete than any other Auckland concrete gang at the time. Our teenage girls (and some boys), who hadn’t even known what a trowel was let alone a spirit level, earned so much respect that the truck drivers actually bought some of them work gloves. The stories are endless. The building stands as a
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monument to the faith and passion of Syd Jones and all those who put their hands to the good work. We saved around $5 million, bringing the cost of the build from $17 million to $12 million. I praise the Lord for all those faithful people who gave so sacrificially to make the dream come true. Our largest offering was over $6.4 million, the largest ever given in New Zealand, and without that, we might still be stuck in the mud! We had many firsts. We had the largest tilt slabs poured on site in New Zealand and we taught ourselves how to pattern and colour them, thanks to my wife Bev, and Chris Morton. I remember holding a Sunday meeting in the half finished building before the roof went on. I remember worshipping God and sharing that many people would walk to the front right there and get their lives right with God. How true that has been. The completion and opening of the new facility in July 2007 was so awesome as we glorified God, and honoured the people that had made it all possible.
There was such a sense of achievement once we had done it. Money can’t buy what it built into people. It gave us a sense that we can do anything. Today, gathering week by week, many could take for granted the wonderful facility in which they are worshipping. However, we know they are standing on holy ground because of the blood, sweat and tears - the sacrifice – of the saints of God. Would I like to do it again? I’m not sure – definitely not today. It was a God thing – the grace was there! Every Sunday we would show a video clip of what happened on site the day before, to encourage those who were there, and to inspire those who weren’t. We had so much fun with these clips, from the ‘Star Wars’ clip about assembling the seats – you had to see it to believe it – to the goofy dance of the welders. More time was put into these clips than the building at times! Fun was a big part of the journey.
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I discovered that boys like to build - to do something, and that girls can do anything. So many men who were on the fringe of church life, found themselves at the fore during this project. We had needed a men’s ministry and this was it! No one tired on the job. We closed for three weeks over Christmas, but the people came straight back. I was hesitant, thinking we might lose a bit of momentum but it never happened. Apart from Easter, the site was open. We had a couple of people who gave a year of their time to volunteer. Some gave a month or two but the bulk of the work happened on Saturdays and so there was always progress.
City Impact Church has always been a forerunner; a pioneer. By the grace of God, we have been first in many things. There was such a sense of achievement once we had done it. Money can’t buy what it built into people. It gave us a sense that we can do anything. City Impact Church has always been a forerunner; a pioneer. By the grace of God, we have been first in many things. From small things, like including our photo in our church advertisement in the newspaper (pretty controversial back in the 80s) to bigger things like building the building the way we have. Even though we have gleaned from others, we have endeavoured to keep to the basics and be creatively original, whether it be our Impact Teams, or our style of TV programme. In 2008, with the building project behind us, Bev and my daughter-in-law Leanne began our Community Impact Days. Four times a year on a Saturday we mobilise the church to provide practical assistance to people in the community. We have made over people’s homes, and done building, painting, gardening and whatever was needed for families, widows, the disabled, hospitals, schools, and retirement homes. It has been great to see the church in action, operating in both faith and works like a double-edged sword. We have been running Community Impact Days for five years, and we now get over 500 volunteers coming out each time to serve and love their community. Once, we
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did 45 house makeovers on one Saturday. If we had not built the building, we wouldn’t have known that we could do this. What a success these days have been in helping us to become the most well-known organisation on the North Shore, for the glory of God.
Then came Mt Wellington. Bev and I had desired to plant another church over the bridge in South Auckland and we began to look for a building. Then came Mt Wellington. Bev and I had desired to plant another church over the bridge in South Auckland and we began to look for a building. Hiring school halls and council halls did not inspire us one little bit. Then one day, we drove up the on-ramp onto the motorway at Mt Wellington, and Bev said, “There’s our building!” She is very rarely wrong; in fact I can’t remember when she last was. (Except for maybe the nail gun incident!). The building, by far the most prominent modern looking building on the whole of Auckland’s motorway, was up for lease. It had been a car showroom and car park building. With what we had to do to re-fit the building, leasing wasn’t an option for us. We had to own it. This was another completely huge step of faith for us. For over one year we negotiated, we prayed, and we saw the birth, death and resurrection of our vision. God was faithful, and finally we were moving in.
weeks. It is unbelievable what we did - all I can say is, check out the clip on our website. The result was the amazing children’s facilities, nurseries, youth facilities, bathrooms, lecture rooms, offices, board rooms, and of course the 900 seat sanctuary that we see today. We have further plans to push out the front and put in a mezzanine floor to increase seating to 1,700 seats. At City Impact Church Mt Wellington, we saw over 1500 decisions for Christ in the first year, which has to be a record, for any new church plant in New Zealand, to the glory of God. Within the first year, we had over 1,000 people coming over the weekend. How quickly that number has become a stable congregation, with nearly all of the original amazing church-plant team of forty people now returning to the North Shore. We have remained one church in two locations. What a joy it has been, and still is, to see the lives that have been completely turned around because we took the step of faith and went to Mt Wellington. Of course, the best is yet to come, with plans to plant yet another church in Auckland, to make the most of this ‘Season of Significance’ and see the younger generation take more and more responsibility. As we continually transition the church, especially over the next decade, investing in the coming generations to ensure its incredible God-given future, we are so excited and passionate to see the Kingdom of God expressed through His Church!
We won’t talk about the pressure to get the consents through at the midnight hour, or the huge negotiations on obtaining further car parking. From settlement to the opening we had three weeks to turn the building around. “Here we go again”, I thought.
City Impact Church rose to the challenge again. People came out every night and every Saturday for three weeks. City Impact Church rose to the challenge again. People came out every night and every Saturday for three
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CLARE, SOPHY, HANNAH, CATHY, SYD & OLIVIA JONES
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Building the House We were headed back to Christchurch in 1992, never intending to remain in Auckland, when we popped our head into a service at Bays Christian Fellowship. There was something in the atmosphere, vibrancy, prayer and worship which spoke of deeper things in God – a hint that there was so much more to Christianity than reading your Bible and attending church. Our four daughters were planted here almost before we were – serving at 12 years of age, involved and committed, taking the baton which is the Christian faith and running with it for themselves. We felt so blessed as a family, that when Pastor Peter received the call to build, it was natural for Syd to put his hand up to help. The fact that the vision was large was one thing, however, the corresponding finance called for a miracle! Putting an engineering project manager beside the Man of God with a vision, and surrounding them with a whole group of ‘can do’ men proved to be a recipe for success. Syd’s dad had already pioneered voluntary labour during the construction of the Gore Clock Tower. This was the same idea, just on a much grander scale, and of course with a miraculous ‘God factor’. The key was to get the whole Body of Christ working in unison, to build something of significance, with each person operating in their gifting. Everyone with a skill of any kind, gave their time enthusiastically and those without any particular skill provided willing hands – cleaning, collecting rubbish and labouring. “If we build it they will come” was the vision that kept spirits from flagging and brought constant renewal of commitment throughout the project. Pastor Peter led by example and consistently provided motivation and encouragement. The result? Passion for the House, ownership and belonging, the outworking of God’s plan for His church, each member playing his or her part. Friendship, loyalty, perseverance, camaraderie, patience, diligence and commitment. The House was built… And they did come! Syd and Clare Jones
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BUILDING THE SANCTUARY
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In this Project, City Impact Church Volunteers have: Completed over 90% of the building project through volunteer labour Poured over 725 concrete trucks – more than 3625 cubic metres Poured over 8 acres in concrete. Record day: 19 trucks Over 2 years poured concrete 2 days a week (Saturday and Wednesday). Not one pour had to be cancelled due to weather – for those who know Auckland weather, this is an absolute miracle! Handled nearly 80 tonnes of steel. (The average African bull elephant weighs 6.8 tonnes; the largest elephant on record weighed in at 10.8 tonnes) Laid and installed over 59,000 metres of cable & wiring, nearly 60 kilometres! (A marathon is 41.8 kilometres) Moved 30,000 tonnes of dirt and clay (An adult blue whale weighs 181 tonnes) Assembled and installed 300 metres of air-conditioning ducting Worked every Saturday for 2 years – an average of 300 people involved in the project at any given time Worked approximately 100,000 man hours. (It would take 1 man about 50 years to build it alone – not including the digging for the earthworks!) Picked up the rubbish on site every Saturday for 2 years. (Our Senior Pastor filled 7 skips.) Fed the army of volunteers every Saturday for 2 years. This entailed over 3,000 pies, 19,200 sweet cakes, 38,400 savouries, and yet-to-be-numbered scones, pikelets, lasagne and curries. Amounting to the equivalent volunteer labour force of over $5 million! Approximately a quarter of the total building cost!
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For My Family’s Future When Pastor Peter sowed the vision of how we would build the Sanctuary, I knew in my spirit this was going to be a powerful and significant event in the life of the church. I also knew that I wanted to be part of sowing into it for my future and my family’s future. Pastor Peter challenged the church that we could do this and to volunteer whatever time we had. I remember being inspired by God’s Word to me, “If you build my house I will build yours”. I took a year out of my normal work in I.T., and voluntarily turned up on site in my red polo shirt and work boots each weekday and every Saturday for 18 months to help build the House. To be part of building the House like that was an awesome privilege that very few ever have. I knew that with every nail I hammered, every tonne of concrete I helped pour, I was not only building God’s House, I was sowing something powerful for my life, my dreams and the destiny and legacy for my family at City Impact Church. At the end of each day, I would walk to where the main Sanctuary was being built, pray and declare my personal dreams to God knowing that as I built His House, He would build mine. Today I look at what we have built and I feel proud and humbled. Proud of what we achieved and humbled to have been a part of it. Matt Cleaver
BUILDING THE SANCTUARY
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MATT CLEAVER
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Ben Mataio
This is a house of such a huge blessing! I can’t even believe I am here! Pastor Bev’s first message in Mt Wellington revealed to me something I never knew about my father. He helped build this Sanctuary, and though I saw my Dad (Tai’s) commitment to the project, I didn’t realise at the time the vision he had to see it through. The vision he had for his children. And now I stand here to carry on what my Dad believed in. I am so glad Pastor Peter reached out to my father. This is a legacy I am proud to be part of.
BEN MATAIO
TAI MATAIO
BUILDING THE SANCTUARY
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BUILDING THE SANCTUARY
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NIAV, MARK, KEEGHAN, CHERILYN, & LACHLANN RICE
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Right Time, Right Place Shortly after Easter 2003 we started attending City Impact Church. It was not long after this that Pastor Peter laid out his ‘Big 5 Vision’. Even by today’s standards, City Impact Church was a big church for Auckland, but Pastor Peter’s vision was for much larger and bolder growth. I was inspired. I was hooked. The ‘Big 5’ laid out plans for a school, a television programme, increased missions, a new larger building, and the planting of further City Impact Church campuses. It was exciting. I couldn’t help but think ‘Right Time, Right Place’. Amongst all the excitement however, I knew this ‘Big 5’ was going to cost big dollars. Cherilyn and I felt that God had called us to this House to be part of this vision and become part of a group of business leaders that would push ourselves harder than we ever had to provide the Provision for the Vision. Over the years, as the ‘Big 5’ has played out, we have learnt not only to give, but to give sacrificially over and above, knowing that the Vision of Pastors Peter and Bev is positively affecting so many lives. It became quickly apparent to us that through the work of City Impact Church, our contribution, together with so many others, would be so, so effective. It’s incredible really, reflecting back to when we first saw Pastor Peter’s ‘Big 5 Vision’, I often struggled with the idea of how a family like ours could truly make an impact in such a large church. But having now seen this ‘Big 5’ fulfilled, I realise that we have achieved such a huge amount in what is really quite a short period of time. This proves to me that everybody, including us, is just so important to achieving the vision of our amazing Pastors, and the work of God’s church. The challenge when you push yourself to be a part of something great, is that you reach new levels, and when you reach those levels, you know that the vision will only grow larger, and the challenges even greater. I can’t wait to hear what God has planted in the hearts of Pastors Peter and Bev for the future of City Impact Church. By looking back over the last 30 years, you can be sure that the future vision will be significant. Bring it on! Mark Rice
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IMPACT FOR LIFE
SENDING THE GOSPEL INTO EVERY HOME IN NEW ZEALAND AND THE NATIONS Our TV show Impact for Life reaches the homes of hundreds of thousands around the world. Pastors Peter and Bev Mortlock have a real gift for taking the Word of God and explaining it in a way that all can understand. Filmed all over New Zealand, Impact for Life is visually stunning. Its message carries a real punch with uncompromising teaching and dramatic life stories from people whose lives have been seriously impacted by God. Thus called ‘Impact for Life’.
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JOSH, CARLENE, AARON, LISA & TARRY
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CARLENE & DAVE MANAGH
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The Future is Bright Carlene’s Story My parents took me to church every Sunday and were a great example to me. At 12 years old I was radically saved and a passion for Jesus was born deep within. I read my Bible by candlelight at night and sought out every opportunity to learn what it truly meant to be a follower of Christ. At 17 I moved from the country to the city to go to University. I wanted to find a church and a friend from my dorm took me to Bays Christian Fellowship. The first time I attended, Mark Mortlock proposed to Leanne on stage during the service. I thought, this is an exciting place! I was captivated by the energy, the vibrancy and the purpose of everyone I met. The presence of God among His people was so rich and I just wanted to be in it all the time. I started helping straight away with Kids’ Church, so happy to be involved. Dave and I worked together for many years in the Youth Ministry. They were such fulfilling years. As newly-weds we had a great time creating exciting events for the younger youth and encouraging them in their faith. Every one of them was so special to us. When the vision for a television programme was launched my spirit leapt with excitement. Having worked in the media industry, I was excited to bring these skills into the House. The day the first programme went to air it was a great thrill to know the Word of God was being broadcast across the nation. Today, it is to the nations. It has been a true privilege to work with Pastors Peter and Bev in interpreting their extensive vision with creativity and impact. They have an expectation for excellence that I identify with and seek to accomplish for God’s glory. To this day I am willing to help wherever it is most needed and have been blessed
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to have been entrusted with responsibilities and opportunities to build and establish the Kingdom. It is with great joy and excitement that we watch our three beautiful daughters going places we have only dreamed of. The future is bright.
Dave’s Story My journey to know God came at first with the realisation that I could not find fulfillment in the world’s trappings. At 24 years old, there awoke in me a spiritual hunger which led me to Bays Christian Fellowship. Ian Williams was preaching and singing, calling to ‘empty vessels needing oil’. I was certainly an empty vessel. Now with a lot of grace, I have found a spiritual faith that is a compass to my life. God did not stop at salvation, He continued to challenge me to grow. This was evident to me when a new Youth Ministry for year 7–10 called Strobe was birthed in 1998 (now known in City Impact Church as Junior High). During this time, Carlene and I were able to be part of a team of young leaders who poured their love and time into a generation of young people, pointing them towards Jesus. Many found their way to Jesus and many more continue to do so today with a new generation of youth leaders pointing the way home. Once a youth leader, always a youth leader – in our heart anyway! I have found many blessings, being planted in a church where love, hope and salvation live. To be part of a church family that is growing, seeing lives saved and transformed, is humbling. The blessing and shelter that City Impact Church and Pastors Peter and Bev provide is not to be underestimated, but rather to be treasured and cultivated. Here I will place my family; Carlene and my three princesses Isabelle, Chloe and Imogen as I know they will be safe and grow in God’s House. Dave and Carlene Managh
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KL
KL
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City Impact Church School Founded in 2005, City Impact Church School was the fulfilment of a long-held dream for Pastors Peter and Bev. Ever since the early years, they wanted to create a place where students could worship God, pray openly together, and achieve academic success and excellence. They wanted a place where every student could build a foundation in Christ and where the Holy Spirit would reside in such a way that, every day, the students could truly encounter the power of God. In 2008 we were able to build two beautiful architecturally designed classrooms which represent visually the family ethos of the school. City Impact Church School is a vibrant environment for students to develop into world leaders in every sphere of society, including the arts, education, media, government, church, family and business. All generations are involved including our ‘grandparent generation’ (we call them the ‘Warriors’!) who come into the school to build relationships with the children and pass on a legacy of wisdom. Our amazing teachers arrive early; praying for their students and believing God to equip them to identify each child’s unique gifting in order to prepare them for His calling. Throughout the school the childen are also paired up with ‘buddies’ – younger with older, like brothers and sisters. The Word of God is paramount and is the basis of what is taught ‘line upon line, precept upon precept.’ In this way, a new generation is being raised up who understand who they are in Christ and what they are called to do – equipped to make a difference in this world. Our legacy is our children, and they are taking back the ground that the enemy has stolen. They are proclaiming the Kingdom in every sphere of society so that God is glorified and His name is lifted high over our nation once again.
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Barbara Robinson WARRIOR
I am a grandma given the wonderful opportunity to be a ‘grandma’ figure in our church family through being a member of the Warriors team.
BARBARA ROBINSON
Each Warrior has a few specific children at City Impact Church School with whom we build a loving relationship, enabling us to encourage each other in our daily walk with Jesus. I can share and guide from my 74 years of living and they in turn can share their joys and concerns as they venture forward as young Christians. What a privilege it is to be with the children, forgetting the so-called generation gap as we pray for and with them, have fun with them and just generally love them. It is a thrill for me as a Warrior to join with the school, church and family as we work together to help each child grow in confidence and character, take on more responsibility, know who they are as children of the living God and be joyful and fruitful citizens of His Kingdom.
CITY IMPACT CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS 2012
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CITY IMPACT CHURCH SCHOOL 2004 Preparation for the school with Pastor Linda Ward, Pastor Clare Jones and the Directors heading up the research and preparation. Jalaine Armstrong comes on board to help administrate
2005
City Impact Church School officially opens for Years 0-4 with a starting roll of 23 children with Teacher Jason MacDonald and Teacher Donna Parratt
2006
The launch of ‘Warriors’, our wonderful Grandparent mentor programme
2007
Darrell Parratt is appointed principal
2008
Two beautiful new purpose built classrooms open including a Science Lab and Library
2010
Teacher Donna’s class (Years 7-8) takes over Sanctuary classroom as school expands
2011
Teacher Matthew Leigh-Hunt with Years 9 and 10 take over another Sanctuary classroom Teacher Natalie Jervis moves from head teacher at Childcare to teaching New Entrants with Teacher Camille Collins
2012
School Library launches at Vision Weekend, the church donates books The Cambridge Curriculum is introduced at Senior High school level Today the roll is 126
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Cheryl Megchelse
MARIE KENDON & CHERYL MEGCHELSE
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My Mum and Dad brought Gareth, Russell and me to City Impact Church in the early nineties because they could see that it was a place where young people could develop a real and lasting relationship with God. He has truly changed our lives as a family since we have been here. All three of us ‘kids’ have found our spouses here, and Mum and Dad now have five grandchildren to their name. We have had the opportunity to use our gifts in many areas – Gareth in music, Russell in Kids Church and Youth, and me in Gateway, pastoring, and on staff. There is such a sense of ownership in knowing that my dad, brothers and husband all helped build our new Sanctuary building. It is such a blessing to have three generations all at the same church and all serving the Lord together.
Kay Kanaris
I was brought to church by Yvonne Godfrey. She was the only real Christian I knew and I respected her as she showed a side of Christianity I had not previously encountered. God has completely transformed my life. I had spent my life trying all sorts of things to fill a gap in my heart but no matter what I tried it made no difference. It wasn’t until I gave my life to the Lord that the gap was filled and I was at peace. I’m so grateful that my children are now growing up in the House of God. We have seen them grow in confidence and know who they are in God. This is truly amazing. As a parent there is no greater joy than knowing your children are happy and excited about their future, safe in the knowledge that they can handle whatever God has planned for them. NICHOLAS, KAY, ELIAS & BRIANNA KANARIS
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THE EXPANDING YEARS 2005
2006
City Impact Church School opens
Leadership Weekend – ‘Making a Stand’
Quest launches
Pastor Peter writes 16 points and takes to the doors of Parliament – a declaration for righteousness
Tanzania Village Impact is launched. Provision for the building of the Sanctuary in a massive sacrificial offering (over $6.4million) Pastor Paul Adams’ campaign for an independent seat in Parliament Marches at Parliament grounds and down Queen Street standing for family values First Youth Conference at Waipuna Convention Centre Planning the construction of the new Sanctuary New Kingdom Design and Kingdom Impact Gateway Courses are launched. Global Impact Conference – ‘Legacy’ with Pastor Ulf Ekman and Pastor Jack Hanes Pastor Bev’s mum, known as ‘Nana’ to us all, passed away
Building a state of the art Sanctuary begins ($17million reduced to $12million because of volunteer labour and Project Manager Syd Jones’ commitment to see it through). Working Bees every Saturday 7.00am to 5:30pm to build the Sanctuary with volunteer labour First Women’s Conference ‘Entrelacer’ in Queenstown Balclutha City Impact Church is launched Impact for Life goes global – Australia, United Kingdom, India, Rarotonga, Philippines Launch of our new website Special Sundays: Anzac Day Service and New Year’s Eve Warriors (adopted ‘grandparents’) introduced in the school Global Impact Conference – ‘Reformation’ with Pastor Frank Damazio and Pastor Phil Pringle. The last Conference to be held in the auditorium
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I am
look at the natio ns 30thAnniversaryBook_152-199.indd 184
and watch a n
going t
o do
d be utterl y amazed... 16/05/12 3:29 PM
somethin g
e v e i l in your days that you would not be Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5
Megan Erskine Right from the early years, our Early Childhood Centres have been passionate about providing a nurturing, warm and friendly environment for children and their families. In 1997 Pastor Linda Ward, with the assistance of Linda Hamilton and Avalon Fraser, opened the new City Impact Church Kindergarten. The kindergarten was such a success in our community that 3 years later in 2000 an Early Childhood Centre was opened with Karyn Armstrong as head teacher.
MEGAN ERSKINE
It was at this time that I moved from Invercargill and began teaching at City Impact Church Early Childhood Centre. I loved having the opportunity to share God’s love with the children and I could see that City Impact Church Early Childhood Centres offered a unique curriculum; it was more than just education and care for preschoolers, it was an introduction to life in the Kingdom of God. Now, after many years of teaching in both the childcare and the kindergarten, I am privileged to oversee them both, as Early Childhood Education Manager. What continues to inspire me and touch my heart, is that I have the opportunity to play a part in impacting a child’s life with the truth of Jesus and see this overflow into their family and home.
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CHILDCARE STAFF
Early Childhood Centres
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Jason Bennett
I still remember the first day I came to Church – the feelings I had sitting in the service, two or three rows from the front with my mum. As she was going up to give her life to God, Pastor Peter said “Why don’t you bring your son with you as well?” I’m so grateful that Pastor Peter reached out to me, showing me such an incredible love from God. Looking back and thinking about where I have come from is amazing; from not really having any dreams or aspirations of doing or being anything – to now having so many dreams and things that I want to achieve.
BERNADENE & JASON BENNETT
I’ve had some wonderful opportunities at City Impact Church that would never have come my way if I’d carried on the way I was going before. The love and dedication in this place is inspiring. Now that it’s become my home, I can’t wait to bring up my own family here, with my gorgeous wife, Bernadene.
25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
PASTORS JESS, BEV, PETER & NORM
PASTOR PETER OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT
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THE EXPANDING YEARS 2007
Leadership Weekend – ‘Paint the Town Red’ We make a stand at Waitangi and Wellington after our nation is declared ‘secular’ by our Prime Minister 25th Anniversary and the opening of City Impact’s state-of-the-art Sanctuary and facilities Pastors Norm and Jess McLeod from ‘House of Breakthrough’ church in Gisborne present two korowais in recognition of the apostolic leadership Pastors Peter and Bev carry over their church Youth Ministry changes hands from Pastor Dean Payn to Pastors Greg and Krista Crawford and Worship Ministry changes from Pastor Krista to Pastor Janine Look City Impact Church Queenstown’s new auditorium and childcare open and Pastors Rob and Michelle McGrath pass the baton onto Pastors Dean and Maria Reinhard Bonnke’s Full Flame Series, a beautifully illustrated video series equipping the saints for evangelism, is played on Sunday Nights We launched Kingdom Creed – our 21 week Doctrine and Worldview Leadership Course First Prayer Bus travels to Dome Valley to pray life and safety over this notorious stretch of road. The accidents stopped and safe travelling continues to this day. Global Impact Conference – ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ kicking off with Global Youth and then into Global Impact. Pastor Frank Damazio, Bishop David Evans, Pastor Mark Ramsey and Pastor Joakim Lundqvist Principal Darrell comes on board at City Impact Church School Christmas Event: ‘The Amazing Race’
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IMPACT FOR LIFE
MAGAZINE
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Duhan Barnard
THE EXPANDING YEARS
I started attending City Impact Church in 2004; however I only started serving 4 years later. Looking back, I wish I had started serving at church earlier, because serving brought me closer to God. But the real change came when I chose to give a couple of years to God and serve voluntarily at church full time. For the first time ever life did not revolve around me, my selfish desires and my own plans for my life. Instead, it revolved around God and the things which He had for my life; this was the best thing that could have happened to me, and this lesson in selflessness is something I will carry with me always. University could not teach me this, corporate work could not teach me this, large salaries could not teach me this, only by being obedient and by allowing the guidance of the Spirit, did I learn this.
2008 Summer Impact – 523 Salvations; Kai Iwi, Whananaki, Oakura, Raglan, Pauanui, Nelson Leadership Weekend – ‘Every One Counts’ The launch of Community Impact Days for the whole church to participate in The Easter Event: ‘Who are you Wearing?’ Blockbuster Series: To Infinity and Beyond, Designer DNA and Life’s Greatest Gamble Israel Houghton and New Breed band at Leadership 21 day fast for the state of the nation Kids Church introduces a new level of interactive drama presentations and set designs as Gateway themes are introduced Pastor Linda Ward passes on the baton of Children’s Director to Pastors Matt and Sharon Forman DUHAN BARNARD
Mary-Kath Laita comes on staff to run Community Impact Days Late Night Prayer 8-12pm Global Impact Conference with Bishop David Evans, Pastor Kong Hee, Reverend Chris Hill and Pastor Ashley Evans with Global Kids and Global Youth also running at the same time The Christmas Event: ‘The Radio Show’
794 EAST COAST ROAD, PO BOX 35 211, BROWNS BAY 0753, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 0800 CHURCH
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COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Our Heart We built a Sanctuary and a home for our family… it was our training ground, our boot camp, just the beginning! In here is not where our family ends, it’s where it begins. Our future is secure – but what about others? Our family goes beyond these four walls, it’s more than the names I know and the faces I recognise, our family is every face that lives in our community. We had a dream to help people – people in our community. So, we rolled up our sleeves and did it. To transform a home transforms an environment. To clear a garden is planting a seed. To shift some dirt creates a clean slate, a fresh tomorrow. Every home has a story, more than a statistic. Our laughter is contagious, our hope never ends, and our friendship is real.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT DAY
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MARY-KATH LAITA
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Redemption Isaac and I drove into the church carpark one Sunday morning 14 years ago in our beaten up Mazda, with our 11 month old baby girl. We were broken, desperate and afraid, and had no idea that what was about to happen would change our lives forever. I had an incredible encounter with God and I cried for days afterwards. I remember that after the church service there was a shared lunch for everyone, it was just so nice! People congratulated me on my decision while I just cried and cried and ate the lunch they gave me. I felt so loved – I didn’t even know these people, I felt like I had come home to a big family that I had never met before. Isaac and I had been together for 10 years, we had a very unstable relationship. After we were saved we started coming to the Gateway courses and we were taught that marriage was a covenant God had designed for us. Hearing that, we decided to be obedient to God and within 12 weeks we were married in church – one of the most amazing experiences we ever had. Our life now is filled with the most incredible encounters with God during the Sunday worship services and prayer services – we love being in church! Knowing His love and protection and watching His plan unfold in both of our lives is truly overwhelming. When the mandate came to help build the Sanctuary, as a family we could see the value of helping and sacrificing, especially with Isaac’s block laying skills. So we decided to lay down our own plans and to help build the church. What an incredible experience, building something for our community, for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Shardae, our daughter, is a foundation pupil of City Impact Church School, which has the most outstanding vision, teachers and resources available to prepare her for the future. It’s been life changing knowing that she is in a school that teaches young people to make every decision based on the Word of God. Both Isaac and I burn with a passion for lost and broken-hearted people to know Christ’s redemption. Our lives are dedicated to serving others in every opportunity God brings before us. I have the privilege of being on staff here at City Impact Church, with the incredible and enormous job of mobilising the church each Community Impact Day. I prepare jobs so that on the day up to 550 volunteers go to over 70 different locations all over Auckland City. We do this four times a year helping families in a practical way, building relationships and working closely alongside councils, hospitals and community organisations. It is truly the only support and hope some people will ever have. Some days we just cry, thanking God for drawing us to this House under this leadership. We know for sure if we did not get saved we would not be here today, not with the reckless lives we were living. Now we have a hope and a future to inspire others to live as overcomers and to be in a relationship with Jesus. Mary-Kath Laita
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COMMUNITY IMPACT DAY
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Bev Collins
I enjoy coming to City Impact every Sunday to praise and worship God, to thank Him for all He has done for me and to be expectant to learn and grow in my walk with Jesus Christ. City Impact has great biblical preaching; the pastors are passionate about preaching the Word.
BEV COLLINS
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REVEREND CHRIS HILL
It’s a family church providing great programmes for children and young people and reaching into the community. A great church for the family.
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THE EXPANDING YEARS 2009 Summer Impact – 541 Salvations; Kai Iwi, Whananaki, Mangawhai, Pauanui, Waihi, Nelson Leadership Weekend – ‘Extra Mile’ with Reverend Chris Hill ‘Young Guns’ – series of young people preaching. Louise Cleary, Mike Tonks, Steve Boardman, Olivia Campbell, Loretta Taylor, Allan Wrath, Josh Campbell, Jade Lucas, Luke Eiserman and honorary ‘young gun’, Pastor Tamea Hayward Pastor Peter holds a healing crusade Citipointe Live visit us on their NZ tour Youth Camp – ‘Truth, Honour and Purity’ at South Head (guys), Ngaruwahia (girls) Sacrificial Offering The return of ‘Winter Impact’ – team sent to South Island Churches Launch City Impact Church Gore Global Impact Conference with Pastor Joakim Lundqvist, Pastor Jentezen Franklin and Dr A.R Bernard The Christmas Event: The 12 Days of Christmas
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CHRISTMAS EVENTS 30thAnniversaryBook_152-199.indd 206
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THE CHRISTMAS EVENT 2011
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THE EASTER EVENT
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BUILDING MT WELLINGTON 385 MT WELLINGTON HIGHWAY
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BUILDING MT WELLINGTON
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BUILDING MT WELLINGTON
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Trevor & Janine Campbell
City Impact Church is totally home for us all as a family. When we initially came in October 2003, we were overawed with the fruit of the church – the number of salvations every week. The anointing on the House for salvations continues today, and we love being a part of the team planting and pioneering at the Mt Wellington campus, seeing so many accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour in the 18 months since it began. One of the big highlights for us has been our involvement with Gateway, seeing new people from so many different backgrounds growing and maturing in their faith and being planted in the church. Our whole family is continually inspired and challenged by the depth of leadership and vision that Pastors Peter and Bev bring to City Impact Church, we love it!
TREVOR, BRITTANY, JONNY, JANINE, JOSH & OLIVIA CAMPBELL
OUT OF AFRICA FAIR
MT WE
PASTOR MARK GUNGOR
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THE EXPANDING YEARS 2010 Summer Impact – 693 Salvations; Kai Iwi, Ruakaka, Waipu, Mangawhai, Waihi, Pauanui, Browns Bay, Nelson Leadership Weekend – 'Season of Significance' City Impact Church School begins its High School years Pastor David McCracken prophesies at Leadership that the borders are going to be expanded 'Out of Africa' Fair Youth Camp – ‘Courage’ at Mangawhai (guys), Ruakaka (girls) The Easter Event: Powerful testimonies and souls saved Super Weekend: Mark Gungor – Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage We celebrate the lives of Jo Hobday, Ayla Blake, Pastor Tamea Hayward and Pastor Beven Taylor Extend the church building in Tonga in 10 days MT WELLINGTON OPENING
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Opening of Mt Wellington Campus October 2nd
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KRISTA CRAWFORD
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My Life is His I was 12 years old, standing at the front of the traditional church my family attended, playing a guitar and singing “Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet”, when I had a vision of worship, and how the heavens could open to touch lives. It was like nothing I had ever seen, or even heard about. I could ‘see’ worship, and sense how the Holy Spirit could move. I had never heard of the ‘Baptism of the Holy Spirit’ or a Pentecostal church. When I was 13 years old I became friends with two brothers at my high school, they told me about their parent’s church. When I was 14, the brothers brought a guest speaker to our school Christian group, and I was baptised in the Holy Spirit in a classroom during lunchtime. They took me to their church. The worship was exactly what I had ‘sensed’ in my earlier vision. I instantly understood what was happening in the incredible worship in this House. They introduced me to their mother, who was also the worship leader – and I loved her instantly! It was like we were made for each other. We sometimes joke that two blonde brains make a whole one, so we need each other! I had loved Jesus my whole life, and now it was like everything was intensified – my relationship with Him, my worship, and my passion for His Cause. By the time I was 16 I was a worship leader here in this incredible church. Leading worship is one of the things that make the greatest sense to me in life. I can’t describe it, I don’t think I could write a book about it, but I am privileged to be able to do it! When I stand on the stage I can sense the overwhelming presence of the Lord, the moving of the Holy Spirit – exactly what He gave me a glimpse of when I was 12 years old, with no comprehension of what I was witnessing. He showed me what I had never experienced or seen, and led me to it. This House is a House
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of Worship, a holy place where God moves powerfully amongst people. Over the more than 20 years that I have led worship I have stood and worshipped as thousands of people have found their way to the altar to seek God. I am moved every time by His faithfulness and tangible presence in our worship. When I was 22 years old I was privileged to become a pastor and the Music Director when Pastor Bev handed the baton on to me. We are an integral part of each others lives, Pastor Bev and I! I couldn’t do life without her, and I believe the greatest part of my calling is to serve and help her and Pastor Peter. Sometime way back when I was 14 I became ‘theirs’ and I have been blessed with a second family. God blessed me with my parents, who taught me the ways of the Lord, and how to walk a straight and narrow path. And then He blessed me with second parents, who took that faith and honed it into a ministry. Events became part of what I do because, like worship leading, an event is all about creating a meeting place with God. And Youth Ministry? Same thing… leading young people to encounter their Heavenly Father. I have the greatest job in the world! My life is not my own, it is His. My family, my husband and our four beautiful children are about the Father’s business. We love City Impact Church and the family here, we love to see souls saved and lives changed by the power of a living, loving and generous God. We are privileged and blessed to be called to this House. It is, of course, our family home. Krista Crawford
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GAVIN, BIANCA, JOE, RACQUEL, KIM, ABIGAIL, GRAHAM, JULIA, DANIEL & DAVID
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The Place We Call Home We were born again before our first child was born and one of the great truths we have always grasped since that wonderful event, is that our children are our greatest treasure and therefore our greatest responsibility. Nobody but us will be accountable before God for the truth they are taught and exposed to. Armed with that revelation, a good church became a vital part of our journey. Having been planted in our church in South Africa, we knew that it would be a sad state of affairs if we emigrated to a new country to offer our children a brighter future but in the process saw their walk with God suffer. And so it was that when we arrived, we looked for a church that had great vision and passion and good fruit regarding families. We wanted to sow into good soil and reap a harvest in our kids. We visited City Impact Church the day after arriving in New Zealand and God later gave us a word that, “if we planted ourselves, we would flourish”. On this basis, we set our hearts to serve wherever required and to do whatever we found to do, simply putting our hand to the plough knowing that we were laying up a treasure for our children and, in turn, for their children. We found at City Impact Church, a safe place and fertile soil. A place of vision. A place where three of our four children so far, have found spouses in the House of God. A place where our little granddaughter comes to see all her Aunts and Uncles and Nanas and Poppas and thinks we own the place! And she is right – we DO own it! We took possession of the House for our kids and now they have taken possession for their kids. This is the heritage we hand to our children – better than silver and gold – a heritage of seeking first the Kingdom. City Impact Church is more than a house – it is a home. It is a place we come to be fed, be encouraged, be inspired, be challenged, be disciplined and be family. We can think of no better cause to be passionate about than the cause of Christ and we can think of no better place than City Impact Church to achieve that. Graham Burger
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Ben & Sammi Teagle
SAMMI & BEN TEAGLE
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City Impact Church is not just our church, it’s our family. A huge crazy family – who love, laugh, dig in, and truly do life together. A family with incredible role models and opportunities to be challenged and inspired to live out all we are meant to be.We both met Jesus here, not to mention each other, and because of the incredible vision set before us we will continue to serve Him faithfully in this place. We know we can always call City Impact Church our spiritual home.
Sarah Newby
SARAH NEWBY
There is a legacy which has been passed on to me and to so many of City Impact’s youth, a heart for the lost. This legacy means so much to me. God placed me in this church because He knew there was something here for me. He knew I would be equipped with the tools needed to carry out His plans for me. While I was at high school, every Sunday I would receive messages of truth that I could take back to my school and share. I bet there were kids at my school who would have loved to tape my mouth shut, but I knew they went home thinking of God!
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SEASON OF SIGNIFICANCE
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2011
2012
Summer Impact – 878 Salvations; Kai Iwi, Ruakaka, Waipu, Mangawhai, Waihi, Pauanui, Papamoa, Twizel, Alexandra, Wanaka, Browns Bay, Orewa
Summer Impact – 647 Salvations; Kai Iwi, Ruakaka, Waipu, Mangawhai, Waihi, Pauanui, Papamoa, Twizel, Alexandra, Browns Bay, Orewa
Leadership Weekend – Pastors Peter and Bev Mortlock Key phrases for 2011 - Prayer / Fasting / Holiness / Selflessness
Updated Vision Statement released: ‘Go forth and multiply’, ‘Do not occupy the same space as you occupied last year’
Youth Camp – ‘Identity’ at Ngaruawahia
A day a week fasting together throughout the year begins
The Easter Event: ‘Portrait of a Hero’
Youth Camp – ‘Authenticity’ at Camp Adair, Hunua Ranges
Super Weekends – Bob and Audrey Meisner, and Dr Phil Pringle
New website launched
First Children’s Family Fun Day
‘Mums and Bubs’ launched with Pastor Krista
Four 10 Day fasts over the year
Easter Event: ‘He Nailed It’
The Christmas Event: ‘Oh Bethlehem Night’
City Impact celebrates 30 years!
Leadership Weekend – Pastors Peter and Bev and Pastor Steve Kennedy
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MARK MORTLOCK
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The Family Home Over the years you see many people come and go. As a child I could not understand why anyone would want to leave our church. I guess I had the mentality that you can choose your friends, but just like family, church was somewhere God placed you. From the early days being at church was an extension of the family home. There were all sorts of weird and wonderful people coming and going, but to me it seemed normal. The troubled youth with their cigarettes, mullets and denim jackets, I guess it was normal to me because that was also what the pastors wore (ciggies excluded of course). When Mum and Dad started the church, it seemed to me that this was the adventure of a lifetime. I had not really thought it through very well, but essentially we had extended the walls of the family home to now include the East Coast Bays. Little did we know at the time that we would be touched by tens of thousands of people who would spend anything from one service, to 30 years, in the family home. Don’t ask me about dates or events, or milestones in the life of the church. Not that they aren’t important. But the memories etched in my mind have come from the people that have ‘passed our way’. The break ups, the bust ups and even the occasional bust out. Yes, we had a certain member of the church who just could not seem to stay comfortable in the custody of Her Royal Majesty. Morning, noon and night it seemed there were broken people everywhere, getting touched by God, patched up and put back together; only to come back a few days later more bruised and beaten up than the first time. But this was the church; advertising and signs its steeple, open the doors and these were its people. They were a hungry bunch. Hungry for God. Desperate for change. At war with the devil and often themselves. Their lives were
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changed. They met a Saviour who loved them through the words and deeds of a pastor and his wife who were passionate for souls. Seeds of eternal glory were sown into their lives. I don’t know where many of them are today, but I do know that for the time they were in our family home, they experienced a real and loving God. As the family grew, the challenges and dynamics changed. There was a maturity entering the house that would soon bring a new challenge. And whilst the passion for souls has never wavered, the responsibility of raising a new generation of believers had become a mandate for the family home. We are a pioneering church. It’s in our blood. And whilst we may be a far cry from the hardwood floor and lime green window frames of Saint Anne’s Hall, we have a burning passion to forge a way for those coming behind. To pioneer in media and television, making a way for others. To mobilise a volunteer workforce in a way that has never been seen in the church before. But because we did it, others can follow. They can stand on our shoulders and do so much more than we have done. The pioneers aren’t usually the ones who build the biggest or the best, they are ones that open up what was previously impassable and make it accessible to others. For whatever time you are with us, whether for ten months or ten years, I hope you are blessed in this house as much as I have been. If you stop and look around you, you will find that our home is filled with wonderful people, some are fantastical and exciting, others are loving and compassionate, there are those that are quiet and faithful and there are of course, the bold and the beautiful. Every one of them is a part of this house and every one of them has a place in this family… HIS family… Our family. Mark Mortlock
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LEANNE MORTLOCK
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Cultivating Faithfulness At the age of 16 I had a life-changing encounter with God, which continues to affect the course of my destiny. During this encounter I committed my whole life to serving God and a fire to live a life worthy of His sacrifice began to burn out of control. The catch for me was working out what to do with this overwhelming passion! Having grown up with parents who are Pastors I decided that being a pastor’s wife was not for me so I figured that left me with being a missionary! At 17, I travelled to Asia to do a 3 month missions course and experience the mission field. I was hooked! I returned home to get a qualification in nursing so that I would have a practical skill to offer as I preached the gospel. In 1993 during my nursing training I went in search of a healthy, Spirit filled church and found myself at Bays Christian Fellowship. It only took one service for me to decide that I had found what I was looking for and that this church would challenge my faith and provide opportunity for me to grow in my walk with God. Little did I know that while I pined for the mission field, God had other plans for me.
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this church would be born in my heart and soul, and it was and it continues to grow. God gave me the scripture Psalm 37:3, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness”. This passage tells us to trust God with all of our hearts and to serve Him faithfully where He has placed us. God then promises to grant us the desires of our heart. Well, God has more than granted me the desires of my heart. My life has flourished at City Impact Church, and I have matured and been fruitful beyond my dreams. I have found the love of my life here, ministry fulfilment and a passion for the ministry of City Impact Church which burns strongly within me. It is incredibly rewarding to serve in this House and see the remarkable works God continues to do. It is exciting, thrilling, a little nerve racking (which is good!) as well as being a journey of peace, joy and contentment. Since I was a child I have had a passion to change people’s lives by teaching and imparting truth and this dream has been fulfilled at City Impact Church. Since 1998 I have been on staff as the Training Director where I have the privilege of being responsible for all areas of the church that involve teaching or training. It is indescribably fulfilling for me to see people’s lives changed by the truth of God’s Word and to see the pillars of faith built in their lives.
How did God let me know about the change for my plans… well that’s simple… I fell in love with Mark Mortlock!
City Impact Church has impacted thousands of God’s precious children – and it may be 30 years on – but in the scheme of God’s eternal plan it has only just begun.
So began my journey of falling in love with City Impact Church. I already loved this place… but I prayed that a love that would cause me to give my life for
Leanne Mortlock
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TARRY MORTLOCK
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This is My Life I was 8 years old when City Impact Church began, known then as Bays Christian Fellowship or BCF. To be honest I don’t remember a great deal of those early beginnings. What I have though are images in my mind like snapshots in time. An image of my Dad banging a tambourine on his leg at the front of the church. An image of the bruise it left on his leg which never stopped him from banging. An image of a huge wooden pulpit he had made with his own hands. That pulpit was like a reflection of the man that made it – it was big, loud, rough around the edges but solid as a rock and built to last the test of time. An image of me hiding behind my mother’s dress while she was worship leading, because I was so scared of the visitors. I remember her telling me to sit back down on my seat, which at the time seemed a little harsh; little did I know that she was more scared of the visitors than I was. Of course as soon as we were able, we were put to good use. I have an image of myself working the overhead projector, an image of Chris Morton running the sound system (Dad’s home stereo), an image of Mark playing a pair of bongos as if they were a set of drums. Talk about making the most of what we had! Little did we know those early days were the beginning of something huge. Because I was just a kid, very much along for the ride, what we now consider pioneering days were just normal life to me. The focus of our existence was the Church and every facet of our life revolved around it. Very much like owning your own business, it’s not just your job, or a compartmentalised part of your life, it is your life. You eat, sleep and breathe it. I know this was how it was for Mum and Dad. The cool thing is that it is the same today as it was all those years ago. The focus of their life continues to be the Church and the people of God.
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We are so incredibly blessed as a church to have such amazing leaders, those who aren’t just prepared to die for the cause of Christ, but to live for it, day by day, year by year and now decade by decade. The church grew and I grew with it. There is no separation between my life and City Impact Church. It is as much a part of me as the blood that runs through my veins. Looking back it is clear to see the stages of growth that the church went through. Its infancy where every step was new and exciting, its boyhood years, where – just as a five year old thinks – anything is possible because like superman we are indestructible and going to live forever! Its awkward teenage years trying to find its identity amongst all the other teenage churches out there. The young adult years where maturity proved its worth, the church being secure in who it was and what it was meant to do. That has continued to this day and I am eternally grateful to be part of a church that knows its God-given purpose. We have a clear vision which began 30 years ago and remains to this day. And now, by the grace of God, we are achieving things once only dreamed of. So much has happened over those 30 years. Far too much to fully capture in a book. However my hope is that you take away one thing – those dreams God has placed inside you, as unachievable as they may seem, will come to pass if you remain faithful. Those impossible dreams will be realised because, with God, all things are possible! Tarry Mortlock
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LISA MORTLOCK
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To the Ends of the Earth I met my husband Tarry, in Canada in 2000 when he was on his OE. We fell in love and nine months later were married in my hometown, Fredericton, surrounded by snow. After our wedding we came to New Zealand to live. As you can imagine, it was a pretty big deal uprooting my life and moving across the world, but God was good and made the transition so easy. As a child, I was brought up in a Christian home, where the emphasis was on my relationship with God and not so much the church I attended. As I got older, I felt like there was meant to be something more. When I first started dating Tarry, I shared with him how I wanted to be part of a Christian community that makes a difference. He just smiled at me as if he knew something I didn’t. When I walked into City Impact Church for the first time, I was swept away by the presence of God. I had never felt anything like that before and it was incredible. It all came together for me and I immediately felt right at home. City Impact Church is more than just a place of worship. It is a family. Over the years, I have been through some storms including the tragic loss of our stillborn son Dakota. God's overwhelming love carried us through this time and there was such a gracious love and support from our church family, for which I will always be grateful.
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One of the things I love most about our church is the work we do outreaching to our community. I have always had a passion to help others, showing them the love of God. At City Impact Church this dream has been realised. Tarry and I both work in the Production department at church which produces ‘Impact for Life’, our television programme that screens in New Zealand and many countries around the world. It is so fulfilling knowing we are making a difference and impacting lives. We are indeed blessed to be a blessing. Tarry and I have three beautiful children and I praise God that we can bring them up in such an amazing church. I love watching them grow up in the house of God, where they have the opportunity to experience God in such a real & powerful way. Peter and Bev leave an incredible legacy for their children and grandchildren. What they have built over the past 30 years is a testament to their true character and their incredible love for people. I am so proud to be a part of this church but more importantly, it is an honour and a privilege to be serving God with family. I am looking forward to the future and all God has in store for me, my family and my church. Lisa Mortlock
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JAEDEN MORTLOCK
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When I Grow Up... What the church means to me is that it's a big family and I'm glad I'm part of this church and not any other church. I love that at our church everybody is friendly. Church is important because it teaches you about God, the Bible, and how to live your life. It helps you understand the differences between right and wrong, the attributes of God and how to be obedient to Him. Church teaches you about how to be a Christian, and what to do. One of my favourite things about our church is youth. Youth is fun and I like hanging out with my friends. Junior High is great! I like playing Xbox and table tennis with my friends, and the youth leaders are cool. One day I would like to run the church. I think that would be a fun job and I’d love to be able to preach like Grandad. He has put a lot of effort into making the church what it is today. For example our school. Our school wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my grandad's vision. Grandad's vision for the church is to become a place where people can come to get saved and serve God. I like praying for people and seeing them get healed. I want to see the church grow and get really big. I would like to see more City Impact Churches in New Zealand and all over the world. I would also like to see us run a Bible School on Sunday afternoons so the whole church can go through it. Also, more food in the cafe – like lasagne, biltong and beef stroganoff. When I grow up I want be a great soccer player, run the church and drum... I’m not sure how I’m going to fit it all in! Jaeden Mortlock
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THE MORTLOCK GRANDKIDS
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Pastor Peter and Bev's Grandchildren Jaeden Levi 24 February2001 Mikayla Marie Lillian 20 Mar ch 2004 Kezia Paige 28 September 2004 Bayley Joseph Peter 10 August 2005 Janae Eden 20 December 2006 Dakota Nathaniel 19 January 2007 Born into the arms of God
Savannah Rose Madelyn 16 April 2008
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MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE
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GREAT ADVENTURES TOGETHER
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EPIL OGUE Thirty years. Can I first say, humbly and with all my heart – I thank God. I thank the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. I thank Him for calling me as a twelve year old boy, for bringing Bev into my life and calling us together to plant and build this church – City Impact Church. I thank Him for empowering and enabling us, leading and enlarging us, providing for us and sustaining us. I thank Him and give Him all the glory for the fruit of what people see today. I thank Him for the wonderful, wonderful people He has brought into our lives who have co-laboured with us and helped us. Without these people this church would not have been possible; they make us look better than we really are. I thank God for all my friends around the world, fellow ministers with whom we have become connected. They have encouraged and enlarged us. Secondly, I thank my godly wife who has stuck with me, believed in me, and followed me. A woman with a sharp prophetic edge who would often see things I couldn’t see – things that I, at times, didn’t want to see. Bev has been my ‘right hand man’. I could write another book about her contribution but enough to say, thank you Babe! Proverbs 31:28 says ‘her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her’. This is certainly true of you. Also, I thank my two sons, Mark and Tarry, who grew up not knowing any better! The ups and downs, the highs and lows of church life, they have seen it all, and yet they still stand strong with their Mum and Dad (now along with their gorgeous wives, Leanne and Lisa). They are all serving so faithfully in the House, ministering in their own individual callings. Thanks boys, we are so very, very proud of you both. It would certainly not be the same without you. Neither would it be as good as it is – obviously! Thirdly, I want to thank Paul and Sue (and their four ‘kids’) and all the others who have not only hung around
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for thirty years but have done more than their fair share – Chris and Val Morton, Neil and Jan Smith and Linda Ward.
Hours, weeks, and months have gone into this project and, like most things around here, it has been done with excellence.
Fourthly, my thanks go to the elders, Charlie and Janet, Syd and Clare, along with Paul and Sue and more recently Graham and Kim. They are great friends, very dear and close brothers and sisters in Christ. Every one of their children, (now grown, many with families of their own) are in the House – all fifteen of them. That is family – that is legacy. Thank you.
Carlene, you are amazing. Your commitment, diligence, and passion (and Dave's for supporting you in this) is a reflection of the wonderful spirit at City Impact Church. In this project, as always, you have exemplified this spirit!
Next I want to thank the directors, my ‘sons and daughters’ in the Lord; Mark, Leanne, Greg, Krista, Tim, Janine, Matt, Sharon, and Carlene. I am just so very, very blessed to have seen them raised up in the House, and now leading us on. Bev and I love these ones so dearly, and are eternally grateful for their sacrifice, diligence and faithfulness. Also thank you to the Pastors, leaders and staff who make it all happen every day – you make Bev and I so very, very proud. You are the best! Thank you, thank you, thank you, every person – those who have been with us for decades, those who have been here for years, and those who have been here just a few months. Thank you all, not only those who are here today, but also thank you to all those who have moved on for many reasons – thank you, thank you, thank you. Every one of you has made a contribution in some way to bringing us to where we are today and for that we are extremely grateful and humbled. Only heaven will reflect the ‘glory’ of all your love, labour and support to produce fruit for the Kingdom of God here at City Impact Church. May God richly bless you all. We also want to sincerely thank the team that made this book possible.
Krista, what can we say? The ‘favourite’ (they say) who has supported Carlene all the way to bring this project to completion. Thanks Kris – you always make things happen and go the extra mile. Maria, your dedication to this project and knowledge of the past thirty years has been invaluable. You are a true daughter in the Lord. Natalie, Allan, Kimberley, Jonathan, Cheryl and Allison, among others – thank you. You are amazing! The fruit of your labour has shone through once again. So the journey continues. For Bev and I personally, we have a goal to ‘finish strong’. Forty years in this role sounds good to me, God willing. And then – watch this space! Finally I would just like to thank in advance my grandchildren Jaeden, Mikayla, Kezia, Bailey, Janaé, and Savannah, the Elders’ grandchildren, and the children of the directors, (and their friends and peers). Bev and I want to thank them in advance because they will pick up the legacy that has not only been pioneered for them but also established for them. We thank them because they will take the church further and higher than ever, to the glory of God. We believe with and for them that together they can be Kingdom Builders, World Changers and Dominion takers! But hey, we have a few things to do before that happens and, by the grace of God, we will! AMEN.
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