Overflow Magazine - Issue 2

Issue 02 | July 22

Overflow

ISSN 2815-8199

Over f l o w

In this Issue...

On Mission "Reach" by National Superintendent Rev. Brett Jones

Spotlight on City Cross Link and Shiloh Wesleyan

Save $$ with your next stationery purchase

East Auckland Wesleyan Methodist Historical Tour including a forgotten cemetery!

and much more!

On Mission: Reach

By National Superintendent Rev. Brett Jones

I didn’t grow up in the church. The first 20 years of my life were very much a mixed bag when it came to my experience of the church. Words like “irrelevant”, “deluded”, “hypocritical” were one part of that experience. But it wasn’t one-way traffic, my vocabulary of experiencing Christians was more than this. Words like “generous”, “sincere” and “accepting” were also part of my experience. When I reflect on my journey from atheism to Jesus, the Christ-like appeal of the people I interacted with were important road signs to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says this of us, the church: 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God.

It used to be that becoming an ambassador was seen as a reward for exemplary service. Sometimes a politician coming to the end of his or her service – it’s perfect - a pre retirement gig in an exotic location. Other times it’s a promotion for a career diplomat, who has made their way up the career ladder. The last 3 ambassadors to the United States have been in order, a former Prime Minister, a former Cabinet Minister and a 40 year career diplomat…with a Masters in Russian… In the COVID-19 world I wonder whether that’s all changed. What were once the plum jobs have now become the booby prizes. Unless there’s an opening in Rarotonga?!

It’s not a dissimilar picture in the ancient world. Being an ambassador at the time of Jesus was not a straightforward career choice. Travel was arduous and dangerous. The stature of your sending king was not going to protect you from bandits nor accident, illness or disaster for that matter. Ambassadors often found themselves thousands of miles from home in the midst of a hostile population with little protection.

In many ways it still feels like that. But in my life, and I would guess in the lives of many, ambassadors for Christ played a crucial role in making God’s appeal to us.

It’s challenging to think about mission in this environment and the “how” of our new Mission Statement: Equipping & Empowering Leaders and Churches to: REACH people with Christ GROW disciples in Christ SERVE communities through Christ As we pause to reflect on the “REACH” part of being on mission it’s helpful to recall the verses that lead up to 2 Corinthians 5:20 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

All that I have in my life is down to that day when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour. My family, my church community, my vocation. No part of my life is not a part of this “new creation”. It is what Christ has done in us that compels us to the dangerous role of being an ambassador for him, carrying the message of reconciliation to our worlds.

I long to be part of a church that is able to reach crusty, hardened atheists like I was before Jesus got hold of me. But because my life has been changed so much, I find myself in a very unfamiliar place - raising children in a Christian home. Fortunately my wife, Kristen, enjoys a rich heritage in family and faith, so we’re working it out. It means though that as much as I want to be part of a church that can reach people like me, I also long for our church to be a place where our children and grandchildren can flourish. Where our ambassador-ship speaks loudly also to them.

God is reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to US the message of reconciliation. It’s a message for all people those inside the church and those in our communities. Will you sign up to be an ambassador? Our nation and our church has never needed you more than now.

Looking for resources to empower your local church to share their faith with others?

Click here for some great programmes and courses we recommend to help get you started.

Do you have a story to share?

Our Crossings Portal is a place to record stories of crossings into new life in Christ. You can include stories of first time commitments to Christ, recommitments and baptisms! We'll be sharing stories in 2021 across the movement. You can submit your story here

Spotlight on Local Congregations Shiloh Wesleyan With so much going on in the world right now, my family and I are thankful for God's blessings on us and Shiloh Church. Shiloh Church is still on Zoom, however that does not stop us from connecting with one another. Our goals for this year remain the same: to serve God to the best of our abilities, to keep our church in a healthy, caring, and loving atmosphere, and to expand our understanding of the Bible.

I'm fortunate to still have a job after Covid-19, so my daily schedule consists of working, then prepping for Bible study, church zooming on Wednesdays and Sundays, evening family prayers and joining the other men in our church once a week.

My small family is doing better than ever; we each have our own jobs, interests, and aspirations, but we always make time to pray together.

Other than working on our goals and strengthening our spiritual and familial relationships, we have no huge plans for this year. I would encourage those who are reading this to keep focused on your objectives and what you want to achieve; the trip will be difficult, but the end result will be gratifying.

Spotlight on Local Congregations City Cross Link City Cross Link (CCL) is a church which is centred on the Word of God and Jesus Christ, reflecting God's Glory, and creating an impact on the local community, the City, the Nation, and the World.

CCL, is a disciple-based church where believers are nurtured by and in the Word of God until they become rooted to maturity, complete in faith and passionate for the Great Commission.

CCL worship in a new venue: the chapel at Marcellin College, Royal Oak. Led by Pastor Joel Detalo. The church has a regional strategy that is enacted through a number of cell groups that they support in both Auckland and further afield. With groups currently operating in Massey and Ranui (West Auckland), Kaiwaka and Brynderwyn (Northland) the reach of the church is extending to enfold Filipinos and others into the Wesleyan Methodist Church. There are opportunities for these cell groups to further grow and become centres of worship for their area.

One of the CCL members, Armand, leads a street evangelism team each Sunday afternoon preaching and distributing tracts in areas where they feel led by the Lord.

CCL has recently appointed Francis Bless Eli-Nofoa as Youth Worker.

Francis is also active in the worship ministry and is discipling a talented and enthusiastic youth worship team. With a plan in place for purposeful discipleship to grow our members we are seeing them using their gifts and talents in service of God’s mission.

We are praying for our Pastor Joel, youth worker - Francis, and the network of cell groups that meet around the country reaching others for God. Take a look at the CCL team who gave blood in April with the theme of ‘I give that someone might live’. Click on this link to watch the video.

Renew Your Wesleyan DNA

Are you one of the millions of Christians who belong to a Methodist/Wesleyan church? Do you want to be better informed about John Wesley and Wesleyan theology? Want to know more about the church to which you belong? Need renewed encouragement for mission? This book is for you!

John Wesley is one of the most influential Christian leaders since apostolic times.

His global family of churches ministers in over 160 countries and influences about 100 million people. It bears different names, including Methodist, Holiness, Nazarene and Wesleyan. Wesley also influences Pentecostalism and the Salvation Army. He fervently believed that Methodism was raised up by God to spread scriptural holiness around the world. Such divine mission work continues today.

Learn the relevance of Wesley’s remarkably balanced biblical and theological insights for living the Christian life in a real and effective way. Engaging with such Wesleyan DNA helps Christians and churches to be more Christlike. This practical book identifies essential Wesleyan DNA and describes the history and witness of today’s global John Wesley family of churches. In an easy-to-read style—with discussion questions and resources—it helps ministers, lay leaders and young people gain a greater sense of belonging to World Methodism and a deeper engagement with God’s mission. $10 each with discounts for bulk purchases.

Email: bookorders@wesleyan.nz to order.

The Big Quiz is back for 2022!

It's time to brush up on your general knowledge and dust off your dictionaries.

On Saturday, August 20, churches and groups up and down the country will be taking part in the biggest, multi-venue, nationwide quiz, raising funds to help lift families out of poverty.

We'd like to invite you and your church to sign up for this quiz-tastic event! The quiz team has done 90% of the work for you so you can run the event with minimal effort and little to no expense.

This year we have new hosts and new rounds, including a Bible round for all the theologians out there (no theology degrees required).

Like last year, we also have a kids/youth quiz that you can have running at the same time as the main event.

Click here for more information

East Auckland Wesleyan/Methodist Historical Tour

including a forgotten cemetery

2022 is the 175th anniversary year since the first settlers arrived in (East Auckland) Howick & districts in November 1847. The immigration group of retired Fencible soldiers and families were first welcomed at St Johns Theological College in October 1847 and then on 15 November 1847 were dropped off at Howick Beach. Eventually, over several waves of migration, 2,563 Fencible family members arrived. It was the first NZ Government/military migration scheme and at the time, in the late 1840s and early 1850s, almost doubled the settler population of the Auckland region. A community trust, management committee and many work groups have been formed to celebrate the anniversary year. Rev. Dr. Richard Waugh was appointed chairman in October 2020 and his community role is influential.

For further information see: www.howick175.co.nz In the events section there is a wide range of special events for the 2022 anniversary, including a visit to St Johns Theological College on 29th October and a civic/combined churches service at All Saints Church in Howick on Saturday 12th November. Funding and key support is coming from Auckland Council/Howick Local Board and with some commercial sponsorship.

“A mostly forgotten small cemetery at 337a Pakuranga Road, East Auckland. It was established by early Wesleyan families in 1866.

On Sunday 14th August there will be a Wesleyan/Methodist Historical Tour in East Auckland escorted by Rev. Dr. Richard Waugh (President of the World Methodist Historical Society) with Alan La Roche (Howick Historian).

All interested people are welcome.

Here is the schedule: 1.30pm Meet at Fencible Walk (110 Picton Street, Howick), site of 1852 Wesleyan beginnings.

2.15pm Gather at old Wesleyan Methodist Cemetery at 337a Pakuranga Road (park around corner in Gossamer Drive and walk back to cemetery) 2.45pm Visit Howick Historical Village (discounted entry fee of $11 per person) to visit the historic 1852 Wesleyan Methodist chapel (one of the oldest Methodist buildings in NZ). Sing some favourite hymns by Charles Wesley (accompanied by pedal organ) and with thanksgiving prayers.

Afternoon tea at the Homestead Café.

All are welcome to this Sunday afternoon historical Wesleyan/Methodist tour.

Please contact Richard if you have any questions Ph 022 5339400.

Employment Opportunities Pastor Children's Ministry cession community

www.cession.org.nz

cession|community (Church) is seeking a passionate, child-focused person to lead our Children's Ministries. This role functions across the church and community space, combining Sunday children's ministry with mid-week community initiatives.

Your primary tasks will include: Growing the Children’s Ministry team at cession|community|church Working with our wider team to engage with the Howick community Coordinating our mid-week Playgroup Assessing family needs and opportunities for offering services to the community You will have proven experience in working with children, families and adult volunteers in the education, pastoral care and/or development areas. You'll be a motivated self-starter who loves working with a team.

Relevant educational qualifications are preferred.

This is a unique role to work with an innovative team across the church and community. Together we're motivated to help people find their village as part of the cession|community family.

Add a little bit of body text

Full job description available here

APPLY HERE

Event Calendar National Leadership Nominations are open Minister's Connect 7.30pm | 20 September ConneXion 2022 | 4 - 6 November Auckland Prayer Breakfast | 17 November Click here for our full WMCANZ National Calendar

Donations We invite you to make donations to the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Aotearoa-New Zealand. Join us to make a difference and reach the lost with the hope and holiness of Jesus Christ.

Using the WMCANZ bank account number below, please include your first initial and surname in the particulars field and 'donation' in the reference field.

03-0206-0380248-00 Particulars: e.g. 'J Smith' Reference: e.g. 'Donation' Please email treasurer@wesleyan.nz with your details to receive a donation receipt.

Thank you!

Looking for your local Wesleyan Methodist Church

Click here to find your nearest Wesleyan Methodist church. Services are held in English, Fijian, Rotuman and Tongan with several churches using multiple languages in their worship.

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From The Editors Desk................

Tēnā koutou katoa, Bula vinaka, Mālō e lelei, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Noa'ia, Ni Hao, Magandang araw, Greetings. When the world around us is tumultuous how do we respond? There are so many things happening in the world that we have no control over and it’s easy to be fearful. In these times I am reminded of the time Jesus and his disciples are on the water during a storm. Whilst the storm rages, Jesus sleeps.

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 'Matthew 8:23-26 On this occasion his disciples, when they had reached the height of their fear, knew Jesus could save them and they called out for his help.

Jesus, woke, calmed the storm and then chastised them for their lack of faith. This reminds me how important it is to make sure that I focus on Jesus during these times and I am thankful for my role as editor and the opportunity to hear and see how God is working around our wider Wesleyan family in these times.

It was great to get the first edition of Overflow out last month and we thank everyone who has already signed up to receive their copy straight to their inbox. Thanks also to those who sent feedback and contribution ideas. The vision of Overflow is to reach everyone who attends a WMCANZ congregation with encouragement and inspiration to support them in living out God’s calling on their lives.

We pray, as you read through this edition, that there will be something that inspires you and helps you discover new ways to reach others for Christ in your community.

Denise Barrington Editor

Warehouse Stationery are holding a two week Exclusive Friends & Family Sale until 31st July and we're excited to be able to extend these deals to our WMCANZ Church family. To access their exclusive pricing simply print out the flyer or show it on your phone in store. Click here to view the flyer.

National Church Contacts

www.wesleyan.nz Find us on.......

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Twitter National Resource Centre 219 Burswood Drive Botany, Auckland 2013 Ph: (09) 271 6460 Email: office@wesleyan.nz

Overflow Editor Denise Barrington Email: overflow@wesleyan.nz

National Superintendent Rev. Brett Jones - natsuper@wesleyan.nz Ass't National Superintendent - Church Development Rev. Mike Yates - churchdevt@wesleyan.nz Ass't National Superintendent - Pastoral Care Rev. Atu Lagi - pastoralcare@wesleyan.nz Director of Operations Rev. Peter Benzie - dirops@wesleyan.nz Director Ministerial Formation Rev. Melissa Powell - nbmf@wesleyan.nz National Treasurer Kerrin Thomson - treasurer@wesleyan.nz National Missions Ministry Leader Michelle Yates - missions@wesleyan.nz National Youth Ministry Leader and National Youth Consultant Rev. Stephenie Couch - youth@wesleyan.nz National Children's Ministry Leader Rev. Lauren Millington children@wesleyan.nz

Our Values | Enduring Foundations | Embracing Grace | Embodying Oneness Flourishing Churches | Celebrating Belonging

ConneXion 22

Streams Community Church, Panmure, Auckland

4th - 6th November

4@@thew6 November

Put this date in your diary and plan to attend!

Look out for further information on ConneXion 22 over the coming months.

ConneXion 2020