Overflow Magazine - Issue 6

Healthy Living by Rev. Frank Rigg

Tēnākoe,Maloelelei,NisabulaVinaka,Annyeonghaseyo, Fakaalofalahiatu,Kiaorana,Nǐhǎo,Hello!

Whatamonthit’sbeen!AnamazingtimetogetheratConnexionin OctoberhostedbytheFijiForum.

CelebratingthevisionofWMCANZ,“TransformedPeople,Churches andCommunitiesoverflowingwiththegraceandholinessofJesus Christ”,wesawtheimpactofchurches'influenceinthelivesoftheir communitiesastheyreachoutpartneringinGod’smissiontoseek andsave. Inthisissuewereflectonourtimetogetherandcelebrateour impactininternationalmissions

Letuscontinuetoprayforthosewhowereordained,ministry outreaches,andmissions.

Rev.DeniseBarrington

ChristianMinistryTrainingin Bougainville

ByRev.KevinBrown

Lay people and candidates for pastoral ministry in New Zealand and Australia can enrol for study at any number of Bible Colleges. But in Bougainville there are very few options available. Missionaries from Australia and, more recently, Rev. Kathy Clifford from New Zealand, have been supporting ministry training in Bougainville. At the recent New Zealand Wesleyan Methodist conference (4 6th Nov 2022) Rev. Kathy received the thanks of the New Zealand church for her years of ministry to the Bougainville church.

Ministry training since 2004 has been taking place in a college building constructed in Tanamalo Village, Buka. This building provides a classroom, dorm accommodation, college office, and library. The principal of the college, Rev. John Mark Moata, lives on t dership and teaching.

Michelle Yates (Missions Director) and Rev Kathy Clifford

College building in Tanamalo Village Buka

WithRev.KathyCliffordcompletingherministry,theBougainville WesleyanMethodistChurchsoughtmissions’assistanceforthe college.Rev.KevinBrownfromAustraliatravelledbackandforthto Bougainvilletoteachatthecollegebetween2004and2010and leftalittleofhisheartwiththepeopleofthatland.Rev.Kevin offeredhissupportandwasformallyinvitedbythechurchtoserve themas“educationadvisor”inFebruary2022.Thenational conferenceoftheBougainvillechurchinSeptember2022wasa greattimetorenewthetiesoffriendshipandforRev.JohnMark andRev.Kevintoplantogether. KevinandJohnMarkMoata Rev.KevinhassteppedintoRev.KathyClifford’sshoesandwill provideassistancetoJohnMarkwhenclassesbeginagainatthe BibleCollegeinFebruary2023.Aspecialcelebrationtomark25 yearsoftheWesleyanMethodistChurchinBougainvillewilltake placeonthe9thFebruary2023onPetatsIsland.Followingthat significantgatheringwillbeclassesattheBiblecollegeforthenext twoweeks.Collegeclasseswillthenbeofferedinregular intensivesthroughtheyeartomaintainthedevelopmentofmen andwomenforministry.TheNewZealandWesleyanMethodist ChurchhasbeenasignificantsupporterofRev.KathyCliffordand ofministrytraininginBougainvilleformanyyears.Theopportunity isavailabletocontinuethatsupportthroughWesleyanMissions.

Please continue to pray for the church in Bougainville and to ask that the Lord will call more men and women into study and leadership of His church. Pray for Rev. John Mark as principal and for Rev. Kevin Brown as they work together to see the vital work of ministry training continue in Bougainville.

FinancialSupport

for Rev. Kevin's Ministry & Training in

Bougainville

Financial support for Rev. Kevin’s ministry and training in Bougainville can be made via direct deposit using Ref: BougKB.

Wesleyan Methodist Church of Aotearoa New Zealand 03 0206 0380248 000. Wesleyan World Missions Australia BSB 034083. Account 950962.

InSympathy

Our condolences, sympathy and prayers are with Rev. Fereti Fa'afuata on the passing of his wife Elizabeth, and Pastor Mike Turinsky on the passing of his mother Carol.

Wesleyan Methodist Beginnings

A Guide to Visiting Methodist/Wesleyan sites in Northland

Rangihoua Heritage Park: This year marks 200 years since Rev. Samuel and Catherine Leigh, a Wesleyan minister from Great Britain, with the support of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, arrived in New Zealand to establish a Wesleyan mission to Māori.

The history of Wesleyan Methodism in Aotearoa New Zealand began with an earlier visit, in the winter of 1819, by Rev. Samuel Leigh who was involved in missionary outreach in Australia and whose health was suffering from overwork.

The visit was made possible by his friend the Rev. Samuel Marsden who had helped establish the Church Missionary Society (CMS) mission at Rangihoua in the Bay of Islands from late 1814. While visiting Rangihoua and assisting the lay Anglicans, Leigh felt called to establish a Wesleyan mission to Māori.

He returned to England, married Catherine Clewes in 1820 and set about raising finance and gathering goods for the Wesleyan mission to New Zealand. In February 1822, with the support of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, Samuel and Catherine arrived in New Zealand. They were joined by William White, James Stack and Luke Wade. Kaeo: On 6 June 1823, with the help of the CMS, the Leighs and White established a mission at Kaeo near the Whangaroa harbour. They called it ‘Wesleydale'. In August that year two more Wesleyan missionaries, John Hobbs and the Rev. Nathaniel Turner and his wife arrived in the Brampton.

Samuel and Catherine Leigh left for Australia a fortnight later, on the same ship, but it was wrecked as it was leaving the Bay of Islands and they finally departed on the Dragon in November. The mission at Kaeo continued with White, Hobbs and Turner. After a number of problems, the mission was eventually abandoned in early 1827 and the mission site destroyed. lt was a tense time for the missionaries and they survived thanks to the protection of Māori chief Eruera Maihi Patuone. Following the sacking of the mission, the missionaries dispersed to Sydney and the Bay of Islands.

’Wesleydale’ was located on the headwaters of the Whangaroa Harbour and would have been accessible by boat, but subsequent reclamation and drainage of the area has left the site some distance from the sea. A stone cairn, cross and plaque mark the mission site, and it is reached along a side road from Kaeo towards the cemetery. Also nearby is the Kaeo Methodist Memorial Church built in 1922 at the time of the centenary of the early mission work. Periodic serious flooding of the church has been an issue. After the sacking of the mission at ‘Wesleydale’, the Wesleyan missionaries decided to re-establish the mission on the Hokianga Harbour.

The initial site purchased was at Te Toke on the Waihou River where a building was erected in December 1827. It became apparent that there was a much better spot, however, further down at Māngungu. Several advantages of the new site were its central location, giving access to all the Hokianga tribes, sufficient land already cleared to allow building to begin immediately, the rich quality of the soil, and its convenient access to transport by water. This site of 850 acres was purchased by Hobbs in April 1828 and building for the mission commenced immediately.

After the sacking of the mission at ‘Wesleydale’, the Wesleyan missionaries decided to re establish the mission on the Hokianga Harbour. The initial site purchased was at Te Toke on the Waihou River where a building was erected in December 1827. It became apparent that there was a much better spot, however, further down at Māngungu. Several advantages of the new site were its central location, giving access to all the Hokianga tribes, sufficient land already cleared to allow building to begin immediately, the rich quality of the soil, and its convenient access to transport by water. This site of 850 acres was purchased by Hobbs in April 1828 and building for the mission commenced immediately.

Māngungu: The missionaries again had the strong support of Patuone. Immediately Hobbs and Luke Wade began the erection of a house with the aid of Māori. The place was lightly constructed, thatched with nīkau, with board floors and provided with doors and windows brought from Sydney. The original 1828 building at Māngungu was destroyed by fire on 16 August 1838, however, along with the records of the mission. It was replaced by the wooden structure that can be seen today built by

John Hobbs in 1838-1839 for the Rev. Nathaniel Turner. In 1830 Hobbs was replaced as Superintendent by William White who in turn was replaced in 1836 by Nathaniel Turner.

James Buller arrived in April 1836, followed by the Rev. Charles Creed, the Revs John Bumby and Samuel lronside on 18 March 1839. These and others initially spent time at Māngungu learning the Māori language and customs before posting to other mission stations or establishing new ones. Mary Bumby, sister of the Rev. John Bumby, brought two skeps of honeybees with them to Māngungu, providing a major contribution to the success of pastoral farming in this country.

On 12 February 1840 a crowd of over 3,000 Māori assembled at Māngungu some six days after the treaty signing at Waitangi. Following lengthy discussions, and a key role played by John Hobbs, the largest signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in the country took place on the porch of the mission house, with Governor Hobson and over 70 chiefs adding their assent. The event is remembered each year on 12 February and visitors are welcome to attend. ln May 1840 the Triton arrived in the Hokianga with Revs Thomas Buddle, John Skevington and Henry Turton, their wives, and three single men, Gideon Smales, John Aldred and George Buttle. A stone monument surmounted by a Celtic cross has a plaque recording names of missionaries.

From 1840, the mission house was occupied by the Rev. John Hobbs and his family. Hobbs had drawn the plans for the house and supervised its construction from local kauri. The family left Māngungu for Auckland in 1855 and the house was moved to Grey Street, Onehunga where it was used as a Methodist parsonage and then sold to private owners. The mission house was

Note: Unless Alex Bell, property manager at the Kerikeri office of Heritage New Zealand, is given prior notice to have a Heritage NZ officer present, the Māngungu mission house itself will not be open to visit. The mission house is closed for the winter in early June and does not re-open until about the end of November, for the summer season. Self-tour drive pilgrims will, however, still be able to visit the Māngungu site and grounds.

From the small beginnings at Māngungu the mission expanded rapidly to nearby areas Pakanae (1836), Tangiteroria (1836), Waima (1839) and Mt Wesley on the Kaipara and further afield to Kawhia (1834), Raglan (Whaingaroa 1835), Te Kopua (1841), and other places from the 1840s. Little remains of these mission efforts on or near the Hokianga now. These sites can potentially be visited on the way back to Auckland if the route down the West Coast was taken.

Pakanae or Newark (near present day Opononi): At the Waiotemarama turnoff, about 2 kilometres north of Opononi, is the small historic Māori settlement of Pakanae. Whiria mountain, a large steep conical hill beside the water, surrounded by rich horticultural land, is Hokianga's most famous Pā site. On the crest of the hill, a strategic site, is a memorial to Rahiri, the 16th century chieftain who united the Ngāpuhi. In 1836, well after the Northern wars had ended, Whiria mountain was sold to the Wesleyans who established at its base a mission station which they called Newark. Pakanae's great chief Moetara was a reluctant convert.

Tangiteroria: The Wallis memorial Located halfway between Whangarei and Dargaville on State Highway 14, The Rev. James Wallis memorial cairn (left) is situated on private land.

The new landowner is looking after the historical site and he is welcoming of anyone who wishes to visit but it would need to be organized with him.

His details are: Mr. Campbell Linwood, 304 State Highway 14, Tangiteroria. (Ph: 02102606197)

Directions: Enter the steel gate right next to the old motel on the western side; drive in towards the brown house and the cairn is on the left-hand side of the house.

Waima is situated a few miles off State Highway 12 in south Hokianga and was an important mission station, formerly the site of a giant oak tree grown from an acorn brought from England.

Mt Wesley opposite Dargaville cemetery. Dargaville cemetery is about 2 kilometres from Dargaville on the Dargaville to Taingaehe road, called River Road, from the west end of town. Site of an early mission station, a new Māori Church was approved here in 1883.

Special thanks to Dr Charles Small and Robert Emmitt for their article ‘Wesleyan Missionary Beginnings in Aotearoa an itinerary tour’ in the Wesleyan Vine, Spring 2018, pp.8 9

To Rev. Kuli Fisi'iahi of Dargaville Methodist Church

To the Kinder Library, St John’s College, for reproduction of Matthew Clayton painting.

Laurenson, George I., Te Hahi Weteriana: Three Half centuries of the Methodist Māori Missions 1822 1972, Auckland, WHS, 1972.

Healthy Living

Looking for a way to support people in a holistic wellness journey? Our very own Rev. Frank Rigg has a small book called Healthy Living that may help. You can purchase copies from Frank directly. To order your copies contact Rev. Frank Rigg via email (fgrigg@xtra.co.nz) for pricing.

"In these modern, pandemic times nothing could be more welcome than a call to healthy living, particularly through healing prayer. Frank Rigg provides a clear theological base as well as sound practical examples." George Bryant

Congratulations

to our new Ministers who were ordained at ConneXion 2022!

Rev. Denise Inez Barrington

Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Denise Barrington tōkū ingoa.

I was born in Te Puke and grew up in Waitakere where I lived most of my life and where most of my family still live I am a wife, mother, daughter, aunt, grandmother and teacher. I currently enjoy living in the Far North and work as a teacher of intermediate age children. My husband, Carl, also works in the same school as a kaiawhina (teacher aide).

Rev. John Charles Emmitt

I was born and raised in Auckland, the great grandson of a Methodist Minister and great, great, great (not sure how many) grandson of a Wesleyan Missionary. I grew up at Trinity Methodist Church, in Pakuranga and can remember as far back as Eric Clement I’m also old enough to remember when the neighbours at Trinity Methodist were horses in a field, not McDonalds. I still .

I maintain a voluntary role with Scouting NZ as an Associate Member supporting youth training. My son (Dean) and his wife (Olivia) welcomed their daughter (Allie) last August and I have enjoyed many wonderful moments with them. When I have time, my hobbies include knitting, soap making, reading and enjoying time with my family. My ministry includes relationships with those from a local congregation in Kaitaia, opportunities that arise because of connections in my role as a student of te reo, a teacher and Editor of Overflow. have a letter from 1993 from Chris Konings, where he relayed to me a dream he had where God was challenging me to take my faith seriously and also “take up my cross and follow him, and if I loved God, I should feed his sheep.” It’s taken me quite some time to take my faith seriously, and to feed God’s sheep. This is why I also say I’m not responding to a late call to ministry in life, but rather I’ve stopped avoiding one that came much earlier.

Rev. David John Graham

David was born in New Plymouth, Taranaki to Steve and Christine Graham. David spent the first seven years of his life in the Philippines before settling back in New Zealand. He is married to Sydney and they have two children, Norah and Julian They live in Christchurch where David serves as the Assistant Pastor at The Well. His

journey in ministry started in youth ministry as a volunteer and youth pastor. In 2020 David and Sydney felt God calling them to join the team at The Well, where they witnessed a heart to see people and communities healed. They love to see people from all walks of life have the opportunity to be a part of God’s family.

Rev. Stefanie Wen-Ying Oh

Rev. Stefanie Oh was born and raised in the tiny island nation of Singapore. She fell in love with New Zealand upon her first visit in 2006, even suggesting NZ as her honeymoon destination when she married in 2017. Never did she imagine that her husband would also fall in love with this wonderful country and move them here two years later! Stefanie has been serving God in the Methodist Church in Singapore since she was 13 years of age in the Youth, Young Adult small group worship and

outreach ministries. She graduated with an MDiv from Trinity Theological College in Singapore in 2013 and has been in ministry full time until moving to New Zealand. Stefanie is eager to preach God's Word and bring others to faith in Jesus. She is married to George and they have a cheeky 2½ year old son Robbie.

Rev. David Ashan Rodrigo

Kia Ora and Āyubōvan!

I was born in Melbourne but raised on the outskirts of Colombo I am Sri Lankan My parents are Rev Cedric and Sharlini Rodrigo, pioneers of the Wesleyan Church in Sri Lanka. I am married to Samantha Tan Rodrigo, daughter of Hazel and Felix Tan, founding members of East City Wesleyan Church. Sam and I met at Indiana Wesleyan University. I’ve been immersed in ministry my whole life. In my teenage years, the Holy Spirit drew me closer to a personal understanding of the Gospel and the Scriptures. God led me to study worship theology at IWU where the Holy Spirit cultivated in me a passion for discipling worshippers. God has called me to a ministry of enabling ethnically and culturally diverse expressions of worship within churches. We live in Papakura. Sam’s day job is in governance with Auckland Council while supporting the local ministry. I serve full time as Lead Pastor for Papakura Wesleyan Church.

National Leadership Elections

ConneXion 22Highlights

ConneXion 22Highlights