Overflow - Issue 26 by WMCANZ

From the editor

Tēnākoe,Maloelelei,Nisabulavinaka,안녕하세요,Fakaalofalahi atu,Kiaorana,你好,Noa‘ia,Hello!

ThismonthweconsiderhowwecanpartnerwithGodinthemission JesusgaveinMatthew16:19-20.Jesusmodelledalifethatwas unhurried,presentandobedient.Hehadacalm,orderedrhythm anddemonstratedwhatgracelookedlikeintheinterruptionsofHis journey.Jesus’lifewascentredonHisrelationshipwiththeFather andthemissionthatHehad. Whenwehaverhythmsandroutinesthatcentreourrelationship withHimwefindourselveswellequippedandreadytorespondin thecoupleofsecondswemighthavetochangelivesirreversibly. Wearewellplacedtoparticipateinthemissionwehavebeengiven.

Inprayer,

DeniseBarrington Editor

Seeing Is Believing

Rev. Brett Jones - National Superintendent

Ididn’tgrowupinthechurch.Infact,churchwasthelastplaceI wantedtobe.Itwasn’thelpedbythefactthatmyAnglicanmother andagnosticfatherhaddraggedustoSundayschoolinconsistently overtheyearsandIdiscoveredfirst-handhow“playchurch”hadthe powertoinoculateapersonagainstChristianity.Andby“playchurch” ImeananychurchthathaslostfocusontheGreatCommissionand hasforgottenwhatitmeanstoliveaccordingtotheGreat Commandments.Imeanchurchthatforgetsthat,unlikealmostany otherorganisation,itexistsforthosewhoarenotyetmembersofit.It madeithardformegrowinguptoseeanythingredeemingaboutthe church,letalonebelieveinitsclaims,whenitsworshipwasstuckina pastgeneration’stastes,decisionsseemedtobemadearound preservingthesameold,sameoldattheexpenseofoutward missionandIcouldseelittleinthelivesofitsmembersthatfaithwas real.SobythetimeIwasateenagerIhadbecomehardenedinmy atheism.Jesushadbecomeobscuredbythechurchratherthanlifted upbyit.Seeingwasbelievingorinmycasenotbelieving.

InJohn3NicodemusstepstowardsJesusundercoverofdarkness becauseofwhathehasseenbutheiscarefultomakesureheisnot seen.It’ssignificantthatNicodemusisaPhariseeandamemberof theJewishrulingcouncil;thisisanimportantpersonwhohasseen Jesusandperhapsthisiswhyhecomeswithcaution.Sothisisanact ofcourage,ifnotquiteanactofworship,oractoflove,weareseeing playoutwithNicodemus.Heplaceshimselfindanger,stepsoutside theexpectednormsofhispeersandgoestoJesus.Nicodemusis oneofthoseearlyadoptersthatpastorslove–hedoesn’tcomeup withreasonswhynot–hestepstowardsJesus.Whatdoes NicodemusseewhenhestepstowardsJesus?Wellthefirstthinghe getsfromJesusisaninvitationtoseeevenmore:

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

It’s sad that the phrase “born again” has come to mean in our society “irrelevant fanatic who doesn’t have a valid point of view”. Partly that’s because Christians have misused the phrase to mean in effect “ are you the right kind of real Christian who believes the right kind of things”.

Whereas Jesus sees it differently here – in fact seeing it differently is what it’s all about here - no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again…

But it’s not just about seeing the Kingdom – seeing the vision of life that Jesus is declaring, but actually entering into this vision of life. A person who sees and enters will be affected unmistakably by this new reality of the Kingdom of God.

Which brings us to the key question we are asking at the 2024 ConneXion: Will we ask God to break our hearts over this picture? Will we agonise in prayer for others over this picture? Will we do what is in our power to reorder the priorities of our lives and the church to live out the Great Commission?

This is why our theme for the ConneXion CO|Missioned is so critical. There are some important questions for our churches to answer.

John paints the picture of a world which God might have condemned. A world where people are living in darkness. A world where people are living in fear and shame. Afraid even to have the realities of their life exposed. A world which is desperate to see and believe, to see and believe in anything and often that’s exactly what happens. This is a picture which is heart-breaking. It breaks God’s heart so much that he comes in person to save each one of us. BUT. You were not saved for yourselves, but for God’s purposes. And it’s my conviction that we in the church must be sent and spent in the same way that Jesus was. That he who is lifted up is pointed out. That those that approach under cover of darkness can ask their questions and wrestle with seeing and believing until they too are born again into the family of God and live faithfully in his Kingdom.

We get to be part of seeing the light go on in people’s lives. We get to experience that ourselves as Jesus’ light is reflected in our lives. Because people need to see in us that God is real. They need to know that it's OK to allow the darkness in their lives to come under the spotlight and that there are patient, faithful midwives who will journey with them. And they won’t find that in our churches if it is not who we really are. May we be CO|Missioned together at this ConneXion to be people who are seeing and believing, and churches that allow others to see and believe in the one we follow..

Congratulations to our Ordinands for 2024 - Pastor Viliami Haunga, Pastor Freda Kingston and Pastor Alison Sinclair. Join us as we come together as a Church family to celebrate our ordinands in a special service and supper at East City Wesleyan Church (219 Burswood Drive, Botany) on Saturday 9th November at 7pm. Everyone is welcome - no registration required. This service will also be live streamed on the WMCANZ you-tube channel. Search Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand.

Slowing down: Partnering with God in His Mission

Rev. Denise Barrington

“Have you ever noticed how busy Jesus’ life seemed to be? And yet, He never seemed to be in a hurry, He was always present to those He was with.

In a world obsessed with speed, productivity, and efficiency, slowing down can feel countercultural, even in the context of our spiritual lives. But slowing down is exactly what is needed to truly partner with God in the mission He gave His disciples a mission to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Christ commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).

Slowing down allows us to create space for God to work in and through us. It opens us up to deeper intimacy with Him, making us more attuned to His guidance in how we live out the mission of making disciples. In contrast, a hurried life leads to a shallow, transactional faith that lacks the depth required to truly reflect Christ to the world.

By slowing down, we can do the deep work of healing, allowing God to transform us from the inside out. This transformation not only equips us to live out the mission with greater authenticity but also enables us to invite others into the same process of deep, holistic discipleship.

Partnering with God in His mission means we trust in His timing and resist the urge to rush. This might mean slowing down to invest deeply in fewer things rather than trying to accomplish everything at once. When we live in sync with God’s timing, we can participate more fully in the work He is doing in the world.

Slowing down helps us cultivate deeper intimacy with God, trust His timing, and undergo the emotional healing necessary for true discipleship.

As we inhabit this slower, more intentional rhythm of life, we become better partners in the mission of reflecting Christ’s love to a world desperately in need of it. In the end, it is not speed or efficiency that advances the Kingdom of God, but the quiet, patient work of abiding in Christ and allowing His love to flow through us to others.

If you ’ re interested in developing a slower spirituality you might be interested in further reading. Below are several books that you may consider reading.

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero

How to Inhabit Time by James K A Smith

SpreadingJoyandUnity:AnOperation ChristmasChildSuccess

Sarah Penn - East City Wesleyan

EastCityWesleyantookaboldsteptouniteitscongregationand impactthelivesofchildreninneed.Thechurchexceeded expectationswhenhostingapackingpartyforOperationChristmas Child(OCC)-aglobalinitiativedeliveringgiftstochildreninneed worldwide.

Whatbeganasasimplegoalquicklyevolvedintosomethinggreater.I wantedittobemorethanjustaproject,butaneventwherefamilies couldbondandexperiencethejoyofgiving.Throughcarefulplanning, theOCCeventbecameacentralgatheringpoint,bringingtogether long-timemembersandnewcomersalike.Parentsusedtheeventto teachtheirchildrenaboutcompassion,creatingameaningful atmosphereofhands-onministry.

Theresultwasastounding.Together,theattendeespacked83 shoeboxesfilledwithtoys,schoolsupplies,andhygieneitems-far exceedingexpectations.Butthegenerositydidn'tstopthere.Multiple membersofthechurchtookboxeshometopackthemselves, bringingourshoeboxtotalto120.Over$1,000indonationswasraised tocovershippingcostsandsupportSamaritan'sPurseindelivering thesegiftsworldwide.

Operation Christmas Child brings not only gifts but a message of love and hope to children in some of the world's poorest regions. For the church, this event was more than a seasonal effort; it became an expression of faith and outreach.

TheOCCpackingpartystrengthenedrelationshipswithinthechurch andinspiredfutureactsofservice.Itdemonstratedthepowerof comingtogetherforasharedpurpose:tobringjoytoothers,nearand far.

Preparationsarealreadyunderwayfornextyear.

InGod'sgrace, SarahPenn

ImaginetheChurchacrossAucklandunitedinprayerforeverysuburband street We’reexcitedtoinviteyoutobepartoftheAucklandPrayerWalk,acitywideinitiativefocusedonmakingourcollectiveprayervisibleandimpactful.

WhythisMatters: AChurchunitedinprayerisanecessaryingredientforourcitytoflourish. WeneedGod'spowerandwisdomtoseehiskingdomcomein Auckland/TāmakiMakaurau.

How Your Church Can Get Involved

Download the Holy Ground App: Start using the app to map your prayer walks.

Promote the Prayer Walk: Use the resources available on our website a 50-second promo video (see above - link here)

Graphics pack (16:9 slide, FB/Instagram square, printable poster & social story image)

Prayer walk guide for anyone new to prayer walking Head to the Website

Important Dates

The Prayer Walk runs from 25 October to 10 November, starting just after the Auckland

Prayer Breakfast on 24 October. Get Started

Head to our website for all the resources and information you need to engage your church community and join the movement.

Spread the word, and let's unite as one Church to map the city in prayer!

Auckland Church Network

Event Calendar

Auckland Prayer Breakfast | 24 October

Media Prayer Bay | 27 October

Labour Day | 28 October

ConneXion | 8 - 9 November

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 grace 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.

03-0206-0380248-000

Particulars: e.g. 'J Smith' Reference: e.g. 'Donation' Please email accounts@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.