Events

Sportsfest Filipino style

Posted on by NZCMS

Motorcades, athletics, chess, lip syncs, basketball tournaments, flag ceremonies. What do all these have in common? Not much. Unless of course, you are attending Sportsfest.

NZCMS’ Mission Partner, Dianne Bayley, has been involved in serving with Children’s Bible Ministries (CBMPI) in the Philippines for 40 years as the National Director. And every year she has the pleasure of directing her staff and scores of volunteers in an annual sports celebration called Sportsfest which caters for students roughly aged between 4 and 16 years old. Through the supervision of Dianne and her faculty, the students help to organise and prepare for the event, meeting every afternoon for two weeks or so to practise for the various performances and sporting activities available.

The mammoth event is run through the Hebron Christian College which is an amalgamation of four different faculties: the children’s homes, Bible College and the School and Disabled Ministry. As well as celebrating the school’s anniversary, the festival provides the opportunity for students to take part in multiple outdoor and indoor activities. When Dianne was asked what the core purpose of the festival was she answered:

“To give the students a chance to try out and experience different events; to develop their skills and to see where their talents lie. It also trains them in teamwork and how to accept winning and losing! See my photo: ‘Losing is not failure. Giving up is.’” 

Sportsfest runs over three days that’s jam packed with fun, enthusiasm and competition. The opening day is organised by the PTA officers in each class, with each bringing long tables, chairs and lots of food! The families of the students also attend, able to watch the pre-school show that involves calisthenics and a marching program. It is a relaxed, friendly environment and Dianne stated that the kids love to have their parents attend.

On the second day, the Festival begins,  with a motorcade that drives through the town handing out lollies and school advertisements, each truck filled with a single class that have worked hard to decorate it. At 10:00am the Festival formally begins with a flag and torch lighting ceremony.  Basketball tournaments, chess, lip sync, table tennis, running races and all manner of activities are entered into enthusiastically. There is even a Mr & Ms Sportsfest 2018 competition!  

An estimated 500 people, made up of school students, staff, family and former students who are now in University, attend the Festival each day. 

      

 

125 years

Posted on by Guest Author

By Allan Anderson. 

This month we celebrate 125 years of the New Zealand branch of the Church Missionary Society. As part of this celebration the Wanganui Branch is presenting “Our Courageous Forbears,” the story of the life of the first missionaries to New Zealand at Rangihoua, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands.

This presentation will be given by two direct descendants of one of those first families, Thomas and Jane Kendall. It was first given at the NZ Justices of the Peace Conference at Waitangi in 2014 as Thomas Kendall was our country’s first JP.

Repeated at NZCMS 200 year commemoration at Waitangi later that year, we are now privileged to present this in Wanganui on Friday 27 October at 7pm (Christ Church Anglican, Wicksteed St).

Rev Amanda Neil (4x great grand-daughter) and Laurel Gregory (5x great grand- niece) of Thomas and Jane Kendall are travelling from Christchurch as our guests to do this presentation.

This is not a fundraiser but we do have some costs to cover. Tickets are $10 for adults with students free, and can be obtained from the Anglican Parish Office in Wicksteed St or Allan & Rosemary Anderson at 3421 722.

A plate for a shared supper would be gratefully received.

Christchurch Cambodian Evening

Posted on by Anne and Anthony McCormick

Join Anthony and Anne McCormick for an evening celebrating all things Cambodian, complete with Khmer cuisine, entertainment and an update from folk who have recently returned from Cambodia. Saturday 5 August 6pm at St Christopher’s Church (corner Avonhead Rd and Coniston Ave). 

Tickets $25 per adult (family price available).

Tickets available from Anne (ph. 022 457 6924), the NZCMS Office or St Christopher’s (Office hours 9am-2pm Mon-Fri).

If you’re planning on coming, please respond immediately as the caterer needs to know final numbers on Thursday morning.

Mission with Migrants Conference

Posted on by Steve Maina

For some time churches and mission societies have been faced with the challenge of reaching migrant communities in New Zealand with the Gospel. The Outside In Conference is an opportunity to focus attention on the growing number of newcomers to our shores and how ordinary Christians can be mobilised and equipped to welcome them and share the good news. The goal of the weekend is to see the church in NZ motivated, equipped and networked to welcome and reach diaspora communities.

The keynote speaker is Dr. David Cashin who has wide experience in living and serving cross culturally. Kiwis will tell the stories of how they are learning to relate to new migrant communities who are now their neighbours. There will also be opportunities during the conference to attend workshops and seminars designed to increase the skills of participants in cross cultural ministry. Find out more at www.outsideinnz.org/events

 

Date: 21-23 July

Time: 7-9pm Friday; 9am-5:30pm followed by dinner Saturday

Location: Baptist Tabernacle, Queen Street, Auckland

Cost: Early Bird $45 non-salaried/$75 salaried before 1 July, Regular $60 non-salaried/$90 salaried after 1 July

Register by emailing office@eastwest.ac.nz

 

Outside In is a community of churches, colleges, and missions committed to welcoming and supporting migrants to New Zealand. We promote events that train and equip New Zealanders in their efforts to be better hosts to diaspora people who now call New Zealand home. We welcome all followers of Jesus who live by his words, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,” (Matthew 25:40) to join us in our journey in mission.

Golden Oldies 2017

Posted on by Graeme Mitchell

The next Golden Oldies encounter trip is coming up in September. For over six years Graeme and Jane Mitchell have offered specialised introductory mission encounters for seniors to Fiji. It’s non-denominational and open to all.

This year’s 11-day trip in September will take you to see and experience the missions the Church is involved in around Suva, including visiting schools, hospitals, old people’s home, squatter settlements, as well as remote villages including a day trip to a cyclone-impacted village. The tour is fully escorted with experienced leaders. More info can be found by clicking here.

 

Applications close 28 April. Be quick! Limited positions are available.

For more information or to request an info pack contact:

Graeme and Jane Mitchell (Team Leaders)   graeme@goldenoldiesmission.com

Rev. Wendy Robinson (Secretary)   022-083-1058 or pwar.nz@gmail.com

Shane Claiborne in New Zealand

Posted on by Guest Author

Shane Claiborne is a founder and board member of The Simple Way, a faith community in inner city Philadelphia that has helped birth and connect radical faith communities around the world. Shane writes and travels extensively, speaking about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus. Shane’s classic book “The Irresistible Revolution,” has invited people all over New Zealand to live out their faith in communities that show Christ’s compassion and justice.

Shane’s adventures have taken him from the streets of Kolkata, where he worked with Mother Teresa, to the wealthy suburbs of Chicago, where he served at the influential mega-church Willow Creek. As a peacemaker, his journeys have taken him to some of the most troubled regions of the world – from Rwanda to the West Bank – and he’s been on peace delegations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In association with World Vision, we are excited to have this one-off public event with Shane. Profits from the event will go to World Vision. Tickets are limited so get in quick (there will only be door sales if there are tickets left over).

This is an opportunity to be inspired and encouraged, and to network with other missionally-minded people. These events are the start of a conversation on intentional living.

More on Shane shaneclaiborne.com facebook.com/shaneclaiborne twitter.com/shaneclaiborne

 

Wednesday 15 March 7-9pm Holy Name Catholic Church, 420 Great King St., Dunedin $5

Friday 17 March 7-10pm Papanui Baptist, Christchurch $10

Monday 20 March 6.30pm Edge Kingsland 44 George Street Auckland $10

The Multicultural Face of Mission

Posted on by Steve Maina

How do we reach an increasingly multicultural society with the Gospel?

More than 25% of New Zealander’s were born overseas. Last year 60,000 permanent and long term migrants made NZ their home and this is projected to increase. In God’s great kindness the nations are coming to us – how can we hold out the gospel of life to our increasingly multicultural society?

On Wednesday June 15 at 7pm, our very own Steve Maina will be speaking on this topic at a Multiply gathering. He’ll shave about his experience of seeing the Gospel proclaimed in different cultural contexts all around the world and will be joined by a panel of local church leaders to dig into how their churches are working to engage the nations that have come to our doorstep with the Gospel.

What are the opportunities we have for reaching the nations that have come to NZ? Where are our cultural blind spots that inhibit gospel growth? How can we change anything apart from the gospel to remove and stumbling blocks for people from other cultures?

The event will be held at Lone Star, 364 Riccarton Road in Christchurch. The bar is open for you to grab a drink, and we will kick off with some nibbles. See you there!

Partnering with the Pacific

Posted on by Ropeta Mene-Tulia

On Saturday 8 August 2015 a Pacific 2 Nations (P2N) Leaders Breakfast is happening in the South Island for the first time, in partnership with NZCMS and St Paul’s Trinity Pacific Presbyterian Church. The purpose of the breakfast is to build relationships, sharing the vision of P2N with local church ministers, pastors and leaders.

So who is P2N and what is it all about?

The Pacific2Nations movement is about mobilising Pacific people for God’s mission in the nations. It’s about stirring the hearts of Pacific Island people, especially the younger generation, with the legacy of mission that came from the Pacific so that a fresh wave of Pacific Islanders may be sent into the nations of the world. P2N is partnering with mission agencies and churches in NZ, Australia, USA and the Pacific Islands to share this vision.

The Christchurch community will have the privilege of hearing from Pastor Lui Ponifasio (the P2N Chairman) and also from Steve Maina (NZCMS National Director). I’m excited about how God will use this event to gather leaders of the Pacific Island community – this will be history in the making, not only because we will hear the vision for the first time, but because this is the first time Pacific Island leaders will be coming together in Christchurch as one and sharing one heart for mission.

 

Would you pray that through this breakfast leaders would hear God’s voice to work together to see a new generation of Pacific young people  released into their God given calling.

 

For more information about P2N click here.

Common Life Missions Conference 2015

Posted on by Jo

The Anglican Mission Board are hosting their annual Common Life Mission Conference in Auckland from October 6 to 9.

Gather and learn about serving in Mission while forming new mission alliances, partnerships and networks. With key note speaker Rev Dr Chris Wright (International Ministries Director, Langham Partnership) along with Dr Rosemary Dewerse and Rev Canon Rosemary Mbogo you will be inspired and learn much from their expertise and experience overseas. This is an opportunity to hear world class speakers that should not be missed! Plus NZCMS is excited to be contributing a number of the workshops.

We will become a living Mission Community together!

Where: King’s College, Golf Avenue, Otahuhu, Auckland 1062, New Zealand

 

For more information click here.

Christchurch Mission Expo (13 June)

Posted on by Jo

NZCMS has the privilege of being involved in an upcoming Mission Expo in Christchurch run by Mission World. A number of the event’s teaching sessions will be run by NZCMS people, looking a various contemporary mission issues.

This is an opportunity to learn and be challenged, to research and to glean information. It’s for church leaders, mission teams, prospective mission workers long or short, supporters, students, families – there is something for everyone interested in global mission. This is also an opportunity for us Cantabrians to show the rest of New Zealand how passionate we are about mission. So let’s invite as many people as we can and make this a truly engaging day.

Date: Saturday 13 June 2015 Time: 9:30am-4:00pm Where: Riccarton Baptist Church, 80 Rattray St, Riccarton, Christchurch Cost: Free entry

*    Displays from mission organisations *    Speak with those who serve overseas *    28 ‘Soundbyte’ seminars on all things global mission *    Glean advice on how to get involved *    Hear the stories of those involved

For more information click here. The event outline can be found here.