New Zealand District Assembly 2011

This weekend I had the blessing of joining over 100+ Nazarenes from around New Zealand for our annual District assembly.  This is a yearly gathering for all our Nazarene churches on the district to reconnect with old friends, make new ones,worship together, receive reports of God's transformative power in the lives of those in our spheres of influence, and rekindle the fire for the upcoming year.  It was a much-needed time of refreshment for me personally, and allowed me to get a better feel of what unique challenges we face as pastors and laypersons in New Zealand.

I have to say I am so impressed with our leaders, especially our district superintendent, Neville and Joyce Bartle.  It is evident that a deep love for Jesus and years of ministry across our region have given them priceless wisdom and foresight.  This incredible couple seems to have the energy level of those half their age!  :-) 

Personal highlights include:

-- Receiving my first New Zealand District Minister's License

-- Hosting a children's ministry workshop

-- Meeting up with old friends

-- Making new friends

-- Learning about "Celebrate Recovery", a program that can help many of our people struggling with addictions and abuse here in Whangarei

-- Cultural dances

-- Real-life testimonies of miracles and changed lives

--  Just being together

This was by far the most diverse district assembly of which I have ever been a part!  In attendance were those from Korea, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, America, Cook Islands, South Africa. .. and I'm sure I am forgetting some.  It was quite a sight; a little glimpse of heaven!

Dirt Bike Night at Rock Solid

A highlight for me each week is Tuesday, when I head out to Dargaville to join our fun-loving leaders and teens for Rock Solid, a youth outreach program for 11-13 year olds.  Our leadership team consists of adults and older teens from 4 churches of all different denominations, adding such flavor to this ministry! The large majority of these kids do not attend any church at all and have very little knowledge of the Lord, His love, and His ways.  This is a vital ministry to "tweens" in Dargaville.

Last night we loaded the buses and took the kids out to the beach for a little 4-wheeling action as we watched the sun set over the west coast of northern New Zealand. Enjoy some great pics!

Kiwi 101 and Other Randomness

Being an American in New Zealand has its challenges, some of them harder than others.  Some of seemingly insignificant obstacles I face everyday involve basic Kiwi lingo. As soon as I open my mouth I give myself away as a foreigner, though more often than not I don't get the question, "Are you American?", but rather, "Are you Canadian?"  Apparently there are quite a few Canadians here in Whangarei.  "Yachties" they call them, folks who sail the seas on their yachts and end up here in NZ for some of the most spectacular marine life and sites in the world.

Just for fun, I'll  let you in on a few secrets.  (It's amazing how educational grocery shopping can be!)

Kiwi                           American

kumura                       sweet potato

coriander                    cilantro

capsicum                    bell peppers

jandals                        sandals/flip flops

jelly                            Jell-o

jam                             jam
petrol                          gasoline (which is $2.09/litre= $8US /gallon!)
toilet                           bathroom
carpark                       parking lot
footpath                      sidewalk
chips                           french fries

Additional Randomness
-- New Zealand is the youngest society on earth and yet one of the most progressive.  It was the last spot on earth to be populated.
-- NZ has the highest teenage suicide rate in the world.
-- Prostitution is legal.
-- NZ is considered the most secular English-speaking nation in the world.
-- They were the first to give women the right to vote and have a female prime minister.
-- No additional sales tax added on to goods.  The price that is listed is actually what you pay-imagine that!
-- No pennies or one cent pieces exist. Every price is rounded to the nearest 10 cents.

-- Kiwis are VERY proud of this little country, especially when it comes to the All Blacks. (NZ National Rugby team, which won the Rugby World Cup two weeks ago!)

-- Shoes are not required in public places.  I can't tell you how many people (adults and kids) stroll around town barefoot, even in the grocery store.

-- Ginger and Coconut are very common flavors.

-- Kiwis love their fish, especially the Maori and Pacific Islanders!

-- The Metric method of measurement is used.

-- Though they are one of the world's largest dairy producers, it is still crazy expensive!

-- You'll find McDonalds here in Whangarei, but it is quite expensive, considering a basic value meal will cost you $11-12.  No dollar menu here!

--Hell Pizza is a poular pizza chain that uses everything anti-Christian as a marketing tool.

 

 Thanks to the generosity of folks back home, these two youngins got their very own brand new Bibles last week!

The beauty of paradise and the filthiness of sin. . .

Though often disguised in pleasure, prosperity, and "prettiness", sin is outright filthy.  There is nothing beautiful about it. It is sin that sent Christ to the cross. In a 3 hour period today I experienced both the wonder and beauty of God's mysterious creation, and the ugly, make-you-feel-sick nature of sin. 

I had the opportunity to hike up to Whangarei Falls today with a friend.  (I was kicking myself that I didn't bring my camera, but I'll go again soon and post some photos for you! The photo to the left is an old one.)  The one hour hike just to get there was completely worth it- massive roaring falls cascading down into a huge green lagoon surrounded by lush rain forest and everything pure "New Zealand".  It was as if we had stepped into a corner of heaven. (Not that heaven has corners, but I think you know what I mean. he he!) The streams fed by the falls lead us to numerous swimming holes with make-shift rope swings and ample places to splash and play. We even waded in the frigid water to sooth our aching knees and feet.  It was truly incredible. .. and I will go again soon and give you photos!



Neighbor's wisteria- gorgeous



With memories of paradise fresh in my mind, we made the trek back home. On our walk back through the streets of Whangarei I was deeply troubled by two things.  We stopped in to say hello to one of her nephews, who greeted us at the door very clearly "high" on who knows what, with an additional cigarette in hand and liquor bottle not far away.  There were three small children roaming around outside half-clothed, completely unaware of the situation they were truly in. This relative is only 19-20yrs old and his young girlfriend was there to accompany him and the children. Ugh. . stomach ache #1.



Then, within minutes we came across a group of teenagers standing outside a house chanting at each other, taunting their friends to "booze" with them, chugging alcohol through a hose and funnel contraption.  It took everything within me not to go right up to them and stand in the middle to keep them from continuing.  (Maybe I should have!)  Ugh.  Stomach ache #2.

Unfortunately, what I experienced today is not uncommon in our neck of the woods.  So many hurting people deceived into thinking that reality = alcohol, drugs, smoking, and sex.  The filthiness of sin- I hate it!  Please pray that we who are children of the King would be a bright beacon of hope and light here in Whangarei, exposing the ugly nature of sin and inviting people into real life with Christ.

World Population Reaches 7 Billion

Rumor has it that the global population has now reached 7 BILLION!  This means that there are over 7 billion individuals wandering this planet we call Earth; each one with unique stories, histories, dreams, challenges, hurts, and joys.

Aotearoa (New Zealand), with it's meager population of 4 million, only makes up .0057 percent of the world's inhabitants.

It is quite mind-blowing that our Creator God actually knows us each by name.  He doesn't just refer to us by the name that others call us, but knows our true selves.  Perhaps even more remarkable than the fact that God full understands the desires and needs of over 7 billion humans, is the fact that nothing in us scares anything in him. 
Below are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs, "You Fail Us Not" by 1,000 Generations.  Be blessed!

Failure doesn’t phase You, worry doesn’t win,
Loss doesn’t leave You afraid to start again,
Our sin doesn’t shock You,
Our shame doesn’t shame You at all

Mistakes do not move You, terror doesn’t tame,
Death doesn’t doom You to life in the grave,
Our suffering doesn’t scare You,
Our secrets won’t surprise You at all

There is nothing above You,
There is nothing beyond You,
There is nothing that You can’t do…
There is no one beside You,
There is no one that’s like You,
There is nothing that You can’t do…
Whatever will come, we’ll rise above,
You fail us not, You fail us not,
No matter the war, our hope is secure,
You fail us not, You fail us not,
You fail us not…

Hatred doesn’t hide You, evil doesn’t ail,
Despair can’t disguise You and tell You that You’ve failed,
Our doubt doesn’t daunt You,
Our darkness won’t defeat You at all

You’re bigger than the battle,
You are bigger than the battle
You are bigger than the battle has ever been

Let the children come. . .

Today was a very special day in the life of  New Hope Church (my new church here in NZ). We celebrated the baby dedication of little Taylor, son of Jessica and A.K., and launched our new "Energise Kids Club"!  Our Kids Club is designed to reach out to the kids in the community who are not otherwise connected with our church, and takes place on Sunday nights.  For the next eight weeks we are going on a "Travel Guide Through the Ten Commandments" with Bible lessons, silly songs, thematic games and crafts, and of course food!

 If you know me, you know I love working with kiddos and want more than anything for them to fall in love with Jesus. Needless to say, I had a blast today!  Please enjoy the pics below.

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More Pics from Parihaka

As promised, here are some more photos from Mt. Parahaka, overlooking the home of yours truly down below, Whangarei.

Interestingly enough, when I got to the top, I met some fellow hikers and noticed that the word "Texas" was sprinkled throughout their conversation.  Of course this caught my attention, and I just had to chime in to reveal that I was an American.  It turns out that one man was born in Germany, moved to Texas, then to Sweden, and now resides in Kiwi land!  The other gal is Kiwi, but lived in Oklahoma for many years, and now has returned to the Northland of New Zealand. What a mix of people!

Enjoy!