Info

Today we were at a youth leaders conference for youth leaders in the Auckland area. The speaker/youth professional was Murray Brown who has been in youth ministry for 28 years (he will have one of the biggest mansions in heaven I would think). He travels around the world to talk about youth ministry. During the day he mentioned that he had done ministry in Palmerston North, Wellington, and Christchurch-so naturally I went to speak to him. He had some interesting insight a/b Palmerston North and Wellington. He said that Palmerston North was a very Christian Community and that there are a lot of churches doing a lot of things in a very unified way. The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor are both Christians who used to be in ministry. He said that he didn't see much need for new churches in PN compared to other places in NZ. He said that Wellington is definitely in need for some churches and for the light of God. He said that it is just a dark place where religious groups have often failed or been pushed out due to lack of interest. He said that there are very few thriving or surviving churches in Wellington. I thought this was interesting in light of knowing Lou's situation.
I told him that we hope to be taking a trip to do survey work in May in that area and he said to get in touch w/ him if we want contacts and that he would help if he could.
Very Interesting!!

Christchurch & Tauranga: Helpful Contacts & Possible Leads

Our trip into Auckland for the City Lights service day proved to be a blessing in more than one way.  I happened to be placed on a team building a deck with a couple who provided valuable information.  I know this a long post, but make sure you get to the last bit - it's the best.

Ben Henson and Rachel Scott are a young couple - 25ish.  Getting married in 5 weeks.  She grew up in Tauranga.  They went to Canterbury University in Christchurch and then moved back to Tauranga to live and work for 2.5 years.  8 months ago they moved to Auckland for good engineering jobs and now they attend St. Pauls downtown.  Good people.  Theologically sound from what I could tell as were the churches they've attended.  Here are the notes I took from them:

CHRISTCHURCH

-Churches there are well organized and networked

-They gave the impression that there are a lot of healthy churches in town

-Attended Riccarton Community Church (same as Joe & Amy's contact from the hub)

-On Elizabeth Street

-Dave Lawson - Pastor (knows both of them - especially Rachel)

-Family focused church

-Good student ministry

-Sound, Bible-based theology

-Bretheren background

MT. MONGANUI (suburb of Tauranga)

-Rachel's parents attend Mosaic Church.

-Attendance: 200-400

-Progressive, creative, doing well at reaching community

-Christian church

-Seemed to be in line theologically from our conversation

-Teach from the Word

TAURANGA

-They said, "one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand today"

-Many young couples and families moving in

-I asked about the oldsters there.  They said you would be hard-pressed to find many oldsters there today.  It used to be a place where oldsters retired, not so much anymore.

-Bigtime beach community - beautiful - which is attracting young families

-They said they want to move back to settle there eventually

-Growing up she attended Greerton Bible Chapel.

-Not much info other than she said it was a healthy church back then

-Ben & Rachel were members at BETHLEHEM BAPTIST recently

-Attendance: 1000+

-Two solid Bible teaching preachers on staff

-Bible is central to all teaching

-Again theology sounded solid - worth looking into

-Pastor: Craig Vernall, wife Michala (he is marrying them and did their marriage counseling).  They said he is a good man and has good men in leadership there.

-The church is starting to get "flack" from community for being "too big" and seemingly corporate.

-Many people drive long distances to get to Bethlehem Baptist, but aren't well connected because of the distance.

-Because of this they are looking to assist in and plant solid Bible-based churches in the surrounding areas and provide core groups of people who live in those communities and commute there for church.

-They lack the leaders/teams who will go and establish these church plants.

-They're not looking to do satellite campuses, but rather self-contained new churches.

I will contact Ben to get specific contact info for upcoming survey projects.  Good stuff, eh?!