SUNZ Adventure Magazine August 2014

ISSN 1176-5143

adventure August 2014

HIS STORY, MY STORY

O Y2GINE A W GAZ MA SIDE IN

We love stories. Every day and in many ways we consume stories that are produced and presented to us.

THEY CAN BE NEWS STORIES, or stories pretending to be news. They can be current events or entertainment stories.

Stories about history and the future. They are stories in music. Even our financial reports tell stories.

We like stories because they say something about what it is to be human, and that we are not alone in our story.

Stories teach us things, what to do and what not to do. Stories about people always show me something about God’s involvement in this world too.

The word ‘story’ sometimes suggests that something is not real; it can be associated with fantasy. That is not what we mean when we use that word in this edition of the Adventure.

THE BIBLE REVEALS the story of God’s relationship with creation and working his purposes out through the creation and fall, his people Israel, the person of Jesus, and the new heavens and earth to be revealed.

Long before stories travelled on airwaves to far away destinations, Jesus encountered some disciples who had a sad story to tell. As he listened to their stories, he told them his own, and that changed everything.

For these disciples walking the Emmaus road, the story wasn’t unfolding in the

2 | sunz.org.nz

way they, and many others, had expected.

It had taken a complex turn but the story Jesus told provided a different lens to see things through.

Referring to the familiar stories from scripture he restored the hope that they had in God their deliverer and their hearts ‘burned within them’ as they understood with new sight.1 STORIES CAN HELP US to see things differently and being able to tell the story of God’s love for humankind is essential to our task as ambassadors of his story, in the communities that we are a part of.

In this year, of the bicentenary of the gospel story first being spoken in New Zealand, there is a reminder that God’s story is woven into social and cultural identity. It is not separate from that because our story is also his story, which gives life to our hope and power to our mission. Our story is an invitation to all people to live their lives in God’s story.

Wayne Fraser - National Director ............................................................................................

1

Luke 24:13-35

EDITORIAL

contents Features

Interviews

4 BIGGER THAN THE WORLD ITSELF 8 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE Annette Osborne

10 A HEART FOR THE YOUTH OF

PART OF GOD’S BIG STORY? SUNZ Staff

NEW ZEALAND

Jamuel Enriquez

Updates

12 HIKUMUTU - 40 YEARS OF

24 REGIONAL UPDATES AUGUST

HORSE CAMPS Various Authors

19 TE RONGOPAI – 200 YEARS OF

26 REMEMBERING COLIN PRENTICE

THE GOOD NEWS IN OUR NATION Wayne Fraser

22 SHARING THE UNDENIABLE

POWER OF GOD’S STORY IN OUR LIVES Neville Bartley

27 LIGHT FOR THE PATH Jamuel Enriquez

Children’s Ministry 15 WAY2GO MAGAZINE

Resources 28 RESOURCES FOR LIFE August 2014

|

3

BIGGER than the world itself

By Annette Osborne

Children and Families Worker

It’s possible to watch the same event two different ways. Think about the Football World Cup in Brazil. Some people tune in for one game and the highlights of the day’s play. Others sit down to a feast of games and all the action. Two different ways of watching the same event.

BEN HOWARD, AN AMERICAN BLOGGER describes how most Americans were presented with the “highlights” of the Sochi Winter Olympics by one of their national television networks.

“It’s the raw footage that NBC then cuts into exciting, TV-friendly segments before adding the spice of its own commentators and pre-produced human interest stories,” Howard says. “They then bake it at 425 for an hour before serving it to a ready public in prime-time.”

In contrast to this, Howard instead chose to watch the complete, raw and unedited footage of the Olympics, provided by the Olympic Broadcasting Authority. This included all the action of

4 | sunz.org.nz

the day, the highs, the lows and all the boring bits in between. He summed up how watching the highlights compared to his viewing experience like this: “You have the drama. I have the raw totality.” I love that statement: you have the drama.

I have the raw totality.

This has much to say about the way we think of ‘story’. The same story can be told in very different ways. We can tell the ‘highlights’ version, with all the triumphs and failures and drama. We can also tell a story in ‘raw totality’, the highs, the lows and all the bits in between.

THERE IS A TENDENCY TO THINK that when we come to ‘God’s Big Story’ we need to deliver the ‘highlights package’ version. This way of viewing the story dwells on the wonders and miracles, all the “Yes” and “Amen” prayers and the Damascus Road conversion stories. It tells all the good bits and ignores the boring!

There is a good motive behind telling the story this way. It makes it sound really exciting and compelling. Why wouldn’t

ARTICLE

The Bible doesn’t dress life up as something glamorous and appealing. It tells the whole story, of people’s failures as well as their triumphs, of their moments of great faith and their moments of sheer stupidity.

which testimony is more powerful. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be responsible for editing God’s Story, do you?

It also sells children, young people and adults a view of faith that is unattainable.

It’s like the Hollywood version of the truth, but the problem is it’s just not true.

We want our children and young people to understand how ‘God’s Big Story’ makes sense of all that life throws at them and all the questions that their experiences raise.

someone want to be a part of ‘God’s Big Story’ if that’s how it plays out? However, I want to suggest that when we tell the story like a ‘highlights package’, we are not only telling an incomplete story, we are telling a harmful one.

WHY? FOR STARTERS, THE HIGHLIGHTS package version of the story requires editing. Someone gets to decide which bits make the cut, which bits are worth telling. Which bits of the Bible are better,

THE ‘HIGHLIGHTS PACKAGE’ VERSION of the story also affects the way we open our Bibles. We pick and choose what we read.

We give gospel challenges that reduce the story to five points to be agreed on. We sum up the Bible as a set of principles or statements of belief.

These views narrow, rather than expand the story. It’s time we grasp that we are a part of a story far greater than we can contain. A story that is bigger than the world itself.

ARTICLE

August 2014

|

5

EW YOUR MIND, R LIFE TRANSFORM YOU

and evenings

PHIL GREEN

rnings reflections for mo BUT ‘GOD’S BIG 40STORY’ daily short BibleDIDN’T STOP when the writer of Revelationthe yea wrote holidays, r – Lent, Easter, of ge for any season A challen ‘Amen’ and put down the pen. Instead, it has woven its way down through history, through revolution and reform, through the bravery and faith of children, women and men.

As we approach the 200 year celebration of the arrival of the good news of Jesus to Aotearoa, let us take up the challenge to know our own story. For God’s Story has woven its way into the fabric of our land.

This is the story that we are a part of. It is, in the words of Ben Howard, ‘the raw totality’. It is a real story and it is a story worth sharing.

40 DAYS TO REN

as you take a

40/ 40

IT IS A REAL STORY AND IT IS A STORY WORTH SHARING.

N.T. Wright puts it this way, “If we reduce the story to abstract statements then it might be safer, but it is much less like the actual story.” The Bible doesn’t dress life up as something glamorous and appealing. It tells the whole story, of pure, lovely, e, noble, right, people’s failuresWhasat are well as their triumphs, like? Tru ybe not. your thoughts Always? Or … ma hy? ort isew pra excellent, irable, admof of their moments great faith and their t-life ugh tho r you battle of r s you to face the ’s Word renew you Green encourage moments of sheer Phil stupidity. llenge: to let God 40-day Bible cha

ËxHSLIOEy

6 | sunz.org.nz

ARTICLE

‘…

Buy Buy

R LIFE TRANSFORM YOU

ter, holidays,

EW YOUR MIND,

venings

40 DAYS TO REN

hought-life d renew your

Phil Green encourages you to face up to the battle of your thought-life as you take a 40-day Bible challenge: to let God’s Word renew your mind and transform your life.

40/ 40

e, lovely, maybe not.

What are your thoughts like?

40/ 40

IND, NEW YOUR M 40 DAYS TO RE FE LI YOUR TRANSFORM PHIL GREEN

PHIL GREEN

IOEy277278z … BY A NEW D

‘…BE CHANGE Romans 12:2

.’

ING WAY OF THINK

• 40 daily Bible refl ections for mornings and evenings • Space for journaling • Group discussion questions • A challenge for any season – Lent, holidays, New Year...

Are you ready?

11/01/2012 11:03

‘…BE CHANGED ... BY A NEW WAY OF THINKING.' Romans 12:2 Buy online www.sunz.org.nz Buy direct 0508 423 836

$12.99

August 2014

|

7

Q&AAUGUST What does it mean to be part of ‘God’s Big Story’?

to Him again and again. I’m just thankful he’s so patient!

Wayne Goodchild

Nigel Winder

North Island Camps Facilitator

Southern Regional Director

I think that being part of Gods big story can be as easy or hard as you decide.

He has given us the chance to decide for ourselves how much of God we want in our story and how much of us we want in his story.

Let’s run with the “story” analogy as that of writing a book for a bit. The real tricky part comes in allowing God to be the writer of our story. We all want to be in charge of writing each page of our lives, but how often when we do that does the story take a turn for the worse. When we choose to let God write our story it is often the most rewarding chapters of our lives, yet we’re always fighting to take back control of the pen (although I visualise God with a big feather for some reason!)

The more we allow God to write our story, the more he writes himself into our story.

And the more he writes himself in, the more we become part of his amazing plan for our lives. Something that I would hate to miss out on. Each day it’s a struggle but the goal is to hand over authorship

8 | sunz.org.nz

As God’s Story unfolds, I find myself a character written into the script as He carries out His rescue plan. I find myself not only rescued but also charged with introducing others to the Great Rescuer.

In the paraphrase of John 1:12-13 from The Jesus Storybook Bible: For anyone who says yes to Jesus For anyone who believes what Jesus said For anyone who will just reach out to take it Then God will give them this wonderful gift: To be born into A whole new life To be who they really are Who God always made them to be their own true selves- God’s dear child.

Because, you see, the most wonderful thing about this (God’s) Story is – it’s your (and my) story, too!

INTERVIEW

Paul Dadd

Children and Families Worker N.T. Wright, in his book Simply Jesus, says that it is hard for people today to imagine what it’s like to live within a long story. We live today in the modern Western world, a story of ‘progress’ that started maybe two or three centuries ago. Compare that to the people of the Bible who believed they had been living in their great story for well over a thousand years. It was a single story, they believed, and they were at its leading edge. This made their story unique then in the ancient world and it is still unique today.

Steve Adams

National Youth Team Member It’s like stepping out of darkness, not only can I see, but I can ask God questions about what I see, the more I get to know God the better equip I am to deal with those questions.

While it is a challenge for me to fully grasp the notion that I am part of a great story that God is unfolding in his creation, it is the only story that helps me make sense of my own life story. Knowing that I am part of a story that is heading somewhere, that is bigger than me and my circumstances, which will result one day in God becoming king again forever, brings fullness and purpose to my life.’

August 2014

|

9

A HEART FOR THE YOUTH OF NZ

By Jamuel Enriquez Marketing Coordinator

Aaron Douglas has led on many of Scripture Union’s iconic Ponui Island youth camps for seven summers, four of them as the camp leader. As I talk with Aaron about being an influential person to those around him, it’s so clear to see the passion he has for the Youth of NZ and to see God’s story unfold. He has such a strong desire for each young person to understand, as he puts it, “the beauty of being created in the image of God”.

Throughout this casual chat, it’s evident how much he is willing to build something positive in these young peoples’ life. I find it rare in today’s society that young adults are so willing to devote time to guide the following generation. Yet he and fellow camp leaders are so willing to invest in these youth, to show an interest in their stories, and in response they tell – and show – them how God has been a positive impact in their own lives.

THE CAMPING MINISTRY CAN BE SO crucial in influencing a youth’s life, usually giving camp leaders only one week to do so. As I attempt to understand how he leads such a significant ministry, I ask Aaron, ‘how can you truly make sure you are doing all you can do to make a positive influence in a young person’s life?’

“You have to be willing to care for them and love them” he says. “It’s about consistency of character. So what they see up front and what they are hearing from you when they’re speaking to you one on one needs to be consistent.”

IT IS THIS GENUINE CARE WHICH Aaron, and his fellow camp leaders, demonstrate.

He knows all too well how important being a genuine role model can be such a strong positive influence in a youth’s life. The importance of being that person willing to guide young people in a relevant and real way.

I asked him who had influenced him in his own life. “Jenny Mackie was one” he responded, “Her contagious energy for it [camping] was what drew me to come along. I’ve got a lot of respect for her length of commitment. Wayne Fraser’s influence upon my life has been quite

10 | sunz.org.nz

ARTICLE

“It’s about consistency of character.

So what they see up front and what they are hearing from you when they’re speaking to you one on one needs to be consistent.”

substantial. His faith is real. It isn’t this forced, contrived thing. His faith is just very real and present when you’re with him. He’s genuinely interested in you and the support and care is just always there”.

As I listened to Aaron speak so strongly about these obscure names, I immediately saw the impact that genuine relationships can have with youth. I saw the impact a real role model can have, as opposed to some anonymous celebrity a young person may idolise.

MAYBE SOMETIMES WE’VE WISHED for a dramatic story – or testimony - perhaps being too insecure in our own ordinary stories. In talking with Aaron, understanding his love for the Youth of NZ, and his passion to see God’s story fulfilled; it gave me a clear picture of his own story. In this brief chat with Aaron, I quickly understood the great power of being real, being a willing person, a person created in the image of God, and genuinely sharing your own personal story to those around you.

ARTICLE

August 2014

|

11

40 YEARS ON 12 | sunz.org.nz

ARTICLE

40

Years of Horse Camps

This year marks 40 years of horse camps which became iconic in SU history. Here we celebrate some stories of those years.

In January 1972 I attended my first SU camp canoeing down the Wanganui River. It was transformative and I attended another 6 camps before starting them on our family farm in August 1974. The camps had been a mixture of canoeing on the Wanganui River and horse riding (with Miss Lysner at Gisborne) – which was interesting as the camps we began were horse riding and canoeing on the Waikato River. We began in August 1974 with a work party camp to get the old house on the farm useable. In December we had a girl’s camp directed

by Elaine Riddell, followed by a co-ed camp over New Year directed by Graeme Hill, then a further girls and a boys camp.

Demand was so great that we added a fifth camp called ‘Overflow’, directed by Stella Sweney.

Ever since 1974 we have run five camps every summer (with one exception – we only ran four when we first moved to Taumarunui) with about 25-35 young people attending each one. As legislation became more of a concern in the camping world, we had to make a choice to stop the camps or move to our own family farm,

just out of Taumarunui at Hikumutu on the banks of the Wanganui River. As a family, we decided to make the commitment of time and money to re-establish them at Hikumutu. We transported down a 40m army barracks from Papakura and began to clean and redesign it for its new purpose.

My husband Lance spent many days every week over the next ten years working on the place and at times we all got stuck in.

It is now an official 45 bed camp site. We continue the five camps each summer but now we are running them under our own Hikumutu Trust. It is particularly fabulous to see the commitment, passion and leadership that our own children Heather, Murray and Sarah-Anne show; alongside our nephew Dave and Sarah, and many very special and wonderful friends.

VAL RICHES There has been forty years of family camps in Putaruru and then Taumaranui being occupied by happy campers every summer.

ARTICLE

August 2014

|

13

Down the winding Te Waotu Road was the lovely Murray farm property on which stood a large old wooden farm house with its broad veranda and entrance via a lovely tree lined drive. Val’s family generously embraced her vision for the establishment of a Scripture Union summer camp site.

Every summer saw the farm transformed into utopia for young people from all over New Zealand. They rode horses cross-country, scrambled down the gorge, jumped off the waterfall, took over-night canoe trips to Lake Arapuni, ate huge meals on the wide veranda and made new friends for life.

From the beginning of the Happy Valley venture Val recruited supporters to help her with the titanic job of making the camp site functional. These included farmers, neighbours, church folk, trusts, Scripture Union people and many more.

The amazing assortment of ride-able horses, with their saddles, bridles and all sorts of gear that Val would somehow by magic have ready for each camp. She knew every horse by name. Names I recall were Timboy, Cocoa, Golden Girl. At the end of the camp season Val arranged grazing with local farmers for her stable of horses. That was all a mammoth task.

those days but we had a lot of raw fun. The journey down the gorge was a challenging one, and it was rewarding to make it to the other end. One of the highlights was to ride to the waterfall and sleep under the stars, fantastic singing around the campfire at night. Another great ride and adventure was to ride to the lake, I still laugh to recall the night it rained and we ended up sleeping, or rather sheltering, from the rain in the toilets.

The horses of course were wonderful and varied. Superstar, who was the sire of many of Val’s horses, was my favourite full of life and a challenging ride. Our studies each day with leaders were meaningful and the atmosphere was one in which many young people were able to grow and learn in a spiritual way. I will always be grateful to Val for all these wonderful camps and memories.

SU is especially grateful to Val and her family and the volunteers who have faithfully provided these camps and which have become significant milestones in the spiritual, physical, and emotional journey of many young people. Happy Birthday!

FIONA GRAHAM

ALEX It’s hard to believe that it is forty years since the Happy Valley camps began. I was lucky enough to attend my first camp in the second year. My memories of the camps were that they were the highlight of my year. The friends I made were special; they included wonderful leaders and director. In the early days we had no showers, but lots of swimming. Long drop toilets, sleeping in tents outside the old farmhouse, with trenches around if it was to rain. Galloping down the airstrip, and then picking up those that didn’t make it!

We would have been an OSH nightmare in

14 | sunz.org.nz

ARTICLE

2014 MARKS 40 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST CAMP MANY STORIES, RICH MEMORIES, TRANSFORMING MOMENTS

And so we are inviting all who are interested to gather at Hikumutu for Labour weekend, October 24-27th. Bring tent, food, photos, and stories. We plan to have a catered meal on the Saturday night. Further details and registration will be available on the web site: www.hikumutu.org.nz or enquiries to heather.hilary@hotmail.com

G

S e m t t e b m

B A c c B o W A s u t t

We

Issue 47

Moses

JONAH

ING ...

TH

ES

GIN N TH

GR Y

IN

HUN

E B E

THE

H

EEP

Daniel

Son

IAT

T S H

DS

igal

L GO

Mary

LOS

WAY2GO

JOSEPH

FEE

&

THE

Prod

VID

The

DA

H

NOA

JESUS US

ER

E

EEN

JES

TH

QU

RUTH

Th e Es ca p e Zacchaeus fr o m Eg yp tCAIN&abel The Good Samaritan Jesus calms the storm Jesus heals the sick

God s Story, Our Story Stories are an important part of our everyday life. They help us construct meaning and communicate ourselves to each other. They give us ways to organise and make sense of the experiences we go through. They build authentic communities of shared meaning and values.

Bible stories are especially powerful.

As we tell the stories of the Bible we contemplate our own stories with added clarity and discover new possibilities.

Bible stories help us understand ourselves and our place in God’s world.

We shape our lives through them.

And as we pray and wonder about the stories we hear, God uses them to unsettle us and change the way we think. Our lives are transformed through the impact of Bible stories.

Welcome

All this means that Bible stories are an indispensable part of growing children’s faith - our children need to discover what God has done, is doing and will do in the world he loves.

We want to encourage you to see Bible stories as an essential part of your programme. We’d like to inspire you to think about the way you tell Bible stories and make it a priority to tell them well and to help children reflect on them. This issue of the WAY2GO magazine has some handy hints to help you as you do this.

May God’s Holy Spirit empower you, as you connect the good news of God’s story with the stories your children live out every day.

to the WAY2GO magazine. It’s full of ideas for people who work with children in their churches and local communities. Pull it out and pass it around.

Reggie Joiner says “Think about the possibility of having parents and leaders who are connecting with kids and teaching the same thing, at the same time, in an easily applicable way.”* It’s good to work closely alongside your families so that you can reinforce the stories the children are hearing together.

Excite. w Let families know ho grow n re ild ch eir th to help shops, spiritually. Run work n books, use invite speakers, loa newsletters etc.)

Exchangowewh.at

Let parents kn ich Bible you are doing and wh Talk to them stories you are using. tes home with da and send regular up m about what the the children. Talk to together. rk they are doing and wo le.

Bib a Help families to own

Encourage.

le that Promote the same Bib ories. you use to tell your st en sponsor Church people will oft d then pray Bibles for children an are given the for the families that Bible.

*Think Orange: Imagine the Impact When Church and Family Collide. p 137

New Zealand’s Untold Story Step back into New Zealand 200 years ago and find out about the relationship forged between two incredibly different cultures – European and Māori.

The Chronicles of Paki are a series of stories for 8-12 year olds about the relationship that developed between the missionaries and Maori in the 1800s.

Each book tells the story of an outstanding individual who made a significant contribution to early New Zealand society.

These are New Zealand’s untold stories. They are written and illustrated by New Zealanders to give children positive stories from our early history and help build a better understanding between two cultures that came together. The stories have been thoroughly checked by the relevant iwi and historians.

Purchase the set of five books from SUNZ for $64.95.

Find them at www.sunz.org.nz or freephone us on 0508 423 836.

FREE FRE FREE FREEE

Here at SUNZ w e have programme mat erials to help you use each bo ok with your children. You ca n download these for free on our website anytim e.

or ay the

When you are telling a story, the way you tell it can either bring it to life or turn it into a boring failure.

Consider these points as you prepare and tell your story:

Be excited.

The Bible is a special book so let’s communicate that.

Let’s expect our children to come face to face with God as we tell its stories.

Be clear.

Think about why you are telling the story. Pray and ask God what he wants to say to this particular group of children. Word your aim so that it is simple, clearly defined and relevant to the listeners.

Be realistic.

Take account of the age of your children and the world they live in. Think about their experience: are they church children or do they know very little about the Bible?

chants

props use repetition drawings puppets

story bags

Be visible.

When you are telling a story from the Bible, have the Bible open in your hands or on the table. Show the children where the Bible story or a verse is. Refer back to an actual Bible at some point.

Be effective.

1.

Know the story well, particularly the main facts and the order of events. Write them down in summary if necessary.

2. Look out for new or difficult words and paraphrase them or decide how to explain them.

3. Prepare the story for telling so that it has: • An exciting beginning.

• Action • A climax.

• A short, clear ending.

Be thoughtful

Help the children reflect on the story afterwards. Use open ended questions and give them space to think about what God is saying to them through the story and a way to respond.

choose a different point of view

audience participation

technology

dress up as a character

actions

SAVE THESE DATES Next year’s WAY2GO conferences are going to be held in the second term of 2015.

INVERCARGILL 9 MAY 2015 WELLINGTON 23 MAY 2015 AUCKLAND 6 JUNE 2015

They are a bit later in the year so that you and your team have time to get to know each other and the children you are working with before you come along and get trained together. There will be inspirational teaching and lots of amazing hands-on workshops to help you learn new skills. If you’re a new leader you can take the Children’s Ministry Certificate and if you’re an experienced leader make sure you check out our special advanced leadership track. And of course there’ll be heaps of other topics too.

More info soon!

…Dunedin…Blenheim…Nelson…Silverstream…Karori…Auckland…

Scripture Union has already been training in all these places and we would love to come to your place too. It’s easy to organise - just contact us at way2go@sunz.org.nz and invite us.

You might like to think about one of these options: •WAY2GO FOCUSED – Children’s ministry training especially designed to focus on you and your church. There will be inspirational teaching and we will explore lots of practical ideas together. You choose the workshops and provide the venue and morning tea and we will do the rest!

You're growing kids and young people with faith

•YOU’RE LOSING US – Research shows half our church membership will probably leave in the next 15 years. Discover how to turn this around and do faith formation well with your children and young people. This workshop is for children and youth workers, but it is also for pastors, senior leadership and parents as well because this is a worrying problem and it will take all of us working together to fix it.

TOP TIPS This book explores what the Bible says about storytelling,

presents some basic principles and then gives loads of ideas on how to tell Bible stories with imagination and impact.

You can buy it from SUNZ for $9.99 and it is well worth owning.

Check it out along with our other resources at www.sunz.org.nz or free phone us on 0508 423 836.

Scripture Union wants to work with your church to create opportunities for children and young people to discover and follow Jesus, grow as leaders, and influence the world. Contact us and let us know how we can help you.

Scripture Union in New Zealand – PO Box 760, Wellington 6140 way2go@sunz.org.nz – 0508 423 836 – www.sunz.org.nz

…

to s.

as d

RONGOPAI iapogTE n o R eOF T THE GOOD Te NEWS Rongopai 200 YEARS IN OUR NATION

lepsoG eht By foWayne sraeYFraser 002 National Director dnalaeZ weN ni Stuart Lange, pastor, author, and history lecturer at Laidlaw College, 410 2-418recently 1 wrote and presented a retrospective

documentary sretpahc 5ofni ,D“Te VD eRongopai”, tunim 56 to coincide with the celebration of the bicentenary of the gospel’s beginnings, sin tneAotearoa serp egnNew aL traZealand, utS rD nthis airotyear. siH The edocumentary ht gnitnemupaints cod seaire s t r a p e v a our picture of fi how encountered dnation’s nalaeZ weancestors N ni lepsoG eht fo yrotsJesus Christ, became sdrawwhich rof neinevitably dsraM leum aS morcrucial f points in New Zealand’s history in allowing ,snoitacilpmoc eht ,tcapmi sti us to continue engaging with the gospel a dah sah ytinaitsirhC yaw eht dna today.

gnipahs ni tcapmi tnacfiingis

CALLED neht hTE tobRONGOPAI, yteicos dnaMEANING laeZ weN “the Gospel” or “Good News”, .w it otells n dnaof the introduction of Jesus Christ to the people of the land of the long white cloud, laitnesswith e nASamuel .sevil taMarsden’s ht yrotsiHsermon “ beginning dnaDay laeZ1814. weN eht fo trap on Christmas The fo ndocumentary oitanibmoc eacknowledges rar A .yrots the more dnuodistressing s dna gnilleparts t-yroof ts our tnelhistory lecxe and gives some helpful and raw context. In ”.pihsralohiscsoften general literature, a missionary )nairas otsiwhite, h( nooMEnglish, luaP rosseblack forP hat portrayed adorned, and Bible toting, but that is not lufeentirely su ylemeaccurate rtxe nA .or gnfair. itanicWhile saF“ it is true that British missionaries were the ”.ti dnemmocer ylhgih I .ecruoser first to introduce Jesus and the Bible to guaW dpeople rahciR .rsoon D .veRbegan New Zealand, hMaori ) s r e d a e L h c r u h C l a n o i t a N f o riahC( using preaching the gospel to each other, a Te Reo Bible.

At one point,:ybthe detpercentage ubirtsiD of believing Maori probably outnumbered .krowteN naitsirhC dnalaeZ weN settlers. An estimated 60% of Maori / zn.gro.krowtChristianity, ennaitsirhczn//:practicing ptth embraced /dvd-iathat pognran or-counter et forgiveness and service to their experience of tribal war.

STUART ALSO REMINDS THE VIEWER 4102 egnaL trautS rD thgirypoC © that Christian faith influenced significant

200 Years of the Gospel in New Zealand reforms in education, literacy, peace seeking, social policy and gender equality.

1814-2014 There is also helpful context to the Treaty65ofminute Waitangi too.in The documentary DVD, 5 chapters notes the significant part played by missionaries who held great mana with Drpresentation, Stuart Langeapresents manyHistorian iwi. In the variety a five part series documenting the of voices are represented from different denominations, malein and story of theboth Gospel Newfemale, Zealand Maorifrom and Samuel Pakeha, Marsden which give a helpful forwards and contemporary balance.

- its impact, the complications, the way Christianity has had a THIS and PRODUCTION IS AN IMPORTANT significant impact in shaping STEP in presenting an often untold part of ourNew history and issociety told with warmth Zealand both then by weaving past and present together. and now.

The 65 minute long DVD gives the final word to a passionate young woman, “History lives. An essential wahine, who that beautifully articulated part offor the the Newoften Zealand her heart broken and disillusioned of our land. story. Arangatahi rare combination of It was her desire to see their identity excellent story-telling andregained sound and expressed in the person of Jesus and scholarship.” the life that he offers. She expressed Paulminds, Moon (historian) what Professor is on many a hope that our chequered history might be acknowledged but healed, and forAn pain and division to “Fascinating. extremely useful become peace and reconciliation. resource. I highly recommend it.”

This is a picture that we have already Rev. Dr. Richard glimpsed in the life Waugh and power of Jesus (Chair of National Church Leaders) and Christ, and the work of his disciples our ancestors in our nation’s history, our story.

SUNZ by: staff viewed the DVD Distributed during our recent staff retreat and we New Zealand Christian Network. were impressed by this retelling which http://nzchristiannetwork.org.nz/ is both encouraging and realistic. Many of ourte-rongopai-dvd/ staff will be taking copies to their churches to ensure a wider audience for this important part of New Zealand’s story.

ARTICLE

© Copyright Dr Stuart Lange 2014

August 2014

|

19

SCRIPTURE UNION NEW ZEALAND’S

STORY

.....................................................................................................................................

On holiday at Llandudno beach, North Wales in 1868, Josiah Spiers drew the Bible text: “GOD IS LOVE” in the sand for children to decorate. This was the start of Children’s Special Service Missions or C.S.S.M, a new approach to work with children.

............................................................................................................................

In January 1930, the C.S.S.M. beach missi Zealand was held at Bay, Auckland.

1880. First Scripture Union cards arrive in New Zealand. For 50 years voluntary secretaries distributed the cards and other publications and encouraged daily Bible reading.

..........................................................................................................................................................

In 1931, Dr John Laird, a young Scot, working as a ship’s doctor arrived in New Zealand and began building the S.U. work.

During the 1930’s, extensive programmes of camps for secondary school students, including Ponui Island and beach missions for children and families, were developed.

Branches of Scripture Union were formed in churches and monthly rallies were held to encourage daily Bible reading.

.................................................................................................................................................................................................

From 1943 the CSSM & Crusader Bookroom Society started to open bookshops to sell Christian literature.

These became the national chain of Scripture Union Bookshops.

In 1953, the three organisations C.S.S.M., Crusaders and Scripture Union, were unified under the name of Scripture Union.

In 1955-1962, Bruce Lumsden, succeeded Colin Becroft and Crusaders activities reached a peak when 6% of secondary students throughout New Zealand belonged to Crusader groups. 4% attended meetings each week. Crusaders was one of the largest voluntary, teenage organisations in New Zealand. Apart from beach missions, Children’s work did not grow because staff workers could not be found.

In 1963, Lawrie Becroft became National Director and Eddie BradleyFeary came from England to manage the chain of nine bookshops and a wholesale department.

Keith Overend was appointed as Coordinato of Children and Families ministries emphasising training ministries and suburban holid programmes.

.................................................................................................................................................................................................

In January 1978, Scripture Union and the Bible College of New Zealand partnered to produce the Congress on Children and Families. There were presentations from overseas specialists with seminars and workshop and was seminal for many of the delegates.

Between 19821989, Humphrey Babbage as National Director emphasised regionalisation along with “Opening the Bible with People in Life Changing Ways” as a unifying slogan for all aspects of the work.

In 1987, as part of the Luis Palau and Leighton Ford Missions, Scripture Union organised a celebration programme for children and families called the Rainbow Special and 44,000 people throughout New Zealand participated.

Camping programmes were developed under the leadership of Stuart Salisbury.

Mem Jo, the first Maori staff worker was appointed.

.......................................................................................................................................................

SUPAkidz clubs led by parents and volunteers from churches around the school, begun as a new initiative in Primary Schools.

During 2004 to 2006 Mark Brown was National Director and an intensive programme to review safety on all Scripture Union programmes was initiated with the adaptation of the Risk Management System developed

by Scripture Union in Australian Lighting a Path to Safety, later rebranded Childsafe.

In 2004, a partnership with SU in Tonga was begun leading to opportunities for training and support of leaders.

The mi was re with ch opport and Yo Discove Grow a Influen

.......................................................................................................................................................................

1879. A teenage Sunday School teacher in Keswick, North England named Annie Marston persuaded the C.S.S.M. to publish an annual card of daily Bible readings, on April 1, the Scripture Union was launched.

1889 there were 470,000 cards printed in 28 languages in many different countries.

.......................................................................................................................................

anuary 1930, the first .S.M. beach mission in New land was held at Brown’s , Auckland.

1930. An Irish missioner named Dr Howard Guinness (from I.V.F. now T.S.C.F) held missions in secondary schools throughout New Zealand birthing “Crusader Unions” of Christian students.

...........................................................................................................................................................

ture ed in nthly to Bible

By 1945 there were 73 Crusader groups in schools attended by over 2000 students, 16 camps and 6 beach missions each year and 14 staff members.

In 1945, Colin Becroft succeeded John Laird and children’s evangelists were appointed.

From 1947 to 1973, Dr Vine Martin (Doc) was the Crusader travelling staff worker becoming a legend and pioneered adventure camping.

...................................................................................................................................................................................................

Keith Overend was appointed as Coordinator of Children and Families ministries emphasising training ministries and suburban holiday programmes.

A Christian Option Programme, presenting Christian points of view within the curriculum in state school classrooms began and Discoverers Groups in intermediate schools started.

Crusader Lodge on Mt Ruapehu was built in 1965 for snow camps.

This was one way in which camps became more specialised.

In 1972 the name Crusaders became InterSchool Christian Fellowship (I.S.C.F.) with an emphasis on serving rather than owning the groups in schools.

In 1980, to celebrate the centenary of Scripture Union in New Zealand, a travelling Road Show took a range of ministries and training to various churches.

...................................................................................................................................................................................................

Mem Jo, the first Maori staff worker was appointed.

In 1989 – 1998, Ken Edgecombe as National Director organised the Second Congress on Children and Families and achieved establishing a Children and Families staff team around the country.

In 1995, Scripture Union Bookshops were sold and a direct mail order service was established called Scripture Union Direct.

The name of the Inter-School Christian Fellowship was changed to Scripture Union in Schools (SUIS) then to SU Youth under Cathie Smith, National Director 1998-2003.

A new strategic plan was developed with emphasis on regional staff teams working in partnership with churches.

................................................................................................................................................................................................

nership ga ding es for upport

The mission statement was restated as; Working with churches we create opportunities for Children and Young People to Discover and Follow Jesus, Grow as Leaders, and Influence our world.

In 2012, a rebranding to SUNZ was completed with a new logo representing the history and landscape of New Zealand.

2014. This year SUNZ has held over 30 SUPAkidz clubs and more than 10 children’s ministry training events with a brand new training event underway this year.

SUNZ has 5 different youth ministry initiatives with one new initiative starting in September. By the end of the year SUNZ will have run about 22 youth camps and 4 free leaders’ trainings all over New Zealand.

Scripture Union also has a strong resource centre and this year SUNZ will be printing Bible Reading Guides locally in New Zealand for the first time in its history!

SHARING

THE UNDENIABLE POWER OF GOD’S STORY IN OUR LIVES

“

I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.” Mother Teresa

By Neville Bartley

22 | sunz.org.nz

This quote is a beautiful picture of what the life of a follower of Christ is to be like.

Just imagine being the pencil in the hand of God and him using you to send a message of His love to a hurting world. You see, no matter how hard we try to separate the two things, God’s story is part of our story and our story is part of his story. So if that is the case what are some of the practical ways that we can use our story to share His story with a hurting world?

ARTICLE

WE HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS WITH a key point as a follower of Christ. That is, “all you have is all you need, and all you need is all you have. All he has is all you need and all he needs is all you have”. You see, we don’t have to be anything other than who he created us to be. We often look at figures in the Bible, or people like Mother Teresa and measure ourselves against them and we always come up short. What we need to do is to stop measuring our story against the stories of others.

Therefore we need to:

...KNOW OUR STORY > BE PREPARED TO SHARE IT > KNOW HIS STORY > BE PREPARED TO SHARE IT > TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ADD POWER TO IT...

It sounds strange to tell someone they need to know their own story, but many of us never stop to even think about it.

We need to take some time and think back over our life, over our journey with God and even without God. Look at the funny things, the sad things and the challenging things. Take our big story and break it into smaller bite size stories, stories we can then recall for different situations we might find ourselves in. Once we have this it is easier for God to prompt us and easier for us to share. Likewise we need to know God’s story, not just the story of Jesus but God’s whole story from Genesis to Revelation.

Once we have a grasp on this story it makes it easier for God to use us to share his story, along with our story, and provide opportunities for the Holy Spirit to impact the lives of others.

THINKING, “do I need to memorise the whole Bible” well while that might be useful that is not what is required. What is required is knowledge of God’s story from start to finish, knowledge of the themes, knowledge of his love and compassion, knowledge of his justice and His grace.

An ability to share how His story is intertwined with your story, and how that has impacted your life. When we have this knowledge and when we know our own story well, then God can use us in amazing ways, he can use us to be His pencil to write a love story to a hurting world.

We could take Mother Teresa’s quote even further. As each of us is uniquely made, not one of us alike, then maybe God is writing a play with your life, or a novel, or maybe you are an ever changing bold advertisement. You see each of us is unique, and each of our stories is unique.

People can dispute facts, and science but they can only choose to believe or not believe your own personal story. He is the writer, but he will never force the pencil to write and he will only disclose what you wish him to disclose of your story.

So what is God writing with you as his pencil, will we allow it to go on display to the public or store it in the archives?

UNLIKE A KEYBOARD WHERE THE KEYS are hit to create a story; a pencil is held firmly but lovingly and becomes an extension of the hand that holds it. A pencil can become blunt and needs to be sharpened from time to time, so that it can do the task it was designed for to the best of its ability.

We are held in God’s hand and he knows when we need sharpening, if we trust him and let our lives become an extension of his hand just think what he can and will do through us. So, be the best pencil you can be, and allow God to write a beautiful story through your life, a bestseller that many have the chance to read.

NOW IF YOU ARE SITTING THERE AND ARTICLE

August 2014

|

23

OUT about &

Regional News August

WAIKATO/BOP Graham Fullerton

During the Weekend of the 9th-11th of May, 13 volunteer handymen descended on ‘SU Adventure Lodge’ to attend a workingbee headed up by Wayne Goodchild, our North Island Camps Coordinator. While some of the workers painted the new interior partition walls in the bunk rooms, others were installing some under floor insulation.

Two new signs with the name ‘Scripture Union Adventure Lodge’, were erected.

A new set of crockery has been provided along with a new 46 inch (120 cm) LCD screen and projector in the lounge.

Finally, a general tidy and clean means that the ‘Lodge’ is now ready for the Winter Camping season. Our thanks to all those volunteers who travelled and gave their time and skills for a very worthwhile lodge “spruce up” Bring on the campers.

24 | sunz.org.nz

CANTERBURY Ben Necklen

Canterbury has had plenty of action over the past few months. The first weekend of May we had our annual South Island Leaders Training weekend at Lake Lyndon.

We were focusing on telling our own stories effectively, what it means to connect with generation Z and looked at using camp fire cooking as an opportunity to engage youth in camp cooking. It has also been great to have our staff conference at Living Springs this year providing a great opportunity for the wider staff team to visit Richard Starlings centre and get a taste for the ministry that is happening in Aranui. At the time of writing this news we are also preparing for our annual winter camp in the July holidays.

UPDATE

AUCKLAND/ NORTHLAND Sylvia Coulter

It’s early July, and the Auckland office is a hive of happy activity: volunteer leaders preparing props for SUPAkidz and Breakaway Camps, the “Top Secret” theme engendering imaginative ideas.

There’ll be more activity here soon as we prepare for our youth worker, Andy Banks, to move back after several years in the west. It will be good to have the Auckland team together. And speaking of being together, it was a joy to have 34 people at a SUNZ prayer breakfast in Manurewa in June, people who know prayer matters and are willing to get up early to make it happen!

SOUTHLAND Nigel Winder

Having Ben Necklen (South Island Camp’s Facilitator) working from the Invercargill office for a couple of months has been great for team collegiality.

We are extremely excited about Aaron Douglas joining the team as the Otago/Southland Youth Worker at the end of August.

Aaron will lift the profile and ministry opportunities for SUNZ in the South through schools work and camping. I’ve continued to enjoy the opportunities to train and resource others in children’s ministry, while Heather and Bronwyn keep the camps administration running like clockwork. The Otago Regional Committee is looking forward to hosting Joe Kapolyo at one of their famous Mosgiel breakfasts on the 16th August.

UPDATE

August 2014

|

25

“ It is with real sadness that we note the passing to Glory, on the 12th June, of Colin Prentice. Colin was a superb Christian leader who had a passion for the Word of God (he memorised huge chunks of it) and insisted that scripture should inform the way we live.

Colin was an outstanding teacher and School Principal – the founding Principal of Maclean’s College - who, at the height of that career, left to lead World Vision.

He led that organisation into a period of strong growth with smart management and spiritual depth.

He was also, for six years, the President of Scripture Union. This role reflected his

26 | sunz.org.nz

passion for Scripture and his enthusiasm to be a part of an organisation that promoted Bible reading as a core value.

He remained passionate about our work to the end. His last article for us appeared in the May 2014 Adventure magazine. It was, as usual, superb in both content and style.

That was, for Colin, quite normal.

Our prayers are with Margaret and the family as they adjust to a new reality.

He was a special man, and will be sorely missed. His funeral, which was a truly inspiring event, was a 2 and a half hour celebration of his life and was attended by about 1000 people.

UPDATE

“

LIGHT FOR THE PATH

By Jamuel Enriquez

Marketing Coordinator Recently I was challenged while I was listening to Minister Tom Richardson as he talked about ‘The Second Greatest Story Ever Told’. Tom explained what this meant by saying, “The first greatest story ever told is HIS story; the second greatest story ever told is MY story”. I began to wonder, what does the bible say about telling our story? .................................

1 Peter 3:15-16 says “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord, always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” .................................

I personally see this as a great verse that shows me the basis of sharing our story, and God’s story, to others. This verse really challenges me with that line “always be prepared to give an answer…”

This speaks to me of being able to give an immediate and prepared response to those who wish, or need, to know our testimony, at any time. As Christians, we’ve been called to be witnesses, but the question I have for myself is ‘am I a good one or a bad one?’ As Tom put it, “We should be able to share about our faith at any moment in our life.”

The second half of that passage really shows how important our character is.

Christian growth has everything to do with character. As Tom challenged me to be able to share about my faith at any time, he further challenged me to be able to do

so without “sounding like a hypocrite”.

I think that our lifestyles make a real difference, especially when we call ourselves Christians. Of course I’m not perfect, but I realised that in every circumstance, I should make a conscious effort not to do anything to compromise who I claim to be.

As we share to others about God there are two stories we need to be able to communicate: His story, and my story.

There are always barriers or personal reasoning that will attempt to hinder us from doing so. Just briefly, I thought it would be insightful to share these 7 common ‘intimidations’ Tom identified that we say to ourselves, which stops us from sharing to others: 1. “They’re going to ask me something I don’t know” 2. “I’m going to get in the middle of something I can’t finish” 3. “I’m going to need a verse of Scripture and I won’t know where it is” 4. “I’m doing more harm than good” 5. “They’re going to turn against me and reject me” 6. “My Christian life is so weak that I had better not say anything because they’ll think I’m a hypocrite” 7. “I don’t want to impose my views on others” I believe there will always be some reasoning that will try and stop us from sharing about God. One thing that I have discovered from this time with God is that yes, we are witnesses. As witnesses, we can be confident and proud about what God has done – and is doing – in our own lives, and we can share that story – nobody can make us reject our own story. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”. God’s work will not return empty. This is how we came to the Lord, so we must try our best not to deprive others.

UPDATE

August 2014

|

27

The latest copy (for July – September) of our dated Bible reading guides is now available, and for the first time ever these are printed here in New Zealand. This presents us with the opportunity to add our own local content to keep you our readers informed of upcoming events, new products or services, and especially around Easter and Christmas time, tell you about resources for both home and church ministries.

If you are not a current subscriber then take advantage of this special offer to Adventure readers, to get an affordable resource to aid your daily encounter with God’s word. We are also well underway with the development of a new website to be launched in September, which will then enable us to explore offering these as eBooks or downloads to your choice of devices.

28 | sunz.org.nz

RESOURCES

Now d te prin in ! e her aland e Z New

Normal 12 month subscription (4 quarters) $49.00

$36.75 (until 30/09/2014)

THE DARK CHAPTERS The reader is asked throughout the books to consider questions about the nature of God...

RRP $13.99

$12.50 (until 30/09/14)

The Dark Chapters series is a response to the growing number of horror books aimed at young people, and presents a great opportunity to help young people get into the pages of God’s Word and wrestle with some of the difficult questions of faith.

There are 6 titles in the series covering stories about Pharaoh, Elijah, Daniel, Samson, Noah, and John the Baptist/ Demon possessed man. The text does not sensationalize the horrific aspects of each story for entertainment’s sake, and therefore trivialize what it has to say. On the contrary, each retold account uses the more fantastic and gruesome episodes of each character’s story to grip the reader and draw them into assessing why these events take place. The reader is asked throughout the books to consider questions about the nature of God, how we should live as Christians, what value we place on things of this world - power, wealth, influence or popularity - and what God values.

RESOURCES

August 2014

|

29

STAFF REVIEW

By Maurice Roberts

Resources for Life Manager In the Temple of Dagon, a blind man is tied to two pillars while the rulers of Philistia celebrate his capture. He was once a strong and powerful ruler, but the blind man’s task is not quite finished yet - Shimsom (Samson) had a miraculous birth, foretold by and angel to a childless couple. His parents were told that he would save Israel from the power of the Philistines. But the way Shimsom goes about it doesn’t seem to be God’s plan.

Through the story we follow Samson and his dealings with the Philistines, but the story also makes demands on the reader - what does Samson’s behaviour and the violent way he went about freeing the Israelites from Philistine control tell us about God? How closely does he follow God’s will and where does he depart and go

30 | sunz.org.nz

his own way? We follow Samson’s mistakes and his triumphs in a story that is often uncomfortable, but always compelling.

“Although I’m not the target audience for these books I found the “The Sky will Fall” about the story of Samson and his dealings with the Philistines to be a great read. The author has woven these stories together with historical and archaeological evidence of life in Israel around the 12th century BC to help explore the difficult questions that the Bible text raises. It is not for the faint of heart, as like the Bible narrative there are some gruesome events which are faithfully retold. I would highly recommend these to persons aged 14 +”.

RESOURCES

THE

SUMMIT A HOPE TO LIVE BY

2014 A TIME FOR REFRESHING AND SEEKING GOD TOGETHER. You are an important part of the Scripture Union family and we would really love you to come and share the special weekend with us.

Inspiring Bible Engagement with Joe Kapolyo | Dynamic leadership development workshops | Connect with people passionate about ministry

6pm Fri 29 August - 2pm Sun 31 August Silverstream Retreat, 3 Reynolds Bach Drive, Lower Hutt, Wellington (Scripture Union AGM 4:30PM-5:30PM SAT)

$145 for weekend $55 for Saturday only (includes all meals except breakfast, excludes accommodation)

$25 for Saturday workshops only (includes lunch)

Accommodation: Silverstream has limited accommodation (so book through us early) so billeting or alternative accommodation is available if required.

Please advise us as soon as possible if you would like us to help organise this (info@sunz.org.nz or 0508 423 836)

www.sunz.org.nz August 2014

|

31

THE

SUMMIT A HOPE TO LIVE BY

2014

STAY IN THE LOOP

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/sunz.nz

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @newzealandsu

VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.sunz.org.nz