Overflow - Issue 22

Overflow

Photo: Stream Gathering Easter Camp - Haka after Powhiri

FromtheEditor

Tēnā koe, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, 안녕하세요, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Kia orana, 你好, Noa‘ia, Hello!

It has been great reading the testimonies from churches about how this season has allowed them to connect and reach out to others to share the story of the gospel.

Also, this month’s Pentecost Prayer Initiative from 24/7 Prayer NZ has been very well supported across the denomination starting on 9th May until Pentecost. And we can’t forget that Refresh is being held at the end of this month.

We look forward to having some encouraging testimonies from these events in the coming days!

2 Chronicles 7:14

“…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

In prayer,

Denise Barrington Editor

Words From Home

National Superintendent: Rev. Brett Jones

In Acts 2 the church is born in power. But within that power is a moment of great intimacy. The disciples who are gathered begin to speak in other languages, on its own miraculous. Yet beyond their small gathering, a wider gathering is listening in, people from every nation under heaven. And they get to eavesdrop on the gospel in their own languages.

There were Jews from other places there that day including North Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Macedonia – the Jewish diaspora. For many, Jerusalem was still their spiritual home…some of them were pilgrims, others had settled in Jerusalem in retirement.

Many of them did not speak Hebrew and certainly not Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke, so they are in a place their heart tells them is home and yet they feel like foreigners. And people will do almost anything to hear a word from home. Suddenly they hear their language but they only see locals.

As transforming as the words of the gospel are, it is also how they are heard that carries power. These immigrant peoples, who for much of their existence live interpreted lives as they negotiate life through a filter of foreign language and custom, suddenly hear something from home. The good news of the gospel, in the language of their heart, arrives as a word from home. The miracle is as much in how it was heard as in what was spoken. We hear God speaking to us as a word from home.

What happens that day, is so consistent with the nature of God, to overcome barriers, even the barriers of culture and language. We’ve already seen Jesus leave home to make the earth his home in order that people might be reached.

Here we are seeing God demonstrate how the Spirit breaks down barriers that might otherwise prevent us from hearing what he has to say to you. This is a moment of great power AND great intimacy. I love the words of Psalm 62:11:

One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, 12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”

It is God’s love for all people that is the great motivator that day. The same love that motivated Jesus to dwell among us. To be our home. This is the moment of great intimacy that Pentecost brings – your sin is real but it need not define you, your brokenness is real but it need not define you, the lies of Satan, they feel real, but they’re not and they need not define you. These are words from home. Calling us home. Because there’s no place like home and home is where the heart is.

I pray that we would be a church that lives out the power and intimacy of the Holy Spirit this Pentecost season. That we would be a church that goes to wherever people are, wherever they are from, that we would be words from home.

Stream Gathering

Bula Vinaka and kia ora from your Stream Gathering Wesleyan family here in Palmerston North. We witness the work of God in the lives of our church members during the first quarter of this year.

Ways God has been working in our congregation:

New believers and renewal of faith:

9 of our children have given their lives to Jesus: a.

2 from Youth camp 2024 i.

7 from Easter camp 2024 ii.

2 adults have also given their lives to Jesus during Evangelism weekend

Many have renewed their faith during evangelism weekend. b. Our numbers kept on increasing with new members joining in from different ethnic backgrounds apart from Fijian families who have moved to Palmy for work.

Church finances have also tripled during this time.

Ministerial Work that has been fruitful

Youth:

Greatly impacted not only church activities but also the wider community. This is through dancing and singing Gospel music with invitation from Napier, Wellington, Levin and Whanganui. Invitation still coming in from Churches, families, City Council and community as well. a.

Sunday School:

b.

Lessons with music, singing and dances that have greatly impacted their lives. Most of them have stopped going to play rugby on Sunday and have dedicated their lives to come to church. This has seen a change in their parents as they begin to support them in church activities.

Anyplansforoutreach?

WereachedouttoresthomesduringEasterweek.Thisisthrough EastersongsandBiblereadingsonJesus’liferighttoCalvaryand resurrection.

WehadanOutreachEvangelismweekendwithAssistantNational SuperintendentoftheWesleyanMethodistChurchAotearoa-New Zealand,RevAtuLagiasourguestspeakerforthe3days outreach.

Weareplanningmoreofthatinfutureinourneighbouring community.

PrayerPoints

Extensionsneededofchurchbuilding. ChurchplantinginFieldingandMasterton.

We shared the message of God’s love during Christmas last year and we agreed why not Easter again. So, we went around to 5 different homes sharing the Word followed by songs during the week towards Palm Sunday and also Holy Week.

Karina Home

Aroha Home

Easter Camp

We had our Easter Camp from Thursday to Monday 1st April. It was an amazing weekend as we witness the Power of God through the lives of our children as 7 of them gave their life to Jesus.

Evangelism Sunday 14 April, 2024.

Haka after Powhiri

Easter Reflections

ShoreGrace

EasterwasafullandfruitfultimeatShoreGrace.Weofferedall peoplesomediverseandcreativewaysofengagingwithits meaningandpower.

People,especiallyonthefringesofthechurch,connectedwithour CreativeReflectiveStationsoftheCrosswhichMichelleYates curatedandsetupintheChapel.Itwasaccessiblefora'walk through'intheweekleadinguptoEaster.

Inthatspace,weofferedaspecialCommunionServiceonGood Fridaymorning.

ThenEasterSaturdaywastheEasterEggHunt,hostedonthe ChurchProperty.Afunoutreachoccasionforcommunitykidsand familieswhichincludedavideoviewingofthegospelstorywithall participants:60kidsandfamilyfromthecommunityconnectedto thisopportunity.

Then,whatgreaterwayisthere,thantocapitalloffwiththe ResurrectionserviceSundaymorning?Allinall,aspecialtimeover theweekandaweekendofpeople-connection,outreachand pilgrimage.

Discipleship Resources Library

Director Discipleship & Training: Rev. Jo Verkerk

Did you know we have an ever-growing “library” of discipleship resources? Like most libraries, you’ll find we can lend or direct you to both physical resources, (books, DVDs), and online resources (videos, website links, podcasts, resource folders).

We also know that the temptation is to think “sweet, I’ll check that out later”....and later never comes! So here are a couple of FREE resources you can jump on board with RIGHT NOW:

Wesleyan Discipleship App

Grab your phone and download the Wesleyan Disciple App. Produced by our international Wesleyan whānau, it comes with daily devotions, links to resources, and more!

Practicing the Way

Looking for a small group resource? Head over to www.practicingtheway.org for an excellent FREE video course on being an apprentice of Jesus. This site also comes with a raft of other resources.....why not have a browse?

Looking for other ideas?

If we can help resource you or your church in your discipleship journey, let us know!

Email discipleship@wesleyan.nz – we’d love to help!

New ANZAC Day service

By Rev. Dr. Richard Waugh

NewlyarrivedinChristchurchSouth,NationalSuperintendent EmeritusRevDrRichardWaugh,noticedclosetohisnewhometwo memorialplaquesto43localmenwhogavetheirlivesinservice duringtheFirstWorldWar.Hefoundoutthattherehadnotbeena formalANZACDayserviceattheWalthamParkMemorialGatesfor manydecades,sosetabouttalkingwithfivelocalschoolsand uniformedyouthgroups.Verysoontherewaslocalmomentumand supportfromthelocalcommunity,includingtheschools.

Serviceplanningwashelpedbygraphicdesignworkandprintingfrom TheWell(thankstoLeadPastorClintUssher)andwithstaffpastor HannahFrauensteinsharingintheservicewithRichard,alongwiththe localSalvationArmyofficer.Ontheday,over300peopleattended, includingmanychildren.TherewasmediaattentioninChristchurch andafterarecentreporttothecommunityboard,itseemstheservice willnowbecomeanannualevent.Richardcomments,“ANZACDayis averygoodopportunityforapublicChristianservicewiththeLord’s Prayer,Scriptureandotherpastoralprayers.

I have always found people responsive to a well-prepared service, and it was an honour to lead the service and remember those who had given their lives for liberty and freedom. It’s so important to pray for our New Zealand servicemen and servicewomen today, and for justice and peace in our world.” Richard also shared that same afternoon in his aviation chaplaincy role at the Rangitata Island Airfield ANZAC Day service.

TheHornblowMemorialMinistryTrainingFundis activelyseekingdonationstofurtheritsmissionin fundingPastortrainingandresourcingchurchplanters.

Donations:

YoucanmakedonationstotheCapitalFundorforAnnualGrants-just telluswhichareaintheREFERENCEfieldandincludeHMMTTinthe

National Resource Centre

Tuesday | 9am-2pm 219 Burswood Drive

Botany, Auckland 2013

Ph: (09) 271 6460

National Support Assistant

Sian Sidwell

Email: office@wesleyan.nz

Overflow Editor

Denise Barrington

Email: overflow@wesleyan.nz

Click here to read the latest news, and for opportunities to respond Get in touch......... missions@wesleyan.nz

NationalSuperintendent

Rev.BrettJones-natsuper@wesleyan.nz Ass'tNationalSuperintendent

Rev.AtuLagi-pastoralcare@wesleyan.nz DirectorofOperations

Rev.PeterBenzie-dirops@wesleyan.nz

NationalTreasurer

KerrinThomson-treasurer@wesleyannz DirectorDiscipleship&Training

Rev.JoVerkerk-training@wesleyan.nz DirectorGlobalMissions

MichelleYates-missions@wesleyannz DirectorMinisterialFormation

Rev.MelissaPowell-nbmf@wesleyan.nz DirectorMultiplication

NationalChurchContacts

RevMikeYates-churchdevt@wesleyannz DirectorNextGenerations

Rev.StephenieCouch-youth@wesleyan.nz www.wesleyan.nz

Event Calendar

Refresh | 24 - 26 May

Kings Birthday | 3 June

National Council | 15 June

Pastor Cluster Group | 20 June

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.

03-0206-0380248-00

Particulars: e.g. 'J Smith' Reference: e.g. 'Donation'

Please email accounts@wesleyan.nz with your details to receive a donation receipt.

Thank you!

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