2033 – an opportunity for united vision and our greatest moment yet! 

(Dave Mann, Shining Lights Trust. Statement of Intent – November 2025)

 

Preamble

The bi-millennium of Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension is taking place in 2033.

This represents a remarkable opportunity, because it is also a  significant cultural moment. This isn’t just for Christians.

Regarding the date, international discussions debated dates about five years back. Discussions concluded upon 2033 for this celebration rather than a proposed alternative of 2030. There is unity in making this the year for focus.

2033 is clearly going to be a time to celebrate. But there is more to it than that. How might we (as Christians)  foster a renewed awareness across our nation of the significance of Jesus who we are as a nation and people? New Zealand has been indelibly shaped by the Christian faith. This isn’t only our celebration; this is rightly our nation’s celebration also!

The question is therfore how we might best prepare ourselves for a truly multi-faceted and engaging year of both individual and collaborative education and celebration – with one central message: Jesus.

We at the Shining Lights Trust are committing ourselves to serve this vision – to help God’s united Church engage across our nation with clarity, collaboration, and effect. We are planning no booklet as a part of the Hope Project media effort in 2033. (God-willing, by current plans there would have been a booklet in 2032). Our goal is to help God’s Church be prepared. Our goal is then to help others succeed.

 

What will the celebration be about for churches?

There are two logical expressions: 

• Worship – In our churches – we celebrate Jesus.
• Witness – Among the public – we tell Jesus’ stories.

In just two words: Worship, and witness.

 

Celebrating exactly when?

Events specific to Easter 2033 would need planning in the year(s) prior – as also for Pentecost (Jesus’ ascension) – but celebrations need not be limited to this timing.

Many will feel favourably toward a full year of celebration.

Jesus is significant to our cultural values, freedoms – and to our spiritual lives as Christian believers.

Three ‘brand fundamentals’ for a national celebration

Clarity around messaging is very important.

The occasion can otherwise be hijacked or confused, making things more complicated than they need to be.

There are three very obvious and simple components to what this is a celebration of.

1. Jesus
2. 2000 years
3. In New Zealand.

As a sentence, the bi-millennial celebrations of Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension in New Zealand are “a celebration of his significance to us (as New Zealanders).”

Nothing more. Nothing less.

 

A celebration for whom?

This is a central consideration for discussion. This could become a foundation-stone around which we unite.

This is certainly a celebration of we who follow Jesus. But who is Jesus to New Zealand? Why might the public pay attention? What is his relevance?

What if our public messaging made this a celebration of who Jesus is to us as a nation and culture?

Jesus has immense significance to every New Zealander – even if they don’t know it.

Jesus’ influence is the primary dynamic shaping our cultural values regarding freedoms, government, law, justice, prosperity, education, healthcare, equality, charity and more.

Jesus predicted his Kingdom would be like the smallest of seeds becoming the largest of trees (Matthew 13:31-32) – and it has! This could be a time to tell Jesus’ wider story!

If this were our vision, The challenge of this celebration would therefore one of public communication. How might we best tell stories (‘education’) such that all New Zealanders would begin to feel gratitude toward Jesus – irrespective even of any personal faith? 

 This is a goal we could collaborate in – while inside our churches, as people become interested, we can then point toward the Jesus who can be known.

 

A resulting central feature: STORYTELLING

A logical ‘centrepiece’ of this celebration is therefore storytelling. This is a significant point of note for the occasion.

This storytelling ideally happens firstly inside church walls so we know our own faith and cultural stories, and then outside of those walls to the wider public.

As a balancing point: There are certainly followers of Jesus who have acted dishonorably in history also. We will need to be open and honest about this. These stories also need telling.

However, there would be 10,000 positive stories for every negative story told. The benefits of Jesus in our lives are unequaled. Jesus’ story in our history hasn’t really yet been told! In 2033 that could be changed.

 

For the scope of stories, this is a time to tell the story:

• …of Jesus himself (The Gospel accounts)
• …of Jesus’ influence within our history
  • …noting his influence in our bicultural history
  • …and also in our wider values history – leading to the freedoms prosperity, political systems, equality and charity.
• …of Jesus’ everyday influence in the charity sector – The largely untold story of continuing Christian charity today.
• …of Jesus’ influence within our lives – Our individual testimonies, showing the continuing power of Jesus to bring help and hope.

Two areas of story look backwards – considering Jesus’ story when on Earth, and then his historical story – which is found in both our bicultural and also values histories.

Two areas of story then look at today – considering Jesus continuing influence in the charity sector, while the story of his impact in our lives then reveals the true message. (The Jesus of history is still here!)

Good storytelling is a skill and an art.

  

What preparatory activities might we now consider?

With a possible three-to-five-year timeline for preparation noted, the below seven points are about positioning God’s people for vibrant worship and witness in this celebration. We could programme (plan) within our churches, unity groups, organisations and denominations to cover these.

 

1. An intentional renewed focus on the art of gospel preaching

This art could be intentionally refined and put to practice through the pulpits of our churches, and other church platforms, in preparation for wider audience and opportunity.

Jesus preached to the crowds!

 

2. An intentional focus on the art of storytelling

In Acts 2 and 3, when Peter preaches the gospel, he includes ‘evidences’ for the truth of the message. These evidences were communicated like stories.

Storytelling will be fundamental to the vibrancy and compelling nature of our public celebrations.

There are storytelling skills that can be taught and learned.

Jesus was a master storyteller!

 

3. An intentional focus on conversational equipping

Equipping church members for their mission is our core duty as church leaders (Matthew 28, Ephesians 4).

This could also be a fundamental of preparations for bimillennial celebrations – positioning church members with confidence and skills to engage conversations. Who was Jesus? What did he say? What is the significance of his claim? Why do we believe it to be true?

Conversational skills for witness can be taught and learned.

Jesus was a master conversationalist, commonly speaking through questions.

 

4. An intentional reviving of a knowledge of Christianity’s significance to  our history 

As noted, these stories are particularly significant to the bimillennial celebration.

Collections of stories need researching and summarising. They will then need telling and learning. Only by this means can the wider body of Christ throughout our nation be positioned to speak.

Only then will some from among us begin to envisage other ways to speak – then innovating through TV and web media, in education, through events, courses, the radio, artwork and more.

There is space here for fresh innovation.

• Books are needed
• Children’s stories are needed
• Topical booklets are needed
• Documentaries are needed
• Educational resources are needed
• Short videos telling individual stories are needed
• Conferences sessions in which speakers highlight the significane of Jesus to our culture and values are needed.
• Public storytelling at large events is needed.

 

5. An intentional promotion of the charitable ‘help on offer’ from churches in our communities

This point relates to the present and continuing story of Jesus’ influence through the extravagance of Christian charity. It is a story that is also still largely untold.

Data related to the present reality of Christian charity tells a story. However, that data needs further research and articulation.

If the scope of continuing Christian charity, volunteerism and donating were revealled, the public would be amazed. This is a story requiring new investigation and innovation, that it might be told.

This is about ‘letting our light shine’, aware that public perception is shaped by both what people do hear, and by what they do not hear.

(It is currently shaped by what they do not hear. The reality of things is unknown.)

 

6. United events in every city and town

With the autonomy of every individual church respected, and of churches together in each city and town, 2033 brings opportunity for churches to unite for their most extravagant celebrations, with stories told and their communities invited.

Innovation is needed in every locality.

 

7. Featured national events

By God’s grace, collaborative ideas among churches, organisations, denominations and others will arise. These could take the same message of hope to nationwide audiences through media and by other means. This too is needed.

 

 

> What are our next steps?

This is what now needs discussing. Could we come to a common view – with very little control, and no more complication than is in this vison-cast / ‘call to action’?

 

——- From the Word of God  ——-

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

(Matthew 5:14-16)

 

——- A caution ——-

If we try to turn our unity into uniformity, it will likely fail. God’s Church is diverse. Human nature is inclined toward independence.

——- A call to hope ——-

…However, if we could unite in common thinking, goals, principles and even some similar practices – we could still each work our own way, yet while in unison and therefore with profound effect.

A shared goal could be that every effort purposed to ‘lift Jesus up’ will succeed. We graciously choose to support one another’s efforts because of our shared faith and hope.

Every church, local united group of churches, organisation and denomination can therefore remain autonomous – while profoundly united.

2033 could become our most significant year of celebration, worship and witness ever!