30 Oct, 2024 Applauding a new national gospel effort
Applauding a new national gospel effort
Great data. What next?
I am blown away by an outstanding gospel effort that is taking place in our nation currently.
Introducing Josh
Josh – a non-assuming thirty-something young married American with a couple of kids – is a polite Jesus-loving American who has moved to New Zealand. He is funded to help plant churches in rural areas of NZ by his home church in America, which is an ‘Independent Bible Baptist church’ by DNA / flavour.
(This DNA is strongly Bible based and gospel-focused, believing in the autonomy of the local church and the importance of diligently-considered Biblical doctrine).
A gospel effort reflecting audacity, faith and generosity of this
…However, prior to a first church plant (while attending/supporting at Grace Independent Baptist Church here in Tauranga), he’s undertaken a NATIONAL GOSPEL PROJECT – to get two full books from the Bible in to EVERY POSSIBLE HOME VENTURE in New Zealand!
With printing via an American ministry who print charitably for gospel projects – plus a paid national distribution via a NZ postal company – they are distributing the Gospel of John, PLUS Book of Romans, INCLUDING a simple gospel explanation to 1.7m NZ homes.
- See images on this page. It’s excellent designed and presented.
Progress in the distribution
At this point (30th October, 2024) they have covered the North Island – except Auckland and Wellington.
- They next cover the South Island – except Christchurch.
- They will then consider these three big cities.
- This includes all rural areas.
They accept there is a reasonable percentage of error in the deliveries – like there also is for Hope Project.
- I didn’t personally receive a copy – as also the local pastor encouraging this effort.
- But my Mum did down in Hāwera, which is how I came to know of the effort.
A remarkably gracious KINGDOM effort
What is immediately of note is that they don’t promote their own church or movement / ‘denomination’.
- The website goes singularly to a beautiful and simple gospel presentation with a ‘chat’ option if someone wants to ask a question.
- This is about Jesus!
In summary of this effort…
We are looking at a remarkably generous-hearted Kingdom venture, that is national in scale – achieved via one bold young individual, supported by the generosity of his church in America.
Response: I think we should thank God for amazing servants like this – initiating wide-reaching gospel efforts like this, in this case placing God’s Word itself in the homes of your community.
Prayer:
May God continue to raise up people to serve the PEOPLE of this nation who do not know him!
For other articles by Dave on the same topic of – CHURCH UNITY
2024 – The LID of our unity is in what we can SEE
2024 – To further unity there is a needed context
2024 – SLT Leadership statement – Nest areas we intend to innovate within
2024 – Attitudes that sustain unity
2024 – How is the strength of unity to be measured?
2024 – Application from the Bible Society’s new data
2023 – A unity reflection: What if we were more strategic in our PRAYER
2023 – Roy Crowne – A voice for unity – Unity finding its voice in the CITY
2023 – Fresh vision for local Church unity
2023 – Invercargill’s Community Service Day – a unity story
2023 – Family relationships – an under-utilised gateway
2023 – The election is over – so WHAT NOW? (A specific strategic proposal)
2023 – For a united Church – there are leaders we cannot see
2023 – “Mistaken” – An offensive comical parable? Why?
2023 – “Mistaken” – A comical parable about unity
2023 – Four characteristics of leaders who take city-wide unity from talk to action
2023 – The quiet before the storm (Perspectives that shape how we lead)
2023 – STORY: How Gisborne churches united to serve their flood-affected region
2023 – STORY: NZ churches can shine when it counts (Napier flood report)
2022 – One Church? FIVE factors that enable pastors’ groups to turn theory into practice
2022 – A SWOT Analysis of the NZ Church in relation to its outreach
2022 – Four national goals that can be easy ‘wins’ together
2022 – A vocabulary we can agree on (This one is a particularly important FOUNDATION if coherent national discussions on unity are to one day take place)
2022 – Principles for managing necessary agenda in pastors’ groups
2022 – Introducing ‘HeLP Project’ (for pastors’ groups) – the what and the why
2022 – Key pulpit themes in view of the global reset (Finding direction in changing times)
2020 – It’s time to take responsibility to educate our own children and youth again (On united direction and strategy – for city change)
2020 – Kingdom minded – It’s more radical than many think
2020 – STORY – The Auckland delivery
2020 – A need for new media platforms – not more voices (How do we address the increasingly left-leaning and also anti-faith bias of public media?)
2020 – A vision for national Church unity (What might REALISTICALLY be within our reach to achiEve – if we merely thought differently?)
2019 – ‘In One Spirit’ – The purpose of the book (Written at the time of the book launch and press release)
2019 ‘In One Spirit’ – full book FREE online
2019 – United we stand (A blog just prior to the release of the above book, ‘In One Spirit’)
2017 – Pastors’ groups – a home visitation idea (best suiting smaller towns)
2017 – The call to influence culture (It’s about the way we think)
DAVE MANN. Dave is a networker and creative communicator with a vision to see an understanding of the Christian faith continuing and also being valued in the public square in Aotearoa-New Zealand. He has innovated numerous conversational resources for churches, and has coordinated various national nationwide multimedia Easter efforts purposed to open up conversations between church and non-church people about the Christian faith and its significance to our nation’s history and values. Dave is the Producer of the ‘Chronicles of Paki’ illustrated NZ history series created for educational purposes, and the author of various other books and booklets including “Because we care”, “That Leaders might last” and “The Elephant in the Room”. Married to Heather, they have four boys and reside in Tauranga, New Zealand.