COMING IN 2025

Engage Conference

Auckland 19th – 21st June 2025 (Friday 20 June is Matariki)

Come along to as together we fuel the outreaching passion of churches and believers across the nation through a highly practical conference purposed to inspire those who take action.

We invite Christian believers to make a commitment to be at this one-of-a-kind conference.

This conference will highlight outreaching gaps we have identified, and to endear the focus of a wider group in addressing them with a range of speakers who are experienced and bring practical solutions.

There will be considerably timely content and perspectives related to ‘unity and outreach’ in our nation. Topics will cover a range of trends in outreach and culture nationally — to help God’s people to engage wisely, and well.

Brought to you by the Shining Lights Trust

Held only every 3 to 5 years, Engage Conference puts NZ practitioners on the stage. The goal is to highlight things that are working in outreach in New Zealand today – which any of us could apply.

Venue and costs: A venue near the airport in Auckland is being sought – in view of costs for attendees. (Cheaper flights / most people have friends they can stay with).

In the programme

Main sessions: The central focus of Engage 2025 will be to give the stage to the pastors of some of our favourite NZ outreaching churches – to let them tell the story of what their members are doing with success.

Topical ‘power talks’: In addition, almost a dozen strategic areas of outreach that the Shining Lights Trust has identified as needing strengthening across the wider NZ Church will be highlighted – to inspire fresh vision, thinking and engagement.

Additional connection: Various NZ-outreach organisations will be invited to have booths – as an available resource.

For your calendar: Only one day off work needed – due to the Matariki holiday. The timing means you can be home at your own church on Sunday. Auckland as a destination has some of the cheapest flights, and half the NZ population live within 3 hours drive.

Details and registration open from early in 2025.

2025 Speakers

Dave Mann will anchor the conference — bringing motivational and strategic perspective related to our national unity for outreach based on a wealth of experience, collective wisdom through his wide range connections with pastors’, vision and practical strategy.

About 6-8 highly regarded speakers will bring unique messages speaking into hot topics and challenging areas we all navigate.

This will not only inspire you but you’ll leave ready for action.

Dave Mann
Director — Shining Lights Trust

Dave brings motivational and strategic perspective related to our national unity for outreach.

2021 Engage Conferences reached all corners of Aotearoa

Strategic forward-looking messages

Church unity, cultural change and the gospel (the suggested topic for combined church Sunday evening services if the timing suits a provinces plans for these – otherwise to start a conference)
Conversational skills and the gospel (including Jesus’ conversational skills for hostile environments. A very important are of skill-development in God’s Church nationally at this time)
Church small groups and the gospel (because small groups have the same mission as local congregations, all Christian individuals – and all of us together as God’s Church. But how could we get this working for ourselves?)
Youth ministries, unity and the gospel (a needed priority area)
Biculturalism and the gospel (a God-honouring dynamic that also has relevance to our mission)
The importance of our values history to the gospel (Those who tell the history write the future. As God’s Church in this nation, we’ve been negligent in this area for too long. Hear how we could change)
Democracy and the gospel (Our systems of Government have come from our faith more than many realise. If we don’t understand this history and then engage public conversations with this awareness, history shows we can lose what we’ve got. I’d present a Biblical and historic view on democratic government – to give church members and youth ‘lenses’ through which to understand what we have, and how we could therefore engage)
Separate topics for church leaders are possible (The above is to intrigue, inform and inspire all believers for their mission) .

Fantastic feedback from prior Engage Conferences

“Very encouraging, thank you, God bless you. A significant voice for/in our nation. Excellent teaching and history”
Conference Delegate
“Fantastic, informative, inspirational seminar. Articulate speaker – thank you”
Engage Delegate
“Great material – prompts a desire to learn more”
Engage Delegate
“Great presentation. Amazing content. Dave is very knowledgeable, skilled, experience & research apparent”
Conference delegate
"Loved the NZ history section. We need more conferences and teaching on these stories and facts. Bring us more NZ history content please"
Engage Delegate
"I felt truly enlightened by what I learnt about the history of our nation and its relevance to sharing the gospel and protecting freedoms. Thank you!"
Engage Delegate
"I was helped and encouraged by the connection I got from this to other pastors. I’ll start having coffee with each one with a view to strengthening our connections together. Thank you"
Local Church Pastor
"I loved discovering all the resources & the stories of our history! I love that you’re giving us current, relevant ‘tools’"
Engage Delegate
"I wish there were more people to have been here to listen and learn"
Engage Conference Attendee
"Dave – your energy, enthusiasm and authenticity was evident, & appreciated. Thank you for making it “simple” and also for providing so many different resources on the website. Thank you for coming & sharing with us"
Conference Delegate
"You are such an awesome communicator! Thank you so much for what you do / are doing. You are so easy, enjoyable & interesting and knowledgeable to listen to and for inspiring us and teaching us and gently encouraging us. Keep up the great work Dave, family & ministry"
Engage Delegate
"Very, very challenging, enlightening & thought provoking in a positive & encouraging way"
Engage Delegate
"Great, really enjoyed it, love how you talk about history and how to engage with people in a graceful way"
Conference Delegate
“I wish I’d heard some of this content years ago”.
Engage Delegate
“Great delivery on real life issues that’s now changed my thinking”.
Engage Attendee
“Absolutely loved the practical content you share about every topic”.
Engage Delegate
“I feel empowered now after learning about the great questions to approach people with”.
Engage Delegate
“I’m so encouraged to join a small group in Church”.
Engage Attendee
“It was so enriching in its content – feeling very enthused to place greater emphasis on doing all I can to help increase awareness in my church”.
Engage Attendee
“I learnt so much – you are a great encouragement to all – keep it up”.
Engage Delegate
“Wow everything spoken about was gold”
Engage Delegate
“I was so encouraged, and my eyes were opened to see the need of being more intentional in my faith journey and our small groups”.
Engage Attendee
"Was practically encouraged and the training on dealing with hostile questions was so relevant."
Engage Attendee
Have come away feeling more empowered in my belief but also more empowered to love others for who they are and bring hope
Engage Delegate
Gained fantastic tools for being relevant today in my belief.
Engage Delegate
So encouraged and enjoyed how the small group is the engine of the church
Engage Attendee
Information spoken about was very relevant, especially for small groups and workplace environments.
Engage Attendee