9 Engage Conferences were held in 2021 which shared some considerably timely content and perspectives related to ‘unity and outreach’ in our nation. Topics were selected with a view to trends in outreach and culture nationally — to help God’s people to engage wisely, and well.

The final Engage Conference scheduled to be held in Auckland was cancelled due to the alert levels.

We bring you four of the key messages from the Engage Conferences

CONVERSATIONAL SKILLS PART I – THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS

CONVERSATIONAL SKILLS PART II – JESUS IN HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS

THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY TO THE FUTURE OF THE NZ MISSION

CULTURAL CHANGE AND WHAT A UNITED CHURCH CAN DO

Fantastic feedback from the 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

2021 Speakers

The two speakers were Dave Mann and Kristen Williams. Dave anchored each conference — bringing motivational and strategic perspective related to our national unity for outreach. Kristen joined to share the speaking in some locations bringing ‘youth tracks’ to connect youth and youth leaders to outreaching wisdom he has gathered across 30 years of ministry.

Dave Mann
Director — Shining Lights Trust

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

Kristen Williams
Pastor — Hope Church Tauranga

Connecting youth and youth leaders to outreaching wisdom gathered across 30 years of ministry.

2021 Conference Locations

COMPLETED…

8 May – Ashburton
15 May – Invercargill
22 May – Greymouth
28-29 May – Nelson
12 June – Napier
19 June – Palmerston North
25-26 June – Wellington
2-3 July – New Plymouth
30-31 July – Hamilton / Waikato
Cancelled due to Covid Restrictions – Auckland

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) .