The ethos of our work: One team
The Shining Lights Trust works on the premise that there is one Church in our nation – made up of all who love Jesus and follow his teachings. The ‘denominationalism’ of prior centuries has very little relevance to New Zealanders today. This is therefore about enhancing the spirit of collaboration, where this can be of benefit to churches and their communities.
How then does ‘unity’ work?
Beyond relationship and coffee, there are things churches (and Christian-based charities) can achieve together that they cannot achieve apart. However, for collaboration to be enhanced, a number of common understandings need strengthening amongst our faith communities.
>> Read the full article here. (Titles only below)
A basis for unity: At the core of our unity is a commonality of belief, love for God, and a commitment to show that same love to others. This
A needed come from unity: However, if our unity is to become ‘functional’ (to achieve its function) some factors need careful consideration and application. As examples,
- Communication lines are needed
- The content within those communication lines must be strategic at a “far better than average” level (because we’re all busy already)
- The values that undergird the way we work together must then also be truly healthy – conducive to collaboration
- We will also need to make a choice to trust each other – with differences noted (it is an attitude
- And we do all this with the realisation that our capacity is actually far more than has yet been realised!
The entire HeLP Project’ effort therefore sits as a subset of a much wider conversation .
We pray and ask for open-handed partnership and generosity toward this effort.
>> Read the full article, to capture the insights, here.
2023 Travel
A possible need for a key person (or two) in many cities and towns
- Some pastors and other church leaders might be weak administratively. Help might be needed to make them aware of this data collection and its purpose, to see their ‘help on offer’ included (and story told).
- We foresee that a facilitator (helping hand) might be needed in some cities to serve the wider Church, to see that all ‘help on offer’ is included on the HeLP Project platform. This (a) makes sure help on offer is readily available and promoted, while also (b) ensuring the Church to look good on this platform – to the extent that it should. (This also has some value).