Surprised by Ranui
I just met with Russell - the pastor of Ranui Baptist. This church is rare in that people are choosing to embrace Christian faith there regularly, and the only 'strategy' apparent is that the members and...
25 June, 2015
Outreach Equipping Tag
What are we to make of the claim that we are a secular nation?
This past week I became aware of a friends school that ended religious education classes, and invited local churches to run a lunch-time program instead. I’m not aware of the reasons, however (while this particular...
23 February, 2015
Why avoiding repetition in your pulpit works against you
Educational experts — like teachers — have known for years the importance of repetition in education. The spiral curriculum is a concept of repetition. Every week, month and year teachers intentionally repeat and expand upon...
02 February, 2015
A conversation the NZ Church doesn’t seem to be ready for
Is the mission of Jesus truly the mission of our churches? In recent years our nation has been rediscovering how our early missionaries actually got a lot more things right than they were previously credited for,...
12 January, 2015
Phase I – what was it all about? (summarised)
THE ‘HOPE PROJECT’ — NEW ZEALAND The below are a few paragraphs written for for a Christian audience, to help someone explain the Hope Project effort so far. What they do not communicate in the ‘balanced’...
25 November, 2014
Measuring the results
Our team are very happy with the first effort. Assessment has identified areas that need addressing. The primary of these is the low web interaction / high bounce rate (meaning that many who came to...
17 November, 2014
We rejoice. Heaven rejoices. Thank You!
After the most hectic year of my life the first phase has been achieved, and my mind has space to reflect on things other than only ‘core business’ - like blogs. For me, a big thank...
10 November, 2014
What did we lose in downscaling the Hope Project?
A reflection by Dave Mann, Hope Project Coordinator It is a matter of integrity to me that I’m open about this, because I don’t want to ever be accused of leading people ‘down the garden path.’...
17 January, 2014
Could our faith in ‘evangelism’ be restored?
(A reflection on where equipping such as that contained in the mini-equipping seminars might lead us) Noting the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20, our ‘come to us’ efforts (personal witness to friends, including invitations to them...
03 December, 2013
Did Gospel stories come from ‘Chinese Whispers’ games?
When many people hear about oral traditions being passed down through generations, the children’s game of ‘chinese whispers’ comes to mind. Imagine a dozen children sitting in a circle. They whisper a message, one to...
20 November, 2013
Hope Project ‘deadline’ – personal reflection
I felt it important to take the time to write a personal reflection today. The below lets you know what we have; what we have done; what we need and what we are doing -...
31 July, 2013
Does ‘Son’ of God mean less than God?
Does Jesus being the ‘Son of God’ mean he’s not God, or less than God? If there is only one God, and Jesus is His Son – does’t that logically mean Jesus is not God? This...
30 July, 2013
Because we care – 20 years in the making
Today, the book arrived from the printers! :-) This book is needed! [To type what is on my heart] I find myself sometimes very stirred by the seeming lack of concern for the work of the Gospel...
14 June, 2013
What is God’s provision?
What is God’s provision? Isaiah 41.17-20 This project has been helpful for our reflection on on this because we have, thus far, had a remarkable absence of donations from wealthy individuals. I have no explanation for...
04 June, 2013
A change of approach (personal reflection)
The below is effectively what I’ve shared in our recent prayer update. I have travelled three of the past four weeks, presenting in North Auckland, Northland, and Manawatu / Wanganui. Mr Kim Brown has also started...
29 May, 2013
A time for faith
A year out from the Hope Project we find ourselves praying alone. Were it a church putting this together there would be a congregation gathered to pray and celebrate what is being believed for in...
29 March, 2013
The smallest machine – God is easy to find!
Every now and then you read something that blows your mind. I love the Kinesins, these being the miniature ‘couriers‘ inside our cells that, amuzingly, each have two arms and two legs (yet are actually complex...
18 January, 2013
When not to press a plea on prayer (Part II)
Ok, yes, If a think is not yet a done deal (unlike the picture) it’s good to never give up praying - however, the reflection here is on the question...
07 January, 2013
When to press a plea in prayer (Part I)
For those who know the gospels, you will know the story of the Syrophonecian woman who came to Jesus requesting her daughter be healed. EM Bounds says “He prays not at all, who does not press...
06 January, 2013
Laying it on the line (personal reflection)
Many times in Scripture we see the ‘greats of faith’ laying it on the line - taking a risk - applying their faith in a way that leaves the possibility of failure wide open. It took...
07 December, 2012