National Resource Centre Opening

Wesleyan Methodists from all over New Zealand will gather for the official opening of the new National Resource Centre on Saturday 23 August. The celebrations will commence with a service of dedication at 2.30pm followed by an afternoon tea and festive, worship extravaganza showcasing the multicultural and intergenerational breadth of the church.

The National Resource Centre will house the operational hub for the Wesleyan Methodist Church in partnership with local church East City Wesleyan. It’s a unique model says National Secretary, Pastor Brett Jones:

"It’s a great example of the partnership that exists within the wider movement between local churches and our national expression of unity and belonging. East City Wesleyan has offered sacrificial support in the past to the nurture of the national church, and this is both a logical extension of that and a coming of age for the Wesleyan Methodist church"

The National Superintendent will be based in the centre along with the National Administrator. A hot-desking environment is being created for use by other national officers. The equipping of the National Resource Centre is being assisted by a donation from the West Michigan District of the Wesleyan church which has been generous in its support in the acquisition of the building as part of its partnership with the New Zealand church.

Updated address and phone contact details are available here

East City Wesleyan will dedicate the new centre for local worship and witness on Sunday 10 August from 2pm.

The Gathering ‘08

300 Wesleyan Methodists gathered at Lake Taupo Christian Centre for the last time over Queens Birthday Weekend. It was a poignant time for many as the LTCC experience has been so formative in the development of the Wesleyan Methodist movement in New Zealand. But it also marked the first step in a new season of growth for the Gathering in its new venue at Ngaruawahia Christian Camp from June 2009.

Keynote speaker Rev Neville Gosman was a real hit with Gathering attendees of all ages and background. Neville’s warm authenticity and challenging teaching made for an impacting weekend of Discipleship Reignited. A wide range of practical seminars provided tools for discipleship and ministry development.

A diverse and engaging youth programme and an energetic children’s SONWORLD experience were real highlights. Itinerant children’s worship leader Keith Connor was infectious in encouraging participation from children and adults alike!

The worship rallies were an inspiring blend of contemporary music and media with reflective and multicultural elements woven into the fabric of our celebrations. Many Gathering attendees remarked on the emergence of homegrown worship music – recordings and music can be obtained from info at cession.org.nz

Our time at LTCC was widely touted as the best yet – and now we embark on an exciting new chapter with The Gathering in 2009 – a bigger venue with the dream of 500 Wesleyan Methodists gathered...

National Conference 31 October – 2 November

This year’s National Conference will be a significant time together with the Conference being hosted by East City Wesleyan church in its newly renovated church and community centre.

We will welcome National Superintendent Rev Lindsay Cameron from Australia as one of our Conference guests. The return of our National Superintendent will also be significant, as Richard shares from his time at Asbury seminary in our Pastors’ Training Day on Friday 31 October and during our EQUIP ‘08 Training Conference on Saturday afternoon.

Conference Programme

Pastors Training Day	Friday 31 October
Conference Opening Rally	7.30pm Friday 31 October at East City Wesleyan
Conference Business	9am – 12.30pm Saturday 1 November
EQUIP ‘08	1.30 – 5.00pm Saturday 1 November
Celebration Rally	7.30pm Saturday 1 November
Morning Worship	Conference guests at local churches
Ordination Service	Sunday afternoon

 

For details on registration email the National Resource Centre office at wesleyan.org.nz

World Methodist Evangelism Conference 2009

The World Methodist Evangelism Institute will be running an Evangelism Conference in New Zealand from Tuesday 28 April 2009 – Saturday 2 May. This event is being coordinated with churches churches in the Wesleyan/Methodist stream in New Zealand including the Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand. International and local speakers will focus their attention on "connecting communities with Christ" in the multicultural and post Christian context of New Zealand. Rev Eddie Fox will be attending part of the event – Eddie’s long term investment in New Zealand and the wider Pacific Region is a source of considerable encouragement to churches in the Wesleyan/Methodist stream. For more information contact National Secretary Brett Jones

10th Anniversary – October 2010

Planning is underway for a celebration of global proportions as the Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2010. We will be welcoming guests from around the world, particularly our partners in the wider Pacific Area and the USA and Canada, and across New Zealand. This will be an opportunity to give thanks to God for the lives he has changed through the witness and activity of the Wesleyan Methodist church in New Zealand and to his servants in New Zealand and beyond who have contributed so much to this. Register your interest now at the office

The Gathering – Lake Taupo, Queens Birthday

A new name and a new sense of focus and purpose will be to the fore as we gather again at Lake Taupo over Queens Birthday weekend. Keynote speaker, Rev Neville Gosman, will share 5 sessions with us on "Reigniting Discipleship". Neville is well-remembered by many following his trip to New Zealand in 2005. He will be joined in our main rallies by a worship team drawn from across the diversity of our Wesleyan churches in New Zealand.

We are currently looking for talent to be involved in creative worship offerings across our 5 rallies – dance, music, drama, poetry, multimedia – has God gifted you or your church to be part of this? Contact Brett Jones if this is you. Stimulating seminars on a wide range of topics will be offered to challenge, inspire and equip! An exciting youth programme and SON WORLD children’s ministry experience round out the weekend for the whole family. Registration forms, including all details, are available online here or contact the National Resource Centre here or (09) 533 4956.

National Resource Centre Nears Completion

The National Resource Centre and new home for East City Wesleyan is in the final stages of renovation. The building team have worked wonders in transforming this former furniture showroom into a large auditorium, multi purpose foyer and functional office complex, these past few months. There is still some work to complete and some Council sign offs to negotiate but the end…and a new beginning...is in sight!

On the Waugh-Path

Rev Richard Waugh and family return on 12 June 2008! You can read about their latest exploits on their web log ("blog")

World Methodist Evangelism Visit

Richard Waugh used his current location in the US to maximum effect recently when he was able to visit the Headquarters for World Methodist Evangelism in Nashville. This was a great opportunity, following Richard’s attendance at the World Methodist Conference in 2006 and our acceptance as a full member church within the World Methodist family in 2007. Richard was able to meet with Dr Eddie Fox and share our vision for scriptural holiness in New Zealand. Eddie is hoping to be able to join us in New Zealand in 2009 as part of World Methodist Evangelism Conference!

National Conference 007 - Growing Partnerships|Transforming Lives

The 8th annual Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church (26-28 October) was a dynamic synthesis of worship, celebration, community and training! This Conference included the launch of EQUIP 007 an annual training Conference for local church leaders around New Zealand. With a talented line-up of international and local trainers, this well-attended event was a great extension of leadership training for the network.

Two inspirational rallies were held on Friday and Saturday nights, incorporating a feast of multicultural worship, with music being led by a team drawn from across the churches. Glyn Carpenter, Vision Network New Zealand brought greetings on behalf of the body of Christ in New Zealand at the Friday night rally. A Pastors' training day was also held on Friday at the Redoubt North Wesleyan church.

Along the way, the Conference received encouraging reports of adult baptisms, church growth, deepening community involvement and expanding building programmes as the church continues to grow. Rev Duncan Leighton (Living Faith Wesleyan) and Rev Malakai Waqa (Saioni Wesleyan Church) were ordained at the ordination service on Sunday.

International guests included Dr Tom Armiger, General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church of North America, Rev Rex Rigby, Assistant National Superintendent of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia, Rev Mark Gorveatte, District Superintendent of the West Michigan District and Rev Eldon Sanders from Rockford Church, Michigan.

Church Planter Assessment Centre Established

A Church Planters Assessment Centre has been established for the Wesleyan churches in New Zealand. The first assessment was conducted in Auckland in late August with the assistance of the West Michigan District and Church Planters Inc (Genetta Hererra). Candidates are assessed across a broad spectrum to establish competencies in 13 areas research demonstrates are desirable for prospective church planters. National Secretary Brett Jones explains:

"Its art and science! A range of professionally administered diagnostic tools work in tandem with a group of trained assessors who observe the candidates in pressure ministry situations designed to replicate church planting conditions. Having experienced this myself prior to commencing a church plant and now having participated as an assessor, I can thoroughly recommend the experience."

To express interest in participating in a Church Planters Assessment Centre please contact Brett Jones.

New National Resource Centre Under Construction

A commercial building has been recently purchased in Auckland's East Tamaki/Botany area that will be the home of East City Wesleyan Church and also the National Resource Centre for the Wesleyan Methodist network of Churches. Construction is now underway to convert the 10,000 sq ft building to house a 300-seat worship auditorium, meeting spaces and offices, kitchen, etc. Likely opening for the centre will be February 2008. Fundraising for the National Resource Centre continues. For further details please contact the National Secretary, Pastor Brett Jones..

Convention - Queen's Birthday Weekend 07

Over 300 people, including many teenagers, attended the 4th Wesleyan annual convention at the Lake Taupo Christian Camp over Queen's Birthday weekend, 1-4 June. An exciting time of teaching, worship and recreational activities was enjoyed by all. Keynote speaker, Rev. Lex Akers, Superintendent for the South Queensland District, brought a series of challenging keynote addresses. We also marked the ministerial licensing of Julia Emmitt (Shore Grace Wesleyan).

Wesleyan Family Convention 2007

About 300 people, including many teenagers and children are expected to attend the fourth Wesleyan annual convention at the Lake Taupo Christian Camp over Queen's Birthday weekend, 1-4 June. An exciting time of teaching, worship and recreational activities is planned.

Our keynote speaker is Rev. Lex Akers, Superintendent for the South Queensland District. Lex has been a church planter in recent times and a prime mover of the revised Australian membership approach.

For further details regarding accommodation please contact the Registrar, Mrs Elizabeth Ball, c/o the National Resource Centre.

National Leader Awarded Scholarship

Rev Richard Waugh has been awarded a prestigious Beeson Scholarship from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, USA to undertake a Doctor of Ministry Degree. Asbury is the leading evangelical Methodist seminary in the United States and has a large international study body.

The National Secretary, Brett Jones, comments, "The Beeson scholarship is reserved for applicants of the highest calibre. Rev Waugh's success in being awarded the scholarship is something for New Zealand Christians to celebrate. It also reflects the growing influence of the Wesleyan Methodist church in New Zealand and the Pacific. The national network of Wesleyan Methodist churches and Rev Waugh's current church East City Wesleyan will benefit directly from the investment the family is making in relocating for 12 months - this will only complement the innovation and impact we are pursuing as a movement."

New National Resource Centre

A commercial building has been recently purchased in Auckland's East Tamaki/Botany area that will be the home of East City Wesleyan Church and also the National Resource Centre for the Wesleyan Methodist network of Churches. Planning is underway to convert the 10,000 sq ft building to house a 300-seat worship auditorium, meeting spaces and offices, kitchen, etc.

Likely opening for the centre will be late August or early September. Fundraising for the National Resource Centre continues. For further details please contact the National Secretary, Pastor Brett Jones.

Wesleyan Methodist Annual Conference 2007

The 8th Annual Conference will be held in Auckland over the weekend of 26-28 October, likely based at the new East City Wesleyan Church Centre, 219 Burswood Drive, East Tamaki/Botany. Conference will open on the Friday night with worship and celebration.

Saturday will be teaching workshops and business sessions. Saturday night will be a multicultural celebration including a feast! Sunday will include morning worship in local Wesleyan Methodist Churches and a likely ordination service in the afternoon. For more information contact the National Secretary, Pastor Brett Jones.

A Feast of Learning, Loving and Leading - Conference '06

This year's Conference was a feast of life in community, as the church gathered from around the country (as far south as Invercargill!) Rev. Peter Dobson, principal of the Melbourne-based Kingsley College, along with Pacific Area Director Rev Dr Jeff and Beth Fussner, provided high quality input at the Pastors Training Day. Peter was able to speak out of his participation in a unique church plant in Melbourne, Mimos, and bring fresh insights to understanding different models of church.

The Conference opened formally on Friday evening with National Superintendent, Rev. Richard Waugh, celebrating our learning, leading and loving as a movement, while pointing to areas for future development.

Rev. Richard Waugh was re-elected National Superintendent for a 4 year term during the business session on Saturday morning. Other office holders elected were Mr Lupeti Fihaki (Assistant National Superintendent), Pastor Brett Jones (National Secretary), Rev. Edgar Hornblow (Senior Pastor), Rev Ruth Boswell (Ministry Board Convenor) with Mr Barry Fisk, Pastor Beth Fussner, Rev. Dr Sifa Lokotui and Rev. Michael Yates elected to the National Council.

A range of stimulating workshops were run on Saturday afternoon, aimed at enhancing local church leadership and development.

The feasting continued into the evening with an amazing dinner organised by our Fijian churches, followed by a concert (including Trinity Puppets, "Life of Paul"). The feasting came to an end on Sunday evening with a Celebration Dinner hosted by our Tongan churches and following an inspiring ordination service on Sunday afternoon.

It truly was: better together!

New Ministers - A Highlight for 2006

Four new ministers were ordained in a well-attended ceremony at Tamaki College. Rev(s) Latatonga Fineangofo and Tomasi Kamilo are the co pastors of Greenlane Tongan. Rev. Hulita Lokotui has been leading Joyful News Wesleyan in Mangere with husband Rev. Dr Sifa Lokotui. Rev. Melissa Powell serves as Associate Pastor to cession|community in the Eastern suburbs of Auckland.

National Superintendent Rev. Waugh highlighted the significance of three women ministers being appointed in a church where 30% of its ministers are women:
"The Wesleyan Methodist Church is pleased to recognise and celebrate the spiritual gifting of women for ordained ministry; something the international Wesleyan Church has been doing for nearly 150 years."

The Conference also welcomed Rev. George Bryant who was recognised as a Wesleyan Minister. Rev. Bryant maintains a vigorous role in publishing and writing through his publishing activity for AFFIRM books, his chairmanship of the Daystar Board and his soon to be published autobiography.

Wesleyan Investment Foundation (NZ) Launched

The launch of the Wesleyan Investment Foundation (New Zealand)was the culmination of a dream conceived just 12 months ago! Surprise guest, Dr Craig Dunn of WIF (USA), was on hand to witness the event. Trust Chairperson David Holmes acknowledged the hard work of his team and the support and generosity of Craig Dunn and WIF (USA).

The Wesleyan Investment Foundation (New Zealand), a charitable trust, will operate a savings and loan scheme aimed at funding capital projects within the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Investors will receive competitive rates of interest on their funds, which are available for loan to churches at rates below commercial levels of interest. A highlight for Conference delegates was the receipt of a $500,000 investment to match pre-launch pledges. With a pledged fund of over one million dollars, WIF is off to a great start.

Click here for further information on WIF or email

IGNITE Youth Camp 16-18 February

10, 9, 8... prepare for ignition! Don't miss IGNITE Youth Camp - the summer experience for your youth group! A great opportunity to leverage your youth programme and encourage invites to family and friends. For application forms contact the National Resource Centre or for information on how to get involved contact National Youth Convenor, Geoff Davies

National Conference 2006 - "Leading, Learning, Loving - Better Together" - 27-29 October

This year's National Conference in Auckland promises to be a feast of community and celebration with special guests from Canada, Australia and the USA adding to our rich multi-cultural family. Dr HC Wilson, District Superintendent of the Atlantic District in Canada, will be with us as keynote speaker, bringing a series of addresses on Holiness and leading our pastors training day on Friday 27 October. He'll be joined by Rev Peter Dobson, principal of Kingsley College in Melbourne and Rev Jim Wood, District administrator for our partner District, West Michigan.

Sucessful Year of Ministry in 2006

At this year's Conference we'll be celebrating the ordination of 4 ministers. Pastors Latatonga Fineangofo and Tomasi Kamilo are the co pastors of Greenlane Tongan. Pastor Hulita Lokotui has been pastoring Joyful News Wesleyan in Mangere with husband Rev. Dr Sifa Lokotui. Pastor Melissa Powell serves as Associate Pastor to cession|community in the Eastern suburbs of Auckland.

The ordination of these candidates follows a successful year in ministry development in the church with a number of pastors being licensed throughout the year - Falemanu Taufa (Beautiful Word of Life, Glen Innes) and Sione Tu'ungafasi Calvary Kelston) were licensed as ministers in a large combined Tongan service in the Tamaki College Hall in June and are leading new church plants. Frank Ritchie from cession|community was licensed October 22nd and will continue his missionary placement with LIFE FM. Duncan Leighton's licensing service was held at his induction into ministry in the Living Faith Wesleyan Church in Hastings. Ratu Jope Naucabalavu was recently licensed as a Wesleyan minister, co-pastoring with Malakia Waqa at the Saioni Wesleyan Church. Beth Fussner, Global Partners, will be licensed as a minister before the end of 2006.

Convention 2006 "Better Together"...and it was!

Convention 2006 was another amazing Queens Birthday for the 300 plus people who enjoyed the idyllic surroundings of Lake Taupo. Keynote speaker, Rev Dr Glen O'Brien from Kingsley College in Melbourne gave a stimulating series of addresses, which blended significant biblical insights with insightful applications from history and popular culture. The evening rallies were once again a stunning worship offering - who will forget the band from Gisborne Tongan, the multi cultural singing group from Streams Community church and the hit song "Wesleyan Healing" from cession|community (with apologies to Marvin Gaye and everyone else who was there...)

The final year of partnership with Kentwood Community Church was a memorable one with 24 Youth leaders being involved in training and the youth programme itself being a shared venture with our own kiwi youth leaders. With site imporvements being promised for 2007, the Convention looks set to grow even further!

The Man From Aldersgate - One Man Play Makes Big Splash

Wesleyans in Auckland, Hawkes Bay and Wanganui are still talking about the visit of American actor, Roger Nelson and his amazing one man play on the life of John Wesley! Great attendances at all three enues were rewarded by an astonishing performance that bought to life the man John Wesley and perhaps more significantly, the relationship he has with His Saviour.

Wesleyan Convention - A Huge Weekend!

What a weekend of worship, spiritual growth and fellowship! The team from KCC returned to our shores as with new friends from Crossroads Wesleyan and Bethany Church. Keynote speaker Dr Michael Walters, direct from Houghton College, New York (say it like "Ho-tin") was fresh and insightful in his contributions on discipleship and 21st century worship. Great seminars and a range of other speakers made this a life changing weekend. Oh and the worship rocked! An awe inspiring concert on Sunday night and heartfelt testimonies on Monday morning capped off a remarkable weekend.

IWU Missions Team - May 2005

Auckland churches spent 2 weeks in May getting to know the team of enthusiastic missionaries from Indiana Wesleyan University. From ditch digging to evangelistic programmes the team invested hugely in the Wesleyan church here in New Zealand. An amazing time and something that will be repeated, we hope, in coming years.