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20 August 2008
New Zealand churches help financially struggling communities
Auckland, New Zealand
Melody Tan
Churches across New Zealand united in prayer on August 2 for families who are struggling financially due to rising costs of fuel prices, mortgages and rent in the country.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the New Zealand Pacific region, who initiated the National Day of Prayer, also urged churches to find practical ways to reach out to their local community and help.
North Harbour Seventh-day Adventist Church in Auckland responded by appealing to members to donate supermarket food vouchers or non-perishable food items.
“We will be donating all food received to the Salvation Army for distribution to needy families,” says church member Althea Hanna.
In Christchurch, the speaker at St Martins Adventist Church, Ruth Matthies, integrated prayer time into her talk on the book of Mark where Jesus fed 4000 people.
“It was very appropriate to stop the sermon at 11.30am and ask the congregation to get into groups of two and three and pray for the economy, the government decisions, and those who find it difficult to manage financially,” says Ms Matthies. “It was a very special morning, and there seemed to be a lovely atmosphere when a whole congregation comes in prayer like that.”
The National Day of Prayer also provided Craig Gillis, the president of the Adventist Church in South New Zealand, an opportunity to connect with young people at the church’s Youth Rally at Pascoe Park.
“I invited the young people to divide into threes to pray,” says Pastor Gillis. “I asked two young boys, who looked too cool, to pray with me. I offered to pray, feeling that they were not going to feel comfortable to pray themselves. However after I finished my prayer, one after the other, these two young guys prayed the most sincere and beautiful prayers on the behalf of the poor and suffering of the world. I was greatly humbled and encouraged.”
Although the National Day of Prayer is now over, the Adventist Church in the New Zealand Pacific region is continuing to appeal to churches to find ways to continue to help and care for their local communities.
“Our communities need to see and experience the love of Jesus and this is a perfect opportunity to share it with them,” says Pastor Jerry Matthews, president of the Adventist Church in the New Zealand Pacific region.
Find out more about the National Day of Prayer.
New Zealand churches help financially struggling communities
Auckland, New Zealand
Melody Tan
Churches across New Zealand united in prayer on August 2 for families who are struggling financially due to rising costs of fuel prices, mortgages and rent in the country.The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the New Zealand Pacific region, who initiated the National Day of Prayer, also urged churches to find practical ways to reach out to their local community and help.
North Harbour Seventh-day Adventist Church in Auckland responded by appealing to members to donate supermarket food vouchers or non-perishable food items.
“We will be donating all food received to the Salvation Army for distribution to needy families,” says church member Althea Hanna.
In Christchurch, the speaker at St Martins Adventist Church, Ruth Matthies, integrated prayer time into her talk on the book of Mark where Jesus fed 4000 people.
“It was very appropriate to stop the sermon at 11.30am and ask the congregation to get into groups of two and three and pray for the economy, the government decisions, and those who find it difficult to manage financially,” says Ms Matthies. “It was a very special morning, and there seemed to be a lovely atmosphere when a whole congregation comes in prayer like that.”
The National Day of Prayer also provided Craig Gillis, the president of the Adventist Church in South New Zealand, an opportunity to connect with young people at the church’s Youth Rally at Pascoe Park.
Young people performing a skit during the South New Zealand youth rally.
“I invited the young people to divide into threes to pray,” says Pastor Gillis. “I asked two young boys, who looked too cool, to pray with me. I offered to pray, feeling that they were not going to feel comfortable to pray themselves. However after I finished my prayer, one after the other, these two young guys prayed the most sincere and beautiful prayers on the behalf of the poor and suffering of the world. I was greatly humbled and encouraged.”
Although the National Day of Prayer is now over, the Adventist Church in the New Zealand Pacific region is continuing to appeal to churches to find ways to continue to help and care for their local communities.
“Our communities need to see and experience the love of Jesus and this is a perfect opportunity to share it with them,” says Pastor Jerry Matthews, president of the Adventist Church in the New Zealand Pacific region.
Find out more about the National Day of Prayer.
