Copy

Weekly newsletter for the Adventist Church in South New Zealand


Bible verse of the week

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Joel 2:12-13

Messages & News

Flood & Cyclone Gabrielle Response

The anticipation of a long holiday weekend for Aucklanders was dashed on Friday the 27th January 2023, when Auckland was most significantly impacted by the heavy rainfall affecting most of the upper North Island. Hard on its heels has been the impact and devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, across many parts of the North Island especially. ADRA, in keeping with the motto of ‘ALWAYS READY, ALWAYS THERE’, mobilised to respond through various teams of volunteers from Adventist churches.

Breakfast items along with toothbrushes and toothpaste were dropped off on Saturday morning after the first floods, to the community-led Wesley centre in Mount Roskill, Auckland. This centre housed around 15 displaced families and The Fields Church plant supported this relief along with a fully cooked dinner that same day to families and volunteers working in this centre after seeing the need on their local community Facebook page.


The suburb of Mangere in Auckland was one of the most affected from the flooding. ASDAH (our Auckland Seventh-day Adventist High School) situated near the affected areas in Mangere opened their doors to our ADRA team as a base for collecting emergency supplies. A group of volunteers from our Auckland Brazillian and Papatoetoe SDA churches met our team at ASDAH and helped with supplies for distribution.​

Ponsonby SDA Church opened their doors as an evacuation centre, to provide bedding, water and food for anyone unable to stay at their home or requiring food support. Team members from ADRA also visited local emergency centres to provide supplies and volunteer their time helping evacuated families. Church members from Glen Innes (Auckland) and The Mount (Tauranga) Churches also donated bedding, linen and towels which were delivered to the Mangere Civil Defence Centre.


Kaitaia SDA Church is currently being utilised as a relief centre hub given the large number of people affected in Northland. Thanks to Pastor Shane Harper, Vaniva and the team who are partnering with local agencies to provide support to their local community.


A massive thank you to the various churches and members who have given so generously to help affected families in their time of need. We’d also like to acknowledge Sanitarium for their support and products we are accessing for families and households in need.


We're providing cash assistance to families most affected, allowing them to respond to their own greatest need. ADRA is also conducting a needs assessment and partnering with SDA churches to determine how else we can provide assistance. We will be sending a response team to Napier later this week to provide relief. If you would like to give at this time, you can donate to provide cash assistance here. Please only give at this time if you are able to.


- ADRA New Zealand

Notices & Resources

ADRA's Syria and Türkiye Response

As I’m sure you have all seen, Syria and Türkiye have been devastated by the earthquakes that struck in the early hours of Monday 6 February. The death toll is over 36,000 and the need is overwhelming.

ADRA is responding both in Syria and Türkiye, with majority of our response occurring in Syria in Latakia, Aleppo and Hama.

We welcome any and all communications that you are willing to share with your networks. I have provided a few links below where you can pull updates and images to share with your networks.

Current response information:

Adventist Employment in New Zealand

Teaching Position - Footsteps Christian Community Preschool

We are looking for an experienced qualified Christian teacher to be a part of our busy Preschool, in Papanui. We are looking for a fun, committed, and bubbly person who is passionate about Christian Early Childhood Education. You need to be able to work as an effective team member, showing initiative and excellent communication skills. More info


Relationship Manager - ADRA
Are you passionate about people? ADRA is looking for a relationship manager to help build stronger connections with our supporters and churches here in New Zealand. This meaningful work will help ADRA raise the vital funds needed to serve thousands of people and help them overcome poverty and hardship. View the full job description and apply online: adra.org.nz/work-with-us

Teaching Positions - Lalaga Preschool
Lalaga Preschool is seeking qualified and certified teachers to join our Preschool and Nursery rooms to work for 20 to 30 hours a week. More info

Administrator - North Harbour Life Development Centre
Are you an experienced administrator who enjoys working with diverse groups of people and would relish an opportunity to be part of a Christian organisation? More info

Programme Manager Wanted – ADRA NZ
Join our team in 2023 and take on the meaningful role of managing life-changing international projects. You will get to use your project management experience and be guided by best development practices to help communities overcome poverty and hardship. More info

Principal, Permanent Full time - LAC
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a proven Seventh-day Adventist leader to lead Longburn Adventist School. More info


For current vacancies around the South Pacific Division visit adventistemployment.org.au

What's Coming Up?

Sunset times & Offerings

Sunset Times

Fri 24 / Sat 25 February / Fri 3 March
NELSON - Fri 8:19 pm / Sat 8:17 pm / Fri 8:08 pm
CHRISTCHURCH - Fri 8:24 pm / Sat 8:23 pm / Fri 8:13 pm
INVERCARGILL - Fri 8:45 pm / Sat 8:44 pm / Fri 8:31 pm


Upcoming Offerings

25 February: Adventist Education NZ

4 March: Local


Give Online at eGiving.org.nz

Download the 2023 Offering Calendar

Upcoming Conference Events

25 Feb - Adventurer Leadership Training


5 March - SNZC Executive Committee

10-12 March - PLA & MG Training (Mt Hutt)

18-19 March - Adventurer & Pathfinder Training (Invercargill)

18 March - Global Youth Day

18-25 March - Youth Week of Prayer


11-16 April - Junior Camp

Download the 2023 Events Calendar

Junior Camp

11-16 April 2023, Mt Hutt Retreat

This school holidays we have an exciting and faith-filled camp for our SNZ Juniors. The theme is ‘Outside the Box’ where we will be looking at what it means to step out in faith! Our speaker will be Pr Willie Iererua, the Lead Pastor of Papatoetoe Seventh-day Adventist Community Church. Pr Willie will encourage our Juniors to develop a stronger relationship with God by stepping out of their comfort zones and learning to trust in God’s guidance. As always, there will be a variety of fun and challenging activities and we are sure everyone will have an unforgettable experience while growing in their faith. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity, register now!


Earlybird registration of $220 is available until 5th March, and regular registration of $250 will run from 6th March until rego closes at midnight on 26th March. Register online

Local Church Events

ASOC Upcoming Events - for tertiary students and friends

Friday Evening Care Group
Food, fun, fellowship
24th February, starting at 6:30pm with dinner
Rehua Building, Room 226
Ilam Campus University of Canterbury

Sunday Social
Outdoor games
26th February, 2pm
Ilam Fields, Ilam Road

See you there!

Enquiries: 027 349 7925

Other Events

Digital Discipleship Conference

5-7 May 2023 | Sydney, Australia
Digital Discipleship's purpose is to create, inspire, encourage, educate, and resource digital disciples while creating an environment for collaboration. We welcome Digital Disciples from all over the world to join the Digital Discipleship in Sydney.

An unparalleled line-up of digital evangelists from across the globe will come to share their secrets in effective digital evangelism.

More info/register at https://digitaldiscipleship.au/

Connect with us