Christine Stride is Executive Assistant to the Baptist National Leader and works at the Baptist National Support Centre in Auckland. She is a member of Titirangi Baptist Church in Auckland.
As we go about supporting our churches, the National Support Centre staff hear many stories of gospel renewal from around the motu. People are eager to share the good things that have happened in their whānau, faith community, or fellowship. It’s good to be reminded that God is at work everywhere.
Here are four stories from our local Baptist churches we wanted to share with you.
You’re never too old!
Stoke Baptist recently started a youth group that meets after school on Fridays for games, snacks and a Bible study. Encouragements include the couple who said ‘Yes’ to becoming first-time youth group leaders in their retirement, the parents who are inviting their colleagues’ children, and the boy who said emphatically, ‘We should have youth group twice a week!’
The ‘Upper Room’
As a result of the Central Otago church plant initiatives, a group of non-Christian young adult men are meeting together each Wednesday evening in a place nicknamed the ‘Upper Room’ (because it’s located above the local Domino’s pizza store) to learn about Jesus. People are coming to faith and being baptised.
Life-changing Alpha course
Roxburgh Baptist Church ran the film series and the youth series of Alpha for nine non-Christians. Many of those people had major life changes over the 14-week course. The group recently celebrated the final session with a farewell meal. Happily, some of them want to continue meeting together.
Easter camp encouragement
Easter camps are held all over the country. Here are some wonderfully encouraging comments from young people who attended the Southern Easter camp.
- I felt God prompting me to let Him into my life, so I want to give myself to Jesus and learn more about his story.
- I liked that it wasn’t just a place for beginner Christians. It felt like a place to grow.
- It’s given me a whole new beginning ‘cos the last few months have been tough. The whole Easter Camp and the message shared have made me experience just how important God is. When they asked us if you’d like to put yourheart to God, I stood up, and I actually felt God talk to me. And it was something I was waiting to hear.
If you’d like to share a story of gospel renewal, please email [email protected]
